Sunday, July 31, 2022

Blowing Smoke

             Richard and I had gone to Medford on Thursday.  As we got closer to the city I could see the mountains in the distance somewhat enveloped in a hazy whiteness.  I asked Richard if it was smoke from the California fires.  He thought it was.  And yesterday I could sense the same sensation I had back in 2020 during the COVID fires well, not that the fires were COVID related the fires had pushed the topic of the pandemic into the back burner like it was no longer relevant,

I could see the orange beams spill into my bedroom.  Kind of eerie especially when the sun wasnt even visible to my eyes when I looked for it outside.  Or through the window rather.  Still too hot outside to want to open the door just for Bonnie to go out and do her business.  The skies are hazy, but the hills are still visible.  It looks overcast but not.  The air quality is better than most summers but there is obviously a stench in the distance.  It makes me sad for the thousands who have to evacuate thus far.  How many more?

Each year that we've been here we have heard the fireworks shoot off to mark the end of Summerfest. The skies are clear enough that the first time ever I was able to watch the fireworks from my bathroom window as I lay in bed.  That was cool.  

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Still Loving Those Rocks

               Rock is not her most favorite genre of music, but she LOVES the minerals that nature forms for her collection.  My Aunt Eloise had given her a sack of rocks when Jaime was three.  I know.  That seems like an odd gift, but Jaime truly loved them and would spend hours sorting them by color, size, her favorites, and whatever other grouping she could think of.

         After we had moved to West Valley Jaime had gone next door to assist the neighbor with some light chores and came home with a large jar full of rocks – which again she separated into piles.  I remember taking several pictures of her enjoying her treasures which she had strewn across the couch.  This is the only pic I can find and she's not in it



         I did not ask her to pose for this picture but took it as it triggers fond memories.  Her love for rocks may not be exactly the same.  Now she likes to paint them and hide them.  She still treats them as treasures. She will always love rocks.



Friday, July 29, 2022

What Else Can I Throw Away?

 Whenever I see a touchless garbage can I can't help but smile.  It doesn't have so much to do with the can itself opening up - although that is pretty cool.


No, the memory that makes me smile is my first encounter with a touchless trash can was offered at Schlotzsky's then in Midvale Utah up by 1300 and Fort Union (no longer located in said area) and my four year old nephew who had walked by when a device invited him to throw away his trash.


Ben excitedly cleared the table returning for more and asking, "What else can I throw away?"

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

What Does This Say?

 Not only is the language in Spanish, but the handwriting seems to be providing an even bigger challenge.  

Is this why they stopped teaching cursive in schools?

Monday, July 25, 2022

Merry Christmas

 Jaime always manages to miss whenever we go to the pool on July 25.  Josh had always decorated for the first five years we had lived here but Sebastian did not.  Today I was surprised to see some parts decorated.  


Coming to an End

 What Myrtle Creek summer fest would be complete without the blazing heat?



Friday, July 22, 2022

New Neighbors

               Since purchasing our home in Tri-City, we have had three sets of neighbors to our left.  Jane and Austin lived there for at least three years.  Not quite sure when they moved out (I’m guessing during a holiday excursion to Utah – perhaps even New York?) and Jane’s sister and brother-in-law moved in.  They fought a lot and I suspect moved out of marital problems – but I don’t know.  It’s not as if we had ever become bosom buddies with any of our neighbors.

          They moved in March and a new family – couple moved in this month.  They have two huge dogs who have barked at Bonnie though she tends to ignore them.  Oh, good for her.  I thought she would be the instigator.  Obviously male dogs.  The new home owner says he thinks that his dog has a crush on Bonnie.  That’s different.  That’s sweet.

          Thus far we like these next door neighbors the best of the three we’ve had.

NOT the Triple Digits

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/100-million-heat-warnings-dangerous-record-breaking-heatwave/

While I feel for a huge population in the nation right now, I feel quite blessed to have had my windows open allowing the cool air to come in.  That can be done from midnight to about 10:30 and then it starts warming up – but not to the triple digits – at least not thus far.  I really do feel bad for those who are currently experiencing extreme heat as I have been there before.

The weather has been really nice – although today may be the last day.  It looks overcast like the sky wants to rain.  I LOVE this temperature (60 degrees Fahrenheit) and wish it could just stay this way always.  I don’t even mind if the skies are grey if the weather will stay as it is. 

The only number I would like to see in the triple digits is a daily addition to my bank account.

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

My Laptop is a RELIC

               Doesnt seem right to label something that is only five years old as an antique.  Our 20 year old Saturn moves quicker than the laptop does.  I plugged it in at 11:00 so that it would be ready to go by 1:30 only forgot to turn it on so of course it wasnt ready.  Even after I gave it another half hour.  What the hey? 


        When we put the keys in the ignition and twist to position the car is ready to go.  Even after sitting unused for a few weeks.  It will start.  It can be driven once that motor is running.  The laptop has to think every little step.  It takes longer to process than I do.  Jaime needs to take a laptop to school but not that one.  A student doesnt have the time to wait for something that is required right now!  What frustration!

