Uncontrolable

This class that I have is difficult.  I don't want to face them any more.

A long weekend

Glad to have the time off. I loved sleeping in to 9.  I've been up by 6 and at school by 7 to get grades done, work on lesson plans learn this new computer and software. Kids show at 8:30.  Yessenia is fighting for her power and makes every class a disaster.

Parent conferences

They take up a lot of time.  Is the kid supported to be there? I need to be meaner/stricter with my class.  I come home exhausted.
Now they want lesson plans and objectives just so.  I'm doing well to have any lesson plans.  I'm still having kids change seats, throw airplanes, spitballs, talk, put me through hell.  Today I started giving detention.  Long overdue.

Trying to keep up

I need to grade papers and record them, do lesson plans and give them a week ahead to the admin. Tomorrow, there are scantron tests.
Today I got a computer.  It hooks up to the Promithius board.  Grades and conferences are this week too.
I'm so ready to go at 3 I almost fall asleep grading papers or driving home. A pill and nap is a must upon hitting the door.  I worked all weekend too.
I gave a test in history.  No one could do it.  They are used to open book tests.  I gave it again open book and they still complain they can't find the answer.
During class they don't pay attention.  I'm not too old to expect that. When did every kid have to have a pass to pee?
I also have a class of marginal English students who all require a special plan. A whole lot of work.

Domingo

Saturday, relaxation, finally!

Amazingly I made it through the first week! Congratulations to me!  I deserve it for service above and beyond...I hope they may have gotten straightened out a bit.  They are still acting out so they try to see how much they can get away with.  The student v teacher war continues.  After 6 others I can see how they are trying to take advantage if they can. Making spit balls, throwing airplanes, making gestures behind my back.  It sounds like animal house.  It can be but they can also do well.  They just need a routine.

I slept in a bit this morning, had my cup of tea leisurely along with my oatmeal with raspberries and blueberries.  I've got to keep those antioxidants coming in.  Believe it or not my favorite raspberries have more antioxidants in them.  I always thought it was blueberries. I'm taking a med. That makes my mouth so dry it's hard to swallow.

I thought I'd make some beef stew.  The enchiladas I made held me for last week.  I'm going to hit the .99 store too.  They have produce and a lot of items the other one doesn't.  Lacy can get her treats! Then we can hit the falafel drive inn for dinner.  I went to the dollar store before Halloween.  There were some great costumes.  I just wore my orange jump suit, not like prison, but a pinafore/jumpsuit with crossing straps, and a white shell underneath and a long sleeve shirt in a plaid to match.  It looked good in the Coldwater Creek catalog but less in real life.  That's a lot of orange.

I need to make up a history test for Mon. then a study guide for the next chapter.  Then the only other thing is to grade the vocabulary texts for ELA, my lowest class. Stephanie, who speaks no English got an 80.  I make up a completely different lesson plan for her.

It will be nice to focus on other things.

We went to the Fafallel Drive Inn.  I love that place. I get a fafallel salad and two extra pitas.  That makes 3 pita sandwiches if I add some of my lettuce, tomatoe. and cucumber.  It is so fresh and delicious.
Afterwards, we went to the .99 store.  They were low on stock, when I was here last, they had onion and bannanas.  Today though they had snap peas, shallots, cooking oil spray, but oil. Fun! No ominous though.

TGIF Dia de Los muertos, All souls day

I feel like I gave at school.  One week done! There was an abbreviated schedule today and an assembly. That helped. The kids seem to be trained in some things, walking in line to my surprise was one of them.  In the assembly too, they had good behavior.  In class I write 3 pages on one girls bad behavior, after two conferences this week, finally wrote a referral and now she goes to Sat. School.
I think in general, they may be getting better, it's questionable.  They still have their moments.

The sugar high was evident.  I confiscated a lot of candy.  The assembly was about a boat, cleaning up the campus.  The kids and each class gets points. The more points the winner gets prizes.

I greet each child individually as they enter mr room and have a comment for each of them.  That helps me connect with them.  For one small moment I can connect when they are not a part of a pact.
I need that.  They do too.  Once they get into the room the bullies and peer pressure try to bloom.

I finished grading their science  tests.  I am using an excel spreadsheet to record grades on. I need an overhead projector.  There is a white electronic board that hooks to my computer, but power point presentations are not what I want.  I fill the board with data 3 times a day.

Halloween!

The kids were so cute and excited and hard to control.  We agreed to postpone their tests and prep for Fri.  They were on a sugar high.  I had moments of silent working.  AgAin though big mouth Yessenia, even after 2 talks with her mom and assigning her detention today neither she or Julian went.
I have other teachers offering to take her in.  When she left class was better.  We had a brunch at school today.  I made a strata.  Most bought and brought stuff.

Today was without any pills.  I took some when I  got home.  I have these horrible back scasm's.  Today is dia de Los muertos.  I have to be tough enough to control these classes.

I wonder how these kins will do on their tests?  So far their quizzes are not good and I would think just by listing you would know the country studied is India not CA!

I slept through the alarm this morning.  I woke at 7:30 and flew out of here.

When the kids are gone I feel like I've survived the wars. They are stealing things from my desk.
Markers, pens and pencils go missing.

They were on a pre collection sugar high.

Strata

Made for the pot luck.  It smells good. I can't bring myself to believe it.  Teaching is so difficult.  I know that   Besides parenting it's up there.  My meds almost got me home before I fell asleep and I stopped at Office Depot to make a list of things I need.  Fortunately it's close.  But, falling asleep at a light? Yikes!!!  I need to work on my back.

It would be nice to get to know some teachers although their were several that have introduced themselves to me.  I worked with the counselor at Sylvandale, 12 yrs. ago.
The teacher I am filling in for has cancer.  I'll make a card.

Every day above the griound is a good one!

This 3rd day, I thought they were a bit better.  Then I was lulled over lunch and my planning period, then my 6th period hit. They are my lowest.  I also have a single student who knows no English, so she sets a seperate plan.  Getting them to settle is hard. I asked the principal to drop in but she's only come when things are o.k.

I notice that each takes a while to resettle after each paper. Yesterday I tried to send out one student that at least showed the class she pushed too hard and there are reprocussions. I signed up to bring something for our Halloween potluck tomorrow.  First it was carrot cake.  Then I noticed it was for brunch.  I'd rather have oatmeal, but I'll make strata.

I have a horrid  little boy and two teen girls who love to giggle and disrupt the whole class.  They can't leave till I release/excuse them.  Today I had to send a girl out of class.  She giggles and interrupts everyone.  Those two and maybe 6 others just try patience and icky.cheat  the others of time and help.
She is 12.
I've talked to her and her mom twice.  I'm worried about her. I was her. Then I was transferred and did better.

I just made a strata for the Halloween Pot Luck.  Should I allow a party in class?  Behavior sure doesn't warrant it.  Ironically, it may help, and the good kids suffer.
Class meeting time?
Secret cookie give away?

Electronics

Have them taken over the business of any

Day 2

Well I think today went a bit better.  I still have a lot to do to gat these 6th graders learn some respect and do what we are there for, to learn.  I went in a bit early, mailed off my settlement papers.  I left them on the table in the lounge.  Fortunately they were still there and I put them in the mail.

I made some copies with this machine, but it seems I fight  with it every day. I jam it often.  I have a lot of work to cover. In three days, they have had two quizzes and 2 tests. I finally found the 6th gr. ELAC book.  I had been using a 7th grade copy I found yesterday.  I still want to teach them something and stop having to focus on their behavior.  I know the troublemakers by name.

There was a meeting too after school. I unfortunately missed it.   I made up a test and copied it.
Driving home it was all I could do that before I jammed it too.  The machine hates me.  That' s how you say it in Spanish.  It jammed on me.
I kept nodding off, falling asleep at stop lights.  I did stop and return a shawl at UPS.

My back is bothering  me a lot.  I've been taking a of drugs.  It does spasm and I have to

 I know if I have to raise my voice I've lost control.  My blood pressure goes up too.  They are testing me.

George Middle

As first day's go, it wasn't bad.  As expected, there were a few subtle battles.  I am the 7th teacher they've had.  I can see why temper's may run hot.  It's tough anywhere/ time there are 25 of them and one you!.  I do have an aide first period, who is the same as after school.  She's firm, has rapport with the kids and is great.
By the time 6th period, ELD came, I was knackered.  Fortunately, I have a prep period before hand. They were a trial.  Not all understand English and their skills are low.  One girl only speaks Spanish.
I spoke to her a bit, but she was called out of class and I had to get them moving on a lesson.  I didn't have the book,so I borrowed one from a student.and, of all things, they are learning grammar, parts of speech.  Tomorrow, I may try a game with them.

I came in and fell asleep for an hr.  I stayed there till 4, got home by 5, there were some construction delalays so I took a back way also avoiding the freeway.  The rush hr. here goes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.  On weekends it was faster.  This morning I was up at 6, but wrote and peddled in the kitchen until 7:30.  Of course I got stuck in traffic, construction and the elementary school next door drop off.  I squeezed in @ 8:17 or so.  I found  two student sherpas to take my books to the classroom.  It would have been hard for me to carry them.  I came back at lunch to get my cooler and coffee maker from the car.  I could bring in a microwave too.

I copied my papers, but of all things, think I left them sitting in the staff room or my mail box!  I need to get a planning and roll book.  I still don't have a computer, email it picture ID.  They do that on Wed.

It's getting cold.  In the morning the temp's are enough to  wear a jacket.  By lunch it is warming.  Today the wind was cool but felt wonderful.  I was overheated copying and schlepping stuff.  I like having a free period after lunch.  I was working all the way through.  This way I got to eat my salad.

