Christmas in Memphis

Well, it certainly hasn't been as sunny and warm as I expected, but the sun did finally come out on the 26th and it has been in the upper 50's and low 60's and too warm to wear a sweater.

We had a delightful time visiting and opening gifts on Christmas, sleeping in, eating on our laps and opening presents between phone greetings from geographically scattered family. Then, after deciding not to go out for Chinese food as our Christmas dinner (the only place open) we rounded up all our resources and made a vegetarian meal out of the microwave. We had cashew patties, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, and steamed broccoli! You see, the kitchen is in the midst of major renovation and there was No kitchen! We had the microwave, the fridge, blender, food processer and a coffee maker.Our table was a piece of plywood across two sawhorses! It was just beig enough for the preparation and the finished dishes of food. So we did just Fine! Mmmmm!

We stayed up playing Scrabble one night. Christi and I scored neck and neck...then she won! Andy hung in there and played with us!

Then C and I went shopping till we dropped....it didn't take long. We were disgusted not to find, among the myriad of sale racks, specific items we wanted. Humph! And we had gift cards to spend!!!! We tried a second day, but just ran out of time and energy. Poor A was left to face the remodeling all alone, but we women couldn't really do anything to help at that point, but stay out of the way.

I walked around C&A's neighborhood and got a little of the 'feel' of the place. So many little square red or yellow brick or stone homes. (Oh, I found my way back, too, with the help of C's directions.)The soil here is yellow clay or yellow sand.

Days were spent alternately raving about how long this remodeling process was taking, working on the remodeling, taking pictures of the pup, and relaxing. It takes a lot of brain work to really figure out all the intricacies of the renovation. Besides, every time one job got under way, something else happened to side track the original job....like noting some water leaking through the wall near the washing machine, which had to be repaired while the studs were open.

Pup and I continue to get better acquainted. Today she is following me around while C&A really work tough on the cabinets. Finally pup has collapsed next to me on the couch...sleeping like the baby she is! When I return home, I'll post some of the cutest shots of her. What an adorable 'granddog'! I have fallen in love with her, even if she doesn't know how pesky she can be with her baby ways and sharp baby teeth!

Last night we walked up and down Beale Street. It's Liberty Bowl weekend and the place is crawling with fans. One of the teams (I confess, I don't keep up at all with all the football sports) is named the "Gamecocks"! Okay, what a horrible name for a college football team! Beale street was fun to see, listen to the streetside blues and see all the musical notes revering all the legendary music stars.

We drove across the Mississippi (which I really couldn't see because of the cement barriers on the sides of the bridge) and crossed over into Arkansas to go to the biggest Walmart, I've ever seen! We passed St. Jude's Hospital for Children (I didn't know it was in Memphis! duh), the U of Memphis where A attends and saw a few Christmas lights on the bigger mansions in town.

The whole city seems to have few skyscrapers, and buildings are made of red or yellow brick and wood. I think I've identified a southern yellow pine, but haven't seen any birds that were out of the ordinary. I'd like to ID a bunch of the other flora and fauna around. Maybe on my next visit.

C's sis and family are coming to visit tonight so we are rearranging to make room for them. This is a really cute, small home, and has a wonderful back yard with lots of gardening possibilities. I think they could have a big edible garden, plus flower garden and still have grass and play room. There is great space for a nice patio table with umbrella and lounge chairs.....I have a few ideas of my own for out there. There's the above ground swim pool as well! They even have room to build a garage on one side and...

I've decided there's room for a large motor home I can stay in for part of the year on the other side of the house in the back corner. (Hee, hee.)

More later, when I get back home and M-a-y-b-e have time to reflect and write.

Giddy

Yes, I'm feeling giddy! So happy! ONE, yes, only ONE more day of school until a whole week's break....and.......I'm flying away!!!!! To spend time with at least 1/2 my kids! Oh, what joy! Makes the week tolerable!

Plus, I've had a fun week. Started Saturday night with dinner and a concert with a new friend. It was good to leave the island. Concert itself wasn't outstanding; watching the people and trying to predict what their lives were like, was! It's an 'old' lady's game, I guess, but fun.....its a little like writing your own trashy novel!

Then, Monday we had a fun day with the staff get together.

I also found out that I'm at the top of the list to have my job again next year as the person who was on leave, resigned. My assistants have told me they Want me back.....I hope they are being truthful about that for good reasons. Guess I'm not much a believer.

I think I'll end up staying here next year. I'm sort of settling into this 'survival' thing, but this could be the giddiness speaking. After all, what else could happen? Earthquake? Sunami? Forest fire? Shudder. Maybe I should stop thinking so much.

Pimply Rash: beware!

