Got To Keep On Dancing

The past few weeks they've been expanding the types of music they play through the speakers at the mall. In addition to the light jazz, classic rock, pop, and soul hits from the '70s, and '80, I'm used to hearing they've thrown in some R&B and country songs, and even some disco.

Today was no exception. Right after I opened the Customer Service desk Al Green serenaded me with "Let's Stay Together". Later in the morning Shania Twain told me "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" As I answered customer's questions Marvin Gaye wanted to know "What's Going On".

Shortly before my shift was over I heard a song for the first time in many years. With lyrics like "Dance with the boogie get down" and "Got to keep on dancing, keep on dancing" it would never win any awards for intellectual content, but the infectious beat had me bobbing my head and tapping my toes.

Here it is, so you can bob and tap too.

Oblivious

Today I was working at the mall Customer Service desk when an associate from a nearby woman's clothing store came to me with a question.  There was a group of four unsupervised young boys (she guessed they were about 10 years old) running in and out of the store and causing a disturbance.  What should she do?  (This store has two doors, one I can see from the desk and one I can't.  The brouhaha was at the far door.)

I said if I was her I'd call Security and let them handle it.  She went back to her store and I watched to see what happened next.  Several minutes later a gruff-looking older female security officer arrived and disappeared into the store.  She's relatively new to the job and I haven't had a chance to talk with her yet, but it seemed like she'd be the perfect choice to take care of a group on unruly kids. 

Shortly afterwards a cute toddler with floppy blond pigtails scurried past the desk.  When I see a young child on their own I always check to make sure there's an adult somewhere nearby. This time I didn't see anyone, but as I was stepping out from behind the desk I heard a female voice yelling "STOP".  I looked to my left and saw a woman one storefront down, nonchalantly walking my way.  I verified it was the mother of the toddler, then went back to my post.

Three minutes later the mother and daughter reappeared.  She said the group of boys she'd had with her at the food court had disappeared; could I call Security?  I put two and two together and told her where she might find her boys.  (At this point it had been about ten minutes since the security guard arrived.)  She took her daughter and disappeared into the store; I didn't see her again, but I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when the officer talked with her.

Five years ago today: Lyrical

New Standard Procedures

You may remember that last week I fell and sprained my wrist.  Several hours later I left the urgent care center with a brace and the standard instructions for RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation).   I'm good at following instructions, so I babied my wrist by doing as little around the house as possible.  After a couple of days I realized the big brace I got at the urgent care was too hot, so I bought a smaller one at Walgreens.

Today I had my monthly 'tune up' appointment at the chiropractor.  When I walked into the treatment room I was wearing the small wrap-around wrist sprint. He asked what had happened and I gave him the Reader's Digest version.  I also told him that I had quite a few aches from my tumble...my left shoulder, the right side of my neck, and my lower back.  He had me move my wrist back and forth, up and down, then announced that for the past week I'd been treating my injury all wrong.

WAIT........WHAT?!?

 He explained that there was a new way to treat sprains which pretty much contradicted what I'd been doing.   The sports medicine field has recently figured out that METH (Movement, Elevation, Traction, Heat) works better and helps sprains heal faster than the old protocol.

I got an adjustment and a demonstration of some pressure points on my forearm that help the sprained area heal, then a session on the traction table.  When I left the office all of my aches were gone!  Sadly, as I used my wrist during the day some of the discomfort came back, but it was not as severe as before.   Massaging the pressure points helped, and after dinner I soaked my hand and wrist in a Epsom salt solution while Hubby Tony and I talked about out days.

I'm a horrible invalid, and can't wait for my wrist to get back to normal.

Five years ago today:  Straight From The Farm

Plant Place

For many years I've had two hanging pots filled with spider plants.  They spend the summer outside, and winter in a sunny window in the kitchen.  I repot them at the beginning of each season (removing half of the plants from the containers and giving them away); by the time the weather cools off the pots are full and lush again, with multiple hanging plantlets.

