Same Action, Two Meanings

Posted on Tuesday, 14 April 2009 by Mrs. DoF

When I was a kid, there was a show on tv with the name Dark Shadows.  A couple of my friends rearranged their hours to be able to watch it every afternoon, but my mother absolutely forbid viewing at our house because
“it had vampires”.

Not that I think she ever watched it herself to decide,
she often just passed along information from someone at church or beauty shop.

I didn’t care much, I usually prefer what I’m reading and watching to have very human characters.

These days, I am working in junior high schools where at least one copy of the book TWILIGHT is on a desk and eagerly opened up during free reading time.
And one girl got in trouble with the teacher because she was trying to tell me all about the movie, even though I had tried to shush her myself, was not encouraging at all.

It seems the vampire theme has come ‘round again.

I have not read any of the TWILIGHT book series, and do not plan to see the movie.  A couple of my favorite bloggers Kristine at Random and Odd, and Susie at What was I Thinking, who have teenage daughters, have written very good posts about TWILIGHT, and I trust their input about as much as I can muster up the interest; paycheck job of interacting with adolescents or no.

On Easter morning, I was sitting at the back of church while communion was being passed.  Although I was baptized when I was young, and the minister spoke a wealth of background and blessing for the symbolism, I decided not to participate because a memory had surfaced, one of the times my mother said terrible things about vampires and blood, and works of the devil.

Vampires of lore drink blood, which is a terrible thing, I guess.  I’m told the vampire in TWILIGHT drinks only the blood of animals, which is why many parents allow the kids to read it.  Yesterday, I put a wonderful beef roast and potatoes in the crockpot and we had a feast for supper.

During communion, there was a song about drinking the blood of Jesus.  I can’t find the lyrics on the ‘Net, but communion is all about how Jesus’ body was broken for you, His blood shed to wash away sins.

Sometime back in those days of Barnabas Collins and arguments with my mom and having church activities shoved at me, I remember thinking that vampires drinking blood and Jesus cleansing blood must be some really great storytelling.  And why did my mother not see that the same action meant different things to other folks?

Anyway, I did not take communion on Easter morning, a high holy day for Christian believers.

My mother lives two states away, yet is able to still cause me to have inner conflicts.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Thinking | 6 Comments

the Service for Baby Hats

Posted on Friday, 10 April 2009 by Mrs. DoF

Last Sunday, I went to an event at the hospital which introduced the current Art in the Atrium project.
I had read a tiny notice on the community calendar in the newspaper, and the speaker was Dave Proeber, one of the photographers for the paper, so I figured the program would be interesting.

I was pleased to have made the effort.
It seems Mr. P volunteered in a church hall and taught a photography class for any interested persons, no matter the age.  One boy was in 7th grade, one lady a gr-grandma.

For the program, he used the photos as slides, then had the student describe the picture-taking scene.

For the display, the photo prints are matted and framed and line the walls of the halls near the Atrium elevator.

After listening to the folks, and having some yummy stuff to nibble on, I walked around looking at the pictures, and if you are in the hospital building sometime this month, yerself should seek them out.

Like any bunch of anything … some good, some just okay.

As I was standing there in the hallway, I noticed an attendant pushing a wheelchair with a young mother holding her new baby.
While they waited for the elevator, as an aside, I asked the attendant why the baby did not have on a pretty knitted hat to go home?

She whispered that the nursery is all out of them, but the mother did not even know anything about it, so it was okay.

Well, as soon as I got home, I pulled out the peg loom and got knitting.  And at my Yarn Group on Thursday afternoon, I made a plea for the buddys to do the same.
We are not the only group to send in hats, but it seems we have been slacking some.

A baby should have a hat on during a cold and rainy day in the early Spring.

my baker’s dozen is going over today

and yes, they all were knitted since Sunday, even though I had TA Sub jobs three full days this week

Such a kind and understanding spouse, I have   😉
what with eating cereal for supper, and wrinkled work shirts

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Crochet | 6 Comments

Lab Results are Fine

Posted on Thursday, 9 April 2009 by Mrs. DoF

Awhile back, I wrote about the spot on the tip of my nose and my trips to our health clinic.

