The Kiwanis speaker this morning was Kris Steel, the Speaker of the State Legislature of Oklahoma, he lives in Shawnee and is well known in the town. He was talking about the reforms going on in the state. One big issue is re-districting. Shawnee's population in the last ten years has grown over 300,000 people so the districts have to be redrawn so that there is an equal number of people in each district. I seem to remember at home there is strife and controversy when political boundaries are re-defined.
I think I saying, when I was last reading at the Early Childhood Center, that it was the most impressive school I had ever seen and he mentioned today that it was in fact recognised as the best in the nation.
Prison - or correction - reform is another hot topic as Oklahoma's prisons are filled to 96% capacity. The point is often being made that there are more women in prison in OK than anywhere else in the nation, and they are imprisoned for offences that would never qualify for imprisonment in any other state. So this is not the state to get on the wrong side of the law.
Another point he made is that in some parts of the state there is a shortage of water, but there are 3.8 million people in OK, but enough water for 18 million. It just needs to be re-distributed. Down in the south east, where there aren't many people, there is a lot of water but the state of Texas is trying to grab it saying Oklahoma isn't using it and they need it.
The Thursday group didn't meet for lunch today, people are busy with the big holiday weekend coming up.
The defence in the murder trial wrapped up today but the accused didn't testify. Because she is a pathological liar no one would believe her anyway. When her child first went missing she tried to say she had been kidnapped by a non existent nanny, then she said she worked for Universal studios, which was a lie. And she has just told one lie after another.
Because only the skeletal remains of the child were found no one has been able to determine the cause of death. The accused's story is that the child accidentally drowned in the swimming pool and her father - a former law enforcement officer - panicked and put the body in trash bags then hid it in the woods (like that would happen!) The Prosecution allege that she gave the child chloroform and then suffocated her with duct tape, because duct tape was found around the skull of the remains.
In closing the case today the defence put the parents and the accused's brother back in the witness box and they were all questioned as to how they disposed of their pet animals when they died. They all said the animal was wrapped in a blanket (like the child was) then it was put into plastic bags and duct tape was wrapped round the bags, then the pet was buried. The inference being that as this was the way loved ones - at least four legged loved ones - are buried, this was how the grandfather buried the child when it accidentally drowned and he panicked. You just couldn't make this stuff up could you.
Another bizarre occurrence in the middle of this murder trial concerned a spectator, a young man who was being an idiot in court and pointed his middle fingers at the prosecution attorney - like he was pointing a gun I suppose - and this was a VERY BAD thing to do. The judge had him handcuffed and hauled up before him where he formally charged him with contempt of court, sentenced him to 6 days in prison in Orange County jail and fined him $400, plus costs. He had the court clerk working out the costs there and then, while the attorneys, witnesses, spectators, and the accused, in the murder trial all sat back and waited.
It is hoped the trial will end on Sunday and the jury can get home to their families for the 4th July. They're obviously not expecting the jury to be out deliberating for very long.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
WEDNESDAY 29th June
Was up and out early to the hospital as I was doing two floors today as Pattisue is in Texas, and I was going to the dentist this afternoon.
Saw an assistant who adjusted the flipper (that's what they call the temporary, partial thingy). Dr Williams, my own dentist, is on holiday at the moment and she asked another doctor to look at my mouth, thinking he might take out the sutures, but he didn't so I have another appointment with Dr Williams on the 11th July, just before my trip home.
Nancy was holding a social evening with a DVD at her home this evening and although I like to go to these Wednesday things I was very tired when I got back from the dentist in Norman.
The murder trial is beginning to wrap up. The defence is getting desperate. They've already asked for a re-trial, but without any luck.
The Judge asked the jury if they would like to continue through Saturday and Sunday, they're all anxious to get home to their families.
The defence is reluctant to put the accused on the witness stand so the Judge is going to ask her tomorrow if she wants to testify in her defence, and if not why not.
The trial, or what I saw of it today, was heart wrenching. The accused's father was in the witness box and broke down. The grandparents obviously loved their precious grand daughter, there are numerous photos of her living happily with her grandparents. But the defence are trying to prove that the child drowned in the swimming pool and the grandfather tried to cover it up by putting her body in trash bags and hiding her remains in the woods where they were found. They are also saying he molested his daughter as a child which is the reason she is psychopathic.
His grief in the witness box today even moved spectators to tears watching him. I think he feels enormous guilt for not protecting her better from her psychopathic mother who just sat stony faced through his evidence. It is all very, very sad.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
TUESDAY 29th June
Haven't done much tv watching today, I went to the gospel singing this morning at the Senior Centre, then afterwards Bruce and Rosalyn invited me to lunch at the new Korean restaurant, which is becoming popular. The young man waiting at tables is very personable and friendly and seems to be making a point of remembering the customers. He has a degree in, I think it is, environmental sciences but before he gets a 'proper job' he is helping his parents set up the restaurant.
In the afternoon I tackled the afghan I was not happy with, and am trying to put it right, which is easier with crocheting than knitting. If something is knitted up wrong it is pretty much doomed, but in crocheting it can be taken back to where it can be put right.
This evening I went to a meeting at the church, at which cheese and wine and crackers were being served and I realised the days are gone when I could just put a cube of cheese in my mouth and eat it without thinking about it. (I know, I'm whingeing again about my teeth). I had to break the small cube of cheese into even smaller particles and eat it with tiny particles of cracker. I am going back to the dentist tomorrow to see if the temporary, partial thingy needs adjusting.
I haven't seen much, if anything, of the murder trial. The legal analysts covering the trial can't get their heads round the chaotic court procedure in Florida. I think in most states it is like it is in Britain, a witness is called to take the stand, is questioned, then cross examined, then that's it for that witness. But in Florida they keep going backwards and forwards into the witness box. One analyst said it was like musical chairs, they're up, they're down, they're in, they're out.
The other topics of news are the Presidential campaigning, and the wildfires. I'm wishing the state will totally ban fireworks this 4th July weekend. It only takes a spark to start a wildfire, so far only 33 out of more than 70 counties in Oklahoma have banned them.
In the afternoon I tackled the afghan I was not happy with, and am trying to put it right, which is easier with crocheting than knitting. If something is knitted up wrong it is pretty much doomed, but in crocheting it can be taken back to where it can be put right.
This evening I went to a meeting at the church, at which cheese and wine and crackers were being served and I realised the days are gone when I could just put a cube of cheese in my mouth and eat it without thinking about it. (I know, I'm whingeing again about my teeth). I had to break the small cube of cheese into even smaller particles and eat it with tiny particles of cracker. I am going back to the dentist tomorrow to see if the temporary, partial thingy needs adjusting.
I haven't seen much, if anything, of the murder trial. The legal analysts covering the trial can't get their heads round the chaotic court procedure in Florida. I think in most states it is like it is in Britain, a witness is called to take the stand, is questioned, then cross examined, then that's it for that witness. But in Florida they keep going backwards and forwards into the witness box. One analyst said it was like musical chairs, they're up, they're down, they're in, they're out.
The other topics of news are the Presidential campaigning, and the wildfires. I'm wishing the state will totally ban fireworks this 4th July weekend. It only takes a spark to start a wildfire, so far only 33 out of more than 70 counties in Oklahoma have banned them.
Monday, June 27, 2011
MONDAY 27th June
Well, this has been a day for getting square eyes in front of the television. A big corruption trial - which has been going on since I got here - involving the former Governor of Illinois who tried, among other things, to sell Obama's Senate seat when he was running for President was found guilty today on 17 counts of bribery, corruption and extortion. He hasn't been sentenced yet but could go to prison for 300 years if his sentences run consecutively. The wire taps on the phone of him trying to sell Obama's seat have been played over, and over and over again; they were full of expletives which were bleeped out and he eventually apologised for his language.
He was a very confident, bombastic guy who thought if he kept saying "I am innocent" over and over again everyone would believe him. His appearances outside the court beaming, shaking hands, signing autographs, caused a lot of hilarity among the news anchors and the legal analysts in the studios, but today the laughter stopped. They looked grim and sad, and were angry that someone in that position could be so despicable, they felt he'd brought dishonour on America.
