Addicted to Bingo

          When the boys were younger and we were poor, we would find activities within the community that were either free or inexpensive.  We would often go to the library or join a group from a chapter of the Foresters.  Every once in a while we would go and play a few rounds of Bingo.  It was offered at a dollar a card.

          Richard had noticed that when he takes Jaime to church on Wednesdays that there seems to be extra cars parked around the building belonging to the Elks club.  Seems that Bingo is starts at 6:00 but goes until 9:00 or so.  He thought it would be something we could do while we wait for Jaime during the hour she is gone.

          Bingo is NOT something I could do every week.  It’s a once-in-a-while somewhat fun time, but it would get boring week after week for me personally though I know there are some who thrive on it for some reason.  They are nice.  All of these Bingo players and hosts/hostesses.  I do like the people and their attitude, but it turned out to be more expensive than we had predicted. 

One has to purchase an entire packet for 11 dollars.  There are at least 15 papers of cards in which players are marking from two to six cards – depending on the game or pattern.  And there were so many helpful to guide us on the process of each game – what was expected and what each card contained.

Jaime was with us for the entire time as the youth will be going to the temple on Saturday and so did not have an activity scheduled for last night.  It was fun to watch Jaime having fun.  She won a Bingo.  Neither Richard nor I had won ourselves – but we were there just to play and have fun.  Winning would have only been a bonus. 

It was fun.  I was impressed by all of those willing to assist.  Several had invited us back – and perhaps we will.  Maybe once in a while.  But not every week.  We would not be playing all of the games anyway as one of us would have to take Jaime to the church and then pick her up.  I think that would be a good time just to leave . . . that’s when I start getting sleepy and desire to go to bed.  I would rather sleep than play Bingo.

Bonnie Goes for a Stroll

             Before going to Church on Sunday, the Elders had asked if we could pick up a person that they are teaching.  They asked if they could teach this individual at our home.  They came over last night.

          Richard had asked if they could eat with us but they had an appointment set up for dinner with another member.  However it cancelled and the elders let us know.  Richard decided to do a breakfast which somehow never turns out the way we plan as some of the food gets cold while whatever else is being made.  However there were no complaints.

          Unsure about how many people would be eating – as we heard there might be two extra people and then Jai had also invited one of her friends – but it ended up with just six of us.  The three in our household and the three missionaries.  But before we sat down for our breakfast dinner (some of which was still cooking) I asked the elders if they would mind walking Bonnie over to the house of resides the one they are teaching. 

 

 

 

 

What Goes Around Comes Around . . or so it seems

          Last week Richard took Jai and her friend prom shopping.  I had planned to go with them but was feeling dizzy and nauseous and thought it might be better just to stay home – not that it was a huge sacrifice on my part NOT to go shopping.  Anyone who has read my blog from the beginning or just certain posts KNOWS that I am not a shopper by any means.  Jai’s not much of a shopper either or girly, although she has been interested in dressing up for prom in something frilly.

          Jaime had chosen a tiered pink dress that really did not seem to fit her taste.  I don’t know if she really liked it or just felt pressure from Richard and Ruth.  I know she got the shoes just to shut them up, but was not comfortable wearing them. When she modeled the items for me, I noticed that the back did not zip all the way.  She was hoping for alterations but the fabric seemed to sheer to really work with.

          Ruth had also chosen a dress and shoes.  Richard paid for Ruth's dress and shoes with the expectations that she would pay him back – although neither one of us see that happening.  I think her own dad purchased a second hand car for her to drive.  We don’t know how she is able to afford gas.

          I had her try on my green dress – which she looks really good in by the way.  She said she liked it but not as a prom dress.  Understandable.  But the more she thought about it, the more she had talked herself into it.  Meanwhile we had purchased two more dresses as options.  One we brought home and she tried on yesterday – and although she liked the look of it, she is not thrilled with the feel.  The other is set to arrive on Monday (so much for wearing that on Easter)

          And now a member of our ward has also ordered a dress and has offered to take Jaime shopping.  This sister has had a lot of difficulties come up in her life and has conquered them in a variety of ways.  Sometimes it seems to me that she tackles her problems in much different ways than I myself would.  From my observation she sometimes seems to create mountain out of molehills.  But I could be wrong.  I know she’s much more aggressive than I am.

