Saturday 30th

I have been unwell, I have put my back out, and the headache at the base of my skull came on as well, in sympathy.   Heat seems to relieve these afflictions a bit, so I've been maneuvering (sp?) the hot water bottle between the two areas.

On the subject of said hot water bottle.    A few days ago I emptied it, but didn't make a mental note of what I did with the top I'd unscrewed.   I looked for it, then assumed it would turn up, but it didn't.  Finally, on rubbish collection day I had to confront the thought that in my senility I had thrown it out, so had no alternative but to empty out the rubbish and pick through it all.  I hear you ask yourselves why I didn't just go and buy another - but they don't sell them here.  I meant to bring a spare one back with me last time I was over there.   Anyway, like the widow and her mite, I was overjoyed to find it among the rubbish.   My hot water bottle is a most cherished possession, I couldn't have got through the pain of the last few days without it.    I will certainly be more careful when emptying it.

I wasn't too bad on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and made it to lunch with Kevin and his family.  I also had an invitation yesterday from Carolyn for lunch at an Asian restaurant, and another today to join Cecil and Louise at their family's Thanksgiving which they were having in their church hall, but I didn't make either of those, I was just in too much discomfort.

I hope I feel better soon and can send a more cheerful blog.

27th November

I was out and about and busy for a good part of the day.  Went to Emmanuel to pick up the flowers for the hospital, they hadn't been left out for me so I asked Fr Bill if it was alright to take them off the altar, and he said it was.   They were stuck in oasis in a plastic container, and I didn't know it at the time but this plastic container thing is very precious, and IMPORTANT.  I had the common sense to leave the brass container that holds them all on the altar, and set off for the hospital chapel where I intended to transfer the flowers to a vase.  However, they were firmly stuck in the oasis so I decided I'd just leave it all - the important plastic container, oasis and flowers,  on the table in the chapel.

And I went on my merry way to shop at Walmart.   I told Jeremy the other day that I can't go anywhere in Shawnee without bumping into someone I know, and I realised today how true that was.  Pushing my trolley round Walmart I bump into the head honcho of the Altar Guild, who is responsible for everything to do with the sanctuary and altar, including the flowers and the precious plastic container that holds them (hereinafter called ppc).    I told her what I'd been up to and she spelled out very carefully that ppc had to be retrieved and put back by Friday morning.    Every Friday the florist delivers two arrangements in these containers, and takes back the previous two.   Emmanuel bought four of these ppcs, so they have to be kept together, as it were, one of them can't suddenly go AWOL.    Although there are two arrangements on the altar I just have one of them, I don't know where the other one goes.

So I finish my shopping and drive back to the hospital, and the senior chaplain, Bill exclaims "You're Back!!"    It was nice having a bit of time to chat with him, no one else was around.

Next on the To Do list was my water walk, where I bumped into Kevin who is on the Board of the YMCA, and is often around there.  He asked what I was doing tomorrow for Thanksgiving, and I didn't mean to sound forlorn, but he invited me to join his family at his brother's house, somewhere between here and OK City.    That will be nice, I hope I can make it because I think I've pulled a muscle in my back, and it is quite painful this evening.

The Cable Company is just across the road from the YMCA so I went in there.   I stood at the window inside, bitterly complaining about the updated digital service I've got to have and didn't want, and the fact that I can't get a programme guide, and don't know where to find the channels I want.  She handed me a list of the channels, and told me I'd have the programme guide in about a fortnight.

I turn round from the window and I'm facing a rapt audience.   One woman stepped forward and said "I LOVE your accent"     I replied, faintly, "even when I'm having a rant?".     At least I think my little cabaret relieved the boredom of all those who were waiting.

Last thing to do before going home was dropping off the ppc at Emmanuel, and I had a little chat with Fr Bill.