Sunday, a day of leisure...LOL, maybe, partially

I got up and went to the farmers market early.  Afterwards, I tried a shortcut and got lost going into school to drop things off. I met whe co principal, Reena, who have me her keys.  She was having a meeting with Barbara, her co administrator.  On the way to my classroom, I drove in, and by a young high school boy, who I asked if he would help me unload the car.  Fortunately he did.  I hung up some decorations, language charts, calendar, and organized a drawer, some papers and folders.  There is more to do and take in including a microwave and coffee pot, but it was good to get a little bit started.  Tomorrow it begins.  After 3 hrs I came home exhausted.
I collected my mail which my neighbor collected while we were gone last week. I can't believe they didn't bring it by.  I went over yesterday, but the family of 2 parents, 3 kids, an aunt and uncle lead busy lives.  There are at least 3 cars.  They have cousins over and two tiny dogs.
I unpacked, opened my packages and mail, took a muscle relaxer, a pain killer and collapsed.

That doesn't bode well for going back to work full time.  I foresee lots of afternoon naps.

With the help of drugs I felt much better in an hr and a half.  I got a massage this afternoon which helped a lot too.  Good hands, good conversation and dinner was a lovely agenda.

By the time dinner was done, kitchen cleaned, floors moped, bed changed and clothes washed I was in hurt again.
I just tool another pill or two. That should help me sleep well.  I scheduled a wake up call, my alarm clock no longer can be set.  I need to get another.

Alum Rock

I got a call from the Alum Rock school district letting me know my fingerprints came back and it turned into a full time teaching job starting Mon.  I am a bid uneasy about a few aspects, but we'll see how it goes.  I have things to decorate the classroom, organizers, materials, all the books and I'll be ready for Mon.
The kids had their real teacher one day.  She is out.  She has cancer.  Since then, a number of subs have come through.  They need continuity, firmness, to get on a schedule, to know what to expect and so do their parents.
The bad part is the existing sub. Doesn't know Fri. was his last day.  It's a rude way to find out.  The kids don't know.

Monday will be a lot like the first day of school.  These kids don't rotate, so I'll have them all day, from 8:30  -2:30 or so. 6 hrs with a prep.  Then all the kids go to an extended day program until 6.  The area is poor, largely Hispanic.  The Second Harvest Food truck delivers to the school for parents.  They are title one, all the kids get fed.  They get breakfast, a snack and lunch then another snack after school.

I spent the day gathering materials and going through books for Mon.
I did stop by the library to get some bookmarks for the kids, some books for me to test them and a bag of books for a classroom library.  I also checked out a book to read to them.

Then, I tried to finish my own book and made a pan of delicious chicken enchilladas.  I cooked the chicken last night.  Now I have stock for soup too.

I've got all these ideas on how I want things to go.  I hope the kids are receptive.  By now they have had so many changes, I'm sure they are a bit squirmy.

I've been trying to stock up so I have stuff or lunches and dinners too.
I want to get there early to decorate the classroom, make copies and settle in.

I just love this beautiful Indian Summer weather, the leaves are starting to turn and fall.  By mid Thanksgiving they will all have turned.

I got my settlement papers.  I need to go to trial on 11/5? Why?  I emailed my attny.

BRCA gene

Do I/we carry the breast cancer gene?  Maybe?  Could be, but I really don't want to be tested.  It's one thing to have surgery if you need to.  Quite another to cut your breasts off as a proactive measure like Angelina Jolie. Her choice, but my opinion was crazy!

If I was given any job in the world, what would I want to do?  I like travel. Could it be a tour guide,a travel writer?  I actually did some of this.  I write well.I also like to share places and adventures with people.  I like to cook, so taking classes and lessons of different cuisines might be possible like Joanne Weir.
Well, it used to be an airline stewardess in high school.  Then if I had the math skills, maybe a pilot.  It couldn't be anything medical, despite the math because I hate the sight of blood on others, maybe that can be trained away.  I certainly would take care of Lacy if she was injured.  As a medical librarian, I was interested in the research.  I was divorced enough from the cases that it was still a bit abstract.

"Hope is a thing with feathers-
That perches on the soul -
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops- at all-
                     Emily Dickinson

How many people have a hankering for something sweet, especially at night?
Salt water taffy can not come into my house any more!

Somehow when I make oatmeal raisin cookies they are not too tempting, but add some chocolate chips and the novelty draws me.  Cranberry quick bread is irrestible, pumpkin less so.  I wonder what apple will bring?

Carbs!  Why are they so good and comforting?
A good Halloween costume would be to go as a carb, dress in white and attach bread wrappers, cookies, rise, oatmeal, potatoes and all the rest!

Time for apples

I like crisp pipin and Fuji apples.  It's time for zucchini, apple, cranberry and pumpkin bread.
I went to the farmers market today and again realize how licky I am to live here where all this fresh produce is still available.  The blueberries, boysenberries are huge and so sweet!  I love them in my oatmeal.  Raspberries are such a treat.
Cherry and grape tomatoes are like candy.

I saw on CNN there are 10 new faces in technology I have never heard of.  I' sure there are many more.
I am taking a survey again on 11/11 on technology in teaching. They pay me $120., I give them an hr. Of my time.

When you hold on to your history, you do it at the expense of your destiny.

Well Austin, my tutee, was remanded to Juvinal  Hall. Too bad!  I was hoping he could turn his life around and learn to read.  I imagine he's locked up with some tough boys now and Ganga.  He was from St. Louis, Lilly white, definitely a minority in there.  Just coming to CA must of been a huge change for him.

Dancing with the Stars

I love this show.
"I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude." Henry David Thoroug

I rushed off to meet my student, Austin, to find out he was not in school today and did not show up for our tutoring.  I did get to see the h.s. Library though.  Since he has now missed 2 sessions, I have to wait to hear from the social worker to proceed,  our session for tomorrow is on hold.

His special ed and math teacher told me he was excited about learning to read.  It's great to be excited, but you have to show up.  I did.

Last night after this nice walk with Micaela, she recommended a new taco place.  I got carnitas @ Artujas's.  They were delicious.

Gas is up to $3.54.

I blanked out, slept in and didn't check my calendar today.  As a consequence, I missed a Dr. apt. today.  Fortunately, it is being rescheduled.

Beautiful day to walk!

This Oct. is so spectacular.  I went for a long walk with my friend Micaela.  Her dog Vinnie is always eager to go.  I just need to do that everyday and get my b.p. back down.

On the way home I stopped at a new place, Arujo's taqueria Micaela recommended, for a carnitas burrito for Jack and tacos for me.  Boy were they good.  It sure beat super taqueria! I won't go back there with so many other options near me.  It was so nice to see Jack again. He's called a lot, but I wanted to see him.
He said he thought I'd be sick of him after three days camping! We had a day off in between and  I wanted some time with all the "modcon's", modern conveniences we take for granted like hot water, lights, couches and being able to control the temp.

Life is the moment we're living right now

Happy birthday my brother.  It's a spectacular month here too celebrate.  The dat is gougeoud.  I cut up some kiwi, pineapple, strawberries and cantaloupe. While my oatmeal and tea heated I took the scraps out into the compost bin.

I need to pick the pieces of that shattered pot. It came up to my knee.

I got from the hospital.  I need to go back in following my mammogram for an ultra sound.  I hope lit's not just the cyst I know about that I know is benign.  Or maybe I hope it is?

Sensational camping trip to Big Sur!

October is the best month in CA.  The crowds have gone, the temps are cool in the morning and evenings, in the 60's but the days are consistently in the 70's.  We scheduled this trip at a favorite place, Kirk Creek, right on the ocean.  A small place, secluded and quiet.  This year, the government had a surprise for us and all federal parks shut down.  We arrived on Wed. The word was they were still closed but since their loans were to default, the settled?  We made alternative plans for the trip because we didn't want to be stuck.  It took us forever to get packed and get out of here.  I had to do an hr. of errands, then find all the things to take for creature comfort.

I made a quiche that was wonderful with spinach, mushrooms and ham, a T. of Dijon made it great.  I made breakfast burritos, with onion, potatoes, sausage, roasted salsa and cheese.  They were ok, but needed a better way to heat them up.  I didn't need the tortilla anyway.  We had strawberries, and tomatoes.  I also made Angel hair pasta with red pepper, crab, jack, and blue cheese with broccoli florets.  I made 2 batches I brought so much.  It's a good thing!  I had packed soap in one spice bottle, olive oil in another.  Since we arrived so late, we set up the tent in the dark , then the stove.  I wasn't paying attention until I tasted my mix.  I has poured in soap instead of oil into the pan!  After I threw that batch out, I started again, this time I got it right, but the first batch had more cheese, crab and broccoli.

We walked up to a waterfall, crossing the creek several times.  Unfortunately, I did it in my crocs.  Not the best plan for traction! We went very slow and Jack helped me up and down several places.  I was so unsure of my footing.  I brought tennis shoes which would have been better and was going to bring my boots which I needed more.  About a week or two ago, I took I flying fall after running into a shin high 25 lb. ceramic pot in my garden on the way to the compost bin at night.  I handed on my r knee. Both are still showing the effect today. I could go down on the r but not the l or the other way around.  Anyway, Jack was very solicitous, and took good care of me. I had an hour work out; my clothes were wet and my hair was soaked. More fun than going to the gym though..

Big Sur is so spectacular!  I'm glad we went.  We had another date scheduled in the September, but blew it off.  It was so hot that weekend.  Unfortunately, Kirk Creek took out their flush toilets and sinks and went to a pit toilet.  In addition, this year that has been so dry no fires are allowed.  That's a big reason we go. We did go to that site to watch the sunset last night.  They are spectacular.  We watched the first one from the beach at Limekiln.  That section is just a parking lot.  The redwood grove we were in was very nice.  Not as secluded as Kirk Creek, but that meant it was warmer. We realized last night that Kirk Creek was exposed on 4 sides or 3 and the wind was brisk off the ocean.  Usually a fog bank keeps it damp too in the morning and evening.  The raccoons and chipmunks and birds are plentiful too.  I didn't see but a single squirrel and birds in the trees, not begging in the campgrounds on on the tables.  They even have showers and flush toilets and warm water at the sinks.  Strange what we take for granted.

