Precipitation, Our Friend?

Hello,

I worked yesterday with a closing time of 8:00 pm. There was some talk about more snow to come, but any time I looked out I did not see it. No patrons talked about anything coming from the sky. That felt good.

When I got to the car I found that there was a film on the windows. Uh oh, it did not wipe off with my glove. The ice scrapper took it off, but pressure had to be applied. As usual I did the back window first before tackling the front. The windshield wipers were not stuck which seemed like a good sign.

After turning on the car, backing out and getting to the corner, the front window was again coated. The wipers were not very effective. I could see, but it was a little fuzzy. Front and back defroster were turned on. About a mile or two later the, view was worse except for a hole that was close to the bottom of the window.  I kept going another two miles hoping it would clear. When it did not I turned into a street that would take me to a filling station where I could safely scrape that window. Just as I pulled into the station the window cleared. Soon I was back on the road, but still with a great deal of caution as it was unclear how slippery the road was.

Even after I was on that interstate I crept along with a few others. Now my windshield was getting covered once more. I turned the heat up to about 80 hoping that would make all the difference. It helped some, but not as much as I wanted. Perhaps changing direction made the difference between clear and coated.

I took the hospital exit, assuming that it would be passible. It was fine. Then I used the main street for a mile or so. The street closer to my house was not so good, but passable. The alley was the real challenge. The only time I slipped was getting into the garage. Once more I was grateful to make it home.

How can there be freezing rain when the temperature is 19 degrees F.?

Paula

Serious Walking

Hello,

Walking to church yesterday took some serious concentration. There was a combination of cold, ice, water, wind, and snow. The entire winter scene was presented in one day. Leroy has some grippers that he can clip on his boots which give great traction. I wore my shorter, better gripping boots that are not so water proof. Most of the water we saw was under the ice. I stepped carefully on that ice hoping it would be strong enough to hold my weight. Much of the ice in street pot holes was there because of the salt that had been added. The temp was above zero, but by the time I got to church my legs were quite cold.

On the way home we saw a girl trying to get her car out of the parking spot. She was attacking the strangle hold of ice with a pointed shovel. You can tell Leroy and I are not college students. We were bundled to the max. This girl had no hat, gloves, or coat. Her bright red skin testified to some cold. We tried to push her car. With the first rev of the front wheel, water sprayed in my face and down my coat. We tried to chop off some of the ice in the back to no avail. We pushed some more, but left in defeat.

On the way back to church for choir practice, she was still there. We did not offer to help again as it had not worked before. Once again on the way home from church, we could see that her car was gone. Amazing! However as we went past another car the guy rolled down the window and asked if we could help. They also were having trouble with the car stuck in water on ice. The girl, who had on boots that were water proof, stood on the side of the car with the most water. The guy had on sneakers, no water proof there. Leroy and I were on the side with not so much water.

After warnings to be careful, the guy started counting one, two, three, letting us know when he was going to apply the gas. Somehow Leroy, this girl, and I started pushing and releasing on the back of the car with each count. The car started rocking and with the gas it moved out of the hole.

The guy then stopped even though I yelled, “Keep going!”

Sure enough when he tried to move again he could not. We went through the same pushing routine and he went to the end of the block, turned around and came back. They were so happy and grateful for the help. As they said, “We have been trying to get out for an hour! Thank You!”

It was good to give some successful help. Also I think it is good for the college students to see that many of the neighbors are ok people. Some of them consider this an unsafe place to be and just mostly stay on campus. With all this walking and helping I had 12,000 steps. When we went back to church in the evening we actually drove.

Paula

Helping Nieghbors

Hello,

Yesterday Leroy and I were out front chopping up the last of the ice on the sidewalk before the next storm. It was in the 30’s so felt very nice and productive. A guy walked up and asked if he could borrow an ice chopper. Leroy, who had our chopper, collected mine which is really our landlord’s and went off with this man. After a bit I thought about going to help shovel. Even though I had seen them turn at the street corner I could not see them when I got to that street. I went back in the house. Much later, Leroy was not home. Then I started to think of things that were not good. I had no idea who this man was or where he lived. Leroy did not have his phone with him. What if he had a heart attack, how would I ever learn about it?

After scolding myself, I tended to other tasks. It was again a long time before the back door finally opened. What a relief! Leroy said that this guy took him almost six blocks away. His mother had called about a neighbor of hers who had ice damming water which was threatening to get in her house. She told her son he was to come over and fix it. Unfortunately his shovel did not do the job.