Okay, I finally got to the dermatologist today. I was impressed with his professionalism; of course the proof is in the healing. He said that the cortisone creams I've used ever so faithfully have actually made me addicted. So I need to go on heavy antibiotics & creams to get off the steroid bandwagon. I never, ever thought I'd be addicted to that, of all things! He said the pimply rash will get worse before it gets better....in about 10, yes, TEN days, so those of you who will see me, just know it is NOT contagious, just ugly.

I got new facial moisturizer and would you believe it? The doc said I should use DOVE white bar soap for sensitive skin (the one with no scents or lanolin or anything else.) So, hey, its pretty cheap. I'll try it.

Life continues to swirl along. We had our preschool staff potluck and White Elephant gift exchange today. I got this wooden candelabra thing I'll pass along at the next one. That's what its all about, isn't it? ...If you do the Hokey, Pokey and you turn yourself around,.........

I passed along some Lilac candles that were just TOO scented for me, though lovely.

Later I want to share a couple of little poems that one of my assistants made up on the spot for some things we are doing in class. She is very talented!

Merry Christmas to C&E! Your packages were sent priority mail to you today. I hope you get them by Friday.

Hey, pray for good weather at the end of the week, so I can get to Memphis! Bad weather is once again predicted!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Mewwy Catmus!

Survival of the Fittest: Battery Operated

Another Storm! We did not have school on Friday, as there was no power over the entire island..again! Wind, sideways rain, and pop! There goes the power. I feel sorry for the power company workers; they suffer the brunt of it, working around the clock to restore power to so many homes. Throughout this time I've had many thoughts to blog, but I can't remember all of them now.

Thursday night I did dishes, did laundry and readied with candles and lanterns before going to bed. About 2 a.m. the power went out. I dozed off and on, waiting for my battery-operated alarm to go off. Finally, I just got up about 5 a.m. I got a call from the school phone tree about 5:30 a.m. that school was closed for the day...no power! It's about time they got smart! I tried calling the next person and my assistants but couldn't get through to anyone, of course. It seems very few people gave their cell phone numbers for the phone tree!

There was still hot water, so about 6:30 a.m. I took a shower (who knows when the next one would be?) I dressed in a couple of layers and put on a hood and scarf to keep my head warm. I've never had a cold head in my life until getting past menopause!

I had hot water prepared in a thermos for some hot tea and had cereal. Turning on my battery-operated radio to Christmas tunes, I wrapped gifts and got packages ready to mail. I checked my new portable DVD player so I could watch a movie.....the joke was on me. What I thought was the battery-pack...wasn't. So no movie watching! Today I can truly charge the battery! I was getting pretty antsy by noon. I attempted heating some soup, but my camp stove was too small for the sterno canned heat. I managed by holding the pan, propped up.

I decided to get warm by driving to town in my car. The wind was still blowing a good clip, but had calmed to a tolerable level. As I drove around town, ACE Hardware was open, so I stopped there, picking up a bigger 'casserole warmer" which fit the sterno heat can, another flashlight, a couple of emergency candles and more batteries. I picked up an ice block for my ice chest (to save food in the fridge) at the one local Market that was open for business. At both places, clerks accompanied customers around the store with flashlights. They also had the most asked-for items at the front of the store.

Then I went home, got those items ready for use, cleaned the wrapping mess a bit more. I decided to take a walk about
2:30 p.m., as the wind had calmed more, the sun was shining, and I figured it was the same temperature inside as out. So I walked a couple miles along the shore:

A Covey of Quail,
A large Flotilla of Buffleheads
A Robin's nest on the ground (which I saved for school!)
Waves 1 foot high in the little harbor
On the shore, lots of drift wood and trash thrown up by the sea

I walked along main street. I found one cafe open with hot coffee, hot chocolate and baked goods. It was warm inside, as they had a gas stove and had served breakfast foods earlier. So, I had some coffee and an apple tart. Strengthened with warmth and yummy treats, I walked back home, where I cleaned my bathroom (no batteries but arm power needed!), used a carpet sweeper and broom, changed the cat's litter box, lit the lanterns and candles. I settled down on the couch to read under a quilt with Lilo cuddled close.

After awhile, I heated some water for my thermos and had a cup of camomile tea. After that I was ready for bed, so hurriedly changed the outer layer of clothes and snuggled under three heavy blankets. Lilo pitty-pawed around the bed trying to find a warm spot to curl up. I finally picked her up and put her under the covers with me. (Several years ago I would have been aghast at the thought of doing this!...too much cat hair and cat germs!) She settled right down with purring and a sigh. So I knew that the house was COLD if even furry Lilo was cold! We stayed warm under the covers and I slept okay, just kept waking up to see if the power was on yet. Finally there it was! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh: about 3-4 a.m. House is warming again. The water should be hot for a shower now. Hey, and I can blow dry my hair!

For those of you wanting to leave comments, try again. I changed a couple settings. Maybe Beta isn't as good as they proclaimed.

Stupid, Stupid, Whining!

