I also like to find out if someone has commented on my comment and so will revisit the post a day or two later. In the past few weeks there are a couple of blogs where nothing from me is showing up! I like to think that I leave constructive comments but maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe Blogger is up to its old tricks again and sending things to Spam folders?
The taxi was this afternoon. When we arrived at the shelter the Operations Manager brought the carrier up from the building's Isolation room in the basement. The carrier held David, a sweet orange tabby who didn't look happy to be there.
The shelter prioritizes cats with special needs, and our passenger today certainly qualified. He had recently arrived from another location after his front leg had been amputated. Today's visit was the first one with the shelter's partner vet, who would do a physical exam, take out the staples from the surgery, and put in a microchip.
This is our second time ferrying a cat to this vet. Both the front desk and the medical staff are friendly and professional. After an initial consultation in the examination room the technician took David into the treatment area. Fifteen minutes later he was back, and happy to return to his carrier. The trip back to the shelter was uneventful.
When David gets a clean bill of health he will get to go to a foster house, and (fingers crossed) eventually to a forever home. He deserves it.
Five years ago today: He Done Her Wrong
There were multiple planning meetings over the summer and early fall, and the event was yesterday. Some things (like the menu) were the same. Some things were quite different. The biggest change was the assistance of a new church employee. He's the head janitor, but also a caterer with years of experience who operates out of the school kitchen. Early on Tony and I met with him and got some great ideas for simplifying the cooking process. Based on our conversation I typed up recipes, and made copies to tape to a shelf over the kitchen countertop.
Last year our kitchen crew prepared the sauerkraut and green beans. A group of volunteers grilled the sausage. The chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy were outsourced to a restaurant. Over the course of the 2023 event there were some issues keeping the serving trays filled with outsourced dishes, so this year we cooked the mashed potatoes and gravy in house.
There was nothing gourmet or fancy about the food. The sauerkraut and green beans came from a can. The potatoes and gravy started
off dried, but each dish was enhanced with extra ingredients. We heard several compliments from diners, and no complaints.
The
final numbers won't come in for a couple of weeks, but it will be interesting
to see how many people ate.
The caterer did all the purchasing, so I don't know how many commercial sized
cans and containers we went through, but we cooked more than last
year when we used 56 cans of green beans and 27 cans of sauerkraut.
And most interestingly, one of the kitchen workers indicated he might be interested in heading up the kitchen team next year. If he commits, Tony and I will take a step back and act as consultants.
Five years ago: Come See It!
Today a fellowship member needed some supplies that I had. She lives an hour west of my house so we arranged to meet halfway. However, when she threw out a meeting time of 3:30 pm I was annoyed; that's right in the middle of my least productive part of the day. However, she really needed the supplies so I agreed.
My route to the meeting location took me west on Interstate 44. Because I'm never out at that time I didn't realize that it was the beginning of rush hour traffic. Another annoyance. Traffic going eastbound was gridlocked for several miles, and decided I would not go home that way.
I gritted my teeth as I navigated around multiple semi trucks and a pickup that was weaving in and
out of traffic. The first four miles going west on 44 is
lined with development, but all of a sudden you enter the Forest 44
Corridor and there is a dramatic change in the scenery, with rolling
hills lined with heavy greenery and no development. That change completely
changed my attitude.
Continuing several miles down the highway I passed over the Meramec River,
which is straddled by the former city of
Times Beach
(the site of a major environmental disaster and now a state park). No
development here!
In two more miles I was at Eureka and exited the interstate.
My destination was a strip mall just off the highway. The acquaintance was waiting for me, the supply hand off only took a few minutes, and then it was time to start home.
I had made the decision not to get back on the highway. Fortunately I knew the
area well enough to take surface streets-first going north and then east. The trip
ended up being just what I needed. The first half consisted of two lane roads
that wound up, down, and around the rolling hills. Even though there was very little
traffic I didn't feel safe stopping for a photo, it was very similar to this:
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| Pxhere |
After a turn that took me down a subdivision-lined street, the next portion of the drive skirted the perimeter of a state park. Once again there was nature to the right and left of me. I was bummed when the park ended, because the next two turns were onto heavily traveled, four lane roads. Instead of looking at the wonders of nature around me I had to concentrate on the traffic.
Five years ago today: Polite, Pleasant, Personable
The mammogram was normal. The
bone density showed that my bones needed some improvement.
I was sad but not surprised; I'm Caucasian, female, old-ish, with a thin build - all risk factors for
osteoporosis. The best way to improve bone strength is with weight bearing exercises. However, when I try to do any type of weights at the gym my left shoulder lets
me know that's not a good idea. Time to find a different solution.