At that time, the doctor said the results from the lab would come in ‘early next week’, so on Monday when I got home from work, I dashed to the phone’s answering machine, and also checked the mails.
Nothing
Tuesday, same thing, so I called the office and got the gal at the front desk who said the doctor was already gone for the day and the nurse was quite busy.  She did what she is allowed, which was to say her computer said my lab results were in the mail, since Friday.

I took this to be a good sign, the report came back as routine, rather than emergency.

Finally, Wednesday, an envelope in the paper mailbox when I got home from work and grocery shopping.

The doctor’s handwriting is not something a 5th grade teacher would give a high mark for, but I could make out the lettering saying:

Biopsy Benign OK findings suggest this was rosacea lesion

which is a relief (no carcinoma), but there is
nothing more about cause, prevention, follow-up treatments

nor what to do about the biopsy hole with its loose scab which remains on my nose and the band-aids are beginning to itch

Soo, I guess I will have to use a search engine on the handy-dandy interwebs

I grow tired of paying medical office co-payments

Thank You, my Dear Ones for your loving support
shown as messages, comments, and prayers

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Blankie Gone Today

Posted on Monday, 6 April 2009 by Mrs. DoF

A former co-worker and I have kept in touch these last few years.  We both still have jobs in education, albeit very different than the place where we met.

A couple years ago, I was Thrilled when she sent the link to her wedding photos (a beautiful bride, of course), and then a few months back, I became Ecstatic when she sent the sonogram picture of her baby G.I.R.L. which I am told the doctor says could be born any time soon.

This afternoon, I mailed off the crocheted blankie.


body is double crochet stitch with 2.75mm steel hook and Aunt Lydia’s bedspread cotton color Oasis
stripes and border color Linen

Although the color pink is usually for a girl, I had already crocheted many rows before that sonogram came by e-mail, plus everybody who has seen this aphgan in real life says it should be fine.

It was kinda neat how I did the mailing.  I had packed the box yesterday afternoon, put it into the car this morning, with the plan to mail it after the TA Sub job today.

I was in a small town, the school on the farthest west edge of the district.

As I was standing by the door during Bus Lane duty, I mentioned to a co-worker that I had to mail a package on the way home, and dreaded the construction all around the Normal Post Office, so I hoped the line would not be too long, since I had to get home to see OPRAH.  Ya see, my blog buddy Karen from Chookooloonks (in my sidebar) was on the show today.

A boy about 4th Grade age was nearby and spoke up that the post office is just down the street next door to the library, and it is real easy to get to.

The other adult was just about to say something about him listening to us, she did not look happy at all, but I ignored the expression on her face, turned to him, and asked more about the local post office location.

He was all happy that I was listening, and then asked about who it is would be on Oprah.
When I told him that the talk would be about mothers, he lost interest pretty quick, being a young boy and all.
But I thanked him for the directions.

The post office was right there on the main street.
The clerk was working a suduku (sp?) puzzle, so definitely not a crowd of people.
I was in and out in less than five minutes, then was able to drive right on home, getting inside with a few minutes left to check the mails and put the kettle on for some hot chocolate.

Well, anyway, I’ve been working away with yarn in my hands, not typing too much.

Will send more news when I have something else to say.

~~love and Huggs, Diane
ps the red and gray stripe, all cotton sweater I am wearing
was purchased at the thrift store for 66¢ = cheap comfort

Posted in Crochet | 6 Comments

The Nose on my Face

Posted on Monday, 30 March 2009 by Mrs. DoF

Last week I was on Spring Break, doing a whole lot of putzing around the house because my car is in the shop with troubles in the right front wheel (Did I hit a pothole too hard?).
Although I have Husband’s car anytime, I don’t like to drive it more often than necessary.

One would think with all that time open that I could have made an appointment with the doctor, but No, he was at a seminar for part of the week, then the treatment room was not available, so I had to take a day off work today, after Spring Break is over.

Since before Christmas I have been dealing with a troubled spot on the tip of my nose.  If it wasn’t itching then it was bleeding, and if neither of those, the mirror said it was the wrong shade of pink.

When I finally went to the doctor at the walk-in clinic to have it cauterized, he got all in a tizzy about how long this has been going on, wrote out a scrip for some potent antibiotics and sent me to my family practitioner, who said a biopsy needed to happen.
The Cancer word was mentioned.

