Friday 29th June

I was out and about early this morning.   Called at the Senior Centre then to the Body Shop about my poor dented car.

I wish I had taken a picture of it.   The guy got a long, heavy tool, inserted the edge between the door and the dent, pushed something up and down and gradually the dent came out - it was MAGIC.

The trim along the door had been pulled away a bit so I waited inside while he sorted that out, and it was all done.   I'd thought - when I took the car in - that I was staring at a large repair bill, and it certainly wouldn't be done while I waited, but they didn't charge anything at all.   People are all so KIND to me.

Afterwards went on to the hospital where they were having a Changeover Ceremony, followed by a Reception.    It is looking Catholic already, I recognised some monks from St Gregory's walking about.

I went to see Pattisue first, she was just starting her transfusion, so I was too late for the Ceremony, but in time for the Reception.

It was like a wedding.   But without the alcohol.   There was some nice lemonade though, which makes a change from cold tea.

 Afterwards I went round a floor.  A new chaplain did the other floor.


I couldn't get off to sleep last night, I think I was worrying about the dented car, so had quite a nap this afternoon.


While I was at the Senior Centre this car parked next to me.  Just to show you what happens to cars here.

Thursday

The Kiwani's speaker, a game warden, was very interesting.   The Oklahoma Wildlife and Conservation Unit is a part of the local police force, like the Narcotics Unit, or Traffic police.  He talked about his life, how he came to join the Unit, and about his day.  When he is not out and about, mainly in the evening hours in his official vehicle, he works from home.

I think nearly all Oklahomans are familiar with hunting and fishing, he talked about 'noodling' and I was the only person in the room who didn't understand.   Apparently it is catching fish with one's bare hands.  One can only noodle three fish, any more have to be caught with a line, for which one needs a licence.  The licensing is quite strict, and that is something they go round checking.  Even on one's own property only the owner, and someone directly related like a parent, child, grandchild, can fish without a licence.

A big problem for them at the moment are wild pigs, the hot dry summers has caused an explosion in the population of them, and they cause a lot of damage among the wildlife that nest, like quail, wild turkeys, etc. In Oklahoma they can be hunted without a licence.  That's something worth eating, I don't know why more aren't hunted.

I went on to the hospital for a 10 o'clock Orientation with Larry and the Director of Pastoral Care of the Catholic hospital which is taking over from Sunday, officially.  We were told that one of the biggest changes will be in the atmosphere of the chapel.  It will have crucifixes, tabernacles, Stations of the Cross.   Even the patients' rooms are going to have crucifixes in them, but they will be taken down if a patient requests it.  With all the Baptists round here I can see the maintenance crew being very busy putting them up and taking them down.
 
We were issued with our new uniforms, and saw part of a video of the early history of the hospital.  It was founded in the 19th century by a group of nuns in St Louis, Missouri, and that is still the headquarters of the hospital.

The Director of Pastoral Care told us a little about herself, she is African American, and she seemed very nice.  Surprisingly she isn't a Catholic, I think she said she was Pentecostal.

After the Orientation we all had lunch.

Pattisue also came to the meeting.   She was supposed to have had chemo last week, it was postponed until today, but her blood count was still too low for it and she is coming in tomorrow for a transfusion.   She had difficulty apparently walking from her car to where the meeting was held, we heard afterwards that someone from the front desk walked with her because she kept stopping and leaning against the wall.   I tried to find out what time she was going in for the transfusion so I could meet her in the car park, and walk her to the transfusion place, but she insists she will be alright.

Last night, Wednesday, I offered to help with the Family Promise meal, and I was paired with someone I didn't know. Also she hadn't done anything  before for Family Promise, and she wasn't one of the church members who is regularly around the kitchen preparing or serving meals, so I felt I was in the driving seat.    We consulted beforehand as to what we were bringing, I told her I usually do dessert because I can't cook American food.  She brought two pasta dishes and a salad, and asked me to make a green bean casserole, 
fortunately I have eaten enough of them to know what's in them (tinned green beans, condensed mushroom soup, chopped bacon, crispy onions on top) And I made an apricot trifle. 

The weather is still intensely hot, in triple digits.  Thankfully it is not really a problem, the house is cold enough, so are the places I go to, the only problem is walking from the car into Walmart, and because of the heat I didn't park on the edge of the parking lot with the fat people, consequently I have now got a dent in my car door.   Which is quite upsetting.

