I Want Candy

             Roland has purchased several 3 pound jars of peanut m&ms over the years.  We all snack on them, but do so in moderation.  The candy will gradually go down to empty at which point we will refill with dog food and refer to the jar as “Bonnie’s m&ms”.   

She is fine with our feeding her a handful of her "m&ms" while we are trying to eat our own food.  Catch is, we need to pour it from the jar onto the floor or give Bonnie her own plate.  Tastes so much better than eating it out of her bowl.  Yet she has no problem eating hearts or scrambled eggs from her bowl.

            We had dropped some jelly beans on the floor which of course went into Bonnie’s mouth the second they hit the ground.  She is not the fussy dog that we had in West Valley.  She’ll eat almost anything – whether we intend it that way or not.  Jenna says that Bonnie doesn’t seem to care for fruit.  But she does love pumpkin, peanut butter and any kind of meat. 

            I took a picture of the remaining jelly beans two days after Easter

 and finally the end of the week. 

 

There are five black jelly beans left.  I think they may end up getting thrown out.

 Jenna brought me the remainder of her chocolate bunny.  Quite a lot actually.  Could it be that she has become all candied out? 

Comatose Weather and Downright Lazy Weekend

           I remember the weather when we first went into lockdown last year.  It was nice.  Jenna and I would walk around the neighborhood (or just our yard – pre the neighbors' arrogant chickens and Bonnies) and take pictures.  This year has been overcast, windy and cold – except when it’s not.  It’s like mother nature has a endless case of PMS and is wreaking havoc with the skies.  Sending awful turbulence and bleakness – at least in my neck of the woods.  Strange, but as I write this, the sun is shining like it has been there all this time.  Never enveloped with clouds or darkness.

          I have blamed the weather for my being tired - though I have probably OD’d on sugar since Easter.  It did not help matters when yesterday after feeling bloated, Roland insisted I take some Alka-Seltzer -which would be fine but the only Alka-Seltzer we have is for cold medicine and as if I wasn’t already feeling comatized, the medicine only added to my tiredness and weakness and desire to do absolutely nothing but sleep.

          Roland and I have been taking lots of naps – sometimes intentionally, often not.  Poor Jenna.  Reminds me of something I had posted to facebook last year (though I have not come across the memory as of yet)

           Me:   “Help! I am stuck in the house with a business freak and a drama queen!”

           R:       “Help!  I am stuck in the house with two drama queens!”

           J:       “Help!  I am stuck in the house with two old fogies who think sleeping is the greatest thing ever!”

           Jenna doesn’t understand sleep.  It’s not in her vocabulary.  She’ll be up at 2:00 am texting whoever else happens to be awake.  She’s awake before Roland’s alarm goes off.  I doubt she gets more than 4 hours of sleep per night (she has ALWAYS been an early riser) and she is still one of the happiest people that I know.  Wouldn’t it be great to get by on only four hours of sleep and have that much pep?

           I hope she may continue and not let her parents sleeping habits bring her down.

Where was I between 2013 and 2016?

 

        Every once in a while I will click on Ancestry just because it’s there.  For the most part I don’t know if the information is accurate or not.  My passion isn’t there to remember if Uncle Harold was born in one place or another.  I mean, I think I could narrow it down to state or region that I could figure out the inaccuracy such as knowing the birth took place in Utah although I don’t know exactly where in Utah, I think it is safe to rule out Texas or Florida should they come up.

        Today when I went into Ancestry I noticed that there were hints for my dad.  Okay, I can do that.  I can break it down more easily than any of his uncles or cousins.  I clicked on the census and grave information.  Both were correct and I added to others as well.  And then I found my own name.  I clicked on my name – which came up as my maiden name.  Eleven hints.  Wow. 

Okay, nine of them were high school photos of someone who lives in El Paso – or did at the time when she was in school.  Also the photos are someone with my married name.  Ignored all of the photos. Then I clicked on one that said public records.  The addresses of the top three are correct but only one of the dates is accurate.  We have lived at our current Myrtle Creek address from 2016 to now.  But I don’t understand the specified years – especially since they overlap. 

         Do they really believe that I house hopped during those years?  Like one was a summer home and the other a winter? Not that the zip code made a huge difference that I would have really used one as a summer home and the other for alternating season. They are, after all, less than ten miles apart. I grew up in the house in Midvale (maiden name) and was married at the other (though I guess I did technically make the purchase in my maiden name) 

I’ve never even visited North Dakota, let alone lived there. Interesting that there is only one year listed at that.  Except for Myrtle Creek – the beginning and ending dates are inaccurate – for me personally.  The homes/addresses still exist.  Just not at those times.  I ignored the hint but took a picture and made the corrections – sort of.  I put the corrected screenshot into my gallery in the event I do pass and someone else is trying to find me they will know the public records are not 100% accurate.  But are they ever?  Many of my ancestor names aren’t 100% to information provided.  There a lot of “could be”s.  As of now no one would have access to my photos because I am still living.

