Friday, August 14, 2026

Power off

 


Thursday

I got up after 8.  I made a large glass of vit C water, then worked on my morning list.  I went to the chapel and unlocked it.  I forgot my Bible so I went home to get it, and drove back. Jenni came with treats, which she passed out.  We chatted, then prayed and read from Genesis 38.  I shared all the tidbits that I read from commentaries.  Others shared as well.  Then we talked about planning a kitchen cleaning session for Saturday.  After a closing prayer, we headed out.

I got home at 11, had fiber gel, then went out to clear mounds.  I set a trap near one mound, then went to the next mound.  The trap went off and I pulled out a gopher who died pretty quickly.  I worked on more mounds, then set the trap in a new one.

I made and ate breakfast while watching The Highwire.  I wanted to take screen shots, but the green stuff kept getting in the way. I laid out in the sun.  I checked  e-mail.  I walked to the post office for mail.  I saw someone left stuff outside the swap shop so I shoved it in.  I walked back home and checked the gopher trap.  Nope. 

 I rebooted my computer to get rid of the green stuff.  While listening to a video on the Wavwatch, I started preparing a Swansons order. But the internet went down and the winds ramped up. So, I worked offline on the swap shop movie. I renamed all the movie bits so I could easily find the parts I wanted. Then the power went out. I worked on my blog for posting later.

I decided to read a book. I read inside, I read outside, I read inside again and it rained. I pulled the pigs feet from the oven and ate one. It was incredibly spicy. But I didn't want to open the fridge to get rice. So I pulled out another foot and covered it with a can of soup.

Chris didn't come home so I texted him. He said he was taking John to work to apply for jobs. I texted back "Ok, I'll just sit here alone in the dark".  (It wasn't that dark).  Minutes later, Michele arrived with part of a pizza. Apparently Chris had gone over there and shared his pizza before taking John to his office. Michele laid on the floor and we talked for some time.

Chris and John arrived as it was getting truly dark. I lit a candle in the bathroom and one in the dining room. Fumbling in the sideboard, I extracted a long taper that was sheathed in plastic. I peeled the plastic off and lit it.

We all gathered around it in the den. Michele held it till Chris found a candle holder. We discussed this and that. Chris went to bed. The three of us chatted until they left even though I invited them to spend the night.  They did not want the candle. 

 I got ready for bed. I hated to blow out the candles, but since I had my solar lantern, I figured I could turn that on if needed. I took it to bed with me. However, within 30 minutes or so, there was a slight beep and the street lights came through the window. So power on.

Getting help with the movie

 


Wednesday

I got up when Chris left for work. I worked outside watering and setting traps. I filled the third jug with hot soapy water. I opened the dishwasher and pulled the wet dishes out. I spread them on the stove to dry. I prepared for Coffee morning with coffee and hot water. After 4 rounds of tapping and meditation, I took niacin. I washed the remaining dishes. I cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen. I vacuumed the carpeted areas and mopped the kitchen floor.

I laid out in the sun and read a book. I prepared the sauna and sat for a steam session. I took a shower and cleaned up the sweaty washcloths. I rested, then got dressed.

I went to MWR to meet Gary. He said I needed my laptop so I ran home to get it. He showed me how the very basic movie editor worked. My homework is to rename the files and put them in order by scene.

When I got home, Chris was there. I read e-mail. Chris laid down on the couch and went to sleep. I mowed the back yard, then filled the mower with gas and returned it to Melissa's driveway.

I read online and RLS kicked in. I went to the garden – but it didn't need watering because it had rained. When I got back, I woke Chris up to watch TV. I read commentaries on Genesis 38 for Bible study tomorrow, then went to bed. It was hard to sleep when I couldn't breathe.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Raking and mowing

 


Tuesday

I woke up early hearing Chris throwing up in the bathroom. It was still dark outside. I prayed for him and tried to go back to sleep. My throat was sore, but I didn't think anything of it till later. He went out and laid on the couch.

I got up just before 7:30, thinking he had gone to work. I started my morning list. He took a shower, read e-mail and went to work. I finished the list, hardboiled two batches of eggs. I set the gopher traps and called Michelle to see if her kids wanted to rake and mow my lawn. But there was no answer. So I raked the parts that most needed mowing. Then I went next door to borrow Melissa's mower, which she left out for me. I mowed the sunny half of the yard.

