That Was Refreshing!

 

                President Nelson created a video (here) which many have watched and have accepted the challenge. Facebook was flooded with posts of gratitude.  How wonderful that was to read such positiveness on the home page rather than backlashing, politics, the virus, etc.  Many of the posts were written by people from my past – some who have not been on facebook for years, some of which I had no idea I was even friends with.  How great it was to connect with gratitude.

        I had started this month posting the 30 days of gratitude creating some new thankful favorites and perhaps duplicating what I had posted last year (here) but will not make a comparison until later on.

        Jenna tried to accept the challenge but may be feeling as grateful as Corrie ten Boom had been for fleas (see here) and had written:

         “I wish I could be one of those girls who could hug [her] bear and take a nap and everything will be better but no, I’m not that type of a girl and will destroy anything when I’m upset GIVE ME SOMETHING TO PUNCH!!! But that’s not what the prophet wants.  He wants us to be grateful so I’ll mourn on that.

        “I’m grateful I take online courses I absolutely hate. . . socializing has become super hard but I do enjoy being able to manage my homework and classes at my own speed rather than 8 hours of strai[gh]t 45 minute lectures.

        “I’m grateful for social media specifically tik tok. Say what you want about the gover[n]ment being after us and that kids spend way too much time making these videos.  I’ve made friends on tik tok and it help[ed] kept me s[ane].

        “I’m grateful fo Bonnie.  She’s not my dog but I always say that she is.  Bonnie is always wagging her tail and is such a sweet dog to be around. . . “

         She did include a few more things, but ended up deleting the post.  I am grateful I took a screenshot of it before she took it down.

        She did not add the hash tag #givethanks as so many others have as we were encouraged to do.  I get annoyed with the hashtag.  I never understood why it gets used.

         I hope that my gratitude may show 365 days of the year and not just in November or around the Christmas holiday.  Aside from too much complaining I have been looking for reasons to be grateful during this pandemic.  I am so grateful for many who have come on board.

What Is Up With Bruce?

 

         Bruce is not the only rooster who crows or comes into our yard.  I don’t know how many there are or why they crow.  Perhaps they are boasting about planting seed in their harem of hens.  I know they don’t get returning to standard  after six months of daylight.  But still.  That accounts for only one hour difference.  Not five or seven.  Half past midnight I hear the annoying cock-a-doodle and can’t figure out why.  It’s raining.  Is Bruce complaining because his feathers are wet?  Dude.  Take a chill pill and find some shelter.  Don’t just stand in it and complain your lack of understanding why there is moisture falling on you.  I can’t sleep with your built in alarm.

          I got up to relieve myself and checked the clock before I returned to bed.  That is how know it was half past midnight.  When Bruce finally stopped complaining or boasting or whatever it was he was crowing about, I could hear Bonnie snoring loudly in the hall.  She used to sleep in Jenna’s room.  Jenna had even built a temporary door that Bonnie could use to freely come and go without upsetting Jenna’s privacy too much. 

 

Jenna always ends up on the couch.  Even before we started watching Bonnie.  Bonnie has camped outside mine and Roland’s door for the last two weeks.  Her snore is quite loud.

          Roland generally does not snore unless he has a cold – which he has had for almost three weeks now.  Not a terrible cold.  Enter-the-night-when-first-lie-down-to-phlegm-filled-mornings kind of cold.  But eventually clears until it’s time  for bed again.  I told him he could take care of the drainage by sitting up, but he claims he can’t sleep that way.  Sure he can.  I’ve seen him sleeping while planted in front of the TV.  I have also seen him nod off at church.  Pews are not made of comfortable sleeping material. 

          I don’t know that Roland’s snore is louder than Bonnie’s but he is closer so it seems like it is.  I can’t complain because in this marriage Roland rarely snores.  I have been the guilty party.  But everyone agrees that Bonnie has a louder snore.  She evidently also gives off a stench that I am grateful that I cannot smell.

          Back to Bruce who still brings his harem and turkey friend into our yard hoping to get a quick fix of whatever Roland and Jenna should throw their way. They used to run from us whenever we would walk in their direction – though none of them have ever been the target of what we’re after.  Now they’ve gotten gutsy walking up to our porch as if it is their personal domain.  Jenna has captured several pictures of the fowl invaders.

