It started innocently enough. We headed to Fresno (about 45 miles south of us) to do a little shopping. Which in Sue's case means... goody goody goody.. a godwill.
It was going to be 102. It never made that. It is still some outside time. Our first stop was at our Coscto for some gas for the car and a hot dog and soda around for the participants. Misson accomplished and we headed right down the 99 to the Riverpark shoppping center. Sue prefers to travel flat in the back seat so as to save her back for noble upright causes.... like shopping.
We arrived and headed for the Marshall's. Next to Marshall's is a pretty well endowed Michael's with a sale on canvases. I have been going for the canvases for my watercolors that are significantly wider than tall. I a bought a beauty and have an idea that I will try to express using it. The nice part of this outside mall, is that the design has all of these nice outdoor chairs and benches made for waiting for the people that are in the stores shopping. You do not have to wait in the cars with the gigantic heat we have in this valley.
We then headed over to Ross. Sue made it independently with her power chair and I drove the support expedity and waited fora while outside. No chairs or benches are available for this shopping venue. After two bouts with the shops, we headed for something to drink. With Sue it has to be sugar free and caffeine free. This is a rare situation although its getting easier to find with the advent of the the Minute Maid light lemonade that comes at the soda bar with the coke products. The one store that really gets it is Panera. At almost all panera's that we have been to they have Diet Pepsi caffeine free on tap.
There was a Panera in this mall, so along with the drinks we bought a couple of sourdough baggets.
The question then arose.. where was that goodwill that was down here on the last visit we had to Fresno. I pieced together that we were there with the girls to get a part installed in my Mac at the Mac store in the Fashion Mall.. That was on Shaw. Sue insisted that it was close to the River Park mall on Herndon, about 3 miles difference. After running down hwy 41 to Shaw, Sue used the map feature and a support person with directions to snag the location.. it was on Shaw, and Brawley, as I had suggested. It was not an I told you so moment.. but it had here jumping up and down in her seat at the sight of the its sign.
We bought a few treasures and headed back up to reconnect with our major North-South Hwy working itsself up to being an interstate.. 99.
Everything was cool until we were 10 miles out of town and it sounded like we were being bombed by a B25. The front driver's side tire had completely imploded. It dd not seperate, but it was completely ready to split the sidewall from the tread. I slowly pulled over and put on the flashers. I had the AAA app on my iphone and used it to contact the roadside assistance. They said that it might be 45 minutes. A few minutes later the independent franchisee, Turner Towing from Chowchilla was there and pulled the spare from under the car and installed it within 3 feet of the road with trucks passing us at 68 miles an hour. The whole thing was over in 25 minutes. We were back on the road.
This morning I took the tire down to Costco. They said that the other tires although were also not showing wear were vulnerable to the same kind of blowout due to their age. Michielin was no longer making that tire but had replcement tires that were actually warranteed for a given mileage number. Four for 1,000 dollars thank you very much. Oh we only have two. We'll get the other two about Tues of next week... When the next truck comes up from San Bernadino. A half an hour later the two new tires were installed and the spare was placed in the back of the car. The cable holding up the spare under the truck was too shaky (down to under two stands to support the tire. Over to the Ford dealership. The parts guy said that you have to order the strands plus the mounting cup. He didn't have one in stock but would get it tomorrow. Pay up front.. 135 for the part.
So it goes.. cars and safety. You got to pay to keep it safe.
love
Pat
A written expression of a 65year old plus retired Speech and Language Specialist in the Central Valley of California.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Three conversations after Starbucks
Yesterday on my walk home from Starbucks I ran into three different friends from my past.
My former boss from the county days had just returned from a fishing trip in Montana. He love West Yellowstone and fishing on the Madison. Since fishing with a guide on a float trip, he is now two fly drop fishing. His bigger fly is a Spruce moth. A large (size 12) attractor fly. His drop fly was a green caddis fly emerger. We had a nice conversation regarding fly types and particular water where that would work.
