Zoom

School is beginning everywhere, but nowhere as it was. Public schools and universities are hosted by teachers via zoom classes. Now there is a new noun or adjective. In the past zoom was used as a verb to denote moving something quickly(i.e. Cars were "zooming" by on the street). In the new context, it is a virtual meeting by internet from multiple locations. We will see multiple faces on a screen in an effort to share and learn during isolation. 

Just so you know, I find this method of meeting lacks a full experience for learning, visiting or sharing information. That could be the result of my inept technological ability, however I find grumbling on many fronts. Clearly I am not alone in my frustration.

I write this missive today in hope that months from today this period will be only a sad memory, reminding me that I was blessed to survive these weeks.

Just Fix It...please!

The first month of the new year isn't over and we have suffered all the trauma we wanted for the year.  Little Brown Dog had to have surgery to repair a torn meniscus and ACL repair (well that's what we would call it if she had a human knee), actually a ruptured cruxiate! Ol' Abner had a serious reaction to Cedar pollen and we found ourselves in the ER on a rainy Tuesday afternoon that extended into an evening thunderstorm. At the time, Dog was still in her cone and could not be left home alone.  She rode with us in the back seat.  When the storm was at it's worst, the ER staff suggested she could come in to the treatment room with Ol' Abner.   That had a calming effect on both of them. Meanwhile I had begun to experience the telltale scratchy throat.  It didn't help that I was soaked to the skin in my journey to the parking to bring dog inside. My umbrella was under the driver's seat, but I was more concerned with getting the leash attached and maneuvering her through the automatic doors with her cone clad head and shaky legs.  By the time we returned safely home, I was miserable.  The hour plus drive down Interstate 35 in pouring rain didn't improve my attitude.  Luckily Ol' Abner and Dog slept most of the way home.  I shed my wet clothes and took a warm shower, then fell into bed. I was not rewarded with immediate peaceful sleep.  I began to cough and couldn't stop...Ol' Abner slept, Dog fretted. It was a long night. By morning, he was much better, I was much worse. That's what marriage is all about, right, alternate misery?  He has spent the last three days bringing me soup and running household errands.  I have barely left my bed except to recline on the sofa.  Today, I feel human again.  I did cook a pot roast sometime in the fog and we had that to eat at intervals for a couple of days, and now he's off to restock the pantry.  At some point I was so determined to be well that I took a long hot shower, then scrubbed down both bathrooms.  A four hour nap afterward, still left me feeling as if I had been hammered about the head and shoulders.  I do NOT tolerate this form of abuse (even if it is imaginary retribution for belittling Ol' Abner's drama).  The stitches have been removed from dog's leg and she no longer must wear the cantankerous cone.  With all our ailments on the mend, the telephone has taken a powder and refuses to connect.  Will this month never end?

Setbacks, Sidesteps and Destinations!

I am overwhelmed, disgusted, frustrated and aggravated! That said, I am already feeling a little better.  I will vote Thursday in our little town where early voting can happen. Our air conditioner has decided it's a good time to implode and sacrifice it's compressor.  The political rhetoric is disgusting and beyond belief.  Ol' Abner is out looking for a portable cooler that can later be moved to his playhouse after the AC repair is completed (in about a week). I have four quilts in progress and some progress is evident but sewing time keeps being delayed while I deal with other issues.  Daughter has ongoing health issues and I feel helpless to make it all well.  I will go assist if I'm needed, but no point getting in the way if her highly capable family can power through with her. Ol' Abner had biopsies a couple of weeks ago of some skin lesions and the dermatologist called to schedule a follow up (scheduled at the time of the sampling) and the caller was unaware of his Friday appointment.  I am a little concerned that additional intervention may be needed.  We will know on Friday.  I made plans months ago to attend the Houston Quilt Show and I'm driving to Houston Friday afternoon ... unless another crisis requires my attention.  Dancin' girl lucked into some FREE tickets and I can hardly wait to divert my ticket money into some goodies for sewing fun. 

