New religious affairs assistant

Sunday

I got up late. I read some e-mail. I made cheese squares. I listened to a talk by a military man who had dreams from the Lord in which Chinese soldiers invade places in America and the people there didn't realize the danger they were in. He was quoting scriptures that he was given at each one. He said the red horse (war) is coming, This is retribution from God. In each dream, Chinese soldiers came and people greeted them as novelties, but they massacred them.

I watered the plants and leveled gopher mounds. Still nothing caught.

I made and ate breakfast, then got dressed for church. I took half the cheese squares and my trombone to the chapel. After service, I met the new religious affairs assistant and his family. They are Pentecostal.  I stayed to talk to Michelle. She was very upset about a local girl who drowned this weekend.

I went home, read messages, and changed my clothes. Chris cooked supper and then started the game: we explored the deserted kobold camp. We tracked the kobolds who were leaving for a safer place. John negotiated for half of their treasure, then we got attacked by 3 women. We ended the game there, to resume next week.

I texted Casey then gathered some tools. I invited Chris to help. So he came too. We went to the swap shop. We measured and marked the walls in the little supply room. The first wall turned out to be concrete so we switched to another wall. We put up two wire shelves with a little trouble.

When we got home, I made tea. We watched one episode of Taxi. I headed to the kitchen, then smelled something bad. It was gas from the stove. Chris opened the doors and windows to let the gas out while I hunted down some fans. One of them didn't work. I listened to The Dimming, while doing puzzles. Chris closed the doors and windows and went to bed. I posted my blog and got ready for sleep.

Making cheese

Saturday

I got up at 7:30, having had to get up several times during the night to rehydrate. I worked on the blog post about yesterday. Then I went through some Myst videos to see what I missed last night. I walked out to look for new gopher mounds and did not notice any. I did not catch any gophers either.

Chris gave me a massage, then we each took our shower. I covered a selection of nuts in hot water. I used half a gallon of goat milk to make vinegar cheese for Michelle. Then I started a half gallon of goat milk for fermented cheese.

I made breakfast, then read messages and articles. I dissolved rennet in some water and added it to the milk. At 2 I went to Keli's RV and cleaned for 2 hours. It took longer because she left a list. When I got home, I hydrated, then separated the curds from the whey of the fermented cheese.

I helped Chris fold laundry, then went to the garden. I watered Kenzie's peas. I planted 4 fists of garlic which only made one zigzag row. I wrapped up the watermelon in netting so critters don't eat it. I put out a dish of water for them. Then I went to Jenni's house. I watered in front and out back and changed the water in the bucket trap.

Chris had supper ready, so we ate. I read and listened to a podcast on health. I put away supper, and worked on my blog. Then I took the vinegar cheese to Michelle's house for a second game night. We talked about things to be ordered.

 I worked on the same things as last night. I was able to jump the rock wall but could find nothing else to do after that. In another world, I could not jump down at at place where I know I have jumped down before.

At 11, I shut down the game. I thanked them and went home. Chris was asleep. I got ready for bed and hit the hay.

cleaning at the swap shop

Friday

I got up at 8:45, rushed to get dressed, etc., then went to the chapel for Math Morning. Casey and the Clarks came. As usual, the kids did not want to work on math. Saronna talked about picking up furniture from a house on 1^st street. So I asked if she could get the vacuum someone left by a dumpster on 2^nd. I wanted it for the swap shop. She said she had other stuff for the swap shop, too.

After Math Morning, I went to the swap shop to clean the sewing machine and the microwave. Saronna came with bags of clothes and the vacuum. It worked. She made her kids hang up all the clothes they brought before they could pick out stuff to bring home. While they were occupied, I wiped down a box of DVD's and Game discs. I threw out the empty cases. I left with some movies, home copies of movies, and 2 power packs.

I went home for breakfast and plugged in the power banks. I watered the outdoor plants. After breakfast, we went to the commissary. We saw the chaplain and talked to him. We shopped and took the food home to put away.

Then we went to Tooele. While Chris shopped at Luckey's, I talked to the CBD man and he convinced me to buy his sleep gelcaps. I also talked to Melanie. Afterward, we went to Macey's, then back to base.

