Is this Friday the 13th....

I woke up to a load of bad luck, all before 8.30 am.   I'll spare you the details but suffice to say it involved very bad television reception (AGAIN) the computer, and a big, heavy desk drawer which came crashing to the ground.  If I had been sitting at the desk, instead of standing at it, I would be in hospital this minute, with goodness knows how many fractures in my feet.   The fact I wasn't sitting at the desk is something I will remember tonight when I'm reviewing things to be grateful for today.

I went to the computer shop, told them I'd take the computer in on Monday.  Plan to spend the weekend tidying it up.  Then to the cable company about the bad television reception, I think they are fed to the teeth at seeing me.   They did tell me that all the subcontractors from Missouri who were changing over to digital, have gone, so maybe someone in-house will be able to sort it out.

Went to the hospital for my chaplaincy round, as I was leaving the office to go up to the floor Bill the Chaplain said he was going down to the basement to judge a 'Cookie Wars Competition' the staff down there were holding.   I said, somewhat eagerly, that I could do that, I watch all the cookery competitions on the Food Network.  He said he didn't watch that stuff but he knows what cookies he likes.

I went to lunch at the Red Lobster, and had wood grilled lobster, shrimp and scallops.  Took a dessert to go of carrot cake.    It was lovely, thank you Jeremy.

Everyone is talking about the bad weather next week.   I didn't think it looked THAT bad.

 

Saturday and Sunday was too bright to see.   I suppose Tuesday is bad with freezing rain and icy.  If that is so I will stay indoors.

This is a café for cats, this is in Tokyo and there is one in Taiwan, and I think there is going to be one in California.   The idea is that people who live in high rise apartments, who are not allowed to have pets, can go and stroke them in the café.    Fancy.

Thursday 30th January

Out early as usual to Kiwanis.    Our speaker was very interesting indeed and I didn't expect her to be.  She is the Director of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering  and Maths) Education at the local Technical College, and the fact that she made it so interesting pays tribute I think to her outstanding gifts as a teacher.  She had come to Oklahoma from Texas two years ago, and loves Oklahoma (of course - apart from the roads  which are superior in TX, and the fact that they don't have state taxes) Oklahoma is a better place to be.    However, I digress.   One of our members who recently retired was on the Board which appointed her and he said she had outstanding recommendations from Texas.    As this is a very American thing I won't go into STEM education except to say there are 1.6 jobs for every person with a STEM education as opposed to 4.1 unemployed people for every non STEM job, and that STEM education is going to be vital in the growth of the US economy.

I left the meeting immediately at the end of her talk, I had to make a quick getaway to take my ailing computer to its Emergency Room.   I had been having issues with it for a while, and kept hoping they wouldn't get any worse, as I dread unplugging all the cables at the back, and (more importantly) getting them all back in the right place.   It was ready for me to pick up at 5 o'clock, but he did say that if there still problems to take it back, and they will look at it again free of charge.  So far things seem to be okay but it does still seem rather slow.

I used to take it to a computer shop downtown, but suddenly they moved and reappeared in another street, still downtown, but with a different name.   When I asked why, it was explained that there was a security and surveillance part of the business as well, which had expanded so much the Director decided to separate them.   I can understand surveillance and security expanding, video cameras everywhere are a fact of life.

I didn't go to Communion and lunch, after I'd finished running round I had lunch at home with my book.   I have become a total bookworm.   I am very into the Amish genre of American fiction and the particular book I finished this afternoon also had a murder mystery in its plot.

I rang Phyllis who has roped me in to going round visiting in a nursing home with her (at the moment it is 'a' nursing home, but I suspect there are going to be more).    It's a nursing home where the residents are poor, lonely and unloved.  I asked somewhat plaintively if we couldn't go to the posh one I love, but she was a bit snarky about it, she thinks it is too posh and elitist.........thinks............I like posh and elitist.   I like bridge classes, craft rooms, spas, ice cream bistros, pubs with free glasses of wine, book clubs - none of which are in the nursing homes she's planning to take me to.   Never mind, I'm looking forward to my bake sale there on the 20th.  

I got into a difference of opinion with Phyllis and someone else at the last AARP meeting when I said I was never a fan of the simpering Diana and her 'I-want-to-be-queen-of-peoples-hearts' line, and I like Charles and Camilla.   While it's fine for Phyllis to disagree with me - she is, or was, British - but I took exception to an American condemning Charles and Camilla.   But they certainly get a lot of brain washing with all this on the supermarkets' tabloids.

Wednesday 29th January

I seem to  have been busy today, was out early at the Senior Centre where they are kindly printing our Kiwani's bulletin.   Chatted to several people there.   I called at the hospital and dropped of some 'prayer pups', soft toys ladies at Emmanuel make for the children in the hospital.  Chaplain Bill introduced me to a visitor he had, and it was nice chatting to them for a while.

