End of the week

Posted on March 20, 2009 by ruthek

Tomorrow I teach my first blogging class. I think I'm ready for it. I sent an email to my students with the class syllabus. It is also posted on Silver Streakers, and I'll report on the class there. I have one student I haven't been able to reach: no email address; phone has been busy or no one answers. Everyone needs an email address in order to start a blog. I hope I won't have to get into that in the class. Thanks to Len, my sometime partner in Silver Streakers, I found some excellent videos on YouTube that explained some of the aspects of blogging I've been hazy about.

I think I finally won my war with the ants. Initially, I spread the borax around the sink and floor near the sink. It didn't have any effect. The ants avoided it, but managed to get around anyway, and I only saw a few at any one time. On Wednesday, after cleaning up all of the borax, I tried a different mode of attack. I made a saturated sugar solution and poured some borax into it and left it in the sink. Wednesday night there were ants all over the sink. I left them alone, the point being they eat the sugar solution and carry it back to the nest. Thursday morning there were a few bodies floating in the sugar, but all the rest were gone. Today I have only seen two of them. They're very tiny, less than 1/4 inch long and I can barely see them. I'm hoping I won't see them again.

I'm still walking; four miles yesterday, but only a mile today: too cold. The sun came out just as we finished. Maybe I ought to go out again.

Walking with my “fat child”

Posted on March 9, 2009 by ruthek

Something I saw on Facebook this morning made me start thinking about fat children; my fat childhood came with me on today's walk. My brother and I were both fat children and both of us hated being fat. It left us with scars that affected our entire adult lives, in fact, probably killing my brother three years ago.

Here is my kindergarten picture. I wanted to be one of the skinny girls on the right, not one of the fat ones on the left. Obviously, life in the fat lane began before I entered school and continued until I was sixteen when I took control of my life and finally managed to get to a "normal" size (14). I hate to blame my mother for this, but who controls the eating habits of a three, four or five year old, or even a 10 year old. My mother expressed love with food and most of her communication with us involved food. She controlled how much went on our plates and always urged us to clean those plates. "Think of the starving children in Europe."

If I wanted to eat a packaged cookie, which was in the house, she yelled at me. But she was an excellent baker; most of the time there were home-baked cookies or cakes, which she urged us to eat. Looking at the photos, and there aren't many, brings back lots of memories: the dresses I couldn't buy because there was nothing to fit me. Sometimes I was frantic about it. Chubbie sizes were introduced at some point when I was a child, but there never seemed to be anything for me.

This is a picture of Arvin, about ten years old. He was beautiful, but all he saw of himself was his fat, well disguised in the photo. He was four years younger than me.

I wasn't allowed to buy milk in school. They used to give us half pint bottles before recess for a milk break. They cost a penny or two. It wasn't the pennies: it was my mother's effort to keep me from getting fatter. It made me always the outsider.

And let's talk about exercise. I was a tomboy. There were lots of boys living in the apartments near us. They were my favorite playmates. The only real exercise I got was running around with them. My mother always objected. I shouldn't run around with the boys; I shouldn't run around.

Nice girls didn't exercise. Jewish girls were nice. Therefore, Jewish girls shouldn't exercise. How's that for a syllogism. My mother's idea of a perfect girl child was someone who sat at home and read. If no new books were available, the perfect child would sit and twiddle her thumbs. I don't remember when I began my rebellion; probably with the thumb twiddling and continued through most of my mother's life. As I got older there were several times when she would get really angry at me if I lost weight. I guess I was insulting her.

My exercise now is like a moral imperative. I can't say I love it; I think it's very important and helps keep me moving.

Still walking

Posted on March 8, 2009 by ruthek

The weather the last few days has been conducive to walking and I'm taking advantage of it. On Thursday I went to the Strip, an area with restaurants, night clubs and many old time food stores. I was looking for poppy seeds, one of the essentials for food for the Jewish holiday of Purim, which occurs tomorrow and Tuesday. I found poppy seeds in two places (usually not so easy to do) and bought what probably constitutes a lifetime supply. Robin used some to make a stuffed challah (with onions and poppy seeds) for Shabat dinner on Friday. Today she will probably make hamantaschen, I hope. While this errand involved some walking it was not enough.