Friday - the day after Thanksgiving - is a Big Sale day here, but it has been decided that instead of waiting until Friday the stores would open their doors on Thursday evening.  Can you imagine that.  It's like us on Christmas Day, having our big Christmas lunch, listening to the Queen's Speech, sitting back all relaxed and happy, nibbling on the nuts and dates - then putting on our shoes and coats to go shopping for bargains.   Who would want to do that?????????????

And finally....the weather.   It has been cold, but very bright today, but tomorrow I think is going to be warmer.

Wednesday morning

I didn't go anywhere, do anything yesterday, so being British thought I would talk about the weather, and this is what it is like today in Shawnee.

 

And my little companion is always good for a few column inches.  I managed to angle that quite well didn't I.

Going out water walking this morning.   I am not very good at making it when it is cold and dark in the evening.

Monday 25th November

Still wintry, the porch steps were iced up this morning.  I had to go out though to put some money in my bank account, and made my way down them very carefully, clinging to the railing, hoping no one was seeing me because I'm sure I looked daft.   The pavements were all fine though, it is just the rain drips off the roof on to the steps, then freezes.

I went on to Walmart which is all geared up for Thanksgiving on Thursday.   It is the trend now to deep fry the Thanksgiving turkeys. 

What a lot of oil it must take to deep fry a turkey.

Pies are a big feature of Thanksgiving dinners; pumpkin pies, pecan, cherry, apple.  I picked up a double crust apple pie, I hope I can eat it all, I know it is a mistake to shop on an empty stomach.

Just so you know.

As I was out I visited Cecil, who is making very good progress and is getting a lot of physical therapy.   They are celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday with a big family lunch in the church hall, and Louise invited me.

I called at the cable company to have a rant about their 'upgraded' service I don't like as I no longer have a programme guide, but people were squeezed in the office like sardines, all picking up their new boxes.  I felt like standing in the middle of the room, warning them that they didn't want them, turn round and go home.    But I just left.

Sunday 24th November

The weather has been really wintry.

As you can see, icy.   Too icy to venture out, I just hunkered down today with Bubbles, hot drinks, television  (trying to sort out the channels)  my crocheting.

The snow showers didn't come to much this afternoon.

On the subject of sorting out television channels, a guy from the cable company came on Thursday evening to connect the new HD boxes.   When he was testing it I asked where the programme guide was, he said it will come on in the morning when "it has sorted itself out".  He was lying.  I rang the cable company yesterday and they said I would need to upgrade if I want a programme guide.  All the channels are different, and I don't know what is on anyway, so am feeling a little testy.   If I am able to go out tomorrow I will let them know in the office that I am not happy.  Not that it will make any difference, or they will care.   Part of me is very tempted to go to another company, have a satellite dish, but I know they are more affected by the weather than the cable, and when a tornado is bearing down on me I want to know where it is - it is not the time to have your television go down.

I was glad of my little break away at the retreat in Oklahoma City, even though the journey was a bit nightmarish, I was driving in freezing rain, I had just got on to the interstate when it started, otherwise I might not have set off.   There was a very bad accident in Mid West City which I came upon just after it happened, so I was held up for about an hour while the emergency services were dealing with it.    The afternoon session started at 2.30 on Saturday, and finished at 5, so I had to leave early on Saturday afternoon to be sure of being back in Shawnee before it got dark.

Actually there were several accidents on the interstate in the freezing rain.   When I arrived at the Catholic Centre where the retreat was held, I could hardly believe the ice that was on the car, I couldn't even open the back door, it was frozen up.    Neither could I understand the cars that had all been speeding past me, they were even getting irritated and sounding their horns at me as I was doing the legal minimum of 40.    I vowed to try and keep off the interstate in future.  Navigating six lanes of very busy traffic, trying to cross to my exit without hitting anything, was stressful to say the least.   But it was worth it when I got there, and I've recovered today.

 



Friday morning

Yesterday, Thursday, Kiwanis were entertained by a group of children from a local school practising their Christmas programme.  Trophies were also handed out to two children of the month, and their teacher.

