Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can

afford to live in it.

Ellen Goodman
American journalist (1941 - )

Last night, my good friend Norma called. As we were chatting, something she said suddenly triggered the dim memory of an official communiqué from the Department of Motor Vehicles regarding my health, my driver's license and the word suspension which I may have received while I was so sick back in August. I looked in the too many places I am likely to have put an important document, but found nothing. Mild panic.

Today, I called DMV. Agreed with radio hosts A&G who say that a part of them dies every time they call an American company here in America and are told to press '1' for English to be followed by a directive in some other country's language. Played in more of the phone tree. Finally talked to a real person. Who said that I had missed a hearing!!!! What??! My license was flagged because someone is concerned about how safe I am driving with my health conditions. Did I pass out when I was sick? No. and the notice came WHILE I was sick. Does she want me to believe that a government bureaucracy (without a current budget even) moves that quickly?! Yes, your license is in jeopardy. She gave me another number to call.

Their computer was down. But the guy sounded like a nice person.

Try again. No hearing. Whew! Yet. But, I do need to have my doctor fill out a 5 page form assuring the DMV that I am not a major road hazard and THEN I have to have a hearing with one of the DMV guys. WHY??! Because when I renewed my license the last time, which is supposed to be good until 2012, and I filled out the questionnaire, I checked diabetes and high blood pressure. If I don't get the form back to the DMV by September 26, my license will be suspended. Sigh That's what I get for being honest.

Guess what day the first available appointment with my doctor is.

Yep, September 26.

I called DMV back again and got an extension. I am now good until October 6.

Maybe I had better get my bicycle fixed. While I can still drive to the bike shop.

If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.

Samuel Butler
English composer, novelist, & satiric author (1835 - 1902)

 

On 9/11/2001  thousands of people left home in the usual way for an ordinary day, but never returned.  Thousands of family members parted as they always did, not realizing they would never see each other again.   How often do we leave in haste to get to work or to a meeting or attend to some other important business in too much of worry to mend a rift, apologize for a wrong, or just express our love?  9/11 reminds me that we never know.   The daily news confirms it.  Bad things sometimes happen.  We do not know when we leave our loved ones whether we will ever meet again in this life.   Each parting should be in love and good will.  Each return is a cause to rejoice. 

 

September 11, 2008 Andrew had all 4 wisdom teeth removed.  The doctor said the surgery went well.  Andrew was a bit funny afterward.  He was keenly aware of the effects of the anesthesia.  He kept taking an inventory of what part of himself was or was not working. ( He could hear fine. ) He couldn't talk clearly with a numb mouth full of gauze, so he made signs as well as tried to talk.  Everything rather slowly and deliberately with a sense of amusement behind it all.  The nurse thought he might be sleepy, but, instead he was rather talkative for a while. 

 

The fun ended a few hours later, when he tried to take the prescribed pain medication.  It just would not stay down.  He had some moments of great discouragement.  He found that applied ice packs brought enough relief to manage.  Later he took Ibuprofen without problem.  good!

 

Although, Thursday was a bit rough, he did better Friday with ice packs and Ibuprofen.   He even went outside to walk around the yard the way he likes to.  Saturday he felt well enough to go with me looking for sheets to match the boys' room and to attend the Ward 1st Anniversary or Birthday Party.  Even to play with and look after Esther and Jared who were with us because Ruth and Tom were doing a craft booth at the 2nd Saturday Art Walk.  He had to eat very carefully and slowly, but he did ok.  Until the ward dinner, we had been sticking to soup,oatmeal and jello.

 

I am glad the ordeal is pretty much over!  (Now, I would LIKE the insurance company to decide to cover the all the teeth after all and if they want to be really nice, they can decide to cover the general anesthesia.  Oh well, I should get big points on my credit card!)  Andrew was a trooper.

 

sigh, we do it again in 3 years with Benjamin.  deep sigh. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.

