It's 74 at 10:30 today and due to be a lot hotter as the day progresses. They're getting a lot of mileage out of the forecasts these days, it might hit 100 on Sunday. or not. I doubt it will be that hot here in Hawkeye, we're usually 5 degrees cooler than the Champlain Valley, which is where most of the forecasting is done. But still...that's mighty warm and I guess this "warm spell" is supposed to last well into next week and maybe beyond.
We had a nice rainy day yesterday, I liked that because it meant my plants all got good soakings. I've got some tomato plants that were given to me, some are in pots and some are in the ground and they're doing well, have lots of blossoms. I also have one pepper plant with peppers on it, that's different for me, I don't usually grow peppers but someone gave me the plant. My flowers are doing well but are in need of deadheading. I'll try to do that today. Other things I'll try to do today: clean my shower and the upstairs bathroom (yuck), take stuff down to the boat house and swim the dogs while I'm there, tidy up the boat house a little bit, rearrange the fridge there so there will be room for other people's food. Jenica and her family are coming tomorrow so that will be nice. Lot's of library talk maybe, Jen and I like talking to each other about our chosen profession. I will probably sleep in the boat house tonight especially if it's as hot as threatened.
I've had a good few days. Went to work yesterday, that was fine. We scanned family photos from 1901-1905 and they reminded me of the Rogers family images. That was kind of sweet.
Last night I went to the Beach House for dinner with friends, more friends showed up while we were there. It was as it always is, food is OK, beer is good, people are nice. Let the season begin!
Friday, June 29, 2018
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Midnight musings
Well, if you go to bed at 8 sometimes you are wide awake at 11:30. So you have a nice nap then have a cup of coffee and watch late night TV. Poor Bear, he can't go out until Treasure comes back and she has no interest in doing that, apparently. She barked and disappeared. I don't like having them out at night like that.
The weather has been wonderful, my favorite days at 70 and sunny, clear and cloudless. I got to spend some time reading on my deck, an all-time favorite thing. I mowed the lawn but didn't weed or do the trimming but there's always another day. We're expecting very very hot weather this weekend and beyond, temps in the 90's elsewhere. That means we'll be in the 80's and maybe the 90's but worse than that is the anticipated humidity. Ugh, my least favorite. I used up my tolerance for hot and humid during my formative years in northern Illinois. At least here I have the boat house. It's usually cooler there but if there's no breeze it's hot there too. I don't complain. much.
Work is good. I have a lot of catching up to do, we've scanned many images that need editing but I haven't been able to convert them to jpg until now (no Internet in the Archives, how frustrating). I got a lot done today but it was boring stuff, the entire Memorial Day parade from 1976 and many incarnations of Gilbert & Sullivan shows by community theater groups in the 1930's, 50's and 80's. No, really, MANY incarnations.
Friends have arrived down the hill from my house. They have an annual "Workfest" to open their camp and enjoy being friends. They called tonight to invite me for pie but nooooo, I said I had to go to bed. That was the wrong decision.
The weather has been wonderful, my favorite days at 70 and sunny, clear and cloudless. I got to spend some time reading on my deck, an all-time favorite thing. I mowed the lawn but didn't weed or do the trimming but there's always another day. We're expecting very very hot weather this weekend and beyond, temps in the 90's elsewhere. That means we'll be in the 80's and maybe the 90's but worse than that is the anticipated humidity. Ugh, my least favorite. I used up my tolerance for hot and humid during my formative years in northern Illinois. At least here I have the boat house. It's usually cooler there but if there's no breeze it's hot there too. I don't complain. much.
Work is good. I have a lot of catching up to do, we've scanned many images that need editing but I haven't been able to convert them to jpg until now (no Internet in the Archives, how frustrating). I got a lot done today but it was boring stuff, the entire Memorial Day parade from 1976 and many incarnations of Gilbert & Sullivan shows by community theater groups in the 1930's, 50's and 80's. No, really, MANY incarnations.
Friends have arrived down the hill from my house. They have an annual "Workfest" to open their camp and enjoy being friends. They called tonight to invite me for pie but nooooo, I said I had to go to bed. That was the wrong decision.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Sunday afternoon
My sister often says on a Sunday morning "I'm glad I don't have to go to church today." We used to dress up all fancy-like, anklets (until nylon stockings), nice shoes, good dresses and of course something on our heads--a requirement in the high-church that was Emmanuel Episcopal in those days. We sang in the choir, we taught Sunday school, we were members of the Youth Group, man we did it all. Then it all came to a grinding halt when we left home. I realized that organized religion was not something I wanted to be part of, and the church I had invested so much emotion, time and energy in was not representing my true self or my spiritual needs AT ALL. The part that really got me was "we are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy table." I didn't need any more proof that I was not worthy. Anyway, now I'm an atheist and I don't struggle with any of it.
I've had a peaceful day so far, I woke at dawn (4:30) but stayed in bed frustrating the dogs until 6:30. Did NOT go for a walk or even really entertain them but instead went to AuSable for supplies and gas. Went to see the neighbors, then went to Linda's to help her open her upper camp. She has company coming this week. I didn't really do much but it's so much nicer and easier to do those chores with help.
I'm having friends come for snacks and wine to the boat house porch in a couple of hours. It's not the nicest day weather-wise but it's always pretty there no matter what's happening.
I had a busy day yesterday, started with a walk to camp to swim the dogs. I went to breakfast with friends then came home for a bit before driving to Keene to visit with a recently-retired friend who is having some trouble adjusting to the huge, HUGE change that retirement is. Came home then went to dinner with friends, to a newly opened bar/restaurant. That wasn't a very good idea. It was loud and the food wasn't very good--but we had to at least TRY it. We've scratched that itch.
Looks like a pretty quiet week ahead for me. Appointment with the eye doctor tomorrow in Saranac Lake after a quick trip to the dump. Work, thrift store, hot weather coming. Next week is the 4th of July.
I've had a peaceful day so far, I woke at dawn (4:30) but stayed in bed frustrating the dogs until 6:30. Did NOT go for a walk or even really entertain them but instead went to AuSable for supplies and gas. Went to see the neighbors, then went to Linda's to help her open her upper camp. She has company coming this week. I didn't really do much but it's so much nicer and easier to do those chores with help.
I'm having friends come for snacks and wine to the boat house porch in a couple of hours. It's not the nicest day weather-wise but it's always pretty there no matter what's happening.
I had a busy day yesterday, started with a walk to camp to swim the dogs. I went to breakfast with friends then came home for a bit before driving to Keene to visit with a recently-retired friend who is having some trouble adjusting to the huge, HUGE change that retirement is. Came home then went to dinner with friends, to a newly opened bar/restaurant. That wasn't a very good idea. It was loud and the food wasn't very good--but we had to at least TRY it. We've scratched that itch.
Looks like a pretty quiet week ahead for me. Appointment with the eye doctor tomorrow in Saranac Lake after a quick trip to the dump. Work, thrift store, hot weather coming. Next week is the 4th of July.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Early morning bog
I finally took my camera for a morning bog walk. Here's what it was like at 6 a.m., 50 degrees, sunny and still:
Cinnamon ferns in bloom--I love these, they look prehistoric when they're at their peak
Bunchberries blooming in a bunch
Bear, or is it Treasure? Anyway, a black bog dog
Definitely Bear, this is the view I usually get--Bear walks in front, Treasure (always a lady) walks at my feet, just behind me.
