Posted on by ChatterLei

StrawSticks

What are you most proud of in your life?

This is not seriously what I am most proud of, but I am a little proud of the last-minute ingenuity that happened in this very unimportant lunchtime event that took place today. 😀 I hope it brings a smile to your face. 😊

I work at a medical office where 3-4 times/week pharmaceutical reps bring in lunch for everyone in the office. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I went out to get my own lunch today because I could not stomach the thought of eating a burnt burger patty on a bun brought in from a local burger place. No matter how much building you do on that “build your own burger,” the flavor of that “cinder puck” still comes shining through!

It was a little before noon when I headed to Panera, thinking I was early enough to beat the lunch rush. I pulled into the drive-through and turned the corner behind the building to find I was the 4th car in line already. And, it was a SLOW line. So, slow, in fact, that I kept turning off my car as each car pulled ahead for their turn at the pay and pick-up window.  

I kept my window closed and the heat inside the pickup turned up to 73 degrees. Oblivious to the fact the windshield wipers were set on “rain delay,” I staired out the windshield through the large drops of water quickly gathering and creating small rain rivers racing down the glass, which like my gaze, was aimed in no particular direction. I was mesmerized by the beat of the wipers, no longer on rain delay, trying to keep up with the rainfall.

Finally, it was my turn to pay the crazy amount of money charged for my teriyaki chicken and broccoli bowl, large drink and an oatmeal cookie. Nearly $20! I happily handed over my money in exchange for one of my favorite lunch meals, found the perfect parking spot toward the opposite end of the strip mall, if that’s what it is called, and parked facing traffic so I could watch the lunch gunners drive back and forth on the road ahead of where I parked.

Reaching into the brown paper bag, I pulled out the napkins, set them on the consul next to me, pulled out the cookie packaged in its own paper cookie bag, and set it on the napkins. Then I reached in for the straw and removed the paper covering before pushing it carefully into the cup’s lid. Finally, I reached in and pulled out the teriyaki chicken and broccoli bowl, which was hot enough I had to be careful not to burn my leg with the bottom of the bowl or my hand from the steam as I pulled off the lid. I reached into the bag one more time to grab the fork or spoon. Neither were in the bag. Instead, I pulled out another straw! Ugh. I didn’t need an extra straw. I needed a fork or spoon to use to eat my hot meal.

My thoughts were racing. I did not want to drive back to Panera on the far end of the parking lot, only to have to wait in line again, just for a fork. It was cold and raining outside, so the thought of getting out of my warm dry vehicle to go inside the building for a fork was not very appealing at all. I checked in all the spaces I could think of to check inside the pickup for the unlikely chance there might be a stray fork or spoon lying around. No such luck. It would be a difficult meal to eat with my fingers.

Then, it hit me! And, I became very grateful for that extra straw. I took the paper off that straw, then carefully took the straw out of my cup of ginger ale and cleaned it off. I put the two straws side by side in my right hand. Voile!!! AMERICAN FAST FOOD CHOPSTICKS!!!  Or, in this case, STRAWSTICKS!! 

Worked like a charm. I was able to eat my lunch AND stay warm and dry. I couldn’t help but smile as I ate my chicken, broccoli, and rice, while watching the cars zip back and forth on the busy road in front of me, and listening to news on XM Radio.  

What would you have done?

Posted on by ChatterLei

Tails up?

What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?

This is probably not the hardest personal goal, but it is a challenging one… to journal and/or blog every day. My full-time job gets in the way sometimes, but I hope to write and blog as often as I can….

My sister works in the billing office for a hospital. She gets along really well with her coworkers. They laugh and joke with each other at work. She and several of the women even get together for dinners outside of work.

Tonight, while we were playing pinochle with our parents, who are in their 80s, my sister said there is a penny on the floor in one of the hallways where she works. None of the women she works with will pick the penny up because it is “tails up”. No way! Apparently, that brings bad luck.

If it were “heads up,” it would already be picked up and placed in someone’s pocket by now. 🤣

I have never heard that before tonight. I live by the saying, “Find a penny, pick it up. All day long, you’ll have good luck!” It does not matter whether the penny is heads or tails up.

What are some fun(ny) superstitions you have heard of or done as a child?

Posted on by ChatterLei · 3 Comments

Journaling and blogging

There is something about putting pen to paper. Handwriting is becoming a lost art (as you can tell from my sloppy/shaky writing).

I love reading my mom’s beautiful handwriting. She was born in the early 1940s, so it was a priority to write well. No computers to take the place of human artistry.

