Beneath the Wraps

             Lockdowns, shootings and bomb threats were unheard of during my youth - not in my neighborhood.   It was such a foreign concept by yesterdays standards.   Today it is the beginning of norm.             We were living in West Valley.   Jenna was in the fifth grade. I had been working on the scrapbook that I mention here .   I find it ironic that I had come to a page to explain about how life was then, and what makes her life experiences different from my own when I received a computerized phone call from the school.   The school was on lockdown and no one would be coming in or going in until whatever cause for lockdown was lifted.             As it turned out, there had been two teenage girls in the area who had been going from residential door to door to steal what they could from houses that seem...

           Mountain Dew doesn't work on stomachaches as well as 7-Up or Sprite but I can rely on Mountain Dew to assist with relieving headaches and sore throats.   I do use it more as a medicine than for an enjoyable beverage - though I do enjoy the taste of Mountain Dew.   I wish they made Mountain Dew flavored throat drops.           There are a few times when Mountain Dew hasn't worked for me.   There are a few times when I thought, "Oh, I shouldn't have had that."   But not usually.   For the most part Mountain Dew has been my friend.   It's not just my tongue that appreciates it's wonderfulness.   I really love water.   Clean water.   Drinkable water.   But if I had to choose a favorite beverage other than water, it would be Mountain Dew.   Weird, huh?          Mountain Dew does not quench my thirst.  Water do...

                Yesterday was bleak.   The temperature remained pretty consistent throughout the day  fluctuating   between 53 and 58.   There was a hint of moisture in the air.   I was able to breathe so much better than I have for over a week.   It has been really dry the last five months.   Dry as though I had never left Salt Lake.                     As I hadn't slept well the night prior, I slept several times during the day.   I needed to stay home and rest.   Perhaps I should have rested all day, but had left word that I would help with the library annex.           It is our fourth year to celebrate Halloween in Myrtle Creek.   Each year the city will close off a few streets downtown and everyone is invited to ...

             Yesterday I subbed for an aide at one of the elementary schools. There are at least two kindergartners in her class who have a hard time following or understanding directions.   She had me sit at a table near the back of the class and sent the two directionally challenged students to sit with me to work on the paper.   The directions were simple, really: draw a picture of a pumpkin and write the word "pumpkin" as best as you can.  Don't ask how to spell it.  Just do your best at sounding it out - which was the entire point of the exercise.   The little girl who sat by me understood what was expected of her.  She whipped out a list of words and copied the words pumpkin and costume.  She drew three amazing pumpkins and turned her paper over.  The boy was much more interested in drawing than spelling.  I asked him how pumpkin started.  He made the "p" sound and I asked him what tha...

            On March 22 of this year Corey posted to his blog for the first time in two years.   Apparently it had been due to a request made when I mentioned how much I had missed reading his posts.   But that is his most recent - nothing more.   So last night he called me to relate his "Walmart" experience - although he really was not at Walmart.   It just felt like he was.   I laughed at his misfortunes.   It was nice to go to bed with a smile on my face.   But Corey does have a knack with relating experiences and telling stories and even making announcements with an entertaining flair.   So the following is a second-hand account of the things that he related to me.             First off he had to renew something - he must have mentioned it at least three times, but I failed to understand exactly what it was that he was renewing...

            Roland and I were both on our computers when the power went off and then back on.               I was trying to do my assignments.   He was at work.               The sky outside had darkened as if the power had not been fully restored.   The porch light shone on the yellow house across the street,             but that was it.   No sign of life anywhere for a minute or two.   Then there was a             brilliance in the sky.       my camera did not capture the brilliance that I saw Jenna took this from the church parking lot she said the power had gone off and on there also It was several hours before ...

             For a couple of weeks my right eye has been tearing up.   It's quite annoying as it will create a fogged up view through my glasses.   I have also felt somewhat dizzy and lightheaded at times.             The air has been so dry which I'm sure has been a contributing factor to my health today.   I had thought it was all allergy related when both eyes went balistic last Tuesday but I may have a cold underneath - or worse - the dreaded sinus infection may have weaseled its way into my life again because the air in Oregon isn't providing the moisture which brought me out here.   We may need to move closer to the ocean.             The fire levels are back to low and moderate - at least here, but there is still a hazy sky to the west of I5 between Grants Pass and Glendale.   Where is my rain? ...