Beneath the Wraps

 Our Thanksgiving still has not taken place.   Biff and his brood mostly stay confined to their room -  even when they are well.   Richard and I both went to church yesterday -  though he should have stayed home.   Jaime spent her dinner with some members of  our ward and brought home left overs - so that was nice.   She left the next day to spend her weekend with  some high school buddies.   I am so grateful that she was able  to enjoy her holiday.

          I was feeling fine when I woke up on Tuesday.  I don ’ t know what I had encountered before noon, but I had a throbbing headache just after 12:00.  Probably Richard and I should have not gone to the temple, but we did.  We left the house before 1:00 but did not get to Central Point until 2:40. Traffic was horrible.  It doesn ’ t take that long to get to Ashland.         We were signed up for the 3:00 session. Just after 5:00 we were on our way to Ashland to pick up Jaime.   We met her at a 7-11 and I had gone inside to get something for my headache.   Richard and Ally got sick first and then Biff and then me and Clair – I think Clair may have been hit the hardest.   She looks terrible.         Jaime has spent many a Thanksgivings feeling sick.   Ironically, she is the only one who is well.   None of the rest of us even want to eat – ...

 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving  and our household is sick. Jaime has returned for four days. Fortunately she will be with friends for three of them. I need to be well by Sunday for I am scheduled to teach RS.

 This is us at Stewart Park.  I find it interesting that there are only five ducks and no pigeons.

                First it was my feet             Then it was my ears             And now my left arm?             Why not both arms?             Why does my left arm feel like it’s caught    in a draft? What is up with that? Seriously. It’s as if I have no blood flow.   Why is my arm always cold? I had three layers on my arm this morning! My right arm seems okay. Perhaps my left arm just  doesn't  get enough  exercise

  When we lived in West Valley I rarely used covers at night Maybe 10 times a year Maybe Even after we moved here And I would fall asleep on The recliner, Richard would cover me But the covers would come off Long before morning And then we moved into a Different house And suddenly my toes were always Cold And so I would keep them Covered But lately it seems like I Am covering all of me. I think the earth is spinning Nearer to the sun and then To the other extreme So far away from the sun that Its always cold Hard to imagine that just over six weeks ago I was complaining about the heat. Ten weeks ago it was in the Three digits in California We had moved to Oregon for The constancy – which We have never had. I don ’ t want three digits and Then near freezing (or Below freezing)   At this point I don ’ t Think it even matters In what state or nation Autumn is still producing Gorgeous colors That ’ s ni...

  When Steven was in his senior year of high school he had the opportunity of going back to New York with the high school drama department.   My mom and dad also took the opportunity of going as there was a need for chaperones.   I don ’ t recall how much the trip costs or how many plays they were scheduled to see.    They were gone for a week and spent more in one day than Shelly and I spent in the entire week including our excursion to Lagoon (an amusement park near Salt Lake City, Utah).   First two pics are of Shelly and Me at a picnic area off pioneer village.  The other two were taken upon the return of the rest of our family.

           Driving to Roseburg yesterday seemed almost like driving into the Twilight Zone – sort of a slow strobe effect.  Mist      disappearing scenery    blue skies    inviting sign    just kidding            dark clouds            is that smoke or rain?        sunny blue sky above the dark clouds           fog again      cold bleakness       inviting warmth       all within a matter of minutes     so surreal This is just our neighborhood.  The change was a lot more drastic going to Roseburg.  Bluer sky and darker clouds.

            Since they moved in Claire has just taken over where they put things and when it will get put away.   Biff just goes along with it.   They had invaded our   fridge with Ally’s medicine – even after they had hooked up their own.   After Richard and I returned home from Costco one day I took it upon myself to move the remainder of Ally’s medicine into their small fridge and told them that I needed our fridge for actual food. Richard and I had to restack their items that they put in my brand new shed.   Exploded and unorganized.   It still is, but at least Richard was able to make some space for our things.   On the plus side we are finally able to get to the Christmas tree.   So kudos to them for that – I guess.   Still haven’t found a home for the fish tank which takes up so much room.   They don’t need to hang on to all that they brought with them.   Why did they bring it?   But ...

           There has always been economic growth and layoffs, outrageous prices and cutting costs.  It was in 2008 when Shelly started a seasonal job at Target.  She worked on Black Friday and was laid off.  Are you kidding me?  What was the point?  2009 didn't offer the turnout that Target had expected.  Apparently it was the one day that would make or break the rest of Christmas line-up.  It broke.          The following year Richard also landed a seasonal job with Target.  I reminded him about the experience that Shelly had had the year prior. Each had  been hired for the Christmas rush.  He had only worked a week or two and Target realized that their numbers of sales were not even close to what it had been years before.  He was let go as were several others who had been hired to work the Christmas season.  That was weird.          Hopefully...

