Beeping

Hello,

I came home last night tired but somewhat elated because I had had a session with the cub scouts that went very well. One of the dads afterwards told me that I did an exceptionally good job. I was giving them some tips and points about library cataloging, how to find things and what might be best. The five boys in attendance seemed amazingly interested.

As I came into the stairwell at home and changed into my slippers I heard a beep. A little later I again heard it as I was telling Leroy about my day and he was telling me about how tired he was. That time he also heard the beep. He wondered if it were a smoke alarm.

“We have to find it,” I insisted, “I can’t sleep listening to that and wondering where it is.”

We started looking for smoke alarms in each room. There were not so many or we did not just find them. But we heard the beep two more times. I decided to stand where I thought it was located and behold it was coming from my purse. My phone battery needed charging. I am so glad we solved that mystery.

Tired Leroy went to bed just after that discovery even though it was just 9:00pm. This morning he tells me that he feels fine. I know it is a reoccurring theme from me but I asked, “Can’t you take a nap at work?”

He always did this before. At noon he generally took a five or ten minute nap and that seemed to give him lots of energy.

“No, I cannot nap,” he said, “I have to be at the front desk all of the time. The intern and I used to take turns, but she is no longer there. I would look bad sleeping there.”

I did not have an answer to that so I guess he will just have to go to bed early some times.

Paula

Writing a Christmas Letter

Hello,

I vowed to get my Christmas letter done over the Thanksgiving weekend. Seemed there should be enough time with no company and no planned outings. Well it did not happen. So I thought yesterday could be the day. Still not done and here I am doing other things once again. I go to work in just a couple hours so it is not likely to happen today either.

We have no Christmas decorations out consequently as usual we are “bucking” the trend of decorating on Thanksgiving or the day after. We will get out our advent wreath for next Sunday. We have a couple droopy advent candles that were left in the attic heat to sigh, languish, and ooze a bit to the side. That is one problem about buying certain items on the “after” sales. Can they still be used? I think so since the bends are at the top and will soon be burned off.

Leroy has been looking, unsuccessfully, for our pictures of our Slovak Advent wreaths. It is great to have digital photos, but the sheer volume of photos and lack of organization can make them quite illusive. At least when we die our children will not have to go through so many pictures. They can just dump the entire load and be done with it. The dump will not fill up with our photos.

I want to write the witty, not to be forgotten Christmas letter and send it early, especially to those people who are not on the Internet with us so that they can be updated about our family’s latest move. Even thought nothing has happened yet Leroy senses that we will be here next Christmas as well. His contract expires next summer, but he is confident they will find money and it will be extended. He is often right about these feelings, but we will see.

Leroy drove the car today. At the CR airport the temperature was at seven degrees. He said, “Yesterday I was fine on the bike, except for my hands.” He has cold sensitive hands plus the bike riding posture does not really protect them very well.

Paula

Sitting Tall

Hello,

I did the power yoga once more and even finished it. Right now I am sitting tall and straight because of that workout. As it turned out the last part of the session was really much slower, not necessarily easier, but I felt more in control than when moving so quickly. I am not as flexible as I would like to believe that I am. Certain sitting postures are difficult for me to do. At least at one point the guide said not to strain. That helps me to feel that I should not be overwhelmed by the difficulty. On the cover of this DVD it says it is for all ages and all levels of fitness. Seems to me that is not quite true, but I will keep doing it. A women that used to have a yoga program on TV stressed that it is not a competition and I must remember that I am competing with no one, just trying to create better health.

I was pleased to get a letter from the Social Security administration telling me that my Medicare sign up was complete. I had been feeling a little anxious because I was about six weeks beyond the recommended sign up date. Just about two days later I received my card so now I am all set. I can put that fussiness aside.

Leroy will have no difficulty since he has watched me lead the way. He is so lucky to have an older wife. Older, but of course I look much younger.

It was back on the bike this morning, for that daring guy even thought the report was for temperatures in the 20’s. I went out to do some things later, and it did feel a bit cold. Leroy misses that time outdoors when he is unable to ride. I should walk more too as I also like to be outside. For some reason we have gotten away from walking at 5:30 am as we used to do. It was a great way to wake up and get energized for the day. Now we sleep until 6:00, sigh.

