Nature Songs ~~~~
JULY continues ~ ~
July 13,2000 - Stretch, yawn, tickle, grin, come on Charlie, get the boys up and going. DynoKid is not exactly dynamite early in the morning. It takes him a while to get the kinks out and muscles stretched. Then he turns into DynoKid. In order to make it to Quest nearly on time this morning, both boys munched on bagels and peanut butter in the truck as we drove down into the valley. They had to have something to eat because I had signed up for another class way before I knew I would have them on this day. This was a long morning at Quest.
The boys spent their two hours in Day Care while I exercised and got a good workout in the gym this morning. We took along the infamous Harry Potter books for them to read while I took part in the Body Mechanics and Pain Management Class which my friend taught. DynoKid chose not to take his book in to read and played with my pencil and two rubber bands we used in our class. My pencil lead was broken in the process and I had to send him to get me another one so I could fill out the questionnaire at the end of class. NascarKid got engrossed in the newest book now on the bookshelves. He has made his way nearly halfway through as of today. He had the book on hold before it was put on sale. While here at the house he has chosen to use the computer more and today got him back in touch with the world of Harry Potter.
We took our lunch over and ate with Mother, which was a good thing. Somebody had goofed and the lunch trays were left on the end of the hall undelivered to the individual rooms. Mother had completely eaten the country ham biscuit before her tray was brought to her. She still ate quite a bit of her regular lunch which surprised us all.
Talk about feeling subdued! Here I am with a brand new (rebuilt) computer. The Kid has had little time working on it. He sits down and performs things that I have no earthly idea of how to comprehend. For example, BingoKid downloaded a cartoon that did not exactly meet the moral code of NascarKid. The delete would not delete it. NascarKid knew where to go to get it off the computer. He has set limits on the computer that will not allow X-rated stuff on it and has vowed not to tell anyone the password for changing the settings. I hope his morality does not change in the future.
July 14,2000 - Hey! Whoa! Slow down there a bit. That Mad Hatter of nature has made this week fly by much too fast for my taste. I need time to smell the roses and savor some favorite moments with my grandchildren. A week comes and goes and hardly any of the things I would like to accomplish have been on an agenda for any of the days that flew pass. Tomorrow the parents come home from their rambling around Nevada and the Grand Canyon areas with much to share with all. I told them that they could bring me back a millionaire that knew better than to gamble his life away. They offered that perhaps they may find something for me, but it may not be what I ordered ... Oh, well, I have no fear of them doing such a thing anyway, or I would never have said it!
The Explorer is still not back and recovered from it’s ailments. A call Wednesday, and a new governor had come in for the transmission, but he hadn’t taken time to install it yet. I didn’t even both to call yesterday. Maybe he will call me this afternoon. A month is a little long to have to be without a vehicle, especially such as this past week. I could have used it with the grandsons, and Ms. Jay would not have had to drive everyday this week to workout.
My tax lady has not called as of this morning either. She said she would try to get it done for me by the end of the week. Perhaps she will call this afternoon and I can finally get my tax in the mail and not have to worry about being overdue with filing. I’m not doing too well at keeping my things together when the mail comes in. That means I need to be practicing a little better so as not to lose important papers and letters that come in the mail. With all the junk stuff, it’s easy to get it mixed in and lost with the clutter. It’s not that I am being negligent as much as my routine has been changed on me and I’m not getting into a new routine well. Not to mention that my file cabinet has been moved twice in about as many years. It is not in a regular path pattern through the house as of now and is yet to be moved once more when the new computer/craft room is done.
Evening comes. No phone calls made about taxes or car. We call about the car and it will be ready on Monday - I HOPE? Leaving home early to go to exercise, it was nearly eight hours before returning. We detoured by the bank, Wally World for dog food, Hickory to wish my brother a belated Happy Birthday, and by to visit with Mother. The boys got to play Bingo with the group at the Nursing Center today and NascarKid won three games which tickled him a lot as well as my Mother. The boys and I also dined in at Arby’s for lunch today. That was a treat for the boys since I usually use drive-through services at eating establishments. Arby’s was the one place I knew that both boys would eat something from the menu and be happy.