The other riveting tv is the murder trial of the young mother who killed her beautiful, nearly three year old daughter, then went out and partied for 31 days until the child's grandmother reported her missing after opening the boot of her daughter's car and smelling decomposition. Everyone was informed this morning that the reason the trial was suddenly stopped on Saturday was because the defence team said their client wasn't competent to stand trial. That often happens at the beginning of a trial, it is very unusual at this stage. The Judge on Saturday ordered that she be examined by three psychologists over the weekend who all declared she was competent to stand trial, so everyone was back in the business today. And the trial goes on.
There's a lot of talk going on about wanting the death penalty taken off the table, but that would mean another trial because the present jury are all what they call 'death penalty qualified' which means that if the defendent is found guilty they will ask for the death penalty. This has all been an education for me in American law and forensic science.
On a lighter note.....Sharon gave me this lovely hibiscus and since I moved it into the full sunshine on the porch it has done very well. Every day I pick off the dead flowers and new ones come out. Whenever I have a washing up bowl of water I never tip it down the sink I carry it out to water the hibiscus.
With all my tv watching today I finished off this afghan I was doing for Stephen, but I made it in two sections and joined them together this evening, but am not happy with it. So I might ship off the other three I've done, unpick this and work on it a bit more.
He was a very confident, bombastic guy who thought if he kept saying "I am innocent" over and over again everyone would believe him. His appearances outside the court beaming, shaking hands, signing autographs, caused a lot of hilarity among the news anchors and the legal analysts in the studios, but today the laughter stopped. They looked grim and sad, and were angry that someone in that position could be so despicable, they felt he'd brought dishonour on America.
The other riveting tv is the murder trial of the young mother who killed her beautiful, nearly three year old daughter, then went out and partied for 31 days until the child's grandmother reported her missing after opening the boot of her daughter's car and smelling decomposition. Everyone was informed this morning that the reason the trial was suddenly stopped on Saturday was because the defence team said their client wasn't competent to stand trial. That often happens at the beginning of a trial, it is very unusual at this stage. The Judge on Saturday ordered that she be examined by three psychologists over the weekend who all declared she was competent to stand trial, so everyone was back in the business today. And the trial goes on.
There's a lot of talk going on about wanting the death penalty taken off the table, but that would mean another trial because the present jury are all what they call 'death penalty qualified' which means that if the defendent is found guilty they will ask for the death penalty. This has all been an education for me in American law and forensic science.
On a lighter note.....Sharon gave me this lovely hibiscus and since I moved it into the full sunshine on the porch it has done very well. Every day I pick off the dead flowers and new ones come out. Whenever I have a washing up bowl of water I never tip it down the sink I carry it out to water the hibiscus.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday/Sunday
I am still in "poor me" mode. As in poor me, my mouth still hurts and I still can't eat properly. I'm having to think everything out before I eat. Last night Pattisue and I were going out for a meal and I thought I could manage some soft spaghetti and meat balls and suggested an Italian restaurant, but they've gone on holiday. It amazes me how restaurants shut down for a fortnight at a time while they go on holiday. I don't think our restaurants do, do they? Anyway, we went to an Asian diner where I had thick Japanese noodles. And they're on holiday next week for a fortnight.
I thought I wouldn't go to church this morning, I'd go instead to University Baptist this evening, but this afternoon I had a problem with the television. I have two remotes for it, and I used the wrong one to change the channel, and everything went awry, I couldn't get anything. I rang Mark and asked if his lad Timothy could tell me what to do. Timothy and his brothers were going to the movies in Shawnee and said they'd stop by on their way, which they did and they have got it going, and I am grateful to them for coming at a moments notice like that, but it's not quite right. I didn't notice before they left that I can't mute it (and if you knew how many terrible commercial breaks they have here you'd appreciate that the mute button is a necessity) or adjust the volume, so I will call the cable company in the morning and ask them to change the digital box from the living room to the bedroom, where the large screen television is, and I would just need one remote. I've never been the sharpest tool in the box and at my time of life I just don't need anything that can confuse me.
I suggested to Pattisue earlier in the afternoon that we might go for a frozen yoghourt at Pink Swirls when she came out of church, which we did.
Have any of you seen the latest official portrait of the Queen and Prince Phillip? Fr Clark drew my attention to it, they are sitting on a sofa looking fatigued and bored. I'd love a body language expert's opinion on them, they're not sitting close to each other, they don't look 'married', they certainly don't look like they love each other, they're sitting there so distant.
Body language is a big thing here. On the televised broadcast of the major murder trial going on here at the moment, we don't see the jury, but there are body language experts in court watching them with beady eyes.
As to said murder trial it was a BIG DEAL on Saturday that the judge suddenly, without anyone knowing why, announced there was a legal issue and the court was recessed until Monday morning. The poor jury don't look as though they are going to get home for the 4th July. And they were there for the last big holiday on Memorial Day.
I thought I wouldn't go to church this morning, I'd go instead to University Baptist this evening, but this afternoon I had a problem with the television. I have two remotes for it, and I used the wrong one to change the channel, and everything went awry, I couldn't get anything. I rang Mark and asked if his lad Timothy could tell me what to do. Timothy and his brothers were going to the movies in Shawnee and said they'd stop by on their way, which they did and they have got it going, and I am grateful to them for coming at a moments notice like that, but it's not quite right. I didn't notice before they left that I can't mute it (and if you knew how many terrible commercial breaks they have here you'd appreciate that the mute button is a necessity) or adjust the volume, so I will call the cable company in the morning and ask them to change the digital box from the living room to the bedroom, where the large screen television is, and I would just need one remote. I've never been the sharpest tool in the box and at my time of life I just don't need anything that can confuse me.
I suggested to Pattisue earlier in the afternoon that we might go for a frozen yoghourt at Pink Swirls when she came out of church, which we did.
Have any of you seen the latest official portrait of the Queen and Prince Phillip? Fr Clark drew my attention to it, they are sitting on a sofa looking fatigued and bored. I'd love a body language expert's opinion on them, they're not sitting close to each other, they don't look 'married', they certainly don't look like they love each other, they're sitting there so distant.
Body language is a big thing here. On the televised broadcast of the major murder trial going on here at the moment, we don't see the jury, but there are body language experts in court watching them with beady eyes.
As to said murder trial it was a BIG DEAL on Saturday that the judge suddenly, without anyone knowing why, announced there was a legal issue and the court was recessed until Monday morning. The poor jury don't look as though they are going to get home for the 4th July. And they were there for the last big holiday on Memorial Day.
Friday, June 24, 2011
FRIDAY 25th June
Now all the anaesthesia has worn off my mouth is very painful and sore where the teeth were extracted. I made it to the hospital and was quite glad not to have too many patients to visit. I just went home afterwards and watched television.
The nation is riveted by the murder trial going on at the moment and there has been continuous tv coverage from the court room. It is taking longer than expected. The jury are sequestered, they haven't seen their families for 27 days and rumour has it that they are getting a bit hacked off. The Judge promised them at the beginning of the trial that they would be home for the 4th July holiday and it is beginning to look that they might not.
The defendant isn't being put in the witness box, she has already proved to be a pathological liar so it probably wouldn't do her case any good. She initially claimed that her child was kidnapped by a nanny, then that it drowned in the swimming pool and her father covered up the drowning and buried the body in the woods. But the remains have duct tape round the skull, suggesting she was suffocated. The child was missing for 31 days during which time the accused was photographed partying. There is a theory that the child was chloroformed then died, and a piece of incriminating evidence is the fact that the accused did 81 Google searches of chloroform on her computer. But her mother stepped up to the witness box today and said she made the searches.
However, with modern technology, whenever we buy gas or pay at a supermarket with a credit card that credit card locks in our location at a certain time and place so the police are looking at the times of the Google searches, and seeing if they coincide with her credit card purchases. One wonders how the police ever solved crimes, or could be be sure they got the right person, before all this technology.
In the news.....New York state became the sixth, and largest, state in the nation to vote for gay marriage this evening. I noted the other five states are all up north somewhere, gay marriage would never fly down here in the Bible belt.
The weather is still hot, and there have been wildfires in the west of the state.
The local Shawnee forecast. Although the temperature is said to be 100, the heat index (what it actually feels like) is 105. No wonder I melt as soon as I get out of the car.
