Riches

Hello,

The last time I worked, my boss who was cleaning out the back room said, while beckoning me to follow, “Have I got something for you!”

When she pointed to a large, square, (maybe three gallon) bucket I was very pleased indeed. Leroy and I can always find a use for such an item. It has a lid so I might even use it to store something more delicate like rice that I have in a fifteen pound bag. Then I learned the downside, this bucket still contained leftover frosting from making the gingerbread houses.

Because he knows I hate to throw away anything, even things I do not like very well, Leroy wondered if I was going to use the frosting. Getting Leroy’s attention, I responded with a resounding, “No, I am going to throw it away.”

I did that even though it was a little hard emotional task. I sealed it in some other smaller plastic containers and put it in the garbage since I suspect it is good for no animal. I felt badly about not recycling the containers, but once it a while I guess it is ok.

While things were being eliminated at the library I asked about the almost empty ice cream bucket in the freezer, after all it had been in there since last summer. I brought that home as well, let it sit out over night, dumped the remainder in the yard, and hosed it down hoping it was ok for the grass and ground. My boss even told me she would keep more ice cream buckets for me since they eliminate them frequently.

Now I am rich in re-usable containers. I am so happy. No longer can I use no scrub buckets as an excuse not to clean. I am building a reputation as a person who will use the refuse. So I may collect other unexpected good things in the future.

Paula

In the neighborhood

Hello,

I took an early morning walk into a part of the neighborhood that I seldom go to. I should go there more as it is uphill a good bit of the way, giving me more of a workout. I saw this perfect statue of a deer on a front lawn. As I was wondering why I had not noticed such good work before it flicked its ears and then twitched its tail. As I got closer it stepped back a little before it darted across the street. I had thought there might be deer around here, but I have not seen one before. It was beautiful even though probably unwelcome. I remember how vigorously they can eat prized plantings. Is my lettuce safe? At least on my street the houses are packed a bit tighter and there are a number of dogs even though those dogs are inside at night, they still might be a deterrent.

Another tree has come done across the street. I was sad to hear the roar of the shredder yesterday as all the branches and much of the trunk disappeared. I suppose it is on the city rotting list just as the one next to it. After the workers had gone I did look at that trunk, to discover that more than half of the diameter was no longer supporting life. These were both big old trees that contributed much to the shade and ambience of the street.

The city has been good about replacing them so I expect to see a planting in the fall. Since many of these houses are 100 years old the trees are ancient as well.

I was able to plant a tomato, three peppers and an eggplant in our front garden. Leroy is gone so I picked out the spots. He will be fine with my choices and just happy that I got the job done.

Our landlords were gone for a few days so I was the only one in the house on Thursday night. Even though we have quite separate spaces I was aware of being in charge and responsible. Guess I am not ready to live alone in a house.

Paula

All in a day’s work

Hello,

Yesterday at work a women asked my co-worker if two of us working there would witness a signature on a social security form. That seemed like an ok idea. Hoping it would be ok, I said, “Yes we can watch you sign and then sign it too.”

“Well, it is not my signature. It is my mother’s.” she said. “And it  has already been signed with an X.”

Oh dear what is all this with no mom in this room, I wondered as I asked, “She could not sign it?” I am also wondering if her mother is alive or not. I know that she had been quite ill and in a nursing home.

The patron had me read the part on the back of the form that stated it could be signed with an X and witnessed by two people.  My co-worker said firmly, “We cannot sign this.”

I was so relieved to hear her say that. I was busy trying to work my thoughts around what was being asked and how to handle it in a diplomatic manner that I was tongue tied. The patron was not very happy, but I too did not think we could sign as witnesses when we did not witness anything. Seems to me the word witness means to see or be present. Her take on it was that we just had to see the mark and sign rather than see it being put there.

Something else I would like to know is what boy is using the toilet, filling it with so much paper that I have to plunge it. Not my favorite part of working. I suppose that would be one perk to working in a larger place, I could call a custodian to do the dirty work. At least I have had experience with this task in the past so I do know what to do. Probably not a good thing to do, but I once asked the man who reported it if he would do the plunging honors if I gave him the plunger. He did help me. For which I am grateful.

And you thought librarians sat around reading books all day.

Paula

Leroy teaches me

Hello,

Last night as we were lying in bed I asked, “What do you know about the 008 field? Do you use it?” Do you suppose any other couples have had this conversation in bed?

Leroy started to go into a rather lengthy explanation. “I cannot remember this stuff; I will have to come visit you to see what you are talking about.”

That is just what I did today. I now know more than I did, but I am not sure I really want to know or know enough o correct errors in the field. According to the ILL(interlibrary loan) group our catalog records are 18% corrupt. Not wanting to be corrupt, I asked for a list of the bad records. The result was a rather cryptic report of 58 pages. These are just one or two liners that tell the title or part of it and what the error is. When I glanced through it I saw that many of them refer to the 008 field which I have never dealt with. To say the least it is difficult to repair something that has many parts none of which I knew about before now. It was helpful for Leroy to go to library school after computer catalogues were in rather common use. I learned the paper card. Then when I was working I did go to some workshops and learned a lot there, but there is still more to learn. Leroy tells me that he also learned much more at workshop, but his workshops were later than mine.

