CBQ#36

 What’s the story behind a time when you got locked out?

 

        I have come up with more situations than I care to admit.  The first one I thought about on Friday when Carolyn announced that she’d be ending the class ten minutes early as the lifeguards have a meeting at 10:00 and would like to start on time without having to wait for stragglers. When class was over, I strongly suggested that Richard get out as it seems to take him longer to dress.

        Carolyn announced to the group that they were welcome to stay for five minutes before taking off.  She started heading to the deep end while the majority of the class headed towards the stairs at the shallow end and climbed out.  I then shared my first story with her.

Story #1

I don’t know how many years ago it was, but my first “locked out” story is not really about getting locked out but rather getting “locked in”.  Normally I don’t change back into my clothes until after I return home, but there are occasions when I change at the pool.  Apparently I had taken that opportunity one Friday just before the lifeguards had their meeting.  Or else I was just taking a longer time in the bathroom or something.  Regardless I had gone to the front door to exit the facility, only the door was locked.  I had to go back through the dressing room and knock on the window in the room where the lifeguards met and interrupt their meeting.

 

Story #2

        When Jaime was a baby I had gone to the store with her.  I don’t know if I loaded her or the groceries first – I’m thinking her.  I had evidently laid my keys in her car seat or had given them to her to play with.  Somehow I had locked her in the car.  I had my cell phone but not my keys.  I called Richard frantic as my child was inside a locked car – though the windows had been rolled down a crack because I do remember a set of people trying to help me with unlocking the door but just weren’t able to reach the lock.

        I would peek in Jaime’s direction and smile at her.  I didn’t want her to sense how frantic I was.  She thought I was playing a game with her and smiled back.  I’m sure it felt longer than it really was.  Jaime was fine but I was in panic mode.  By the time Richard showed up (with the entire troop no less) I was crying.  We set the car seat aside scrimping to find the keys.  It wasn’t until after one of her sisters physically removed Jaime from the car seat that keys were discovered.

 

        I do have more examples of locking myself out of the house. But for the time being we will just stick with two that I have provided.

Blue Skies Somewhat Smiling

         

           The skies have appeared blue the last couple of days.  White clouds for the most part – though there was a large cloud of smoke billowing over the hills.  Evidently it moved on its way though I don’t know where.  One of the water fitness attendees comes from Winston.  She said she almost did not attend this morning because of the smoke (I don’t know which fire) but it was clear in Myrtle Creek.

          Carolyn had us work out in the deep end as the wind continued to blow.  It made the class more spread out though there were only ten of us – five or six less than usual.  If all the regulars were to turn out at the same time, there would probably be over 25 of us.

          I’ve been taking naps in the afternoon and am still tired.  Jaime and I tried to walk Bonnie just recently.  It was 83 degrees.  It was a short walk.

Merry Christmas

 Jaime always manages to miss whenever we go to the pool on July 25.  Josh had always decorated for the first five years we had lived here but Sebastian did not.  Today I was surprised to see some parts decorated.  

Made in Parowan

 I used to work for a company that acted as a middle man between high end companies that would sell their product in bulk and ma and pa stores in which it was not practical to purchase items in bulk. Seems like a large number of our vendors were clothing stores in New York but every once in a while we would take on someone local.  Not that Parowan, Utah is local to Salt Lake but is nearer than New York. 

I think there was a woman who created hats, perhaps baby clothes.  I don’t even recall weather her product even sold or not.  This terry cloth towel/tote bag was one of her creations.  She had sent this particular item as a sample. 

 

I thought it was awesome!  A tote bag that doubled as a towel.  When winter came, I purchased the sample and have used it many times.  It’s a wonder I still have it and haven’t worn it out.  It’s been my pool companion since we first moved to Oregon.  I love it.  It holds my water shoes and extra towels and extra clothes.  What a neat invention. 

Well This Day Hasn’t Gone According To Plan

 I suppose it’s my own fault for having a “not exactly stressful day” but “not the way I would have done it day” and it isn’t even afternoon yet.  What’s up with that?

