On The Move

Hello,

This morning, Leroy and I again went on an early morning bike ride. It is truly the coolest time of the day in many ways. We saw several geese families with teenagers getting their fill of something hidden in the grass. Leroy spotted a bright blue bird. We are not sure of the species, because we zoomed past too fast to identify, but the color was eye appealing.

The flowers were still blooming, adding to the beauty of the day. We ride around the lake and along the trout stream for a good distance. The stream section is shaded by the trees. I did put my fitbit in my pants pocket so it recorded 6,000 steps for me even thought I was riding the bike.

Close to our house we went on up the trail so that I had a trip of 11.89 miles. I am now confident that on Saturday I will be able to ride the 12 miles to work. That harder part might be coming home, especially if it is still up in the 90’s. Leroy has assured me that he could come get me if needed. I could even start on the journey home. There are several places on the trail that he could connect with me. Course once I am out there, I am not likely to call him, but will just keep encouraging myself.

We do go to the symphony in the evening, but it is late enough that I will have time to shower and eat. Mahler will be the featured artist. It reminds me of a time at the symphony in Bratislava. I had thought my cell phone was off. Even though Mahler wrote many loud and boisterous pieces, my phone rang in a quiet place. I got a lot of glares, especially from the Austrians. At least they did not know my name.

Paula

Young Birds

Hello,

Last night I opened the door to the attic, turned on the light, spotted a young bird huddled against the stoop, let out a gasp, turned off the light, and shut the door. Leroy came to have a look. This time a flashlight shinned on this bird sitting in the same place. After a call to our landlord it was decided to let it go until morning when better brains might prevail with a solution.

In the morning Leroy’s brain came to the rescue. He felt that he could take a cloth, put it over the bird, put one hand under and one hand over, capturing the bird preparatory to taking it outside. I found an old towel, handed it over, and opened the door while standing out of the way. The little brown and white bird had moved, but just to the other end of the step.

Leroy immediately put the towel over it, one hand under, one hand over, grasped gently, told me to open the door, went onto the deck by the bird bath, and released it. The bird quickly flew away from us, landing on the ferns where an adult swooped down with much chattering and sat on the close by fence.

A little later Leroy saw another young bird that had left the nest and landed in the grass. A starling also seemed to be overseeing the flying lesson.

What a nice day for birds.

Paula

Outside

Hello,

Leroy announced he was going for a bike ride at 6:00am. I went along and was so glad that I did. It was the most pleasant time of day with cool temperatures and few bugs. If we could just bottle and keep that it would be great.

It is so beautiful at this time of year I do like to go out and soak in the green of the leaves and grass. Along the bike trail we rode past one place that was awash in white and lavender colored tall phlox. It reminded me of taking a mountain hike in Slovakia with a guy who knew the names and seasons of many wild flowers. What a blessing!

This evening we went for a walk which became abbreviated because of the gnats, flies and other unidentified aero-bombers. Usually a walk is relaxing and refreshing for me. Today I was just happy to get back in the house. I am grateful for the air conditioning that works.

I hung clothes out this morning and battled with the seasonal gnats that saw me as a target. The one good thing about them is that they are only around for about two weeks or so.

Leroy had intended to work on bikes today, but decided that he could not deal with all of the gnats so he read a book and started another. Seems to me, that guy reads too fast.

Even though we rode eight miles this morning, my Fitbit does not register the biking as moving so it looks as if I was somewhat of a slacker today.

Paula

Wasted Day?

Hello,

I really had thought I might have my toenails removed so I was planning a day with my feet up and a bit of pain. Because that did not happen, I had a hard time getting anything done.

My schedule was basically blank. It is hard for me to deal with that. I had gathered some movies that I might like to see. Finally I did watch one of them and enjoyed it. Even though I do not take such breaks in the middle of the day.

Leroy and I are going to have an open house in July for our half birthdays which will celebrate our 70 years on this earth. I will be 70 ½ and Leroy will be 69 ½. We are just inviting people from church as well as the staffs from our work places. That will be many people if they all come which I do not expect. Two of our children will also be here.

In preparation for that I did look though a photo album to gather a few pictures of us. The notable fact is that there are not so many pictures of Leroy and me, but many photos of the children. My sister made an album for me using my childhood photos. I am not sure that I would have chosen the pictures that she did, but it is nice to have it. Last year we went to a 70^th birthday party for someone else. I am not sure if my family was just not into it or what, but I have no colored photos from the growing up years whereas that man’s photos were all in color. Was that color a later add or were they on to new technology that my family knew nothing about? Could it have been too expensive?

