Beneath the Wraps

           A couple of months ago the light between the closets had gone out.   Richard changed the bulb to a brand new bulb that would blink on occasion until finally it went out leaving us to believe that it had something to do with the wiring.   Finding those that repair (such as electricians, plumbers, etc) is like pulling teeth.   Even before the gas price increase, it seemed a difficult task to find someone committed enough to come.             After two months Richard climbed up the latter to check what might be the source of the problem.   He had me turn off all the electricity.   Apparently it was the bulb.   How blessed were are that it was something simple.           Next problem.   We were no longer receiving hot water through our taps.   How can that be?   Well the house is over 20 years old and the hot...

  I had resided in three different houses when I lived in Utah. Each of them provided gas furnaces as a source of heat.   The heat source in Oregon has been electric – which tends to dry me out more than the gas ever did.   I don’t particularly care for electric heat and have felt overly hot each year except for this one.   But it is 2020 – why should anything about this year decade feel normal?   I have worn my long sleeve pajama tops and used the covers for the last two weeks.   Highly unusual – for me.

I was supposed to work this week but  the schools have been closed  first due to the storm and then  because we were part of  many that were without power.   During that time I've  had so many thoughts  going through my head  and have jotted a bit  on paper - some on my  laptop but nothing concrete.   I still have classes next week and  the week after that. I am grateful for the generator that gave me enough power to at least start my assignments  Amazingly I have finished up and can finish a few other things that got neglected during our power outage. I realize that four days is nothing compared to some others who have experienced without for much longer.  Roland's sister for example,  had gone two months as she lives in Puerto Rico and  Hurricane Maria was quite unkind. I'd rather lose electric power than running water - even if it was  equivalent to riv...

                Roland had asked Troy if he would like to earn some extra money by cutting the grass on our hill.   What a chore!   Troy came by about 9:00 the other day and Roland showed him what we were attempting to do outside.   Troy said he could return the following morning to remove the debris so that we can continue our garden.                 So yesterday, Troy showed up with his wheel barrow and worked hard.   Fortunately the sun was not blazing yet.   Troy is a good worker.   He was the most productive yesterday.                 Ike is a retired electrician but had told Roland he would come over to check out some sensitive spots that we would like to change.   I had been on the computer attempting t...