Being Dense
So I looked at the Corelle dishware one of you mentioned. The Corelle Bella Freanza dishware.
It’s really pretty. Amazon sells a set of 4 for just under $100. Nope, I’m not gonna pay that much. I draw the line there.
So I Googled to see who else sells it. The Corelle company currently has that set for $59.99. I very nearly hit: Submit Payment. But I just hate to pay shipping fees.
I’m a bit of a miser when it comes to shipping fees.
Foolish Mistakes:
I’ve been making a lot of foolish mistakes lately. So I put the decision on pause to give it more thought.
It seems that everyone and their brother knew what to do with leftover onions. I guess I’ve been living under a rock.
Put it in the freezer or a jar. Sounds pretty simple.
Here I am with arthritic hands trying to chop up onions and you can order them already chopped up. Yep, I’ve been under the rocks with the lizards.
What’s Even Worse:
Oh, but that isn’t the best part. Or perhaps I should say worst.
I read lots of reviews about lightweight mixers. I found and ordered one that weighs two pounds.
Then I ordered a Dutch oven, which I’ve never used, and didn’t even look at the weight of it.
It came and I went to pick it up and realized it weighs a whole lot.
But then you already knew that. That it weighed a lot. You were probably scratching your heads when I wrote that I’d ordered one.
By the way, I’m sending it back to Amazon.
What was I thinking? you must have thought. It’s sure what I’m thinking now.
I think maybe I’ve not only been under a rock. But someone stepped on it and now my brain is a little fuzzy around the edges.
What Got Me Going On The Dutch Oven:
I somehow got to looking at recipes using Dutch ovens on Pinterest.
As I scrolled through the yummy recipes, I began to picture myself at the stove stirring an aromatic stew in a Dutch oven.
Anyone who happened by my place would come in and say: “What is that wonderful smell?
And I’d tell them: “Oh, I’m making stew. Would you like a bowl?”
Now I feel somewhat foolish. About ordering a heavy Dutch oven I was barely able to pick up.
Maybe my brain will be the next thing to go. Or maybe it’s already running on fumes and almost empty.
Flunking Home Ec:
No wonder I flunked Home Economics. Do they still teach Home Economics in schools?
I remember I was supposed to sew a pair of pants for a project. And I did manage to sew a pair of pants. I was so proud of myself.
Until I tried them on and realized I couldn’t move my legs because I’d sewed them together.
Someone who does that flunks Home Ec. How could they not?
If they taught cooking I’ve forgotten all about it.
I just remember the pants with the legs sewed together.
Of course that’s kind of memorable.
About Being Dense:
It’s kind of sad really. If I couldn’t write and be creative I’d probably have nothing in the way of talents. I’d probably just be an empty vessel. Nothing to write home about, as they say.
Well, I can grow plants in the garden. So there’s that.
But I so wanted to be one of those people who can whip up tasty dishes like an afterthought.
I wanted to naturally know what to add to a pot of something cooking. Sprinkle in some kind of spice to add the magic.
Just out of nowhere, I’d like to be able to say: Well, I think it needs just a bit of thyme. And maybe chopped chives.
But I don’t have that innate ability. I add salt and pepper and maybe garlic powder.
The spices I have mostly go unused. Because I really don’t know quite how to use them.
Cookbooks & Road Maps:
Cookbooks are similar to maps. I can’t follow maps or directions. You know I made up my own quilt patterns because I couldn’t follow anyone else’s.
Steve and Greg tease me mercilessly because I say something about something and I point in the wrong direction. And off they go, roaring with laughter.
I think they’d probably be bored if they didn’t have me to laugh at. Because they sure do a lot of it.
I recall that one time a woman’s husband tried to give me directions somewhere. I forget how I knew them.
And I remained befuddled as he tried to tell me how Tulsa streets were laid out.
Then a bit later I heard him whisper to his wife: “But she seems so intelligent. Why doesn’t she understand what I’m telling her?”
That was kind of a low moment.
Doesn’t Everyone Have Something They’re Good At?
I guess everyone has something. Some skill set that leads them through life. That points out pathways and cuts through brush.
I wanted to grow up and be a writer. I really admired Erma Bombeck.
As I write this, I got to wondering what happened to Erma Bombeck. So of course I had to look it up on Google.
