Saturday, Feb. 9

Slept late this morning, until nearly 8:30, but did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m. She and I worked in the kitchen for the rest of the morning...she sorted pinto beans, to later be soaked overnight.

Then I put together a recipe of tomato soup to simmer. Besides the usual ingredients of packaged frozen bell peppers and onions, canned diced tomatoes, canned white beans, and chicken broth, plus spices, I added the leftover sweet potatoes from last night's supper. The sweet potatoes helped counteract the tartness and acidity of the tomatoes.

Shortly before lunch, Daughter called to let me talk with Great-Grandddaughter. They had attended a childrens' play at a local college this morning. The play was based on the fairy tale, "The Emperor's New Clothes." She wanted to tell me all about the story: a weaver fools the emperor into thinking he is wearing a wonderful new outfit by telling him that it is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, or who are incompetent or stupid. When he parades in his "outfit," no ond except a child (in this case, the children in the audience) dares tell him he is wearing nothing but his underwear (in this case, a pair of long handles).

By now, it was lunchtime. Mother had a cold salmon loaf sandwich, and Hubbie and I opted for PB&J sandwiches. Finally, after lunch, I got ready for the day.

We had nothing scheduled for the afternoon, so Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I read our novels until time to watch our favorite college basketball team as they played to another disappointing loss on the road. I'd recorded the game, and the one after it, so Hubbie became absorbed in that one until suppertime. I finished my novel during that time, and started a new one...John Grisham's "The Summons."

The soup was good, served with grilled cheese sandwiches. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother back to her house, and then we watched a 2003 movie..."Maximum Velocity," about a comet that passes so close to earth that it causes cataclysmic storms. A disbanded government agency seems to have the only weapon that can save the earth.

Friday, Feb. 8

Up at 6:30 this morning to get ready for water aerobics. A cool morning, with a light wind, made for a chilly walk to the gym, but the water in the pool was warm, thank goodness. Fifteen of us, including our leader, showed up today. Several of us had hoped the leader would allow a few minutes for the substitute to lead us in water noodle exercises. But she didn't. "I'm going to let (name) take a break today, and we'll just do our usual routine," she said.

When a couple of the ladies mentioned last week that they hoped the regular leader would make time for the water noodle exercises, I commented that I wasn't sure she would, because she's pretty territorial about being the "teacher." She's a lady who has never been married, and who spent her working life as a teacher, so she clings to her volunteer activities.

Also, I think the regular leader is reluctant to allow the substitute to take over part of the session because the substitute has regularly spent her time in constant chatter with a couple of other ladies in the pool during regular sessions, which the leader finds disruptive and disrespectful. I think she's just plain old ticked with her. A better idea would be one that a member made on Wednesday...if some of us want to do the water noodle exercises, we should do them before regular aerobics begin, and that way the leader's routine would not be usurped.

Back home, I was plenty ready to warm up with cups of coffee. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m., and while we relaxed for a few minutes, Hubbie asked what my plans were for the day.

"I don't know yet, since I don't know when the guy is coming to....." and I glanced up at the ceiling. "The ceiling has been patched. When did that happen?"

"I wondered when you were going to notice," Hubbie laughed. "He came about 8:30 this morning. He'll be back as soon as he can to finish the job," he said.

"It looks good," I said, "but did he see the messy sunroom?"

"He didn't pay any attention to it," Hubbie said. But I was not convinced, and insisted that something had to be done to straighten that room up a little. So Hubbie got busy with the task, while I got ready for the day.

Back downstairs, I decided that if I was going to insist that Hubbie do some cleaning, then I should do the same. So after lunch, I grabbed the paper towels and a bottle of window cleaner and cleaned every glass thing in the kitchen and den. Dusted everything in sight, too. And then I headed upstairs to thoroughly clean the master bedroom. Hubbie soon joined me to strip the bed and wash the sheets, and vacuum the carpet. Hope to tear the upstairs bathroom apart tomorrow.

