fossilfreak | Entries tagged with benson

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 602

74.5 miles

hot again but a break in the smoke after weeks!

293 recordings of 52 types. 32% clear.

August 2 I wasn't going to leave the house at all, but I found some books of McClellan history in Hoarder Central and thought I'd try donating them to the air museum. They were delighted. While I was out I finally took the coffee I've been carrying around to Ann, who takes care of the donations for Sharing God's Bounty.

I called Carol to find out how her colonoscopy went. Better than mine, it appears.

The 3rd was Bonnie's birthday so I called her, which was fun. She was quite amused with Joanna's plans for Boxcar Children camp when SHE is a grandmother!! We discussed falls, too.

I was at Bernadette's from 10-1, helping sort through books, old board books out, slightly more grownup children's books to the living room (including some I took over which Padreic enjoyed), Joanna's books to her bookcases, Gareth's books to his. You can sure tell this is a family of readers!

Then I took some books to the library. (MY books, not hers, which she wanted to take to Little Free Libraries.)

Day 4 of a jigsaw puzzle I was trying to do before I go to Crater Lake. It was going fast, but it was obvious there were lots of pieces of another puzzle, as well. So I had no idea if I had enough pieces of the real puzzle. I would only know by finishing it.

I love watching Safari Live, and I also went onto the computer for an extra hour after the tv show was over. I just love it. I really want to go with Benson next year, but Zimbabwe is still roiling, and South Africa is looking a bit odd too.

On Saturday the 4th I got a free breakfast at the WPAC breakfast, so I left a tip and went out full and flush. One of the ladies had her daughter die of cancer. I feel, sometimes, like i've been dancing between the raindrops.

Willie (Bill) is going to be homeless at the end of August so will be coming to live with me for awhile. This will have some advantages... he can clean out the rain gutters which are full of driy leaves and palm seeds, and will be here if I want to take off for an overnight or two.

I was a bit appalled in the morning because Pharaoh ran into the kitchen with his rat-chasing look. Didn't spy any long tails, though, and the dog relaxed.

Sunday the 5th I went to Mass and Father asked us to pray for him. Apparently he's been the subject of some gossip, which isn't true, but he got a "canonical warning" (in other words a wrist slap) by the Bishop.

While in church I had a bad pain in the gall bladder area. I really don't need to add that, do I? However, it's gone now, so it was probably gas.

I kept thinking there was something I wanted to do this afternoon at 2, but of course I didn't remember what till 4:30, so I missed the Knights of Columbus ice cream social.

Charles Spinks, my friend whom I never met, the guy who went on the Camino 5 days ahead of me, died. :(

So. The doctor told me to come in to his office on the 6th, so I thought maybe I could do an end run around Kayla the unhelpful receptionist by calling the doctor's office directly. Michelle, his receptionist, didn't call back till the afternoon, and told me the doctor is not in his office on Mondays. Why did he tell me this? I will see this through, with the Nurse Practitioner Svetlana, on Monday the 13th, and get my operation, but I am definitely going to deal with some other group next time. I liked Svetlana, I liked the doctor, and the nurses were fine, but I can't take the stress.

I was trying to remember who I gave the baby gate to. I guess it was Pagan.

On Tuesday the 7th I went to breakfast and updated the ladies on my medical frustrations. First off, though, I listened to Jackie's stories, and it was something like having a MadLibs read to me, without any of the blanks filled in. I had to use a lot of imagination!

Then I went down to Elk Grove and read to Padreic and played with him while she worked on Joanna's stuff. She's going to have that room all cleaned up so Joan can trash it. Apparently J. complains that they don't have a decent guest room (and I've stayed at Joan's, so this is a bit hypocritical.) Anyway, I helped a bit, but mostly by keeping Padreic busy. I took a box of "food" and dishes (tiny Tupperware) to him and he was thrilled. I took the dehydrator to Bernadette. (When I dug it out I found a box, kind of a shelf which used to hold vinyl records, apparently, in the bar area and now it has scrapbooks in it)

Because of the smoke, it was possible that Vince would cancel Crater Lake, but now, a few days later, it seems like it'll be OK. I decided I would go anyway.