 

Saturday morning I painted the baseboards in the sea room - and over painted the test areas in the closet.  I was pretty excited, thinking that we could start moving the boys later that day, but I was forgetting 1) Benjamin has identified spots on the floor that need a polyeurethane touch-up, and besides, we were not just going to the ward activity for a couple of hours and coming back - I am on the committee, so we had to go early and stay late, AND we were babysitting.  Besides, I notice that I missed a bit around the door that I need to go back and paint.  But, little by sometimes very little we are getting there. 

 

 

 

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

George Eliot, 'Mr. Gilfil's Love Story,' Scenes of Clerical Life, 1857
English novelist (1819 - 1880)

 

Today is Anna's adoption anniversary.  Happy Anniversary, Anna!  Her present this year is an 11 day sleep over.  Her friend, Tuffy, joined our household today while her people go to Copenhagen to visit their oldest son. 

 

It is Adam Carolin's birthday (son of Jacob son of Lainee) (I think he is 5).  And one of my Visiting Teaching sisters  - who also sent me an ecard, but I haven't carded her yet.  Better!

Joseph surprised me with a bag of chocolate goodies today.  Debi and Sariah both sent great e-cards.  Sariah sent a snail mail card, too! With a very generous gift to help with Andrew's mission preparation. I have also received a snail mail card from Cousin Carol (or formerly cousin by marriage) and several email greetings from various on-line business/associates.  Such fun!

 

The sea room saga continues –

Monday night (Family Home Evening), I read from the Ensign while the boys taped around the baseboard.   Last night, they sanded the baseboard while I fixed dinner.  Tonight is YM – actually I think it is YM/YW combined and Ben is in charge.  Maybe we will paint Thursday.  Not Andrew, though. 

Andrew will be doing the invalid bit.  Hopefully not feeling too badly.  Surgery is first thing Thursday morning.  Last night I filled a prescription for Valium for him to take before the surgery so he won't be nervous.  I thought about asking for a pill for me!

We had originally painted the entire boys' room a light, fairly bright blue.  That's the color the trim is now.  When we were trying to figure out how we were painting the sea walls, I tested in the closet.  But!  We didn't paint the entire closet water-like.  So most of it is the light blue and one end is the sea thing.  It has been bothering me, so we had to decide whether to paint the entire closet like the rest of the walls or cover over the test area with the light blue.  Fortunately for simplicity, the boys said they wanted it light blue.  Well, Ben said and no one complained.  We will do that when we do the baseboards. 

Ben also spotted two or three places on the floor which we need to do some polyurethane touch up.  (I hope that works!) 

Then! (finally) We can start moving the boys, although I haven't solved the window treatment problem yet.  Until I do, they will have to survive with the sheet on the pressure bar like David and Teresa have when they visited. 

Oh, my!  Once we start moving the boys in, I lose my "guest room!"   We need to do some major work cleaning, sorting, and - here's the really hard part – eliminating mountains of stuff pretty much everywhere, especially in the family room.  Ok, maybe it is the sorting that is the really hard part.  When we really have a family room, that is where guests will sleep.  Even less privacy.  Oh, well, cheap rates.  Before Thanksgiving!  Oh, no pressure. 

I haven't managed any study time today.  I am hoping to get some in while at home with Andrew after his surgery.

I had planned to take today off and go the coast.  A number of minor complications developed, and I decided to postpone.  I am swamped at work, for one thing.  I haven't caught up from when I was sick and off a week back in August.  Actually, I was on sick leave for a week.  I was "off" most of the month.  Now, I have my accounting class taking 2 ½ hours twice a week and some of my mental ablility much of the time.  Today has been a very busy day full of interesting little problems and challenges.  Actually, I have been enjoying it.   

 

 

 

Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.

H. L. Hunt

  

There are five of us in my office who are taking the Accounting class.  Friday, we got together at lunch and went over the first quiz. We all felt so much better about the class after our study session!!! After comparing and discussing answers, I submitted my quiz first.  We had missed one which we had had some question on.  Mary submitted the quiz next with the other answer we had been considering.  This time we got them all right.  As we had two chances on this quiz, I was able to retake the quiz and get 15/15.  Having study buddies will make a world of difference with this class!  I was so relieved and happy after our session Friday!