Today was the day.
I had to lean back in a recliner under a real bright light.  Then a sterile cloth was placed over my face.  At least I assume it was sterile, it had the tape and markings of having been through an autoclave, but the assistant didn’t seem all that conscious of what her hands were doing after she pulled on the gloves.
After taking off the gloves, she reached across the tray and set something upright by touching the outside but not the rim.  The actual instrument was still in an intact sterile wrap, and I heard the doctor himself open it.

Even with an injection to numb the area, I think the specimen was taken from a place so deep he might have been touching the root of a tooth.  Golly, the pressure.

Then the bleeding began.  I lost count of how many gauze pads he used, and several swabs of the clotting drug.  At last some tape put on, the doctor left, the assistant said I could sit up.
Immediately, the area began to ooze blood from under the gauze, which was already soaked through.

I leaned back again while the assistant went out to ask the doctor what to do.  More of the clotting drug applied, a fresh wad of gauze, tape cris-crossed so much I could hardly set my glasses on.

Instructions are to keep it on for 12 hours, then I can remove the big one and replace it with a small regular band-aid.  Which I have been wearing every so often since before Christmas, so I should have plenty of stories to tell.

Now the amusing part was going to the store afterwards for my prescription.  The staff knows me, I’m there often enough ever since the days when my sons were in the cart seat.  But most folks are too polite to ask.

Over the weeks of having a spot on the nose of my face, I have learned to volunteer some information, saying I have a long and sorry tale to tell about doctor’s appointments and waiting for lab results.
When I say something first, it brings a look of relief to the other person.

Well, anyway, I just got a job for tomorrow, at a junior high.  Sixth Graders have a keyboarding class, so I think I’ll tell the story of not having my glasses on and leaning in too close to the computer screen, so I burned my nose.

Lab results for the biopsy not in until early next week.  If the news leans towards the worst, it means my health plan will pay for a new nose job, which I have been thinking I need since I was a teenager, what with my dad’s genes showing up so prominently.

I’m behind my nose, so I don’t think about what it looks like too much.
I’ll be glad when I don’t have to put a covering on it again.
Which could be awhile.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Personal | 5 Comments

More about Braille for students

Posted on Thursday, 26 March 2009 by Mrs. DoF

If you go HERE you will see that I have written before about my small knowledge of Braille.

As a teaching assistant working with special needs students, I know how much we rely on gadgets to help them get through the school day.
In one classroom, an entire drawer is devoted to battery storage, with labels saying whose device uses which size.

We don’t have blind students in the local school system (I believe we pay for their education elsewhere, rented services perhaps?) but this article makes sense to me.

Braille literacy is needed more than reliance on technology for self-sufficient blind persons.

No Child Left Behind is falling behind with programs.
Just because Braille is old does not mean it is useless.

Posted in Reviews | 1 Comment

Spring Break So Far

Posted on Thursday, 26 March 2009 by Mrs. DoF

The last week of a month is usually free of social commitments for me.  I rarely have a committee or group meeting, even the child care at church tends to happen by someone else on the schedule.

So this week, being Spring Break from the job, was especially Open and full of possibility.  I had high hopes for a nap after the lunch on Sunday :), and leisurely activities the rest of this week.

Plans:
the family newsletter is about halfway
I have envelopes addressed (since before Christmas)
picture pages copied at the copy shop, sorted into piles
stamps purchased

all that remains is the actual writing, edit, print
yet I have run out of oomph for the project

Stalling, actually.  Dawdling.

I wish all my relatives would read our blogs.

Writing twice a week is so much easier than cramming so many happenings onto paper pages.

read Judas, My Brother a book by Frank Yerby which I have never read before, even though he has been a favored author since I was in 7TH Grade
the hardback which I found online for 75¢

another strong case for knowing how to cruise the ‘Net
this finding of treasures

getting close to DONE on the baby aphgan
and I have 10 more rows plus the border to finish
the littlun is due in April

I tell ya, there were some lovely items in the booth at the Relief Sale, but this one of mine will be greatly appreciated, if the compliments so far while I’m working on it are anything to go by
I did not donate a blankie this year, knowing I have two to crochet for April and August

The end of Spring Break is coming up too soon, but I think I have made some progress with what I wanted to do.

I’m saving the reading of the book for last, the most cherished time to relax.

Husband says nobody ever gets finished with all they want to do with free time.

