Labor Day Deja Vu

I was searching through various posts in search for specific memories of Universal Studios.  I was floored when I came across one labeled Labor Day Weekend in which the first line reads Roland said he wanted to take Jenna to Universal this weekend

The date read September 1 – that is when we left the house this year – when did I write that?  Apparently it was a thought that had existed in 2019 which became a reality this year – only it wasn’t on a Sunday that we left.  It was on a Thursday.  We drove to Modesto, California – which I had believed was a halfway point to Monterey Park.  It wasn’t.  It was so out of the way that it proved my point about why I don’t like making reservations.  We should have just looked for something in Sacramento.  Modesto was such a waste of driving and the pool was closed. 

VERY contaminated pool

We continued our drive to LA – another gamble in industrial area that didn’t appear to be a safe part of town.  The pool was open however – but it would have been nice to have known that Jack and Louisa had something available for us that night.  I will certainly do it differently if ever the opportunity arises again.

So it seems like Richard was gung-ho about getting Jaime to Universal for at least the last three years.  We had watched a YouTube video just right before her graduation.  He still wanted to take her to Universal but neither Jaime nor I wanted to go – at least right then.  We changed our minds when we learned that Disneyland decks out for Halloween just before Labor Day.  It was a late graduation/last-hoorah-before-college excursion. 

We’d taken Jaime’s friend, Sam.  Did Universal on Saturday, spent Sunday with Jack and Louisa and family.  Checked in the Disneyland hotel on Sunday night and went to Disneyland on Monday – Labor Day.  I was hoping to hit San Francisco on the way home as neither Jaime or Richard (or even Sam for that matter) had been there before, 

https://gayldsactor.blogspot.com/search?q=San+francisco

but Richard was quite tired from driving.  We went home early.  Jaime unpacked and repacked and we took her to Ashland on the 9^th (our Wedding anniversary – which we have yet to celebrate) and started emptying out Jaime’s room and the office to make way for Biff and his little family. 

So I need to post the details of that trip – at least three days worth.  And I have some other thoughts that hopefully will come out as my posting has been more sporadic and I think I lost my following – not that it’s important that anyone is following.  I have referred to it a lot for journaling purposes.  It has been an interesting journey.

A Child's Prayer

 Ally said the prayer to bless the food.  Biff started out helping her but she took off with it on her own.  She did a good job. I was impressed.  I was amazed that she actually ate all that was on her plate without complaining.

Introduction to Family Home Evening

 We ate dinner as a family and I asked if it would be okay to do a family home evening each week.  I really would like to know these three extra people who are now a part of our household.  We know OF them but don't feel a connection to them.  And so I introduced Define Your Dash and answered only one question and asked if we could do at least one per week.  

https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/define-your-dash-start-
writing-your-personal-history-with-the-52stories-project

After we each answered the question Ally and Clair started a game of "Never Have I Ever".  We each started out with five fingers but within six questions three of us had only one finger left, Clair had two and Ally had three.  She said she had never been to Disneyland which made the rest of us go out.  

Ally drew with markers while the rest of us played a few rounds of Blokus.  Could be the start of something positive.

Slowly Progressing

 For the first time since they moved in, we sat down last night - all five of us.  We watched "Under the Wraps" which was hilarious.  Ally sat between her parents and watched the entire thing.  No electronics.  It was great.

This morning Roland and I took Bonnie for a walk.  They were leaving as we returned home.  Ally seemed happy to see us.  She commented on the shirt I have on.

Focus on the Positive

 Clean Shower

I suspect cleaner than we moved in

Clair did an excellent job

Biff cleaned the tops of the washer

and dryer

He organized the cupboards

and cleaned the kitchen sink

He makes the best quesadillas

He gives Bonnie baths 

and combs her down

8 out of 34: Not quite 25%

 

I found the above photo on facebook with the caption that the most one might have seen in person from the above list is five.  I have been to eight.  Below I have posted memories and links to those places I have visited.

 

from this post

Statue of Liberty – never been, but I have read countless books on the history of the statue and Ellis Island.

Grand Canyon – went with my family when I was 12 or 13.  I don’t remember a whole lot from that trip.  But I do remember driving to the North Rim with my mom, sister and Grandma.  Some highlights are found in this post. 

Walt Disney World – honestly don’t have the desire.  I’m content with Anaheim’s original Disneyland

Zions – continues with same trip found on this post 

Space Needle – my first time was in June 1982 (see this post) It was probably seven years later when I met up with a friend in Seattle and had gone there with her 

Hollywood Sign – I’m sure I had seen it on one of the many California trips I had taken with my family – I just don’t remember.  Jaime was hoping to see it when we went down there for Labor Day weekend.  Richard and I were even in Hollywood!  But no sign.