An article I read recently talked of the importance of journaling for mind health and to help reduce anxiety. Blogging is also a great way to put some organized thoughts on “paper” (a screen) so they do not stay bottled up inside.

Hope you can read this. Will use a different pen next time. This one leaked. 😉

Writing is good for the soul!

Posted on by ChatterLei

Beautiful views

Utah’s beauty this time of year is exceptional! Though my husband is in the hospital due to a knee replacement revision, we have both enjoyed nature’s changing weather and colors. Here are a few photos from my husband’s hospital room on the 6th floor:

They view from my hotel room:

Posted on by ChatterLei

Bad Day, Good Day

I woke up late this morning, rolled slowly out of the king-sized bed in my 4th-floor hotel room, and took my time getting ready for the day.

It was a slow stroll down to the restaurant for the breakfast buffet, which I was looking forward to eating before heading over to the hospital to spend the day with my husband. Last time I stayed at this hotel, breakfast was included. This time, after I finished eating, I was handed a bill for $20. Really?! $20 for powdered eggs and burnt French toast? I guess it was because the bacon was so delicious! (It really was.) Anyway, I explained to the server that I thought breakfast was included with the room. He said it would be fine to go talk with the people at the hotel front desk. I said I would do that and return to let him know what they said.

The woman at the front desk was not having any of the explanation about my confusion. She said if I was not given a breakfast voucher, then breakfast was not included. I told her my husband was in the hospital after a surgical procedure and would probably be there for a few days. She looked at the computer and said, “I see you have booked the room for four days.” I affirmed, feeling like she might allow the breakfast after all. Instead, she looked at me and said, while pointing toward the front doors, “There is a bakery down at the end of the road.”

I was shocked! Not at the fact she did not want to give me even one voucher for today’s breakfast, but that she was so cold-hearted about it. Whoa! Steel bars around that heart. 😉 Maybe she was just having a bad day. Now I was, too.

So, I returned to the restaurant and found the server I had spoken to before I went to see “Ms. Steel Heart” at the front desk. I apologized to the server while handing him the bill and my credit card and explained that, apparently, I had misunderstood. Breakfast was not included. He looked at me, smiled, and nodded. Then he handed my card back and said, “I think I have an extra voucher back there.” I told him thank you, but it was ok to run the card. He gently pushed the card back to me, patted my shoulder, and said, “No, this one is on me.” I nearly cried because of his kindness. Maybe he was just having a good day. Now I was, too.

Posted on by ChatterLei

Why? Evil.

It is difficult for me to write about anything uplifting this morning as I listen to the news this morning. The families of hostages taken from Israel are pleading for their loved ones’ return. A son-a happy, caring young man; a 66 year old mom; a mother-a nurse; an army son serving on the border of Gaza-MIA-POW; towns destroyed; son in Gaza-35 yo husband and father of two and one on the way.

There are other heart-wrenching barbaric stories about children, grandparents, and parents taken by these evil terrorists.

Hundreds of evil Hamas crossed the border from Gaza to Israel with only one goal: to kill, mame, and destroy civilian life on the border. They took over 100 hostages and murdered over 1000 people in Israel. They committed terrible atrocities.

My guess is that there are many in our nation experiencing pain, sadness, anger, and PTSD-type response as news of this war spreads. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to them and to the people in Israel who are experiencing this situation in person.

❤️

Posted on by ChatterLei

Shortcut – How did that work out? đŸ˜ł

It is a good thing Google Maps took us a shorter way to get to the hotel tonight. It usually directs us to get off at exit 304 and meander our way through town until we finally arrive at the hotel up on the hill around the corner and several blocks away from the hospital.

Tonight, I followed the instructions to exit at 307 and merge onto another highway that avoids all the downtown meandering. I was quite excited about this shorter trip. Until… I missed the final exit and had to drive an extra 3 miles to the next exit to turn around and head back to the correct exit. Then, when we “arrived at your destination on the right” it was not the hotel. Apparently, I put in the wrong address. SMH

We finally arrived at the hotel a few blocks away. All that extra time we made up by taking the new first exit was eaten up with missing the one exit and arriving at the wrong address! Oh well! We are happily resting in the hotel room, now.

My husband needs to arrive at the hospital by 10am tomorrow, so not too early! We can sleep until 7am instead of waking at 5am. Yay!

Wish I had remembered to bring my blanket from home. I always like to bring my own blanket to spread onto the bed and sit on. Oh well. 😉 


The bed is a bit “ghosty”. Perfect for Halloween month! 🎃
Posted on by ChatterLei

The Long and Short of It

Annular Eclipse 2023

https://nationaleclipse.com/maps_2023.html

This link shows a map of the best places to see the annular eclipse on October 14th. It appears the best place for the longest viewing would be Corpus Christi, TX. The closest place for us to view would be around Elko, Nevada. My daughter and son-in-law rented an AirBNB and plan to arrive the night before, then come home after the eclipse is over.

