Passports

Hello,

Our passports expire in September. Even though we have not planned any out of country trips at the moment, we, especially Leroy, like to have it ready perhaps so we can leave at a moment’s notice? Leroy picked up two forms at the post office. I filled out one, half way, only to realize that I had made a mistake in putting in the date. I used the dd/mm/yy form that I have adopted since we have lived in Slovakia. The form was asking for the USA method. I thought if a person were reading this form I might get by with it, but a computer is perhaps only programmed one way. Leroy will now have to stop and get more forms for himself. He did say, “I thought about getting extras so we could make some mistakes and still get it done.”

In my defense, it makes such sense to me to go from the smallest date unit to the largest unit. The way people in this country use the mm/dd/yy system is not truly logical. Who set it up that way in the first place?

There are other illogical ways of doing things in this country. I do not know how we got such a cumbersome linear measuring method rather than using the easy to learn metric system that is based on tens which is understood so readily. It means more time is spent teaching such things in school.

I also learned, while in Slovakia, that our money system is also not as easy as other systems to know how many coins equal a dollar, etc. again money comparisons is almost not taught because it is so clear and easy to understand. After all, what relationship is a dime to quarter? Size does not help because a nickel is larger than a dime, but worth less. Why do we not write on our coins, using a numeral, the number of cents it represents? One of the Slovaks told me about how difficult it was to know what coins to use when visiting the USA.

We certainly have no national or cultural philosophy that feels visitors should be helped with any of this. Instead we expect them to buckle down and learn our ways as well as our language.

Paula

Sunday for Leroy

Hello,

Leroy was a participant for all three services this morning. Perhaps it is because that felt like a day of work rather than a day of rest, he vacuumed this afternoon. What he did not know was that I had shared in my small group that I do not do house work on Sundays. Because he was doing that vacuuming I moved some small things off the floor such as a foot stool and our book baskets. Then I departed some more from my Sabbath rule by shaking our four throw rugs.  Ultimately I realize that I cannot blame Leroy for this as he did not even ask me to do it, but I do not like to vacuum without out moving those small things.

He had talked about vacuuming yesterday, but tells me now that when he thought of it he did not feel like doing it, hence the delay. Leroy had a “to do” list in his head and we managed to do all of the other items on that list.

It was quite fine to walk to church this morning because the wind was at my back most of the time. I wore my tallest boots, mostly because they are comfortable to walk in and because I anticipated melting on the way home so the waterproof quality would be an asset.

Many people had shoveled their walks so it was a grateful person who went by sending good wishes their way. The places that were not clear were fine if no one had walked there and I just sunk into the snow, but the frozen footsteps were a bit more treacherous. All in all, the walk required concentration along with giving some physical exercise. Leroy tells me that he thought he did not need boots so on the early morning way to church he walked in the street much of the time. On the way home it was more challenging as there was more car traffic and he had to use the sidewalks where both snow and water in the crosswalks presented problems.

Paula

Snow Shoveling and That Lantern

Shoveling and that Lantern

March 24, 2018

Hello,

Leroy and I went out at 7:30 to shovel this wet, heavy, spring snow. It packed well as it dripped into piles. It was definitely exercise! I noticed that our neighbors, one set who seldom shovels, had already been out. “Look at that,” I exclaimed, “They have already shoveled.”

“I am not surprised as I heard someone shoveling at 4:00 this morning.” Leroy responded.

Life is full of wonders.

After about three hours we went back out and again shoveled that cement sidewalk which we could no longer see. I am thankful that we did not wait much longer as the snow was again heavy with increasing wetness. It has snowed since then, but there must be enough heat in the sidewalk to keep it melted because it is still clear.

I almost feel nervous about admitting it, but I like snow, especially when I do not have to drive anywhere. We were aiming to make snow people, but that did not happen. In spite of the snow being packable it did not want to hold together well enough to make people. I settled for a snow bunny. Leroy took a picture, but there is not enough contrast in the snow colors to see it clearly. Here is the link so you can guess what you are looking at beside my boots. 

Leroy did not understand that the lantern was only seven dollars. He had understood me to say that it was seven dollars off. He did not talk about it, but I will go to the service counter next time I am in that store and see if they will take more money from me as I do not feel right about it. Then I can sleep more comfortably.

Paula

Camping Lantern

Hello,

Last week I bought a camping lantern that was on sale. It required batteries. The next day Leroy and I were out shopping and discovered a lantern with a rechargeable battery. After an extended discussion that seemed like the more practical item since we like the idea of rechargeable. This morning I took the first lantern back and purchased the second. At the self check out station I was astonished to see that the charge was a mere seven dollars because on the shelf the price was listed at something over $20. There was a store worker in the area. I caught her eye, she came over, and we discussed possibilities. “I believe this should have been over $20” I told her.

She looked the slip over and noted that it said the proper brand of lantern. She thought that it was probably on sale and no one had put up a sign.