Leroy said it was a hard job with very thick ice, but this guy attacked it with such vigor that Leroy was afraid he might have a heart attack! Another neighbor came over and helped as well.

Finally they got the job done.

Course then Leroy still had to walk home. But he was happy to have helped out. Sometimes troubles bring out some good connections between people.

Paula

Impulse Buy

Hello,

Yesterday when doing my weekly shopping I spotted a plant that had been promoted as a valentine. Now it was marked down to about half the original cost. I have never had an athurtium plant before. It is rather attractive. The care looked simple: just water once a week and keep out of direct sun. Well, advice on the internet had some additional instructions. It is to be in a hot and humid space. Our living quarters are neither hot nor humid. I assume it will last as long as cut flowers would last. I will enjoy it until it is done.

I did not really need more blooming plants. Four amaryllis flowers are done, but one is still open all the way while four more are getting ready to open. Some violets blossoms are still looking great along with the shamrock. One white cactus flower is ready to open. This morning I notice that the pink Christmas cactus has two more buds. Then of course the four red and two white poinsettias look just delightful. Those flowers always help me to feel good.

Flowers are a nice impulse buy because it is not so much man made although it is transported a great distance from home so that is not so good for the environment. I have a clivia that has bloomed twice in about 12 years. A friend gave me the start. At the school in Slovakia, the clivia plant bloomed every year. It is to be in a cold room and not watered for about three months. Again the temperature does not quite fit the requirements. Oh what to do? Too hot for one and too cold for the other!

Good thing Leroy and I agree on the temperature or at least we can adjust by putting on more clothes or taking off some clothes.

Paula

Attitudes

Hello,

People have been complaining for some time about the snow that seems to arrive every other day. Last night at work the talk seemed to lean more in the direction of “where are we going to put this new snow when it comes tonight? The piles are so large that I cannot get more on the top of them.” Some of this was followed by a description of what they have managed to do so far.

We have had 40 to 50 inches of snow this winter. Included were a couple of good melting days that significantly lowered the piles in preparation for the next snow. After the snow last night and this morning the temps have risen so it is melting once again.

The prediction was for the snow to start an hour after I left work; instead it came more than an hour before I was to leave. When my co worker was done with bedtime books, she offered me the chance to leave early. She lives in town so did not have so far to go. I accepted that offer, cleared most of the snow off the car, and got on the road. It was a task to clear the car because the snow was coming quite furiously so I would get one side clean and the other would be covered again. I did the back window then the front and hopped in ignoring any other snow.

At home Leroy helped me clear a path to the garage. He was surprised I was home early as he had not realized it was already snowing. Snow is rather quiet stuff.

My drive home was slow, but not so scary. Or at least I did not slip.

Paula

Iowa Skiing

Hello,

We are getting the predicted amount of snow, lots of it. We have shoveled twice, but it is still snowing. Leroy wanted to go cross country skiing. We have not done that for several years, perhaps four. Getting the skis down involved a bit of maneuvering in the garage since they were stored up in the rafters.

At least the boots still fit and they are easy to put on and lace. The next harder step was to remember how to connect the boots to the skis. That took a bit more time and struggle. Leroy especially had some trouble with that. However once his skis were attached he took off much faster than I could manage. We only travel on the flat because I am scared of any slope. We headed off to the bike trail using the alley and the street from time to time to make the connection. Few cars were on the road so it was not really a problem.

Once on the trail I felt safer, but I still could not keep up with Leroy. He would pause for me from time to time. It was great to meet some acquaintances from our neighborhood. They were on snow shoes and moving along with more stability than we were. While we were talking, a guy on a bike with big, or snow, tires came by. I am happy to see others out using their bodies and enjoying the outdoors.

Here are some pictures we posted on line.  

I was happy that I got my 10,000 steps just when I was wondering if it really was fun. I smiled at the accomplishment and energy returned.

Paula

Warmer or Just Attitude?

Hello,

This morning it was 1F degree above zero when I left for church for a women’s breakfast. I bundled up. Before I arrived I was warm. By the time I got there I was sweating lightly. Amazing! The sun was shining and there was no wind. Right away after stepping out, it seemed quite comfortable. My friend wondered if I had walked. I replied, “I did and I am quite warm now.”