Picking my body in and out of the tend even with an air mattress is not a pretty site.  Our lounge chairs are a little better.  My arms are so sore!

We stopped at the Gilroy outlets on the way back, so I could return an outfit and get some soft socks in return.  Then indulged in a In and Out burger with grilled onion and iced tea. Delicious! We were a bit dehydrated.

Conceeded

"Americans who think and read are patriots of the first order." Barbara Kingsolver,

I finally gave in around 3 and took a 10 mg. tab of hydrocodone 10/325.  Now I feel better. A dose that dose a that big makes me fly a bit.  Good drugs and I finally got refills on Thursday.  These were filled in 2010, so expired a bit, but hey still have some"juice", or efficacy. Now, I feel better but drowsy.  All during the last 24 hrs. Or so I've been taking these.  Usually I can read but these stronger ones had me drowsing most of the afternoon.

I finally spoke  with J on the phone not just texts.  That helped.  I knew he'd been busy and so have I, but I wanted to spend some time with him this weekend.  He was making some soup and completing some drawings.

I discovered web radio. I love it.  Prior to this I'd feed c/d's in my laptop.  My multi changer c/d player stopped working.i need to replace it, among other things....like kitchen cabinets, counters, lightening, MBR floor and new double ovens.  Then lighting fixture's in the entry, portch and over the dining room table.  I'd like a rug under the table too.  My family room needs a lot too. I could replace my furniture to the family room, get the love seat and cough recovered, replace the carpets in the living Tom, MBR and guest room.  I'd like cream Berber r carpeting in the living room.

I'm really tempted to take this money and go to Australia and New Zealand, stopping in Samoa on the way.  Actually, I think United flies non stop to Sydney. I want to start swimiming again so I can dive their on the Great Barrier Reef.
Other places on my bucket list are Machu Pichu, Greece,Turkey, Rome, Costa Rica y Beliez.

I roasted a butternut squash, a spaghetti squash, an eggplant to purée with roasted garlic and onion, baba grouch.  It's so good to spread on crackers or bread or use as a veg. dip or in pasta.

Bad lower back

I am in agony.  I got a massage last night too.  My mobility is so limited.  I couldn't get off the toilet without help.  I've been popping the last of my hydrocodone and flexeril, a muscle relaxer as if they were candy. 20 mg. in 6 hrs.  I've been flying, but it's allowed me to move and sleep.

Despite the time I spent at home, I spent another 4 hrs.. At the library today.  I finitshed  off  my applications, copied letters off, gathered transcripts, credentials.  It takes so long to put things together. Usually they want everything like Evergreen.

I am so glad I didn't have to cook!

Heating up is a all I can manage.

I may make a quiche with ham, spinach eggs and mushrooms. crustless.  I put Dijon in it too.  That made it wonderful.

Making everything ahead and just heating up is earlier in camping too.

Jack forgot his French press, so since I had packed coffee for him that we took from our stay at the Sonoma Mission Inn last year, I grabbed some filters so he could make coffee.  He didn't realize it made a 4 cup pot and made one very strong cup of coffee.  Then I told him it was for 4 cups.  I could' imagine he used it all.  I was making my tea and showed him the qty. in my tea bag and told him I've seen coffee bags done the same way and that was the quantity he needed to use.  We drove to the store in Lucia which one day we wasn't to stay in the cliff hugging cabins, but for now, we have an occasional lunch or dinner and got coffee for $3.25 a cup, free refills.  This time he got some of the pumpkin spice coffee creamer he loves for his morning coffee.  He was so sweet and brought me a cup of tea in the tent while I slept in.  He made coffee, a fire and an hr. later when I was up and ready for it, the tea was still too hot in my insulated cup.
Most people get a hot beverage and drink it right away.  I need to let it cool a lot first.

Dyslexia

I have a new student that is dyslexic.  His class just started reading the book Night, by Eli Weisel.  It's a fast attic book.  He has an abbreviated, zeroed copy instead of the book so he can underline and if it's lost he won't be penalized.  He's never asked to read aloud so his boys won't tease him and has just been passed along all these 10 yrs. To complicate things, he's in foster care.  I meet with him after school Monday.

Today I have a mammogram apt.  I put it off when scheduled at Kaiser.  I know I have one benign lump which can be painful in my r lower duct.  That was found through mammogram then ultra sound.  I met with a specialist in the surgery center at Kaiser who explained they wouln't even do a needle bioposy because they knew what it was.  In past years, I had 2 benign fibrous adenomas and removed surgically.  In 77, they just sent it to the lab and waited in the table.  I was awake. Before they put me under local I had signed a consent form for them to cut it out!  Fortunately, again on thr r, it was underneath in the inner mammary fold so nothing showed.

By 1990, a needle biopsy was done first and still they made an ugly insission that healed with a keloid scar despite wearing a bra 24/7 while it healed.  That too was benign.  This may be a 4th.  It seems different.  The others had no pain. Technology sure had changed. Grandma Cavanaugh died in 1936 of it, and Grandmother Wesley too.  Aunt Florence, my paternal aunt did too in 1961.  I've been monitored since 35 with annual mammograms.  Mom had several benign cysts, fibrous adenomas too.  I remember her in the Hosp. on my confirmation in 1962 for a bioposy.
Dad took me to High's to get my hair put in curlers, because we could wear them to school that day!
My confirmation name is Mary, like Mom's.  I've read the authority, Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book.  Everything went ok. They will compare my results to those from Kaiser.

"Everything is possible." Elie Weisel

When I got home I planned to go out walking with a friend.
Then my lower back froze up again.  It's been a long time since that happened!  I couldn't get out of bed. I took a hydrocodone 5, a muscle relaxer and a Osteo-Bi-Flex.  That put me out for an hr.  I had to close the front door so I almost crawled out.  It was all I could do to get back to bed.  I took another Osteo-Bi-Flex, then another hydrocodone and Flexeril.  It seemed to get better but now it's bad again.  I can barely move.  I just took my last hydrocodone since 4, in 8 hrs.

I finished 3 applications all for librarians, 2 are c.college faculty positions full time.  The other is at Newark High school.  It takes such a long time to complete them.  These have to be submitted by post not electronically.

It's starting to feel like fall

It rained a bit yesterday while I was in the grocery store.  My car had just been. Washed for the first time in a year.  Now I have little dust spots.  I went to the farmer's market first, although it was cool, it waited till I got inside the grocery.  I got a lot of zucchini, yellow summer squash and tried a Mexican squash and eggplant.  I couldn't tell any difference between it and the others.  This must be the end of the season.

 I cooked red peppers in the oven with some cauliflower to bring out the sweetness, then put the peppers in a brown bag to sweat.  The skin is easy to pull off then.  I froze them in strips then for winter.  They are cheap now.  Red peppers were green, then they turn and are sweeter.  I made stuffed red peppers too filed with brown rice, turkey meatloaf, fire roasted heirloom tomatoes, onion, zucchini, and some feta. It's got to beat Stoffer's.  But the Trader Joe's version is hard to beat.

A trio, 3 pack of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries was only $6. Down from $10.  I'm not seeing blueberries any more though.  I am going to get some peanuts to boil.  The jicama are small and so sweet.  It's time to can some raspberry jam.  It's my favorite.

Today I made a turkey meatloaf topped with turkey bacon.  It was ok but the real pork bacon is better.  Yesterday and tonight were perfect for clam chowder.

I got some lab work back.  My cholesterol is low 188.  My blood pressure is up though.  I'm going to change meds.

Costco

There are no camping stoves left at Costco.  They are showing Christmas stuff.  I got a few other things like shrimp, a chicken for dinner and we came back here to eat.  We had that with veggies and brown rice. I get, tp, liter some flea goop for Lacy, some detergent and occasionally a few other things.  The mushrooms and asparagus looked good.  It's the first time I bought organic raisins!  I use a lot of them though.

I was cooking red peppers, onion and zucchini, and went out to put some things into the compost bin and tripped over a knee high filled, large clay pot and took a nose dive.  I hit the cobblestones on my r knee.  My shin is bruised.  I let out a yell! Lacy just watched.    Poor me!  I laid there brushed the dirt off, pushed myself up, scraped the dirt and pot shards back. Yow!  That was painful.   I put the stuff in the compost bin and went back inside, feeling sorry for myself.

I went over to Micaela's to wait for the rug men.  I only expected to be there till 4.  I was there until she got back at 5.  I made some oatmeal raisin cookies for Rosemary's birthday, she's 14.  We had bundtletts, I still don't like their red velvet, it has choc. chips in it?!  The lemon were good though. My fave is carrot.  I got one for my birthday.  Not as good as my own, but close!

I cooked Brussels sprouts and an artichoke.  I also fixed the beets I got at the farmer's market Sunday.  I forgot them and the water boiled away, so they and the pan got a bit burned.

I've got to stop doing that.  I went into the kitchen to turn off the artichoke before we went to Costco. It was on when I came back!

I watched the start of Doc Martin last night.

Workman's Comp.

I am happy not to have to go to court for the 4th time.  The question was to go to trial, which is like a Grand jury, just you and the judge with lawyers and facts, no witnesses, or to settle.  After an injury12/08, I finally settled.  I don't want the surgery.  I can use the drugs.  I decided to settle.  That in itself provides some relief.

I finally asked my lawyer what percentage of cases she settles v going to trial.  She said she settles between 85-90 percent.  Dealing with worker's comp. Is difficult.  The judge was very conservative what ever that means....

I'm glad it's settled.  I hope it will cover all this pain and suffering. I didn't want the spine surgery.  I didn't feel comfortable with the surgeon.  He was impatient and although I got him to explain the procedure twice was still not understanding.  That's when I needed brother Bob with me.

