Monday, Sept. 17

Up at 6:30 to get ready to go to the pool. Foggy, drizzly morning that called for fleece wear. The pool was wonderfully warm, and 27 of us attended the session.

One member, whose barn lost a newly constructed roof during the last thunderstorm, commented that her husband had ordered a trailer load of metal sheeting to use in constructing another roof. The supplier had loaded the sheeting on a trailer, with the intention of delivering it the next day. Overnight, though, thieves stole the load. Fortunately, the member and her husband had not paid for the sheeting, yet. But I'm thinking that is one bad-luck barn!

Back home, before getting ready for the day, I called the scrapbook club members to remind them of our Thursday meeting. In talking with one, I learned that a former member recently made a trip to Florida to visit her granddaughter and new great-granddaughter. But no sooner had she arrived than she fell violently ill and had to be hospitalized. She is now in ICU. This is the same lady who has suffered the loss of two sons, as well as two husbands, and who has herself had health problems over the past few years.

By the time I was ready for the day, it was noon. After lunch, Mother hit the couch, as usual, while I reviewed the lesson plan for my ESL student. I met her at the appointed 2:30 hour.

Today's lesson was about using maps and understanding geographical terms, as well as vocabulary about the four seasons. She also learned terms related to cooking appliances, and about catching a cold.

This led to a discussion of seasonal allergies (she had an awful bout of pollen allergy in the spring); and which seasons we prefer. She loves fall for the beautiful colors, and winter for the cold, while I prefer the spring and summer for the warmth.
I'm simply not a winter person. But since the student comes from a very hot-weather country, she relishes winter.

In conversation, we also talked about her store in Venezuela. She said she was able to find several garments on sale in the capital city that are suited to the hot weather in Venezuela. She said she buys at the lowest possible price, then triples the price to cover the cost of purchase, shipping, and profit. Women in that country are used to paying high prices for clothing, and they like American goods.

We agreed that tripling is a common practice: crafters often triple cost of goods to cover their time, travel, etc., and volunteers should do the same on reports...we often forget that travel and preparation time should be added to the actual on-site hours spent in volunteer activities.

We also talked about our children when they were young. Both of us had scary incidents with our boys...one of hers jerked out of her hand and ran across a busy highway, nearly getting hit; and one of mine, at age three, jerked out of my hand and ran behind the car as my former husband backed out of the garage. I screamed, and he stopped just in time.

At home, Hubbie had heated the leftover meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, and I made a recipe of brown gravy to go with it.

Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I watched a couple of "Jesse Stone" movies from the Hallmark Movie Channel. We'd seen them before, but a long time ago.

Sad note: tonight's local newspaper reported the death of the husband of one of the Extension Homemakers members that we know. We were acquainted with the husband, too, since he frequently accompanied her to Council luncheons. He was 87 years old.