Who Took The Desk?

Photo: This is the only picture I could find of my desk. It's right there...under that mass of corruption all over the top of it. That was my old computer set-up. I loved that desk for it's large surface and deep drawers. I could store so much clutter on and in it. I wasn't sure what I would do with all that stuff once the desk was gone. Can you say "sort out and throw away?" I really like my new set-up so much better...but I will always miss that desk.

In my last post I told you about the desk at the end of the driveway. I was sure it was the town that picked it up. That was really good service!

On Tuesday I got a call from the town apologizing for the delay in returning my call. No, it wasn't them that picked up the desk. How about that. At least I know someone wanted it and took it. Thank you whoever you are. Enjoy the desk. It's probably 25 to 30 years old and still going strong.

A Great Weekend

Photos: Two views of my new office space configuration.

My daughter, Anne, came up from Maryland for a weekend visit. There were several reasons for the trip, but her grandmother’s failing health was foremost. On top of that, she reorganized my office. I had a very large metal office desk that I needed to get rid of, before rearranging the rest of the space. It took three different configurations, but we finally got it right. It feels so comfortable!

The monster desk
The big steel desk was out at the end of the driveway with a big FREE sign on it. That’s the good news. The bad news is we are expecting a snowstorm tonight through Wednesday.

Being quite concerned about the snowstorm coming, I called Goodwill to see if they would like the desk. Oh, yes they would indeed. No, they could not come pick it up. So sorry. Salvation Army no longer does pick up either.

So I called the town. I left my name, address and telephone number on a voice mail indicating I was concerned the desk would be at the end of my driveway through the snow storm.

I went out at 11 a.m. to get my newspaper and it was there. When I looked out at 11:30 it was gone. It must have been the town, although I can't be sure. It must have been because I called it “a monster of a desk” and “at the end of the driveway” and “snow storm coming.” Ya think? ☺ No one from the town has called me back, so I don't know for sure if it was them.

Next the storage closet
While she was at it, Anne tackled the large storage closet. We determined what needed to be tossed completely; what would go to the tag sale (down the road when I have one); what needed to go into the electronic recycle pile (that’s huge!!!). It’s amazing how much space there is in that closet now.

Time to visit
Anne had the chance to visit her grandmother twice, and spend time with her brothers and sister.

All in all, a very productive and satisfying weekend for everyone.

History Is Made Again

The first time I witnessed history in the election of a president was when the first Catholic president was elected. Today, we witnessed the inauguration of this countries first multi-racial president.

I voted for Barack Obama because I believe in his ideals. I admire him because of his devotion to his family and his country. And...I believe he's the man for the job.

President Obama is the 44th President of the United States. There is no such thing as a coincidence (in my belief system) and his being the 44th is no mistake. In numerology 44 is a master number and as such demands more from you. You are a steady worker. You will persevere in your chosen goal because you exercise discipline. You conform to the demands of a situation, and make the best of it. You prefer to be in an environment where steady progress brings concrete results. Your success comes from useful enterprises. (Numerology and the Divine Triangle, Faith Javane and Dusty Bunker, Para Research 1979)

May God Bless the Obama family and may God Bless all of us in these United States of America.

Photo: A stone wall on the Air Line Trail in Chaplin, CT. I love old stone walls. I'm sure they have marvelous stories to tell if only we would take the time to stop and listen.

I have been so preoccupied lately by my mother’s hospitalization that I have not even thought about updating my journal. I will do that now.

Mother
Recapping my mother’s issues: she had surgery at the end of October for a small bowel obstruction. We thought that was the end of it. Not so. On January 2nd she was back in the hospital and on the 6th she was operated on again for the same problem. This time Dr. Anderson had to remove a foot of intestine that had withered to the diameter of a pencil. She spent three days in excruciating pain where I wasn’t sure from one day to the other if we were going to lose her.