I was pleased to see a good turnout of parents and grandparents with their cameras, I couldn't get a  picture of the children receiving the award, as the parents etc were all in front of me, but that was alright.

The choir who performed are behind them.

Before I leave this subject.  The children sang a couple of carols, Silent Night and Joy to the World, which is actually against Federal Law.   In a public building like the Senior Centre, supported by tax payers of all denominations, Jews, Muslims etc (although I doubt there are many in Shawnee) it is illegal to promote one religion over another, EXCEPT in the state of Tennessee.  There, apparently they are allowed to flaunt their religion in public.   A wild eyed woman preacher on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga was preaching that the students immodestly dressed were all bound for hell.      A young man on a bicycle, a few feet away asked respectfully if the message she was sending out was consistent with Christ's teaching.  He wasn't yelling, or heckling, but unbelievably the campus police came along, knocked him to the ground, whipped out their handcuffs and he was led off!!!!

Louise reported that Cecil is making progress.  He thinks he will go home, but she says that's not so, he needs too much nursing.   I doubt that she could do the heavy lifting involved in caring for him at home.

I didn't go to Communion and lunch, I thought I would put in an appearance at the hospital chapel's service.   The person who usually plays on the keyboard was indisposed so Bill, the new chaplain, got out his guitar and led a rousing rendition of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".   I was impressed.

Today, Friday, I am going on an overnight retreat in Oklahoma City, led by my friend Debra whom I am looking forward to seeing again.   It was she who referred me to the doctor I saw a little while ago for a psychological evaluation, who diagnosed my ADHD.

I was asked to make something for dessert for a lunch tomorrow for someone's Memorial Service at Emmanuel, which I need to leave in the kitchen today.

Do you like my nifty little carrying boxes that were a dollar each from my favourite store?


Well, I had better get on with my packing.

Tuesday 20th November - 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address

I've been running round town today doing my errands, took the flowers to the hospital chapel.   Called at the Cable Company to pay my monthly bill.   Our televisions are being upgraded to HD, and from the New Year we will also have more channels.   More channels - I think I've got about a hundred already, and I was quite happy when I only had 4, I wasn't so confused wondering what to watch.  Anyway, I was handed two digital boxes for my two televisions.  Laughed nervously and asked if I had to connect them myself, but was told someone will come and do them if I can't.  Too right I can't.

I was thinking today that it is sometimes hard to tell that it is winter here, unless I am scraping ice off my car early in the morning, but then it warms up to the 60s and 70s and I forget.   So it hits me when I am suddenly confronted by my frost damaged calla lilies.   That is such a sad sight.

or notice that the leaves have all fallen off the tree.   (don't know why I was suddenly able to enlarge this picture, I haven't been able to for a while, and I can't do the other)

Remember Martin Bashir?  He famously interviewed Princess Diana when she decided she wanted to wash her dirty linen in public.   He is over here now, working for one of the cable networks, and there is a major row going on because he insulted Sarah Palin.   Like she's not used to being insulted???  Of course she is acting all outraged, milking the situation for all it's worth, hoping he will be sacked.

Sunday 17th November

I have not done a lot today.   Just went to the 10.30 at Emmanuel, then back home where I was crocheting and watching episodes all the afternoon of 'Undercover Boss' , a reality programme I quite like where the CEOs of large companies go undercover to find out what is wrong with their companies.  Then Sunday evenings it is competitions on the Food Network.   The evil Fox News, as Fr Clark calls it, doesn't get much of a look in on Sundays.

Next Sunday is the First in Advent.   And now Halloween is over Christmas has taken over in the stores, and the television ads.   It will be time to take down my autumn decorations and get out the Christmas ones.   I might leave it until the week before Christmas though, I really like the autumn colours and flowers and I am not in a hurry to put them away.