  Jaime said she would not have classes today or tomorrow and could I come get her? but she would need to return on Saturday as she has tickets to see a play. An hour and a half is not that far But gas prices are outrageous. Perhaps I could just spend a  few nights in Ashland. Richard said it was okay.   We prayed about our decision. John Mayer did not reveal a promising forecast - though  yesterday did seem more driveable than it is currently. I went and got my hair done yesterday and was talking to my hair dresser who also advised against driving down with all those mountain passes to go through. What mountains?   I'm from Utah.   Those are just hills. Snow is/was in the hills. It melts pretty quickly. Too cold to snow. But not too cold to freeze. And it has rained. I could slip on ice. Or another car could slip into me. So many drivers seem to be in a hurry. I wouldn't be in a hurry. I would be hitting every rest stop between here and Ashl...

     You know it's hot when Richard is the one who suggests to open a window or turn on the fan.  Surprisingly I don't think I felt as warm as he did.  I was comfortable and in no hurry to leave the bed.  Perhaps 20 min or so had passed before I decided to get up and open the window at least a crack.  I also threw his pajama top over the vent - he must have been hot!     This morning I noticed the box had been moved from the vent in the bathroom.  I will have to find something less bulky.  But as for now the window remains open.  True there is a chill - but I have put on a long sleeve shirt.  The scenery is so pretty outside .

 Each of us in the household have been sick - though Biff hasn't experienced what the rest of us have - and hopefully it may pass him completely.  Claire looks awful - which is how I imagined I must have looked.  I never felt as horrible as Richard sounds.  He did sound better last night than the night before.  Still not sleeping great - but at least it was not his cough that was keeping him up. I always open the windows to let in the fresh air - also because I'm always hot.  When Richard comes to bed he always complains that it is cold.  Thus yesterday I made certain that the windows were shut, the fan was off and the vent wasn't covered.  I was still awake when he came to in the room.  We watched TV and I fell asleep.            It wasn't overly hot in our room this last night but I had tossed and turned for much of the night trying to adjust to the temperature as I could not decide weather I was hot or co...

                It ’ s weird how one ’ s mind works sometimes and what odd things might trigger memories that haven ’ t been considered for decades.  A movie title had come up in the grid that reminded me of an odd relationship with my next door neighbor sometime after his wife had passed.  Keep in mind that he was old.  I had gone out with his two oldest grandsons at one time or another.  There is no way I was looking for that kind of relationship with the grandfather!  Give me a break!            Yet, for some reason, he seem ed to feel the need to call me to suggest I might want to read a certain book or watch a certain movie.  I don ’ t know why he singled me out of all people – but would call a few times a week.  Each time my mom would answer she ’ d teasingly tell me it was my “ boyfriend ” on the phone.  Granted, he was a lonely old man (who was hard of hearing, I might...

            Ever since they had moved into our house, Biff and Claire would sleep in until 10:00 or later.  Okay.  I get the exhaustion from traveling – but come on.  They did manage to make it up on time for the first Sunday meeting they were here.  That was the last time. Three weeks later Ally was enrolled in the local school and then the family started getting up at 8:10 and out the door half an hour later.   Still dragged.   Still delayed.   But after Biff started his job in Roseburg, the family was up and out by 7:30.   Such a waist of gas going back and forth so that Claire could have the car.   Theoretically they could put Ally on the bus but choose not to.   So for an entire week Biff would drive the family to his work in Roseburg and Claire would take the car to the school, walk Char around and return to the house to sort and clean – pick Ally up from school (with Char) return to Roseburg....

            Since we moved into the ward Jaime has suggested a ward trunk-or-treat.   Now that she is gone, the ward did their first trunk-or-treat this year.   The trunk-or-treat activity started at 5:00 followed by a party featuring a chili and corn bread cook off.    It had a better turn out and a lot more participation than I had expected.   There were several contests for trunk d é cor , costume, and chili (to name a few) I was surprised that we had two costume winners in our household.   Ally took 1 st price for children 11 and under.    Richard won 1 st place for over 12 category.  Neither our trunk (which we had not expected anyway) nor chili won – but there were several chilis.   I don ’ t know who was supposed to test them all.   I think there were at least 20 and almost as many corn breads.

                After we returned home from the ward party on Saturday I could feel my throat starting to get sore.  I made the mistake of taking a lozenge and allowing it to sit under my tongue all night.  My teeth hurt the following morning – and I just got to the point where I am no longer pained by cold drinks or food.  Now I have to start all over again.         I missed church on Sunday – turns out that Richard was the only one to leave the house.   Ally had a slight cough and I had heard that her throat was sore.   She didn ’ t act sick.   Not like I was sick.   Still, I don ’ t know why both mom and dad had to stay home with her.   But whatever.   My head throbbed.   It felt like the beginning of a sinus infection.         Carolyn had asked if I would like to go get coffee with her and Dan on Friday but I told her I...