That Was an Incredible Surprise

 Each of us in the household have been sick - though Biff hasn't experienced what the rest of us have - and hopefully it may pass him completely.  Claire looks awful - which is how I imagined I must have looked.  I never felt as horrible as Richard sounds.  He did sound better last night than the night before.  Still not sleeping great - but at least it was not his cough that was keeping him up.

I always open the windows to let in the fresh air - also because I'm always hot.  When Richard comes to bed he always complains that it is cold.  Thus yesterday I made certain that the windows were shut, the fan was off and the vent wasn't covered.  I was still awake when he came to in the room.  We watched TV and I fell asleep.  

       It wasn't overly hot in our room this last night but I had tossed and turned for much of the night trying to adjust to the temperature as I could not decide weather I was hot or cold. It had rained all night. I was quite surprised to see the window was open this morning.  He said he opened it to let the moisture in.  It must have helped him.  It totally pleased me.

He’s NOT my Boyfriend!

               It’s weird how one’s mind works sometimes and what odd things might trigger memories that haven’t been considered for decades.  A movie title had come up in the grid that reminded me of an odd relationship with my next door neighbor sometime after his wife had passed.  Keep in mind that he was old.  I had gone out with his two oldest grandsons at one time or another.  There is no way I was looking for that kind of relationship with the grandfather!  Give me a break!

  

        Yet, for some reason, he seemed to feel the need to call me to suggest I might want to read a certain book or watch a certain movie.  I don’t know why he singled me out of all people – but would call a few times a week.  Each time my mom would answer she’d teasingly tell me it was my “boyfriend” on the phone.  Granted, he was a lonely old man (who was hard of hearing, I might add).  It still remains a mystery of why he had selected me. Or why he thought he knew me well enough to make suggestions based upon my personal preference. Weird.

It Was Nice While It Lasted

         Ever since they had moved into our house, Biff and Claire would sleep in until 10:00 or later.  Okay.  I get the exhaustion from traveling – but come on.  They did manage to make it up on time for the first Sunday meeting they were here.  That was the last time.

Three weeks later Ally was enrolled in the local school and then the family started getting up at 8:10 and out the door half an hour later.  Still dragged.  Still delayed.  But after Biff started his job in Roseburg, the family was up and out by 7:30.  Such a waist of gas going back and forth so that Claire could have the car.  Theoretically they could put Ally on the bus but choose not to.  So for an entire week Biff would drive the family to his work in Roseburg and Claire would take the car to the school, walk Char around and return to the house to sort and clean – pick Ally up from school (with Char) return to Roseburg.  They had a routine.  It was nice!

But after the Halloween party Ally got sick – they claim.  I don’t know.  I have been sick and now Richard is sick and it’s hard to know if Ally is really sick or not.  Richard and I are very certain that she has not felt as miserable as we.  Claire had her stay home from school on Monday but then allowed her to go trick-or-treating downtown.  Say what?  You are allowing your sick child to have candy?  Okay.  She’s been home for three days and Claire hopefully announced that maybe they could return Ally to school and then took her out for three hours last night though it was 34 degrees outside.  Seriously?  Needless to say Ally did not go to school today.  Meanwhile Richard sounds as though he is on his deathbed.  Thus far he has had tea to drink.

I’d like to see this entire household get better.  I would like to see our “guests” return to last week’s routine.  I would still prefer more distance – separate houses.  We already seem to be living separate lives.

Ward Trunk-or-Treat and Halloween Party

         Since we moved into the ward Jaime has suggested a ward trunk-or-treat.  Now that she is gone, the ward did their first trunk-or-treat this year.  The trunk-or-treat activity started at 5:00 followed by a party featuring a chili and corn bread cook off.  

It had a better turn out and a lot more participation than I had expected.  There were several contests for trunk décor, costume, and chili (to name a few) I was surprised that we had two costume winners in our household.  Ally took 1^st price for children 11 and under.  

Richard won 1^st place for over 12 category. 

Neither our trunk (which we had not expected anyway) nor chili won – but there were several chilis.  I don’t know who was supposed to test them all.  I think there were at least 20 and almost as many corn breads.

That Time of the Year

               After we returned home from the ward party on Saturday I could feel my throat starting to get sore.  I made the mistake of taking a lozenge and allowing it to sit under my tongue all night.  My teeth hurt the following morning – and I just got to the point where I am no longer pained by cold drinks or food.  Now I have to start all over again.

        I missed church on Sunday – turns out that Richard was the only one to leave the house.  Ally had a slight cough and I had heard that her throat was sore.  She didn’t act sick.  Not like I was sick.  Still, I don’t know why both mom and dad had to stay home with her.  But whatever.  My head throbbed.  It felt like the beginning of a sinus infection.