I will have to say that I have always thought I was not very good looking because I looked like my mother. She always talked about her unattractiveness. There was no doubt that I looked like her because people would say, “You are Jessie’s daughter, aren’t you? You look just like her.”

 In looking at these pictures of myself as a young adult I think I do not look too bad and maybe even good in some of them. If I get a boost it is not a wasted day, right?

Paula

Tech Works

Hello,

After a long stretch of no this or that, all seems to be working. The internet has been strongly available for the last two days. The green lights are on, steady, and holding.

This morning I talked on the phone with a cell phone service agent who was able to get my phone working. Yesterday I spoke with a woman, who easily reactivated my service, but she was unable to get my phone connected, however she gave me a special number to call along with a code so I could speak to someone. Apparently it was an upper lever tech person. I only spent about 10-15 minutes with the guy this morning before he was successful. He called my phone a smart phone. It is a flip phone, he explained when I protested, with a different operating system. It seems that is the reason the connection was not working. Something needed to be changed from my old phone operating system. I will have to learn how to use this phone since it does not work just as my old model did. Those brain cells just keep getting a workout.

On Sunday Leroy put up, temporarily, our rain gauge and wind velocity recorder. The reason they are temporary is that he did not have time to do the secure method and he is not sure about the best place to put them.

They work. We could see how much it was raining almost at the moment it rained. The wind has hardly been blowing; also that gauge is in a rather protected spot. Which we knew, but we still wanted it up. The highest recorded wind speed is four mph. It is fun. By pushing a button we can see the rain and wind levels for the last hour, day, week, month or year. How is that for up town? I had no idea I would think this was so much fun. In the past I was just fine, knowing only the temperature which allowed me wear the appropriate clothing and feel comfortable.

Paula

Phone Woes

Hello,

Our Internet was down mid morning so I could not deal with the phone until afternoon. At that point I had decided to just use the IPhone with the service recommended by a friend. I chatted with an agent there to learn which of two choices I should use; one I learned was powered by T-Mobile and the other by Sprint. Because Leroy’s phone service is T-Mobile I chose that. When I tried to order the sim card I was informed by this inanimate object that there was no service in my area. At that point I was disgusted and quit. My next step was to buy another flip phone just so I could have a mobile phone. However just now I spent over half an hour chatting with an agent only to learn that for some reason they cannot reactivate my account. I am to contact them again in 24 hours.

I am not sure why it is so hard to deal with my cell phone. I have had problems in the past that required the manager higher up the tech ladder to get the issues solved. For reasons I do not understand Leroy does not seem to have such dead ends. Why am I so special?

I should go for a walk in the woods to soothe my soul. Easier would be to sit under a tree.

Leroy and I did buy some veggies and some marigolds for our front raised beds. We thought it would rain, but all it did was sprinkle. If it does not rain overnight we will water in the morning.

I remember being told to play elephants and tigers when things go wrong. This means that you should think of the good things in your life.

At least my health is good. Leroy and I get along well even when I backseat drive.

Paula

Internet and Phone

Hello,

Last night when I tried to get on the Internet it could not happen. Our home phone is powered by the modem and it also could not work. That meant I had no connection to the outside world from my home. Such a narrow existence! When Leroy came home we at least had his cell phone. This morning I thought about the millions of people who live with that on a daily basis. I can survive without these luxuries, but I do not want to do so.

I unplugged the modem several times when the phone finally started to work or at least I could call Leroy’s cell phone, however he did not answer since he was sitting right there. He was also able to call the home phone which I did not answer because we were in the same room. Internet was not available on the computer. This morning there was no phone once more. Leroy and I both rebooted the modem several times. Leroy had the lucky touch and the phone came on once more. After he left the house I tried to call him, but the connection was static city. The internet did not come up. Finally about an hour later the internet was on, but I could not access the phone company to chat.

Just now I did that and learned that this Iphone phone was not compatible. To buy another flip phone is only $20. I am wondering if I should do that so I can use the $80 that I figure I still have with my old phone. Or should I sign up with another company and if I ever find my old phone reactivate it and use it for calls? Life has more decisions than I want to deal with. I think I will go read a book. Is that called escape?

Paula