She pulled through and was making a remarkable recovery and we even thought she would be released as early as tomorrow to a nursing home for rehab. That probably won’t happen for a while. She has developed blood clots in her legs and is being treated for that. She was so frightened and angry when I saw her on Saturday. Dr. Anderson and I were able to calm her down. We’ll get over this hurdle, too.

I didn’t see her Sunday because of the weather, but I did speak to our friend who did go to see her. She found my mother alert and looking good.

Nature
I have seen a flicker (of the woodpecker family) at the water and the suet cake. There is no way I can get a picture of that beautiful bird. Any attempt would be through glass and I know that won’t work.

We have two, sometimes three, deer that regularly visit the woods behind my house.

Then there is the squirrel. This morning it jumped on top of the bird feeder that was piled high with snow. It proceeded to clear the snow in the most efficient body-shoveling action I’ve ever witnessed. Then it slipped and went flailing off the feeder catching the perch in a desperate attempt not to fall to the ground. Unable to bring it’s entire body onto the perch it gave up and fell to the ground…all of 5 feet.

In the last two days the feeder has been visited to a huge flock of goldfinch…at least 18 to 24. It’s hard to count them when they keep fluttering around. There are also a goodly number of juncos, titmice (titmouses?), an occasional cardinal, and a few purple finches. Then there are the woodpeckers in four different sizes—the hairy, downy, red-bellied (whose belly is not red, it’s head is), and the flicker.

Finally, there is the weather.
The lowest temperature I had was -2°. Yesterday seemed like a heat wave with temps in the low 20s. I have had shades, curtains and drapes closed for days now and I am tired of living in a “cave.” I have not had “cabin fever” for 20 to 30 years now, but I think this year will be an exception if I can’t get out and walk and enjoy the outside seen. I do not count going shopping or making hospital visits…that’s not getting out.

Yesterday’s storm put down a total of 6.5 inches in two pulses. That brings the total in my driveway to 21.5 inches for the season. There’s a lot more to come, I’m sure.

So that’s what’s been going on. Let’s hope next time comes soon. Let’s hope next time I can tell you my mother is out of the hospital and rehabbing at the nursing home. Keep good thoughts in your heart for her.

Enough Winter

Photos
Left: Ashuwillticook bike path in northwestern Massachusetts. It's really a multi-use trail but all I care about is bike riding. I long to get back on the bike therefore I post pictures.
Right: The same bike path coing into North Adams. What a great trail. Too bad it's so far away from me. It's an 85 mile trip one way.


The coldest yet
We are about to experience the coldest temperatures of the winter. That is to be expected and in another couple of weeks we should experience the January thaw. February and March can be prolific snow makers, so don’t think we are out of range of the snowmaker.

Mother’s continuing problems
My mother has been hospitalized since January 2nd. It’s the same old problem…blocked small intestine. She was operated on last October 28th and all her doctor found was adhesions, which he freed up and we all thought that was the end of it.

This time he saw something new on the CT scan and had to operate again. The section of intestine that had been an ongoing problem had since withered to the diameter of a pencil. He had no choice but to operate again.

She is 96. At this time she is no longer experiencing excruciating pain. The nurses get her out of bed, but she is still extremely week. She has no strength in her legs and cannot even feed herself. She has lost her hand to mouth coordination. Hopefully this is a temporary condition. Her response to questions is very slow and sometimes she makes no response for whatever reason.

She has surprised us before by bouncing back. Pray this is yet another time.

If you are squeamish read no further
At least once a year, sometimes twice, some dawn-prowling critter deposits half a mouse on my back patio. One year the front quarter was left looking back at it’s hindquarter. That was hard to take. Yesterday I was the recipient of the front half only. I appreciate that I have a friend in the animal world looking out for my emotional wellbeing. I’m not sure I like seeing the proof of prowess any better than I like the thought of having mice around.

Things Happen in 3s

It seems the new year doesn’t want to start on a happy note.

