Packing

Hello,

I am packing, finally. I have washed two loads of clothes, contemplated hanging them outside, put them in the dryer because of outdoor dampness, fiddled with the dry vent, and folded clothes. Then there is the batch of bread that is now in the oven. It is unthinkable that Leroy would have to eat store bread while I am gone. That day may come, but not yet.

Last night when I printed off my boarding pass I was reminded that the flight times had changed. I am leave two hours later than I had planned. That is nice as it gives me more time to fuss around. I even sat for as many minutes as it takes me to finish the last 15 pages of the book, State of Wonder by Ann Prachett. I had a difficult time getting started on it, but liked it by the end. One more thing off the list to do before leaving.

The hardest task is packing. It is 50 degrees here and Miriam tells me it is to be in the 80’s most of the time I am there. I keep wanting to put in more warm items. So far I have successfully slapped that notion into the background with the comment that, “Miriam has clothes that fit if I am cold”. I will wear jeans so I can be a little warm on the way. At least toiletries are easy to do since I am done fooling with them early in the day and all that can be packed without thinking much about it. Just how much does it matter if the travel toothpaste tube is expired by about a year? I figure not at all, it is coming with me.

Leroy is taking the afternoon off and getting me to the airport. He had planned on working the opposite ends of the day, but I do not think that is a real problem. He is quite flexible and helpful.

Paula

Living in the future

Hello,

I just realized that I am living in the future as I am focused on going to Salt Lake on Friday. I had to do some shopping today because I will feel too pressed for time to do it on Friday morning. Also our refrigerator was looking a little bare and I wanted to fill it a bit so Leroy will be supplied. When taking back the TV antenna the person who helped me stated that it was the second one that had been brought back in recent days. She wondered if they were worth selling. Apparently an online offer is better and of course more expensive. For now we are just happy with the old faithful rabbit ears, unattractive but attracting.

I am looking forward to seeing Miriam’s family again. I have not been there for about a year and a half. I guess my job ties me down so I do not travel as much as I used to.

Packing has not yet started, but my mind is full of it. I just do not want a suitcase sitting around in our living space. I always wear a fanny pack when flying because I like to keep those important papers attached to my body. However I heard again about the fashion no no on the radio. I will buck the trend and wear it anyway. It flitted through my mind that I could get out my tan summer purse, but where is it? I did a little looking all the while telling myself that I did not need it I have other more important things to do. However, once I am mystified I want an answer so I disregarded self talk. I stole valuable time until I spotted a box with purses written in large letters. I resisted the urge to look in there and just assumed that it would be there. Now if I can remember this box I will be all set when I return to Cedar Rapids. Leroy will go the week after I come home. Miriam is starting school. Leroy and I are becoming chief child care people for two weeks. Leroy will leave the car at the CR airport and I will find it. Scenes of me wandering around the parking lot at the airport have played through my mind. Leroy is going to tell me where the car is parked, but will I understand that? My concepts are perfectly clear, but Leroy’s are a bit fuzzy at times. Luckily it is a small airport with a small lot.

Paula

Working

Hello,

Yesterday was a day when students did not go to school; consequently I had a busy library. On Monday afternoon I work alone. Eating my evening meal became a stretched out spastic affair.

We show a movie on these no school days. The number of kids, usually elementary age, hasn’t ceased to amaze me. Most of them have access to movies at home why would it matter to come here? Maybe we still like sharing an experience with others. They tend to get treats be it sugar loaded or popcorn and settle back on the cushions or chairs. Often the movie is one that is new on DVD and no one has yet checked it out. That adds some to the specialness.

The attendance for the movie was down, but I think that was good. Or it was just all good kids who were there. One dad asked his children when the movie was over, “How was it watching on the big wall?”

Given the enthusiastic response I might guess that that is why they like to come.

Summer is coming. That means the busy season. I did evict a boy and luckily his cronies all went with him. I will have to get my evictor polished for the days ahead when some of these kids use the library as a recreation hall.

Today for work I will have a coworker with me and there will be school. That probably means it would have been easier to handle this day by myself. The library will probably be quiet as they once were in the past. I enjoy my fellow workers so I am looking forward to it. I will be better able to get some cataloging done. I am not so good at doing that at the front desk with interruptions. If I am at the front desk I try to do things like attaching barcodes, or stamping the books. Or anything else that does not take much concentration.

Paula

Trip South

Hello,

Yesterday, Leroy and I made a trip south to Burlington. On the way we saw some wildlife: hawks, a duck, a coyote, and lightless cars flashing past in the deep fog.

We even left a bit early because of the thick fog that allowed us to get a dim view of our neighbor’s house. Twenty miles down the road the fog started to dissipate and in about ten more miles it was a distant memory.

