Wooden Eggs for School – Killing Two Birds With One Stone.

               My mind is so full right now.  I fear the ideas that are in my head may not make it to a post for this blog so let me start with the most recent . . .

          Myrtle Creek Visitors Association had posted to facebook about an upcoming Easter Egg hunt – which Jenna has been looking forward since our “business activity” on St. Patrick’s Day.  This time 12 specific businesses hiding a wooden egg.  And Jenna has been determined to find them all.  Though we physically entered more than half of the businesses, we had only hunted in five – well – she had hunted.  I am not great at picking out items when they are in my face let alone having to physically look for them. 

          This morning Jenna was at her photograph class and learned she had to pick an assignment to do.  There were at least three choices.  One of them was community activity.  So Jenna decided that since we would be exploring downtown anyway, she might as well take pictures of the activity.  

from MCVA facebook page

            I had forgotten how many businesses are NOT open on Monday. We had gone to 8 of the participating businesses though we will have to return for seven of them.   We learned that not all businesses received all the needed information to fully participate.   Jenna says she took several pictures – some by accident.  She took most with her borrowed Google Chrome book as the transfer from cell phone will no longer work for school assignment and vice versa – but she did take some with her phone.  Unless I harp on her she doesn’t generally send them over until after the fact. 

           So let me start at the beginning.  Leaving the house.  When we got to the corner Jenna noticed all of the flags set up over the bridge and asked what holiday it is.  I couldn’t remember the exact holiday but guessed either Korea or Vietnam.  I was reminded when I looked for this post that I had created exactly four years ago. But now I am getting ahead of myself. 

 

          First stop: Valley Tire Co Point S

          Jenna found the egg right away and took her first picture which I believe were of the directions on what was to be done.  I didn’t see all what she did as I was talking to Dan who had spotted me.  I went to say “Hi” to him and saw a long Chihuahua shivering in his arms.  Jenna was filling out a slip for the drawing and walked over to us and took a picture of Dan and his dog and then we left.

           I parked at the park behind Gooddog Bakery and made that our second stop.  Jenna found the egg within the matter of seconds and filled out another ticket for the drawing and asked Jeri if she could get a picture of her holding the egg.  We asked her where the Ole West Trading Post was.  She pointed it out to us but said it hadn’t opened.  That was okay.  We could just get it on our return to the car.

           Third stop: AG Market is across the street from Gooddog and so we go there and Jaime takes a picture of the masked worker behind the counter.  We then headed toward Trudy’s Treasures and learned it would not be open until 12:00.  We passed by the vacant building that had housed the Library Annex for just a short time. 

pic from four years ago this day

 Forth stop: MSK True Value Hardware store.  That egg took a little longer to find.  The person who helped us did not want his picture taken and so Jenna took a picture of the two of us outside the hardware store.  She took at least one on the laptop and at least one on her phone.

outside MSK

We crossed the street to St. Vincent de Paul which was closed.  Understandable.  It is run by volunteers and so is only open three or four times a week.  So will have to return tomorrow (or maybe Wednesday after we get our haircuts).  Hey!  

            Jenna spotted a broken frame on Main Street and retrieved a bubbled craft pic of a butterfly

She returned for the broken glass so drivers would pop their tires or create more glass shard.  And I went back for the broken frame not knowing if there were nails or not.  So we did a great community deed.  No pictures though.  Too busy watching out for cars.

         Fifth stop: Learned Homestead Furniture and Ole West Trading Post are the same building but were told there will be two eggs – one for each side.  They were not set up but we have to Return for St. Vincent and Trudy’s anyway and so continue on down the road and passed the park to

 Sixth stop: Myrtle Creek Saw Shop.

Jenna seemed to find that easily, but the shop was busy and I am in favor of the real customers to be helped first.  We took another selfie at the saw shop because they were busy.

The selfie she took at the Saw Shop is on the Google Chrome but this is one she
 took of herself eating the treasured candy that was given to her at the saw shop

 Return to the car before we catch another two (should have been three but I’d forgotten about Smith’s Feed Company – which ironically is the closest participating business to where we live) but I did remember Red Barn Garden Supply

Seventh Stop: Serena had not hidden the egg because she doesn’t have all the necessary paperwork to proceed and asked us if we would post that to facebook.  So we didn’t search for the egg or fill out for drawing but Jenna did take her picture and then we continued our drive to

Eighth Stop: Treasures of the Heart.  She also has another customer and has not hidden her egg for the same reason as Serena.  We will return tomorrow.  Perhaps tomorrow and Wednesday.  Jenna needs twelve pictures. I don’t know if she has that many currently.  Or if they’re usable.  I think she said ten were.

