Clouds

Allow Me To Back Up a Bit . . .

          We had made arrangements with a local photographer to take some head shots of Jenna; we had planned to meet at Millsite on Monday morning.  We arrived at the park about 8:45 to find it packed with Bible Camp participants.  We texted the photographer to let her know and that we were headed to another park.  She took several shots before we parted ways . . . well, sort of.  Each of us was headed to the library but arrived at different times.

          We assisted with the children’s reading program before Jenna and I left to return home. After six we drove to the blueberry farm as I believed Evelyn was expecting us.  We were told we could stay and pick and probably we should have stayed an hour at least, but we left and said we’d return the next morning.

          Neither Jenna nor I were in a hurry to go home and so stopped off at Millsite.  Something was going on.  Bible Camp still?  The bouncy house was gone, but State Farm had its awning stand set up and we could see five or six people sitting on lawn chairs on the grass closest to the stage.  Jenna thought she recognized Savannah in the distance.  I didn’t have my glasses on.  I didn’t know.  We walked in the direction.  She waved as we passed.  Once we had walked and were heading toward the car, I asked if she wanted to walk by Savannah’s family again but close enough to talk to them.

          Savannah’s youngest brother practically flew out of his seat. 

         

          “Jenna!” he gave her a hug.

          Turns out that there was a showing of COCO.  I was not to stay as the sun would have set before the movie ended.  Savannah’s mom and brother asked grandpa if he’d be willing to dive Jenna home and so I left her there.  I fell asleep before she returned home and Roland sent me to bed and waited up for her.

          Yesterday I knocked on her door between 5:30 and 6:00. 

“Do I have to?” Jenna asked. “I want to sleep until 11:00.”

Wow.  Jenna rarely ever wants to sleep.  Getting up at 8:00 is sleeping in for her.

“If you want me to, I can call Evelyn and tell her we can’t make it until tomorrow.”

I think yesterday may have been better picking wise than today.  It seemed cooler because it was overcast.  But it was also muggy.  65% humidity.  What's up with that?  Last night I said I would take her this morning.  I also told her I would just stay with her.  

Meanwhile Roland had planned for us to go to the movie that they offer for the seniors on the third Wednesday of the month.  Dang.  I had forgotten!  But I did promise Jenna – though I guess I had agreed to go with him to the movies first.  I wasn’t about to take Jenna out and leave her there all day.  We stayed two and a half to three hours before returning home.  Roland was waiting in the driveway.

First time ever we had gone to the theater and the movie started right after we sat down.  We even had good seats.  I don’t know what interfered with my sinuses, but I was allergic to something!  Normally when my allergies act up, my right eye will be all itchy, sometimes the left – rarely both.  But both eyes were itching during the movie.  I was tearing up.  My nose was running.  I was sneezing uncontrollably.  It was as if someone had brought a bunch  of chrysanthemums to the theater.  There is a plant that doesn't agree with me (actually there are many but I believe that mums are the worst).  The overload of allergy sensation stopped somewhere between Winston and Myrtle Creek.  I haven’t had an allergy attack like that since living in Utah.  That was rough!

Dash #161The Proposal

          There was never a formal proposal on Roland’s part.  He said that he would get me a ring when he could afford one.  I told him that the ring was not important and he could just buy one from a vending machine.  So one day he presented me with a golden colored plastic band made of connecting hearts.  It was cute but made my finger turn green.  Eventually, I lost it.  I felt bad for sentimental reasons.

           Before the end of the year, Roland had purchased a simple gold band with a small diamond.  It was perfect.  When I had my tubular pregnancy, I had to remove all jewelry.  I was pretty out of it and had not bothered to put it back on – or maybe by that point, it needed to be adjusted.  I don’t know why I had left it in my jewelry box.  One of the boys had lost his keys and someone had found them and used them to break into our house.  My ring was stolen.

             Later after I got pregnant with Jenna, Roland decided he needed to replace my ring. Unfortunately, it was not as simple. My finger had swollen and having the ring on caused me pain.  It also made a permanent dent on my finger.  I took that off as well.

