Canine at the Crossroads

 

One thing I've learned from puppysitting today, long after having had a large female dog.

It doesn't matter what size a dog is, for him to be headstrong. We two were thinking at cross purposes (the little dog who would probably not get much bigger) and I....He was thinking, "I want to go out and play and chew on bad things," whereas I was thinking practically, "Oh, you want to go out and do your business, right?"

Yet, every time I took him out, he just went "frogging around" (a term I learned from my father-in-law) and he decided to save "business" for inside. Each time he stood by the door, I thought, "Oh, he's repenting and wanting to make things right by doing this the right way!"

Oh, contrary wise! Not only did he NOT want to go out for practical reasons, he wanted to STAY

outside, which was the reason he raised such a fuss each time I took him back inside. I know his immediate family will know what to do.

Becoming a dog whisperer takes time and training.

Be Prepared...Yesterday

Thinking back, walking down memory lane, when all-of-a-sudden, they said, put a Mask on, and we said, Mask? Mask? How do I do that? and then, we started putting scarves around our faces like Mideast wives. So everybody came to the rescue and showed us how to fold scarves just right, and then to, sew...Sew? Sew? I didn't do that very well, even in Home Economics. (Thank goodness for Grandma Marilyn)

So tutorials popped up right and left, about how to sew, and then, a tutorial about how to make an easy sock mask...just my style. So, our insurance company was thoughtful and sent us some ready-made masks, and especially one that fit tight over the nose (like Mideast wives, again) with their insignia on it, but other ones, too. It seemed like everybody had a disposable mask, but where were they selling them?

All this time, the powers that be were withholding masks, either so we didn't panic (I was panicking over NOT having a mask, already) or heaven forbid, that it wouldn't be like socialism, you know, where people care enough to send the very best, (like masks) instead of buying yachts without paying taxes themselves😷

Coerced Cognitive Incline

 I spent a good portion of the afternoon undoing what Windows did to my Many Cam after I had worked (with MC) for about a week to get it running again. It's a good thing I've maintained some level of politeness to this Canadian company, and they have, too.

Perhaps, they feel sorry for me, stuck in the states under the circumstances, and yet, we're so close...a hop, skip, and a jump across a great lake. But the bright side is, after frequently reading what you have to do to keep your mind sharp, I absolutely know my mind got its exercise, today.

Now, I would like to take a break and just stare into space, as is my nature.

$afer Inside

 Nothing all that "adventurous" today, but yesterday, I went in to the pharmacy to get one prescription, and came out with $100 worth of catch-up purchases. Then, I went into the $Tree during an obviously non-senior accommodating time (i.e. a madhouse) to get 1 poster and 1 backing and ended up with $15 worth of "stuff". It's "dangerous" out there.

About the Chinese Farmer

 There's a video I'd post, but nobody will probably look at it; it's the story of the farmer,

where people bring him good news, and he reacts neutrally, then, they bring him consequent bad news,

and his reaction is the same. It keeps going back and forth like this. His reaction is always the same. Well, my manycam finally worked today...Yay! Then, I find out my family in another house is sick...Bummer! Well, that happens when my weight goes down...Yay! When my blood pressure is kind of normal...Yay! But when the weight goes up, or the blood pressure.. the day is generally a bummer.

Even though I meditate, and take supplements, I don't know if I'll ever be like the placid farmer.

But then again, do we have to be? And still, given all the coping skills I've developed, life is pretty good.

hers

In Defense of Those who Defend Us

 My brother had to go into a very unpopular war, which he didn't want to join. So, he went as a conscientious objector. This put him in the position of medic without any protection. He was lost in the TET offensive. You know, I've heard of others that went to wars they didn't agree with, also. They figured if they didn't, someone else would have to go in their place.

Sure I was postwar. In fact, the odds of even being born were doubtful, as my dad was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked, and he had to become a graves registration officer. But I could still understand being part of a military family. My toy chest was pink and blue, but it was a small ammunition chest. We packed a lot of stuff into large ammunition chests. "The 20th Century" was almost required TV watching. I heard many of stories about our family's stay in Europe, rebuilding. I was there, also, but too small to remember.

Our dad took us to Washington D.C., so we could appreciate the workings of our government. Even though I was young, I will never forget the experience.

The only person wearing a military uniform in our family picture, other than our dad, was the brother who had to wear it later. I'd send probably silly letters from my college just to know I was thinking about him. But then, I got envelopes with purple fingers on them in the mail: Return to Sender. I'd show my theater friend, and she and I both looked concerned.

Two men, a counselor and a pastor, were waiting to talk to me, to bring me upstairs to tell me he was MIA. I talked to my dad on the pay phone about it, and when they found out my brother was gone, I told my hometown friend, and a tear streamed down her face. Later, she took my dad aside, and they walked off alone to talk. I think I know what she shared with him.

My husband's education was interrupted to serve in the Navy. He got the GI Bill, and was able to go to broadcasting school as a result, a program I've read certain right wing government people don't want to keep in place. I've become even prouder of his service as a result of the latest news report.

I will add a bit to my story of the Viet Nam soldier who didn't come home, my brother, Kendall; I read a letter from him today that had been sent me. This time, the print was very small, and I had to use a magnifying glass.

Of course, it was brotherly advice about NOT, going into the theatre, which I did, but I woke up and thought maybe, he was right. And I became a drama teacher, instead, which ended up being more fulfilling.

I finally recognized the letter. I would say, if you have someone far away in the service, make sure you write to them...a lot. He seemed to want me to keep writing. I had to stop for a minute when he told me what he'd do "when he returned". But I remembered I kept writing...until the letters came back.

The Sun Will Come Out Today, so Pay Less

 On the lighter side, it's getting to the point where attending a Zoom meeting is like going somewhere to attend something. So, I felt I'd already gone somewhere before I had to go somewhere, like off to the school of the Arts, to pick up the grandchildren.

(They're there, because of their lineage)

It was a beautiful ride, where I turned the heat up, because it was cold and rainy. I recognized the kids with their masks, because of Leela's antics. Naia's art teacher wanted to make sure they got into the right car, by checking with me and my sign, as well as Naia's agreeing face. All of a sudden, the sun, and Leela's request for the A/C. Got them to their Grandma Marilyn, but had to run and get their tablets to them.

Then, I went to Meijer's. Aha! You knew I'd get to the grocery adventures. Well, this time, no groceries. I decided to get rid of some accumulated bottles in the trunk while there, then, proceeded to purchase a Birthday bag that would actually fit around Naia's 10th birthday gift. (The one at the $Tree wasn't large enough) I felt pretty clever. The bottles and the MPerk coupons wiped $6 off a $7 purchase, so I only paid $1 and 3 cents. But I thought to myself, why is it you can charge $7 for a Birthday bag, and tell people to come to your store, because "Why pay more?" is your slogan? What with rampant unemployment, small businesses closing, and they charge $7 for gift wrap? Why pay more? So, I didn't.