Darcy was full of energy when I got to Robin's to drop off the poppy seeds, so I took her for a long walk. I always seem to need some motivation in order to get going. We walked over to Mellon Park where she sat for a long time watching other dogs playing. Usually she hates other dogs and will bark and snap at them, but she seems to like watching them run around and play. I can't let her off leash; even if she behaved with other dogs she really couldn't run around with them.

Friday I walked over to the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt. That's about 3.5 miles and I was very proud of myself. Yesterday I walked to the Squirrel Hill Theater to see Milk. That was 2.5 miles each way and on both days I still had energy when I got home. It's been raining a little this morning, but I'm thinking about going out soon. Just haven't figured out where to go.

A good day

Posted on February 26, 2009 by ruthek

Yesterday was a beautiful day: a taste of spring inspiring me to take a long walk. Having spent most of my first 63 years in Chicago I do not believe Spring comes in February. In fact, I hardly believe in Spring–most of the time there was winter and then there was summer. In spite of that I truly enjoyed the day. It is still warm today, although very gray, but I will go for another long walk.

I began the day with my tai chi class. Not the class which met twice a week for mild exercise at the health club, but a real tai chi class. We are learning to relax and sink; to walk on thin ice; to ward off left and right; to change the weight on each leg; and the five most important principles of the 55 that constitute tai chi. I've been doing this for several years now. My teacher says it can take ten years to really learn those first movements. My legs still rebel at all of the weight shifting and I need to practice more.

After the class I took a short walk, about a half mile, over to Carnegie Mellon University, and sat through an interesting lecture on the management of culture in China. I had never given any thought to the policies that promoted the numerous archaeological digs and how the objects were managed after they were found, so this lecture gave me much to think about.

Since I came to Pittsburgh I've been looking for some kind of volunteer work that didn't involve raising money, long hours on my feet or stuffing envelopes. I think I finally found a tutoring opportunity, but it requires tutoring reading as well as speaking. So my next stop was the library where I picked up a book on teaching ESL. From there, I walked home–about two miles, and felt very virtuous.

Moments of reality

Posted on January 3, 2009 by ruthek

The sun was shining; the sky was blue and cloudless; despite the cold I decided to walk to East Liberty and pick up my prescriptions at Walgreens. There's a Borders in the same complex as the drugstore and I stopped in to warm up. While I was browsing in the magazine section, in fact looking at a jewelry mag, a woman questioned me, "What kind of jewelry do you make?" One of the great things about Pittsburgh is that people talk to you. We had a long, very pleasant conversation during which she mentioned she had been a librarian. I told her I thought that was something I might have enjoyed doing. She said, why don't you do it? Go back to school. I said no, I didn't want to work again. We left it at that, but I've been thinking about it all day. I think this was the first time I've acknowledged to myself that I am too old to do something.

This evening I finally went through the pile of papers I brought back from my trip. It made me very sad. I will probably never return to Japan, although I would very much like to. I have finally, at almost 75 years, concluded I would not do another trip like that alone and as inexpensively as I have done these last two. Having money makes things much easier, and I no longer have confidence that my money will outlast me. I may have to go back to work, yet.

The lady in Borders had the same undaunted attitude I had a year ago. This has been a hard year for me, sometimes wonderful, occasionally frightful; it has very much altered my vision of myself and my attitude. I hope I can recover my sense of invincibility, or maybe it's just a fantasy I've had for 74 years.

Sunday walk

Posted on December 28, 2008 by ruthek

I smell like latkes, or rather my coat smells like latkes. I've taken the coat out for several airings, but it doesn't seem to go away. Everything else has gone into the laundry. I went to two Hanuka parties where they fried the latkes (potato pancakes) after we arrived. Latkes are good on Hanuka, but not having to smell them for days afterward.

