Getting ready for the sign-over tomorrow

Wednesday

I got up at 8. I texted Michelle to tell everyone not to bring any gifts to the party she was having. Then I prepped for coffee morning. I replaced the usual CD lineup with a Christmas line-up. I did the special exercises. I turned tower garden. I meditated and tapped, then started cleaning. The music lasted till 2.

After cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen, I shampooed the den and our bedroom and the hallway. I moved the cleaner to livingroom, noting that my back was not happy.

Keli texted me just then so I ran down to the library to get stuff I had donated for the dinosaur cave. I also brought the songs all taped together and she made me a copy all on one page. I stayed till 5:30 talking to her and to Melissa.

I went home, stopping to get the mail. I opened the packages. I drank the water from two coconuts. I practiced the music on my trombone. I had trouble picking my part from Little Drummer Boy, so I wrote it out on a separate sheet of paper – one that Dad had used the other side for some song called Tenderly. I put all the music in one folder.

I looked up forms for receipts, finally found one kinda ok, and tried to replicate it on the desktop computer. Chris called, then I called Jamie about the sign-over tomorrow. After I finished tweaking the receipt form, I printed it out and filled out a contract. I went through my envelopes to get money to make change. I had to read my blog to find out how many hours I put into the last apartment, and then wrote it on the contract. It got surprisingly late.

I worked on my blog for yesterday and today. I watched an interview on C vaccines. There was not time to watch TV. It was after 11 when I got to bed. I tried plugging in a set of Christmas lights behind the toilet to keep the pipe from freezing. But the light was shining into the bedroom unless I closed all the doors, and that would make the bathroom colder. Time to hit the hay.

Giving Tuesday

Tuesday

I got up at 8. I took supplements and glycine. I made a gallon of fertilizer and watered the tower garden and other plants. I checked e-mail. I read about the benefits of glycine for immune health and joint health and blood sugar health, etc. I put on a talk on juice feasting as I washed the dishes in the sink. I started making a list of people to send cards to and quickly got overwhelmed. I checked my e-mail for charities looking for Giving Tuesday donations.

I made and ate breakfast. I fielded a few more Cyber Monday deals. I went to Saronna's house and we played through the Christmas music for Winterfest to see how long it took. Only 10 minutes. We decided we could play each carol twice.

On the way home, I stopped by the library to return a book. Then I went to the post office to pick up a package. When I got home, I printed the songs and cut them apart and taped them back together so they are all on one sheet. But it was just a little too big to get in my printer.

I chose and made donations,using Charity Navigator to see how well each charity spends its donations. I ate leftovers for supper and made a salad. I read regular e-mail (like with articles).

I worked on my blog, and texted with Michelle. I made tea, then Chris called, having just come back from “mandatory fun”. After that, I watched 3 episodes of 30Rock, and practiced my trombone. I read e-mail, and saw that Michelle had posted to the community Facebook page inviting everyone to a birthday party for me on Thursday. Sigh. I did not know how to respond, so I just went to bed and wore my headphones.

Cyber Monday

Monday

I had a hard time sleeping because my hands hurt. By morning, I figured it must be something I ate at the potluck. I got up around 8. Chris had already left on his trip. I turned the tower garden. I took supplements and cut up more methylene blue. I read through some sewing videos and cyber Monday sales e-mails.

Last night I had put a piece of lemon peel in the container of hard brown sugar. I was surprised to see how soft it was this morning, after less than 24 hours. I wondered if I should take the peel out.

I spent an hour or more managing the Cyber Monday sales onslaught. At noon I made and ate breakfast. Then there were more comparisons to do. I went to the library to return Psych and get the next episode. I got 30 Rock as well. They had a new book for me. So new that it wasn't yet in the system to be checked out, but they trust me. I unlocked the swap shop on the way home.

I went through e-mail, and watched videos on preserving meat with salt. I looked for instructions on how to build an ice house. I ate leftovers for supper. I made copies of music for Sophia. Chris called and we talked a bit.

I went to band practice at the chapel. The chaplain had left the door unlocked and the lights on, which was really nice. We played through all the carols, and chose a few to play at Winterfest. We also played through Little Drummer Boy and Jingle Bell Rock. Afterward, we fiddled with speakers to make the keyboard louder.

I went home, stopping to lock the swap shop but it was already locked. I heated tea. I went through more sales offiers. I settled on some, deleted others. It's like buying my own birthday presents. Saronna had inadvertently mentioned that there was a sugar bear in the gift bag that her husband dropped off. So I soaked it in water as per the instructions, and put it in the brown sugar instead of the lemon peel.

Finally done, I worked on my blog. I watched the first episode of 30 Rock and went to bed.

The potluck

Sunday

I got up around 8. I took supplements etc. I watered and turned the tower garden. I sent an invoice to Dzyne. I finalized some black friday deals and deleted those whose shipping was too much.

I went through more Black Friday sales, checking out shipping and other factors to see if they really were good deals. At noon I made and ate breakfast. Then I got ready for church. I wore pants and boots in case of snow. I pulled a container of seed crackers out of the fridge and saw that I had plenty of cheese squares left. So I grabbed that container too. Then I took my trombone and headed to the chapel.

The walkway was snowy, and icy in some spots. I went inside and put the containers down. Rick went home to get a shovel and salt for the walkway. I unpacked my trombone and talked to Jenni and the guys behind her. She said she had left a message on my phone about potluck this afternoon. (I had hoped no one remembered because with Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving, I have had enough cooking for other people).

Anyway, the chaplain gave his sermon, mostly about all the clues to show that the book of Acts was written by Luke. Then Saronna and Sophia and I played two Christmas hymns, and the service was over. I carried my food to the fellowship hall to join the others. I tried to get the last people to come, but they would rather talk in the sanctuary. So the rest of us ate while those eventually made their way back or left. We had a good time. Then everyone left while Jenni and I cleaned up.

I went home. Chris was not gaming, probably because Michele and John were making their way back home from Richmond. I mended the comforter and returned it to the company house. I went back to dealing with Black Friday offers. Chris pulled a beef roast from the oven and made mushrooms. I had some for supper, along with quinoa. Later I made a salad from the tower garden and store-bought greens. Chris packed for his trip.

I worked on my blog and heated tea. We watched Puss in Boots: the wish. Then he went to bed and I stayed up to check e-mail. When I went to bed, he was already asleep. I hoped I'd be asleep by the time he got up to go to the airport.

Not again. Call the plumber

Saturday

I got up late, like after 9. I did the usual first of the day stuff, then went to the company house to get the laundry started. No problems. I came home. I checked e-mail, then asked Chris for a massage. He obliged. Then we each took our shower. I practiced my trombone, then went back to the company house to put the second load in the washer .

When I got back, I looked at Black Friday sales offers. I made breakfast, ate, and considered more stuff on sale. So tired of all the sales. At 3, I went back to the company house to throw the last load in the dryer. But the place smelled badly and I found the toilets and tubs had brown ick in them.

So I went home and told Chris. He told me to call it in. I ate a banana and then went back to meet the plumber. As I cleaned, I looked for him. But I didn't see him arrive because he parked out back. He finished just as I was leaving because I couldn't use the water. Then I stayed to finish the bathrooms, plus sweeping and mopping.