July 15,2000 - There’s hope at the end of the tunnel. A wee tinge of a hint of color indicating - something! It’s Saturday. No need to be out of the house at an early hour. No need to have to plan to do this or that. Then why did someone not spread the word! Here we are ready to rest and take it easy. The phone rings at 7:15 a.m. It is Tbird and Hubby. They are in their car in Charlotte, heading home to rest before coming over to collect their family to take them all home - which will be mid-afternoon. Of course, both the boys decided that this is the day to get up E-A-R-L-Y! Much earlier than any other day of the week. What’s that old saying? “No rest for the wicked; the saints don’t need it.”
NascarKid has made himself a new web site and got a little carried away, perhaps. He does not want to stop working on it. But I’ve promised his brother that today he will help work on a new page for DynoKid while instructing him on how to do it for himself. Here and there I have to answer a question or two and offer a solution to a problem. NascarKid has by far done most all the work for himself; some of the stuff I have no knowledge of doing just yet and I have never used the page wizard which he is using. If it is something I can’t figure out, then it is something I don’t use because I don’t understand the process.
NOTE: Me thinks that DynoKid didn't get much work done with his brother's help on his new page.
Boy, did it storm last night! The lightening streaks would lighten up the whole night sky while the thunder rumbled and rolled across the heavens. Thunder echoed over and over lasting for minutes at a time. Somebody somewhere got the brunt of the fury, but we only had the fireworks effect. The winds and rains missed us. A good gentle rain would be nice to have, but the downpour of the storms doesn’t stay around long enough to do much good. This night, I laid waiting for a rain which never came to our area. Today the grass in my yard is still brown since it is operating in the “safe” mode.
July 16,2000 - For some strange reason, I remember that today would have been my parents’ 68th wedding anniversary were my Father still alive. I wonder if Mother has any memory of today? She confuses many of her days now since there is no distinct point of center for most of her activity. She plays Bingo twice a week, gets a bath twice a week and watches her ball games and that is it. All the rest of her time is up to grabs for confusion and distortion of years of other times vying with her thoughts of today. I know that some day I may be there.
I sent the boys home with all their clothes washed and folded as any other Grandmother would do. We forgot to pack the toothbrushes, but they can pick them up today when they return. I’ll wear my new tee-shirt displaying some of the brightly lit places of Casinos today. The closest to gold that my daughter brought back for me was the golden threads used to embroidery 2000 across the front of the shirt. I’m very happy with their choice and will wear it a lot going to Quest as often as I go.
Since my aunt has gone to New Orleans, La., to visit with her son, I skipped Church once again. I’ll go over and watch the service on television with Mother later this morning. I must get up the nerve to begin going places by myself it seems. I can go and do a lot more than I do now if only I’ll get in the habit of going alone - just me, myself and I. My balance is better than it was. If I should fall; well, I’ll just fall. It will not be the first time.
I have to report to myself that my back has shown an improvement since the last shots. It has been a week and I can still tell a difference. No, all is not well. Ah, if only some miracle could perform it’s magic on all. This last block has eased up pain in the back area and I can stand a little longer without the discomfort I had earlier. I do have more distinct pain in the right hip area and there is much more pain in the right knee. This is pain I thought I had said good-bye to for keeps. Seems my knee was not willing to part with all of the pain of the past. Perhaps I have torn a muscle or something. I probably will never know. I shall not spend all my time musing over the fact.
July 17,2000 - I made it over to visit with Mother yesterday and also spent some time with my brother and his wife. Some poor lady - actually, two - had a stroke of bad luck. They had a fender-bender between them when one tried to back out of her parking space as another tried to drive by - going the wrong way. Our one and only county highway patrolman for the afternoon had to come take care of the details. The one lady standing beside an older car, reminded me of a prim and proper Victorian lady of years pass. She must have been over to visit with her husband.
Master Staff Sergeant Charlie Dog certainly knows how to demand and receive attention. If only he could tell time and choose a more earthly hour for attention. Two a.m., and there he is playing The Bowl-Bottom Blues on the bottom of his empty water bowl. I forgot that BusyKid had tripped over the dogs’ water bowl and spilled the water out earlier in the evening. So, there he is digging in the bowl as hard and as fast as he can, letting me know that the water is all gone. I have to trudge into the kitchen and fill the bowl before he will calm down. Then, he jumps in bed frisking around wanting to play, he is so happy to have water! That dog is determined that I shall not have a dull lifestyle as long as he is around.