OK! I have invested a half hour of my time sitting at a computer keyboard and moving to this blog to vent my frustration.  In the grand scheme of things, there is nothing here that cannot be resolved. Time is tight, but I do work better under pressure.  A few minutes ago, we received a message that rearranged all priorities.  When Ol' Abner retired, we choose a competent broker to assist us with financial planning.  His skill was enhanced by an assistant with like-minded scruples.  She was always on top of our financial schedule and made sure he was apprised of all our strange concerns.  Moreover, we came to consider her a friend as we shared news about children, retirement, vacation spots and homes. She was just a little younger than me, but her life ended unexpectedly Monday.  She had a stroke and was lost to us. I cannot imagine a day when a quick phone call to her cannot give us the answer or solution to any of our financial questions or concerns. I am saddened by my loss of this person, but it places all my other complaints in a totally different light. 
I have a few minutes to put another quilt block together!  I can do this!

Fine Eating

We continued eating well throughout our trip to San Francisco and back by way of Grand Canyon.  It was a wonderful trip...until it wasn't, but more about that later.  Upon our arrival in Concord, auntie and cousin came to collect us for dinner.  We were tired of driving and cousin volunteered. He chauffeured us throughout our time in the Bay City!  What a treat!  They took us to the Elephant Bar for dinner on our first evening.  We have heard and read about this restaurant often, and without one nearby, never had an opportunity to try it.  All I can say is YUM! Later that night we stopped back at the Crowne Plaza (our hotel) for dessert and warm beverages. 

The following day we met other family members for some wonderful seafood at Pier 39's Fog Harbor Fish House.  Oh my the food was delish!  Since Ol' Abner's aunt had just celebrated her 87th birthday, we added the wonderful desserts worthy of such an accomplishment.  A well appointed seafood menu made me want to return daily until I could try several more entrees, but time would not allow and of course more yummy eateries were on the agenda. We ventured out to Saucelito the next day for another great meal at Spinnaker while enjoying the waterfront view.

Another day we traveled to Land's End Point to see the gorgeous beaches there and again enjoy a meal overlooking the rocks called Seal Rocks just outside our window. We enjoyed a casual lunch.  My mahi-mahi sandwich on ciabatta bread was scrumptious...Ol' Abner enjoyed a cheeseburger!  He gave it a thumbs up.  For some reason, he was tired of seafood!!!    We indulged in local mexican food that night.  Ol' Abner searched the menu looking for carne guisada, and finally settled on a dish called "carne su jugo".  The sauce was made with hatch green chiles, and he was not disapointed.  Now if we could just find that dish in Texas.                   

We sadly left the Bay area the following morning on our way to the Grand Canyon. 
We stopped in Needles that night at Juicy's River Cafe.  I had a scrumptious tri-tip sandwich with au-jus for dipping.  Ol' Abner claimed the spaghetti and meat-balls to be the best he had ever eaten...maybe he was just very hungry, but it did smell wonderful. We slept in Kingman that night and drove into Grand Canyon Village the next morning. Our hotel check in clerk gave a list of restaurants nearby.  Hungry, we headed for a place called "We Cook Pizza and Pasta".  I tried a chicken and green chile pizza...oh my!  It was most tasty.  Ol' Abner sampled their version of spaghetti and meatballs declaring it as good the previous night.  Little did we know it would be our last festive meal on this trip, but I'll fill you in on that another day.

And off we Go!

Early in this year Ol' Abner and I decided it was time to follow some of our dreams.  He bought the lift for his shop and agreed that we should make that long discussed trip to the San Francisco Area.  A favorite aunt is not getting any younger and he adores his cousins who are her sons.  That was February.  

I began researching affordable plane tickets and checked the calendar for his upcoming medical appointments. It appeared we had a window in May of about eleven days.  Plenty of time for a lovely visit. I found a package with only one plane change during the roundtrip travel.  The package included a full size rental car and nine nights in Auntie's hometown. When I proudly showed him my plan, he sighed and said he'd been thinking.  He wanted to drive...yes DRIVE! I immediately felt extremely tired. I did not book the flights, reverted to my maps and travel guides checking realistic daily progress.  As the date approached I was going into preparation mode.  Last minute bookings depended on weather and factors unknown.  

