Z is for zipper

This photo from Wonderopolis

This is something that most of us use every day when we put on clothes to wear.  It’s so fast and easy to wiggle into those jeans, or slip on a skirt and zip it up.  I’m sure before this was invented, clothes fastened with ties of some sort and maybe later an early button type closure.

 This photo from wikipedia

 

Zippers play a big part in life today, whether it’s clothing, tents for camping, sleeping bags, etc.  So you might want to know a brief history about how the zipper came about.  The zipper was actually thought about as early as 1851 by the inventor of the sewing machine, Elias Howe.  Forty years later another man, Whitcomb Judson, decided to improve on the idea.  He started the Universal Fastener Company to produce the new invention, which he called the clasp locker.  It debuted at the Chicago World Fair in 1893.  The modern zipper was eventually designed by Gideon Sundback in 1913.  He worked at the Universal Fastener Company and got a patent for the device in 1917.  He designed two rows of interlocking teeth that would hook together using a slider.  B F Goodrich Company actually came up with the name for the device.  They used it on a pair of rubber boots and called it the zipper.

 Zipper pulls - photo from wikipedia

 

Twenty years later the fashion industry began using the device.  Look how many zippers we see today on all sorts of things.  We have small zippers and large zippers and zippers in many colors and lengths.  We even have separating zippers for jackets.

Most of the information was researched on Wonderopolis and Wikipedia.

This concludes the A to Z Challenge this year.  I wasn’t sure I’d actually be able to post all the letters this year due to my work schedule, but I made it!  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading.  I still have a lot of blogs to catch up on because I haven’t read near as much of the A to Z as I’d like to.  I will get around to as many as time permits.

Y is for the Yucca.

This is common desert plant, although I had them in Texas when I lived there years ago.  I suppose they might grow anywhere.  I remember digging holes to plant them in Texas and pouring ash or something into the hole to create the right environment.

 Isn't this beautiful?  Typical of all yuccas, the leaves are spiny with thorns.   The Indians used to use parts of this pant for food.  The leaves were woven into baskets or mats.

We have them all over here in the desert growing wild as they do in this climate.  We brought one of the yucca family from California when we moved here and have planted it in the ground.  It’s very happy there and rewards us with beautiful blooms every June.  The flower reminds me of a bridal flower, or bouquet.  As with any desert plant, you can watch the bloom forming for months and then it only last a few days, or a week if you’re lucky.

Xeriscape

When you live in the desert it’s hard to keep anything looking green, especially lawns.  Ours looks pretty bad.  We’d love to have a bit of lawn but have decided to take it out and xeriscape the whole area with rocks and desert friendly plants.  I’ll leave a small space for seasonal flowers to add some color. 

We haven’t started this project yet because we have to rent equipment to remove the dead lawn.  We haven’t had time to do this job.  Hopefully it won’t get to hot before we can tackle this, or it might be this fall before anything happens.

As it is we got two days off in a row so we could cut back bushes and take out dead plants.  We filled up three trash cans with stuff, got sunburned in the process, and scratched all over by twigs and wayward branches.  We were a sight at work the next few days.

The good news is once we can do this project we’ll save on the water bill.

Working - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

When I retired a few years ago I was so busy that I wondered how I ever worked and managed to keep the house clean, do the laundry and cook meals.  There was no time for anything else.  So retirement was bliss for a while, aside from the issue of not having enough money.  I don’t really need anything though except groceries and to pay the household bills, but it’s still nice to be able to do extra things and not have to watch all your expenses so closely.  That’s when I decided to start working part-time.

I did freelance jobs for a while, which was great, but working at home isn’t as easy as you think, especially when you’re not the only one in the house.  So I got back into the work scene by taking a demo job at Costco.  It wasn’t long and my eyes were really opened to what the public is really like.  Now I did work retail for quite a few years, in the jewelry industry mostly, and had to deal with people.  Some were nice and some were contrary individuals, which is always how it goes in any job.  However, if you really want to see what humans can be like, a job doing food demos will show you in a hurry.  People do amazing things just to get free food.  I think I have enough material to write a book already and I haven’t been there quite two years yet.