Cars are always being dented and hit in the car parks - goodness knows why, there is plenty of room - that is why I was parking on the edge since I had mine resprayed.

Tuesday 26th June

Isn't it sweet, and no it's not mine, although it was offered to me and I was very tempted.   

A drug addict last night tied it up to a bush outside the Senior Centre where it sat all night.  A friend of the drug addict (they are both staying at the Salvation Army) has spent the day in the Centre watching tv in the lounge, taking refuge I think from the intense heat.

When I arrived for my afternoon stint at the front desk it was being walked around and I was offered it. Like I say I was tempted, but one cat is more than enough responsibility for me.    I suggested they call Sharon; she was contacted, jumped in her car and the little thing has now got a good home, and she is very happy with it.

It was covered in fleas and she stopped off first at a vet's.  The fleas are being dealt with, she went home with medication for it, I spoke to her again later in the afternoon when I got home, it was settling in and it must think it has died and gone to heaven.

It has been the hottest day today, and it was 104.  When I saw a street thermometer reading 113 the other day it must have been a mistake.   It is expected to stay in triple digits for the rest of the week.

The Senior Centre are giving away fans and there has been a steady stream of people coming in and asking.  I think there is air conditioning in most houses but very low income people can't afford to run it.


I was reading in the local paper that the City Commission are talking of water restrictions beginning in late July in case of a water shortage.  They set out several voluntary restrictions - mandatory restrictions will begin when the Twin Lakes reach an elevation of 1,058 feet and will include restricting outside water use to the hours of 6 and 10 pm, with odd houses watering on odd days and even houses on even days.      If the Twin Lakes drops to 1,056 feet outdoor water use  will be restricted to the hours of 7 to 8 pm.  And water usage will be limited to shrubs and young trees.   I just wonder how on earth they can enforce that, who is going to come along and monitor who is watering what, and at what time.

Monday 25th June

I knew it was hot today,  I guessed it was in triple digits, but I was taken aback passing a thermometer which read 113 degrees.  The air conditioning in my car didn't feel cold enough but I suspect I am going to get short shrift from Terry when I take it to him tomorrow.

 It was a long night last night, I don't sleep well in my own bed, so there is very little chance I am going to somewhere else.   There were two families, a young mother and her four year old and a mother, grandmother and baby of four months.   I got home just after 6 this morning; the van which takes them to the Day Centre picks them up at 6.


The dinner with Bruce and Rosalyn beforehand at the China Buffet was very nice.  As well as all the dishes of Chinese food there is a little Mongolian buffet, and a sushi bar which is surprisingly popular in this cattle country.   My only criticism is that the staff don't speak English, I would have thought that living and working here they would pick it up but I think they just live in their small family unit and don't need to.   It completely throws them when someone in an accent they have never heard before asks for 'water without ice'.


I really haven't done anything today, I just went out for my prescription and have been reading the rest of the day.

 I think this is the first time I have caught a reflection of myself photographing the licence plate.

Sunday 24th June

I went to the 9.30 Service at Emmanuel, it was lovely, straight from Cranmer's Prayer Book with no High Church liturgy.   I wish it wasn't just reserved for summer months.  I had an e-mail from Rosalyn who said that as she didn't have any organ playing duties she was going to the First Baptist Church.   I wouldn't have thought she would like the repetitive songs and choruses they sing in the Baptist churches, but it might be different there.   I'll find out because they have invited me to dinner tonight at the China Buffet.

I had a good day yesterday in Oklahoma City at the Centering Prayer Retreat with Sandra.   On the way home we stopped for dinner in Midwest City, at a Paneira Bread restaurant, which has excellent food.  Everyone bemoans the fact that there isn't one in Shawnee.  We got excited once, thinking one was coming, but it turned out to be a Whataburger so there was great disappointment.

After dinner I will be going to Emmanuel overnight, as Family Promise week has come round again.   I've been sneaking my sleeping bag etc out to the car while Bubbles' back was turned, I can't stand the reproachful "this is breaking my heart" antics she gets up to if she thinks she is being left for any extended time.

Friday

 The licence plate doesn't look wildly exciting, except that Colorado encompasses all the southern Rocky Mountains and it is very scenic.  It is sometimes nicknamed the 'Centennial State' because it was admitted to the Union in 1876, the centennial year of the United States Declaration of Independence.