Paula

Crazy Sunday

Hello,

Leroy and I went to church on Saturday night because the choir sang. We did not feel obligated to go to church for the second time in the weekend. Does that say something about how much we like to spend time worshiping God? Scary thought!

Somehow the day felt a bit out of kilter with no services, but much like a real day off with no scheduled plans. Our landlord is out of town so we are picking up their mail and newspaper. It is ok if we read the newspaper, because as I told them, “our eyes will not hurt it.” What I learned is that I am the one who really likes to read the paper. I look at almost all articles while Leroy flies a bit higher and touches down for the funnies, a few ads, and perhaps the headline stories. Me, I like the news stories and human interest articles.

I got out the power yoga DVD just to demonstrate to Leroy how awfully tough it is only to end up doing 15 of the 25 minutes. I will have to try that again as I am stronger than I thought. The thing I really miss is the pause and holding of a position where this just zips right on. I worked up quite a sweat before I quit. Maybe tomorrow I will go farther.

Leroy tried to fix a wall outlet in the computer room. He has tried before with little success. This time he kept a record of all the combinations that he used. Again it did not work. This new outlet has some type of power interrupter that apparently is too much interruption for Leroy’s skills. He has new declared that he will just get a plain, simple outlet to replace the broken one. Sounds like a solid plan to me.

Leroy went up and down stairs to the basement many times and figured he got quite a lot of exercise, but he still joined me on a long walk around the neighborhood. It was cool, however still great for walking.

Paula

Weather

Hello,

Mid-westerners are known for talking about the weather, but maybe that is because it is something most of us agree about. Now I can safely say it is cold outside. In spite of that cold the rutabaga leaves are still alive. I covered some of them that are next to the Swiss chard. The chard was ok as well, but I decided to cut it close to the ground as I thought the daytime temperature might even be difficult for it to survive. It looked so good that I did not want to have it freeze. We will eat it tonight.

The weather certainly does change our lives. I did not hang out clothes today, but used the dryer instead. I certainly get less exercise by letting the equipment do the job. The wool socks still get hung up, but only on the indoor rack that once belonged to my mother. It is these practical things that I am so glad to have inherited. I also have mom’s ironing board, but I have had that all my life away from home as mom had gotten an adjustable new fangled one. This one’s height is set. It is also more difficult to collapse as it has developed some tough joints. Old age affects many things. So weather changes the laundry world for me.

Even thought the temperature, according to the thermometer, in the house has not changed I must dress more warmly. This house seems to be well insulated, but there is still some sense of coolness around the edges. I have not yet worn a wool sweater, but wool socks are on and at least two layers of long sleeves.

Leroy did not ride the bike today. I did not urge him too even though I commented that there was no wind. I will walk to church tonight or rather this afternoon at 4:00. I will certainly dress for winter, but at least walking does not create a noticeable breeze. Leroy will come there after work so I will ride home in the car.

Unfortunately our humidifier now leaks. Fortunately it did not leak so much that water seeped below. Also fortunately we have the money to buy another unit, but I might try to wait for a sale on such a utilitarian item or will that be at the end of the dry season?

Paula

Thanksgiving

Hello,

Leroy and I were together all day today. Sometimes on holidays Leroy has a hard time if we do not go somewhere or have someone come visit. Today he was quite content to just be here and with me. He puttered around the house and did some odds and ends so that he could feel that he accomplished something.

Because of great phone service we called all of our siblings and children. I even called a cousin who is 15 years younger than I am. I do not know when I have last seen her. I really have not talked to her as an adult. Her father, my last living uncle died just recently. I touched bases with her about the loss at holidays.

I am not much for using the phone, but it was very satisfying today. I should perhaps use it more often. The call with Brian involved the webcam and that was so nice to see Logan as he has once again changed. Sophia was there too, but the changes were not so obvious. Sophia plays a nice game of hide and seek on the webcam.

This afternoon, Leroy and I went out for a spin on our landlord’s two seater trike/bike. It was great fun to cruise around the flat neighborhood and avoid any big hills. People smiled and one even complimented us on our bike. I resisted the urge to babble on about how it was not our bike and just said as we sailed past, “We like it too.”

We made our blueberry pie with oil crust and pronounced it good even though it did not look very American. We also had rather untypical foods for the day, but we pronounced that good too.

