Life is a mix

Hello,

We went from a refreshing visit with friends to learn that at the same time our landlady was involved in a hit and run accident. She was not the one who ran, but still has some sympathy for the guy who did. She was not hurt, but her car is now in the shop waiting for some attention one way or another.

Our older car may be soon leaving us. It has a major problem that we will learn tomorrow if it is cost efficient to fix. Leroy and I are not the worlds enthusiastic car buyers. Both of us think it would be great if a car landed on our path with a sign that said, “I am just what you want for a fair price."

The car we truly want/need and a fair price are mysteries to us. Sometimes we know when we have a car that does not meet our needs, but not often. Prices are just vague ideas.

Happiness and sadness are often right next door. It is just a question of rolling with both or either. Sometimes it just takes a little longer to have downer situations get in their proper place. Happiness seems to climb aboard in short order.

Life and people can be full of surprises. I made a dish for supper that is called green rice. It has spinach and tofu in it. It could have been good for a non-tofu aficionado because the tofu was blended and added like cream.  Leroy was quite amazed that I even followed the recipe, except that I heated it in the skillet instead of the oven. I wanted it finished faster. We both liked it, but though it could use more flavoring. The left over portion will be subject to some experimentation. At the table Leroy added more pepper and then rosemary. Why he thought she would help I do not know.

Paula

Great Day

Hello,

We had such a great day! Fairly early in the morning we headed out of town to visit friends in a neighboring town. This was someone who had been in Leroy’s seminary class. There was another former seminarian there visiting from MN. What a wonderful renewing and uplifting experience to see these people once more. We spent much time laughing, talking, and sharing. That is one of the perfect gifts of life.  We had not been in the same room at the same time with all of these people for perhaps forty years. We had seen each of these couples some in the intervening years, but not frequently. It was fun and fortifying. Even something as simple as taking a group picture turned into a laughing extravaganza.

On the way there, I was driving; Leroy was privileged to see a beautiful bald eagle resting in a tree. Now why we think bald eagles are so exciting to see, but do not feel the same about bald men, I am not sure. Of course, if we know and love the bald man we might get excited.

He, my bald guy, also saw two hawks swooping around doing their thing. I just kept my eyes on the road and tried to avoid cars.

Tonight I took my two mile Lenten walk, but it turned into a 2.79 mile walk. Even though I am in a city it was so refreshing to be out. I like the country better, but I tried to ignore the cars except when I crossed streets. The trees in this neighborhood are tall towering affairs sporting the random birds nest or more likely squirrel’s nests. It is nice to see them silhouetted against the setting sun. It was brisk and invigorating. What a gift to be able to spend time in the outdoors refreshing my body and spirit.

We are both working tomorrow so that should be good too.

Here is a picture of our group

. And one of Leroy and I.

Paula

Car Troubles

Hello,

Our older car (1999) has been having a hard time starting. When Leroy had the tires rotated the person there checked the battery. It was low so we had it changed and almost immediately the starting issue developed. Early today we dropped it off at the place to be checked. Unfortunately there were no forms in the box for Leroy to tell them what the problem was. So he just left the keys, thinking he would call later. In half an hour he called me to tell me that the phone was always busy and would I just go back there now that they were open and talk to them. What an old school idea! Talk to people directly! I called for at least another hour with the same result as Leroy. Once it actually rang for more than a minute and then was cut off.

When I went to the place, I explained that we had left the key, but there was no form to let them know. I explained the problem, signed the paper, and commented that their phone was busy all the time. “That was the phone company’s fault,” one guy exclaimed, “they had the phone off the hook.” There is another old school idea with the phone “off the hook”.

Hopefully we will have a second car that works in the next day or two. It is hard to imagine that about two years ago we were seriously talking about having just one car. Now I look ahead and think it will be quite a problem for both Leroy and I to get to our places of work tomorrow. Today was easy, because I am off, I took him and will pick him up. Unfortunately our work hours to not jive, instead they do a strange dance.

Also adding to the excitement this morning was the malfunctioning garage door closer. Leroy left ahead of me. I tried to close the garage door, but it would come down a little way and then go back up. After a couple tries I got out using the switch inside with the same result. Then I noticed that a board might be covering the beam, moved the board, but it did not help. Then I tried closing it manually. For some reason I was unsuccessful. At that point I decided no one was out trying to steal anything early on a morning with negative temperatures and drove off to pick up Leroy at the station. On the way I had to stop for a garbage truck, and almost every stop light that was on the path. Leroy did tell me he wondered what had happened to me. I could have called him, but I am not so good at using the phone in the car. Seems like an unfortunate event waiting to happen.

On the way to Leroy’s work we stopped at our garage and he was able to shut the door. We will wait for warmer weather to check on that situation. For now I am saying that Leroy can park on that side of the garage because he is strong enough or tall enough to get the job done. I am just a weak, helpless female. Another old school idea?

Paula

Fastnachts and Library work

Hello,

Leroy and I had fastnachts on Sunday with the church staff invited. I think Leroy was disappointed that so few could come. It was to annual meeting after church so it was a very full day. I, and my introverted self, felt quite comfortable with the smaller group. It is so much nicer for me to have a small gathering where I can spend some more time with someone. We also only had to make one batch of the recipe and that is good too. It all came out just about right. I do not make these donuts very large and I am always a little surprised at how many can be eaten. It is quite different from any donuts that can be purchased. Maybe that is the draw.