They were surprised. Perhaps they even think I am a little odd.

On my trip home I did not put on quite so many warm things, but I was still heated up by the time I arrived at home.

In the afternoon when the temperature was in the 20s F. I could see the remainder of the ice melting a bit. Leroy and I both went out with shovels and choppers. We managed to extract quite a lot of the remainder. We even went down to the corner of our street. Leroy chopped off the barrier to the street that the snow plow had left behind. I spent a little time trying to get up some of the ice down there. For some reason they had not done their usual good job clearing the sidewalk.

We then spent some time working in back of our garage even though it was fairly clear. It is rather fun to get up ice when it yields so easily.

Between walking to church and chopping ice I recorded 11,470 steps. What an accomplishment!

Paula 

Action Team

Hello,

I applied for and received funding for an action team project from my insurance company. It involved collecting non food items for an organization that has a homeless shelter as well as daily noon meals. I signed my church choir up as my team without asking them first if they wanted to be involved. With a bit of ribbing, they stepped up and donated many items. My car was not totally full, but it was noticeably more crowded. I dropped off those donations on Wednesday. The man who received the items was so happy. He kept saying, “You brought me such good stuff!”

I then told him that I had money to spend and needed his suggestions for the items that would help the most. Many of his suggestions were for cleaning products. His list was not so long, but I knew that I could use the money very easily. I asked my friend Ruth if she would go with me to a store where she has a membership and we could get more items for the money. She enthusiastically said “Yes! We can go in my car because I have a larger vehicle.”

We made the trip this morning, weighting down her car with our purchases. Again the man was so pleased to get all of these items. He told me how much they use of some things and it makes me wonder how they manage. There are four buildings this organization is responsible for. At one of them people can come to do their laundry or take a shower. Some of our gifts were aimed at helping them provide those services.

This organization is also working on the idea of helping people to become independent which is a much longer task than simply handing out food or services. I hope and pray that they can make real progress in those areas.

Paula

Safety, Not To Be Taken For Granted

Hello,

Last night I left work four hours early. That was a good thing as it was not too bad on the roads. I did not drive much above 20 or 25 mph. That was especially true on the interstate where I joined a slow crowd. I do not like coming home when there is almost no one on the road, however it was a little unsettling with all of the cars that I met and many in front or behind me. If anyone slipped it could have been very bad. No one hurried around the up in the air “S” curve. When I got to the bottom of my off ramp the traffic light changed so I had to stop. It was a bit of a struggle to get moving once more. Our street was also a challenge, but the alley was even more. I stopped behind the garage and called Leroy to help me shovel, but he had already talked to my boss. He was getting warm clothes on to come out. Getting in the garage was not too difficult.

By noon today the snow had stopped. Even with the wind I headed off to work. The main street in CR was passable. The interstate was clear as was the highway. Troubles began as I got on the Ely Road. I slowed down and gripped the wheel more firmly. About two miles farther I started running into drifts across the road. All at once I must have hit some ice under there and I was sliding. I went into the oncoming lane before I gained control. Luckily there was no one in that lane at that moment. I slowed down and kept going since I was not sure about turning around safely.

At the library my boss told me I could turn right around and go back home. I was so unnerved that I could not face it so I stayed a little over an hour. Reports from other drivers convinced me that I must leave. I again drove very slowly through some drifts that might have been about six inches high. Only a few minor slipping places added to the excitement. Again the highway and interstate were clear, but some snow was drifting in there too. I found the alley difficult to navigate and harder to get the car lined up so I could get up that little steep incline. I managed without hitting the side of the garage, but I considered that a miracle.

When I told Leroy about my trip I ended up crying a bit. Pent up tension or happy to have made it home?

I was a bit disgusted with myself since I know my boss would not have insisted that I come to work. If asked, she would have told me to stay home.

Paula

Bradway Blooms

Hello,

The pink Thanksgiving cactus has just two good looking blooms left while the white one is growing a bud. If it is the only white flower, will it seem more spectacular?

One violet is done for a time and the second one is still beautiful. The shamrock has a few blossoms that just keep coming.

The most noticeable is the first amaryllis that now has four flowers open on one stalk with one more to open. With all that weight at the top it is remaining upright while leaning against a chair. A new bud stalk on the same bulb is about half grown. The other two bulbs that are going to bloom are much closer to showing what they have for us.

