...completely un-necessary, but I did it to myself, so have no one else to blame. I feel like such a doofus, may as well go ahead and confess. Admit to stupidity, so I can move on.
It would be nice to be able to pass the responsibility for the entire scenario on to the friend who gave me the plants. But she is not the person who put it in my car, and let it turn over to dump dirt into the carpet. Even though it happened because I went by her house after work when she forgot to give it to me when we met for lunch yesterday. Which likely would have caused me to dump dirt on Friday instead.
I went to pick up my plant, and spilled plants and potting soil out on the floor of my car. So took the mat out and dumped that, but still had to get the vacuum out to get up what was left. The wrong occurred when I put the mat on the top of the car. It flew off when I left home, going to the store. Totally forgot it was there, and did not think about it until hours later. Dang it. I was so annoyed with myself. Not like the time I put someones shoes on the top of the car, and found them down the street weeks later. But still pretty irritating.
I had to get The Man Who Lives Here to drive down the street very slowly, with me as a passenger. Thankfully we did not go far before I spotted the missing mat, and jumped out to retrieve it. Along the edge of the right of way, far enough off the asphalt that it did not get run over a gazillion times, but close enough to be easily spotted when we started the search. A story with a happy ending, so I guess I am finished with the aggravation.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
four hundred twenty-four...
... miles today from six a.m until 8:00 pm. Driving from home to Valdosta and back again. Went to take my auntie to a dr. appointment. It was a long day of travel, but I had to get back to go to bed and up again at five o'clock to go to work in the morning.
I was really anxious at the prospect of me being the one to transport the auntie to the doctor's office. She has a history with us, cousins and myself, of being highly uncooperative when we have been the drivers trying to help her out. Unwilling to do what is necessary, what we have asked her to, making us all extremely reluctant to be the ones doing the driving. She would willingly get in the car to go someplace, then decide she would not get out after a trip. Which would understandably make anyone think long and hard before considering getting involved in transporting when needed.
But today was much better than in the past, though I admit to lots of low grade anxiety during the time she was with me today. We went out to lunch, then to her appointment at the doctors' office. She must have asked me two dozen times while in the waiting area who the doctor was, why she was there, who sent her, and what sort of doctor she was seeing. I answered the questions over and over. In what I thought was a remarkable show of patience. Considering the possibility of making up something different each time, but decided to be consistent.
All my worries were for naught. She was mostly agreeable, and did not present any problems at all when I took her back to the facility where she is living. Though she questioned me about how long she would be there, and who thought she needed to stay, she was not as disagreeable or combative as I had feared. Went placidly back in the door to the place she has been living since early summer. A gigantic sigh of relief here!
She was, surprisingly, thoroughly dissatisfied with the chic-fil-a sandwich she had for lunch: did not have mayo., needed salt, where were the lettuce and tomato, too much bread. If my mom had been there and witnessed this person, her sister, being so consistently disagreeable, she would have described it as a situation where 'you can't win for losing'. Which means, I think - that no matter what you do - it will be the wrong thing.
I was really anxious at the prospect of me being the one to transport the auntie to the doctor's office. She has a history with us, cousins and myself, of being highly uncooperative when we have been the drivers trying to help her out. Unwilling to do what is necessary, what we have asked her to, making us all extremely reluctant to be the ones doing the driving. She would willingly get in the car to go someplace, then decide she would not get out after a trip. Which would understandably make anyone think long and hard before considering getting involved in transporting when needed.
But today was much better than in the past, though I admit to lots of low grade anxiety during the time she was with me today. We went out to lunch, then to her appointment at the doctors' office. She must have asked me two dozen times while in the waiting area who the doctor was, why she was there, who sent her, and what sort of doctor she was seeing. I answered the questions over and over. In what I thought was a remarkable show of patience. Considering the possibility of making up something different each time, but decided to be consistent.
All my worries were for naught. She was mostly agreeable, and did not present any problems at all when I took her back to the facility where she is living. Though she questioned me about how long she would be there, and who thought she needed to stay, she was not as disagreeable or combative as I had feared. Went placidly back in the door to the place she has been living since early summer. A gigantic sigh of relief here!