Since my husband’s surgery is this Tuesday, I am not sure that we will make it to see the eclipse this year. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my husband will feel up to the drive. If not, c’est la vie. You can’t always get what you want. (Humming a tune in my head, now.)

An interesting fun fact about Elko, Nevada, is that my parents were married there in 1962. Who gets married in Elko, Nevada? Well, apparently, back in the day, that was the place to get married. I have met several people over the years who were married there. It was inexpensive and easy to do.

My dad’s brother and sister-in-law picked up my dad and mom with their green ’57 Chevy and drove the few hours to Elko where my parents were married by the Justice of the Peace. My mom had enough money to buy my dad a shirt, her dress, and her $11 wedding band. What a crazy way to start a life of 61 years together!

Anyway, in 2017, a full lunar eclipse passed directly over our town. People came from all over the United States, filling up the AirBNB’s, hotels, KOA’s and any open area they could find to camp. My husband and I, with our eclipse glasses in hand and camp chairs in the trunk of the car, drove over to my childhood home, where my parents still live, and readied my parents, our daughter, her husband, their 4-mo-old baby boy, and ourselves on the front lawn for the perfect view of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I remember, as the moon fully eclipsed the sun’s light, feeling a bit of a surreal, sort of spiritual, deeply moving unexplainable experience. I understand why hundreds of people came from all over the nation to experience that one brief moment. I remember, after that moment, hearing clapping and cheering up and down the block in our neighborhood. It was almost as if there needed to be a release of all the incredibleness everyone was feeling from that amazing experience. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. 😊

I am not sure if this eclipse event next weekend will have the same effect since it is not a total eclipse, but it would be fun to compare!

Road Trippin’

The night before a road trip is usually spent finishing up the last bit of laundry, then packing the suitcase. It is a night I should go to bed early to get the best night’s sleep possible. Instead, I find it difficult to fall asleep. Probably, because I am too busy thinking that I need to fall asleep so I can feel rested for driving the next day. Ha. Ha.

Tomorrow, I need to wake up at my regular early time, get ready for the day, and head to work. After I am off work, around 3pm, we are headed to U of U. Our daughter will keep an eye on the house for us this week.

Even though this is a relatively short three and a half hour “road trip” and we have been there several times before, I am not looking forward to leaving after work. It will make for a long day, plus we will arrive around rush hour. I suppose that will make for a good night’s sleep, however, before my husband’s surgery the next day.

We hope he only needs to stay in the hospital a day or two, but I made the reservation for a few nights, just in case the surgery is more complicated than expected. My husband and I are very hopeful for a positive outcome that will mean less pain and better movement in his knee once the patella debris is removed and the healing begins. Fingers crossed and lots of prayers!

Posted on by ChatterLei

Surgery and Reservations

There are so many thoughts rolling around in my brain that I wanted to write about this week, but did not have time to write. These are the topics for tonight: My Husband’s Surgery and Hotel Reservations. The next blog post will be Eclipse and Road Trippin’

My Husband’s Surgery

Do you know that It is highly unusual that a person would have a total knee replacement and then get an infection in that knee? Do you know it is even more unusual that a person would get an infection not only in one knee, but in BOTH knees after the infection turned septic? Do you know what the treatment is for that? Besides the obvious loads of antibiotics, both knee replacements must be surgically removed. “Spacers” need to be inserted into the knee joint. The spacers are impregnated with two or three different kinds of antibiotics that are left in the knees for several months. Once the tests for infection in the knees come back clear of infection, the spacers are then removed, and the new knees are replaced. That is a total of 6 surgeries my husband had last year and the year before.

His walking has been going downhill (no pun intended) ever since the last surgery in June of 2022. Especially in his right knee. He cannot straighten his knees. He walks with a walker. The walker barely keeps him somewhat upright. Falls are quite common for him lately when not using the walker. He wears striped shirts, so I can tell whether he is walking or rolling! 😊 Just kidding!

After a several tests and X-rays in the last month or so, it was determined last week that the patella in the right knee has Avascular Necrosis, which has caused the patella (kneecap) to basically disintegrate into pieces causing the three screws which were placed during the last surgery to hold the patella in place, are now “floating” around loose in the knee joint. My husband’s surgeon said with a sense of urgency that those screws need to be removed before doing damage to the knee replacement parts. I quietly thought to myself with a smile on my face, “Ya think???