Just as I was leaving, an friend from special ed days was arriving. He grabbed me by the shirt and we headed back into Starbucks. I only do one doppio machaitto a day so I kept him company has he drank his pikes blend and a ate an apple fritter. He had been a camp host up in Yosemite for two years. He has a 30 foot class A motor home that he parked up their for "a season." They loved to have his retired wife up there too. She retired from the police department about 5 years ago. He is a real people kind of guy with always a story to tell. He has been chasing dr. appointments for the last 6 months. The last time he was in Yosemite he had a heart issue and had to be flown out of there to Fresno. He is doing great with a pacemaker. He is not happy with what it does for his endurance. He has a walking range of about 5 blocks. He used to walk up to 7 miles before. He always has a tale or two about his kids. The son married into a Chinese family. Now they are divorced but has had to go to court to maintain a contempt of court warrant on his wife and their finances... my what a mess. He was the kid growing up that had to drive over the lawn of the junior high and burn some rubber. He is now 5 year successful elementary school teacher. The two daughters have had their issues too.
I told him about our great trip to Saddlebag lake this Summer. He asked if we ate at the little store there. Yep. He was amazed at the big breakfasts they served.
Needless to say it was not a minute conversation. Its great to catch up.
My last conversation as I was walking the rest of the way home. I ran into the shop teacher that retired at the same time as me. He had written himself a little "grant" before retirement, that allowed him to come in an "help" with the new person that was going to do woodshop. Last year he kept his finger in the bowl. This year he was been doing some subbing for Weaver, one of the country elementary school. They just cannot get enough of him. His wife is 5 years younger but has been diagnosed for the second time with cancer and is in another round of chemo. I told him all I knew about applying for disabilty. She is a kindergarten teacher. He said that she is pretty good until about 11 o'clock and then she totally runs out of gas. She has been supplying lesson plans for a sub for almost a year.
Its great to have such an interesting diversity of conversation partners along the walk.
Love Pat
My former boss from the county days had just returned from a fishing trip in Montana. He love West Yellowstone and fishing on the Madison. Since fishing with a guide on a float trip, he is now two fly drop fishing. His bigger fly is a Spruce moth. A large (size 12) attractor fly. His drop fly was a green caddis fly emerger. We had a nice conversation regarding fly types and particular water where that would work.
Just as I was leaving, an friend from special ed days was arriving. He grabbed me by the shirt and we headed back into Starbucks. I only do one doppio machaitto a day so I kept him company has he drank his pikes blend and a ate an apple fritter. He had been a camp host up in Yosemite for two years. He has a 30 foot class A motor home that he parked up their for "a season." They loved to have his retired wife up there too. She retired from the police department about 5 years ago. He is a real people kind of guy with always a story to tell. He has been chasing dr. appointments for the last 6 months. The last time he was in Yosemite he had a heart issue and had to be flown out of there to Fresno. He is doing great with a pacemaker. He is not happy with what it does for his endurance. He has a walking range of about 5 blocks. He used to walk up to 7 miles before. He always has a tale or two about his kids. The son married into a Chinese family. Now they are divorced but has had to go to court to maintain a contempt of court warrant on his wife and their finances... my what a mess. He was the kid growing up that had to drive over the lawn of the junior high and burn some rubber. He is now 5 year successful elementary school teacher. The two daughters have had their issues too.
I told him about our great trip to Saddlebag lake this Summer. He asked if we ate at the little store there. Yep. He was amazed at the big breakfasts they served.
Needless to say it was not a minute conversation. Its great to catch up.
My last conversation as I was walking the rest of the way home. I ran into the shop teacher that retired at the same time as me. He had written himself a little "grant" before retirement, that allowed him to come in an "help" with the new person that was going to do woodshop. Last year he kept his finger in the bowl. This year he was been doing some subbing for Weaver, one of the country elementary school. They just cannot get enough of him. His wife is 5 years younger but has been diagnosed for the second time with cancer and is in another round of chemo. I told him all I knew about applying for disabilty. She is a kindergarten teacher. He said that she is pretty good until about 11 o'clock and then she totally runs out of gas. She has been supplying lesson plans for a sub for almost a year.