The old deck that we replaced two summers ago had large hooks screwed into the underside of the top rail that I could hang the planters from.  This new deck top rail has no lip.  There's nowhere to put hooks, and the rail is too thick for standard brackets to fit over.  For the past two summers I've been looking for a solution, and haven't had any luck. 

This year when I brought the spider plants out I set them on the deck table and swore that was only temporary.  After a month they were still there.  We'd move them to the ground when we ate dinner outside, then put them back on the table when we were done.  It was getting to be a real pain.  Last weekend Hubby Tony and I were browsing at the garden section of a hardware store when I saw the cutest decorative metal stands.  They had a wide scroll base at the bottom and a basket hook at the top.  There were several colors on the shelf.  I choose one green and one yellow.

I set them up on the deck, and realized they could be a little taller; some of the spider plantlets are dragging on the ground.  When I get around to repotting, I'll remove the longest ones.  That should take care of the problem.

Five years ago today: Relief...

Monumental

Today, even though it was Memorial Day, I had to work my normal shift at the mall Customer Service desk.  Afterwards I was going to meet Hubby Tony at a Greek Festival, but the "chance of rain" the weatherman predicted began falling right as I got on the highway.  We changed our plans and I headed home.  After I changed my clothes we talked about our days, watched a little Cardinals baseball, then went to a nearby Pakistani cafe for gyro plates.  When we got home it was time for the main activity of the night.

 Over the weekend Tony and I watched several war movies that were part of a Memorial Day marathon on Turner Classic Movies.  Thanks to Redbox tonight we saw another one, The Monuments Men, a movie based on the true story of a great art treasure hunt at the end of World War II.

The movie, which is loosely based on a book called  The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel, follows seven people who were assigned the task of rescuing as much artwork from the Nazis as they could.  In actuality there were about 350 men and women (from thirteen different nations) who worked together to protect the cultural treasures of Europe.  They tracked, located, and returned more than five million artistic and cultural items stolen by Hitler and the Nazis.

I found it interesting that the movie had a local connection, Walter Kirtland Hancock, who was a sculptor and St. Louis native.  In the movie his character was Sgt. Walter Garfield, played by John Goodman (another St. Louis native).

If you get a chance to see this movie, I'd highly recommend it.

Five years ago today: Director Discourse

First Mass Of Thanksgiving

Three years ago Hubby Tony and I went to the ordination of a young man from our parish.  Since that time there have been two more men ordained as Archdiocesan priests (one from each of our boys' parish elementary school graduating classes).  The last one took place yesterday, and today Tony and I went to his first public mass.

This first mass is called the Mass of Thanksgiving, which gives thanks for his ordination.  We'd also been to the other two 'first' masses, so we could see the similarities and differences in each of them.  One major difference was the time this one was held.  The other two times the church had added an extra celebration, but this one was during a normal Sunday Mass.  The church was quite full; the pews were filled with a mixture of people who normally attend at that time and people who chose to be there for the celebration. 

The entrance procession at a major Catholic celebration is always quite impressive, and this one was no exception.  First came a thurifer (who carried the thurible holding the incense). Next was the crucifer carrying the crucifix, and two candle bearers.  They were followed by the remaining servers and multiple seminarians, and then the lector carrying the book of the Gospels.   After all that came the clergy, starting with the deacons.  They were followed by the concelebrants (all three parish priests as well as many others), and finally the principal celebrant.

I could tell the new priest was nervous.  During the greeting he had trouble with the microphone and it was hard to hear what he was saying.  However, it didn't take him long to relax, and he did a great job.  He had some help from a Master of Ceremonies, who directed the people on the altar and made sure things ran smoothly.  At the other first masses someone else did the preaching, but today when it came time for the homily, I was surprised to see the new priest step up to the pulpit.  This time he had no problem with the microphone, and his sermon was simple but thought-provoking.  The photographer took photos during key moments.