After Erma Bombeck spent years on a waiting list for a transplant, one kidney had to be removed. And the remaining one ceased to function.
On April 3, 1996, she received a kidney transplant. She died on April 22, 1996, at age 69, from complications of the operation.
While she waited on that kidney, Erma sure made a lot of people laugh. Namely me.
Right-Brained & Left-Brained:
I have one daughter who is right-brained and another who is left-brained if you believe that kind of thing.
If you’re analytical and methodical in your thinking, the theory says that you’re left-brained. If you tend to be more creative or artistic, you’re considered right-brained.
Kasi loves numbers and Kendra loves designing and creating things.
It’s hard to believe that this month Kasi will turn 45 and Kendra will be 49. That thought really makes me feel old.
Kendra’s starting to get hot flashes, bless her creative heart. Her energy is ebbing.
When she’s renovating a house, she has to rule those male workers with an iron fist. Otherwise they’d run all over her because she’s a woman. And a petite one at that.
Last week she sat in my living room and looked off into the distance. And proceeded to tell me that she doesn’t even have the energy to get mad anymore.
Years Ago:
I remember once, years ago, I was trying to tell Kendra something about menopause. Something I was then dealing with at the time.
She must have grown tired of my stories about menopause. It was when she was young and couldn’t imagine such a thing. And she sure didn’t want to listen to stories about it. She made that obvious.
I told her she’d understand when she went through it. Her prickliness struck, which isn’t uncommon.
She looked at me and said: “You’ll be dead when I go through menopause.”
I thought: Well, I might still be alive and kicking when that happens.
And I am still alive, but not really kicking much anymore.
Being Dense: A Lack Of Common Sense:
In the past I’ve told people that when they were handing out common sense, I thought they said dense. And then I got in that line.
Do you remember that show called “Scrubs?” It was on TV some time ago.
There was an older doctor who was terribly sarcastic and hard on the younger doctors. His name was Dr. Perry Cox, and he was played by John McGinley.
In one episode he said to J.D., who was played by Zach Braff:
“Listen closely, Tiny Dancer! I wouldn’t be flapping my mouth if I’d forgotten to get a blood culture on Mr. Blair. And, for the love of God, do you at least remember what you were doing the day they were passing out common sense?
“Oh gosh, maybe you were running late that day ‘cos’ you couldn’t find the right thong for those low-rider jeans that you love so much. Maybe you were busy bopping along to whatever boy band really makes your heart race nowadays, and you just drove on by.
“Of course I don’t know, I’m just guessing… But one thing’s sure: you wound up at the dumb-dumb store and just went ahead and put about as much of that in the car as you could fit… didn’t you?“
I wonder what ever happened to Zach Braff?
Of course you know what I’m going to do next.
I’m going to Google Zach Braff. And then maybe John McGinley. See where they ended up.
“Reading is important, because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.” Tomie dePaola
PS – I wish you could get to a big thrift shop, like a Goodwill or Savers or St Vincent de Paul (or whatever else is common in your area), and look for Corelle. I see tons of it in all those stores.
Have you tried FB Marketplace?
Oh, Brenda, you are not dense! We all have our different strengths and weaknesses. I am not good with directions either. Thank goodness for GPS because that’s the only way I can find where I’m going if it’s an unfamiliar place. God forbid someone should tell me something is on the southwest corner or what have you, because I have no idea what the southwest corner is.
As you know, I am one of those cooks that you describe. I can whip up just about anything off the top of my head and know exactly what it needs. It’s a creative outlet for me. At the same time, I can also follow a recipe, though I do like to use my own creative spin on them.
However, I can’t do anything at all relating to needle and thread! I can thread a needle, but that’s it. I can’t sew on a button, can’t use a sewing machine, don’t have any desire to do any kind of needlework (cross stitch, for example) or to crochet or knit. When I was taking Home Ec in high school and it came time to the sewing portion, I got as far as cutting out the skirt pattern (I think I brought it home and my mom helped me) and sewing two pieces together, and then I was done. I hated it. So I skipped class every day and instead, went into the band room and practiced my flute! I failed that quarter of Home Ec and didn’t care. 😉
You are not dense at all! We all have our gifts and you certainly have yours:-) And, it is truly not a crime to not realize how much a cast iron dutch oven weighs. Anyone who lifts one for the first time is surprised (if it is made of cast iron).
