Slept late, until around 8 a.m. , and skipped my exercises, since we planned to go on outings that involved lots of walking. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning, and before 11 a.m., we went to a customer appreciation event at a local car dealership.
Wow, it was windy, and a bit cool. Mother and I should have worn another layer of clothing. The dealership hosted an antique American car show, which Mother and I toured while Hubbie fetched a lunch of hot dogs, chips, and hot apple pies, and signed us up for a $500 gift certificate.
I noticed that this dealership, which is across the highway from a Ford/Kia dealership that was also hosting an event (as evidenced by a bounce house and slide), went out of the way to feature only American antique cars, because they sell only American made vehicles.
I'm pretty sure the food was also locally, state, or American produced. I deduced this from reading the packages of chips, mustard, and relish. I'm pretty sure the hot dogs were a state product, the buns were from a local bakery, the apple pies were from a local fast food restaurant, and even the paper boat food trays that the food was served in came from a local paper goods supply business. I think the dealership owner was definitely making a statement, though I don't know how many people recognized it. We are personally acquainted with the owner, so when I see him again, I'm going to ask him.
We brought the food home to eat, because it was too windy to be comfortable eating outdoors at the dealership. After lunch, I put on another shirt, and Hubbie fetched Mother's coat.
Then we went to the college where I swim to attend the Scottish festival. We arrived in time to watch the noisy and colorful parade of clans. We also enjoyed the dog show that included best costume (lots of kilt type costumes here, though a dog dressed in a bumble bee costume won), best wagging tail, best tricks, etc. There were some really cute dogs...I think they were all winners.
We also toured a British car show. I like car shows, and there were some nice ones here. After walking around the grounds for a while, we were ready to come home around 3 p.m. By then, the temperature had risen, and both Mother and I were getting too warm in our extra layers of clothes.
At home, we relaxed and watched TV until around 6 p.m., when we had egg salad sandwiches and chips. Mother was ready to go home shortly afterward, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then we watched "Bones" episodes for the evening.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Friday, April 11
Slept late, until around 8 a.m. No water aerobics for me today, thanks to my thumb. But I did do stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises (carefully) after breakfast.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning, but she wasn't in the mood to go to her jigsaw puzzle, so she just relaxed in the rocking chair.
My main activity for the morning was to plan this week's menu. It seems to be more and more of a chore every week.
Once I was dressed and ready for the day (after lunch), I did this and that around the house...nothing very important other than boiling eggs for making egg salad later. I also tried to catch up on reading newspapers, until one of the cats decided to use them for a bed. She didn't relinquish them until around 3 p.m.
Made a few phone calls. One to make an ophthalmologist appointment for Mother. At the film fest last week, she asked Sis and me if there was a dark ring around the film we were watching. No, there wasn't, so we wondered if something is going on with her eyes. She has an appointment on Good Friday.
I also called my doctor's office to set up what is called a Health Risk Assessment. This is something encouraged by Medicare and involves a 45 minute sit-down with my physician to go over my records and make sure I am current on tests, and to evaluate what I can do to improve my health.
This will apparently be a once-a-year thing that is free to the patient. I thought that we covered all the bases in my six-month exams, but I guess this is something more comprehensive. I scheduled a session for the first week in August.
Then I called the literacy council office to inquire about getting tickets to a charity bingo event later this month, but the person who answered was a volunteer who was not up to speed on the event, so I will just visit the office on Monday, when the director is there. In fact, it was the director who mentioned the event to me while we were working at the book sale yesterday. We were not able to attend last year for some reason, so we're looking forward to it this year. It'll be a fun way to donate to the cause.
Hubbie met a 3 p.m. haircut appointment this afternoon, then picked up a few things at the grocery store, including black olives for the egg salad. When he got back home, Mother made the egg salad. The salad and chips were a satisfactory Lenten Friday meal.
Mother was ready to go home shortly after supper, so Hubbie accompanied her. There was a bagpipe concert at the college tonight, as the opening event to the festival this weekend, but we opted not to go. Instead, Hubbie and I watched "Bones" episodes on a DVD borrowed from the library.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning, but she wasn't in the mood to go to her jigsaw puzzle, so she just relaxed in the rocking chair.
My main activity for the morning was to plan this week's menu. It seems to be more and more of a chore every week.
Once I was dressed and ready for the day (after lunch), I did this and that around the house...nothing very important other than boiling eggs for making egg salad later. I also tried to catch up on reading newspapers, until one of the cats decided to use them for a bed. She didn't relinquish them until around 3 p.m.
Made a few phone calls. One to make an ophthalmologist appointment for Mother. At the film fest last week, she asked Sis and me if there was a dark ring around the film we were watching. No, there wasn't, so we wondered if something is going on with her eyes. She has an appointment on Good Friday.
I also called my doctor's office to set up what is called a Health Risk Assessment. This is something encouraged by Medicare and involves a 45 minute sit-down with my physician to go over my records and make sure I am current on tests, and to evaluate what I can do to improve my health.
This will apparently be a once-a-year thing that is free to the patient. I thought that we covered all the bases in my six-month exams, but I guess this is something more comprehensive. I scheduled a session for the first week in August.
