Have you ever had one of those moments when you realized that you promised someone something and it totally slipped your mind. I had one of those moments on Tuesday.
The daughter of a very close family friend called to let me know that her mom had passed away. Betty Jain was Godmother to our now 31 year old daughter. For 22 years she had been the head Librarian for the City of Moore, OK Library. During our conversation I promised to bring dinner over to the family after the service on Tuesday.
Fast forward...On Tuesday I'm sitting in the church with the other mourners waiting for the family. The family starts to come in to be seated and at that moment it hits me between the eyes, Oh S#!% I forgot to make the dinner I promised! What do you do, what do you do?
I knew what I was going to make; Spaghetti with meat sauce, Italian Garlic Bread, Salad with dressing. After the lovely service and paying my respects, I dashed off to Wal-Mart to make my hasty purchase. Rushing home I briefly stopped at a Subway and got a sandwich as I had to go back to work.
I have never fixed Spaghetti sauce in a crock-pot, but there is always room for something new. I crumbled up the meat in the crock-pot poured the Prego sauce over it stirred it in put the lid on and fired up the crock-pot by flipping the switch.
Back to work I went. Christie our youngest daughter called to say she was about two hours away from Norman and would be home soon. I realized that I had forgot to pick up some aluminum serving pans and asked if she would pick up a couple. After work I rushed home and started boiling up the spaghetti noodles. After the first set of noodles had finished cooking I put them in the clean serving pan and ladled some of the meat sauce on top and stirred it in. The second set of noodles were soon finished and after draining them I put those into the serving pan and finished topping it off with the rest of the meat sauce, stirred it up and sprinkled shredded Parmesan Cheese over the top.
Christie and I gathered up everything and headed over to the Jain's house. There were 13 people there to eat and the meal turned out wonderful. We were invited to stay and eat with them. As the saying goes "If the cook won't eat it why should we!" We had a lovely visit and treasured our time with "Uncle" Gil.
Betty had Cerebral Palsy, but did not let it get in the way of her life. I can only have the greatest admiration for this wonderful woman who lived her life to the fullest.
Betty will be sorely missed by her family but her love will always be present and felt by many.
Rest well dear Betty, rest well and one day we shall meet again!
Monday
Figuring It Out...When You Feel Like a Mac Truck Hit You, Then Backed Over You Three More Times...
The quote goes something like this "Necessity is the Mother of Invention". Boy ain't that the truth! My motor home was delivered Saturday and we got it hooked up so it would have some heat in it since it was to be extremely cold weather. However the cord I purchased is too heavy for for the 50 year old outlet
in the garage and kept falling to the floor. No electricity, no heat...don't need frozen pipes. Not a good thing, nope!
What to do? Figure it out Susan...First off, I am sicker than a dog and any attempt to do anything sends me into violent coughing spasms and a serious sweat. There is no one here to help me so I have to tackle the problem as best I can.
I know I need to take the weight of the cord off of the outlet, so rummaging through Dave's 40 lb. junk drawer, I spied one of these little numbers.
Think Susan...I can pound it into the underside wood platform of the water heater, just above the outlet.
Now, trying to hit a small surface with a hammer in a contorted position is like trying to catch every drop of a melting Popsicle on a hundred and twenty degree day in an eighty mile an hour wind storm. It's just not going to happen...ah! light-bulb moment... turn the hammer on it's side and drive the nail in. Worked like a charm! Put the cable up over the hanger, plugged it in and....and...it stayed put! I now have power to my rig.
Up until this very moment I had not approached my rig, but I needed to know how Mr. Wilson had set up the heaters inside and at what temps. I donned my winter gear and proceeded toward the beast. I have to say it is huge but I needed to make sure that my $35,000 dollar investment was okay. I discovered it takes 2 keys to open the coach door. Once inside, the heaters were running and I was a happy camper. The rig has a convection microwave oven and Mrs. Wilson had put the cookbook inside it. I retrieved it so I could start pouring over it to learn how to use the unit.
One problem solved. Next problem...
Dave was always great about wiping the dogs wet feet off when they came in from outside. We now have had our first winter snow storm. Since I have spinal stenosis and scoliosis in my back, bending down to do the task is always hurting me. How do I get their feet somewhat dry? Again a light-bulb moment. I seemed to remember seeing an entry rug runner
stored out in the garage. If they could walk across that, it would take a good portion of the wet off their feet. Where was that sucker. Ah...found it. I rolled it out from the outside back door to the inside back door. Dogs being dogs, happily ran over it thinking it was something new and had to be inspected. They gave it their approval.