The 8th I apparently lost my Tac glasses, no idea how or where. Early in the morning, I removed some trumpet vine from the side yard.

Then I walked over to see the doctor. I was waiting in the room and he tapped on the door and opened it and said "sorry!" and backed out! That was puzzling. When he finally got back I teased him about being afraid of me and we had a good laugh. What had happened was he wasn't quite through with the other patient and just opened the wrong door.

He also took his time with me. He updated my shot records (though I'll have to correct one next time. I told him I'd had an injection for Typhoid but it was actually Yellow Fever.) He checked on the colonoscopy stuff and I told him how frustrated they are making me. He listened to my heart and lungs and felt my neck for lumps and, woe, looked at my feet. The prescription is to put Vicks Vapo-Rub on my toenails three times a day for one or two years! OK then. He said I was mildly depressed and I argued the point. It's because I don't sleep well.

Still, it was a satisfactory visit.

Once I got home again I went to the commissary for a big re-stocking (and of course, I already have two more items on the next list (oatmeal and RealLime)). It was over $220, so I'm sure glad I don't do this monthly. In fact, the last BIG one was in September, with a medium one in March, and I go pick up this and that approximately once a month. For the big ones, I go through the checkout and tip the baggers ($10 this time. Rich would have a cow.)

When I was putting the food away I heard the back toilet gurgling. Has that been happening since the cleaners were here? And if so, why didn't I hear it when I was putting papers in the back?

The temperature was back at triple digits.

On the 9th, I slept 9:30-2:40 and then went right back to sleep till 4:30.

I watched Gordon Ramsay's new show. He's doing a Sacto Restaurant next week. The post-show reviews don't look good. I believe I'll skip it.

I took the car in for its 122+K mile check-up. All it needed was a tune up and a replaced third brake light. (I hadn't even known I HAD a third brake light!) I took a long shuttle ride home, through downtown and East Sacramento, but that's nothing, he was in Rancho Cordova when I called him back so it took more than an hour. It's OK, though. At least I got to spend some time at home.

And THAT was interesting. Because it's Thursday, I took the dog poop bag out to the trash. While I was puttering back there, I decided to lop some of the lowest branches on the mulberry, so I opened the shed door to get the pole lopper. Like a flash, Pharaoh jumped into the shed and trapped and killed a squirrel right before my eyes. He was so proud of himself! He strutted out of the shed (thank goodness. I really didn't want to try to get the corpse with all the junk all over the floor and shelves) and brought his trophy to the porch, where I was waiting with a plastic bag. Then, as I took it to the trash, in front, I could hear him back in the shed. He then presented me with a dead young rat. So back into the house I went for another plastic bag (AFTER shutting the shed door!) and took THAT body to the trash! At least it's trash night!

And yes, I lopped the branches, and when I put the pole lopper away, I had the dog shut in the house.

I got new TacGlasses when I drove home. I see Sprouts has come into the grocery store that used to be SaveMart! If my food storage wasn't so chock-a-block full, I'd have checked it out, but maybe in a week or two.

That night, Pharaoh was still full of himself and wouldn't come in when I called him. I got the flashlight, which is usually the magic tool, and he still wouldn't come in. So I got a newspaper and whapped him when he came in. The next day again he didn't come in and I left him out for a couple of hours. Since then he's remembered to come when I tell him. (Which was something I taught him after Rich died. He needed to know who was boss, and it isn't him.)

The 10th, I was weeding the zinnia garden, one foot in my garden, one in the neighbor's yard, and I tripped over my little wire fence. Fortunately I didn't fall, but I sure got a big, painful, bruise.

I went back to Bernadette's, and again helped mostly by letting Padreic show me stuff. "Look!" every little thing he does. That and he starts every sentence with "no." "Are you going to put that in the dollhouse?" "No, I'm putting it in the dollhouse." Bernadette says he inherited it from Rich, who was very contradictory. "Why do you contradict everything?" "I don't contradict all the time!" he would say, contradicting me.

