Drunk With Power

             On Monday night Roland and I watched 911.  One of the stories focused on a mother who’d been drinking while driving.  Due to her poor decision to find the bottle (or flask) more of a priority than any other human beings -  including her own child. Because he is a scared-out-of-his-mind passenger not able to communicate with his mom, he calls 911.  By the time the emergency crews arrive on the scene there is a horrific accident involving 10 – 20 cars – all because she had been disoriented behind the wheel.

            Toward the end of the show, Bobby, who is a main character in the show, goes to an AA support group and talks about how so many people think they can handle the situation of drinking and staying sober – not at all rational about what their decisions may cost others.  While he was giving his speech I thought about the mandating on mask wearing and the decision of those who are able to “remain sober” by not wearing it or ever thinking of others. 

The mask wasn’t designed to protect ourselves so much as it was designed to respect others that we may come in contact.  Even now that many have received their shots, there is a new attitude that “I have now received my shots – I no longer need to wear a mask”

WE STILL NEED TO WEAR MASKS!  The pandemic is NOT over!  There I go being a rational buzzkill.  But am I really?  Biff thinks I’m a weenie who is afraid of getting COVID.  I am NOT afraid of getting COVID.  I am appalled how torn up this nation has become. I also think Biff is too focused on having the approval and living the ways of the world than of God.  

 There were other stories that overlapped.  One was about caring for a child in child care and having that child taken away because the biological mother supposedly turned her life around – and perhaps the parent should have rights but at the same time at how many expenses of the child or others who are involved in the child’s life.  Reminded me of when I had worked for the Department of Child and Family Services and the heartbreak of it all.

I like that the show focuses on what is happening in our nation right now and keep the mandated mask as part of the storyline. Like it or not – it is a part of history.

Perspectives on Craters of the Moon

 

https://www.idahopress.com/opinion/editors_notebook/forget-national-monument-craters-
of-the-moon-should-be-a-national-park/article_084c0496-ad13-53c9-99f0-75e374fb6af5.html

            I was on my mission the first time my family visited Craters of the Moon in Arco, Idaho.  I had only heard about it – but not in full detail as I learned the second time my family had gone – just to make sure I had the opportunity. Patrick was with the family the first time but had managed to miss out the second time.  I still did not experience the fullness that the family had endured the first time around. They told me that everything looks the same.  The picture above, the picture below, whatever is behind it - it looks the same.  The scenery does not change.

            Jenna had reminded me of this as she was asking about church policies and state policies on precautions with COVID.  Unlike the rest of the RS presidency, I am not in a hurry to embrace the world as perhaps I had in 2019.  It’s too soon.  Not just for me – but many people.  And I respect their privacy.  I respect their desire to stay home.  I don’t mean to sound negative nor focus on the solitude but I know the pandemic is not over.

            I think Roland and Jenna get annoyed that I am not as anxious to be outside as they are.  Jenna then tried to remind me of the Craters of the Moon incident that I had partially related to her I don’t know how long ago.  I would have thought before Oregon.  She told what she thought she remembered and got most of it wrong.

            “Didn’t you say that one place looked the same but that when others had approached you and asked if it was worth the walk Corey said that it was.  He was focused on the good parts, right?”

            “No.  First of all, I wasn’t even with them but had heard the story second hand.  And it wasn’t Corey.  It was Patrick.  When people would approach members of my family and ask, ‘Was the trail walk worth it?’ my mom would answer that everything looked the same.  And yes, Patrick did build it up leaving the tourists to believe perhaps there was something.  After they crossed paths my mom would say to Patrick ‘Why did you tell them that?  Do you really think the walk was worth it?’  Patrick would respond, ‘No, but if I had to do all that walking, I am taking somebody down with me.’”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv07oiiyDCw

            Not the greatest response for a returned missionary to want “others to suffer as he had” but I somehow don’t believe either his or my mom’s response would have made a difference to most tourists.  My mom had related their experience when they took me back to see the caves – which let me tell you a Duracell flashlight doesn’t have enough power to explore.  You will need the strength of the sun if you go cave exploring.

            The highlight of that day trip was NOT Craters of the Moon but rather the parade we had to stop for - not by choice mind you.  We had to stop for it.  The wind blows dry in Arco – or did at that time.  Mom pulled out a fresh loaf of bread from the car and made sandwiches.  By the time we got them into our mouths the bread tasted stale. 

            I think I was more impressed with Arco and Craters of the moon than I am with the safety vs. freedom issues that are currently a part of our lives.

Pandemic Continues Alongside Global Warming

 

            Randy really wants us to come to St. George – like now – which would be fine but the pandemic is far from over.  Almost half of all adults have received a vaccination shot – but there are still a high percentage that refuse.  They are too macho.  They are too proud.  They are determined NOT to let the government control them.  The same people who refuse to get flu shots or wear seat belts or have convinced themselves they are immune to any other law.

So I read this article from Yahoo.  I hope that Oregon continues with its restrictions and those that think we ought to reopen can go spend their summer in Florida and see how well that works out for them.  International Travel is still a rare occurrence.  Other countries don’t wish to let Americans in.  I don’t blame them.  Americans are spoiled and have attitude.  The entire world belongs to them and therefore we should do whatever the heck we want. No restrictions.  No consequences.  Some American attitudes make me ashamed to say that I am American.  Get over yourselves!  Think of others.

Even my oldest who lost his first wife, whose daughter was initially admitted to the hospital with COVID – who continues to visit the hospital as often as her mom – refuses to get his shot.  Great example for your daughter, Biff.  Nice to know where your priorities are.