Went home to knock up some cakes from a packet mix, and make an orange jelly for the Wednesday meal.  Normally team Mexican would have made the meal tonight, and they do their own desserts, but it was brisket and ham left over from Sunday.   I was surprised that there were no leftover desserts, there are usually masses, but I guess people have noticed that and just didn't bring so much.

I put some ready made chocolate frosting on them before taking them.

In the afternoon I went to the lovely retirement home I've told you about, where they were dedicating their Veteran's Lounge, which is decorated with veterans' memorabilia.  

I think all the residents in the lounge were veterans.  There was a very big crowd outside looking in.  I think 18 of the residents are veterans, I wondered if they get better pensions than most, bearing in mind that it costs the earth to live there.

The Director there is one of my favourite people in Shawnee, but I didn't think he knew me, he wasn't around the other day when I was arranging the bake sale with Rachael.   I was rather chuffed that he rushed over to me when he noticed I was leaving, said he was pleased I had come and was pressing me to stay for refreshments, but the car park was full when I arrived, and I was blocking someone in.

Having been out and about as much as I had I just wanted to unwind this evening, and did not go to the meal at Emmanuel.

Tuesday 28th

As predicted there was snow last night......

which had to be swept off the car before I could load it up with all my emergency gear in case I broke down on the road to the dentist in Norman; thermos, duvets, extra pullovers, and most importantly, my toys.   I thought I might be stuck somewhere for so long that the battery on my C-Nook would go down, so I threw in a hardback book as well.  Then added some extra yarn to my crocheting.   Am I compulsive/obsessive or WHAT!

I don't know what we are doing with all this snow, we're not used to it in Oklahoma.  Snow is what happens in the upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, where temperatures get to -30.

So I stroked Bubbles goodbye, and in the immortal words of Scott of the Antarctic told her I might be gone for some time, then I set off along Highway 9 to my dental appointment.   I discounted any thought of taking the interstate.  I watch too much News Channel, I've seen all the multi pile-ups they have on interstates in bad weather.

To recap on the dental appointment.  I had an appointment anyway today for some fillings but over the weekend I bit on something with an incisor and pain shot through me.   And it continued to be painful if the tooth was touched at all, and very sensitive to hot and cold.  I called the dentist Monday morning to tell them what was happening, that we'd have to postpone the booked fillings, and they started talking about root canals and crowns, neither of which I knew anything about so I spent most of yesterday reading all about them on the internet.

Last night before going to bed I got a snack of soft rolls and some jam from the fridge, and was trying to carefully eat them on the other side of my mouth, but kept getting some very cold jam on the tooth, so it was all very painful and uncomfortable.   I went to sleep glad to be going to the dentist in the morning.

I thought it felt a bit better this morning but I hadn't eaten anything so I couldn't really tell.  The dentist's assistant settles me in, takes an x-ray, dentist comes in and is gently prodding,  he points to the x-ray on the computer,  and there is nothing, nothing, wrong. He gave me a guided tour of the inside of the tooth on the screen, said where the problem would be if there was one.   So we were at a bit of a loss.  Knowing that he was a believer - he goes on mission trips with his church - I suggested that perhaps my praying friends might have something to do with it.   He smiled and said he would certainly buy that.

As a final act of kindness on his way out of the room he told the assistant not to bill me for the examination and x-ray.   She'd already informed me as soon as I'd sat down that it would be $111.  I suppose it is just me because I am not insured but they don't do anything at all without telling me first what it will cost.

So I was back in Shawnee by midday.   

I went to the nursing home and visited with Cecil and Louise.  

Sunday/Monday

I think I must be getting very boring.  Only 4 people looked at my blog yesterday, and 2 the day before.

Sunday morning I went to the adult Sunday school, then caught up with some things at home before going back to Emmanuel for the Annual Meeting and lunch.   Lunch at the Annual Meeting is a posh affair - white tablecloths, linen napkins, wine.....The lunch itself was very good too, the church provided brisket and ham and people brought side dishes, and they are always good because they are home made.   I just took some grapes.  

Later in the afternoon I went to the movies and saw 'American Hustler', a film which sounded good and I had been meaning to go and see, but I couldn't get my head round it.  I couldn't sort out the goodies and baddies, if in fact there were any goodies in it.  I think it is the only film I can remember where I left before the end.  I was glad I'd gone by myself.

Yesterday was a lovely, warm day but this morning, Monday, it is back to cold cold arctic temperatures.  And tomorrow isn't very promising.

 

 

Tomorrow morning doesn't look too warm, but it gets better during the week.    I am off to the dentist in the morning in Norman.    Over the weekend I developed dental problems, I had already had an appointment booked for some fillings but rang this morning to say there would be a change of plan, I have a tooth that needs urgent attention.     When the message was passed on to the dentist's secretary she rang me back, and I think I am going to have a root canal treatment and a crown, neither of which I have ever had before, so have been busy surfing the net to find out all about them.   Also pulled up my currency converter so I don't die of shock if I'm told it will be about a $1000.

