Wednesday 30th July

I have had more productive days.   I started out by deciding to update my address book, the current one must be about 15 years old, at least, and thought I would buy a loose leaf folder so that in future I can just take out the redundant address.

 

Alas, I did not get past the first entry on "A", someone with whom I have lost touch.   I typed the name and address on the new sheet, and thought I would go online and see if I could find her telephone number, better yet, an e-mail address as it would be nice to get in touch with her again.    Success!   I was taken to her Facebook Page.  

 

Now, I have a Facebook account and can just about log into it,  so hardly ever look at it, perhaps once every two months at most,  I think of it as something for young people - people under 70 - not for those pushing 80, who grew up in a world of black and white television, and to listen to music one had to have a record player which played vinyl records; and the only telephones were black and were permanently plugged into the wall.  How many people reading this can even remember, or imagine, such a world?

 

Anyway, I discover while taking a proper look at Facebook that I had fallen into another universe, and it seemed that everyone I know, or had ever known who was still alive, was occupying this universe, and chatting to each other. 

 

I have yet to get back to my address book, and my friend, and her telephone number and e-mail address (at least I am savvy enough to send e-mails).

 

My second encounter with the 21st century came when I had to connect my printer to my computer, both of which have been moved round.   The original cable connecting them was too short, so I set off to find James, my new best friend at Staples, he gave me a longer cable and showed me which end went into the computer,  and which in the printer.   "C'est une doddle" I thought as I confidently drove home.   I even got as far as congratulating myself when each end fitted into what seemed to be the right place;   I switched the printer on, it lit up and started making printer noises, so smiling to myself, I hit the 'print' command to run off the document I wanted - and nothing happened.  Nothing except a message on the screen to check all the connections, which I did, checked it was plugged in, and it seemed to be.    It always happens, when I think I am doing well, coping with technology, I fall flat on my face.

 

I will have another look in daylight.    And this is mostly what my day has been about.  This, and listening to the very, very, heavy drenching rain outside, which was so bad it even knocked out my television signal.   I knew that was likely to happen when I left the Cable Company, it was the reason I stayed with them as long as I did.

Anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada 1588

I stopped by Emmanuel this afternoon, before the Bible School got going and dropped in all the unused medical supplies that were bought at the time of my fall, for the first aid box in the church.

The theme of the Vacation Bible School is Moses in the Wilderness - this is an excerpt about it from Emmanuel's weekly news letter

If your child/children are ages 5- 5th grade, come join the fun at Emmanuel's VBS Wilderness Escape! They will become part of the journey as Moses and the Israelites watch God guide and provide! They'll travel back into Bible times- without setting foot outside our community. Each day, your child can become part of history as they see, hear, touch, and even taste what it was like to live in the wilderness during Bible-times! They'll explore the Israelite Camp tents, visit Moses , take part in games, dance to lively Bible songs, and sample tasty tidbits as they discover more about Mose's adventures. These experiences make God's Word come alive with new meaning for all who participate! The adventure starts at 5:30 pm and will end at 8:30 pm.

The church member playing Moses is very well cast in that he looks the part of an Old Testament prophet.   In December he always goes to California where he is a professional Father Christmas.

The Israelite Camp...........

While watching the news - and there is certainly plenty of it at the moment  - I finished the afghan.  The one I am keeping for myself but don't know when I will utilise it, not with a cat who will prance all over it.

In the news..............

Someone said that banning three year olds from restaurants is discrimination!!!

Adults wanting a quiet meal in a nice restaurant have every right to expect a pleasant, quiet environment.    There must surely be plenty of family-friendly restaurants where one can take the crying three year old.   I just wonder what kind of world we are living in - she says, sounding 90, never mind pushing 80 - where we have to legislate for good manners.

Monday 28th July

Weather is cooler today, I noticed it was a chilly 91 as I drove through town.   I went out quite early to get some ice cream and toppings for the Vacation Bible School going on at Emmanuel this week.  It was my way of thanking the church for the help I had after my fall.

 

Vacation Bible Schools is a very American thing, most of the churches seem to have them for a week during the summer.

