Looking in the Mirror

 I see my husband in Ryan - 

when he's talking to his children - 

I remember Richard talking to his.  

Airports and Planes

 I left Oregon on November 15^th and went to Salt Lake to assist my son and his wife with their family.  I returned on December 5^th.  In that time I had seen four different airports and airplanes.  I went by way of Alaska Airlines which I like and have had a positive experience with in the past.

 My first flight was from Eugene to Seattle.  We chose to go through Eugene rather than Medford as the price was almost 200 dollar difference.  We had made a dry run the day prior just to see if we could find it first before attempting to do so in the dark.

Check in was not so bad.  An agent took my printed paperwork and issued me a boarding pass. My carry-on bag was pulled aside as I forgot to remove my kindle.  It didn’t seem like a big deal. 

I think that was the most comfortable of all the planes – though the one from Salt Lake to Seattle was not bad as the plane was not full.  But the plane from Seattle to Salt Lake was quite full and so was the puddle jumper between Seattle and Medford. 

For the most part the leg room reminded me of the same amount of leg room which Jaime and I had on the bus four months ago.  But the seats were wider.  One could actually put the seatbelt around the lap as the seats were designed for bigger butts than that of a middle schooler.

 I believe I had a window seat from Oregon to Seattle.  I was in row 6 or 7.  I could easily view those flying first class which didn’t seem all that different from coach.  I sat waiting at a gate in B or D as that was what had been written on my passport – but those passengers were going to Bozeman and I was told I needed to take the train to N.  Say what?

There was a definite difference in first class and coach on the plane from Seattle to Salt Lake City.  I sat squashed between two gentleman.  Overhead was full and we all had carry-ons beneath our feet.  I was asked to remove my fanny pack on the puddle jumper but it didn’t seem to matter on the larger plane which I’m certain held at least 100 people.

 Jai and I had attempted to play phrazel when I was at the airport, but it was awkward.  I had an hour and a half layover in Seattle both ways.

Ryan drove around the SLC airport waiting for me to come out.  But it took me a while to get from the gate to baggage claim.  It must have been a two mile walk.  I didn’t notice the signs until after my return but they advertise the long walk is to prepare visitors to hike from 5 national parks located in Utah.  I had dragged my coat and sweater and was so hot by the time I got out to the car.

Wild Day

 

               On October 16^th the bank contacted me about fraud suspicion (thank you justask.com) and my card was cancelled and a new one ordered – and boy, did it take its sweet time coming.  I think I used it only once before today.  I was contacted by the bank on fraud suspicion – which I appreciate – but it really was me making the purchases and authenticated. 

               Last minute travel plans – so I won’t be blogging for a while.  Purchased a one way to Salt Lake.  I will be helping my son watch his oldest three while mom gives birth to number four.  Mostlikely be spending Thanksgiving in Utah – possibly Christmas. Meanwhile Richard gets to hang with Bonnie.  That will be fun for him.

               The tired is setting in already.  I hope to wake up before 2024.

Life Without Internet

 

The Power Blinked off and returned – but the internet didn’t. 

The lights in the office indicated that the internet was up

and running. 

But no internet

on any device. 

No internet. 

No cable.

I was in the middle of facebooking someone

a message. 

I need the internet to play games

with my daughter

– better be back up within a couple of hours

I would hope. 

But it’s been more than an hour that we’ve been without. 

The weather’s been nice today.

 

                          What is up with the Internet not working?!?

And Alexa Stacey giving us attitude.

Alexa Emily worked most of the day. 

                          That was yesterday.

Not working this morning.

 

Of course I can’t post any of this until the internet is up. 

Jai called just before 4:00 p.m.

Still down.

No wait!

                          We stared to play

4:00 p.m.

Power down.

Oh, come – on . . .

 

                          Spectrum came early this morning

Now almost 24 hours later I am able to post.

It’s the Fifth Sunday of the Month – You Know What That Means

           Actually, I don’t.  5^th Sunday used to mean a combined meeting among the Relief Society and Elders Quorum.  Did it change?  According to the LDS website (now referred to as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – we have been encouraged NOT to abbreviate)the fifth Sundays are under the direction of the bishop.  We have had some combined meetings, but mostly we’ve just had Sunday School.  Makes sense today as we have not had a Sunday School all month.

          I’ve been fighting a cold since last week and had opted not to go to either of the meetings last week though there was an after meeting that my RS president wanted me to attend.  I did.  I wore a mask.  Last night I went to the Halloween party but left early.  Today I went to Sacrament meeting than had Richard bring me home.  I think he should have stayed home as well as he still has a nasty cough.  I know that 47 degrees is not warm by any means and yet I feel so hot. Gosh darn.

 

         I really was feeling better.  Two more days maybe.

Headache, sore throat, body ache, etc.

          Richard’s birthday is October 3.  Every year around his birthday or sometimes not until before Thanksgiving he will catch a cold that will seemingly linger more each year.  This year happened within a few weeks after his birthday.  He happened to be in San Diego at the time.  He picked up a cold!  I told him NOT to bring it home.  But he did.  First he shared it with our youngest son and brought it home to me.  Oh, gee.