Saturday 25th January

I didn't make it to the Retreat.  I had been looking forward to it for some time, I like Debra so much, I've been to her retreats before (it was she who referred me for psychological testing) and I was very sorry to have missed it.  I had got everything ready last night, I put the address into the GPS, ran off Google directions (for plan B) decided what to wear, made my sandwich filling for lunch, but I got up this morning, contemplated the drive to the other side of Oklahoma City - an hour on the interstate, an hour and a quarter on the highway - and I just couldn't do it.   I felt all my energy literally drain out of me.



So really I haven't done anything today, I didn't even have the energy to do any of the things that needed doing round the house, so I have been reading all day.   I had a very good book, I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it.  One of my recent bargains from The Dollar Tree, the satire on corporate life 'Who Moved my Blackberry'.   The reason it was practically being given away for a dollar was because it had a tiny spot of printers ink on it, it was so small I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't looked, so who cares about that.



I looked at a bit of news.  The bad television reception has hopefully been resolved.   The technician tightened the connections in the roof (and they needed it, he said that was the cause of the problem) and he replaced all the jump leads in the house.



The news hasn't been very good, between the Arctic weather and the lawlessness in this country.   Yesterday a student was shot in a university in South Carolina, and today there was a shooting in a mall in Maryland.   Yet they still think it is a good idea for people to own handguns!!!!!!!!!!!    It beggars belief.

Friday 24th January

I heard today that this has been the coldest winter in the US EVER.   It is certainly colder than anything I've been used to here.    But I've just seen the temperature for tomorrow is 62, so that should be better.   I am off to a day Retreat on the other side of Oklahoma City in the morning.

This morning I was at the hospital doing my chaplaincy rounds.   There are a lot of patients in with pneumonia - do we admit patients to hospital with pneumonia?   I didn't think so.   Of course it is understandable with babies and children but I thought adults just stayed in bed and took antibiotics.  However, I don't think the doctors here do house calls so perhaps pneumonia patients need to go into hospital.

I had lunch at the hospital by myself.  Chaplain Bill went off to audition for the local choral society, which produces outstanding performances, I usually go to them.   I am quite sure with his gifts and his education - he majored in music at OBU - there is no doubt he will be snapped up.

For weeks I have been putting up with very bad television reception while the changeover from analogue to digital has been going on.  Early in the week though, when I could hardly look at anything over the weekend, it reached a whole new level of frustration.  The cable company kept sending technicians out, but it's Sods Law that the picture was always alright when someone came.  However on Monday I stomped into their office and said I knew - because I'd been told - that their subcontracting technicians from Missouri were paid for each job they did, so it was obviously in their interest to keep coming out to my house two or three times a week (there was a little pursing of the lips at that) but I wanted something resolved ONCE AND FOR ALL, like somebody going up in the roof where the aerial is, and checking the connections.  I was told they would send an in-house technician.   As the access to the roof is in a corner of my closet, and very tight, it was on the tip of my tongue to tell them to send someone young, slim and agile.   But I thought that might be misinterpreted.  The guy who came was middle aged and a bit fat.   I showed him the entrance to the roof, looked at his tubby, portly figure and said I didn't mean to be rude BUT..............He went out to his truck and I think he took some clothes off, and his big belt of tools around his middle, he looked a bit slimmer when he came back in with his ladder.

Anyway, he said the connections had been loose but he'd tightened them, and my reception and picture should be alright now.  But he gave me his telephone number and told me to ring if I had problems with it over the weekend.   Considering I am such a martinet people are surprisingly kind to me.

The local weather came on while I was doing this.

 

 

The only thing which kept me sticking to the cable company instead of running to a satellite company, was the knowledge that the other companies didn't have the Weather Channel, and I love the Weather Channel.   I certainly can't be without it when a tornado is advancing, I want to know exactly where the tornado is.

Thursday 23rd January

Finally, and very circuitously, and I don't know if I could do it again, I managed to access my blog on my laptop.   I have been warned - I am not sure why because I don't think they had the NSA in mind - that the internet is a free for all, and anyone can read my blog.   I would just like to say it has taken me most of the evening to pull up my own blog, on my own laptop, so I defy anyone else to try and find it.

Out early in the bitter cold this morning to Kiwanis at the Senior Centre.    Our speaker was a Master Gardener, she is also - and I didn't mention this in the bulletin because I don't believe that women should be defined by who they are married to - the wife of one of  the civic leaders in Shawnee, the  popular owner of the Shawnee Milling Company, a business in town established by the current owner's grandfather.   She manages the large Feed Store and Garden Centre on the edge of town, and she was talking to us firstly about a Garden Show being held on Saturday morning in Shawnee, it sounded very interesting and I would go except that I am off on another retreat (!!) in the City on Saturday.   She then went on to talk about gardening generally, and I felt quite inspired listening to her.   She talked about raised beds and growing vegetables in pots, and gave us all a free packet of lettuce seeds.