Then I called the literacy council office to inquire about getting tickets to a charity bingo event later this month, but the person who answered was a volunteer who was not up to speed on the event, so I will just visit the office on Monday, when the director is there. In fact, it was the director who mentioned the event to me while we were working at the book sale yesterday. We were not able to attend last year for some reason, so we're looking forward to it this year. It'll be a fun way to donate to the cause.
Hubbie met a 3 p.m. haircut appointment this afternoon, then picked up a few things at the grocery store, including black olives for the egg salad. When he got back home, Mother made the egg salad. The salad and chips were a satisfactory Lenten Friday meal.
Mother was ready to go home shortly after supper, so Hubbie accompanied her. There was a bagpipe concert at the college tonight, as the opening event to the festival this weekend, but we opted not to go. Instead, Hubbie and I watched "Bones" episodes on a DVD borrowed from the library.
Thursday, April 10
Up at 7 a.m. on this gloriously sunny, warm morning, so that I could get ready to go the college where I swim to help set up the book sale, and Hubbie could get ready to go to a monthly Master Gardener meeting. Mother opted to stay home today.
I arrived at the college shortly before 9 a.m. A couple of library staff members were already busy putting books out on tables, but there was a lot left to do. Soon, the literacy council director, and a couple of students, joined us, and we set up about an dozen tables of books. I had to restrain myself from browsing interesting looking volumes as I went along.
Some students began browsing the books as we lined them up on the tables. One middle eastern young man selected the novel, "Shogun," that I'd donated to the cause. I think he'll enjoy it as much as I did. I'd had the book in my library for years, thinking I might someday read it again, but decided I never would. There are too many other books I haven't read yet.
I spent two and half hours helping with the project, despite my out-of-commission right thumb. Around 11:30, I decided I needed to return home to fix lunch for Mother. I ended up buying four books before I left. The darn things are irresistible!
Back home, I accompanied Mother to our house, then fixed a lunch of soup for her, and sandwiches for Hubbie and me. Then Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to the bank, to the post office, to the newspaper office, and to the WDCS for a few groceries.
Relaxed after that until time to go back to the college for a champagne punch reception honoring the Friends of the Library volunteers. It was at 5 p.m., so before we left, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. I sent a hot dog and leftover macaroni and cheese with her, which she heated in the microwave for her supper.
We arrived at the library a few minutes early, so naturally we browsed the books. Hubbie found one he wanted, and I picked up two more (slap my hands). Then we went to what is called the Tornado Cross Garden. It is a small outdoor quad area surrounded by the walls of the library. It's called the Tornado Cross Garden, because it features a large metal cross mounted in marble, the only thing preserved from the college chapel after a 1973 tornado ripped through town.
This is a pleasant, quiet area, with a soothing water feature, concrete benches on white gravel, and plants of various kinds in gardens around the edge of the area.
The reception included light refreshments, along with the punch...not enough for a meal, of course. We visited for about an hour, then went to a fast food restaurant for a supper of a hamburger for Hubbie, and grilled chicken sandwich for me.
Back home around 6:30, we fetched Mother and then went to the college down the road for a concert by an African children's choir, sponsored by a local church. The choir is on tour for six months in the U.S. from a orphanage village in Africa. Their purpose, of course, is to ask for sponsorships, and also to gather donations from the audience. The performance was otherwise free.
This is a very talented group, whose music, singing, dancing, and drumming, performed in colorful costumes, is infectious. Part of the performance was the testimonials of the children, whose backgrounds were terrible until they were taken to the orphanage. Statistics on child abandonment, war, and disease on the African continent, as shown in a slide show, are staggering.
We were back home around 9 p.m. Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I watched a on-hour show on TV, and headed to bed. Busy, but satisfying day.
I arrived at the college shortly before 9 a.m. A couple of library staff members were already busy putting books out on tables, but there was a lot left to do. Soon, the literacy council director, and a couple of students, joined us, and we set up about an dozen tables of books. I had to restrain myself from browsing interesting looking volumes as I went along.
Some students began browsing the books as we lined them up on the tables. One middle eastern young man selected the novel, "Shogun," that I'd donated to the cause. I think he'll enjoy it as much as I did. I'd had the book in my library for years, thinking I might someday read it again, but decided I never would. There are too many other books I haven't read yet.
I spent two and half hours helping with the project, despite my out-of-commission right thumb. Around 11:30, I decided I needed to return home to fix lunch for Mother. I ended up buying four books before I left. The darn things are irresistible!
Back home, I accompanied Mother to our house, then fixed a lunch of soup for her, and sandwiches for Hubbie and me. Then Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to the bank, to the post office, to the newspaper office, and to the WDCS for a few groceries.
Relaxed after that until time to go back to the college for a champagne punch reception honoring the Friends of the Library volunteers. It was at 5 p.m., so before we left, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. I sent a hot dog and leftover macaroni and cheese with her, which she heated in the microwave for her supper.
We arrived at the library a few minutes early, so naturally we browsed the books. Hubbie found one he wanted, and I picked up two more (slap my hands). Then we went to what is called the Tornado Cross Garden. It is a small outdoor quad area surrounded by the walls of the library. It's called the Tornado Cross Garden, because it features a large metal cross mounted in marble, the only thing preserved from the college chapel after a 1973 tornado ripped through town.
