Going outback...

...with the church peoples! Today was the monthly outing for the Over 50 Lunch Bunch, held this time at The Outback Steakhouse. I had to leave water exercise class early in order to get myself turned around and over to Wells Road in time to meet the group. Judy C. saved me a seat. Even though I got there about 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled time, I was the last one in. 

We had 3 gentlemen with us today, two being non-member guests of Linda's. Judy and I were seated at the far end of this table. 

The service was a bit slower today than we usually experience with a group this size, which was disappointing. On the other hand, the bloomin' onion appetizer was delightful and held us over until our meals were delivered. Oh, my goodness, so delicious! I can't wait to have another one, that's how good they are. 

I worked off my calories by washing my bed clothes and then remaking my bed. After doing this, I am convinced that I shall never return to WI because my poor aching back would not tolerate snow shoveling. Making the bed is such a laborious thing to do, especially since I did the mattress pad as well. Sometimes Justin helps me with this task but he is working so much these days that I just go ahead and do it myself to get it finished. As soon as I was done, I laid myself right down on it! 

It's storm season

This morning the sky presented like this, looking ready to be a gorgeous day. I went out to the pool for a while and paddled around a few times. It's usually quiet on Mondays due to The Club being closed but a few people did join me later. 

This storm brought me into the house this afternoon, the thunder booming across the water. Justin managed to work most of the day, coming in a bit earlier than usual after being soaked through and through---again!  It's been like this all summer long, mostly on the weekends which just ruins my pool fun!  

Mind and thought management

The news these days on a national level is nearly wall to wall coverage regarding the candidates. It is early in the game and yet things are quite heated already, primarily one particular candidate running on the GOP ticket. When he is speaking or giving an interview, I often think of the advice given by the leader of the Writer's Guild to which I belonged, "Use your words economically." (I am a slow study!) This is often good advice, and would be especially so for this particular candidate. He has some good things to say, but sort of undoes things with his 'stray statements' which make him look foolish. He already has foolish stuff in his way and he pours gas on that fire right along. Are we all guilty of this in a lesser proportion?

There is an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" where one of the genius's moms comes for a visit. Sheldon's mom is from TX (bear in mind that she is made to look extra foolish, 'simple' actually, as compared to the geniuses who have no use for religious faith) and comes out with comments that Leonard feels compelled to correct. Many of the statements were common usage at one time, from even when my mom was growing up, while others have faded from use, or are strongly discouraged. The one remark was about Indians (Raj is East Indian) having a drinking problem, and Leonard informed her that 'we don't say that, either'. She looked at him quizzically and said, "I don't know how you people can even carry on a conversation anymore..." 

She is right---it's not safe! Every word has to be weighed and measured to avoid insulting or causing an offense toward another person. Finally Leonard said he would make her a list of the expressions or words which are no longer acceptable, to which she replied, "That'd be mighty white of you!". I don't even know what that means and cannot say I use it. Such a statement isn't even necessary to say 'thank you'. An economy of words would limit Mrs. Cooper's responses to 'thank you', and keep it at that. Good advice again for us all so we don't step on someone else's toes. "But let your communications be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matthew 5:37 

But, on the other hand, people do not need to be so thin-skinned and delicate that every minor slight sends them into a tail-spin. We have not come very far from one sister looking at the other at the breakfast table and getting into trouble for it. It doesn't mean a thing and yet the rule is made to not look at each other anymore. What else can you do? No more looking at each other. This is not a reasonable thing but it's causing a ruckus at the table, on one person's part, anyway, to be looked at. Now just about all we say and do can be misconstrued by someone, and we might not even be aware of it. We don't want to deliberately hurt others but at the same time wish to avoid cutting our feet on eggshells. 

"You're a codfish!"

Oh, my goodness, I am so waxing nostalgic!  One of my Facebook friends has recently purchased a set of DVDs to watch with her young son and her husband. Some of the titles are newer but others are from the old days such as "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Sound of Music", among others. One title is a movie released to theaters this summer or late spring and is already in the stores. Those who have watched "Home" liked it but apparently the movie didn't flourish in the theaters. I am not a fan of these animated/Pixar-style movies but others have no problem with them. 