 

Friday, after work, we did the last sand and polyurethane on the sea room floor.  There are plenty of places where we messed up, but it is better than we started.  We learned a bit.  (Mostly that none of us love the work, but…)  We finished too late Friday evening to be able to do any work in there Saturday.    Probably tonight, we will tape in preparation for fixing up the baseboards.  Hopefully, that won't take long.  Then some light? Sanding. And repaint.  While we work tonight, we will probably have someone reading from the Ensign – Home Evening after all.

 

Saturday, Andrew, Joseph and I spent 4 hours at IKEA.  (this time it was Benjamin who wanted to stay home)  First, we had lunch.  We got a plate of meatballs, a chicken Caesar salad, and a plate of pasta.  We each ate off each plate.  The meatballs (and potatoes) were the best, but not the exceptional experience I was expecting.  I had heard from many people that IKEA has great meatballs.  They were good. We wandered around the store for hours enjoying the different lay-outs and trying to decide what kind of things we would like.  We were quite taken with one room with almost olive green walls and floor to ceiling bookshelves.  Maybe the living room will go green, after all, but not olive.  I will want to match the green in the drapes.  I definitely want floor to ceiling bookshelves almost everywhere, so there will really be very little wall to be seen.  That's a LONG ways down the line, anyway. 

 

Supposedly, we were at IKEA to find window treatment for the sea room.  We didn't.  We had dessert and then looked some more.  I don't think they had anything that would work for what we want there.  I might look on-line.  We probably have to do it ourselves.   Most shades are open in the up position and you pull down for shade and privacy.  The problem with that is if you want it partly open, you cannot see out but people can see you.   We want to hoist a sail so to speak so that when it is half way open, the boys have privacy but they can see out.  While the shopping trip was not successful in finding something we thought we could adapt, it was fun.  Except our feet got quite tired.  We did buy basic tool kits, both Joseph and I.

 

We went to Winco afterwards where we spent more money, but it wasn't quite as much fun  ; ).

 

Sunday, we had a Special Stake Conference.  There was some curiosity about why a special conference.  Elder Clayton (First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) told us he had a big announcement that would change our lives.  He said that henceforth we would only meet on 5^th Sundays.  At first, I thought we would have Stake Conference every 5^th Sunday which actually sounded pretty good to me, but then I realized that he was having one on us.  He confessed.  No special announcement.  The church just is keeping in touch with its people.  General Authorites are going out and meeting with Stake Presidencies, taking the pulse of the church, and, having conferences so the people can have the privilege of meeting and being instructed by them.  The main message of the session seemed to be a testimony of a living prophet and the importance of following and sustaining them.  We heard more about Joseph Smith, Jr, than Thomas Monson, but that was the message I heard.  Elder Clayton talked about the wonderful growth of the church throughout the world, the blessings of the gospel and obedience. 

 

We also had my birthday dinner Sunday.  Hamburgers, tater tots, watermelon, salad, and Miriam made an ice cream tort using Moose Tracks ice cream!!! Delicious.  Everything.  Ruth is going to give me the stationary box that she is doing in an upcoming class, along with instructions/template.  Debi gave me a beautiful Willow Tree nativity.   Pretty good for not expecting anything!! 

 

I decided that I am not doing my birthday beach trip.  On my birthday, anyway.  Many little conflicts.  I will come to work as usual.  (Like most grown-ups do on their birthday.  Ok, kids too.  But I am not planning on bringing cupcakes like kids do to school.) I very likely will bring a left-over piece of that wonderful torte for me to enjoy, however!  Another day.  Andrew and I want to go beach exploring to see what other beaches we might like within drive range.  I also want to schedule a trip to Rodeo Beach, tried and true, when Benjamin can come.  He wants to go, but is responsible for the YM/YW activity on the 10^th.  

 

Miriam has had her last day with Alder Creek Millworks. She says Office Team sounds eager to put her to work. I think Debi also told her about another good temp agency or two. 

 

Did I tell Andrew's oral surgery is Thursday?  Keep him and Miriam in your prayers, please. 

Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness?