The weather has been amazing these last two days. Yesterday was in the high 60's and I didn't wear a coat. It's colder today, but the sky is that beautiful blue and the sun feels warm. The radio was forcasting high winds; I wasn't sure I wanted to go out. After Robin told me it was beautiful I put on my coat and started walking. Pretending I was still in Japan I took my camera with me. This was the first thing to catch my eye.

Library - 10280

I watched the red house being painted before I left. It makes an amazing contract with the pristine white lady next to it; almost enough to inspire a story.

Further on this tree spoke to me.

It's not like the Japanese gardens, but somehow the trees give me the same feeling.

I finally got to Trader Joe's where I had one of their little cups of coffee and bought a few things I should have left in the store. They have great nosh and I don't want to gain back the weight I lost.

Met Tuesday

Posted on May 21, 2008 by ruthek

I can't believe I was actually in New York six days before I got to the Met. I saw the blockbuster, Courbet, when I was here last month. This time, walking toward the newly installed Oceania wing, I noticed the newest Costume Institute show, "Superheroes, Fashion and Fantasy," was relatively empty, so I walked in there first. These installations are often weird; this one certainly was. While I loved comic books, Superman and Wonderwoman, when I was a kid, I wasn't too keen on this show. Some of the fashions were intriguing; nothing you'd wear on the street.

I really enjoyed the new installation of material from New Guinea. Robin and Steve were there in the 1980's and I was able to go and visit them. I brought back a number of pieces from the Sepik River, some of which I'd like to sell. So I look at these museum exhibits with two ideas in mind: just enjoying them and how do they relate to what I own. I was told originally that the pieces had to be much older to have real value. The Met has many pieces dated to the 1970's. Can I be far behind?

After a quiet lunch I went to China, Japan, India and Korea. Those are the best galleries because they are usually quiet, not the crowded mess found in the more popular galleries.

I left the museum about 1 pm and went to the bus stop at 84th and Fifth Ave. After standing about 10 minutes I noticed there was no traffic emerging for the Park and on to 84th St. Even though I was tired and my feet hurt, I started walking; it's much easier than standing. Only after I got back near the apartment and made some purchases in a nearby deli, did the first bus show up. I'm glad I didn't wait.

In the evening I went to dinner in New Rochelle with friends and made a new friend: a woman who is going to Japan next October and wanted to hear about my trip. She's a lovely lady and I had a great time. I brought my book for show and tell. It's a great way to tell people about the trip

My New York Monday

Posted on May 19, 2008 by ruthek

Not prose, not a poem–just random jottings

A noisy place, my New York. Bright sunshine this morning, with thunder–or was that construction noise. Workmen in the hall, outside my door: hammering, talking, tools dropping. Building being renovated.

Walk outside–jack hammer, generator. Walk through the projects–street quiet–six buses hanging out. 3 cats in ASPCA window. If I look too long, one of them might be mine.

Got on the bus. Old man with walker–doesn’t want special lift–climbs stairs like a mountain. I understand.

Subway to Bowling Green: Custom House, George Gustav Heye Center, National Museum of the American Indian. One of my favorite places in NYC. Beautiful pieces–headless figures like Yinka Shonibare. Is there some meaning in headlessness? More reading, like NMAI in DC–too low–too small–too dark.

Walk down Broadway. Big crowd on the traffic island with the Wall Street bull. Greeks commemorating the Pontic Massacre in the early 20th Century.

Trinity Church: sculpture of tree roots in the courtyard.

Walking to Century 21 Department Store. Looks like storm coming. Happy to get inside, but very crowded. Julia called while I was trying on sneakers. Couldn’t talk, keep my seat, watch shoes I want to buy and old shoes I wore. Buy 2 pair, one pink and purple. Feet hurt.

More wind, a few raindrops–just spitting like Pittsburgh rain. Stopped at J&R Music and Computers. Saw Fujitsu, a tiny notebook at twice the price of the ASUS. Will probably buy the ASUS before I go to China. Getting hungry.