 

My new best friend James, from Staples, came this afternoon.   Unplugged the computer and all its component parts - printer, Wi-Fi, modem, woofer, speakers, et al and carried them into the living room and set them all up on the new desk.

 

I was a bit horrified at the enormous cats cradle of wires and cables (they have multiplied since I recently changed my tv provider and I discovered, with some interest - James told me - that the television is now connected to the internet, opening up all sorts of possibilities if only I were savvy enough to explore them) but I digress.    It was all set up, we thought he'd almost finished, then discovered that he couldn't get an internet connection.    The internet socket thingy didn't work.   He said I could get a Wi-Fi, but by then, and looking at the mass of cables snaking up and down the living room, I had gone off the idea.

 

So I got him another cold drink out of the fridge,  pushed the old desk in the computer room out of the way, we carried the new one in, and he repeated the setting up process all over again.   I am actually quite pleased with the way it looks.   I e-mailed Mark and told him the old desk was ready to be carted away.   I hope he will come quite soon to get it so I can straighten the rest of the room out.

 

And here it all is on its dinky new desk, the $39.99 bargain I recently bought.

 

I think there has been a change of morons at this outfit, I detect a shift in the editorial staff.    We have had them proclaiming that MI5 murdered Diana, now it is more specifically Charles.   So  I wonder if they are giving Camilla a break and Charles is the new evil one.

 

That story at the top, of the child who died in an SUV is awful.   The father went to work, and allegedly forgot his child sitting in the back.  Didn't even notice him when he went out to the car in the afternoon to get something.  You all know how hot a car gets when it is parked in the sun, the child had a dreadful death.   Of course the police took away the father's computer - like they do - and found he had been searching online for "how long does it take to die in a hot car".   I forget whereabouts this was, but it is a state that has the death penalty, so that is what he is going to get.

Saturday 26th July

As you can see, it has been searingly hot.   I haven't been anywhere, 104 degrees is too hot to walk across a car park.  Goodness knows what it was like round Tulsa in the northern part of the state, because a weather warning means one has to be very aware, and take precautions.   So I just stayed indoors in my nice cold house which I have set at 68.  68 doesn't sound cold, but believe me it is when the outside temperature is 104.

I have spent the day moving things about a bit.   James from Staples is coming on Monday to set up my computer in the living/kitchen area.   Then Mark will come and take away the big desk in the computer room, which I want to make more cosy.   Another advantage of moving the computer is that if anyone tries to Skype me, I should have a better chance of hearing them in the middle of the house.

I also did quite a bit of crocheting while watching the news.   I think I will finish the afghan tomorrow.

So that's been my day........................not a lot to write about but I thought it was better than nothing.

Friday 25th July

My highlight of the day has been going with Bruce and Rosalyn to her grandson's art show at the Museum, on the St Gregory's campus, then they kindly invited me to dinner at the Red Lobster to celebrate my return to health.       And this is what I had ....doesn't that look nice.  Eat your heart out Jeremy.

This is the current deal at the Red Lobster which has been extensively advertised on television, and I kept thinking it looked nice.

These pictures I took at the childrens' art show.   It has been a sort of summer camp for them, they have had art classes every day for the last four weeks - their school holidays start a lot earlier than ours, they are almost going back.

This is Patrick, Rosalyn's grandson, with his mother.   He is a lovely, confident little boy.

Patrick and his mother again.   Refreshments were served after the art show.

And the rest of the day......................I finally took the band aids off my fingers which were shredded when I had my fall on the porch.   I think it was someone at the hospital who commented that I wouldn't be able to find work as a hand model.  She was right about that.  Apart from the scarred fingers I have the hands of a ninety year old.  I sometimes wonder why my hands aged before the rest of me.  It's too late now but I wish I'd rubbed moisturiser into my hands when young, and the rest of my crepey skin, come to that.

As these morons have kept telling the American public that she is pregnant, I suppose they had to make something up to account for the fact that she hasn't produced it yet.  Then they will start again.

Thursday 24th July

Nothing very eventful has happened today.   There is a lot of development going on in Shawnee at the moment, and a representative from the City's Engineers' Office gave an update and answered questions from members of Kiwanis this morning.