Getting in the car and grasping hold of the icy cold steering wheel I decided I had to buy some gloves (the reason I was putting it off is because I know I've got some, but can't find them)  Anyway, I leave the Senior Centre, get to K-Mart at 9.45 (and the time, as you will later see, is significant) but when I get in the store the only gloves I can find are special, very thin, ones to wear for texting.........!!##****!!##!* words are failing me.   However, I continue meandering around the store and eventually find a pair designed to keep ones hands warm.   Take them to the checkout, ask the cashier to cut off the tags and pull them on, feeling very happy as I walked to the car, that my hands felt warm (this story is going somewhere, I promise you).    I went to Communion at Emmanuel and afterwards, walking through the parish hall at 12.45 I pull on my nice warm gloves......to find a hole in the finger!!!!!     How many times have I ranted about Chinese imports in this country, but they do usually last a bit longer than three hours.

After Communion eight of us went to lunch.  I'd quite hoped to go to the Bricktown Brewery but we always fall in with the first person who makes a suggestion, which in this case was a place called 'Chillis'  which as you might imagine caused me to feel just a little apprehensive.   I asked tentatively if they had any non spicy food and was assured they did.   They actually had quite a big menu, and it was a nice place.   I had a mushrooms and Swiss burger, with slices of avocado.

In the afternoon I had a nap, I might have taken my gloves back if I hadn't felt so cold.

Wednesday 22nd January

The project for the day was knocking up cakes for this evening's dessert at Emmanuel, even though I used a packet mix it seemed to take me all day.   I think packet mixes are alright for children and young people, but when I am making them for the Bake Sale in February at the posh retirement home I'll do them from scratch.

 

It was team lasagna making supper this evening, and there seemed more people than usual.   I heard someone say how good the children are at Emmanuel, and it is impressive to see them all pitching in and helping.

 

I usually go home after supper and watch the Food Network but someone suggested I stay and join the discussion group which forms when the children go off to their activities, and I was glad I did.  I think I need to be more social.

 

Watching the news earlier in the day I took this picture.

 

I have a major problem getting my head round the shootings in this country, especially in the schools. 25 in 2013 is one a fortnight, and it is getting worse.   Yet people still think it is a good idea to own guns, to have them in their homes where the young and mentally ill have easy access to them. I just don't get it.

 









Martin Luther King Jr Day ( Bank Holiday Monday)

I took the car to Terry to have the hose put on that he'd been waiting for.   If Terry is working or not defines for me how important a bank holiday it is here.   He doesn't work on the 4th July, Memorial Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, he probably thinks that's enough days off, and the other holidays don't matter to him. 

Those major holidays by the way, are the ones where Walmart's aisles are jam packed with crates of watery beer (I might have mentioned that supermarkets cannot sell beer stronger than 3.5%) so I have two indications of how important a holiday it is - if Terry is working, and how much beer Walmart is selling.

Chaplain Bill had a little service at the hospital chapel which I attended.  He played part of the video, just about 3 minutes, of Dr King's "I have a dream" speech.   Bill hoped his wife would attend, and it would have been nice to have met her, but she is a teacher.   Normally, children would have been on holiday today but the little dears have to make up for the 'snow' days they had off when the weather was bad.

Bill told us that Dr King had originally been called Michael, as was his father, but as his father progressed in his ministry he changed his name to Martin, and his son's name as well.

Googling MLK Day I noted that it is celebrated on the 3rd Monday in January, around the time of his birthday on the 15th January.   Down in the southern states of Mississippi and Alabama it is all mixed up with their celebrations of Robert E Lee's birthday on the 19th January.   For those of you whose American history is as hazy as mine was when I came here, Robert E Lee led the Confederate Army.

I have been running round town today - as I said, getting the hose fixed on the car, calling on Cecil and Louise, working on the Kiwani bulletin for Thursday, and going to the hospital.    The rest of the time I told myself it was a holiday, to justify putting my feet up.  

Holiday Weekend

Yesterday, Saturday, I went to the monthly AARP meeting, Phyllis said they were having live music after the business part of the meeting, I hoped it would be some singing and guitars but it was the Dixieland Jazz Band  she loves so much, playing 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', 'Shine On Harvest Moon' that sort of thing.  

I was glad I went though, even though she roped me in to help her go round visiting in a nursing home next month.  She is going to take them bananas. It doesn't surprise me that the Shawnee Chapter of AARP does more work in the community than any other in Oklahoma - and I think most of it is done by Phyllis.   I said I'd make some cupcakes - they will be a dummy run for the bake sale at the nice retirement home (she was very dismissive when I told her about the bake sale, and started raving about how wonderful the place was) I think she feels it is too posh, too expensive, and prefers poorer people is less sumptuous surroundings).     Me, I'll take the sumptuous and luxurious any day.

Afterwards I had a little spending spree in my favourite store, the Dollar Tree, where everything is a $1.  I bought three books - they have some wonderful bargains in books - one of them is 'Who Moved my Blackberry' described as "a brilliant satire of modern corporate life".     Another is one of those self help/self improvement guides to living, called 'Stay in Your Lane', a "powerful guide to creating a purposeful life", written by an African American woman judge in Florida.   That's what I'm looking for, a purposeful life.   More purposeful than lounging around watching telly, and crocheting.   The third book is a novel 'How to be an American Housewife', about a Japanese American family.  I gather the mother is very Japanese and the daughter is totally American.  I'm not sure which to start first.