I went in to take a break and when I came out, the mower would not start. Isadora came over on her bike. She could not start it either so I had her edge the yard. Then we worked on taking down dead branches from the trees. She wanted me to take videos of her swinging from dead limbs to get them to break off.

We went inside and talked while I made breakfast mix. She went out to sweep and came back with a blister. She washed her hands and I put a bandaid on it. After she finished, I paid her and she rode her bike home.

I made breakfast and ate it at the computer. I tried to catch up on e-mail and audios I had already started. I walked to the post office for the mail. I looked for a video editor on my computer, but there wasn't one. I laid out in the sun and read a book.

I got ready to go to Self Help to ask the man what might be wrong with the mower. I tried to start it one last time and this time it worked! So then I finished the sunny side of the yard. I called Michelle to tell her she didn't need to bring her mower over.

I went to Michelle's house and picked up Isadora. I raked the part by my neighbors yard as she mowed.

Just as Isadora finished mowing, the sprinklers came on. I paid her and took her home. I made copies of music. I put supper in the toaster oven. Chris and I went to get two jugs of water. When we got back, I took supper out and ate it. I rebooted Telegram and read those messages. I went to the garden to water and pull weeds. When I got back, I made tea and we watched TV. I finished watching a long podcast on depression. Then I worked on my blog and went to bed.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Trying to learn video editing

 


Monday

I got up just before 7:30. I went through the morning list. I set the gopher traps in the new mound. I watered the lawn here and there because the sprinklers did not run last night. I looked up Ephesians and selected two hymns and practiced them. I called the bank.

I loaded all my swap shop movie clips onto a thumb drive. I went to Michelle's house to learn how to edit video clips. First she showed me how to make a swap shop poster from a template. Then she started doing a movie clip from a template. It seemed complicated and I didn't get it. Jenni stopped by to drop off a chair yoga book. Michelle agreed to teach the class if Jenni gets the people for the class.

I made and ate breakfast, then walked to the post office for packages. I went to the library to return a book and check out another. I meant to photocopy from the hymnal but forgot the hymnal. Gary came by and we talked about the movie.

When I got home, I laid out in the sun. It got quite hot. But the gopher ball that I put in the sun did not get hot enough to soften. I read e-mail and such. I looked up leuconostoc mesenteroides. Turns out its in kimchi. I heated some curry and ground beef for supper.

After eating, I went to the chapel for band. A new guy showed up and he plays saxophone. Yay! I brought the pair of glasses I forgot yesterday which are specifically for music. But at the end of the practice, the glasses were on top of my head. Huh.

We played till 7, then called it quits. I came home and saw the sprinklers were on. I watched some newsy videos, then worked on my blog. I went to the garden and talked to Casey who was pulling weeds. I pulled a few of my own, then went home.

I made tea and we watched TV. Then I pieced some puzzles while listening to a podcast. I finished my blog and posted. Then it was time for bed.

Monday, August 10, 2026

Sound system at the chapel still isnt working

 


Sunday

I got up at 8. I went through most of the morning list. I planted a few things that had rooted in dishes in the kitchen window. I watered bare spots in the lawn. I refilled the small containers of coconut oil. 

 I read e-mail till Chris got up and had his coffee. He gave me a massage. I mixed a batch of cheese squares and put them in the oven. , I took my shower, then rescued the treat from the oven. I made and ate breakfast. I made more taco mix, then got ready for church.

I took the cheese to the chapel and put it in the back. I met the chaplain's wife, who lives on the East coast. The chaplain played the opening songs on his guitar and the kids helped. Then we had our usual order of service. At the end, Melanie played the piano while Jenni and I played our instruments. The chaplain gave a benediction, then we all stood in a circle as he handed out communion.

After the service, I talked to John for awhile. Then I went home and changed clothes. I read e-mail for a bit. I took a nap on the back porch reading a book.

Chris told me supper was in the oven. I read a little more, then came in. I got online for the game, then took supper out of the oven. I ate as I played the game. I jotted notes for my blog. I pieced many puzzles when it wasn't my turn.

Afterward, we went walking with John and Michele. I watered the edge plants at the garden. When we got back, I put out the egg money and worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched one episode of Criminal Minds.  I looked up some of the actors.  Then I read articles until time to go to bed.