        Modern Technology seems like such an awesome thing but it can also be a nuisance.  Sort of like finding employment for a decent wage that wont all be spent on getting to and from so really, whats the point of working?  Perhaps that is how my laptop feels.

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Why the Aliases?


 Mom had picked out four girl names long before she married.  She wanted to name her four girls Karen Kay, Kelly Jane, Kimberly Elizabeth and Kathy Lynn.  She did end up having four children but only two girls.  I received the first name.  My mom and dad both have names that start with G and their eldest two have names that start with K. Third born was an S and I thought we should keep the pattern going two Gs, two Ks and so my baby sister would have to have a name that started with S.  Instead of Kelly Jane we named her Shelly Jane.  She said she was happy of that as she doesnt care for the name Kelly.

There were a few reasons that I decided to use alias names in my blog rather than actual names.  You can read about it in my very first post found here. After I started my blog I changed my sisters name from Shelly to Kayla because I remembered she hadnt liked the name Kelly.  Mostly I used a middle name, one that rhymed or started with the same first letter.  But not all of them rhyme or are similar in any way.  Theres usually a method to my madness but not always.

 


One of my brothers was born on St. Patricks Day and a nurse at the hospital told mom that she should name him either Michael Patrick or Patrick Michael.  In my first COQ (Book of Complete Questions) post, I mentioned him initially calling him by his real name but then I would use his alias and tried to correct the error.  I found it easier to continue calling him Patrick as that is what my fingers have been typing.

Steven had a blog in which he referred to himself as Cody which I changed to Corey in my blog.  But now he has another blog in which he uses his given name. You can find his old blog here and his current one here. Anyway since he started using his actual name, I did too.             

Steven and I share a lot in common aside blogging.  Dont see either Patrick or Kayla posting their thoughts to a blog.  My sister-in-law Sunny should blog.  My niece Ellen did blog.  I dont know if she still does.  I would guess not as she has little ones at home . . .

Though I use the middle names (or forms of the middle names) for my youngest two sons, my oldest does not have the middle name Biff.  He used to have an email with the fill handle of Buffguy.  Calling him Buff seemed weird, but I had heard the nickname Biff before and so changed it to that.

I have a nephew named Gary though I started out calling him Garret.  His brother I dubbed as BJ meaning Bill Junior.  But Gary is the one who takes after his father in personality.  In real life the one that I dubbed as BJ was named after my mom but spells his name with a J rather than a G (see here).  I had originally called my mom June as it is the month of her birthday but in recent posts I have assigned the names Gary and Gerrie to my parents as that is what their real names are.  For the most part I continue to use the aliases, but sometimes I have interchanged the names especially with Jaime and Jenna or Richard and Roland. 

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

CBQ#205& 630

 


When you need to confront someone, would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, e-mail or letter? In what situation do you find yourself walking on eggshells?

     I would rather confront someone in person but is not always possible.  Often words arent read the way they are intended or said verbally. Recently I had (well still in the process) a confrontation with my oldest son who constantly gives off verbal vibes that he would like to take his life in a new direction. I know he isnt happy about his current situation but only seems to TALK about change rather than ACTING upon changing.  He reads my advice in a different way than I am telling him though I dont imagine talking with him in person would help out our situation.  He doesnt bother to follow any council that Richard and I have given him or will continue to give him.

He had said that he wanted to move to Oregon.  His wife believes that they can obtain housing in Eugene for only 900 a month.  I advised him to figure utilities and groceries and gave him the statistics that I have from our seven years of living here plus to consider that Utah has much better health care for his daughter than might Oregon.  All the children hospitals are located in Portland which is a good 3-5 hours on the road. Gas isnt cheap and housing is off the charts.  Because of my list of things to consider he believes that I dont want him to come.

Im okay with him living in Oregon but not both of us living under the same roof for the duration.  I love him but I do get frustrated with his choices. Its so much easier to deal with if we are not under the same roof.  Also our house is not designed for six people.  I dont mind a visit but it doesnt appear he has made a lot of effort at getting out from where hes at.

Its not totally his fault that he cant get ahead, but I know he could be wiser with money.  There is absolutely no reason on Gods green planet that he needs to pay over 200 dollars for a phone!  I didnt pay that much when I had three lines!  What a crock!  Half of his bills is just in taxes for whatever oligopoly phone carrier hes with.  Richard offered to buy a phone from another company which would require Biff to change his phone number but he wont do it.  Thus he is without a phone.  Thats just one example.  There are so many more.

        He chose not to move to Oregon.  He and his wife moved in with their family and are now paying 500 rent.  Apparently the air is good for Ally who seems like a different child.  I suspect that his phone has been disconnected again as we have not heard from him, do not know how to get in touch with him, dont even know what part of Florida he is in.  Meanwhile his mother-in-law from his first marriage is trying to get in touch with him and passing her frustrations onto me.  I cant provide her with information that I dont have.



Monday, July 11, 2022

Now is the Time to Sleep

 


              I dont believe weve yet broken 100 degrees though it feels like we came close today.  I am soooooo soooooo tired.  Until tonight, I have slept with the windows open.  Usually I cant because of the temperature and the smoke.  How blessed we are right now.  The heat makes me feel so worn out.