Permits, Inspections and Bug Attire

         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.  Still felt hot and flushed.  We weren’t at it for as long on Friday as we had been on Thursday.  Yesterday morning was cooler but I was still hot in my bug attire.  I know I have always been horrible about touching my face pre-COVID – but became more aware of it when I would itch or leak or something and unable to wipe anything because of the goggles and mask – and grateful for them so I did not get fiberglass from my gloves to my face.  Catch 22 though as my face may not have felt soggy and itchy if it had not been for the protection causing the discomfort.

My hat kept falling off and I had the tube mask around my neck but decided it would work better than a hat and so had two tube scarves and changed my googles for glasses as I was not doing much work but watched Roland put up insulation on the ceiling.  It’s like working with the Energizer Bunny.  However instead of having a drum, Roland has a staple gun.

Back to the Children of Israel

          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 Passover is so named because of the night when the Angel of Death had come to claim the first born from each household.  Those that had painted lamb’s blood on their doorway were passed over.  The Pharaoh did not have lamb’s blood painted on their door.  I wonder if any Egyptians did.  Even after 9 other plagues did they really view the “killing of the first-born” as a hoax?  Did they feel remorse about not having taken the signs seriously?

          And yet here we are today.  Some people have worn masks all along.  Some continue wearing them even though they’ve been vaccinated.  I always feel guilty when I am around them and not wearing a mask.  I have been vaccinated.  Jenna has been vaccinated.  Not many of her friends have received nor expect to receive the vaccination.  Some of her friends parents have made it loud and clear that “no one in the household will be getting vaccinated” and I wonder how many will fall victims to COVID – not necessarily that it will be the first born, but I think it could be a wake-up call for many that the “Angel of Cornona” isn’t passing them by.  Nor do I know if a shot will be as effective as the lamb’s blood so many centuries ago.  

    How often did Moses wish to throw up his hands against the children of Israel?  To try and shake some sense into them and tell them not to act like such big babies?  Did they not  remember the miracles either? It’s not over.  I wish I was wrong.  Sadness.

the "V" stands for vaccination

We Got Our Driveway Back

         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 driveway when we left.

I did not do much in the way of assisting – though I can honestly say that I did help.  Jenna and I got a ride home as I was tired of walking.  My trash pants are cut too short and I have changed my clothes at least three times now.  I finally took a shower and have decided to call it a day.  It isn’t even 12:30 noon. 

Big Brother is Watching

           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.

          It wasn’t just the actions of having something gross land on his head at work that had bothered him.  It was so many experiences of his time in junior high (which he unfondly refers to as four years of hell;  his experience started in sixth grade and ended in 9^th) when he felt tormented and bullied by others.  Back in a day before personal computers and laptops and smartphones.  Back in a day when there was no other options offered for education such as doing school online.  Corey would have been quite comfortable with that.

          Today people capture moments with their cell phones or some other recording device to upload on YouTube. No longer just a security footage but public spectacle.  One may laugh at the perfect aim planted to Corey’s head while others may snark at those who find it funny.  How many perpetrators have been caught when their actions go viral? 

          It’s a different world now.  Why don’t we all make the best of it?  Live each moment as if we were on hidden camera.  

What is it we want to be remembered for?  I would hope for kindness.  It really doesn’t take a lot.  A smile.  An encouraging word.  Be a friend.

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. 

It Isn’t Over

           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 about this.  But I don’t think it’s over.  The terror ride has not come to an end.

When the Circle Gets Smaller

 

          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 on to the other side while you might feel left behind.  I thought how each of us have circles of friends and as we age death seems to linger nearer.  The sizes of the circle seems to deplete as death claims another.  Some are sad about it while others are at peace – depending on the circumstances.

Corey had made a comment on Peggy’s wall to wish his condolences.  Peggy responded to let him know that she would reveal our friend’s name as he knew her too.  The death was sudden.  She fell.  It sounds as though she died instantly and so it was very unexpected.  Sudden deaths can be hard on the family who haven’t had time to prepare, but from the experience I’ve had having many years to prepare – I think I would rather have my friend or family member go sudden than to have to watch them slowly go downhill.  I would also want sudden for me rather than to deal with constant pain for years.  I am a whimp.

I learned about another death while conversing with a pool buddy.  She said she had seen a former member and had learned his wife had passed (also a former pool buddy – one who used to climb the pool steps with half of all the pool workout equipment in hand.  I always marveled at that.  She had been battling with afflictions for over two years now but never complained – at least to us.  I think she mentioned it once or twice but didn’t dwell on it and seemed in good spirits though some days were obviously harder than others. Her son was the first one to teach Jenna the clarinet.