Artemus Ward
US humorist (1834 - 1867)

I have said again, but it still oh so true - even 3 day weekends are not long enough.  (Especially when you are old - as David affirms I am (thanks, son)- and slow - which he didn't mention)

We worked on the sea room floor last weekend.  Applied a coat of polyeurathane on Saturday.  Then it sits 18 -24 hours.  Monday we "lightly sanded it" and applied another coat.  We repeated the process last night and hope to again tonight.  Hopefully, that will be enough. Hopefully, we can declare the job done soon  and start moving the boys. (Joseph will be so happy. I say sarcastically. )  After we figure out window treatment.   I foresee a trip to IKEA soon.  We want to rig it so that we pull the shade up, rather than down to close it.  oh, No move yet.  We have to redo the baseboards which got all dinged up by the sander.  They need sanding and repainting.  We probably won't do that this weekend because the floor won't be ready to walk on until evening. 

For fun, last Saturday we watched "Windwalker."  Monday, we (Andrew, Benjamin and I and Anna. Again, Joseph didn't feel like going.) packed up some food and went to the park.  We were going to try to find a park that Andrew vaguely remembers being driven by once that he hadn't been to before.  We didn't find it, his memory of the event was rather sketchy.  We played at Howe Park briefly, then went to Cottage Park to eat where it was quieter and much less crowded.  It was pleasant and relaxing.

One message from Sunday:  Salvation is a personal matter; exaltation is a family matter.   Both Sacrament Meeting where we were reminded of the importance of the temple and temple blessings and our Relief Society lesson supported that thought.  In Sunday School, as we talked about the army of Helaman, we talked about the importance of keeping the covenants we make, and about when is war justified.

Seminary started this Tuesday.  sigh.  I have to be ready to leave for work by 6am.  Seminary starts at 6:15.  Anna was so happy to go for our walk today!  The nice thing is that Seminary lets out now at 7:05 or shortly after, so I can drop Benjamin and Anna off at home and still catch the 7:30 train to work.  That gets me to work in time to "settle in" and to eat my breakfast, or to do some make up time before my official day begins.  I dont' know if it will be enough time to do some studying for my accounting class.   It is so hard to find good study time, especially with computer access.  Our homework, quizes and exams are all on-line. 

I am very frustrated.  I called the oral surgeon to see why the insurance company turned down 2 of Andrew's wisdom teeth. First, P told me that the insurance will only authorize 2 a year.  Irma told me that is not the case.  She thought that if I called the insurance company and talked to them, they might reconsider.  I called but got a rock wall.  I tried calling my dentist office to see if the dentist could say something helpfully persuasive to the insurance people, but the receptionist was not at all hopeful.  She said that they actually usually turn down the top teeth.  She did say she would talk to the gal at the oral surgeon's office.  Although, I don't think she had by the time I called the next day.   I decided to go ahead and schedule Andrew for all 4 teeth.  Both the oral surgeon and even the insurance company said there was a slight chance that the insurance will decide to reimburse me after the fact.  I just don't want Andrew to have to go through all this again in the future if the teeth do give him trouble.  Might as well get it done all at once.   I can pay for it, it's just I had other plans for the moeny - much more plans than money, actually.  Isn't  that always the case? There goes money for the Utah trip? or house repair money which I don't have nearly enough? (same money already, acutally)   We will just take it as it comes.

I am glad to be more financially stable than probably ever in my life except maybe during the brief time I lived alone before I got married.  Poor, barely solvent, but not debt ridden.   What a relief!

I shouldnt' be here.  I need to hit the books and then get to work.   Time!  I am not quite solvent there!

There's no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting.

David Letterman
US comedian & television host (1947 - )

 

 

Which, I suppose, partly explains why I am taking (yet another) accounting class.  That's where the jobs seem to be.  And the direction I accidently fell when I started working for the State oh so long ago (before my hiatus at what I hoped was my true vocation as a mother although some would challenge my competence there).  I am now taking my 4th Accounting class.   I can tell you what I have learned so far.: 1) I don't really love accounting.  Maybe even like much.  2) You can sometimes get an A in a class without ever comprehending the material.  3) I am pretty lucky to work for the state which sponsors the class and gives me work time to attend!  