I might suggest looking at a lightweight large stock pot such as:
https://www.wayfair.com/kitchen-tabletop/pdp/tramontina-gourmet-prima-6-qt-stock-pot-with-lid-trmo1003.html
The one above has several layers of metal (for heat retention) and is encased in easy to maintain stainless steel outer layers. Weight is a bit over 5 lbs w lid (w no food inside).
Alternatively, a crock pot can be similar if used to make roasts and soups and they are so widely available.
We are all humans doing our best to navigate life in all its stages and changes. We must support and lift up our friends and neighbors and share our knowledge and life experiences, as all our lives have taken different paths. Please carry on and share with us your writing, books, gardening and decorating ideas and experiences.
Dense is not a word I’d used to describe you!! I’m always amazed at your writing skills. I have felt my blood pressure drop several times reading your posts.
I adored Erma. Wonder what she would say about life as we know it today?
My daughter has a Martha Stewart cast iron pot. And it is heavy, but makes great meals.
I think we all embody skills that are very talented we just might not recognize them. I can’t garden for the life of me. I’ve painted for years in several mediums and so enjoy it. Tonight I’m taking a card class. At 77 we need to keep teasing our brain!!
I concur with all the comments!!!!!
Thanks, Anonymous!
You have a way with words, Brenda. THAT is a talent. Even my profoundly retarded granddaughter has a talent…she is happy and smiles all the time, unless she is ill. She will never be able to DO anything, and lives in her wheelchair. But she is happy!! I always wished I was close in talent to my parents, both who were way more talented in musical instruments than most people. I had to learn to be happy being mediocre in my playing skills on organ or piano. Neither of my parents could sing like I could however. So somehow it all evens out huh?
There will always be those who think we are stupid. Can’t let that bother us. NO ONE gets it all. Just look at who is in charge in many places in life…NO ONE gets it all!!
As to heat flashes…a doc years ago, when I could no longer take the meds for that, said often taking a little 3mg Boron pill per day would work. It did and it does. Won’t work for everyone, but I am so glad it works for me…cheap and easy to get and no side effects. Take with your minerals at night before bed as that activates it best.
A smile is a ray of sunshine.
Brenda, I’m like you and didn’t know onions could be frozen. Also didn’t know that frozen, chopped onions can be purchased at the grocery store! So you’re not the only one! Regarding Corelle dishes, you could purchase a couple individual pieces at Target, Walmart, etc., to see if you like them before spending the money for a whole set. I’ve had a set of Corelle for over 50 years and love them as they are so lightweight and store so easily. We use them for 3 meals a day and they still look brand new! I also didn’t realize that you designed your own quilts…. now THAT is a skill that not many people have! Your collection is beautiful! I have enjoyed your blog for many years and I thank you for taking the time to write it each day.
Well, I don’t feel alone then!
Nope, Nope, NOPE, NOT dense. You just think creatively in a different way. How would we ever have new inventions or learn new points of view if everyone thinks alike? You’re doing a great job of being you. It means a lot to many more people than you can imagine.
Yes, it’s good we don’t all think alike for sure.
there seems to be a lot of conversations on aging. I am 80 years and many of my friends 70 to 85+ are concerned about forgetfulness, driving, walking, short-term memory. A book was recommended to me AGING HONESTLY by Roseanne Leipzeig. I ordered it on Amazon. We will have many discussions and come up with solutions on how to be old, not drive, be dense and still be happy. The better we were physically and mentally when we were young, the more we miss as we age. But it’s still important to be grateful for what have and enjoy life. I hope you also get this book. I think it will start some interesting ideas and conversations about aging. Brenda, Thank You for sharing your life with me and others, it is so important.
Susan Brauner
Looked at the book on Amazon. The paperback is $24.99 so I’ll look elsewhere.
I’m sure your library offers services for the homebound through their extension programs, something you might want to look into. Margaret
You are far from dense Brenda, never sell yourself short. You do a fantastic blog, I have learned so much just from checking in each day and your apartment is so beautiful.
My dense moment came about a month ago, when I was trying to call my insurance about something. I used to work as an insurance verifier and pretty much had the phone numbers for most of our payers embedded in my brain. So I make the call and got frustrated with the rep because they couldn’t find my ID number in the system. About the time I was ready to lose it they asked me if it was one of their plans and I had to look at the ID number again and realized I had called the wrong insurance company. Oops, lol.