Anyway, I just found it interesting and so decided to share. 

Just In Case You Don’t Have a Window

 

                It’s going to be cloudy today 

except over there

          What is it appearing on the horizon? 

The sun

The blinding sun

coming to you from the east

for two hours only

but that is only if you live in Myrtle Creek

 

Over to the west you will see grey skies

overlooking the Tri-City area

Sunny skies just east of Myrtle Creek

and possible showers for Tri City

two cities sharing the same zipcode

but hey . . .

Let us give them different weathers. 

Why not?

 

Cool to downright Cold winds

wherever you may choose to walk Bonnie

or rather wherever she may choose to walk you

or attempt her own keen sense of direction

And after you return home,

Let us allow the sun to peek its head

                   From the sky.

 

Crazy weather.

The Peeing Section and “We Are Out of Coffee!!!!”

 

        During the pandemic it has been up to each state government to lay down the law of mandating mask, social distancing, reopening, etc.  It wasn’t long before facebook became flooded with this message: “Having some states lock down and others not lock down is like having a peeing section in the swimming pool”.  Yet there are some companies that seem to be encourage traveling?  “Hey, come and pee in my state!  We don’t have enough of it?”  I am a guilty party as I traveled with my family to New York last June.  Did we bring some pee with us?  Not intentionally. Did we bring it back to Oregon? Possibly. But not from New York. It had been our flight from Detroit and our stop at Salt Lake airport that felt the most concerning. 

        Roland had asked for some time off the end of this month as we have arranged to have our floors done (inviting pee?  Perhaps.  Our floors are in very sad shape) but the flooring we wanted is currently on back order and the company has run behind.  They may not make it until May.  Roland is fed up – thinks we should use someone else.  We are in a rural area.  We are going to run into the same problem no matter where we go. We have a guarantee that this guy will do sub flooring.  That is our problem.  

        Our subfloors are in terrible shape (or at least I am assuming)  We are not going to have that same guarantee through Lowe’s.  They can’t even guarantee that we will have the same contractor throughout the entire project.  I am willing to wait.  I don’t want to change lanes only to fall further behind (here) 

Roland now wants to leave the state – take Jenna to Universal and return.  Two days in the car for one day at the park and a return home again?  I think not.  Besides Universal is open only to California residents. That is the way it should be.  Each state should have restrictions about letting in tourists – it isn’t an option for those traveling outside the country or to Hawaii (from what I understand) the traveler MUST quarantine for 14 days – and on the traveler’s dime at that.  So why would a desired traveler even bother?

Roland has good intentions.  Always has good intentions but is not always wise when it comes to making decisions.  Why not take the boys and other family members to Lagoon (an amusement park in Farmington, Utah) on the 24^th of this month.  We can invite family members of Roland’s late wife.  We already have 15 – 20 people to begin with (half under the age of 11) and now he wants more?  How are we supposed to social distance?  Not that my boys believe in that.  So far it doesn’t sound like a fun day to have to wear a mask the entire time we are in the park. 

It doesn’t have to be the park.  Roland has an entire list of suggestions. It’s like he’s oblivious of the year decade 2020 – like the pandemic has vanished and everything has returned to normal.  I recently reminded him of a skit I had seen on Electric Company back in the early 1970’s. A man goes into a shop and orders a doughnut and some coffee.  Rita Moreno's character says, "We're all out of coffee" so then he changes his order to a sweetroll and a coffee and is once again told "We're all out of coffee".  He proceeds to go through a list of baked goods with coffee and Rita Moreno's character appears to become more upset until finally the guy says, "Maybe I will have just coffee"  

I feel like I am screaming the same thing over and over.  Jenna thinks I’m a killjoy – sucking the fun out of the possibilities of what could be.  I don’t mean to sound pessimistic – but realistically “We Are Out of Coffee”.  I’m not the one who initialized the pandemic!  I’m not the one who voted to have a peeing section in the pool!  I’m sorry that they think I am a fun-sucker because I know that the pee can spread to others – even if that wasn’t my intent.  There are other people on this planet.  The pandemic will not last forever – though it has already lingered around longer than necessary because of those who believe in the peeing section.  It’s frustrating.

https://exit78.com/peeing-section/

Roland was watching the news last night.  He learned that new cases have been spiking all over the country.  Well, duh.  I hope that it sinks in.  He knows it’s not just me.  It’s not even paranoia.  It’s being cautious.  It’s trying to stay safe.  The pandemic is not over folks.  Vaccinations aren’t going to change the attitude of those that believe that the peeing section will work and that we still have plenty of coffee to go around – metaphorically speaking.