The nation is riveted by the murder trial going on at the moment and there has been continuous tv coverage from the court room. It is taking longer than expected. The jury are sequestered, they haven't seen their families for 27 days and rumour has it that they are getting a bit hacked off. The Judge promised them at the beginning of the trial that they would be home for the 4th July holiday and it is beginning to look that they might not.
The defendant isn't being put in the witness box, she has already proved to be a pathological liar so it probably wouldn't do her case any good. She initially claimed that her child was kidnapped by a nanny, then that it drowned in the swimming pool and her father covered up the drowning and buried the body in the woods. But the remains have duct tape round the skull, suggesting she was suffocated. The child was missing for 31 days during which time the accused was photographed partying. There is a theory that the child was chloroformed then died, and a piece of incriminating evidence is the fact that the accused did 81 Google searches of chloroform on her computer. But her mother stepped up to the witness box today and said she made the searches.
However, with modern technology, whenever we buy gas or pay at a supermarket with a credit card that credit card locks in our location at a certain time and place so the police are looking at the times of the Google searches, and seeing if they coincide with her credit card purchases. One wonders how the police ever solved crimes, or could be be sure they got the right person, before all this technology.
In the news.....New York state became the sixth, and largest, state in the nation to vote for gay marriage this evening. I noted the other five states are all up north somewhere, gay marriage would never fly down here in the Bible belt.
The weather is still hot, and there have been wildfires in the west of the state.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
THURSDAY
Just been limiting myself to calm activities today, like the dental instructions said. Finished reading my book, and am getting to grips with my C Nook.
I didn't get the donuts or go to Kiwanis this morning but made it out to lunch with the group from Emmanuel. We went to the Korean restaurant and I managed some seaweed soup, which was a lot better than it sounds, or looked like.
Went to Walmart this evening for my goats milk, I am finding it far too hot to go in the daytime, I can barely make it across the parking lot when the temperature is nearly 100.
Also filled up with fuel, which is getting cheaper. It went up to $3.96 and a gallon and is now down to $3.36.
I didn't get the donuts or go to Kiwanis this morning but made it out to lunch with the group from Emmanuel. We went to the Korean restaurant and I managed some seaweed soup, which was a lot better than it sounds, or looked like.
Went to Walmart this evening for my goats milk, I am finding it far too hot to go in the daytime, I can barely make it across the parking lot when the temperature is nearly 100.
Also filled up with fuel, which is getting cheaper. It went up to $3.96 and a gallon and is now down to $3.36.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
WEDNESDAY 22nd June
This has been one long day of dental surgery, so scroll down if you've had enough of me and my teeth.
My appointment was 12.45 and I left the surgery at 5.15. I think I counted seven people altogether involved in it, two dentists, four assistants and one assistant to the assistants. They weren't all there at once though. The head guy did the seven extractions and the filling he didn't have time for last week. Then he handed over the fitting of the partial temporary (temporary as in a couple of years) dental plate - known as a flipper - to an assistant. She had a bit of a problem with it so called in a junior doctor (dentists are all doctors here). They spent at least an hour fitting it, taking it in and out and making minute adjustments as it didn't just have to fit, it had to be adjusted so that I could bite properly with it like I never did before, and it is amazing how different my teeth feel in my mouth now that I can bite properly.
Rosalyn didn't think I should drive myself home afterwards but she had a prior commitment with her grandson and Bruce is square dancing in Michigan, but I didn't like to ask anyone else, and I would have hated to keep someone waiting for me all that time.
I was given a lot of instructions when I left, one of which was not to remove it for at least a fortnight. I thought, don't worry, I won't mind if I don't have to remove it EVER. But I will eventually, when there is no danger of the tissue swelling and being unable to put it back. Another instruction is to limit myself to calm activities for the next 24 hours, which I am more than happy to do. I'm just going to ring Louise to say I can't pick the donuts up in the morning. By the time I take the next lot of prescribed medication I am going to be zonked out in the morning.
As I lay in the chair I was dwelling on the fact that all this treatment cost as much as a first class flight home, and how much more pleasant the flight would be, as opposed to dental treatment. But I'm beginning to think it is worth it. I was becoming seriously, and increasingly, depressed the last few months over my loose teeth.
Changing the subject - I had a little problem with my Colour Nook in that I couldn't connect it to my wireless router so had to call in the computer guy. The router had very secure settings on it, but he has sorted it out, and I downloaded the couple of books I am going to read while travelling. They were $9.95, which is cheaper than the paperback versions, especially as there was no state tax. There was already a chess game on it, and I also downloaded for free a National Geographic quiz - in case I wanted a change from reading. I can also download books from the Shawnee library which are obviously free to read.
My C Nook with its nifty little cover I finished knitting.
A new restaurant opening in Shawnee is always an excitement and this one opened on Monday, so Pattisue and I thought we'd try it out on Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, when we got there we found it is only open for lunch. The Donuts next door is run by the husband, and that has been open for a little while. Pattisue and I went on to the Mexican in Tecumseh which is nice.
Yesterday, the 21st, was the first day of summer according to the calendar, but officially it started on Memorial Day at the end of May when the bbq's came out, the beers were being piled in the supermarket trolleys and the children broke up for the summer. I have forgotten when summer started according to the weather, I can't even remember the last day I felt cold.
My appointment was 12.45 and I left the surgery at 5.15. I think I counted seven people altogether involved in it, two dentists, four assistants and one assistant to the assistants. They weren't all there at once though. The head guy did the seven extractions and the filling he didn't have time for last week. Then he handed over the fitting of the partial temporary (temporary as in a couple of years) dental plate - known as a flipper - to an assistant. She had a bit of a problem with it so called in a junior doctor (dentists are all doctors here). They spent at least an hour fitting it, taking it in and out and making minute adjustments as it didn't just have to fit, it had to be adjusted so that I could bite properly with it like I never did before, and it is amazing how different my teeth feel in my mouth now that I can bite properly.
Rosalyn didn't think I should drive myself home afterwards but she had a prior commitment with her grandson and Bruce is square dancing in Michigan, but I didn't like to ask anyone else, and I would have hated to keep someone waiting for me all that time.
I was given a lot of instructions when I left, one of which was not to remove it for at least a fortnight. I thought, don't worry, I won't mind if I don't have to remove it EVER. But I will eventually, when there is no danger of the tissue swelling and being unable to put it back. Another instruction is to limit myself to calm activities for the next 24 hours, which I am more than happy to do. I'm just going to ring Louise to say I can't pick the donuts up in the morning. By the time I take the next lot of prescribed medication I am going to be zonked out in the morning.
As I lay in the chair I was dwelling on the fact that all this treatment cost as much as a first class flight home, and how much more pleasant the flight would be, as opposed to dental treatment. But I'm beginning to think it is worth it. I was becoming seriously, and increasingly, depressed the last few months over my loose teeth.
Changing the subject - I had a little problem with my Colour Nook in that I couldn't connect it to my wireless router so had to call in the computer guy. The router had very secure settings on it, but he has sorted it out, and I downloaded the couple of books I am going to read while travelling. They were $9.95, which is cheaper than the paperback versions, especially as there was no state tax. There was already a chess game on it, and I also downloaded for free a National Geographic quiz - in case I wanted a change from reading. I can also download books from the Shawnee library which are obviously free to read.
My C Nook with its nifty little cover I finished knitting.
Yesterday, the 21st, was the first day of summer according to the calendar, but officially it started on Memorial Day at the end of May when the bbq's came out, the beers were being piled in the supermarket trolleys and the children broke up for the summer. I have forgotten when summer started according to the weather, I can't even remember the last day I felt cold.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
FATHER'S DAY. TRINITY SUNDAY (coincidentally)
Father's - and mother's day are a big deal here. On Facebook here it is the custom on this weekend to show a photo of one's father instead of one's own profile photo.
And on holidays and special days like this a lot of the military in Iraq or Afghanistan come on television with messages for their families.
I went to the Lutheran Church this morning.
And not a crucifix or altar in sight. Communion tables like this one are a feature of Protestant churches.
Communion itself is quite laid back, as you can see from this picture. There were actually a lot more people there than this picture suggests.
