Finishing the dino head

 

Thursday

I woke up before 6:30. I opened the blinds for the plants and went back to bed. Sleep wouldn't come, so I got up before 7:30. I got myself ready for the day. I practiced and exercised. I ate some egg salad.

I went to Bible Study at the chapel. I carried in the eggcrate foam mat. We read through two chapters of John. As we were discussing it, my phone beeped. The signover I thought was at 11, was actually at 10. So I quickly packed up and drove over there. I had a contract in the car so I filled it out and had him sign it. He gave me cash which I put in an envelop. I chatted with the inspectors. They told me to pick up the key at the Housing office this afternoon.

I went home to drop off the envelop and contract. I ate fiber gel. I called John to help clean, but apparently I woke him up. I went to 628 to clean for 90 minutes.

At noon I went home to make breakfast and watch The Highwire. I paused it when Jamie called. She wanted to trade cleaning hours for raking leaves. I said ok, and we continued to talk. It went so long, that we were still talking when I headed to the chapel.

I arrived at 2:45. I started painting the unpainted spots on the dinosaur head. Then Isadora and Eryne showed up with paints and a glue gun and a drill. Eryne drilled a hole in each side of the head. We used straws to thread some twine through the head to make a hanging loop. Isadora painted eyes on separate pieces of eye-shaped cardboard. Eryne cut out some teeth and I painted them. Eryne mixed up some paints to get a deep green color. I slathered it on bubble wrap and dabbed the bubbles on the head to look like scales. Then we took pics and cleaned up.

I texted John to meet me for cleaning. I stopped by Housing to sign out a key to 83E. Then I went to 628. I called John and Michele answered. She said he would come later. I cleaned for an hour before he showed up. It got dark. Then we both cleaned for an hour.

We went our separate ways. I went home to make and eat supper. I finished watching The Highwire. I read messages and e-mails. I saw that Michelle had posted the pic of the dinosaur head on all three community pages. I worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched one episode of Criminal Minds.

Meeting with the colonel's wife

 

Wednesday

I woke up early to open the blinds for the plants. Are they somehow influencing me to do this? I tried going back to bed. I started to get sleepy, but then I had to get up.

I brushed my teeth and got ready for coffee morning. I put on a wrist brace. I did the exercises and drybrushing. I read for half an hour with a red light. I tapped and meditated. I cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen. I put a rubber glove over my brace and washed dishes. I vacuumed, and I mopped the kitchen floor.

I took a shower, then returned a phone call and Facebook message. I watered all the plants. I made and ate the daily egg salad. I refilled the nut containers from the boxes. I emptied one box and kept the large plastic bag that was inside. I put it over the plants growing on the front porch.

I walked to the swap shop to open it for a lady. She took the spiderman car for her son. I found a foam pad for the handbells. She gave me a ride home. I put the foam in my car for tomorrow.

I read online till almost 4. I realized the plastic bag was gone, so I searched until I found it behind my neighbor's house. I weighted it down in the pot. Then I drove to the colonel's house for a meeting that Michelle set up. About 6 ladies came. With the colonel's wife, we discussed our groups and how to grow them. Some left and the colonel came home. After he left the room, the conversation turned to plastic surgery.

At 6:45, I bowed out and went home. Chris hadn't gone to Mass because they are moving it to Saturday morning. I read e-mail and articles. I looked at tens unit for tinnitus and wrist pain. I worked on my blog. An e-mail informed me that there will be no trash pickup this week.

I made tea and we watched one episode of Criminal Minds.  Afterward, I looked at Christmas projects on Facebook.  I was late getting to bed.

A little too much cleaning?

 

Tuesday

I got up early to open the blinds for the plants, then went back to bed. But sleep would not come, so I got up. I did the usual morning routine. I made up supplements for the week.

I went to 204 to clean a few last things, then moved all my stuff to my car. I took it to 628 and left it in the garage. The inside door was locked. I went home to get the key. I stayed home to have an early breakfast.

Later I went back to 628. Jamie met me and we toured the house and discussed the third bedroom. Then she left and I got things soaking. I went to Saronna's house to play through hymns and Christmas music. Then I went back to 628 to clean. After half an hour, I went back to Saronna's house to get my purse. I went home to drop off my trombone and music and pick up a small broom.

I went back to 628. They had left behind a water jug with an electronic dispenser. So I called John to come clean. He said he had to shower first. He showed up after 5. He helped clean the fans and lights and high shelves.

After an hour, I sent him home with the water jug. I went home to have a late supper. I read messages. I worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched one episode of Criminal Minds. Chris went to bed and I stayed up to read.