I believe we will not participate in any of the black Friday sales even though we have talked about getting a new TV and a small computer such as a tablet. We are not yet quite ready to make those purchases. Nothing else takes our attention. I do need to buy some groceries and that will be all even though we might check out some of the things in the stores.

Paula

Conversations

Hello,

Almost every day I have such great conversations. Great advice is being given. Pertinent questions are being asked. Great jokes are told with just the right touch of humor. Interesting theories are expounded with finesse. It all seems to be coming from the same source. Oops, I realize that I am talking to myself. How did this happen? It seems to me that it has escalated in the last year or so. Have I gotten wiser or do I just need a constant stream of chatter to feel all is right with the world?

Many years ago when I had children at home I spent a lot of time talking to them, including when I shopped. After the last child was in school I would find that I was still telling the shopping cart everything that it could possibly want to know. A few raised eyebrows and some sidelong glances helped me to curtain that habit. Or maybe it helped that I was younger and could still learn new skills, such as silent shopping.

I have noticed that at work I have a tendency to talk out loud. Last night I struggled hard keeping my mouth shut. The only trouble is that I then adopted Leroy’s habit of small sighs, whimpers, moans and or groans. He, by the way, is a master at this art. I am not sure if he wants to me know that I would be aware things are not going well, hence the noises or if it is just for himself and his own mental health. Leroy is a master at the sounds while never actually saying a word. Without meaning to I have learned from him. So now my task is to be silent when at work so I do not annoy my fellow workers.

By the way the fog was even worse last night. I crawled safely home and gave a prayer of thanks for being there. Leroy tells me that he too was very aware of the fog on his way home even though he went home about three hours earlier than I did. We are thankful that he has good lights on his bike. When he bought them, I thought they were extravagant, but no more. They are now a necessity especially as he comes home after dark. It is even rather dark in the morning. Who knows with this nice weather he might ride on the shortest day of the year. He is a little concerned because much of his warmer clothing is dark and not so visible; hopefully the drivers see his lights flashing away. He also tries to travel on not such busy streets or even goes a bit early in the morning as the traffic is less.

Paula

Driving

Hello,

Last night as I left work I got into a car that had steamed up since I left it in the early afternoon. Why would that be? With certain conditions it happens with great regularity. I do not like to sit around and wait for the windows to clear. I do the unsafe things, turn on the fan on high, turn on the air conditioner at a comfortable temperature, turn the on the rear window defroster, run the windshield wiper in case it on the outside of the window, put it in gear, and leave looking out a small clear space at the bottom of the windshield. It has cleared some about a mile later, but then I start fiddling with the air circulation. Should it be inside or outside air? I feel virtuous for not trying to read the auto manual as I am driving.

Last night I noticed a car coming towards me and I could barely see the lights even thought the window seemed clear. As we approached each other I realized that there were patches of rather dense fog. That happened periodically until I got on the four lane highway.

It makes me realize that I might not want to drive home at 8:00 pm when I come out from work if there is ice, snow, or sleet to deal with. Perhaps I had better pack my toothbrush, spare underwear, and plan to spend the night if that is the case. There are generally many cars on the road even at that hour, but I do not really want to count on someone helping me if I should get into trouble. Oh, yes I would like to have as well some make-up or a way to clean my face. I really like to sleep in my pj’s. I do not have a simple life style. Do I have to pack half the house of an emergency overnight stay?

I still remember our refugee family coming into our home and all they had for the rest of their lives, not just over night, was a small suitcase each.

I am not sure I should be thankful for all this stuff, instead I should be thankful that people can manage with so little.

Paula

The Neighborhood

Hello,

Leroy came to choir practice from work last Wednesday. I asked him if he would walk his bike home with me when practice was finished. I was prepared to plead, but he readily agreed to do that.

It was a wonderful warm night. Unfortunately we could not walk as fast because of the bike, but it was pleasant so not an issue. When we got about a block from our house we came up to a policeman talking with two girls. They parted to let us through. I was pleased to see police in the neighborhood on foot. Seems to me that is a good presence in the area. However when I turned onto our street I saw the police car and another officer. Leroy proceeded up the street to the alley and the garage so he could put the bike away. As I walked up to the back door, I noticed that the downspout had been knocked off and I put that back. Another thing was that our light by the back door was on, but it is a motion light so that is possible for many reasons.