I went home. Then we went to put air in my tires. When we got back, I watched a cute little movie called “The Snowman” on Youtube. I ate leftover turkey etc for supper. I whipped up a batch of seed crackers and put them in the oven. I tried to place an order with Nuts.com but the checkout process got stuck. I got the November invoice for the company house ready. I made an order with two other companies.

When the seed crackers were finished, I worked on my blog for yesterday, and made tea. We watched the last two episodes of Psych season 4. I put away my laundry and we made up the bed. Chris went to bed with his book. I stayed up to deal with e-mail and Telegram messages. Then I did my stretches and hit the hay.

Gifts and globes

P> Friday

I got up at 7:30, certain I had heard my alarm go off half an hour earlier. It had snowed a lot and was still snowing! I got ready for the day and watered and fertilized the tower garden. I mended my nightgown. I checked e-mail and compared prices on Black Friday sales. (Remember when there was no Black Friday and we just visited with family?)

I dug out my car and went to the post office and then to a quote on Pinyon. Jamie got there before I did. We walked around her house. Jamie checked out the bathrooms and I checked out the kitchen. We decided on $600. Not that it was bad but it was so full that we couldn't see everything.

Then on the way back, I stopped at Michelle's house. She wanted to walk so I took her to the gym and we walked the track while she talked. Then we stopped at the restrooms and I took her home. I went home for breakfast. Chris was in the shower. As I made breakfast, I portioned out enough of the dry ingredients for Saturday through Tuesday. Then I ate and read e-mail and Telegram messages.

When I was done, we packed and went to Tooele. We shopped at the usual grocery stores, plus Melanie's and the Dollar store. I didn't find green garland but they had the tinselly kind in several colors. Then we went back to base, enjoying the look of the trees; each branch and twig outlined in glittering frost. The mountains were full of them.

When we got back, we stopped at the commissary for a few last things. The pin pad decided to go wonky and we had to wait for someone to ready another one. After we checked out and paid, we went home and unloaded the groceries.

I hung the wreath on the door. Chris made cauliflower steaks. I ate and read e-mail. Randy dropped by with a gift bag, rang the doorbell and headed home. Chris brought the bag in. We read the card, and placed the bag on the diningroom table to be opened later.

I did some preliminary black Friday selections. I worked on my blog. I listened to a podcast on Tesla's death ray. I poured tea into a kombucha bottle and got the large water container ready. I also picked up a sheet of paper with the globe strips on it. Then I went to Michelle's house for game night.

When I got there, I gave her the paper. She used it to print on paper that came in an assorted pack. Then, as I played the game, she made three globes and was totally thrilled with it. She reminded me when 11pm came. But I was close to solving a puzzle, so I finished that, and ended up taking a airship ride (in the game). I got the final symbol, but could not reach the linking book back to the home world. So I ended it there. We talked about inappropriate Christmas songs and what LDS believe about the rapture, and something about gophers. Then I went home to bed.

Thanksgiving

Thursday

We got up after 8. I took supplements and got dressed. I started the casserole by peeling and cutting up sweet potatoes and apples. While it baked, I checked e-mail and Facebook. I came across an article that talked about how the common Thanksgiving story is not accurate. One of their suggestions to commemorate Thanksgiving was to support a native american store. There was a link to a list of them and I went to one and ordered beans, corn and wheat flour. I also posted the link on Facebook so others could do the same.

I stirred the casserole and let it bake more. Chris took a shower. He sliced up a cauliflower and baked it in the oven when the casserole came out. I read e-mail until I got a text from Michelle. Then we packed up the food and went to her house.

She had food laid out on a table by the wall. We laid our food on that table too. Soon we were all seated around the dining table and Isadora said grace. Then we helped ourselves buffet style. There was turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, casserole, deviled eggs, rolls and pie.

After the meal, Michelle filled disposable aluminum pans with pulled pork and rolls. While the kids stayed home, the rest of us got in her car and we delivered food to the front gate, EMS, dispatch, firehouse, Ditto EMS, and one other place.

It was chilly out and I was glad to get back to her house. She gave us some leftovers from our meal and we left her some of what we made. We chatted for a bit, then went home. I read e-mail and ate fruit. Not too long after we got home, the colonel and his family came by with a live Christmas wreath and a hanger. He said to keep it cold so it would last longer. We were very appreciative and we put it in the garage until tomorrow (since today is still Thanksgiving).

I looked at some black Friday sales online. I worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. Later Chris went to bed, but I stayed up to read more sales e-mails.

An afternoon with Gwenda

Wednesday

I got up around 7:30. I did the usual prep for coffee morning, but in a bit of a hurry. I watered the plants and finished my book while waiting for supplements to kick in. I meditated and tapped. Then I cleaned the bathrooms and took a shower. When I got out, Chris was home. I quickly dressed and poured a bottle of water for the trip.

We stopped at the library so I could return the book and get the next one. But they didn't have the next one so I got a different one. Then we went to Michelle's house and they followed us off base.

We drove for over an hour to the airport park-and-wait lot. Gwenda and I texted each other until they found us. Then we split up. The women got in Michelle's van and the men drove to Hill Air Force base in tandem to see the airplane museum.

We women went to several thrift shops, including one that only had tabletop bins. The ones in the middle of the room held clothing and the ones around the walls had shoes, purses, and other non-clothing stuff. I found a muffin pan. Ashton found boots. Gwenda found a book. Michelle and Isadora had gone to Cosco while we shopped.

The merchandise was not sorted or tagged. It was sold by the pound. Dozens of people (college students?) pawed through the bins or huddled with shopping carts in corners or along a long wall. They had the feel of street people.

But then, workers came out to roll all the clothing carts away to the back. Everyone came to attention and crowded near. The workers came back with 'new' carts and parked them in the middle of the store. Then the people dived in, like locusts, looking for I-don't-know-what. But it was surreal!

We three checked out and stood talking in the parking lot until Michelle came back. I texted back and forth to set up a quote and sign-over with someone who wants their house cleaned after they move. Never a dull moment.

We hit one more store after that and then headed toward the museum. But by the time we got there, the men had gone to a nearby burger joint. So we met them in the parking lot. Then we all got out and said our good byes and gave hugs. The Wagner's headed to their air Bnb to meet Cassie and husband. Michelle and her family headed back to Dugway. Chris let me stop at the $ store to look for craft stuff, but they didn't have it. I walked to a grocery store to use their restroom, then we headed back to base.

It was dark when we arrived. Chris pulled bacon out of the oven. It was still ok. I read e-mail, then worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched Psych. Afterward Chris went to bed and I stayed up to catch up on e-mail (as if that were possible).

The first Christmas card

Tuesday

I got up around 7:45. After the usual ablutions, I gave the tower garden its daily turn and switched on the red light. I had promised myself I would write two Christmas cards, but I knew I wouldn't be happy with that. And in trying to find the address for the first one, I came across cards from last year that I never responded to. Sigh. I put on the Kaatsu bands and searched through all the scraps of paper, throwing away most of them. I even searched my laptop. I texted Michele and she sent me the address.

