Woke up this very foggy morning to the sound of our diesel truck, as Hubbie left to go help the Master Gardeners conduct a bulb sale downtown. They met at 8 a.m. at the pocket park, and sold bulbs until around noon. The bulb sale was part of a downtown antiques and crafts event yesterday and today.
I got up as soon as I heard the truck, and around 8:30 had a light breakfast, before doing stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises. Once I was ready for the day, I did this and that around the house, including gathering and starting laundry washing, and finding necessary items for making a congratulations greeting card for my ESL student.
Around 10:30, I accompanied Mother to our house. We didn't do much before lunch. Hubbie was home by 11:30. After lunch, Mother went to the couch for a nap, while Hubbie and I went downtown for a while, so he could help the MGs clean up after the sale, and then join me in visiting the art gallery.
The gallery was just one of the businesses that were open today for the event. I had thought there was to be a crafts sale in one of the storefronts, but there wasn't. Several antique and flea market stores were open, but I wasn't in the mood to browse them today.
Nothing much was happening at the art gallery. But we indulged in the refreshments...mulled cider, and pumpkin muffins. There were other goodies, too, but they were of the crunchy variety, and I'm supposed to avoid crunchy and sticky foods for ten days, until my next dental exam.
The exhibit today was photos on canvas-like paper. The photographer was the same one who presented a slide show program at the college Thursday night. In fact, the exhibit today was comprised of several of the photos he featured in the slide show.
I decided to bring a muffin home for Mother to enjoy for her evening snack. The art council director insisted we take a couple more for ourselves. And she asked if I could bring a box of a dozen of the muffins home to put in the freezer to be used for an event at the gallery early in November. Our freezer is pretty full, but there was room in Mother's freezer.
From downtown, we went to a department store to use a $10 off a $25 purchase. Found a pair of khaki slacks for Hubbie. I actually had two $10 coupons, both of which expired today, but I didn't feel like looking for anything for myself, so I offered the coupon to the first person in the checkout line who had a purchase of $25 or more. One lady was buying a man's shirt, but it cost $24.95, and I knew the store would not let her use the coupon for that...it has to be exactly $25 or more. The lady behind her, though, was purchasing shoes for $39.99, so I gave the coupon to her.
Back home, Mother finished her nap around 3 p.m., and relaxed in the den, where I played a one-hour show from DVR for her, while I measured and pinned the legs of a new pair of denim jeans, to be hemmed one evening while I'm plopped in front of TV.
Later, we had a supper of the remainder of the spaghetti and sauce, which we had with green beans, and grape tomatoes topped with cottage cheese, along with bread and butter.
Accompanied Mother to her house afterward, and waited for her to take a shower before I returned home.
Watched TV after that, including our favorite college football team, as they played to a wide-margin win, after two very long game delays due to thunderstorms.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Friday, Oct. 12
Up around 7 a.m. to get ready for a trip a couple of hours east to take the trailer hitch for repair...one of the bolts sheared off. We left home about 8:30, and arrived in the other town just before 10:30. Encountered a strong storm just as we left...booming thunder, lightning, pouring rain that slowed traffic to a snail's pace. It was very cool today, too, despite predictions that the temp would rise to nearly 80 degrees.
Stopped at the repair shop first, and then went by Hubbie's daughter's house to deliver a 40 lb. box of sweet potatoes. She and her husband are off on a trip right now, but the potatoes will be fine on the carport until she returns.
From there, we went to the hobby shop. I actually didn't think we'd have time today to shop there, so I didn't bother to print coupons from the store's website. Mother enjoyed visiting the store, though, and we picked up several items already marked 40 and 50% off. I was particularly interested in her choosing papers she liked for creating an autumn page featuring a photo of her at the pumpkin patch we visited a few days ago. She spent several happy minutes choosing just the right papers.
Besides the papers, we found an inexpensive rubber stamp in the clearance bin. Paid full price, though, for glues and mounting squares.
From the hobby shop, we went to a favorite Italian restaurant, where we met Hubbie's two sisters for lunch. We all ordered the soup, salad, and breadsticks, as usual, along with a carafe of coffee for Mother.
When she couldn't drink it all, we asked for an extra cup for Hubbie. The waitress brought it, but she announced that she'd have to charge for an extra cup of coffee. Hubbie told her to take the cup back. Since his sister had ordered tea, she let him use her cup for coffee.
Hubbie then presented the waitress with a lunch coupon, which she later informed us was not valid on the soup, salad, breadsticks lunch. No extra cup, no discount. Irritating. "Well, this isn't the only restaurant in town," I commented. The waitress apologized, and I told her it wasn't her fault...she isn't in charge of the policies of the restaurant.
But I figure she'll relay my displeasure to the powers that be. The extra cup thing is a real gouging tactic of the restaurant. After all, we were paying for the coffee, not the cup. They'd have had to throw away the unused coffee, anyway. Not a very good way of building customer goodwill, seems to me.
Hubbie treated his sisters today, since one of them is celebrating a birthday. He also presented the "birthday girl" with a card and gift card from her favorite bookstore.
After lunch, we visited the mall, where I used a coupon for a free lingerie item from a popular lingerie shop. Also had a coupon for free sample bottle of cologne. The $10 coupon I received at the same time as the free ones, I gave to my sister-in-law, who said her daughter could use it.