At the neighborhood meeting the following night we learned that gun shots had been fired about ½ a block away and the gun was found abandoned in the bushes by our house. So that explains some of that.

There is a police officer who always reports to the neighborhood meeting. In addition the new police chief was the guest speaker. It was good to meet him. His old beat was in Sarah and Stephen’s neighborhood.

Believe it or not Leroy and I are still comfortable on the streets. We keep alert, walk together, and greet people. It was interesting to me that the police office suggested that people should leave their cars and walk more just as we do. I believe I am taking back the streets. We are not out late, but this shooting was not late either. No one was hurt, so there is the possibility that someone was just fooling around with the gun.

I was almost afraid to relate this, because I wonder if Jen will be afraid to visit us. I would so like to have them come sometime. I also believe that even people in your neighborhoods have guns as they seem to be fairly common in this country. Who is to say what anyone might do with the weapon.

Paula

Surprises

Hello,

“Guess what!” Leroy said as he came in the door.

“I don’t know,” I wondered, “Did you find some rare book?”

“No, a girl from Slovakia was at the museum today,” he said, “She was at the Lyceum when we were there the second time. She did not remember you.”

“She must not have been a library user,” I responded trying not to feel a little hurt because it is always nice to think that one is important enough to be remembered by all.

“She has finished her medical Dr. degree in Slovakia and wants to complete that degree here at the U of Iowa. She needs to be here for some time before she can start. In that time she is going to work as an unpaid intern at the library with us.” Leroy told me. “She will be able to help with some of the translations and help me with the subject headings for Slovak books.”

I am looking forward to talking with her. We will certainly have to have her at our house for a meal just as the Slovaks were so generous to us, we can now return that favor even if it is to a different person.

On a different note, Miriam told me, “Andy’s Christmas cactus is just loaded with buds and mine does not have a single bud on it.”

I had been looking at mine at home as well as the one I took to the library. I did not see a single bud on either one. Then I began berating myself for not taking it to the school library where it always blooms happily. Just yesterday I found one tiny bud pod on mine at home and then today I sighted two more. So all is not a complete loss. It was looked so healthy as it enjoyed the outdoors, but who knows what it thinks of its indoor home. I do know that the library is a bit of a risk as it has a light on all night when I think it needs darkness some of the time. It also gets no direct sunlight, but a lot of artificial light. Do they like that? I do not know. I will do a bud search again Monday when I get to work.

Paula

Shopping

Hello,

Leroy and I went shopping today. The first stop was the easiest as it was for a wrap for the water heater as well as some wrap for the pipes. The large home supply store had everything we needed. That seems to be the shopping that both Leroy and I handle the best. Needed, found, done, home.

Leroy needed/wanted some more brown shoes. He has a pair, but they are at work and every once in a while he wants to wear them to some other destination. Also he tells me that he has had the them for a long time and they are starting to show some signs of wear. I have no objection to him owning two pair of brown shoes, but he seemed to need to justify it.

At the fourth shoe place he found some that he liked, they fit, and they were on sale so the price was bearable. It took some effort, but we got that job done.

“The hem of my gray dress pants is frayed,” Leroy told me a week ago, then he asked, “Can you fix them?”

I am not the world’s best and most enthusiastic sewer/mender. After discussing the issue with my sister, who likes to sew, I decided to try, but I would still have Leroy look for more pants while we were out shopping.

In the first store we found four sale pair that he tried on, but none fit him. We dragged ourselves to two more stores in the mall. Just who are these people who like to shop? Could we hire them? For some reason all of the pants in his waist size were too short or too long in the inseam. We drove to one more store. He found three pair to try on. One of them was the perfect waist size, but was too short and the one that should have been the right length and the right waist was miss-sized because it was too tight. After inquiring we learned that they did not have Leroy’s size even on the Internet. A store that is about 20-30 miles away has it, but we do not have any energy left to go there and they said it would take 8 weeks at this time of year for them to send it to us.

On the way home Leroy said, “I am sure that if you mend those pants they will just be very good.”  So back to mending.

Paula

Weather

Hello,

I thought I wanted it to stay cold until it warmed up so nicely today. It just felt good to be out hanging up clothes. All of garments even got dry although I was not sure when I brought them in if they were just cold or wet.