Pre-pandemic the Relief Society presidency would hold our meetings on Wednesday either at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. depending on whether I had accepted an assignment to work at the school.  Meetings were basically arranged according to my schedule.  Ahhh.

Then came the pandemic.  It really didn’t matter what time or what day of the week our zoom meetings were.  Even before we had returned back to the two block meetings and held our meetings in person, we had somehow changed to Tuesdays at 10:00 am. which I hadn’t even thought about one way or another until just this very moment.

Yesterday I went to the pool for the first time in almost two years.  It had rained before we left and Roland had tried to discourage us from going.  But I knew Carol would be there.  Rain is different in Oregon than in Utah.  We don’t have lightening storms.  The pool is open when it is overcast or raining.  It’s a part of life.  Deal with it.

I had planned on going to the pool today as well.  One of the presidency says she plans on going to the water workout also but was unable to do so yesterday.  She had mentioned it the other day and I freaked.  I had forgotten!  But I then received messages from both her and the RS president that the meeting had been cancelled. 

“Oh, good,” was my initial thought but I do have some things address but did not wish to press the pres. as her brother is a victim of COVID and she was planning to go out of town to be with him.  We had a small messaging conversation before she changed her mind and said the meeting was back on for 10:30.    

Meanwhile Jenna had reminded me of some other commitments I had made – specifically taking her to the theatre and her friend to the high school.  Oh, yes.  I told the RS pres that I would need to drop Jenna’s friend off between 11:00 and 11:30.  Thus the meeting was cancelled again.  But I would still like to have a meeting.

So this morning I created an agenda for myself :  Forego the pool for this morning. Drop Jenna off at the theatre at 9:45.  Pay water bill (as I am headed that direction; I might as well continue) go to the post office to mail the Fathers’ Day Cards that Roland had created.

Carol had asked if I could meet at Soco which I thought would be yesterday, but it’s really today.  Since I’ll be downtown mailing the letters I may pop in at Soco just to say Hi.  Spend a few minutes before I return home to take Jenna and her friend to the high school – even though the school season has ended.  Ruth is eligible for a program that Jenna isn’t because of finances and education or something.  Both Roland and I have graduated from college and the program is geared to students whose parents don’t have college background – or something like that.  I don’t totally understand it – just know that Jenna does not qualify.

Sometime between six and seven this morning Roland informs me he wants the cards taken to the post office the minute it is open.  What?  My belief is that the mail is collected only once a day.  It will go out at 3:00 – but Roland believes there is another time scheduled for first thing in the morning.  I don’t think so.  But okay.  I will leave just before 9:00 a.m. so that I can hand it to somebody personally.  Got it. 

Though it takes only seven minutes to get downtown, Jenna and I left the house at 8:45.  She couldn’t understand why we were leaving one hour before she needed to be to the theatre.  I figured she would want to come with me and I wouldn’t have to stop off at the house again.  We could take our time.

She opted to stay in the car which was nice because then I didn’t have to drag my purse inside.  I just left it in the car with her and went inside the post office, handed the Myrtle Creek and “everywhere else” mail to the postmaster.  Returned to car.  Drove to the pool.  They were just getting started which meant there’d be no line.  I decided to buy a pass but thought it would be easier for everybody if there wasn’t a line.  I will start my pass tomorrow.

Returned to the car and saw class members lifting the water weights.  They looked like giant flyswatters from my point of view.  My eyesight has become so horrible without corrective lenses. Jenna got out of the car and took some pictures which I may post whenever she sends them to me . . .

I had time to pay the water bill before dropping her off at the theatre which worked out really great for me as I would only have to make one left hand turn instead of two.  Funny thing about the water bill – they come on postcards that have a fold.  Customer is supposed to rip at the fold and return with payment.  Only I never saw the part I am suppose to return.  My neighbor said she had the other part in her mailbox.  We are one digit apart and our mailboxes are on the same side of the street.  It hasn’t happened often, but we have gotten each other’s mail before.  Usually it has been the sender who was in error and not the post office itself.