Its great to have such an interesting diversity of conversation partners along the walk.
Love Pat
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Hundred Degree Shopping
Yesterday it was 100 degrees out and we went shopping during the heat of the day.
It requires a little different approach to the problem. How you stay reasonably conformable is to keep butting down the liquid. The stores all are air conditioned here in the valley. The big issue is getting from one to another in the heat.
Yesterday we were looking for a new stand to hold the receivers, the Dvd players and teh game consoles in the bedroom. We needed a piece of furniture that was both tall (about 30inches) and narrow (not more that about 19inches). Our first stop was Target. We left home with a cold drink in hand. We arrived at Target about a mile from our house with the drink can consumed. While in Target, we became thirty again. We stopped at the Target Pizza Hut and bought big lemonades around. The minute maid light by Coke is perfect for such a trip as it has no caffeine and is sweetened by an artificial sweetener. Target had a few student desks that could have worked. Nothing was much under 150 dollars. They were also just a little too wide for what we wanted. We really didn't find what we were shopping for so Sue headed over to Orchard Supply.
I didn't think that we would have much success there but Sue wanted to check it out. She headed over via the light on Olive with here power chair. After a close call at the intersection, nothing uncommon for power chair participants, she arrived just as I was pulling in to the parking lot. We looked at several possibilities in the store and just as we were about to leave we noticed a whole grouping of Sanders furniture, made in the USA. There were several possibilities but none reached out and grabbed us as this was the one to fit the needs. I ran into an friend that I had met at lunch for 15 years. We talked and Sue got bored and headed with her power chair over to do Ross. We were still gabbing in the aisle when she returned.
We decided to go to Turlock and see if the selection might be better and one of those kitchen/linen stores. On the way up Sue suggested that we go on up to Modesto instead and eat at Olive Garden. She was anxious to taste the dressing on their salad again. But please stop along the way for a drink. We found a "hot" drink in the back seat to take care of the liquid part for a while.
In Modesto at the thrift store we found an small oak entertainment center for 20 bucks. Of course Sue needed to run through the clothes while I bought it and loaded it into the car. It is going to need a refinish and a much darker stain and then a shiny finish. For 20 dollars as a starting place it should be great. Since were were there, we felt that we might as well do the other Goodwill cross town. Sue said to me whatever, I need to have you get me another drink. While she was going through the stacks, I walked through the end of the parking lot to the Target and bought two big MM light lemonades, with mostly ice. She met me along the way and drank her large cup immediately.
With all of this liquid it she wasn't interested in dinner until we got to Turlock. I suggested Panera. She said that she knew exactly what she wanted since she had been to one with the BKs earlier this month.
Panera is one of the few places that gets it regarding caffeine free diet coke. So a heavenly roast beef sandwich for her on french roll and an Italian sandwich for me on Chibata. Later, the drink menu had me refilling my large drink for her on the way out. She drank it all before we got to Atwater.
This drink consumption is very different when the weather is cool. No drinks are needed between dinner stops. This is what one hundred degree shopping requires.
: ) Stay hydrated! Pat
It requires a little different approach to the problem. How you stay reasonably conformable is to keep butting down the liquid. The stores all are air conditioned here in the valley. The big issue is getting from one to another in the heat.
Yesterday we were looking for a new stand to hold the receivers, the Dvd players and teh game consoles in the bedroom. We needed a piece of furniture that was both tall (about 30inches) and narrow (not more that about 19inches). Our first stop was Target. We left home with a cold drink in hand. We arrived at Target about a mile from our house with the drink can consumed. While in Target, we became thirty again. We stopped at the Target Pizza Hut and bought big lemonades around. The minute maid light by Coke is perfect for such a trip as it has no caffeine and is sweetened by an artificial sweetener. Target had a few student desks that could have worked. Nothing was much under 150 dollars. They were also just a little too wide for what we wanted. We really didn't find what we were shopping for so Sue headed over to Orchard Supply.