I decided as one of my New Year resolutions that I would go to the adult Sunday school at Emmanuel.  I know it is the 20th today, but it takes a little while for my New Year Resolutions to get off the ground.  At one point Fr Bill was talking about the English Reformation.  Now, you need to understand that to a high Anglo Catholic like Fr Bill, dyed-in-the-wool Protestants like me, and the English Reformation are a BAD THING.  Not that he was conveying that this morning.  I suddenly became aware he was picking his words very carefully, and seemed to be walking on egg shells.  He asked me afterwards if he'd given an accurate account of the English Reformation.   Bless him.  I don't know why he worried.

Afterwards I went to the 10.30 Service.    The other thing I did today was go to the movies and saw 'Osage County' the story of a dysfunctional family who all came together when the father first disappeared, then was found drowned.   I enjoyed it very much, I thought it was funny and had a good story line.  I think though it would not appeal to everyone's taste, so I'd hesitate to recommend it.   I went by myself because I couldn't decide until the last minute which performance I was going to.

Osage County, by the way, is the largest county in Oklahoma, in the far north east of the state, I think it borders on Missouri.   The Reservation of the Osage nation, which is Cherokee, is entirely within the borders of the county.   I was interested in the scenery, it is very flat Plain land, bit like it is here.

Thursday update

Kiwanis speaker was the Director of Operations for the City of Shawnee, talking about the new municipal swimming pool.  I thought we had someone talking about that a few weeks ago, but then I'm not responsible for speakers.

Being without a car first thing Louise picked me up.   When I got back home about 10 Terry rang to say he would bring the car back, he is still waiting for a hose for it from Honda in the City, but that would only take a few minutes when he gets it in.

This afternoon I went to my appointment with the Marketing Director at the Retirement Home.  You may remember she came last week to Kiwanis and talked about it, and when the subject of our bake sale came up she said we could host a bake sale there, and I picked that up and ran with it.

I liked this little touch when I went in -

We talked about the bake sale which we have arranged for the 20th February.  I bought a little book of cupcakes from M&S last year when I was home, and I am going to make some cakes from there.  Louise will make her Amish friendship bread and other nice cakes she does.

Afterwards Rachael took me on a tour of the place.  It was WONDERFUL.   To give you an idea of it think of the most luxurious hotel you have ever been in, with thick plush carpets and lovely furniture, and then add in all the extras - the ice cream bistro where they have ice cream socials; a pub where residents can help themselves to a glass of wine, or a beer and sit and chat; an out-of-this-world movie theatre with huge reclining armchairs and popcorn maker; the craft room; the beauty parlour (that's American for hairdressers) the spa room; lots of people there play Bridge, and there are bridge lessons, as well as groups catering for other interests.   I said to Rachael "I want to live here!!!  I want to move in tomorrow!!!"    Heaven only knows what it cost, I didn't ask.

I didn't see him today but the Director of this retirement home is one of my favourite people in Shawnee.  He was the Chief Fire Officer until he retired and took this job.   They're a busy family, they also raise llamas, and his wife has a dance studio, and Jimmy plays the guitar and sings, which is how I know him, he comes  to Kiwanis when Louise can twist his arm.

Later in the afternoon I went to see Louise at Cecil's retirement home, which is as different as chalk from cheese.  I'd die if I had to live there.

Thursday am

Where to start.....I have been up early, since 4 am in fact.   Continue to be plagued with problems with my tv, so have had long session with the cable company.  The person who answered my call was doing her best but couldn't resolve the issues, so am waiting for a technician tomorrow afternoon.  Sigh.  I didn't specify a non smoker, I just hope I don't gag on stale nicotine when I open the door to him.

And I'm temporarily carless.   They don't have MOTs in this country (and I shudder at the state of some of the vehicles driving around, they are definitely not road worthy) but I think they are a good thing so took the car to Terry last week for the equivalent of an MOT, and there are some things he has put off replacing for as long as possible, but now really have to be done, and I took the car to him yesterday, Wednesday.  He expected to finish it in a day but someone sent him a wrong part, and although Wednesday evening/Thursday morning is the worst time to be without it, I didn't want to put him to the trouble of assembling it all so I could use it last night, I said I'd wait.

I made little chocolate chip cakes, and carrot cakes for last night's dessert at Emmanuel, and asked Beth if she would pick them up.  She offered to take me to the church as well for the meal, but I didn't want to bother.

Mark stopped by during the day.  Because Mary had hip surgery they put a grab thing on the side of their bath, and were so impressed with it they thought I could probably do with one as well.

I tried it out last night and it is indeed very helpful in pulling myself up.