          After I had given birth, Roland presented with yet another ring – pretty much like the first but there were two diamonds – one quite smaller than the other.  One for me and one for Jenna.  It is the one I wear today.

I Haven’t Heard that Word for Three or Four Years

     I vaguely remember the facebook comments that were made after Devin Durrant’s talk given during the Sunday afternoon session in the October 2015 General Conference.  It was the first general conference we had watched after moving to Oregon.  I don’t know how focused I was on his talk.  I remember he used the word “Ponderize” though  I didn’t realize how often.  22 times according to this website.  Okay . . .

          I remember I had facebook friends who really liked the idea behind the word as it offered some sort of empowerment – 20% memorization and 80% pondering.  And then I had facebook friends who were overly irritated with the new made-up word.  How dare someone introduce as non-existing word into conference!  Would it be a trend?  I was indifferent and really didn’t care about the word one way or the other – although I may have leaned slightly toward those who were not in favor than those that were – just because my relationship with those that seemed to LOATHE the idea of PONDERIZATION were closer friends to me than the ones who seemed to love the new word.

          I hadn’t heard that word many times since – though I do remember the few times I did hear the word mentioned, I’d smile about the different comments made particularly from those who hated the word.  And then I forgot all about the very existence of the word until today.  The bishop’s wife used it in her talk.  I Googled the word to learn about where it had gone, not knowing a scandal had followed as a website was created within hours of Bro. Durrant’s talk.  The website was labeled as “Priest-craft” by some members.

          The Urban Dictionary (here) provides several definitions for the word “Ponderize” – the seventh definition is the one that had been used in conference.  Although it’s misfortune and most likely ego bruising, it’s the first definition that makes me laugh.  I must have a warped sense of humor.  I’m glad that Ponderize didn’t become the trendy word that I suppose it could have (I suppose because of the website scandal). I think if it had caught on, I would be rolling my eyes every time I hear it.

Out With the Old . . .

I vaguely remember the toaster oven that my mom had purchased.  I thought it was a neat device for making things crisp.  One year, after being dissatisfied with the way the reheated pizza crust came out in the microwave, I had asked Roland for a toaster oven. The particular modle he had purchased was far more sophisticated than my mom’s had been.  I believe there were five settings to reheat, toast, broil and actually cook food.  But not an entire meal for three people. 

I didn’t dislike the toaster oven, but it wasn’t as fast as I believed my mom’s had been.  I had thought the waiting time had been longer than the microwave but not much more than an actual toaster.  I now believe it is equivalent to an actual oven.  Perhaps there is less wattage involved.  I don’t know.  My main desire for the toaster oven was to toast things that were too fat or messy for the actual toaster – but without the wait of an actual oven.  It wasn’t very time efficient in my opinion.  It got incredibly hot and I burned myself more than once on it.  It sucked up counter space.  Roland finally moved it out of reach at my request.  It has been out of reach ever since.

As I had mentioned in this post, we had been looking to replace the dining table.  I had tripped over the claws that shot out from the legs.  I was hoping to find a table with a middle pedlestool rather than four individual legs. We ended up with a table that has four legs.  The table came with five chairs all for the price of 45 dollars.  I didn’t necessarily want new chairs.  I like having chairs with wheels, but I guess these chairs are okay – especially since we spruced them up which ironically cost us more than the mor than the entire dining set.

I don’t believe our location is the most ideal for yard sales, but I suppose we could have tried to sale the table and chairs or just even left them on the curb with a note to take free.  Roland also suggested a friend who has been down on her luck for some time – though she did just land her first steady job since I’ve known her.  She said she wanted the dinette set but would not be able to get them until July 4.  Thus Roland put the dinette set in the shed figuring we would be rid of it within two weeks.  July 4 came and went and the dinette set was still in the shed in the way of everything else.

