Great Forgetting

Hello, Leroy and I had books to return to the library. The plan was to return them on the way to do some shopping. It seems all we do is go to the library and then shopping. But we were out of figs so it was necessary. A week is long enough without a fig. I forgot and turned the wrong way at the end of the alley. That necessitated a bit more traveling. Not impossible, but I was disgusted with myself. Then on the way to the store, Leroy kept not hearing me when he confessed that he had not put in his hearing aids. At least now I could understand his lack. At the store I realized I had forgotten to bring some returns. We only go to this store about once a month so again, I was disgusted with myself. At least it was not so busy when we arrived. I do not like to shop with a lot of people moving around. Generally, I avoid Saturday. Leroy says we are perfecting our forgetting skills. When it was warm, I did not put out the suet for the birds as it was quite soft in the heat. Today I put out a block. It was impressive how quickly they found it and pecked away. Later we refilled the seed supply. That attracted many of them. A squirrel came a bit later and claimed the space. The birds and the squirrel remember quite well where food is. Paula

The Joys of Technology

Hello, I listened to a concert with Sarah singing in the chorus. It was great to be able to hear her and see her. I am more than one thousand miles away. But can almost be there for her. It was the same for Natalie’s piano recital. Technology allows us to connect to family and friends at a distance. We can discuss world events as well as things that are more personal. Paper and pen are also technology that has not totally gone away. I like to use them. At one time in history, they were only available to the wealthy. And now they are almost a throw away item. We can find movies and TV programs that we would like to watch. It does not matter if we see them at the time they are aired. Course sometimes things happen that we do not understand and the source stops. We had been watching some older programs on TV, but it just stopped. We can still get them on the computer. It had worked to cast that to the TV, but just recently it has not worked. Some of today’s technology is a mystery to us. We are grateful for the benefits that we have from technology. We can find open hours, schedules, address, maps, phone numbers and menus. Lots of times we have no excuses for missing something. I forgot to save this letter when I left the computer. Then I did not click on the right button to save it when it opened on my return. My memory did a good job of getting most of it. But you know my first run was much more entertaining. Paula

Breaking and Entering

Hello, We got to Tai Chi and no one was there. The guy who leads it came with a key. Unfortunately, there was a new deadbolt on the door. He did not have the key for that. I called the library person who lives in town, only to learn that she was at an appointment in another city. I called the library person who usually lets us in. There was no answer so I left a message, but did not hope for much result. There is another person in town, who would have a key, but I did not know her phone number. I called another person who would have a key. She was several states away. She gave me instructions about getting into her house. A door had been left unlocked because they were expecting someone. She also gave careful instructions for finding her key. It is a short drive from the library. Leroy went with me in case I did not remember any instruction. All went as planned. It felt a bit or quite uncomfortable going into someone’s home when they were not there. I have no such compunction going into downstairs friends’ place because I have done it so often to water plants while they are gone. There were only seven of us at tai chi. Some were on line and some in house. Usually there about eleven there. It was still worth it. I did have a challenge to calm down and move into a more meditative state. There is always more work to be done. At the end of class, I put the key back where it belongs. Someone saw me coming out the door. Did they realize I should not be there? Paula

Easy Shoppping Trip

Hello, Yesterday I went shopping. Leroy told me he would rather stay home. That sounded like a fine idea. We are looking for a new squeegee for the shower. Leroy had already looked at the closer hardware store. They only had some rather large ones. At the big box store, I searched in vain for such an item. A helpful store worker found them and directed me that way. They had two, one that was $7, but about a foot wide. There was another shorter one, but it cost $11. That did not seem like a bargain. I called Leroy to get his opinion. Because the old was still usable, we put off the purchase and would do more looking. I found a denim shirt in the men’s department that was on clearance for $3. I called Leroy again. That shirt went into the cart along with another $3 shirt. Then I found some long underwear on clearance at $3 per package. Small, large and very large were all that were left. I called Leroy again. Since he usually wears medium, we discussed the sizes as well as did he need them at all. He suggested, “Buy all of them and we know where to give away the rest.” At check out, my total was the cost of one shirt, if the shirt had been full price. Bargain, indeed! A stop at a big box hardware/lumber store produced a squeegee that I purchased. On to the grocery store. I only called Leroy two more times to learn if I should buy this or that. Would it have been easier if he had just come along? Paula

Another Visitor

Hello, Yesterday, Leroy heard noises in the spare bedroom. He said, “I think we have a mouse.” The chewing noise continued behind the bookcase that holds his stamp collection. Upon investigation with a flashlight and looking behind the book case, he saw a mouse run. Not the happiest moment in my life, but not the worst either. I set a mouse trap in that room. It was one that already had peanut butter on it. It had been in the back porch, but no mice came near. I had great hopes for catching one overnight, but it not happen. I moaned a bit about that when Leroy said, “Do we have a discriminating mouse that does not want to be killed?” I don’t like the word killed applied to what I am trying to do. What does that say about me? Today I refreshed the peanut butter on all four of the traps that are in our apartment. I was here all morning and never heard a trap snap. Mice are okay, but I do not want them to live in the house with me. We think the mouse came in from the attic. I had noticed that some of the insulation on the door had been pulled out. We suspect it was that mouse. Leroy wondered if it was making a nest. Oh, great, we could have an expanding population. Paula

Temperature and Relative Comfort

Hello, We moved here 14 years ago. It was 70 degrees F. Quite comfortable for the task of carting things into the space. It almost felt hot at times. Today the high might have been 30 degrees F. Leroy walked to church. He is part of a group that counts money. He wore his warmest coat with his face covered. I went for a walk and did not wear my warmest. But it was 30 degrees so it did not seem that it should be necessary. Several people had not shoveled their walks so that was a bit hazardous with the melting and freezing. Plus, there was a brisk wind. My walk was cut short because of discomfort. It was not as warm as I had expected. Some days 30 degrees feels quite fine, but wind and damp do not make it nice. I am so grateful that the furnace runs. Hot tea was also a nice soother. According to my phone, my walk amounted to 19 minutes. A bit of that was waiting to cross streets. Lots of traffic was moving around when I wanted to get to the other side of the street. Patience is a virtue and sometimes a health preserver. I am reading the book, James by Percival Everett. It is quite good. Gives much for contemplation. Paula

Snow Shoveled

Hello, We put on warm layers to out to shovel the sidewalk. Shoveling was a bit of a daunting task. The snow was not so much, but it had drifted. Under the snow in many places was a layer of ice. We attacked with metal, scraping the surface, but still left some ice behind. We were only able to make a shovel sized path before we got too cold and had to go in. We shovel in front of our house and the two houses on each side since both of those neighbors cannot complete the task. When we were younger and stronger, they both did their own sidewalks. We surely build muscles by doing this. We try not to push ourselves too fast. We rested a good bit. I then learned that the place I volunteer was closed today. We then went back out and worked on the alley by the garage. It was a difficult because cars had already driven on it. I slipped, but did not fall on the slant by the garage because it was coated with ice. Sand should help that be safer. Later the sun came out. The sidewalk became clear and then dry. We went back to the alley and removed quite a lot of the thick ice and some more snow. It looks good now. It is to be warm in about two days and it will melt. Paula