Wednesday, May 31, 2006

On the pool deck


landscape.draw
Originally uploaded by ujima.

chalk talk


chalk.drawing
Originally uploaded by ujima.

Vitamin Y


lager.deck
Originally uploaded by ujima.

Sitting on the pool deck on Tuesday 4 p.m.-midnight

doing The NYTimes crossword
playing Scrabble and being able to use 2 words from the crosswords
watching Mike color his landscape plan
wondering how many days it'll be until the water warns up
finding someone to help Allya to draw on the deck
listening to young womens' dating drama
singing along with the radio and doing the Sit-Down Dance
("Summer breeze makes me feel fine
blowing through the castles of my mind")
drinking Yeungling lagers
laughing with Clint about the crusise he won at work
discussing racism in Europe with Umut

Sitting on the pool deck
pretending I'm on an ocean liner
90ยบ HF

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Get on the Goodfoot!


jb.ticket
Originally uploaded by ujima.

James Brown was as fast & furious as a 73 year old man can be. The band was slammin' (though I missed Maceo's sax). The woman singers' grinding while they sang delighted the crowd. There were some other dancers and another singer that joined in for some numbers to help give JB time to rest up before he delighted us again. JB's show with him at 50% is 100% better than many shows I've seen.

The opening act, Patrick Droney and Bleak Street, was a blues band of 13-16 year olds. They had chops but will need more life experience to get the feeling. The crowd cheered their musicianship. (Think School of Rock.)

We ate at the House of Blues restaurant with 2 for 1 coupons. Excellent Jambalya, Shrimp Etoufee, Cajun Meatloaf, sweet potato fries and other spicy treats. Plus, you get a passtheline pass for the show.

No cameras are allowed so I left mine in the room upstairs in the Showboat Casino (The Mardi Gras Casino). But everyone took pictures with their camera phones. *That* was allowed! I'm not a reach-out-and-touch-someone-by-phone person, so my cell is * really* basic.

James Brown--"It's A Man's Man's World"--his.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Itchy Times


purple.bush2_1
Originally uploaded by ujima.

Sneeze,Cough,Tear


Sneeze,Cough,Tear
Originally uploaded by ujima.

Coughing, barking like a dog, eyes tearing like Niagara Falls, sneezing like a spazz. Lying very still and resting. We're all going to Atlantic City tomorrow and Sunday. Staying at the Showboat. Going to see James Brown, The Hardest-working Man in Show Biz, at The House of Blues. Hah! Hit me!
Have a remembrance on Memorial Day.
Peace.
Ujima

Friday, May 26, 2006

FREE FREE FREE


FREE FREE FREE
Originally uploaded by ujima.

The Free Library of Philadelphia. Our tax dollar at work.
Thursday is the day I volunteer at the library. For thirty-seven years, I taught 10-12 year olds;now for eight years I've taught 55-94 year olds. Youngsters to Oldsters. Both groups a pleasure with an enthusaism for learning new things.

Many want email in order to keep in touch with grandkids living here and in other states and countries. "Only way to get their attention," they say. Some want to learn how to check their stocks; some are doing research in order to write about their WWII experiences; some are searching for recipes; some are just searching.

With books,records,CDs,DVDs,magazines,computers (including one for people with limited sight) and maps, you can do *anything* you want!

library.phila.gov

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Love Park


up.bfpkwy_1
Originally uploaded by ujima.

to the art museum

Philadelphia's Champs-Elysee


bf.pkwy2_1
Originally uploaded by ujima.

I took some of my computer students to see the Andrew Wyeth exhibit at
the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As it was a bright sunshiny day, we
got off the bus at Love Park so wecould walk up the Ben Franklin Parkway,
know here as Philadelphia's Champs-Elysee.
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/parkway.htm
http://www.gophila.com/P/Benjamin_Franklin_Parkway/15.html

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

road.flowers2.jpg


road.flowers2.jpg
Originally uploaded by ujima.

The gym is only a seven minute walk away. While I'm walking to the gym,
friends and neighbors drive by and honk. They know I won't take a ride.
They too are going to the gym but choose to ride both ways. Not doing
errands or anything after just home-gym-home. I guess walking isn't
exercise.
Although I rinsed the wildflowers, I am infested by a tribe of teeny-tiny
bugs that are annoying. I hope they have a short life span.

By the side of the road


road.flowers.jpg
Originally uploaded by ujima.

Walking home from the gym, I cross to pick some wild flowers from the roadside.
There are many wonderful flowers and weeds there! The honeysuckle is
so sweet! The Lamb's-Quarter is good for what ails you. The American
Indians ate the leaves to treat stomach aches and prevent scurvy.
A cold tea is used for diarrhea, and a leaf poultice can be used for
burns.
It is also delicious in a quiche!
Lamb's Quarter Quiche
One 9" unbaked pie crust
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups young lamb's quarter
leaves, cut up
3 eggs
1-3/4 cups milk 1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups grated narural Swiss
cheese (8 oz)
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp flour
Partially bake pie crust at 450 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes or until light
brown. Reduce heat to 325 degrees. Cook onion and leaves until
tender and limp. Stir in flour and salt.
Beat together eggs and milk; add vegetables.
Sprinkle cheese in pie shell; pour in egg-vegetable mixture.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until knife comes out clean when its inserted off center.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Monday, May 22, 2006

The Day Begins


best.momreads.jpg
Originally uploaded by ujima.

A beautiful day begins when I arise before noon and find my 92 year old
Mom reading the newspaper. We eat Cheerios and watch and discuss
the noon news. Then I dress and set out to the gym for pool walking
and hot tub sitting. Mom settles in to watch "The Young and the Restless"
and "The Bold & the Beautiful". Today, she's reading the sales pages
because her caregiver will take her shopping tomorrow. Beautiful!

Merci, Eric!


me2.arc.jpg
Originally uploaded by ujima.

It was the inspiration of Eric's Paris Daily Photo that made me want to
have a blog. Merci, Eric!!

Finally!


the one
Originally uploaded by ujima.

People, you do not *know* how many times I have tried and failed to get
this blog started. But because I am smart and know it all, I did not ask for
help. After all, I volunteer and help people 55+ to learn to use the Internet,
so I *must* know it all! Now i can finally reach and and touch you all.
Hello!!