Stopped by the mall bookstore, hoping to find a little congratulations gift for my ESL student, but nothing caught my eye.
So we left the mall and went to the warehouse store. Mother, who had stayed in the van while we in the mall, agreed to shop with us in the warehouse store. At this store, when Hubbie tried to get the wheelchair out of the van, one of the footrests came off, and he was unable to put it back on. So Mother had to ride with both feet on one footrest.
We picked up a lot of things at this store, many of which were ordered by Sis. We were fortunate here, that the store agreed to let us exchange large packages of printer ink cartridges that are the wrong number for our new printer, for packages of cartridges we are able to use. We feared that since it had been more than 30 days since we purchased the ink, they might not agree to the exchange.
It was about 2:30 when we headed back home. As soon as we got back, I accompanied Mother to her house. When I walked in the door at home, Hubbie uttered an expletive. "What!" I asked. He repeated the expletive. "What is wrong!" I asked.
"I forgot to pick up the trailer hitch," he said. Omigosh! The hitch was the whole purpose of the trip! Now we'd have to go back for it. I went to Mother's house to alert her to be ready for another trip tomorrow.
While I was there, Hubbie came in to say he'd called the shop, and found out they hadn't been able to fix the hitch with the bolt they had and would need to find another bolt. They'll call us Monday about when to go pick up the hitch.
It was just as well, since Hubbie is supposed to help the Master Gardeners with a bulb sale downtown in the morning. There's also an antiques and crafts event going on downtown that I might like to browse.
I thought I might also make a congratulations card for my student, and go to the greeting card shop to see if I can find a little gift for her. Plenty to do tomorrow without making an extra trip.
Later, I mulled over ideas about what to have for supper, and while reading the evening newspaper, noticed a little announcement that a local school was having their annual fall festival tonight that included barbecue sandwiches, slaw, chips, and cookies. the festival also featured a silent auction.
We've attended this festival each year for several years, so decided to take it in again tonight. The festival started at 5 p.m. and ran until 8 p.m., but it was nearly 7 p.m. before we arrived.
The barbecue sandwiches were very generous. I had the sandwich with slaw, and gave my chips and cookies to Hubbie.
When we finished our meal, we visited the silent auction. We had only 30 minutes to bid on items, but by closing time at 7:30, I think I won a few bids...on a cutting board, a bicycle helmet, a Santa Christmas figurine with votive candle, and a candle in a jar. Winners will be notified on Monday.
Back home, we watched TV for a while, including the 1992 movie, "Bram Stoker's Dracula," Dracula, starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves.
Stopped at the repair shop first, and then went by Hubbie's daughter's house to deliver a 40 lb. box of sweet potatoes. She and her husband are off on a trip right now, but the potatoes will be fine on the carport until she returns.
From there, we went to the hobby shop. I actually didn't think we'd have time today to shop there, so I didn't bother to print coupons from the store's website. Mother enjoyed visiting the store, though, and we picked up several items already marked 40 and 50% off. I was particularly interested in her choosing papers she liked for creating an autumn page featuring a photo of her at the pumpkin patch we visited a few days ago. She spent several happy minutes choosing just the right papers.
Besides the papers, we found an inexpensive rubber stamp in the clearance bin. Paid full price, though, for glues and mounting squares.
From the hobby shop, we went to a favorite Italian restaurant, where we met Hubbie's two sisters for lunch. We all ordered the soup, salad, and breadsticks, as usual, along with a carafe of coffee for Mother.
When she couldn't drink it all, we asked for an extra cup for Hubbie. The waitress brought it, but she announced that she'd have to charge for an extra cup of coffee. Hubbie told her to take the cup back. Since his sister had ordered tea, she let him use her cup for coffee.
Hubbie then presented the waitress with a lunch coupon, which she later informed us was not valid on the soup, salad, breadsticks lunch. No extra cup, no discount. Irritating. "Well, this isn't the only restaurant in town," I commented. The waitress apologized, and I told her it wasn't her fault...she isn't in charge of the policies of the restaurant.
But I figure she'll relay my displeasure to the powers that be. The extra cup thing is a real gouging tactic of the restaurant. After all, we were paying for the coffee, not the cup. They'd have had to throw away the unused coffee, anyway. Not a very good way of building customer goodwill, seems to me.
Hubbie treated his sisters today, since one of them is celebrating a birthday. He also presented the "birthday girl" with a card and gift card from her favorite bookstore.
After lunch, we visited the mall, where I used a coupon for a free lingerie item from a popular lingerie shop. Also had a coupon for free sample bottle of cologne. The $10 coupon I received at the same time as the free ones, I gave to my sister-in-law, who said her daughter could use it.
Stopped by the mall bookstore, hoping to find a little congratulations gift for my ESL student, but nothing caught my eye.
So we left the mall and went to the warehouse store. Mother, who had stayed in the van while we in the mall, agreed to shop with us in the warehouse store. At this store, when Hubbie tried to get the wheelchair out of the van, one of the footrests came off, and he was unable to put it back on. So Mother had to ride with both feet on one footrest.