It is one of only three states - the other two being Utah and Wyoming, which has no natural boundaries.

Although they are far from important there were a couple of items I was going to mention in yesterday's blog and forgot.  One was that as soon as I got home from Kiwanis I rang the TV guy in Tecumseh who talked me through resolving the problem with my TV and I was so glad to get the picture back.    Some time ago he set up my DVD player for me so he is familiar with the configuration of television and digital box.  I am now handling the remote with extreme care, not letting Bubbles dance all over it.

The other item was a basketball game which has been a BIG DEAL in Oklahoma in recent weeks.   For a long time OK City were underdogs in the basketball league, then they did well and got to the National Finals in which they won the first two games against Miami.  The Championship Final is the best of seven games but last night Miami won their fourth game, so they are the national champions instead of OK City.    Sigh.   I watched the game, but wished I knew more about the rules. 

A new chaplain has joined the team so I just had the third floor to go round today.  

It is still hot outside.   So much so I am now shopping at 10 or 11 o'clock at night.   The car parks are way too hot in the middle of the day.


Tomorrow I am going to a Retreat Centre in Oklahoma City with my friend Sandra.   The Retreat itself is about centering prayer, and rather than try and explain it  I have copied and pasted below an explanation from the Internet.

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.

Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.

Thursday 21 June

It was hot and sunny this morning when I went to Kiwanis, then in the middle of the day we had torrential rain - so that will stop the calla lilies from scorching for a while - and this afternoon it was hot and sunny again.

The Kiwanis speaker was Vice President of a local bank and her  topic was identity theft, and ways in which the elderly are being scammed from those who have hacked into their information.  

There are other ways too that people - and I suppose it is predominantly the elderly, perceived as being the most guillable -  are being scammed.  I experienced an attempt at it yesterday when I came out of the supermarket. A scruffy looking couple came up to me and asked for a lift as their car had broken down.  I said I would lend them my cell phone and they looked irritated, said they had one but could not get hold of anybody, then they walked back to where they had been hanging out.   They were obviously not making any other effort to get anywhere.

Remembering the advice I was given when I went to the Conference on Ageing I went back into the store and reported it.  I hope the store did something about it.    I might have called the police myself but didn't think it warranted an emergency 911 call, and I couldn't remember the number of the local station.

The Kiwanis speaker also made the point that their bank vaults are open to the public when the tornado sirens are going off.  And they have chess sets, weather radio, and I think she said a tv.  Sounds cosy.  If I am going to go anywhere in a tornado I might think of going there.

 I might have mentioned the Muscogee Nation before.   They are Creek Indians and one of the Five Civilised Tribes - the others being Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole.   They were considered civilised by Anglo European settlers because they adopted many of the colonists' customs, and had good relations with their neighbours.

During the Civil War the Five Tribes were divided in their politics, the Chocktaw and Chickasaw fought on the Confederate side, and the Creek and Seminole supported the Union.  And the Cherokee fought a civil war within their own nation between the majority Confederates, and the minority pro-Union.   Goodness me, as if the Civil War wasn't complicated enough.

When the Tribes had been relocated to Indian Territory they were promised their lands would be free of white settlement.  But that went by the board when the government opened the 'Cherokee Strip to outside settlement in the Oklahoma Land Run, and in 1907 the Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory were merged to form the state of Oklahoma.

. 

First day of Summer (officially)

This little house opposite me is for sale and I understand it is quite nice inside.   What do you think the asking price is?

Its recent history is that Mark bought then gutted and renovated it, and let it to Larry's cousin.  When she moved out he sold it and the young couple who were living there couldn't pay the mortgage, so it was repossessed and is now up for sale, and has been for some time.

It was under discussion when Mark was here working on my roof, I suggested he buy it back to re-let but he had enquired the price and thinks it is far too much.     It is $48,000 or £30,637.

I was swooning all over the place saying it is an amazing bargain, how could he pass it up.  He says I have got a different mindset.

The calla lilies in my garden are still green and flourishing, but I know that one day I will go out there and they will be scorched and shrivelled.   I am just waiting to see how long they will hold out.

The weather everywhere is hot at the moment.  In New York and down the east coast it is in the 90s and they are struggling to cope with it; they aren't used to it.   Here on the Plains it has to be in triple digits before anyone thinks it is hot.  I said something to Pattisue to the effect that the hot weather must be trying for her but she laughed and said she's lived here all her life, she is used to it.