This is not from today, but I thought it was a good pic

Aliens in my Mouth

                I don’t know how many months I have lived with this incredible pain on the bottom right side of my mouth.  I wasn’t even sure which tooth was causing the pain.  The last time I was at the dentist earlier this year, I pointed into my mouth at where I thought it was – somewhere between my wisdom tooth and front teeth.  But when the dentist touched each tooth and moved toward the front, the pain became more severe.  I made an appointment to have my teeth looked at by a dentist I had never been to before (one who is in our insurance network whereas the other is not) not realizing that Monday was a holiday and both Roland and Jenna would be off for Veteran’s Day.

          In Salt Lake, Veteran’s Day seemed like just another excuse to take time off, whereas in Oregon, they really go all out to honor those who served our country.  I always feel a happiness when I see the flags out revealing the patriotic pride that goes with – not just Veteran’s Day, but every day there is a reminder to display the flag.

          The Elk’s club is responsible for lining the streets and bridges with flags.  It looks really cool and respectful.  Veteran’s Day means something.  There are parades and ceremonies and other events that take place throughout the state.  I think that is great.

          So back to my tale of woe.  Whenever I would eat, I would try to keep the food on the left side of my mouth in order to avoid the blown up amount of pain that became more painful with each passing day.  It wasn’t even hard food for the most part – nothing that crunched.  On Sunday I was in so much pain that there were tears falling out of my eyes. 

          My stomach started sending me messages that it needed food and I had a light snack shortly after six.  I kept the food on the left side of my mouth.  Before I swallowed, I could feel something hard.  I knew it was a tooth – or partial tooth anyway, but could not find a place in my mouth where it might have come from.  But the pain was gone!

          On Monday morning I met some friends for breakfast, and for the first time in months was able eat my meal without having pain.  I could chew on both sides of my mouth.  It was great!

          Two hours after I returned home, Roland took me to the dentist in Winston.  I showed the doctor the tooth part that had come out of my mouth and he said it was from the bottom left wisdom tooth.  I really didn’t think the pain was that far back in my mouth.  He said the root is solid.  And unless wisdom teeth are removed before the age of 20, it is a painful procedure to have them removed at my age.  Fine.  I’ve already dealt with pain.  I really rather not pay through the nose to be tortured.

          Thus we set up another appointment to have the gap filled in next week.  Roland will be on vacation and will be able to drive me again (though I do now know how to get back there on my own) and so I will have an dental update to maybe write about next week (isn’t that exciting?)

          When we drove back into town we saw a crew starting to take down the flags.  It was only 3:30, but with all of the flags put out, it probably takes over an hour to set up and take down.  Going back to standard time may have given us a bit more daylight in the morning.  But now it appears to get dark early.  (I consider between 4:30 and 5:00 early).  That sight is sad like taking down the Christmas tree at the end (or very beginning of) the year.

Riddle Celebrates

this flag hangs in our yard

Veteran Memorial at Millsite Park

               For every Federal Holiday and each holiday honoring Veterans though may not be observed by others (I had not been aware of all of the "flag" holidays that Myrtle Creek observes) Myrtle Creek lines the streets and bridges with flags.  

South Umpqua Bridger Exit 108

            The mayor credits the Elks for putting out the flags.  I don't know how early they are put out. Though the flags come out every 4th of July, Myrtle Creek itself seems like a ghost town.  People go out of town.  I don't know where they go.  Riddle, perhaps?

  

not the best pic, but the only one I can find of bridge on Exit 106

            Poor Jenna.  Her parents are tired old fuddy-duddys who don't celebrate as we did when we were younger.  Even if we were more active, I know Jenna would enjoy herself more if she were to hang with someone her own age.  We thought she might have that opportunity yesterday, but it didn't work out as any of us had expected.

            Annette had told Jenna that they would pick her up at 8:30 yesterday morning and spend the 4th with her family and she could stay the night after the fireworks.  I don't know what their plans were taking them, but Jenna was not a part of it after all.  Though Annette's mom believes they have the perfect mother and daughter relationship, their communication is even more pathetic than mine and Roland's. 

            Jenna was ready at 7:30.  8:30 came and went and by 9:00 she called to find out what had happened.  They were already on their way to wherever they were going and would not be picking her up.  I heard Jenna crying - sobbing loudly really.  She had cried herself sick and was heaving in the toilet.  I felt so helpless.