We picked up a lot of things at this store, many of which were ordered by Sis. We were fortunate here, that the store agreed to let us exchange large packages of printer ink cartridges that are the wrong number for our new printer, for packages of cartridges we are able to use. We feared that since it had been more than 30 days since we purchased the ink, they might not agree to the exchange.
It was about 2:30 when we headed back home. As soon as we got back, I accompanied Mother to her house. When I walked in the door at home, Hubbie uttered an expletive. "What!" I asked. He repeated the expletive. "What is wrong!" I asked.
"I forgot to pick up the trailer hitch," he said. Omigosh! The hitch was the whole purpose of the trip! Now we'd have to go back for it. I went to Mother's house to alert her to be ready for another trip tomorrow.
While I was there, Hubbie came in to say he'd called the shop, and found out they hadn't been able to fix the hitch with the bolt they had and would need to find another bolt. They'll call us Monday about when to go pick up the hitch.
It was just as well, since Hubbie is supposed to help the Master Gardeners with a bulb sale downtown in the morning. There's also an antiques and crafts event going on downtown that I might like to browse.
I thought I might also make a congratulations card for my student, and go to the greeting card shop to see if I can find a little gift for her. Plenty to do tomorrow without making an extra trip.
Later, I mulled over ideas about what to have for supper, and while reading the evening newspaper, noticed a little announcement that a local school was having their annual fall festival tonight that included barbecue sandwiches, slaw, chips, and cookies. the festival also featured a silent auction.
We've attended this festival each year for several years, so decided to take it in again tonight. The festival started at 5 p.m. and ran until 8 p.m., but it was nearly 7 p.m. before we arrived.
The barbecue sandwiches were very generous. I had the sandwich with slaw, and gave my chips and cookies to Hubbie.
When we finished our meal, we visited the silent auction. We had only 30 minutes to bid on items, but by closing time at 7:30, I think I won a few bids...on a cutting board, a bicycle helmet, a Santa Christmas figurine with votive candle, and a candle in a jar. Winners will be notified on Monday.
Back home, we watched TV for a while, including the 1992 movie, "Bram Stoker's Dracula," Dracula, starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Thursday, Oct. 11
Slept late, until around 8:30, even though Hubbie was up thirty minutes earlier, so he could get ready to go to a Master Gardener meeting at 10 a.m. After we'd had breakfast, and he'd left for his meeting, I did stair stepping, resistance band, and weights exercises.
Once I was ready for the day, I took a bowl of Ramen Noodle soup to Mother's house for her to heat in the microwave for lunch, because I was scheduled for a dental appointment at noon.
Around 11:30, I noticed that Hubbie had taken the van instead of the truck, so I called him. I can drive the truck, but it's not my favorite vehicle to park. Turned out Hubbie was on his way home, since the MG meeting had ended early, so the van would be available.
Didn't have to wait long at the dentist's office before the hygienist was ready for me. Drats, today she found a problem tooth with deep pockets. This was a tooth that had been perfectly fine at the last visit, so she was stunned, as was the dentist, when he checked it. The tooth shows no signs of infection, and an x-ray showed no tartar deposit or significant bone loss. It's a complete mystery.
The hygienist thoroughly cleaned the tooth, and added antibiotic to the pockets, and I'm to return in ten days for a checkup. If this tooth doesn't respond, I'll be referred to a periodontist in the capital city for possible addition of bone. If nothing works, I'm looking at another tooth loss, and a new partial.
This news did not set a positive tone for the day for me. Before I left the dentist's office, the hygienist commented that today is 10-11-12, a supposedly lucky day. "Not for me, apparently," I laughed.
Funny: I accidentally bit the dentist today, when I clamped my mouth shut before he'd quite removed his fingers. I didn't hurt him, and we all had a good laugh about it, but I was pretty embarrassed.
It was 1:30 before I got back home, and since Hubbie hadn't had lunch yet, we both sat down to sandwiches. Around 2:30, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she promptly went to the couch for a nap. It seems that she rests better on our couch or in the camper than anywhere else. Guess she just feels safe and secure here.
While she rested, we went to the house of friends who sell 40 lb. boxes of sweet potatoes for $12. Bought two boxes...one for each of Hubbie's daughters, at their request.
Funny: (and the following isn't the funny part): as Hubbie was carrying one of the boxes to the van, he tripped, dropped the box, and fell to his knees on top of it. All I saw was his head disappear from sight, which made my heart jump into my throat. I jumped out of the car to check on him, and breathed a sigh of relief to find he was okay.
We laughed all the way home about it, because yesterday morning, before we attended a program at the hospital about balance disorders, I took a tumble in our bathroom. Then today, the day after the program, Hubbie tumbled.
It was the power of suggestion, he said. Learn about falling, and then fall. Or take a driver safety course, and then, minutes after receiving a certificate of completion, back into a light pole.
Later, we had leftover spaghetti and sauce, green beans, and a side of cottage cheese for supper. I accompanied Mother home afterward, and waited until she'd taken a shower, before returning to our house.
Spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including the vice-presidential debate.
Once I was ready for the day, I took a bowl of Ramen Noodle soup to Mother's house for her to heat in the microwave for lunch, because I was scheduled for a dental appointment at noon.