Unexpectedly large band turnout

 

Monday

It was a bit of a hard night. Something wasn't quite digesting and RLS kicked in after I went to the bathroom. I took some mineral drops and a homeopathic remedy and that seemed to help the RLS. In the morning I realized that my phone was never turned off.

I woke up around 8. I did the usual to get ready for the day. I found a gallon of milk in the fridge so I heated half of it to 100 and put it in the dehydrator. I heated the other half on low to 180 with the automatic stirrer. I entered VMIS hours. I jotted notes for my blog. I turned off the stove and added vinegar to the milk. While it curdled, I made egg salad.

I ate fiber gel early. Then I went to the library for copies and pinata treats. I went cleaning for 90 min. Finally I went home for breakfast. Later, I went to the library to borrow two easels.

After cleaning for another hour, I went to the chapel. Isadora and Eryne came to work on the dino head. It took about an hour to add the treats and paper mache the roof of the mouth shut.

Then they helped me move a table to the sanctuary and got out the boxes of bells. I started copying bell notes to staff paper. By 5:30, I finished but needed a second copy. So I went home to make a copy, but it didn't copy well. I ate some seed crackers and went back to the chapel. I worked on retracing the notes and note names until people started showing up.

People brought their kids to drum along with the band.  Michele and Eryne came to play handbells. I had to let them sort out the music and which bells they needed. Meanwhile, the band practiced hymns for Sunday and a few Christmas pieces. Then we went through one of the Thanksgiving pieces over and over while the bell players tried to wrap their heads around which hand to play when. I suggested color-coding the notes and they did that while the band practiced another Christmas piece. Then they asked for a third bell player. Since the chaplain had arrived (for the first time ever), I directed him over there, but he had a hard time. So a new lady walked in ( just randomly?) and he handed it over to her. She did well. It turns out she plays violin and is willing to come every Monday night to play with us.

I dismissed everyone at 7. Then Kyle helped carry the bell boxes back to the closet.I stayed to clean up the bell table and move it back to the fellowship hall. By then, everyone was gone except Jenni. So she and I talked for awhile. She said she invited the Messiah choir to sing at our chapel on Thanksgiving Eve, and they accepted. Wow!

I went home. I ate some beef heart and mushrooms. I read e-mail and worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched one episode of Criminal Minds. I stayed up to read online, then went to bed.

Writing music for handbells

                                                                                                                                                         Sunday

I got up after 8, sort of, but which time? My old phone, which can't connect anymore, knew the time had changed. Anyway, I brushed my teeth and took supplements. While the B12 was melting, I did my exercises, then whipped up some seed crackers for church. I checked messages, then worked on a simple line for bells to accompany our Thanksgiving hymns. It took longer than it seemed it should. I practiced my trombone.

I got online and looked at thread prices. Sewing class is running low on white thread. I wonder if cone thread wound onto spools would work as well? Some sources say yes, but is the twist right?

I ate half of the fiber gel, then compared more thread prices. I made and ate breakfast, got dressed, put seed crackers in a container and went to the chapel.

I warmed up while the praise team was practicing. I talked to Jenni. Soon it was time for the three praise songs. Then Cpl. Popken spoke about giving and announced the things going on at the church. Then the chaplain gave his sermon and the band played two hymns. We had communion. I went to check on the dinosaur head and it was dry so I texted Eryne.

A new guy came up to help with the first kids choir. Keli told me he had a music background so I asked him and Chaplain if they would play bells with us tomorrow. He said he'd think about it. Chaplain said he didn't think he could.

I went home to change clothes and peel a grapefruit. I went back to the chapel and ate it while waiting for Eryne and Isadora to show up. Then we added more paper mache to the T-rex head. We agreed to meet again tomorrow to add treats to the top skull and glue the hole shut.

I went home. Chris was cooking bean soup. I deployed the stink bomb in a gopher hole and blew into the tunnel. Then, I could not resist pouring a 5 gallon bucket of water in. Nothing came out so I filled it up and did it again.

When I went in, I ate the fiber gel. We signed into Discord for the game. I ate a bowl of soup. We encountered evil skeletons and we diverted ships. Mostly, I watched short videos of Christmas crafts.

After the game, we put the food away. I worked on my blog, then made tea. We watched one episode of Criminal Minds. I took the evening supplements. I watered the plants. I caught up on e-mail and messages then took charcoal and got ready for bed.