After Communion and before the final blessing the priest said a few closing remarks.  He thanked all the people who'd helped with the Mass and had some special words for his parents.  During his remarks to his Mom his voice broke, which caused me to tear up, too.   After the Mass was over everyone was invited to the parish center for a reception.  We got to greet the new priest and get one of his first blessings.

Five years ago today: Jelled

Car Spa

I got the best Mother's Day present from Son Brian and DIL Nicole -- a voucher to take my car in for a thorough cleaning.

I've held off on getting the job done, because the past few weeks have been pretty rainy.  It's not often I splurge on a good car wash and I wanted to enjoy the clean-car look for several days. Today, to celebrate the start of the Memorial Day weekend (and the unofficial kickoff of the summer) I took the car to a full-service facility not too far from the house.

Forty-five minutes later the car had been pampered from top to bottom, inside and out.  It was washed, the inside of the windows were cleaned, and the wheels shined.  All the carpet was vacuumed, the dashboard got wiped down, and a vinyl protectant was applied to all the inside surfaces.  I don't think my car has looked this good since I brought it home from the dealer!

As part of my package I also got a five-day Clean Guarantee coupon.  If the car gets dirty (or rained on) in that time I can take it back in and get it cleaned again.

Five years ago today: Gifts

And From Good.....To Horrible....

 On Monday I showed up for work a couple of hours early, then spent a portion of my 'free' time walking through a nearby residential neighborhood.  When I realized I was short on time and just a little confused about how to get back to my car I used my phone to get directions, then picked up my pace to a slow jog.  I'm not exactly sure what happened next; all I know is that I lost my balance and found myself laying face down on the sidewalk!  My left hand and side took the brunt of the impact.  Because I was in a hurry I hadn't put my phone back in my pocket; it flew out of my right hand and landed a couple of feet away.

I got up quickly and looked around to make sure no one had seen me, then did a quick inventory for any damage.  I had a small road-rash scrape on my left arm above my elbow, my shoulder was sore, and I had a large red spot on the heel of my left hand.  My phone came out much worse--the screen looked like a 100-piece jigsaw puzzle, with jagged lines running from one side to the other.  I didn't have time to mourn its passing; I put it in my pocket where it should have been and concentrated on getting back.

Once safely in the car I used a packaged hand wipe to clean up my arm and a small cut on my ring finger I hadn't realized was there.  My left wrist was feeling achy, but I ignored it and drove back to the mall where I ate my lunch in the car.  Now there was a big knot on my wrist just under my thumb.

When I got out of the car and grabbed my work clothes I had trouble using my left hand. (Did I tell you it's my dominant one?)  By the time I finished changing my clothes in the mall bathroom I knew something was seriously wrong.  I stopped by the Customer Service desk long enough to let my boss know what had happened and tell him I needed to have things checked out.  I used the desk computer to find the closest urgent care center on my insurance plan and said I'd be back as soon as possible.

It's not supposed to be swollen!

I spent almost three hours at the urgent care, where they took x-rays and determined nothing was broken. Checking in was tough; I couldn't write so one of the nurses filled out the forms for me, but when it was time to sign them I could barely get my fingers around the pen.  I left with a splint for my sprained wrist, a cold pack, and a prescription for pain killers.

I'd kept Boss and Hubby Tony updated on my progress.  Even though by this point my left hand was swollen from the base of my fingers to the wrist joint it didn't hurt as long as I didn't move it.  I decided to go back to the mall and finish up my shift (by this point there was only two hours left).  I felt sorry for Boss, who'd come in on his day off expecting to be there for only a short time.  Instead, I'd left him in the lurch.  Besides, if I'd gone home at that point in the day I would have been caught up in rush hour traffic on the highway which probably wouldn't have been a good idea.

I arrived at work, and Boss left after thanking me profusely. After I finished the shift I was hungry and bought a dinner I could eat with one hand from the food court.  On the way home I stopped by the pharmacy and filled my prescription.  Even though it was only seven o'clock when I pulled into the garage, I declared the day over.   I changed into my pajamas, took a pain pill, and zoned out on the couch.

