Beneath the Wraps

The first picture that I took as we made our to the locks Behind the gate is the first lock which would  raise or lower level for each boat  Jenna impersonating a game show model Randy told us that the boats would line up and spend three days waiting for transfer He said that is when the town started to build up as those transporting would have a three day wait notice the height of the stairs.  I had to bend my knee with each step the jackhammer crew that Randy kept on apologizing for.  They  are working on another set of stairs so they're not so steep newest lock is on the left opposite of the red platform I think this was a gift shop that was closed Jenna liked the optical illusion of being a wall goat. Randy, Jenna and Roland pay attention I took this from the railing of that bridge This is the bridge from picture prior.  Ends at the church. This was taken from the church end of the bridge In addition to the locks we were introduced to downtown lock...

                I don’t know which is worse, the coronavirus or the stupidity of some individuals who seem to make it hard for everybody else.  I heard on the news that Paris and Spain (wasn’t France and Spain or Paris and Madrid.  Two different sources – one using the capital and the other mentioned by country) have just barely gone into phase one.  Now these are other countries that had the virus before the US did.  Why did the United States feel superior to open in phases long before countries who were hit before?  Too many believing the numbers given are a hoax.  There is no way that US would have more cases than China.  I don’t know how accurate the numbers are in China, but it doesn’t surprise me that we have more cases.  It has always been my opinion that we opened too soon, and now cases are skyrocketing because some citizens couldn’t wait.          ...

As I was busying myself with posting my pictures to facebook, I was notified to view my memories.   It’s funny how so many of my memory posts have triggered thoughts for things that are happening this year.   On June 19 th it was the memory of four different albums I had posted from a trip we had taken back to Salt Lake in 2017.   We were staying at the house where we had once lived.   By then Randy and Carrie had moved in and made the house their own.   We were staying with them three years ago. no family members currently reside or have anything to do with this house A year and a half later we went for Christmas.   By then Randy and Carrie had moved to Eagle Mountain to a house larger than I thought was necessary.   I don’t guess they were planning on moving again so soon.   Randy had wanted us to stay with them, but it wasn’t a practical location for all of the family to meet – not that the hotel was.   That was probably more inconvenie...

            Jenna received a text from Evelyn yesterday afternoon.   She had picked blueberries for her last summer and we said we would be available again this year.   I don’t normally take Jenna to the farm on Sundays, but as time has been really an odd thing this year and we’ve lost track of days and haven’t been to a real church meeting for over three months, I decided it would be okay to go out there.   Father’s Day was just another day and Roland didn’t seem to care if we left him.                I don’t know how long we were out.   The bushes are definitely a lot taller and loaded with blueberries.   They don’t all turn at the same time as with cherries in which there is only two to three week window.   Blueberries ripen at different times.   Among the fat blue blueberries were several with purple bottoms and several more that were very small and gre...

  In November Randy had mentioned that he would like to fly us out for Thanksgiving.   Didn’t happen.   I wasn’t surprised.   I was surprised when he sent ticket information to Roland in January to print up and fly out in June.   The tickets Randy had purchased were just one way and Roland paid for one way tickets from Buffalo to Medford after he received the agenda from Randy from Medford to Buffalo. And then COVID happened.   Well I suppose it was already taking place in China.   None of us knew that our lives would be disrupted just a couple of months later and plans would change. Roland’s brother and sister-in-law had also made arrangements to send Roland’s mom out to Oregon for a visit in May.   The plans were cancelled in April.   We never saw her.   Roland asked if we should cancel our flight.   I thought we should weigh it out and make a decision and pray about it.   Truth is it is hard to get through to any busines...

           I am so amazed by the ignorance and the gullibility of some people.   Just after we started phase one (which by the way did not nor does not apply to the entire state as there are currently seven counties still on lockdown.   Since the protests started there has been an increase in numbers with those counties entering phase two come Monday.   Really?   We are still going forward opening the essentials such as bowling alleys and movie cinemas.   Really?             Shortly after Nevada started phase one Corey had sent a text out to all family members that three of Joh’s family had tested positive for COVID.   That has snowballed into five.   Normally I don’t comment on facebook posts when my opinion differs with that which is posted, but I was saddened and not excited by the opening of phase 1.   An acquaintance had posted about the opening of different res...

They don’t look anything alike, but their ruling seems similar.   Donald Trump promoted HATE before he was voted into office – and yet there were so many who really believed in his promise to make Germany America “great again”   Now there are Nazis protester movements in other countries – supporting a cause that should never have been an issue. It should not matter if we are black, Jewish Chinese, American, Italian, red, orange, green Whatever! We are all a part of the human race – even though some may act like they’re not. I hope the protesters in other countries are more peaceful and don’t end in violent riots.   Our nation has a curfew just as those during World War II. Hitler wanted to keep his people in the dark by taking away their radios, limiting their transportation, taking away any freedoms that may have existed. Trump wants to do the same thing.   He sends messages to the nation by texting so that eve...

There are patches of green throughout the county.   But now a lot of brown and dry.   And winds which could easily spread a fire. COVID, earthquakes, floods, hornets, riots   Bring it on!

          A year in April I had started a class called Sociology of Ageism.   A class that seemed more to do with life than with career choice. It was during this class that I was able to meet one of my favorite instructors that I had during my three years online.   She was really quite animated and did her entire lecture with the camera on.             I had seen other instructors use the camera before the lecture started, but not for the entire lecture.   I don’t know how many students watched the video.   I was the only one present for her live lectures.   I had become familiar with Zoom during those three years at school.   I did not realize that this year it would be an essential for so many.           I’ve had several instructors who cared about their students as well as the subject they were teaching.   I didn’t have many w...

          It has been less than a year since I graduated from the online college that I attended.   Recently I received an email from the school with an interest in candid photos in which I could share my personal story.   I am usually the one behind the camera – or was.   Jenna has taken over that job and has taken countless photos.   I don’t know that any of them say “success” as far as “look where our student is now”.             Included was a list of questions which I was more interested in answering with words than with photos.   The first five wanted reasons about why I had gone to college – specifically their school.   Umm . . . because my husband is an underpaid employee who works for your company and thus we took advantage of getting an expensive education for his time.             Roland had majored ...

There was a post from Joh pleading for his family with an attachment for gofundme.   Both Corey and Joh are aware that it is a hard time for everybody and raising money has been an issue for everyone towards one cause or another and probably struggling themselves.   I reposted his gofundme plea along with my own words that his mom and I share the same birthday.   I was able to enjoy eating cake and playing games.   She could not.   She has been in the hospital for two weeks.           The next post I saw was a mother and a son spending time in an amusement park enjoying themselves while social distancing.   They were on a ride in the air.   The ride itself offers a large space between each “lift”   -   my first thought was, “Yes, there’s an essential – to open the amusement parks” but I did not leave my snarky comment.   Outdoor activities seem like they are less risky than indoor. This pa...