 

A new swimming pool is being constructed which will be three times the size of the one it is replacing, and will have all sorts of innovative features for children, as well as having lap lanes for swimming.   There is a lot of road improvement going on too, which is a pain when one is crawling through all the road works in town, but will be nice when it is finished.

 

A lot of homeowners here grow their own vegetables, more than they do at home, so at this time of year there is a lot of surplus tomatoes and vegetables being given away, and someone brought okra and tomatoes to Kiwanis this morning, and I picked these out.

I don't think I remember okra growing very much at home, perhaps it does better in warmer climates. Looking at these I was reminded of my sons' Arab grandmother, who was the best cook I have ever known, and she used to make a stew with tomatoes and okra, then added  meatballs, and I thought I would do that with these.

 

Talking of warmer climates, everything seems to grow so much more.  I think it was only about a month ago this lily beside the tree stump was just a little shoot I'd transplanted, and is now more than 5ft high, as it is taller than I am.

And these must be about 8' tall, they are much taller than I am.

 

A venetian blind in my computer room came down yesterday, I think the hot sun had worn the cords and it crashed down.   Mark came by this morning and took it down, then brought a replacement this evening.  And adjusted a closet door which wasn't sliding properly.   As he was leaving he was looking at my porch steps and wondering if he should replace them with a ramp.   He obviously noticed I am a little old lady, pushing 80, and I need these adjustments to living.  At first I said I didn't think it was necessary, perhaps when my knees become arthritic, but thinking about it after he'd gone it doesn't seem a bad idea.  I might tell him I've changed my mind.

 

When I came back from the movies last night my neighbour, Donna called with a sheet of cardboard for the window where the blind had come down (I hate people being able to see in, even temporarily)   She seemed to want to natter, and she talks the hind legs off donkeys,  so I invited her to sit down.   She chattered away about all sorts of things, one of them being that she had recently had a decent win - $1600 - at the amusement arcade, or what they like to refer to here as 'The Casino'.  Apparently one can only win $1200 tax free, and the casino/arcade take the tax out of the remainder.  I feel almost tempted to have a go.  I probably won't though, because Native Americans who own the casinos/arcades don't have to observe Federal 'no smoking' laws, and stale nicotine is enough to put me off.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 23rd July

I have come to the conclusion that lounging around cross stitching isn't good for me, I felt better today being up and about.    Did my chaplaincy round at the hospital this morning.

My pal who drives the golf buggy round the hospital car park is a BIG FAN of British comedies, watches them all -  'One Foot in the Grave' 'Last of the Summer Wine' - you know the ones,  and he told me excitedly this morning that there is a new one on Sunday nights called 'Vicious'.  Anyone know it??  Said it was about two gay men..... a bit obscene.... a lot of innuendo.     I said gay men !!!  obscene!!! innuendo!!!     Told him I didn't have him down for programmes like that (he strikes me as being a rather rigid, southern Baptist)  he said no he wasn't really, but he likes this and is sorry when he falls asleep and misses bits.  

On the subject of said golf buggy we could really do with one of those at the DGH, the hospital car park here is nothing like the size of that, and really doesn't need it, but I can't see it happening.  Any more than I can see our banks providing popcorn on Fridays and donuts on Saturday mornings.

This is an incredible story.   In Shawnee 85% of children in public (or we would call 'state' schools) have free lunches, but when they are out of school for the summer they would go hungry if charitable organisations did not provide a lunch for them.   And I remember a Kiwanis' speaker telling us that during the term children are given food on Fridays to take home to tide them over the weekend.    All my life I have grown up thinking America was the richest country in the world, and I have a major problem grasping the extent of the poverty here.   The Salvation Army here, in the picture above, is providing children with the 'Back to School Basics', pens, pencils, back packs, all the things we buy our kids at the beginning of term.  An organisation in the Senior Centre runs a 'Shoes that Fit' programme which provides shoes for children who would otherwise go to school in flip flops.   We might - I am sure we do -  have poverty in some places in the European Union, but nothing like it is on the level I've seen here.   I have come to think it is because we are socialist nations, whereas 'socialism' here is a dirty word.

I have mentioned in previous blogs the generosity of Americans, and there is no doubt that those who do have money are extremely generous, because without their unstinting support the feeding programmes, the  'back to basics'  the 'shoes that fit' - all these programmes - would not be able to meet the needs of these children.