Thank goodness it’s easy to get along with most of the people I work with because very few of the customers ever thank us for being there and handing samples out, etc, even though we have eaters that come in the store daily just for free food.  There are some who never buy anything, but I guess it gets them off the couch and out of their house for a while.  I just hope I’m never in the position where all I have to look forward to is my daily visit to Costco for free food samples.

Costco store front

Despite all that, I do enjoy what I do, even though we encounter the rudest human beings you ever saw.  We do get paid well for standing up all day to prepare food and that has allowed me to do some things I wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.  But this part-time work has turned into way more hours than I thought it would when I started because we’re always shorthanded.  It sure feels good to sit down at the end of the work day and after five or six days I really need a break from the public.  The food division can also be very chaotic and disorganized sometimes.

Working isn’t all that bad except for the standing and the grumpy customers and not having time to clean house, or do much of anything else.  So I currently live in a pigpen most of the time.  I cook as little as possible when I’m home.  I haven’t had much time to work on my book either so that’s not a good thing, but hopefully I’ll get it finished one of these days.

So there you have it, money and no time, or lot of time and no money.  I guess that’s where everyone of us needs to decide what’s more important.

V is for Vinegar

As we all know vinegar has been around for years and is used for lots of things.  It also comes in many flavors today and isn’t just plain white vinegar anymore.

They say it cleans windows better than any window cleaner, but I can’t stand the smell of vinegar.  Honestly, I would never use it if I could avoid it.  The odor makes me very ill.  But I use it in salad dressing and things like that and we use it at work all the time to soak pots that get burned on the bottom while doing a demo.  Vinegar is so strong it wafts all over the store.  I do everything I can to avoid burning anything so I don’t have to get near this stuff.

I have a personal story concerning vinegar that I don’t know if I should share or not.  It all started with having to wear socks and closed in shoes at work, preferably some type of sneaker with a good non-slip sole.  Let me tell you this, my feet aren’t designed to wear closed in shoes and sneakers all the time.  I’m working far too many days than I signed up for because we’re always shorthanded at work.  I much prefer wearing sandals or going barefoot, which I always do when I’m off work.  I do understand the need for all this footwear in a professional environment where food is served, but I still hate it and my feet hate it more.

This issue has caused me a lot of grief due to the fact I contracted the worst case of athlete’s foot I’ve ever had in my life.  I couldn’t seem to shake it so I decided to confront my friend, Google, and see what I could come up with.  I ended up on a chat board where this health issue was being discussed.  There were two options, soaking my feet in Clorox or white vinegar.  Well somehow the Clorox seemed a bit harsh, so I decided on the vinegar. 

Every night, for two weeks, I soaked my feet in this white vinegar and warm water bath.  I figured if this would do the trick I could put up with the smell of vinegar that long.  It stung like the devil for about the first ten minutes, but I kept at it soaking at least twenty minute a night.  Then I would dry my feet well, put on my athlete’s foot cream and socks and go to bed.  I was supposed to do this twice a day, but with my schedule I was doing good to do it every night.

It got less painful as time went on and in two weeks I thought I was a bit better, so I put on a pair of flip-flops and went out on a Saturday to clean up the patio.  This turned out to be a big mistake.  My toes were so irritated from the vinegar that I got the worst blister on my big toe.  I also had three other smaller blisters on other toes.  The athlete’s foot was better, but not gone, and now I had these wicked-looking blisters to deal with.  I finally had to break down and go to the doctor on my next day off. 

Of course he told me the vinegar helped to kill my athlete’s foot fungus, but it also damaged my healthy skin and that’s why I got the blisters.  He told me to stop the home remedies and gave me two cream prescriptions, plus an anti-fungal pill.  I was also instructed to soak my feett in Epsom salts for the next two weeks, preferably twice a day. 

I finally got the prescriptions two days later and I did soak my feet once a day for two weeks.  He told me I had to wear socks until the situation was healed up.  So I do wear sock at home, but no shoes.  It’s still the usual socks and shoes at work daily.  It’s been almost a month now and I’m still dealing with this issue, although it’s ninety percent better than when it started.  I’m hoping to have it completely cleared up in the next two weeks.  Fingers crossed.