         Cold symptoms effect different people in different ways.  For me, it was like getting hit by a MACK truck – not that I’ve ever really been hit by a MACK truck mind you.  I just imagine that is partially how it would feel.  Like every tissue and organ within your body has felt the weight of heaviness smacking into it until it is too weak to function on its own. 

         I asked Richard to bring the walker from the shed just so I could use it to support myself as I slowly maneuvered myself from the bed to the toilet – moaning in pain.  For a few brief moments I had considered that it could be COVID but overall I felt too weak to even care.  I certainly wasn’t about to leave the comforts of home to maybe possibly be tested.  That was Monday. Richard (though he still has a nasty cough) waited on me hand and foot.  And kept me drugged.  Niquil, Dayquil, Alka-selzer whatever.  I am misspelling those drug names?  I feel like I am.  I continued to remained drugged – not that I wasn’t far from disoriented without them.

         I hadn’t gone to Church on Sunday – neither of us had.  But I did attend a meeting that I probably shouldn’t have.  But I felt much better Tuesday and yesterday – not enough to attend the luncheon  I don’t think Richard should have either.  I feel better today than yesterday but do tend to hack up phlegm if I have to talk – which I am trying so hard not to do.  But I do want to play games with Jaime – who must think I sound like Darth Vader.  But I am getting better.  I feel better.  I have ditched my walker.   I doubt I have COVID. I’m certain that Richard doesn’t have it.  Still he could have brought it home.

         I’m grateful for modern day medicines and technology.  I’m grateful for restored health.

Internet Problems Because of the Weather?

 

Played Phrasel with Jaime this

morning and afternoon. 

Still foggy outside.  Seems to

be interfering with

many of the sites on the internet. 

 

Played games with Jaime but had

problems opening other games or

even continue with scrabble cheat. 

It’s like the towers aren’t getting

signals due to the fog. 

 

Only YouTube hasn’t been given me

problems.  Not the way the other

sites have.  Even this site was 

giving me a problem at first.

Come Follow Me

                I am so grateful for the Come Follow Me program

and have expressed my gratitude towards those that

share their talents through Podcast and YouTube and for

the Come Follow Me site on facebook. 

I am really good at following the program until about

mid-May.  Summer comes and I am not near as

diligent and tend to miss out.  At least  this year.  It

appears I had only missed one week of the

Doctrine and Covenants.  And that was in November –

the week of Thanksgiving when all of the family was

sick accept for Jaime. 

I do have another confession – though I’ve returned to the

program and some sources I have not been so diligent about

the Come Follow Me page on facebook.  It used to come up in

my feed when I was diligent about my research.  I need

to revisit.  I need to get back to my routine.

I am better with the fall.  If it would only stay autumn always.

This Site is a Scam!!!!

 When you call a company - any company - make sure you are on their site and not just one that claims to be.

Recently just saw another ad for JUSTANSWER promoting pet advice.  DON'T DO IT.  Just Answer is a fishing site.  BEWARE!

You don't even have to click continue. This will come up automatically. 

 DO NOT PROVIDE YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER!!!    You will be paying far more than just one dollar.

Wednesday is Garbage Day

 

          Garbage day was Thursday when we were living on Jenny in Myrtle Creek.  It was easy to remember when we would load Jaime up in the car to drive her to the church for young women, we would put the garbage out.  The garbage pick up was on Wednesdays after our move to Tri City.  Same days we took Jaime to YW – and we haven’t always been good at remembering.

          The garbage would get picked up just before 7:00 and if we hadn’t put it out when she started seminary, there was still time when we observed other cans out on our street.  But now the garbage gets picked up at 4:00 a.m.  Usually the trucks will wake me up.  Surprisingly they didn’t a couple of days ago.  Neither Richard nor I have been sleeping well this week.  We don’t know why.

Persistence

     When Jaime was little she had this admirable persistence that I don’t recall having seen in many children.  She would go after something and keep at it until she accomplished whatever it is she was trying to do.  She didn’t get upset or frustrated.  She never gave up.  That was so admirable as it started before she could walk.

          Two specific examples I remember were when she was in the tub and there was a sliver of soap floating around.  She was determined to pick it up out of the water.  Of course it would slip from her grasp and eventually became smaller and non-existent.  So it was the soap that gave out.  She continued to look for it though.

          She would see me remove bottle caps from the water I was drinking and replace the cap.  She tried her hand at removing the cap also until she was finally able to do it.  Replacing the cap took a lot more effort.  I don’t know how old she was when she mastered that one – but she could remove it long before she was walking whereas I don’t think she mastered replacing the cap until maybe two. 

          I love her persistence and for how often she has been an example to me.

I Like That Tall Toilet – But the Bathroom Got Smaller

           I don’t bend so well anymore.  My left leg often hurts and I wear lifts under my right foot to even them out.  I got up at 1:30 this morning to take Bonnie out and noticed a pain in my right leg.  What was that all about?  So both of my legs were hurting and I decided that I would soak them in the tub.

          The knobs for the master bath broke off a long time ago and I haven’t used the tub for a while – perhaps a couple of times before Biff and his family moved in but never while they were living here.  I did not realize how tight the bathroom was until this morning.  No wonder Biff is so happy not living here anymore! I’m wondering how they were able to get along in such a tight space.