And this morning Louise - bless her heart - needs to pick me up for Kiwanis.   I am going to the nice retirement home at lunchtime to talk about us having a Kiwanis bake sale there, so hope the car is going to be ready.

Tuesday 14th January

Well - my readership went up dramatically yesterday from 6 to 53, following my comments on hurling traffic cones into the Hudson River, so now I am expecting a call from the NSA (you've probably heard that they hack into all our online communications) with a deportation order for inciting civil disobedience.  Or maybe they will think I can't get up to much mischief in Oklahoma,  if I lived in New Jersey my plane would probably be circling Heathrow as I type.

Some days, and today has been one of them, I feel very lethargic.   Part of me wants to kick back, and the other part wants to get on top of everything so I will be organised for the rest of the year.  I am doing things bit by bit; a cupboard here, a cupboard there.

Had to go to Walmart for my goats milk.  Called at the nursing home to see Cecil, but he was having a nap and Louise was out somewhere.  Last Friday a hospital patient was being discharged to the same nursing home, and she seemed quite happy about it, but when I went to see how she had settled in she was very unhappy indeed. and I was very concerned that she seemed to have just been dumped in a room and left to her own devices, I mentioned it to Louise and she said it happens.   I went today to see how she was and fortunately found  that a relative had taken her away, so I hope she is somewhere where she is cared for.   I thought this nursing home was alright when Larry was there, and they were very kind to me, but perhaps residents who don't have an advocate don't do very well.  I'll keep my interfering little eyes open when visiting in future.   I know who the nursing home ombudsman is.

Monday 13th January

Noticed my fans are dropping off.  There are a lot less people viewing than there were.  Perhaps I have just become too boring.   Or perhaps when the viewing figures were high, that's when the NSA were looking, and now even they are finding me boring.  Ah well, there's nothing I can do to make my life more exciting - it is what it is, as they say.

Went to the Senior Centre this morning where Fr Clark gave the second of his two talks on the History of the Bible.  He is an excellent Bible scholar and has done a tremendous amount of research on the subject, but the Senior Centre is not the venue for his scholarship; it would go down well at Emmanuel, and I have suggested that.   The congregation at Emmanuel accept that the Bible has evolved, as Biblical scholarship has evolved, but most fundamentalists down here in the Bible Belt believe every Word was dictated direct from God.

Dr Laura Schlesinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call into her radio show.  She said, as an observant Jew, that homosexuality is an abomination according to Lev 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance....end of debate.  The following response was an open letter to Dr Laura posted on the Internet.   (and I am just extracting a few of the questions).

 Dear Dr Laura

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law.  I do need some advice from you, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1.  Lev 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations.  A friend of mine claims this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify?   Why can't I own Canadians?

2. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10) it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality.   Can you settle this.  Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

3.I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7.  In this day and age what do you think would be a fair price for her?

4. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath.  Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death.  Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? 

5. Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight.  I have to admit that I wear reading glasses.  Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

I think I have probably made my point.

A few days ago there was a major news item.  I wonder if you got to hear it.  Someone wanting to discredit the Governor of New Jersey, or one of his associates, ordered traffic cones to be put down on the Washington Bridge, connecting NJ with Manhattan.  This resulted in one of the worst traffic jams EVER.

In this country apparently, someone can put traffic cones down on a highway for no apparent reason, and motorists just accept it.   Some people were in that traffic jam for 6 hours. 

I commented to someone that the gumption it took to jettison tea into Boston Harbour was sadly missing on the Washington Bridge.  I think the motorists should have hurled the traffic cones over the bridge.  There wouldn't be enough police in NJ to arrest and process hundreds and hundreds of motorists.  What a story that would have been, it would have gone down in history, and traffic cones would still be bobbing along the Hudson River - or whatever river that is that flows under the Washington Bridge.   

Sunday 12th January

The weather is looking a bit better, has been brutally cold with the Arctic Vortex (the latest buzz words at the moment.

There is a saying here that if the weather is bad not to worry, a nice day will soon come along, which is true since we have come from Arctic Vortex to the 70s in the space of a week.

I am going to Barnes & Noble bookshop in Norman shortly, and at the moment have 3 layers of sweaters on as I was out early picking up the donuts for Emmanuel's 8 o'clock service.   These hourly forecasts are useful as I will need to rethink my wardrobe before setting off.

  And the week ahead doesn't look bad.

Just catching up on odd jobs this weekend around the house.   The house next door with the constantly barking dog has cleared their garden of all the branches that came down in the ice storm before Christmas.   I hope it doesn't mean the barking dog is coming back, it has been such a relief not having the constant barking, the last few days, I am just realising the extent to which it got on my nerves.  If it does come back I will be on the phone to the police, I am not putting up with it anymore.

I was reading the Lesson this morning at 8 o'clock.   Someone expressed appreciation of the fact that I read with the punctuation.  I didn't tell him, but I try to read as if I am familiar with the text, even if I'm not.

So, just off to Norman after I've divested myself of some of my layers.