I finished the card, addressed it and added a stamp. I added pics of stuff in the swap shop to Christina's post so people would be more likely to go. I unloaded half of the dishwasher. The other half was heavy casserole dishes crammed together at the bottom. I left it for Chris. I started a batch of rolls by proofing the yeast in turkey juice. I selected some sheets to go to the library for their Grinch cave.

I washed dishes that were in the sink. I wrote another card, and got a check ready for mailing. I made breakfast and ate most of it, the went to the inspection. Needless to say, it passed. I stopped by the library on the way home to drop off the sheets and her top.

When I came home, the rolls were not quite ready to bake. I finished eating, thennread some articles. I put the rolls in the oven, and ate a grapefruit. After the rolls were done, I went to Housing to return the apartment key. I ate one of the rolls to see if it was baked thoroughly. A little more baking wouldn't have hurt it.

I translated some back-of-the-envelop writing to a text file. I practiced my trombone for the day. I cleaned the carpet shampooer and emptied the vacuum, ready for the next house to come along.

I listened to something, then watched the quilt guild meeting on Zoom. Afterward, I ate turkey and casserole for supper and listened to a podcast on Israel. Randy came over to get the large pots. Then I went back to the podcast. I worked on my blog and made tea. We watched two episodes of Psych. Chris went to bed and I stayed up a little later.

Cookie day

Monday

I got up at 7:30, having woken up earlier and tried to go back to sleep. I took supplements, then brushed and swished. I watered and fertilized the tower garden. I took bananas out of the freezer to thaw. I read some e-mail. I finished writing trumpet parts to Jingle Bell Rock and Little Drummer Boy. I made copies, but they came out faintly.

I watched a 15 minute video on some kind of twisting and breathing exercise. It took longer because they cut out the rest breaks. It was not comfortable. I made a batch of banana/oatmeal cookies. I sorted lollipops and put together a set of 4 flavors. While the next set of bananas defrosted, I ran to Housing to schedule an inspection for tomorrow, then to the library to deliver the treat.

I went home, mixed up another batch of cookie dough, and THEN remembered to post the lost dinosaur so the kids could find it and claim the lollipops. I washed my hands and posted for that and for band practice.

I baked the second batch. Chris came home for lunch. I made breakfast, and more cookies. I read e-mail while they baked. Then I went to the commissary for more snack baggies and bananas, etc. When I got home, I made more cookies. I sewed down the front of Keli's top and ironed it. I folded it and set it to go with me tonight. I cleaned up the copies of music in Paint, and re-printed them.

Chris came home for supper. I ate some ham and turkey. He asked for a cookie. I worked on my blog. Then I took my trombone to the chapel for band practice, unlocking the door to the swap shop on my way.

I don't think band practice went well. Saronna was sick so she didn't come. The trumpet player didn't play much, but that was an improvement over last week. Overall, we were not 'together'. Sophia (the drummer) wants copies of the music, regardless of what instrument it is for.

We quit before 8 and turned the lights off and left. I went home and put the last batch of cookies in baggies in the freezer. I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. Soon after, Chris went to bed and I stayed up to finish a podcast and work on my blog.

Trying to make plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Sunday

I got up after 8, not having heard any of the alarms. There was a tickle in my throat so I rinsed my sinuses, swabbed my ears with h2o2, and gargled with salt water. I also disinfected my toothbrushes. I took the morning supplements.

I made a batch of cheese squares, making half spicy with red pepper flakes and smoked paprika. I checked e-mail and Telegram messages. When it was done, I ate the crispy edges, then made and ate breakfast.

I washed up and got dressed for church. I put some squares in a container and took them to the chapel, along with my trombone. I parked beyond the EV station so my undercarriage wouldn't scrape.

I walked in, dropped off the snack, then went up front to assemble my trombone. I met a new couple who decided to try our service instead of driving into town. Chaplain Sands started the service and then Pastor Chris talked about Revelation. He got pretty far, going over time. Afterward, I played two hymns, though not very well because I could not see the notes clearly. Then the service was over. Jenni gave me a large zucchini. I handed out cheese squares and went home.

Chris helped me change clothes. I read e-mail. Jessica came over with a new jacket that needed a seam sewed. She talked to Chris while I performed the needed work. Then I spent the afternoon texting people about plans for Wednesday and Thursday, and plans for Christmas. I watched part of an group chat on Pharma Foods. They questioned why so much money is being invested in lab-grown meats when there is no market for them.

I worked on my blog. I checked on the apple in my brown sugar container. It was ok, but the sugar was still hard. So I left it in. I ordered more alien slingshots for next year since they were so popular this year.

The game got canceled. Chris made his supper and I made mine. I read e-mail. I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. He went to bed and I stayed up about half an hour later, then did my exercises and went to bed.

Paper Globe class

Saturday

I got up at 8. I puttered around, and watered the plants, took supplements. I turned on the red lamp and aimed it at the tower garden. I checked Facebook to see if anyone commented on my class this afternoon. I watched some video of a man walking through the part of the Myst game that I had trouble with. Now I know what I missed.

Then I got dressed and went to the company house. There were no cars in the driveway, but the two bedrooms that had been slept in were full of personal stuff and the beds were not stripped. Since I did not want to clean on a sewing day anyway, I decided to come back in the afternoon and just change the sheets.

I got online to delete hundreds of e-mails that came in yesterday when I didn't have time to check them. I also took pics during videos of possible future sewing projects that I found. Chris gave me a coconut oil massage, and took his shower. Then I took my shower and got dressed. I practiced my trombone. I made up a week's worth of supplements.

I made breakfast and ate it while reading e-mail. I made copies for class. I packed a bag with tape and scissors and stuff. I set the tables in the fellowship hall with scissors, markers, tape, and copies of the paper strips. Some were blank and some had drawings to color in. Saronna brought her kids, and Jenni and Isadora came. After they cut and colored, I showed them how to assemble the strips into a ball. Everybody made at least one. Isadora and Moira took pages home to practice more.

We cleaned up and they left. I stayed to wash the tables of marker smudges. But not all of them came off. Then I locked up and went to the company house. The beds were still not stripped and the belongings were still there, so I scrubbed the toilets and left.

Then I went to the tiny apartment. I finished the bathroom, the vacuuming, and the shampooing - about 1hr. I took all the cleaning stuff home with me. I ate fruit, casserole, and ham. I pieced puzzles while listening to videos. Faye called and we talked about the house and Christmas.

Then I worked on my blog and made tea. There was only time left for one episode of Psych. After that, Chris went to bed with a book, and I stayed up to finish some interview, then headed to bed myself.

Friendsgiving

Friday

I got up around 8. Chris had been up at 5 getting the turkey in the oven. I got ready for the day. I gave the tower garden its usual rotation and focused the red light on a tomato plant. I cut up sweet potatoes into big chunks to boil. The ones on top were only touching the water.

I took scratch paper and staff paper and Jingle Bell Rock and went to the chapel for Math Morning. Saronna and kids were waiting for me. I unlocked the doors and we set up in the fellowship hall. Casey didn't come. I worked on writing a trumpet part to Jingle Bell Rock while the kids did their homework. A couple of times Sophia asked for my assistance. But I got through 2 of 3 pages of JBR by 10am.

We packed up, locked up, and left. I went home. I poured the water out of the sweet potato pan. We packed for Tooele, and listened to the book on tape and we went. We shopped at Luckeys, Melanie's, and Macey's, then went back to base. We hit the commissary for a few last things.