Dear Brenda, I agree with the above: ” Don’t be so hard on yourself.” I think of you as very, very creative. You are an excellent writer. You are an amazing person! I enjoy your posts immensely but I rarely comment. Another thing that stands out to me about you is how you have overcome hardships and heartaches and bounced back and have created a wonderful life for yourself. You have a lovely apartment too. You may not personally know us readers, but you ARE loved.
I walked in the bathroom one day and thought that I left my glasses in the kitchen. I almost got into the shower with them on. They were on my face the whole time. Sometimes I think that I am getting dementia with the dumb things I do! But we all do them. No one is immune to doing dumb things. I use the word dumb lightly because it seems dumb at the time.
Reading these comments makes me smile. I hope that you get a giggle out of them too.
Yes, they are amusing!
Try a granite ware Dutch oven. They’re pretty light
Will check it out.
Talk about dense, Brenda, this is the second time I’m writing this comment, because I deleted it by mistake the 1st time. You shouldn’t beat yourself up, stuff happens to all of us, and I’ve already ordered things, and screwed up the size, heights or weights of an order.
In fact, last week, I placed an order on line with Penny’s. They still had my address from 11 years ago, but did I notice that. NOoooooo. It was shipped to the old address, and thankfully the new owner looked us up in the phone book to let us know she received it. I felt pretty stupid, for not paying attention to something like that. So don’t worry, you ARE NOT dense. You are a joy to all of your readers. Hugs, Bonnie
I guess we all do these silly things.
Brenda, I agree with the others that you are being way too hard on yourself. You are a very talented woman who knows how to persevere, adjust with what life throws at her, and, above all, is kind and caring. We all make mistakes. Here’s a meme I saw on a kitchen towel the other day: “When you give me directions don’t use words like east. ” Love it! I too do not have a sense of direction, my mind just won’t wrap itself around directions, and I generally point the opposite way from where we should go. Give yourself credit for the amazing woman you are! Becky N (I’ve read your blog for many years, rarely comment)
I’d love to find that dish towel and show it to both Greg and Steve.
Second time commenting today. Think of all the time you have enlightened each of us about something. You could order yourself a few pieces of Corelle in your Walmart order for your everyday use. Enjoy all the love your friends are sending today.
Am thinking about it.
Those two young doctors on scrubs are now doing a phone commercial that plays constantly on tv. Now, they are dense!
I only stream TV, so I never see commercials. But that’s funny that they’re teamed up again.
Very good post! I think we all feel dense at times. I have ZERO sense of direction and have always been that way. Unless I am going somewhere I travel to frequently (like my grocery stores) I have to ask my hubby ‘the best way” to get there. He gets me! haha
I have many spices in my cupboard that never get used. I think I need them because someone demonstrating a recipe uses them. But nope—I could probably do very well with just 3 or 4!
Keep on writing—Erma Bombeck was a favorite of mine—-I miss her, and am glad you keep writing.
Erma Bombeck kept me laughing.
When I decided to buy a Le Creuset dutch oven, I searched for the smallest one they made. I finally decided on a 2-1/4 quart size, in green of course. Yes, it’s weighty, but very manageable. It can make a roast with vegetables for two. I used to make cornbread in my Mother’s large cast iron skillet. I knew someday I’d drop it due to its weight. I ordered a smaller lodge 10.25″ skillet. It makes a slightly thicker cornbread, but it’s still heavy. Think I will go down one more size.
That’s good to know.
You sell yourself short. You are an excellent writer, an exceptional photographer, great gardener and, my favorite, wonderful interior designer. You have an eye for color and scale…you are the queen of vignettes too.
Ann
(Who has your polka dot plates 😁)
I hope you enjoy those plates. I don’t miss them at all.
Just a heads up, you can buy frozen peppers and mushrooms too. I make a lot of chili this time of year and I use them exclusivity. They also have frozen mixed vegetable that are for starting meals, mirepoix etc. (mix of peppers, onion and celery). I usually get them at Walmart.
Thanks. I didn’t know this.
such sweet comments. nowadays sweet comments are being rare, often. enjoy them. it’s coming from sweet friends. love from amsterdam , the netherlands.
Well hello, to you from Amsterdam! I often watch shows that are set in Amsterdam.