Bear is a Handsome Boy, isn't he?
My favorite fern, whose name I can't remember. Something like Victoria or some other queen's name. There's only one example along the boardwalk.
Middle of the night musings
Well when you go to sleep early sometimes you wake up well-rested in the middle of the night, craving a cup of coffee to watch a British police show. The Brits have much more peaceful police shows than we Americans do--no violence, no gore, just a dead body and lots of people figuring out who killed the victim.
It's a nice cool night, too cool for me to sleep in the boat house, comfortable here at home. We had some very hot, muggy days then all hell broke loose and there were storms while a front came through and now it's clear and cooler. Quite pleasant.
I went to a retirement luncheon on Monday in Champlain. Takes a long time to drive to Champlain from here! It was a nice time, I saw some people I've known for many many years, all library people but we didn't talk about libraries the whole time. That was nice. This is an interesting group of people who all have good stories to tell--the director of the library on the reservation, another director who has a gardening/landscaping business on the side, the hostess whose house is on Lake Champlain and has a Lab named Hershey, my former director (who said I was sometimes a pain in the ass but she loved me--to which I replied "You weren't always charming yourself"--I can say things like that, she's not my boss any more), some people I was less than interested in seeing (and didn't have to spend much time with), and many others. It was a nice time I guess.
Wednesday is a thrift store day, I'll only stay a couple of hours. Cannot do the entire 5 hours that the store is open, I never had a job in which I was on my feet so I find it quite tiring. Not to mention being charming while being on my feet. I do get tired of being charming to strangers but it's something I seem to do well. Thank you to my father for teaching me that.
It's a nice cool night, too cool for me to sleep in the boat house, comfortable here at home. We had some very hot, muggy days then all hell broke loose and there were storms while a front came through and now it's clear and cooler. Quite pleasant.
I went to a retirement luncheon on Monday in Champlain. Takes a long time to drive to Champlain from here! It was a nice time, I saw some people I've known for many many years, all library people but we didn't talk about libraries the whole time. That was nice. This is an interesting group of people who all have good stories to tell--the director of the library on the reservation, another director who has a gardening/landscaping business on the side, the hostess whose house is on Lake Champlain and has a Lab named Hershey, my former director (who said I was sometimes a pain in the ass but she loved me--to which I replied "You weren't always charming yourself"--I can say things like that, she's not my boss any more), some people I was less than interested in seeing (and didn't have to spend much time with), and many others. It was a nice time I guess.
Wednesday is a thrift store day, I'll only stay a couple of hours. Cannot do the entire 5 hours that the store is open, I never had a job in which I was on my feet so I find it quite tiring. Not to mention being charming while being on my feet. I do get tired of being charming to strangers but it's something I seem to do well. Thank you to my father for teaching me that.
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Oh what a beautiful morning
When I was in 5th grade we had a teacher named Pearl Prout, who fancied herself to be quite a musician. There was a piano in the classroom and she thought Liberace was the greatest pianist of all time. Anyway we had to sing a solo, accompanied by her on the piano. What a horrible thing! I sang "Oh what a beautiful morning" and she was thrilled by my performance and gave me an EXCELLENT on that. My one shining moment in elementary school. I never was much good at singing but now I sing loudly (LOUDLY) in my car, which probably hurts the dogs' ears a lot but it feels good.
It's a busy time in the 'hood, there seem to be a lot, LOT LOT of people here. Isn't it early for summer traffic? I've been walking the bog (as opposed to walking the dog, only the dogs go along) every morning with friends, sometimes one friend and sometimes 2 friends. I'm waiting for a friend to call this morning so we can head out together. Bear is very antsy and eager to go.
Had a lovely dinner with friends last night--these friends have a beautiful house near the top of a mountain with a magnificent view of the bluffs at the foot of Silver Lake. It was a gorgeous evening, we sat outside for a while before dinner, and the view from their dining room is really grand. Good food, great friends, a really nice time. I made my signature cheesecake and that was good.
Today is Father's Day and I have very few friends who still have fathers though I have many friends who are fathers. My father died in 1981, so long ago. He was 68 and took a fairly long time to die, poor man. I did get to have an adult relationship with him and we enjoyed each other's company the last few years of his life.
Tomorrow I'm going to a retirement luncheon for the former director, it will be full of member library directors. Do I want to spend an afternoon with them? Not so much but then I'll be reminded of what nice people they are (mostly)(nasty comment) and the luncheon is at someone's house on Lake Champlain so it will be pretty. It's 45 minutes from my house, man I do a lot of driving.
I worked at the thrift store yesterday but it was sort of slow and I was sort of bored so I only stayed 2 hours. Felt bad leaving but not bad enough to stay. I had lunch with friends at a nice restaurant in Upper Jay, that was a treat.
Dogs are fine, I'm fine, the 3 of us are happy. I got the boat house opened up and the bed half made so maybe I'll sleep down there tonight. It's supposed to be a hot day and hot night tonight. Too hot to mow the lawn, rats.
It's a busy time in the 'hood, there seem to be a lot, LOT LOT of people here. Isn't it early for summer traffic? I've been walking the bog (as opposed to walking the dog, only the dogs go along) every morning with friends, sometimes one friend and sometimes 2 friends. I'm waiting for a friend to call this morning so we can head out together. Bear is very antsy and eager to go.
Had a lovely dinner with friends last night--these friends have a beautiful house near the top of a mountain with a magnificent view of the bluffs at the foot of Silver Lake. It was a gorgeous evening, we sat outside for a while before dinner, and the view from their dining room is really grand. Good food, great friends, a really nice time. I made my signature cheesecake and that was good.
Today is Father's Day and I have very few friends who still have fathers though I have many friends who are fathers. My father died in 1981, so long ago. He was 68 and took a fairly long time to die, poor man. I did get to have an adult relationship with him and we enjoyed each other's company the last few years of his life.
Tomorrow I'm going to a retirement luncheon for the former director, it will be full of member library directors. Do I want to spend an afternoon with them? Not so much but then I'll be reminded of what nice people they are (mostly)(nasty comment) and the luncheon is at someone's house on Lake Champlain so it will be pretty. It's 45 minutes from my house, man I do a lot of driving.
I worked at the thrift store yesterday but it was sort of slow and I was sort of bored so I only stayed 2 hours. Felt bad leaving but not bad enough to stay. I had lunch with friends at a nice restaurant in Upper Jay, that was a treat.
Dogs are fine, I'm fine, the 3 of us are happy. I got the boat house opened up and the bed half made so maybe I'll sleep down there tonight. It's supposed to be a hot day and hot night tonight. Too hot to mow the lawn, rats.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Still chilly
Rainy and cool today, not a nice day at all. It's supposed to warm up this weekend, maybe high 80's and 90 by Sunday. OK, that's too warm for me but at least I've got the boat house open and the bed there made so I can sleep there if it really does get that warm.
It's been an uneventful week, just the usual thrift store doings and Archives work. We scanned photos from the 80's today and that was pretty boring, truly. Oh well, they can't all be entertaining images from the early 1900's and late 1800's.
This morning a wonderful friend helped me set up the furniture in main camp. What a relief to have that done. I can't do it by myself and every year I fuss and fume about getting it done. I don't know, I truly don't know why it's become my responsibility to get this done but the family likes thinking that it's important for a local to do it so that's me I guess. Oh well, as long as I have helpful friends I can do the basics. We did no cleaning, I'm leaving that to others.