The papers should come next week.

Volunteering at the S.F. SPCA

Well after a rest, I got myself up, out and drive an hr. Up to S.F. To a JMU alumni event at the S.F. SPCA.  It was fun, there were free adoptions and games and booths for kids, a dog costume judgdging contest, a dunking booth, because unbelievably it got up to 81 in the city today, and food trucks, yea!  There was  Pig truck, where I got punch of a pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw on a bun.  They just sold out of their signature pork, Swiss, ham sandwich in a waffle cone, a whopping 700 calories. There was a lightly breaded chocked and which with ranch and apple chutney available, but when pork is a choice forget the chicken! I also got a sushi burrito from the truck next door to bring home. I'll add some more avocado and maybe dikon, jicama and red pepper.  I am not looking forward to the fish in there.  I should have got ton the CA roll, but it was lightly fried.

My job with 5 others was to  man the beer tent.  All alum. Were Much Younger.  3 worked for Apple.  2 commute to Cupertino every day.  We sold 4 kinds and made a lot of money.  We were busy.  The orange beer keg was the fave and we had to change the keg.  Wine would have sold well too as well as water. It was fun.  I have NO stamina though. I barely made it back to the car and stayed awake driving home.  I can't even put my feet on the floor.  I couldn't wait to take off my shoes and socks in the car.  I think a nap is in order.  I wish I could have taped the police man directing traffic. He was perfect and so funny. There are people who put 5000 percent into there job.  There used to br a gate guard in u of Santa Clara just like that.  For 30 years he did his job with such pride of ownership he got an award for his dilligance. How is that earned?

I crawled out of the car and collapsed on a bed for a few min. Before dragging myself to soak in the tub.  Afterwards was better.  Those jets in the tub are great.  Still I am whipped.  My feet are throbbing.  It was all I could do to stand up long enough to roll my hair.  I did get an SPCA T shirt and another one while there. I'm glass I went, but had a hard time climbing the stairs there at the end of the day.  Whenecting topic I did I felt terrible.  They had a bake sale too. It was cute and I did resist.  I thought about packing my lunch with tomatoes, jicama, cucumber and red peppers.  I even started to.  Then I jetesoned the idea.  I did start off with oatmeal though.

Poo!  My dryer stopped stopping when I open the door when it still has time to run.  At least it seems to have stopped squeaking.

After four hrs. Of reading, resting, dozing, nodding off and the like I feel a bit better. I walked to the kitchen.  The feet stil throb but less.  I was able to do some short chores.  Now I'm back lying down and just took an Osteo Bi-Flex my friend John bought me for my knees.  It has a lot of calcium.  He also got me Glucosamine Chondroitin, to help with mobility & flexibility.  It helps soothe overworked joints. It has a lot of plant extracts and cellulose.  They are expensive.
The companies that make all these supplements must make a lot of money.

Leave behind the stories you tell yourself...

The stories you tell yourself that are negative, such as: you'll never lose weight, find someone to love and be with as a permanent partner, whatever that is, and the other miriad of negative things we tell ourselves.  Leave them behind.  They like the letter you keep from an old friend or love about why things didn't/couldn't work out.  These things or thoughts are counter productive. Let them go.

I'm loving these OWN Sunday life seminars.  One day, I may have the channel to watch some of these shows.  Just what. I need, more t.v.!  For now though ner newsletters are motivational and more than enough for inner exploration.

I'm heading  YA book called The book Thief by Markus Zusak, a National book award winner and on the N.Y. Times bestseller's list along with Oprah's.  It's the story of a 12 y.o. German Jewish girl living in Germany during WW2, who steels books from the major's wife's library of books slated to be burned.  She then shares them with others in her community and they are saved and read during air raid attacks.  It is over 515 Pgs. hardback.  It may be too much a read for Abby.  So far the narrator is the soul collector and his observations. Now that I'm I to it a bit more it's not so bad.  The OpenGL though has a mom having to give up her two children because she can't feed them and is taking them to foster care.  The boy dies on the way and the sister watches this, then see's her mom carry him until he is buried.  Then Liselle is turned over to the foster parent's.  The mom seems a harridan, but has some warmth, the father, a musician, teaches her to read and is more caring and kindly.  The new parents are poor but they have an apt.


I'm off to make some soup, weed wack my Wildflower bed out front and sell some stock.  The stock got done mostly.  I need to do one more purchase.

Micaela gave me her Sapir Brita picture.  I used to have one when they were still round as the filters still are.  I've been using the filtered water for my sun tea trying to see if I can taste the difference.  I'm not sure yet.  I'd like a filter for the house lines.

The wildflower weeding had to wait.

I had a friend come over instead.

The S.F. SPCA is having it's adoption fair tomorrow and I am volunteering along with other alumni as a community event.  At this moment I don't feel like going.  I wanted to go because I don't often get into the city, it's in the Mission, and there is parking.  I'll see how I feel in the morning.

Kirk Creek

Kirk Creek campground, where we have our reservation is Federal.  Since the government is shut down who knows what will happen by the 16th.  Kim who worked there in her reincarnation as a park ranger remembered she was a federal employee then.  There is an alternative private site nearby. Instead of the $11. A nite with pass or 22$ plus 9 for a reservation fee, this place, Limekiln, is $78. Plus a $7. Reservation fee.  However, it does have water and showers and flushing toilets that are no longer available at Kirk Creek. It's also adjacent to a pretty creek which runs down into the ocean and a flat beach.  We could take our chairs down there.  Kim said the beach was lovely, especially at night. Ah, life's decisions.... I may make a back up reservation.  Spending money not on things but experiences are what you remember.  I want to go regardless of the federal government.
We'll see. she said the last time, the government shut down for 2 weeks.

What is your calling? Do you know?  For the most part, I know mine is not teaching. Except when I was working with the 2nd grader and nurturing her in parente obstencia, it it generally tedious to me. I am not very skilled with a group of 30 or 40 kids.  I cannot "control " them enough to teach them in the old paradigm.  When I tried the new one, letting them work in their own groups, make some noise things were better.  Maybe my ridigity is part of the problem.  I really like the cocial aspects as a librarian.  I hate the tedium of cataloging, the attention to detail it requires.  Every job has those things.  I really like business.  Business school and sales really felt right.  I had the chance to watch Dad once try to sell my house.  He was masterful;an excellent salesman.  My calling feels like helping others, ironically, counseling perhaps.  I can be logical, empathathetic, sensitive, perhaps too much so and have some intuitive.  Remember the Meyers Briggs test?
Working in special Ed. Would be the means to a job not because it was the best fit.

It's cold this morning. I start the day at 7 with Lacy sneaking in to cuddle as long as I don't try to touch her.  Heaven's! The thought I might try and hold her or constrain her and pet her,,,,she meows, only near in case I want to feed her a treat for showing up to purr.  If the treats come out she'll come running.  She'll immediately come close watching to make sure I 'm not trying to trap her.  Then, holding her treat or bites in the cap, they smell nasty to me, she will stick her nose in my hand to gobble them as quick as she can, look for more and slink away.  She likes to sit in the copy paper box top out of arm's reach in her safety cocoon watching everything.  Having washed the comforter bedspread and sheets, I'm just happy she want's to keep her ever present cat hair there!  I found some yesterday while vacuuming on the rugs, chairs, water picture she drinks from, curtains she brushes against to jump up to the window sills, it's everywhere!  I insisted she be short hair too!

I made a batch of oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon, brown sugar with fresh either boysenberries or blackberries I got yesterday at the farmer's market.  By 10 the morning fog had burned off again.
October weather is a secret for locals.  It is the best month here.

"You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you cannot have both." B.Bret. "Joy is the scariest thing to seek."

I started off with a long hair,  orange stray tabby I fed old frozen fish. I took it to be groomed almost bald it was so matted and called him Kitty Whiskers after my childhood friend that lived under a big evergreen next door.  I sometimes used to sneak him food, milk and feed him on the portch.  On rare occasion I would seak him in my room for a time.  I don't think anyone knew about him.  Then I got my precious dog, Prince.  Oh I loved that puppy!  Ironically, both the boy in the back alley and I got one of the litter.  While my puppy was smothered with love and cuddles and was kind and sweet, the other was trained to be rough and tussle with boys. I was in 5th grade that year and we moved from that big house on Gainsville St. In S.W. Or E. Washington D.C. to Alexandria, VA in new town
houses on Southland Ave.  His days were numbered there.  My beautiful golden lab wasn't allowed there.  Before we got him, we got a Sheppard from the pound, Cinderella.  She was too much for me.  She would jump out of our yard into the neighbors every time.  We took her back. Too many early bad habits.  Although Prince would get bigger or the same size when grown, the puppy was a better start.  I brought him home inside my coat.

Bob and Mickey were off to college and in 66 I was in 6th grade when my dad said "he took him out to a couple in the country on a farm."  I to this day want to know where he really went.  Dad stuck to that story till the end.  I asked until 1983. It seems I had him less than six mo. From winter to summer, maybe four mo.  I wonder why we got a dog at all given those parameters and circumstances.  I know I'd forget and mom would feed him.  Dad would keep him company in the afternoons waiting in the living room until my bus would carry me home.  I do know I'd bring him bones.  He was teething and got to the legs of mom's sofa!  I'd stop in the A &P at the bus stop on PA Ave. near my school, and ask for a none for Prinie all the time.  Those were the days when bones were free.  What I know of dogs I know from him.

I have a Dr.'s apt. this morning.  It was canceled from Mon. and rescheduled for today.  I've been trying to get in for about 2 yrs.  I've been in to the acute clinic, had a referral, been assessed prior and finally one more time today by the Dr.  Kaiser was easier.  I'd go once a year, get refill's in 90 day increments for a year. These people want you to see a Druid every mo. or so.  Too often, in my case, not necessary.  Give me the med's and go away pls.  I'll let you know if I need anything else and when.  She kept me waiting almost 30 min. And I was her first apt.  she did yet another history, but did write a script for my drugs and labs.  I'll see her again in 2 was then be assigned a Dr.