I picked some greens and hot peppers for Michelle. I dealt with some gopher mounds and baited traps with hot peppers. I picked greens for Chris to cook. He accidentally knocked over my pill minder, spilling most of it. I had to separate them all by color and size and figure out where they go.

I plugged my phones into the power banks to see if they work. The phones got recharged. But the large power bank did not fully recharge itself. After supper, I read messages, then worked on two blog posts since I didn't get to post last night. I put together stuff for Game Night, and headed out to the Cleggs.

When I got there, I showed them a pic of a potato I dug up. They thought it was hilarious, so apparently I wasn't imagining what it resembled. Casey had the game up so I started playing. Michelle told me about her day. She helped me find items I needed online.

I went through the game books one by one, getting frustrated in each world. I didn't have the notes I took two weeks ago. Finally, I turned it off at 11. Michelle gave me some goat milk and invited me back tomorrow for the game night I missed last weekend.

When I got home, Chris was asleep. I got ready for bed, then read a few messages before turning in.

Drinking and talking

Thursday

I got up around 8. I got ready for the day. I checked messages, then took my Bible and went to the chapel for Bible study. We read several chapters of Matthew. Then the leader had an appointment to go to.

I went home and made a batch of breakfast mix. I worked on choosing Christmas songs and picking the best version of 4 sources. Then I started making breakfast. Chris came home for lunch. I watched The Highwire which ran for over 2 hours.

I went to the garden around 4. I fixed the irrigation system to the peach trees. I picked most of my green tomatoes because something had pulled off several big ones and partially chewed them. Then I went to Jenni's house to water her plants. I picked her red cherry tomatoes. Finally I went to library to make copies from two of the four sources. Melissa and I had a nice chat.

I went home for supper. I posted to Facebook for Math Morning. I went out to mow and came in when it got dark. Chris was on the phone with Michele and John. He was also drinking wine. It made him very talkative. So after the call, he kept talking. No military secrets or anything, but he loved everybody. In fact, he talked till 1am, all the while insisting that he is the same whether he is drinking or not. Then I had a hard time getting to sleep. Sigh.

Update horks my laptop

Wednesday

I got up when I heard my alarm go off. I checked messages, then prepared for coffee morning. I watered the indoor plants. I read for half an hour. I tapped and meditated. Then I started cleaning. I washed dishes. Chris came home just as I was about to mop the kitchen floor. So I vacuumed carpeted rooms instead and emptied the vacuum cups. Then I mopped the floor.

I wrestled with the computer to read messages. It had updated and now everything works differently. I called the bank. I showered and got dressed. I watered the outdoor plants, then went to Saronna's house to play Christmas music and narrow down our choices. We talked as much as we played. We talked about cats and booing people. The kids came home from school. Then she got a phone call so I left.

I went home and my computer was unstuck. I jotted notes for my blog. I went through the loose music to organize it somehow. Michelle texted me so I texted back, it was about opening the swap shop for someone who posted on Facebook.

I went out to deal with gopher mounds. I found one trap where the peanutbutter was eaten and the trap was buried, but not sprung. I also watered the newly-planted garlic. Then I walked to the swap shop. Michelle was not far behind. She had some bags of clothes to donate. Then another lady came with help and they donated a bunch of stuff including a sewing machine and a microwave, but both were filthy.

Afterward, Michelle and I went for a long walk and she told me all the new developments in her life. Quite a few! She drove me home and we kept talking. Finally we finished. I went inside where Chris was on his laptop because Mass was canceled.

I mowed the back yard and part of the front yard. I plugged in the battery to recharge. I got on my computer to look up amortization schedules. The laptop was horked up. Certain things did not work, like the calculator and the sound bar. Chris told me to reboot it. I looked up how to uninstall Copilot, the Microsoft AI which it installed at some point. The directions said to run Powershell, but the bottom search bar didn't work. Chris got a drop-down menu to appear and I clicked on Powershell, then copy pasted the suggested info. Gobbeldygook came up and it seemed to be saying unauthorized. Copilot was still there, but for some reason everything was working.

I spent time comparing amortization schedules, then I worked on my blog, and made tea. We watched episodes of Taxi. Chris went to bed and I stayed up to read messages.