I finished the puzzle, 9 days, 995 pieces. There were 5 missing, but they didn't really ruin the picture. There were 31(!) pieces that didn't belong to this puzzle. No, I didn't pack them up with the puzzle!

My driver's license renewal came. I can't get an appointment until I know when my surgery will be. This is so frustrating. I did spend some time looking for my social security card, which I'm sure I used when I got my TSA pre-check number. Oh, well. I did find a piece of paper in my tax papers with the full number in it. And today I talked to Joan M. who didn't have an appointment but went at 0630 in the morning and got it taken care of and home by 9. So I'll do that.

I was invited to the Sharing God's Bounty board meeting, which was at a pizza place. I was amazed at how this ministry has grown. When it came time for me to speak I talked about the start, 35 years ago, and how Rich and I were in on the planning. How he did security/parking for something like 20 years. How I don't do much since he died except provide coffee. (Ann said there was more, but I didn't want to brag up my donations in his name.) I sat with Peter Mithin and talked to Bill Durborough.

I really pigged out on the pizza. And on the way home, my jaw hurt. I'm thinking imminent heart attack (no, if I get a heart attack, I want to do it in Svetlana's office!) It stopped when I got home, though I had it happen a little the next morning.

I was too late to see most of Safari Live live on the TV, but I managed to get to it overtime on the computer while I was finishing the puzzle. And it was exciting. There was a leopard (Hosana) stalking prey (and not getting it) and a hyena baby!

The next morning was the second Saturday breakfast, and I saw many of my friends. Mostly I talked to Marty.

Afterwards I went to Raley's for my prescription, and to Lazy Boy to look around (lots of pretty stuff, but I actually don't want any more overstuffed furniture in my living room. Something more like Bernadette's gliding chair which was initially Roni's. I don't like the new covers Joan put on that chair and stool so I've told her I don't want it. I got 4 glasses.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 599

66.6 miles

HOT

On Wednesday the 11th I drove Debby to Vina, the Cistercian Monastery. They were dedicating the church, which has been added on to the former chapter house made from the medieval stones of Oliva Monastery in France. Rich and I had watched while they started this chapter house and visited when they'd finished, and I've been back a couple of times, with WPAC, then Laurie and then Brenda. I was talking and overshot the turn-off, so we were about 15 minutes behind when I thought we would be and ended up sitting behind a pillar, but it was still a special Mass with chanting and Latin (fun for the convert!!) and incense and all. Then we had wine and a nice lunch buffet in a tent before we stopped at the winery and came home. (This time I missed the turn to Yuba City so ended up in Oroville, so it took a little longer to get home, but as a compensation Debby taught me a better way to get through Marysville.

The 12th I only dug one tulip bulb out. I went to Bernadette's in the morning and picked up some of the mess while she had a dentist appointment. Back at home I changed the kitty litter out, did laundry, and fixed stuffed peppers with a southwestern rice hamburger mix topped with mozzarella.

On Friday the 13th I finished season 4 of Chicaco P.D. and discovered one of the season 2 NCIS episodes has gone missing. Maybe I accidentally let it get erased.

It turns out I waited too long to sign up for the Mississippi River cruise next April. Darn it, it looked like fun.

I went out to thrift shops and a bookstore and found 4 Boxcar children books for Joanna.

Carol and Frank were leaving just as I was so she didn't get a chance to tell me they had some food for me in their fridge. She called. And so I looked for their key in the plastic bag I keep it in, and it wasn't there! Maybe the cleaners saw it and hung it up, so I took a fistful of keys over, and sure enough, the second one I tried opened the door! The food was two huge artichokes and a big pack of potato salad.

That night I went to see 1776 at the Chatauqua. Bev didn't arrive in time for the first act, and when I saw it was an all female cast I was annoyed, but it was great. Bev was there after intermission so I could stop worrying about her. Meanwhile, my friend Bill with the Pancreatic Cancer, looks great! He's recovered so well they gave him a new knee and they geocached through a lot of states.

I liked the first act better, but then I believe that's true every time I've seen it.