Later, I helped Mother fix a recipe of salmon loaf to be put in the oven later, and Hubbie washed sweet potatoes to be baked. Relaxed for a while after that, until time to start supper cooking.

After supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I watched TV, including a DVD we borrowed from the library, "Remember the Titans," a year 2000 movie based on the true story of a black coach, Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington), and the struggles among his black and white high school players in the 1970s, on their way to a championship. An appropriate movie for black history month.

Thursday, Feb. 7

Today is Son's birthday. Happy Birthday, Son.

Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she worked on her jigsaw puzzle while I got ready for the day. In the meantime, Hubbie ran a few errands.

I didn't accomplish much for the rest of the morning or after lunch, other than this and that around the house, playing with my new tablet, and reading my novel. I wasn't sure if I should begin any sort of project, since I didn't know if the guy who is to repair the ceiling would arrive anytime today. He did not, and he didn't call.

Around 2:30, Hubbie took the van to the shop to find out why a warning light was coming on. The manual stated that the warning indicator could mean any number of things were wrong in the electronics system. A check showed that there was something amiss with the gas cap. So Hubbie ordered a new one, which will come in next week sometime. I'm glad it was nothing more serious than that, because it could have been something that would cause the van to just suddenly stop operating while we were driving it.

Later, for supper, we had leftover beef stroganoff, with a choice of Lima beans or butter beans. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then we watched TV, including a strange and chilling movie about a 19-year-old girl, who, for reasons that are not explained, decides to become a suicide bomber. Three men prepare her for a mission to explode a bomb in Times Square, during a busy time of the day. On the appointed day, she is dropped off near Times Square, where she wanders all day, sampling her favorite foods, and taking in the sights and sounds, before she attempts to detonate the bomb. She has misgivings at the last minute, but then presses the button...

What is chilling about the movie is the girl's (and our) heightened awareness of even the most mundane tastes, sights, and sounds (the turn signal on the vehicle she is riding in on her trip to Times Square, for instance. It's something we would pay little attention to under ordinary circumstances, but in this scene, with the car stopped for quite a while at a light, with the girl and her driver speaking not a word, nor even looking at each other, and with the girl clutching the heavy backpack on her lap, while deep in comtemplation, the turn signal is unnerving).

Likewise, we are later focused on the girl's face, as she eagerly devours a candy apple in a last-meal greediness, while being jostled by people in Times Square. We hear her crunching the apple, and watch her wipe the sticky red coating from her mouth with her hand or sleeve, leaving residue on her face and nose.

This is a movie that people will either hate, or appreciate for it's minimalist approach...not much dialogue, and no explanation of the girl's motives, or what the terrorists' goal is (all we see are hooded men who matter-of-factly instruct her, and others who arm her).

Wednesday, Feb. 6

Woke up at 5:30 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep, so I was yawny when the alarm went off at 6:30. Dragged myself out of bed anyway to get ready for water aerobics.

I was surprised that there was frost on the van windows this morning. Hubbie went right out and scraped it off for me. I was surprised, too, that the pool was quite cool today, after it had been comfortably warm Monday.

A dozen of us showed up for aerobics, though our leader was not one of them. The report is that she hopes to return Friday. Today, the volunteer leader took over again. She brought with her a stack of nice 8"x11", 119-page, paperback books titled, "Exercise & Physical Activity." She obtained the free books from the county librarian, who ordered them from the National Institute on Aging.

Again today, our session consisted partly of regular aerobics, and partly of resistance exercises using water noodles. I enjoyed it.

Funny: while a few of us swam in the deep end of the pool, we talked about the various medications we take. Someone mentioned that it seems like the older we get, the more we have to take. "I'm afraid we won't get out this alive!" I quipped, which struck the funny bone of everyone within earshot.

Back home, I was glad to warm up with a couple of cups of coffee, and have a hot shower to take away the chill. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m. Did a few household chores before lunch, and then afterward, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands. Went first to a health store to pick up a couple of quart jars of locally produced honey, and then to the WDCS for a few items.