This is a pleasant, quiet area, with a soothing water feature, concrete benches on white gravel, and plants of various kinds in gardens around the edge of the area.
The reception included light refreshments, along with the punch...not enough for a meal, of course. We visited for about an hour, then went to a fast food restaurant for a supper of a hamburger for Hubbie, and grilled chicken sandwich for me.
Back home around 6:30, we fetched Mother and then went to the college down the road for a concert by an African children's choir, sponsored by a local church. The choir is on tour for six months in the U.S. from a orphanage village in Africa. Their purpose, of course, is to ask for sponsorships, and also to gather donations from the audience. The performance was otherwise free.
This is a very talented group, whose music, singing, dancing, and drumming, performed in colorful costumes, is infectious. Part of the performance was the testimonials of the children, whose backgrounds were terrible until they were taken to the orphanage. Statistics on child abandonment, war, and disease on the African continent, as shown in a slide show, are staggering.
We were back home around 9 p.m. Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I watched a on-hour show on TV, and headed to bed. Busy, but satisfying day.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Wednesday, April 9
Decided to skip water aerobics this morning to give this thumb a few days rest. I did do stair stepping, resistance bands, and leg weights exercises, though. But I skipped the barbells, since I didn't want to aggravate my right hand.
I didn't accomplish much for the morning beyond gathering laundry to be washed, and catching up on a week's worth of newspapers.
After lunch, we made a trip to a town about 30 minutes away to visit a package store and buy rum. I only use rum to make rum cakes during the holidays, but we had a $3 rebate coupon, so we decided to take advantage of it by buying the rum early. Today was also senior day at the store, so we got a $7.50 cents discount on bottles of wine.
Mother went along for the ride, just to get out on this lovely day. She stayed in the van while we shopped, of course.
While we were in the area, we stopped by the city park to look at the cypress trees. There are cypress trees in swampy parts of the state, but these along the banks of the park lake are the nearest ones to our town.
We also took a tour through the nearby state park. Nothing much is going on there. The museum was open, and I think there is a new exhibit there, but we didn't take time to stop. There is a wildflower field in the park, but nothing is blooming yet.
Back home, I noticed how the afternoon sun lighted the tulips, so I grabbed my camera and took lots of shots. I uploaded some of them to my social network page.
Around 3:30, Mother shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and cut up American cheese, which I added, with spices, to milk to make sauce for macaroni. I put the dish of macaroni and cheese in the oven, along with a few leftover burritos. Mother opted for a hot dog with her meal.
Shortly after supper at 5 p.m., Mother was ready to go home, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then Hubbie and I watched episodes of "Bones," on a DVD borrowed from the library.
I didn't accomplish much for the morning beyond gathering laundry to be washed, and catching up on a week's worth of newspapers.
After lunch, we made a trip to a town about 30 minutes away to visit a package store and buy rum. I only use rum to make rum cakes during the holidays, but we had a $3 rebate coupon, so we decided to take advantage of it by buying the rum early. Today was also senior day at the store, so we got a $7.50 cents discount on bottles of wine.
Mother went along for the ride, just to get out on this lovely day. She stayed in the van while we shopped, of course.
While we were in the area, we stopped by the city park to look at the cypress trees. There are cypress trees in swampy parts of the state, but these along the banks of the park lake are the nearest ones to our town.
We also took a tour through the nearby state park. Nothing much is going on there. The museum was open, and I think there is a new exhibit there, but we didn't take time to stop. There is a wildflower field in the park, but nothing is blooming yet.
Back home, I noticed how the afternoon sun lighted the tulips, so I grabbed my camera and took lots of shots. I uploaded some of them to my social network page.
Around 3:30, Mother shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and cut up American cheese, which I added, with spices, to milk to make sauce for macaroni. I put the dish of macaroni and cheese in the oven, along with a few leftover burritos. Mother opted for a hot dog with her meal.
Shortly after supper at 5 p.m., Mother was ready to go home, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then Hubbie and I watched episodes of "Bones," on a DVD borrowed from the library.
Tuesday, April 8
Up at 7 a.m. to get ready to go to the doctor. This was a routine six-month check-up that included a fasting lab blood draw...always something to look forward to.
The appointment was for 8:45, and I arrived a few minutes early. I didn't have to wait long before my doctor's nurse fetched me to an exam room (after the dreaded weigh-in). While she took my vitals, we chatted. She told me that the doctor gave her a gift certificate for Christmas for a trip with our state's premier nature photographer, who is teaching a class on Saturday at a river in the northern part of the state.
Wow! This is a great gift! I've always admired this photographer, who has shown his work and given talks at the college where I swim. She's very excited about the trip, and I'm anxious to see her photographs when I see her again. She has promised to bring them to the clinic when I visit next.
After the nurse was done with me, she escorted me to the lab for the blood draw. Waited a while after that before the nurse returned to take me to an exam room. The doctor wasn't long seeing me. After the usual exam, I pointed out that the thumb on my right hand is wonky. It snaps oddly at the first joint.
She examined it and said I have tendinitis. I had a choice of having a little surgery on it to "unknot" the tendon, or wear a splint for a couple of weeks to see it it mends on its own. I chose the splint. She also prescribed OTC naproxen...two tablets a day with food...to reduce inflammation.
