Shape Up!

 Check it out if you want a chuckle. My latest story is on line and in print in Colorado. 

You can read it at PrairieTimes.com

Click on the current issue and scroll down to page 7. I hope you enjoy reading about my attempt to shape up.

Single, doubel almost a triple!

 We went to Arby's for lunch. Ordered a market fresh turkey, cheese and bacon on whole grain, with curly fries. Normally my honey and I split. Gone are the days when we could each eat an entire sandwich.

Unwrapped the sandwich and it was a Reuben. Took it back and they said to keep it and eat it. They would prepare our order correctly and bring it to us.

The big guy munched. Half way through, the sandwich preparer, an older woman brought the correct sandwich to our table. As we were finishing up, the counter person, a very polite and friendly older man brought another turkey sandwich and apologized for not getting to us sooner. 

We told him we received our replaced sandwich already. He was ready to say, "Keep it! Eat it!" But he saw me going to protest, and said, "Well okay then. I will take care of it."

I hope he ate it and didn't throw it away. 

Odds and Ends, some more odd than others

 We went to visit baby Jackson yesterday. He is at a darling age, 20 months. His little brain is always going. It is amazing how he can figure things out. 

He said, "Paw Paw" much to Bill's delight. And he giggled when we chased him. He really is a joy and we feel blessed to be able to spend time with him. 

On our way home we stopped at Taco Bell. We were the only eat-in customers. The highschool-age young man and woman gave us our orders, then grabbed electric scooters they had stashed under a booth and LEFT. Customers came in, called for counter service, used the kiosk, but got no reply. Bill and I saw those two kids zooming across the street and riding on a busy parking lot for about ten minutes. Then they returned and said to the waiting customers, "Oh, nobody here? We can help you."

HELLO! 

I am decades past hot flashes, and fortunately, I went through the symptoms in less than six months. But today I was doing a crossword puzzle when I felt as if I was boiling from the inside out. Perspiration dripped from my brow, and then I had a full blown roaster.

My granddaughter texted me, "I just had the worst hot flash of my life. I had to take a shower." 

Enough of these intuned sympathy symptoms!

Down for the count

 I got stuck. Yes, stuck!

No, my skin was not pierced in any way, by any object. 

I got stuck in a sitting position on the bathroom floor, after tightening the plastic nut or bolt or maybe both on the toilet seat which shifts while a sitter is sitting. It is annoying!

So while I was on the floor, I grabbed the Clorox Wipes and scrubbed the tile floor, the base of the tub and commode, and while I was on a roll, I decided to wipe the pink wall tiles circa 1950
underneath the sink. 

Proud of my spiffy clean powder room, I tried to stand up to observe and take it all in. But I was all stuck on the floor and couldn't move up, down, or even turn around. It is a small 5'x5' floor space bathroom. And getting up on my knees was impossible. 

I yelled for the big guy, but when he came to my aid, all he could do was laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

He tugged my arm until it was almost out of socket.

He told me to roll onto my left side and grab the tub. I rolled onto that hunk of metal I refer to as my metal hippy and yelped. It took us five minutes or more to position me with one leg back, one tucked under... plus a size twelve shoe "jack" under my wide carriage to get me up off that floor high enough to reach a bathtub grab bar.

My high school friend, Pat, moved away. We talked on the phone the other day. She asked when I decided I was old. I told her I know I am old, but I don't think I'm old, because I am mobile and in pretty good health. I get around and don't take prescriptions.

Well Pat, as of today...I consider myself old!

Older-than-me-Chuckles is having his hey day everytime I walk past him. I told him, "You just wait!" His half bath is half the size of mine!

In Our City There is an Unbelievable Museum

What a remarkable, fun, interesting place to explore. The late Bob Cassily was a visonary and artist who built an architectual playground. It features tunnels, a ten story spiral slide, and climbing structures for all ages. There is an insectarium dedicated to my son-in law, George Diehl, who donated his collections when he retired from the City Museum. There is an aquarium, a live circus performance, a small train to ride, an antique Merry Go 'Round, and so much more. 

 

Ever-evolving and changing exhibits. The greatest attractions are on the roof, where there is a school bus and airplane welded, teetering off the edge, that kids can enter. So many steep slides and screen- encased adult sized (hamspter-like) tunnels to climb through high up in the open air...yes in the sky!