I then dropped Jenna off at the theatre and knew I’d have at least 30 minutes before meeting my friends at SOCO.  I really had to use the toilet and figured that using one at my house would be more convenient than anywhere else and so drove home and started an email agenda which I still need to finish with.  I remembered that Roland takes his break at 10:00 and told him that I’d be taking the car downtown.  He said he wanted to go with me but I was going to meet my friends and hadn’t planned on having Roland there – though they seemed happy to see him. 

He ordered a burrito and the absolute worst drink that I have ever tasted.  I suppose it was somewhere between an energy shot and a beer.  He thought it would have more juices as it was labeled mango and passion fruit.  Don’t know whose imagination supposed it tasted like it resembled any kind of fruit.   Carol wouldn’t taste it as Roland had already had his mouth on the bottle.  But Jenna, Ruth and I had all tasted it and I think Ruth was even more grossed out by it then I was.  Jenna didn’t seem to mind and ended up drinking the rest – but more out of just not wanting to waist it rather than her low standards of food and drink.  I was willing to throw it out. 

Jenna reminded me that I had agreed to take her and Ruth out to the wild life safari but Roland has the day off Friday and I thought it would be great if he could drive us out there.  Jenna’s day didn’t go according to plan either.  I said I would take them to the safari.  But we’re each at home doing our own thing.  Though now that I’ve posted this, I will go hang out with her.

Water Fitness

        The largest sized classes 
take place in July.  By

mid-August the number dwindles

as there are several who

are instructors and have

already started their

        “back to school”.

There were only six of us

in the pool yesterday. 

          Usually toward the end of class

children will start staggering in

for their swim lessons which

follow our water fitness class. 

          There was no staggering and

I wondered if maybe they had

discontinued with the lessons as

several life guards may be

returning to school as well.

          Then they came.  A heard of

children entered just as our

class was coming to an end.

I guess that means summer is

          coming to an end as well.

I'm sad that Dottie is 
          no longer with us.  I 
think of her each time I 
          park as we would park in
the same area.  Her dogs 
          would always bark at me.
I miss Dottie.  I don't
          miss her dogs.

Remembering Dottie

            I had purchased a package of "Strap Perfect" as it was on clearance.  Jenna and I both seem to lack in the shoulder area.  I thought we could each have three, only three had already been removed from the package.  Perhaps that is why it was on clearance.  I recall Jenna breaking one trying to get her bra off.  I kept one for my swimsuit in the event that I ever misplaced my swim shirt which I did the entire month of August. 

            After Jenna started going to the pool with me last year, she had a suit that didn't fit quite right.  I don't remember what it even looked like or what was wrong with it.  Dottie had brought us a suit that she used to wear and had given it to Jenna.  Dottie was always thoughtful of others.

            It was in August when I noticed Dottie using a binder clip to keep her swimsuit up.  I had misplaced one of the "Strap Perfect" clips but decided I would look for it harder so that I could give one to Dottie, but I couldn't find it.  One day she asked me where I had gotten my clip.  I told her that I had purchased it at Dollar General but have not seen it there again until today.  As I made my purchase I thought about Dottie and would give two clips to her if I were to see her again.  I don't imagine she'll have a use for it in the hereafter.  Dottie isn't with us on earth anymore.

            My hair is starting to come in white.  Whenever I look in the mirror I see my mom.  Except for when she kept the white she was thinner than I am currently.  But that wasn't always the case.  She had dark hair and I started out with white hair (when it finally came in) and looks like I'll be ending with white hair.  Dottie was the first to comment on my white hair and said that I should keep it.  

           After I chopped off my pigtails, Dottie told me how pretty my hair was and thought it would look great when I grew it out white with brown chunks at the end.  She was always so sincere with her compliments.  I don't know what color my hair will be in the hereafter.  I don't suppose it matters.  I won't be seeing Dottie again until it's my time to go.

            She evidently had a lot of health issues, but never complained about her condition.  None of us were aware of how many health problems she had or the severity of what was going on.  I think it was fortunate that she passed away peacefully in her sleep.  I hope her husband knows that.

            I don't recall ever having visited with Dottie outside of the pool except for a few times when she would join our group for coffee.  When I had my job interview in Canyonville, I received a text from Carol to come and join them at a cafe that had just opened up.  Dottie was there with the group.  I think that was the last time I saw her.  I will miss seeing her at the pool next year.