The night before we left, he brought in the disk from Lucy's GPS. We began the update process of the maps and it appeared it would take about five hours.  That was mid afternoon.  Fine, I would do other things and finish the processes and bookings on my laptop when it was finished. I finally went to bed a little  after midnight with it still running...not the first time a computer download has made a promise it couldn't keep.  Oh well, we left the next morning with the feeling that much was left undone, but it couldn't be helped.  We had a reservation in Deming NM that night.  It was time to hit the road!

Our first stop- The Blue Bonnet Cafe

  
We left home with empty stomachs knowing that one of our favorite eateries awaited just a few miles up the road.   A hearty breakfast had us well on the way determined to enjoy every minute of this trip.  A pleasant drive through hill country and onto the Interstate Highway system. We discussed plans to make short trips to some of these towns later this year as we passed through.  Next stop was at Dairy Queen for a nice rest break and a blizzard.
By the time we reached El Paso with rougly a little over an hour of driving, we were ready for dinner.  Our ice cream lunch was long gone.

He remembered eating here many years ago

Traffic was heavy and we had lots of advice from multiple devices. Lucy's GPS advised of a 45 min delay and Lilly Tom on the portable TOMTOM agreed. Waze and Google Maps showed alternative routes.  All four recommended we take a loop (that neither of us remembered being there), but two suggested we go on the NB side and the other two recommended we go on the SB side. 
Ok, we agreed it wasn't a perfect system.  A bit of common logic and we took the side  leading away from the Mexico border.  He was anxious to see if a steakhouse from his days of working in El Paso was still as great as he remembered.

As we completed the loop he was sure we were further out from the steakhouse location, so we traveled back into the city via freeway with multiple construction delays and rerouting.  After about five miles, he concluded it must be gone.  We sadly made a turn around, not an easy process in rush hour traffic.  Once back on the freeway, we decided Las Cruces might be a good dinner stop.  He glanced to the left of the freeway just in time spot the steakhouse right where he had left it 27 years before!  We turned around and enjoyed a most delicious steak with cole slaw, spicy pinto beans, hot bread and a Hatch green chile baked potato au-gratin. An hour and a half later we checked in for a good night's sleep feeling quite pleased with our culinary traveling skills!

Bad Story

Have you ever felt as though you fell short through no fault but your own?  I did that this weekend.  Several weeks ago, I was approached by our church matriarch.  She requested that I tell my story at our annual women's retreat.  MY story...MYYYYYY story, not much to tell, but she seemed to think younger women in our church could benefit from hearing...yes MY story! I asked the question and she assured me a few short minutes was really all that was expected, not a sermon, just a few words.  I moved it to the back of my brain, it was several weeks away and I'd give it some thought when the time was nearer.

A couple of days before the event, I attempted to pull some thoughts together, wondering if I could think clearly long enough to articulate my story in a manner worth hearing. My plan included quoting relevant scripture proved true throughout my life. The morning came to go; I was packed and ready to load the car. I knew the verses I wanted to use, but wasn't sure of the exact location. No problem my procrastinating brain offered, I pulled out my Kindle to be sure it was charged and ready.  It was not, in fact it was totally dead.  Plan B, grab the heavy edition of my NIV study Bible. It went in the bag and I quickly tried to get a beginning charge on my electronic version. As we began our journey, no opportunity presented to compile the notes I would need.

That evening as the activities wound down, I escaped to my room to jot down a few notes. Ten minutes or so should be sufficient to locate the passages I needed. Perhaps my memory was from the KJV Bible, or perhaps my memory was seriously flawed.  I could not locate the verses I craved.  As ladies stopped in to visit, I casually inquired if they knew where to find various scripture, but my search was in vain.  

The morning came and I was forced to open my remarks with an apology for poor preparation. I admitted that no scripture would be quoted verbatim.  I launched into my rather disjointed story and knew that relevant verses should be bookmarking each event.  At the end of my talk I shared the experience of Ol' Abner's transplant.  