This all happened three days ago. I'm pleased to report that each day my wrist has felt better.  Yesterday I could write without anything hurting and this morning I used both hands to wash my hair.  I may have overdone it at work today, though, so I'm looking forward to some 'do nothing' time over the weekend.

Five years ago today: Captains Courageous

From Bad.....To Good....

On Mondays I start work at the mall Customer Service desk at 9:30.  This week I arrived at 9:26, which gave me time to set my purse and lunchbox down before I clocked in.  I used my key in the office door, but it was already unlocked.  Before I could think too much about it the door opened and my boss poked his head out. I gave a little shriek--and by the look on his face I think he was equally surprised.

After we both recovered, he asked me if I'd forgotten the schedule change for the day.  Instead of opening, I was working the middle shift that began at noon to accommodate a co-worker with a dentist appointment.  Boss had come in on his day off to cover the time until I started.

(If he had told me, I didn't remember; I'm always paranoid that when the schedule changes I won't show up when I'm supposed to, so I send myself an email and make a reminder on my phone so I don't forget.  In the almost three years I've had this job I've never forgotten.)  

But in the end my certitude that I was right and he was wrong didn't really matter.  What the boss says goes, so all of a sudden I had two and a half hours to kill until my shift started.  I walked away from the desk in a foul mood and pondered my options.

I had everything I needed in the car to get exercise and run errands.  My original plan was to take care of the tasks after work; now I'd just get as much done beforehand as I could and finish up the rest on the way home. Since I wouldn't have the opportunity to shower I figured out I could take a walk without getting too sweaty.  I went into the closest bathroom and changed from work clothes to workout clothes, then left the mall.  It felt strange to be driving away just a short time after I'd arrived.

My first stop was a nearby Walmart to return some things.  After I finished up I attempted to use the restroom on the way out.  It was closed for cleaning, which made me even more annoyed.  I left the store irritated at everyone and everything.  I drove several blocks and parked the car at a nearby office building, then went inside and used their restroom before I started my walk.

Car keys and cell phone in one pocket, music player in the other, I turned left out of the parking lot. and another left at the first street.  I tried listening to the radio, but the tuner on my music player wasn't picking up the station's signal well (yet another reason to be irritated). Instead I flipped over to music, choosing an oldie but goodie--Supernatural by Santana.   Soon I was walking in time to the uptempo Latin rhythms and my mood got a bit lighter.

The neighborhood turned out to be made up of large older homes, each surrounded by lovely mature landscaping.  As I walked up one street and down the next I tried to pick out which house I'd like to live in. Before I knew it I realized my bad mood had completely vanished. I looked at the time on my phone and realized almost an hour had passed; I had to get back to the car, eat my lunch, and change clothes so I could be back at work on time.

I thought I'd kept good track of the streets I walked on, but when I got to the first intersection I couldn't remember which way to turn. I tried one way, but the houses didn't look familiar so I turned around and doubled back. A second street didn't seem right either. I began to get a little concerned, so I pulled out my phone and used the mapping app to give me directions. It told me I was almost a mile away from the car (yikes!), so I picked up the pace and broke into a slow jog.

When I made it back to familiar territory I breathed a sigh of relief.  I was about five blocks from where I needed to be.There was plenty of time to do the things I needed to and get to the mall. However, I didn't count on what happened next.

(TO BE CONTINUED......)

Five years ago today: Implements Optional

Early Bird

The past few days I've woken up (involuntarily!) at 5:00 and noticed that the birds are really going to town with their chirping.  I go back to sleep, and an hour later when the alarm goes off and I roll out of bed, I only hear sporadic bird noises. 

I always assumed I didn't hear the birds because I was too distracted, but I've recently learned it's not me; the birds really do sing more energetically, louder and more frequently in the early morning hours.  There's an actual name for the phenomenon -- Dawn Chorus, which has been scientifically studied.

Now I know.

Five years ago today: Evaluation