Beneath the Wraps

            What is “bug attire”? you may ask.   It is when the facial mask and goggles gives one the appearance similar to that of a bug.   It may also be attire one wears for protection but is “bugged” or bothered by wearing it.   Perhaps you can see both definitions in the picture below.             The back room is already 10 – 20 degrees warmer than the outside.   The outside temperature is not in the three digits but I’m certain the back room is – or was.   It’s mostly insulated now.   We started on Thursday after Roland got off work.   The batting contains fiber glass and so we have to wear long sleeves, long pants, hats and gloves in addition to the respirator masks and safety goggles.   I’m already hot.   I don’t need to dress in hot.   And yet I did.    That night I threw up four times.   Roland finally told me I was done. Friday was better...

           Moses had been raised as a prince in Pharaoh’s court.   We don’t know how many there were in total but at least one.   There was at least one raised along side of Moses who would become the next Pharaoh.   It is possible that he and Moses were friends many years before Moses killed an Egyptian while trying to protect a slave. Rumor has it that the Pharaoh at that time got wind of what had happened and sought to slay Moses and Moses fled.           Forty years had passed before Moses returned to Egypt – a different man, a different Pharaoh.   Forty years is a long time.   The Pharaoh’s heart had hardened.   He no longer viewed Moses as growing up in the same palace as he.   He saw a poor shepherd and would not take Moses seriously – even with all the plagues.   Even with the killing of the first born.           The ...

            After over a month of parking our cars in the street we got our driveway back – at least for the time being.   The exterior of our new room is finished; we now have to work on the interior.   Plus there is still the issue of the floor.   The wet spot in front of the toilet seems to be growing. Roland and I painted the sides – mostly Roland.   He ended up purchasing a spray painter and moving it was a two man job.   I finished restaining the front dek and will continue with the back stairs – a chore I would prefer to have completed before 7:00 a.m. Today Jenna and I took Bonnie for a walk.   We walked to a house where a new family has moved in.   There were several cars pulled around waiting for the new owners who got stuck rerouting themselves due to accidents or fires.   I walked Bonnie home after learning the new move-ins had dogs and so did the neighbors.   There were five dogs in the driv...

             Quite recently my brother became a target of what one may have considered a funny prank.   Something had landed on his head.   Something gross.   It had been delivered intentionally.   He had a nagging feeling to share with his manager what   had taken place figuring that nothing could be done.   He’d forgotten about the video cameras that surrounded the area.             Security was called and the culprit was caught.   The culprit had known he was wrong for his act of disgust.   Before he “delivered” his “gift” he had looked around to make certain that no one was watching.   Evidently he had no taken the cameras into consideration either.   Corey had the option to press charges but declined and never met his offender.   His boss had given him the option of going home to recuperate – which he did eventually.    ...

  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 ho...

            President  Joe Biden announced that the pandemic is not over as COVID still lingers.   People seem to become reckless in the summer as it is – having felt cooped up.   On July First the Church sent out an announcement that the temples would be moving to phase 3.   On July 2, they retracted their announcement.   It reminded me of the seen in Monsters Inc.   when Randall finally moves up to the coveted number one position and Celia announces:   “We have a new winner” No sooner does she say that when Mike Wazowski continues to grab cans to catch the screams caused by James P. Sullivan who exits the door and announces “Slumber party” We then hear Celia’s voice retract: “Nevermind”   Jenna thinks I sound like a killjoy.   I don’t mean to be pessimistic.   Sometimes reality isn’t glamorous.   Often there is pain.   I think it would be absolutely magnificent if I were wrong a...

             I had first considered her mom’s friend before I had considered her my own.   I knew her from the ward and neighborhood.   She is the first one I remember having such a passion for genealogy (now more commonly known as family history).   She had grown up in foster care and had the desire to be connected.   She found a sister and her mother I believe.   I loved hearing her stories.   She taught family history classes and make arrangements to go to the genealogy library located downtown.   I was twelve at the time.   Definitely the youngest in the class.           Yesterday Peggy had posted:           “ Another dear friend passed away this afternoon.” Peggy’s mom had lived to be 106 and could still carry on a conversation.   In a way, it is hard to be that age when so many of your friends have passed o...

            Where do I start on this post?  At the beginning?  I don’t remember when the beginning was.  Sometimes I will see an ambulance parked (but still running) in front of one of my neighbors’ houses.  At least once I have seen a paramedic truck.  I have always wondered why they aren’t sent in clusters.             In Utah it seemed no matter what emergency vehicle we would specify, they would all show up.   I hadn’t seen that in Oregon since this post almost a year ago.   Jenna calls it cruel irony.   But let me back up again.           Roland had an appointment to go to the dentist yesterday.   My appointment is not until July 29 but there was a cancellation for yesterday at 3:00.   How cool is that?   I charged both of my kindles expecting we’d fulfill this outlandish date.   Then they had a...

 It's been hard having done without our second fridge - walking around or over piles of stuff - not being able to use the back door.  Oh, but it will be so worth it.  So here is the progress thus far: Oh, blessed those who can work in this heat.  Levi must be part camel.  I am so excited for this new addition.

                 Our nation has issued a warning for extreme heat in the western states.   The sun had not fully risen this morning when I took Bonnie out for the shortest walk ever.   Alexa informed me that the temperature was 75 degrees fahrenheit – Google said 73.   It felt lke 80 – at least.     I wonder if those people who were so skeptical to believe the seriousness of the cornonavirus believe that the weather is a hoax.   I wonder if they will allow themselves to dehydrate because “nobody can tell me to drink water.   I should be able to choose”   I wonder if they think the elements are a conspiracy started by another country.   I wonder if they believe how much nicer the weather would be if Trump was still in office.   75 degrees and climbing!   It’s not even 7:00 a.m. yet!