Saturday I had gotten tickets for us to ride the Sacramento River Train. Bernadette came by for me and we got down to Old Sacramento early. We stopped at the History Museum to spend some time. I am guessing it's been over 10 years since I've been there and they've surely changed a lot. They had a stretched penny machine so Joanna and Padreic each got one. Then we started walking toward the depot and when Padreic said he would like to get on the train, is when I let them know that's what I planned. We rode in the back coach and got our tickets punched, rode the 3 miles south and then got to watch the engine go down a spur then couple onto our coach.

I was wearing my Wyoming shirt and a guy asked me was I from the state. Turns out he is from Rock Springs and did indeed know the Zs, Joe's family.

I learned two short toots mean "we're starting" and two longs and a short mean "we're coming in."

It was a fun ride and the kids seemed to like it. When we got off Gareth asked "have you noticed we haven't had lunch?" so he got a bit of a talk from Mommy about how to tell people you're hungry a bit more politely. We went to a restaurant and Joanna turned into a whiny thorny monster because nobody else had finished their lunch. She was hanging her head with her shoulders hunched and near tears, so I tried to comfort her. A porcupine would have been easier. Turns out she wanted to "do something exciting."

Then we went over to the Railroad Museum, and she got into her "cling-to-mommy-because-there-are-scary-adults" phase. Mighod. She's got to be the saddest little girl in the world. It was NOT a good day for her. (Oh, yeah, she'd already informed me she doesn't like ballet and didn't want to see "Cinderella" and I'm pretty sure it's just that she didn't want to go anywhere with me. This despite a good camp. I've made myself feel better because I'll take Bernadette, and she can just stay home and maybe rethink her life.) It was the kind of day that makes me say that while I love her very much, sometimes I don't really like her. (I said that to B., and she agrees.)

At that gift shop we got more stretched pennies and I got Padreic his book. He was thrilled.

At home I noticed that after maybe a year, my fridge water filter needed changing. (I've been looking at the light for months, but never saw it go yellow. It was red this time.) I pulled it out to see what it was (but didn't write it down) and went to put it back and jammed it in, couldn't close the filter door. I tried to get the filter out but couldn't, asked for help from my friends, but no, and finally freed it on Sunday by attacking on a different angle.

\I dozed off and woke at 7:47. As it was light outside, I thought I'd overslept through the night, had missed my chance to dig, and would have to hurry for church. It finally dawned on me that it wasn't actually Sunday, but was still Saturday!

Sunday the 15th, I was distracted in church because of Joanna. Grrr.

I ordered tickets for the Kingston Trio (just me), Pinocchio with the kids and Bernadette, and the ballet with Bernadette. These are at Folsom. Last week I got the Mondavi (Davis) catalog for next year and they don't really have anything I want this time.

I was making chicken a la king and dropped it as I was putting it back into the microwave for the second part. And it smelled so good, all over the floor. I was amazed at the dog, who just sat looking at it until I told him it was OK for him to eat it. Such a clean floor!! Sigh.

Monday, I'd thought I'd be done digging by the weekend, but I was overoptimistic. I waited all day for the cleaners. Once they came I called Helena, who is also having a colonoscopy, hers this coming Friday.

I went to the Newcomer's dinner, and took my iPad (in its new cover) so I could show Bill my wounded picture. He wasn't there, but I did talk to Tom.

I am in 37 different places in Albion because I accidentally opened the perfumer's workshop instead of keeping it for the artist's studio.

July 17 I dug up 14 bulbs, then went to the WPAC breakfast. There were 6 of us. After a nice meal and chat I went to the commissary for a few things. I got home before it got too hot. It's been over 100 the last two weeks.

And at home, Benson asked me to come on safari next year. I really want to! It would be all over Zimbabwe. I asked if I could come early and go geocaching with him around Victoria Falls. It actually sounds like maybe we could do that! So I went to the Road Scholar page and checked it out, and then looked at the Iceland tour. I called Jean and we firmed up the date. I will sign up at the end of July.