Tomorrow is a day off for me. If the lawn is dry enough I may mow the lawn. I may do some cleaning in the boat house. I'm walking the bog in the early morning with a friend. May have coffee with another friend (or not). At any rate I'm looking forward to having a day free of real obligations.
It's been an uneventful week, just the usual thrift store doings and Archives work. We scanned photos from the 80's today and that was pretty boring, truly. Oh well, they can't all be entertaining images from the early 1900's and late 1800's.
This morning a wonderful friend helped me set up the furniture in main camp. What a relief to have that done. I can't do it by myself and every year I fuss and fume about getting it done. I don't know, I truly don't know why it's become my responsibility to get this done but the family likes thinking that it's important for a local to do it so that's me I guess. Oh well, as long as I have helpful friends I can do the basics. We did no cleaning, I'm leaving that to others.
Tomorrow is a day off for me. If the lawn is dry enough I may mow the lawn. I may do some cleaning in the boat house. I'm walking the bog in the early morning with a friend. May have coffee with another friend (or not). At any rate I'm looking forward to having a day free of real obligations.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Cool mornings
Temps in the mornings have been in the 40's, which at some times of year would feel balmy and wonderful but in June, not so much. I've been walking the bog in the early mornings with various friends--the dogs are pleased and Bear barks and sings until we leave for the bog. Ratpig.
Yesterday I went to AuSable, mailed some things to my mother and went for a few groceries, then went to the dump. Mondays and Wednesdays are dump days, along with an occasional Saturday. Keeping track of dump hours is a big deal in Hawkeye--all hell broke loose last year when they changed the days AND the hours.
Today was an Archives day and that was fine. I worked on my own, my colleague only works on Thursdays in the summer because she tends the lock in Saranac Lake, living in a cabin by the lock. She's an interesting person, that's for sure. She has to paddle in to her cabin and post, taking provisions that way and coming out that way on her days off.
I went to camp this afternoon and did a little bit of work in the boat house. It needs cleaning! and I am so not motivated to do that. People have used main camp but no one has done anything about opening it. That really REALLY irritates me, if you're putting 4 chairs on the porch for you and friends to use, why not put out ALL the chairs on the porch, as well as the dinner table??? I can't do it all by myself but will do a little now and then I suppose. Each year I swear will be the last year I open camp--I don't use the main building and there are relatives who will live there for a week, 10 days, two weeks with lots of company and THEY don't do anything about opening. There, I've ranted. should be out of my system by now. Some things won't change, will they.
Tomorrow is a thrift store day then I'll either clean my car or do something at camp. maybe. I'm walking the bog with a friend at 7. I'm volunteering at the thrift store Wednesday and Saturday mornings, working in receiving. Yes it's true I see all the stuff that comes in before the shoppers do but it's more responsibility than I want because I have to inspect, clean and price the goods. And what a variety of goods we get! Lots of stuff. Well I enjoy the people I work with there and it's a good way to spend my time, a worthwhile endeavor.
Yesterday I went to AuSable, mailed some things to my mother and went for a few groceries, then went to the dump. Mondays and Wednesdays are dump days, along with an occasional Saturday. Keeping track of dump hours is a big deal in Hawkeye--all hell broke loose last year when they changed the days AND the hours.
Today was an Archives day and that was fine. I worked on my own, my colleague only works on Thursdays in the summer because she tends the lock in Saranac Lake, living in a cabin by the lock. She's an interesting person, that's for sure. She has to paddle in to her cabin and post, taking provisions that way and coming out that way on her days off.
I went to camp this afternoon and did a little bit of work in the boat house. It needs cleaning! and I am so not motivated to do that. People have used main camp but no one has done anything about opening it. That really REALLY irritates me, if you're putting 4 chairs on the porch for you and friends to use, why not put out ALL the chairs on the porch, as well as the dinner table??? I can't do it all by myself but will do a little now and then I suppose. Each year I swear will be the last year I open camp--I don't use the main building and there are relatives who will live there for a week, 10 days, two weeks with lots of company and THEY don't do anything about opening. There, I've ranted. should be out of my system by now. Some things won't change, will they.
Tomorrow is a thrift store day then I'll either clean my car or do something at camp. maybe. I'm walking the bog with a friend at 7. I'm volunteering at the thrift store Wednesday and Saturday mornings, working in receiving. Yes it's true I see all the stuff that comes in before the shoppers do but it's more responsibility than I want because I have to inspect, clean and price the goods. And what a variety of goods we get! Lots of stuff. Well I enjoy the people I work with there and it's a good way to spend my time, a worthwhile endeavor.
Saturday, June 09, 2018
What happened to me?
Not much of anything unusual happened to me, I've just been negligent. I'm working at the Archives, scanning photos and attaching metadata to an online spreadsheet so they can be posted online. I volunteer at the thrift store 2 mornings a week but cannot stay the full 5 hours it's open so I leave feeling guilty while others stay and work and work and work. I can't stand for that many hours, my poor feet and knees complain. I come home after 3 hours and lie on the couch for an hour to recover from my brief stint.
I'm still walking in the mornings with my friend--now that the weather's good and it's light early in the morning we tend to walk outside. Our favorites are the bog near my house, a boardwalk through a gorgeous forest where the dogs feel proprietary and free, and a logging road near her house where the dogs feel excited and wonderfully brave and explore the woods. I walked the bog alone with the dogs (a contradiction no?) at 6:30 or so this morning and it was truly lovely. The ferns and bracken are getting tall and are starting to bloom. Their blossoms are far from pretty but it's a sign of the seasons moving along. Bunchberries and Labrador tea are in bloom.
I started opening the boat house yesterday afternoon. The weather has been up and down, some nights in the 40's but then some very hot and humid days. I haven't been very tempted to spend time at the boat house but decided to swim Bear and get the opening process started. I left a pretty good mess at the end of last year but mostly things are OK. It needs a day of cleaning from me and a trip to the dump. Not a big deal but getting me to do it won't be so easy I'm afraid.
No big plans coming up. I went to a workshop yesterday on collecting and preserving photographs. Spent 2 hours on the history of photography because that's what the presenter's specialty was. Well I don't really care what kind of processing the 7000 photos we're scanning had and they're about as preserved as they're ever going to be, in some kind of "preserving" plastic sleeves. Too many of them to put in newer, better sleeves so there they'll be. There are a lot of photos from the late 1800's and early 1900's, then we hit a batch from the 1980's so it's always an adventure. So far we've scanned 1200 images but I haven't kept up with the metadata for all of them. Keep getting distracted by other tasks.
It's a gorgeous day, due to be 70's and sunny. The lake was beautiful yesterday afternoon when I put the boat house porch together. Linda is here and we've had some nice visits. Other summer friends are in residence and it's wonderful to be with them. Today is the Belmont but we'll celebrate more quietly than some years. That's fine, I watch horse races with great trepidation, fearing for the safety of the poor but beautiful horses. Do I care if Justify becomes a Triple Crown winner? Not really, I didn't watch the Preakness. It's entertaining anyway.
I'm still walking in the mornings with my friend--now that the weather's good and it's light early in the morning we tend to walk outside. Our favorites are the bog near my house, a boardwalk through a gorgeous forest where the dogs feel proprietary and free, and a logging road near her house where the dogs feel excited and wonderfully brave and explore the woods. I walked the bog alone with the dogs (a contradiction no?) at 6:30 or so this morning and it was truly lovely. The ferns and bracken are getting tall and are starting to bloom. Their blossoms are far from pretty but it's a sign of the seasons moving along. Bunchberries and Labrador tea are in bloom.