I didn't think that we would have much success there but Sue wanted to check it out. She headed over via the light on Olive with here power chair. After a close call at the intersection, nothing uncommon for power chair participants, she arrived just as I was pulling in to the parking lot. We looked at several possibilities in the store and just as we were about to leave we noticed a whole grouping of Sanders furniture, made in the USA. There were several possibilities but none reached out and grabbed us as this was the one to fit the needs. I ran into an friend that I had met at lunch for 15 years. We talked and Sue got bored and headed with her power chair over to do Ross. We were still gabbing in the aisle when she returned.
We decided to go to Turlock and see if the selection might be better and one of those kitchen/linen stores. On the way up Sue suggested that we go on up to Modesto instead and eat at Olive Garden. She was anxious to taste the dressing on their salad again. But please stop along the way for a drink. We found a "hot" drink in the back seat to take care of the liquid part for a while.
In Modesto at the thrift store we found an small oak entertainment center for 20 bucks. Of course Sue needed to run through the clothes while I bought it and loaded it into the car. It is going to need a refinish and a much darker stain and then a shiny finish. For 20 dollars as a starting place it should be great. Since were were there, we felt that we might as well do the other Goodwill cross town. Sue said to me whatever, I need to have you get me another drink. While she was going through the stacks, I walked through the end of the parking lot to the Target and bought two big MM light lemonades, with mostly ice. She met me along the way and drank her large cup immediately.
With all of this liquid it she wasn't interested in dinner until we got to Turlock. I suggested Panera. She said that she knew exactly what she wanted since she had been to one with the BKs earlier this month.
Panera is one of the few places that gets it regarding caffeine free diet coke. So a heavenly roast beef sandwich for her on french roll and an Italian sandwich for me on Chibata. Later, the drink menu had me refilling my large drink for her on the way out. She drank it all before we got to Atwater.
This drink consumption is very different when the weather is cool. No drinks are needed between dinner stops. This is what one hundred degree shopping requires.
: ) Stay hydrated! Pat
Monday, August 22, 2011
Public Display of Education
Its the principal's daughter.
The principal is not there.
Yet the mom, the school counselor mom is there, so is grandma, and an older (20something) aunt with a canon DSL camera.
It happened at Starbucks. (Where else). This mom was pretty public in Starbucks modeling the massive attention the yuppie moms now give to kids. Always modeling ideal parent interaction detail in public.
There she was. The little girl, starting back to school after the first week. There seemed to be no sign of reluctance to attend. There were general comments such as you love your kindergarten teacher.. yada yada yada. Agreement all around. In the shadow was the son. A nicely tempered kid headed to preschool for the first time. He was a little desperate for some attention but pretty much understood that the focus was headed toward his year older sister.
Mom trots out the book, The Kissing Hand. She read it page by page in the center of the Starbucks. Both kids were in rapt attention. In the end the boy and the girl are offered heart shaped stickers that mom kissed and wrote on with a sharpie. Mom imparts hugs to daughter and then to son. The boy relished his sticker. The girl rejected hers and started to sob.
Grandma tried to console with a juice box. No consultation would work. Logic was out the window and emotions took center stage.
Mom separated from the scene after recommending the book to a couple of friends nearby. Grandma was set to take the girl to school (about 2 blocks away). Boy was scopped up by mom and headed out the door after one big last hug by mom (big mistake) after saying no more hugs or clinging.
Grandma and daughter try to change focus to a decorated soda top lid. Still some pretty hard feelings there. After mom has cleared out for about 5 minutes, Grandma moves the entourage outside and to the chairs and tables and eventually to the school.
The principal is not there.
Yet the mom, the school counselor mom is there, so is grandma, and an older (20something) aunt with a canon DSL camera.