Smart Man, he.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Personal | 1 Comment

Three Days in for Spring Break

Posted on Tuesday, 24 March 2009 by Mrs. DoF

Spring Break for the school district is happening this week, yet this morning, I automatically checked the SubFinder to see if a job is available.  A creature of habit is me.

Sunday was luncheon of major importance at church, the Appreciation Meal for all the hard worker volunteers who just finished a successful Mennonite Relief Sale.

click on the picture to see some of what was donated

the Fellowship Committee (of which I am an assistant) was responsible for the lunch event

Lasagna (both kinds, with meat and for vegetarians), salad, bread, variety of desserts, lemonade to drink.
the preps were done by others, I ran the dish machine after

the drink was supposed to be self-serve, but I noticed the little spout was not working well (as in drip-drip-drip onto the table), plus folks were coming by with silverware in one hand and full plate in the other, so How would they be able to get the drink?
so I began filling glasses and setting them out for pick-up, which seemed to help the line go much smoother

the estimate is there were 130 people who ate fine

Monday, I devoted to pictures, as in getting them off my camera chip to make room, getting prints at a store, putting them in labeled folders on the computer
back here at the house, we haven’t seen the top of the table since 02-December-08, which is the date on the receipt closest to the wood, under all the items needed to stuff envelopes

my idea is ~ the family newsletter ~ in the mail ~ Saturday

It can be considered either late for last New Year
or early for next…. if my plans come together

Hope Springs Eternal

My car went out to the mechanic last evening.  The front wheel is making a whine when the speed gets above 30 mph.  If need be, I will drive Husband’s car, but it is better that I have a reason to stay home doing activities.

Today, I had intended to strip our queen size bed and run everything through the laundry.  I decided to wait to begin until after my shower.

Alas, when I got back into the room, there were two cats all comfy and snoozing amongst the folds of aphgans, and who can disturb such adorable critters?

No doubt, You get the benefit, since I’m sitting here writing about it.

well, I spoze I should get going on the newsletter preps
the pictures need name and dates
hardest part is deciding what to type as newsworthy
especially since I do the weblog online

Thank Goodness the envelopes have address done.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Crochet | 2 Comments

Relief Sale Pie Tale

Posted on Saturday, 21 March 2009 by Mrs. DoF

The last few weeks, our church congregation has been busy with plans for the central Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale.

Amongst other things, I donated some bookmarks

a couple of which you have seen before, and will most likely see again because there are more pictures on the chip but I am too tired to mess with them this evening

well Anyway, when I left the event at Noon today, there were still 4 of them on the board, and the lady running the booth said the first to be sold had been the pastels squares.  I figured the navy and orange would go, with the location being so close to the sports teams of the U of IL, but ya never know.
She wanted more of the nylon scrubbies which had been in the same box coming from our church, had several folks asking for them, but I told her we are finding it difficult to purchase the proper type of nylon net.

There was a booth which featured items made by widows in Afghanistan.  Nearby, I overheard a young woman saying she would not be buying anything from that country, her husband had been stationed there for several months and did not need any reminders.

I came home with both a raisin pie I like
and a rhubarb pie for Husband

How does one tell if a pie is good? especially when they are made in kitchens all over the county by volunteers
I mean, the Health Department requires the ingredients list, and individual wrappings, but a pie worth eating is an art form, so it can be very difficult to know if the price is worthwhile, even for a good charity event

here is the one I brought home

I’ll tell you what made me decide on it

first, it has a top crust
and my daddy always said a good pie should have a covering
there were rhubarb pies with a crumbly top, all looked the same

but it is the writing that lured me in

it is actual handwriting, not a computer printout
slightly shaky, as if the hand was tired from using a rolling pin on pie crusts
and the mis-placed h in the title name
and it was the only one like it on the table

Yes, indeedy,
this person probably knows a whole lot about PIE
even if the Health Dept. might frown on the labeling

I waited in line to pay for over a half hour, telling the man behind me how I made my decision to purchase that particular rhubarb pie
this goes to show how friendly the whole event is

I can promise you, the rhubarb pie is very yummy
and the raisin pie, also

In fact, Husband just cut his second piece of the day to have as his bedtime snack, so I think I’ll do the same 🙂

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

A Day we should wear green

Posted on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 by Mrs. DoF

Chookooloonks and her Commenters say it oh so well
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A Day we should wear green