          She really didn’t have to do that – especially as I don’t think her financial situation is the greatest.  But I could be wrong about that, too.  She said she considers Jaime one of her girls and really wants to do this for her.  Perhaps she felt inspired. Who am I to deprive her of blessings?  Thank you.

Melted Snow

 It's hard to imagine that there are members of our ward who are currently snowed in

Nature's Foolery

 

In 1974 Chiffon aired a commercial with the caption “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature” – but isn’t it really the other way around?  The sun shining to make us think it’s warm when it is less than 50 degrees outside.  Last week we had one day when the temperature rose to over 80! Over 80 degrees when every other day had a high of 59 or less.  Give me a break!

I see the wind is blowing.  I don’t actually see the wind, but rather the movement.  I know it is cold because I’ve been outside.  I took the pictures less than two hours ago.  One can no longer tell that snow had fallen in the yard – but it is still evident in the hills.  It’s Mother Nature who is fooling us!

The Option of Zoom

 

Today is stake conference. There are several who are eager to go to the Church to attend in-person meetings that haven’t been an option for many.  In October they had encouraged it.  “Attend where you can but a zoom option will be available for those not comfortable to meet in person”

My desire to zoom vs. meeting in person has nothing to do with the pandemic or fear.  I don’t like crowds nor do I appreciate sitting in the back rafters.  For as much as I normally get out of in-person attendance, I might as well be in another building.  I am surprised there is still that option. 

Thus far I haven’t been in awe as I was with the last meeting – wishing that it could have been recorded just as general conference so that I could/can rewatch some of it.  I am grateful that I am able to review the general conference meetings. 

Have been reading posts left on the "Come Follow Me" facebook page and continue to be grateful for those who participate with such profound thoughts and insight.  Grateful for technology that allows us to share positive thoughts.

Among the Missing

I did have a few photos of me at various dances such as my high school Junior Prom.  It was held at the capitol building and I had asked a guy that I worked with.  I thought it would be cool to attend the junior prom in my junior year but was not popular enough to be asked out.  Thus I had asked someone who went to another high school and school district. We both felt like outcast in this luxurious room full of students that neither of us shared commonalities.  We left and went to Snelgroves (the ice cream parlor where both of us worked) and had some ice cream.  Afterwards we decided to go to a disco scene called The Front Page.  We were serverly overdressed – but had a lot more fun at the Front Page than at the capitol building.

 There was another dance I had attended when I had gone to at Ricks College – I don’t even remember the theme or dance name.  I remember my date making pom-pom figures to match what we were wearing.  I think we may have had one other date and that was it.  I don’t think I would even have thought about my missing photos except for Jai’s senior prom is coming up.

Jai’s Senior prom is scheduled to be held at the Grand Victorian where she has played parts in theatre productions.  Originally she had wanted to make a garbage dress similar to the one that Cruella wears in this scene 

Only instead of using newspaper, she was planning on every homework assignment.  Only she hasn’t figured out how to fix it off herself and transfer back onto herself.  Richard wants to take her shopping for an actual prom dress – which I really don’t mind but I loathe shopping and I loathe spending money on an item that may only be worn just once.  I enjoyed wearing dresses when I was her age but she hates wearing dresses probably more than I hate shopping.  (Shopping online isn’t all that bad – but she really should be trying the dress on . . . .

So here are the photos I do have:

This is the dress I wore to the prom; this photo was taken 
the following year when I ran for Miss Teen Midvale

I don't know what possessed me to think that jacket might look good
with a recycled choir dress.  The dress that my mom is wearing is the
same one I am wearing in my wedding picture. Made for good use, I thought.

Treasures

 

       There have been multiple posts in which I have referred to treasures of the past.  I had six boxes of memorabilia which I had left behind in West Valley.  I really thought that we would have returned to Utah long before we did.  I thought we would return in a large rental car and I’d be able to retrieve my boxes.  I wasn’t thinking logically.

       Meanwhile my sister had gone to the West Valley house to retrieve my six boxes – which she kept in her house for at least a couple of years.  When we finally returned to Utah it was for Jen’s funeral.  We had reserved a rental car, but it wasn’t available when we went in to pick it up.  Five other customers were also waiting.  I didn’t even know what position we were in.  We ended up driving back in the Saturn.  We barely had room for a luggage – no room for boxes or souvenirs.

