Saturday 30th

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

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

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

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

27th November

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday morning

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

 

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

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

Monday 25th November

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

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

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

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

Just so you know.

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

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

Sunday 24th November

The weather has been really wintry.

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

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

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

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

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

 



Friday morning

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

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

The choir who performed are behind them.

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

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

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

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

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

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


Well, I had better get on with my packing.

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

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

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

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

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