She was, surprisingly, thoroughly dissatisfied with the chic-fil-a sandwich she had for lunch: did not have mayo., needed salt, where were the lettuce and tomato, too much bread. If my mom had been there and witnessed this person, her sister, being so consistently disagreeable, she would have described it as a situation where 'you can't win for losing'. Which means, I think - that no matter what you do - it will be the wrong thing.
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
book review: "Tamarack County"...
... another talking book, by that same author as the last one. William Kent Krueger, written in 2013. The blurb on the back of the boxed set of nine Cds reports the story is "full of riveting suspense, fascinating characters, and set in a gorgeous yet unforgiving landscape. Tamarack County is an outstanding addition to an award-winning series...". Just out of curiosity, I did a bit of research and Tamarack County really does exist, up in the Boundary Waters area of norther Minnesota. The town the family lived was not mentioned in the article I read, but since all the characters were invented, no reason the town could not be as well.
The lead character is once again, retired law officer, Cork O'Connor, who works as a private investigator. His family plays a number of roles in the story as it unfolds, starting with a mysterious disappearance who becomes a missing person, then a homicide victim, as the wife of a retired judge fails to return home when expected. This particular mystery occurs in December, when the weather in Minnesota is bone-chilling cold, with iced over lakes, and frequent snow storms. A good story to read during the hot sticky days of summer.
One of O'Connor's daughters, Anne, has been in a religious order for several years, but comes home needing time and space to sort out confusion and doubt in her mind and heart. Near the end of the story, after the murderous home-invader has been subdued. Cork is so angry he tries to make Anne leave the room, so he can shoot the killer, but Anne refuses to go, and demands of her dad that he not resort to more violence. Anne says: "...I think happiness is like that. If you spend your life looking for it, you'll probably be disappointed. It comes on it's own."
Can't disagree with that. Or the summation from the back cover of the box: riveting and fascinating.
The lead character is once again, retired law officer, Cork O'Connor, who works as a private investigator. His family plays a number of roles in the story as it unfolds, starting with a mysterious disappearance who becomes a missing person, then a homicide victim, as the wife of a retired judge fails to return home when expected. This particular mystery occurs in December, when the weather in Minnesota is bone-chilling cold, with iced over lakes, and frequent snow storms. A good story to read during the hot sticky days of summer.
One of O'Connor's daughters, Anne, has been in a religious order for several years, but comes home needing time and space to sort out confusion and doubt in her mind and heart. Near the end of the story, after the murderous home-invader has been subdued. Cork is so angry he tries to make Anne leave the room, so he can shoot the killer, but Anne refuses to go, and demands of her dad that he not resort to more violence. Anne says: "...I think happiness is like that. If you spend your life looking for it, you'll probably be disappointed. It comes on it's own."
Can't disagree with that. Or the summation from the back cover of the box: riveting and fascinating.
Monday, October 2, 2017
literacy tutoring, week 3...
... though when they can barely recognize the letters of the alphabet, I am hesitant to apply the word 'literate'. I know everyone has to start at the beginning, but by the time they are well into their pre-school year, most of them have been exposed to the shapes of the letters enough that they can tell you the names of each one, even if they cannot actually legibly reproduce them. Once again, when I asked the little guy to write his name on the inside cover of his newest book, he said: 'Let's do it together'. Which I thought was amazingly smart as well as shrewd, a great way to get me to hold the pencil with him and shape the letters of his name, without having to say: 'I can't do it myself.' So, in reality, even if he is struggling to learn the basics, he can certainly read me like a book!
Both of the students I am working with this session are boys. In the past I think they have pretty consistently been one of each as I have spent one day a week in eight week increments over several years, reading and talking about books, words, illustrations. One of the guys I saw today was not even remotely interested in sitting still long enough to read. He didn't even want to look at the pages and talk about the illustrations: lots of pictures of animals doing a variety of familiar tasks. He just could not sit still.