Dinosaur museum

Saturday

I woke up slowly, around 8:45. I woke up Chris so he could get ready and go to breakfast which usually stops serving at 9. While he was gone, I checked messages and e-mail. I started making my breakfast. He came back saying breakfast was served till 10. We discussed the hurricane and FEMA efforts and Mayorkas.

Around 11 we headed out to Utah Raptor State Park. We expected to find a visitor's center, but all we found were dusty trails. In fact we got stuck in a 'bog' of dust and sand. Fortunately the Rangers soon found us. We put stones behind the front wheels and two pushed while one drove. Several 4x4's when by and just waved. But then someone stopped and offered to help, saying he had anything we might need. The way Chris' car is constructed, there is no rear axle so it could not be towed. But the guy had traction ramps and they worked really well. I think we should get some.

After everyone left, we parked on more solid ground, then walked the trail, and explored some rock piles. I found what I think is a fossil. Chris allowed that it might be. We walked on, investigated some features, then walked back to the car.

We drove to the dinosaur museum. We bought the wristbands for admission, then went inside. Actually out the back. There was a place for me to refill the water bottle. We walked in the museum and looked at the exhibits. One of them purported to be a game so I suggested we play. But just then an elderly man asked if we would like a 10 minute tour of the back room where they separate fossilized bone from surrounding rock. So we did. He showed us a dinosaur costume. Then we went to the back room where an elderly lady was. He explained some casts of dinosaur foot prints then asked if she would like to talk about the dinosaur leg. She looked at us and asked if we had any questions. So I asked what it was. She talked a little, but needed constant questions to keep going. Then she wanted to show us an ankylosaur skeleton. So we followed her to a far room. She excused herself to get some water and never came back. We looked at all the stuff in the room, then decided to go see the half mile track of faux dinosaurs. It was interesting. We met a family from Germany and chatted with them. Then they went on ahead. I was happy to get back and refill my water bottle. In spite of all the water I drank, I hardly needed the restroom.

When we got back, we ate a chocolate bar that melted in the car. We read on our laptops for awhile, then took showers and put on clean clothes. We discussed dinner and he said he wanted to try the Moab Brewery. So we went there.

The parking lot was full so I wondered if we should try somewhere else. But even so, they had a place for us. It was a busy but not a dressy place. We were served in reasonable time. Chris got a half chicken and I got a really big burger, with brisket on it as well. Neither of us could finish so we had it boxed. Chris enjoyed talking to the waiter in Spanish.

We went back to the hotel. I finished reading then worked on my blog while Chris hooked his laptop to the big screen TV and called up some romantic music videos.

When I finished going through messages on my computer, I laid on the bed with a bottle of water. Chris put on The Umbrella Academy and we watched two episodes of their new season. Afterward, I made sure the water bottles were filled for tomorrow and took the bedtime supplements and we went to bed.

Sunday

I slept pretty well, waking early to hit the restroom. Not sure I ever went back to sleep after that. Chris seemed to be awake by 7:45. He got up, showered and dressed, then went to breakfast. I read e-mail and it seemed he wasn't gone long. So then I washed up and made my breakfast. We continued to read on our laptops for some time.

Later we put on hiking clothes and went to Dead Horse Point State Park. Terrible name for a park. Anyway, we walked around the visitor's center, then walked the short nature trail which had places to stop and take pics from high places. Then we took the East Rim Trail, and chatted with other folks doing the same. There was a rest stop there, which we used, then headed on another trail which kind of ran by the road. That was good because I stubbed my toe and it made walking painful. Chris offered to go back and get the car, but then two ladies from France were parked at the lookout and he asked them for a ride. They drove us back to the visitor's parking area and we thanked them.

We went back to our hotel. I laid down and Chris says I fell asleep. When I got up, he laid down and fell asleep. I salted and ate the veggies from last night then read messages and e-mail.

After Chris woke up, we decided to go to dinner at the Sunset Grill. He took a shower and got dressed. I washed up and put on nice pants. Then we headed out. It was high on a cliff and the drive was a little scary for me. But then it turned out they are closed on Sundays. So, we went to a nearby place called Byrdie's. I thought I might be overdressed, but it was an artsy place and expensive. The food was very good. He got the prime rib sandwich and I had the farmer's plate. It was full of veggies and goat cheese and beet hummus. Sadly, they insisted on boxing our leftovers and mine got tossed. But we ordered cheesecake and they gave it to us free of charge. Not sure why. Chris tipped the waiter with cash.