While I was out I heard a squirrel eating a walnut. I looked up in the walnut tree and there it was with its tail curled smartly up its back. With more looking I found that three friends had joined the first one. They were all on quite separated branches gnawing on their nut shell. I know that they did not get the nuts off the tree, but carried them there since there are no more nuts to be seen hanging from the branches except one nut that is so far out that even a nimble squirrel would be in danger of the breaking branch crashing to the ground if it tried to reach it.

I really have not seen the squirrels burying many nuts. I thought that was squirrel work, but I am still stepping on many rolling balls. Guess they figured it was fine to just leave them there and gather at will.

Our greens still look good out there. Some that we had not covered even perked up and looked ready to face the day.

It was suggested that I cover the tomatoes that we picked and they would ripen. They have indeed. I am treated to a steady supply of red beauties for my salad or to just plain eat. I am eating more now than I did earlier in the summer when they were on the vine. Those squirrels must have been feasting all along. So the cold weather is helping me in one ironic way. I am eating more of my homegrown tomatoes.

Paula

Cold

Hello,

In spite of the cold, Leroy rode his bike this morning. He did not have on more leg covering than whatever pants he was wearing for work. He did, however, have on a face mask that covers his mouth and nose.

I took a walk this morning. I can admit to being cold when the wind found me. For some reason I have not been walking as much and I have decided to get back at it. One mile was plenty for me today. Saturday in the 60+ temperatures I walked over two miles. Comfort does make a difference to the outcome.

I will adjust to these temperatures, but I hope they stay steady rather than spike up and down so much. Our bodies do not have time to get acclimated. We have over an inch and a half of ice in our rain gauge. Guess it is time to take that inside as it will not acclimate.

The greens that I covered looked good this morning even though I had cut all the bigger leaves last night. I uncovered them because I was not sure that I would remember them later. So perhaps they have frozen now with the exposure.

Miriam tells me that they have a foot of snow on the ground. When they go a bit higher up the mountain to church it is closer to two feet of snow on the ground. Winter is indeed coming. I wish I could walk to work instead of drive there. I have not done much serious winter driving in a long time. Since I have not been working in the past I just simply did not go and waited a day as there were few things I needed just that instant.

I have basil growing in the window in this room. It was in the shade outside in the summer. It looks much better in here. It surprises me when I look at it as usually plants go the other way as they usually prefer the outdoors.

Paula

Learning

Hello,

Sometimes learning comes slowly or takes repeat experiences, but with regard to rain and walking to church we decided it was not a good bet. When we started talking about the issue the rain was light, but just as we were ready to leave the house it came down with enough noise that there was no mistaking its presence. The car it was. Then it was just a question of which one and who would drive. It was “my” car and I drove. That Leroy almost never gets behind the wheel any more. He even remarked, “I hope that the car would quit working so we could get one that is not a shift.”

I did not realize that it bothered him. I do know that he does not like to drive the Saturn because the shift is a bit tricky for some reason. I drive it most of the time so I do not find it so hard.

Because it was still raining after church and a meal out it was great to have the car. There was still enough walking distance that an umbrella was required and my lower legs were a bit damp.

The temperature went down while we were inside. Such changes in the weather cause one to be more on the alert. We still have rutabagas and Swiss chard growing nicely outside. I will pick the Swiss chard if it ever stops raining and maybe even cover it tonight as it is to be quite cold tomorrow morning. I have not grown rutabagas before, but I read that they can tolerate quite a lot of coldness. We ate a rutabaga leaf the other day and it was fine mild flavored. We have not tried the roots yet as it is my understanding that they needed as much growing time as we could allow them. Now they look so very healthy after barely tolerating the summer heat. I wish I had planted some kale at the same time. I remember picking it when there was snow on the ground. It is great to have those fresh greens from outside in the cold. It is almost like I am getting by with something that I should not.

Paula

Battles and Victories

Hello,

I looked out the second story window in the back to see a black head coming around the curve of the tree trunk at my eye level. It quickly retreated only to come back again and reveal that it was a cat with a nice white spot on its chest. My landlord tells me that she believes cats will try to catch squirrels so I looked for a squirrel. Soon a large cawing black crow glided in landing a bit above and to the side of the cat. It fluttered its wings and announced loudly that something was not right. Before long another crow appeared landing on the opposite side, again a little above and to the side. As I watched the third crow joined the group as they almost circled this cat.