There was a book sale going on in front of the lab.  I love to see books.  There are such great things out there.

My brother Michael has a birthday on the 19th and Emily's Ethan, grand nephew, have birthday's this mo.

"The joy of the journey is not reaching the destination but the ride."

I got the YA book The Book Thief from the library today.  It's on the lists, Opera and PW,  and I like to keep up on new kid's or middle school titles. I like watching the book adapted Switched at Birth, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game on the Family channel.  I can watch some of this stuff via iPad.
I finished are ally good one last week, Danielle Steel's First Love.  Now I'm on to Whisky  Beach by Nora Roberts.  I stated Sea Glass too.
I've been enjoying the Foyle's War series in PBS.
There are new shows on I'm not sure enough yet.

It's been so warm this Indian Summer I've made and gone through a qt. of ice tea a day!  I like making sun tea.  Adding lemon and mint especially feels like such a treat.  I see little kids coming up to their mom's for a sip of what ever they are drinking and am horrified to see it is soda.  Once a saw a babies' formula mixed in 7 up!  There was a show in Appalachia that showed the large use of Dr. pepper and the high spike of diabetes type 2 and Juvenile as well as tooth decay.  Ice tea was what I sipped from mom's glass. Mary Helen  drank it too.  Bob was on milk and Diet Rite, Michael on Tab. Mine is water or tea.  I can be talked into wine or a Cosmo or 3 on rare occasion

When I went through her clothes and stuff after she died, I sent a huge array to Mary Helen, took some, packed up some special Christmas ornaments, packaged others for my brothers and remember finding a huge stash of Lipton tea bags.  They don't seem to have an expiration date.  I still have some.  I'm not used the caffeine any more.  Usually I drink Mint Medly or Earl Grey that is decaf -inated.

I did a major run to the grocery store with David this morning.  He was great to have along.  He didn't complain, watched the cart, I could send him back for items. He was amazed at the qty. of stuff I bought.  I had a list and mostly stuck to it.  The fridg. and pantry are very full.  Since he's not working, I should hire him to clean the refrigerator out.  It has to be done and I've been putting it off.  Last time I paid Ricardo.  He complained, and it thought he was too slow and wasn't thorough enough for me though.  It's not an easy job.

David want's to organized the pantry I had built. He also suggested I get a number of stacking bins to organize my office and the garage.
Back around 95 or so Norm did get me a number of plastic bins, which I used to store empty flower pots and gear in the garage.  Over the years gardener's tried to stand on them and ended up breaking
them.  I just recycled the last one.
 He suggested I get transparent bins for the garage and my office to aid in organization.
Since he's OCD he's helped some senior's and goes to a group for his hoarding.  Now for example he
only saves his chop sticks for kindling in case he needs to start a fire and just collects a few pine cones. Now know he lives in an apt. Isn't going camping and doesn't have a fireplace.

Tonight I made Italian sausages with red peppers, onions and Portobello mushrooms.  There is an advantage to showing up at the end of the farmer's market.  Some things get a reduction in price like bread, fruit and mushrooms and others are thrown in free like scallions. I went through the 3 new red peppers I brought home today.  I am going to char and roast several others, then put them in a paper bag to steam, pull the skin off, slice and freeze them for winter.  I can also can them in olive oil, but that's too much trouble and too much olive oil and effort.

Obamacare and Another SPECTACULAR day

CA in Oct. is wonderful!  It may be my favorite mo. Today it was in the 80's.  Tomorrow it may get hotter in the 90's, but generally it's perfect.  In fact I am going camping at Kirk Creek in Big Sur the week of Oct 15th.  Unfortunately fir the first time in 20 yrs. I know about no fires are allowed.  This spectacular site hangs on a cliff face overlooking the Pacific.  The views are unbelievable.at night especially, the sound of the waves breaking is very soothing.  I make sure I go at least once a year. Every single time I get near I repeat " I can't believe I don't make it a point to get down here more often,". This place is so sacred, such a boost for the spirit.  You cannot fail to be uplifted.  I used to go alone.  Lately I've brought friends.  This one ha s a lantern and inflate able mattress that makes sleeping much more comfortable.

Fortunately I got all the car stuff done today.  My friend David took me and picked me up from the garage so I made breakfast.  We shopped.  Then he cut up the pineapple.  I made red potatoes with onion, mushrooms and red peppers and scram pled eggs.  I was going to make sausage too, but he didn't want any.    It was nice to spend time with him.  It's bee a long time.  We both used wo work as librarians at SJPLIbrary.

I'll save it for the breakfast burritos we'll take camping.

I got a lot more red peppers today.  I need to roast or grill several to incorporate in pasta, humus and keep them for winter.  I inhale them.  They are absolutely delicious, suc h a treat.

I picked up a new client in Santa Clara County.  As soon as the contract is signed, I'll start.

I also took this survey by a lens  company.  This is the 2nd survey I've done.  The first was on hybrid and electric cars.

I received the missing MRI l s film for my worker's comp claim today.  Since it was done in Jan. Of 2009  it should be covered under discovery.  My back has been really painful lately.  I am fine for short periods then I need to rest the muscles.

Cable

Is there anything more tedious than comparing 4 companies's packages/bundles for tv and rentals $7. For a modem per mo.  I may just stay at AT&T just to avoid it.

Car stuff is the same way.  I want an assistant to come in and taker care of it.
I know what belts and pumps my car has now.  The difference in estimated time it would take to do the repair and the cost per hr. for labor is almost $50.   The Toyota dealer is more.  Hinman' s Evergreen garage is where I've always taken my cars.  The estimate is 150$ cheaper.
The problem is to catch a ride or ride my bike home.  Fortunately my friend  David will take me tomorrow. I'll see what I can do about t he pick up.

I should go into elder care, gerontology. I would like that.  Several years ago, in my 20's it didn't appeal to me at all.Myself included, we're all aging.

I made an error.  I hadn't even looked at my Soft Surroundings catalog because I had no money to spend so why look.  How ever today I  opened it and want several items, a purple and light plue denim shirt, a skirt, several tops, a poncho, coat and pj's a red Asian blouse, another sweater, like one's I have, now in purple.  I like the coral and the burnt sierra color.  every year they send me a $25, coupon.  I'd like to have it now.  I love their fuzzy warm bed socks. Who ever came up with the concept is brilliant.  Women always have cold feet. I know people knit socks and slippers.  Walking on hand knit socks is uncomfortable for me.  There is a really pretty long dress if I had anywhere to wear it.

I bought the glasses and they "lost them in the house.  I thought they might be under the bed.  Today 4 months later I found them in a basket in the family room!  The 2nd pair, were thicker than I've had in years and did not fit the frame.  The technician has tried to tell me it's the style to have an opening between the top of the lense and the frame..  I've not seen that in 45 yrs. And am not buying it.  I have floating dots, perhaps the onset of glocoma in my r eye.  I need to return to have my pupils dialated so they can do that test.  In May or so I got 2 pair of glasses at Site for Sore eyes.  It was so odd.  First, they were very expensive even with the coupon I bought from Amazon marketplace for $150. off.  The glasses I got were ok but that first week I misplaced them.  When I rediscovered them I was so happy.  I would never have thought to look there.

I just made so me brown rice to add scallions, eggplant, tomatoes, mushrooms and red pepper to with some feta.
The trick about dieting is never to bring the bad stuff home.  You can't eat what you don't have. There are a lot of satisfying things to snack on in those moments of mindless grazing that fill you up and are nutritionally sound.

I need to sell some looser stocks and get into AT&T. Scottrade here I come.

I made some brown rice.  Then started red peppers, onion, bok choy, garlic, and ultimately eggplant . Months ago Jack got me a set of 3 non stick pans I love to replace Revereware and Capalon.  All this time I only used the tiny one.  Today, I finally dragged out the largest.  There is nothing as delicious as veggies sautéed lightly.  I steamed the bok choy.
Yesterday when I stopped at the market red peppers were on sale, a favorite of mine.  In 2 days I've gone through 5 in addition to a jicama.  Finally, I'm eating less fruit and more veggies.  Everything's better with garlic!

I'm trying to purge stuff and am putting things aside for Goodwill, City team ministries who equip people with needed household goods.  I have towels, mats and clothes that can go along with 2 computers, an Apple and old Dell laptop whose keyboard or mouse went out.  I might like some of my old files or just to strip it all.
In this area, people recycle them regularly for the gold and what ever else is inside.  The guts are valuable.  I remember I used to know how to take them apart, add boards and drives.

I went out to trim a few errant suckers from my orange and lemon trees. Next, I need to get on the front wildflower bed.

Apple is up again yes!  Glad to have that stock.  I got it when it went public, then sold it and bought it again.

I need to do some letters. For some reason I've ween waking really early.  As a consequence I'm exhausted.

I need to be at the garage at 8.

Extraordinary hero

There is a short distance between an ordinary person and an extraordinary hero. What does it take to help others, to enable change?  Something's as simple as recycling, encouraging reuse or recycling of plastic bottles, as major as taking a week to build homes in Mexico or Habitat for humanity here help families.
Remember there are people here living in homeless encampments and vehicles all over the city, state country and the world no doubt.  Women in Sudan, Dafor, Ethopia especially are in need and further subjugated to defilement on a simple quest to get water and firewood.  Over half of their day is taken up roaming their drought, war ridden country for these resources.  The boy soldiers who ride around in jeeps with machine guns that rape, kill and pillage at whim not direction are being taught from childhood to devalue their spirit and human life.  The ruination of the women from gang rapes are perceived as a "Sheba" at fault from a vicious act that is about power and control.  Women and girls that are gang raped are often left with child, scared, further ostracized by their families and communities.
Help where you can.. Help how you can. It in turn inadvertently helps you. More people have cell phones than bathrooms.