I e-mailed Michael today at the Monastery in Beaumont and asked if I could come for Christmas.  He said of course I could, I don't need to ask, they'll look forward to seeing me.   I think I might leave on Friday the 20th, I probably won't be able to do the journey in a day because it gets dark too early.   And I'll rent a car; the engine on mine is threatening to come off its mounting, and I certainly don't need that deep in the heart of Texas.

I have just had another look at the driving directions, and although the mileages are more or less exactly the same - both just under 500 miles - it is 9 hours along the highways, and 7 hours 40 minutes along the interstate.   Drawback with the interstate is that I go through downtown Dallas with its six lanes of busy traffic and loops all over the place.   I think I'll take the highways. 

Harking back to yesterday, Saturday, I went to the monthly AARP meeting.  The speaker was someone talking about Medicare, and I don't usually stay for anything like that which doesn't concern me, but Phyllis came to sit beside me while she had her lunch so I didn't want to get up.  So I stayed and listened and learned something, it didn't do me any good but it opened my eyes.

To try and put it in a nutshell;   Medicare provides health coverage to seniors over 65.  However - and therein lies the scandal - federal law prohibits Medicare negotiating cheaper prices with the pharmaceutical companies, so seniors (and bear in mind nothing is free in this country) have to pay more than they can afford, and a lot more than they should, for their prescription medicines.  Are you keeping up with me?    AARP are proposing to put an end to this racketeering.   

Americans, or more precisely Republicans, sneer at our European socialism but give me it any day over their (dare I say it) corrupt capitalism.   And I know we have our corrupt politicians too, they just don't get to operate on the scale they do here.

And as the NSA reads all our e-mails I wonder how long it will be before Homeland Security are running me out of the country.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Saturday 15th November

My body clock is still playing catch-up.  During Thursday night the smoke alarm in my bedroom was beeping all night, and so was the one outside the door - the law requires that there be a smoke alarm in every bedroom, and every passage leading into a bedroom.

Very reluctantly, I got a step ladder out and very, very nervously, climbed up to remove the batteries, thinking that would stop the beeping and I'd get some sleep.   I didn't know the law also requires smoke alarms to be hard wired, and the batteries are just for back up, so even with the batteries removed they merrily went on beeping (and they call us the nanny state).   So I got very little sleep, if any.

I rang Mark Friday morning and he came out and dealt with it, putting in new batteries.  And he carried in my new microwave from the car.

And this is said shiny new microwave.    The $47.50 deal, which is just under £30.  Seems quite reasonable.  I don't know why I even wondered for a moment if I could live without one.

Friday afternoon I was out and about in Shawnee.   As I had been sneezing and sniffling I rang Bill at the hospital and said I didn't think I had better go in.   I understand Cecil has settled into the nursing home, and I will go and see him when I've stopped sneezing.

The weather on Friday was lovely.  Warm and sunny and 68.

And this is the weather for today.

It says rain at 6am, it is now 5.45 and I think I can hear it gearing up.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday look nice and bright.   And warm.

I don't know what time I went to sleep last night.  I don't remember much after 8 o'clock.  I hadn't settled for the night because I hadn't tidied the kitchen, and left the milk out.  Anyway I woke at 3am, and think I am now going back to bed for a little while.

Wednesday/Thursday

Wednesday morning.    It was very cold, winter is here, even if the sun is shining in a blue sky, and the temperature climbs up to 65 later in the day, when I am scraping ice off the car it is winter.  So I do what I have to do in winter; put my summer skirts in another closet, and take the car to Terry so he can do the little adjustment he has to do, to change from air conditioning to heat.  I know it would be better if I could do that myself from inside the car, but to do so I need a new thingy, and it is not high on my list of priorities at the moment.    As I was going to the dentist in Norman today I had to have heating on, so got to Terry's at 8 o'clock.