I commented that I wished the problem was in my left thumb, since I use my right thumb so much. "Well, that's why you have the problem in your right hand," she laughed.
I guess the tendinitis prompted her to check on when I'd last had a bone density screening, since Mother has osteoporosis. It has been seven years since my last screening, at which time, my bones showed to be normal and strong.
She said I am doing all the right things for my bones...exercising, taking vitamin D, calcium, and gloucosomine, etc., but I am still a candidate because of genetics, being a light skinned Caucasian, being older, and having hypothyroidism, so I need to be screened periodically.
She is also a candidate for the disease, since her own mother has osteoporosis, and her mother has always been an athletic woman, who lives a healthy lifestyle.
She went on to say seeming to be the picture of health is not always an indicator that there are not hidden health. She used her brother as an example. He is older than she is, and is also health conscious, but he was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.
So I asked if she herself has had a colonoscopy, and she said she had one when she turned 50. We laughed then at how goofy everyone is after the procedure. It takes hours to get rid of the medication that makes folks ask over and over again, "What did the doctor say?"
Besides repeating herself, she said her husband told her she drove him crazy when she programmed their TV music channels to country music. Neither of them are country music fans, so he didn't know why she did this, but he suffered it until she became alert several hours later.
It was around 10 a.m. by the time I was finished at the clinic. Earlier, Hubbie and I agreed to meet at the hospital cafeteria for breakfast. He was there waiting for me when I arrived shortly 10. The hospital is right across the street from the clinic.
We got biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and sausage for Hubbie, plus cups of coffee, for $4.10. It was a good meal for a minimal price.
We returned home about 11 a.m. Sis was packed and ready to head home. We invited her to go with us to a luncheon program at the hospital, but she was anxious to get on the road.
Mother was dressed and ready to go, though. So we headed back to the hospital, this time to the conference room. Hubbie and I weren't really hungry so soon after breakfast, but we ate lunch anyway.
The lunch included chicken breasts in a mushroom sauce, wild rice, and sauteed veggie medley, plus rolls. We were surprised that there was no fruit this time. It was a good meal, though the rice was underdone.
The program today was about becoming an organ donor. Both Hubbie and I are listed on our drivers licenses as donors, though as we age there are limited organs that can be harvested. Still, the speaker pointed out that everyone, from infant to elderly, can be donors. And there is a long list of people waiting for "gifts," as he put it.
Back home afterward, Mother and I watched Monday night's episode of "Dancing With the Stars."
Hubbie preferred to run errands.
None of us was very hungry at suppertime. Mother chose cereal and toast, and Hubbie and I had sandwiches and chips. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched one-hour shows on TV.
The appointment was for 8:45, and I arrived a few minutes early. I didn't have to wait long before my doctor's nurse fetched me to an exam room (after the dreaded weigh-in). While she took my vitals, we chatted. She told me that the doctor gave her a gift certificate for Christmas for a trip with our state's premier nature photographer, who is teaching a class on Saturday at a river in the northern part of the state.
Wow! This is a great gift! I've always admired this photographer, who has shown his work and given talks at the college where I swim. She's very excited about the trip, and I'm anxious to see her photographs when I see her again. She has promised to bring them to the clinic when I visit next.
After the nurse was done with me, she escorted me to the lab for the blood draw. Waited a while after that before the nurse returned to take me to an exam room. The doctor wasn't long seeing me. After the usual exam, I pointed out that the thumb on my right hand is wonky. It snaps oddly at the first joint.
She examined it and said I have tendinitis. I had a choice of having a little surgery on it to "unknot" the tendon, or wear a splint for a couple of weeks to see it it mends on its own. I chose the splint. She also prescribed OTC naproxen...two tablets a day with food...to reduce inflammation.
I commented that I wished the problem was in my left thumb, since I use my right thumb so much. "Well, that's why you have the problem in your right hand," she laughed.
I guess the tendinitis prompted her to check on when I'd last had a bone density screening, since Mother has osteoporosis. It has been seven years since my last screening, at which time, my bones showed to be normal and strong.
She said I am doing all the right things for my bones...exercising, taking vitamin D, calcium, and gloucosomine, etc., but I am still a candidate because of genetics, being a light skinned Caucasian, being older, and having hypothyroidism, so I need to be screened periodically.
She is also a candidate for the disease, since her own mother has osteoporosis, and her mother has always been an athletic woman, who lives a healthy lifestyle.
She went on to say seeming to be the picture of health is not always an indicator that there are not hidden health. She used her brother as an example. He is older than she is, and is also health conscious, but he was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.
So I asked if she herself has had a colonoscopy, and she said she had one when she turned 50. We laughed then at how goofy everyone is after the procedure. It takes hours to get rid of the medication that makes folks ask over and over again, "What did the doctor say?"
Besides repeating herself, she said her husband told her she drove him crazy when she programmed their TV music channels to country music. Neither of them are country music fans, so he didn't know why she did this, but he suffered it until she became alert several hours later.
It was around 10 a.m. by the time I was finished at the clinic. Earlier, Hubbie and I agreed to meet at the hospital cafeteria for breakfast. He was there waiting for me when I arrived shortly 10. The hospital is right across the street from the clinic.