I knocked something on my television remote (or rather, I think Bubbles did) and have lost the reception.  Plan A for getting it back is to ring a TV guy tomorrow in Tecumseh (he doesn't work on Wednesdays) who will hopefully talk me through it.   Plan B is someone from the Cable Company coming out on Friday.

I am normally ultra careful at handling the remote, I don't even remember holding it at the time, that's why I think Bubbles did it.

As I wasn't watching television this evening - I have a small one in the computer room but can't relax there - I thought I'd have some fresh air so I took a book and a thermos to St Gregory's campus to sit under a tree.  It was pleasant because there was a very stiff breeze;  without the breeze, or earlier in the day, I would probably have gone scurrying back to my cold house.

Kevin came and cut my grass this afternoon and pointed out this place where a gopher had been tunnelling.  I know moles do things like that to lawns at home - do we have gophers?

I had lunch at the hospital, then went round ICU, and some patients added to my list on the 2nd and 3rd floors -  the other chaplains had been and gone -  and that has been my day.

Tuesday 19th June

I haven't done much crocheting lately because of my arthritic fingers but I did make this little picnic blanket for the Raffle next week at the Senior Centre.   Or it is big enough to go over an old person's lap.  The other items I either got from my favourite shop, the Dollar Store, or they are items I already had and am re-cycling.

I suggested they put the prizes out and let the winners choose what they want.  I probably shan't be there when it is drawn because it is the same time that the hospital officially (although I thought they'd done this) comes under its new ownership, and everyone who is anyone, including me, will be there.

The hospital has already started implementing its new policies.  As a Catholic facility doctors can no longer carry out sterilisations, tying the Fallopian tubes etc.   That used to be done quite frequently here; at home the NHS has too many financial constraints to be able to do it on request without a medical reason.

I did my little stint at the front desk this afternoon while the country music musicians were playing.

 

Father's Day - Sunday 17th June

I was going to say that Father's Day here is a Big Deal, but then so is every cause for celebration, and it is quite nice really, I am not knocking it.

This morning I went to the little Methodist Church I go to sometimes when I feel like a change from the High Anglo Catholic liturgy at Emmanuel.   It is a pity they don't have a bigger congregation, it is a lovely little church.  

They were having a lunch after the Service because it is Father's Day and invited me.  I protested, I said at least I would have brought something if I'd known, but they twisted my arm, and it is always nice to eat in company.

There have been additions to the mural of Gordon Cooper.

 

Saturday

Although I don't go every month I did go this morning to the AARP meeting,  Phyllis is the President and she likes to see me there.   I got there just as the business part was finishing - because that is usually about lobbying for legislation for senior citizens - and they were just going to have lunch.    At 11 o'clock!!!   I'd just had breakfast but got myself a cup of tea and was hanging out with Phyllis during the entertainment.   

 He was playing the hit songs Phyllis and I remembered from our youth, which got us on to "do you remember when........"  I asked if she remembered when parents went to the pub and left the kids in the car with a bag of crisps (not that mine ever did)    She said yes, and when mothers left their kids outside the stores in their push chairs....they don't do that any more either.

Linda, the Mayor of Shawnee, sat down with us and 'visited'.  Americans never talk or chat, they always 'visit'.  I used to think that was just an Oklahoman trait, but I have come across it in books.  I was knitting a little dishcloth for the raffle booby prize, and I told her about the English raffles I had initiated at the Senior Centre, and the fact that I was finishing a picnic blanket for the next one at the end of the month.   She said she might come by the Senior Centre to see it, so I must crack on with it this weekend.

Phyllis and I.    The meeting is held in the cafeteria at Liberty Baptist, a very big Baptist church with a school attached.  The scarf was a present from Phyllis.  I'm doing well for little presents at the moment.  The aloe vera is sitting beside my computer, driving away the toxins.

In the evening Pattisue asked if I'd like to see Marigold Hotel, she'd heard it was good. I told her I'd seen it the other night but jumped at the chance to see it again.   My liberal Episcopalian friends all loved it and appreciated the humour which they said the British "do so well".    Pattisue however didn't seem very enthused and when I asked if she'd liked it said it wasn't what she had expected.    I was a little surprised, I knew it wouldn't go down well with southern Baptists but Pattisue is a member of University Baptist, and I thought that being more educated they would be more broad minded.     Anyway, I enjoyed it even more on the second showing.