I had found out at the Newcomer's dinner that Gary T. was home again so I called him. He's doing well.

And, of course, I forgot it was Tuesday until Vince called.

July 18 was the day I gave Gareth his promised trip toThe Tech Museum in San Jose. I got there by 7:30 so as to get to San Jose by 10, but I didn't account for dire traffic especially on 580. There were times I would have to come to a complete stop, then go a few car lengths and stop again. It was frustrating, but we finally arrived at the parking garage and got to the Tech a little before 11. The bathroom was the first stop. Gareth was so excited. I got our tickets (free, with a membership at the Powerhouse) and the guy asked if I'd like to donate. I said "yes, but later" and actually did drop $10 into the box as we left.

We stopped at the exhibit entrance and asked how the TechTags (which were the tickets) work. You scan it at each exhibit and at the end of the day you can put the number in at home and see a summary of your day. This sounds good, but Gareth lost his at the first exhibit. Used mine for awhile, but then when we left for lunch he got a different one, which he mostly used but at the end of the day he was back to using mine, and lost it. At the same exhibit. I'd picked up another one so at home I tried to see what that ticket user had done, and this spoiled the chance for Gareth to use the blue, substitute one, since apparently they only register one each day. Oh, well. If we do this next year we'll do better.

I had brought a book and sat nearby while he played. I did, at one point, show him there was another area, since he had pretty well done the whole coding area. At one point he was encrypting a password and the numbers were flying past and he was covering his ears to help him to focus. When we went to the different area he was entranced with the earthquake exhibit and with Google Earth. At 1 I finally suggested we go to lunch, where we spent a whopping 20 minutes. Back to the area. He discovered the biometrics area, and signed up for a monitor which he wore for about 40 minutes. (Again, this would be one of the first things if we come back.) Then we went upstairs, where there was my favorite thing of the day, the biochemistry. I helped him put on plastic gloves and a pair of goggles, and then he got a tube of bacteria and a tube of dna, combined them, warmed it, cooled it, spread it in a petri dish, put in the warmer to cook, (after scanning it) picked a cooked one and looked at it for various colors. The whole thing was fascinating. Another one that he liked was "building bacteria". We turned in his monitor and discovered he's a "confident builder." This is something I really would have liked to have on his tech tag at home. Oh, well.

He stood in line to ride the jet chair in space. Definitely he'd be Major Tom. There were lots of camp groups, but eventually he got to do everything he wanted to do. He finished on the same exhibit he'd started on, a game of building a network. I was interested to see how he interacted with other kids.

We went to dinner across the street, but didn't stay long enough to avoid major traffic jams on the way home. Gareth said he'd like to go with Joanna and Padreic and I pointed out that they would want to go to some other exhibits when he didn't. Padreic in particular would be bored with a lot of it, though there are areas he would enjoy. I think we would need three adults for the three kids. I was not the only adult who had brought a book (though I used my iPad more, to report on Facebook) and let the kids do their thing. I had a good time and I know he did, and I may do this again for his birthday next year. However, I believe then I would get a motel room on 1st street by the metro line and ride the train in, and avoid traffic. Rich and I did that when we went to ConJose in 2002. If we did that we might visit, uh, someone who lives here (to quote Gareth, who doesn't remember Aunt Monica's name.)

Anyway, I didn't get home till past 9, but the dog had behaved himself. A nice day!

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 599

66.6 miles

HOT

After I got back from Boxcar Children Camp, I had a blood test and then a followup visit with the Nurse Practictioner.

June 30, I policed the yard and got money and gas. (Great gas mileage!)

Lexi won all sorts of awards at the Marin County Fair, and Eric designed the logo the Scouts used when they went diving in the Bahamas. Meanwhile, Monica and her family were protesting while they were at the cabin. The family keeps busy.

Saturday night, there was a MUPT, a reunion Modem User Pizza Thingie. Bernadette and the two younger kids came. (Gareth was camping with Rob.) I saw a number of people for the first time in almost 30 years. It was a lot of fun catching up!