Walk under Brooklyn Bridge toward Chinatown, on East Broadway. Not familiar with street–too many people–need food–need to sit down. Turn on Division where I’ve been with Shirley Sun. Found buffet restaurant: 4 choices from enormous buffet plus rice: $4.50. Tofu, green beans, noodles, sesame chicken.

Crossed street to bakery: melon cake and lemon tea. Figaro cat loved melon cake from Chinatown in Chicago. Don’t know if he loved melon or crust part best. Sitting again. Bakery got very busy. Old woman sitting near me got up and quickly took a tart from behind the counter. I think she stole it.

Walked down Canal St. to the subway. One block of shops locked up by government order. Must have been knock-off headquarters. Back to apartment. Still working in the hall. Happy to sit again. Photos next week.

Inspiration

Posted on April 27, 2008 by ruthek

Unusually, I went to three movies this week. The first two were largely forgettable, but this afternoon was a treat: Blindsight, a documentary about six blind Tibetan teenagers who climbed the mountain north of Everest. The views of the mountains are spectacular; the situation of the blind in Tibet, tragic. A scene at the beginning of the movie showing Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mt Everest, crossing an abyss on a bridge made by a ladder, terrified me. Most important, the movie was an inspiration. Those teenagers took on a staggering challenge and triumphed. It changed their lives.

The movie inspires me to work harder on a challenge of my own. Since I returned from Japan I have been very conscious of my problems with steps and with balance. Recently I went to a specialist on balance problems and was diagnosed with weakness in the muscles around my hips and thighs; probably also around my knees. She gave me some exercises and sent me to a physical therapist who gave me more exercises. I’m doing them religiously, continuing to walk miles, and I’m more than ever determined to be able conquer my fear and to climb those steps, up and down, when I return to Japan next fall.

Spring walk

Posted on April 6, 2008 by ruthek

I had a great urge to go out walking this weekend, but no one to go with. Finally decided to go over to the Frick Art and History Center to see a new exhibit: Steel, by Craig McPherson. Lovely work, but not enough walking. I continued on into the park. It was OK, Mary. Lots of people were there.

I like walking alone, even though Mary doesn’t want me to do it. I can stop and take pictures as often as I want, and I can maintain a lively internal dialog. Most of the time it was about what was going on in the park and looking for signs of spring. There were lots of early spring flowers in the neatly manicured part of the park, but it was much more difficult to see green in the natural part of the park. I could see evidence of more caretaking than is obvious when all the leaves have come out.
A number of trees had been newly felled. They had either fallen on the trail or were menacing it.

The cut or fallen logs are left near the trail making fascinating designs on the fallen leaves. The cut surfaces are wonderful, also.
You can see a little bit of green to the left of the tree stump.

I didn’t see any spring flowers, but there was much more green as I got to the bottom of the hill.

One of the more unpleasant aspects of walking in spring is the clear view you get of this huge house that looms over the park. It’s big enough to be a hotel, but I’m told only two people live there. Pittsburgh obviously needs better zoning laws.
It’s not as noticeable in summer. I tried to find more info about the place, but without some basic data I can’t find anything. Alice does your friend know anything about this one?

After I left the park I was startled to see this tree with tiny red flowers all over it.
Again, my lack of horticultural knowledge comes to the fore. I have no idea what this is. I tried to get a closeup of the flower, but I didn’t focus properly. One of the drawbacks of an autofocus camera and being too blind to do it myself.

Here is the iron fence surrounding the area I live in. Supposedly, Heinz installed it as a wedding gift for his new bride. How would you feel about an iron fence as a wedding gift?
This fence runs all along Penn Avenue. It’s actually the first time I’ve walked down the entire block. I usually just cross Penn Ave and go on to my own street. Too much traffic on Penn to make it a pleasant walk.

Circumnavigating the entire huge block is more than a half mile. The east west streets have this stone wall
along them, and my street has stone pillars. All of the stones look like they might have been there for a century, but I have no way to know what is original.

This wonderful bronze emblem is embedded in the sidewalk just as you enter my street. It may also be very old, proudly set into the cement by the paving company.

100 Books Before I Die

Ruthe Karlin

Category Archives: Walking