We unpacked food, and I made breakfast. I ate it while reading messages, then proofed some yeast and filled the bread machine with the other ingredients. Chris had cooked the turkey neck for me and I ate that. I used some of the leftover juice in the bread dough.

Then I started one of the cranberry/sweet potato casseroles. I cut up uncooked sweet potatoes into a bowl along with an apple. It was supposed to be two apples and I don't understand how I only cut up one. Anyway I topped it with cranberries and spices and a little maple syrup. Chris took the turkey out and put my casserole in. I set a timer.

Then I started the back-up casserole using the cooked sweet potatoes. It was layers of sweet potato, cranberries, brown sugar and butter. I paused to take the dough from the machine and made a braided form. I finished the second casserole and put it in the oven, and stirred the first one.. The timer was at 0, but hadn't rung. I set it again. When the dough had risen, I put it in the oven, too, and set another timer. I made a walnut topping for the second casserole. The first one looked pretty dry, so I made a similar topping for it. When one of the timers rang (the other one never made a noise) I added topping to the first one, and later the second one.

Chris said it was time to go so he cut up the turkey and made a pan of light meat and one of dark meat. I kept hinting that the legs should stay here, but no. He left. I stayed and pulled out all the food in the oven. Only the back-up casserole was done. So I turned the oven down to 205 and left.

I brought the casserole to the ACS building wrapped in a blanket. The place was full and they had set up 4 more tables. Lots of people. They hadn't started eating yet. I put my casserole dish on the appropriate table. Keli invited me to sit with her. So I did. People were talking and Chris was going from group to group. Finally he got everyone's attention and announced that the chaplain would pray. So we bowed our heads for grace. Then Chris told the group that families with kids should go first, then the first row, then the second row, etc. So we were last.

Finally we got in line. The plates were really big, so we didn't need seconds. I got a turkey leg, and a little of a lot of things. I chatted with Keli as I ate. I kept looking for Saronna. After clearing my plate, I went to the dessert table. I got a piece of pumpkin pie, a tree made of Reece's cups, and multi-colored layer jello. So pretty and so tasty! I got a sugar rush afterward.

Keli and her husband left. Jenni came by and we talked. Then she was off. Finally I saw Sophia and Moira, who had just gotten the cast off her hand. I encouraged them to go through the line, because people were already packing up food. Later the CSM started a game for the kids, kind of like Simon Says.

I packed up my casserole and took it out to my car and put it in the passenger seat. When I went around to the driver's side, it didn't look right. Not my car. Ooops. I went back around to get my casserole and noticed the book on CD case on the floor. It was Chris' car. I went down the line to my car, got in and headed home, stopping at the post office to lock the swap shop. Once home, I took the remaining casserole out and the bread, too. Neither were burnt, but both definitely done.

Michelle had texted that she wanted me to bring her some turkey. So I asked if she wanted some casserole, too. Yes. How about bread? NO! So I worked on my blog. Chris came home with the turkey. He said there was only dark meat left. He put it away. I kept on working.

I put some turkey and some casserole in little tubs for Michelle. I filled a water bottle with tea. Then I went to game night at Michelle's house with the water container. Michelle talked to me while I played the game. I thought I knew what to do which would unlock everything. Well, it didn't, so I wrestled with solving some puzzles. Then at 11, I wrapped it up and said goodbye and went home. Chris was already in bed, so I shut stuff off and joined him.

Decorating for Friendsgiving

Thursday

I got up after 7:30. I brushed and swished. I went through two pants drawers and separated the shorts from the pants as well as ones that fit from ones that don't. I practiced my trombone, looking for an increase in stamina. I got out a lamp with a red light bulb and focused it on the lower part of the tower garden. I watered all the plants. I made more breakfast mix. I decorated the paper ornament with red and green markers. Why do green markers dry out faster than the other colors?

I went to the apartment to vacuum and shampoo. Michelle came over to move furniture, and we talked. At noon I called it quits and we left. I went home to make breakfast and watch The Highwire: glyphosate kills by stripping the weed of its immune system so any bacteria can kill it. Glyphosate is found in many grocery foods, fast foods, and school cafeteria lunches.

I took my went to library and 'lost' my dinosaur for the kids to find. (I taped it under a table). Then I went walking w/ Michelle around the block. At 3:30 I went to help decorate the Friendsgiving room, but the time had been delayed by an hour. So I went home to post for Math Morning. On my way back, I unlocked swap shop, and then went to decorate. We set up tables and chairs and plates and plasticware. We put on plastic tablecloths and paper turkeys.

It was around 6 when we wrapped up. I went home and called Jenni. She was in the swap shop, but 2 hours late. We talked for awhile. Then I fried some rice and added scrambled eggs. When it was done, I topped it with the green tomato salsa that Saronna had given me.

I looked up pre-lit garland for a possible class. Mostly they were too expensive to buy for a whole class. The $ store had them for $5, but the site wouldn't let me order. Another search led me to Temu, which had them for >$3, so I ordered 6. Not sure if it is a good site to order from, but I won't be out much if it doesn't arrive.

I worked on my blog, then made tea. We watched two episodes of Psych. Chris went to bed. I stayed up way late listening to Tucker Carlson and watching Telegram videos.

Making a Paper sphere

Wednesday

I got up at 7:30. I watered the cacti. I took supplements, then brushed and swished. I rinsed my sinuses. I made coffee. I read a book for 30 minutes. I meditated and tapped. I cleaned both bathrooms, and then the kitchen. Chris came home early for lunch so he could attend a noon meeting. He asked if I ever got hold of Jamie, so I called her on the spot. She said they would cook the second donated turkey.

After he left, I washed dishes. I vacuumed several rooms. I moved the bookcase by the window and shoved the tower garden in its place. I took a shower and got dressed.

I read some e-mail and sent digital files to Chris and to Gary. Jamie came over to get the contract and key. We talked for awhile about getting up the leaves in my yard. She took the pumpkins, which were not looking so good. She takes them somewhere to be cow food.

Then I went to the gym for my weekly workout. Afterward, I went to the library to get the next season of Psych and to see the dinosaur cave that Keli made with the stuff I brought yesterday.

Then I went to the commissary to get ingredients for a casserole for Friendsgiving. I ran into Kacie and we had a nice conversation. I picked up what I needed and checked out. I went home.

I decided to work on the project for Saturday. First I couldn't find it on the desktop to print out. Turns out it was on the thumb drive. So I saved it, then printed it out. But it was a bad copy. I imported it to Paint and made the lines darker, then printed it. It printed fine, but going the wrong way so it was smaller. I discovered that just sending the original file to the printer from Paint gave me a reasonable copy. So I tried it on thicker paper as well.

I cut out the three strips, then went on the net to find instructions. It turns out that the same site has a bunch of other paper crafting stuff, too. They were having a sale, so I bought the bundle for $20 and downloaded an endless array of templates. I finished the little paper ball from the three strips and wondered what kind of coloring would suit it best.

Chris came home from work, and went to Mass. Alex called, wanting to donate a couch to the swap shop. So I ran over there (in my car) and unlocked it for him. After rolling it in, he stayed long enough to find a book. Then I locked up and went home.