I have mentioned how I have been unable to sleep flat for most of my adult life.  I do well in recliners – well, some recliners anyway.  My legs have not been happy with the chair we had purchased at an estate sale two summers ago.  I know my lack of sleep is affecting my health – though not as bad as the smog we left behind in Salt Lake.  But, then again, it may be just a matter of time before the sleeping disorders ruin my health even more than the smog would have.

Thus Roland and I went out and purchased a new bed – one that will go up for me but can remain down for him.  It is being delivered today.  Meanwhile we had asked our friend (who still had yet to pick up the dinette set) if she would like the bed also.  He took it apart next day she said she would be available to come and pick it up.  I think he jumped the gun. 

The problem was that she does not have access to a vehicle to move furniture and neither do we.  She has another friend who has been experiencing some health problems volunteer to help her move, but his health (unfortunately) did not always jive with the schedule that had been set up – thus we had garbage bags full of bedding blocking our walking path from the hall to the front door.  I continued sleeping in the recliner and Roland would blow up a mattress which he placed on the frame of the bed until last night.  He slept on the floor last night and I tried to get comfortable on the couch.  I am soooooooooooo tired right now.

As annoyed as Roland and I both were at the cancellations and postponements of getting rid of the dinette, bed and recliner, I realize it was a blessing for me to have only spent one night on the couch.  Our friend showed up last night.  It all was hauled away including the toaster oven that had just been collecting dust. 

Our new bed has a frame – which is amazing as we have not had a bed frame for quite some time.  These are not the best pics as one camera needed to be charge and I could not seem to locate another and so took these with my cell phone.  I should sleep well tonight.

Strange Things

            I had gone to bed early on Thursday. Really early.  I don’t know why I was so exhausted.  I wish I had been that worn out last night.  Perhaps I would have slept better.

Yesterday I had awoken just after midnight and could not get back to sleep.  I left the room in hopes that watching TV would return me to slumberland.  Most every channel seemed to air infomercials and those that didn’t weren’t showing anything that interested me at that moment.  Thus I decided I would try Netflix.  I was told that the internet was out and a suggestion to check the cable.  What?  I was hoping to fall back asleep, not wake myself up to check chords – uh, no.  I don’t remember what it was that finally returned me to sleep.

            It was a while later when I heard Roland get up, but I was determined to sleep in for as long.  That was short-lived.

“Did you pay the internet this month?”

“It comes out automatically.”

“I can’t sign in.  Internet is not coming up.”

I tell him about the Netflix message.  How do we check to see if the Internet is out when we don’t have the Internet to check?

Roland tried to call our carrier, but his phone didn’t appear to be working and so he used mine.  I don’t think he got through.

He turned on the TV.  It appears that there is another hurricane in Louisiana.  One man interviewed remembers Katrina and over time you just get used to it.  I don’t think I’d hang around long enough to get used to it. I think I would be for moving away from Louisiana.

I wouldn’t think the conditions in Louisiana would have any bearing on Oregon’s internet, but you never know.

Roland suggests he drive to the Church or McDonald’s to see if he can get reception there.  No reception – neither place.  I had had my suspicions that it wasn’t just us who were without.  It came back on at 7:00.  I did not check my email until about 7:30.  That is when I found  Evelyn’s message and woke up Jenna.

Jenna stayed until 11:00 and I returned her last night for a couple of hours.  Evelyn came to the car with her and praised up and down how much she loves my child.  I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t like Jenna. She really is a remarkable human being.

After one of the worst night’s sleep of my life, I drove Jenna back to the farm this morning.  I realized I hadn’t washed the windshield (which had been on my agenda) and my back window was fogged.  Really?  July?  I needed the defogger. 

For the first six miles, the speed limit goes from 45 to 35 to 30.  After that, there is a sign that ends Myrtle Creek and the speed zone.  I think there are some people who may actually drive it at 90.  Crazy fools!  There is absolutely no rationalization to doing that – especially on curvy roads that have a downward drop.  I don’t really want my car to end up in a tree because the driver behind me wants to drive like he’s in the Indianapolis 500.

