Planning And Pizza

Back in February I completed a survey from St. Louis County 2050, which is charged with developing a comprehensive plan for the county for the next 25 years. The survey asked me what I thought about the current state of the county and how it could be better.

After I submitted my results I promptly forgot about the whole thing. Last week I received an email  inviting me to an open house to review the preliminary recommendations and give feedback. In addition to letting me playing a part in the future of the county, the email also promised a free dinner.

I've never done anything like this before, but it sounded interesting. I asked Hubby Tony if he wanted to go. He did. We put the event that was closest to our house on the calendar.

The open house was tonight, held in the recreation complex of a county park. After signing in at a table in the hall we both got a cup that held eight push pins and a promise that once inside the room someone would explain what those pins were for.

The 'room' was a large open area. There was a table by the door holding a projector playing a slide show of charts and maps that summarized the information from the survey. Easels holding large boards were arranged in a semicircle along the far side. We learned that each board had one category of preliminary recommendations. After reviewing all of them, we were to place a push pin on the eight recommendations that we thought were the most important.

Each board had one or two members of the planning team there to answer questions. They were very knowledgeable and easy to talk with. I walked back and forth between boards several times before deciding which items would get my pins.

Shortly after Tony and I finished they announced that pizza had arrived. We went through the line and also picked up ice cream from the cooler next to the table. After eating we decided we didn't have any other questions and decided it was time to leave. 

The last County comprehensive plan was adopted 40 years ago. The new one is supposed to be unveiled later this year. It will be interesting to see if any of my top priorities made the final document.

On The Road To Health

Yesterday you learned about Pimento the Foster Cat's health issues. I'm thrilled to share that he's on the road to recovery.

Last night shortly before bedtime we heard from the shelter that the emergency clinic was still trying to figure out what was wrong with Pimento. The doctor didn't want to send him home prematurely, but as he was feeling better Hubby Tony and I could stop by the clinic for a visit today.

When we checked in at the clinic reception desk this morning for our visit the associate told us her system indicated Pimento had been discharged and was ready to leave! Twenty minutes later a technician came out from the back with Pimento, his medicine, and paperwork. There was no bill; the shelter paid for everything.

As soon as we walked into the condo Tony opened the carrier. Pimento shot out like a cannon. He skulked around looking for somewhere to hide, and eventually decided the safest place was under the bed. I went out to run some errands. When I got back it was time to give the cat his first doses of medicine.

After prodding Pimento out from under the bed and chasing him around the room Tony managed to grab him. I was ready to shove the two tiny pills and a syringe of liquid antibiotic down Pimento's throat. The procedure didn't go particularly well, but I think Pimento ingested enough to get him through to the next dose.

Tony left for a while, and while I was working on dinner Pimento skulked around again looking for a different safe place. Eventually he gave up, and when Tony returned the cat had settled into his favorite spot on the couch.

A couple of hours later I ran to the grocery store to get some things to accompany tonight's meal. When I returned Tony was sitting on the couch, and the cat was sitting on his lap. Both looked satisfied.

Five years ago today: The Installation Is Free

Thoughts and Prayers, Please

Please send healing thoughts Foster Cat Pimento’s way. He needs them.

Pimento was fine on Friday morning. By 10 pm that night he wouldn't eat, had thrown up some mainly digested food from lunch, and had left nothing in his litter box. (I was out for the evening, and Hubby Tony figured out in retrospect Pimento was probably lethargic starting mid-afternoon).

I contacted the shelter first thing Saturday morning. They called around to their vet partners to see if any could see him. The only option was an emergency clinic, so we took him there. Several hours later we learned that they had 'admitted' him so they could do some more tests today.

We're still waiting to hear what's going on.

Infirm Pimento

Five years ago today: Ready or Not, Here We Snow

The First Rule Of Marketing...

Should be to get your potential customer's name right. I've never met a Kathy (which of course starts with the letter K) with a formal name that starts with the letter C (like this recent 'opportunity' to save on insurance that I received in the mail).

I've never been a Catherine, and never will

And if I was inclined to switch to a new company, based on their level of detail I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be this one.