I brought it home, but I feel a bit guilty as I cannot imagine that the sale price would have been so low. I am still wondering what to do. Should I write the company?

I am a bit ashamed to say that if the difference had stretched in the store’s favor I would have pressed harder for a solution, perhaps even insisting that someone go and check the shelf or check the barcode. I really do not want to gain from a mistake, but part of me really wants to gain. Oh that human nature that I carry around with me has more sides than I like to admit. Stuff down and hide anything that I do not like about myself is one of my operatives from time to time. Leroy, who toes the ethical line much more firmly than I do, did not really comment on what I should do about it. Do I just like to “get by with something” and pretend it never happened.

Once when Leroy was in the seminary, the bank somehow gave us about $10 (This might have gotten a week’s groceries.) more than they should have. When I went back to correct the mistake it became a big time consuming deal of tracking it down as I had brought it up about a week later. It almost seemed that it might have been better if they had not known about it, although they did tell me that it goes on the teller’s record so that person would have been happy to have it corrected.

Paula

Gross!

Hello,

Yesterday I went to the toilet, peed if you want to know, stood up pulled up my pants and felt/heard my Fitbit snap off my waist and into the unclean toilet. Gross, gross, gross went through my mind as I quickly stuck my hand in to rescue this round quarter sized object. I quickly got it out of the case and rinsed it off. The display was still there. So from feeling gross I went to feeling relieved and happy. Even after it was dry it still worked.

That is certainly better than my phone that stopped working after a granddaughter, long ago, threw it in a toilet. Can’t remember if it was clean or not, but it still did not work after rinsing, drying and putting it in rice. The Fitbit is a smaller item in the overall scheme of life, but I really did not want to replace it, especially after I had just purchased a new battery for it.

I now wonder “how did I change diapers for both children and grandchildren”. The real mystery is that it did not bother me too much and had even become a normal part of life. Is it all in attitude? Especially when a loved one is involved?

If I ever need such care, I hope someone will be around me who can clean up and not be too grossed out. The real gift will be treating it like a small occurrence in the scheme of things.

On another topic, our church book club is reading A Man Called Ove. I have read that before and enjoyed it. It was fun to start it again. I seldom reread a book, but I am ready for some laughs. I have recommended this book to many people. Some people do not like it at all. That always surprises me. But then I do not like all the books that others have recommended to me.

Paula

Saving Pots

Hello,

I am a great believer in reusing and recycling, however, that belief can make life more difficult rather than simple and smooth flowing. Flower pots to do not often go in the garbage at my house, consequently I have a stash in the garage ready for use at any time.

This morning I looked for two pots to use for the two other violet stems that are growing in the lone pot. The violet leaves are hanging in a lackluster droop. Could they be too crowded? I have potting soil, but alas only one of the pots on hand seemed to be the proper size for new growth possibility. To make do, should it be bigger or smaller? At the moment a smaller one caught my eye. Because of the coolness in the unattached garage, the potting soil and the two new pots, one of the really is new, are now residing in the bathroom closet to warm up and keep them out of my line of vision. Clutter is not tolerated for long before my brain is stressed and complaining.

Because I do not know much about violets and transplanting, an internet search is in order. What did we/I do back in the days when there were no computers? I remember talking to a number of people until I found a successful violet grower and siphoning off knowledge along with encouragement and a bolstering of possibilities. It did not always work as planned, but it was good for the soul. Sometimes I was given even more than I asked for.

There are some beautiful violets at the church. I scrutinized them yesterday, looking for hints of the best way to proceed. I did not learn much, but that the people who were sitting close were great at causing the death of violets. Now the internet fills many information needs, but no talking is allowed. Perhaps that is why I now spend so much time talking to myself.

Paula

Popcorn

Hello,

First I have to confess that I do not gravitate to microwave popcorn. We own a stir crazy and I am a big fan of popping corn closer to the old fashioned way.

I like the popcorn brand that I am now keeping in my freezer where I have been told it helps the corn to pop more efficiently. The popcorn is large with few “old maids”. Why do we call unpopped kernels that?

My only complaint about this popcorn is that there are a lot of hulls so I try not to get them caught between my teeth and gum line where they can lodge uncomfortably until extracted.

Once, at the grocery store, I decided to try the store brand. After all this store’s origin was in Iowa so surely they had good popcorn. It did not pop to the great volume that was achieved by the corn that has an Iowa origin. I took it back to the store to get my money back on this inferior product. The money was cheerfully refunded as had been promised even when I told them that the grown in Iowa corn was better.

I remember that my dad grew popcorn some years while I was in college. At school we often made popcorn as a treat. Others would frequently ask where we had gotten the popcorn. I guess Illinois; my home state is close enough to Iowa to grow good corn too. I was always proud to say that it had been homegrown.

On the current bag of popcorn there is a Warning: “Kernels will explode under intense heat.” I am happy to report this is true.

Paula