We got biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and sausage for Hubbie, plus cups of coffee, for $4.10. It was a good meal for a minimal price.
We returned home about 11 a.m. Sis was packed and ready to head home. We invited her to go with us to a luncheon program at the hospital, but she was anxious to get on the road.
Mother was dressed and ready to go, though. So we headed back to the hospital, this time to the conference room. Hubbie and I weren't really hungry so soon after breakfast, but we ate lunch anyway.
The lunch included chicken breasts in a mushroom sauce, wild rice, and sauteed veggie medley, plus rolls. We were surprised that there was no fruit this time. It was a good meal, though the rice was underdone.
The program today was about becoming an organ donor. Both Hubbie and I are listed on our drivers licenses as donors, though as we age there are limited organs that can be harvested. Still, the speaker pointed out that everyone, from infant to elderly, can be donors. And there is a long list of people waiting for "gifts," as he put it.
Back home afterward, Mother and I watched Monday night's episode of "Dancing With the Stars."
Hubbie preferred to run errands.
None of us was very hungry at suppertime. Mother chose cereal and toast, and Hubbie and I had sandwiches and chips. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched one-hour shows on TV.
Monday, April 7
Up at 6 a.m. to get ready for water aerobics. Still chilly for the walk to the gym, but the pool was warm. Twenty-two of us attended.
Back home afterward, I warmed up with cups of coffee, then got ready for the day. Today, we planned to go to another town about an hour away, so that Hubbie could shop at a home improvement store to use some gift cards to purchase a new sink and faucets for the downstairs bathroom.
After lunch, we headed out. Mother and Sis opted to go along, though Mother and I found little to interest us at the store. Hubbie and Sis, though, perused the garden supply area and found plants to purchase.
We didn't shop anywhere else. But before we headed home, we stopped at a fast food restaurant to enjoy soft serve ice cream and cups of coffee.
Back home, Mother diced leftover baked potatoes and an onion, which I sauteed for supper to have with burritos. Several burritos were already wrapped in foil in the freezer, ready to go in the oven, but Sis put together a few more to make sure we had enough. There was more than plenty...enough for another meal, in fact.
Later, we went to a local movie theater to see "Noah." Mother also went on this excursion, and didn't even sleep through the show. This is a very unusual take on the Bible story. We're not sure how to take it. It seems to be a mix of Bible story and science fiction, and leaves the audience asking a lot of questions. It's a long movie, about two and a half hours, but it goes by fast, thanks to all the action.
While we were gone, I recorded the championship NCAA basketball game, and we watched it before we went to bed. But by the time it was over, I was plenty ready to hug my pillow. It was a long day.
Back home afterward, I warmed up with cups of coffee, then got ready for the day. Today, we planned to go to another town about an hour away, so that Hubbie could shop at a home improvement store to use some gift cards to purchase a new sink and faucets for the downstairs bathroom.
After lunch, we headed out. Mother and Sis opted to go along, though Mother and I found little to interest us at the store. Hubbie and Sis, though, perused the garden supply area and found plants to purchase.
We didn't shop anywhere else. But before we headed home, we stopped at a fast food restaurant to enjoy soft serve ice cream and cups of coffee.
Back home, Mother diced leftover baked potatoes and an onion, which I sauteed for supper to have with burritos. Several burritos were already wrapped in foil in the freezer, ready to go in the oven, but Sis put together a few more to make sure we had enough. There was more than plenty...enough for another meal, in fact.
Later, we went to a local movie theater to see "Noah." Mother also went on this excursion, and didn't even sleep through the show. This is a very unusual take on the Bible story. We're not sure how to take it. It seems to be a mix of Bible story and science fiction, and leaves the audience asking a lot of questions. It's a long movie, about two and a half hours, but it goes by fast, thanks to all the action.
While we were gone, I recorded the championship NCAA basketball game, and we watched it before we went to bed. But by the time it was over, I was plenty ready to hug my pillow. It was a long day.
Sunday, April 6
Up around 8 a.m. Skipped my exercises, as usual on Sunday. Sis accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning. We debated whether to have our main meal at noon, or wait until supper, and decided to wait.
Sis and I were amused when she walked in the door, and we realized we'd managed to wear the same color...a periwinkle sweater for her, and a turtleneck shirt for me.
We didn't accomplish much before lunch. After lunch, Hubbie went out to work in the yard, and Sis and I went to the college to attend the film festival, beginning at noon.
The first short feature was a documentary about a polka group that performs in a spa town in the southern part of our state. This was followed by a full-length documentary about folk musicians/singers, aged 30-60. Folk music had its heyday in the 1970s, but there is still a sub-culture of musicians who gather wherever there is an audience to network and try to drum up gigs.
There was a break between screenings, and then beginning at 2:30, there followed a series of short features, ranging from 4 min. to 22 min. long. Most of the films were interesting. But we did not enjoy a couple of them. One, about zombies, was meant to be humorous, but turned out to be just ridiculous and unnecessarily bloody in some places. Another one was an experimental a horse that tries to get to the other side of the river. We never did understand where it was headed, so we were glad it was only four minutes long. Later, we were asked how we liked the films, and we were quick to say we didn't appreciate them.