 
          The rain has not kept them away.  And it has rained a lot.  Right this very minute the sun is peaking through.  There are birds in our yard but not as many as in our neighbor’s yard.  They even come out in the rain and approach the porch when they hear someone coming.  Perhaps Bruce 1, 2 and 3 aren’t crowing about the elements at all.  Perhaps they are beggars saying,

          “I have seen all three of you come out of your house now and I just want you to know that I am hungry.  You fed me once which leads me to believe that it is your job to feed me whenever I darn well feel the need.  And if you don’t feed me I will stand here all day and yell at you and make your lives miserable.  So if you don’t want us to crow, send an endless supply of food.”

 The nerve!

Statistics

         Currently there have been over 57,600 recorded cases in Oregon and over 700 deaths due to the cornavirus disease.  

As of this week Douglas County makes up for 862 cases with 10 deaths.  Douglas County is 5,134 square miles with a population of just over 112,000. The largest city within the county is Roseburg with the geographic size of 10.93 mi² (whatever that means . . . math) with a population of almost 24,000.  

Douglas County is considered to be a part of the Red zone. As of tomorrow to at least January 22 all students attending Roseburg schools will have to do so online except for K-3.  Apparently they are to remain in school until the authorities learn that it was probably never a good idea to do that in the first place. I don’t know about the other surrounding cities, but the two school districts within the area in which I live seem to be in full operation right now and will continue . . . or so is the plan.  I think they should keep it safe by following along what Roseburg is doing instead of chancing that things my get work – which I expect they will.  Students get sick at this time of the year without COVID.  And then there’s Thanksgiving coming up. Seminary is still going.  All in person learning as far as I can tell.

2020 may have cancelled a lot in the way of holidays, birthdays, graduations, and other events.  LOTS of events missed or celebrated virtually, dates moved around  - for example my cousin celebrated Thanksgiving outdoors – spaced out tables.  They had the event on a really nice day in October.  I believe there’s snow on the ground right now where she is.  We have rain her.  Lots of heavy rain.  Falling. 

Jenna took this picture from I5

Bonnie doesn’t like the rain.  She mopes around longing to bask in the sun.  We’ll give her a bone toy for her to chew and entertain her.  It’s her mama’s birthday today.  We haven’t seen her since she went to Salem over two months ago.  I bet she’s missing Bonnie. 

What an odd century 2020 has been.  Brought out a lot of creativity with some.  For that I am grateful.

I'm COLD

 

I had resided in three

different houses when I lived

in Utah.

Each of them provided

gas furnaces as a source

of heat. 

The heat source in Oregon

has been electric – which

tends to dry me out more than the gas

ever did. 

I don’t particularly care for electric heat

and have felt overly hot each year

except for this one. 

But it is 2020 – why

should anything about

this year decade feel normal? 

I have worn my long sleeve

pajama tops and used the

covers for the last two weeks. 

Highly unusual

– for me.

Cold, Wet, and Two Week Order

 

Yesterday was cold and wet

Bonnie does not like the moisture

as it falls from the sky. 

She spent most of the day sleeping

except for when we took her to the vets. 

 

The governor has issued another

“Stay at home order”. 

It starts on Wednesday and will go

until December second.

Restaurants and bars or for takeout or delivery only

Which, in my opinion, is how it should have been all along.

 

Currently barbers, hair salons, and outdoor recreation are allowed

along with youth programs, childcare, K-12 schools?????

Really?  We’re going to eliminate social gathering activity to 6 people and church maximum at 25 people but it is okay to have contact sports and hold schools with hundreds of children.  What????

I don't see hair salons and barbers as an essential.

Jenna and I haven't had our hair cut since January.  

Roland asked me to cut his.

My hair hasn't necessarily grown longer - but definitely thicker 

and Jenna looks like a wild woman with all her thick hair.

 

Do not spend Thanksgiving with extended family –

but it is highly probable that some people will. 

Enough people to expose their kids

who will return to the schools and spread the disease. 

And then we will have to shut everything down . . . again.

When will this nation learn? 

 

It’s wet and cold outside. 

I’m staying home not only to stay safe

but also to keep warm.

Pieces of Memories

      When it first came out I remember being interested in seeing the TV series “This is Us” but did not start watching it until this year for whatever reason.  Normally I don’t enjoy constant flashbacks but have been intrigued with this series about three siblings who have become adults.  We see pieces of memories as they enter the world and grow up.  We see their parents struggles as well as their own.  It’s been interesting to watch as their characters are developed based on these memories that the audience members see only glimpses of. Each episode provides a recap of what memories were provided from previous episodes. 

