What a Morning

Hello, I have had some bowel issues so I needed to collect four samples. I was not excited about doing it, but instructions were clear. I soon had two vials filled to the proper line and in the refrigerator. There were little jars and in bags so nothing was exposed, but it felt a bit vile anyway. Oh, the new learning that can happen. The next little bottle had a stubborn cap that popped open all at once. Oh no, it had liquid in it that I had not noticed. On the floor a bit of it went. Should I continue? Would it matter. I suspected it mattered since instructions were so dictatorial. But I put in the required amount anyway and moved on to the last thing. Those two vials were to be stored at room temperature. The splitting tree is still standing and taunting us with its vigor. Someone is to come today to look at it, but the rain was coming down quit strongly now. How much weight does that add to a tree? The lab opens early so I aimed to get there around 7:30. The front desk opened the door. When I got to the lab, I found the lights to be off and no one there. Back to the desk where I learned they were to be open at 7:30. She called around to find them. They came a bit later. I turned the collection in, confessing my goof. They did not know if the spill would be usable as the amount of liquid was required, but would call to check. They sent me home with more correction materials, but said they would call if it was needed. They did not call back so hoping I am good. Later we learned that the tree had moved a little bit more. The tree guy said that the position of the split holds it for a while longer. He is looking for a crane high enough to be safe taking the tree down. On the plus side. I have felt better today than I have for days. Although, I still want to know what is causing my discomfort. Paula

Exciting Times

Hello, Just when I think everything is the same stuff, something happens. Leroy and I went for a bike ride this afternoon because we are going on a CROP bike ride tomorrow. It is only a little over three miles so we should be able to handle that. Leroy finds that if it is too hilly, he is bothered and might have to walk up the hill. There is only one short hill tomorrow. There was a bit of hill today and he managed. I have only ridden my bike one other time this spring, but I think I too can make it just fine. After we got home from the ride, I was getting a snack and looked out the kitchen window. I noticed a light-colored streak in the neighbor’s large old maple tree. Leroy came to take a look too and he agreed the tree is splitting. It was not like that before we went on the ride. I ran downstairs, and out on the deck for a closer look. It was indeed split. I pounded on our downstairs friends’ door. I was wondering if they had the neighbor’s phone number. They did not come quickly, in a panic remembering when a branch had come down from this tree in the past, I ran to the front of the house and rang the doorbell. Again, they did not come quickly enough for me so I ran to the neighbor’s and rang their doorbell. This time I waited long enough for them to come to the door. I think they thought I was a bit excited when I told them about it. They did go out and look. As of now they are trying to locate a tree service. It does not help that this is a weekend. We moved our cars out of the garage and put them on the street. Then we moved the bikes onto the back porch. We also took pictures of the things we have in the garage. Hopefully, the tree will not hit the garage if it comes down before it can be removed. It looks very possible now. I like those big old trees but they are a bit of a risk. The picture is to give you an idea of the size. The split is almost between the two large branches or trunks.

Paula

Trying to Remember

Hello, I heard a master garden speak. She talked about cutting back the fall sedum so it would regrow and remain upright in the fall. I remember those words, but cannot remember how low to cut it or when to cut it exactly. Today I decided it was tall enough so I cut off a good bit of height. We are getting rain now. Seemed to me that should help it recover. It looks a bit short and pale. Then I have been trying to remember how long I have been taking one of my meds. Previously I had written it down. I am glad to have that record, but have not added to it since we have been here. I took it for a while and then stopped for a while before starting it again at the urging of my primary care giver. I am not sure how to “wade” though the electronic records that I find. When I go to the office again I will have to ask how to navigate on that web site. I learned of the death of one of my high school classmates. It shocked me a bit. We are not that old. Paula

Mirrors Everywhere

Hello, Usually, I spent little time looking in mirrors. After all I do not care to see how much older I look by the minute. I can pretend it is not true. It was nice when I had cataracts and could not see my face clearly in the mirror. Blurry was a fine illusion. Today I was in a room that had mirrors on one wall. I did not notice my age, but my posture. I was slumped over a bit. Shoulders up and back improved my look considerably. Maybe I should be surrounded by mirrors. Would that help my posture? Certain more regular moves for strengthening the core would make a difference. I usually get my steps, but not the stretching or strength work. Strange that I used to do moves with great regularity and Leroy would do almost nothing. Now we have switched roles. He does them when he gets up, but breakfast takes my attention and then so does the rest of the day. Only later do I realize that I have not worked out. Mirrors would remind me to get at it if nothing else to move my shoulders into the proper spot. Paula

Storm or Not

Hello, Leroy did not walk to bible study this morning because there was a light rain when he left the house. It stopped soon after he left and stayed away until after he came home. When I left for church, for my study, there was no rain so I walked. People came in after me and asked, “Did you walk?” “Yes,” I replied, “it’s not raining, is it?” “It is raining and quite a bit.” was the reply. “Hopefully it will be done when we are,” I rather confidently said. Well, it was raining and quite seriously. I jumped in the offered ride. It is supposed to be a strong storm when we go to choir so I suppose we will drive just to be on the “safe” side. Because there is to be hail, we might park in the parking ramp to protect the car windows, etc. It is fairly close to the church. It is good to get the rain as it has been dry, but it would be nice if it did not come violently all at once. Sometimes we forgot that the weather is one thing we do not control very well. Paula

Still Not Understanding

Hello, Leroy and I will have been married 55 years in June. As of yet we can still have misunderstood conversations. Sometimes I think Leroy reads my mind and then again, I think he does not have a clue about how I think. Today we have had two convoluted conversations. The first was about AA batteries and whether they were good or not and where said batteries had been placed. How this can occupy ten minutes time I do not know, but it did. I, of course, was perfectly clear and understandable. While Leroy’s talk was a mystery. In the end we figured out what the other person was trying to say, but it was a struggle. Later we talked about knives. Guess we should just give them names so we each know to which knife we are referring. At least we did not stab each other. I know some people name their cars although that seems to be out of affection rather than the inability to tell them apart. We do not do that, but we know when we say, your car and my car which we are talking about. Or we might use the brand name. There are times when we have a very clear conversation and I guess that keeps us at it for a bit longer. Paula

Picture Taken

Hello, There was a “photo booth” set up in church on Easter Sunday. We did not have our picture taken. I did not say it, but thought it was a bit silly. Today someone our age, came up and said, “I just had my picture taken. It was so easy. You should do that.” Leroy and I have not had a picture taken of the two of us for some time. We were dressed decently and my hair looked fine It was really all done with computer. There were just three instructions. How to get started, that three pictures would be taken, and how to transfer them to our phones. With help from onlookers we got arranged in a good way. Then Leroy was even laughing because of comments. I think they all turned out quite fine. There is someone standing too close so we have the side of their arm. On the app that these photos are on, I could not find a way to crop the pictures. When I uploaded it to FB, I could crop it so I like that photo better.

Sometimes people complain about technology. It can do amazing stuff if one just knows how to use it. Paula