We had such a beautiful weekend, I can't believe we're back to high wind warnings. Okay, so today I decided to just deal with it and go about my normal business. I tried to ignore the trees bending over outside. Mondays are our 'office' days to plan curriculum, do paperwork. So I buried myself in that...easy to do. But my assistants kept whining. Stupid whining!

I have this horrible pimply rash all around my mouth that has increasingly been getting worse. My former dermatologist tells me it is allergies and adult acne....give me a break. I'm practically past 'adult' and into 'senile'! Anyway, I am out of the medication I use when I get these outbreaks and of course, there are no refills unless I visit his office....which is 250 miles away. So I made an appointment with a dr. here, in a town near here. There are only 2 dermatologists on the whole island, both in the same clinic. Some choice. After assurance they were 'good'...whatever that means... I was able to get in today..or January! So middle of the afternoon, off I went.

Wind Warning: 30-50 mph.
Gusts: 60-80 mph.

I was warned which part of the highway was most wind-prone. I made it fine, but noticed as I arrived in this town that their main stoplight was out. Oh well, I thought.

Lo and Behold! A cop pulls me over. My back license plate, which has not been attached to my car's lower bumper since Thanksgiving (because my once trusted mechanic in River City who put it on, did it wrong and it came off the day after it was put on.....thankfully as I stood right there shutting the trunk!, or I would have had to buy a new one..again!) The cop told me I should put it on ASAP because it isn't even legal in my back window. Okay, that is my plan I told him...and it really was!

Well, I couldn't find the doc's place, so I called them. I didn't want to be late....this rash is itchy, stings, burns and looks horrible! I feel itchy all over! It is quite uncomfortable! Well, the flippant young thing that answered the phone, said, "Oh, we're closed. We have no power." They couldn't call me? I did give them my number!

I said, "You don't need power to look at my face. What about a flashlight?"
"Sorry, the exam is all Visual and there's no power." (The sun was shining outside, by the way.) You can call back in the morning to reschedule."

She obviously had never lived without having "power" in her life.

I said, "So I can't even reschedule now?"

She, "No we have no power. My computer doesn't work."

Okay, my patience was really thin, here. And I said, "So, I can teach school, change diapers, and run groups with a flashlight, but you are closed?"

She, "Yes, we're closed. We have no power. It's a crazy world. Call in the morning to reschedule." (Still sounding flippant and irritated.)

Me, "Oh, crap!" (If only a cell phone could 'clunk" goodbye!)
Drive back to OH. Listen to Christmas Music, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm.

Wind: 30-50 mph. Gusts: 60-80 mph. High surf. Warning up until 4:00 a.m. tomorrow.


Scene Two:

I arrive back in OH and stop at Walmart....it's FRIENDLY, right? They'll surely fix my license plate!
Clerk at tire/care center: "Sorry, we don't provide that service, but if we aren't busy, we sometimes do extra things. Let me go see." She returns. "They are really busy. You could go see your car dealer."

Okay there's not one Honda dealer on the whole Island.

So, I think, I'll try Les Schwab. But before I get to that place, I go by the Ford Dealership and turn in. It's worth a try. I walk in and it smells like too many cigarettes accompanied by overflowing bathrooms. I stand around. Finally a woman comes over and asks who I'm looking for. I tell her my story. She goes to the parts/service counter and gets someone to help.
Thank goodness! I stand in the wind while the guy fixes my license plate...temporarily, anyway. It seems he didn't have the right sized screws to keep it secure. (Yes, I know there are comments that could be made here, but I'll forego them.) At least the license plate is on for awhile, at least.

I drop in a couple of toys in the"Toys for Tots" as a thank you. (I'd been carrying them around to do just that, just hadn't seen any of the crates.)

It's only 1 hour, 15 minutes since I left the office and I can make up the time finishing some of my paperwork. Oh how I'd like to go crash in my home, but I get the paperwork done for my meeting tomorrow.

I get home and Lilo thinks she has to be outside, sitting at the door or window, meowing pitifully. Stupid cat. Stupid day. Stupid weather. But all is well. Really. This rash is making me cranky!

Oh, did I tell you there was a beautiful rainbow arching over the doc's town? I think it was for that young soldier who was killed last week in Iraq. He was from that town.

Stupid President.
Stupid Sea Tac
Stupid World
Stupid Whining!
Oh...and Stupid Weather!

Christmas Music

In attempting to 'feel' the joy of the season, I went to a Navy Band concert at the local high school this afternoon. I must say that it was great to feel the fullness of the timpani and the horns. Their female soloist had an amazing range of voice, strong and beautiful. Wow! Their attempts at theatrics was cute. All in all, it inspired me. One more experience to become a part of this community. 'Oh the weather outside is frightful, but inside it's just......." Goodnight.