I went back to looking at craft stuff, then shifted to Telegram messages. I paused that to work on my blog and make tea. We watched one missed episode of Psych from season three, then the first episode of season 4. Chris went to bed after that. I stayed up till 10:30, then did my stretches and hit the hay.

Dinovember at the library

Tuesday

I got up after 7:30. I got ready for the day. I watered the plants inside and out. I noticed that the onions in the cold frame were cut off at ground level and were gone – like someone harvested them. None of the other onions were touched.

I took in a pair of pants at the waist for Keli. Jamie called and asked me to do a signing in her place. So she came over with the contract. I added an envelope to hold the money and key. I read some e-mail.

I went to the apartment and cleaned for only half an hour (because the water was shut off). Then I went to the library to deliver stuff for the cave they are making for Dinovember. I went home to get a vacuum and two gallons of water, then went to the signing that Jamie wasn't able to attend. I collected the key and money for her.

I went to the library to drop off one more thing, then back to the apt. I spread baking soda on the floor because the place began to smell after I removed all of the air fresheners. I used the gallon jugs of water to clean the shower and sink for an hour.

I went home for breakfast. I talked with Chris about food for Friendsgiving, and we decided to do a turkey. I looked up recipes for side dishes. About 2, I went to Saronna's house to play music and pick hymns. Randy gave me a piece of homemade jerky. On the way home, I dropped off a beginner trumpet book at Tanner's place.

It was such a nice day, that I decided to work outside. I blew leaves into a pile, and raked them onto an old sheet, which I then drug to the back yard and threw over the fence. I also blew up a good number of gopher mounds. I quit at 5 and put the implements away.

I cooked eggs for supper. Chris came home from work and made rice. I went to an apartment give a quote. He and I talked about grow lights and the swap shop.

When I got home, I read Telegram messages and worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched the last episode of Psych. After some discussion, we realized we had missed two episodes on the second disc. So we watched the first one and I made a mental note to go get the next season tomorrow.

Chris went to bed and read. I came to bed not much later. I did my stretches and then turned off the light and joined him.

New player for the band!

Monday

I got up about 7:15. I got ready for the day. I clipped leaves of various plants, washed them and put them in the dehydrator. I cleaned up in the kitchen. I swept floors.

I went to the apartment to clean. I sprayed down the bathroom with a Dawn/vinegar solution, then cleaned the fridge inside and out. Keli texted me saying she needed rocks to create a cave in the library.

After an hour and a half, I went to the commissary to get the soup and oranges that Jenni requested. When I had the food, I called, but she didn't answer. So I drove by her house and hung the bag on her door.

I went home to get all the cleaning stuff that I had forgotten to bring. I loaded it in my car. I made more spray cleaner. I put some rocks by the driveway for later. Then I made breakfast and ate it while reading e-mail. I watched a documentary on the closing of hospitals in rural towns. They are required to treat Medicaid patients, but the reimbursement doesn't cover the costs. So they make up the cost by charging customers with regular insurance. But the ratio of Medicaid to regular insurance customers no longer covers the costs. So the hospitals go out of business.

At 3, I went back to the apartment to clean until 5:15. Then I came home and made scrambled eggs for supper. Chris came home from being away all weekend. He started laundry. I ate supper and listened to something.

Before 7, I went to band practice at the chapel. A lady brought her son who was a trumpet player. Thankfully Randy had trumpet music from the Christmas book, although he had to go home to get it. But I did not have a trumpet part for Little drummer boy or Jingle Bell Rock. (not that it was a big deal because he had forgotten all the fingerings so he didn't actually play). I made a mental note to write easy parts for those songs.

When I got home, I worked on my blog. I ate a frozen banana oatmeal cookie. I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. Later Chris went to bed and stayed up reading. I quit reading a little early and did my stretches, then we went to sleep at the same time.

Picking up pots

Sunday

I was laying in bed around 7:15 and I heard a noise in the kitchen. I got very quiet to listen for more noises, but the ringing in my ears interfered. So I got up as silently as I could, and walked out to the main hallway. I couldn't hear anything so I ran to the bathroom, then came back to check the kitchen. The bananas had fallen off of the canister and knocked a bottle cap onto the floor.

I brushed and swished, then rinsed the sprouts. I emptied the dehydrator, but forgot to refill it. I took a shower. I deleted hundreds of old emails.

I made breakfast. After eating, I got dressed and went to church. I laid the cheese squares on a back table. Lots of the usual people didn't come. Chaplain gave the service, and afterward I played two hymns alone. I chatted with a few people and passed out squares to those were left.

I went home and changed clothes. I drove to Mickie's house to get the pots, but she didn't answer her door bell or her phone. So I went back home. Then she called. We talked and she said to bring some help. So I called Michelle and we agreed to meet at 4.

I read and deleted more e-mail. I listened to a podcast on keeping your identity and information safe. Then we met at 4 at Mickie's house. We carried the pots to Michelle's car and brought them to my house. She stayed to talk.

I went inside, and made an omelet with beets and pickled garlic and cheese to empty the fridge. I put it in the toaster oven. While it baked, I took out the fridge shelf and washed the parts, let them drip. I cut up the jicama only to find it was moldy I put the fridge parts back.

I ate while working on my blog. I put a heating pad on my stomach and finished watching an interview on ???. The doctor said RLS comes from endotoxins caused by eating resistant starches. So I did a bunch of internet searches to look for more information. Nope.

I watched an episode of Benson and then one of Hart to Hart on Youtube. Afterward, I went to bed. The hot flashes started up, which means no rls tonight. So I turned on the fan and eventually fell asleep.

Cleaning and blowing

Saturday

I got up at 7:15, thinking it was later. I put on the housecoat I made, and took supplements. I emptied the dehydrator and refilled it from things I picked from the tower garden and the spinach in the pot right outside the back door. I got dressed and went to the company house to get the laundry started.

When I got home, I made up a batch of supplements for the week. I also made more spice mix. I listened to more info about the vagus nerve. I went back to the company house to put the second load in. When I got back, I compared prices on supplement refills between All Star Health and Swansons.

I made and ate breakfast, and read e-mail. At 2, I went to the company house for over an hour to clean bathrooms, the kitchen, floors, the fans, and make the beds.

When I got home, I got out leaf blower. I got the extension cord from the freezer, then blew the leaves in the front yard. It was surprisingly time-consuming and tedious, and I didn't get much yard cleared. But it was very effective on gopher mounds.

I put it away and came in. I put the last of the steak and rice in the oven. I ate some tomatoes, then later, the steak. I ate one of the frozen cookies. It was pretty good. Then I watched sewing videos for perhaps hours while deleting e-mail.

I worked on my blog, then watched parts of the next episode which was on toxins. It got late and I went to bed.

Moving the tower garden

Friday

I got up before 8. I washed up and got ready for the day. I emptied the dehydrator and separated the dried leaves into bags. I picked more from the tower garden. There was more than would fit in the dehydrator so I bagged some up for Michelle. I think I also decluttered a bit and watered all the indoor plants.