Then Sunday, July 1, I went to church, then out to Elk Grove for a memorial for a geocaching friend who has been fighting thyroid cancer about as long as I've known her. I met some of her cousins and told them about geocaching. I also ate a lot. (At this point, after a week of camp and the three parties this weekend, I'd completely given up on the blood test!) I left there about 3 because I didn't have any specific memories to share.

Then Bernadette picked me up for a 50th anniversary party of a couple from church whom we've known forever. Boyd is from Wyoming and was a student teacher (but not one of mine) when I was in high school. Mary Frances is very proud of her Croatian ancestry and used to have a sort of friendly rivalry with Rich on a lot of shared Eastern European traditions. They initially had trouble having a family and had adopted two boys and a girl, then lost them in the courts, but then had Amy, Brian, and Ned. Ned is about Bernadette's age. Amy married a few years ago, and has two stepdaughters, and their own daughter, Delilah, who is a healthy, delightful Downs child. Neither Brian nor Ned have married, so Delilah is the only grandchild and is the light of their lives. It was another great party, with all my church friends. I was surprised at how many people had seen my Facebook bruises pictures.

Then, as usually happens, Monday rolled around. I had made an appointment with the Quest diagnostics place at the same building where I had my colonoscopy pre-appointment. Once I found the Quest place, the blood test went smoothly and I had a full hour to have breakfast in the cafe.

Svetlana (an NP from Russia) gave me the preliminary exam and then I was scheduled for my colonoscopy on July 23, at 8 AM, in Roseville! And poor Bernadette has to come from Elk Grove, and stick around. Rob has agreed to stay home that morning so the kids (who aren't leaving till the 24th... I really have to write all this stuff down!) don't have to stick around the medical offices with her. I initially thought it would be just Padreic and she'd be able to leave and come back. (That's what happened with me last two times and with Rich's tests.) They sent the pharmacy the prescription for the colon cleanser, may I only be able to keep it down, and I was able to pick it up the next day.

I got home by 9:30 and spent the rest of the day waiting for the cleaners. When I was going to call them I noticed I had a message... they had come early! They never do, it's usually sometime between 1 and 3! So I called and they did come, about 3:30. How annoying!

I rather reluctantly reminded Steve that he owed me money (from maybe 20 years ago) and am quite relieved that he's still speaking and is willing to start paying me back.

July 3 I got back to digging up tulip bulbs, weed roots, and loosening the soil. The nearby country club had its fireworks, but I didn't feel up to going over this year. However, I stepped out in back when I heard the booms, and ended up watching most of them, the ones that rose above the neighbor's tree. Beautiful!! Vince had called early so I was able to stand outside and enjoy them.

On the 4th I finished watching "The Americans." It's interesting how the KGB wanted to stop Gorbachev. Think how Putin is now doing his best to undo everything since the fall of the Wall. It's a shame.

Benson was denied a visa to come to the US this fall. According to Fiona they didn't even glance at his paperwork! Grrrr.

July 5 I woke at 3:30, I went out to Mass at the Retreat House. It felt like coming home. Father Giltus is great. I sure hope he's going to lead a group to Oberammergau! I ate a little of the goodies, and talked to the guy who always is barefoot in church. A woman gave us plums!

Then I went to the Commissary for a few things, but didn't shelve the stuff until after I got back from Elk Grove. I'm reading fairy tales to the kids, but I can hardly wait till late August when they're back so I can start Stowaways in Paradise.

Bernadette has a friend who is going to start a kindergarten, so she wondered if I had stuff. Oh, yes, counting dogs and counting bears, and buttons, and keys. I threw my mom's tin she used as a button box away. I used to love to play with the buttons, but never got to it with my kids or grandkids. The keys are a lot of ours and even more of GoE's. I always thought they'd make great wind chimes, but of course never got to that either.

On the 6th the laptop didn't get recharged overnight. (When I moved the television I also moved my chair, and suddenly I can't leave the computer plugged in.) There's one of the outlets in the power strip that doesn't, apparently, work. I finally got the computer charged so I could upload the pictures.

There's a girl named Carol Powers (my sis-in-law's name) in an episode of NCIS!

