Tag: Dopamine Menu

Posted in Sunday Report

November, again

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I have remembered My Ancestors with flowers and music this All Hallowtide, lighting candles and feasting on harvest soup. I am very grateful to have been born into this line of DNA, especially for the love and care I was given by my parents and grandparents when I was very young.

23 years ago today, my Mom died. She was only 71, was in decent health, still planning her life and I’m sure she was as shocked as we were when she passed over into whatever dimension we transition to from here. That was probably the darkest November of my life, but the short days and long nights wear on my general cheerfulness.

What we need right here, right now, is a Dopamine Menu:

EVPL Book Sale 11/8-9

Get a flu, covid, RSV shot

Wilson Auction 11/7-8

Xanadu 11/23

11/26 Annual Thanksgiving Sleep-over,

11/27 waking up to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, followed by feasting with the Jrs Give Thanks!!!

11/30 Casey’s birthday #71 – what a youngster!

There’s a lot of blank space in there which could open the door for some of that bleak November vibe to settle into the old bones, so I’m Taking a hint from the now-defunct NaNoWriMo challenge to write a Novel (50,000 words) in November….except I have never wanted to write a novel – not since grade school, anyway. I prefer to write features and columns, if you know what I mean from Journalism 101, so I’ve crafted a bespoke challenge to entertain me during this shady season.

I don’t mean that I’m going to publish something daily. I have an outline of topics for long-read type essays, and a list of characters for family tales that could extend to short stories. I’m stoked this time, though, so I ought to get in at least two weeks before I start flagging. Lord knows I have little else to do, but somehow my attention strays easily.

Which reminds me…I did this thing out in the Peace/Bird Garden.

Before
After

I’ve been looking at the peace sign upside-down for years now, meaning to change it around someday.

Upside-down or Inside-Out

Peace

Posted in Monthly Dopamine Menu, Sunday Report

March Dopamine Menu

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

March has marched in quietly and the weeks ahead look mild, so I’m suspicious. You know the old saying “In like a lion, out like a lamb”? It’s my observation that March is just as often “In like a lamb, out like a lion”. I’ve been fooled before by the early Spring-like weather, only to face Wintry Weeks as we exit into April. I’d just as soon get the winter all over with, but my requests are obviously falling on deaf ears in the heavens.

The Church year finally rolls around to the Lenten Season with a late Ash Wednesday on the 5th. Having spent 25 years playing the organ for the local Lutherans, I like to use this season for a little fasting and Lord knows I need to curtail my appetite. The six weeks are also marked in the High Churches with extra Wednesday services and I like that. I guess I’ll have to see what sort of extra contemplation I can do.

You can’t have Ash Wednesday without Mardi Gras, now, so I’m gearing up with fixins for Jambalaya, King Cake, and Hurricanes. Since this will be my last night of reveling until Easter, I’m doing it up with All the Calories. My Ash Wednesday fast may be because my stomach hurts, but at least it will be humbling.

It is not at all fair that the Church gave us a Drinking Holiday in the middle of Lent, but they did, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, the most Irish of American Celebrations. I’ve heard that the Irish don’t actually eat corned beef on the Saint’s Day, but I do and look forward to it with a side of cabbage. Jameson and Ginger is okay with the Irish, I hope, as that will be my drink of choice…

The Pagans celebrate a Big Event this month = The Spring Equinox, aka Ostara, is happening March 20-21st. 12 hours of Sun! We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? I hope we get to see the sun on those days, but we’ll celebrate through whatever Mother Nature sends us.

I’ve always been a voracious reader and have used an e-reader since whenever it was they put out the first Nooks. These days, I read daily with my Kindle, mostly non-fiction with a smattering of mysteries. My old eyes do better with the back-lighting, but I miss reading actual books – holding them in my hands, turning the pages- and I have always loved going to the Library, so March is going to be Library Month. Our neighborhood branch of the public library just got a major remodeling, so I’m excited to see how it turned out. Willard Library is in a league of its own, housing our local genealogy groups as well as a fine collection of books; if they don’t have a title, they will order it for you. The historic building, smelling of Murphy’s wood soap, is a treat to just sit in, soaking up the sun in front of the 150-year-old windows, but I’ll be sure to check out some tomes.

The remainder of the Menu looks like this:

Thrift Shop shopping – Look out Goodwill, here I come!

Old Crow Medicine Show is in town 3/13/25 and we’ll be there!

The Auction House in New Harmony is always a pleasant way to spend time. This month previews are 3/21. I hope Lana and Charley can meet up with us there!

I am planning at least three Lunches with the Ladies, but there’s room for more!

Angel Mounds is presenting “Astronomy at the Mounds” on 3/22 and I hope the skies are clear that evening.

I’m still staying away from engagement with media, but I am fully aware of what’s going on. We all need to take care of our mental health, and these kinds of Plans are helpful for me as I strive to keep Peace and Love in my heart and mind.

Fat Tuesday will be here before you know it! My stereo will be pumping out Dr. John, Neville Brothers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, and Buckwheat Zydeco. Let the Good Times Roll!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Get the Party Started

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

It is a beautiful Imbolc Week-end here at the Acres, sunny and mild; I definitely saw my shadow, so we can look forward to six more weeks of winter. These next four weeks promise fun for all, filled with birthdays, rollicking comedy with cousins, and lunches at fancy places.

I have a new sink in the upstairs bathroom, thank-you, Casey! As usual, I forgot to get the “before” picture, but we are quite a ways from the finished project, so these photos will have to do.

I completed January’s dopamine menu with the exception of visiting the Zoo and the Museum. Let’s just start the February Menu with those:

Visit Zoo

Visit Museum

Finish up the bathroom project.

U of E Theatre is presenting “Clydes”, a “riotous” comedy this month, so Lana and I (and flat Ronna) will go on the 16th.

Grandie #4 will move into double digits (10) on the 22nd. She’s going to have an ice-skating party with her friends on 3/1, but celebrate with me on the 23rd.

Also on the 22nd, Cousin Lana’s grandie, Haley, will marry her fella, Logan; we’re invited to the dinner/dance following the civil ceremony! There will be at least five cousins there at the Carmi VFW, so look out!

The 23rd is my Actual Date of Birth, and the Jrs. will be around to help me celebrate.

Currently, I only have one lunch planned, so I can fit a lot more people on my lunch card. Seriously, if you live nearby, DM me and let’s meet up. We could walk at the mall, too, if you’re interested; I’ll be there a couple of times a week.

These next couple of weeks, the weather forecast is as good as it gets for February. Fingers crossed that the mild trend continues.

Keep on the Sunny Side…

Peace