        Carolyn had asked if I would like to go get coffee with her and Dan on Friday but I told her I might still be sick (not even thinking about health the rest of my household.  Since the start of the pandemic Carolyn has been cautious about germs) and she suggested I get tested for COVID. 

        Yesterday I called the doctor’s office – still not impressed with the facility.  They referred me to Urgent care in Roseburg.  The Urgent and Care part seemed like an oxymoron.  I called the office in Roseburg, put on hold, and heard the recording three times before they hung up on me.  Richard finally decided that we would just drive up there.  I got tested for COVID which came out negative.  I was given a prescription for a Zee Pack and started taking that yesterday.

        In addition to my sinus infection I am also having a cough which has never been part of the infection.  This morning Richard also coughed.  Our brother-in-law just passed and Richard had planned to go to Arizona to show his support to his sister.  I thought I would go with him depending on how I feel, but with our current coughs I highly doubt that the airlines would allow either one of us on the plane – provided they are still taking the same precautions that they have in the last two years. 

        I would like for us to show our support but it may have to be at a later time.  Hopefully my head does not hurt so much tomorrow and I may express my thoughts about this year’s Halloween.

Love and Friendship Dash

             In 2019 I made a goal to write at least one dash a week and fulfilled that challenge.  I was quite pleased with how much got recorded – or at least what I thought I had posted.  Recently I looked at all the questions and realized I probably have not answered even half of them.  So I decided that maybe I would continue with that starting with Dash LF#6 How does your significant other let you know that you are loved?

       There are several things that Richard does to express his love.  He always tells me.  But he also provides for me.  He doesn’t make excuses about the weather, or his health or what have you.  If something needs to be done, he does it.  He will do it regardless of the weather, or if he is not feeling well – he’ll paint the house or the shed, move heavy items, plant and weed.  He always makes sure there is gas in the car.  That’s a pretty huge deal as I am absent minded and never even look to see where the gas gage needle is.

 

Things We Have In Common

 I still do not know Ally particularly well.  I see she shares her mismatched sock wearing with Jaime.  They also both love to dress up and think of Halloween as the greatest holiday ever.  And they both love stuffed animals and collect more than they know what to do with. Neither of them desire red sauce - they act as though it is poison.

I was surprised to learn that Ally and I actually have something in common.  We both Love the song “Happier” by Marshmallow.

Downtown Ashland: Funky Fresh

           It appears that I did not post last week on the 23^rd. I did have 8 drafts to post.  I was distracted with other things. Richard and I had left the house on Saturday morning.  It had been raining off and on.  Mostly on. Jaime had wanted us to take a walk with her downtown Ashland, but it was too wet and cold and Richard wasn’t willing to leave the car.

        We brought Jaime home for weekend and I became more interested in meeting her needs than posting to my blog.  She spent the night at a friend's house and we got up early Sunday to retrieve her. Spending time with her and the family was pretty nice.  We played several games while she was here.  It was so great having her here – short as it was.

  We were able to park downtown before dropping her off at the dorms on Sunday evening.  Jaime excitedly took us on a tour pointing out her favorite haunts.

The bubbled Lithia water (here) seems inviting – appearing like Perrier water which some people consider “prime”

 

– even the thought of it make my face sour.  Do NOT appreciate Perrier though I would pick it over Lithia water.  It has a taste similar to Alka-Seltzer mixed with rust. Jaime will gag just bending over and taking a whiff. 

There is a fountain of real water to ease the nasty taste of those gutsy (or stupid) enough to experience the Lithia water.  But it is fun to watch.

 We walked down the opposite side that Jaime is used to walking and so had not seen coin press.  I think Richard spotted it first and caused great excitement.  She purchased them all.

Jaime told us the names of some of the characters in this Shakespearean themed sculpture

 

I had fun spending time with her and enjoying her enthusiasm - as always

 

The Heat Was the Villain

        Disneyland was not as decked out as I had expected.  I had asked Jaime if she had seen any Villains.  She had but was disappointed that there hadn’t been more.  But then again it was hot.  Cast members dressed up and photographers available to take pictures.  Lines formed for that.  Oh, no way.  Too hot.  Just wait until I get home and photoshop myself in.

       So from the train I took the back of the entrance that we personally did not use. We saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy in their Halloween attire.  I don’t know how long they had to be out there for.  Wearing those costumes would be its own challenge in cool weather.  I can’t imagine how much more hot they felt in 107 degree weather.

       Here are some photos taken from both my camera and Richard’s phone. 

this one found on Google images

Disneyland

         Disneyland did not offer the cooling stations that Universal had.  But I think Disneyland park was less crowded than Universal had been. We took the tram from downtown Disneyland to the park.  