The guy holding the chalices has wine in one of them, and grape juice in the other, and everyone dips their wafer into one or other of them.
The chalices look alike but they are distinguished by a band round the base.
The rest of the day I have been watching television and knitting. I'm knitting a protective cover for the new Colour Nook. They had fancy covers for them but I wasn't sure I wanted one. I'll see how I get on using it.
In the news.....
The wildfires in Arizona are spreading. As you can see from this picture there is a red flag warning in the Oklahoma Panhandle.
When I was a child five or more children was a BIG STORY worldwide, but this just got a passing mention among the news. I think fertility treatments have made multiple births more common.
And on holidays and special days like this a lot of the military in Iraq or Afghanistan come on television with messages for their families.
I went to the Lutheran Church this morning.
The guy holding the chalices has wine in one of them, and grape juice in the other, and everyone dips their wafer into one or other of them.
The chalices look alike but they are distinguished by a band round the base.
The rest of the day I have been watching television and knitting. I'm knitting a protective cover for the new Colour Nook. They had fancy covers for them but I wasn't sure I wanted one. I'll see how I get on using it.
In the news.....
The wildfires in Arizona are spreading. As you can see from this picture there is a red flag warning in the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
SATURDAY
It is still searingly hot here, I'm told it is hotter than normal for this time of year. It's getting in and out of the car that I feel it, and although the air conditioning is working I think I want it colder. I'll pay Terry a visit on Monday.
My adventure of the day has been to go to Barnes and Noble in Norman and buy their e-book reader, a Nook Colour. I thought it would be useful for travelling. It also has e-mail (another useful function when travelling, I like to keep in touch) and there are other apps one can get, but I will probably just stick to reading and e-mailing. The books themselves seem to be cheaper than paperbacks, and I'm not paying postage.
Being so technologically challenged there was certainly some nervousness and trepidation in making this purchase, I could have bought it online and not paid the state tax but I needed someone to help me get started, and I was lucky. A very helpful, kind young man helped me to set it all up so that I came out of the store good to go. There are advantages in being a little old lady and this is one of them, young men treat you like you are their dear, sweet grandma.
Since I came home it has been charging up. I'll start exploring it tomorrow.
My adventure of the day has been to go to Barnes and Noble in Norman and buy their e-book reader, a Nook Colour. I thought it would be useful for travelling. It also has e-mail (another useful function when travelling, I like to keep in touch) and there are other apps one can get, but I will probably just stick to reading and e-mailing. The books themselves seem to be cheaper than paperbacks, and I'm not paying postage.
Being so technologically challenged there was certainly some nervousness and trepidation in making this purchase, I could have bought it online and not paid the state tax but I needed someone to help me get started, and I was lucky. A very helpful, kind young man helped me to set it all up so that I came out of the store good to go. There are advantages in being a little old lady and this is one of them, young men treat you like you are their dear, sweet grandma.
Since I came home it has been charging up. I'll start exploring it tomorrow.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday/Friday
THURSDAY
I can't really say I was up early for the donuts this morning. My alarm clock isn't working and I was afraid if I went to sleep I might not wake up in time to go to Tecumseh to get them and be back in the Senior Centre at Shawnee for 8.30. So I just stayed awake. I actually went to Walmart at 6am and bought another alarm clock.
The Kiwanis speaker was the Tecumseh Chief of Police. He wasn't as interesting as the Shawnee Police Chief last week, and I was tired. I hope he didn't see me nodding off.
I did lie down and have a nap when I got home. Pattisue rang about 6 o'clock and asked if I'd like to go and eat. Her teenage grandson has been staying with her, and she has felt the need to be around for him, but this evening he went out with some guys from the church youth group. I suggested we eat in an Asian diner, which is very nice, I'd forgotten the food was so nice there. When we were leaving I bumped into three other people I knew - all dining separately from each other - so before I left I walked all round the restaurant to see if anyone else was there I knew, and missed. This is one of the things I like about small town America, I'm always bumping into people I know.
FRIDAY
Went to the hospital as usual. One of the patients on the floor I was going round lost her son last week, and as Pattisue had seen her on Wednesday, thus establishing a connection with her, I suggested she might like to see her today. The patient obviously needed to talk, I finished Pattisue's round and entered the computer data for both of us in the time she was with her. She missed her water aerobics which have been moved to the afternoon, but as she said, it is what we are there for.
Tim Sean, the youth minister/assistant pastor rang in the morning and suggested we meet in the local downtown coffee shop in the afternoon, when I'd finished at the hospital. I think he wanted to get to know me better. He's training for ordination and we talked quite a bit about theological issues, then shared our personal stories, our faith journeys.
A ps on the coffee shop. Is it me, or is $4.90 ($5 something with the tax - £3.80)) expensive for a mocha latte? It's about the same price in Starbucks and it is one of the few things I feel is really expensive here. I've picked up a grilled steak and couple of sides from the Golden Corral for less than that.
This evening I went shopping again in Walmart. I had to take back the alarm clock I bought yesterday morning. When I unwrapped it I found one of the hands had fallen off. It was made in China, and I've noticed this before and don't understand it, but Chinese imports in the UK are of good quality and having been round a factory there with Tim I've seen the careful workmanship and pride that Chinese workers put into their work, but over here in the US the goods are shoddy. Pushing my trolley round Walmart I bumped into Kevin, another chaplain, and was telling him about this. He said it is because the Chinese hate Americans, and vice versa. I can't see how that can affect the quality of their imports though.
I've taken to shopping in the evening. When it is nearly 100 degrees outside during the day I get heat exhaustion just crossing the parking lot.
Sundown at the Mall this evening.
I can't really say I was up early for the donuts this morning. My alarm clock isn't working and I was afraid if I went to sleep I might not wake up in time to go to Tecumseh to get them and be back in the Senior Centre at Shawnee for 8.30. So I just stayed awake. I actually went to Walmart at 6am and bought another alarm clock.
The Kiwanis speaker was the Tecumseh Chief of Police. He wasn't as interesting as the Shawnee Police Chief last week, and I was tired. I hope he didn't see me nodding off.
I did lie down and have a nap when I got home. Pattisue rang about 6 o'clock and asked if I'd like to go and eat. Her teenage grandson has been staying with her, and she has felt the need to be around for him, but this evening he went out with some guys from the church youth group. I suggested we eat in an Asian diner, which is very nice, I'd forgotten the food was so nice there. When we were leaving I bumped into three other people I knew - all dining separately from each other - so before I left I walked all round the restaurant to see if anyone else was there I knew, and missed. This is one of the things I like about small town America, I'm always bumping into people I know.
FRIDAY
Went to the hospital as usual. One of the patients on the floor I was going round lost her son last week, and as Pattisue had seen her on Wednesday, thus establishing a connection with her, I suggested she might like to see her today. The patient obviously needed to talk, I finished Pattisue's round and entered the computer data for both of us in the time she was with her. She missed her water aerobics which have been moved to the afternoon, but as she said, it is what we are there for.
Tim Sean, the youth minister/assistant pastor rang in the morning and suggested we meet in the local downtown coffee shop in the afternoon, when I'd finished at the hospital. I think he wanted to get to know me better. He's training for ordination and we talked quite a bit about theological issues, then shared our personal stories, our faith journeys.
A ps on the coffee shop. Is it me, or is $4.90 ($5 something with the tax - £3.80)) expensive for a mocha latte? It's about the same price in Starbucks and it is one of the few things I feel is really expensive here. I've picked up a grilled steak and couple of sides from the Golden Corral for less than that.
This evening I went shopping again in Walmart. I had to take back the alarm clock I bought yesterday morning. When I unwrapped it I found one of the hands had fallen off. It was made in China, and I've noticed this before and don't understand it, but Chinese imports in the UK are of good quality and having been round a factory there with Tim I've seen the careful workmanship and pride that Chinese workers put into their work, but over here in the US the goods are shoddy. Pushing my trolley round Walmart I bumped into Kevin, another chaplain, and was telling him about this. He said it is because the Chinese hate Americans, and vice versa. I can't see how that can affect the quality of their imports though.