We returned home after the second session of films. I'd asked Hubbie to put a cookie sheet of baking potatoes in the oven for supper, and to go to the WDCS and buy a rotisserie chicken, which he did. Mother and I prepared individual salads to go with the meal. We also had warmed homemade bread that Sis brought.
As soon as the meal was finished, Sis and I returned to the college for the evening screenings. Hubbie stayed home, cleaned the kitchen, and accompanied Mother to her house.
Tonight's films were also shorts, including nine animated features from seven different countries. These were very interesting and thought provoking.
By the end of the evening, our eyeballs were ready to fall out, but we had a great time. Sis thinks she'd like to experience next year's film festival. I know I will. I always enjoy the wide variety of films and genre that are educational, entertaining, and sometimes puzzling.
I always get my money's worth, though. This year, an aptly named Red Eye pass was only $15, good for viewing as many films as the holder wished...and I saw every one of them. Hubbie bought a pass, too, but since he wasn't interested in attending many of the films, Sis used his pass. The screenings at the museum on Wednesday were free. And all screenings at the college on Saturday were free, too.
Sis and I were amused when she walked in the door, and we realized we'd managed to wear the same color...a periwinkle sweater for her, and a turtleneck shirt for me.
We didn't accomplish much before lunch. After lunch, Hubbie went out to work in the yard, and Sis and I went to the college to attend the film festival, beginning at noon.
The first short feature was a documentary about a polka group that performs in a spa town in the southern part of our state. This was followed by a full-length documentary about folk musicians/singers, aged 30-60. Folk music had its heyday in the 1970s, but there is still a sub-culture of musicians who gather wherever there is an audience to network and try to drum up gigs.
There was a break between screenings, and then beginning at 2:30, there followed a series of short features, ranging from 4 min. to 22 min. long. Most of the films were interesting. But we did not enjoy a couple of them. One, about zombies, was meant to be humorous, but turned out to be just ridiculous and unnecessarily bloody in some places. Another one was an experimental a horse that tries to get to the other side of the river. We never did understand where it was headed, so we were glad it was only four minutes long. Later, we were asked how we liked the films, and we were quick to say we didn't appreciate them.
We returned home after the second session of films. I'd asked Hubbie to put a cookie sheet of baking potatoes in the oven for supper, and to go to the WDCS and buy a rotisserie chicken, which he did. Mother and I prepared individual salads to go with the meal. We also had warmed homemade bread that Sis brought.
As soon as the meal was finished, Sis and I returned to the college for the evening screenings. Hubbie stayed home, cleaned the kitchen, and accompanied Mother to her house.
Tonight's films were also shorts, including nine animated features from seven different countries. These were very interesting and thought provoking.
By the end of the evening, our eyeballs were ready to fall out, but we had a great time. Sis thinks she'd like to experience next year's film festival. I know I will. I always enjoy the wide variety of films and genre that are educational, entertaining, and sometimes puzzling.
I always get my money's worth, though. This year, an aptly named Red Eye pass was only $15, good for viewing as many films as the holder wished...and I saw every one of them. Hubbie bought a pass, too, but since he wasn't interested in attending many of the films, Sis used his pass. The screenings at the museum on Wednesday were free. And all screenings at the college on Saturday were free, too.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Saturday, April 5
Up around 8 a.m., but skipped my exercises and went ahead and got ready for the day. Sis and Mother came over mid-morning, and they went to the jigsaw puzzle until lunchtime.
Hubbie went to a plant dig this morning at a Master Gardener's house. I tried to call him on his cell phone, but of course he didn't have his phone on. Sis and I were scheduled to attend the film festival at the college down the road, beginning at noon, and Mother wanted to attend the 2 p.m. screening about a group of Rwandan women who form the country's first and only drumming troupe.
I wanted Hubbie to come and fetch the van, then bring Mother to the college. Since I couldn't reach him, I left a note on the kitchen counter. He found it and brought Mother at the appropriate time. He chose not to stay for the film, since he preferred to be in the yard.
This film was very well attended, and was worth seeing. The women were great as drummers, and were in great demand, but they needed another source of income to help support their families. So they decided to start an ice cream shop. After a struggle, they succeeded in opening Rwanda's first and only ice cream business. It was wonderful seeing Rwandan folks' expressions upon getting their first taste of this cold treat.
The noon feature was about a high school dedicated to new immigrant arrivals, and follows several of the children in their journey learning to speak English and create lives in a new land.
Following these films, we returned home to have a supper of a smorgasbord of leftovers. Mother was ready to go home afterward, and Hubbie wanted to stay home to watch basketball games.
So Sis and I went back to the college for the evening screenings. The first one was about reconciliation efforts in Sierra Leone after a brutal civil war that turned neighbor on neighbor, and created horrible atrocities. The reconciliation was based on a tradition of the people of talking through their differences and problems...only in this case, victims were called upon to forgive the torture and killing of their family members, and accept the perpetrators back into their communities. It's a powerful idea that seems to be working for a people with tremendous capacity for tolerance and forgiveness. It's a powerful documentary.
The second film was a lighthearted story that begins with a tragedy, when a Lebanese-American man is murdered at his gas station business. His son takes over the business, which he conducts behind a bullet-proof glass cage. He meets a girl, and they fall for each other. But her over-protective brother threatens to derail the relationship. They try to conduct their relationship secret, but finally the whole thing comes to a head, and they must make a decision.