Afterward, several told me they had enjoyed my story, and one woman approached me to say her twelve year old daughter had died in a terrible accident four years prior.  She said they had never heard from any of the recipients and my story had given her comfort. A story badly told sometimes has favorable results. I was later introduced to a woman whose husband suffers from the same condition as Ol' Abner.  He is being evaluated for transplant and they are working through the doubts about this course of action. I wish I had prepared better. 

It's Getting Tedious!

Our days are full and it seems lately that every single weekend involves a major event or several little gatherings.  We should both be participating in regular exercise, yet the trip to the curb with the trash and recycle receptacles seem to be the extent of our fitness activity. Aging creates it's own new set of responsibilities.  I recently completed my annual check-up series with all the usual driving around to specialty facilities for preventive evaluation. Who has time for illness? It seems a full time endeavor just staying on top of the little things that might go wrong with teeth, eyes, hearing and of course "let's take a look at that skin tag". Ol' Abner still has ongoing levels of multi-level body check-ups, but he's better at this invasion than I. He's several years ahead of me in body degeneration skills.  A transplanted organ further heightens his medical staff's vigilance.

Now I realize this tedious discussion of medical visits doesn't sound like a busy social calendar.  It just complicates the scheduling of things more fun. We spent two days of eating to celebrate our wedding anniversary (so many choices, we found it necessary to indulge several times) Daughter had a birthday this month and Ol' Abner will celebrate a milestone year next month.  The day prior to his birthday will be my Pappy's 95th, and sister has declared it should be celebrated in his new assisted living accommodations. Our February began with a trip to Houston, with the news that a return will be necessary soon.  Trying to find a weekend suitable for celebrating Ol' Abner's birthday, given that Pappy is several hundred miles away, has involved a struggle. The Friday and Saturday before are already committed for me elsewhere off in South Texas. Daughter and her family cannot come on the Sunday before. Four other couples from Transplant City are attempting to coordinate a dinner get-together. Three of them live near the Capital City of Texas, while the fourth will be traveling to or from Houston from the capital of that state across the Red River. I have been charged with locating a restaurant in a central Austin location where ten people can be seated and allowed to visit for an extended evening. It's not so difficult, I have made the arrangements twice only to change locations and times, and now we have been forced to postpone again. We will meet with three couples from the past this weekend to plan a cruise later in the year. These are people we enjoy and the weekend is happily anticipated, but we have work to do.  That groundhog may have determined that we will have six more weeks of winter, but I can foresee at least six more weeks of constant movement here. Of course, we'll need to make a trip to Houston when they call, there's always that!

Shop!

Why is the love of shopping considered a female trait?  I'm female and I cannot say I truly love shopping.  Well on Black Friday, I do. It's not so much the "shopping" that I enjoy as opening the gate for Christmas shopping.  I may be the only human stubbornly waiting until the day after Thanksgiving to purchase that first precious gift. That experience has always been more about the excitement of the crowds, the special offers in every store, and the hunt through a temporary obstacle course.  I prefer to shop only when I have a specific need to make a purchase.  In fact, since the new year has begun, I have purchased nothing except groceries. My house would certainly benefit from some reverse shopping i.e. donating huge volumes of "stuff", or a garage sale to sell huge volumes of other "stuff".

At our house, the man is the true shopper!  Ol' Abner has purchased everything from dog treats to tools, shoes and oh yes, a car. His playhouse is delightfully full, so full that the latest car must be stored at son's house until he can do a little rearranging. For that purpose, he just finished assembling his car-moving dolly (after all, it was on sale).  If you doubt a man's love of shopping, just turn on the Barrett-Jackson Auction on television and watch him be instantly mesmerized. I have never enjoyed the Home Shopping Network, but the ultimate version of the same is the multi-day parade across the screen of collector cars.  A friend was able to attend the actual event a couple of years ago. Just hearing him recount his day in the bidding box had my man drooling.

I'm thinking I need to start the hunt for my next cruise.  He's finally agreed to go, so I better get it booked now!  That's shopping I can enjoy.  

Too cold, too sweet!

