Beneath the Wraps

       Jenna and I both need our hair thinned.  I called the hair salon just the other day to learn that they are shut right now due to COVID, but do plan to reopen.  Well, great.  Do I even want to go anymore - although the last time we went, it was just the three of us there.     A lot of businesses have closed due to staff members testing positive.  Businesses that are open are short-staffed.  I don't think any of us should be shopping anyway.  Unless it's essential - like toiletries and medicine.     Jenna was supposed to start high school on the 31st this month.  A reminder was sent out last week on the 19th.  Yesterday we found this post:      Oh, please.  Jenna could have finished her schooling last year at ORCA but had wanted the opportunity of socializing with her friends once again.  I wonder how many of them will make it to graduation.  I wonder if there will be a gra...

         Sunday ’ s meeting was quite awesome. Our bishop tackled the sensitive subject of following the counsel of the prophet.  He started off sharing one incident in Church history in which the saints were being persecuted and how the division that exists today was alive back then.  I notice that during my studies how often our own lives parallel with the saints.  In a way we are “ marching ” to our own “ Zion ’ s Camp ”  ( here ) as we struggle to do the right thing and shed our pride or judgment.   https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/3- little-known-details-about-zions-camp?lang=eng        We have our free agency to follow the prophet or follow the crowd.  But I often feel that the “ free agency ” abused by others infringes on my own.  I remember airlines, restaurants, hospitals and other places who offered smoking sections – as if the smoke is seriously going to linger  only in...

 We had been walking Bonnie around Millsite Park.  Jenna pointed out the pinecones and asked if they normally grow on the trunks.   In all my days of seeing pinecone producing trees (and I have seen A LOT) I have never seen them growing into the trunk like what is pictured above.

                On Saturday I received my first COVID test ever.  I ’ m sure the person who was testing was being as gentle as possible – my poor nostrils.  I honestly was expecting that blood would come out of my nose.  It didn ’ t help matters when Roland (who ’ d been tested fair) coughed and spewed – or whatever he was doing.  He is NOT a wimp and I am so if he was having problems I figured it was bad.        It actually was not as bad as I had allowed myself to believe.   Nor was it as easy as my friend, Carol, had indicated the previous day.   It hurt!   And when I said it allowed, I heard Jenna behind me saying, “ Thanks, Mom ”          The person doing the testing told Jenna how brave she was – really?   Hadn ’ t I been any less brave?   We were told to wait 15 minutes for the results.   Roland started joking that “ mom...

     My brother posted an 11 minute video which he labeled  as “ranting” but he had some valid points. One was that if you are purchasing a ticket to the place where he works you are agreeing to a contract to follow the rules – one being “Wear the mask”.   You DON’T have to purchase a ticket if you can’t wear the mask either by choice or because you are not medically able to.   It’s a rule.   The mask has to be worn.   The employees have to wear the mask the entire time they are at work – which is three to four times greater than those who purchase tickets.   Not a big deal.   At least it shouldn’t be. Jenna and I have a mutual acquaintance who has decided to abandon her teaching career so that she doesn't have to get the vaccination.  OHMIGOSH!! Just overcome your pride and get the damn shot already.  Students are required to have certain vaccinations before they can be accepted into school - which I guess is one reason that s...

            When Estella meets up with Horace and Jasper they become family.   Estella’s desire to create fashion doesn’t work out to her expectations.   At least not for a while.   Eventually she is given opportunity to work for a prestige designer and learns things about her own past that do not set well with her. The first she learns is the location of a family heirloom she had lost just before meeting up with Horace and Jasper.   The Baroness has the family heirloom and Estella wants it back.   She arranges for Horace and Jasper to steal back her necklace and makes herself the distraction by shedding her darker personality which her mom had named “Curella” https://screenrant.com/cruella-main-characters-ranked-worst-to-best/ At the time of the break-in the “distraction” notices that the necklace in question is dangling from the Baroness' neck and removes the necklace as Horace escapes the guards who found him trying to ste...

          The prophet announced for church members to receive a vaccine and mask up to all of those who don ’ t have underlined health issues where a mask/vaccination would only jeopardize the underlined complications. Many who are capable of wearing masks and refuse vaccinations are upset just as there were some women upset about the revelation to stay home.  There were members finding it hard to believe black men would be able to hold the priesthood.  Each time we disagree with the prophet we are rejecting counsel from God. This act of rejection has been compared to those who shot arrows toward Samuel the Lamanite for preaching to the people a message that they didn ’ t want to hear.     Mormonad by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints            It isn ’ t just the prophet relating this message but many political leaders as well.  Several states are making it mandatory for health workers and teache...

 I'm certain people are getting tired of my weather posts.   I am.   I have a couple of ideas in the works,  but still disjointed thoughts that don't seem to flow. I could hear the wind yesterday morning - I had not heard the rain, but it had obviously rained. The wind had blown it onto our porch. Here are some pictures I took as the sun rose:

 Do you see the hot pink that this permit used to be? It faded in the heat or was choked by the smoke

 Today is Friday the 13 th .  Mandated mask restarts today.  I would have not made the connection if Jenna hadn’t been so vocal about it. A year and a half ago (also Friday the 13 th ) we had our last day of school and were sent home for the remaining of the year.  They opened up too soon in my opinion.  Trump had bullied them and they willingly followed.  Now our kids are sick.  Our hospitals are filled up again.  Some say the pandemic is worse than last year when they sent us home. “We are a rural county” some say.   “We shouldn’t have to mask up as the larger cities do.”   Really?   Everybody in our county just stays in our county?   No traveling to Lane County?   Roland went to Lane County just the other day.   I heard that our county has the most cases and the least amount of beds.   Granted, there is only one hospital besides the VA.   We managed an RS activity last night – I would guess our last o...

  Real letter Corey had written to Jack in the Box : Dear Jack, Oh, you cruel, cruel clown! How dare you play with my heart and taste buds so callously. I wonder, Jack Box, if you understand the damage you have done to my psyche, tongue, and stomach by introducing the sensational menu item, your Hershey-filled Chocolate Croissant Bites only to rip them away from me like a child is snatched from his loving mother's arms. I assume you must delight in the ruthless torture of loyal customers such as myself. These sweet little flaky delights have been my one bright spot of sunshine in this dark pandemic-saturated world we currently find ourselves in. Congratulations, Jack! Like some devious drug dealer, you have succeeded in hooking me on these scrumptious pieces of heaven only to pull them away from me with no concern for the consequences to my now-dying taste buds. As that warm, melty, gooey, chocolatey goodness once filled those delicate flaky pastry bites, so was my soul filled with...

  We have another “Extreme Heat” warning. Last time the temperature did not get as hot as they said it would.   I don’t think it will today either though last time I think there really was moisture in the clouds whereas today has been smoky and now the skies are white and the mountains are hidden. I can smell the smoke through my window.   Yuch!!