Around 11:30, I noticed that Hubbie had taken the van instead of the truck, so I called him. I can drive the truck, but it's not my favorite vehicle to park. Turned out Hubbie was on his way home, since the MG meeting had ended early, so the van would be available.
Didn't have to wait long at the dentist's office before the hygienist was ready for me. Drats, today she found a problem tooth with deep pockets. This was a tooth that had been perfectly fine at the last visit, so she was stunned, as was the dentist, when he checked it. The tooth shows no signs of infection, and an x-ray showed no tartar deposit or significant bone loss. It's a complete mystery.
The hygienist thoroughly cleaned the tooth, and added antibiotic to the pockets, and I'm to return in ten days for a checkup. If this tooth doesn't respond, I'll be referred to a periodontist in the capital city for possible addition of bone. If nothing works, I'm looking at another tooth loss, and a new partial.
This news did not set a positive tone for the day for me. Before I left the dentist's office, the hygienist commented that today is 10-11-12, a supposedly lucky day. "Not for me, apparently," I laughed.
Funny: I accidentally bit the dentist today, when I clamped my mouth shut before he'd quite removed his fingers. I didn't hurt him, and we all had a good laugh about it, but I was pretty embarrassed.
It was 1:30 before I got back home, and since Hubbie hadn't had lunch yet, we both sat down to sandwiches. Around 2:30, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she promptly went to the couch for a nap. It seems that she rests better on our couch or in the camper than anywhere else. Guess she just feels safe and secure here.
While she rested, we went to the house of friends who sell 40 lb. boxes of sweet potatoes for $12. Bought two boxes...one for each of Hubbie's daughters, at their request.
Funny: (and the following isn't the funny part): as Hubbie was carrying one of the boxes to the van, he tripped, dropped the box, and fell to his knees on top of it. All I saw was his head disappear from sight, which made my heart jump into my throat. I jumped out of the car to check on him, and breathed a sigh of relief to find he was okay.
We laughed all the way home about it, because yesterday morning, before we attended a program at the hospital about balance disorders, I took a tumble in our bathroom. Then today, the day after the program, Hubbie tumbled.
It was the power of suggestion, he said. Learn about falling, and then fall. Or take a driver safety course, and then, minutes after receiving a certificate of completion, back into a light pole.
Later, we had leftover spaghetti and sauce, green beans, and a side of cottage cheese for supper. I accompanied Mother home afterward, and waited until she'd taken a shower, before returning to our house.
Spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including the vice-presidential debate.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Up at 6:30 this morning to get ready for water aerobics. Cool morning again that required fleece wear and a hoodie, though not cool enough for a jacket. The pool was a bit cool, too, but nice once I got used to it. A record thirty-one of us showed up this morning.
Back home, once I had a couple of cups of coffee to warm up, I headed right upstairs to get ready for the day, because Hubbie and I wanted to attend a lunch program at the hospital at noon.
The talk today was about balance disorders, which, as it turned out, was a timely topic for me, because as I was getting ready this morning, I had a little bathroom mishap. After drying my feet, while seated on the toilet, I threw the towel on the floor. Then, as I tried to stand up, the towel moved, and I did the splits, coming down hard on the toilet seat, and then falling forward on my hands and knees to the floor. Fortunately, the toilet seat is padded, and I wasn't far from the floor, so I didn't hurt myself in any way. But I learned a lesson about towels and floors!
There was a packed house for the hospital program, which was preceeded by a lunch of a chicken fillet sandwich on a whole wheat bun, topped with lettuce and tomato, and served with potato salad, and fresh fruit.
Several members of water aerobics were there, two of whom sat at our table. One lady was interested in the program, because her husband is experiencing dizziness, and she'd like him to see a doctor about it. Good luck with that. Husbands are not known for taking a wife's suggestion concerning their health.
Before we went to the hospital, we made sure Mother had her lunch of Ramen Noodle soup, and then when we returned, Hubbie accompanied her to our house, where she diced veggies for spaghetti sauce. She diced bell pepper, banana peppers, an onion, and garlic. I sauteed those and then added jar sauce and canned tomatoes, plus spices, and let it simmer most of the afternoon.
Once the sauce was prepared, we watched Tuesday night's elimination episode of "Dancing With the Stars." Then Mother watched a one-hour show that she'd forgotten to watch at home.
By now, it was about 3:30, but I insisted that Mother head to the couch for a nap before supper. She didn't wake up until 5:30, after Hubbie and I had already eaten by then. But she was ready for her supper, and even ate two helpings of the spaghetti, topped with delicious mellow sauce, a helping of green beans, and a slice of garlic bread.
I accompanied her home afterward, and then Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, as usual.
Funny: got an e-mail from the arts council director today. Her humorous misuse of words cracks me up. Today, she wrote: "I wanted to see if I could embark upon you to get volunteers to man the gallery next week. I am having a granddaughter and will be out of state." I was sorely tempted to respond: "Sorry, we will be busy next week getting ready to impose upon a trip." I also wonder why she's going to the trouble of having her own granddaughter, instead of leaving that to her daughter.
Back home, once I had a couple of cups of coffee to warm up, I headed right upstairs to get ready for the day, because Hubbie and I wanted to attend a lunch program at the hospital at noon.