I started opening the boat house yesterday afternoon. The weather has been up and down, some nights in the 40's but then some very hot and humid days. I haven't been very tempted to spend time at the boat house but decided to swim Bear and get the opening process started. I left a pretty good mess at the end of last year but mostly things are OK. It needs a day of cleaning from me and a trip to the dump. Not a big deal but getting me to do it won't be so easy I'm afraid.
No big plans coming up. I went to a workshop yesterday on collecting and preserving photographs. Spent 2 hours on the history of photography because that's what the presenter's specialty was. Well I don't really care what kind of processing the 7000 photos we're scanning had and they're about as preserved as they're ever going to be, in some kind of "preserving" plastic sleeves. Too many of them to put in newer, better sleeves so there they'll be. There are a lot of photos from the late 1800's and early 1900's, then we hit a batch from the 1980's so it's always an adventure. So far we've scanned 1200 images but I haven't kept up with the metadata for all of them. Keep getting distracted by other tasks.
It's a gorgeous day, due to be 70's and sunny. The lake was beautiful yesterday afternoon when I put the boat house porch together. Linda is here and we've had some nice visits. Other summer friends are in residence and it's wonderful to be with them. Today is the Belmont but we'll celebrate more quietly than some years. That's fine, I watch horse races with great trepidation, fearing for the safety of the poor but beautiful horses. Do I care if Justify becomes a Triple Crown winner? Not really, I didn't watch the Preakness. It's entertaining anyway.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
It IS spring, it really is!
There are just the tiniest leaves on the poplar trees in Hawkeye. Everyone else has full-blown leaves but I'll settle for ours. The tamaracks are starting to green up as well and my daffodils are in bloom like crazy. Primroses are in bloom too but not much else going on. That's OK, May is a joyous time of daily advances.
I'm still volunteering at the thrift store two days a week and this morning was one of those days. Wow it was busy. Wednesday was the same--partly because the regulars in Receiving are out for a couple/few weeks and partly because it's SPRING and the sun is shining so people are cleaning. Many many shoppers and many many droppers. I can't do the whole 5 hours the store is open, I do 3 1/2 hours and head out. I feel guilty leaving but I just can't do that many hours on my feet. I never had a job that demanded that kind of physical activity, I mostly sat on my butt all my working years.
I've been walking outside with my gym friend, she lives near here and there are nice walks by her house and by mine. The lucky dogs get to join us and they run and run and run. This morning we walked in 31 degrees, up from the 29 it was when I got up. Another frosty morning predicted for tomorrow.
The sun is warm. Grass is not green but that's good because I'm not in a mowing mood. I should be outside cleaning up the yard but I'm sitting in the living room resting. I usually feel mildly depressed in the spring, always in April. I forgot to do that this April but yesterday had a very blue day. I slept and slept, then went to bed and slept some more. Today I feel much better so maybe it wasn't really depression. If that's what I want.
I'm off to Rhode Island on Friday for Mark's 60th birthday and a few days with my mother. Looking forward to that--she says the dogwood is in bloom, some of the rhododendrons are still blooming. I'll do some plant shopping while I'm there, it's a little early based on weather here. I did get violas, not my usual pansies, but haven't started laying in supplies for my deck pots yet. It's too cold!
I'm still volunteering at the thrift store two days a week and this morning was one of those days. Wow it was busy. Wednesday was the same--partly because the regulars in Receiving are out for a couple/few weeks and partly because it's SPRING and the sun is shining so people are cleaning. Many many shoppers and many many droppers. I can't do the whole 5 hours the store is open, I do 3 1/2 hours and head out. I feel guilty leaving but I just can't do that many hours on my feet. I never had a job that demanded that kind of physical activity, I mostly sat on my butt all my working years.
I've been walking outside with my gym friend, she lives near here and there are nice walks by her house and by mine. The lucky dogs get to join us and they run and run and run. This morning we walked in 31 degrees, up from the 29 it was when I got up. Another frosty morning predicted for tomorrow.
The sun is warm. Grass is not green but that's good because I'm not in a mowing mood. I should be outside cleaning up the yard but I'm sitting in the living room resting. I usually feel mildly depressed in the spring, always in April. I forgot to do that this April but yesterday had a very blue day. I slept and slept, then went to bed and slept some more. Today I feel much better so maybe it wasn't really depression. If that's what I want.
I'm off to Rhode Island on Friday for Mark's 60th birthday and a few days with my mother. Looking forward to that--she says the dogwood is in bloom, some of the rhododendrons are still blooming. I'll do some plant shopping while I'm there, it's a little early based on weather here. I did get violas, not my usual pansies, but haven't started laying in supplies for my deck pots yet. It's too cold!
Monday, May 07, 2018
Big drama, BIG BIG drama
We had a storm here Friday night, a big wind storm. We even had a tornado watch to match it, which unnerved me a bit. I grew up in tornado country so that sort of thing frightens me. The wind lasted all night and sounded like a train coming through, which is what a tornado sounds like (so I've been told). We didn't have a tornado, thankfully but we had massive trees blow down, lots of lasting power outages and were without phone service for a couple of days. That meant no Internet. WHAT???? I'm too dependent on Internet means of communication so it was hard for me and for those who expect to hear from me electronically on a regular basis. There was no regular basis but by Sunday night all was swell. Today we're having a gorgeous sunny day with temps in the 50's. The air is still cool but it's pretty out there. We have no leaves on trees or bushes yet but the maples are blooming (ah-choo). That's great progress.
The biggest progress to report is ICE OUT! That happened Saturday afternoon, May 5th. A tad late but not the latest ever. It went out pretty quickly. One of my friends at the foot of the lake says that it must have been a violent ice-out because there are ice blocks on his lawn going down to the water. That's pretty amazing.
I've been busy--that seems to be my normal state these days. I went to the thrift store to work on Saturday but there was no power so I got the day off. That was a treat. I had dinner with friends and watched the Derby, walked the bog with a friend in the morning yesterday--the purple trillium is just coming up there. We may have a change of season after all. My daffodils are blooming like champions and look great. I went pansy shopping with a friend on Saturday, got my annual pot o'pansies planted and on the deck.
This morning I went to the dump then to Plattsburgh to run some errands. I should take my mother's package to the post office this afternoon but do I feel like driving even more today? Unknown.
The biggest progress to report is ICE OUT! That happened Saturday afternoon, May 5th. A tad late but not the latest ever. It went out pretty quickly. One of my friends at the foot of the lake says that it must have been a violent ice-out because there are ice blocks on his lawn going down to the water. That's pretty amazing.
I've been busy--that seems to be my normal state these days. I went to the thrift store to work on Saturday but there was no power so I got the day off. That was a treat. I had dinner with friends and watched the Derby, walked the bog with a friend in the morning yesterday--the purple trillium is just coming up there. We may have a change of season after all. My daffodils are blooming like champions and look great. I went pansy shopping with a friend on Saturday, got my annual pot o'pansies planted and on the deck.