It is often bandied about here that Obama is the leader of the Free World, and it always causes me to wonder "when did that happen, and how, why"   Did Cameron, Merkel, Hollande et al all come together at some conference or other, and decide?      Although having said that, I am at the moment, reading a book about America in 1927, which was the year America became exceptional.   Another favourite expression bandied about here is  'American Exceptionalism'.

Changing the subject -

This is the latest afghan.   I shall go round it a few more times in yellow and white, and make it bigger.  And I've made a few mistakes in it, I think I'll keep it for myself instead of donating it to the Senior Centre for a raffle.   I would like to put it on my bed, but I've got a cat who walks all over the bed, and would eventually tear it up.   She recognises when the 'going to bed' routine kicks in, and jumps up to sleep beside me., it is a good thing I haven't got a man in my life, he'd be very ticked  off.  To my chagrin she situates herself on the side of the bed nearest the nightstand, so I'm always stretching over her.    I think she eventually gets tired of my snoring, she is usually curled up in her rocking chair when I wake up.

This evening I went to the movies with Pattisue and we saw 'Persecuted'.   I thought it was very good but I need to see it again a couple of times to get a better understanding of it (so I hope it comes downtown where the admission is only $2)  There was only the two of us seeing that particular film, we had the entire auditorium to ourselves, so I could jump up and down and say in a loud voice, "those are the bad guys, when did the good guys realise what was happening, why aren't the bad guys being arrested".

Monday 21 July

Well, I am back and feeling a bit better.   Finally, eventually, went to the ER.  My main objection to going is that the cost of CT scans and doctors is more than it costs to fly home, where I can be treated for free, but that argument doesn't hold up when I am not feeling well enough to travel anyway.  So I presented myself and told them - somewhat defiantly I think - that I had been before and I am not insured, but I was told not to worry, they will treat me anyway.   Another objection is having to wait for hours to be seen (can you believe that, this is private medicine!!) so I went to the Chaplaincy office first and Bill came with me, and I was seen more or less straight away.

I was asked what the difference was between a migraine and the headaches I was having - because I am on regular medication to prevent, or lessen, the incidence of migraines - I told them the migraines were in a different part of the head, more in the temple region, but these were deep in the base of my skull.   Anyway, I had a CT scan of the brain and there is nothing sinister going on there, so they gave me medication for the headache, and after taking it as soon as I got home I slept very soundly all the afternoon until about 7 this evening, and as I said at the beginning I am feeling a bit better now.

As an aside - a nurse admired the skirt I was wearing (it was just a black and white print) said I looked as if I was going on a date!  My first reaction was "perish the thought", followed by "I wonder what the dress code is for going to hospital".   I was just wearing a skirt and tee shirt (oh, and my shoes were 'cute' too).

The weather in the past week has been quite cool (relatively) but it is getting hotter, teetering on triple digits tomorrow and Wednesday.   I don't ever remember, in my life, a temperature over 99 at home.

My electricity provider sends an e-mail every day telling me what the cost of the following day's electricity will be.  Last week for a few days it was down to 5 cents per kw hour between the peak period of 2 and 7pm.    I had one at 3.57 this afternoon telling me it was going to be 19cents per kw hour (during the peak period) then at 6.38 I got another one, saying 'forget that last e-mail we sent you, it is going to be 43cents per kw hour, between 3 and 6.     I've never known it as high as that.

Wednesday

Have not felt well last few days, have severe pain/headache at the base of my skull.  Have tried all pain relieving medications but nothing is making any impression.

Will be back when I feel better.

Bastille Day

I wish I could tell these morons what I think of them.  If she were pregnant she would be taking the very best care she could of herself and her baby.

 

 



 

And as for these morons, words fail me.   The Queen must be better if she is now ailing instead of dying.   And I've just noticed how like his father Prince Charles is.  It must be because Prince Philip is now in his 90s.

 

 

Another rodeo has come and gone.  Every year I think I would like to go, see the barrel racing and the bull riding especially, but being old and nervous I am not sure I can cope with the crowds and the parking.