I should not neglect to talk about the beautiful poinsettias. Someday I will get up out of my chair, take some pictures, and share all of this winter color.

Leroy has become quite pleased with all of this beauty. For most of his life he has not really thought about house plants and the joy that they can contribute to the eenvironment. I wonder if I die will he keep them growing.

I just got a note from Fitbit that I have earned the monarch migration badge. That means I have recorded, on their device, 2,500 miles.

Last night Leroy and I rushed to get to a concert at the close college. We often walked in the street because the sidewalks were coated with ice. This morning when we walked basically the same way to get to church, I was grateful that neither of us slipped. In many places the smaller streets had their share of ice.

Paula

Changing Mind and Clothes

Hello,

Last night Leroy was of the opinion that we should not shovel anymore because it was too much wet and it might be easier when it froze in the morning.

We got up promptly, dressed in snow shoveling clothes, and went out to tackle the stuff on the sidewalk. Leroy chopped a little while and made little progress. I could brush the snow off the top, but not touch the bottom layer with the shovel. At that point he again decided that we should wait.

I cancelled yoga at the library, but assumed that I would go to work anyway. I ate breakfast did morning chores, texted my boss and told her I was planning to come to work, but how were the roads? “Just wait,” she replied, “the roads were terrible last night.”

Reports made it sound like it was not so bad at that time so I put on my work clothes. Leroy headed off a mile to church using the car instead of walking because he had an appointment later in the morning.

In a bit my boss informed me that, “the black top is not good with many cars in the ditch.”

Off came my work clothes. Mid morning I went out to try to shovel or chop or do what might help. That required a change of clothes. The temperature was falling and I had hoped to act just before it froze creating a clear path for the coming snow. Unfortunately it was so much work that I only managed a path to the garage, came in and changed out of the outdoor clothes. Later when it was about time for Leroy to come home I again put on those outdoor clothes and tried unsuccessfully to get ice off the incline into the garage. Leroy managed to line the car up in a good position since the neighbors across the alley were gone so he just pulled right on it. I helped him finish getting the ice off the windows of the car. Then it was back inside and change clothes once more.

We have tickets to a music event tonight, but we are seriously considering not going. Even though it is so close, maybe 2-3 miles, it still does not seem exciting to go out.

Paula

Winter Weather

Hello,

Last night Leroy and I did not want to shovel, or scrape off the wintery mix that came down in torrents at times. This morning we got out, but it was quite hard work as it was stuck to the sidewalk. We cleared the front walk where the public goes by and Leroy opened up a bit of the space in back of the garage. I assured him I would get back out later in the day.

First I went shopping after I knew commute traffic would be gone. On the main street through town it was quite fine. The flat alley was not bad either. I even went to three stores and got some errands done.

After I came home I went out to clear more off the sidewalk out to the garage and the sidewalk by the side of the house and out to the street. Before I got that done I had to take a break and have some lunch. The warm was melting quite a bit, but more pounding was needed to make it passable. Before I could get back, my downstairs friend had down quite a lot, but I helped her finish that before I headed back to the garage and alley.

Especially after she told me it is to snow or rain again tomorrow I tackled the alley with new resolve. It now looks quite fine.

I just looked at the prediction. I am not sure that I will be going to work tomorrow as it looks quite serious and covers much of the day. I had planned to work the next three days to make up some of my time, but I may just manage the last two when there is to be no precipitation.

It was so strange while I was working on the alley something started lightly hitting my head. Looking around I saw it was snow or ice pellets. In a bit there was a flash of light. My neighbor who was out saw me look up and called, “That was lightening.”

In a bit the roll of thunder confirmed it. Such times we have.

Paula

My Brain

Hello,

When I work on Saturday I usually do not work on Tuesday. However my boss called me, Friday while I was out shopping to ask if I could not work Monday and work Tuesday instead. I because of no plans, of course, said, “Yes.”

Apparently I promptly forgot about it as I went to work yesterday, Monday. The first co worker who saw me said, “I thought you were not working today.”

“Oh, I do not know,” I replied as a faint memory started to surface. Why does my brain not record these things in a place where they can be retrieved? When my boss came she also confirmed that I had come on the wrong day. I just worked for two hours so my car trip was not in vain. Today I had thought about coming in late, but there is a prediction of winter mix to be coming. I will go on time and hope for more flexibility in the stopping time. I do envy that Leroy who lives so close to his work places making it easier to get there when the weather is a problem.