Jenna's Birthday and Easter

           Jenna likes surprises and says she would like to be surprised for her birthday.  But things started showing up in the mail that she herself had picked out.  She knew the packaged CD was Panic at the Disco.  She recognized the stickers that Roland had asked her about.  I didn’t even bother telling her that her stylist had arrived and enclosed it in a CD case with a note about surprises.  I also opened her sticker package and did the same.  Then I hid her Panic at the Disco CD and wrapped the two CD cases along with a chocolate orange and a Tee Shirt that Roland had purchased.

          I’m sure I could have wrapped the Hamm piggy bank that he purchased at a later time, but chose not to as she was in the house ever since we brought it home – except for going to seminary (I am pressed for time as it is – wrapping the bank would have lessened whatever time I gave myself to get ready) so I hid it with a note indicating where she could find her Panic at the Disco CD.

          We started yesterday morning off with Roland fixing French Toast (Jenna’s absolute favorite breakfast) and I asked if he remembered the vacuum cleaner bags that we once had to deal with.  Jenna thought it was weird that I would bring that up – and it was, but I needed it as a clue.  After breakfast she opened the four gifts in her bag – each a surprise.  I then told her to consider our morning conversation which she had to think about but suddenly realized and checked the closet to find a bag hanging around the vacuum.

          “Is this Hamm?” she cried excitedly before she had it fully out of the bag. 

          I had some money sticking out in the event that she would need it for yesterday’s excursion.  It contained the final clue.

          We had tried watching conference on the big TV but YouTube wasn’t working for us and we don’t get the BYU channel.  We moved into the bedroom and I turned on the computer to watch from the church website.  Roland was able to pull up YouTube from the bedroom TV just before the Internet was interrupted – the TV and computer played the live recording just seconds apart.

          Roland and I were on the bed and Jenna had positioned herself on the floor.  Both Jenna and I took notes.  When it ended, all three of us piled into the car (leaving poor Bonnie by her lonesome) and took Jenna to the park where she had planned to meet her friend.  Roland wanted to get her an Easter basket as we have not done much with her on Easter before (she has spent many Easters in the company of others) and also a cake for her birthday.

          While we out getting the cake, Jenna called to see if she could miss the second live session of conference and watch it later.  Her friend was late and she wanted to have more time.  I told her that was fine.  Gremlins from yesterday morning could very well have interfered with the afternoon session as well (though we could have gone to the Church to watch but were not dressed for it)  Roland returned for Jenna a half hour before Conference ended.

          Another friend came over to hang out.  Jenna felt a bit discouraged when her friend didn’t seem to be in the mood for anything but give her attention to her electronic device.  Jenna and I conversed for a bit about the events of her day.  Finally she asked if I would drive her and her friend to Dollar Tree so that they could create gift bags for one another – or a game of “if you catch this, I’ll buy it for you”.  I chose to stay in the car.

          Roland made dinner and the four of us ate (five if you count Bonnie) and I wished Jenna would have eaten as well as her friend.  We sang happy birthday and allowed Jenna to blow out her candles and then Roland took the girls to yet another friends so that they could join in a flashlight Easter egg hunt – a tradition that didn’t take place at all last year.

          This morning Jenna saw her basket and was surprised.  Before I allowed her to explore the contents I told her that I had a fun activity for us to do which would incorporate the true meaning of Easter.  I rolled to flatten out ten biscuits and melted butter into a bowl and filled another with cinnamon and sugar.  I placed ten marshmallows on the table and told her and Roland that each marshmallow would symbolically represent Jesus Christ and that it was our job to dress him and add oil and spices to his body and wrap him in linen with more oils and spices.  We put each in a tomb (cupcake tin) and baked it and the empty rolls became the Empty Tombs because they were hallow (see here) 

          I continued with my “He Lives” notes creating so many that I had to turn the paper over to squeeze in the last three speakers.  Jenna had a wonderful birthday (more memorable than last year) and we are all enjoying Easter.  Even Bonnie – who finally got a walk after feeling neglected yesterday.

       

He Lives

           I have memorized the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” as mentioned in this post.  David Butler from Don’t Miss This (here) created a simple outline for Easter (here) in which there are four headings 

 He Lives and         He Lives to           He Lives my          and    He Lives

 

If I underline the words in the hymn I have four that fall under the heading  He Lives and, eleven under He Lives to, seven under He Lives my and eight under He Lives.  But that is only from the hymn.  I printed off a total of five pages.  One for the hymn and one for each session of conference.  Thus morning session of Conference under the heading

 

He Lives and

Gives us guidelines to prepare

Teaches eternal truths

Wants me to be happy

Wants me to be kind

Wants me to follow His Example

Gives me direction

Knows me

 

Some followed by the names of the Speaker who had mentioned.