Yesterday I worked at the library, but before I got there I did some library work. Granddaughter, Olivia in Utah called me with a plea for some library help. She needed to do a report on George Herbert Walker Bush and was unable to find any books in her library relating to this subject. I thought there will surely be several books on him even if not so many in the children’s area. I questioned her about what she was seeing on her screen as she did her search. We did not get anywhere with that tack. I then told her that I would log into their library’s web site. I thought it is a county system. When I asked Olivia how she finds the web site, she said, “It just comes up.”

Well I had to do a little more searching for it, but felt sure I had the proper place when I saw the name of her branch flash past. I then did a search on Bush. It was not quite as seamless as it might have been, but I worked past any Bushes that did not apply. I will have to confess that I do not know which George Bush is which with their middle names. I just refer to them as the older or younger or the father or son. Luckily Olivia knew the proper name. In the end I was pleased to find five books for younger patrons. Great that I can do library work long distance. What an assist all of this technology can be.

Paula

Saturday Work

Hello,

Both Leroy and I worked today. I worked a little longer than he did. He felt tired after he came home, took a nap on the floor, and when he woke his inner ear was full of fluid. That is the down ear. He also said his hip hurt. I suspect he did not move the entire time. Now you should know that we have two beds here, neither of which was occupied. It is not unusual for him to choose the floor. Do other 66 year old guys do this or am I married to one of a kind?

He worked at the museum in the morning and then did a nursing home service in the afternoon. I am not sure, but I would imagine that he frequently looks at a schedule to figure out where he is to me. I rarely know where he is.

I was busier with people than I thought I would be. Because of the cold and the wind I thought many would stay home. But we might be getting used to the temperatures or people felt they need a movie or book to keep them occupied. It was not summer time busy but just a steady stream.

There is a lot of work on my desk and I thought I might be able to get more of that done than I did. Next week is another chance to help the pile get smaller. I do like to be busy so it will be good.

I was so grateful for a car that starts and keeps me warm while traveling. Life could be so excruciatingly different. Just think, these materials endure the temperature extremes and do not complain while wrapping us in a cocoon.

Paula

Dead Microwave

Hello,

Wednesday night when I used the microwave it made quite a lot of noise and created a strong smell of burning plastic. Leroy came home at that moment and noticed the smell immediately. I tried running it one more time, but quickly turned it off declaring it done. We had purchased this machine on the 24^th of February 1997. We believe that it has given about as much as could be expected for almost 18 years. The only problem is that I hardly know how to live without it. I use it every day. Before we got one, I was sure that I did not need such a luxury. How attitudes change! A new one is needed immediately.

Today at work a friend came to the library. Knowing that she has things at her place from other family members, I asked if she had a microwave to sell. She had one that she could loan us until we get a new one. How is that for a deal? Seems like the best to me since we do not know much of anything about the best one to buy. We are now talking size and power. How much is enough? We would like to have the minimum to meet our needs.

Yesterday I chopped and moved quite a lot of ice off the alley. Ice can be seriously heavy stuff. At one point I got the chopper under quite a large piece. I stepped on the handle, levering enough space to get my fingers under. The only problem was that I could not lift this piece and then I could not get my fingers out. I had to step on the handle again to give just that little bit of clearance. I had visions of being trapped in the alley with my fingers under this heavy chunk of ice. Luckily I had not slipped the chopper out before putting my fingers under.

Now I do not worry about getting stuck on those icy spots that are left because there is plenty of pavement for traction. It is much colder and it would have been quite a bit harder to take up ice today. I am so fortunate to have been home yesterday when the sun worked its magic warming the pavement loosening the ice sitting on it.

Paula

It is all relative

Hello,

First I should let you know that Leroy’s sore wrist is magically better as of yesterday. That second fall, when pushing the car, seemed not to affect him at all. After he hurt his wrist he told me that his throat was not noticeably sore because it was so much less pain than the wrist. Does that mean if you have a pain you should create a worse one somewhere else? When I was growing up, I read a story about someone cutting out the hole in their blanket. I am sure you can see where that was heading, a cold sleep experience.

Gas prices started to fall and I was pleased to get gas at lower and lower cost. Before I went to MN Leroy filled the car with gas that cost a mere $1.77. On my way to Brian’s I purchased some that cost $1.95 and thought to myself about how much that was even though a short week before that $1.95 looked very good and competitive. Than in the Cities I felt I had better purchase more gas because I could not make it to my favorite station in Clear Lake, IA. That city gas was a terrible $1.99. With a sigh I filled up knowing that it was better to have it than to run out of gas on the road. I was so happy to find Clear Lake gas to be $1.77 again. Good old Iowa!

This week however, the stations that I see have now raised prices to $1.99 and just yesterday it was $2.09. I bought gas at the $1.99 and thought rather philosophically that change was coming once again. I did not want to disparage Iowa, after all. It was still much lower than it had been in the not so recent past. Our impressions of high and low prices change with time and circumstances.

It is also amazing that when we have had temperatures below zero for a few days we find ten above to be much warmer than it had been when we came at it from a higher temperature. Does this all point to our adaptability? I hope so.

Paula