The first episode starts off with four different cast members reacting to birthday celebrations.  The first story shows a pregnant woman holding a cupcake while her husband (Jack, the birthday boy) waits for her on the bed.  Her water breaks and they rush to the hospital where the woman is expected to give birth to triplets.  Their names will be Kevin, Kate, and Kyle. Each child is shown as an adult also celebrating his/her birthday except for Kyle who was a stillborn. In the nursery are three babies – Kevin, Kate and an infant that had been abandoned at a firehouse but brought to the hospital and in need of parents.  Jack makes a connection and the third baby is brought home along with Kevin and Kate.

At first they call the baby Kyle but eventually change in name to Randall.  We learn why in a later episode. Although the three of them were raised in Pittsburg, Kevin and Kate have moved to Los Angeles.  Kevin has an acting gig with a show called “The Manny”.  Kate attends weight loss meetings.  Only Randall remains on the east coast near to his mom.  Jack is deceased.

I have looked at this series with admiration thinking how each of us has memories we share with those we grew up with as well as memories that set us apart from those we grew up with.  For example, I have created memories in Oregon that I can share with my sibs, but they will never be their memories.  I can share past memories with my sibs that neither Roland nor Jenna will ever have a first account of.  The memories will come in bits and pieces that connect us together though we are still sorting through bits and pieces and do not have the entire picture linked together.

I love how my niece captured this with her words in her first blog post which she has now made private.  Fortunately I still have some of her posts.  In her introduction, she said:  

“My hope is that bits and pieces will seep into this blog slowly over time until my life experiences culminate into something that looks like a finished puzzle.”  (Ellen/Whitney)

Looking forward to seeing the picture unveiled and meanwhile trying to enjoy the journey of fitting the pieces together.

Another Day For Celebration

 

Today is Veteran’s Day.

There is usually a celebration going on. 

Roseburg does a parade every year

– except this year.

 

The skies are grey and overcast. 

Mirrors the expression of staying inside.

COVID cases spike within two weeks of

the last holiday

-whether it be Federal or not.

 

Roland has the day off. 

He will be spending it in front of the television.

TV helps him relax. 

He enjoys watching television and taking naps.

Often he will nap while the TV blares.

 

There is a list of businesses who offer

free food or discounts to Veterans. 

I had wondered if that would be part of

the curriculum this year as most

celebrations have been cancelled due to the pandemic.

 

Thank you

To all the men and women who have served for our country.

I love living in this county.

Veterans are supported everyday and not just this day.

Thank you.

Little Dogs and Scary Vacuum Cleaner

          Bonnie really is a sweet dog.  She constantly wags her tail.  She will follow family members around from room to room so that she doesn’t get left behind.  Jenna was away for three hours on Saturday and Bonne whined from the moment she left until the moment Jenna returned.  Yesterday she decided to make herself my buddy.  It was too cold for both of us to take her on a walk – although we did let her out to do her thing.  She somehow believed the weather would be different out the front door than it was out the back.

          Bonnie is threatened by dogs that are smaller than her.  She doesn’t seem to have any problems with cats.  She enjoys chasing squirrels and playing in the leaves.  I had the opportunity of seeing her violent side when she darted into the street to chew out a small dog walking with his/her owners.  I had never seen that before.  It was upsetting to the other owner as it was to myself. Jenna and I both cried about it. 

          Bonnie does not care for the vacuum cleaner.  She is intrigued enough to want to watch what it does – but will run away from it and observes from as far of a distant that is possible.  When I move the vacuum toward her (as I continue going from room to room) she will step aside and take off when she feel it’s safe to dart back into the hall.

          Bonnie snores louder than I do – or did.  I don’t think I snore anymore.  We have wondered if she has ADD as we are able to trick her.  She always wants to go out the front door.  A human holding keys and wearing a hat is a sign of going outside.  She will remain at the front door even though Jenna and I have often escaped out the back.  We can also put her dog food on a human plate and she will eat it.  She doesn’t want it if it’s in the dog dish.

          We changed her diet and she seems to have a lot more energy.  Her owner said that she does not play fetch, but Jenna has taught Bonnie to bring back the string toy. Jenna threw it down the hall and Bonnie retrieved it.  Jenna threw it once again and Bonnie brought it back.  Third time.  Bonnie went down the hall and came back with her toy bone.  Jenna got excited.

          “Look!  Bonnie did a magic trick!  I threw her string toy down the hall and she turned it into this.”

          We have come to love Bonnie just as she loves us.  We will all miss one another should her owner return for her.

Our New President

 

          How awesome it is to hear that there are other countries celebrating at our victory!  Joe Biden won 284 votes to 214.  How glorious.  Rumor is that the media (perhaps with the exception of FOX which is not high on the reliable source list) will no longer cater to Trump’s pettiness and refuse to put him in the limelight where he longs to bask.  I hope that rumor is true.