At home again, we relaxed and waited for the guy who said he'd come by to begin work on the den ceiling. We thought he might be here sometime around 3:30, and since I figured he'd work past suppertime, and I wouldn't be able to work in the kitchen, I gathered the container of soup from last night, along with the biscuits and cornbread, to be taken to Mother's house.

I accompanied Mother home, where I later heated the leftovers for our supper. In the meantime, Hubbie stayed home to move the chairs and bar stools from the den to make room for the guy to work. Hubbie joined us for supper around 5 p.m. We enjoyed watching three or four squirrels take turns eating corn from the feeders while we ate...sort of dinner and a show.

Hubbie came back home as soon as he'd eaten, while I washed dishes and cleaned the kitchen. By 6:30, it became apparent that the guy wasn't going to show up today, so I came back home.

Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, including an episode of "Downton Abbey," from the PBS channel. We really like this popular series.

Note: we were saddened to read in the local newspaper tonight that a lady we've known for years through Extension Homemakers has died. She was 89 years old, and would have celebrated her 90th birthday later this month. She is best remembered by Mother and me as the lady who was always exhibitor number one in the women's building during the county fair. In fact, we all made sure that she was first in line to get her number, so that her record would stay intact. Her daughter, also a friend of ours, is the president of the fair board.

Tuesday, Feb. 5

Today is Daughter-in-Law's birthday. Happy Birthday, Daughter-in-Law!

Up at 7:30 this morning, and was going to jump into my exercise clothes, but someone from the heat/air business called to ask if a representative could drop by around 8:30 to do a follow-up inspection of the unit to make sure the installers did everything correctly. He was here for quite a while, so he must have done a thorough job.

By the time he left, I was out of the mood to exercise for the morning, but thought I might go bike riding in the afternoon. As it turned out, that didn't happen either.

Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she sliced veggies for making a vegetable soup. Hubbie peeled and sliced the four potatoes that the recipe calls for, and I completed the soup and set it to simmering. The soup has carrots, onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic, potatoes, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, cooked macaroni, and spices.

By now, it was lunchtime, so I fixed the usual Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and heated leftover turkey burgers and macaroni and cheese for Hubbie and me.

Afterward, Mother worked on her puzzle, while Hubbie and I ran errands. It was a nice afternoon for this, sunny and mild. We noticed that yellow crocus are blooming in the yard, and the greenery for daffodills and tulips have broken the ground. Signs of spring. Yay!

We began our errands by stopping at the library to drop off the movies we borrowed last week, and pick up four more. From there, we went to the newspaper office to leave this week's word search puzzle, and then we went to the bank. Our last stop was at the WDCS to pick up supplies for Mother.

Back home, I saw that there was a message on the landline from my cardiologist's office. I returned the call, but was directed to voice mail. I'm always anxious about the results of my stress test, scan, and ultrasound, so instead of sitting around worrying about it, I got busy cleaning things, like the kitchen counters and the inside of the microwave, and organizing books in my office.

In organizing the books, I found a John Grisham novel I haven't read yet, so I brought it downstairs to start as soon as I finish the one I'm reading on my e-reader, called "A Cold Day for Murder," by Dana Stabenow. It's a whodunit featuring a female detective in Alaska, and I'm enjoying it.

Finally, the tech from the cardiologist's office called to tell me the results of my tests were fine...basically unchanged from my last tests six months ago. I breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed, and read my book.

Later, Mother mixed a batch of of cornbread, and put canned bisuits in a pan, and I baked both, and heated the soup. It was a good meal, and of course there's plenty left for tomorrow night.

Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched TV, including our favorite college basketball team, as they played to an amazing win over the number two team.

Finished the evening watching a one-hour show.

Monday, Feb. 4

Up at 6:30 this morning to get ready for water aerobics. It was cool, with a threat of rain, for the walk to the gym, but the water in the pool was warm.