I've taken to shopping in the evening. When it is nearly 100 degrees outside during the day I get heat exhaustion just crossing the parking lot.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
WEDNESDAY 15th June
I was at the hospital early enough to do my chaplaincy round before lunch, I needed to be somewhere else by 2 o'clock. Pattisue came as I was finishing and we had lunch with her teenage grandson, who is staying with her at the moment.
Afterwards I went to the Colonial Estates N/H where Larry was. The Hospice I have recently joined as a volunteer holds birthday parties for residents in the different nursing homes and I went along to help. I feel so sorry for these elderly people, some of them have family who visit but many of them don't, they are just thrown away.
We didn't have any Wednesday night activity this evening, Nancy, the prime mover in them is out of town.
In the news....There is a lot of coverage given to the next Presidential election and it isn't for another year yet, but all the candidates are now lining up, and are all being scrutinised ad nauseum.
The big murder trial of the mother accused of murdering her child which is going on at the moment had a break today. The defence opens tomorrow, and it looks as if the grandfather of the child is going to be accused, so there are obviously lots of revelations waiting to come out. I have to say I was fascinated with all the forensic evidence the prosecution put forward.
What is going on in Shawnee....a look at the front page of today's News Star. The headline was Burglar Busted. He broke into the Presbyterian Church and has been charged with robbery, kidnapping and possession of a controlled substance. A retired, obviously elderly, woman heard him trying to break into the safe, and asked what was going on (I'd have run in the opposite direction and called 911) He grabbed her and shoved her in a cupboard (hence the kidnapping charge I suppose) but after five minutes she found the cupboard door wasn't locked and walked out and flagged down a police car but he had gone. The incident occurred on the 23 May but the police, through following leads, have just caught up with him. We're told to watch for updates.
The other big front page story concerns three horses found starving on a Shawnee man's property. The owner of the property has been arrested for animal cruelty and the paint horses (is that a breed?) are making progress at the Shawnee Animal Hospital, where the vet nursing them back to health says they are as well as can be expected.
Afterwards I went to the Colonial Estates N/H where Larry was. The Hospice I have recently joined as a volunteer holds birthday parties for residents in the different nursing homes and I went along to help. I feel so sorry for these elderly people, some of them have family who visit but many of them don't, they are just thrown away.
We didn't have any Wednesday night activity this evening, Nancy, the prime mover in them is out of town.
In the news....There is a lot of coverage given to the next Presidential election and it isn't for another year yet, but all the candidates are now lining up, and are all being scrutinised ad nauseum.
The big murder trial of the mother accused of murdering her child which is going on at the moment had a break today. The defence opens tomorrow, and it looks as if the grandfather of the child is going to be accused, so there are obviously lots of revelations waiting to come out. I have to say I was fascinated with all the forensic evidence the prosecution put forward.
What is going on in Shawnee....a look at the front page of today's News Star. The headline was Burglar Busted. He broke into the Presbyterian Church and has been charged with robbery, kidnapping and possession of a controlled substance. A retired, obviously elderly, woman heard him trying to break into the safe, and asked what was going on (I'd have run in the opposite direction and called 911) He grabbed her and shoved her in a cupboard (hence the kidnapping charge I suppose) but after five minutes she found the cupboard door wasn't locked and walked out and flagged down a police car but he had gone. The incident occurred on the 23 May but the police, through following leads, have just caught up with him. We're told to watch for updates.
The other big front page story concerns three horses found starving on a Shawnee man's property. The owner of the property has been arrested for animal cruelty and the paint horses (is that a breed?) are making progress at the Shawnee Animal Hospital, where the vet nursing them back to health says they are as well as can be expected.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
TUESDAY 14th June
I went to the dentist this morning in Norman, for the second phase of my treatment plan - three fillings and impressions for the partial temporary dental plate. This American dentistry is something else, I was two and a half hours in the chair, and he could just do two fillings, there was a big problem with one of the nerves in a tooth he was filling and patients were backing up in the waiting room.
The dentists' assistants are obviously student dentists, the dentist was explaining what he was doing, and one of them was drilling. An assistant/student also took the x-rays and impressions of my mouth which were very difficult for her to do, because my mouth is exceptionally small, but she was very kind and soothing so that I didn't gag on the x-rays etc. At one point, while the dentist was doing the filling, there were four of them gathered round, peering in my little mouth.
One of the difficulties of taking the impressions was that it forms a tight seal, and there is a lot of suction when it is pulled out and she was very anxious at pulling out the impression of the lower teeth because four of them are extremely loose, so she took the trouble to bond the loose ones to each other (you can see why I was in the chair for two and a half hours). When she eased the impression out, leaving the loose teeth behind in my mouth the relief flooded across her face.
Next week I go back for the final stage of treatment, seven extractions and the temporary partial thingy.
Now I am sure you know more than you ever wanted about my dental visit. This is a photograph of the outside. It is actually a very big place inside with a lot of staff and treatment rooms.
When I told Rosalyn I got lost last week and ended up on the other side of the city she said there are TWO 24th Streets, and I have to take the second one. How confusing is that!!!
This evening I was going to a banquet and presentation for the hospital volunteers but I just got home half an hour before it started, and I just wasn't up to getting changed and turning out again, so I sent my apologies.
I thought I was crocheted out, I am just finishing off a big afghan, but I decided to use up the oddments of wool. Also it is handy to have a portable project to put in my handbag for crocheting in the dentist etc.
The dentists' assistants are obviously student dentists, the dentist was explaining what he was doing, and one of them was drilling. An assistant/student also took the x-rays and impressions of my mouth which were very difficult for her to do, because my mouth is exceptionally small, but she was very kind and soothing so that I didn't gag on the x-rays etc. At one point, while the dentist was doing the filling, there were four of them gathered round, peering in my little mouth.
One of the difficulties of taking the impressions was that it forms a tight seal, and there is a lot of suction when it is pulled out and she was very anxious at pulling out the impression of the lower teeth because four of them are extremely loose, so she took the trouble to bond the loose ones to each other (you can see why I was in the chair for two and a half hours). When she eased the impression out, leaving the loose teeth behind in my mouth the relief flooded across her face.
Next week I go back for the final stage of treatment, seven extractions and the temporary partial thingy.
Now I am sure you know more than you ever wanted about my dental visit. This is a photograph of the outside. It is actually a very big place inside with a lot of staff and treatment rooms.
This evening I was going to a banquet and presentation for the hospital volunteers but I just got home half an hour before it started, and I just wasn't up to getting changed and turning out again, so I sent my apologies.
I thought I was crocheted out, I am just finishing off a big afghan, but I decided to use up the oddments of wool. Also it is handy to have a portable project to put in my handbag for crocheting in the dentist etc.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
PENTECOST
Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Being a High Holy Day we had incense. I've never seen so much incense, I can't believe sometimes I am in an Anglican church. We had it at the beginning of the service; at the Gospel reading; renewing our baptismal vows; at the end of service. The youth leader's young lad was assisting and he was overcome, his father reached him and led him away before he passed out.
Rosalyn and Barbara who ran the Nutrition, or Healthy Eating Class, earlier in the year had a reunion this afternoon, just an informal social get together in the parish hall, with a bring and share meal. I invited Pattisue. Everyone's contribution was ultra healthy except for mine, Rosalyn brought a vegetable curry and the rest were an assortment of healthy salads. Sharon brought a lovely dish of watermelon and mango slices. I took a cornbread salad which wasn't healthy because I bound it all together with mayonnaise, which is VERY BAD.
It was a pleasant meal and get together though and Pattisue, Sharon and I went on to Pink Swirls for a frozen yoghourt. It was very quiet when we first went in, then it got very busy as everyone came out of church.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
SATURDAY 11 June
It is still hot here, it sometimes goes cloudy, we have rain, and half an hour later it's dry, hot and bright, like it never happened. The temperatures are still up in the 90s, but it gets a bit cooler in the evening and I turn the air conditioning off.
Today I have just been housekeeping, and watching the news channel. The main, big story is the Casey Anthony murder trial. Has that been reported over there? She is charged with first degree murder and they have the death penalty in Florida, so if found guilty she will be off to death row. Today we have had all the experts dissecting the importance of the forensic evidence, and it has been extremely gruesome. The accused is on trial for the homicide of her three year old child, and it seems unclear at the moment if she murdered her with chloroform, or suffocated her with duct tape. She made 68 searches on her computer for chloroform - they always take away the computer don't they. The duct tape was found wrapped round and round the remains of the child's skull. The crime scene photos are so gruesome the judge won't allow them to be shown publicly. It is emerging, or being suggested, that the accused's father played a role in disposing of the remains, so there is still a lot we don't know yet.
