Driving to Work

Red truck cruising down the road. The mornings are busy. Everyone is heading to work at 8 in the morning. (do you get bored with driving? Take a look at this!) Sometimes sun. Sometimes clouds. Always something interesting to see. The honeywagons spreading in the fields right next to the highway. Boats in the gas depot, hundreds of trees planted in someone's farm yard.... There's plenty to listen to. At highway 60 I can crank up the speed and I do. Curves, hills, big ole pine tree on the edge of he road, streams, railroad tracks. It takes me 20 minutes to get from home to the door of the library in LeMars. Two whole stop lights that slow me down. (horrors) Its been 5 years since I've had to drive to work. I'm not used to it. But I'm enjoying it so far.

Birthday Presents

I'm of a mind these days to let a birthday pass as unnoticed as possible. No fanfare or noise please. I'd really like to forget that I'm getting any older, I guess. Anyway, I get to see the kids this weekend. Amy was telling me on the phone that they had gotten me a present and I'd be getting it this weekend. Since it was my birthday I tried to get her to tell me what it was. "What is it?" I asked. "You'll have to wait and see" she told me. "But it's my birthday. You have to tell me." Well, of course she wouldn't budge,though I don't know why. How could it hurt to just know? Anyway, I told her I'd ask Kristin. She was a pushover when it came to telling secrets about presents! She's the one who will buy a Christmas present and then practically beg to tell you what it is. So I called Kristin. "Kristin, tell me what you got me for my birthday." I tell her.


"I can't" she answers. "What do you mean? You always tell when asked." "Yes, but in this case I have to live wth your son and the rest of the family. I don't think that would be so good if I told you." she tells me. After a bit she says, "Well, I can give you a hint. It's a themed present." I ask, "What does that mean? That's not a clue." Even with a little more cajoling, she won't tell me. In a little while Nathan calls. I say to him, "So, Kristin told me what you got me for my birthday. Wow! Thanks!" I could almost feel Nathan giving Kristin the look. Then he asked, "Well, what did we get you?" "A themed present" I tell him. And the jig is up. So I don't know.I'm sure it's not a new chair. Or that external hard drive I've been thinking about. Themed must mean a book, I think. Don't you love birthdays? No matter what your age!

First Day

This was my first day on the job in LeMars. It's a 20 minute drive. I have/had great expectations. But first I have a really lot to learn. How are bills handled? Reaquaint with Winnebago (not liking it) What programs are coming up? Board meeting next week, what do I need to do to get ready for that? I don't think anyone I sent an email to today got it. It's a whole different ball game with this system. I spent more than an hour having a computer discussion with their 'tech' guy. I worked on the website. Looked at policies. Talked to everybody. Ate lunch at my desk. Didn't have to field any salesmen or odd phone calls. There was a 'request for reconsideration' on my desk. Sheesh, not first thing! But luckily it had already been dealt with!
There will be plenty to keep me occupied for awhile. Plenty for me to learn. Plenty of people for me to meet. I'm sure I'll have more to share as I go along. I don't want to whine at all because I know that my momentary discomfort will soon be replaced with the comfort I've always known at the library.

Arizona pictures

It was a relaxing visit in Arizona. Jon joined us on Monday and Tuesday. The weather was perfect and I think I'll be ready for the new job tomorrow!

Roof Top Tour

I was up on mom's roof yesterday. 4 times! Have I ever told you that I don't like heights? Well, I don't. I was as nervous as a cat (whatever that means...I didn't like it one bit) I stepped in spots that seemed soft, ACH! There was an antenna up there to avoid. And some sort of cable. It was only maybe 15 ft. off the ground. If I fell, I would probably only break something.
But, Mom is having her roof touched up. These flat roofs here in AZ don't get much rain on them, but when they do it's not a good idea for puddles to sit up there. Her neighbors Shirley and Marty had a leak early in the summer while they were gone and it ruined quite a bit of stuff in their house. So much so they had to move everything not damaged, out, put it in storage, and move into temporary quarters themselves. Then wait 2 months while repairmen came in and fixed everything. That was enough for mom to see what was what on HER roof. So this roofer guy whom she hired, insisted that I come up and look at what he was doing. Like I might actually know something. I really want to trust this guy. But, I've heard too many horror stories about the unscrupulous. But would I know if the crack he was talking about was really significant? Or the hole in the swamp cooler-what did that mean. Or how about the lack of drains, or the comparison to the neighbor's roofs-that I could clearly see now. How about all the rust flakes and soaked insulation in the swamp cooler? Did that mean what he said it did? Sheesh, I have no idea. It's back to trust. Where is Ron when I need him? I should have been paying attention to all things mechanical these last 30+ years. But I must say, I had an unusual roof top tour that I've never done before. Time will tell.

Random list of all things Arizona

Here's a list for you that relates to this state and (sort of)my visit:

a swimming pool built just for the old folks to walk in. With a current too. (How does that work?)
upscale shopping malls with mist devices to cool down those walking outside.
coyote on the streets in the early morning hours
red/orange sunrise that gives way quickly to blazing hot skies.
gas prices 3.31 per gallon unless you use your credit card, then it's 3.41
Lots and lots of very friendly seniors. (and not h.s. seniors either)
Political ads on tv for the local sheriff and county attorney races.
Vote for xxxx propositons. Who in the world knows what all those numbers stand for? 101,105,207, blah blah blah.
talk about air quality. (it's bad here folks)
Where is all this traffic headed to and from?

Arizona

Sunny Arizona. It is living up to its billing! At least it's not as hot as it has been all summer. Today's temperatures only reached 99. For me, that's nice. An early morning walk, then a swim saw temperatures only in the 70's. I am stretching out my summer days. Very nice.
Jon, the pilot, has arrived. He is a nice surprise for my mother. We will be making a Trader Joe's run later tonight and he will take everything back with him since he doesn't have to worry about paying for a checked bag on an airline. Or getting jam through security for that matter.
This extra week off for me has been a very pleasant surprise. I will enjoy the extra reading, swimming, sleeping that I will be able to get in before the new job starts. So plan on some quiet, boring reads from my blog this week. No excitement from here. That's good.