The talk today was about balance disorders, which, as it turned out, was a timely topic for me, because as I was getting ready this morning, I had a little bathroom mishap. After drying my feet, while seated on the toilet, I threw the towel on the floor. Then, as I tried to stand up, the towel moved, and I did the splits, coming down hard on the toilet seat, and then falling forward on my hands and knees to the floor. Fortunately, the toilet seat is padded, and I wasn't far from the floor, so I didn't hurt myself in any way. But I learned a lesson about towels and floors!
There was a packed house for the hospital program, which was preceeded by a lunch of a chicken fillet sandwich on a whole wheat bun, topped with lettuce and tomato, and served with potato salad, and fresh fruit.
Several members of water aerobics were there, two of whom sat at our table. One lady was interested in the program, because her husband is experiencing dizziness, and she'd like him to see a doctor about it. Good luck with that. Husbands are not known for taking a wife's suggestion concerning their health.
Before we went to the hospital, we made sure Mother had her lunch of Ramen Noodle soup, and then when we returned, Hubbie accompanied her to our house, where she diced veggies for spaghetti sauce. She diced bell pepper, banana peppers, an onion, and garlic. I sauteed those and then added jar sauce and canned tomatoes, plus spices, and let it simmer most of the afternoon.
Once the sauce was prepared, we watched Tuesday night's elimination episode of "Dancing With the Stars." Then Mother watched a one-hour show that she'd forgotten to watch at home.
By now, it was about 3:30, but I insisted that Mother head to the couch for a nap before supper. She didn't wake up until 5:30, after Hubbie and I had already eaten by then. But she was ready for her supper, and even ate two helpings of the spaghetti, topped with delicious mellow sauce, a helping of green beans, and a slice of garlic bread.
I accompanied her home afterward, and then Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, as usual.
Funny: got an e-mail from the arts council director today. Her humorous misuse of words cracks me up. Today, she wrote: "I wanted to see if I could embark upon you to get volunteers to man the gallery next week. I am having a granddaughter and will be out of state." I was sorely tempted to respond: "Sorry, we will be busy next week getting ready to impose upon a trip." I also wonder why she's going to the trouble of having her own granddaughter, instead of leaving that to her daughter.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Tuesday, Oct. 9
Slept late, until around 8 a.m. Did a treadmill session and resistance bands exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she watched an episode of "The Mentalist," while I exercised. Hubbie and I had seen the episode last night, but I kept it on DVR, because these days Mother forgets to watch her favorite shows at home.
While I was cooling down after exercising, we watched this week's episode of "Dancing With the Stars." I've decided to record the episodes each week and watch them the next day, so I won't have to watch them twice when Mother forgets to watch them at home.
We had lunch while we watched TV, and afterward, I finally headed upstairs to get ready for the day. Mother went to the couch for a nap. As soon as I was ready, Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands...to the library to select four more movies on DVR, and to the newspaper office to drop off this week's word search puzzle contest. It was interesting that this week's puzzle was all about my alma mater college.
From there, we went to two discount warehouses. We didn't need anything, but we thought our being away would help Mother nap better. At one of the stores, I found a brown knit scarf, with brown snowball tassles that will be cute to wear with denim jackets. At the other store, I found a sparkly Jack o'lantern scented candle.
Mother woke up soon after we arrived home, not because we were noisy, but because one of the cats nipped her on a toe. The cat had nestled herself on Mother's feet, and I guess nipping her was the cat's way of protesting when Mother drew her feet up. The other two cats were harmlessly nestled in Hubbie's chair, grooming each other.
Didn't accomplish much else before suppertime. Supper was leftover Sunday beef roast dinner, plus leftover macaroni and cheese.
Shortly after supper, I got a call from the Literacy Council director to let me know that my ESL student, whom I nominated as state Literacy Council Student of the Year, has won! The director said the award will be given in a ceremony Friday in the capital city. Unfortunately, we already have plans for that day, but I hope my student can attend. She is very deserving of the award, and I'm thrilled for her.
Later, I accompanied Mother to her house, and waited until she showered before returning home.
This evening, Hubbie and I went to the college to attend a program by a nature photographer and photo-journalist. I'm always interested in the photographic works of professionals, who are generally more proficient at the craft than I am. And this guy had some really good shots. But some of them looked strikingly like ones I've taken. That's because the rules of photography are the same for every photographer.
He has traveled widely, so he had some exotic shots, but he also had many that were taken in his own yard, or close to home, and those reminded me of some of mine.
Back home, there was a message on the phone, as well as an e-mail, from my student, who is very excited about winning Student of the Year. I responded to the e-mail to let her know how pleased and proud I am of her.
She and her husband are going to try to go to the capital city for the awards ceremony, which takes place during a Literacy Council conference that begins at 7:30 in the morning. Yikes! Even if we didn't have plans for that day, I don't know if I'd want to get up before daylight to travel the required two hours.
While I was cooling down after exercising, we watched this week's episode of "Dancing With the Stars." I've decided to record the episodes each week and watch them the next day, so I won't have to watch them twice when Mother forgets to watch them at home.
We had lunch while we watched TV, and afterward, I finally headed upstairs to get ready for the day. Mother went to the couch for a nap. As soon as I was ready, Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands...to the library to select four more movies on DVR, and to the newspaper office to drop off this week's word search puzzle contest. It was interesting that this week's puzzle was all about my alma mater college.