Las Vegas – many times.  As a kid the strip wasn’t near the size it is today.  There wasn’t a choice to bypass the town on the freeway.  I relate a story of leaving Corey in LV in this post    Most recent visit was from this post 

 Yellowstone – several times as a youth.  Only a few times as an adult (here) 

Golden Gate Bridge – I was a passenger in the car that took the Oakland Bridge more than Golden Gate, but I believe I had crossed the Golden Gate at some point during my many visits to San Francisco.

Niagara Falls – actually my most recent adventure from this list (here)

 Alcatraz - I'd gone to the island prison only one time; I had gone with a group of theatre students who were completing at Berkley.  1979 probably

my dad in the San Francisco Apt.

 This is quite a long post but does have some amazing pictures of San Francisco (at least in my opinion) written from my brothers point of view, but many of my memories are the same. 

Medford, Ashland and Coos Bay

          In May I was called as secretary to the Relief Society.  Shortly after the new presidency was put in our RS president said she felt inspired to do a monthly temple trip.  We have reserved the second Saturday of each month for the ten o’clock session.  It seems like the most convenient time yet that time slot fills up rather quickly I think the most sisters I saw in attendance was seven and it has tapered off. 

         Yesterday there were only two of us.  I expect it may not kick back up for the next two months as the morning weather has gotten colder and there are many who don’t wish to drive that distance when the weather has turned.

         It was my first time going down without Richard.  I was able to get a ride with the first counselor who was overly thrilled to have the company.  I was also happy for the opportunity as there has always been more comfort in going with another sister than sitting apart from my husband. 

         Jaime had called to ask if we could drop some things off to her and I called the first counselor as we would be down towards that area anyway.  She had been Jaime’s seminary instructor for the first three years that Jaime was in seminary and so was thrilled for the opportunity to see her in her college environment.

         We took Jaime out to lunch to a diner called “Big Al’s”.  It was the first time for all three of us.  The food was delicious and the worker was very personable and friendly. 

 

We enjoyed each other’s company.  Took Jaime back to the campus and went on our way back to Myrtle Creek. I found myself becoming more and more drowsy.  At two o’clock I was in bed and apparently fell asleep sometime between three and four.

         Meanwhile Richard had an adventure of his own as he and our guests headed to the coast.  I don’t think the day lived up to the expectations of what each of them thought.  Biff said he wanted to go swimming but we knew the water would be too cold.  I heard the air was as well. Clair was very tired.  Richard said all three had slept either on the way to Coos Bay or on the return.

         Today I will be conducting RS as our president is currently out of town, our second counselor called in sick and the other agreed to play piano in primary.  We are holding a special fast for a growing ward.  I remember a ward being added to the stake before the pandemic but I fear that perhaps this ward may be in jeopardy of closing and then we will have to drive to Winston to go to Church.

Frustrations and Sirens

 

          Whenever either Jaime or I have financial application or anything that has to do with bank accounts and earnings – well – it brings us to tears.  We are so frustrated trying to answer questions and receiving an email requesting us to fix the errors but neglecting to let us know what the error is – or why it is thought so.  She’s starting her FASFA application for next year.  We have already spent well over an hour with her on the phone and thought we had it all figured out, but both she and Richard received the same email that the info was not complete.

            In order to understand that all were on the same page Jaime called FASFA and made a three way call.  Only shortly after the information had been given we heard a dreadful noise – the sound of sirens squealing in the phone.  Fire drill at the campus in Ashland.  We are in Myrtle Creek.  No idea where the FASFA rep was.

            Unfortunately we were able to hear much of the commotion in Ashland and Richard and the rep were unable to hear each other.  We finally hung up cutting them both off. Jaime was not answering his phone.  Richard did call back and went as far as he could without Jaime.  They are now on a three way call as I write this.  What a royal pain all the way around. Poor quality assurance will experience the same loudness that Jaime did.

            In addition we are having complications with the Alexa app.  Wasn’t there a time when life seemed simple without all the technology?  Still trying to stay focused on our blessings. 

A Constant NEED For Substitutes – Here’s an Idea: COMMUNICATION – What a Thought

               School started about a week before Labor Day weekend.  I still have yet to post the details as we had gone out of town for a belated-graduation-gift/last-hoorah-before-going-off-college fast trip that we took to southern California.  Richard was told that he would NOT be substitute teaching as the school/board/employment office/whatever  had not received all the necessary paperwork – which certainly was NOT the fault of Richard who had submitted multiple times.  So it came as a surprise to both when the phone would ring with information about what districts were looking for subs.