 

Now, that school is in session again, I am going to have less time than ever for personal persuits or friendly relationships - that is to say: don't expect many interesting posts. letters, emails, etc from me.  Ok, lack of interesting may not be a noticiable change, but ... well, anyway.  I SHOULD be spending pretty much every waking minute studying.  oh  the joy.

 

As school is starting up again, so shall Seminary all too soon.   Benjamin loves Seminary and that's good.  Anna loves Seminary, because I usually walk her while Ben is in class.  I don't love Seminary.  I have been doing the Seminary drive thing for a very, very long time now with few breaks.  That's ok.  But  now that I am a working woman, during Seminary, I have to be ready for work by 6am.  I am away from home close to 12 hours a day.  I get at least half an hour less sleep, and have no real time at home in the morning which usually in the summer when I have it includes catching up the dishes from the night before.  Once Andrew leaves on his mission, Ben may be less fond of Seminary when he realizes that it means more dishes left to be washed.  (Benjamin generally cleans the living room, Andrew usually does dishes)  I get rather grumpy when I come home after work to a sink full of dirty dishes and dinner to fix,  homework to do and then too often, meetings to get people to.  I fear my stamping project may be in trouble now. 

 

Speaking of Andrew.  The dentist recommended pulling all 4 wisdom teeth.  The oral surgeon whole-heartedly agreed.  The insurance company does not.  The insurance will only cover 2 teeth, which will cost me over $400 (insurance doesn't cover general anesthesia).  If we do the other 2 teeth that will be another $841 !!!  I am not sure what we are going to do.  I asked the Bishop and am waiting for him to get back to me.  Do we ask the dentist to revise his recommendation? I wish I had foresight on this.  If someday in his life, Andrew will need those teeth out, we should do it now.  If not, ...well,   we are just doing it to make the mission people happy.  What do they really need?     The kind of money kind of shoots down a lot of other hopes that had not quite made it to plans!  I HOPE I can still manage the trip to the MTC.   Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven, right.  Hope so!  I thought just going through having his teeth yanked (with anesthesia, thank you) was sacrifice enough without even getting to the expense!

 

Back to paying bills! Paying State Parks bills to earn money to pay my bills. 

 

Happy "According to Hoyle" Day 

 

 

 

 

We improve ourselves by victories over ourself. There must be contests, and you must win.

Edward Gibbon
English historian of Rome (1737 - 1794)

 

Contest

 

Sometimes when I hear about a contest offering a trip for 2 or something like that, I have thought, "What would I do if I won?"   There are many people in my life - family and friends - that I would enjoy doing something with and who would probably enjoy a trip even if it was with me.  However would one choose? 

 

Well, I figured it out.  I would have my own contest.  Contestants would have to write What they Like About Me, Barbara.   Now, that's a contest.  It would have to be both very flattering, and here's the big challenge, also believable.  This may take some creativity.

 

I haven't won any tips, yet, so don't panic.  You have plenty of time to think about it. 

The longest journey is the journey inward.

Dag Hammarskjold

Swedish diplomat (1905 - 1961)

 

Night thoughts

 

Dwelling on one's hurts or slights, however real or imagined, brings more harm upon oneself, producing deep melancholy, insomnia, and weakening one's resistance to other ills of body and of spirit, while having not the least effect on the perceived offenders.  In the light of day, one can more easily combats such sorrows with positive thoughts and actions as well as the daily business of normal life.  It is in the still, once peaceful night, that such sadness overwhelms.  What comfort or solace is there then?  Memories of the kindness of loved ones, surely,  Yet, that may not suffice in those lonely hours. If one truly desires peace and not self-indulgent wallowing, one must turn to the One who took upon Himself not only our sins, but our ills, and even our foolish pains.  Is it a sin to feel hurt? I do not know, but I think it may be a sin to fail to turn to the outstretched arm so the great Comforter. 