The Rest of the C-Parade

Christmas Parade

Went for a walk and noticed that main street was being cordoned off. So, with a vague memory of someone mentioning a parade, I asked one of the workers if there was one. He enthusuastically said yes! I decided to complete my walk and that would put me back on main street about the time of the parade. So off I went. The wind continued to pick up, and now that I am home, the rain has begun in earnest. I'm glad I got my walk in and that the parade is over! ( I found a robin's nest that had evidently blown out of a treem too. It will be great to show the kids at school!)

The parade started with some of the high school band members playing Christmas carols. It was festive with all the Christmas things hung and shop keepers with their doors open. They did well and I enjoyed the tunes. Then I went to a corner, found a big rock to sit on and waited. Got a little cold and decided to go back home and get my camera, so I did. I got back to main street just as the parade was starting. Good thing my camera was ready, for in 15 minutes, the parade was over!

Here are a few highlights...and most of the parade, really. Questions I asked: Why was Snoopy in the parade? Why were Mr. and Mrs. Santa in a pirate ship? Had they been kidnapped? Is it just because this place is next to the water? A fishing boat may have been more appropriate...or a Navy jet, two of which flew over quite low....I think for the parade, but I can never be sure. I haven't figured out the flight patterns yet.

Tired and Numb

This was a particularly busy week at work and the kids were really squirrelly. It happens when they have not been able to play outside and a holiday is approaching. Plus, two of my most high strung kids are moving within the month and their anxiety is heightened greatly. One assistant took a day off, so we had a sub...who was useless, by the way! I've spent at least three days this week with one child following me around by hanging on to the back of my shirt, another (who's not verbal), continually punching me in the back to get my attention (no matter how many other alternatives I gave him) and a third who interspersed her day with screaming at ear piercing levels. Add to that I've got two more in potty training. There were green runny noses all around so you can see the bedlam. Oh yes, and a fire drill...for children whose sensory systems cannot stand loud unexplained noises and disruptions in routines. Then I've had extra meetings during lunch and after school: wheelchair repairman, postobservation (of my teaching) results with principal, updates for parents' who are moving and video-ed one child to send off somewhere for more help with communication boards. Its all great and wonderful because we are moving Forward, but it is exhausting. By yesterday afternoon, my body and mind were on automatic. We did get to play outside a couple of days and we took advantage of it for more than our usually allotted time. The weather has been mild and we all needed the fresh air. The kids needed the space to run, ride trikes and just 'be.'

I guess even Lilo is feeling house-bound, as she has begun a morning weekend ritual of sitting in front of the door, pawing at it and meowing. Where did she get that? I've "created a monster" by allowing her to go onto the landing a few times!

Last evening, I fell asleep on the couch and when I awoke, couldn't move, but slept there a couple more hours before heading to bed. I've been watching too much CSI on TV, as I had a weird, scarey dream. Whew! Glad to be awake!

Otherwise, I'm just plugging along. I am really looking forward to going to A & C's for Christmas. My only regret is that C&E won't be with us and I'll miss seeing them for the holiday.

One note about my previous job: at least all the days off gave me time to go visit my kids! Here we just keep working and working and working and........ Even Christmas break is only 10 days....not even two full weeks! Now that's a crime in my mind!

I count my blessings today and pray there will be no rain until I've been able to walk. Oh, I finally made it to Curves two days this week......more than for the last several weeks!

Can't think of much to say. Brain must still be tired and numb.

Weekend

I'm so glad its the weekend. The week was an unusually stressful one as we returned from the holiday break with really rough weather. Families often go into crisis this time of year (holidays are so stressful as we want everything to be blissful and perfect...which they Never are!) Those crises have been unfolding as the days progress. The kids, of course, have been acting out, because of the bad weather. We can't go outside to have them work off excess energy and there's no place available inside the school for them to really run and play. I've had one child's behavioral therapist come to visit and been observed by the principal as a 'new teacher.' So, a busy, weird week. Boy, they are all getting weird here! :o) I really enjoy teaching the December themes at school and have caught myself smiling as I work!

I'm just glad the bad weather is past for the moment and 40 degrees seems warm! I'm settling in for the winter and have overcome my bout of homesickness, since I had a happy T-break. My attitude is much better! Whew! I hate it when I fall into that hole!

Not much else is going on. At home, I continue to put out a few Christmas decorations as I feel the urge. I hung my wreath on the door, I have my swag over the computer armoire with lights on, my basket of pine cones set out (cb2, that's for you) and a few other things that I enjoy. I can't find some of my stuff, but with it scattered from here to storage to Cindy's, I'm not surprised!

The sun is shining brillliantly today and the snow is gone. Sigh. Earlier Lilo was meowing at every window to go out so I let her out on the landing for a minute or two. Now she is finally settled on top of her climbing post watching the 'happenings' out the window. She'll be settling in for a nap soon and I'm off to church.