This morning I went to the dump then to Plattsburgh to run some errands. I should take my mother's package to the post office this afternoon but do I feel like driving even more today? Unknown.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Snow sucks mud
It's been snowing all afternoon, we have 3-4 inches of heavy stuff right now and they're (of "they") predicting 6" by morning. Totally unnecessary. We had rain this morning but then it turned to snow here in Hawkeye. I went to the laundromat at 7:30 this morning, thinking I'd have the place to myself but noooo, who knew that's when other people do their laundry? Anyway I did a big wash then came home to snow falling and falling and falling. There go my crocuses (I have 5) and buried are the daffodils.
The dogs are not doing well--they got into something edible the other night and ate too much of it. Treasure looks as if she swallowed a balloon. Bear is better, he was all swoled up yesterday but now seems as normal as he knows how to be. Treasure is not better and it's scary. I think I'll call the vet in the morning, of course I'm convinced she has a blockage and will be dead soon. I haven't let them out loose all day, they are cabled every time they go out so at least they're not getting more of whatever it was they ate.
It looks like an easy week for me--my calendar is almost empty! Just waiting to be filled with vet visits I'm sure. Meanwhile I'm going to the gym in the morning with 2 friends, then will hit the dump unless I have to drive to Westport to the vet. Tuesday is work, Wednesday is thrift store, Thursday is work. That's it! I was at the thrift store on Saturday and man oh man was it busy. Lots of shoppers and droppers, plenty of donations coming in and plenty of shoppers buying treasures.
The dogs are not doing well--they got into something edible the other night and ate too much of it. Treasure looks as if she swallowed a balloon. Bear is better, he was all swoled up yesterday but now seems as normal as he knows how to be. Treasure is not better and it's scary. I think I'll call the vet in the morning, of course I'm convinced she has a blockage and will be dead soon. I haven't let them out loose all day, they are cabled every time they go out so at least they're not getting more of whatever it was they ate.
It looks like an easy week for me--my calendar is almost empty! Just waiting to be filled with vet visits I'm sure. Meanwhile I'm going to the gym in the morning with 2 friends, then will hit the dump unless I have to drive to Westport to the vet. Tuesday is work, Wednesday is thrift store, Thursday is work. That's it! I was at the thrift store on Saturday and man oh man was it busy. Lots of shoppers and droppers, plenty of donations coming in and plenty of shoppers buying treasures.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Rain melts snow
It's raining HARD and plenty. We've lost a lot of snow and I can see daffodils brave and hardy in parts of my yard. Oh boy! Looks like a good year for blooms.
I'm home from the trip to Potsdam/Canton for an archives-relevant workshop/training session. It was good but a long day. We left my house at 7:30 or so, had an easy and uneventful trip going and coming. It rained all the way home but that was nice, rinsed off my car. How was the workshop? It was good but a tad detail-oriented with a lot of attention paid to policies and mission statements. Someone else took care of those long before I showed up in Keene Valley so I'm lucky.
I got to see my friend at the Network and say farewell to him--he's retiring at the end of this week. Boy do I like having people I know retire, it's such a gift.
The dogs were (apparently) well-behaved while I was gone, but then I put chairs on the couch to keep them off. They were happy to have me home, happier to have me feed them. Now they're dozing. Me too.
Today would be my brother's 69th birthday. I can't picture him as a 69-year-old, but I can't picture myself as a 65-year-old, either. He was a special person. I miss him, think of him pretty much every day. A sibling is a special and wonderful treasure.
I'm home from the trip to Potsdam/Canton for an archives-relevant workshop/training session. It was good but a long day. We left my house at 7:30 or so, had an easy and uneventful trip going and coming. It rained all the way home but that was nice, rinsed off my car. How was the workshop? It was good but a tad detail-oriented with a lot of attention paid to policies and mission statements. Someone else took care of those long before I showed up in Keene Valley so I'm lucky.
I got to see my friend at the Network and say farewell to him--he's retiring at the end of this week. Boy do I like having people I know retire, it's such a gift.
The dogs were (apparently) well-behaved while I was gone, but then I put chairs on the couch to keep them off. They were happy to have me home, happier to have me feed them. Now they're dozing. Me too.
Today would be my brother's 69th birthday. I can't picture him as a 69-year-old, but I can't picture myself as a 65-year-old, either. He was a special person. I miss him, think of him pretty much every day. A sibling is a special and wonderful treasure.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Mud
We're having an extended mud season this year--it started a few weeks ago but because it was cold and cloudy the mud never had a chance to dry out. Soooo, my driveway is off-limits for now. I'm to smart to get stuck in deep mud but too lazy to never drive through the mud. Deep ruts at the bottom of my driveway but oh well.
I've had good days--last week Annie was here and we went to the gym and had dinners together. She went back on Saturday. I've been taking care of a friend's cat while my friend and her husband are out of town. I had to have help with that last week because their driveway was impassable. Their house is high on a hill with an incredible view of the bluffs at the foot of the lake, which is really lovely but man the driveway is hell to get up. Anyway the cat is fine, she's pretty much deaf and blind but otherwise healthy. I feed her and scratch scratch scratch her until she purrs.
We had book group last night and barely mentioned the book (we had more pressing things to discuss). We're skipping the month of May, too many conflicts so we'll meet again in June at Linda's camp. That seems so far away but then I'm reminded that next week is MAY! The weather has made it hard to believe in the passage of time but we're making progress. The sun has been out for 2 straight days with more to come (if you want to believe predictors).
Tomorrow is the Archives, we'll do some more scanning. Wednesday I'm going to a day-long training session in Canton with the woman I work with in the Archives. It's not training I'm very interested in but it's relevant, about conservation of the collection. All day??? I promised my co-worker we would go.
I'm sitting on my new couch. I sleep on my new mattress. WOW such big changes!
I've had good days--last week Annie was here and we went to the gym and had dinners together. She went back on Saturday. I've been taking care of a friend's cat while my friend and her husband are out of town. I had to have help with that last week because their driveway was impassable. Their house is high on a hill with an incredible view of the bluffs at the foot of the lake, which is really lovely but man the driveway is hell to get up. Anyway the cat is fine, she's pretty much deaf and blind but otherwise healthy. I feed her and scratch scratch scratch her until she purrs.
We had book group last night and barely mentioned the book (we had more pressing things to discuss). We're skipping the month of May, too many conflicts so we'll meet again in June at Linda's camp. That seems so far away but then I'm reminded that next week is MAY! The weather has made it hard to believe in the passage of time but we're making progress. The sun has been out for 2 straight days with more to come (if you want to believe predictors).
Tomorrow is the Archives, we'll do some more scanning. Wednesday I'm going to a day-long training session in Canton with the woman I work with in the Archives. It's not training I'm very interested in but it's relevant, about conservation of the collection. All day??? I promised my co-worker we would go.
I'm sitting on my new couch. I sleep on my new mattress. WOW such big changes!
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Third winter
I recently saw something called "The 11 Seasons of the Adirondacks," which said that we are currently in Third Winter, just before Mud Season. We're really having both at the same time. My driveway is a mud wallow, I'm parking at the end of it and slog through snow-covered mud to get to the car. Probably my least favorite walking condition is this, mud under snow, which will suck the boots right off your feet--no, really, it does.
I've been doing all right in spite of the weather. Weather is one of those things you can't change so I try, in my life to not fuss about things I have no control over. Do I succeed? Sometimes, sometimes moderately, sometimes better, sometimes worse. It tends to improve the quality of my life, I think.