Thursday 9th January

Our Kiwanis speaker was Rachael, the Marketing Director of a very nice retirement complex in Shawnee, consisting of town houses,  assisted living, and independent living facilities - it is not a skilled nursing facility however.   Seemed a wonderful lifestyle with all sorts of activities going on - gardening, quilting, book clubs.   

She talked about the Veterans Lounge which is opening at the end of January for which they have been collecting memorabilia.   Veterans returning from - she said it was Korea, but I thought it was Vietnam - suffered a great deal of hurt and emotional abuse from the American public because of the unpopularity of the war, for which Americans now feel very sorry, and they honour and respect their veterans now in a way they never did before.   And the Veterans Lounge is a means of expressing appreciation of them.

At the end of the meeting when Louise was talking about the bake sale, Rachael said we could have a bake sale there.   I was thinking I could run a bake sale, either for Kiwanis, or for the benefit of the residents there.  It needs a little more thought and discussion.

After Kiwanis I went to Communion, then eight of went to lunch at a deli/restaurant, I was given the choice today and I think it is quite a popular place.  It was very pleasant.

On the saga of my  tickets from the state trooper, which weren't a citation nor nothing, I had the headlight fixed but went to the police station about the allegation that I didn't produce a driving licence.    Police stations here are weird, one doesn't actually see a police officer, one goes into a little vestibule and picks up a phone.  And I wasn't in the right place anyway, was told I needed to get in touch with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.   Sometimes I really do feel like a little old lady, groping my way through the complexities of life in a foreign country.

A new cat appeared on my porch this morning, at least I think it was a cat, it was bigger, fatter, fluffier that most cats and there are all sorts of animals here I've never seen before and can't identify.  I don't know if it was just passing through, or a newcomer to the neighbourhood.   I've noticed for some time an absence of the cats next door, I asked Donna where they were, particularly Ryan the sweet grey cat, and a ginger tabby who were camping out on my porch, begging me to take them in.   She said they were run over.  She must be keeping indoors the couple she has left.   I've decided that any more stray cats are going in the cat carrier, and I'll take them to the Animal Shelter.   Even if the Animal Shelter puts them down it will be a more humane death that being hit by passing motorists.

Wednesday morning (early)

I seem to have got behind with this but have been a bit preoccupied and busy.   With my ageing memory I am a bit pressed to think further back than Tuesday.   Tuesday morning was Kiwani bake sale so was up early helping set up in the Senior Centre.   Louise always did bake a lot of cakes, but is making even more now because it is stress relieving for her since Cecil has been ill.   The bake sale raised nearly $200 so it is worth doing, all the money Kiwanis raises goes to help childrens' projects.

I was going to make some cakes on Monday evening but instead went to the movies to see 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'.  It was quite nice, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't up there with 'Saving Mr Banks that I saw with Pattisue on Friday, or the weekend, that was absolutely excellent.

And I did wish afterwards that I'd stayed at home.   I didn't know it, but a headlight was out and pulling away from the movie complex I was pulled over by a state trooper.   I never think to check my headlights but will do so from now on.   I can't drive very well in the dark but manage to get around Shawnee because I stay on the main north/south, east/west roads that are lit and busy, which is why I didn't notice the headlight was out.

The state trooper was very nonplussed with my UK driving licence, and thought I should be carrying my 'visa' around with me (not, he hastened to assure me, did he suspect I was an illegal immigrant).  I asked if he meant my passport, a visa is something required to come into a country.  He said, that's right, it's the same thing.   Telling Louise about this later she said he wouldn't know the difference, he's probably never left Oklahoma.   Also said he probably kept me talking to listen to my accent.  What is it about me and my accent in this place!

Anyway, I end up with two pieces of paper which he assures me "is not a citation nor nothing" just a record of our contact.   One referred to the headlight which has now been fixed by Terry.  The other refers to an absence of driving licence, so I need to go to the police station and sort that out, I can't be stopped again and reported as not having a licence.  And apply myself to getting an Oklahoma licence and save myself all this hassle, tell myself I actually live here, I'm not just passing through.

 
All over Shawnee at the moment front lawns are looking this rather weird shade of blue/green, although in the first picture it has come out on the photo as almost normal looking, not quite as blue as it is in reality.   It is done by lawn contractors and doesn't last, and by summer they will all be a healthy looking, nice, lawns.    But according to the people I hang out with they are a BAD THING, I think they pollute the environment, or something.

Sunday - 2nd after Christmas

The big concern at the moment is the weather.   It is so cold it is breaking records in the US.

As you see it is 14 below freezing in Dodge City, which is just north of Oklahoma, in Kansas.  About 4/5 hours from Shawnee.    And at 47 below in Minneapolis there is serious risk of frostbite if one goes out with any part of skin exposed.

 It is beginning to look a bit better during the week.

This morning there had been a bit of snow overnight, but it didn't seem to be icy so I made it to the 10.30 Service at Emmanuel.