        It seems like the very first ride we went on was Jungle Cruise.  Jai had pulled up phrazel so that we could play while we were in line.  There was no line.  Jaime and Sam rode ten rides in less than two hours.  How awesome is that? 

       Richard and I took it easy and rode tame rides such as the Mark Twain and the train.  I didn’t want to be in Fantasy Land or Tomorrow Land.  I think Toon Town was closed as it wasn’t highlighted on the map.  Toon Town is cute, but I have already seen it.  Thankfully it wasn’t a destination. 

       I hadn’t cared about New Orleans either.  I can no longer do the Pirates of Carrabin as squatting down just to sit in the boat is uncomfortable.  Nor did I have the desire for the haunted mansion – which is the only outside line that I had seen.  But we must have ended up there as Richard and I had ordered food.  He got jambalaya – which I was totally NOT in the mood for.  I ended up with a corn chowder in a bread bowl.  It was delicious.  Unfortunately my choice of lunch and the 107 degree heat (still cooler than Universal by eight degrees – but somehow felt warmer) was not a good combination.  We rode the train around three times I believe before I decided I could stand without being queasy about it.

       We did not have the option of taking the Monorail back to downtown as the heat was too drastic for it to run.  Go figure.  It’s a different monorail than the one offered several decades ago – a different monorail that ran the length of the park. There were tracks running through the hotel – I remember seeing that when I was a kid.  How cool would that be? 

for monorail history see this post 

       The hotel is not even the same as what I had seen as a kid – not that we ever stayed there.  It is now a resort made up of at least three different buildings for lodging and a plaza (where we had done laundry) and restaurants maybe?  I think there were six buildings in all – though I know I did not take the time to go inside of all of them.    Even downtown is not the same.  Not a disappointment exactly, but definitely not what I had imagined.

       The pool is awesomely large – the largest I have ever seen.  We never took advantage of it though as there were always more people than water.  Guests trying to cool off.  Too many people in my opinion. 

       Once again I was so grateful that Sam had come with us.  This may be the last year of Disneyland for me.  What a whimp I have turned out to be.      

Disneyland Hotel

At the time we checked in the staff had asked if it was a special occasion.  We told about late grad/college hoorah and they asked Jaime if she would like a pin.  She had declined but as she thought about it wished to change her answer.  But later when another staff member asked, I said that Richard and I had an anniversary coming up and they gave us anniversary pins which we had given to Jaime and Sam.

I had always wanted to do an anniversary in Disneyland – perhaps with my sister and her husband as they were married in September also. I had planned on buying the white Minnie Mouse band with ears and a veil.  But omigosh – it was weigh too hot for me to want a veil weighing at the back on my neck.

We really did pack enough clothes to change each day – not two or three times a day.  But our clothes were so drenched with perspiration that they had to be washed.  Shortly after we checked in Jai and I went in search for the laundry room which was in another building. We took some pictures on the way.  The plaza offered the only non-crowded feel.

While our laundry was washing, Jai and I played some card games.  It was fun just to relax. 

Here are some shots we took of the hotel:

Who Are Jack and Louisa?

         So here is a family history find.  Jack Day Prather was born in Nicaragua to a single mother who had mentioned Jack’s father to him.  The name of his father is Ralph Prather – the same Ralph Prather that had married my Grandma Mary when my mom was sixteen.

 At age eighteen Jack decided he wanted to go to the states and needed proof of his birth.  His birth certificate had him listed as Jack Day Garcia – no mention of a father or even his last name.  Thus when Jack arrived in the states he dropped the Prather/Garcia and passed himself off as Jack Day and has gone by that name ever since.

Eventually Jack did have the desire to know his father – or the man he was told was his father and has been on a mission for many decades.  It’s too bad facebook and Google didn’t exist in the 70’s for both he and Ralph were living in California – though different parts.  He missed finding him.

He did find Richard through Ancestry.  The name “Ralph Prather” came up in Richard’s profile and in April 2021 Jack sent him a message which Richard passed on to me.  I knew that my brother Steven had been in contact with some of Ralph’s descendants and so I passed Jack’s name onto Steven (here). 

We have all become good friends with Jack and his wife Louisa.  Steven wrote his own post about them here.

 Their home is on the list of airbnb.  This is where we stayed on Saturday night.

On Sunday we went with them to Maddalena Restaurant at Antonio Winery – which we were supposed to tour.  Unfortunately we forgot and had not made the time.  Again fried brain. I think Jack was hoping we would return to the bed and breakfast but we parted ways at the restaurant. So good to visit with them.