           I guess Trump was right.  He will be able to make America great again whenever he is finally out of the picture.

        Congrats to us all!

Waiting

             Election Day was three days ago and we still don’t know who the president is for the next four years.  I am hoping NOT Trump and yet at the same time, I know there will be violence from some Trump supporters who don’t understand that bullyism and threats do not make any country great.  They are abusing their freedoms and taking away others’ freedoms. 

There are so many ballots – more than any other year.  Perhaps four times as many.  It takes a long time to count – especially if there are less volunteers due to COVID.  If Joe Biden wins, I hope he sends in a crew to sterilize the white house and not move in for another month or two after his inauguration – that is if Big Baby Trump and his groupies don’t make it such an unrealistic ordeal. 

Joe Biden has campaigned for being for the people – all people – whether he was voted in by that person or not.  Trump will not honor those who didn’t vote for him.  He won’t have any problem stepping on the ones who did.  Unfortunately, some of those who voted for him still won’t know any better. 

The economy is going to be horrible no matter which one gets in.  Trump will have his followers believing everything is great, that we will all be able to return to work and thrive and that COVID will go away.  COVID will not go away.  Other nations are getting second waves of COVID – but the Americans will never get a second wave.  You know why?  Because we will never succeed  at getting over the first!

Too many have the attitude of “Open right now.” “We need our jobs” “We need to spend money” . . . not only are we battling COVID but flu season is here.  There are states fighting the elements in addition to the COVID.  They’re not returning to work.  They have to rebuild their cities.  They have been damaged in several weeks.  Returning to work is not the number one concern right now.  It is rebuilding their homes, their lives, this nation . . .

The country opened too soon.  People got bored.  They somehow forgot.  The media reports cases within various schools – now taking precautions by sending the entire class, busload, pod or whatever into quarantine to be monitored for the next two weeks.  Football players and firemen are testing positive.  Really?  Who thought restarting football was a good idea?  Fireman are necessary.  Front line workers: necessary.  Resteraunts – a way to make a living for the owners and workers – but not necessary for the patrons.  Jenna and I haven’t had our hair cut since January.  It’s not so much that we need it cut as we need it thinned out.  But again, it’s not an essential.  It’s not like a necessity such as treatment or food.

The nation is apprehensive right now.  Our current president is a racist and a liar.  He has threatened to leave the country if he doesn’t win.  Good riddens.  I hope he does flee the country!  I hope he takes his family of supporters with him!  Maybe there will be room for them in Greenland.

Sleep Interupted

 Bruce didn’t set his alarm

 back to standard. 

I don’t think he cares. 

He doesn’t crow at sunrise. 

He crows 3-4 hours before. 

Are you kidding me? 

 

It’s dark. 

I’m trying to sleep. 

Bruce, if you are going to

continue going off every

morning before there is

even a crack of dawn, you

are no longer welcome in

our yard. 

You and your harem. 

I don’t hear them making

noise before

the crack of dawn.

 

When Bruce finally

shuts up I hear Jenna

talking to Bonnie – asking if

she needs to go out.   

Bonnie’s tag jingling down

the hall. 

I hear the door open. 

Jenna letting Bonnie out.

What time is it? 

Why are there

so many noises? 

I want to sleep!

 

I got up at 7:00. 

It’s now light enough

outside for me to see. 

That means I could go pick

up Jenna again – at least

until December. 

It gets dark at 5:30 p.m. 

What’s up with that? 

Feels like midnight at 7:00 p.m. 

 

I hate setting the clocks

every six months! 

Why can’t they

 leave us alone?

 

Still tired.

Let the Sunshine In!

 

                The skies are clear and the sun is shining through.  It’s about 54 degrees – 10 degrees warmer than three hours ago.  Looks and feels like a completely different day.

             This morning there was a dingy fog.  Thick. Appearance was not clean.  It felt eerie – mirroring the upcoming election.

            Tomorrow is the last day to vote. Whatever the results there’s going to be tension.  It’s as though the fog was a sign of what’s to come.

             Malitia if Trump should lose the elect

ion.  He will not leave the white house gracefully.  His mindless fans will protect him.  I cannot even grasp the behavior of so many who refuse to see what is right in front of them or hear what words come out from Donald Trump’s mouth.  They’re mesmerized.  I don’t get it.

             If Biden should lose the election – well, we are all doomed.  Perhaps there won’t be the same uproar of militia.  The pain will spread out over the next four years.

 

            I want the view of today to be a message for me to believe that everything will be alright.