What is it about cold weather that sends the appetite for indulgent foods into a frenzy? Luckily I don't keep many of those temptations in the house.  Never fear, this old bird is resourceful. As temperatures dropped I snuggled under my new warm blanket in the recliner in front of a good movie. Ol' Abner came in and watched for a minute, then headed for the kitchen to prepare some chips and queso.  I resisted.  He ate a sugar free popsicle after that. I declined. Hot coffee was all I needed and since I like it black and unsweetened, my self righteousness was intact!  Key word here, WAS..! Movie ended and I decided a nice glass of peppery syrah with some high cacao chocolate would be a soothing way to finish off the afternoon. We had a couple of little rib-eye steaks thawed but it was too cold to spend anytime on the patio.  I cooked them on the stove top griddle, along with some potatoes, onions and peppers.  Ol' Abner loves an iceberg wedge with all the goodies piled on top.  I prefer a tossed romaine.  Still feeling somewhat righteous, I added some of his bacon and cheese to my salad...a few olives couldn't hurt the result either. No bread for us, we are watching our calorie intake!  A little more of that nice syrah, and I was set for the evening...NOT.  In my search of the extra fridge, I noticed a half container of pistachio gelato. My mind's eye kept reviewing it's positon...thinking it would probably have freezer burn by now. It didn't.  I probably saved it just a few minutes shy of the dread slimy freezer scum.  It was quite tasty. A few chocolate chip cookies (found in the back of the pantry, soon to be stale) followed.  Another glass of wine and I slept well, but the next day I felt the need to overload on carbohydrates.  No resistance there...today I must pay the piper.  No treats for me!

New

It will be a brand new year when we awake tomorrow.  I think I'm ready for some new. We've had many new experiences this year, but I can't really brag that it's been much fun.  Ol' Abner has a gently used "new" lung.  While it's wonderful to know that his life has been extended through the blessing of transplant, someone's loved one saw the end of life to allow his gift. That sobering knowledge makes us ever more respectful and willing to jump through the hoops necessary to keep that lung healthy and thriving. 

Enough said about that weighty responsibility.  This year we finished the new playhouse, we lived in Houston (not a new experience) and found some new eating places there.  Ol' Abner finally talked me into a new car, and he bought a couple of not so new ones.  We met some wonderful people this year and those new friends are feeling like old friends already. 

Having always subscribed to the practice that insurance purchased and never needed was a better option than needing it once and not having it, we found ourselves needing to choose new health insurance plans. Maneuvering through the website, holding for hours on end to talk to a real person, then dealing with the issue of the name (names) my dear mother placed on my birth certificate but seldom used! Today I think I can say, all needed coverage has been added to our portfolio. Of course, today is the absolute deadline.  For once I really wanted to finish the process early, but "early time" was truly wasted in frustration. Perhaps I'll let Ol' Abner sort through the coverage for all our dependents with wheels attached.

Here's the Good Dirt!

Daisy Mae's a happy momma this morning!  I awoke to scratching on the tiny patio.  What a neat surprise DIL was sitting on the cold concrete in her jammies working over my new flower pots to prepare for planting.  Last night she and Son were sent to our local home improvement store to buy A/C filters and they returned laden with plants, soil and flower pots.  

A Strawberry and a Tomato

I sat outside and watched her plant a number of herbal offerings, and lament that they decided to forego the purchase of a tiny lemon tree.  Perhaps, I'll rectify that later this week.

Yes! I like this view!

It's feeling a little more like home.  I don't think Ol' Abner will be particularly impressed.  Maybe I'll see what Lulu thinks!

Dampened Spirits

The monthly meeting of the Women's Golf Association was held this morning at the golf club. Due to cold drizzle, the scheduled round of golf was changed to card games and chatter.  I stayed for the meeting and a few minutes of visiting, then left to run a few errands.  The names are beginning to match the faces now, and I do look forward to knowing several of these women better.  A number of golf outings are on the schedule for the upcoming year and I can hardly wait to test my skill on some other golf courses. Certainly, I have not mastered the two in our neighborhood, though fresh vistas are very appealing.  It's time the well known Texas sunshine shows it's face and warms the air to make golf more pleasant.  I'm ready for a play outside kind of day!