I noticed at that point, a squirrel about six feet below the cat. The cat moved fearlessly up the tree out on a thinner wobbly branch as it approached one of the crows. The crow looked for a while and moved off a little. All this time the crows are setting up quite a racket. In the meantime the squirrel inched farther up the tree, but did not really get close to the cat.

It seemed to be a standoff so I picked up my laundry basket and went out doors under them. They all looked at me, but stayed their course. Then I noticed that the cat had come lower in the tree, but there was still no interesting action so I went back to hanging up clothes. Bang! I heard, looked around, and spotted the cat slipping under our gate. Considering the loudness I think that cat had to have dropped from quite a distance.

On the victory side just wanted to let you know that the place Leroy works is going to be featured in a 30 minute documentary on Public TV. “Our documentary is going to premier on IPTV on Monday, Nov. 12 at 9:30 pm, and Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2:30 pm.” They also received a state award for a nonprofit’s outstanding contribution to the community and the state.

Paula

Medicare

Hello,

Well I have now joined the ranks of an older breed of cat. Those on Medicare! Can I really be that old? I am not quite there, but in just a little over a month I will be.

I have been putting off this task for some time. I did visit with an adviser some time ago. They told me I needed to learn if Leroy’s insurance would still carry me. Oh the joys of having a younger spouse who lets me figure out things first. And why wouldn’t this insurance company be glad to have me as a client since I am so cute?

Brian asked, “Don’t you want to admit that you are almost 65?” when I told him that I could not make myself complete the process. There is some truth to that, but I lost steam when it took so long for Leroy to bring home the information from the insurance company. Then too I think I became supper hung up on making a mistake.

After my dentist appointment that was in almost the same area, I thought I would go to the Social Security office and ask questions. I very firmly talked myself out of that and headed home as commanded by my brain.

Finally I begged Leroy to hold my hand and go with me on his comp day this week. That was this morning’s job. We left so that we could do a little shopping in the area, saving gas or trips, and still come up to the door before the office opened. It was great to stand in the sun and visit with the woman ahead of us who was telling that her birth date was recorded incorrectly and there was a great struggle to rectify that. My task was going to be much easier than that.

As it turned out we were the second person in and out first. As that the pleasant woman behind the desk easily answered my questions and told me how to get the job done on line. I did not realize there was so much security at the door of the office. My purse had to be inspected.

I will admit now that I could have done it all alone, but I am grateful for the hand holding Leroy who charged right along spewing confidence along the way.

Paula

Election Day in Ely

Hello,

There were people parked in my favorite parking places at work. A number of cars were lining the street in front of the library as well. I go in the back door and people were standing at the front door. Usually I get myself set up and ready to roll before I open the door, but I unlocked it as it was adults and not a lot of kids who might need immediate attention. I later wished that I had not been so hasty to open the door as it was at least 15 minutes before I had time to hang up my jacket.

Voting takes place in the library meeting room. It has a separate entrance off the lobby. People have easy access to either place. I was so happy to see my co-worker come after an hour as I felt a bit over whelmed. Not only were a lot of people coming in many of them wanted to update their library cards and a couple were new patrons. All of that takes a bit more time to deal with. Before the day was over we signed up several more new patrons and updated many more cards. At least it was easier to get this done with two of us there. In the seven hours we were open we had 151 people come in the library. It was fun, exciting, and tiring. Having a well attended election certainly helped our statistics in the library. It is such great exposure for the library. It affirms our reason for being.

A normal fall weekday has been probably closer to 50 people using the library. Even on some of the busier summer days I do not think I had many more than 100. Many of the new people had not been in the library before and seemed quite impressed with it. I do think it is a good library for a small town. This is a growing town. More people voted than I could imagine.

Paula

More to Election Day

Hello,

There was only one other person at the polls when I arrived and only one other by the time I left. It seemed like a light turnout to me especially when I noticed that Leroy was the only other one who had signed on our page. I know that over all there were many voters who participated. That is a good thing.

On the way home there was now again a light mist. I set off with high hopes of it staying that way or getting better. As I crossed one intersection in this light traffic mid morning, I noticed a guy standing in the street just by the curb mid block. There was something on the ground by him. I realized that he did not move so I stopped and took a closer look. There was a person lying on the ground with feet dangling in the street. As I watched two cars went by and did not stop to ask if help was needed.

