Just a Short Note

Hello,

Just a short note to let you know that Leroy only worked about and hour and a half yesterday. Today he expects to stay the entire day. He is better, but not 100 %.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with surprises and new insights.

Paula

And

Leroy

Leroy Feeling Better

Hello,

Leroy stayed home from church. That is a hard thing for him to do, but he did not say too much that he wanted to go. He did have a slight fever when he woke up, but it was not there when I came home from church. It stayed away all day. He tells me that the pain has almost disappeared. Now he mostly feels weak.

His museum office Christmas party was this afternoon, and he very much wanted to go to that, but he finally called in the afternoon to let them know we would not be there. Because it is always a little more effort for me to go I was rather pleased. Leroy asked, “Do you want to go by yourself?”

I was somewhat taken aback by such an idea. It takes fortitude for me to go with Leroy and without him would take a whole arsenal of courage. These are nice people, but I do not really know them and that makes it hard for me.

Tomorrow is my office Christmas party. That is not at all work as I spend quite a bit of time with all but one of the staff members. We are inviting the city council and that is all ok because it will not be for so very long. I might even know some of these people as well. My comfort level is all about knowing people.

Finally I have finished all of the Christmas cards I am going to send. I even walked them about five blocks away so I could put them in a mailbox on the corner. One job done! I have now purchased all the presents that I am going to buy. Two jobs done! I will not wrap the things that we are taking to Brian’s house, but I have gathered bags for them. Three jobs done!

It is nice to have finished some tasks. I even listened to Christmas music this afternoon while working on cards. It was enjoyable.

Paula

Leroy is sick

Hello,

Leroy was complaining last evening of abdominal pain that struck and disappeared. Apparently it came intermittently thought the night as well disturbing his sleep. He did not have to work today so that was good. I left him with some bedding in the dryer and instructions to take care of it when done. He did that, but not a great deal more. This evening when I came home, I took his temperature and it was just a slight rise up to 99. He then took a “nap” if you would call it that late in the day. He now claims to feel a bit better. We will hope for health tomorrow. Certainly we are thinking he should be better when it is time for us to head to MN on Wednesday.

I worked today. There was a steady of stream of people. I thought the count would be high at the end of the day, but it must have been that they were nicely spaced. I did get some things off of my desk, but I am not sure that anyone else can tell. Most of my time was spent at the front desk. I even shelved some items because the cart was too full. It was fun to talk books with people. It is especially nice when I find people who agree with my idea of a good book.

I added a new movie to the collection, put it on the shelf, looked for it later to add it to the list of new titles, only to search and search for it and not find it. “Could someone have taken it?” I wondered. I looked in slightly less likely places to no avail. Just when I had given up, I decided to put away some DVDs on the cart and there it was in a lineup. Did I put it there and not remember? I am starting to wonder about my ability to keep track of things.

A friend gave me some of her delicious homemade bread. Leroy and I ate some for supper and declared it worthy of praise.

Paula

A Day Off

Hello,

Yesterday was my day off. One of my friends was moving and I had not quite committed to helping with that. I had asked if she had enough help and she said, “Yes” but somewhat hesitantly. Tuesday night I got a strong feeling that I should help. Calling after 9:30 in the evening is not something I usually do, but did it anyway. The relief in her voice could be felt over the airwaves when I told her I could come in the morning. Originally I planned to just be there in the morning, but it was not until 3:00 in the afternoon that I left when two high school boys came to help.

I was probably about the third most agile and strong of the people who were there when I was; consequently I climbed a lot of stairs. I did not move anything that I thought was too heavy and I set my limit a bit light. It seemed the wiser course to just keep going since there was plenty of lighter things to tote around.

Today my calf muscles are letting me know that they put in a big day yesterday.  It is especially noticeable when I have been sitting for a longer period of time and then move once more. My arms are a little tender however my back has no noticeable problems. I did try to remember to stand up straight with my shoulders back so my whole strength could be applied when lifting and carrying. Guess I just could not stay away from the moving process for too many years. I have to keep up my skills.