The loss of a gracious lady
Years ago I went to work for a construction company in Hartford. It was my first full time job since my divorce four years previous. Leo hired me and his wife, Geri, would come into the office to help with the bookkeeping. The company was successful and soon became a partnership and the offices moved from Hartford to Windsor. At that point Geri no longer came into the office to work. Leo wanted her to be free to do whatever she wanted to do.

Yesterday I went to her wake. Geri was such a gracious lady. She was devoted to the love of her life, Leo and her two children.

In the 20 plus years since I had last seen Geri and Leo and their children, I often wondered how they were doing, but, I lost track of them…until yesterday. It wasn’t the way I had envisioned getting together and playing catch-up. Geri will be greatly missed.

Who will be Hartford’s cheerleader now?
Then, on a less personal note, the City of Hartford lost its greatest cheerleader, former Mayor Mike Peters. A former firefighter he loved his city so much. Before running for mayor, Mike organized the Hooker Day Parade. He also coined the phrase, “Hartford was founded by a Hooker”. After Thomas Hooker lost favor in the Bay Colony he relocated to Connecticut in 1636, where he was instrumental in the development of Hartford.

A little over a year ago we all learned that Mike was gravely ill and needed a liver transplant, which he did receive. However, it didn’t help. Mayor Mike died yesterday at age 60.

Today’s obituaries
Today I saw where the brother of a close friend and high school classmate has passed. That’s three. Let this be the last.

Spending the Holidays

Photos:
Left: A rock! (no kidding ☺)
Right: Me with a brook babbling down the hill behind me. You’ll notice that for once I’m not babbling as well! ☺
Felt good to be outside and moving. Jon and I recently walked around the north end of Shenipsit Lake in Tolland. It was a cloudy day, but mild. Just right for a brisk walk. That’s where these pictures were taken.

Spending the Holidays
Christmas day was very quiet for my mother and me.

On Sunday, the 28th, the family got together for exchange of gifts. My mother wasn’t up to going so I went alone. We gathered at Andy and Lori’s house. In addition to my mother not being there, Anne and her family didn’t make it. They went out to Chicago for Christmas and it was just too much to expect them to come to CT too.

Because the family is so big we draw names of all those who are 18 years old and older. That way, Christmas doesn’t become a financial nightmare for anyone. This year Kathy drew my name and she gave me an HP Photosmart printer and an extra pack of ink and paper. It took me an hour and a half from opening the box to printing my first photo. Now I will go back and read the directions! ☺ It has a lot of features I want to play with. Maybe next year I will create my own Christmas cards. How about a picture of my bike all decked out in red ribbon and a wreath?

Publishing
It’s not easy finding someone to publish your work…in my case, poetry. I can have a chapbook published, but I pay for the privilege and will be lucky to make my investment back in sales. Since I have a lot of experience with publishing The Door Opener for almost 20 years, why can’t I publish my own chapbook?

The first one would be my poetry from the categories of Magic, Spiritual, and Dark. Pretty much mirrors where I have been dwelling during this very stressful year.

I know how to lay out pages. I would have to work with someone (preferably Leanne Peters) to design the cover, but I already know what I want. Once I have all that together, I can print out a half dozen copies or so and see how they sell. Then I can print on demand. The only thing I would have to do is either buy a stapler deep enough to secure the pages in the middle, or take them to Staples and have them do it. It will probably take a few months for all this to come together.

Snowing today, New Year’s Eve
The last day of the year and we are dealing with a snowstorm. Haven’t heard yet if Channel 3, WFSB, has given this one a name. I think it has all the requirements. I have to go out a little later this morning, but it’s only a walk out to the mailbox.

This year has been really sucky. It’s sucked so bad the entire Universe has a hickey. It hasn’t been long enough either, because the “whatever government agency” is adding one second to this year before we can ring in the new. I’ll be sleeping…as usual.

I wish for you a New Year filled
with an Abundance of
All Good Things.