The other news story is the New York congressman who was twittering and sending lewd photos on his Facebook account. The calls for his resignation are getting louder, it is being said he needs to go into rehab to be a better husband and a healthier person, without the stress of being a congressman. He did announce tonight that he is taking leave of absence to go into rehab but won't resign. Someone said he can't resign because he doesn't have any other skills, he is not a lawyer, like a lot of them are, he has spent all his working life in politics.
The New York congressman for the Bronx a few months ago was in a financial/ethics scandal and he had to stand in the floor of Congress and be publicly censured, which apparently was a big deal. But no one was calling for his resignation because he is very likeable, whereas no one likes the guy in the sex scandal, he is very arrogant and combative and there is no sympathy for him. Aspiring politicians take note, it doesn't do to rub everyone up the wrong way, it comes back to bite you.
This guy was married only last year and Bill Clinton officiated at the wedding which I thought was curious, and have been exchanging e-mails with Fr Clark on the subject.
Last summer - or it may have been the one before - I went round nurseries and plant centres looking for Russian Vine to plant in my garden, but couldn't find it, nobody knew what I was talking about, but someone did take the trouble to look it up when I told her it was also called "mile-a-minute" and she was very negative, said no one would sell it, so I gave up looking.
However, in a novel I am reading it mentions cutting down some kudzu vine, and there was quite a bit about what a nuisance it is, so I Googled it and discovered it is in fact Russian vine. Everything I read was very negative and it is illegal to grow it in some states, but not in Oklahoma, so I found some seeds on sale on e-bay for $2.50 and have sent away for them.
You might wonder, particularly if you know what it is like, why I want it in my garden, but I don't have any flowering shrubs it is going to invade. I want it to grow up - and cover - the side of my neighbour's very unsightly garage.
Today I have just been housekeeping, and watching the news channel. The main, big story is the Casey Anthony murder trial. Has that been reported over there? She is charged with first degree murder and they have the death penalty in Florida, so if found guilty she will be off to death row. Today we have had all the experts dissecting the importance of the forensic evidence, and it has been extremely gruesome. The accused is on trial for the homicide of her three year old child, and it seems unclear at the moment if she murdered her with chloroform, or suffocated her with duct tape. She made 68 searches on her computer for chloroform - they always take away the computer don't they. The duct tape was found wrapped round and round the remains of the child's skull. The crime scene photos are so gruesome the judge won't allow them to be shown publicly. It is emerging, or being suggested, that the accused's father played a role in disposing of the remains, so there is still a lot we don't know yet.
The other news story is the New York congressman who was twittering and sending lewd photos on his Facebook account. The calls for his resignation are getting louder, it is being said he needs to go into rehab to be a better husband and a healthier person, without the stress of being a congressman. He did announce tonight that he is taking leave of absence to go into rehab but won't resign. Someone said he can't resign because he doesn't have any other skills, he is not a lawyer, like a lot of them are, he has spent all his working life in politics.
The New York congressman for the Bronx a few months ago was in a financial/ethics scandal and he had to stand in the floor of Congress and be publicly censured, which apparently was a big deal. But no one was calling for his resignation because he is very likeable, whereas no one likes the guy in the sex scandal, he is very arrogant and combative and there is no sympathy for him. Aspiring politicians take note, it doesn't do to rub everyone up the wrong way, it comes back to bite you.
This guy was married only last year and Bill Clinton officiated at the wedding which I thought was curious, and have been exchanging e-mails with Fr Clark on the subject.
Last summer - or it may have been the one before - I went round nurseries and plant centres looking for Russian Vine to plant in my garden, but couldn't find it, nobody knew what I was talking about, but someone did take the trouble to look it up when I told her it was also called "mile-a-minute" and she was very negative, said no one would sell it, so I gave up looking.
However, in a novel I am reading it mentions cutting down some kudzu vine, and there was quite a bit about what a nuisance it is, so I Googled it and discovered it is in fact Russian vine. Everything I read was very negative and it is illegal to grow it in some states, but not in Oklahoma, so I found some seeds on sale on e-bay for $2.50 and have sent away for them.
You might wonder, particularly if you know what it is like, why I want it in my garden, but I don't have any flowering shrubs it is going to invade. I want it to grow up - and cover - the side of my neighbour's very unsightly garage.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
THURSDAY
I was out as usual for the donuts. The Kiwanis speaker was the Shawnee Police Chief. He stepped in at the last minute as the booked speaker couldn't come, and he was very interesting. He hadn't had a talk prepared so just chatted generally about police matters in Shawnee. He said there are several drug houses they watch, and when they get a warrant to search one it's such fun to have a piece of paper with a signature on it allowing them to kick a door in. I should think they must have to be pretty sure of their evidence.
Another topic he touched on was the use of cameras at traffic lights etc. They don't have them here because the Civil Liberties lobby loudly objects to them and he is envious of the fact that in Europe they are extensively used. I told him we also have them on bridges on the motorways to make sure we keep to the speed limit.
Next week the speaker is the Tecumseh Police Chief.
I later went on to the discussion group at Emmanuel and afterwards six of us went to lunch at a new pizza place which has just opened underneath the pub. The owner also owns the computer shop I go to on Main Street and we're practically friends I am such a regular customer, so he stopped to talk to me on his way back to his computer shop.
A week or so ago I passed on some wool and knitting pattern for knitted helmets (they are actually worn under the hard helmets) which the troops wear in the winter in Afghanistan, and this evening I went out to collect the finished helmets to pass them on to the person at the Senior Centre co-ordinating the project. I thanked her and said I do feel a little awkward - being English - thanking an American for something she is doing for her military.
In the news.....The breaking news as I type is that NATO forces are relentlessly bombing Gadaffi's compound, so I should think that will be all over soon.
In the news.....The breaking news as I type is that NATO forces are relentlessly bombing Gadaffi's compound, so I should think that will be all over soon.
WEDNESDAY
I didn't wake up this morning until 20 to 11 so was late to the hospital. Pattisue was just finishing the floor she was going round, so we had lunch with Larry and I did the other floor.
There was an e-mail from Nancy when I got home that there would be another social evening at her house tonight, with a pot luck supper, so I hauled Pauline's brownies I'd bought yesterday out of the freezer. There weren't any children or young people there so the adults had a chance to eat the brownies for a change. The children and young people are all away at their summer Bible camps, and it's surreal to see all the streets and supermarkets so devoid of children. It's like Shawnee has been invaded by creatures from outer space who've carried them off and just left the adult population behind.
Last week at Nancy's we were going to see, and have a discussion, on a DVD but it wouldn't play so we saw something else instead, and the group of us who were there this week were those who were very interested in the alternative that we saw, so we saw the second of the series.
My neighbours......
This is the 'not pretty' house opposite me that I was pestering the City's Action Centre to demolish (yeah, I know, I ought to get a life) and the owner's brother was out there today painting the outside. Dale, next door to it, told me he'd been working on the inside. 'working on the inside' I yelled, 'he's been going there for weeks and weeks, I've never seen him carry in any tools or supplies, I thought he was growing marijuana in there'. So I am waiting to see who or if anyone moves in there.
This house is next door to it. A nice young couple lived there who couldn't keep up the mortgage payments in these hard economic times and had to move out. So the City's Action Centre have slapped a Notice on it ordering them to tidy it up and cut the grass, or they will be fined. Which somewhat bewilders me because it is not nearly as bad as the house next to it which was just 'not pretty'. Dale however tells me that it is very messy in the garden round the back. I think I need to look at the City's web page. I'll go and get a life another day.
I did feel a rush of gratitude to Kevin for cutting my grass. He knows it is too much for me and does it so I won't be fined.