The church was celebrating their 125^th anniversary. It was fun to visit with the people in the church where Leroy grew up as well as served as interim pastor just two years ago. I am not sure why, but I am always a little surprised that I find so many people to talk to. Generally I am afraid I will be standing around wondering what to do as people connect all around. Instead we had a hard time leaving because we were still talking.

I even learned something new from reading about the colored windows in the church. They are not stained glass as I had thought, but color is infused in them. It does give quite a different look, more like a painting.

On the drive it was fun to note that the trees had more visible leaves and blooms as we went south. Seems it should not make that much difference since it is not really a long distance, but it is different. We also noticed that there was so much more water standing around with creeks and streams up to the banks.

It was a nice relaxing time off.

Paula

Good and Bad

Hello,

As with most days there is some good and bad. Should I tell the bad first so you are left savoring the good? Because of the sharp edge that my tongue feels on the last tooth lower right side, I believe a piece of my crown has fallen out. I thought I could ignore this until my appointment in two months, but I will do something about it as it is now bigger. I am unhappy thinking about the cost, but glad that we have the money set aside for “emergencies” for which we have no insurance. I am also disgusted because I just got this crown in Burlington about two years ago. The old 17 year old crown was not bad, but the dentist felt that a new one was in order because of the receding gum line. I have two other crowns that are now about 19 years old and still holding their spot and doing a good job.

So, on to the good, I went to the Ely Garage sales this morning. I found some good looking hooks that we can use in the closet or perhaps at the bottom of the steps to hang our jackets. I found a new lunch bag. Mine has some holes starting to form. I also found a flowerpot and some cards that show constellations with glow in the dark stars on them so they can be more easily matched with what one sees in the night sky.

The real valuable find was a wild flower in a lawn. I would not have noticed it, but a woman walking ahead of me leaned down and got excited because the violets were of the robin’s egg variety. It is white with purple spots all over it. I believe I have never seen one before. She said she has only seen them once before and this stretch of grass had quite a number of them. I am happy that some people are not so into killing weeds that I could still see this treasure. I even picked one and brought it home for Leroy to see. It is still alive as its stem rests in a jar lid with water in it.

Paula

Closing the barn

Hello,

I remember a saying from my past, “closing the barn door after the horse is gone.” Just in case you do not know what that means the door should have been closed so the animal would not have escaped. I had thought I would not do such a thing, but I just did. Leroy had been complaining for some time that the mugs were tea stained and they should be bleached. It was never the right time because of clothes I was wearing, clothes he was wearing, or I did not want to be bothered.

We had company last night and again I thought about those mugs when we served tea. Today I bleached them and they look wonderfully clean when no company is expected.

These people were from the past as they were members of Leroy’s first parish. We had a terrific visit. When we lived in Missouri Valley I used to walk over to their house for a visit with kids in tow. It was always good. I must find some neighbors that I can just have casual talks with here. I miss that. One of the blessings is that they took the turntable from our stereo system so it is starting to leave the house. Getting rid of things is not always so easy, especially when we do not take the time to post them on line. I guess we want people to magically appear who have just wanted this piece and will joyfully take it.

For granola, I buy sesame seeds from a bakery in a grocery store. When I first came to town they wanted to charge me a $1 a pound, but I insisted I should pay $2 as I knew they were worth more than that. The price has risen steadily through the year. This week it got up to $6.99. I think I will have to look harder for a local source. Before we moved here, I had been paying $5.00 for organic and these are not organic.

Paula

Rabbit Ears

Hello,

After returning one antenna, Leroy and I bought another more expensive type. Expensive means better, right? Well our low tech ancient rabbit ears still win the prize for the most stations pulled in with the clearest picture. How to explain that? Is it because we are still using our old TV? Is it because there is some type of interference for the new technology? We had thought that we would get a new antenna before we get a new TV. We might just wait and see if we can think of a way to mount those great ears on the new TV or close enough to it that they can be used. While looking at the antenna we almost bought a new smart TV since they have now put that intelligence on the smaller models. Leroy and I do not want a big TV that we have to drag around with us. But now we remember that we can just hook up the computer with the new TV’s. We don’t need smart. So we light TV usage people will probably just go with less rather than more.

When writing the rent check I made $50 into 50 cents when I wrote out the numbers. It was correct in the first slot. The bank used the second entry so we had to write an additional rent check for $49.50.  I am going to try to set up direct deposit. That should make it work. Once I have done it correctly one time.

It is so warm out that it edges towards uncomfortable. I say body adjust, but wait tomorrow is predicted to be quite a bit cooler. One thing that is sure the trees have shown explosive growth with leaves and flowers. I do like spring.

Paula