Endings

It's the end of the year and the football season.  We'll spend the next few days with non-stop football games.  I half watch them and occasionally get involved if it's a team I love. The sports season almost completed has been less than satisfying for me, but I can hope for better in the coming year.  

We'll see the new year in with a few close friends and plan for a fresh start.  Too much uncertainty makes my resolutions vague, but I can strive for personal improvement.  2014 will be a good year, as good as we make it!

Sin

I usually avoid writing about political flap.  It is the Christmas season and I am mindful of the day when we celebrate the birth of the savior we believe to be the Son of God.  As Christians, our faith is centered on this one person who walked the earth preaching love and forgiveness.  He died by the vile method of crucifixion about three decades after birth, but returned alive just three days later.  That's the basic tenet of all denominations of Christianity.  All  believe that salvation or eternal life will be achieved only through faith in this man born to a virgin and resurrected after death.

A recent interview with a reality show celebrity with devout Christian belief, has caused outrage from almost everyone, whether they watch his show or not.  It sickens me that our season of joy has been so stirred by outrage over comments he made regarding sin and what sinners cannot expect to inherit.  I have studied closely the teachings to which he refers (my grandmother was of his same denomination) and wish he had followed with additional truths I find in the Bible. Not one of us is without sin, but all sins are forgiven with acceptance of the gift of grace.  Jesus taught that we must not judge one another. It is the trust of God to judge.

At our house, we have enjoyed watching the show from time to time.  The outrage by one group labeled as sinners has been vehement and the network has taken action against the patriarch of the clan.  While I do not claim to know if any one person is going to heaven or hell at the end of this life, I have read in my Bible "for by grace you have been saved, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast".  Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV).

Somehow I find a certain outrage over the condemnation of this devout man, when another sect would call us "infidels" for Christian faith.  It is branded as intolerance to be concerned that some among that sect believe it is their mission to remove infidels from the earth.

Flatlander

We are at Sister's house for the Thanksgiving holiday.  One of my favorite things about her house has always been sitting on the back veranda watching the sun rise in the distance.  A beautiful nighttime view of the city lights on the horizon was a treat for my eyes.  No more!  The cotton field that backed their property is no longer a field but a developing sub-division.  Oh my! My holiday may be ruined.   In the name of progress cities must grow and bring new residents, but I still suffer from the "Not in My Backyard!" slogan...and I'll pass it along to Sister.  Sunrise over the rooftop behind was no thrill at all.

Not a Fan of Chaos

No matter how busy the day planned may be, I must have a few minutes to sit and contemplate my own existence.  Without those minutes my day is pretty much chaos.  In a few minutes I will start the pre-travel ritual.  When I pack, I have a routine that always gets me where I am going with all the things I need.  Ol' Abner, in earlier days, found this very frustrating.  He always packed the night before and preferred to roll out of bed and travel.  Men can do that, I can not! Today, he has learned to relax until he sees me go into "out the door" mode.  Our departures are much more peaceful and on-time now. 

In Focus

It's amazing how a cloudy, misty, dreary day spent moping inside the house can bring life back into focus.  A planned tee-off on my favorite course was postponed, then cancelled due to a light intermittent rain.  The ringing phone brought unwelcome news of a young friend's illness. Ol' Abner's grumpiness was only exceeded by my own unrest.  Frustration over my surrender to sugar cravings, over and over and over again, cursing holiday treats and a new phobia of the scales topped off my morning!  A quick listen to an on-line inspiration from my favorite clergy and my day shifted into focus.  

Plans are in place to deliver a meal to friends preparing for a Wednesday morning surgery and meet family visiting from out of town to support them.  I must mail photo discs from a recent event and get something done with my shaggy nails.  Laundry must be caught up and bags packed for a trip South.  I'll leave Wednesday to spend a night with a much loved cousin. Dancing Girl and Guitar Man will return the same day to Houston from a weeklong visit with daughter.  Thursday, we'll have a fun girls day at the Nutcracker Market.  Ol' Abner assures me he can take himself to the dentist, and daughter-in-law says she knows others can be there for those in need while I am absent.  My Thursday golf buddy thinks it may rain that day and we can catch up next week.  

