It’s Becoming A Tradition

This is the Memorial Day holiday weekend. It’s kind of the kick-off to summer. There are traditional barbeques, festivals, and other activities scheduled. Picking one or more thing to attend is sort of a tradition.

Something else is becoming a tradition. For the last several years, I’ve wanted to attend the Compton Heights Concert Band concert on Monday afternoon. The concert starts at 3 p.m. and the rain starts then too. Sitting in the park under tall trees in the rain doesn’t make for a happy afternoon.

I listened to the weather forecast carefully this morning. Sure enough, scattered storms/showers were mentioned for the entire weekend. The sun has just come out after today’s shower.

Another event which I would like to have become a tradition is attending the Shakespeare Festival. It is held in a different park. You sit on a hillside to watch the play. Of course, with the scattered showers, you get mud everywhere.

So it looks like I’m beginning a new tradition this weekend — staying home.

Managing Blog Reading

I have a long list of blogs that I like to read. However, some of them haven’t been updated in ages. Is it time to delete them from my list? How long should I keep a dormant blog on the list?

There’s no easy answer to this but I think I’m going to delete those which haven’t been updated in a year. Does that sound fair to you? What would you do?

Stormy Weather

The aftermath of the tornado in Oklahoma are widespread. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the destruction there. To think of a storm a mile wide that stayed on the ground for 40 minutes … well, my mind just boggles.

Such storms have far-reaching effects. That storm system moved toward Missouri. We had tornado watches and warnings here. Late last evening we had fierce thunderstorms here at my house. Thunder crashed, lightening flashed, and rain came down in torrents. There was some high winds but, thankfully, we avoided any tornadoes.

Similar weather is forecast for today. So far, we have sunshine but I understand that’s a mixed blessing because it will cause the atmosphere to warm which can contribute to the formation of more tornadoes.

I think it’s time to pray … for the people in Oklahoma and to give thanks for the protection we’ve been afforded so far.

Skipping Luncheon

The Ladies Who Lunch from church were going to lunch today, the first time in several months. I was invited and had intended to go but I was up so late last night that I couldn’t bear getting up in time to make the luncheon. They schedule it at 11 a.m. and that’s early for lunch to me. In fact, I was wondering what I could eat for a “light” breakfast before going to lunch.

But I ended up not going at all. My sore legs were hurting quite a bit, I was very tired still and decided I could probably find a better use for my $20 than spending it on lunch.

Normally I enjoy going to lunch with the group but there is one thing I don’t like … the cost. They favor going to tea rooms with attached gift shops and lunch routinely costs between $15 and $20 when you include the gratuity. I think that’s pricey for lunch. So, thanks to my aching legs and being lazy, I saved $20 today.

It’s Warm In Here

My air conditioning has conked out. So it is definitely warm in here. At least the ceiling fan works. I’ve a call in to the repairman who is to come this afternoon. Sure hope he makes it.

This morning I had a class at Joann’s. It was a “get help with your projects” kinds of class. The student was a woman who took a class with me last February. She brought in her scarf so I could see that she did finish it. She did a good job.

The project she especially wanted help with was an Aran afghan. It took some puzzling over before we figured out what row she was on and I had to teach her how to purl — she had forgotten how — but when she left she was on her way to finishing her afghan. It was designed to be knit in three panels and then seamed together. She had cast on for two panels and neither one of us knew why she hadn’t just cast on for all three. She was concerned that she didn’t have enough yarn left to complete the afghan. But once we really looked at it and figured out where she was, I think she should be able to complete it with the yarn she has. She bought it in a kit back in the 1970s so there’s no hope of getting more yarn to match.

She also had a sweater she had started. She had the back and front done and both sleeves started but she didn’t have much yarn left. She didn’t have the pattern with her but once I studied the sleeve starts, I realized she was closer to finishing this project than she thought. She thought the sleeves were long ones but they are elbow length sleeves so I think she’ll be able to finish it with the yarn she has available — once she finds the pattern.

It was a good morning. I was in cool air with a fellow knitter.

I’m Puzzled

There is a local landfill which is burning underground. The stench is creating quite a problem for the residents in that area. In fact, the problem is so bad that the owners of the landfill have offered to pay for a month in a hotel for residents living within a mile radius of the landfill while some corrections/repairs are made.

Now I will admit I was never a bright and shining star in science class but I’m puzzled about this underground fire. How can that be? I thought you had to have a source of oxygen for a fire to burn. I seem to remember dimly from my Girl Scout days that one way to put out a campfire was to shovel dirt on it. How is this landfill fire maintaining itself?

Food Donation

I received a notice in my mailbox day before yesterday that the letter carriers were having a food drive today. I looked in my pantry and didn’t find much I could donate. I was sitting reading this morning when it dawned on me that it was almost noon and I hadn’t put my bag out yet. As I went to the kitchen I thought,
“I knew I should have put this together last night.”

I quickly grabbed the notice and checked to make sure what kind of items they wanted. Then I grabbed the bag and opened the pantry. In went a can of tuna, a package of spaghetti, a can of mandarin oranges, a box of green jello, and a box of mac ‘n cheese. Strange assortment, I know, but maybe someone will enjoy those items.

I was glad to read that they would accept boxed items. When the Scouts do their drive, they don’t want boxed items. Given the state of my pantry, I didn’t have much that was canned I could donate. I like to give stews, chili, canned ham … the sort of protein products that can make a meal. But the can of tuna was the best I could do this time.