No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on October 24, 2020

I have had two songs on repeat in my head ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ by Antonio Carlos Jobim and ‘I am Woman’ by Helen Reddy.

Both songs are about strong women in different ways.

The Girl from Ipanema was written after Mr. Jobim noticed this strong tan young woman that is found desirable but she ignores all the men that find her attractive to go swim in the sea. 

I am Woman became the rally song for the ERA and the Women’s movement in the 70s. It was played at the Oscars as Kathryn Bigalow’s exit music after she won an Oscar for directing the Hurt Locker. It is a touchstone for many women.

It is a positive song about moving forward. “It’s not just for women,” Reddy said. “It’s a general empowerment song about feeling good about yourself, believing in yourself.” 

I can remember hearing it on the radio and feeling better about being female.

I have been told that I hold myself well and I have a quiet strength. Being taller than most of the world helps in this. The quiet strength I learned from observing my mother and all the things she had to deal with.

I know I have a low BS meter and can tell when I am being hosed or sucked up to. It does not end well. It never has.

I have to thank all the women who came before me allowing me to be me and not have to suppress my thoughts or ideas.

I try to help others so they can do the same. 

I am asked to moderate panels at conventions quite often. I know why I am often handed what might be a problematic group. I keep control of the panel without angering anyone and I can keep control of the audience as well. I have had some real doozies to take care of, but I managed to keep everyone in line. My secret, I don’t let anyone talk over me. I will shut that down fast. I also go over the rules of the panel before we start and the topic we are talking about. If we go too far afield, I will put us back on track. Yes, there have been occasional complaints but when the facts of the matter are put forward, it becomes pretty obvious that all I was doing was keeping the panel on track.

I try to be a good example for Caroline, so she knows that her voice is just as important as anyone else in the room. I do know that I have raised her not to be afraid to speak her mind.

I refused to be boxed in by old stereotypes. I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to be patted on the head and told I am being too emotional. 

My voice is just as important as anyone. My ideas are as viable as the next person’s. My emotions are as valid as anyone else. 

I believe this to the core of my soul. 

I am woman, hear me roar.

I am grateful for all the women who have made it possible for me to be me.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 23, 2020

I have the next four days off before going back to work.

I have a plan and am hoping to stick to it. 

Today we want to get up the lighting and the graveyard. 

There are also chores that need to be done and errands to run including pumpkin picking. This will be the 18^th year that Caroline has gone to this patch to choose her pumpkin.

After Halloween, I am going to be setting up the Peter David graphic novel and book sale for the holidays. You can get a personalized signature for $20.00 and the cost of shipping. The graphic novel is going to be random pick. The books are going to be done by title.

Also I will have some new puppets available shortly on

No Strings Attached Puppets

I am open to commissions at this time so feel free to get that puppet you have always wanted for the holidays.

I have a long list and I am going to get to it.

I am grateful for my job.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 20, 2020

I always know how long my parents have been married since it is one year more than I am old. Caroline can do the same trick with Peter and me.

I am a little fuzzier on the date. I do know it is today and they are celebrating with take-out from the restaurant they always go to on their anniversary.

My parents are my shining example of what a loving relationship should be. 

They are there for each other. They support each other in many ways. They show their love to each other to all.

I have been informed by friends that they are a cute couple and you can tell that they are in love.

That loving atmosphere helped them raise four children and grandparent three grandchildren.

I love my parents dearly but as I have gotten older, I appreciate them and what they taught me about being a good partner more.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. 

Hope the day was good to you.

Know that I love you very much and appreciate all you do for each other and for us.

I am so very grateful that my parents are my parents.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 18, 2020

We had a frost warning for last night. This morning it is in the lower 40s. It will get to 60 today but not much more.

Heat is working so that’s good.

Today is a sewing day for several projects. 

Yesterday I spent the day in the city with my daughter and her friends. We went to Mood then had Udon for lunch at Undo Lab. We hit Halloween Adventure which is having a mega sale on all their Doctor Who merch, which is on the bottom floor. We went to Midtown Comics and Forbidden Planet. We browsed our way through Kinokuniya Bookstore and finished up getting Ben & Jerry’s before getting back on the train for home. I am proud that we walked it with one exception. 

For the most part, everyone was wearing their masks correctly. There was Social distancing. There were lines at the proper distance to get in a variety of places. The only one we stood on was to get into Kinokuniya and that was not very long a wait.

For the most part people were polite about the restrictions. That was nice to see.

The energy of the city felt like everyone was in a defensive crouch. For contact tracing, we had to sign into the restaurant, and they checked our temperature.  We had to sanitize our hands before we could go into various stores.  NYC is being very careful. I felt comfortable for the most part going around the city.

I have my plan for the day and I figured out to execute it.

I am grateful that I had a good experience in the city.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 17, 2020

I figured this was going to happen because of my hours at work.

I am enjoying my job. I now know what I can and cannot talk about because I took the Michael’s social media do’s and don’ts web class. Apparently if I recommend a product that we have there, I have to inform the person that I work at Michael’s. If I post a picture of something cool that we have for sale, I have to add that I work at Michael’s. There is some reason behind it like how Instagram insists that if you are promoting a product you got for free, you have to tell your audience that you are promoting this product and tag the company that gave it to you. 

One of the big rules is no names. I can designate people by a letter, but I cannot put their name here. 

Most of what they want is common sense and covers their butts and mine.

Hi there, I work at Michael’s and we have unpainted Nutcrackers that allow people to create custom one of the kind art. I think that is a brilliant idea and I am tempted to make one.

Fig is now ten years old and has developed grit in her bladder which is causing her great discomfort. She is on a new diet and some antibiotics to see if we can correct this before they become stones. We discovered this because she started peeing blood.

I have a puppet to make that I have a body just sitting around to be used for just this situation. I am going to make a couple more because it is useful to have them. 

I feel like my creative is kicking in again. Maybe it is because when I walk through the store, I see potential puppet parts and figuring out what I would do with them. It is a nice feeling.

I am adjusting as I get up at 4:00 AM to get to work by 5:00 AM then I leave at 9:30 AM which gives me the rest of my day to do whatever. This means I am adjusting my bedtime to 9:00 PM so I can get up at 4. Funny thing is that after two weeks, I am getting tired at 9 PM even on my off days. So, I am pretty much keeping to the same sleep schedule.

It is going to be a lovely day today. I am going to enjoy it.

We need to get ready for Halloween. I think the lighting will go up tomorrow and the rest on Monday. I have a couple of ideas I want to create this year. Including an idea for the door that if it works out, it will be amazing.

Things are fine and we are good.

Wash your hands, wear a mask correctly, and take care of yourselves. You know how I worry.

I am grateful for new opportunities. 

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