Exercise as usual this morning, except Ms. Jay didn’t get to go. She had to baby sit for her grandchildren. I noted that the car tag on my windshield expired last month, so as soon as the water group finished up, I headed to Quick Lube to have my inspection sticker changed. I had the oil changed while there as well. When I finally got home things had a much different look.
All the bushes, trees and shrubs had been trimmed. The yard was covered with all the loose limbs waiting to be gathered up. Allan had really been busy while I was gone and got a lot done around the yard. BingoKid showed up in time to help load up the limbs to carry off to the field. Then he joined Tbird and her crew along with me for a quick late lunch at Western Steer while Allan remained at home doing more yard work.
July 18,2000 - Another day gone by and still no Explorer sitting outside my house where it should be sitting; there on the carport. A whole month has now passed and it has not been fixed and returned to me. I’m already asking around about a reliable person to work on my car when one of our friends is not able to do whatever it is that needs to be done. Maybe I depend on friends too much at times, but over the years I have learned to be cautious of many places that profess to work on cars for various reasons. I had an excellent worker for years until he decided to sell his home and business and move to the beach to work on golf carts and such ... Who knows, maybe the person I have is as good as any other would be. He does good work. He does not charge an arm and a leg. He fixes only what has to be fixed. Perhaps waiting for him is worth the wait. One of the hold ups this time has been taking time to test the transmission to see if it would work without having to install a new piece in it.
What should have been such a simple act of kindness and helpfulness on the part of my son is turning into one of those “You’d Never Believe It episodes of life. He called to ask me if I still wanted new locks and door handles for my exterior doors. I had mentioned to him how much easier it is to use the ones that have handles instead of knobs when carrying things in and out of the house. He saw some at a good price at the building supply place and thought of my talking about them. I had also told him my front door fixture was not staying as tight as it should.
Strange world we live in. Who would think that all locks that are keyed the same would be for doors that open the same direction? Or, am I the one different? My doors do not open the same direction. One opens to the left and one opens to the right on the doors I plan to change. The man that keys in the locks to change them was not able to do it yesterday. Allan dropped them off before noon to get them fixed for me. He went back at five to find that they still were not ready. He walked around the store browsing until they were fixed and new keys made for one set to match the other set.
Locks in hand, he comes by the house to install them for me. The lock will not fit the front door and he has to drag out his drill to make the hole a little larger. When he starts to install the handle, he finds that a part is missing. Out comes that lock set; in goes the old set. Back to the store will go the new set with a part missing where the worker got in too big a hurry changing the tumblers. Maybe tomorrow? We could have borrowed the neighbor’s set for changing tumblers, but I hated to bother them.
I saw a June Bug larger than a quarter outside Quest yesterday. I don’t recall ever seeing one so large. Seven large crows have been hanging around the yard and neighborhood. Another one has to be somewhere close by acting as lookout up in a treetop. Crickets are already coming into the house and it is only July. A deer was hit and killed on our road, here in the city limits. There are reports of more grasshoppers than usual which are doing damage to what greenery may be around. Seems that not only have blooms and such been in abundance this year. And yet, we are in dire need of more rain for our area.
July 19,2000 - It’s nice to have family with you doing things at the same time. Wes and his family are official members of Q4L now. Master BingoKid spent night before last with me and we met his Mother at Quest where she exercised in the water with me while he worked out on the heavy “guy” stuff that he so enjoys doing. This is the same equipment that many of the women look forward to working out on as well. This gives him a punching bag that he can also practice some of his karate moves as well. I’ll have to ask him if he has tried the Medicine/ exercise balls yet. Today he came with his Mother and came home with me afterwards.