Then I grabbed the sleeping bag, clipboard and some fabric pieces and went to the chapel for Math Morning. I unlocked the door and went into the fellowship hall. The Clarks and the Cleggs came in while I was in the bathroom. The Clark kids sat down to do their school work. They didn't seem to need help, so I got out a sewing machine and set it up for me. But then Sophia had problems with how her Common Core book was finding the greatest common factor. So I sat down to figure it out and explain it to her. We did the rest of her assignment together.

As they were packing up, I got one quilt block sewn, then I packed up and cleaned up and turned off the lights and locked the doors. I went home. I read e-mail until after noon, and then made breakfast. I read e-mail, then looked up people on IMDB. I got the feeling that I never finished the series Royal Pains. But there was no way to be certain without spend $2 per episode in the last season.

I did the math to compare the price of chlorophylls on two different sites. I raked the back yard, and dug up small potatoes. I rinsed sprouts and removed the dead seeds. I made banana oatmeal cookies.

I moved stuff out of the way to create a path from the den to the dining room. Michelle came over to help me move the tower garden. Between the two of us, we got it to roll into the dining room where it will be easier to clean up after. Then the cookies were done so I took them out of the oven and gave her one. I ate one too. We talked for a long time. Then she went home.

I put steak and rice with some radishes and beets I found in the fridge, in the toaster oven. While it heated, I read e-mail. Then I put on episode 5 of the Vagus Nerve series and watched while I ate. Later, I worked on my blog. I put the cookies in the freezer. Then I took the empty water container and went to game night.

Michelle and I talked. She explained her idea of making a calendar with the first responders of Dugway. She found it hilarious. I played a new world called Voltaic. I kind of got stuck, so at 11 Casey carried the full water container out to my car and I said thanks and goodbye and went home. I turned off my phone, did my stretches and went to bed.

Cleaning the swap shop

Thursday

I got up after 7, when Chris did. I got ready for the day, then clipped a bunch of spicy green leaves from the tower garden and washed them. I cut them up so they would lay flat and put them in the dehydrator.

Then I got out the sleeping bag. Chris ran the handwheel while I pushed the bag through the machine. There were a few hiccups, but it didn't take more than half an hour. Chris rolled up the sleeping bag and now it is ready for Randy.

I put the machine back in the cabinet. I put the notions away. I put away embroidery thread from the scorpion project. I called Michele to see if she wanted some matching thread to sew it on with, but she said no, she planned to use safety pins. I put some quilt basting spray on the back anyway. Chris packed his suitcase and headed to the airport for some gaming convention.

I made more breakfast mix, hoping not to leave anything out. Then I sat at my computer to jot notes for my blog. I also posted limited swap shop hours for today since I am taking Jenni's place and I don't want to sit there for 4 hours if no one comes.

I made breakfast and watched The Highwire. He talked about the rising infant mortality rate, submitting FOIA requests to the CDC, and the WHO which wants to have the power to declare a pandemic and then manage the world's response.

Before 3, I took some cleaning stuff and went to the swap shop. I opened it and turned the lights on. I went to check my mail and a group of people including kids came in. The kids were very energetic. In fact, one of them broke a Christmas decoration and the dad asked me for a broom to sweep it up.

I started vacuuming the carpet while they were there, and continued after they left. I got the broom of my car and swept the tile floor, under hanging clothes and behind boxes, etc. Another mom with kids came in, but didn't stay that long. After the sweeping, I mopped the parts of the floor which were easiest to reach. I kept having to stop and rest because my left foot was cramping and a muscle between my shoulder blades would spasm. Around 5:30, I packed up and went home.

I put a steak in the oven. Then I read e-mail until it was done. I ate it while watching videos on making things out of plastic grocery bags. It was after 10 when I worked on my blog. I watched a few tapping videos and went to bed.

Community meeting

Wednesday

I got up at 7. I picked sage and spicy greens from the tower garden and put them in the dehydrator. I got ready for coffee morning. I read for half an hour by the HappyLight. After the tapping and meditation, I cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. I ran the dishwasher. I watered the tower garden and other indoor plants using a weak solution of kefir. There was some left for the cold frame plants.

Chris came home for lunch. I vacuumed the carpeted areas and mopped the kitchen floor. I took a shower. I cut down the tomato plants that froze to death and put the pots and stakes in the back.

Then I grabbed a cleaning contract and went to 110 for a signing. It was $200, to include cleaning the bathroom, but the housing person said it was shared by 111, so I didn't have to clean it. Hmmm. I probably will anyway.

I stopped by the commissary for bananas. Then I went home to get the coffee can. Gary texted that he needed a bed frame. So after I spread the grounds in the garden, I unlocked the swap shop for him. I also got a text from Jenni about taking her place in the swap shop tomorrow. So I called to see if she was feeling better and other stuff. She said someone wanted a rocker and I said the swap shop was open.

I went back to working outside. I added bubble wrap to the cold frame to keep it warmer. I took apart a bunch of boxes and put them in the recycling. I went to the gym to work out. My back was not happy when I left. I went home to read e-mail and delete a bunch of stuff.

I went to the community club for the neighborhood meeting. Charity held the meeting off until Chris and the colonel showed up. Then we discussed Friendsgiving and Turkey Bowl. There are events in December as well. We discussed replacing the neighborhood group with a SFRG, which the colonel's wife would head up. SFRG's are allowed to fund raise, where neighborhood groups cannot. Chris left early to go to Mass. I left about 6:20 and went home.

I emptied part of the dishwasher and put the handwashed dishes away. I worked on my blog and was reminded that I hadn't locked the swap shop. But by the time I posted, I had forgotten. I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. THEN, I went and locked the swap shop. Chris went to bed and I stayed up to look for a good deal on strings of lights for a possible Christmas project.

Town hall

Tuesday

I got up at 7:30. I took supplements, brushed, and went outside to pull the shampooer in from the rain. I read e-mail and listened to a Tucker Carlson interview. I went in the sewing room and did the final stitch-out of the scorpion. It was ok except for the outline was off in one place. I tried to handstitch in the gap to fill it in. I also handstitched the start-stop line of the satin stitch because it was suboptimal.

I took a washcloth to the apartment for inspection. Connie was already there. We chatted as she looked around, then got the paperwork ready for me to sign. McKenna came to take the requisite pictures. I gave Connie the key and went home.

I put mint leaves in the dehydrator. I jotted notes for my blog. Keli texted me wanting to bring some pants over to be altered. Then CJ came by with two dozen eggs.

I made and ate breakfast and read e-mail. I ate a bunch of pomegranates, trying to clear out the fridge. At 2 I went to Saronna's house with my trombone. We talked for a long time, then played through some of the Christmas songs for Winterfest.

I went home to wait for Keli. When she finally texted, we decided to meet at the chapel since my house smelled like something bad in the trash. I took pins and a measuring tape. She wanted tucks in her waistband and the hems sewn (they were taped). And one shirt to be cut up the front and hemmed like a jacket.

When I got home, I put steak in the toaster oven. Chris came home, then went to Townhall. When I finished eating, I drove to the headquarters building for Townhall. I sat with the colonel's wife. We listened and she took notes on the slides. I took pics. Later, I talked to Jamie. Her husband said that when the fault line goes, only Dugway will be left standing in Utah.

We turned off the lights and locked the doors. We went home. I worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched only one episode of Psych. Chris went to bed and I stayed up to listen to the Psych theme song and read the lyrics.