Leroy came home in a great mood. He likes dispensing knowledge.

I rode my bike to Leroy’s work place. Spotting my bike helmet, two people asked if I also ride my bike to work just as Leroy does. I felt sad to say no, but it is about 13 miles for me instead of three and I work until 8:00 two nights and go at 8 one morning so it is not really easy for me to do that. If it were only five miles I could do it like a breeze.

Paula

Night lights

Hello,

In my house there is no need for a night light. Inside there are numerous lights that are on all night. The ones that come to mind are: clocks, two individual, plus one on the stove and one on the microwave. There is the phone which has a small red light on each unit. The main phone unit that brings in the signal from the internet has a blue glow that can be quite bright. I try to remember when I dust to leave it in the low light position. Swiping across it is how the intensity is changed. Our wireless router contributes to kitchen light with its two or three green lights. In the bathroom one toothbrush glows green when the brush is charged. The other turns off. I have a little glow in the dark snake snuggled next to a luminous rock sitting on a bookcase in the hall. Outside there are street lights, alley lights, motion lights on the back deck and porch, and sometimes a great full moon. We barely know what darkness is.

I am always surprised when my grandchildren want a night light. Even though I pull out that assistance, I wonder what they want it for.

Last Friday Leroy and I visited with the social security office so I am now going to get the spousal benefit of Leroy’s social security while he continues to earn. I will also earn, but it also does not matter. This seems to be the most advantageous move for us. It was good to have some expert help. I also got the feeling that this particular maneuver is not one that can be done without guidance. It was quite easy to get to the office since it is just across town. The appointment was met exactly on time so Leroy felt it was a good use of his time as well. It will be nice because my Medicare payments will come out of the check so I do not have to pay that on my own. Leroy, because he suspended his benefit will continue to pay his Medicare bill. I thought it would be nice if both could just come out of there, but it does not work that way.

Paula

Life Changes

Hello,

Tis the season of graduations. We have gotten three notices of such. Yesterday we attended a graduation party. As Leroy said, “It has been a few years since we have done this.”

It was for the daughter of one of my co-workers. I have met the daughter and her boyfriend who were having a combined party. The introverted part of me did not want to go. With the overcast skies it was almost easy to talk myself out of it, but I dearly like my co-worker so, for her sake Leroy and I went. It really was not so hard because I had met her dad, stepmom, and mom when I helped her move. It was nice to reconnect with those people. We even had a crazy picture taken in their little photo booth. When I attend an event such as this I am always surprised by my comfort level after I get there, but getting there takes quite a bit of effort on my part. I did scan that crazy picture and put it on Facebook, but it is rather small and not worth further display so unless you are friends with me on Facebook you will not see it.

I remember being told by another high school student that she had always thought I was “stuck up” until she got to know me. I believe that was just me strapping on my courage armor so I could manage social situations and hoping no one would notice that I was uneasy.

Our next door neighbors are going to have the big old tree that graciously spreads its branches over our back yard, taken down. We will miss the wonderful shade it provides as well as the squirrel entertainment that happens there. This is the tree in which I have seen young squirrels testing out the world. Apparently there is some concern that the tree might come down in a big wind storm which we have from time to time. I understand this feeling, but I would still wait a year or two. We will notice this lack of the many benefits it provides.

Paula

Raining

Hello,

Leroy and I went to the community garden yesterday. Four other people joined us. One woman and I pulled weeds, making great progress. It amazes me how fast the work goes when there is someone else to talk to. The other four hauled and distributed mulch. That also went so much faster than one person working alone. Now if we could just pull in more people from the neighborhood we would really feel that we had accomplished something.

The rain ties in with this because I felt that ground in the garden needed water. I am always so happy when we do not have to use the hose and apply it. Considering the size of this garden that is a rather lengthy process. When the fire station was by the garden one of the neighbors, who is also a fireman, did the watering. He told me it took him six hours to do that. Not such a terrible job when he was doing other things most of the time and just moving the hose now and then. That might sound like am not grateful that he did this, but I am so pleased that we did not have to do that for one year. I suppose I could read a book or weed if there is a need.

Leroy and I walked to church in the rain. Under umbrellas it was fine because the wind was gentle. Leroy has a golf umbrella so he is well covered, but he tells me his arm gets tired. My umbrella is small making it light but I was careful where I placed it and the angle was of concern from time to time. Much of life is a trade off isn’t it? There was more rain and wind on the way home, but we made it in fine shape. I am grateful for that rain.

Now all of my onions and other plants by the house are drinking it up.

Paula