I am going to volunteer to help at scarlet Hear food pantry, community closet and assist with vocational skills and resume development.  Also on my agenda is a commitment to teach ESL at the library once a week like I do with tutoring kids in Reading Partner's.  In addition, I am going up to San Francisco on Sat. To the Mission to help with an adoption fair at the SPCA.
I love the city and the Mission, a diverse Latino neighborhood.  I rarely get up there with time to explore and enjoy.

I've been out trimming my lemon tree this morning of suckers that are trying to encroach once a year again and take over it's neighboring orange tree to the L.  The one on t he R seems fine.  In the spring, I had my Gardiner cut down half of the lemon and much of the orange where it had intertwined branches.  Somehow it recovered it's massive trim and is thriving.

Plums seem better than either the peaches or nectarines I'm finding in the farmers market.  I can't seem to find the small deep violet ones I remember.  I did get a new green type this week. I like the dolmas I get at the fafallel stand.  The fafallel is ok if I add extra tomatoes and cucumber. The tiki I is delicious with yogurt, dill, and whatever else.  I like raita too.
I want to try to make pita bread, rye and matzo.

Prius time for service

And recalls done.  There are 4 recall things to do.  One is the floor petal, a steering column thing, one for the seat belt and one more.  In addition, I need to get my belts done.  I'll only get the fan belt done today and come back for the others.  At least they wash my car.  I've been meaning to do that or get it don't. What is an HIV pump?  I have 3.  Who knew! That's the other thing on recall.

It's another beautiful day here about 80 with a tad of a breeze.  I prefer 70 but, it ain't bad. I appreciate the curtesy van at the Toyota dealer.  My other garage is run down and shaky but I need to ride my bike which I haven't done in 10 yrs. or catch a ride.

On the way here and for the last mo. Or so I've noticed a Homeless tent colony of about 6 tents on the side of the road and in the circle of grass next to the exit ramp.  I've been  amazed they stay there. I know that there was a large colony several miles down called the jungle.  One ex electrician even rigged up a solar shower with tarps, trash bags and heats water next to his enclosure space.  There was an article  in the paper on it.  A hard way to live.

Sometimes John and I walk from my house to the park.  When we go south towards Hellyer park, we pass an established encampment complete with furniture and chicken.  Some of the people have beds and dressers on the top of the berm next to the roD above.  It protects from the rain, is somewhat protected and you can see all around to see who is approaching.  Downtown too is another camp.

I know there is a large one I outside of Sacramento, I think.  In Santa Cruz  there is a park for drivers to park overnight.  There are a lot of homeless people.  One library patron had an RV he parked at the old GE plant.  It was empty for 10 years or so.  Then, they told him he  had to move.  He was berefit.
Rent's are $1800 for a 1 bedroom! Welcome to Silicon Valley! Imagine it used to be all cherry and plum orchards!

I made this amazing mix of fresh tomatoes, zucchini, red peppers and mushrooms with feta to serve on top of scallion brown rice.  It has wonderful and so healthy.  I snuck in avocado for dessert and an oatmeal raisin cookie I made.
I' m down 5 lbs as a result of paying attention.

ESL

I'd only need a few additional credits to certify as an ESL teacher.  They seem to always be in demand.
"The majority of men lead lives of quiet desperation.  What is called resignation is confirmed desperation." Henry David Thoreau

I got a new, to me, love seat for the family room yesterday.  Michaela and Rosemary helped be by putting it in and out of her truck.  I managed to move it from the driveway to the front atrium gate.  I'll try to get it inside today.  I need to move some existing furniture to make room.  After 33 years in this house it's way past time to move the camp chair out.  I still have the sedan club chair from uncle Leonard's somewhere in D.C.  That is a comforable chair that has worn all the moves well from VA to FL, CT, CA, HI and back to CA. It's traveled at least 6000 miles.

My arm's are aching from the law mower and Vinnie pulling on his leash.

Micaela, Vinnie and I had a lovely walk yesterday then took him still full of joy and energy to the dog park.  That was relaxing and a cool place to cool down.

I got up very early and came home and took a nap.

I stopped at the store and got a few things and returned a bag of brown rice that was in my pantry unopened.  When I cut it open things flew out.  Fortunately, I had a 2nd bag.  I need to get some plastic containers for sugar, flours, rice... I usually keep grains in labeled glass jars.
I have bread flour, wheat, rice, white and coconut. Quinoa, orzo, other pastas, dry milk, wheat berries,  
and rye flour.
One of the blogs I follow suggests soda bottles and filling liters with rice, sugar, and the like for storage and to buy in bulk.  I can see that with oatmeal. I like both kinds. Steel cut takes longer and is more grainy.  Caro suggests soaking it over night.

I like that Lucky and Savemart have 2 items weekly that are free with purchase of $25.  This week it's artichokes and aspirin.

Maintenance

When I took the car in for oil and tire rotation I found out it's time to change the belts. Bah!

I've got a lot of rearranging to do in the family room to get the love seet where I want it.  The couch I have in there may have to go.  I used to read in there with I had a chase.  I like lookin out on the deck and the garden.

I think you repeat the issue until you learn to resolve it...

Michael always says, "If you keep on doing what you've alway's done, you'll keep on getting what you always got."  How incredibly obvious!  "They say stupidity is to assume you'll get a different outcome and keep doing it anyway or stupidity is to keep on doing the same thing and to expect a different outcome."
There is an info guy that touts, if you keep on doing this year what you did last year you'll be in the same place.   I know.  We all know change is hard, scary and often necessary.  I once took a seminar on it at a SLA convention in Seattle.  Big title for little content and msg.  No one wants to change.  Most will be screaming and dragging their feet the whole way.  The more input, discussion you illicit from the group makes them feel part of the process.  Change is often proscribed fait a compile from the powers that be. Her grand finale was to hand out an envelope which would be mailed in x time that contained the idea for change as a reminder y time in the future and see if you actually implemented it.

I ran by the library this afternoon and for the first time perhaps in 33 years or so ran into an acquaintance randomly.  He wanted to get together.  I'm not sure I want to again.  He is younger and interesting.  He is bilingual, Mexican, so I enjoy the chance to converse in Spanish.  He's very busy, has a lot of family with a lot of problems he's very involved with and has odd IT work hrs.
It was nice to see him though.  It's been a year or two since I last saw him.

A walk on the beautiful Coyote Creek Trail on a beautiful Sat. morning

Micaela and I set off on this spectacular Sat. Morning to walk along my favorite Hellyer Park at Coyote Creek that goes to Gilroy.  The trees are lush and mature, the creek runs deep along side and there are fish, ducks, egret, bobcats, squirrels galore and turtles sunning on rocks.

I was up at 7 but we met at 10, a perfect time usually.  This morning, on a day getting up to 81, 9 or 8:30 might have been better.  It started off superb but got hotter and sunnier by the end of the trail.  This is the trail I always want to come to in the middle of the night when I have a yen to walk.  My friend Kim however, who used to be a ranger there in her early life, said not to.  "That's where all the druggies and criminals go at night."  She said that they used to patrol in the morning to see if there were dead bodies!  What a sheltered life I've lead.  I assume I can handle anything. I jet off to Mexico alone.  I drive across the country without a thought even camping out perfectly confident I will come through unscathed.  She worries about me going to Big Sur alone.
I used to go and camp at Andrew Molera or Kirk Creek alone all the time.  Anyway, back to our walk.  It got warm after an hour and a half, although Vinnie the tiny pincher kept pulling on his leash.  He wanted those squires and to be off to explore all those new delicious smells. He's always full of joy and energy.  We had a good talk. Afterwards,  she took me to the dog park there. I had no idea it was there.  There were some beautiful golden labs playing and romping and an Irish Setter.  Not too many little dogs for him.
There is another park there for dogs under 40 lbs. without grass.  There was a tiny chowwawa there, happy creatures.  While walking there was a woman walking carrying her teacup Taco Bell dog.  I don't understand at all why they are so popular.  They do not appear to me at all.  I had a maid who offered to clean for me free if I let her board her dog here.  In the brief time she tried to leave him here, he ate through my screen door, dug out of my yard, chewed through one of Lacy's leashes and generally caused problems. The woman wanted to go Mexico and leave him here.  He wouldn't even come to me and had never been trained to walk on a leash, just carried everywhere.
She promised but never did fix the screen, replace the leach or do any cleaning to make up.  Lesson learned....

I did some watering of all my deck plants and transplanted yet another spider.  I've decided to remove yet another juniper bush out front which harbor spiders, and plant lavendar.  I'd like to slowly get to low water, zero care as I can.
When I got the other junipers removed I planted wild flowers.  That's fine here Jan- May or April when there is rain and a quasi spring, but May- Oct. There is no rain and the water bill would be through the roof. I need to get out there and unearth interlopers weed wack others that dried out and get it looking better.  I cut the lawn last night.
I saw today that I have a lot of pruning to do too.  I swear we just trimmed that lemon tree in Spring massively.  Now it's returned to overwhelm it's neighboring orange trees yet again.  I swear I had my gardener take half the lemon and a lhot of the orange where it was being embraced which sounds better than encroached or strangled by it' neighbor, the lemon.

My back can only take short sessions.  After an hr. Or two I need a break.  How far that is from 33 yrs. Ago when I deliberately got a push mower to get exercise.  That lasted a week or so.  Then I replaced the gas one for electric.

I made a big jug of sun tea. I love it with mint and lemon.  Mom weaned me on it although she didn't use mint or fresh lemon.  All the need to recreate the scene is her and grampa's blue 'ice tea pitcher"
I need more ice too!

What you get out of live is measured by what you are willing to put into it."