I have yet to wear my new coat, but it keeps getting a little colder so maybe soon I will have to get it on. Now for sure I have to find something that will make a nice gift for Leroy. I can think of some things, but I am not sure that I should pick them out as he knows more about some of them.

Paula

My Tummy

Hello,

This morning Leroy asked, “Why does your tummy stick out? You are not over weight.”

Well, I agree with the not overweight. I am perhaps more likely underweight. My reply went like this, “I am not standing as straight as I should, and my core is probably not as strong as it should be.” While making this response I straightened up, sucked in my stomach and looked in the mirror.

Then Leroy went on to add, “It seems many older women have protruding stomachs. Why would that be?” As if I am an expert on older women!

The mysteries of life, but do we really want to contemplate such things? I did not tell Leroy, but I suspect that everything is hanging down inside and it has to go somewhere once it all hits the non giving pelvic bones. The back bone I have does not let it go in that direction so out it must come.

I could not resist a little dig at Leroy and said, “Your stomach has been sticking out since I have known you. It looks better now than it used to. I have always felt that it is out because of poor posture and a weak core.”

Somehow this did not seem like a positive conversation so it was dropped by both participants. I have to confess that I am trying to sit up straighter today. If I were smart I would start doing more exercises that would strengthen my core. But that is just a thought. I am certainly not going to lose weight. I now weigh less than I did when I graduated from high school. I should perhaps build muscle. Not that sizes are the same, but I wear a much smaller size than I used to.

Paula

Sunday

Hello,

The Christmas letter is done enough that Leroy could proofread it. I call that progress. Leroy also found the last box of decorations. They have been displayed to their full advantage. It was so warm today I cannot imagine needing a down coat in the near future. Where are those cold days from just a few weeks ago?

This morning the church choir did their special presentation in honor of the Christmas season. It all sounded good, but I find I must be getting old as my mind wanders during a piece sometimes and I get caught wondering just what I should be singing. There are only five sopranos in the choir. Thank goodness one is young and she is on top of all of what is going on. The hard part is that we were split 1^st and 2^nd parts and then it means only two voices on one part and three on the other. All the other voices have more singers so we have to push to be heard sometimes.

In the bulletin this morning the prelude was attributed to Marty Haugen. I turned to the woman sitting next to me and said, “That is not Marty Haugen.”

First I have never heard of him composing an organ selection and second it did not sound anything like his other music that I am familiar with. Sure enough when I talked to the organist he said it was a misprint in the bulletin. I did not know that composer, but I am pleased that I could recognize who it was not.

I played the piano for a nursing home service this afternoon. At least this time the Christmas decorations did not interfere with opening the lid and putting music on the right spot. Any mistakes I made were just ordinary mistakes that I have to take the credit for. These people were not quite as active as the last group and they straggled in after Leroy had started to do his thing. Leroy is nicely flexible so it is not a big deal.

Paula

With Leroy Shopping

Hello,

Leroy and I did our little shopping trip this morning. It is so wonderful to check the times that stores open so we could plan our route. Grateful for the internet that provides that information. We even got home about an hour ahead of the time that Leroy stated was the end of all this “fun”.

We made a decision to use the wall clock that I had gotten as nothing else appealed to us. Then we got some molasses, of the blackstrap, organic, unfiltered type. Gingerbread will be made someday.

Unplanned, Leroy got me a birthday, Christmas present. I have a new down coat. Not that I was looking for a coat, but just happened to see it. I was not going to spend so much even with 40% off, plus another $15 because we spent over a certain amount, and an additional $5 subtracted because we are such great people. It was because we are great people, right? Anyway I always buy coats when they are on clearance and hopefully even less money would leave my hands. However there was only one coat on the rack that was my ideal size. I could have worn a small, but as usual the sleeves are a bit short for me and when it is cold that is not fun. Also I would have liked the blue but when she looked online the only one in medium was the same color as the one in front of me. She called it red, but it is really to the side of red. Somewhat like burgundy or some other color name that I cannot possibly extract from my brain. She did say they have been selling a lot of these coats. Last year I was unable to find a down coat that fit at the end of the season. So I got this coat. Leroy declared it a bargain and said, “It is your Christmas and Birthday presents together.”

