Font My Eyes

 

Less than three years ago I had 

marked the large font scriptures I had 

inherited from mom.  I don’t recall 

struggling so much as I am today.  

Seeing words is a challenge depending on 

the font size.  I sing hymns that I have 

memorized but cannot read the words to 

sing along.   I don’t read notes and so I 

would do better with words only.  I rely on 

modern technology and blow words up to a 

more comfortable font size.

I have renewed my glasses each year – I don’t 

think they are the problem.  I do see words better 

with natural light.  

Glasses don’t come with built in sun.

DayTrip to Redwood & Crescent City

           Richard’s birthday was yesterday.  Jaime was hoping we could celebrate with a daytrip to the coast.  We’ve never been to Redwood National Forest and as it is less than 3 hours away, we decided to make our daytrip there.

 

          The redwood trees are enormous!  We mostly drove through without getting out of the car, but decided to walk a one mile trail.  I couldn’t look up without getting dizzy – though I tried a few times.

 

          Jaime was hoping to get some pressed pennies.  But since pennies are now discontinued, will the penny press become a relic of the past also?

 

          We ended up in Cresent City so that we could eat lunch.  Afterward we went to the aquarium and Jaime made a pressed penny of a seal.  We toured the facility and got to touch starfish, mollusks and a small leopard shark.  That was a cool experience.

 

 

          The tour  finshed with seals following the command of a trainer.  Also fun.  Since the aquarium is so near the ocean the water is pumped into the tanks so that they are swimming in the same ocean water.  Some might think it’s cruel to remove animals from their natural habitat and put them on display.  But the animals are well cared for – each with its own story of how it came to be at the aquarim.

          One seal was captured after another seal tore through her eye.  It was infected when she was captured and had to be removed.  She probably has a better chance of survival at the acquarium than back where she was found.

 

          It had been quite a long day for each of us.  Happy Birthday Richard.  We were gone for more than ten hours.

 

 

Bonnie

           I used to move the rollway table toward the desk to keep Bonnie from going down the side of the bed.  Now I roll it closer to more easily reach my water bottle.

          She used to come in each morning or afternoon to play Phrasel with Jaime and me – though she never contributed.  Sometimes her noise was too loud and we would kick her out.

          Sometimes I play phrasel with Jaime over the phone.  Yesterday she thought she could hear Bonnie in the background and was saddened when she realized it was not Bonnie.

          We do enjoy meals now without her watching our every move – waiting for food to fall from the plate.  Our first meal was spare ribs – ironically a meal we had eaten just before Bonnie got sick.

          She did a good job cleaning plates with her tongue before I put them in the dishwasher.  Now I have to scrape small leftovers into the compost or down the disposal.

          No more Bonnie hairs to clog up our lint traps or litter the hallway.  No more scratching the carpet with her overly long nails.

          We miss Bonnie.

So Sad

           We made the choice to put Bonnie down before climbing up and down the stairs became even more difficult for her.  I took this picture six days ago.  The last one I will ever take.

          Three weeks ago she was really sick.  Gradually she seemed to come around to her loving happy self.  That’s what makes it hard.  Putting down an animal that seems so happy and full of life.

          But she was not full of life.  She tired easily.  She’d whine a lot.  And bark at who knows what.  She’s at peace now.  Jaime and I are not.  It wasn’t an easy decision.  We are both sad.

          But her time was coming soon. There's a few things I won't miss.  But I will miss her love and wagging tail.

Note to Self

           ALWAYS use Umpqua Appliance.  NEVER go with Sears!

It’s been less than four years since we purchased our 32’wide refrigerator. I don’t know how old our fridge is.  We bought it new – but who knows how long it was in the warehouse/showroom before we picked it out.  We had an option of three that would fit into the provided space in our kitchen. 

About two or three months ago there seemed to be a large build up of frost in our freezer.  We’d get an obnoxious humming sound and then the refrigerator stopped putting out cold.  We’ve had milk spoil because of it.  A Sears did fix our fridge – temporarily.  For a handsome price.  Eventually the frost and hum returned. 

Then I remembered having used Sears appliance when we lived in Kearns.  The guy that came to fix our furnace ended up turning it off and walking away.  It was dang cold!  What was he thinking?  What was I thinking?  It’s like their motto is: “Just get the money.  You don’t even have to do anything.”