As far as I can see, there is just one qualified dentist in this practice I go to, but dozens of minions, and countless examination rooms.  I ring up, ask for an appointment with the dentist, and in my naiveté expect that I will see him.   But no, I get a minion, who does an acceptable job of adjusting my partial, but like doctors who don't have MD's I feel I am being short changed.   On the way out it was suggested I make an appointment with the hygienist, which I know is overdue, so I agree but say I really want an appointment for a check up with the dentist.  I'm assured - somewhat airily - that when the hygienist is cleaning my teeth he will come in "and have a look".   I realise this is the best offer of a check up I am going to get, so rather laughingly agree.    Actually, I was reminded that when I first saw him I had a comprehensive examination and I was given a printed sheet of all the work that will need to be done in the future, and he will tell me - when he has a look round - what part of that list needs to be done now.

When I got home I knocked up some cakes for dessert for the Wednesday meal.

Thursday morning.    It was rather sad going to Kiwanis this morning.  On my very first day there Cecil invited me to sit beside him.   Then about two years ago Fr Clark joined, and he was invited to sit on the other side (this is beginning to sound like the Last Supper) but from now on it will always be just the two of us sitting together.   Louise has always sat with the treasurer.  Cecil is being transferred today to a skilled nursing home facility, the same one where Larry was.  

He had his major stroke last Friday, and I am feeling rather stunned that he can go from normality to a nursing home in less than a week.  Louise said they were told about a year and a half ago that he had Alzheimer's (I hadn't noticed, perhaps because I've got it myself I thought he was normal) but the neurologist has confirmed now that he has.  But in a small way he is making a little progress in that he is beginning to feed himself.  It was also explained to Louise that in the case of a stroke the brain swells, and then as the swelling goes down it needs to make new neuro-pathways, so he will get better than he is at the moment.    That is why I am always playing lots of games of solitaire, I am maintaining my neuro-pathways.  And I think that probably crocheting and needlework does that as well, I hope so.

Kiwanis was very interesting; a member gave a power point presentation of her recent trip to South Dakota , to the badlands, Mount Rushmore, and just over into Wyoming.  She went with members of her family and said her brother in law is a photographer, and she had lovely photographs.  She is however, a very accomplished photographer herself, and has in the past given us a presentation of her photographs of birds.    I think South Dakota might be next on my bucket list, after Tennessee, the  Cumberland Gap, and the Smoky Mountains.

This morning was really all go.   I needed to get back to water walking, which has been a bit neglected lately, and as Fr Clark attends a Bible study group in the YMCA shortly after Kiwanis I went along as well, then had my water walk, then a quick dash to Emmanuel for Communion, and out to lunch.    Which is quite a lot of activity for me, all in one morning.

Tuesday 12th November

I haven't slept well the last couple of nights or so, my body clock is all awry.   When I got up I went to Emmanuel, and picked up the flowers for the hospital.

Had to go to Walmart for a new microwave.   Mine was flashing and banging, and goodness knows what, and I hadn't put anything reflective in it, but like everything else in this country nothing is made to last.   I briefly - for all of 15 seconds - wondered if I could live without one, but thinking of the number of times I use it during the day, I know I can't.

I spotted one for $45 that looked quite good so I pushed and pulled and heaved it into my cart, moved on and saw another one for $37.95, so with another struggle I managed to lever out the more expensive one, and replace it with the cheaper, by which time my shoulder was seriously threatening to dislocate again.  Then I had a good look at both of them and decided that the $45 deal had features that were definitely worth the extra money.......I asked at the checkout if someone could help me get it in the car, I waited, and waited, and waited, an no one showed up.   So with a great, superhuman effort I managed to tip it into the boot of the car.    But I am going to have to get someone to bring it inside for me.

Yesterday I thought I'd catch up on some lost sleep.   Made some tea and took it to bed with the pages of the 'Mail on Sunday' dear sister sends me, and there was an interesting article by Piers Morgan, a British columnist who also anchors CNN, and has been campaigning against the crazy gun laws in this country.