That mollified my guilt a bit. On the way home I realized I did not put up the hood. “What if it does not adequately cover my head? That was the problem with my last down coat.”

Wonder of wonders, it fits beautifully. Now if global warming goes somewhere else, I will be all prepared for the cold or we might have to move north so I can justify this purchase.

That Leroy is such a decisive shopper. We now have two small gifts for each grandchild to open. What will I do when these kids get too old for the joy of small gifts? Maybe it has already happened with the oldest and I do not know it.

Paula

Napping

Hello,

I might not be as well as I thought I was. Today I took an hour nap. After falling asleep in the chair I slipped into bed and woke refreshed later. For a non-napper that is a lot of napping.

The morning shopping trip was not as productive as I had hoped so perhaps that wore me out. I looked for those odds and ends of things to buy the grandchildren so they would have something to open from their grandparents. I assume that they care little for the check that we give their parents for their college funds. Last week I found several possibilities. Today all those things seem to have disappeared from the store. I looked for some things for Leroy and came home with nothing. We draw names among the adults and came home with nothing for my name. I only like shopping when it produces a result.

Last night Leroy and I put up the Christmas tree complete with other decorations. But I am sure that we are missing at least two things and I do not know where to look for them. Leroy wonders if he missed a box.

At least our tree lights work. Sometimes that is an issue. The Christmas card/letter is still waiting for some attention. Maybe tomorrow? Leroy and I are going to do a little shopping in the morning and then he is working in the afternoon at a nursing home service. He has another service on Sunday afternoon. I will play for that one. He tells me that someone else will play tomorrow. Leroy is calling on congregation members who are over 80 years old. Today he visited with a couple that have a diet much like ours or even more so. They eat no refined sugar and no wheat.  We certainly agree on the importance of fruits and veggies. Leroy is enjoying these visits that he makes. There are certainly some interesting people out there.

Paula

Ready for Christmas?

Hello,

I have been asked by some if I am ready for Christmas. The question is not the problem that the answer is. I usually answer something like “almost” or perhaps, “some things are done”. When really, almost nothing is done, by the standard that many are thinking about.

For instance our decorations will go up next weekend, or perhaps Thursday evening because we do not put them up so far (by American cultural standards) ahead of December 25. I think two weeks ahead is nice. I have not written a Christmas letter, however, Leroy has started to address envelops. What a guy! I do not bake for Christmas so I guess that is done. Although I think Leroy would like to have some krumkaka, a tradition that we learned when he was at seminary. So we will make some of them, but it might be during the Christmas season. Sarah and her girls might like to see what happens when we do that. They will spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s with us.

I have yet to purchase a Christmas present. Leroy is in the same position. My head is busy thinking of possibilities, but nothing has happened. Just now I realized that I have not thought about what to get Leroy. He loves those presents, so I must not forget. Did you notice the plural on that word? It should be more than one for him to experience more contentment.

Am I ready for Christmas? We light the advent candle, open a window on the advent calendar, and read devotions. We are ready for Christmas in terms of contemplation and reflection time, sitting in God’s presence.  The other things will get done in good time or maybe not.

Paula

Wellness is here

Hello,

I am declaring myself well after 24 hours without a fever, low grade or otherwise. I am still coughing, but not so much. I even feel like moving around more.

The amaryllis bulbs are now in the compost bin as they were frozen solid in the garage where I left them to their own devices which could not deal. I do not think that has happened in the past. Am I getting old that I would forget? Surely new ones will make their way into my life. If not Leroy is happy to have one less green plant around here.