            When Annette called at 10:00 to say they were on their way to pick her up, Jenna informed her that she was sick.  I don't think Annette believed her.  Whether the miscommunication happened between Annette and her mom or Jenna and Annette, I really don't know.  But I do know that Jenna did not feel well and that her sensitive stomach in a car going straight makes her even more queasy.  The curvy roads of Oregon would just add to her car sickness even more. 

            I had told Jenna to lie down and she had tried laying down in mine and Roland's bed (as she is still currently without) but was afraid her stomach might send her heaving before she could make it to the bathroom. Thus Jenna spent the majority of the day on the bathroom floor.  I think she slept for a couple of hours.  After she started feeling better, we left the house for a while.  It was 5:00 I believe. 

            There had been a sawdust jubilee in Riddle - perhaps it's something they do every fourth of July.  Would have been nice to know that our first year here.  The only activity I could seem to find within the county was in Glendale - which I'm sure for many of the members in Glendale was a big deal - but for someone from Salt Lake City who is accustomed to city parades and fireworks and activities ALL SUMMER LONG, Glendale had been a huge disappointment - but had felt about 20 degrees cooler than Myrtle Creek - which was nice.  The year we had moved to Oregon was an especially hot summer - especially for this area - or so we were told.

            We did make it to the fireworks and saw people celebrating and felt a happiness among the people.  Perhaps we can make it a tradition next year.  I had actually hoped to have Jenna spend a few months in Salt Lake but with the unexpected death and return, it just didn't quite fit into our plans this year.

            She enjoyed the fireworks immensely.

            It really was a good show.  And I enjoyed the band that was there.  Of course she chattered the entire way home, and Roland realized he didn't have his glasses.  We said a prayer that we would be able to return today and find them.

            Jenna and I left the house this morning.  Our intention was to go north to pick blueberries, but ended up going south and west to return to the high school to look for Roland's glasses.  She found them right away.  The frame was bent and one of the lenses had popped out and the nose pads were missing.  She straightened out the frame and attempted to push the lens back into place.  Probably we'll be going to Roseburg after Roland gets off work.  Don't know whether we'll make it to the blueberry farm today or not.  It's only 68 degrees at 9 a.m.  It feels a lot warmer than that. 

The Attack of Pearl Hairball

The attack on Pearl Harbor was devastating.  A surprise military attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941. The base was attacked by 360 Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. The Japanese managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. More than 2,300 Americans were killed and another 1,000 were wounded(from Trivia Today) 

Jenna had a first grade teacher that I'm sure must have mentioned it - though not in detail.  Jenna obviously hadn't stored it into her memory and appeared to be experiencing a dyslexic moment as she read the card.  She was eight at the time we were playing a game with my mom (which I have mentioned here)

 

It wasn't her intention to be disrespectful.  She hadn't realized the errors of her ways until her grandma practically chewed her out.  We had been playing Apples to Apples and the Green Card said "Horrid"  I had put down "Bad Dogs" and mom put down "the Attack at Pearl Harbor" only when Jenna read the card she read " the Attack of Pearl Hairball" which she didn't fully understand but didn't think a hairball was as bad as a "bad dog"

Mom was more with it some days more than others.  She truly was offended that Jenna had mispronounced the word as she suspected Jenna was trying to make fun of the situation - which certainly was not the case - but that's what mom's mind was telling her.  She got all defensive and told Jenna how horrible and awful it had been.

My mom was only two when the attack took place, but she did remember being scared.  She had been born only two months and two days before the war started and thus was only six when the war ended.  She was raised in San Francisco and remembered newsreel footage played before the cinema's featured movie.  She remembered having air raid drills at the school.  She remembers hiding when the sirens went off to announce that the war had ended;  in her six-year-old mind it meant that San Francisco was under attack.  Jenna decided it really was worse than "bad dogs" and apologized for the misunderstanding.

I was probably six when I made an ex or a cross on a paper and put tails on each of the sides making a swastika.  I thought it was cool looking.  Mom got upset about that, too.  I didn't know.  Anybody who has followed my blog for the last five years know that I would never do something like that with the intention of hurting.    According to the holocaust teacher resource center, the swastika was a sign of good luck that has become a symbol of evil (see here)

I really love how the veterans and servicemen are truly honored in Myrtle Creek.  I don't personally know who puts the flags up each holiday and remembrance day, but they are always there lining up the bridges and main street.  It looks so awesome.