 

I have got a rather bad headache, I think I will call this a day.

 

 

 



Saturday 12th July - update

My ribs are still very painful, but I decided today that my fingers could graduate from bandages to band aids.   I am a little nervous of them, because the wounds were so deep and they don't look anything like healed,  but I think they'll be alright.

The last two days I have just been dozing and reading, mainly dozing.  Yesterday, Friday afternoon, I did go to the Senior Centre to 'shoot the breeze' as they say, with Louise who was manning the desk, and apart from a little shopping at the local pharmacy/drug store, that has been the extent of my activity for the last couple of days.

Except....I did do my chaplaincy round yesterday, then was going to have lunch with Bill, but standing with my tray at the check-out  the cashier from opposite dashed over for something from the other cashier, crashed into me, sent my tray flying, and scalding tea went down my arm. I didn't want to go the ER, I like the nurse in Occupational Health, but she was away, so Bill wrapped my lunch for me and I went home to put something soothing on it.   It was alright after that.   I didn't get an apology from the person responsible, I think she wanted to distance herself from it, but there were too many witnesses to her clumsiness.

The weather has been extremely hot.

As today was 95 and it says it feels like 100, I suppose that Sunday which is 102, is going to feel like
107.    I look forward to Wednesday when it drops to a chilly 79.    As I've got the house set at 68 it really just affects me if I have to step out; get in the car or go to the mailbox.

Sweet Bubbles.  I am not keen on her sitting on table tops, and she doesn't usually, she prefers her chairs, or my bed.

Thursday 10th July

Out early for the donuts.  I said on the Kiwanis bulletin this morning "we look forward to hearing our speakers this morning, who are going to share with us their recent visit to Glass Mountain, Oklahoma".

They went to all the trouble of setting up a power point presentation, and I was really looking forward to seeing some pictures of Oklahoma because I don't get out much, but there were only half a dozen, taken from the side of the road, it took 5 minutes - what a let-down.   And Glass Mountain is 300 feet high,  I'm hissing at Fr Clarke "that's NOT a mountain, the South Downs are higher than that".

However, it is just a couple of hours from here so I think I might take a day trip.

While in the Senior Centre I took these which were on Kate's door.

You probably haven't seen anything like this but sagging pants are worn all over Shawnee.    My thought was "what are the guards doing while all this sex is going on".

Isn't this a WONDERFUL picture.

 



 Still on the subject of the Senior Centre I can't remember if I mentioned that the raffle of the couple of small afghans I made raised a bit over $300.   Every little helps, because the Senior Centre has had its funding cut in these hard economic times.

 

A picture I forgot to post yesterday.  Chaplain Bill brought me a little present back from Canada, a Canadian and an English breakfast tea.  Wasn't that kind.

 

 

 



Wednesday 9th July

Well I went to the Volunteers "Banquet" last night and I take back what I said about the food not being that bad.   It was that bad.   I'm glad I didn't take anyone else.

 

I've cracked the difference between "dinner" and "banquet".   We have 'dinner' at Emmanuel when there is a celebration, and the food is wonderful, better than anything in a local restaurant, with a glass of red or white wine; silver cutlery and linen tablecloths and napkins BUT we have to line up and help ourselves, so that is 'dinner'.

 

At a 'banquet' however, the food can be awful and it was.  Fried chicken  I couldn't eat with the plastic cutlery, mashed potatoes with gravy - pause here for my loved ones, who know my revulsion to gravy, to smile - and nasty tinned green beans.   With a glass of water, or cold tea, in a Styrofoam cup.   But as we were sitting at a table and waited upon, it was a 'banquet'.

 

There was, in addition to speeches and awards for the number of volunteer hours, a musical entertainment.   It wasn't my taste, but the family doing it came from Montana for the big Rodeo here in town at the momrnt, and stayed on to do it.

 

This is the father and 4 year old daughter, I've no idea what she was singing, she seemed to just be making it up.

And the son and teenage daughter.    The mother sang as well.

 

This is Bill, thanking his chaplains.

 

And when we left we were given a present, like they do at chidrens' parties.

 

In the news............