Erica was telling how her son, usually madly running about, sat still for longer periods watching "Mary Poppins". He is about 2 1/2 so for him to stop playing and watch portions of the movie was remarkable. This brought to mind my family's experience with Justin and "Peter Pan". When he was little, we got a Disney book series of such titles which came with cassette tapes. At the sound of the 'chime', the child was prompted to turn the page, as the book was read to him. When we were in the car, Justin had his little briefcase with the books and the tapes with him, and his own kid's cassette player. Mom and Dad could listen to the radio and/or talk while he entertained himself with the books and tapes.

One of Justin's very favorites was "Peter Pan" and a favorite line was when Peter called Cap'n Hook a codfish. "You're right, Pan, I AM a codfish". Because he loved the story so much we decided to try having him watch the movie. We didn't get the animated version, though, but instead the stage version with Mary Martin as Peter Pan. He was between three and four at this time, usually more interested in running about than sitting to watch. Prior to this movie, he'd never sat down to watch anything except perhaps a cartoon on occasion. 

Well, Mom, my former spouse, Justin, and I sat down one evening to watch "Peter Pan", with Justin sitting on his father's legs. It was after dinner which might have helped but that child sat there and watched the entire movie, hardly moving. The adults had as much fun watching him as watching the movie. We couldn't believe our eyes! Justin was riveted, absolutely riveted. 

Justin was a changed man after watching the movie, wanting to act out the scenes from movie. I had to establish with him the rule of 'no flying in the house!'. He wore a cape and loved to call everyone he met a 'codfish'. That had to be corrected quickly as this was quite rude but also so darn cute! We called his bedroom the nursery (or at least I did...) since he fell in love with that book, much as the children in the story called their room the nursery. 

Justin and I gave the book/tape sets to my niece's family which was a bittersweet donation to make. By the time Timmy came along the cassette player no longer worked but the books still worked fine. I am not sure if my great nephews still have the books, it's likely they do not, but I love remembering the joy they brought to Justin, and to us, those 25 years ago. 

Another story: One time I was chasing Justin around the house in an attempt to get him ready for church. He was wearing only his training pants (no Pull-Ups in those days), which were thick underwear. I threatened him, "Justin, if you don't get dressed, you'll have to go to church in your underwear!"  He stopped in his tracks and looked at me with a gleeful expression, "I'll look just like the Man Cub!" Yes, another book in that set was "The Jungle Book". Oh, my goodness, that child made/makes me laugh!!! I sometimes still call him the Man Cub but never a codfish, because that is just rude...

Assorted Thoughts

This might be an untidy posting but my head has been busy with info and news, some of it worthy of note. 

Thursday as I drove back from Bible study, I heard an author on Laura Ingraham's show talking about what the secular university system is doing to our society, and in particular the students who enter the university as Christians. Some study showed that about 50% of those who believed in God as first year students graduated as doubters or outright deniers.  This hurt my heart as I've seen this occur with people near and dear to me, and I hate it. A friend from church, now deceased, told me this one time: "The only thing you can hope to take with you to heaven are your children."  Lord, may it be so!

Yesterday my child, my tiny baby boy, had to miss church due to having a dead battery on his truck. Before church began he sent me a text politely asking if he could borrow my car to get a new one.  Of course he may! When I got home after lunch I suggested to him that he call AAA instead as they will install it for him plus check the alternator to make sure it is healthy. My new battery last summer was $135 and came with a three-year warranty. Since it was pouring rain at the time, he agreed to my idea. The guy came and had a hard time getting a pulse (ha ha) on it, even thought the blasted thing started for Justin the 2nd time he tried it. Nuts!  Anyway, as the guy finally got the clamps fixed to the terminals, he told Justin what type of battery it was. Immediately Justin Googled it and found AAA's quoted price to be almost right on as from Sears or others. This extra service of having the battery installed and doing the other checks makes it more valuable. Now it's done and hopefully all that will behind him. 

My friend, Judy's, back went out last Monday while she was doing some regular cleaning on her porch. She bent over to do something and then could not really stand up again. She got herself into the house and onto her bed with the heat pad. Michael let me know the next day what happened and asked me to call her in the afternoon to see how she was doing. Of course, I can do that, knowing what she's going through.  She was doing better but was far from okay. After her surgery in late winter she had gotten some pain pills which she never really did require. Thankfully Judy kept them and they have been helpful to her in managing the pain.

I suggested she see my massage lady, Carol, who has been such a great blessing to me, and most recently to Justin. Judy did make an appointment but couldn't get in until Friday. I took her to the appointment and because I referred her, was able to recognize a nice discount. Carol took her time with Judy and, as of yesterday, (Sunday) Judy was standing up straight. Michael drove her to church and lunch, dropping her at the door to save her steps. It's hard for Judy to be limited by this as she runs circles around us (me) otherwise.  A couple weeks ago she rode horses with her son on his farm in NC. Amazing lady!