Hubbie went to a plant dig this morning at a Master Gardener's house. I tried to call him on his cell phone, but of course he didn't have his phone on. Sis and I were scheduled to attend the film festival at the college down the road, beginning at noon, and Mother wanted to attend the 2 p.m. screening about a group of Rwandan women who form the country's first and only drumming troupe.
I wanted Hubbie to come and fetch the van, then bring Mother to the college. Since I couldn't reach him, I left a note on the kitchen counter. He found it and brought Mother at the appropriate time. He chose not to stay for the film, since he preferred to be in the yard.
This film was very well attended, and was worth seeing. The women were great as drummers, and were in great demand, but they needed another source of income to help support their families. So they decided to start an ice cream shop. After a struggle, they succeeded in opening Rwanda's first and only ice cream business. It was wonderful seeing Rwandan folks' expressions upon getting their first taste of this cold treat.
The noon feature was about a high school dedicated to new immigrant arrivals, and follows several of the children in their journey learning to speak English and create lives in a new land.
Following these films, we returned home to have a supper of a smorgasbord of leftovers. Mother was ready to go home afterward, and Hubbie wanted to stay home to watch basketball games.
So Sis and I went back to the college for the evening screenings. The first one was about reconciliation efforts in Sierra Leone after a brutal civil war that turned neighbor on neighbor, and created horrible atrocities. The reconciliation was based on a tradition of the people of talking through their differences and problems...only in this case, victims were called upon to forgive the torture and killing of their family members, and accept the perpetrators back into their communities. It's a powerful idea that seems to be working for a people with tremendous capacity for tolerance and forgiveness. It's a powerful documentary.
The second film was a lighthearted story that begins with a tragedy, when a Lebanese-American man is murdered at his gas station business. His son takes over the business, which he conducts behind a bullet-proof glass cage. He meets a girl, and they fall for each other. But her over-protective brother threatens to derail the relationship. They try to conduct their relationship secret, but finally the whole thing comes to a head, and they must make a decision.
Friday, April 4
Up at 6 a.m. to get ready for water aerobics. It was a chilly morning (will warm weather never get here?), but the pool was warm. Around 20 of us showed up, which was very good number, considering that it's Friday. Often, folks have weekend plans that begin on Friday.
Today's talk was about the son of a "town father," who died unexpectedly of esophageal cancer. He was only in his 50s, and had gotten married only two weeks ago. Actually, I misunderstood the lady who related the news, and thought it was the elder gentleman who had died, but learned from the local newspaper that it was actually his son.
The other news is that one of our members, who recently had gall bladder surgery, is in a local hospital suffering complications from that surgery.
Back home afterward, I warmed up with coffee, then got ready for the day. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.
I noticed in the local newspaper that a nearby business was hosting a customer appreciation day by offering catfish dinners. So Hubbie and I went there at 11 a.m. and snared four plates of the food to bring home.
Today was windy and sharply cool, so we didn't want to drag Mother to the business for the meal. We were glad we didn't, when we found that we had to park in the business office area, then walk to a large building at the back of an equipment yard to get the food.
The men serving the meals didn't question our asking for four plates, which we brought home to eat. We expected Sis to arrive somewhere around noon, so we got an extra plate for her. Of course, the food was cold by the time we got it home, after carrying in the cold wind, but it heated nicely in the microwave.
The plates contained generous portions of catfish, French fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw. There was plenty for the four of us. Sis arrived just after we sat down to our meals.
After lunch, Sis and I helped Mother with the jigsaw puzzle. Sis stuck with it most of the afternoon, but I gave it up when my back began bothering me. I chose at that point to read newspapers and a novel on my tablet.
Later, for supper, I heated lasagna, and Mother made individual salads. We had the meal with cottage cheese, and homemade rolls that Sis brought.
Mother was ready to go home afterward, and Sis accompanied her. Then she and I went to the college down the road to attend the film festival. Hubbie opted to stay home and watch NCAA basketball games.
The screening began at 6:30. Short films were shown before the full-length features. The first was about a man and his wife who had been separated for months, but the husband continues to refuse to divide their estate. She brings a lawyer to the shale pit they own to try to force his hand. What happens next is surprising.
The other short feature is humorous. A man tries to commit suicide by hanging, but is talked out of it when his basset hound speaks to him. He is stunned that his dog can talk, and decides to get him to do it again. The dog remains silent, no matter what he tries. Finally, a woman from his work place agrees to help him. Will they succeed in getting the dog to talk?
The first full-length feature follows a young black boy during the Civil War, who is sent north by a bounty hunter to bring back a wanted black man. In the process, he becomes attached to the man and then has to choose whether or not to betray him.
The second feature was a romantic comedy about neighbors who are friends, but who escalate the friendship to the possibility of getting married. They go on a road trip and become stranded in the desert. Other characters and situations complicate matters.
Today's talk was about the son of a "town father," who died unexpectedly of esophageal cancer. He was only in his 50s, and had gotten married only two weeks ago. Actually, I misunderstood the lady who related the news, and thought it was the elder gentleman who had died, but learned from the local newspaper that it was actually his son.