On Saturday the 7th I went to the WPAC breakfast, and Gene, who had a stroke last month, was there. The girls' government teacher at Loretto had a couple of nice pictures of Bernadette's graduation for me.

I stopped at WalMart on the way home and got some dish disposal cleaner. It took all 4 packets, but the disposal is finally pretty clean.

Then I finally got back to the Nano T-rex Monica gave me at Christmas. I built a couple of ribs, but other pieces began to fall off, and it was hard to figure out where they came from. I'll have to take it all apart and start over, and it was just too frustrating, so I've put it away for awhile.

At Mass on Sunday the priest didn't consecrate enough hosts, so we all had tiny bits.

I took Joan M., a new widow at church, to WPAC.

I played a lot of Fishdom on the 9th. Then I watered the entire back yard.

On the recent commissary visit I'd gotten some curry noodle bowls. The instructions say to shake the curry to one side. I'm guessing it got a little damp, as the curry was hard. And no, it wasn't past the best-use-by date. Tasty when it was made up, though.

I finally wrote up the boxcar children entry. This got me into Flickr for the pictures and I got sidetracked correcting a lot of past omissions.

My car registration came! I made sure to put the sticker on right away, and put the paper into the car. I've printed up my insurance form, too, but it isn't in the car yet.

My doctor visit was the 10th. I actually thought it was the annual physical (which apparently I don't get anyway), but it turned out just to be a followup with the blood test. My A1C is 5.8, better than last time. Then, no surprise after the week of being bad, the glucose is 129. My cholesterol and thyroid are OK. Since the Lifeline screening found something maybe wrong with my thyroid, I could wish we'd looked into that a little more.

Vince's call was mostly about Eric, swimming with the sharks. Oh, just great.

I'm still reading Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Pepys' Diary; Embarrassments by PJ Nel; Little Women, Louisa May Alcott; We Die Standing Up, Dom Hubert van Zeller; Over the Gate, Miss Read; Archie Meets Nero Wolfe, Robert Goldsborough and Pere Goriot, Balzac. (Everytime I hear that name I think of Music Man!)

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 599

31.4 miles

partly cloudy

305 recordings of 21 types, 65 old CPD. 31% clear.

Tuesday (the 19th) as I was driving home, I decided to stop at Wendy's for a burger. I think this may be the first time I've been at a Wendy's since David died and Rich walked me down to the local one to help me calm down.

Alicia had left the baby gate open so the dog got into the kitty litter. She left the shower leaking. She didn't eat the strawberries and grapes I had out for her, and she had the heater up to 72%. (darn. I was really hoping this month's usage would be down.) However, she was able to come at the last minute and the dog didn't have to stay out in bad weather.

Vince called and they planned A.J.'s birthday party for Saturday. Vince wanted to put together some kits so they could make their own trains.

Wednesday Fishdom came up with an Easter game. While I had most of the things from last year (and put the delighted hedgehog into the Wonderland aquarium) I did want the two fish again (Humpty and Dumpty) so I played.

Bernadette had work this day, so she brought Padreic over in the morning on the way. I decided it was too rainy to go to Wee Wednesday, so we just stayed in the house and I gave him macaroni and cheese for lunch.

He was playing with the Cookie Monster toy and had discovered it would travel across the kitchen floor, so of course the batteries ran down. It was C batteries, and I found a pack of two unused Cs. Then I see they were both corroded. Who knew that not using batteries in many years wasted them? So I need to get new Cs.

I drove directly to the school and went out in the rain with Padreic to go to the office and donate Charlotte's Web. We hung out then for about 10 minutes until we could go wait for the kids on the school grounds. I saw Joanna and told her to go to the crosswalk and then go to my car, which was unlocked, and get into it, and then waited for Gareth. The three of us walked toward the crosswalk, at Padreic's speed, and there was Joanna with the principal holding an umbrella over her. Apparently, she only remembered the first part of the instructions, and I believe this is the second time that's happened, so from now on I'll have her repeat the whole thing.