From there, we went to two discount warehouses. We didn't need anything, but we thought our being away would help Mother nap better. At one of the stores, I found a brown knit scarf, with brown snowball tassles that will be cute to wear with denim jackets. At the other store, I found a sparkly Jack o'lantern scented candle.
Mother woke up soon after we arrived home, not because we were noisy, but because one of the cats nipped her on a toe. The cat had nestled herself on Mother's feet, and I guess nipping her was the cat's way of protesting when Mother drew her feet up. The other two cats were harmlessly nestled in Hubbie's chair, grooming each other.
Didn't accomplish much else before suppertime. Supper was leftover Sunday beef roast dinner, plus leftover macaroni and cheese.
Shortly after supper, I got a call from the Literacy Council director to let me know that my ESL student, whom I nominated as state Literacy Council Student of the Year, has won! The director said the award will be given in a ceremony Friday in the capital city. Unfortunately, we already have plans for that day, but I hope my student can attend. She is very deserving of the award, and I'm thrilled for her.
Later, I accompanied Mother to her house, and waited until she showered before returning home.
This evening, Hubbie and I went to the college to attend a program by a nature photographer and photo-journalist. I'm always interested in the photographic works of professionals, who are generally more proficient at the craft than I am. And this guy had some really good shots. But some of them looked strikingly like ones I've taken. That's because the rules of photography are the same for every photographer.
He has traveled widely, so he had some exotic shots, but he also had many that were taken in his own yard, or close to home, and those reminded me of some of mine.
Back home, there was a message on the phone, as well as an e-mail, from my student, who is very excited about winning Student of the Year. I responded to the e-mail to let her know how pleased and proud I am of her.
She and her husband are going to try to go to the capital city for the awards ceremony, which takes place during a Literacy Council conference that begins at 7:30 in the morning. Yikes! Even if we didn't have plans for that day, I don't know if I'd want to get up before daylight to travel the required two hours.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Monday, Oct. 8
Happy Columbus Day! Even though, according to MSN, Columbus didn't discover America (millions of humans already lived here, having arrived a millenia before). He himself thought he'd discovered a new route to Asia, though he'd actually landed in the archipelago of the Bahamas...Haiti and the Dominican Republic. And in his later wanderings, he sailed not to what is now the United States, but to South America. Seems the guy was lost.
Columbus didn't prove the world to be round, either, since Ancient Greeks discovered that millenia before.
So who discovered America, besides the natives? Seems it was John (Giovanni) Cabot in 1497, in England's name. But since early Americans were warring with England, and not with Spain, they decided to award the title to Christopher Columbus.
We started the day by hanging the flag, in honor of...well, whoever landed here.
We were up at 6:30, so I could get ready for water aerobics. Br-r-r, another really chilly morning. I even threw a coat on over my fleece wear and hoodie. Wore gloves, too, because I knew the steering wheel in the van would be cold.
The pool was chillier this morning, too. Nearly 30 of us endured it, anyway, though. Today, our leader called one of the ladies down for chatting when she should have been paying attention. This didn't set too well with the chastised lady.
There was a physical therapist in the pool, guiding an elderly lady through exercises. Our fearless leader either wanted to impress upon the therapist how much control she has over us, or she wanted to make it more comfortable for the therapist. Since the boom box was playing loudly, and our leader herself was none too quiet, I think it was the former.
Before aerobics began, one member commented that thieves had tried to steal things around their house a few nights ago, but were frightened off by her husband, who went outdoors to confront them. When they ran away, he mounted his four-wheeler and chased them. He didn't catch them, but he did scare them enough that maybe they won't return.
She said there have been lots of robberies in the area, and asked if we'd had any problems. We haven't, and I hope we don't.
Back home, once I'd thawed out with a couple of cups of coffee, and then got ready for the day, it was close to lunchtime. Hubbie had accompanied Mother to our house while I was upstairs, and we all had a soup or sandwich lunch.
Mother headed to the couch afterward, Hubbie went outdoors to work, and I did this and that around the house, and then reviewed today's lesson for my ESL student.
The first thing the student remarked upon was her thorough disappointment in the news that Hugo Chavez was re-elected to another six years in Venezuela. And he has vowed, she said, to remain in office until 2023.
The economy is dreadful in Venezuela, she said. Except for very cheap gasoline, prices for goods and food in that country are exorbitant. And there is no such thing as a sale. Prices are fixed. The student loves our free market economy that allows her to take advantage of low-price off-season clothing, for instance.
She also likes being able to return goods to a store for either an exchange or a refund. In Venezuela, buyers had better be pretty sure that they want what they buy, because there will be no refund. The best they can do is hope to exchange purchases for something of exactly the same description in, say, another color or size.
The other thing she mentioned was that all three televisions in her home were fried during last Friday's thunderstorms. I asked if they were on surge protectors, and she said no. She's not sure if they have insurance on them.
Our lesson today included irregular verbs...swear, swore, sworn, for example. Once she understood these verbs, she commented that when she came to America, she was required to visit an embassy and swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S.
The lesson also dealt with department stores and clothing, and department store directories. The student is quite familiar with shopping, so this was a re-hash for her.
