Papers Lost, Money Pledged

Hello,

Last week I looked for the sheet that I have passwords written on. It was not to be found by me. I looked in every place I could imagine that it might have been placed. My entire grasp of life seemed to be slipping away as I wondered how I would access this important file or that important file. Who knew that my life could come to a halt just because of some sequence of numbers, symbols, or letters? At least for a day or two I got along with my memory and only needed to seek another password for one file. Leroy also did not know where this paper was, but he remembered using it since we had returned from UT. The search was on once more, but destined for a lack of success because I just looked in the same places I had already search. The next day I moved an object, saw a corner of paper sticking out and there it was. Now if I could just totally think like Leroy I would know where to look as this was close to where it belonged.

Logan and Sophia are doing a fun run for money for their school. Leroy and I have set $15 as the amount that we will pledge all grandchildren when we get inquires for support for school needs. I went on line; signed up both Sophia and Logan. Unfortunately I signed up $15 per lap for Logan. They are doing at least 30 laps bringing my pledge to at least $450. Oh no, not what I had intended. I got an email from someone either at the organization or the school asking if that is what I meant. I promptly emailed back and explained that I just wanted to give $15 total. In the evening I saw that my email had come back as not being deliverable even though I had simply clicked on the link. In the meantime Brian had noticed this pledge and talked to Leroy about it. Brian knows just how generous his parents are. Leroy tried to correct the situation on line, but this morning it was clear that it had not worked when I got a phone call from someone at the school thanking me for my generous donation. I explained that I did not want to give that much. I suppose that means I would rather keep my money. This woman was able to change the situation instantly. When I went online I could see that Logan’s total pledges are now just over $100 so my $450 pledge was gone. Whew! Life on computers can be just a bit of a minefield.

Paula

Sunday Tasks

Hello,

Today was the first Sunday choir sang in church this fall. It is great to be in the same group for such an extended time. I like the possibility of greeting people with whom I have a connection. The sense of familiarity sits comfortably on my shoulders.

Leroy’s knee has been tender so he has not been walking. I walked to church and he drove. We both stayed for a class on Islam. Because we were coming back to church to have lunch and then do a service project, I rode home with Leroy and back to the church to get that lunch and meet our group. I had planned to walk to the place that we had volunteered to clean. Leroy was taking a ride with someone else. Because I was not totally sure where this place was I also accepted a ride, but at the end of the time I walked all the way home and it felt good on this nice fall day.

At this place we did housework, but it was more fun and easier doing it with a group than when I work at home. Group housework sounds like a good idea; I would help you if you would help me. I did not actually do much housework. I cleaned computer keyboards in the computer room and then ended getting the floor of the men’s bathroom clean in the corners and along the edges as the woman who was doing that could not squat as I do and her knees would not allow a closer connection with the floor. Leroy did a lot of vacuuming.

We all patted ourselves on the back for a job well done when it was finished. It only took a couple hours. Not a bad amount of time given to make something better for someone.

Paula

In the garden + at a concert

Hello,

Yesterday I went to the garden after a hiatus of three days. In that time the zucchini had grown large or at least two of the six were large. I gave those to people who had claimed to like the large ones. I found other people to take all but one of them. I selfishly kept one of the small ones for myself. While there, a girl from the close college stopped to talk so I helped her find two cucumbers, a few onions, and some cilantro. She did not want to try okra, or edamame. I was quite pleased that she talked as most of the students just ignore us.

Last night we went to a community concert as someone had given us tickets. It was nice to see so many people from church there to make a little connection. The program was a woman who writes songs and is now singing and performing. It is more in the country music genre which I do not listen to. I did know a total of three songs out of perhaps twenty, Leroy knew one more than I did. I was also pleasantly surprised, that I did enjoy it after I learned it was country.

During intermission I set the programs (just a folded sheet of paper) down on the arm of Leroy’s seat since no one was sitting next to him. After the break a woman came and sat there. Leroy turned to me and whispered, “She just sat on our programs.”

I whispered back, “How do you know, can you see a piece of them?”

“Yes,” he answered quietly.

“Can you pull a corner of them?” I wondered.

Leroy looked horrified, “No,” he said as he shook his head vigorously.

“How about asking for them?” I wondered next with a laugh.

After a bit, this woman stood up noticed the programs that had fallen and gave them to her companions.

In the end we just figured we did not need to look at the names of the songs. I cannot tell you who the performer was as it was also on the program. First name was Victoria.

Paula

Crazy clothes hanger

Hello,

Even though it was quite dark out I planned to hang out laundry because it is my day off and the bedding needed attention. Far be it from me to change plans if I can avoid it. I checked the weather on the IPod saw a prediction of rain in about two hours, happily hung out the mattress pad and two other things. Fans were in the windows in two rooms pulling in or out the cooler outside air. It is great to have fans work in tandem. I did not hear the rain start because of fan noise. When I looked out it was obvious that the time to bring in the items had passed. When the next load was out of the washer, I hung it up on racks, because I dislike running the dryer in the summer. After all there is the great outdoors even if I could not use it at that moment. Shortly the rain stopped and the sun came out. I checked the local TV station’s radar map to learn that the rain was over for a time. I hung out much of that next load, brought in the other and put it through the spin cycle once more wringing out the rain water. After which I hung it back out. Just before I ate lunch I thought I better check on the clothes only to feel sprinkles as I went out the door. Hastily, I threw the driest things in the basket, brought them up, raced back down, and gathered up the rest before much rain came down. All clothes are inside either put away or on the rack except for one pair of socks that I overlooked. I have a big old clothes drying rack that was my mother’s. I often think of her when I use it. The only problem with it is finding a spot to store it. There, in front of me is a sentimental object that probably has little value to others, but I do not know how to let it go when I think about further narrowing of our lives. I also love to keep practical items.

