"you shouldn't judge a book by its cover" - what lies beneath could bear an element of surprise
Our Thanksgiving still has not taken place.
Biff and his brood mostly stay confined to their room -
even when they are well.
Richard and I both went to church yesterday -
though he should have stayed home.
Jaime spent her dinner with some members of
our ward and brought home left overs - so that was nice.
She left the next day to spend her weekend with
some high school buddies.
I am so grateful that she was able
to enjoy her holiday.
I was feeling fine when I woke up on Tuesday. I don’t know what I had encountered before noon, but I had a throbbing headache just after 12:00. Probably Richard and I should have not gone to the temple, but we did. We left the house before 1:00 but did not get to Central Point until 2:40. Traffic was horrible. It doesn’t take that long to get to Ashland.
We were signed up for the 3:00 session. Just
after 5:00 we were on our way to Ashland to pick up Jaime. We met her at a 7-11 and I had gone inside to
get something for my headache. Richard
and Ally got sick first and then Biff and then me and Clair – I think Clair
may have been hit the hardest. She looks
terrible.
Jaime has spent many a Thanksgivings
feeling sick. Ironically, she is the
only one who is well. None of the rest
of us even want to eat – let alone a
feast. Biff made chicken soup and I took
Jaime to a friend in the ward so that she could have a real Thanksgiving – not just
dinner but in the presence of company that give reason to thank.
Meanwhile there is a turkey, yams and
pies waiting to be had. Maybe early in December?
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Tomorrow is Thanksgiving
and our household is sick.
Jaime has returned for four days.
Fortunately she will be with friends
for three of them.
I need to be well by Sunday
for I am scheduled to teach RS.
This is us at Stewart Park. I find it interesting that there are only five ducks and no pigeons.
First it was my feet
Then it was my ears
And now my left arm?
Why not both arms?
Why does my left arm
feel
like it’s caught
in
a draft?
What
is up with that?
Seriously.
It’s
as if I have no blood flow.
Why
is my arm always cold?
I had three layers on my arm this morning!
My
right arm seems okay.
Perhaps my left arm just
doesn't get enough exercise
When we lived in West Valley
I
rarely used covers at night
Maybe
10 times a year
Maybe
Even
after we moved here
And
I would fall asleep on
The
recliner,
Richard
would cover me
But
the covers would come off
Long
before morning
And
then we moved into a
Different
house
And
suddenly my toes were always
Cold
And
so I would keep them
Covered
But
lately it seems like I
Am
covering all of me.
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I
think the earth is spinning
Nearer
to the sun and then
To
the other extreme
So
far away from the sun that
Its
always cold
Hard
to imagine that just over
six
weeks ago I was complaining
about
the heat.
Ten
weeks ago it was in the
Three
digits in California
We
had moved to Oregon for
The
constancy – which
We
have never had.
I
don’t want three
digits and
Then
near freezing (or
Below
freezing)
At
this point I don’t
Think
it even matters
In
what state or nation
Autumn
is still producing
Gorgeous
colors
That’s nice.
There’s a perk.
When Steven was in his senior year of high school he had the opportunity of going back to New York with the high school drama department. My mom and dad also took the opportunity of going as there was a need for chaperones. I don’t recall how much the trip costs or how many plays they were scheduled to see.
First two pics are of Shelly and Me at a picnic area off pioneer village. The other two were taken upon the return of the rest of our family.
Driving to Roseburg yesterday seemed almost like driving into the Twilight Zone – sort of a slow strobe effect.
Mist
disappearing
scenery
blue
skies
inviting
sign
just
kidding
dark
clouds
is
that smoke or rain?
sunny
blue sky above the dark clouds
fog
again
cold
bleakness
inviting
warmth
all
within a matter of minutes
so
surreal
 |
| This is just our neighborhood. The change was a lot more drastic going to Roseburg. Bluer sky and darker clouds. |
Since they moved in Claire has just taken over where they put things and when it will get put away. Biff just goes along with it. They had invaded our fridge with Ally’s medicine – even after they had hooked up their own. After Richard and I returned home from Costco one day I took it upon myself to move the remainder of Ally’s medicine into their small fridge and told them that I needed our fridge for actual food.
Richard and I had to restack their
items that they put in my brand new shed.
Exploded and unorganized. It
still is, but at least Richard was able to make some space for our things. On the plus side we are finally able to get
to the Christmas tree. So kudos to them
for that – I guess. Still haven’t found
a home for the fish tank which takes up so much room. They don’t need to hang on to all that they
brought with them. Why did they bring it? But I suppose we could say the same about all
the stuff I have yet to sort through for myself.