I should take the time to perfect my ability to use the calendar on my phone so I could record changes no matter where I am. Where is that brain power and the willingness to put forth the effort?

I now have the dirty car syndrome which I sometimes brush again when getting in the car, consequently my coat has, from time to time, car dirt on it. I try to be as careful as I can, but do not always succeed. I need reminders, but my brain is on to other thingsrather than car dirt.

Paula

Leroy is 70 years old

Hello,

Yesterday was Leroy’s 70^th birthday. Somehow it is hard to believe that we are that venerable age. In the past anyone past 70 years seemed so ancient. Now it is just young. Perspective does make a difference. Because of social media some people greeted him at church as that was the birthday. He was also pleased to get calls from all of his children.

He even got some birthday presents from me. Three of them were clothing items which I know that he is not so excited about, but he was pleased with two shirts which were different colors than anything he currently has. Some great feeling long underwear helped to make him feel cared for. There were a couple of food items that he was pleased with as well.

Besides that, he could choose the menus for the day, except breakfast when I forgot about it being his birthday and just made oatmeal. For lunch he had waffles with bananas in them. He had talked about having banana bread later in the day. For that purpose I had thawed three frozen bananas. The big problem was that I did not have enough flour in the house to make banana bread and waffles. Neither of us wanted to go to the store. We both thought the waffles were fine, even good.

I believe that Leroy feels old even though I beat him to this age. I am glad to have him catch up. Soon he will get his first social security check. Somehow that seems like a milestone, even though I have been receiving checks for several years now.

Paula

Winter Driving

Hello,

Two mornings ago it was -26 on our thermometer. The official low for this city was -31. It must just be hot by our house. Leroy drove to the church instead of walking. I went work at 9:00 instead of 8:00 for Yoga. It seemed it was to be warming, but it was not much comfort at -18 when I left. My boss told me I could stay home, but I thought the rising temps would make it all ok, plus I have a lot of work that I am almost behind on.

Again almost as soon as I got on the interstate there were cars slowing for an accident ahead. I thought about getting off, but two lanes were moving at a slow steady pace so I stuck with the course. I soon saw emergency lights in the approaching lanes. Another accident seemed to be there. I never did pick up speed as many people did, but just felt safer at five miles under the speed limit.

In the detached garage the car’s temp read 4 above zero, but it dropped steadily as I was outside. I stopped looking when it got down to -13. By that point I was a bit unhappy with the strong wind that was there. Our house is so sheltered. Do cars notice wind chill?

We were to get 1-2 inches of snow later in the day; however at 10:00 in the morning big, beautiful flakes were coving the sidewalk by the library. Even though it seemed it should stop soon it did not. I finally left at 2:00 which was a little early. The road was fine for driving, but I saw four cars in the ditch or abandoned by the side of the road. I suspect the snowfall was closer to 4 inches.

Again I drove carefully on the S curve on the interstate. It is dangerous because of the curve and that it is up in the air so moisture freezes on it very easily. To get home every road I thought of has a hill so I again just stayed the course. I was so happy to get home safely.

Now just two days later our temperature is 46. Crazy!

Paula

On the Coldest Day

Hello,

It was so nice to have the water flowing and the internet up and working. There is something to be said for living in a house with other people. It really helps if you get along. We can help each other and contribute to a full life.

In the afternoon my downstairs friend came up to look at the family pictures we had taken at Christmas time. Now I just have to get them to a framer.

After that we spend some time visiting and putting together the two sided 50 piece puzzle that I got for my birthday. It was great to have some company on a day when going outside was not appealing.

An apartment building could also have that some easy visiting feature to it. Leroy and I still do not know what we will do when retirement is complete, but we have some ideas of what to look for.

While Robin and I were visiting Clark went back to the attic to further insulate the pipes. We did let it drip for one more night just as insurance that all would be well.

My pink Christmas cactus is just about done blooming. One of the violets has also almost stopped showing good color. One amaryllis bud is starting to come close to opening. Going from bloom to the next is such good timing. Last year we were gone for most of the time that the amaryllis bloomed so I am looking forward to seeing them in all their glory this year.

Tonight Leroy and I are walking to the nearby college for a faculty recital. We have gone to these in the past and enjoyed them.

Paula