Happiness is not itn the mere possesion of money: it lies inthe joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

One day last week, on the way home from work, I went to Bel Air for milk.  On an indulgent whim, I bought some stuff at their Chinese deli for dinner.  When I got home, I learned that Ben had baked potatoes and cooked up some meat and chili for dinner.  What a sweet surprise!  (the other day he made me cookies.  Nice guy, Ben) The deli boxes said "safe to microwave."  We popped the deli boxes in the fridge for the next day.  But we didn't test their microwaveability.  We dished up the food on plates and microwaved them.  It was good, but not as good as it cost.  Ben's stuffed baked potatoes were better.  Besides being made with love.

 

It is good to be able to work again – I worked all day every day last week, so I'm back -  but it was nice being at home even if I was sick!  And more interesting.   It is good to be ABLE to work, but I would not at all mind not HAVING to work.  However, as Miriam said, at least I have a job. 

 

I am trying to make better use of my weekends.  Saturdays really.  That's the day with the options. They tend to evaporate with not much to show for them and not much R'n'R either.   I am trying to both get something done and have a little fun.

 

This week we did some chores around the house, including staining the sea room floor.  :/   I liked it better the light, light color before we stained.  It has been a while now since my assistant and I purchased the stain, so I don't remember the whole decision making process.  I think there was a lighter color I liked better, but it was the wrong base.  I cannot remember what was wrong with the base, but anyway we got this one.  It looks like a floor.  It is ok.  Some people learn to enjoy doing the handyman home fix it bit.  Despite the nice quote at the top,  I haven't yet.  I am not good at it, I get really tired and tired of it, and I am not that excited about the results.  Maybe I will be more pleased once we put the polyurethane on. 

 

Years ago Les A told me about a place up at Collins Lake where they serve giant ice cream scoops.  My ball of yarn reminded him of it.  I have been somewhat intrigued ever since and always meant to go check it out.  So, we did, Andrew, Benjamin and I.   Joseph opted to stay home.  It is about an hour and 20 minutes from here.  Andrew and I spent much of the time on the way up singing hymns and children's hymn.  Benjamin suffered in silence.  

 

Collins Lake Resort is a camping, fishing, boating, little bit of swimming place.  The people were friendly.  They charge $11 / car day use fee, but when we told the gal at the gate that we were there to check out their ice cream, she just laughed and waved us in.  For $2 you get a huge "scoop" that must have been at least a pint and a half.  While our tongues raced the melting ice cream, we looked around a bit.  Lots of people apparently having a great time, but I don't think I want to go camping there. (I was almost hoping that it would be someplace I would want to camp as it is not far as far as camping goes.)   It was fun to go up there, but probably a one time deal. 

 

We finally had Debi's and Esther's birthday dinner.   Pizza, lots of pizza.  Ground beef pizza, pepperoni, Hawaiian, and chicken pizzas.  Root beer floats.  Later, cupcake decorating.  I had eaten too much pizza and could not even look at the cupcakes.  I helped bag some Stampin' Up orders, instead.  It is fun to see the neat things people get.  

 

Ruth reminded me that she doesn't think I spent the Stampin' Up gift certificate that Sariah gave me for Mother's Day.  I was saving it, but now! I cannot remember where I put it!  Someplace "safe," no doubt.  Safe from what?! Me apparently.  I hate it when I do that. Time to clean my room!

 

News from the family dinner –

 

Miriam is being laid off.  : 0  Her little cabinet making shop has not been making many cabinets lately and many of the people are being let go, including both office girls.  She works until the end of the month.  She was with the temp service Office Team when she started there. The cabinet shop called for a temp and never hired anyone else. Eventually they converted her from temp to regular employee.   Hopefully, OT will have more work for her.  She is also applying for some State jobs. We are hoping that this is one of those blessings in disguise things.  This job didn't really lead anywhere. Maybe she will be blessed with something better.  (Prayers would be appreciated!)

 

Glen, on the other hand, has landed a part-time job watching security cameras for construction sites.  This is good. He is seriously working on re-ordering his life and finances. He is still working full time for the State.

 

Tom worked all day Saturday putting vents up in the attic.  Hopefully, he will do the same for me some time. And I will owe him (even more) big time! (Hopefully, we will borrow a power saw and it won't take quite as long.) Our whole house fan doesn't do much right now.  Attic vents would make a huge difference, I think, I hope.