We all know, don't we, how litigious Americans are, and this guy who fell asleep at a baseball game is suing the photographer, and every television company which broadcast the picture, for $10million for the emotional trauma he suffered at being laughed at.   He doesn't look that bad, just tired, I would look a lot more stupid than that because my mouth would be open, and I would be drooling.   In fact, I briefly contemplated taking a couple of sleeping tablets and going to a game.  I don't mind the nation seeing me look stupid for $10million.

 

The last serious news I heard was that Israel was bombarding Hammas in Gaza.   It occurred to me that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better.   The Israelis, under pressure from Palestinian leadership some time ago, withdrew to the borders of Gaza and Hammas took over, and by all accounts Gaza descended into hell.   Hopefully, if Hammas are defeated, wiped out, and they should be because the IDF are the most efficient army in the world, life will hopefully get better for the Palestinians who live there.

Monday 7th July

I have aged 10 years in the past week.  Granted, I had little lines round my eyes, like most people my age, unless they're Dolly Parton, but now I have got little wrinkles in my cheeks, like really old people..

 

Went to the doctor this morning, I asked Elizabeth to come with me so she could hear first hand what the doctor had to say, and relay it to the concerned members of the church.   The doctor advised an x-ray of the hand and mangled fingers, but I declined, because whatever the x-ray showed I wasn't going to do anything about it.   I changed the bandages myself this morning, I thought it was time I did so.  It's a bit tricky but I managed.

 

I put in an appearance at the hospital as Chaplain Bill has just come back from holiday, and I can't have anyone in Shawnee unaware of my trauma.   It's the Hospital Volunteers Banquet tomorrow night which I shall attend.  I think most of the scabs have dropped off my face, but there might be enough there to elicit a little more sympathy.    We can take a guest and I asked Louise last week if she'd like to come, but she refused so forcefully one would have thought I was inviting her for a root canal filling.   I know it's not that wonderful a deal - even though it is called a 'banquet' - it is catered, cafeteria type food, but it is not that bad.   I'd ask Phyllis - she would certainly embrace it with her Cockney humour - but she is still not getting around very well on her broken leg.  Pattisue will probably have had an invitation anyway.  And after Louise's forceful rejection I don't feel like asking anyone else.  

little update

I am not a pretty sight.

I didn't sleep too well, woke about 7 and Dale came in and made me a cup of tea before leaving for TX with her daughter, to visit her other daughter.   She'll be back on Sunday.

Word has got out round the church and I've been blessed today with well wishers.   Beth, the Youth Minister called with Elizabeth, a nurse, who changed my bandages.   She couldn't undo them, they had to be soaked off, and it took ages.   The fingers are going to take a long time to heal, they should have been stitched up, but can't be stitched after 24 hours, too much bacteria has got into the wounds.   Although Dale had left me with gauze and antiseptic Beth went out and brought in more supplies.

Afterwards Rosalyn and Bruce came bringing meals and food, and stayed for a while, I was very pleased to see them.   Rosalyn got down to the hard job, on my hot porch, of scrubbing the blood stains.  I wished now I'd let Dale hose them down before they dried, but I wasn't sure my hose would reach from the tap at the back.   Anyway, it looked a lot better when Rosalyn had finished, at least no one is coming to the front door wondering who has been massacred.

Finally I had a visit from Deacon John, who is standing in for Fr Bill while he is on holiday.   We sat and talked for a while, and he insisted I let him know if I needed anything, but I am stocked up and Elizabeth will be back tomorrow to change the bandages.

Until all this happened on Thursday afternoon I had been having a good day, and was thinking of writing my blog about my good day.  

I got back from Kiwanis to find Mark dealing with a toilet that wasn't flushing properly, which Mary had told him about.   I was telling him  I wanted to re-arrange my furniture and asked if he would take away the big desk in the computer room, so I could make it cosier, more of a sitting room, and I would get a small desk for the living area.   He said he would do that and bring Timothy to move the computer, and all the attendant wiring.

I went to Staples and found a little desk  I liked, and already assembled.   It seemed a good price but I went home and ran it through my currency converter (I know a normal person would have a smart phone with an APP on) and at £40 decided it was a good price.   Only fly in the ointment was that they would not deliver it, I'd have to get someone with a pick-up truck to collect it.  At home that might be a problem, but in this country every second person in the population has a pick up truck.