We had purchased a fridge at a yards ale for only $5.00 (see here).  It lasted for eight years and going (we eventually donated it to another) Now that was a magnificent deal.

Umpqua Appliance is great.  I don't know how I missed finding them in the first place. Our technician, Christopher is very honest.  He explained what was happening, how to fix it,  how to maintain ourselves to avoid future repair.  He said should last us another ten years.  I will definitely be calling them again! Well, not for the fridge but for another appliance perhaps.

Among Other Things

           Jaime was looking for something in the shed.  She pulled out all the Christmas decorations and then some.  Are you kidding me?  It seems like Richard and I just cleaned the shed.  I remember throwing away a bunch of garbage and now we’re doing it again.

          I have always been a nostalgic person and have hung onto things.  Items I’ve had since I was twelve!  I thought one day I could pass on my “treasures” Make family history more exciting for whoever.  There is so much I have saved through the years.  Jaime’s stuff, my stuff.

          She doesn’t want it.  I guess I don’t blame her.  I don’t want it either.  Not anymore.  If we were to move again I would be leaving 90% of this behind.  So why not just get rid of it now.  Who else would want a box full of journals – at least 12 volumes of Jaime’s life prior to birth until just after our move to Oregon.  I think she was twelve when I stopped writing for her and let her figure it out on her own.

          She’s not nostalgic.  Our oldest saves things like I do – saves in boxes but never looks at his stuff.  Always misplaced.  Always taking up space.  My second son is also nostalgic.  He saves stuff unnessesarily.  And then there’s our youngest boy who has always been able to throw stuff away.  Doesn’t save anything.  Not at all sentimental.  There were a few times I envied that.  Not to have an attachment.

          Piles and piles and boxes and now a lot of empty bins and still more to go through.  Richard wants to make a trip to the dumpster.  I would like to put everything in a rented dumpster and have them haul it all away.  And I mean all of it.  There are items that could go to a second hand store.  Too many items.  Most in good condition.  Some just fair.  And some – well I certainly don’t want it.  I can’t see that someone else was.

          The hardest thing has been throwing away the photographs – which I have saved digitally.  Some on CD.  Most on flash drives.  But those may become obsolete as well.  And then what?  I’m at the point where it just doesn’t seem to matter anymore.  No pictures, no journals, no scrapbooking, no memorabilia.  Enough of the clutter.

          Jaime wants to have a yard sale with a lock box and slot.  Pay whatever you’re willing or just haul it off.  We don’t need it.  We don’t want it.  We don’t have room – not that we ever did.  Why are we saving it?

          I remember one sister in our ward who had one son and boxes full of family history.  She wanted him to carry on the family legacy after she passed.  He doesn’t have the passion.  He didn’t want her boxes of “treasures” and Jaime doesn’t want mine.  Or hers.  It’s just stuff.  We’ll be fine without it.  My youngest boy would have no problem discarding it all.

Happy Anniversary

          On Tuesday Richard cut his finger. We took him to the Veterans’ clinic where he received treatment.

          He had been in a hurry and the saw had grazed his bone.  He did not have to have stitches.

          I had offered to take food to a member of our ward though I had forgotten.  I should have set an alarm to remind me.

          I received a message from another when Richard and I were finishing up our celebratory meal.

          My phone does not tell me what time the text was sent but rather what time it was opened by me.  How lame is that?

          I had opened upon receiving but evidently it had been sent at least 20 minutes before I received it. 

          Long enough for the other (who was dropping off the food to me and I would take it the rest of the way – for she didn’t know where he lived and is having financial issues.  The one receiving the meal lives off grid and signal is lost before one is even halfway to his house from the exit) to deliver the meal herself.  So she was out of pocket when I called her back.

          Richard was told to take it easy.  He wasn’t sure whether he had the strength to vendor or not.  He had changed his mind twice within the hour.

          The truck wouldn’t start.  A sign to stay home and take it easy.  I would not allow Richard in the shed to work on projects or in the kitchen to bake. 

          He was told to keep his finger elevated.  I told him to stay on the couch and not work.

          Such a man child.  We went to the movies just before 5:00.  Celebrated our wedding anniversary watching “Coyote vs. Acme”.  I liked it.  Much much better than Roger Rabbit.

          Today Richard worked in the shed.  NOT taking it easy despite my advice.  He got sick and worn out.

          Too many reminders of love and pain.