We’re told that airfares have gone up to outrageous prices and I think are at full capacity now.  Fires have started already and it’s only April.  We use the heater and A/C in the same day.  What’s up with that.  If COVID doesn’t kill us, global warming will.

 Oh, and now they are now mentioning an increase in allergies and a new plus to the mask.  Roland had pointed out what we're breathing in as our cars continue to lose their shine. Pleasant thoughts. 

Staycation Has Started

            Brace yourselves.  This is almost as exciting as having a pantry/office.  Roland started out his vacation by washing the cars!  I know.  I can hear the envy.  We really do know how to live it up.  As a result, I may not be posting as often until he returns to work.  Meanwhile enjoy the pics.

Bouncing Bonnie

                 When we had initially brought Bonnie home back in September, she spent her first morning running from room to room – anxious to greet all of us.  Man, that dog was hyper!  She still gets excited like that whenever we’re about to go for a walk.  Other than that, she seems to have adjusted to less bounce until last night.

            I allowed myself to accompany Roland and Jenna to Roseburg as he was insistent on buying some new clothes for her and she is never all that thrilled when the very word “clothes” is mentioned.  Not your average teenager by any means.  I knew she didn’t want to shop for clothes.  I don’t like to shop for clothes.  We made a few moments of our night being miserable together.

            Poor Bonnie.  Left alone for over three hours.  And once we had pulled into the driveway, she was going nuts.  Jenna opened the door so that she could run out on the deck.  She ran to my room, Roland’s office, back outside.  Always a fun challenge putting groceries away while trying to dodge an overly sensitive animal. 

            We have an assembly line method for bringing in the groceries.  Roland always unloads the car – bringing items from the trunk to the deck.  Jenna takes said items from the deck and brings them into the house.  I put the groceries away – or at least a large majority.  Jenna will take care of the items that go into the back and Roland will put away whatever gets piled into his office (which has been doubling as a pantry since we moved here; cool, huh?  Most people just dream about having their office in a pantry but don’t get to experience the luxury first hand).

            Bonnie was so focused on the joys of having humans in her life again that she neglected to see what food had fallen to the floor.  I count that as a blessing that I was able to save the food than watch it disappear as she inhaled the products which overall would not have been good for her.  I mean it’s not like Bonnie is withering away.  Bonnie could really stand to lose weight.  She is like a three year old child.  Her vocabulary is quite limited (unlike Jenna who was using four syllable words and really did have understanding) and I am always reminded of that Gary Larsen’s Far Side cartoon in which the master is reprimanding the dog  in the first frame and seeing what the dog is hearing in the second:  “Blah, Blah, Blah Ginger” only in our case it’s:  “Blah, Blah, Blah Bonnie”.

            Such a sweet dog.  Loves human affection.  She does NOT like the vacuum cleaner.  Runs away from it before it is even plugged in or turned on.  But she doesn’t seem to have a problem with the lawn mower or grass trimmer – which produce a more powerful noise – but they are both outdoors and perhaps she doesn’t even notice.  She just notices the person who is outdoors more in hopes of getting to pet Bonnie than maintain the lawn.  Or so that is what Bonnie seems to believe.

Our Letter/Card Assembly Line

  

            Shortly after Roland and I had married he had invested in a sales program featuring Roger Butcher.  

He had tried a number of suggestions, but the one we used the most was for sending out letters to home owners whose physical addresses were different from the property itself.  We would form an assembly line as someone would write the letter, another would fold it, another would insert it into an envelope.  One would adhere the mailing lable, stamp return address and add a stamp. 

            The more hands that got involved, the quicker the process.  For the most part it became an activity that we would force the boys to assist.  Often we made it a family home evening project.  There was at least one time we had involved the YW of our ward.

            Roland had started out by folding, sealing, labeling, addressing and so forth – each letter one at a time.  I told him that to do just one thing at a time.  Fold ALL of the letters and then stuff each into its own envelope before moving on to the next step.  That way I can assist.  I refuse to do one letter at a time from beginning to end.  I think assembly lines are so much easier.

             We haven’t done letters since living in Utah but have moved onto greeting cards.  At first it was only a couple a year, but the pandemic seemed to create more time for Roland to come up with cards which aren’t the norm to send out in multiplication.  We have not done an assembly line for the birthday cards but all else.  Someone folds (except last night as Staples had done it for us) stuff the envelope, address, and so forth.  Last night’s project: Earth Day.

Trying a New Method

             I don’t know how many times Roland has cleaned up after the chickens which aren’t even ours.  I don’t mind them in the yard.  I really don’t.  But I do not care for arrogance or assumptions.  We purchased netting for the deer a few years ago and the chickens have gotten entangled in it.  I asked Roland if we could use it to surround the deck.  Last night we went out and he used a staple gun which is holding thus far, but seems like it would be easy to tear.

            Roland decided to repurpose the green wire shelves that were once a part of our cheap greenhouse.  He had stapled those to discourage the chickens from getting under the porch.  Now it just looks more like we are trying to capture them and keep them – which isn’t the case at all. 

            Roland continues to feed them and we do collect the eggs that are deposited (that is if we are aware of where they have been laid.  I don’t know if the neighbors have complained any further as nothing has been done with either the pigs or the chickens.  I know there are less pigs and perhaps there are less chickens.  I don’t know anymore. 

            We’re planning on demolishing the deck and creating a back room.  We just need to find someone who will commit.  Meanwhile I have these lovely photographs to view.