Perhaps Not Perfect, But Close

             I had asked a friend if she would drive me to the airport yesterday.  I had changed the time of her flight and would have been able to drive myself but my friend was still willing – in fact looking forward to it – perhaps more than I.  Before the pandemic she had received a gift card to Red Lobster but has not used it in all of this time.  So after we went to the airport and picked up Jenna, our friend drove us to Red Lobster and used her gift card on overpriced food that really didn’t seem worth what we would have paid.  Jenna and I do love the cheese rolls – which she enjoyed more than I.  It probably isn’t the fault of Red Lobster but rather my taste buds (or lack thereof) that are to blame. 

Currently Jenna is in Cottage Grove attending the high school football game – not that she knows anything about football or any other sport.  She has school spirit as many of those from the class of 2022.  They have always been so supportive of one another – unlike the class of 2023 who had somewhat of a mischievous reputation.  I don’t know how much of that has changed since the pandemic.  I know 2022 continues to be strong.  They are definitely an awesome bunch of kids.

 

On Monday I took her to the high school for parent teacher conference.  Though she currently has eight classes, she has only five instructors.  Seeing them all took only 15-20 minutes plus a few minutes of visits with those who are not her instructors.  Everybody loves Jenna and the feedback is always positive.  I knew that already. 

She needs only two classes to graduate but has decided to take six electives to contribute making her senior year a wonderful experience – though the two required classes are a Lot of work.  She is and always has been a great student academically as she is supportive of her peers.  She’s a gem.

Bonnie in my Bedroom

 Bonnie will whine when

we are in the other room but

will gladly follow me to

 my room and lay down

and stop whining. 

 

My room has carpet and

so does the office. 

Often she will hang

out there waiting for

Roland’s return.

 

Perhaps she enjoys the

rough carpet under her belly.

I don’t think she is particularly

fond of the flooring we

chose for the main part of

the house as

she is always slipping.

 

She does have her own bed which

seems to me should be

more comfortable than

the carpeted floor. 

But I am not a dog. 

What do I know?

 

She’s quite an insecure dog.

She has waited in the office alone but

rarely stays in the bedroom by herself. 

I don’t know why she doesn’t

hang out in Jenna’s room. 

Jenna absolutely adores Bonnie.

She really is a sweet dog.

She currently seems

 to be missing Jenna.

So Much Post Info . . . So Little Time . . .

           I thought I would be able to create at least one post today, but Roland just informed me that he has the day off.  I suspect that can change as his boss is a flake. We took Jenna to the airport last night and will be returning for her on Friday.  Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving.  That makes for more wait until I am able to sort my thoughts and post something.

          On Friday, the 19^th, we spent the majority of the day in Ashland.  We toured the campus at Southern Oregon University.  I wore myself out.  Jenna ran into one of her friends and made friends with another also majoring in theatre.  Layne will be gone by the time Jenna arrives – unless she chooses to go elsewhere.  Today she will be touring the Dixie State campus only ten minutes away from her brother’s house.

          Parent/Teacher conference had been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.  We’d gone early on Monday and spent less than 20 minutes to see all five teachers.  She is an amazing student and no one has anything bad to say about her.

          Yesterday I was at the church for a few hours trying to organize our ministering routes.  I had left the house at 9:30 but did not return home until 1:30. Jenna and I took Bonnie for a walk and watched some shorts before we went outside to get in the car after Roland pulled up.  She didn’t get into Utah until after 3:00 am.  I was in bed before nine, I think. 

          Don’t know what the plans are for today or tomorrow.  Roland had suggested that we find a restaurant to eat for our Thanksgiving meal. Perhaps we will do that today instead.  Jenna will be spending it with at least one brother.  I don’t know if she will even be able to visit the other two. 

          Thus if any of these topics might interest you, be sure to tune in.  Hopefully, I will have elaborated more on each paragraph and posted by December 1^st.  Happy Holidays, everyone!

Only One Pickle per Tree

           I vaguely remember having a “Christmas Pickles” on our tree.  At least I think I do. I don’t even know where it came from or why it was there.  We obviously didn’t know its tradition as it was never hidden.  Tradition says the pickle is “hidden” to bring good luck to the finder.  We never hid the pickle.  

         I don’t remember hiding any ornaments intentionally.  Many times the fuller trees seemed to swallow up ornaments that had been pushed into the tree which is why I prefer Charlie Brown trees.  Every ornament can be seen on a Charlie Brown tree and none get lost.

          There is speculation about the Christmas pickle – or legends. Lost truths.  Invented stories perhaps.  It’s kind of a fun idea.  A little bizarre.  I mean a pickle? Not an item I have associated with Christmas.  But I am all for welcoming other cultures and traditions to cross my path.  I enjoy the diversity.

Perhaps It Has Symbolic Meaning

           I don’t recall if it was last year or the year before when I received this Snoopy ornament. 

 

I didn’t have it on the tree for very long as it was underneath the tree or in my stocking.  I decided to hang it over my computer and have looked at it throughout the year.  I think it’s cute. 

          Roland and I used to hang our keys on the fireplace where the stockings would go but have gotten rid of the fireplace this year and thus do not have the hangers anymore.  He started hanging his keys with the coats and I put mine behind the Snoopy – which seemed to work out well until the other day.  When I grabbed my keys I had also grabbed my Snoopy.  When I set the keys down Snoopy fell and the words broke.  I was going to try and super glue them back and still may – but right now it seems to be a poetic justice type thing.  Instead of “Happy” my Snoopy is saying “HA” – like a mean trick because he had to share the spotlight with the keys.

Closing Our Economy

 

              Jenna used to return home from school by 3:15.  That seems eons ago as she often doesn’t get picked up from high school until 3:15 or later.  There has always been a shortage of drivers – but especially this year. The few bus drivers are given multiple routes now. Short staffed employment is common all across the nation.  Diners and other companies go out of business. Contractors are behind on their jobs as truck drivers are behind on delivering products that so often seem to not even exist anymore.

          Hospitals will never go out of business but they are short staffed also.  Schools are hurting for instructors.  It makes me wonder where our economy has gone.  It isn’t solely COVID that’s to blame.  I am so grateful for those that have sustained a positive attitude among so much negativity.  I am grateful to those who have endured in being there for others. I suspect the paycheck does not have near the value as the individual that said check is made out to.  What a challenging time we live in right now.

          I am grateful to those things that are available to us right now.  It makes me wonder for how long.

Look in your Shoe

              It’s always such a big ordeal to take the sheets off the bed, wash them, and fit them back to the bed.  Yesterday I did five loads of wash – three which included bedding.  As I removed the bedspread and blankets from the bed, I noticed the television remote and had set it aside – on the chair I thought.  Only Roland couldn’t seem to find it and I thought I would have to spend the entire day looking for it as I could only think of two places where it would be – neither which it was.

        This morning Roland was about to put his shoes on and found the remote had fallen into one of them.  Oh.  I had not put the remote in his shoe. I would have never thought to look for it there.  It must have fallen off the chair.  Weird.