The other news is that one of our members, who recently had gall bladder surgery, is in a local hospital suffering complications from that surgery.
Back home afterward, I warmed up with coffee, then got ready for the day. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.
I noticed in the local newspaper that a nearby business was hosting a customer appreciation day by offering catfish dinners. So Hubbie and I went there at 11 a.m. and snared four plates of the food to bring home.
Today was windy and sharply cool, so we didn't want to drag Mother to the business for the meal. We were glad we didn't, when we found that we had to park in the business office area, then walk to a large building at the back of an equipment yard to get the food.
The men serving the meals didn't question our asking for four plates, which we brought home to eat. We expected Sis to arrive somewhere around noon, so we got an extra plate for her. Of course, the food was cold by the time we got it home, after carrying in the cold wind, but it heated nicely in the microwave.
The plates contained generous portions of catfish, French fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw. There was plenty for the four of us. Sis arrived just after we sat down to our meals.
After lunch, Sis and I helped Mother with the jigsaw puzzle. Sis stuck with it most of the afternoon, but I gave it up when my back began bothering me. I chose at that point to read newspapers and a novel on my tablet.
Later, for supper, I heated lasagna, and Mother made individual salads. We had the meal with cottage cheese, and homemade rolls that Sis brought.
Mother was ready to go home afterward, and Sis accompanied her. Then she and I went to the college down the road to attend the film festival. Hubbie opted to stay home and watch NCAA basketball games.
The screening began at 6:30. Short films were shown before the full-length features. The first was about a man and his wife who had been separated for months, but the husband continues to refuse to divide their estate. She brings a lawyer to the shale pit they own to try to force his hand. What happens next is surprising.
The other short feature is humorous. A man tries to commit suicide by hanging, but is talked out of it when his basset hound speaks to him. He is stunned that his dog can talk, and decides to get him to do it again. The dog remains silent, no matter what he tries. Finally, a woman from his work place agrees to help him. Will they succeed in getting the dog to talk?
The first full-length feature follows a young black boy during the Civil War, who is sent north by a bounty hunter to bring back a wanted black man. In the process, he becomes attached to the man and then has to choose whether or not to betray him.
The second feature was a romantic comedy about neighbors who are friends, but who escalate the friendship to the possibility of getting married. They go on a road trip and become stranded in the desert. Other characters and situations complicate matters.
Thursday, April 3
Up at 7 a.m., so Hubbie could get ready to go to a Master Gardener training session. These are intended for new MGs, but current members can attend the sessions to gain educational hours. It was an all-day program, but Hubbie returned home at noon for lunch, and then went back to the session.
Before he left for the 9 a.m. program, he accompanied Mother to our house, while I did stair stepping exercises. Mother and I a good part of the day working on her jigsaw puzzle, which is a particular "puzzler."
Possible severe storms, with tornado watches, kept me busy running back and forth to the TV to keep track of the weather.
Hubbie returned home around 4 p.m., and for supper, we had hot pork roast sandwiches. Mother was ready to go home shortly afterward, and Hubbie accompanied her.
Then around 7 p.m., we went to a store front church downtown (refurbished by a former movie theater) for a film fest screening. This church had ample padded chair seating, and a huge screen set at a height that it can be seen from anywhere in the room.
The fare included a short documentary about a couple in their 60s who decide, in the middle of a drought, to start up a goat cheese business. They find it difficult to find feed for their animals, but they persevere, and in the end seem content with their lot.
The full-length feature, starring recognizable actors from various TV series, revolves around a hard drinking, chain smoking, never-married woman, who treats her young dairy farm hands not only as employees, but as family. In danger of losing her farm, she stumbles upon an enterprise that she thinks will save it. Unfortunately, a health crisis threatens her plans.
We were a bit edgy about attending the movie under the threat of storms, but predictions were that the second wave of storms would not arrive until later in the evening, and we trusted to that. As it happened, nothing much happened, even later in the night.
Before he left for the 9 a.m. program, he accompanied Mother to our house, while I did stair stepping exercises. Mother and I a good part of the day working on her jigsaw puzzle, which is a particular "puzzler."
Possible severe storms, with tornado watches, kept me busy running back and forth to the TV to keep track of the weather.
Hubbie returned home around 4 p.m., and for supper, we had hot pork roast sandwiches. Mother was ready to go home shortly afterward, and Hubbie accompanied her.
Then around 7 p.m., we went to a store front church downtown (refurbished by a former movie theater) for a film fest screening. This church had ample padded chair seating, and a huge screen set at a height that it can be seen from anywhere in the room.
The fare included a short documentary about a couple in their 60s who decide, in the middle of a drought, to start up a goat cheese business. They find it difficult to find feed for their animals, but they persevere, and in the end seem content with their lot.
The full-length feature, starring recognizable actors from various TV series, revolves around a hard drinking, chain smoking, never-married woman, who treats her young dairy farm hands not only as employees, but as family. In danger of losing her farm, she stumbles upon an enterprise that she thinks will save it. Unfortunately, a health crisis threatens her plans.
We were a bit edgy about attending the movie under the threat of storms, but predictions were that the second wave of storms would not arrive until later in the evening, and we trusted to that. As it happened, nothing much happened, even later in the night.
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