It boggles my mind how many children and  young people are mown down here in their schools and colleges.   In Dunblane, Scotland in 1996 a madman entered a school with four hand guns, and shot and killed 16 children and 1 adult.   Following this it was made illegal in the United Kingdom to own hand guns and there hasn't been a school shooting since.   Over here  however, as Piers Morgan said, America does nothing, endures endless school shootings and has 11,000 gun murders a year. In Britain we have 35.

As they say here.....go figure.

Sunday 10th November

Do you know how many people looked at my blog yesterday?   91.   91!!!!!!!!!!!!   There were 590 last month, which I think averages about 19 a day, and even that baffles me.   I can think of three loved ones, and about seven friends who regularly read it.   Even with the NSA monitoring it I can't see how it would mount up to 91 in one day.

Anyway, for all of you who find this so fascinating - this has been a pretty uneventful day.  I woke up early this morning as I was picking up the donuts for Emmanuel, and reading at the 8 o'clock.   I thought of going to a service somewhere else at 11, but felt too tired.   I always consider going somewhere in the evening, but at the moment there are some very good competitions Sunday evening on the Food Network.

I finished reading the second of two books written by a Cuban refugee, Carlos Eire, one of the 14,000 children airlifted to the United States when Castro took over.  Although he said this airlift was kept from the American people, it still amazes me that even in this day and age no one seems to know about it.  It certainly wouldn't get past Fox News today.

 Something else which shocked me was the destruction of the churches there.  He and his brother watched as Revolutionaries smashed up crosses, icons, everything that is in churches.  Even the communist regimes in the former Soviet Union weren't that bad.   They closed the churches but didn't carry out acts of wanton destruction.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday morning

Friday morning I went to the hospital.  The new senior chaplain started this week and although I had already met him, as I was on the interview panel, this was the first time I'd seen him installed in the office as it were.  He is a Baptist minister from a church in Iowa, but is very familiar with Shawnee as he had been to OBU, and his daughters, I believe, were also there, and he seems pleased to be back in Shawnee.

When I got home I had a call from the Senior Centre informing me that my friend Cecil has had a major stroke.   I caught up with Louise on her cell phone on Saturday morning, she was on her way to the hospital in Oklahoma City.    One side is paralysed, he can't speak, and the doctors were dealing with a severe blood clot.

Mark and his sons came out on Saturday morning.   There is a long standing problem in the house with rain coming in, and although they have in the past climbed about on the roof,  they hadn't been able to locate where it was coming in.   But this morning one of his sons shimmied up into the roof space and Mark turned a hose on, but the rain seems to be coming in underneath the roof tiles, the roof area inside is perfectly dry.   I didn't get the chance to ask how they can fix the problem as my nosy neighbour, Dale's husband, trotted across the road to see what was going on.  I will e-mail Mark.

While they were there though, with a hose and strong jet of water, they cleaned all the sidings on the house, the windows and the porches, and it all looks very spruced up.

I thought I would have an early night on Saturday night, turned the light out at 10 o'clock, but woke at midnight.   Made some tea, went on the computer, and precious grand daughter Miranda Skyped me from her I-Pad, which was lovely.   It was about 7am there and she was lying in bed with it.   The wonders of modern technology......being able to lie in bed and call up your grandma in Oklahoma.   The world is certainly a much smaller place than it was.

Thursday

I thought winter had arrived this morning, for the first time in months the car was covered with ice first thing.   I went to the City after Kiwanis, and when I got back to Shawnee mid afternoon the temperature was 71.   I don't know how it gets from freezing to 71 in one day.   70 is considered a heat wave in Britain.

The Kiwanis speaker was a columnist in the local paper, she writes an amusing column, and it was an entertaining talk.