About a dozen of us showed up, more than have been there in a long time. But our leader wasn't there. She must really be ill, though no one seems to know about her condition. The lady who led us last Friday did so again today. We did some of our usual exercises, and then she distributed water noodles for resistance exercises. At this point a couple of ladies left, because they are unable to do these. But I like them, because they provide a good workout.

Back home, I warmed up with a couple of cups of coffee, while Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house. Then I finally got ready for the day. By now, it was 11:30, and time to fix lunch...Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and leftover lasagna for Hubbie and me.

After lunch, I reviewed the evaluation test to be administered to my ESL student this afternoon. I met the student at the usual time, 2:30. The first thing she told me was that her husband is terribly sick with the flu. Neither he nor she has had the flu shot.

Before we began the evaluation, I showed her the Disney characters map of the U.S., which amused her, as I knew it would. We spent a little while studying the map, and she transferred the names of the states to a blank map in her workbook. She is very fond of geography and history, so this exercise was entertaining for her.

The evaluation is fairly comprehensive, so it took all of the class time to finish it. It's meant to identify weaknesses that need addressing before moving on to the next level. We found that we need to spend more time on present perfect tense, statements in the passive voice, short answers to questions using would/wouldn't, do/don't, had/hadn't, etc., and adjective clauses with "that."

Back home, Hubbie had heated leftover beef stroganoff, along with a dish of spinach, for our supper. Mother was ready to go home shortly after we'd eaten, because she had a headache. I gave her a couple of Tylenol for it, and a couple of more to take home and take before bedtime.

Later, Hubbie and I watched the remaining episodes of "Cranford," (DVD borrowed from the library). We followed that with the 1057 Disney film, "Johnny Tremain," also from the library. A boy becomes a patriot and fights for freedom in the Revolutionary War.

Sunday, Feb. 3

Slept late, until after 8 a.m. Skipped my exercises, and did the usual Sunday things this morning. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30.

Later, Mother sliced onions, mushrooms, and beef. I seasoned and browned the beef, which had been dredged in flour, and sauteed the veggies, then added beef broth, a little tomato paste, and finally some sour cream to make beef stroganoff. Cooked noodles to add to the stroganoff, then heated a can of spinach for Hubbie and me, and a can of green beans for Mother. Served the meal with slices of homemade bread.

After lunch, Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, while Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands. We stopped first at the WDCS for a few groceries, and to try to find a child's United States puzzle. I wanted one to use with my student. But I couldn't find one there, or at a couple of dollar stores we visited.

At one of the dollar stores, though, I found a Disney characters U.S. map placemat that will have to do. I think my student will be amused by it. I printed a list of state capitals to go with it. I will benefit as much as the student by this exercise, since I'm a little rusty on this geography lesson.

Back home, Hubbie was inspired by the U.S. map placemat to quiz me on a 100-question citizenship test. I was surprised that I was able to answer most of the questions correctly.

Around 4:30, Mother was ready to go home, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then, as our evening's entertainment, he and I watched Super Bowl XLVII.

But before I started watching the game, I completed a monthly Literacy Council tutoring report. It is due by Feb. 5, and I figured if I didn't do it today, I'd forget it.

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Note: I felt more than stupid last night, when we arrived at the readers' theater performance almost 30 minutes late. For some reason, I got it in my head that the play started at 7:30. There was no excuse for that, since I'd written two articles for the newspaper that stated that curtain time was 7 p.m.

Hubbie's feelings weren't hurt, though, that we were late, even if it meant he had a shorter nap time.

I thought the play was well done, and I was pleased to see that almost a hundred folks attended, a big improvement over the dismal attendance of only thirty-four on Friday night. I hope there was a big audience for today's matinee.

We enjoyed the cast party after the play last night. Of course, it was around 9:30 before the party began, since the play ended at 9 p.m. Only about a dozen of us attended. There were plenty of snacks...hot spinach dip with crackers, guacamole and chips, a baked chicken and three cheese concoction, the traditional block of cream cheese spread with something, sliced apples with sweet dip, and of course my onion/chive dip and chips, plus a choice of red or white wine, or beer.

We got back home about 11:30.