There was an e-mail from Nancy when I got home that there would be another social evening at her house tonight, with a pot luck supper, so I hauled Pauline's brownies I'd bought yesterday out of the freezer. There weren't any children or young people there so the adults had a chance to eat the brownies for a change. The children and young people are all away at their summer Bible camps, and it's surreal to see all the streets and supermarkets so devoid of children. It's like Shawnee has been invaded by creatures from outer space who've carried them off and just left the adult population behind.
Last week at Nancy's we were going to see, and have a discussion, on a DVD but it wouldn't play so we saw something else instead, and the group of us who were there this week were those who were very interested in the alternative that we saw, so we saw the second of the series.
My neighbours......
I did feel a rush of gratitude to Kevin for cutting my grass. He knows it is too much for me and does it so I won't be fined.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
TUESDAY
I was up early to help Louise and Cecil set up the Kiwanis bake sale at the Senior Centre. I didn't bake anything but bought some things I put in the freezer for when I need to take a contribution to something. There's always a bring-and-share, or pot luck, going on.
Later in the morning I went to the gospel singing.
The end of the bake sale, there were just these few cakes left. Mary on the right is also a regular at the gospel singing, and she thanked everyone there for supporting the sale; she told them that through the funds raised Kiwanis had bought books for the children at the Early Learning Centre, so that each child would have a book to take home at the beginning of the holidays.
Cecil and Pauline also helping out at the Bake Sale. The Senior Centre is nice isn't it. The same can't be said of the cafeteria, at least not the lunches served. I was passing the month's menu, and stopped to have a look.
Looking at the meal for tomorrow, Wednesday, they have quiche, biscuits and gravy, margarine and V8 juice. Wow, I thought, how mouthwatering is that (those who know my aversion to gravy will recognise the sarcasm) I knew there was a reason I didn't eat there, even if it only $1.50.
Phyllis had a present for me this morning, bless her heart, a little jar of marmite (it's unavailable here). People either love or hate marmite, she's among the haters but knows I like it. I realised today that although accent sounds as if she just left the East End this morning, her vocabulary is completely American, more than mine will ever be.
In the news.....The major news story on all the news and talk shows concerns a New York congressman who last week twittered lewd pictures of his private parts to a Facebook page, he thought he was sending it to an individual then panicked when it got out on Facebook. At first he lied and said his account had been hacked, so the news people were all over that demanding to know why the FBI weren't investigating it, it's a Federal offence. So, cornered, he had to come on television, give a press conference and fess up, as they say, to lying, which he did - very abjectly - saying how sorry he was for the pain he caused his wife and family. He was choking down the tears and I've never seen anyone look so humiliated and embarrassed, my heart went out to him. We all do things we shouldn't but as Christians we know we're not perfect, we're forgiven.
There is a big body of opinion though that is not forgiving and is demanding his resignation, saying that it shows such an appalling lack of judgement he should not be in Congress. And I can see their point.
Apparently these sexually explicit activities on the phone, internet etc. is an 'impulse compulsion disorder'. Did these things always have a name, or am I just learning of them?
Later in the morning I went to the gospel singing.
Phyllis had a present for me this morning, bless her heart, a little jar of marmite (it's unavailable here). People either love or hate marmite, she's among the haters but knows I like it. I realised today that although accent sounds as if she just left the East End this morning, her vocabulary is completely American, more than mine will ever be.
In the news.....The major news story on all the news and talk shows concerns a New York congressman who last week twittered lewd pictures of his private parts to a Facebook page, he thought he was sending it to an individual then panicked when it got out on Facebook. At first he lied and said his account had been hacked, so the news people were all over that demanding to know why the FBI weren't investigating it, it's a Federal offence. So, cornered, he had to come on television, give a press conference and fess up, as they say, to lying, which he did - very abjectly - saying how sorry he was for the pain he caused his wife and family. He was choking down the tears and I've never seen anyone look so humiliated and embarrassed, my heart went out to him. We all do things we shouldn't but as Christians we know we're not perfect, we're forgiven.
There is a big body of opinion though that is not forgiving and is demanding his resignation, saying that it shows such an appalling lack of judgement he should not be in Congress. And I can see their point.
Apparently these sexually explicit activities on the phone, internet etc. is an 'impulse compulsion disorder'. Did these things always have a name, or am I just learning of them?
MONDAY
I'm late writing this up, Tuesday morning, but I don't sleep well and didn't on Sunday night so it was catching up with me on Monday.
I was up and out early to the travel agents. Over the weekend I looked at the aircraft's seating plan and discovered - shock, horror - that in spite of specifying an aisle seat I was in the middle of a row so I needed to go and put that right. Bruce and Rosalyn had forgotten to specify their seats, and Rosalyn needs an aisle seat as well, so I told the travel agent that and asked that they put us near each other, which they've done.
While I was waiting for the travel agent to open I was having a coffee and hanging out in the Senior Centre with my friend Phyllis, who is working in an office there this week.
I afterwards called on Rosalyn who is busy looking after her grandson this week, while her daughter is in England. I took some hommous I'd knocked up for my lunch (I thought I'd impress her with my healthy eating, like I knock up fibre rich snacks like this every day) and while Bruce was doing the photocopying she spooned some vegetable curry she'd made into a jar for me, and gave me some fruit salad. She doesn't have to fake the healthy eating, I know she eats like this every day.
By the early evening my lack of sleep was catching up on me, I was dozing, and before I could get round to eating said vegetable curry Pattisue rang me from her car, where she'd had a busy day in Midwest City, and asked if I wanted to go and eat, she fancied Chinese. I'm always up for the China Buffet so I woke up, and jumped up, and we had a nice meal together there. I did crash out though when I got back home, it was morning before I even turned the lights out and the computer off.
I was up and out early to the travel agents. Over the weekend I looked at the aircraft's seating plan and discovered - shock, horror - that in spite of specifying an aisle seat I was in the middle of a row so I needed to go and put that right. Bruce and Rosalyn had forgotten to specify their seats, and Rosalyn needs an aisle seat as well, so I told the travel agent that and asked that they put us near each other, which they've done.
While I was waiting for the travel agent to open I was having a coffee and hanging out in the Senior Centre with my friend Phyllis, who is working in an office there this week.
I afterwards called on Rosalyn who is busy looking after her grandson this week, while her daughter is in England. I took some hommous I'd knocked up for my lunch (I thought I'd impress her with my healthy eating, like I knock up fibre rich snacks like this every day) and while Bruce was doing the photocopying she spooned some vegetable curry she'd made into a jar for me, and gave me some fruit salad. She doesn't have to fake the healthy eating, I know she eats like this every day.
By the early evening my lack of sleep was catching up on me, I was dozing, and before I could get round to eating said vegetable curry Pattisue rang me from her car, where she'd had a busy day in Midwest City, and asked if I wanted to go and eat, she fancied Chinese. I'm always up for the China Buffet so I woke up, and jumped up, and we had a nice meal together there. I did crash out though when I got back home, it was morning before I even turned the lights out and the computer off.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
SATURDAY
It has been intensely hot, I noticed it was 99 as I drove through town. I think Bubbles finds the house too cold so she keeps going outside to warm up, then starts feeling hot, comes back in, and just flakes out.
I was getting a bit anxious about the extremes of temperature on her, but she lies out on the back porch which is more shaded than the front, and I've got the ceiling fan on for her there.
I wasn't sure what to do about her when I am over there, Sharon offered to come in and feed her but she doesn't live near me, and I felt it was too much for the length of time I will be away. Rosalyn was dead against her boarding anywhere and suggested I employ a teenager from the church to come in and feed her, like she used to do with her cat. But I just wasn't happy with that although I didn't doubt that the teenager would be conscientous, so I enquired about boarding at the vets, but before I could check it out, Rosalyn - in a final attempt to keep Bubbles in her own home - suggested her friend and housekeeper, Jay. I like Jay and felt that was a suggestion I could embrace, and I think Bubbles probably would be better in her own, familiar surroundings. Also the cost would be the same as boarding.
When I woke up this morning I debated whether to go and see if the Farmer's Market was any better than it has been, or finish reading my book. I decided on the latter, which is mostly what I have done today interspersed with little bursts of housekeeping.
Rosalyn rang to say they booked their trip this morning and are on the same flight as me so we can travel together. Their delay in booking though cost them an extra $200 each so I'm glad I went ahead and booked mine when I did.