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Lots of cleaning

 


Saturday

I got up at 7:30. I started the morning list. While I was outside watering, Chris left for Mass. I leveled a gopher mound and set a trap. I practiced and ate yogurt. I made up supplements for the following week. I put a gopher ball back into its mold and set it outside to heat. Maybe then the bubbles will come out?

I read online. Then I read a book by the red light. I cleared some e-mail. I drank fiber water. I realized that I hadn't posted to my blog yesterday. So I did that.

I went to the chapel to vacuum the sewing room and take back my stick vac. Then I went to the commissary to get a few things. When I got back, I made and ate breakfast. After eating, I put together cleaners for rugs and bathrooms.

I went to Tina's house that is off post. First I cleaned and shampooed some rugs that the cats vomited on. Then I cleaned the bathrooms. We conversed and she paid me. When I got home, I took a shower. I read e-mail while Chris made dinner. We ate with Michele and John. They decided not to go to Project Night.

At 7, I went to the chapel for Project Night. But no one came. So my project was to clean behind the double fridge and the freezers. I had to call Chris to move the freezers for me. It hadn't been done in a long time.

I quit around 8. I went to the garden to water. When I got home, I helped put away the food. Together we put clean sheets on both beds. I worked on my blog and made tea. We watched an episode of Criminal Minds. Then we entertained ourselves on our laptops. At 11, I put mine to sleep and got ready for bed.

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Tubing down the Provo River

 


Friday

Chris woke me at 6:30. I got up and went through most of the morning list. I watered the plants outside and even some grass. I packed everything on my list and prepared some water bottles. Michelle texted that they were going to be late, which gave me time for the bathroom. I practiced with only my mouthpiece so as not to disturb Chris. I jotted notes for my blog. I quickly ate yogurt and some nuts.

I went outside to wait for Casey and Michelle. When they arrived, I got in the car and we drove for two hours to the Provo river. I was worried about getting in really cold water. We were shown where to park, then we signed in and put on life jackets.  She took my phone.  I thought it was to keep in a waterproof pack, but I found out later she just left it in the car.  So I have no pictures to show.  I found one on the internet.

We jumped on the waiting bus. After a short introduction, the driver drove up several miles to a drop-off point. Three buses worth of people got off at that stop. They all picked up innertubes, some singles and some doubles. We waited for the crowd to subside then carried ours to the bank and climbed in.

It was a cold and wet place to sit! But the sun was hot and it got better. Michelle and I had a double innertube. My sunglasses fell in the water. Somebody let us use one of their paddles. We kept running into the sides and over rocks. The paddle helped. We saw ducks, cows and a beaver. At one point, we had to get out, walk around a bridge and get back in. Not sure why we were not allowed to float under the bridge.

Finally we got to the exit where we were parked. I climbed out and eventually realized I was walking slowly. I was too numb to feel how tired I was. Michelle drove us into the city. We stopped at Harmons for special foods like cheese, etc. I changed into dry clothes in the bathroom. Also got a gallon of raw A2 milk. We went to some other places as well. I bought sunglasses.

Finally we went to Aubergine's restaurant. It was natural and gluten-free place. I got the garden salad with extra goat cheese. We ate, then got back in the car. We drove quite a while, then stopped at a Smith's for sushi. I fell asleep until we went through the pass. Then we chatted until we got to the gate and showed our ID's.

They dropped me off at my house and went home. I hung up all my wet stuff and put the milk and apples away. I jotted notes for my blog. I read e-mail for a bit. Chris made and ate his supper, then went to his gaming session. I walked to the post office. There was no mail and the swap shop seemed emptier. I was expecting a bunch of donations since it was open today.

Walking home, I noticed our sprinklers were on. Yay! Inside, I prepared a baggie of cacao nibs for Michelle. I went to the garden to water and fertilize. I watched part of the walkthru to get ready for the game. I prepared a bottle of tea.

At 8:30, I drove to Michelle's house. She wasn't there, but Casey had the game up. I had Indiana going in circles, trying to figure out how to end up in different places from where he'd been. He needs to find 4 candles, each one in a different place. But mostly he punctured the raft, repaired it and picked up more repair kits. Eventually, he did find a lighthouse where he jumped into a window to push a lever that opened the front door. But he could not jump back to the walkway. He died over and over and finally I quit. Michelle came home and went on and on about someone not following good advice. I made my goodbye's and went home.

Chris was still up. I got ready for bed and he joined me.