Put into it." Thomas Edison

I got my 125,000 fitness points t shirt today.  Those small things are motivational to me.  In addition, for October and breast Cancer Awareness mo. They are matching points and above a certain level donate money to the breast cancer Susan Komen fund.  I hadn't realized the group paid for surgery for women unable to.  What a good use of funds along with research.

Walking

The judgement
I roasted chickens, smoking them, wishing for succulent and got boring.

Happy 36th birthday to my beautiful nephew Michael.   1977 I am so proud of you, your lovely wife Mikie and sons, Ben, 3 and newborn Will, born the day after Prince George!  I want to send these natural onesie and blanket "George" uses from this company that's been sold out from NY.  I can't imagine the laundry, baths and dishes they generate.  A new mom need's a doula, nanny, night nurse, maid and house keeper to get groceries in and chef to do the cooking.  The nanny can take Ben to preschool and Mikie can grab a nap with Will. I wish!  The dad would appreciate that too.

They have their hand's full!  God bless you all.

Taco fest

We went to the Taco fest at Kelley Park again this year. Last year was so great we wanted to see Moveable feast in action again.  There may have been 40 food trucks and many more vendors.  We got there early and scoped the place out.  The layout was better perhaps but the crowds were smaller given the holiday weekend.
We has fish tacos with tilapia and blackened catfish, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese lemongrass, lettuce wrapped, brisket, smoked pork tacos.  There was elote, lobster, seafood and every other variation you can think of.  Tacos were $3. Up a buck from last yr.  no need for fries, Mexican traditional tacos or burritos, we skipped the ice cream ones and fresh fruit cart too.  I did start and end with a salted caramel white cupcake from Fairycakes. Yum! They are my faves!  There were lots of treats from Treatbox, a candy truck that was at the night market.  The bands and music was good.

I got my workout in early.  There were other events, like sjsu grad, a Giants game and that with the holiday weekend deflected some of the crowds.  It wasn't as hot as last year either.

I am suffering greatly from chlorine rash.  When I shower I use special soap, then special lotion, after the baby oil.  My skin predictably is so dry.  When I added oil of Olay to my face it burned.  That is usually so mild.  Then I added Neutragina sunscreen for sensitive skin on top and I thought my skin would never stop stinging.  Fortunately, I got some lotion rubbed in my back.  It was so tight.

My back still hurts and I have a w.c. Hearing tues.

I can't seem to untighted the muscles.

Predjuice

I just finished an essay on the subject.  I wish it was as easy for my students to make up. I may teach a class or several this summer.
I spent 3 hrs in the pool, 2 in class and the last swimming laps.  I wish I had time to float but I ran an errand, made some copies and it was time to see Thomas.  I am always late.  True, I stay later but I need to make up some hrs. and go earlier.  School is out around the 6th.

I am looking into getting a cell phone. I want an iPhone, but can get by with a much cheaper version. As Caro says, there are a lot cheaper versions.  There are service plans and a phone can be over $200.

Term papers, footnotes and bibliographies

I thought I was done consulting term paper books by Kate Teribian, the MLA style Guide and Elements of Style.  I started a paper on World War One Women the other day, but spent an hr. or so starting the first paragraph, cover pg. prologue, bibliography and footnote page.  It takes a long time.  At least it's on the flash drive now.  Finding how to site articles, books, footnotes is confusing.  The librarian told me it's now online too.
I added another book and scanned some material.

I much prefer swimming, going to the farmers market for apricots and peaches. I did get some more asparagus.
 I got my first mango.  I'm going to make the curried shrimp recipe. I got this Mexican lime popcicle bar. That should have less calories than the $2.00 choc. gelato one. Half the price and calories I hope.

Tonight was taco night with John and Mad Men.  There is this new shredded lettuce stuff I got free with a purchase.  It is not something I'd buy.  The lettuce isn't romaine or iceberg and not crisp enough.  I also like crisp taco shells.
I've been making a lot of sun tea.


It seems like I'm running and need some down time for relaxation and don't have enough.

Bay to Breakers

I once signed up for a 10k run here.  In HI, I was in training and could have run half a marathon.  The feeling when you finish working out is go great.  All those endorphins and free radicals racing around inside....

There was a mini race here today with all the roads blocked off including our own cardiac hill, but going down.

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do.  Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors.  Try to be better than yourself."  William Faulkner

Falafel drive inn

"I am seeking.  I am striving. I am in it with all my heart."  Vincent Van Gough

Next time we are going to the drive inn.  I love it.  It's simple, cheap, delicious and healthy.

Grilled Mango, Curried Prawns, mmmmm.... I have a hankering to make this...

I always thought I was allergic to mango based on the fact that when plaing tennis in HI, my neighbor and I gather them afterwards.  Having them against my tennis dress the skin penetrated and caused a blister.
I do however use Major Grey's mango chutney in my curried chicken salad and I think Caro may have put some in her pico de gallo, so I don't think I'm allergic to it on the inside.

This recipe, with prawns, grilled mango, coconut milk, spring onion,, sesame oil, perhaps cilantro to garnish, curry powder, maybe, red chili paste, fish sauce and   Some chopped un salted peanuts yummy.

I went to the  MLK library today to get specific books on women during WW1.  I have a problem seeing books on the bottom shelves.  I need to sit on the floor or bring them up to me.  I need to find my other pair of new glasses with the progressive lenses!

I stopped at Phat's for a Bahn min.  This time I got them to leave off the pâté, pig's ear, onion and jalapeño.  I do add one jalapeño.  I don't want it too hot.

Today was the volunteer traing at the rose garden.  I didn't think I could go due to an appointment conflict.  Then the cancelations opened the time up, but by then, I forgot!

I need to set up my new printer!  It should eliminate my trip to the library to make copies, use the computers and every thing else.  I can't believe they were so cheap!  What happened to the 50lb. HP workhorse printer?  This one is wireless and even prints from my iPad!  I'm excited about that.

I also want to roast some red peppers, toast my pine nuts and make some humus.  It's so healthy and looks so easy.

My skin is so try from swimming I can barely strand it.  I put baby oil on in the shower, then Aveno at the gym or when I get home. I use moisturizing soap like Caress or Aveno body wash in lavendar or bath  gel, still, too many showers, too much time in the pool and chlorine is taking it's toll.

Canyonland and Arches

I really want to go to these parks.  April might be the time.  It's too hot already now.  The trip is one day to Las Vegas and the next to the 4 corners area.  If I get that close to Las Vegas I want to return to Zion and Brice again, this time camping, back backing, hiking and seeing the lodges.  The road was closed last time.  I'd like to visit all the National Parks.  I've only gone to Yellowstone, Grand Teaton and Glacier, Rocky Mountain for one night each while traveling alone.  The same is true with Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion. I've stayed longer and more often in Yosemite and Tahoe's Desolation  Wilderness.  I adore Big Sur and go often.  I want to spend some time at Tassajara for a retreat too.  I backpacked in to Secret Lake on the other side on Sonora, Andrew Molera, another over night Big Sur site unnamed, but remembered.
The sites in Alaska like the Bank of the Mendenhall Glacier were spectacular.  Sitka's campground's next to the bears gourging themselves with salmon returning upstream to spawn was unforgettable; as are all the BC provincial parks and the sites on the ice fields parkway and across the Canadian Hy. into Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Maine.  I adore Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard too.  The entire AYH system has been terrific, here, in Canada and Europe.

"We don't always succeed in what we try - certainly by the world's standards- but I think you'll find it's the willingness to keep trying that matters the most."  Fred Rodgers

Jack and I met up to get my new printer at Fry's, then went to dinner at Fresh Tomatoes.  The choices are so deceptive.  Yes they are salad ingredients, but I can stop at the first 4, Chinese chicken, Caesar asiago, Spinach salad, and one more. That fills me up.  I'm done.  The next plate of  the salad stuff starts.  I love all the tomatoes, green, red, yellow and orange peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, red cabbage, radish, beets, shredded, julianned and crinkle cut and pickled, love, but skip the croutons, can pass on the garbanzo and kidney beans, green peas, corn and the put the blue cheese dressing on the side and also get reduced fat mustard, honey dressing and ranch just to dip on, add fresh black
pepper, stay away from the asiago bread, which is over 200 calories. Then there are different butters, sour cream for the potato, yikes!

 I don't care for and can skip the baked potatoes, pasta, potato salad, macaroni salad, soups, chili, jumbliah, Mac. and cheese, and muffins.  I may have a tiny bit of frozen yogurt and fresh pineapple.  The place can be a calorie nightmare disguised as healthy.  The 2nd plate of spinach and veggies and even the blue cheese topping came home with me for lunch tomorrow.

There is so much waste.  They must do more than break even though.  No wonder the facility is huge and cavernous.

Gas is up to $3.85 a gal.

It's been a rarity that I put $30. in the tank.  I was up reading late and this evening has to move 5 times to finish it without falling asleep.  Then when I could finally sleep it didn't happen.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around my writing topic.  I need to run down to the King library and pick up some books.

My finger is still sprained but better.  It doesn't seem to be affected by swimming. The water flows around it.  The ice packs still help.

Apricots appeared at the Farmer's Market Sunday, but now that I'm ready for more they weren't there yesterday.

I made another batch of oatmeal, cranberry cookies and added shaved chocolate on the 3rd doz. from my Schur's dark chocolate Easter bunny.  That one is my favorite though.  I traded the lady at the farmers market a shortbread for one regular, one choc. One of mine.  Next I have to ask her how she gets all her cookies flat.  She knew about the lower melting temp. Of the Schur's choc. Too. Once the ears are gone, it' hard to eat.  Gnawing is not my thing.  Even the Cuisinart had a hard time chopping up A 1/4 to 1/2 a cup.    I prefer milk chocolate and not solid.  Actually Lindt is good for snacking.  For that homemade, local chocolateer, he makes a a milk choc., caramel with sea salt that is heavenly.  Sees' stopped making milk patties, which is good, in one way, now I have no reason to go in there any more!