I had a good week. Two trips to Potsdam, that was a big much but both trips were good. The training session on Tuesday was geekily fun. REALLY geeky but I got to see a good friend in the process and I learned that I'm doing the work at the Archives in a successful way. The second trip was on Thursday afternoon to attend the same friend's retirement party. I went with a friend and we really REALLY screwed up the trip there, taking a "short cut" that added many miles and almost an hour to our trip. Oh well, we made it and had a nice time at the party. It reminded us that we have been here for a LONG time and have come in contact with many many people.
I did the gym most mornings. Well, some mornings at least. Yesterday we met at the gym and quit after 15 minutes because my friend was sick and neither of us felt like treadmilling so we went to Stewarts for coffee instead. We did walk at Taylor Pond twice this week so that was good for the dogs and also really nice to be outside even though it was 19 degrees. Not windy and semi-sunny so a pleasant time.
Today is my friend Annie's 75th birthday. She's choosing to ignore the number. Today is the day that Fred always drives down North Shore Lane to his camp, except NOT this year. Too much snow still and icy roads today. Our precipitation is something hard to describe--snow, no, not quite. ice, well maybe. sleet, yes, probably. Just a messy combination of all of this. And it's supposed to get worse and be windy ("damaging" winds, swell, just swell). I'm hoping to get to Plattsburgh tomorrow, have to pick up meds and am hoping to have lunch with a friend. Today I'll go visit P&J, I hope, after I go to AuSable to get milk and maybe a bottle for James. Which is more important, milk to make yogurt for myself or whiskey for Jim?
I've been doing all right in spite of the weather. Weather is one of those things you can't change so I try, in my life to not fuss about things I have no control over. Do I succeed? Sometimes, sometimes moderately, sometimes better, sometimes worse. It tends to improve the quality of my life, I think.
I had a good week. Two trips to Potsdam, that was a big much but both trips were good. The training session on Tuesday was geekily fun. REALLY geeky but I got to see a good friend in the process and I learned that I'm doing the work at the Archives in a successful way. The second trip was on Thursday afternoon to attend the same friend's retirement party. I went with a friend and we really REALLY screwed up the trip there, taking a "short cut" that added many miles and almost an hour to our trip. Oh well, we made it and had a nice time at the party. It reminded us that we have been here for a LONG time and have come in contact with many many people.
I did the gym most mornings. Well, some mornings at least. Yesterday we met at the gym and quit after 15 minutes because my friend was sick and neither of us felt like treadmilling so we went to Stewarts for coffee instead. We did walk at Taylor Pond twice this week so that was good for the dogs and also really nice to be outside even though it was 19 degrees. Not windy and semi-sunny so a pleasant time.
Today is my friend Annie's 75th birthday. She's choosing to ignore the number. Today is the day that Fred always drives down North Shore Lane to his camp, except NOT this year. Too much snow still and icy roads today. Our precipitation is something hard to describe--snow, no, not quite. ice, well maybe. sleet, yes, probably. Just a messy combination of all of this. And it's supposed to get worse and be windy ("damaging" winds, swell, just swell). I'm hoping to get to Plattsburgh tomorrow, have to pick up meds and am hoping to have lunch with a friend. Today I'll go visit P&J, I hope, after I go to AuSable to get milk and maybe a bottle for James. Which is more important, milk to make yogurt for myself or whiskey for Jim?
Monday, April 09, 2018
Still moving toward spring but slowing down
We're stuck in this weather pattern where it's in 30's during the day but down to 11 or 12 at night. Although we do like to firm up the mud, this is doing little to bring spring. I recklessly turned off the heat in my cellar hole and bingo! my pump froze this morning. No harm done and it thawed while I was running errands in town so all was well. But really??? Is that necessary?
Life goes on in Hawkeye. Huge wind storm last week caused power outage that lasted almost 2 days while temps were in the teens. That was nasty. House was 47 when I got up Thursday morning. I went to work, convinced as I always am that the power would be back on ANY MINUTE. Only it wasn't and the house did not warm up during the day. I lit a fire and got it up to 57 before going to bed on the couch by the wood stove. What a drag. Power came back on of course and all was fine. Just a reminder of how dependent on running water and television I am in my daily life.
My new couch was delivered on Friday after my friend Lin spent hours cleaning my bedroom as a favor so my new mattress would have a good home. Except there was a problem with the ordering of the mattress, of course so it won't come until this week. Not to worry, the bedroom is still clean and the couch arrived without incident. The dogs think it's not as nice as the old couch (yes, I know what they think) because it's higher, cleaner, you don't sink to the floor when you sit on it and it doesn't smell bad. Aw, too bad. Wait until they find out we're getting a new mattress. Yikes.
I'm still getting to the gym most mornings, the thrift store on Weds. and Sat. and the Archives on Tuesday and Thursday. A busy time but not too much. I've been promoted at the thrift store and am learning to accept the responsibility of receiving and pricing donations. Yes, there's a philosophy and a method to the madness. Somewhere between "one less thing to the landfill" and "this could be valuable." Always "one person's trash..." Yes, we get a lot of trash, most of which is no ones treasures.
Tomorrow I'm going to Canton to a workshop on metadata for my work in the Archives. It's about 1 1/2 hours away and the training is 3 hours long. I have always maintained that meetings or training sessions should last at least as long as it takes to get to them so this session is very satisfying.
Later this week I go to Potsdam to a retirement party for a network director friend. How do I feel about retirement parties?
Life goes on in Hawkeye. Huge wind storm last week caused power outage that lasted almost 2 days while temps were in the teens. That was nasty. House was 47 when I got up Thursday morning. I went to work, convinced as I always am that the power would be back on ANY MINUTE. Only it wasn't and the house did not warm up during the day. I lit a fire and got it up to 57 before going to bed on the couch by the wood stove. What a drag. Power came back on of course and all was fine. Just a reminder of how dependent on running water and television I am in my daily life.
My new couch was delivered on Friday after my friend Lin spent hours cleaning my bedroom as a favor so my new mattress would have a good home. Except there was a problem with the ordering of the mattress, of course so it won't come until this week. Not to worry, the bedroom is still clean and the couch arrived without incident. The dogs think it's not as nice as the old couch (yes, I know what they think) because it's higher, cleaner, you don't sink to the floor when you sit on it and it doesn't smell bad. Aw, too bad. Wait until they find out we're getting a new mattress. Yikes.
I'm still getting to the gym most mornings, the thrift store on Weds. and Sat. and the Archives on Tuesday and Thursday. A busy time but not too much. I've been promoted at the thrift store and am learning to accept the responsibility of receiving and pricing donations. Yes, there's a philosophy and a method to the madness. Somewhere between "one less thing to the landfill" and "this could be valuable." Always "one person's trash..." Yes, we get a lot of trash, most of which is no ones treasures.
Tomorrow I'm going to Canton to a workshop on metadata for my work in the Archives. It's about 1 1/2 hours away and the training is 3 hours long. I have always maintained that meetings or training sessions should last at least as long as it takes to get to them so this session is very satisfying.
Later this week I go to Potsdam to a retirement party for a network director friend. How do I feel about retirement parties?
Monday, April 02, 2018
Moving toward spring
What a beautiful day in Hawkeye! It's cool, 35 but the sun is bright and warm. Funny when you think about the snow that people like my mother are having today. We still have 6-10 inches of snow on the ground but days like today have a big impact on that for sure.