“I don’t want to get involved, I forgot my cell phone, but I could go to a building that is close and ask them to call,” I thought.

So I re-crossed the street. Approaching him I noticed that a woman was sitting in her car at the exit of a parking lot. I could also see that the extremely pale, red headed, middle aged appearing woman lying face up on the ground had her eyes closed. She was wearing a light weight jacket and what looked to be lounge or pj bottoms.“Do you need help?” I asked.

“She,” he said pointing at the car, “has called the police. They should be coming soon.”

At that point the woman put down her car window and said, “The police are coming now.”

The man then told me that this woman had been staggering in the street and walking in front of cars. “She must be drunk,” he added.

I held my umbrella over her head, but then realized that would cause any drips from the umbrella to fall on her body. Even trying to help is not simple. I stayed anyway until the police came giving the man moral support, if nothing else, for his willingness to help a stranger.

Drunk could be a diagnosis, but there could also be some other health issue.

Interesting how the first willing helper seems to be in charge or at least I was willing to give him that ability and ownership of the issue.

Paula

Voting

Hello,
When I looked out this morning I saw a glistening street. Upon hearing that, Leroy groaned, “Everything was dry when I looked out.”
At the last minute he checked again, even going outside to learn if there was still rain coming down. There was so he drove. One thing about early morning rains they are best if they come so that he can make an easy decision.
I had planned to vote first thing so that I would know how much else I could get done before leaving for work. Being a morning person I have a big mental list of tasks that I want to get done before I leave the house. Consequently I am generally rushing around checking things off that list.
Today I altered the list a bit as I made granola first thing, hoping the rain would stop before I needed to go vote. Just as the granola and the dishes were done, it appeared to have ceased raining.
I dashed around collecting coat, walking sandals, and back pack so I could stop at the grocery store on the way home. After I had locked the door I wondered if I should get an umbrella. So unlock the door, go upstairs, and find the umbrella before coming back down and relocking the door. Before I got to the front sidewalk I had opened the umbrella against the light mist. A mist that, true to form, became more as I went along. Soon the wind picked up, one point it was enough to blow my umbrellas inside out. I was happy that my coat was below my bottom as my lower legs were getting wet. The rain was more than a mist, but blessedly less than a down pour.
I was not the only walker out there, plus there was one man on a bike. He was not wearing gloves or hat. Tough guy! He had been to the grocery store as his handle bars were weighted down with milk and grocery bags.
Paula

Learning Names

Hello,

At book club today I was determined to get some more names down. The group has changed almost every meeting, not totally changed, but there are often two or three new people or that many people might be gone. Consequently I am having a hard time getting the names. One woman wears her name tag and that helps me a lot. I know that many people do not like to wear nametags, but for us visual learners it is a great crutch. Today I asked the woman sitting next to me her name and then I told her what I remembered of others names. Most I did not have correct, but it was just mixed up with someone else.

The book we discussed today was Secrets of Eden, by Chris Bohjalian. We all thought it was good, but found it difficult to answer the questions that were included. Is it perhaps because there are so many issues in life that have no easy answers?

I also have a hard time learning names of people in choir. Again there are no name tags. I have only heard their names and most of those came to me when the entire choir introduced themselves. That was only 30-40 names. It is too many for my shrinking brain to remember.

I am enjoying all of the wonderful music in this church. The organist is at the top of the heap, but then his wife, the choir director follows and maybe sometimes passes him in excellence.

I also have found the sermons to have an important message in them as well. The pastors are engaging speakers. One downer is that we cannot often attend adult Sunday school because it takes place during one of the services and we are frequently singing then.

Paula

Celebration and Museum

Hello,

In the morning Leroy and I drove to the Ely Library. I know we should have ridden the bikes, but I did not think my ears could handle 26 miles of 40 degrees cold. It was a beautiful day outside. Because we arrived a little early for the ten years in the new building celebration, Leroy took the time and looked for his own books. With varying degrees of success, I have been getting books for him. I was so happy to relinquish the job since he knows which books he has read or which books he might like.

