Category Archives: review

The sad saga of the picnic table

August 17, 2020Odds and ends, reviewsusanmanzke

On August 2, I ordered a folding picnic table (Store name withheld at this point). It was to be delivered on the 8th, and then the 12, and then 13th….. Finally, it was to come today, the 17th, between 10 and 12.

A huge box was delivered by a freight company. It had my name on it. I couldn’t wait to open it and unfold my table–no assembly was required.

I planned on eating my lunch outside on my new table.

I couldn’t wait. I had anticipated this picnic table for weeks. I took photos of this big event as I planned on sharing my purchase here, with you.

It was extremely heavy, and I struggled to get it out of the box.

It wasn’t my folding picnic table.

It took all my strength to get that two-sided, 110 pound table top back in the box.

I wanted to cry.

Frustrated, I called the store, but heard the hold message and then went on their web site but was told to call the 800 number. Finally, calling I sat on hold for forty minutes.

They said my picnic table came straight from the manufacturer. They couldn’t understand how there was a mistake.

I’m to wait for a call from them to pick this THING back up–It’s too heavy for me to move it. Once returned, I get my refund.

But what I really want is my Picnic Table!

The sad saga of the folding picnic table continues.

Book: Ghost Boy

August 3, 2020reviewsusanmanzke

I just finished reading Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius.

I learned a lot from this book, especially that we should not judge a book by its cover. One person discovered Martin was trapped inside his body, that he was awake inside, not a ‘vegetable’. After years of being sick, Martin started to wake up. It took time, but eventually, he knew all that was happening around him, though at the time he couldn’t communicate with the world.

I’ve included a link to NPR’s Invisibilia’s. Here Lulu Miller tells the story of Martin Pistorius, whose body began to slowly shut down when he was 12 years old. For years, he was locked in his own body with nothing but his thoughts. (2015 interview)

https://www.npr.org/2015/01/09/375928581/locked-man

Ghost Boy is written by Martin. Through it we get a glimpse of the life he lived and how he is today.

I found the book inspirational. Anyone working with someone who has a communication challenge should read it. (It’s also a recorded book.)

Tea with the Dames

July 2, 2020reviewsusanmanzke

I have wanted to view this video for a few months. I saw it for a price on Amazon Prime.

Since I didn’t want to pay to watch this I finally remembered what I could do. I borrowed it from the library. It was actually in my local library and was on the shelf. I was able to pick it up curbside the same day.

The four dames are Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Plowright, and Dame Eileen Atkins. All these women are fantastic actresses, starting in their youth and continuing through their lives.

These four have been friends since the 1950s. In this video, they visit and talk about their lives, loves, and friendships.

It is about 86 minutes, but I wish it was longer.

I recommend this video to anyone who has enjoyed the many acting endeavors of these women.

Rewatching a good movie

February 27, 2020Odds and ends, reviewsusanmanzke

Bob and I watched Hidden Figures when it first came out in theaters in 2016 and were enthralled.

On the news on February 24th was the report of mathematician Katherine Johnson’s passing at the age of 101. So when I was working in the library on Tuesday, I checked out the DVD/Blu-ray and brought Hiden Figures home to watch again.

It was just as powerful as the first time I saw it. I recommend it to all my family and friends. If you saw it in the theater, it wouldn’t hurt to watch it again at home.

These women were hidden treasures that were finally found and celebrated.

Trying to eat healthy

November 25, 2019food, reviewsusanmanzke

After talking to our regular doctor, Bob and I are again trying to eat healthy. We have cut some carbs, but not enough. Bread is on the chopping block. Guess it’s oatmeal for breakfast and not toast tomorrow.

Anyway, we bought an assortment of vegetables at the grocery store. When we were in the freezer section I got stirfry packages and peas and some other stuff. Then I saw a new addition to our small-town store.

Next to the cauliflower florets was a package of Buffalo cauliflower. I thought flavored cauliflower would appeal to Bob–he really doesn’t care for ordinary cauliflower.

We bought it and made it as our side dish tonight.

I’m not too fond of spicy food, but I did make an effort to eat my serving. Bob didn’t care for the spicy cauliflower either.

When other food doesn’t meet our tastes, I can usually share it with our chickens, but not this time. Too spicy for our girls.

We ate about half of the buffalo cauliflower and tossed the rest.

Maybe this wouldn’t be spicy enough for some people. It was too spicy for us.

Just a warning for others like us, who take spice on the light side.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person