       When Shelly and Todd came to visit the following year they brought what Shelly said was the largest box.  There were a lot of photos, a couple of old hymn books, I don’t remember what else.  Over the years she reminded me of the boxes taking up room in her house.  I couldn’t even remember what was in them, but had asked her to go through and pull out what might be important – though her idea of important is not the same as mine.  Steven and I have always been pack-rats while Shelly and Keith have been more practical and far from sentimental attachment.  Shelly ended up throwing out four of the six boxes - at least that is my understanding.

       Anyway, during our trip to Utah, Shelly said she had one last box for me to pick up and brought it to me at Su Casa.  Steven also had a much smaller box filled with items retrieved from Aunt Eloise’s house after she had died.  My cousin gave him three items to bring out to Oregon during one of his annual drives – but the pandemic got in the way and so he’s had these three items at his house ever since:

 The madam Alexander doll is supposed to be Gretel from Sound of Music.  My cousin and I adored Sound of Music and she thought I would like the doll as a reminder.  Aunt Eloise had a coveted black baby doll that most all of the girls wanted - but then nobody ended up claiming it.  I would have liked to have one of the Russian doll nesting sets, but heard those had both been claimed.  Really.  It didn't matter.  I have pictures to remind me and don't need the tangible items.  Isaiah said I did right picking out the rag doll (which I decided would have been more practical than the larger and heavier baby).  My cousin picked the cat out for Jaime (who still has Hi-Five - and we also have the Madam Alexander bears.  So we are good on memories. 

       Steven and Isaiah’s house already looks like a museum overflow.  And this is only the entry way: 

       As I mentioned on Day 8 post Isaiah had given Jaime some gifts – trying to declutter his own accumulation and gave her the following:

                                     

Brooch that Isaias made (he does a lot of 

art for day of the dead and Halloween)

fungal pops

David Bowie shoes may be collector items

but she is currently wearing them on her feet

       As for the items I had saved . . . well . . . about half was a rediscovery and some items I had recently been thinking about.  No Expression Magazines – but there is the legal sized record book with the 16 temples at the time.

 

Ugliest cabbage patch doll – I saved thinking perhaps it might be valuable someday.  I used a picture from the internet in this post.   Here is the actual doll I ended up taking home. 

I had purchased some coca-cola pins when I had worked at Swire expecting that I could sell them one day also. But they are missing from my collections.  And no pictures to show either. 

I had purchased two sets - one to wear
and one still in bag - now lost forever! 

Made things with hands – a wreath and Christmas tree card.  Spider made in pre-school (it’s missing an eye) a hat from her first birthday (which she actually wore in honor of her 18^th) her first placemat and Mickey mouse platter from first time we went to Disneyland.  Pictures would have worked fine.  I saved them all before knowing that Jai is even less sentimental than is Patrick or Shelly so will get thrown away probably.  (Currently it is in the back room along with other memorabilia waiting to go into the shed)

There are cards I had saved from a time before I was born.  Kept the old fashion sentiment along with a poetry book in the shape of a girl that comes with six cut-outs. 

 

There were four or five journals plus a couple of yearbooks that both Jai and Richard seemed to enjoy.  Stamp collection and watercolors I think my grandma had created. 

And then there’s the clothing.  Our dinosaur shirts,

 

Other items I purchased just because:

 

Kevin had given Jai four safety posters which she hung on her wall

not to mention all the arcade treasures she acquired

Day 10: Crash and Burn

I suppose we could have gone to church right after we returned home – at least the second meeting – but I wouldn’t have gotten anything out of it.  I spent most of the day sleeping.  Jai wanted so badly to get Bonnie.  I was willing once I was rested, but it appears that the kennel is closed on Sundays.  Thus we went on Monday morning right after we had dropped Jaime off at the church.

In addition to already being fatigued from the trip itself, I was sent into a coma by the wind.  Neither Richard nor I felt motivated to do anything that first week.  He said he couldn't understand why he was so tired.  "Well, because you have done 100% of the driving, Buddy"

 I did offer during the long stretches of nothing. No city driving for me.  No driving for me period.  I was a drowsy passenger.  Before we returned home, Richard seemed like a grouch.  But hey, it's understandable.  We are both almost back to normal.  Jaime didn't seem fazed either way.  I think she enjoyed returning to school.    

Here are some more photos from the trip: 

Las Vegas - on the way to my brother's house

Happy Birthday, Steven

taken in Beatty, NV