The whole purpose of this post is to caution you about using vinegar on your body.  Perhaps I had the solution mixed up too strong, but I wouldn’t want to go through all this again.  I think the vinegar would kill the athlete’s foot, as well as the Clorox that a friend at work swears by.  But, a little bit goes a long way.

U is for umbrellas

Somehow when I think of this word Mary Poppins comes to mind.  We have little rain in the desert, so an umbrella isn’t needed often.  When we lived in Oregon, we needed one every time we left the house.  I never saw so much rain in my life.

The umbrella originated in China years ago.  It’s also called a parasol, but generally the parasol isn’t waterproof and is used as protection from the sun, not rain.

Umbrellas can be collapsible, including the handles, but some are made so just the canopy is collapsible.  They’re used on patio tables, picnic tables and at the beach in the summer.  Handles can be wooden, plastic or metal.

The earliest records about umbrellas dated back to 21 AD, but parts for a Chinese collapsible umbrella were found in an old tomb on an archeological dig in the 6^th century BC.

Umbrellas were also used in the Middle East, ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, Siam, in the Aztec Empire and Europe.

Today the original silk canopy is usually replaced by cotton, nylon, or plastic.  Currently the US Patent office employs four full time employees just to oversee all the different patents coming in for umbrellas.  Today’s umbrella has been streamlined to improve their response to wind.  This is a good thing, as I had an umbrella years ago that would invert in heavy wind, thus not doing the job of an umbrella at all.

In 2005, A Dutch design student invented a storm umbrella that can withstand winds up to 70 MPH without turning itself inside-out.  This umbrella is sold under the license by Totes in the USA.  I have no idea how much one of these new umbrellas cost, but I suspect it’s quite a bit.

The goat that ate figs

Okay, this is a short story that we made up for the kids after doing a demo for this goat and fig cheese at Costco for three nights in a row.  We were all pretty rummied by the third day and had a good laugh about this goat cheese as we wondered how it even came about to start with. 

Apparently this cheese has many uses besides a regular table cheese.  You can use it as a spread on sandwiches, smear it on toast or pancakes, or put it in numerous recipes, etc.  It has a sweet flavor and is more like a desert cheese than a regular table cheese.  No wonder all the kids liked it.  I’m not sure how the Celebrity Company came up with the idea of adding figs to the goat cheese.

Here’s our story:

One day a goat was walking along and got very tired so it decided to take a nap under a fig tree.  The large leaves provided nice shade and it soon fell fast asleep.  Halfway through its nap, a ripe fig fell off the tree right onto the goat’s nose.  Being curious, as goats are, it looked it over at the sweet fruit and decided it was ready for a little snack. 

 From Costco Website

 

It took a small bite and then another and before long it had gotten up and eaten every fig off the tree.  Soon the master was calling it in.  It was milking time, so the goat, revived from the nap and the figs, frolicked over to the barn. 

“Why are you so happy today?”  The farmer looked at the goat curiously.  It wasn’t long and the farmer found out the goat had been in the garden munching on the figs.  Once the milk was processed for cheese, it had a distinct flavor and was sweeter than the other cheese. 

From that day forward the goat was allowed to wander into the garden of fig trees and eat his fill.  The farmer planted more trees so the goat would never run out of his favorite snack and he would never run out of his famous cheese.  By then everyone in the village was waiting for the next batch of goat fig cheese.

Speaking in public

This is something I hate to do.  I never took speech class in high school for this reason.  When I was asked to give a speech at our graduation from the citizens’ police academy, I didn’t know what to say.  I was shocked that she asked me because we had lots of people there in the class, but I was also flattered.  She said she asked because I was writing a mystery series of books and wanted my perspective of the academy once it was over.  I have a hard time saying no too, so I told her I’d do it.  I had one day notice and was a bundle of nerves.

I sat down at my computer that night to type up something I had roughed out earlier in the day.  I was going to use bullet points and then speak letting those jog my memory, but in the end I ended up writing a two page double-spaced speech to read.  I figured I’d probably get tongue-tied and it was better to have everything written up that I wanted to say.  And I didn’t want to leave anything out.