We went back to the hotel. We sat at our laptops for some time. Then we shared some of the cheesecake. I worked on my blog and then we watched more episodes of The Umbrella Academy. After that, Chris went to bed. I stayed up just long enough to take all my evening supplements and cover as many little lights as I could before turning off the big light.

Then I went to bed, too. However, I tossed and turned. My left leg bothered me. I got up numerous times to drink, pee, take more magnesium, etc. But finally sleep came.

New cleaning quote

Tuesday

I got up around 8. I got ready for the day and read just a bit. Then I called Jamie and we met at 75B. We looked for anything that was still dirty and only found window sills (they get dirty overnight). She gave me her hours and I paid her her share. Then she left and the inspectors came. They were satisfied so we signed the documents. I went to Housing to turn in the key.

Then I went to the garden. I watered Kenzie's peas and picked some. I noted that some of my green tomatoes were lying on the ground half eaten. There was a puncture in one of the irrigation lines and I repaired it. There was another one that I couldn't get to because so many mint roots had grown over it.

I went home. I laid tomatoes on the sill to ripen. I made a week's worth of supplements. Chris came home for lunch. He said he would cut up the green tomato and use it tonight. I made and ate breakfast. Then I went out to take down a bunch of gopher mounds in the shady side yard. I baited the traps with peanutbutter like Casey did. Other tunnels got the citrus rind treatment. I also watered down the ones in the sunny side yard.

I read more e-mail and tried to close some windows. I got a call for a cleaning quote and we agreed I could do it after the FRG meeting. I took a break to plant two fists of garlic in the flowerbed.

Chris came home from work while I was playing from Keli's music book. Too many of the songs were in C and required a low B natural. Ugh. Chris cooked the ground beef with onions, the green tomato and spices.

About the time it finished, we had to leave for the FRG meeting at the Community Club. When we got there, Summer had a box of cookies and was asking people to color a flyer or cut up tickets to get one. We discussed the Swap Meet, and Friendsgiving and Polar Express night.

After the meeting there was some discussion, then Chris drove me home. I called Jamie about the quote. Then I took my car to the unit. He showed me around and it was really clean except for a few window sills and the glass in the door. I tried to tell him he could do that himself and pass inspection without paying. But he wanted it done right and not have to worry about it. Jamie showed up, looked around, and then looked at the lawn. We decided on $200 because we are required to 'sanitize' everything. He accepted that figure. We told him what to expect on signover day.

I went home and ate the beef with rice. It was really good. I worked on my blog. We watched two episodes of Taxi. Chris went to bed and I stayed up till after 11.

Back to Dugway

Monday

We got up after 8, hearing the garbage trucks empty the bins below our window.  I got up and checked my phone.  I read messages on the computer.  Chris had leftovers for breakfast.  I made and ate breakfast from the food box.  Then I packed my luggage and food box. Chris' was already packed.  We carried our stuff to the car in two loads, then drove 5 hours to Dugway, stopping twice for a restroom break. We listened to the book on CD the whole way.

When we got home, I saw that my plants had not been watered. While I watered, Chris brought in the luggage and the food box. Some things he put in the fridge. I also took down a large gopher mound, I think it formed because the sprinkler which I left on accidentally (for four days) drowned them out and made them move. Then Chris and I took the 5 gallon water jugs to the shoppette to refill. We also got the mail and dropped Walker Texas Ranger off at the library.

I ate some food from the food box. Michelle came over to apologize for not watering my plants. I assured her that nothing died. I showed her the remains of the gopher mound and we looked at the other side of the yard. I picked some greens and gave them to her. Then we stood talking in the kitchen. I gave her some seed crackers and cheese squares.

After she left, I picked some greens for me and Chris sauteed them in a pan. I put them over rice and they were awful. Tasted burnt.  Anyway, I grabbed some music pages and headed to the chapel for band. Saronna didn't come, but Keli did and we had a good time playing through the hymns and Christmas pieces.

When I got home, I ate some pineapple, then worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched several episodes of Taxi. He went to bed and I stayed up to read articles. Then I listened to a sleep story and pieced puzzles before going to bed.