It happened at Starbucks. (Where else). This mom was pretty public in Starbucks modeling the massive attention the yuppie moms now give to kids. Always modeling ideal parent interaction detail in public.
There she was. The little girl, starting back to school after the first week. There seemed to be no sign of reluctance to attend. There were general comments such as you love your kindergarten teacher.. yada yada yada. Agreement all around. In the shadow was the son. A nicely tempered kid headed to preschool for the first time. He was a little desperate for some attention but pretty much understood that the focus was headed toward his year older sister.
Mom trots out the book, The Kissing Hand. She read it page by page in the center of the Starbucks. Both kids were in rapt attention. In the end the boy and the girl are offered heart shaped stickers that mom kissed and wrote on with a sharpie. Mom imparts hugs to daughter and then to son. The boy relished his sticker. The girl rejected hers and started to sob.
Grandma tried to console with a juice box. No consultation would work. Logic was out the window and emotions took center stage.
Mom separated from the scene after recommending the book to a couple of friends nearby. Grandma was set to take the girl to school (about 2 blocks away). Boy was scopped up by mom and headed out the door after one big last hug by mom (big mistake) after saying no more hugs or clinging.
Grandma and daughter try to change focus to a decorated soda top lid. Still some pretty hard feelings there. After mom has cleared out for about 5 minutes, Grandma moves the entourage outside and to the chairs and tables and eventually to the school.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Summer Season
In Merced we are in the throws of Summer.
We are and we should be. Its August 20th and while the students are back to school, it is still summer and it is hot.
The front patio got replanted last weekend. I bought the classic half flats. Two of portulaca, or moss rose, and one each of marigold and sweet asylum. This week despite daily watering, the marigolds are gone as so are the asylum. The portulaca are thriving in the heat.
So we are set for the summer and into the fall.
The sprinklers needed to be readjusted. The standard elberta peach his producing a handful of peaches every other day. Its just right for topping a bowl of cereal but nothing more. Its probably a good thing since my interest in canning is waning.
The San Fransisco Giants are in their natural August swoon. Preseason football which is really riduculus has started again respite rumors to the contrary over constract issues all summer. At least it didn't take a president to jump into the middle of the fray.
The president has his own issues. Leading a country that is pretty polarized cannot be all that fun. Especially without any allowance. I think at this point he will get re elected because the people that would run against him on the Republican side have all signed petitions that they won't raise taxes and that they are by that going after some of the sacred cows of Social Security, Medicare, and the Defense budget. Most people that vote do not want these torqued.
Sadly many people vote with their feelings of security. This is a bad time for that as the stock market as predicted has felt the results of the unemployment/underemployment squeeze. Its hard to vote for a president when you don't have a job.
What will it take? We need some money to build infra structure. We really don't need to infuse our infrastructure money into Afganistan. We as a country need to look at our demographics and see that we have people that can build and consume and perpetuate the American life. It may come from others that we have not even considered now. As a nation we are aging quickly. Japan has just gone through this gap as well as the major countries in Europe.
Working aged people need to work. We need a viable middle class. A strong segment of people that can own their own homes, can buy new vehicles, can save money for their kids to go to college. What income level is that? I am not sure but I suppose that more than 50k per year is needed.
New jobs that make less than that for able forward looking people with education is not going stabilize the economy.
United States will grow. Population cannot shrink. So lets get on with it. Pay a little more in taxes and make us stable.
Pat
We are and we should be. Its August 20th and while the students are back to school, it is still summer and it is hot.
The front patio got replanted last weekend. I bought the classic half flats. Two of portulaca, or moss rose, and one each of marigold and sweet asylum. This week despite daily watering, the marigolds are gone as so are the asylum. The portulaca are thriving in the heat.
So we are set for the summer and into the fall.
The sprinklers needed to be readjusted. The standard elberta peach his producing a handful of peaches every other day. Its just right for topping a bowl of cereal but nothing more. Its probably a good thing since my interest in canning is waning.