The next day before class I went over it again and printed it out.  My neighbor was my guinea pig and good enough to listen to it beforehand.  I was grateful for that.  I got a bit emotional while reading it to her.  I thought I’d be a basket case at the graduation.  After all, the mayor, chief of police and deputy chief would all be there, along with a few of the officers.  However, I tried not to think about all this as I drove over.  I do speak to strangers at Costco all day long, day in and day out, so I tried to envision my audience in that way.  I have no problem at all talking about my demo all day long.

The mayor spoke first and then the police chief.  I thought “oh no!  I’m next.”  But as it turned out another older man and volunteer at the department was called next and then I was last before our completion certificates were handed out, along with a class picture we took a few weeks ago.  We were called up in alphabetical order and had to walk to the front, much like any graduation, except there was no cap and gown.  Afterwards we had to go down the line and shake hands with the mayor, police chief and deputy chief and the officers there that got in that line.  The officers were all gracious and thanked me for saying such nice things about them.  I meant every word.

 Our binder of info, the graduation certificate and class picture

 

I did become a bit emotional as I told them how sorry I was the class was over, how nice and prepared all the officers were and how passionate about their jobs they are.  I wanted to thank them all because I learned so much and I know it took a great deal of their time to prepare all the presentations for us.  We had power point slides and handouts.

After that we all had snacks that were nicely laid out on two big tables in the back of the room.  There were sandwiches, chips and dip, veggie trays and fruit platters.  The water was in big, clear glass dispensers, one with lemon slices and the other without.  It was all very nice.  We formed small groups and talked about the class as we ate with our fellow classmates.  Of course we joked about not knowing what to do on Tuesday and Thursdays nights now that the class was over.  We decided we might need a support group, or an advanced class. 

A few of the class members have stopped by for some samples at Costco since that night.

I’m still looking for the right frame for my diploma and class picture and will hang it proudly on my office wall.  

R is for rabbits and roadrunners

We have lots of both these critters in the desert.  Surprisingly, they aren’t predators of each other.  The rabbits eat grass and other green bushes they find in the desert.  Roadrunners usually stick with lizards and other small prey.

The rabbits always find a way into our yard to get at the lawn.  The back is walled in but the front isn’t.  Rabbits eat all day long.  It’s amazing they can eat so much.  They can also make themselves skinny enough to fit between the pickets in the gate and through the Y-block we have as drains.  Their bones must be very pliable.

 He must have been hot

The other day I caught this one in the water dish cooling off.

 

Here's a jackrabbit napping in the front yard

 This roadrunner is hunting in our backyard

 

The roadrunners are predators looking for meat, usually eating lizards, bugs, small snakes and other small prey.  They come by about every month or two and are here a few days before moving on to other parts of their territory.  Usually they come alone, but I have seen them in pairs.  We have some very smart lizards here that must be on the lookout for them because some of them are actually quite big and fat. 

 Roadrunner

Roadrunners have wicked looking teeth, very sharp and fang-like.  They capture their prey in those teeth and then beat it to death on the block wall, or other large rocks.  They roam around the desert freely and have quite a big territory.

The Adventures of Quincy O’Quail

What a nice little quail he was with striking feathers and a black face topped by a crown that had just the right amount of tilt.

Quincy grew up in a large household and loved the fact he finally was old enough to go out on his own and not be under his parent’s constant supervision.  He would venture down to Mr. McGregor’s garden because he knew the old man put fresh seed out for the birds several times everyday.  So Quincy had a good time in the green grass and surrounding rocky areas.  Of course, he learned to do the “chicken dance” from his parents when he was a tiny quail.  Scratch, scratch, scratch, peck, peck, scratch, scratch, scratch, peck, peck… life went on day after say with Sergeant O’Quail keeping watch on the garden fence.

 First baby quail of the season

On day, Herbert decided he wanted to accompany his worldly brother, so he tagged along.  Quincy told him to stay with Sergeant O’Quail because it wasn’t safe, but did he listen?  No, of course not!  Soon he was pecking on the lawn beside his brother.