Thursday 14th June

I fetched the donuts this morning, I was returning the favour for the guy who did my turn when the car was being re-sprayed, as he is out of town this week.

Fr Clark, who joined us quite recently, was the speaker this morning.   He basically told us his life story which went down well because I think everyone has an interesting story to tell, whoever they are, and members like to hear each others stories.

He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in a rural area and said his parents made enormous sacrifices to send him to a private school. He mentioned his British ancestry on his father's side, and that family history is one of his hobbies.

The war in Vietnam was going on when he graduated from High School, and he was drafted. He joined the Coast Guard (which here is part of the military) and was stationed in Maine, on the north east coast. The boat he was on was suddenly equipped with air conditioning, which is unheard of in Maine, there is only one week in September when it is ever warm enough to need it, so they guessed they were going to Vietnam.  However, there was also another boat and they were all told one boat would go to Vietnam, and the other would stay in Maine.  And they were asked which boat they wanted. He opted to stay on the boat he was on and go to Vietnam. However, when everyone sorted themselves out, all those on the boat for Vietnam found they were staying in Maine, and those who got on the boat to stay in Maine sailed off to Vietnam!!!

After his Service he went to Law School and met his wife, and after graduating from Law School he became a constitutional lawyer. He talked about leaving the Baptist church where he was brought up and joining the Episcopal Church, where he became a Reader, and then went to a theological seminary, where he was ordained in 1994.

He and his wife have three sons and five and a half grandchildren, who live in Tulsa, Kansas City and Virginia.  He is looking forward to officiating at the marriage of one of his sons in a cathedral in Dallas in September.

After Kiwanis I had to see Terry.  I took my car through a car wash the other day and although I pushed in the wing mirrors the car wash banged one of them, and I am having to have it replaced.  Which is a pain.   Terry will do it tomorrow.

Tuesday 12th/Wednesday 13th June

Yesterday, well Tuesday afternoon, I spilled a cup of tea over my computer desktop, I didn't think it affected the computer, I mopped it up, then was out for the afternoon and evening.  When I got home later in the evening I was typing all kinds of weirdness, the keys wouldn't type what I wanted.  Heart sinks, I immediately think I have a virus, and did a scan.  When that was alright I lifted up the keyboard and saw it had been sitting in a little pool of tea I'd missed earlier.   Telephoned dear sister for a consultation, then went to Staples for a new keyboard.  

When I was at the gospel singing last week Faye urged me to come on Tuesday and have lunch with her there.  On the second Tuesday of the month they celebrate all the birthdays that month.

I don't know if it is the same in other states but certainly in Oklahoma they make a big thing of celebrations.  

The lunch was very good.   One of the gospel singers always provides the meat, in this case fried chicken, and people bring side dishes and desserts.


After my stint at the front desk it was time to meet up with the Adult Interest Group at an Italian restaurant, I just had some dessert though, then we went to see 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'.  There must have been about fifteen of us and everyone came out saying how good it was, how much they had enjoyed it.  I am certainly going to see it again, so is Sharon, and we might not even wait to see if it comes downtown, we might go back to the $5.50 cinema.

Wednesday I was chatting for a while with Larry in the chaplaincy office then left to go to the monthly, newly formed, Peace Fellowship meeting which was held at Emmanuel.   Pizzas had been ordered in and it was much better than having the meeting in a restaurant, as we had been.

After lunch I went back to the hospital and did my chaplaincy round.     Spent rest of day watching television.  One item of interest was that Burger King have brought out a Bacon Sundae.

 I do like the combination of sweet and salty, cookies with salted peanuts and chocolate chips, and salty crisps dipped in melted chocolate - but I am not sure I am ready for a bacon sundae.  One witty commentator said they brought it out to wind up Al Qaeda and give the Muslim world something else to hate them for.
   
This is the graduation season.  Children here never 'move up' in school, or 'leave'.   They graduate.

Even in kindergarten.

I took this photo of Bubbles to e-mail Rosalyn.  She gave me a present today of an aloe vera cactus to put on my desk to drive the toxins from the computer away.   She also gave me a few tins of Fancy Feast as a present for Bubbles.   I told her that Bubbles never mithers me for her little treat of Fancy Feast, she knows when it is the middle of the day and when I am in the kitchen she just sits there like that and waits for it.   She really is the sweetest, most well behaved cat on the planet.