I got home and rang my friend Darryl in the church.  I was emphasising how lucky I was it was already assembled, that was the good news.    The bad news was that I need someone with a pick-up truck to get it for me.    Bless his heart, he contacted another person to help him, and they brought it in  a couple of hours.  

To continue the 'good' day part of this narrative, I had in the post that afternoon a parcel with a card and pressies from Jeremy, including the latest book by Bill Bryson.   I was feeling so happy, and it was jusr shortly after that I went out on the porch carrying a chair, and it all went downhill from there.   But the way everyone has reached out to me with help and kindness has been truly overwhelming, and I am very grateful.

Thursday 3rd

Have had nasty accident.  Was carrying a chair out to the porch, it caught on a ridge  I usually step over, and I fell very heavily on my face.  The chair folded & caught my fingers.  Blood was pouring profusely from my face, and fingers and my teeth are out of alignment.

  My nice neighbour Dale across the road was watering her flowers and heard me, and rushed over.   I eventually managed to get up, and she fetched wash cloths.  Rang her daughter Susie, who is a nurse, who bandaged the shredded fingers, and filled a plastic bag with ice for my face.  They suggested, of course, taking me to the ER, but it was out of the question.  By the time a doctor looked at me, took some x-rays, showed them to a radiologist for a report, sewed the fingers up, we are looking at, at least $5000.  Not to mention the hours I'd be there, and I didn't want anyone waiting with me.  It's unfortunate this is the biggest holiday weekend of the year, but I'll go to my doctor on Monday.

Dale has been back and forth during the evening until she went to bed.    They are going to Texas in the morning but she said she'll see me before she goes.   Because it is a holiday I don't want to call on anyone if I can help it, but might ask Phyllis on Saturday to change the bandages.   She'll tell me off for not calling her earlier, but she doesn't live in Shawnee, and it's the eve of a holiday, as I say.

I was lying down since it happened, but just got up to type this, and am actually not feeling too bad at the moment. More worried about my teeth than anything, everything else will heal.

Bubbles is very worried at all the blood on the porch, she doesn't know where to step.  Dale wanted to clean it up, but I felt she was doing more than enough for me, I wouldn't let her.

Will be back tomorrow with a little update.

Wednesday 2nd July

Haven't felt too bright lately but think I am on the mend.   Mary rang yesterday and suggested lunch today which was nice.   We were going to a dainty tea room with pretty bone china, a place Mark won't have anything to do with, but unfortunately they were closed for their vacation.   So we went to the Cracker Barrel and Old Country Store.   The restaurant serves quite good "wholesome" food, and there is - as the name suggests - an old country store attached, with souvenirs and things for people travelling on the adjoining interstate, and have just pulled off.

Afterwards we went back to my house for some ice cream and chat.   It was good to catch up with each other.

A big news story here has been a major law suit, and controversy involving Supreme Court rulings everyone was waiting for with bated breath (except me).

It is a bit complicated to explain, but my understanding is that  companies here provide health care for their employees, and for some reason - which totally escapes me - this health care also includes contraception.   And a family owned, major business corporation, with religious scruples, objected to providing contraception for its employees.  Specifically, the "morning after" pill, because that is abortion, don't you know,  (honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up)  hence the legal actions, the Supreme Court judgements, the demonstrations, all the coverage on prime time news, Republicans (I think it is the Republicans, but it might be Democrats, I can't keep up) railing about the 'War on Women' (they have never heard of the Taliban).

 I wondered why the employees can't pay for their own contraception, because by definition they are employed, they are working (and at twice the minimum wage)   But no one enlightened me.

I told Fr Clark I was thinking of writing a Bill Bryson type book on all the things in the United States that confuse me, and this will be chapter one.   He said he will be in the queue for a signed copy.

The other news item - which has held my attention - has been the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers by the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas.   In the ensuing violence a young Hamas teenager was killed, and his mother said that she has six more sons who will fight, and she hopes they will teach their children to fight as well.

Golda Meir, the first Prime Minister of Israel, said many years ago that there will never be peace in the Middle East until Arabs love their children more than they hate them.