Vocabulary also included expressions of location: "The bookstore is on the corner of York Street and Main Street." And, "in order," and "out of order." "Steve fixed the TV. It's in order." "The radio is broken. It's out of order."
We ended with superlatives of adjectives: "He looked at three shirts. He wanted the cheapest one." "The yellow shirt was the best shirt."
At home, Hubbie had heated leftovers from yesterday. As soon as supper was over, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, because we were due to attend a Friends of the Library meeting at my alma mater college.
Once the short business meeting ended, we were entertained by a visiting professor, who has written a history of the college. This professor is a graduate of the college, too, and we always enjoy his humorous talks.
Tonight's talk was a "Did you know?" presentation, in which he cited various events of the college, which were probably not funny at the time, but are hilarious today, thanks to this professor's spin on them.
After the talk, we enjoyed refreshments and a tour of a gallery of photos. The photos were a real walk through time, depicting clothing styles, and events of the college, including the football team, known as, of all things, the Lambs. Hubbie spotted one featuring several guys, entitled "The Snuff Brigade." I saw one of girls in the late 1800s in a May Day Dance, wrapping ribbons around a pole. This was a popular event even when I was in grade school. I don't know when it fell out of favor.
We were back home around 8 p.m., and I took a sample of a delicious lemon/cream cheese bar to Mother. She had just gotten a cup of coffee and was wondering what snack to have with it, so she was pleased when I solved her problem. The bars were homemade by the wife of one of the retired professors. She said they are simple to make, and she'll e-mail the recipe to me.
We spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including an episode of "Upstairs, Downstairs," from the PBS channel. This drama, which began in Edwardian time, has moved forward this season to the 1930s. War is in the offing.
Columbus didn't prove the world to be round, either, since Ancient Greeks discovered that millenia before.
So who discovered America, besides the natives? Seems it was John (Giovanni) Cabot in 1497, in England's name. But since early Americans were warring with England, and not with Spain, they decided to award the title to Christopher Columbus.
We started the day by hanging the flag, in honor of...well, whoever landed here.
We were up at 6:30, so I could get ready for water aerobics. Br-r-r, another really chilly morning. I even threw a coat on over my fleece wear and hoodie. Wore gloves, too, because I knew the steering wheel in the van would be cold.
The pool was chillier this morning, too. Nearly 30 of us endured it, anyway, though. Today, our leader called one of the ladies down for chatting when she should have been paying attention. This didn't set too well with the chastised lady.
There was a physical therapist in the pool, guiding an elderly lady through exercises. Our fearless leader either wanted to impress upon the therapist how much control she has over us, or she wanted to make it more comfortable for the therapist. Since the boom box was playing loudly, and our leader herself was none too quiet, I think it was the former.
Before aerobics began, one member commented that thieves had tried to steal things around their house a few nights ago, but were frightened off by her husband, who went outdoors to confront them. When they ran away, he mounted his four-wheeler and chased them. He didn't catch them, but he did scare them enough that maybe they won't return.
She said there have been lots of robberies in the area, and asked if we'd had any problems. We haven't, and I hope we don't.
Back home, once I'd thawed out with a couple of cups of coffee, and then got ready for the day, it was close to lunchtime. Hubbie had accompanied Mother to our house while I was upstairs, and we all had a soup or sandwich lunch.
Mother headed to the couch afterward, Hubbie went outdoors to work, and I did this and that around the house, and then reviewed today's lesson for my ESL student.
The first thing the student remarked upon was her thorough disappointment in the news that Hugo Chavez was re-elected to another six years in Venezuela. And he has vowed, she said, to remain in office until 2023.
The economy is dreadful in Venezuela, she said. Except for very cheap gasoline, prices for goods and food in that country are exorbitant. And there is no such thing as a sale. Prices are fixed. The student loves our free market economy that allows her to take advantage of low-price off-season clothing, for instance.
She also likes being able to return goods to a store for either an exchange or a refund. In Venezuela, buyers had better be pretty sure that they want what they buy, because there will be no refund. The best they can do is hope to exchange purchases for something of exactly the same description in, say, another color or size.
The other thing she mentioned was that all three televisions in her home were fried during last Friday's thunderstorms. I asked if they were on surge protectors, and she said no. She's not sure if they have insurance on them.
Our lesson today included irregular verbs...swear, swore, sworn, for example. Once she understood these verbs, she commented that when she came to America, she was required to visit an embassy and swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S.
The lesson also dealt with department stores and clothing, and department store directories. The student is quite familiar with shopping, so this was a re-hash for her.
Vocabulary also included expressions of location: "The bookstore is on the corner of York Street and Main Street." And, "in order," and "out of order." "Steve fixed the TV. It's in order." "The radio is broken. It's out of order."
We ended with superlatives of adjectives: "He looked at three shirts. He wanted the cheapest one." "The yellow shirt was the best shirt."
At home, Hubbie had heated leftovers from yesterday. As soon as supper was over, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, because we were due to attend a Friends of the Library meeting at my alma mater college.
Once the short business meeting ended, we were entertained by a visiting professor, who has written a history of the college. This professor is a graduate of the college, too, and we always enjoy his humorous talks.
Tonight's talk was a "Did you know?" presentation, in which he cited various events of the college, which were probably not funny at the time, but are hilarious today, thanks to this professor's spin on them.