“He doesn’t know of the dangers I face out her everyday,” thought Quincy.  He couldn’t enjoy his feasting because he was very worried about Herbert.  Even with Sergeant O’Quail on duty, it wasn’t always safe.  The birds of prey liked to swoop in and catch them unaware and then there was always the roadrunner with his cunning smile and sharp teeth.

 Quail with babies

Herbert was happily eating away as he did the “chicken dance,” very unaware of any lurking dangers.  Quincy found he couldn’t indulge in any pleasure at all because he was always watching for predators and keeping an eye out on his brother.  He made up his mind he would talk to his parents that very evening after they got home.

They arrived at the family hovel, just before dark.  They were lucky to find this large sagebrush, big enough to accommodate everybody.  They shuffled inside and tried to find a place to tuck in for the night.  The bush was overflowing with the family and visiting relatives who lost their sagebrush during a windstorm.  Life in the desert could be treacherous.  Besides the predators, there was always nature to put up with and it wasn’t always kind.

 Quail with teenager babies

“Mama, I have to talk to you,” Quincy tried to barge in, pushing his brothers and sisters out of the way.  “It’s important, Mama,” he said.

“Will you younguns’ go and find a place to roost?”  She shooed them off and then turned to Quincy.  “Okay, what is so important, son?”

“Mama you have to keep Herbert with you.  He wants to follow me and I can’t scrounge for food and watch after him at the same time.  As you know there are lots of dangers we face here in the desert.”

“That's quite true Quincy, but he has to learn the same way you did.”

“Well Mama I barely escaped with my life that time.  You know the roadrunner almost got me when I was a child.”

“Yes, that's true, but you survived and you’re the wiser for it now.  Isn’t that right, Quincy?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Well, I think Herbert needs to learn as well.”

“But Mama I don’t know if he can escape the attack the way I did.  In fact, I wonder how I even did it when I go over it in my mind.  I could very well not even be here today you know.”

“Yes, I know that, but you got away and you are here.  It’s your responsibility to teach the others; after all you were the first to hatch.”

“Well I refuse to be held accountable for the outcome of Herbert, if he tags along,” Quincy stomped his foot for emphasis.

“Try to get some rest, Quincy.  It’s a big job to be the older brother and a lot of responsibility.”  His mother ruffled his feathers and gave him a peck on the cheek.

He found a spot in the corner under the sagebrush, finding it hard to squeeze into a place that another relative didn’t occupy.  He tucked in to brood.  In the desert, night came on fast and it was getting quite dark already.  Quincy could hardly make out his relatives in the sagebrush.  They were only silhouettes and soon he was fast asleep.  He began to dream.

Here are some small babies with mama at the water dish.

I hope you like my short story for Q.  This is reblogged from my post 10-7-2012

Puzzles

These aren’t just for kids anymore.  Today we have a wide range of puzzles around for our enjoyment.  I think mind games help with dementia and other brain diseases.  It’s so important to keep our minds sharp.

My mother suffers with dementia.  She seems to be getting worse with her memory as the weeks go by.  I’ve done a lot of reading on dementia and Alzheimer’s since her diagnosis.  One thing I know for sure is that I don’t want to get it.  I do my best to exercise my mind daily with reading, writing, puzzles, or anything else that will make me think.

My youngest sister does a lot of board puzzles.  She loves the most complicated ones with a thousand pieces.  These are probably her favorite puzzles and she has even framed a few of them.  I’ve known other people to put together and frame those big puzzles too.  They make beautiful wall art.

I have another sister who likes the crosswords.  I enjoy the ones full of random letters where you have to find the twenty words hidden in those letters.  I try to do several of those a week. 

I’m not sure if anyone in my family does the Sudoku puzzles with all the numbers.  I’ve done them, but they really are quite challenging.  I imagine, as with anything, one gets better with practice.

I don’t think anyone of us wants to end up with dementia or Alzheimer’s, but who knows what the future holds.   If it’s inherited, perhaps we’ll get it anyway no matter how much we use our minds.