This evening I went to the movies with Pattisue and saw the animated film 'Hop' which was very good. Animation is nothing like it used to be and I am becoming quite a fan.
The lilies are so pretty in Oklahoma. I took this picture when I was at the dentist on Thursday.
I wasn't sure what to do about her when I am over there, Sharon offered to come in and feed her but she doesn't live near me, and I felt it was too much for the length of time I will be away. Rosalyn was dead against her boarding anywhere and suggested I employ a teenager from the church to come in and feed her, like she used to do with her cat. But I just wasn't happy with that although I didn't doubt that the teenager would be conscientous, so I enquired about boarding at the vets, but before I could check it out, Rosalyn - in a final attempt to keep Bubbles in her own home - suggested her friend and housekeeper, Jay. I like Jay and felt that was a suggestion I could embrace, and I think Bubbles probably would be better in her own, familiar surroundings. Also the cost would be the same as boarding.
When I woke up this morning I debated whether to go and see if the Farmer's Market was any better than it has been, or finish reading my book. I decided on the latter, which is mostly what I have done today interspersed with little bursts of housekeeping.
Rosalyn rang to say they booked their trip this morning and are on the same flight as me so we can travel together. Their delay in booking though cost them an extra $200 each so I'm glad I went ahead and booked mine when I did.
This evening I went to the movies with Pattisue and saw the animated film 'Hop' which was very good. Animation is nothing like it used to be and I am becoming quite a fan.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
THURSDAY
In spite of my prayers I still woke up this morning with an appointment with the hygienist at 10 o'clock. I can't speak too highly of her though and do feel better for having had it done. The treatment took nearly two hours, and while she was administering the anaesthetics I thought she was better than any dentist I'd ever had at home - she started off with laughing gas so that I wouldn't feel the injection needles going deep into my gums, so the whole procedure was actually painless.
She was working with an x-ray of my gums on the computer beside her and commented that when someone had extracted a tooth in the past they had left fragments in the root canal, which was probably causing the infection and toothache. I told her that was the case; when the dentist was extracting the tooth it broke off, leaving all the root, and I had to go to a hospital (the Maxillo-Facial Unit at East Grinstead) to have it sorted out. It occurred to me while she was vacuuming away in my root canal that this hygienist was doing something I'd been sent to a specialised hospital for, I asked her why she wasn't a dentist.
The estimate of the work required was divided into three stages, the next stage is for the dentist to do the fillings that need to be done, and make impressions of my mouth, then in the final stage he will extract the loose teeth and put in a dental plate. I think I might have it done before July.
This was the first time I went to the place on my own, last time Rosalyn took me, and it is in Norman, a city about 40 miles away. At first the Yahoo directions looked very straight forward, go to Tecumseh, take Highway 9, turn left when I get to Norman and it is on my left. C'est une doddle, I thought. I was wrong. Somewhere there was a flaw and I ended up on the other side of town, and it is a much bigger town than Shawnee. I pulled off the road and telephoned the surgery and someone pulled up behind me to offer assistance. When I showed him the paperwork with the address on he said his sister in law works in that dentists, and he gave me precise and clear directions to get there across town. I spoke to his sister in law when I got to the surgery and asked if he was an angel, or what, it certainly seemed miraculous that he turned up just when he did.
I had allowed an extra hour to get lost, so still arrived half an hour early.
I got back home in the early afternoon and lay down to recover from my early start, my treatment and the journey. Later on I went to the bank, had a mocha latte, a blueberry muffin and a little read in Starbucks, then picked up a takeout from the Golden Corral buffet.
She was working with an x-ray of my gums on the computer beside her and commented that when someone had extracted a tooth in the past they had left fragments in the root canal, which was probably causing the infection and toothache. I told her that was the case; when the dentist was extracting the tooth it broke off, leaving all the root, and I had to go to a hospital (the Maxillo-Facial Unit at East Grinstead) to have it sorted out. It occurred to me while she was vacuuming away in my root canal that this hygienist was doing something I'd been sent to a specialised hospital for, I asked her why she wasn't a dentist.
The estimate of the work required was divided into three stages, the next stage is for the dentist to do the fillings that need to be done, and make impressions of my mouth, then in the final stage he will extract the loose teeth and put in a dental plate. I think I might have it done before July.
This was the first time I went to the place on my own, last time Rosalyn took me, and it is in Norman, a city about 40 miles away. At first the Yahoo directions looked very straight forward, go to Tecumseh, take Highway 9, turn left when I get to Norman and it is on my left. C'est une doddle, I thought. I was wrong. Somewhere there was a flaw and I ended up on the other side of town, and it is a much bigger town than Shawnee. I pulled off the road and telephoned the surgery and someone pulled up behind me to offer assistance. When I showed him the paperwork with the address on he said his sister in law works in that dentists, and he gave me precise and clear directions to get there across town. I spoke to his sister in law when I got to the surgery and asked if he was an angel, or what, it certainly seemed miraculous that he turned up just when he did.
I had allowed an extra hour to get lost, so still arrived half an hour early.
I got back home in the early afternoon and lay down to recover from my early start, my treatment and the journey. Later on I went to the bank, had a mocha latte, a blueberry muffin and a little read in Starbucks, then picked up a takeout from the Golden Corral buffet.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
WEDNESDAY
I was up early this morning making cupcakes. I thought the Wednesday evening activities were suspended for the summer but one of the members was holding a social event in her home with a potluck supper.
Sharon doesn't have a computer so I printed off details of it for her, and caught up with her and her gardening club who were clearing a little plot of land between two buildings off Main Street.
When I got there she had filled two bin bags full of rubbish, so she sat down to read what I had brought her.
I stopped off there again in the afternoon, on my way home from the hospital, and they had finished it. It looks quite pretty now. It was just a piece of waste land between the library, on the left, and a hamburger restaurant on the right.
When I got home from my chaplaincy round I had a nap then frosted the cupcakes. I make them primarily for the children and was gratified when one lad made a point of coming up to me to say they were good.
These are potato crisps dipped in chocolate. I think salt and chocolate go very well together, and when I saw these on a Food Network programme I wanted an excuse to do them. I think I should probably have done more, there were about 40/50 people at Nancy's house, it wasn't just the usual Wednesday group, the wider church membership came.
My thoughts all day have been dominated by my impending visit to the dentist tomorrow, I am having a deep clean. This is a procedure that is $600+ so it is not just a poke around the crevices by the hygienist, although a hygienist does it. When I went a few months ago I had the usual clean and polish, the dentist also looked at my teeth, and I came away with a very detailed estimate of all the work that needed doing. At that time just one lower tooth was loose but now they all are, and I'm hoping the deep clean will save the top ones. I need fillings too and the toothache has been getting worse.
I have to say I was very impressed with the dentist and hygienist here, not just by their professionalism but their kindness as well which is why I'm not waiting to have them seen to when I'm back home. I think practically all dentists now have opted out of the NHS so I know it would still cost me to have dental treatment there.
I know I should have had this seen to much sooner but I think I just kept hoping I could die before I really had to. Even now I'm praying Armageddon will come before the morning.
Sharon doesn't have a computer so I printed off details of it for her, and caught up with her and her gardening club who were clearing a little plot of land between two buildings off Main Street.
When I got home from my chaplaincy round I had a nap then frosted the cupcakes. I make them primarily for the children and was gratified when one lad made a point of coming up to me to say they were good.
My thoughts all day have been dominated by my impending visit to the dentist tomorrow, I am having a deep clean. This is a procedure that is $600+ so it is not just a poke around the crevices by the hygienist, although a hygienist does it. When I went a few months ago I had the usual clean and polish, the dentist also looked at my teeth, and I came away with a very detailed estimate of all the work that needed doing. At that time just one lower tooth was loose but now they all are, and I'm hoping the deep clean will save the top ones. I need fillings too and the toothache has been getting worse.
I have to say I was very impressed with the dentist and hygienist here, not just by their professionalism but their kindness as well which is why I'm not waiting to have them seen to when I'm back home. I think practically all dentists now have opted out of the NHS so I know it would still cost me to have dental treatment there.
I know I should have had this seen to much sooner but I think I just kept hoping I could die before I really had to. Even now I'm praying Armageddon will come before the morning.
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