A Fairly Odd Picture Day....

 Did you ever find yourself doing a task that was simply annoying?
That is what I had this afternoon.  I had a defective amp to send back to the supplier.  Unfortunately I did not have a plain box to pack it in.  So....I cut apart  2 grocery bags (good thing PAPER still exists) to cover the box.  It was reminiscent of cut and paste in early grade school.  Back then it was fun and satisfying; today it was annoying and time wasting.  Patching the pieces with many, many strips of tape made me think of mummy pictures where the person was completely wrapped in strips of whatever.

Right after I took the box picture the critter you see on the right was crawling across the very spot I was working.  It kept coming close to the box, even as I moved it (the BOX , not the spider)--almost like it was following its babies.  If you look closely you will observe that it is fuzzy.  Even our spiders need fur to keep warm here in the northwoods.

Jump ahead in the day to this evening as I was packing.  I heard this "buzz" fly past me.  It was this bug.  This bug is only one of several that have shown up at random times and places in this house.  The most appalling one was on my head as I was just waking up.  A peculiar aspect of this bug is that it releases a smell similar to decaying leaves when it is "stressed".  I presume "stressed" because whenever I catch, swat, squash or wrap one in a Kleenex the air is flooded with the odor. 

     A lady came into the store this afternoon.  She spent a long time looking over piano music.  I asked her name.  She was the lady a young boy mentioned the day before---a new piano teacher!  Yeah!  I talked with her and showed her the pictures of my students.  She knew many of them since she is an elementary teacher here in town.  I will give parents her name for potential teacher.  Great!

     I've been tired all day---short on sleep.  Seems I stayed up too late last night----BLOGGING.  With leaving for Vancouver tomorrow there were many, many tasks to be completed or at least organized.  I think things in order enough to leave for 6 days. And there is no SNOW to deal with.  At least I hope not.  The temp is forecast to dip down to 20 degrees tonight.  Fortunately there is no moisture in the air.

    Off to bed for a good night's sleep for lots of energy and enthusiasm for air travel tomorrow! 

  

 This has been a good "fairly odd picture" day in the life of Grandma G.

"God made....all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds."

(Genesis 1:25)



11PM Dilemma....

     It is (another) 11PM CDT.  My mind is arguing with itself---go to bed, stay up to blog, go to bed, stay up to blog.  I wait until the end of the day to start blogging.  By then my grandma self is quite tired.  It takes me 2 - 3 hours (Yes, THAT long) to complete a post.  I enjoy writing once I get started and I enjoy getting up early enough to actually get something accomplished in the morning.  I can't do both, starting at 11PM. The lesson here is to include the blog as an early evening activity instead of  TV for 2-3 hours. (Think that might do it?)

     Today my inner being has been stretching.  I have realized lately that one's inner self needs to mature as much as one's physical self.  It seems that we start off in this world with our bodies dictating to our spirits---ever notice a crying or laughing baby?  For several years our physical strength carries us along to pursue our goals, to raise a family, to have fun, to help us through stress. THEN comes the time when our bodies want to shut down, and along with them our goals, our hopes, our desire for fun, our strength to overcome stress, our mental sharpness.  It is then that our spirits need to stand up, take over and dictate how our bodies are going to act.  Our spirits have to decide whether to be grumpy or happy, needy or helpful, withdrawn or outgoing, enthusiastic or slumpy.
     Today I sense a "growing " need deep inside me.  My spirit needs to be strong, outgoing, interested in others, a mature lady who has something to give to others.  I want my senior years to be healthy, full, abundant, having plenty of love, interest, concern and encouragement to give.  I want senior status to be a time of reward and accomplishment.  I want to be recognized and trusted as a capable, caring keyboard instructor and musician as well as an entertaining, high quality and honorable blogger.