Twenty minutes there, twenty minutes back and my back window still had dew on it when I pulled into the driveway, retrieved a baby wipe and washed the windows. I’m thinking it may not have been the best choice.  I am so so sleepy.  I will definitely be taking a nap this afternoon.

Volunteer to Payment

            This summer Jenna decided she would do some volunteer work at various places so that she could earn job recommendations for whenever the time should come for seeking actual employment.  Last year she had worked on stage at the theatre, but she hadn’t expected she would get paid for it.  The tips that were left were split among the cast members for their first show.  That was an unexpected bonus.  Jenna truly enjoys acting and was happy just to do that.

            On June 24 she had put in her time at the library – taking over my role as story lady.  Last week we went and picked blueberries – though not a lot.  We plan to return next week.

            It is three miles to get downtown from our house.  It is another five miles to the blueberry farm. I remember the farm had opened to the public the year that we moved in.  There had been a request for assistance with blueberry picking.  I thought the amount would perhaps be appealing to the youth as a summer job.  Evelyn said that is hard to find assistance.  As Jenna and I were driving home, inspiration hit me – perhaps she could volunteer to help pick blueberries.

            This morning I drove her out to the patch where she assisted with picking berries for about three hours.  Evelyn fed her and I came and picked her up, but will be returning her tonight after the temperatures have cooled down (the weather is no longer the wonderment I mentioned in my last post).  Evelyn is paying Jenna 50 cents a pound.  An added bonus and possibly even gas money. Evelyn also feeds her - which, in Jenna's case - seems more valuable than money.

            When we lived in West Valley, Jenna’s school was 2 miles away on straight roads.  It usually took us 20 minutes to get from our house to the school in Salt Lake Traffic.  It takes the same amount of time to get to the blueberry patch on windy roads and no to very little traffic.  Jaime is thrilled with her new summer job.

Call It What It Is

I don’t wish to jinx it by saying anything, but the weather has been nice overall. There have been many cool winds.

There have been some hot days.  I think we had the most heat in May.  That is when I was sick and miserable anyway.

The July temperatures have exceeded over 80 only twice thus far.  Yesterday it did not get over 71.  That is really awesome.  There were even a few drops of rain throughout the day.

The fire signs have all indicated moderate.  I am so happy to refer to this season as summer and not “fire season”

Dash #241: Nicknames

                I ‘m sure that there were several nicknames that had been given to me throughout my life, but as of now I can only think of these five.

          I believe mom had said that she and dad  got the nickname “Smathers” from some sort of horror flick.  There was some tagline about “the eyes of Smathers” and sometimes my instant presence watching them would remind her of the movie (or TV episode or whatever it was) thus the nickname “Smathers”

          I wrote this post in reference to another nickname name they had given me  -  Sarah Bernhardt. 

                Grandpa Ralph had given all of his grandchildren nicknames.  Mine was “Blondie” because of my white blonde hair.

     

             

          There were a few kids at school who had referred to me as “Water Fountain” because of how I wore my hair.

Jenna's hair doesn't seem to cascade as much as mine evidently did

          Shortly after I was born, one of the neighbors from across the street thought my name was “Carrot” and they will sometimes call me that to tease me.

Dash # GA12 Legacy.

What will be the greatest achievement of your life?  Is it behind you or still ahead of you? 

I’d like to think that I would always strive to achieve something greater to improve who I am.  I’d like to leave a remarkable legacy – not necessarily in the public eye – but for Jenna and my posterity.

Nightmares and Statistics

          It is said that owning one’s own business is the American Dream.  I don’t believe that’s true.  Roland majored in business and would like to start up a business and has had that desire for as long as I’ve known him.  The problem is that over 90% of those who try their hand at business don’t succeed with keeping said business open.  Over 90%!  Holy Cow!  That is not a dream!  That is a nightmare!

          We have been in Myrtle Creek only four years and have seen several businesses come and go -  not that Myrtle Creek is the booming establishment of getting one’s business started.  But still . . . opening a business, regardless of location,  seems like such a gamble to me.  It has never nor will ever be my dream.  And yet it doesn’t seem satisfying to collect a paycheck on somebody else’s dream. 