Easter was a day all right. I woke up at 3:30 because the dog barked, then I discovered the power was out so I called the elec. company and went back to bed. The power had been out on Saturday for a little while too (who knows why) so I wasn't worried. What an inconvenience, though--no power, no water, no television, no hot coffee (off I went to Redford for that). Oh suffer suffer. I went to P&J's and had a nice visit with them in their very cool (as in chilly) living room. I had a fire in my wood stove so my living room was much warmer. After that I went out for Easter dinner with friends who live across the lake--they have a generator so it's nothing to them to have the power out. I really think I need to work with my mother to get her a generator set up like that. She's interested I know.
The power came back on around 3 p.m. and life was good again.
Today was dump day but I went too early, once I started doing some cleaning I found more dump-worthy stuff but didn't feel like making a second trip today. Later, baby, later.
I'm still going to the gym most mornings. This week I'll work in the Archives solo, my assistant is off to Texas this week and next. Rats, it's school vacation and the 7th graders have been told to visit the Archives to work on their projects. Oh crumb. Wednesday is a trip to Burlington with Lin, my annual mammogram and doubtless a trip to Trader Joe's. I need dog food though so may have to stop in Plattsburgh on the way home. No planned trips to Plattsburgh this week other than a pass-through on Weds. Friday my new furniture is due to be delivered and of course I'm worrying about the mud in the driveway. It's bad, very bad. Freezes at night but I have 2 spots that are pure wallows between the end of the driveway and the house. And of course it's supposed to rain, no, snow, no, rain later this week. Oh drat.
Easter was a day all right. I woke up at 3:30 because the dog barked, then I discovered the power was out so I called the elec. company and went back to bed. The power had been out on Saturday for a little while too (who knows why) so I wasn't worried. What an inconvenience, though--no power, no water, no television, no hot coffee (off I went to Redford for that). Oh suffer suffer. I went to P&J's and had a nice visit with them in their very cool (as in chilly) living room. I had a fire in my wood stove so my living room was much warmer. After that I went out for Easter dinner with friends who live across the lake--they have a generator so it's nothing to them to have the power out. I really think I need to work with my mother to get her a generator set up like that. She's interested I know.
The power came back on around 3 p.m. and life was good again.
Today was dump day but I went too early, once I started doing some cleaning I found more dump-worthy stuff but didn't feel like making a second trip today. Later, baby, later.
I'm still going to the gym most mornings. This week I'll work in the Archives solo, my assistant is off to Texas this week and next. Rats, it's school vacation and the 7th graders have been told to visit the Archives to work on their projects. Oh crumb. Wednesday is a trip to Burlington with Lin, my annual mammogram and doubtless a trip to Trader Joe's. I need dog food though so may have to stop in Plattsburgh on the way home. No planned trips to Plattsburgh this week other than a pass-through on Weds. Friday my new furniture is due to be delivered and of course I'm worrying about the mud in the driveway. It's bad, very bad. Freezes at night but I have 2 spots that are pure wallows between the end of the driveway and the house. And of course it's supposed to rain, no, snow, no, rain later this week. Oh drat.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Still not quite spring
We are losing snow, there's no denying that. I heard a red-winged blackbird (but not at my house) and today I saw a turkey vulture. and I smelled dead skunk on the way to Plattsburgh. Signs of spring but the ground is still covered, well covered with snow. And there's mud in the driveway. The ground hasn't thawed yet but it's coming along slowly.
Wednesday was my first day in Receiving at the thrift store. It went well but I asked a lot, lot, lot of questions about what to keep and about pricing. I think it will be OK and the people are very nice to me. Do I like it? Yes, it's a good thing for me to do.
I went to the Archives yesterday and that, too was fine. Margaret will be gone for the next 2 weeks so I'll be on my own. That's fine as long as no one comes in asking for help and unfortunately the school kids will be on vacation next week so may come in to work on their projects. OH NO!!!
Today was an exciting day, the gym this morning as usual but then I went to Plattsburgh to buy a new couch. What a good salesman, he took me right to the perfect couch for me, based on what I told him I was looking for. SOLD! Then I asked if he sold futons because my futon is 16 years old (I recently discovered) and I sleep in an indentation the shape of my body. I tried a few mattresses--oh, so different from a futon! and found one that felt just perfect so I bought it. A new mattress! I don't know what the dogs will think, first a new couch then a new bed as well. They'll deliver the goods next Friday but best of all they're taking the old stuff away. Far, far away.
Tomorrow I'll meet my friend at the gym at 7:30 then (after coffee) will head to the thrift store for a couple of hours before meeting another friend in Keene for coffee. more coffee. Sunday is Easter. I've been invited to a sunrise service at the top of Whiteface but I think I'll pass on that. I've also been invited to an Easter dinner across the lake in the afternoon. That will be nice, it's just 2 couples and me.
Life continues to be good for me. I'm not antsy about the weather--it's in the 30's these days, above freezing during the day with cool nights. Very typical. I'm usually fed up with winter by the end of March but I have a much more benign attitude about it all this year. A sign of maturity?
Wednesday was my first day in Receiving at the thrift store. It went well but I asked a lot, lot, lot of questions about what to keep and about pricing. I think it will be OK and the people are very nice to me. Do I like it? Yes, it's a good thing for me to do.
I went to the Archives yesterday and that, too was fine. Margaret will be gone for the next 2 weeks so I'll be on my own. That's fine as long as no one comes in asking for help and unfortunately the school kids will be on vacation next week so may come in to work on their projects. OH NO!!!
Today was an exciting day, the gym this morning as usual but then I went to Plattsburgh to buy a new couch. What a good salesman, he took me right to the perfect couch for me, based on what I told him I was looking for. SOLD! Then I asked if he sold futons because my futon is 16 years old (I recently discovered) and I sleep in an indentation the shape of my body. I tried a few mattresses--oh, so different from a futon! and found one that felt just perfect so I bought it. A new mattress! I don't know what the dogs will think, first a new couch then a new bed as well. They'll deliver the goods next Friday but best of all they're taking the old stuff away. Far, far away.
Tomorrow I'll meet my friend at the gym at 7:30 then (after coffee) will head to the thrift store for a couple of hours before meeting another friend in Keene for coffee. more coffee. Sunday is Easter. I've been invited to a sunrise service at the top of Whiteface but I think I'll pass on that. I've also been invited to an Easter dinner across the lake in the afternoon. That will be nice, it's just 2 couples and me.
Life continues to be good for me. I'm not antsy about the weather--it's in the 30's these days, above freezing during the day with cool nights. Very typical. I'm usually fed up with winter by the end of March but I have a much more benign attitude about it all this year. A sign of maturity?
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Tuesday--is it spring yet?
Temp today was in upper 30's but there wasn't sun. Some breeze, though, which helps melt the snow.
Yesterday was a Plattsburgh day, doctor's appointment and a couple of errands. Did go to the gym first, did half an hour on the treadmill. This morning we went to the gym but only did 15 minutes because my friend had to get to work early. Oh I'm so happy I don't have a full-time job! I do have a job, though, and went to the Archives today. I don't have to be there until 9 and only work until noon so it's barely enough time to get anything done. We had the 7th-grade class from the school visit. I am not a good tour guide of the place so I turned them over to my assistant Margaret and she did a wonderful job. We weren't sure what they wanted to get from the visit, the teacher was a little vague but the kids had a good time looking up photos. I asked them if they knew what a card catalog was--guess what they said--NO. They had no idea what it was or how to use it so we set them loose on the ever-important to the Archives card catalog. It was fine and I laughed at the fact that libraries haven't had card catalogs in the lifetimes of these kids. I explained it to my mother--she was stunned that the kids didn't know about card catalogs but I reminded her that libraries got rid of catalogs 20 or more years ago. What a job that was, getting rid of the cards. We found a company that would recycle our cards and we sold the catalogs themselves for $50 each (my friend bought them and resold them for $200 each to friends). Oh those were the days... not.