     The afternoon at the music store went by quickly.  I am playing for a church service for Betty J while she is gone for a few days.  I worked on that music and as well as pieces for the recital in May.  People are coming in to check out the bargains in the store.  A 5 piece drum set sold today.
     One student made the comment, "Funny thing about you having a big sale is that there is nothing missing from the store."  OH.  I told him that a few bigger items have sold. 

     This evening I talked quite  awhile to my son, Chuck.  We talked about the late June family gathering in the Black Hills, South Dakota.   He is interested in the house I am going out to view.  One thing about computers and web sites---it is possible to see what things look like! 

    
   
Flashback!  Disneyland, March, 2012

        Four (4) beautiful princesses!




         

My daughter and her family have visited Disneyland for the past 4 days.  Fun times!

This has been a good "spirit growing" day in the life of Grandma G.

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."  (1 Corinthians 4:16)

Permission to Move on.....

     At this time most of my piano students and parents are aware that I am "retiring" the end of May and moving to Washington. (This afternoon one 5 year old girl said, "And then you'll get to see the president."  I had to explain there are 2 different Washingtons.  "Oh, ya", she replied, "D C".

     Everyone has been kind and supportive, several have expressed regret or sorrow on their part, many have said they are glad and proud of me to be trying something new, some have acknowledged that I have taught many students over the years and have provided a great service to the community.  So many agree that winters here are harsh;that they get harder to endure as we get older; that they would like to move if conditions were right.  All have given their approval of me moving on and away.  This makes me feel released to go, to have permission to build a new life in Vancouver.  This also makes me feel loved and appreciated.  This gives me courage to close this chapter of my life and to open a new one in the Pacific Northwest!



Stephanie, my high school senior helper,
showing a 20% off sale sign.




                                                                            


      I will be flying out to Vancouver this weekend to look at a house.  I am excited to go.  At the same time I am preparing my mind for a new cultural experience and life style.   I have lots of "stuff" that will need downsizing.  I am trying to visualize my life and what to keep, what to let go of---mentally and "stuff"ly.  

    This has been a good "permission to move" day in the life of Grandma G.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal..."
 (Philippians 3:13)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Happy 21st B-day.....

     My first grandchild has become legal today!  Actually he has always been legal.  It's just that he can now legally drink alcohol.  Happy 21st B-day, Zachman!  I love you and am proud of you

     Zach was born in Minneapolis and moved to Vancouver when he was 8 years old.  He still has the Midwest in his blood---but probably not at -20 degrees!

Mt. Hood and Zach's #1 city---Portland  

Mt. St. Helen's                            

     I like to do something special on family B-days, and that I did today.  I got crowned!  Well, with a temporary crown.  Last Friday I broke off a sizable chunk of tooth.  Fortunately, my favorite local dentist was able to get me in today.  There wasn't much option but to crown the tooth if I wanted to keep it.  So for 1 hour and 15 minutes I got prepped for the permanent crown.  It's always nice to get crowned--however one can achieve it!

     This was a very full day, including 1.30 miles in 27 minutes on the treadmill.  The sun was shining so brightly this morning that I went outside to go walking.  April fool!  The wind was arctic! 

     I made a mega salad for lunch at the music store.  I knew the dentist appointment was at 2PM so figured I'd eat and have time for my stomach to settle. (I tend to get nervous about dentistry.)  However, word must be getting around about a big sale at Northwoods Music.  As soon as the lights went on (in the store, not my head) customers poured in---all 5 of them.  Short story, there was no time for the mega salad. 

     Another short story.  Right about 3:45 I was feeling "loopy".  Being short on sleep the last 2 nights, having walked the treadmill, having little lunch and having 3 shots of anesthetic all worked together to loop me up.  Manageable, though.  I was glad to go home at 6:50PM.