            He’d worked for about two weeks and has actually received a couple of schools directly from schools he had subbed for previously – asking for him personally – but Edustaff has deactivated his account as the paperwork evidently still hasn’t arrived.  Huh??? Get with the program people.  It is no wonder that the districts are hurting for subs if the right hand doesn’t ever know what the left hand is doing.  Too many “so-called” captains and not enough crew.

            I told Richard just forget it.  He wasn’t really happy at it as it wasn’t anything as he had thought.  I think he’s trying to repair things for the sake of the schools.  I understand why the careful selection – but it’s been over four months. Apparently his paperwork is sitting on the desk in some other office - maybe a different state.  IT WAS SENT ELECTONICALLY!!!   Please just get your act in gear.

Handbag With Matching Wallet

  

        This Calvin Klein bag was given to me as a birthday gift.  The giver was quite excited about it and I have made an effort to use it – especially when I go somewhere I expect to see her.  It's not really my style but I do get a lot of comments on it.  Women seem especially impressed by the matching wallet – which is solely a coincidence as it was purchased about two years ago.

        You may remember this post in which I complain about the size and weight of the phone.  The wallet was purchased as a cell phone holder.  I do use it as a wallet – but that really was not its primary purpose.  This bag came with a cell phone holder.  Please.  For certain phones!  Would have worked well for my flip phone, but not the brick I am using currently.  The built in “cell phone pouch” currently holds gum. 

        Not the best pictures, but you get the gist.

Happy Birthday, Babe

 Today is Richard's birthday.  He was surprised to hear John Mayer wishing him a happy birthday on the news this morning.  I thought he'd get a kick out of it.  He and Alley made his birthday cake yesterday afternoon.  Tonight he wants to have a Thanksgiving dinner for his birthday.

More Tears, More Reasons

               This morning Ally decided that she would sit in Grandpa’s chair – even though theoretically it is the best choice for him as it is close to the stove.  He should have not given into her – but wanted to make peace apparently.  He had already confided in me that he thought she was spoiled.  I don’t know how much of that is giving in to her and how much is giving in to the Kabuki syndrome or whatever other illnesses arise.

         He asked her how many eggs she wanted.  She claimed two which he said he would do just one at a time for her.  But he gave her both – none of which she ate.  She did try her sausage but said it was spicy – which I agree.  I am not fond of that sausage.  Clair usually sits next to her to monitor her feeding but as Ally was sitting in Grandpa’s chair and Grandpa was sitting in Clair’s, Ally and Clair were not sitting together. 

        Ally claimed to have had pancakes but no one saw her eat them and there was no evidence that she had.  She appears that she overeats which is actually not the case. She dismissed herself after trying to feed the dogs which I said were not allowed in the kitchen while we ate.  Bonnie is such a loud whiner.  I don’t think I have ever heard any noises (barking included) coming out of Char.

        Ally went to her room to get her electronics.  It is still my house and they need to adjust to our rules and not the other way around.  I told her no electronics at the table.  She said she was going back to her room. Grandpa insisted that she stay at the table until we have each finished.  I can’t control her whining.  I’d just assume she was in a different room than being bratty at the table.  But she’s not mine to discipline.

        Clair said that she would not turn on Ally’s electronic device until Ally was dressed at which point Ally threw a fit.  If that had behavior had been Jaime – I would not be turning on the electronic device at all.  Jaime didn’t even have a cell phone until she was sixteen.  Hadn’t wanted one.  She prefers human interaction to electronics.  Ally doesn’t know how to interact – at least not that I can tell. 

        I unloaded the dishwasher, loaded it, cleaned out the container cubby, and cried.  The second counselor in the RS presidency offered me a place to go if I need a few hours of solace.  I may take her up on that – but not today.  Clair and Ally are suppose to be going out of town today.  Perhaps all three of them.  Going back to Utah to keep an appointment they made six months ago.

        Clair’s been through a lot.  She lost her mother right before her birthday.  She has health issues.  She has more reasons to be upset with our living conditions than I do.  And yet she always appears calm and tends to be the peace maker among the rest of us.  I still cry though.  I don’t want them to be here another ten years like they were with Biff’s former mother-in-law.  Richard says three months.  Now he’s saying two years.  Two years?  Really?  We can’t have them out for summer so that Jaime has a room to return to?