Posts

Remembering Dottie

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            I had purchased a package of "Strap Perfect" as it was on clearance.   Jenna and I both seem to lack in the shoulder area.   I thought we could each have three, only three had already been removed from the package.   Perhaps that is why it was on clearance.   I recall Jenna breaking one trying to get her bra off.   I kept one for my swimsuit in the event that I ever misplaced my swim shirt which I did the entire month of August.               After Jenna started going to the pool with me last year, she had a suit that didn't fit quite right.   I don't remember what it even looked like or what was wrong with it.   Dottie had brought us a suit that she used to wear and had given it to Jenna.   Dottie was always thoughtful of others.             It was in ...

Welcome the Fog

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                After fire season, the misty fog and rain are always welcome signs for our thirsty part of the world.   It does impair the vision to see far ahead.   I drove in it yesterday as I had an assignment through the school.   At least the light can be seen through the fog, unlike the darkness I had to drive the day prior.   I told Roland that when we set the clocks back, I will need him to drive as I won't be able to see at the time that I've been going.   But I would do okay to leave just an hour later - I think.                 Currently, the fog covers the sky and hides everything past the neighbors' house.   Usually, it lifts by 10:00 or so.   I don't think the sun peeked through until 11:30 yesterday.   I was on recess duty and had to find my sunglasses. ...

I DO NOT Accept the Challenge . . . at least Right Now

                The RS president sent an e-mail to the sisters to remind us of some challenges given to us in Conference yesterday. I am not prepared to accept the challenge of the 10 day fast from social media.   I am taking courses online.   Sometimes YouTube videos are required - though not always.   Sometimes I will search for tutorials on my own.   Giving up facebook will not be tough as it's been somewhat pathetic or disappointing overall lately anyhow.   I need to use my email for updates regarding my classes and to view confirmation on assignments that I accept for work.   Yes.   I got a job.   I have subbed as a teacher's aide for three different schools now and have at least two more for this week.                 I remember when Jenna took the challenge.   For the most part,...

Sidenote

For a year I believed that my youngest granddaughter, Liz, shared her birthday with my son Tony, who is her dad.  It wasn't until I wished a "happy birthday" to both her and Tony that I was corrected.  It's true that Rochelle had gone to the hospital on his birthday, but Liz did not arrive until after midnight making her birthday November 4th instead of the 3rd. This year Rochelle has been carrying extra weight with our only grandson who was also due to make his appearance in November but decided to come a month to six weeks early.  They must have checked into the hospital late last night after Tony had called to wish Roland happy birthday.  Their baby arrived before 2:00 this morning. Recap:  Roland was born on the 3rd.  Two of his children were born on the 3rd.  Daddy daughter combo born different months on the 3rd - in fact, he and Jenna are exactly 50 1/2 years apart.  (see here ) Tony and his oldest daughter are both on the third.  A...

Another Ugly Cake . . . Happy Birthday

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            Roland believes that every person should have a cake for his/her birthday.   It doesn't matter if they can have cake or want cake or don't like cake.   I believe that his motto is "No Birthday is Complete Without Cake"             Usually when Roland's birthday is coming up and people ask, "What do you want for your birthday" he doesn't ask for a cake, but rather a homemade card.   But this year was different.   I asked what he'd like for dinner and he said he wanted me to make him a birthday cake from scratch.   Okay.   How very brave of you.             I looked up a recipe under the topic "Birthday Cake" and followed the directions to this one.   (recipe at the end of her blog post before comments)   I used blue and white sprinkles as that is what we had. ...

Death happens

                Death is inevitable.   It's bound to happen to all of us at one time or another.   Some deaths are more expected than others though it seems to come as a surprise to most.   Such was the case of Dottie,   who was part of the water fitness class.   She didn't go out with our group often when we'd meet at the coffee shop or bakery but had been there a few times including the last when the group had gone to a new cafe for morning breakfast.         Dottie had given Carolyn her cell phone number and would occasionally make phone calls just before class to find out if she was coming.   Carolyn didn't know her last name.   It didn't appear that any of us did.   When she asked, I wondered and so the news did not surprise me nor affect me the same way as it had Carolyn who had been teaching at a school - I would guess Cany...

It's Almost October . . . What is Up With the Haze?

                The air quality has gone down again.                    You would think I would have figured .that out on Tuesday when I couldn't stop sneezing.                      Yesterday morning I'd gotten behind                 some school buses and watched their red tail lights flicker off and on.   When I neared the school, I looked over the hill and appeared puzzle at the sight of                 what looked like the tail lights - but way too high in the sky.                ...

What Am I Supposed To Do Now?

                Wednesday is generally my busiest day with school.   Generally.   When the libraries reopened and had asked for volunteers, I said I could - however I couldn't be scheduled.   Sometimes Mondays will work for me, but not always.   I could volunteer on Fridays regardless of my scheduling - however, no one else can work that day; therefore, the library is closed.             I said I could substitute, which I have done before, but not for a long time.   I told them when I might be available and when I would not.   Wednesdays and Saturdays are definite NOs as I am trying to finish my schooling by Wednesday or Thursday and Saturdays are for family.             Wednesday is also the designated day for potluck luncheons on 2nd Wednesdays every month and...

Nooooooooooooooooo . . . send it over here

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/hurricane-florence-death-toll-climbs-to-17-flooding-fears-surge-as-rivers-rise/story-l0hudSBdF6EyROjIY4l3iK.html         The weather forecast said that more rain was expected to hit the east coast.   Meanwhile, the map indicates fires still burning on the west coast.   It's been dry.   https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf   My breathing feels much like it did during winters in Utah.   My skin feels as if I have been rolling in fiberglass.   I feel bad and pray for those who have lost so much due to Florence and the amount of time that they will spend attempting to rebuild . . .  https://www.newsweek.com/hurricane-florence-aftermath-sparks-deadly-tornado-virginia-exactly-14-years-1126185 I wish there could be a happy balance.   I wish there was a cost effect way to remove the water from the east coast...

West Coast (specifically Myrtle Creek) Painted Rocks

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Last year I found this rock out by the mailbox.   Jenna has kept it in her collection all this time.   On the back of the rock are instructions to post #WCPR (west coast painted rocks) which and has been on a mission to paint and hide rocks herself.   We had placed a quarter (coin) in the picture to show the size of the rocks. These are the ones which we plan to hide today after church But first, she decided to put her "Alien" painted rock next to the mailbox where we had found the first As Jenna grabbed each rock, she thought about places she could hide them that would be unique to the area.               She'd like to hide the candy corn near a business as Halloween is coming up and would be a reminder to all businesses to buy their candy.             She wants to put the jack-o-lantern near a house b...

I'm Done For the Week (except for Daily Checkpoints)

My classes are database - learning the Microsoft program Access and accounting management systems.   The lecture for the database is for Monday morning and the accounting lecture is 25 hours later on Tuesday - except this week.   Our instructor was out of town and in the path of the hurricane and had come home, but was driving all day Tuesday and couldn't present the lecture until Thursday.   Our initial post for discussion is due on Wednesday.                 I am so excited about the database class and had completed the discussion, assignment, and assessment shortly after the lecture.   On Tuesday I responded to two other discussion posts and posted my discussion for the other class.   The instructor had already posted my grades before I opened zoom chat for her question and answer on Wednesday.             On Monday, I had tried...