Five years ago: Virtual Sand Art

I Need Your Help!

My blog is supposed to be set up with two columns, with the posts on the left side and several gadgets ('About Me', 'My Original Blog', 'Blog Archive' 'Followers', 'My Blog List', and copyright information) on the right.

However, about three weeks ago things got wonky, and the left column started to show up underneath the posts. The last time I had this issue I fixed it by changing some HTML code. I've made several updates. Sometimes it looks like things are back to normal, but some times they don't.

If you're so inclined, could you please let me know what you see?

All I Can Do Now Is Wait

Missouri is late to the party when it comes to making voting convenient. The only way to vote absentee by mail is if you:

• Are confined due to illness or physical disability (or care for someone in your house who is)
  
• Expect to be absent on Election Day
• Are an election worker, first responder, or healthcare worker
• Are prevented by religious belief from going to the polls on election day 
• Are incarcerated but haven't lost right to vote
• Are an active-duty military personnel (or a close family members living with them) or a Missouri citizen living outside the U.S

The one time I requested an absentee ballot no one verified my reason, and I suspect quite a few people misrepresent their plans in order to get a ballot.

There is also a two-week period of no excuse in-person absentee voting, but it is usually only at the Board of Election Commissioners office. This year it was expanded to 14 locations in the metropolitan area. This option was so popular some people I know waited at a polling place an hour or more for the privilege of casting their ballot early.

That seemed crazy to me, and I decided that my plan would be to wait until Voting Day when there would be substantially more polling places (and hopefully shorter lines). Because voters can choose any polling place in the county, this morning after a chiropractor appointment I pulled up a wait time tracking website and found that the five locations closest to his office had somewhere between zero and six people in line. I headed towards the most convenient one.

The polling place was in a high school gym. It was well organized, with a line up indicator that wound around two sides of the room. However, there was no one in line and I was able to move immediately to a station. The worker scanned my ID, which told him which ballot I needed. After I had my ballot another worker directed me to a seat.

I pulled out my pre-filled sample ballot and got down to the task. Filling out all the bubbles was the hardest part. In addition to the national and state races, there were a half dozen state amendments/propositions, three county propositions, and two local ones. Including votes for a couple dozen judges that were up for retention, that was a lot of marking! 

After I submitted my ballot I chose a sticker from the selection at the machine. The poll worker thanked me for coming in.

 Five years ago today: Adventures In Selling And Buying

From Peaceful To Disgusted

Last night Hubby Tony said he wasn't feeling well and went to bed early. Because Tony wasn't available, Pimento the Cat deigned to come over to my side of the love seat and cuddle.

Thanks to the end of Daylight Savings Time and the early sunset it felt very late, although it was only a little after 9:00. I had the television on for noise, but my attention was mainly on my laptop screen. All of a sudden I heard a strange announcement from the screen. It said that the upcoming commercial was a paid political advertisement that by federal law the network was required to carry, it contained disturbing scenes, and viewer discretion was advised.

Just a few seconds after the ad started I saw a graphic image of an aborted baby. I picked up my laptop and held it in front of my eyes so I couldn't see anything else. All of a sudden the house felt scary. When I went to bed I turned on the lights as I went down the hall.

This morning I did research into the topic. I won't refer to the fringe Presidential candidate ad purchaser by name and increase his web presence, I found out that the vile anti-abortion ad has been running in states that have abortion measures on the ballot. The Federal Communications Commission’s rules say that stations are prohibited from rejecting or censoring political ads paid for and sponsored by legally qualified candidates. All they can do is include the warning statement.

Easiest Overwintering Ever

The first summer Hubby Tony and I lived in our condo I got some flowers in baskets to hang on the deck, but it didn't take me long to realize the orientation of the building wasn't conducive to growing annuals. The deck didn't get enough sun for them to thrive, but got too much sun for shade lovers. My solution was to get a supply of metal flowers, which I display in two large ceramic pots filled with pea gravel.

 When the weather turns cool, instead of pulling up spent plants all I have to do is carry my 'garden' inside. I check the flower stems for rust and bundle them together, then carry everything down to the storage area. Flowers go on the shelf. Pots go on the floor