Moab Utah

Friday

I got up around 7:30. I took supplements and drank water. I read e-mail, then packed the breakfast box. I took some paper and went to the chapel for Math Morning. I checked around the building and didn't find anything out of place. I set up the space and waited. Saronna came with her kids and then Casey arrived. The girls were tired so they didn't do much. Wilhelm was energetic so we had him alternate doing math problems and running around the church. I timed him on his problems 'cause he seems to like the feedback.

At 10 we all packed up. I went to the garden to water and pick. Then I went home. I watered all my plants and dealt with some gopher mounds. I packed the night supplements in the food box. I put some things in my suitcase. I plugged in my phone to recharge. I looked at my last packing list to see what else I might want.

When I was done packing, I made and ate breakfast. That's when Chris came back from the office. I packed a few last things, including stuff from the fridge and filled 6 water bottles. Then we packed up our laptops, and carried everything out to the car.

Soon we were on our way, listening to the book on CD. I fell asleep for an hour or so. When that book ran out, we started another one. But it was weird. I drank the whole way so then I had to stop. But the closest place turned out to be closed. So we kept going.

We got into Moab around 5:30. Chris dropped me off at the front of the hotel and I went in to find the bathroom. I ran into a contingent of Parisians. I understood very little of what they were saying. They were gone by the time Chris arrived to check in. We took stuff to our room and went back for more. We found ourselves in the elevator with a couple and we spoke a little French with them.

After bringing all our luggage to the hotel room, we decided to go out to eat. Someone had recommended a Mexican restaurant but there was no sign of it. So we went to Thai Bella. It was a lovely place. He got curry and I got salmon with veggies. They were both good. He ate all of his and I put my rice and sauce in a take-out box. Then we walked around the little town, stumbling on a little arts and ag market in the park.

It got dark so we walked back to the car and rode back to the hotel. Then he got on his laptop and I got on mine. I worked on my blog.

After reading for some time, I decided to go to the pool and I invited Chris. We put on our suits and walked down the stairs to the pool area. Some people were sitting at a far table, but no one was in the water. We got in the hot tub and it was really nice except for the jets which were constantly on. Later a group of people arrived and most of then got in the hot tub. Then I decided to get in the pool to cool off. Well, almost immediately other people got in the pool. After swimming a bit, it was really a little shallow for that, I got out and we put on our shoes to go up to our room. One of my footies was missing, but I found it later stuck to the leg of my pants.

I suggested we put on a movie, but even with hundreds of channels, there wasn't much to watch. We took a chance on some mystery series, but the commercials made it not worth watching. So I put on some 70's music on my laptop.

And we fell asleep. Well, he did. First my left leg kept me awake, and when it quieted down, my right leg started. I kept getting up to drink and pee. It was after 5 when I finally got to sleep.

Bible study

Thursday

I got up after 7:30. I washed up and got dressed. It was too cold to water, so I checked e-mail and messages. I listened to a podcast on menopause. After getting a text from Ginger, I filled a bottle with water and went to Bible study. No one else came, so we went through two chapters of Matthew and chatted.

I stopped to water Jenni's plants. Her husband was home so we chatted until the pest control people came. Then I checked on the irrigation system for the pear tree and apple tree.

Finally I went home for breakfast and watched The Highwire. I read other stuff after that and watched storm videos.  Awful!  I can't believe how little federal aid they are getting.  Plus, the civilians who are trying to help get threatened with arrest.

 I went out to scatter some gopher mounds and put rinds into the tunnels. I texted Michelle and Casey asking them if they could water my home plants and my garden. I spent way too much time finding and saving funny math memes. Then I posted for Math Morning to the three Facebook pages.

Chris came home from work. I picked some greens and he cooked them in bacon fat with some beef. I used up the last of the sweet potato in the soup and ate that for supper. I worked on my blog. I read an e-book on sleep. One of the suggestions was not to have a picture with water in it hanging over your bed. So I took down the seascape and put up a vase of flowers.

I read more, then made tea. We watched the remaining episode of WTR, then one episode of Taxi. Chris went to bed but I continued to read. Then I retired too.

First Communion party

Wednesday

I got up after 7. It was too cold to go out so I prepared for coffee morning. After the whole procedure, I started cleaning the bathrooms. Then it was warm enough to water the plants and take down gopher mounds.