The latest assumption was when
Richard invited Biff to go and see some Marvel movie that I, of course, have no
interest in. Claire, upon hearing the
invitation, asked if she could go or if it was just a boy thing. Richard really didn’t mind taking her but
made it clear that Ally would be staying home with me and would not be going to
the movies with them.
I don’t know if Claire looks at me
as incompetent – which I probably am when it comes to Ally. I definitely do not have Claire’s gift of
patience or her compassion towards Ally. Richard and I have raised our children
– and we were old parents when we had Jaime.
Jaime was pretty perfect compared to most children and Ally is on a
complete different end of the scale. Richard
and I are old – raised in an entirely different generation. We don’t have the tolerance for having to put up with Ally’s behavior behind
closed doors. Why would we want to
subject ourselves to that?
Claire suggested that they take Ally
to the movies and they could watch Gru in one theatre while the boys watched
the Marvel movie in the other. Ally
would really like the experience of
being in the theatre. Ally is
spoiled. Nevermind that the Marvel movie
and Gru are two different lengths and would not start or end at the same
time. Richard did not give in. Said Gru was available on our TV and Ally
could watch it from the couch.
But you can’t experience theatre
popcorn from the couch. The TV is so
much smaller. Whip out the violins! If giving Ally the theatre experience is
really that important to you, then Claire and Biff need to set aside 30 – 50 dollars
and take Ally to the movies themselves!
Wouldn’t it be more meaningful for them to “give” that gift to Ally
instead of constantly “taking”. Perhaps
it’s an ADD thing. Give them an inch and
they want a mile. If you’re not going to allow us to discipline Ally as we see
fit than don’t expect us to be present for any outburst that she may have. And she will have them. She has at least one meltdown a day.
Biff and Richard ended up going to the movies by themselves. I have heard Ally laugh. I have seen her smile. She had three meltdowns from the time I started this post and now posting. I wish the weather had been more promising and I had gone to Ashland. But Jaime did get some things accomplished and managed to enjoy herself. So that's good.
There has always been economic growth and layoffs, outrageous prices and cutting costs. It was in 2008 when Shelly started a seasonal job at Target. She worked on Black Friday and was laid off. Are you kidding me? What was the point? 2009 didn't offer the turnout that Target had expected. Apparently it was the one day that would make or break the rest of Christmas line-up. It broke.
The following year Richard also landed a seasonal job with Target. I reminded him about the experience that Shelly had had the year prior. Each had been hired for the Christmas rush. He had only worked a week or two and Target realized that their numbers of sales were not even close to what it had been years before. He was let go as were several others who had been hired to work the Christmas season. That was weird.
Several places still make the claim of needing help (and is actually quite obvious) and yet it doesn't appear that there have been a ton of people being hired. Why is that?
Jaime said she would not have classes today
or tomorrow and
could I come get her?
but she would need to return on
Saturday as she has tickets
to see a play.
An hour and a half is not that far
But gas prices are outrageous.
Perhaps I could just spend a
few nights in Ashland.
Richard said it was okay.
We prayed about our decision.
John Mayer did not reveal a
promising forecast - though
yesterday did seem more driveable
than it is currently.
I went and got my hair done yesterday
and was talking to my hair dresser
who also advised against driving down
with all those mountain passes to go through.
What mountains?
I'm from Utah.
Those are just hills.
Snow is/was in the hills.
It melts pretty quickly.
Too cold to snow.
But not too cold to freeze.
And it has rained.
I could slip on ice.
Or another car could slip
into me.
So many drivers seem to be
in a hurry.
I wouldn't be in a hurry.
I would be hitting every rest stop
between here and Ashland
the way I had hit
every rest stop between Myrtle
Creek and the Young Women's
camp that was located outside of
Eugene. I made it there
Surely I could make it to Ashland.
But it was better weather when I had
retrieved Jaime from camp back in
2019 (here). It was in June - before
the outlandish weather that seemed
to come along side the pandemic.
Both Jaime and I were looking forward
to the possibility of my coming for a visit.
The warning signs are there.
The answer was "No"
at least this time around.
You know it's hot when Richard is the one who suggests to open a window or turn on the fan. Surprisingly I don't think I felt as warm as he did. I was comfortable and in no hurry to leave the bed. Perhaps 20 min or so had passed before I decided to get up and open the window at least a crack. I also threw his pajama top over the vent - he must have been hot!
This morning I noticed the box had been moved from the vent in the bathroom. I will have to find something less bulky. But as for now the window remains open. True there is a chill - but I have put on a long sleeve shirt. The scenery is so pretty outside
Each of us in the household have been sick - though Biff hasn't experienced what the rest of us have - and hopefully it may pass him completely. Claire looks awful - which is how I imagined I must have looked. I never felt as horrible as Richard sounds. He did sound better last night than the night before. Still not sleeping great - but at least it was not his cough that was keeping him up.