          I remember when malls were popular.  I remember seeing stores come and go for various reasons.  They weren’t meeting the public’s demands, the overhead was too high, financial obligations much huger than profit. I remember one store that sold cutlery.  They had the nicest personal.  I would have liked to see them make it, but I personally did not have a need to go shopping there daily or even weekly.  There were several shops that did not have the same friendly personal that somehow survived.  Over time the malls seemed to cater more to the posh people one didn’t think would ever dare show up at a mall.  I was never an avid shopper anyway, but over time I really felt like I was squeezing through a crowd of upper class people that I didn’t nor have a desire to relate to.  But it’s not as if my dollar was going to save any single merchandiser anyway.

          Roland will look at buildings downtown or one’s we have seen marked “For Sale” and constantly asks, “What could we put there?  What would work in this town?” I’m certainly not willing to take the risk to find out.  It would be great if Roland could make it on somebody else’s money, but I think we already gamble with ours just with personal purchases.  There’s no way I want to file bankruptcy for something I never wanted to get into in the first place.

         I'm happy  in education where the rewards are students who recognize me outside of the school and will wave to me or express pleasure toward me.  Those rewards are greater than the paycheck.

I Wish I had been a Better Example

            When I married Roland, I not only gained a new husband but three sons as well.  At the time they were 11, 14, and the 12-year-old had just turned 13.  They are now 29, 31 and 32.  My eldest two have no concept of money.  My youngest consider money a huge priority.  My eldest and youngest boys have had a number of jobs for different reasons.  Biff either can’t hang on to a job or gets bored with it and finds something else never allowing for the opportunity of benefits – like dental insurance.

            The youngest one came home from his mission and decided he was going to go to BYU and major in business.  He decided to take a job at a local credit union.  He was there for six weeks and decided to find a job that would pay more.  He decided he would be a doctor, a podiatrist, a surgeon, a heart doctor . . .  he never landed on one thing long enough to benefit.  He and Roland should have graduated from school at the same time.  Roland now has two degrees.  Randy has none.  But hey, he has been able to get jobs that pay more and he doesn’t have to work so hard at being stuck in school for the duration of his life.

            He moved his family of three into a four or five bedroom house in Eagle Mountain.  He wanted us to stay with him during Christmas so he could show off his new house.  I didn’t care if I saw it or not.  I figure he would not be there the next time we saw him.  He always has to upgrade after less than two years.  He always desires for a better and bigger toy, house, car, money . . . he has been at his house for less than a year and is now on the market because he and his wife will be moving to Buffalo, New York.  He had been sent there to interview for a job.  He is so excited about all the money he will be making.  30,000 dollars more than he is making now.  Big whoop.  He isn’t comprehending that he will most likely be spending more than that with the cost of living.  I don’t envy him.  I pity his frame of mind. Randy had all the integrity of so many politicians.  I am actually surprised he is following through with moving and not just talking about it anymore.

            My eldest two boys have no clue how to budget.  Thankfully, Tony’s wife knows how to get more mileage out of their dollars than does the average person. She married Donald Duck who has been on probation from the company he works for.  He was written up for flipping a rubber band at a co-worker.  Not exactly a mature move on his part.  He’s afraid he’s going to get fired – and right after he was promoted.  He can’t afford Randy’s house.  Biff and Tony together couldn’t afford Randy’s house.  But he needs to move to a three bedroom house preferably – not another apartment.

            The boys often call Roland for advice but haven’t seemed to follow through and so I don’t know why they ask.  Perhaps they just want Roland to agree.  I wish there was a solution for us all. 

The Word: Crazy

          Grocery Outlet opened a location in Myrtle Creek.  On Thursday morning they had an open house which started at 9:00.  According to an employee there, people started lining up at 5:00 a.m.  That's crazy!  Driving to unfamiliar territory without a GPS - also crazy.