I believe my job as a volunteer is to read, talk about the books, encourage them to be engaged in the process, model literacy, holding the book and turning pages, discuss the activities of the characters, ask questions to encourage them to look, consider, ponder, and wonder. My job is not to enforce discipline, demand appropriate behavior. If they do not want to do the work sheet, we don't do it. If they do not care to write their names, they do not have to do it. If it's not interesting, engaging, something they do by choice, it will become a chore. Which is not at all what I believe reading is or should be.
When I got back to work, I told someone I thought that little guy must have had fishbait for breakfast. I laughed and said I had to think he had worms, as he was so wiggly. And also thought he must have had crickets too, as he seemed to be spring-loaded, so full of bounciness he was constantly getting out of the chair, unable to sit still.
He was so energetic, full of pep, he could not sit down long enough to help write his name. He was so busy looking around the lunch room and talking ninety-miles an hour I could not get a word in edgewise. He was just not inclined to sit, look, read, listen. So we didn't. He was ready to go back to the classroom, and trotting, at full tilt, like he was heading into a stiff wind. I literally could not keep up with him. So sweet, and amusing, you cannot get upset, but it is frustrating when he cannot sit down for ten minutes.
Both of the students I am working with this session are boys. In the past I think they have pretty consistently been one of each as I have spent one day a week in eight week increments over several years, reading and talking about books, words, illustrations. One of the guys I saw today was not even remotely interested in sitting still long enough to read. He didn't even want to look at the pages and talk about the illustrations: lots of pictures of animals doing a variety of familiar tasks. He just could not sit still.
I believe my job as a volunteer is to read, talk about the books, encourage them to be engaged in the process, model literacy, holding the book and turning pages, discuss the activities of the characters, ask questions to encourage them to look, consider, ponder, and wonder. My job is not to enforce discipline, demand appropriate behavior. If they do not want to do the work sheet, we don't do it. If they do not care to write their names, they do not have to do it. If it's not interesting, engaging, something they do by choice, it will become a chore. Which is not at all what I believe reading is or should be.
When I got back to work, I told someone I thought that little guy must have had fishbait for breakfast. I laughed and said I had to think he had worms, as he was so wiggly. And also thought he must have had crickets too, as he seemed to be spring-loaded, so full of bounciness he was constantly getting out of the chair, unable to sit still.
He was so energetic, full of pep, he could not sit down long enough to help write his name. He was so busy looking around the lunch room and talking ninety-miles an hour I could not get a word in edgewise. He was just not inclined to sit, look, read, listen. So we didn't. He was ready to go back to the classroom, and trotting, at full tilt, like he was heading into a stiff wind. I literally could not keep up with him. So sweet, and amusing, you cannot get upset, but it is frustrating when he cannot sit down for ten minutes.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
amazing myself...
... by accidentally unintentionally finding out how to do something on my computer. It is really sad to feel so intimidated by technology. It is so frustrating to not know how to do stuff, and have things disappear. It is so aggravating to not have the tech skills needed to work the system without thinking important stuff will vanish forever when the wrong button is tapped.
I do not know much about any of this. I am a regular, every day passenger on the Struggle Bus when it comes to phones and computers. More than once I have called a co-worker to ask him how to do something, and he will often have a ready response. Or be willing to do some research and get back to me with a solution or answer to my problem. Young people... what can I say?
The thing I was looking for was my password needed to access computers at work. Everyone has to do some OSHA stuff each month, about five minutes worth of store protocols, saftey procedures to refresh and remind. A short video that has to be done on company computers, that record the fact that you have completed the assignment. But you have to know your personal password/pin to access the portal. So I could not view the film the entire month of September, while I was struggling to remember my secret number.
I knew that was in here someplace. Just didn't know where to look, how to find the secrets. Even called the daughter who I have actually seen find passwords. But she could not help. Then called the co-worker who has gotten me out of more than one jam. He said he would do some research and find the route, let me know the following day.