The very popular project

 

Saturday

We got up before 8:30. I brushed my teeth, took supplements, exercised, practiced, etc. I checked messages and found a bunch of craft videos from Faye. But they all needed stuff I don't have, and since Chris isn't getting paid right now, I'm not going to buy it.

I asked him for a massage, and after finishing what he was doing, he complied. We both took showers. I pulled fabrics for the sewing project. Then I ate fiber gel. I read outside until noon, then made and ate breakfast.

At 2, I went to the chapel. The Clarks came and they all wanted to make a drawstring bag. Eryne and Cedric also came and made bags. In fact, I had to run home to get another machine. I grabbed the featherweight. Some bags were not as finished as others, but everyone seemed to be happy with what they made. Also I returned the book I was reading and got the next one in the series. Its nice borrowing books from the chapel

I left at 4:30, went home and hydrated. Michelle texted asking if I wanted to walk. Chris brought me supper so I ate. Then I went walking and talking with Michelle. That went for an hour. I went home to get materials for paper mache.

I ate some cheese, then went to the chapel. Michele was waiting. We went in together, followed soon by Isadora and Cedric. I dropped off the glue, paper and tape at the end of the table. Eryne and Isadora looked at T-rex pics and sketched out a head. They needed cardboard so I dashed home to get some. When I got back, I held Rhythm Class with Janet. She did so well! I handed her the recorder and she really enjoyed playing the rhythms with a note.

After Rhythm Class, I watched Isadora and Eryne build the dino head while I helped people sew. Michelle came with a glue gun. While they used it, she played Mario 2, levels 3 and 4. Jenni and MeryAnn wanted to make the bag, so I got them started. Then Cammie wanted to make one as well. So I helped her. Finally, Michelle turned off her game and said she wanted to make a bigger bag. So we drafted a larger size template. She found some fabric and cut out enough pieces for 2 bags. Jenni had problems with hers so we helped her thread the ribbon in the channel. Then they all helped me clean up and put away the machines.

When I got home, it was 10pm. So an extra community service hour for me. It was too late to watch TV. I took supplements, read online for an hour, then took charcoal capsules and got ready for bed.

Halloween

 

Friday

I got up after 8. I brushed my teeth and did the usual morning stuff. I ate egg salad. I pulled out the two decks of cards from Saronna and removed all the 10's and 1's. Then I went to the chapel for Math Morning.

The Clark's were waiting for me. The kids played the game for the whole hour. We worked out that it was better to separate the decks and pick one card from each. Jedediah counted all the chairs. He's getting better.

Saronna and I talked afterwards. Then I stopped by the post office for mail. I promised the clerk I would bring her one dollar bills. I went home and worked on copying a Christmas carol and cleaning up the copy before printing it out.

I ate fiber gel, then read outside. I finished the book, and came in. I made more breakfast mix, then made and ate breakfast. On our way to the commissary, we stopped by the post office and I gave her 20 one's for a $20 bill. Then we did our grocery shopping and came home.

I looked at spider stuff online. I made yarn rope with the mixer, then cut it into 8 pieces for spider legs. I made another spider. I looked through toys from last year. I buried them in shredded paper.

I looked at webs made from garbage bags. Then I made a web and taped it over a bin. There wasn't enough room for spider to fall through so I cut out some of the ribs of the web.

I tried on things in the spare closet so I looked somewhat dressed up. I ate cold beef heart for supper and put some in a glass jar. I wrote my blog post, then packed some things for Game Night.

I went over to Michelle's house and parked across the street. She was dressed in black and had a table set up for making hot cocoa with flavorings and toppings. I set up my spider game with the box and bag of toys. Apparently I had missed the first flow of kids and parents.

Lots of kids came by. Some played the game twice for an extra toy. It was tough to get the spider between the webs at first. But near the end, one of the spokes had broken so it became much easier.

At 8:30 I was happy to help clean up and go inside for Game Night. Casey turned on the game RAMA. I had just a few puzzles left to do before going to the ICEPORT, a place that I have never been allowed to go. But first I had to add and subtract colors as if they were numbers in base 8. I couldn't do it in my head but Michelle gave me a piece of paper. When those were solved, I went to the Iceport. That was fun, until I got to the iceship to head off to the next section of the game. The program aborted. Casey reloaded it and I tried again, with the same result. After several tries, Casey disappeared and came back saying the emulator needed updating. But that took all night.

Meanwhile. Michelle invited Saronna over to talk about the kids. So we all weighed in on the issues, till after 11. Then Saronna and I went home. When I got there, Chris was still up. We got ready for bed and hit the hay.