Tomorrow I'm volunteering at the thrift store. My first official day in Receiving. I went yesterday to be trained and am still (more?) intimidated. I'll be fine, I just don't want to make decisions that much. I can barely make decisions about what to wear.
Yesterday was a Plattsburgh day, doctor's appointment and a couple of errands. Did go to the gym first, did half an hour on the treadmill. This morning we went to the gym but only did 15 minutes because my friend had to get to work early. Oh I'm so happy I don't have a full-time job! I do have a job, though, and went to the Archives today. I don't have to be there until 9 and only work until noon so it's barely enough time to get anything done. We had the 7th-grade class from the school visit. I am not a good tour guide of the place so I turned them over to my assistant Margaret and she did a wonderful job. We weren't sure what they wanted to get from the visit, the teacher was a little vague but the kids had a good time looking up photos. I asked them if they knew what a card catalog was--guess what they said--NO. They had no idea what it was or how to use it so we set them loose on the ever-important to the Archives card catalog. It was fine and I laughed at the fact that libraries haven't had card catalogs in the lifetimes of these kids. I explained it to my mother--she was stunned that the kids didn't know about card catalogs but I reminded her that libraries got rid of catalogs 20 or more years ago. What a job that was, getting rid of the cards. We found a company that would recycle our cards and we sold the catalogs themselves for $50 each (my friend bought them and resold them for $200 each to friends). Oh those were the days... not.
Tomorrow I'm volunteering at the thrift store. My first official day in Receiving. I went yesterday to be trained and am still (more?) intimidated. I'll be fine, I just don't want to make decisions that much. I can barely make decisions about what to wear.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
SUNSHINE
It's a beautiful day, almost spring-like but still 34 degrees. Supposed to warm up this week, temps in the 40's. Maybe even some rain at the end of the week. Pretty exciting.
Had an exciting day yesterday--on my way to the gym at 7 a.m. I came across a dead bobcat in the road, hit by a car but unmarked. I went on to the gym & asked my friend if she'd seen the cat and she screamed I ALWAYS WANTED A STUFFED BOBCAT so we raced back to the dead animal and put it in her car. Back to Stewarts to ask the regulars (we knew they would know) where a good taxidermist could be found. Plenty of "Can I see the bobcat?!!" and suggestions about what to do next, final determination was that she should call DEC (Environmental Conservation) and they would tag the animal for her so she could take it to be stuffed. Well, almost. DEC said they couldn't tag the animal because the trapping season ended in February, even though she didn't trap it. Rules are rules. The Forest Ranger went to her house and picked up the 1-year-old female absolutely gorgeous specimen, said they would have to send it to Albany for testing but then would donate it to an educational institution. Which is what my friend runs, so we're hoping they'll return the cat to her. It is really just a beautiful animal, in perfect condition. That was just too much excitement for yesterday, all I could do for the rest of the day was head to the dump. Whew!
Now it's Palm Sunday and that means nothing to me. I had planned to go to RI for Easter but the decision was made that I'd skip it since I'm going back in May. It will be the first Easter I've spent by myself--will I care? Impossible to know. I'm half-tempted to go to RI anyway but then I think about how much driving that involves and how nice it's supposed to be here so I think I'll stay put. It will be strange, this much I know.
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment, will take my filthy new car to the car wash and will buy an Easter lily for my friend Patricia. I ordered one to be sent to my mother, I always take her one. At noon tomorrow I'm meeting someone at the thrift store because they want me to start working in receiving, where they need more help than the Book Lady I usually work with needs. Do I want to work in receiving? Not so much but I do want to be helpful. Some of the stuff is priced automatically but other stuff has to be priced when it comes in. OH NO!!! I don't want any responsibility. I'll see how it goes tomorrow--the thrift store is only open Weds. and Saturday so we'll have a chance to go over everything easily.
Not much else going on this week for me. There's a class coming to the Archives on Tuesday, 7th graders I think. The teacher doesn't seem to know exactly WHY they're coming but she said she wants them to know what's in the Archives. Luckily my colleague Margaret will be there, SHE can be the expert.
Weather is supposed to get exciting this week, temps in the 40's and maybe even some rain. I should walk to camp this afternoon, it's a beautiful day and the dogs would like it. But no, I doubt I'll do that. Mostly I'll tidy up the living room and maybe do some work in the bedroom.
I'm a lucky girl.
Had an exciting day yesterday--on my way to the gym at 7 a.m. I came across a dead bobcat in the road, hit by a car but unmarked. I went on to the gym & asked my friend if she'd seen the cat and she screamed I ALWAYS WANTED A STUFFED BOBCAT so we raced back to the dead animal and put it in her car. Back to Stewarts to ask the regulars (we knew they would know) where a good taxidermist could be found. Plenty of "Can I see the bobcat?!!" and suggestions about what to do next, final determination was that she should call DEC (Environmental Conservation) and they would tag the animal for her so she could take it to be stuffed. Well, almost. DEC said they couldn't tag the animal because the trapping season ended in February, even though she didn't trap it. Rules are rules. The Forest Ranger went to her house and picked up the 1-year-old female absolutely gorgeous specimen, said they would have to send it to Albany for testing but then would donate it to an educational institution. Which is what my friend runs, so we're hoping they'll return the cat to her. It is really just a beautiful animal, in perfect condition. That was just too much excitement for yesterday, all I could do for the rest of the day was head to the dump. Whew!
Now it's Palm Sunday and that means nothing to me. I had planned to go to RI for Easter but the decision was made that I'd skip it since I'm going back in May. It will be the first Easter I've spent by myself--will I care? Impossible to know. I'm half-tempted to go to RI anyway but then I think about how much driving that involves and how nice it's supposed to be here so I think I'll stay put. It will be strange, this much I know.
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment, will take my filthy new car to the car wash and will buy an Easter lily for my friend Patricia. I ordered one to be sent to my mother, I always take her one. At noon tomorrow I'm meeting someone at the thrift store because they want me to start working in receiving, where they need more help than the Book Lady I usually work with needs. Do I want to work in receiving? Not so much but I do want to be helpful. Some of the stuff is priced automatically but other stuff has to be priced when it comes in. OH NO!!! I don't want any responsibility. I'll see how it goes tomorrow--the thrift store is only open Weds. and Saturday so we'll have a chance to go over everything easily.
Not much else going on this week for me. There's a class coming to the Archives on Tuesday, 7th graders I think. The teacher doesn't seem to know exactly WHY they're coming but she said she wants them to know what's in the Archives. Luckily my colleague Margaret will be there, SHE can be the expert.
Weather is supposed to get exciting this week, temps in the 40's and maybe even some rain. I should walk to camp this afternoon, it's a beautiful day and the dogs would like it. But no, I doubt I'll do that. Mostly I'll tidy up the living room and maybe do some work in the bedroom.
I'm a lucky girl.
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