** The final and the trial. **

Trombone and piano

Monday

I got up around 8. I washed some bowls and sorted through the sprouts to get the failures out. I got online to post about community band. After posting, I stayed online to check e-mail and Telegram messages.

At 10 I went to 209 to vacuum and shampoo the carpet. I carried the machines down the steps, one at a time, then rolled them to the car. When I got home, I cleaned the shampooer, and left it and the parts in the driveway to dry.

I made and ate breakfast. I went to yoga, realized I forgot my mat, went home for it and back, forgetting my purse. But she said I could pay later. I was the only student and she really put me through the moves. We talked a little afterward and I went home.

I collated the Jingle Bell Rock pages, then taped 5 sets together. I marked one for djimbe. I watered the tower garden and the cold frame, but the plants in the frame looked half (or more) dead.

I analyzed the trial stitch-out of the scorpion and redigitized it. I read some e-mail. Chris came home from work. I put steak in the toaster oven, and made a salad from the tower garden. I jotted notes for my blog as I ate.

Before 7, I went to the chapel for band. It was so dark that I had trouble getting the key in the lock. Once inside, I turned on all the lights. The pianist arrived as I set up chairs and music stands and put copies of Jingle Bell Rock on them. But no one else came, so we just played together. It was fun.

Before 8, my lip gave out and we packed up. We turned off the lights and locked the door. I went home and finished my blog post. I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. Then he went to bed and read for awhile and I stayed up to listen to an interview.

Digitizing can be addictive

Sunday

I got up around 8. I emptied the kitchen sink, then whipped up a batch of cheese squares. While they baked, I washed all the parts of the dehydrator and set them on the stove to dry. However, when the baking was done, there was no place to put the pan. So I used the cutting board as a trivet. Then I dried the metal and plastic shelves and put them in the dehydrator. Finally I did the usual beginning to my day.

I asked Chris to help me sew the sleeping bag and he agreed, but he said doing the Scorpion mon for Michele and John was more important. So I spent the rest of the morning cleaning up the image at a pixel level. Then I decided the image didn't make sense so I collected other images of scorpions and redid the image. Chris said I was over-thinking it.

She wants it all in gold, but I had to color the parts differently so I could control the sew order. And finally I got it to the machine and it wanted to sew the whole thing twice for a total of 54 minutes. Luckily the machine will let me skip the parts I don't want and even go back if the sewing order is wrong. The chances of messing up are pretty good.

It was after noon while I finally got to make and eat breakfast. Then I got ready for church. I took half the cheese squares and my trombone to the chapel. I went inside and laid the snack on the back table, then assembled my trombone. I talked to a few people. The chaplain had trouble getting the overhead started. So Rick went back to queue up the music for the two opening songs.

Then the chaplain preached about following Jesus and his commandments. He invited Saronna and Sophia and me to come up during the final prayer so we would be ready to play after Amen. And we were. We played the two songs we had picked out earlier in the week. Then he invited everyone to shake hands with someone else. So we shook hands all around up front.

After more chatting, I put my trombone away and walked to the back to collect my snack. As we exited, I saw Michelle and Casey standing out there. I offered her the leftover cheese squares and she accepted. Actually, her lips said no but her eyes said yes so I gave them to her. We talked a bit and I went home.

Chris was gaming with the voices. I read e-mail and listened to an interview. Then I changed out of my dress and asked Chris to help me carry the vac and carpet cleaner to the second floor apartment. He said he needed 5 minutes for the post-game talk, but it turned out to be longer. I packed the vac and cleaner in my car. I started copying the pages for band tomorrow night.

Then he was ready and we went to the apartment. He carried both up the stairs and through the door. He looked at the thermostat on the wall. On the way out, I asked if anyone was tasked with cleaning the public areas because the windows were filthy. He said yes, but the contract might only call for cleaning once a year. I said I would brush the windows off tomorrow and he said no, because he wants to show someone how bad it is. Sigh.

When we got back, he pulled defrosted steaks from the fridge and blood went everywhere. I helped clean it up, then worked with the scanner and printer to get music ready while he cooked the steaks. The printer pop-up still claimed it was running out of ink. I scanned all the music onto the computer (in case I lose it again). I printed out out everything I need for band.

Then it was time to eat. I ate one of the steaks, plus the rice and mushrooms that Chris heated up for me. I read more e-mail. I worked on my blog. Then I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. He went to bed to read, and I stayed up on my laptop, but only till 10:45. Then I went to bed.

Making shirts into robes

Saturday

I got up around 8. I got dressed, rinsed the sprouts, took supplements, and sewed around the edges of a frayed wash cloth. I watched part of the Myst walkthrough.

I went to the company house to get the laundry started, then came home and washed all the parts that came with the dehydrator, as per the instructions. I parsed out a week's worth of supplements. We worked together to get a good image of the scorpion mon that Michele asked for. Then I went back to the company house to start the second load.

I also stopped by the post office and picked up a package. I opened it in front of the clerk so we could see why it was so light. It was an angelfood cake pan. And yes, it was crooked in the middle like the one I had gotten from the local Joanns. She even measured it from several angles. I guess Wilton is not doing their quality control. When I got back, Chris gave me a coconut oil massage. He took a shower and then I took mine.

I made and ate breakfast while he took my car to the gas station. I packed for sewing class, then found a message from Saronna about needing to go to the swap shop, so I ran over there and unlocked it. I also went to the company house to throw the second load in the dryer. Back at home, I looked for my box of trims and couldn't find it. Chris helped me put the sewing machine and stuff in my car. We went to the chapel and he took my machine inside and helped me arrange tables. He left.

I set up the other machines. Saronna's girls arrived. Then Isadora, but immediately she had to go back home for something. They had shirts with them and I showed them how to cut the buttons and collars and cuffs off. I had to help Wilhelm cut. Then I showed them how to hem the edges. Isadora brought a big rectangle of white fabric and I showed her how to fold it and cut a shirt shape. Sophia did not decorate hers, nor did Wilhelm. But Moira made a rosette out of a piece of ribbon and sewed it on with green thread.

Wilhelm had left his jacket at the swap shop. So Isadora went with me to the swap shop, and got his orange jacket. I dropped her off, then dropped the jacket off with Wilhelm. I went to company house to finish cleaning, then to 209 to mop floors and finish the oven.

When I got home, I unloaded the car, then jotted notes for my blog. Chris called Mike for his birthday. He made me mushrooms and rice. I ate while watching more Myst walkthrough. It was about something I had already done but the explanation was very interesting. Chris put the leftovers away as I worked on my blog. Then I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. He went to bed to read and I stayed up looking at e-mail.

Fire in Tooele

Friday

Chris woke me up at 8. I got dressed and brushed. I rinsed the sprouts. I watered the cold frame. I sharpened 4 pencils and found some blank scrap paper. I copied pages from a Christmas song book. I took the pages, tape, pencils and paper, and my sewing notions bag and went to the chapel I unlocked the doors and set up for math, then set up for sewing. Casey arrived with his kids. He set up a hotspot for them. I set up the ironing board and a sewing machine. I laid out the panel that the chaplain's wife had given me. I cut it in half lengthwise then measured the length and shortened it. I hemmed all the raw edges.