The San Fransisco Giants are in their natural August swoon. Preseason football which is really riduculus has started again respite rumors to the contrary over constract issues all summer. At least it didn't take a president to jump into the middle of the fray.
The president has his own issues. Leading a country that is pretty polarized cannot be all that fun. Especially without any allowance. I think at this point he will get re elected because the people that would run against him on the Republican side have all signed petitions that they won't raise taxes and that they are by that going after some of the sacred cows of Social Security, Medicare, and the Defense budget. Most people that vote do not want these torqued.
Sadly many people vote with their feelings of security. This is a bad time for that as the stock market as predicted has felt the results of the unemployment/underemployment squeeze. Its hard to vote for a president when you don't have a job.
What will it take? We need some money to build infra structure. We really don't need to infuse our infrastructure money into Afganistan. We as a country need to look at our demographics and see that we have people that can build and consume and perpetuate the American life. It may come from others that we have not even considered now. As a nation we are aging quickly. Japan has just gone through this gap as well as the major countries in Europe.
Working aged people need to work. We need a viable middle class. A strong segment of people that can own their own homes, can buy new vehicles, can save money for their kids to go to college. What income level is that? I am not sure but I suppose that more than 50k per year is needed.
New jobs that make less than that for able forward looking people with education is not going stabilize the economy.
United States will grow. Population cannot shrink. So lets get on with it. Pay a little more in taxes and make us stable.
Pat
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Limitless
An impressive movie is out in DVD.
Limitless is the story of a pill that can allow you to use all of your brain instead of just 20 percent.
Its got a nice love story withing this plot. It has some interesting chase scenes that are not just by car. The cinematography is very good. The actor has some pretty incredible blue eyes.
The scenes can have some pretty violent movements in them.
There are also scenes that show there are disadvantages to what seems to be a good thing. Maybe a cautionary tale about being careful about what you wish for. Also you must be careful within whom you share the secret and how it cannot be used as a form of avoidance or appeasement.
A good summer action movie... Limitless.
: ) Pat
Limitless is the story of a pill that can allow you to use all of your brain instead of just 20 percent.
Its got a nice love story withing this plot. It has some interesting chase scenes that are not just by car. The cinematography is very good. The actor has some pretty incredible blue eyes.
The scenes can have some pretty violent movements in them.
There are also scenes that show there are disadvantages to what seems to be a good thing. Maybe a cautionary tale about being careful about what you wish for. Also you must be careful within whom you share the secret and how it cannot be used as a form of avoidance or appeasement.
A good summer action movie... Limitless.
: ) Pat
Friday, August 5, 2011
Ode to an August Morning
Ode to an August Morning
Away from the the heat that fills the August afternoon
The morning in August refreshes and revives
like precious REM sleep it entices the body to stay much longer than it should
Work must be done in the cooling world
The mind says get it done and you wont have to do it in the sweat covered dusty afternoon that August ensures
The heart begs to stay in this cool limbo just a little longer
Its great here. This is why you are alive
The breeze seduces your surrender
But no you must go on
You must face the day and what it brings
Pull up! Pull up!
or face the sweet surrender to the siren call of the cool summer morning
It might be too late.
The mind says so much to do
The heart says its okay enjoy the cool
Patrick Brown August 5,2011 8:10 AM
Merced California
Away from the the heat that fills the August afternoon
The morning in August refreshes and revives
like precious REM sleep it entices the body to stay much longer than it should
Work must be done in the cooling world
The mind says get it done and you wont have to do it in the sweat covered dusty afternoon that August ensures
The heart begs to stay in this cool limbo just a little longer
Its great here. This is why you are alive
The breeze seduces your surrender
But no you must go on
You must face the day and what it brings
Pull up! Pull up!
or face the sweet surrender to the siren call of the cool summer morning
It might be too late.
The mind says so much to do
The heart says its okay enjoy the cool
Patrick Brown August 5,2011 8:10 AM
Merced California