I second the idea of Corelle. Initially, I purchased the plain white plates just because I wanted white plates. When we started using them, I loved how light weight they are! Got rid of 3 sets of other dishes and don’t regret it. You will love them! Ordered my plates at Target for a very good price. I think Walmart has them also.
I had them years ago. I’ll probably try them again.
Not checking the weight or the actual size of something we order on line or buy in person is an error that I think just about everyone has made. We order something online without checking out much it weighs, or how large it is and then when it arrives we find out we can’t lift it easily or it doesn’t fit through the front door. Even the pros do it. If you watch lots of “home improvement” shows like I do you’ll see how the experts order furniture that doesn’t fit through a door or they can’t get it upstairs because of a low overhang or the staircase is too narrow. Stuff like that happens all the time, to everybody. To me, a Dutch Oven is something that people used before electric slow cookers were invented. I’ll use my slow cooker (crock pot) any day over a Dutch Oven. I’m pretty sure my slow cooker doesn’t weigh more than 2 pounds (most of that weight is attributable to the weighty ceramic pot that sits inside the aluminum outer shell), and it makes enough food to serve six people or give me lots of left overs to freeze. Just because you ordered something that you didn’t check the weight/dimensions on beforehand doesn’t mean you’re dense.
I’m glad they show the mistakes on those home improvement shows. Nice to know “the experts” manage to forget these things.
Brenda, my friend, do not think of yourself as dense! You are so talented in so many ways and have the spirit to soldier on and make the best of what is. What was that you said yesterday? Oh, you make lemonade when life gives you lemons. We all do so many things we don’t think through because we know what we want and that doesn’t always match up with our reality. If you’re dense then join the club! I can’t think of a single thing I’m really good at. I’m merely average at the things I do best! I have average intelligence, average physical ability, average looks, average everything. I think the recipe for my creation was called average. God knew I wouldn’t have the humility to handle anything more than average! If I didn’t have a good dose of common sense I would be dangerous to myself and others. So don’t cut yourself down. Just laugh at your flubs and enjoy being the lovely person you are. Thats all any of us can do, just laugh our way through life.
You have a talent for humor too, Teri. And I always enjoy hearing or reading it.
You are not dense. We are all just different. I can’t understand directions either..but I was voted most likely to succeed in home economics by my teacher. We are all different, and that is the spice of life! What you put in your stew will be just as good as others. Just different. You have many gifts..photography, plants, decorating, writing, and more. I also have arthritis, have had both knees replaced at one time, lower back surgery…but I still use cast iron Dutch ovens because I love them. I am stubborn. Not always in a good way.
It sounds like Greg and Steve love you and your ways.
They would not spend time with you if they didn’t like your personality.
You can cook in lightweight pots. Calphalon has good pots. You can use a crockpot too.
Let’s celebrate Brenda. You are so kind to others. That is the rarest gift of all.
Oh, I know Greg and Steve are just teasing me. And they enjoy doing it because I get befuddled. I laugh with them after my initial confusion.
Oh Brenda you are not dense, as much as I would like to I know I could never write a blog like you. Every day you think of something interesting to tell us about so thank you.
As much as I love cooking I too would love to spice up a stew or some other dish but don’t because I fear that I would mess things up and it would not taste good. I am far better at making cakes and pies!
I’m afraid I will add a spice and it will either make the dish taste bad or be too spicy.
Please read the comment I wrote on yesterdays post. The world is so fast paced that we have so much to think about. I could write a book on all the silly things my friends and I have done. A long list! I bought those Corelle plates from Amazon a few years ago. I hate to admit but they are in the cabinet most of the time. We use the Corelle pasta plate everyday instead of a plate. Less likely to spill. All you need is a Corelle plate or two for everyday. Maybe you or a friend could pick up one at the thrift store if your lucky.
I looked for the comment and couldn’t find it. I’ll look again.
Oh, Brenda, please don’t be so hard on yourself. You are definitely not dense and by the way that’s a very harsh word to call yourself. Be gentle with yourself, please. You have talents and gifts that I absolutely do not possess, and I find myself making fun of myself. Laugh it off, Brenda! It’s impossible for anyone to know everything.
And one more thing about myself there are times I’ve called on someone to help me figure out something and no matter how they explain it I simply can’t grasp it.
Just be you!
I was writing in a tongue-in-cheek manner. It’s good sometimes to poke fun at yourself.