I recently bought (what I thought was dog proof) a locking lid to a trash can. Nope! Big boy got into it and emptied every bit of trash out of the can. Figured out the lid in less than 10 seconds. I am up to here (hand over head, arm extended) with him raiding the trash. Now if he can get up on the washing machine and get into it...dear daughter is going to have to take him. The last time he got into the trash it cost me a $189.00 Vet bill.
As I have learned, getting older and being sick at the same time is not for sissy's. I have always had problems with my sinuses and since I grew up with both of my parents smoking, my lungs have not always been the best. I get sinus infections when the weather changes and that will invariably develop into pneumonia. I am winning this battle, but it is a long drawn out process. I go back to the Dr. tomorrow to see if he wants me to take another round of meds. Send me good healing thoughts and any spare prayers you have.
Happy trails...
 |
| 50 year old outlet |
What to do? Figure it out Susan...First off, I am sicker than a dog and any attempt to do anything sends me into violent coughing spasms and a serious sweat. There is no one here to help me so I have to tackle the problem as best I can.
I know I need to take the weight of the cord off of the outlet, so rummaging through Dave's 40 lb. junk drawer, I spied one of these little numbers.
 |
| Ah, the right item...a bicycle hook |
Now, trying to hit a small surface with a hammer in a contorted position is like trying to catch every drop of a melting Popsicle on a hundred and twenty degree day in an eighty mile an hour wind storm. It's just not going to happen...ah! light-bulb moment... turn the hammer on it's side and drive the nail in. Worked like a charm! Put the cable up over the hanger, plugged it in and....and...it stayed put! I now have power to my rig.
Up until this very moment I had not approached my rig, but I needed to know how Mr. Wilson had set up the heaters inside and at what temps. I donned my winter gear and proceeded toward the beast. I have to say it is huge but I needed to make sure that my $35,000 dollar investment was okay. I discovered it takes 2 keys to open the coach door. Once inside, the heaters were running and I was a happy camper. The rig has a convection microwave oven and Mrs. Wilson had put the cookbook inside it. I retrieved it so I could start pouring over it to learn how to use the unit.
One problem solved. Next problem...
Dave was always great about wiping the dogs wet feet off when they came in from outside. We now have had our first winter snow storm. Since I have spinal stenosis and scoliosis in my back, bending down to do the task is always hurting me. How do I get their feet somewhat dry? Again a light-bulb moment. I seemed to remember seeing an entry rug runner
 |
| Works perfectly! |
 |
| Hopefully the dog can't get to it. |
As I have learned, getting older and being sick at the same time is not for sissy's. I have always had problems with my sinuses and since I grew up with both of my parents smoking, my lungs have not always been the best. I get sinus infections when the weather changes and that will invariably develop into pneumonia. I am winning this battle, but it is a long drawn out process. I go back to the Dr. tomorrow to see if he wants me to take another round of meds. Send me good healing thoughts and any spare prayers you have.
Happy trails...
Thursday
I do'd It...
Well...I am now the owner of a 2005 Winnebago Voyage Motorhome. I pick it up Saturday, weather permitting and get to learn how to drive the sucker.
Everyone keeps telling me that it's a piece of cake...whose cake? I will have to get pictures later after I get it all clean and spiffy and put together.
There are some things that need to be done like new tires, repair refrigerator, replace the toilet, replace the bathroom sink fixture and put in an Oxygenics shower head. Clean the carpet, wipe out all of the storage areas, get a new sewer hose, water hose, clear elbow and build a handrail. No small task but doable.
The first item on the list is tires, no ifs and or buts about it. The second item is a new toilet and sink fixture. The other items I can do without for now and can get those repaired before I head to Washington DC next spring.
Happy trails!!!!!! Almost...25 working days to go...
Everyone keeps telling me that it's a piece of cake...whose cake? I will have to get pictures later after I get it all clean and spiffy and put together.
There are some things that need to be done like new tires, repair refrigerator, replace the toilet, replace the bathroom sink fixture and put in an Oxygenics shower head. Clean the carpet, wipe out all of the storage areas, get a new sewer hose, water hose, clear elbow and build a handrail. No small task but doable.
The first item on the list is tires, no ifs and or buts about it. The second item is a new toilet and sink fixture. The other items I can do without for now and can get those repaired before I head to Washington DC next spring.
Happy trails!!!!!! Almost...25 working days to go...
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