Our desk top computer is moving on to a new life. It joined us in December 2006. In recent days we had hardly used it because it was going slow. I asked Leroy to do his great job wiping it clean and starting over. That worked, but he was unable to get the software for the wireless internet connection to work. It seemed we had no joy in just storing it. Leroy was going to take it to a store to recycle, but I asked a woman in the congregation who has access to many people and their needs. She found someone who would have a use for it. It will be going to its new home as soon as moving details are in place. Both Leroy and I are ready for this change. Leroy also wants to get rid of the desk on which it sits. I am not quite ready for that as I would like to move the lap top off of this desk and use it for my journal writing desk. In time I might come round to the idea of getting rid of that desk too. It would certainly lighten our load a little more and I am a firm believer that that is a good thing. As always it is easier to get rid of something that I do not use so much, or something that Leroy is more attached to. We could do a good job cleaning out each other’s space.

Paula

Maybe better

Hello,

As of 2:00 pm I still feel fairly well. I am cautious making a statement because I was that way early in the last two day s and it did not carry through to the end. One person at church told me she has been coughing for ten days. Another man talked about being sick for two weeks. Some of these things just hang on longer than they are welcome. Maybe they are not welcome, but we can tolerate them for a reasonable amount of time.

Leroy is again at church participating or rather leading a service for people who feel loss during the holidays. I figured one walk to church for today would be enough. Also this year I do not have the need. This church has never had such a service so they have no idea what to expect for a response.

Leroy is at least getting four miles of fast walking done today. I do have to keep working to stay with him when we walk. I think I have not been walking so much with him and notice that I must be moseying instead of charging. That guy is good for something. Amazing how he sets the pace when walking, but dawdles in his thinking and speaking. Rather he takes the time to consider many possibilities before words come out of his mouth. Sometimes that is good and sometimes not.

I hung out bedding yesterday. They froze in the morning, but thawed in the afternoon. Just to be sure we could sleep on them I did put them in the dryer for a short time. Love that fresh air smell when we get in bed. I am so grateful for this place that has a permanent clothes line out there so I can use it year around without wrestling with possibilities. Apparently there had been discussion of getting rid of the clothes line poles before we came as no one used them. When I heard that I said, “Please do not do that until after we leave.”  They will stay and they have new lines attached.

Paula

Playing the piano

Hello,

I did go play the piano at the nursing home. Rather it was for assisted living so these people were quite active. Someone had decorated the grand piano. Unless I removed those decorations I could not use the music rack. My creative solution was to place two hymnals behind the open hymnal proping it up. An additional book was needed in front to keep it from falling forward onto the keys. This worked fairly well as long as I stretched my neck to its fullest extent and tilted my head to get the right lens coverage with my bifocals. Luckily we only sang three hymns and just two verses of those. One of the women commented before I started, “You have a problem.”

I certainly agreed with that assessment. At least I could, in my mind, blame all errors on the lack of proper line of sight. Oh, then I forgot to say that I could not read the bottom line because it was hidden behind the book in front keeping things in place. Some of that I guessed at and some I did not play or just played the wrong notes.

I suppose the decorations were nice but I did not feel so positive about them. Is this piano rarely used or does the person who put up the decorations not know how it is played? Or maybe some do not need to use music sheets. At any rate all people there seemed to be quite forgiving and we managed to praise the lord with what we had available.

I have to confess that I had that slight fever again last night and it is back this afternoon, “slightly” higher than it had been in the past.

Leroy has renewed his driver’s license. This time he made sure he had all the proper ID’s before he drove across town.

Paula

Time Flies

Hello,

I thought I would get ahead of the game and work on the Christmas letter Thanksgiving weekend. Guess what? Nothing has been done. Well, maybe a little something. I have located some Christmas cards, Christmas letter paper and thought a little about what I might write.