A Domestic Goddess, I am NOT

                After we had picked pears in Medford for the Church, we gleaned about four bags of pears for us to take home.  Roland took 24 pears to give to friends he had made at the theater, and  I took 18 to my friends.  Most of the pears were not ripe at the time.  We continued to pass them out to neighbors until they became too ripe.  It got to the point where we needed to do something - such as pear sauce or pear cake or something.  I made pear sauce last week.

                Roland is the one who loves to bake and cook.  I was disappointed that he didn't do more of it during his time off.  I prefer not being in the kitchen for a huge length of time.  But Roland has returned to work and more than just the pears have ripened - but bananas as well.  In addition to our ripened fruits, Jaime and I had picked two buckets of apples - which Roland cored and I cut yesterday.  We're currently drying some apple rings and have put the rest of the pieces (5 1/2 gallon bags full)  of apple pieces probably for pie.

                This morning I baked one loaf of banana bread and started on a pear butter recipe that my neighbor had given me.  She had also given me a sample of the heavenly deliciousness.  Exhausted with my morning workout in the kitchen, I decided I needed a break and went to the pool to relax - or at least attempt to. 

                The pool was a nice temperature, but there was a light wind that made the air too cool for the wet skin to enjoy.

                When I returned home, half of the banana bread was missing, and I decided I would have a slice with Maxine's pear butter (as I had not finished making my own).  I had to fourth the recipe as it called for about 15 pears (I would assume enormous ones) which would add up to about 8 cups of pulp.  I had only 11 pears, 2 unusable, and not many in which the entire cup could be used.  I barely had 1 cup of pulp and 1 cup of juice combined.  I had left it in the refrigerator while I was at the pool.  I think that helped, for when I returned, I used the strainer once more and barely had two cups of sauce.

                I followed the recipe as best as I could.  I was appalled with the tiny amount.  It reminded me of having the juicer and getting only one or two ounces out of 20 apples or whatever else was used.  I had to put a drinking glass in the photo so as

Maxine's nearly gone, mine in the middle is mine did not fill an entire marachino jar. 

 

to prove what a tiny amount it was. 

 

                Jenna and I have been putting the pear butter on what's left of the banana bread.  Delicious.  Still a lot of work though. 

Back to the Basics

            Shortly after I started my schooling online, I made a list of all the required classes that I'd be taking.  Thus far there have been three assigned classes that were not on the list.  One of them is this one I'll be taking for the next four weeks.  I don't quite understand why it's been assigned to me - especially since I've already taken one that has a similar description.  I had received an email from the instructor on Sunday.  She is over the freshman and has presented a guideline for those who have never taken an online course before.  I am nearly a senior.  I think someone entered me into the wrong class as the description sounds very similar to one I recently just completed.  This is nuts.

            The wind has changed and pushed the haze back into the skies and pushed our green back to yellow air quality.  

            I went to the pool this morning.  It was cold like it was in June and July when the heater was broken.   Carolyn thought it was fine, but the majority of class members seemed to be on my side.  Even the lifeguards agreed with me when some were required to get in when our class had ended as swimming classes start right after our class ends.

            I guess I'll start on my discussion.  I don't foresee any struggles for this current class.  No accounting involved!  Should be easy.  I'm thinking perhaps too easy.

Deceptive Skies

                Carolyn picked me up at 6:45 this morning.  I was happy to see misty clouds or fog hanging over the hills ahead of us, but from behind the appearance told us it was a hazy smoke.  From the pool, the skies gave the impression that it might rain, but to the north of us, there was also a musty haze covering the hills, trying to hide them as it had all of the blue that had been there last weekend.  What happened?

            Two weeks ago after the smoke started to descend upon us, the haze made gave the sun the appearance of being blood red - like in this photo by Richard Bartz. 

It was taken for an article for a station in Portland, I think.  The name of the article is Poor air quality could affect your dog or cat: Tips to avoiding respiratory stress in pets which you can find here. 