There was an AARP luncheon and Award Ceremony in the City, Phyllis and her husband Joe picked me up from the Senior Centre after Kiwanis, together with another Kiwanis member, who is also in the AARP.    I was jokingly making a big deal of the fact that we were leaving Shawnee at 9.30 for lunch in the City, 30/40 minutes away.  I know Americans eat early, but golly me.   I was glad I hadn't had to leave the house at 7.30 for the donuts.    We did get there early but it didn't matter, I had my toys in my bag.  Bit of crochet, and my C-Nook.

Anyway, it was all very nice and I enjoyed the day.   Phyllis, who is the local President, was given an award.

Basically this means that our local Shawnee AARP is the best in Oklahoma.    And it is very much due to Phyllis who works immensely hard in the community.

I hate my hair scraped back like that, but it was either that or looking a hot mess.  I need to get myself to a hairdresser.

I got home just after 3 and had a little nap then visited my friend who had been in the nursing home.  Two or three church members, together with some of the youth, moved her furniture on Wednesday evening, and this morning she left the nursing home.    She has a lot of boxes to unpack and sort out before she is straight, but it all went very well.

Would you say that was a deathbed picture.   I saw the christening pictures and they all looked very happy, including Charles and Camilla.  And the Queen looked very sprightly for 85.

Monday 4th November

I think my headache is feeling a bit better today.    Managed to get some housework done, and Mary came mid morning to help me fill out some forms, then we went out to lunch at the popular restaurant/deli.  

I intended going water walking this evening but was diverted.  I stopped off at the church to pick up the flowers to take to the hospital in the morning, bumped into the person helping our mutual friend move from the nursing home to her new flat on Wednesday, and she asked me for the key of the new flat so the helpers can - hopefully - have the furniture in before she gets there.   So I went off to the nursing home instead of the pool.   

I don't know if I mentioned it but the clocks changed last weekend, and I hate it so much, I hate it being totally dark at 6 o'clock.   If Arizona and Hawaii can get by without ever changing their clocks I don't know why the other states have to.   I never understood it in England, and I don't here.

My electric kettle is supposed to turn itself off, and it didn't, and burned itself out.  SIGH.   I had to go to Walmart for a new one.  At first I couldn't find one at all.   Just lots and lots of coffee makers in all shapes and sizes.  I even had the wild thought that I might stop drinking tea, and just drink coffee instead.   Then I spotted one, it was programmable - who needs a programmable kettle for crying out loud!!!!!!!! - it did all sorts of things and cost nearly $40.  But I am technologically challenged, life in the 21st century is struggle enough, the last thing I need is a high tech kettle.  Then as I am staring at it in despair, I spot another one lurking at the back of the bottom shelf.  A straightforward one for $12.94, that I just fill up and turn on.  

I don't seem to have done much today, and I am conscious this probably isn't very interesting but at least it lets you know I haven't dropped off the radar.

Sunday

Still woke up with a bad head.   Also I had another little problem last night with my C-Nook.  A book I had downloaded wouldn't open, and rather than spend time on the phone to the technical support I prefer to take it to Barnes & Noble in Norman.    I don't mind a little drive along Highway 9, a browse round my favourite store, and something in Starbucks, which is situated in the middle of the store, so I planned to go to the Episcopal Church in Norman, then on to B & N.     However, best laid plans and all that..............my headache wasn't up to it.

So I had to take on the technical support.   Three of the so-called support people obviously didn't know what to do about it, and wandered off leaving our chat session to time out.  When I finally got through to a fourth person I was begging her not to leave me, every time she told me to do something I was saying "yes, alright, please don't go away".   She was able to talk me through it, and we got it sorted.    Then I had to go back to bed to put my head on a hot water bottle, which is the only thing relieving the discomfort.

Had a chat with Tim and Jeremy and precious grand daughters, which totally made my day and made up for everything bad going on.

The weather has been quite nice, but is about to get bad by Tuesday.   By bad I mean heavy rain, which I'm not keen on, but can't speak for anyone else who thinks rain is wonderful and the heavier the better.

The early morning looks quite nice.

Then it gets wet.

But November will be warmer.