I had an Eureka! moment on Saturday - I found it myself! Even though no one else is impressed, I am still quite pleased about my accomplishment. Thinking I better write the path down, since I cannot remember pins or passwords.
Options. Security. Log-ins. Aha!
I do not know much about any of this. I am a regular, every day passenger on the Struggle Bus when it comes to phones and computers. More than once I have called a co-worker to ask him how to do something, and he will often have a ready response. Or be willing to do some research and get back to me with a solution or answer to my problem. Young people... what can I say?
The thing I was looking for was my password needed to access computers at work. Everyone has to do some OSHA stuff each month, about five minutes worth of store protocols, saftey procedures to refresh and remind. A short video that has to be done on company computers, that record the fact that you have completed the assignment. But you have to know your personal password/pin to access the portal. So I could not view the film the entire month of September, while I was struggling to remember my secret number.
I knew that was in here someplace. Just didn't know where to look, how to find the secrets. Even called the daughter who I have actually seen find passwords. But she could not help. Then called the co-worker who has gotten me out of more than one jam. He said he would do some research and find the route, let me know the following day.
I had an Eureka! moment on Saturday - I found it myself! Even though no one else is impressed, I am still quite pleased about my accomplishment. Thinking I better write the path down, since I cannot remember pins or passwords.
Options. Security. Log-ins. Aha!
book review: "Northwest Angle"...
... by the same author as one I recently read while driving.William Kent Krueger has written a number of books with the same characters, the O'Corcoran family residing in the small community of Aurora, Minnesota. The father of the clan is Cork, a retired law-enforcement professional who runs a small seasonal business, and works at private investigating. They are closely related to the Ojibwas in the area, and friend with many of he Native Americans who live on the nearby reservation.
The northwest angle is an area that is only accessible by water or driving through part of Canada, as it extends out into Lake of the Woods in the extreme northern part of the MN. This little bit of densely forested but sparsely populated land, about 123 square miles, is the northernmost point of the contiguous United States. The O'Corcoran family was out on the Lake in a rented house boat and a mighty wind came up, devastating the trees on the islands, and blowing two of the family out of a small dinghy. The story revolves around a young woman's body found on one of the islands, and a baby the castaways find and care for. The mother was murdered, but the baby was safely hidden.
Another of those books I read while driving, a fascinating story, well told, plenty suspenseful. Peopled with interesting characters, and a believable plot line, involving native Americans, Bible-thumpers obsessed with the end times, high speed boats. Firearms, dangerous rescues, deception and subterfuge. After reading several books with the same characters, I feel like I know these many of these people, and hope they will invite me to come and visit.
"...the stars lay on the sky like sugar tossed on an onyx plate." Giving you an idea of what the beautiful night sky must look like out there in the vastness of a body of water so far from any signs of development or humanity that there is total darkness except for what God provides. Can you imagine seeing something that breathtaking at such a remote place there is no light pollution to make the stars fade out?
The northwest angle is an area that is only accessible by water or driving through part of Canada, as it extends out into Lake of the Woods in the extreme northern part of the MN. This little bit of densely forested but sparsely populated land, about 123 square miles, is the northernmost point of the contiguous United States. The O'Corcoran family was out on the Lake in a rented house boat and a mighty wind came up, devastating the trees on the islands, and blowing two of the family out of a small dinghy. The story revolves around a young woman's body found on one of the islands, and a baby the castaways find and care for. The mother was murdered, but the baby was safely hidden.
Another of those books I read while driving, a fascinating story, well told, plenty suspenseful. Peopled with interesting characters, and a believable plot line, involving native Americans, Bible-thumpers obsessed with the end times, high speed boats. Firearms, dangerous rescues, deception and subterfuge. After reading several books with the same characters, I feel like I know these many of these people, and hope they will invite me to come and visit.