I washed dishes, cleaned the kitchen and mopped the floor. I vacuumed the hallway and other rooms. I emptied the vacuum cups and washed the filter. Then I took a shower and read e-mail.

I went to Housing to make an appt for inspection next week. I tapped with Jamie at 75B, then went to the garden to water and to pick. Finally I went to the library to pick up new DVD's for when we finish WTR.

I went home and read e-mail. I went to the commissary to buy a few extra things in case the longshoreman's strike lasts a while. When I got home, Chris was gone to Mass. He texted that we are invited to a first communion party afterward. I did a few quick chores and he came to pick me up.

We went to house #4. They had big take-out containers of food from Panda Express. It was my fasting day but they encouraged me to take a plate home for tomorrow. The head of the commissary was there and I talked to him quite a bit. He introduced me to his wife who wants to learn to make bread.

We got home before 8:30. I worked on my blog and made tea. Then we watched TV. We thought it was the last episode of Walker Texas Ranger, but then realize we skipped the penultimate one. Chris got ready and went to bed. I stayed to read articles, then got ready for bed.

We've been BOO'd

Tuesday

I got up after 7:30 even though I woke up at Reveille. It was too cold out to water. I read e-mail and other messages.

At 9:45 I went cleaning till noon. I stopped at Jenni's house to water her plants but most of them didn't need any. I went home for lunch and discovered I needed more breakfast mix. So I made that, then made and ate breakfast.

At 2, I went to Saronna's house to play through some Christmas music. We made some decisions, but I didn't write them down. Then I went next door to 75B to clean. Jamie came over and we tapped together. Then I finished cleaning windows and moved all my cleaning stuff out so she could finish. I went by Housing to set up an appointment for inspection, but they were closed.

I went home and discovered Chris was home early. I asked for a cinnamon roll and he said he had given them all away. So I guess he called the guy he gave them to and asked for one, but the man brought the basket with a bunch of rolls left in it. I put beef in the toaster oven. I picked some greens and Chris cooked them for me. I ate that with some rolls. They were ok, but a little dry.

Then the doorbell rang. I went to answer it and no one was there. HOWEVER, there was a BOO sign with a piece of fabric tied to it and several copies of the Boo sign instructing me to BOO two other people. I don't know who left it, but it had to be someone who knows me well (except that I don't want to ring doorbells and run away).

I ate supper and worked on my blog. I made tea and started to play music. Chris turned on the TV and we watched one episode of WTR. Later he went to bed, but I stayed up to finish a podcast on what if everything we have ever been told is a lie.

Cinnamon rolls

Monday

I got up around 7:30. I watered the plants. I treated gopher mounds with citrus peels. I cut up a large piece of ginger and froze them. Then I went to the garden to water and to pick.

I went to 75B to clean for 2 hours. When I got back, I made seed crackers with amendments and popped them in the oven. Then I made breakfast. I looked through several books of Christmas music and picked some. I went to the library to make copies and stayed to chat.

I came home and started some bread dough. Then I went to Keli's RV to clean for 97 minutes. I came home for a quick carrot salad and to rerun the bread mixing cycle. Then I was off to the chapel for band.

We played through the pieces I had. Then Keli brought in a book from her truck. We played some pieces from that and she gave it to me to look through. Then the girls told us that someone had sprayed lotion all over the women's bathroom so I went to look. Yep, it was a slippery mess. We discussed when it must have happened, like either during or after church yesterday. We cleaned up what we could. Then we turned out the lights and locked the doors.

When I got home, I put soup in the toaster oven to heat. I rolled out the bread dough into two parts. I covered it in melted ghee, cinnamon, nuts, and raisins. I rolled up each log and sliced it into rolls, placing them in two bread pans. I left them to rise while I ate the soup and worked on my blog. I made tea. When the rolls had risen, I preheated the oven, then popped them in. We started watching WTR. Several times we stopped to check the rolls, and finally considered them done. I spooned melted ghee over them. 

 When WTR was over, we let them cool a little, then popped them out of the pan and separated them. I tasted a sliver and was disappointed. It wasn't sweet at all. I found a basket and breadcloth for them. Chris put them in a bag and went to bed. I stayed up to clear some open windows before going to bed.