            I don't have that great of a sense of smell, but I can smell it - even taste it - as I sit at my computer writing this post.  I have not even had the windows open all week as to not let the bad air in.  The air quality guide tells me moderate, but it feels like the number should be higher and orange rather than yellow.

 I realize that in comparison to other areas in Oregon, California, and even Utah, the quality of air is worse than here.  I don't understand.  According to the fire map, there aren't even any fires that close to us - not like last year when we were surrounded by fires.  How fortunate that we did not have to evacuate - where would we have gone?  What roads would we have taken to get there safely?

            The pool was nice.  There were only five people in Josh's class.  It was an extreme workout.  I felt out of breath and was grateful for the opportunity to rest between classes - though we did not fully rest.  Carolyn and I put up a net that Josh had started for us.  And then she pumped air into nine beach balls while I plugged up the holes.  We put the balls in the water.  It was fun to watch where the air carried them.

            There weren't as many participants as usual.  The class has been getting 16 - 20 people on average.  On Tuesday there was 20.  Today there were twelve.  .  We did not have a routine workout in the morning.  Carolyn had wanted to try something different, and we did.  First, she incorporated some of Josh's routines into our morning exercise and try something different that she hoped would be fun.

            We attempted to pass the beach balls to one another over the net, but the wind generally sent them to directions other than what we were aiming.  It appeared that everyone in the water was having a good time, and I know the lifeguard was enjoying watching us

            I still need to write my assessment.  I am having the hardest time getting into it.  If I don't post something new tomorrow, it means I am working on my assignment . . . still.

Part of the Elite

            During my entire lifetme, I don't recall having been invited into someone's circle to hang out because they really wanted me to.  Oh, there was the time when Crystal and Jennifer had invited me to hang out after elementary school - and seemed genuine about their request.  I couldn't imagine why they would invite me. But it was just the one time.  It never went anywhere.

       For the first time that I can recall, I am now a part of a intimate circle of four.  They have requested my presence.  They would invite me even before they got to know Jenna - whom everybody loves.  They admire her.  She's fun and somehow I seemed to have made that reputation for myself  - that I, too, am fun to hang with.

       Perhaps it's the state.  I was raised in Utah - small town that somehow grew bigger with every passing year.  When my mom had first moved to the neighborhood, she felt as though she were living in "no man's land" because it felt so barren.  Well, yes.  She was raised in San Francisco.  I'm sure the entire Salt Lake county seems dense compared to San Francisco.

       I remember having to be driven everywhere when I younger.  There was a gas station over on the next street over, but he did not offer a convenient store of any kind.  There was a 7-11 on the other side of State Street that we would sometimes walk to.  Traffic wasn't near as heavy as what it is now.  I shake my head at the very idea that we had crossed the street so often.  Perhaps mom wasn't aware.

           

      After a while buildings started to spring up.  We had over 40 fast food places within walking distance before I got married.  I don't know when it was that I became so uptight and unhappy - but I think it was rather early in my life.  I loved my family, but I didn't love the congestion.  The older I got, the more uptight I became - though I would try to work on it.  Overall, I probably was not the most pleasant person to be around.  Perhaps that's why no one ever offered for me to join their circle.

       I'm 56 now and this is the first time I can remember being part of a group (outside of church activities or going out for lunch with a few co-workers).  We meet at a local coffee house just to hang out and visit. I usually have water or day-old pastry if available.  The other day our small group car pooled to Winston right after class.  I had collected change from the piggy banks in order to make my Taco Tuesday purchase - only Taco Tuesday prices don't start until 4:00.  It was only 11:00.  I was hungry but strapped as usual.  One of the group members picked up my tab. They want me there enough that they will pay for me.  I've never had that before.

      One time we were invited to an expensive dinner and have a charity dinner coming up.  I have also invited the three of them to watch the dress rehearsal coming up for Jenna and Roland. It feels great to be included and to feel such genuine friendships that I have never experienced before.  It takes some getting used to.   

      Perhaps there are several others who may not classify our group as elite.  At least three of us felt like outcasts during our school years.  Perhaps we all feel that sometimes now.  We support one another in ways that perhaps we hadn't known before.  I like hanging with my small group of friends.