I don't know about you, but my mind remembers things and spits them back at random times. Weeks ago I read an article about rucking, which is the act of walking while carrying a weighted backpack. I suspected that would help build bones, and an internet search confirmed my suspicion. I also found out that a good starting point for rucking would be 3-5% of my body weight for either one mile or 20 minutes, whichever is shorter.
I dug around in the coat closet and found a backpack. I dug around in Hubby Tony's pile of hand weights and put an appropriate-sized one in the backpack. Then we went for a walk. The weight on my back was obvious but not particularly pronounced. It was easy to carry, even up the hills.
My friend Google said I should aim to ruck two or three times a week and eventually increase my weight or walking speed. I suppose doing both wouldn't hurt either.
Five years ago today: Flip Flops Lost And Found
However, mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can create peracetic acid, which
is toxic.
No one takes the time to figure out if things are true or false before the pass them on.
AARGH!
Five years ago today: "I'm Ready For My Closeup, Mr. DeMille"
The orders are placed online. I volunteered to coordinate the order distribution. That means I pick up the calendars at the printer, print out the invoice, and put the orders into an appropriate size bag/mailing envelope/box. The local orders get picked up, and the others are mailed.
Since the beginning of September I have fulfilled dozens of orders with only one problem. It was a doozie.
The errant order was for both shipped and local calendars. When I was packaging them I flip-flopped the numbers, and instead of mailing one I mailed ten! I didn't realized my mistake until the woman who was picking up the local order contacted me to ask why there was only one small package instead of the larger one she was expecting. I was embarrassed, but the woman was considerate about my faux pas.
Ultimately, she took the correct number of calendars from my inventory, and asked her out-of-town friend to refuse the large package so it would come back to me. I put the friend's mailing information on the singleton package and sent it on its way.
Today the postal carrier dropped off the incorrectly mailed package, which
looked like it had been through a lot. The plastic envelope had ripped, so the
Post Office placed everything in a Damaged Mail plastic bag and used quite a
bit of tape to close everything up. When I took the calendars out of the
packaging I noticed that a couple had come apart at the top where they were
glued together, but I think that can be fixed.
I can guarantee I won't make the same mistake a second time!
Five years ago: Just Me, Myself, And I
We combined our trip to the bakery with some other errands. It was a beautiful day, so after the last stop we left the car and walked the rest of the way. Earlier in the day Tony had wondered out loud what the most popular coffee drink was. I asked my friend Google, who suggested an article called "The Most Popular Coffee Drinks: Comparing Data for Countries Worldwide" on the Coffeeness website. In the interest of international affairs, instead of getting a cup of black coffee we both ordered a cappuccino (which is the most popular coffee drink in 24 countries).
It didn't take long for the associate to have our drinks ready. I enjoyed the perfect combination of espresso and steamed milk with a thick layer of milk form on top, and thanks to the caffeine I was extra energetic on the walk back to the car.
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| Boynton |
This weekend Tony and I attended a fellowship convention at a resort halfway across the state. It was a lovely event. This morning we checked out of the hotel before today's events started, so as soon as things wrapped up we said our goodbyes and hit the road.
Halfway home I was ready for my afternoon cup of coffee. Tony researched the options at the next exit...two gas stations and a local bakery/deli. Guess which one we chose?
The bakery was getting ready to close for the day, so the associate let us fill our large travel mugs for the price of a small. We also purchased a large homemade chocolate cookie to share. Between the caffeine, chocolate, and sugar I had enough energy for the rest of the drive.
Five years ago today: WHY Is It So Hot?
My recent retreat ended on Sunday. On Monday the director sent an email to the team members reminding us about a wrap-up meeting on Thursday night.
The first two responses came quickly--an enthusiastic "I'll be there!" and "Sorry, but I'll be out of town visiting family." The third response was two hours later, and said "Sorry, but I tested positive for COVID". After that, between Monday and Wednesday three other women reported they were also positive.
(For some reason, the past two years the women's fall retreat has turned into a super-spreader event. The men's spring version of the same retreat has had no problems. It's not fair.)
I have had no symptoms. If I had contracted COVID from the retreat, the last day it could have happened was Sunday, so according to CDC guidelines that is my Day 0. Today is Day 5. Following the same guidelines, as long as I am symptom-free I can go about my business as long as I wear a mask in large groups.
Hubby Tony and I are scheduled to attend a fellowship convention this weekend.
I waffled over the Thursday wrap-up meeting. Should go and be around others who might be asymptomatic for the virus (and maybe start my clock over again) or stay home in respect for the weekend people?
Thursday morning a team member sent a message that she was not attending the wrap-up, because she going out of town soon and avoiding large crowds. That gave me permission to do the same. I responded to the group with my regrets.
This morning my suitcase includes masks and COVID tests. Just in case. It's a new world.