We do not decorate until about two weeks before Christmas so that is not a problem. We do, however, have our advent wreath set up and lighted twice a day. The greens are still in the box as I am enjoying looking at the wreath which we purchased when we lived in Missouri Valley. I thought I might put the greens out when we get out the rest of the decorations.

I did not feel so very good when I got home yesterday. Just to make me honest, I had a low grade fever of 99. See I am not a total hypochondriac. This morning I felt ok so I did some grocery shopping as well as looked for replacement gloves for me. I especially like the tired pair I currently wear. Unfortunately the chain store where I purchased them did not have anything that remotely resembled it. At another store I found something, but it was a ski glove and not quite as dressy looking. Course I must be dressy, you know.

This afternoon I will go with Leroy to a nursing home to play the piano for the worship service. I just hope I am not passing on any germs. I will hand sanitize and cough discreetly. Actually this afternoon I am almost not coughing at all. Whatever this is it seems to be moving quickly. I wondered if it was sinus irritation. Now if I just felt a bit peppier it would be wonderful. A nap might be on the agenda. Scratch the nap, Leroy just called and told me he would be here soon.

Paula

Wishes

Hello,

How to make sense of getting my wish and then not feeling totally happy and wishing for the reverse? I had been fussing about all of the fresh garden produce that was occupying our refrigerator. Now we are down to just a few carrots and a couple parsley sprigs. I mourn the hibernation of the garden and its bounty. Am I never satisfied? Yes when I remember the beauty of that largess and the continued benefit from the canned items and the full freezer.

I wish I lived closer to all my children. If such a thing were to happen would I regret not being able to travel to visit them? I do find the travel somewhat of an adventure and I like having interesting places to go.

I like having a job, but some days it interferes with my life, especially when I need or want to go see those children and grandchildren. Somehow I think Leroy has a better grasp on the lack of absolutes in life. He has often expressed the idea that there is a great deal of grey out there with not so much black and white.

Then I wish I could remember where I put the amaryllis blubs. I cannot think the same way I did when I dug them out of the ground just a couple months ago. I am a bit afraid that I might have put them in the garage where they could get quite cold. I believe some cold is to their liking. Because it has been so cold, I am not sure that anything is still living. Are they really somewhere else safer? But where would that be?

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd is our book club book. I like it and hope to have it finished by Sunday when we meet. It could lead to some interesting discussions. According to studies, reading fiction is beneficial to the brain. I am glad to learn that one of my hobbies is right in there.

Paula

Grumbling

Hello,

I just tried to balance our check book and savings account. It got farther apart the more I worked on it. Perhaps Leroy should take back that job. I have done it most of the time, but lately it has been less than successful. I wonder if my switching numbers is getting worse as I age. The unfortunate thing about switching numbers is that I am not aware of it. Grr!

On a more positive note, Leroy and I are once again getting adjusted to the time change. Friday I did have to take a two hour nap. Napping almost never happens for me. Leroy was also very tired, but that is not so unusual. Last night I slept though until morning here. Since we have been back I have been waking at 4:00 and unable to go back to sleep. How nice that is!

We have no plans to leave this time zone for at least a month or two. Actually we have no plans for such in the future. Somehow the future seems to change in ways we do not anticipate so I do not want to go too far out on my predictions.

On a very positive note, Leroy and I went to a concert called Dvorak on Dvorak at the museum. It was quite fine with a lecture interspersed among the selections. The instruments were a Kasper Strnad viola from 1790, Emanuel Adam Homolka violin from 1832 and a Jan Baptista Dvorak violin from 1883.  All these instrument makers were Czech. This concert was a cooperative effort between the Czech Slovak museum, the U of Iowa Museum of Art (They own the instruments.), and Orchestra Iowa. We both learned something about how European stringed instruments have changed over the years, and why they changed. Besides that we liked the music. And then because we have a small car there was still space to park in the underground parking garage so we did not have to battle the winds.

Paula