The instructor of the water workout class has been picking me up and taking me home.  She has a really hard time with death.  I wish it wasn’t so painful for her.  I also hope that I don’t come across as callous because my point of view has always been that death is not a bad thing.  There are some days in which death seems preferable to one’s condition.  I’ve had that in my life in which the pain was so bad that death seemed like a great alternate.  But I was able to bounce back from it.  It was only a temporary pain.  Some people don’t have that.  Some people are not able to breathe on their own, or may be bed ridden for the rest of their life. 

Attitude is crucial.  I’ve met many who have outlived their condition due to their amazing acceptance and upbeat personality.  I’ve also met many that are tired and have given up as they feel they are only existing rather than living.  So long as we keep ourselves active – but sometimes we don’t have control over our activity.  Sometimes we’re limited.  Death knows no boundaries. 

I think death for me will be a happy reunion with those who have gone before me – those I look forward to seeing again.  The circle will get large again.

I Would Have Rather Gone Through With the Family Outing to the Dentist

           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 another cancellation come up and asked if we could bring Jenna.  It was before Roland got off and so we would have to take two cars.

          The Saturn has been jerking and needs a new transmission.  We had even talked about whether to have it fixed or donate for tax purposes or what.  Truth be known, I do prefer driving the Saturn to the Impala.  The Impala really hurts my back and/or legs after a while – not that the Saturn doesn’t.  I guess it is a different pain that I can deal with better in the Saturn.  The Saturn is a city car.  It slows down with each hill it has to climb.

          Anyway, I have been driving the Impala to avoid the jerkiness.  But it was apparent that we would need both cars and so left the sluggish Saturn for Roland to drive to the dentist and thought I would drive it home.  Each of us would have a turn at each car but in different directions. 

          Smiles dental is located in Riddle.  It is about ten minutes away.  Yesterday I was about three minutes away from the dentist when the Impala collided with another car.  I did not even see the car until we hit. The car was silver but three of us had seen white.

Turning onto Pruner Rd. The road the two cars are on change
names at least six times.  The side with the black car is
Pruner Rd (which continues at the turn) while the white
car is on the side called Riddle Bypass Road. 

          I made a U-turn from where I was turning in order to pull off the road.  I did not see the other car again until after it was towed.  I had parked behind a man who hadn’t fully seen what happened but had heard it.  He, along with me and Jenna had seen white.  He made comment about how hard it is to see something white coming from that direction. I saw the car in real life about as well as what is on the above illustration.

         Good Samaritans had stopped their cars to ask if we were okay.  One of the drivers called 911. A volunteer firefighter was at the store close by and arrived on the scene within seconds.  He asked if we were okay and seemed to want to check us outside the car. It wasn’t until then that I realized my car door wouldn’t open wide enough for me to slip through – but he yanked it open.

          I am floored by how quickly and how many emergency vehicles arrived on the scene (and I’m certain that I didn’t even see them all).

 

It’s been less 24 hours and I’m still shaken up about it.  I suppose because I’ve had to recount what happened so many times.  Accidents happen so quickly and in my case I am always asking questions or coming up with “What if” scenarios. 

“Where was my brain two seconds ago?”

“Had I stopped or just slowed down?”

“Too bad we didn’t have the Saturn as it has sluggish problems as is;  I may have avoided this altogether”

“Oh, what would have happened if I had had the Saturn?  If I couldn’t open the door of the Impala I wouldn’t have been able to have been able to open at all.  My legs could have been severed!”

The excessive heat advisory was suppose to last throughout today, but the last two mornings have been so nice.  Overcast and cool.  The way it should be.  Perfect.

How blessed we were that we did not have to wait in the excessive heat. 

How blessed we were that neither Jenna and I were not injured.  The other driver unfortunately did receive pain to her knee.  Paramedics had looked her over, but she declined going to the hospital or other facility to get treatment.

How blessed we are with this community and all of those who volunteer their time and services.

The firemen were grateful to be holding signs and pushing brooms at the scene of an accident rather than being out fighting fires. 

Many blessings really.  Some that we may not even recognize right now, but possibly sometime in the future we can look back and say “I can’t believe the accident was a blessing.” 

I don’t know how the other driver views the situation.  She was worried about her son getting to work on time as she was delayed at getting to him to watch his children.  May she and her family be blessed as well.

Roland came and got us.  The deputy who took our information escorted us across the street to where he had parked.  Tow trucks arrived.  Jenna took several pictures.

our Saturn parked across the road

  

We were not hurt in the car accident, but did manage
to encounter this blackberry bush.  Had we needed
the paramedics, it would have been because of this.

A firefighter took this picture.  Another moment of
"What was I thinking?" as that was not my true
emotion.  Nothing about this photo implies that 
we were shaken up.