"...the stars lay on the sky like sugar tossed on an onyx plate." Giving you an idea of what the beautiful night sky must look like out there in the vastness of a body of water so far from any signs of development or humanity that there is total darkness except for what God provides. Can you imagine seeing something that breathtaking at such a remote place there is no light pollution to make the stars fade out?
the answer is:
..."Thank you very much." Although you might think this quote is attributed to The King, (Elvis Presley), it has nothing to do with ole' swivel hips. And lots to do with a small household chore I was pondering earlier in the week. On a day when I did not work and was in m pjs most of the morning, doing some things that needed my attention on the home front.
Like laundry. Which makes me very thankful for all the modern conveniences that come together so getting clothing clean is not really a 'chore'. Things we all tend to take for granted, like electricity on demand. All you have to do is flip the switch or press the button and ta-da! Instant power at your command! Lights come on, appliances obey your bidding. Beds are warmed when you are cold and ready to snuggle in. Food is kept cold, or frozen, readily available as needed. Interior climate is controlled: heated or cooled at the mere touch of a finger. Amazing!
Washer and dryers, detergent, power to run those things, funds to pay for all. All things that much of the world does not have. Which leads to the question that should precede the answer provided in the first paragraph. There will come a time when The Man Who Lives Here will be inquiring, asking for advice. Wanting to know what sort of item might be well received at the next gift-giving occasion, which will probably be Christmas.
Several years ago, when he posed the question I said: An occasional bit of support with the cost of groceries. The person (me!) who works at the grocery store buys about 95% of the food that comes in the house. If you would consider helping with the purchase of the food you eat, that would be a welcome gift. It worked for a little while.
The answer, should I receive it, will apply to the fact that I have been doing laundry for other people most of my life. I am aware/thankful for the water and appliances that make it possible. Plus electricity moving through power lines and wires that make things pump and spin. And commercially available laundry detergent to make things clean. And the delicious scent and convenience of dryer sheets.
Then the clothing goes from the washer to the dryer, heated and tumbled to perfection. Ready to fold and put away. It magically appears in the drawer, clean and folded on a regular basis. It mysteriously appears, on hangers in the closet, several times a week. This baffling occurrence cannot be attributed to the Clean Underwear Fairy, even though there is no witness to how it happens.
What I would like to hear, at least once a day: "Thank You Very Much." Or maybe: "It is so nice to have clean clothing to put on each day. I have been wondering for years where it comes from over and over and over and over and over???"
Like laundry. Which makes me very thankful for all the modern conveniences that come together so getting clothing clean is not really a 'chore'. Things we all tend to take for granted, like electricity on demand. All you have to do is flip the switch or press the button and ta-da! Instant power at your command! Lights come on, appliances obey your bidding. Beds are warmed when you are cold and ready to snuggle in. Food is kept cold, or frozen, readily available as needed. Interior climate is controlled: heated or cooled at the mere touch of a finger. Amazing!
Washer and dryers, detergent, power to run those things, funds to pay for all. All things that much of the world does not have. Which leads to the question that should precede the answer provided in the first paragraph. There will come a time when The Man Who Lives Here will be inquiring, asking for advice. Wanting to know what sort of item might be well received at the next gift-giving occasion, which will probably be Christmas.
Several years ago, when he posed the question I said: An occasional bit of support with the cost of groceries. The person (me!) who works at the grocery store buys about 95% of the food that comes in the house. If you would consider helping with the purchase of the food you eat, that would be a welcome gift. It worked for a little while.
The answer, should I receive it, will apply to the fact that I have been doing laundry for other people most of my life. I am aware/thankful for the water and appliances that make it possible. Plus electricity moving through power lines and wires that make things pump and spin. And commercially available laundry detergent to make things clean. And the delicious scent and convenience of dryer sheets.
Then the clothing goes from the washer to the dryer, heated and tumbled to perfection. Ready to fold and put away. It magically appears in the drawer, clean and folded on a regular basis. It mysteriously appears, on hangers in the closet, several times a week. This baffling occurrence cannot be attributed to the Clean Underwear Fairy, even though there is no witness to how it happens.
What I would like to hear, at least once a day: "Thank You Very Much." Or maybe: "It is so nice to have clean clothing to put on each day. I have been wondering for years where it comes from over and over and over and over and over???"
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