The two of us dropped by Wally World for a little shopping together. I had some red material to buy for my charm squares this month. Can’t believe that another Quilter’s Guild Meeting is Monday! We got another supply of candy for Mother’s stash as well as a new wreath for her door to her room. I surprised BingoKid by allowing him to choose two packs of Pokemon cards at the checkout counter before we headed on our way to pick up something for lunch. We decided on Japanese today. He had shrimp and rice with no carrots. I had Habachi chicken with carrots. It’s nice to have a grandson that likes some of the same foods as grownups and that doesn’t have to live on fries and such. After eating lunch with Mother and changing her door decor we headed home for a leisure afternoon at home. He headed to the computer, while I headed to bed to rest a spell.
Strangely enough, last night I could not find a comfortable position to rest in bed. I ended up lying on my stomach. This is something I have not been able to do for years upon years. I used to always sleep on my stomach, but after messing up my back I had to change to one side or the other all through the night. Maybe something is getting better in my back. I’m almost afraid to say that it is doing better. Every time I step out of character and declare a win over a problem something else will pop out its ugly head to fill the space.
Well, I’m off to give Goofus a call and see if by any stretch of imagination my car may just happen to be ready....
That didn't take long. The car is not ready. He thought it was fixed yesterday, but last night the check engine light came on again. The computer points at several options, but does not locate the exact area causing the light to come on. He promised he would try to get it done this week. He is about to get back on schedule since his week off for the Fourth of July. Hey, something is wrong with that excuse. We left the vehicle with him several weeks before his vacation. How did it get pushed to a back burner?
Oh, well, now I'm off to fix some chicken for Wes for supper. He is on his way here with the complete sets for the doors now. Hope I remember how to cook!
July 20,2000 - Lazy Thursday? Not hardly. BingoKid spent the night with me again and we met his Mom at Quest this morning so he could do his workout while we did our water routine. He chose to leave with me while his Mom took on a stretch and tone class. He wanted to eat at the walking park, so we drove by Burger King to pick up some sandwiches for lunch outdoors. There was a problem with the waitress understanding the order. We ended up with everything different from what we wanted. My Junior turned out to be a Whopper and my drink was not diet as requested. His two cheeseburgers, with catsup only, turned into two cheeseburger kids’ meal with the burgers all the way and his drink with no ice had ice!
We left the park and drove back to the restaurant where I went in and got the cheeseburgers exchanged for two that BingoKid would eat. He agreed to keep the drink and I threw out part of my Whopper. It was so hot we came on home instead of returning to the park.
I got all but two of the keys dealt out to those that need them for the new locks that are now in place on my outside doors. Wes will be back this weekend to install one of the dead-bolts and then all will be grand. I have two for myself now instead of one. There is one for Lady which I presented to her this afternoon when she came to once again spin her magic unraveling messes left by me or one of my Grandkids, or ... One is yet to go to my neighbor to I will not have to call reinforcements when I get locked out the next time. I’m sure there will be a next time or maybe even more. I like my new shiny door handles. I like having locks that have to be unlocked before the door is opened. Too many people have gone out my doors in the past and were unable to come back in without the aid of someone to unlock the door. That will not happen now unless it is meant for them to stay on the other side of the door.
No word from the mechanic today. Wonder how he goes about prioritizing?
July 21,2000 - Progress. It comes. It causes upheavals and delays among other things. Work on widening out and making a new portion of the Connelly Springs Road continues. For the first time ever, we can see what is coming around the curve before pulling onto that stretch of road. The granite hillside is now gone. Drilling and preparing to blast the other side of the roadway has been done, but no blasting as of yet. This week has involved digging up our road there at the intersection first and then digging across the main road, itself. Pipes had to be replaced. Water was off for a spell. Now that work is done and all is patched so people can continue on their way as before. However, more is coming before the work will be complete.
According to today’s paper, announcement has been made about the amount of travel on our highway between Lenoir and Hickory. It has been deemed next to the busiest road in the area. It is surpassed only by Interstate 40. At times there are more than 40,000 cars that travel its length causing wrecks and delays. The answer to the problem? Progress; widening to six lanes, or making fewer entrances to it by making an access road to the many businesses along its present four lanes. Even with all the traffic along our corridor, I’ve noticed fewer out of state cars this year. Guess with all the extra cost for gasoline, there are fewer people out gallivanting about taking in the sights of the mountains.
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©2000 by Stormy Jeanne