After 10, Casey took his kids home. No one had come for math help. I stayed to finish, then left the sewing stuff set up for tomorrow, and went home. That was around 11. I checked e-mail for a bit then finished making the breakfast mix. Then I used it for making breakfast. I also made tea and read e-mail as I ate.

Chris came home from the office. I am not sure why he went, but he had to deal with a power glitch later. I finished up and poured a bottle of water for the trip. He packed the cooler and we went to Tooele.

As we approached town, there was a huge black plume. When we got to the main street, we could tell it was ahead on the left, so not the grocery stores. His phone rang and the caller was asking permission to send extra firefighters and EMS from Dugway to assist at the car dealership.

Traffic was all backed up so we took a back street to Luckey's. We got a jicama there, then I walked to Melanie's for coconut flakes. She had a BOGO free sale so I bought some other things too. They talked about a semi truck running into the car lot building. 15 cars involved. When I finished shopping there, I went to Joann for another minki blanket with my 40% off coupon. When I got back to the car, we headed to Macey's and Chris told me about the truck. We shopped at Macey's and headed home, the back way. He got a call saying Dugway help wasn't needed after all.

When we got back, we stopped at the commissary for a few last things. I talked to Michaela about her program to deliver baked goods to first responders. I offered to make banana oatmeal cookies. We came home and unpacked the groceries. I got online to check e-mail and Facebook. Chris went to ACS to talk gaming with some guys.

I got ready, watered the tower garden, then took the water container and went to Michelle's house for game night. When I got there, the kids were in bed and the game on TV. I knew what I wanted to do and I had pics of what it should look like, but I was missing something. I went back and forth, up and down, trying to burst the bubble to shock the plant and free the bird. I kept finding myself going back the way I came. Finally I had to ask Michelle to call up the walk-through on her phone. A small shift in flower focus, and the bubble burst. I had everything else set up so I went 'down' to the large lotus. I triggered the release of spores from insdie, and the bird came and got the lotus (and me) and took it to its nest. From there I was able to get to the linking book back to the tusk island.

And then it was 11pm. So I thanked them and headed home. Driving after the game is always a little sureal. Chris was in bed when I got there, so I turned off the router and did my stretches, then joined him.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Thursday

I got up around 8. After getting ready for the day, I got online to find pics to post for our next sewing class. It took like an hour and a half. I saw some remakes of men's shirts that I would not be seen with, but eventually found something suitable for class.

I went to 209 to clean for 1:45. Then I went home for breakfast. Michelle met me there because she wanted balloons for decorating Brittany's office. Chris came home for lunch. I made breakfast and put on The Highwire. I used headphones, but after he left, I unplugged them. I paused it when Denise called. She had some questions about Aires Tech.

I finished watching, then made some notes. I went cleaning again. From 3:20 till 5, but Michele called to ask about embroidery and it slowed me down at little. Then I went home and ate 5 pears. I checked the time for the movie and it was 5:30. Chris texted that he was leaving work at 5:30. So I drove over to the community club, arriving upstairs (omg I was so sore from yesterday) just in time. The club manager was there, watching something else. When he saw me, he clicked through to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. I asked if he could wait until Chris arrived, so he did. Eventually Chris walked in with his pizza. Then Stirling started the movie and went downstairs.

Chris and I watched the movie, all by ourselves. I wondered if all the movies were so well attended. I got really thirsty during the movie, so I went to the restroom and drank water out of my hands.

After the movie, Chris went to the bar to greet his team. I worked my way painfully down the stairs, thinking to sneak out through the eating area. But Stirling and his wife were there talking to Jerry. So I sat down and we had a nice chat. Jerry left and Gary arrived. So more chatting. Then Chris came out of the bar, thinking I was at home waiting for him. More chatting. Then we left together and drove home separately.

I worked on my blog and made tea. But Chris was not interested in more watching, so I stuck with my laptop. Eventually he went to bed and I stayed up later.

** Our class project is to transform a shirt into a cover-up/robe/kimono/shrug/housecoat. Not sure what to call it **

No more holes in the sheet

Wednesday

I got up at 8. My throat was sore and I wondered if I was coming down with something or had just been breathing through my mouth. I put myself in a trance and imagined talking to the Fern in the alternate universe where she becomes a healer. She told me to gargle with salt water.

I prepared for coffee morning. I gargled with salt water several times, and rinsed my sinuses. After meditating and tapping, I cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. I washed dishes and stacked them on the stove racks to dry. I scrubbed the oven door on the inside and part of the oven itself.

Chris came home late for lunch. I mopped the kitchen and took a shower and got dressed. Michelle was at the gym, so I went over there. We did a weighted workout and played some racquetball.

When I got home, I put some stuff away. I looked for a sheet with holes in it to repair another sheet, but could not find it. I did find an old shirt from Chris so I used that. It was a lot of sewing. There were more holes than I remembered.

Then I finished my sewing project for Saturday, adding trim to the sleeves and decorative stitching to the front edge. However, it took a long time and was not easy to run through the machine so I will not recommend it to the kids.

Chris came home from work, but then went to the chapel for Mass. I vacuumed the carpets I cleaned up below the tower garden. Chris came home because the priest was not there. I watered the indoor plants. I listened to short videos on Telegram. Chris handed me the ballot for U.S. House District 2. I didn't know any of the candidates. I tried looking them up but I didn't find the kind of information I was looking for.

I made tea and posted to my blog. We watched two episodes of Psych, ending season 2. I made a mental note to get season 3 tomorrow. Chris went to bed shortly after and I stayed up reading Telegram messages.

Halloween

Tuesday

I got up at 9, not realizing it was so late. I started getting ready for coffee morning, then realized it was only Tuesday. I washed up and got dressed. I put a load of fabric in the washer.

I went to apartment 106 to check that it was ready for inspection and it was. Then I went to apartment 209a to clean. There were people in 209B moving the furniture. I worked for half an hour, then went to 106 for the inspection, which I passed. I went back to 209 for 30 minutes, then went home to take the fabric from the washer to put in the dryer. I went by Housing to turn in the key to 106. They told me someone was moving into 209B next Monday. That person will share the kitchen and bathroom with 209A and I wasn't sure I would be finished.

I went to the post office to get the mail, then went home. I put away the bone broth. I folded the fabric that was in the dryer. I read e-mail, then made and ate breakfast.

I went to Saronna's house to play. We worked on Jingle Bell Rock. At the end, we chose two hymns for Sunday and she gave me a jar of salsa. From there, I went to 209 to clean for 90 minutes.

Then I went home and put out a table and a chair. I dressed up in black as a fortune teller. I put a selection of toys on the table. The rest of the toys were in a box. I read a book while waiting for kids. A few showed up sporadically.

Chris made pea soup. At 6:30 it got too dark to read and too cold to sit. I went inside and kept an eye out for cars. I replenished the toys as necessary. I think we only had 13. I thought we'd have more because several of us 'advertised' on Facebook. We both sat on the couch and read, then he took a nap while I ate some pea soup and some short ribs.

I finished my blog post for yesterday. I listened to part of an interview on tapping. I made tea and we watched two episodes of Psych. Then he went to bed and I stayed up to read e-mail.