 

He Lives to

Remember no more/atonement

Take care

Nurture

Teach

Be kind

 

He Lives my

 

Teacher, friend, guide

Inspiration, example

Living Water

Truth, Master

Shepherd, Helper

Good Samaritan

 

He Lives

That I might prepare

Opens His heart

Knows me by name

Knows my language

Sends angels into my life

Through my family

 

My notes for this afternoon:

 

He Lives and

Sends me ministering angels and blessings

Alters my life, makes me whole

Loves me perfectly

Provides a remedy

Resolves unfairness

Mends the mess

Sees with an eternal perspective

 

He Lives to

Comfort me

Heal my wounds

Set me free

Lead by example

Bless me with His love

 

He Lives my

Refuge, strength

Prince of Peace

Healing balm of the atonement

Stone catcher

Light, Torch, Lamp, Deliverer

Hope, Advocate

 

 

He Lives

Through scriptures and prophets

Understands unfairness

Free agency

Allows me to come to Him

Allows me to belong

Overcomes the World

Because He is responsible

Because He forgives

 

Oh, sweet the Joy this sentence gives

 

Through Conference I came up with three.

 

“Come Follow me” [current Sunday school program] and “Come Unto Him”

Never forget that you are a child of God

I know through Him that I can change my heart.

 

My next post may focus more on Jenna’s birthday (which is today)

So Tired

 

“Why I am so tired?”

I look up to the sky

I sense the wind is blowing.

“Oh, now I know why.”

 

While living in Utah

I would tire when winds blew

But that hasn’t happened in Oregon

Except a time or two.

 

Why would the wind make me tired

When I am not even in the outside air?

My mind disconnects from my body,

A dimension not even there.

 

I could always blame the weather

Like a 40 degree jump in one day.

“What’s up with that, Mother Nature?”

What havoc the weather games play.

 

This time I doubt it is DST.

I’ve had enough time to adjust

My sleeping habits went out the window

When the pandemic came in like a gust.

 

Roland gave me an energy shot

The taste made my mouth ache

Though it pushed me just a little

I’m still not fully awake.

Random Pics

 This desk was from my mom's house.  It came with one small drawer.  I got rid of it in November 2018 when Richard bought me another desk.  I meant to write a post about my new desk but appears I never got around to that.

I had seen this desk at St. Vincent's.  It was only ten dollars.  Bigger than my mom's old desk (which was specifically purchased for the computer) more storage.  I had asked for it for Christmas but Richard set it up before Christmas.

    This is bottom draw to the desk above.

When Jenna and I have taken Bonnie for walks, I have taken pictures that capture spring

This was one of many hidden eggs that Jenna found

When we were at St. Vincent, I did purchase a purse to tote just three items on the days I have no pockets

I took this picture as it appeared the flowers had been hand painted onto regular drinking glasses.

Jenna's pandemic hair from behind

a gift from last Christmas.  Tee shirt and socks (this was before the chickens took over our porch this year)

On Wednesday Jenna and I finally got our hair cut and styled.  These next two pics show before and after.

When Jenna was younger I would always take photos of her standing next to fire hydrants.  The tradition continues.

Let's Just Leave the Clock Setting Alone

https://www.timeanddate.com/news/time/usa-canada-start-dst-2021.htm

 Daylight Saving happened on March 14^th this year.  Oh, joy.  After a month and a half of not being able to drive to the church in the morning there finally came a time that I could leave the house at 7:10 and then gradually at 7:00.  For about a month after Christmas I had left the house at the very time that seminary got out before Jenna’s instructor volunteered to bring her home until it was light enough for me to see.

https://dlpng.com/png/6598304

The first week before spring break was too dark for my eyes – but I didn’t have to go to the church until this week as the six youth were in quarantine the week before spring break started.  Thankfully, after the youth returned to their normal routine it has been light enough to leave the house by seven.  That gives me an extra ten minutes to drive around the creek instead of crossing over the bridge that leads to downtown.  I prefer going around the river as I will encounter only one school bus – if that.  I don’t want to leave too early because I then have to stop each time it does. 

As a youth it felt like we set our clocks according to General Conference which gave us six months of daylight and six months of standard.  But now they have it set at the second week in March and the first week of November which gives us roughly eight months of daylight and four months of standard.  So why not just get rid of standard?  What is the point of changing the clock for just four months?  Seems like there are many more inconveniences associated with clock setting than not.  Let’s just keep the clock where it is and not have to reset in November. 

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/advice/a21905/adjusting-daylight-saving-time/