My spirit is revived and I've had no sugar since noon.  It's a start!

Quiet Please

I'm feeling a sense of unrest.  Much needs to be accomplished in the coming weeks, yet I have no control over most of the events occurring.  Planning isn't coming naturally and other players seem to be absent.  Changing dates for travel and additional events inserted amid current happenings are making my brain feel like crawling mush!  A busy holiday season is erupting all around and I have the urge to hide inside my house with the lights turned off.  

Just another Quiet Week

Daughter is well on the road to recovery, but the road is still long.  She keeps telling me the knee is already more stable than the last replacement.  The fact that the other knee is functioning certainly affects the general mobility she is enjoying.  She has managed to go up the stairs since that first night home.  I have little doubt that sleeping in her own bed as opposed to the chaise lounge sofa in the den certainly affords better rest, thus speeding her recovery along. 

My presence was a planned portion of the process this time instead of a sudden decision when the needs of home, Son In Law's work and children's schedules just could not be accomplished on their own.  Their friends have furnished evening meals since the return from the hospital and we have all indulged in delicious dinners...always with dessert, usually sufficient in portion to enjoy for lunch the following day.  My duties have involved transportation, a little laundry, and answering the door for physical therapists, home nurses and picking up prescriptions as needed.  Checking inventories of staple food items and refilling as needed take me back to those days of daily depletion of a gallon or more of milk.

School will start in just over two weeks.  Skating schedules must be kept up and revised for the beginning of school.  Older granddaughter has a job and is also accumulating drive hours to qualify for her driving test.  I ride along as she deftly navigates the busy streets to the shopping center where she is employed.  When she is out with friends I wait up for her and make sure the house is all secured after her arrival.  Eye exams, dermatologist appointments and other preschool events are the places we must go these days.  A couple of seeming complications have involved unplanned doctor visits for daughter, but those hurdles seem to have been managed.

This brief history seems rather unremarkable, but true to form, I must inject a crisis of my own.  My car chose (I know cars don't really make choices but it would seem so) this very hot week to kill itself.  I backed out of a parking space and a strange message about "fail safe mode" flashed just before it died.  At restart the display included the "check engine" light.  I followed Ol' Abner's recommendation to add some techron to the gas tank.  This seems to happen every year a month or so after summer fuel blends have been initiated.  It did seem to fix it for a couple of days, and then the dreaded light returned.  After a day or so of panic and planned despair, I finally took the car to the local dealership for advice.  Meanwhile Ol' Abner was trying to decide whether to pull funds from savings to purchase my new car, or bite the bullet and take on payments!  He asked the hated question "Ruling out the Escalade, what kind of car would you like to have now?"  He wasn't surprised by the answer that I don't want a new one, but gently explained that it  might be time. On arrival at the dealership, the service writer listened to my sad history and went inside to check on a recall.  It seems  a known defect had caused my car's pain and the manufacturer would correct it at no cost to me.  The technician checked everything over on my car and declared it in fine health once the correction had been completed.  Now I have a little more time to think about what I might want to drive in the future.

Emerging Skills

Golf is the most frustrating and satisfying process I've ever attempted to master.  I came off the driving range this morning with my arms aching after hitting two large buckets of balls.  With three lessons behind me, I have learned to swing everything except my putter. That comes next week.  In fact, I will have two lessons next week with the final one involving an actual round of golf.  It's been frustrating being stuck on the driving range, but my training wheels will finally be removed and I'll be on my own on the course, probably before I'm ready.  I rode with Ol' Abner earlier this week as he played a round of golf on the more difficult of the two courses in our little community.  My drives will not reach the distance he sends that little ball into the air anytime soon.  The hole he reached and sank into with four strokes will likely require nine or more before I can claim success.

The beauty of the course is relaxing when riding along as a passenger in the cart, and some of the slopes are downright breathtaking (as in knuckle-clinching kind of taking away my breath). I am anxious to test my emerging skills.  Today's practice elevated my ability to curse to a new level.  It's never been a talent nurtured, yet the words seem to slip involuntarily from my lips at times.

One of the few straight level fairways on
Highland Lakes Golf course.