 

Ruth is thoroughly enjoying Primary.   She is enjoying her staff and the kids. I think she is surprised how much she likes being Primary President.  I think Sariah likes being Relief Society President up in her ward in Vancouver.  Ben, I think, has more mixed feelings about being Teacher's Quorum President, but he does a good job.   I think that's all the current presidents.

 

And that's all my break time for today.  So much more I wanted to do! Like learn about iPods or MP3 Players or something.  I have made more mistakes at work this month than the whole rest of the time I have been here.  Partly, I think it was my getting sick – just before and when I came back. And I think, partly it is that I don't get to listen to the radio anymore.  I sometimes listen to music that is "ripped" on to my computer, but it isn't the same.  Why talk radio helped, I cannot say, but I think it did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination.

Roy M. Goodman

 

One of my frustrations today is that it is Bad Poetry Day. That is something I usually can do.  But, alas! (well, maybe you don't think so) although I am noticeably better, I am not completely well and all my feeble mental capacities are focused on trying to do my job without too many mistakes.  (Now there's a stupid thing to say.  How many mistakes would you say is a good amount?  Actually, any mistakes are too many.) 

 

Yes, I have returned to my place of employment and am attempting productivity. 

 

I found out that the one job I struggled to do during the short time I was in Thursday, I completely messed up on and a co-worker had to undo.  It could have been worse.  I enter data into the computer to print automated checks from the revolving fund - often travel expense claims, sometimes emergency vendor payments, those kind of things.  I struggled Thursday to carefully key in the entries. I was unable to print the checks because our check printer is on the fritz.  (Is that a racist thing to say? The check printer is kaput.  I was told the fix-it guy would be in with the part at noon, but I could not last that long, so I turned it over to someone else. BTW, the check printer is still out.  The part was the wrong part and another one is on order or something.)  Anyway, I came back today to find out that they had moved the work baskets around (before I picked up Thursday).  Where I used to pick up the documents to key the checks from, they now had documents whose checks had been completed!  I had keyed in a whole set of duplicates!  It is a good thing that the check printer didn't work. 

 

I am able to work, if I go slowly and think carefully.  I only have a coughing fit every now and then.  I hear others here and there, as well.  No one is getting too close to anybody else.  A nice co-worker brought me a couple of cough drops.  (I forgot mine).

 

Saturday was a strange day.  I was feeling sick and lazy, but wanted to have things half decent when the campers returned.  I swept up most of the dog hair and made soup and biscuits. I also worked on the pacing for Ben's textbooks for the school year.   I posted a warning sign on the door.  "Hazardous Dwelling - Occupant May Be Contagious - illness includes throat tearing cough that last for days - Avoid Direct Contact - No Hugs"   I was home all day except between 5:50 - 6:15 when I did a quick run to the store for milk and Sacrament bread.  Guess when the guys got home.  timing.  Two of them failed to see the sign.  One said he saw it but immediately forgot it.  Nonetheless, we avoided close contact. David and Teresa arrived a bit later.  It was good to see everyone - only slightly sunburned - and well content with their week.

 

A high event of the evening was watching the incredible women's marathon at the Olympics. Halfway through, I could not believe Romania's Constantina Tomescu Dita was going to even survive the race.  She was far in front of everybody else, but she looked horrible. I was afraid for her.  But somehow she pulled it together and started looking better.  For much of the race nobody else was in the same camera shot as her, even when the camera was looking straight at her head on on a long straight away. It was amazing. And when she entered the Bird's Nest, she just filled with new life.  I thought it would be daunting to have to go a whole lap around the inside, but she fairly flew.  And then she just didn't stop running.  She ran around at least another time, and I think more, on her victory lab.  What a happy looking woman she was.  

 

I stayed home from church Sunday,  after spending much of the wee hours with my hacking cough.  David and Teresa returned after Sacrament Meeting to load up the car and we got to visit a little more. Then dinner and they were off for SLO.  It was sure nice having them.

 

I lazed around the rest of the day and worked on my cards.

 

Now I have over taken my break time.  Back to that great productivity.