Friday 1 November

I wrote this blog up yesterday, Friday, but somehow it disappeared into cyber space before it was published.  So this will probably be a shorter version without all the smart alecky sarcasm about Mexican food, and Oklahoma deer hunters, that were in the original version.

Apart from a little nap in the afternoon I was on the go all day.   I went out early in the morning and had breakfast at the hospital before my chaplaincy round.   Then at noon went to the Foodie Friday cookery demonstration, which was all about cooking outdoors in Dutch Ovens - cooking pots with charcoal either underneath them, or in the lid on top.    Only in a southern state like Oklahoma could one be outside on a warm day, in a tee shirt, watching a cookery demonstration on the 1st November.   Up in the northern plains it is snowing.

In this picture they are deep frying bananas, then tossing them in sugar and cinnamon.  The pot with charcoal in the lid is cooking enchilladas.  

In addition to the enchilladas we had some some little pieces of rib eye steak, grilled asparagus and squash.   I passed up the enchillada but everything else was very nice.   I am not going to try Dutch Oven cooking myself but it is very nice, and popular I understand in gardens with friends and family.

My friend Faye was discharged home on Wednesday but I visited the Emmanuel member who is still in the nursing home until next week.   She is moving from the nursing home directly into a new flat , and was concerned at organising her furniture removal into the new flat.   To cut a long story short, I enlisted the help of the most capable, helpful person in the church and it is all going to be done - probably by the youth of the church and a couple of strong men with a flat bed truck - by next Wednesday when she is discharged.

All this took quite a bit of time to-ing and fro-ing and I was too late to go water walking.   Today, Saturday, the pain in my head was bothering me.   I managed to get to Walmart for my milk, but spent a good part of the rest of the day with my head on a hot water bottle, which relieves it a bit.































































































































I went to the church and enlisted the help of the most capable, helpful person in Emmanuel - who was there on Family Promise duty, but was able to leave briefly so we

Happy Halloween (she says, rolling her eyes)

I had a severe headache last night, not migraine headache, but the pain I get at the base of my skull.  I took a strong painkiller, which does nothing for the pain but practically knocks me out.

It was my last trip for a while to get the donuts for Kiwanis.  I think it will be February before it's my turn again.    The two children of the month selected for an award were there with their teacher.  And I was pleased to see proud parents and grandparents taking photos of them.   The parents of one of them were from Emmanuel, and they were there too.

The speaker was an inventor.   He showed us his latest invention, a very light firelighter, which he makes from a sheet of kitchen roll, dipped in his formula, and which can be folded up, weighs only a couple of grams , so it can be carried around in one's pocket,  and when lit can stay hot for forty minutes......long enough to cook rashers and rashers of bacon and goodness knows how many eggs.

I went to the hospital briefly, then joined my pals from Emmanuel for lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  They called my cell phone to tell me where they were, so I don't know why this particular restaurant was chosen, there are nicer Mexican places.   With everyones' help I manage to order something non spicy.   I had rice and beans - which usually comes with guacamole and sour cream, but not at this restaurant.  

I mentioned the other day that Pattisue and I went to lunch, and the restaurant concerned donated a portion of our bill towards the new municipal pool, and this is what the new pool will be like.  There are actually three pools, one for lap swimming, one for diving, and a childrens pool.   And all sorts of facilities around it.   It will be very nice when it is all done.

It amazes me that we can't get cod in Britain - what happened, did Iceland win the Cod Wars when I wasn't looking?  - and yet here it is so plentiful there is a special deal for $3.99, or £2.48.  Or $1.99 if I just want one piece of fish and fries.   I'd love to know where it comes from, it is surely not swimming around in the Gulf.   I thought it was only found in the cold waters round the North Sea.

As I couldn't go this morning I went water walking this evening, took a chance on there not being too many children splashing about, but it was very quiet.  Only myself and one other person, and it occurred to me afterwards that everyone would be out tricking and treating, or whatever it is they get up to.