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.
Monday, November 4, 2013
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.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Wednesday 30th October
We have had thunderstorms and very heavy rain on and off all day, so I haven't been water walking as the pool is closed in thunderstorms.
It looks like it might get better though for the next couple of days.
It starts off tomorrow at 65, drops to 58 at noon - when it is usually warming up - then up again to 66 at the end of the day.
I've been busy making little chocolate cupcakes today for the Wednesday meal. And I took some snack size candy bars. There are a lot more people now come for the meal, someone else brought four bags of grapes as well, and they all went.
I frosted them, then dipped them in milk and plain chopped up chocolate.
After supper everyone was going to carve, or paint, pumpkins. They are very into Halloween here, everyone has been saying "Happy Halloween" for days. After tomorrow all the Christmas things will come into the stores.
I didn't stay to paint, or carve, pumpkins. Took this picture though of them all waiting to be done.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tuesday 29th
Out and about fairly early this morning, dropping the flowers off at the hospital. Since my shoulder problems I am finding everything heavy to hold, even the church hymnal, and the vase of flowers for the chapel. Fortunately there is a golf buggy riding round the hospital car park, picking up those who can't walk far, or have heavy loads, like vases.
I decided afterwards to treat myself at IHOP - the International House of Pancakes - and had some blueberry pancakes.
I found a book in the dollar store the other day and have been avidly reading it today. About a young Cuban lad who - with1400 other Cuban children - was airlifted out of Cuba in 1962 when he was 12, under a plan which for a time was kept secret from the Cuban government as well as the American public. It amazed me that even Fr Clark - who thinks that Castro is the cats meow, and is very well up in anything to do with Cuba - didn't even know anything about it.
Some of the parents who sent their children away were underground fighters seeking to topple Castro's government, which took power in January 1959. Others feared that Castro, who had closed all Catholic schools and confiscated church property, planned to indoctrinate children in special schools. And other parents simply thought that having children living in the United States would guarantee them a quick visa later.
Known as Operation Pedro Pan, it is the largest child rescue ever recorded in the Western hemisphere. The family separations were meant to last only a few months--whenever the parents obtained visas to travel to the United States or Castro was ousted - as many Cubans at the time expected. But the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 abruptly ended flights to and from the island, leaving the children stranded on the other side of the Straits of Florida.
The author settled very happily with foster parents and he loved the US. His brother was also in a good home three miles away. The foster parents expected that they would just have the children for a few months, but then came the Cuban Missile Crisis and all flights to and from Cuba ceased. Even today people are only just being allowed to visit on special visas.
The author and his brother were removed immediately from the foster parents and sent to a very, very rough orphanage run by a Cuban. And that is where I am at in the book.
I decided afterwards to treat myself at IHOP - the International House of Pancakes - and had some blueberry pancakes.
I found a book in the dollar store the other day and have been avidly reading it today. About a young Cuban lad who - with1400 other Cuban children - was airlifted out of Cuba in 1962 when he was 12, under a plan which for a time was kept secret from the Cuban government as well as the American public. It amazed me that even Fr Clark - who thinks that Castro is the cats meow, and is very well up in anything to do with Cuba - didn't even know anything about it.
Some of the parents who sent their children away were underground fighters seeking to topple Castro's government, which took power in January 1959. Others feared that Castro, who had closed all Catholic schools and confiscated church property, planned to indoctrinate children in special schools. And other parents simply thought that having children living in the United States would guarantee them a quick visa later.
Known as Operation Pedro Pan, it is the largest child rescue ever recorded in the Western hemisphere. The family separations were meant to last only a few months--whenever the parents obtained visas to travel to the United States or Castro was ousted - as many Cubans at the time expected. But the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 abruptly ended flights to and from the island, leaving the children stranded on the other side of the Straits of Florida.
The author settled very happily with foster parents and he loved the US. His brother was also in a good home three miles away. The foster parents expected that they would just have the children for a few months, but then came the Cuban Missile Crisis and all flights to and from Cuba ceased. Even today people are only just being allowed to visit on special visas.
The author and his brother were removed immediately from the foster parents and sent to a very, very rough orphanage run by a Cuban. And that is where I am at in the book.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday 28th October
We haven't had the thunderstorm I was expecting, I don't know if it has passed over. I've seen the waves crashing over the Marina at Brighton.
I was just running round town this morning and I went water walking. Pattisue rang and suggested lunch at the Bricktown Brewery. There is a big fund raising drive going on in the town in aid of the new municipal pool, which it is hoped will open next summer, and if one presented a voucher at this restaurant today - and she had two - they would donate 7% of the cost of the meal for the pool.
There is a film she is anxious to see, it has been released but is not showing in Shawnee. Perhaps it won't, I said I would see it with her but I am not that keen. It is about a man - an African American - who was a slave for fifteen years. I don't get it. Before the Civil War African Americans were slaves for a lot longer than fifteen years. As it is not showing I can't look up a review, and I've forgotten the title. Pattisue has read the book.
Just spent the rest of the day watching tv and crocheting.
I was just running round town this morning and I went water walking. Pattisue rang and suggested lunch at the Bricktown Brewery. There is a big fund raising drive going on in the town in aid of the new municipal pool, which it is hoped will open next summer, and if one presented a voucher at this restaurant today - and she had two - they would donate 7% of the cost of the meal for the pool.
There is a film she is anxious to see, it has been released but is not showing in Shawnee. Perhaps it won't, I said I would see it with her but I am not that keen. It is about a man - an African American - who was a slave for fifteen years. I don't get it. Before the Civil War African Americans were slaves for a lot longer than fifteen years. As it is not showing I can't look up a review, and I've forgotten the title. Pattisue has read the book.
Just spent the rest of the day watching tv and crocheting.
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