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.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
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.
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, November 7, 2013
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.
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.
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.
Monday, November 4, 2013
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.
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, November 3, 2013
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.
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.
Then it gets wet.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
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
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.
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
Friday, November 1, 2013
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.
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.
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.
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