After the talk, we enjoyed refreshments and a tour of a gallery of photos. The photos were a real walk through time, depicting clothing styles, and events of the college, including the football team, known as, of all things, the Lambs. Hubbie spotted one featuring several guys, entitled "The Snuff Brigade." I saw one of girls in the late 1800s in a May Day Dance, wrapping ribbons around a pole. This was a popular event even when I was in grade school. I don't know when it fell out of favor.
We were back home around 8 p.m., and I took a sample of a delicious lemon/cream cheese bar to Mother. She had just gotten a cup of coffee and was wondering what snack to have with it, so she was pleased when I solved her problem. The bars were homemade by the wife of one of the retired professors. She said they are simple to make, and she'll e-mail the recipe to me.
We spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including an episode of "Upstairs, Downstairs," from the PBS channel. This drama, which began in Edwardian time, has moved forward this season to the 1930s. War is in the offing.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Sunday, Oct. 7
Up around 7:30, but still didn't get to exercise after breakfast, since I needed to get a beef roast and veggies into the slow cooker quickly. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house at 9 a.m., and she prepared the veggies. Hubbie peeled potatoes, and tenderized the roast with a mallet. I seasoned and browned the meat, and then completed steps necessary to start the roast cooking in the slow cooker.
Spent the rest of the morning in usual Sunday chores, and then started a movie from the library..."The Evening Star," starring Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, and Meryl Streep. We've seen this very touching story before, about a dying woman (played by Redgrave), who slips in and out of consciousness, as she reviews her life and loves.
The roast beef, with carrots, onions, potatoes, and gravy, was good. Afterward, Mother retired to the couch for a nap, while Hubbie and I went outside to create a fall arrangement. We used a bale of straw, three large pots of mums, and two pumpkins, one with my favorite motif, painted by Sis...a raven on a tree branch, against a big yellow moon, and the word "Nevermore," This is a nod to the famous Edgar Allen Poe poem,"The Raven." Once the display was completed, I kept thinking there was something missing, but whatever it was didn't come to mind.
Mother only napped for about an hour, and then she was ready to go home. I accompanied her on the walk across the yard. Then Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands. But before we visited the stores, we went to the college where I swim and walked briskly around the small lake. Three laps around amounted to about one mile. This satisfied my need to exercise, since I missed sessions yesterday and this morning.
From there, we went to the WDCS to pick up photos I'd ordered, and for me to look for a pair of $2 eyeglasses to wear while working on my laptop. My old ones made everything look blurry. Yesterday, I chose a pair that were too strong, but that Hubbie likes for reading. Today, I got a pair that are not as strong, but are just right.
Also stopped at a dollar store to pick up some grooming supplies, and then came back home.
While we were relaxing, it suddenly occurred to me what was missing from the outdoor fall display...the scarecrow! So while Hubbie located it, I grabbed my camera, and out we went to finish the arrangement.
Spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including a library movie, "Love's Unending Legacy," a Christian drama that has a young, widowed, frontier woman taking care of a son, and then taking on the responsibility of a fourteen-year-old orphan-train girl. The girl's brother goes to an abusive neighbor, so the woman has to take action. Also, the sheriff is in love with her.
Watched one-hour shows after that, until bedtime.
Spent the rest of the morning in usual Sunday chores, and then started a movie from the library..."The Evening Star," starring Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, and Meryl Streep. We've seen this very touching story before, about a dying woman (played by Redgrave), who slips in and out of consciousness, as she reviews her life and loves.
The roast beef, with carrots, onions, potatoes, and gravy, was good. Afterward, Mother retired to the couch for a nap, while Hubbie and I went outside to create a fall arrangement. We used a bale of straw, three large pots of mums, and two pumpkins, one with my favorite motif, painted by Sis...a raven on a tree branch, against a big yellow moon, and the word "Nevermore," This is a nod to the famous Edgar Allen Poe poem,"The Raven." Once the display was completed, I kept thinking there was something missing, but whatever it was didn't come to mind.
Mother only napped for about an hour, and then she was ready to go home. I accompanied her on the walk across the yard. Then Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands. But before we visited the stores, we went to the college where I swim and walked briskly around the small lake. Three laps around amounted to about one mile. This satisfied my need to exercise, since I missed sessions yesterday and this morning.
From there, we went to the WDCS to pick up photos I'd ordered, and for me to look for a pair of $2 eyeglasses to wear while working on my laptop. My old ones made everything look blurry. Yesterday, I chose a pair that were too strong, but that Hubbie likes for reading. Today, I got a pair that are not as strong, but are just right.
Also stopped at a dollar store to pick up some grooming supplies, and then came back home.
While we were relaxing, it suddenly occurred to me what was missing from the outdoor fall display...the scarecrow! So while Hubbie located it, I grabbed my camera, and out we went to finish the arrangement.
Spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including a library movie, "Love's Unending Legacy," a Christian drama that has a young, widowed, frontier woman taking care of a son, and then taking on the responsibility of a fourteen-year-old orphan-train girl. The girl's brother goes to an abusive neighbor, so the woman has to take action. Also, the sheriff is in love with her.
Watched one-hour shows after that, until bedtime.
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