Afterwards had lunch with Bruce and Rosalyn in the new restaurant in town, a "Gourmet Chinese" restaurant it is called.    It was quite nice.   Certainly not gourmet prices though, the bill was $21 for the three of us.    I think I prefer the China Buffet where one can cruise around, keep going back, and they have a selection of sushi and desserts as well.   But I always like seeing the new places.

Friday/Saturday

Was back in the saddle on Friday at the hospital chaplaincy.   Friday evening I went to the movies with Pattisue to see 'Saving Mr Banks', which was an excellent film, I would see it again if it came downtown.

This is what is being said about it -

In the winter of 1933, in a thatched cottage in Sussex, England, a complicated woman named Pamela "P.L." Travers began to write "Mary Poppins," the first in a series of novels that would inspire the beloved 1964 Walt Disney movie and supply generations of children with a magical fantasy nanny.

The reality of Travers' own turbulent childhood — and her reluctance as an adult to relinquish control over her characters to Walt Disney — are the subject of the movie "Saving Mr. Banks," which has just gone into wide release. Directed by John Lee Hancock, "Saving Mr. Banks" follows Travers (Emma Thompson) as she travels to the Disney lot in Burbank for two weeks in 1961, tangling with and tormenting the studio chief (Tom Hanks). The L.A. visit inspires Travers to recall her childhood in Australia, in particular her father, a charismatic drunk played by Colin Farrell.
Some critics have complained that "Saving Mr. Banks," which Disney itself produced and distributed, is too hard on Travers and too easy on the company's founder. Travers is cold, critical and strange — arbitrarily objecting, for instance, to having the color red in the movie and dismissing Disney's "silly cartoons." "Uncle Walt," by contrast, is jovial and encouraging, with few flaws to speak of save for a bad smoker's cough.

P L Travers was a pen name, she was Helen Goff, and an Australian.   Her father died at 43, and she came to England and became very British.  Insisted that everyone call her Mrs Travers, and she called Walt Disney, Mr Disney, in spite of the fact that he told her everyone uses first names in Hollywood.

I loved the Englishness of it.  She was picked up in a limousine, being driven to studios, staring out of the window and said "No one is walking here".   I think everyone in the auditorium heard my laugh; that was my reaction when I came to Shawnee.   There are no pavements or sidewalks, occasionally a homeless person might be stumbling along the grass verge, otherwise everyone is in a car, going somewhere.

I am thinking tomorrow afternoon of going to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  I tried to see it this evening as I had to go out, the weather is forecast to be very bad tomorrow  so I needed a few things, but I couldn't find anywhere to park near the cinema.   It is only at the cinema that parking is ever a problem in Shawnee.

Happy New Year

Set out on my errands this morning and to my surprise, as I never noticed it before, it is a Federal holiday.   The Bank and the Post Office, on the top of my 'to do' list were closed.

Spent most of the day reviewing my New Year Resolutions, most of which have to do with overcoming my Attention Deficit Disorder.   Like organising myself.   Taking a lesson from the monks and properly scheduling the day.   Starting all sorts of journals - like a gratitude journal, noting the little kindnesses during the day that one is grateful for, because it is not possible to be really unhappy if one is grateful.   I could start with the fact that my friend, Jay, who fed Bubbles and cleaned my house while I was away, stopped by today with some scones she had made.

And I wondered about a "food" journal.   I thought I might eat a more balanced diet if I noted what I was eating.   It might persuade me to cook instead of graze all day.  I'll see, and start with today's meal which is traditional in the southern United States on New Year's Day, of black eyed peas.

The peas were provided by Rosalyn who had cooked a big pot and gave me some.   And to go with them I cooked some rice, and made guacamole from two avocados so I could have a big dollop, which I don't get in Mexican restaurants serving rice and beans.

The following I found on the internet on the subject of eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day, it is good luck.

The practice of eating black-eyed peas for luck is generally believed to date back to the Civil War. At first planted as food for livestock, and later a food staple for slaves in the South, the fields of black-eyed peas were ignored as Sherman's troops destroyed or stole other crops, thereby giving the humble, but nourishing, black-eyed pea an important role as a major food source for surviving Confederates.

Today, the tradition of eating black-eyed peas for the New Year has evolved into a number of variations and embellishments of the luck and prosperity theme including:

Served with greens (collards, mustard or turnip greens, which varies regionally), the peas represent coins and the greens represent paper money. In some areas cabbage is used in place of the greens.

• Cornbread, often served with black-eyed peas and greens, represents gold.

I didn't know about the greens and what-not, that's why I just cooked rice, made guacamole and got the sour cream out of the fridge.

And finally....I forgot to mention yesterday that I left Shawnee for Beaumont just before a dreadful ice storm moved in.  Someone told me the sound of trees coming down was heard all over Shawnee.  The tree between my garden and next door neighbour has been slowly dying for the last two or three years, and the ice storm saw it off.  It fell mostly in the neighbour's garden.   I had a very big branch come down into my garden two or three weeks ago and Mark had to take it away, it was too big to drag over to a corner.