As my children no doubt think, “Mom is over the edge when it comes to hanging out clothes.” Generally I do find it to be a pleasant experience. This way I have managed to go up and down stairs several times. Could that count as my exercise?

Paula

Labor Day

Hello,

Leroy and I labored on Labor Day, thankful for the chance to do that. Leroy, whose knee is still a bit painful, did walk to the garden with me. He picked edamame, searched unsuccessfully for cucumbers and zucchini. Happy that people are finding the produce. There were only two ripe tomatoes to be had as well. Now if someone likes collards and kale there is an abundance. We forgot to check on the broccoli. Hopefully it is not flowering. I do like to keep picking the small heads as they add up to a great meal. The okra is growing like it loves Iowa. Those pods get quite long and hard rather quickly. I picked all but the longest. The harvested ones were passed on to a neighbor who said he likes okra. Another of the neighbors told Leroy he likes to pickle the large ones. I hope he goes over soon and finds them. This same man also suggested that we save some for seed. We can do that, but we do not need a field of okra next year. Leroy and I also picked green beans that have put on another crop. They had been attacked by bugs earlier, but look quite fine now. Many of them were too old, but I was still able to get a lot that we will enjoy.

My kale at home looked so beautiful and I was not using enough of it so I shared some with our pastor and wife. It strikes me that I have said, “our pastor”. Life does have changes in it, who knew that I would be able to use that phrase. They would have liked some tomatoes too, but I do not have more than the small ones to pop in your mouth and enjoy. I shared all that I had.  Those yellow ones are delightful. I will save seed. Do you think I can get them going in the spring? A seed saver I have not been before.

Last evening I delivered some of the neighborhood newsletters. I got about half done. It was a hot walk with lots of hill work. But I should not complain because I only spent about an hour at it. Wednesday I will be able to finish it if it does not rain. The community garden needs rain so I would not complain. We have repaired the hose there, but we prefer water from the sky as it is more efficient and easier.

Paula

Bike to Work

Hello,

Once again I rode my bike to work. It was a beautiful day with a fall feel to it. I wore a light jacket for the morning ride and it was just fine. I do not work on a Saturday again until October 1 so this might have been my last long bike ride until spring. It is so nice to be out now the trail is not quite as busy, but there are still people to see almost every mile, walking or riding. I am happy the trail gets so much use.

On the way to work I went over a train. Luckily the whistle blowing was over by the time I got there. The wheels made plenty of noise. This empty coal train was really moving, creating a bit of a wind up on the bike trail bridge. Someone else told me it was awful to cross that bridge when a train was down there. I did not linger so I did not find it bad.

On the way home a nice sized doe deer walked across in front of me. Otherwise there was little wildlife to behold.

I even remembered to bring home all of my clothes, including one piece which held my name tag. I try to leave that at work, but I will remember to take it on Tuesday as I put it in my go to work bag.

Only about 70 people come to the library consequently I got quite a bit of cataloging done as well as sorting through some donated books. I am always astonished at the number of books we receive. Maybe because I work in a library, I seldom buy books. The rest of the population seems to buy enough to make up for my lack.

Leroy and I sat on the futon and watched a DVD. First time in four years that we have been able to sit side by side to watch a movie at home. It was nice, however, because of the furniture arrangement we both wish that we had a larger TV. I never thought that idea would cross my mind. Life changes in many ways.

Paula

Changes Again

Hello,

Yesterday at work a friend was talking to my boss about a futon that she wanted to give her. My boss’ husband said, “No.”

“I say yes,” I interjected into this conversation.

It looked quite fine when I went to see it. Leroy said, “Yes.” We discussed how we could get it before the middle of the day today. Because we do not have a vehicle that is large enough to transport it, we asked to borrow the van of our downstairs friends. It was a go. So last evening, in spite of Leroy’s hurt knee, we got it done. He hurt that knee camping, but does not know precisely how.

It was fairly easy to take apart with only one sense of excitement as some of it collapsed after extracting screws. We left the main part of the frame together to get it in the van, but at the house it was decided that we must take it apart as the turn in the stairwell could not be navigated.

We got it upstairs without much maneuvering. Now the hard part was putting it back together without directions. I had not paid much attention, but Leroy had and he did not want to wait until morning to work on it because he might forget. It was a little tricky as we had it folder the wrong way at first.

It is together and we both find it fairly comfortable. I could have bought a futon before, but I did not care much for the ones I had seen. This is much nicer. It will seat us side by side easily and even makes into a bed so we can have more overnight guests. There is more room rearranging to be done to find the perfect spot for it. As it is not we will have to give away one of our chairs. The room is too full. Can you believe that Leroy and I have gone four years without a couch or at least something so we can sit side by side? It is a want and not a necessity. When we first came here we thought it would only be for a year and half, so at first, we did not look very much to add to the furniture. I am happy to have this free piece of furniture, but my friend tells me that she is happy to get rid of it as they are getting a bed to take its place in the room so it had to go immediately.

Paula