It was so great to visit with a number of old friends. We even found pictures of us and our kids from back in the former days of being a resident of this town. After finding all the books Leroy needed for a few days, 16 books that is, and visiting enough we headed back to Cedar Rapids to the African American museum.

We would recommend this as a destination. We certainly learned about the African American history in Iowa as well as some for all of North America. I was impressed with the number of things that they had available for children to touch, manipulate, and maneuver. If our children want to go somewhere when they visit at Christmas, I will certainly recommend this place. The building is not as majestic and noticeable as the place Leroy works, but it is well worth the time to go there. In fact we got tired and did not really do justice to the last part of it. We will have to go again.

After an afternoon nap Leroy was able to repair his bike, rake the leaves into an auspicious pile, dig up two amaryllis bulbs, and repair my clothes drying rack that had belonged to my mother. That rack is not an antique, but it is old and I use it quite a lot even though I would like a compact folding rack such as we had in Slovakia. I have a dryer here, but I still like to air dry some things.

I did not do as much, but I washed dishes, made bread, and potted two plants.

Paula

Doctor Visit

Some how I did not get this posted on the day I wrote it. So here it is out of order.
November 1, 2012

Hello,

Before I get to that Dr. visit, just a note about the small tight world we live in. I learned that the director of Concert Chorale is a resident of Ely and I had seen him at the library more than once. Afterwards he saw me and finally figured out where he sees me.

In each new place it is so much effort on my part to find a new doctor or dentist or hairdresser, but now all of that is done. Leroy has been to the doctor in this spot already. He chose the closest one within easy walking distance, who was covered by our insurance. There is also a nurse practioner in the office so I chose to visit her. When I called for an appointment I was put on hold for what seemed like a long time. They talked to me for a while learning what I wanted. After which she asked if they could call me back. It took a day to get back to me during which time I wondered if I had made a mistake.

I am pleased with this woman I feel she was very thorough and asked many of the right questions for me. For instance I am going to have a bone scan, but not to back on the meds that give me such pain as there are some other options out there.

Flu and pneumonia shots were suggested, I had planned on the flu shot. They convinced me that pneumonia was important too and insurance would pay for it. In the past I remember being sick from some recent shot flu or tetanus, but they assured me that it would be just sore at the spot. I went to work and about two hours into noticed that it was quite painful to raise my arm. Then I started to feel sluggish. By the time I went home I was dragging. Then later I groaned, moaned, and had Leroy wait on me for a heating pad. Then it occurred to me that I might have a fever. Sure enough, it was 100.6 F. No wonder I was in such distress. After taking asprin I slept fairly well waking with no fever in the morning. However I was still sluggish and my arm was still so painful that my clothes hurt when they touched the spot.

I have more sympathy for children/infants when they get those shots. At least with me I can rationalize it knowing that it is ultimately helping me and not killing me.

Paula

Sore Arm

Hello,

I still have a sore arm, but it is getting better. I hardly thought about it today in spite of not being able to sleep on it last night. I certainly don’t like bumping it and even raising it up high is still a problem. I expect tomorrow it will be perfect.

While I was out shopping the city leaf vacuum came. The only problem was that there was a car parked in front of some of them so they could not reach them. Had I been home, I might have dashed out and moved those leaves to a more accessible spot. Hopefully they will come another week before they say it is all over. I am amazed at how quickly the trees became totally bare.

I did not weigh so much on the scale at the Dr. office. Only 125 pounds fully dressed. I thought I had been losing some weight. I suspect it is because I pack my evening meal twice a week. Generally that meal is not as large as what I would eat at home. I think, if I can remember to do it, I will ramp up my noon meal. It can take such an effort for me to gain weight.

Leroy had me get him some marked down Halloween candy to take to work. In spite of it being an easy way to gain weight, most candy does not appeal to me. I have no real difficulty passing it up.

As a treat for home this week I got blackberries and tangerines. I am certainly looking forward to sharing those with Leroy.

I am happy to be able to still hang out clothes. They have almost completely dried outside. I love that fresh smell when I bring them indoors. Seems to me it brightens up the place.

I was happy to find potting soil on my shopping trip. It pays to look in more than one place as well as ask for help. Now I can pot the impatiens that have finally grown nice roots. I also have some spider or airplane starts that need some soil base. Then there will be the two amaryllis that will need homes around Christmas time. I like to have the blooms later in the year when everything else is done.

Paula