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Great grandsons, Liam, Alex, and Charlie had no idea what to expect, but soon discoverd so many areas and unbelievable attractions where they could walk through a giant whale, climb under the floor in a tunnel with port holes above in the floor, so adults could see their children as they slithered to the belly of the whale across the room.   

Liam liked running on this centrifuge ( I think that is what it's called). It reminded me of those gadgets where you donate coins and watch them spin all the way to the drop off. I imagine that one time shoes barreled down there. Who knows?

No, these three explorers were not under water in the auarium as Alex's pose demonstrates.

 Caves and tree roots to climb through, steep slides to drop down at "a million miles an hour."

The world's largest pencil and a retro arcade that featured pin ball machines, Pac Man and Frogger, and air hockey games. The boys could hardly stand still long enough to play there. They were bodies in motion. Swinging on ropes, jumping, leaping...

The two oldest wanted to go on the roof, which we did not purchase tickets for, because Charlie announced loudly and emphatically he was NOT going up there or sliding, climbing, or dangling from a school bus. However by the time we left, he wanted to do everything. Too late.

They had such a wonderful time. I am certain this is a memory that will last a lifetime. They asked if I could start saving money for the next time. LOL.

The City Museum is for "kids" people of all ages.  Poor Charlie developed strep throat as a result of being around so many people (germs), but his antibiotic is knocking it. What an adventure!

Oh, did I participate? No, I observed, and if you think it is easy watching three boys going in all directions, it was alarming. But I can always depend on Liam, who just turned 12. He told me he is more than half way to being an adult. He corraled his brothers and checked in with me as I sat on boulders, granite piers, machinery etc that once served different purposes. That place was jam packed.

Do my Do My Way

 I just wrote a true story about how my mood is affected by my mane. When I need a color or cut I get cranky. These days my color is fading faster than my desire for veggies. Give me Bryer's Chocolate Ice Cream with Truffles.

So today I stopped in Great Clips for a hair cut because I was irritated by my bangs falling in my eyes. I told the hairdresser the last time I was there, the other beautician thinned the back of my hair. 

She said, "That makes it look fuzzy." 

I said, "I don't care. I'd rather have frizzy than bushy." She replied, "NOT ME!" 

She was quickly getting on my last nerve when a couple walked in. He sat in the next chair. The hairdresser asked him what he wanted. He replied, "Cut it short. All over!"

His female companion shouted, "NO! Leave his sideburns. That's the only part I like about his hair."

I wonder if Taylor and Travis will ever get to that point? 

My mood has changed immensely, and I like my new do... even the little frizzy in back.

What a Day!

 The 4th of July blast seemed like a bust. The weather canceled lots of celebrations, events, and fireworks. Overall, I think the climate and world situation felt like a pall hanging over the nation. Not many folks displayed flags or sported patriotic tee shirts. Picnics and parades got rained or flooded out. 

We went to see the baby, an hour away. A thunderstorm darkened the sky, lightning crackled and thunder boomed. Sixty m.p.h. wind zoomed the patio furniture across the deck as easlily as Jackson tossing a small toy. Thankfully it passed over soon. 

Then the phone calls started coming. Our neighbors called to announce a loud boom resonated from our back yard. There is a transformer on a pole behind our house. Out of power was the message from all callers. Power restoration: undetermined.

We returned home in the evening. No electricity. No trees downed. We have powerful room illuminating flash lights. But it was HOT, too hot to sleep. How did we ever do it without air conditioning in our early years?

We couldn't watch the Capitol Patriotic Fourth music and events on TV. I couldn't finish writing an article I needed to. As much as I get aggravated with and swear at my computer, even sweet talk didn't make it flicker. And my phone slowly croaked.

Bill harrumphed at the fridge and said, "I'm just going to sit and rest in the livingroom." He went to his power recliner, which he had left in the vertical upright lift position. "Guess I learned a lesson!" he said when he could not sit in his most comfy easy in and out chair.

We lost electricity, a refrigerator full of food, and almost our minds because we are dependent upon our "necessities." We were inconveinenced for 24 hours. I am so thankful for our many blessings.

My heart breaks for people across the world who deal with war and disasters daily. It upsets me to hear, "God bless the USA." Why can't we say, God bless us one and all?!