Thermostat wars

On the news recently I saw a segment or two about how one more thing in this world is considered sexist---the temperature in a room, or building. Yes, it was sexist because the men wanted it cooler and the women in the office (or place of business) wanted it warmer. The battle over the thermostat!

When my former spouse and I built our office building, our suite of offices, my office did not have a ceiling fan in it. Not necessary, thanks very much. The others did have fans. I would freeze in my office, the north facing side of the building while the ladies in the front offices were roasting. They would lower the temperature and I would bump it back up. Those ladies were being baked in the sun that came in their south facing windows. One year for Christmas they got me a space heater for under my desk. I still have it, it was a blessing to me, and to them. Somehow those ladies were not doing this to be sexist, nor was I. I simply wanted to be warm.

At Shady Lane it was so hot all the time and we were hustling for extended periods of time. The dish washing room was particularly steamy. The elderly residents needed to be warm. I was not always cold in those days. But at Sprint---yikes! Working in that place forever changed me, reset my personal thermostat. When I first started there we wore attire for business, which meant dresses, skirts, nicer clothes. Layers upon layers, even when wearing pantyhose. At times I even wore my spouse's t-shirts under my clothes just to add another layer. The management's explanation for keeping the rooms so cold was for the good of the machinery. The computers, hundreds of them all running at once, had to be kept cool to keep them healthy. Meanwhile, the employees would freeze, men and women alike. The men at least wore suits, most did, anyway, which helped them. And yet, some of the females wore sleeveless tops, which was unbelievable. But not necessarily sexist. 
                                 

I remember one time my family picked me up after work and we went to Sam's Club. It was summer and there I was, all bundled up. I looked and felt ridiculous. Sort of like Amy Farah Fowler on "The Big Bang Theory"!  Again, not sexist at all keeping the rooms so cold at work, it was for the good of the equipment and kept us awake in the wee hours of the morning! 

On this day in history....

...I started working at Shady Lane Home!  Back in 1976, I was hired by Mabel, who would be my supervisor. We hit it off immediately for a number of reasons, including both being Lutherans! Her daughter had attended college at DMLC with my sister-in-law, Judy. Very cool to have those connections when trying to land a job. We'd moved back to Manty from Milwaukee after selling our 4-family home there, a year after our wedding, almost to the day. At first, I worked at Northern Lab with my mom, not necessarily on the same line as she, as a temporary worker. When that job ended, I had to find something else, which was Shady Lane. I don't remember how I knew there was an opening but there I was!

On this date also, same year, my other sister-in-law, Marian, started working at Manitowoc Health Care Center. Her husband, Biff, and she moved up from Milwaukee after we did, and moved into the apartment my spouse and I were vacating when we moved into the big house we were going to remodel. In MKE, they had lived a block away from us, and then they moved into our apartment, and she started work the same day I did. Pretty cool!

My first day of work I also had to go to the farm, my in-law's farm, and shuck corn which had been harvested. At least my memory tells me it was the same day. I must have trained in the day time my first week or something to make me available for corn shucking. Otherwise, my usual shift was 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, with every other weekend on duty. I would be there for two meals a day, included and paid time for meals, which was pretty cool. Boy, we ate good!  In fact, I think I am still carrying around some of that good eatin'!

My 'retirement' party from SLH in 1986, with some of my co-workers. Peggy, Lori, me, and my best friend at the time, Karen. My best friend was skinny as a rail and ran circles around me, and was 12 years older than me! Just like Judy C. does now!

When my sister, Kerry, was in high school she worked the evening shift at SLH which was lots of fun. We had so many friends there over the years, our group was called the Shady Ladies, and included a couple of guys, as well. I was the old lady in the group and one of the only married ones, except for Teresa and Paul. We had some great fun, all of us. Bowling, movies, parties at people's homes, going out to eat, and a couple of times to bars. Not everyone was old enough which was a problem. 

Besides Kerry still being in my life, I have contact with a couple of the ladies via Facebook, including my good friend, Annette, who helped to train me. When I visit SLH when in WI, nothing is like it was in 1986 when I left. Only Teresa remains on duty, the only place she's worked since she was 16 years old, and is now a grandma! She has really moved up the ranks from evening receptionist to admissions director. 39 years ago today....