Back at the house, I read to them and watched their homework, though Gareth needs constant prompts. Joanna played with Padreic. When Rob got home he helped set Gareth up to edit his paper (which gets electronically sent to the teacher: wonderful technology) and then went to relax. I stayed around to keep the kids sane (not that it was hard) until R. came out to start dinner and I told him B. was going to bring something. Then I asked if he was prepared to rejoin the world, he was, so I left about 5:45. It was late enough that going up Watt actually was OK and I got home myself about 6:30.

Thursday, rain rain rain. I stayed in. John called. As I suspected, he's found a widow he knew from the past and is beginning to date.

I made the backspout *whoosh* out, very satisfactory. However, I got a hand cramp. The first one I ever had was in Zubiri, Spain, but I'm getting them more often now. Foot cramps I've been having for years.

I uploaded all the pictures from my camera. It's been a couple of months.

There was a shooting over the weekend... it was initially presented as a poor unarmed young dad, but there was a bit more to the story. It's our own Michael Brown incident, though so far the Black Lives Matter people have only blocked off the Kings games. No rioting to date, which is promising.

Friday I did some digging in the garden. I called Brenda to find out how Renee is doing, and she's been removed to a convalescent home. I also called Darlene. She was on her way to St. Augustine.

Then I drove down to the Feickert school Carnival. Bernadette had bought my raffle tickets and a ticket for a cheese pizza slice. (Friday in Lent, no hot dog for me!) I danced the Macarena and Y-M-C-A, but mostly I hung out. Bernadette actually can do the hula hoop! I put my tickets mostly in the bag for the gift cards, and a few in the Kindle Fire bag. And I won nothing. However, Bernadette (and Padreic, who had carefully put the ticket in that bag when she told him to) did win a basket with a really cute bunny. And Joanna was totally thrilled with the bag.

&bsp

I sadly told them goodbye, since this is Joan's turn to have them for Easter.

Saturday I spent a lot of time playing games, then went back to sleep and ended up with 8 hours of sleep. This hardly ever happens.

I went to the store, then later went to evening Mass to avoid the Palm Sunday processions. Ever since Alan left, our Palm Sundays just aren't that exciting any more. I talked to Peter Mithin for a bit.

I adjusted a slow cooker orange chicken recipe for the Instant Pot. It wasn't bad (it's from a diabetes cookbook) though I forgot the grated orange peel which is ridiculous with all the oranges Monica gave me!

Sunday morning the dog wasn't in his bed. I went looking for him and there he was in the kitchen with a RAT! A big one! Eeek!! It scurried off to the hole next to the dishwasher. Sunday morning at 4 AM, I couldn't call the rat people till Monday. That night I tried blocking the hole with a lead weight, but it pushed it over and got into the kitchen again, though this time I didn't see it. Then I put bricks there and that seems to be working to keep it out of the kitchen.

I dug up the garden for peanuts which I planted on Monday. I'm also trying to sprout kumquats. And I have a different kind of avocado pit I hope to grow.

I had a long talk with sister-in-law Carol. Frank will be 75 on April 11th!

Fiona (from Ngoko safari) has posted her trip report. They (she and Benson) will be coming to the US in October, maybe to Seattle!

I printed up the Canadian Geotour passport, and put Doug and Nancy on the GPS.

Monday I had a nosebleed. I spent a lot of time playing games. I am spending too much money on Albion, but it's very addictive.

The cleaners were early so I had to do a quick final pass. Then while I was in the bedroom I kept hearing this "tap tap tap" and wondered what they were doing. Finally, when they tapped on my window I learned they had locked themselves out!!

My tulips are so pretty!

I'd been wondering if Roni would ask me for Easter. She finally emailed the family, what fun it would be if everyone came for Easter dinner. (This was a surprise, lately they've been taking Grandma to dinner in a restaurant. Apparently Kathy has become totally anti-social, doesn't want to go out, doesn't want people to visit.) Monica is going to New Orleans, Bernadette is in Oregon, and I said no because I'm on retreat till Easter morning and am going to want to go home with my dog. Poor Roni!