"Courage is what it takes

To stand up and speak out.  Courage is also what it takes to sit and listen". Winston Churchill

What a busy day.  I barely squeeked in my swim.  I keep losing track of my laps, I need a counter.  My mind goes to other things.

I started early, left the water on!  I got my health insurance straightened out, stopped at the library, printed some papers, came home to change, turn off the water, check the mail and head to the gym.

I did my laps, showered, jumped in the car, diving into my snack, ie lunch, as I raced home for my iPad.  I changed again and was out the door racing for my apt. downtown. Whew, when I got home I needed a nap!

After being up at 3 am to put blankets and a sleeping bag in the garage for summer, I. Covered some suits and blouses that's shoulders needed a dust cover.  I have one corner of my huge 19x21 bedroom that has become a catch all for 2 bags of hangers, videos, a laundry basket and a box of books.  They have to go and the ironing board put away again.

The cherries are consumed, appricots on their way, asparagus a memory and my body is in shock as the bounty hits. Yum.  There is nothing so refreshing and delicious as a cold piece of fruit on a hot day or a drink of cold iced tea!

I did some retreading of WWII.  Hitler was such a fiend and MONSTER!  Stalin tried to have it both ways.  It really was a World War.

100,000 fitness points onto the black level

Today my classes and activities took me to the black level.  Happy to graduate from the brown, even though my tsirt is burgundy.  I was stopped cold despite the machine going off because they are temporarily out of t shirts, so much for my instant gradification anyway.  I work out for me not the t shirt, mostly!
I am starting to see a difference in muscle tone.  I'm feeling development in my arms and thighs.  After my laps, which are increasing too, I often take the time in my cool down just to float.  It's so replacing, meditative.  I didn't have a chance to float today after my swim and feel the difference in the serenity.  I think too some just swim for a certain time not just counting the laps.  If I could see the clock better I might time myself to note progress.  Today seemed to take at least an hr. and I felt like I was swimming fate.  Some days, I'm done in 15 min.

I did some research on the Manhattan project today.  Pretty fascinating. I am looking for a video on Khan Academy or utube.  I saw one on the history channel.

My emails are not loading correctly and I can't get to them.  I need to go into Apple.  I think I fixed it!

My lawyer on my worker's comp case hasn't called.  I have a hearing on the 30th.  I think Kerry Hames is pretty worthless re getting back to me.  The bottom line, no money to be made.  Time to post an online review.  This is the disposition in the settlent of my worker's comp. case on my back.

Mother's Day!

The hardest job and indeed the most challenging one you can ever have is that of a parent.  When I took in my two foster daughter's, one at a time at 11, I couldn't believe the difference.  Angel was tough, already dying her hair, piercing her ears, wearing makeup, wanting and wearing thongs and a bra where no breasts were yet showing. At 5'2 and 180 lbs she was sure the way to get a boyfriend was through sex. I couldn't believe the stress of trying to parent her.

Janelle, on the other hand was so timid, naive and insecure she wouldn't walk into Round Table to pick up a pizza by herself when I was right outside the door waiting.  She looked 10 or 11 and acted unsure about so many things.  There were things to learn, bicycle trips to go on.  She was very dependent.

Foster care had put scars on them both I'm sure.  They both came from parents with drug problems.
Then there option arrived, Angle could sullenly, defiantly come to me with snippets of little girl peeking out between the shoplifting in Target, mouthing off in Safeway and  running away. She used to cut herself too, although I never saw any evidence of that.  After she ran away from my house to meet her grandparents and flee with them to Washington, she was brought back and put in a group home.  I once ran into her with a chronic in the computer room of the library.  After she ran and I called the police, I discovered a 2 in. stack of porn she downloaded from the computer in the library.  She thought at 11, that sex would be a good wat to get if not keep a boy friend.  I tried to tell her, the boys would be interested but not seriously.  She was so starved for attention, I can understand her craving any kind of affection. I hope Angel got straightened out, weaned off soda, and Pepto.  She would be about 18 now.

Janelle wanted to be around more kids.  Having just we was pretty quiet although she used to play with Rosemary.  I got her school shoes, sneakers and had her come to my class to teach 2nd graders the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates with a lobster shell I brought home.  She thrived under the importance and attention. She was a very sweet girl.

Now my county students are, Regla, 16, living in an apartment with a roommate, a group home, independently, with therapy on Wed., and trying to pass English, History, Biology and Algebra to go onto 11th grade.  The foul mouth is her protection.  She is street tough but still so young.
Thomas, is on the verge of being expelled, living in an apartment with another student, one non verbal, and a care taker.  His teacher and tutor go to him. He at least shows evidence of being in class all year.  I wonder what Regla has been up to?  All the information we cover on W W 1 and everything else seems new to her.

Adieu

I started volunteering today at the San Jose Rose Garden dead heading.  They are prepping for Mother's Day tomorrow.  It was nice being out in the sun working among the beautiful roses at the end there was a pair od ducks floating in the fountain, the water glistening in the sun.

I once took a pruning class by the city of San Jose on pruning.  It was at the Heritage Rose Garden a different place blocks apart.  I never knew there was another.  my arms are sore.  These are different muscles from swimming. I can feel them toning up?
Afterwards, several food trucks showed up, House of Siam, Thai and Oaxaca for great Mexican.  I got lunch to go and then take out for later and tomorrow.  I love chicken satay with peanut sauce, rice and salad.  Then for later and usually in cooler weather I got yellow chicken curry.  From the heart of Oaxacan cooking I started with a pork, carnitas taco, then mole chicken to go.  There are so many mole variations, black, green.... I like the black made with chocolate and Chili's.  I never can taste the chocolate, but the flavors are so intricate.

I had an appointment with Nicols Research to do a research study on hybrid cars.  After hours in the sun, my eyes were taxed after looking at the tiny laptop.  Questions about concept cars, electric ones, possible new options, it was interesting but the new technology was confusing and detailed.  That's why they pay the big bucks.

Jack did one on Cancer.  They asked me to do one evaluating math text books too.

Having the computer back

Has made me lazy.  I can use it 27/7 and don't.  I use my iPad for everything but adobe and writing, when I have to move to the laptop.  When I was forced to make a reservation and be there at a certain time, I got more done.  Although I have been using my iPad, of late I seem to be missing emails, losing some information I need.  I fixed that by adding an email, increasing the view to 200 emails.

I copied some information on time cards and forms and I can't find it.  I finally was able to log in.  The toolkit forms look so different.  I need to get a printer.

My computer font on the browser is still microscopic.

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscious, but shouts to us in our pains.  It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." C.S. Lewis

In addition to the chlorine rash, I have a stye.

A friend said Oracle was one of the most difficult accounts she had.  Communication is the issue and poor.  It doesn't sound like a pleasurable place to work.

The strap broke on my swim mask.  Fortunately I found a dive shop that had some.  My mask is old and the rubber dries out.  I need to remember to wash it too. I got some lube which may help it last longer. It took a lot longer to swim. I miss diving.  I'd like to take a trip to the Channel Islands and off the casino at Catalina.

He does a trip to the Channel Islands and a three day trip off Monterey. You can sleep on the boat.

I got a table for the patio, a table for between our chairs.

When Regla  stood me up, I stopped at Phat's for a Bahn Minh. Yum!  I was so hungry.  Leave out the pâté, pig's ear, onions, put the jalapeños on the side, just about perfect.

Planting seeds

Planting seeds or 4 in. tomatoes, which I did at Easter, or the Roma and sweet 100's today, gives me such pleasure.  I planted some basil and chives too.  I usually put the last and dill in pots, especially, mint, which likes to spread and take over.

I've been up at 6 or earlier, working lately.

All that remains of the residue of lavender oil has sunk into my thirsty skin.  Perhaps a residue remains on the sheets I used to cover the table, which Lacy doesn't like now, and I adore and deliberately have not yet washed or taken out of the room.  I love the scent of lavendar.  I even have spray for sheets and some body spray in addition to soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, foot and hand salve.  There are candles too and bath foam.

I get to head to the farmers market for cilantro and more cherry tomatoes.  Although the nectarines and cherries are small, they are so good.  The first raspberries and local blueberries and strawberries are so sweet after citrus and root veggies of winter.  I'm waiting for apricots!

I swam a bit longer than usual. I went for a walk afterward with my friend.  That always too is therapeutic.  In addition to talking therapy, we walked by the very full creek.  There was a site where there were 5 bid turtles sunning on a log.  The dove in as we appeared.  The canopy of trees, leaves with the breeze and quaking leaves was so pretty.  A gaggle of geese came flying in to land in formation. We are transfixed by the loveliness of the nature than surrounds us.

Gas is up to $3.69. That certainly beats the summer of above $4.  We are lucky in this country. Gas in Mexico and Europe is much higher.

Massage

All the sudden I see signs everywhere for massage.  There are foot massages, full body and variations in between at day spas and other storefronts.  With a section called Little Saigon nearby, I shouldn't be surprised.

All oiled up and smelling like lavender, yum! In my house, relaxed no rush...bliss. Lavender truly is a stress reducer aromatherapy.  My skin is so dry it just sucked it up.

"Do that little bit of good where you are, it's those little it's of good collectively that overwhelm the world". Desmond Tutu

I don't know why kale is the super food.  It's not my favorite. I can almost fake myself into believing it's spinach, not quite though, it' not as sweet.

I think in addition to the rash on my arms that seems to be hearing, I may have pink eye.

Fortunately,  I got my laptop fixed!  That landscapr to portrait flip took forever.  Then there are all these easy messages on the web!  I looked in Word help but not  on the web till my trusty French mktg./techie suggested that in 2 sec.!
I usually think to Google these things!  I've found  it before in help though.  I spent wy to much time trying to fix it.