I always open the windows to let in the fresh air - also because I'm always hot. When Richard comes to bed he always complains that it is cold. Thus yesterday I made certain that the windows were shut, the fan was off and the vent wasn't covered. I was still awake when he came to in the room. We watched TV and I fell asleep.
It wasn't overly hot in our room this last night but I had tossed and turned for much of the night trying to adjust to the temperature as I could not decide weather I was hot or cold. It had rained all night. I was quite surprised to see the window was open this morning. He said he opened it to let the moisture in. It must have helped him. It totally pleased me.
It’s weird how one’s mind works sometimes and what odd things might trigger memories that haven’t been considered for decades. A movie title had come up in the grid that reminded me of an odd relationship with my next door neighbor sometime after his wife had passed. Keep in mind that he was old. I had gone out with his two oldest grandsons at one time or another. There is no way I was looking for that kind of relationship with the grandfather! Give me a break!
Yet, for some reason, he seemed to feel the need to call me to suggest I might want to read a certain book or watch a certain movie. I don’t know why he singled me out of all people – but would call a few times a week. Each time my mom would answer she’d teasingly tell me it was my “boyfriend” on the phone. Granted, he was a lonely old man (who was hard of hearing, I might add). It still remains a mystery of why he had selected me. Or why he thought he knew me well enough to make suggestions based upon my personal preference. Weird.
Ever since they had moved into our house, Biff and Claire would sleep in until 10:00 or later. Okay. I get the exhaustion from traveling – but come on. They did manage to make it up on time for the first Sunday meeting they were here. That was the last time.
Three weeks later
Ally was enrolled in the local school and then the family started getting up at
8:10 and out the door half an hour later.
Still dragged. Still
delayed. But after Biff started his job
in Roseburg, the family was up and out by 7:30.
Such a waist of gas going back and forth so that Claire could have the
car. Theoretically they could put Ally
on the bus but choose not to. So for an
entire week Biff would drive the family to his work in Roseburg and Claire
would take the car to the school, walk Char around and return to the house to
sort and clean – pick Ally up from
school (with Char) return to Roseburg.
They had a routine. It was nice!
But after the Halloween
party Ally got sick – they claim. I don’t
know. I have been sick and now Richard
is sick and it’s hard to know if Ally is really sick
or not. Richard and I are very certain
that she has not felt as miserable as we.
Claire had her stay home from school on Monday but then allowed her to
go trick-or-treating downtown. Say
what? You are allowing your sick child
to have candy? Okay. She’s
been home for three days and Claire hopefully announced that maybe they could
return Ally to school and then took her out for three hours last night though
it was 34 degrees outside.
Seriously? Needless to say Ally did
not go to school today. Meanwhile
Richard sounds as though he is on his deathbed.
Thus far he has had tea to drink.
I’d
like to see this entire household get better.
I would like to see our “guests”
return to last week’s routine. I would still prefer more distance –
separate houses. We already seem to be
living separate lives.
Since we moved into the ward Jaime has suggested a ward trunk-or-treat. Now that she is gone, the ward did their first trunk-or-treat this year. The trunk-or-treat activity started at 5:00 followed by a party featuring a chili and corn bread cook off.
After we returned home from the ward party on Saturday I could feel my throat starting to get sore. I made the mistake of taking a lozenge and allowing it to sit under my tongue all night. My teeth hurt the following morning – and I just got to the point where I am no longer pained by cold drinks or food. Now I have to start all over again.
I missed church on Sunday – turns out that Richard was the only one to leave
the house. Ally had a slight cough and I
had heard that her throat was sore. She
didn’t act sick. Not like I was sick. Still, I don’t
know why both mom and dad had to stay home with her. But whatever.
My head throbbed. It felt like
the beginning of a sinus infection.
Carolyn had asked if I would like to go
get coffee with her and Dan on Friday but I told her I might still be sick (not
even thinking about health the rest of my household. Since the start of the pandemic Carolyn has
been cautious about germs) and she suggested I get tested for COVID.
Yesterday I called the doctor’s office – still not
impressed with the facility. They referred
me to Urgent care in Roseburg. The
Urgent and Care part seemed like an oxymoron.
I called the office in Roseburg, put on hold, and heard the recording
three times before they hung up on me.
Richard finally decided that we would just drive up there. I got tested for COVID which came out
negative. I was given a prescription for
a Zee Pack and started taking that yesterday.
I would like for us to show our support
but it may have to be at a later time.
Hopefully my head does not hurt so much tomorrow and I may express my
thoughts about this year’s Halloween.