Surgery is scheduled for this Tuesday at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Hotel Reservations

Thursday night, I did a Google search online for a number to call to make reservations at the hotel near the U of U. I called what I thought was a direct connection to the hotel. I made the reservations, gave my credit card information and everything to this person who gave us an amazing price for our hotel stay. He stated he would email the reservation number to me, so I gave my email address to him. I thanked him and we hung up. Guess what! No hotel reservation confirmation number arrived in my inbox.

The next day (yesterday), I called the front desk at the actual hotel and asked them to confirm if the reservation had indeed been made. It had not. They said it can take a while for the reservation made through a third part to reach their system. I gave it 5 hours and called again. They suggested I call the reservation number back that I had called the night before. I called and followed the automated system to the point where it told me no reservation could be found with my phone number.

Tonight, I called the front desk at the hotel. They still could not find a reservation for me under my name. So, I said let’s just make a new reservation. The night manager at the hotel said he would be happy to help me make a reservation. Unfortunately, they cannot make the reservations from the hotel. He would need to transfer me to the “reservations” number. I was thinking, “Oh no! Here we go again!” But, the call was transferred and the reservations are made. And, this time, I have a confirmation number AND an email with all of the reservation confirmation information. (Say that three times, fast!)

Posted on by ChatterLei

Conference and Fall

The first Saturday and Sunday in October and April are my favorite weekends. They are when the fall and spring Conference Sessions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are broadcast. Yesterday, we spent the day watching conference with my Mom and Dad. Between the first and second sessions, we ate lunch together. The hotdogs were fried in a skillet, placed on a bun with ketchup, mustard, finely chopped onions, and topped off with sauerkraut. Deli salads are not my favorite, but we had a variety of sides to choose from – macaroni, red potato, and coleslaw – along with cottage cheese and cut strawberries, as well as a veggie tray.

After both sessions were over, we baked Pilsbury biscuits to go with my homemade potato soup for dinner. My soup never tastes the same as my mom’s, dad’s or paternal grandma’s. I like garlic flavor in mine, ½ and ½, potatoes, bacon, garlic, onion, celery, carrots, Better Than Bullion, chicken flavor, salt and pepper. Theirs is a simple flavor of canned cream, potatoes, bacon, onion, celery, salt, and pepper. It’s the canned cream. It makes all the difference.

Sitting there in the house where I grew up, eating dinner with my husband and elderly parents, I realized that every day spent with my parents is a gift. My dad seems old. He is still sharp, but the edge is dulling a bit. All of the medications that are used to “help him” feel his best, I suspect, are affecting his quick thinking. The meds have not affected his desire and ability to talk…and talk…and talk…and spend quality time with his family, however. I am grateful for him and my mom and the days we get to spend together.

Today, I thought my husband and I would spend a quiet Sunday at home listening to Conference. My husband had a moment of spontaneity, though, and said he wanted to go for a drive somewhere today. He didn’t care where. He just wanted to go for a ride together. It was a cloudy, cool fall day, a great day for a drive. I planned a route that would take us on a 5-hour loop through several small towns in Wyoming, and loop us through older towns in the southern part of east Idaho.

Starting out later than anticipated, mid-morning, with my husband’s metal detector in hand and jackets on, we decided to go a different route, including what was supposed to be a 30-minute side trip to the old pioneer townsite of Chesterfield, Idaho, which was settled in 1881. It is a ghost town now.

After waiting for about 45 minutes for the stopped train to move past the railroad crossing over the road in Bancroft – the only way to our destination – we arrived at one of the buildings where visitors often meet prior to touring the old townsite of an old mercantile, “gas station” and homes of the settlers. Today, the visitor’s building was closed.

In front of the meeting house, my husband found an old square-head nail and a couple of bent screws. It was clear to us how well-made the old nail was compared to the more modern screws. While we were searching for potential “treasures,” the dark clouds in the distance, the thunder rumbling through the air, and the cold wind picking up urged us to stop looking. We returned to the pickup, turned up the heater, and headed back the direction from which we came.

My husband said he had a wonderful day and wondered if I enjoyed my time riding and enjoying the scenery to which I affirmed. The drive was relaxing. The changing colors of the trees amidst the evergreens were breathtakingly beautiful. Autumn has arrived. Listening to the uplifting words of our prophet and apostles was comforting. It was a wonderful day! Fall has always been my favorite season!

This photo says Idaho!!
A red bed of trees
Storm clouds in Chesterfield, ID
Autumn in Idaho