Friday, March 11, 2022

 Friday, March 11, 2022

 

    Sadness was the theme of the morning. Sadness in my solar plexus was even triggered by an image of me struggling to get the wrapper off one of my Hersey kisses.

   I was taught the importance of never hyperextending the knees. To prevent that, I always kept a slight bend in my knees. Wrong. I discovered I could avoid hyperextension of the knees by straightening the leg and turning out my hips. Hyperextension was avoided if I turned out the standing leg while pushing the articulating leg forward. I did my ankle stretches in the morning while standing. I pressed the side of my foot into the ground,  

  I finally realized that my house guest may not have been reduced to tears by my criticism about her unwillingness to see another person’s point of view but because of my way of expressing it. I snapped at her. That’s all I think I’m doing, being a little louder and more percussive. But what if my response has been modeled after my mom’s? Then I could understand it; she was scary. I didn’t realize how bad my snap was. Even knowing I do this, or may do it, doesn’t help me see what I’m doing. My tone is usually percussive. I don’t experience the difference as the listener does. I do not speak melodically. I was trying to learn. Good luck!

    I drove B to BBB to pick up his repaired car. As I drove home, I saw a cloud hanging over the mountain. I saw it yesterday when I brought B home after dropping his car off. We thought it was vog. I called my friend, Jean, who was planning to visit with her daughter and grandchildren, who has breathing problems, to warn her we were suffering from vog again. She said she had checked; the volcano was quiet. No volcano activity, no vog.  

    As I pulled out early this morning to drive B to town, I couldn’t see out of my windshield; it was so filthy inside. When I got home, I hauled out the rubbing alcohol, a great grease cutter, a spray can of a special glass cleaner, and newspaper. Yvette reminded me that polishing windows with newspaper is the time honor solution to get a good shine. It works like a charm. I had a clean windshield. 

    I had Shelly, my therapist/life coach, at 11. I felt deep negative feelings about a family member. I need to get to the bottom of it. Just because we’re so different, we’re incompatible isn’t a reason to harbor bad feelings about the person. Minimal contact may be called for, yes, but that’s it.

     Shelly and I talked about our need to get to a person’s real feelings. Neither one of us do well if we think a person isn’t being authentic. I heard Ryan Reynolds talk about how he preferred connecting people through a façade because he didn’t want people to get to know him. That’s weird to me. I want people to know me. I want to know people. Shelly said she was the same way. She always wants to get to a person’s essence. People who hide make me feel shunned. Reynolds is so different from the way I am. I have learned through experience; many do shun me. Good move to leave.

    Adolescent D remembered the word license from our last class. He tried to play the 5 Stories audio file but couldn’t connect using the link I sent him. Maybe he had the old link. At least he tried. We made it through four of the questions from the Driver’s Manual today, starting with number one. I am pushing him to articulate each syllable before blending. He had trouble with di as in condition. Over and over, he wanted to start with con without pronouncing the di in isolation. When he did try to say the di, he pronounced it id. I asked if the letters shifted or the sound. He said the sound. At least we know what we have to work on

   After ending the Zoom meeting with D, I left for my 1 pm haircut appointment. When I arrived, Randee asked, “Did you get my text? I’m running a little late.” Great. I ducked into the next-door deli and picked up a container of their Scandinavian potato salad. It reminds me of the German potato salad my grandmother used to make. I prefer it over the American one. Randee invited me to sit inside. I passed on the offer; I don’t like air conditioning. I sat in my car. After I finished the potato salad, I still had wait time. I went into Tealicious to buy a sweet. I bought a piece of cake with fruit. It was disappointing. The potato salad was not.

    Randee is always a pleasure. Among other things, she loves working with me. I have learned that my criterion for choosing who to hang with is whether that person likes and enjoys me. If not, I have learned, relatively late in life, to run for the hills. Besides the pleasure of seeing Randee, she gives me the best haircuts. People ask me if I just got it cut when it is eight weeks old. My hair always looks great.

   I planned to stop at the bank, Target, Costco, and Home Depot on the way home. I went to the bank and headed home for a nap. I was exhausted.

    Scott texted to say he had missed a doctor’s appointment for a neck injury and couldn’t make it today. He was going to dig out the damaged valve; obviously, he couldn’t do it. I went to ask Adam if he would do it. He said fine. He would be here in the morning. I had watched him dig a grave for his big dog. I’m sure he could take on this task.

  It rained men this evening. Brian, the internet computer guy, came over to advise me on what tablet to buy. While he was here, Isaac called. He was in my driveway. I invited him in to say hello. Isaac left first to continue his run. Later, Sandor stopped by to deliver some glasses and change the eye pads on my glasses. We must have talked for a good half an hour. Finally, B called to say goodnight.

   Brian recommended an Apple iPad. He said they’re the best. The price is the same as the Surface Pro. However, the Apple stylus costs $119. Every other brand costs roughly $25. This pisses me off. Mike’s Surface Pro has lasted a good five or six years. The Apple products have to be replaced too. They may last longer because of the quality of the construction, but they still become outdated. 

   While Isaac was here, I emptied out my refrigerator of all the food Colleen had bought I wouldn’t eat. I don’t eat white bread rolls. If I’m going to waste calories, it better be something special, not white bread. 

   Isaac was festooned with reflected gear. Brain said none of the stuff Isaac had on reflected in his headlights. Talk about coincidence. It was good information for Isaac to have.

    I continued watching The Marvelous Mrs. Mazel. It is remarkably well written- and acted. The Lenny Bruce character got a solo scene worth its weight in gold tonight. It was amazing.