    Actually I have been excited for Monday 7PM since last Thursday evening!  My depatures.  boys, Justin and Scot, are finally heading off to Antarctica.  They were there in 2008, but I had not seen this episode; I have been watching for it for almost a year.  Antarctica is a place I'd like to see from the comfort of a toasty warm cruise ship.  My sister, Kate, and I were a mere 1,000 miles from it in 2008--while in Hobart, Tasmania.  (I was fascinated by Tasmania since I was a child; probably it was the name, TASMANIA.  It was one place I really wanted to see. Great country. I would go back.)  

the icebreaker, Aurora Australis

the southern coast of Tasmania

This has been a good 21st Zachman's B-day in the life of Grandma G.

"May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children's children."  (Psalm 128:5 & 6)

WEEKEND....April 1st.....

   Happy April 1st!   Also known as April Fool's Day.  I don't know why this is deemed April Fool's Day.  Time is now 11:50PM CDT and I neither initiated nor received an April Fool prank.  Although maybe I did.....
     "Creaks in the night".....I went to bed early Sat. night--11:15--figuring I could then get up earlier on Sunday and do a few things in the morning before church.  I had a full day, including a 1.25 mile on the treadmill and several minutes stretching, so thought sleep would come quickly.  It did not.  I was restless and thoughts kept bouncing in my head like numerous ping pong balls ponging all at once.   By then the clock showed 1:30AM.  As I lay there the furnace started creaking, which is normal.  But as I listened it seemed like the creaking went on and on and on.  Soon my imagination was hearing the rhythm of stairs creaking like someone slowly sneaking up the stairs. I had never been aware of so many creaks.  I sat up a bit and listened then tried to "relax".  Couldn't.  I finally decided I would never go to sleep unless I was REALLY sure no one extra was in the house.  I turned on a light and then lit each room and stairway as I checked room to room---all empty.  Yeah.  I then fell asleep to awake to daylight at 8:45.  Maybe I did receive an April Fool's prank.

     Yesterday I made reservations for lodging in Banff, Canada in preparation for the Great 3 Senior Sisters Cross Country Road Trip in August!   From now on known as the G3SSCCRT---if I can remember what that stands for.  Sounds like something out of a government file.  I like to have fun projects to plan for.

     I wore a cream colored cotton "hoody" to church this morning.  I was pleased with the bargain I had bought.  After service I put on the hoody to leave.  A younger lady that I know came up to me and after hugging pointed to a spot under my sleeve.  The price tag was dangling from under my armpit.  OOPS.  Another joke on me--literally.

     Today a lady I met up with at our one and only grocery store said she saw in the paper that I am moving.  She thought Arizona.  She said I provided a great service to the town for many years and thanked me.  She also said she will miss me.  It is comforting to be told that I will be missed.

Betty , Nick , Georgia

      Betty J and I took dinner to my brother, Nick, and his wife.  We had a group of 9 people.  Nick has had Picks disease for the past 8 years.   He is almost 14 months younger than me.  Picks is a form of Alzheimer's.  Nick is very docile. It is difficult to know how much he is aware; he doesn't converse but will sing along with others.   Sandy is caring for him at home.     



Flashback......
     Around the years my brother Nick and I were 10 and 11 (55 years ago) we would travel the 500 miles between Indianapolis and Park Falls by Greyhound bus .One spring around Easter time we were going Park Falls. We bought these cute pastel chicks dyed pink, blue and yellow. Sitting in the seats on the Greyhound we had them in a shoe box next to us. The driver came by and asked what we had in the box. We excitedly showed him our peeping, pecking chicks and said we were taking them to Wisconsin for Easter. He replied that he isn't suppose to know we have them so we better keep the cover on.
On arriving up north we let our chicks out to scurry around. After admiring them our aunt and uncle told us of a farm where they would be happy. That is the last I saw of our colorful balls of fluff. I imagine they ended up on the farmer's dinner table. Today we would probably be accused of animal cruelty and our dad of child neglect.


This has been a good April Fool's day in the life of  Grandma G.

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent and discerning if he holds his tongue.(Proverbs 17:28)