           Some people are offended by the word “Crazy” while others find humor in the word and may even feel honored that “crazy” was the adjective chosen to describe them.  I think of Jenna and my brother-in-law Bill as being crazy.  “Crazy” is unique or silly and a brief description of their fun behavior.  It’s not a word I use to imply insanity or being deranged . . . at least with them.  Not in a negative way, at least.

            I have played the card game crazy eights and a similar game called “Crazy Countries” 

http://beneaththewraps.blogspot.com/2014/02/learning-geography-part-2-south-america.html

            Crazy may imply that one is a fanatic about something. 

“Boy Crazy”

“Crazy for pineapples”

“Crazy about looking for bargains”

“Working like crazy”

I do tend to use the word “crazy” meaning “insane” more when I am describing those in the paragraph I used to start out this post or gambling or those who choose to climb Mount Everest or purposely perform, what seem to me, like foolish tasks that could get a person killed – like purposely jumping out of a plane without a parachute in order to test one’s homemade wings (or something like that) or all those astronauts who have boarded a rocket to head for the unknown.  I also think it is crazy for people to camp out for concert or sport tickets, sales or parade seats. 

I thought it was insane that a traditional school would still be in session in mid-June the first year we had lived in Oregon.

I suppose my reference to labeling the weather “crazy” may also have implied insanity.

Daisy & Jaime May 2005

I called our first dog crazy when he would jump up and catch darts in his mouth.  I called our dog Daisy “crazy” because it rhymed.

            Procrastination drives me crazy.  I’m definitely not meaning in a silly way.                
            I suppose dementia is a form of crazy.  From personal experience the “crazy” definitions all came out at once:  so many times the distortion was infuriating, but sometimes things were said that made me laugh or smile because some of the situations did seem a bit humorous.

Crazy also appears to us in fairytales.  The mad hatter from “Alice in Wonderland” was deranged.  He was crazy.  His daughter, introduced in fiction this century, seems to be missing some realities in her mind and doesn’t quite have a grasp on certainty.   And what is up with “the dish ran away with the spoon“?  That is a crazy concept.      

Sometimes we get caught up in Church callings and wonder what the Lord is thinking – or wonder if it’s time to get out before we make ourselves crazy trying to fulfill a calling that we really don’t want.

I’ve had crazy dreams – that is they have been strange, possibly insane, but mostly just unrealistic.

            We refer to “crazy traffic” or “crazy drivers” associated with insanity.
             Sometimes there are situations that "drive us crazy".  

            The word “crazy” has different meanings.

Dash #683 What Makes You Laugh?

             When Jenna and I trip over our tongues and say things incorrectly (or just when I hear things incorrectly) we will laugh.  For example, she once said, “I talked to this about dad” instead of “. . . dad about this”.  We usually catch ourselves before the laughter comes.

              I heard a country song the other day.  I don’t listen to country and my hearing has seemed a little off since May.  I was pretty certain that I had heard incorrectly and asked Jenna, who seems to have radar hearing when it comes to music and lyrics.  “Did he just sing ‘How can my cow use my cell phone’?” at which point she started laughing and that made me laugh.

             We’ve got some inside jokes that will make each other laugh.  Well, I don’t exactly laugh when she says “raw rhubarb” but rather will make a face which will make her laugh.  

She will also laugh at the words “elbow” and “sexy ears”.   I don’t know why. 

           Whenever I am feeling a little down she will start with singing The Outfield’s “Your Love” parody from the Bounce commercial (here) because the I laugh whenever I hear it.  Listening to Jenna or her brother Tony laugh puts a smile on my face.  Remembering times when I’d be watching TV in one room and my dad in another laughing in appropriate places but knowing we were watching two completely different programs also makes me smile.

           There was also that time when Daisy ran toward the TV to pounce on the computerized unreal-looking Garfield.  That was funny.  

Only Tony and I were there to witness our crazy lazy dog.  She was usually quite mellow.

                I also enjoy wit in making any situation a comedy.  I still laugh at various episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” and various gag reels from clean comedies.  I enjoy laughing.  I enjoy laughing with my pool friends.  I enjoy laughing with Jenna.