BATTLE LINES DRAWN

Very interesting day! With weather patterns constantly changing, the morning always begins with what each person heard. Of course that depends on what station you were listening to, watching or what your own reading said. Maybe snow, maybe not. I’m still surprise at how hard it is to predict costal weather.

For me it was interesting because I spent much of the morning with Maria. I took her to her doctor and then on to get a transit application for handicapped bus service. She needs it so I hope it works for her.

It was a normal morning until the return home. I do not know what trigger the conversation, but I got a completely different side of the Chas – Olivia story. This report was all about how wrong Chas was and what he did to hurt Olivia. As Sergeant Schultz always said, “Interesting, Very interesting.” Indeed.

I decided not to challenge anything she said or argue with her but to play dumb and ask gently and leading questions. She would like just thinking she knew more than I. Whenever there is conflict and there is never a totally innocent party. Guilt seems to always spread around to all parties. This perspective put it all on Chas’ shoulders. He is a rotten, good for nothing, miserable human being — or so I am to believe. Olivia is a sweet, innocent, crushed human spirit because of the anger and harassment of this man.

I now see them both as completely split personalities.

Nearly all of Maria’s attack on Chas came from his time living in the other building. I agree he was a nasty and angry man. He seemed to be in an argument with someone all the time and there was very few of his words that were kind. He was under attack often, but he always gave it right back. Now that I know him better I am very aware of how much he has changed, however, maybe not enough.

Yes she did file a restraining order and according to Maria it was in force. Chas most likely contributed to that rumor because he over reacted (like usual) seeing certain words and not reading the entire paper. Olivia had no choice. She believes she was falsely blamed for things that were his fault and believed the management wanted her out of here. She had no choice but to seek a court order. Right!

Chas is loud, — Olivia is sneaky. Chas over reacts — Olivia manipulates. Chas has a habit of talking too much — Olivia is a gossip who does not always tell the truth. What I really learned from our discussion today is that Maria has a very bad memory and had bought in completely to Olivia’s story. Sides are being chosen, battle lines drawn, weapons being developed, gray and blue uniforms are being sewn, forts are being built, councils are meeting and couriers are moving secrets and plans back and forth behind enemy lines.

Meanwhile, I am forming my own country that will remain neutral. I am going to call it Switzerland-O-Lakes.

BLIND AS A BAT

I could talk about the weather again, but I’d just say we are having some.

Gail got a similar camera for Christmas to the one I bought so I went up to her place and we compared notes and took a few pictures. Gail is a little leery of computers so I was showing her how the two would work together (I’m so technologically savvy). She is going to need an extended cord to hook her camera to her computer. That made her nervous. She asked me about a symbol in her instruction book and where it was on her camera I didn’t have that one. Where was the flowerpot? She couldn’t see it.

In the meantime Maria had arrived and was trying to figure out what we were talking about. Maria had been a photographer for the Navy in her early years. I have seen some of her work and it is very good. When I also failed to find the flowerpot symbol she said she would find it. I know I have said this before, but just to remind you Maria is nearly blind. The whole time she was looking over and over the camera Gail was eyeing me with a smirk. I knew what she was thinking. Maria can’t even see. Well, in time she laid the camera down and left. She was barely out the door when Gail burst into laughter. Needless to say, Maria never found the symbol either.

So I looked at the camera again and tried to get it into better light. I can see that several buttons have impressions on them, Black indentations on black buttons. Miss a button when making a selection and you will hit two buttons. The tiny symbols and artsy keys are impossible for those of us with failing eyesight to see. Everything is getting smaller while our eyes are getting weaker.

I get a kick out of people demanding ever larger and larger TV’s while they are getting smaller and smaller. Go figure.

Later I went to do my laundry and as usual someone has begun another puzzle. They were laying out another dark dreary lifeless picture of nearly identically colored animals or muted flowers surrounded by a sea of green. I have never wanted a puzzle to challenge me — I want a puzzle to be bright, with lots contrasting colors that will be fun to do. Moat people want the challenge. And there was another challenging one being laid out. There was only one that fit my criteria so I started to lay it out and nearly had the border completed when Maria arrived to let me know one had already been begun. I’m not taking it down. There is room for two puzzles. If some want to do the green puzzle, they may or they can do this Christmas one I have begun. That ended it and I am happy and will actually go and work on my puzzle now. I can also be selfish.

So you can see, life goes on. The blind try to lead the blind. The controlling try to control (that’s me). And we continue to laugh at the absurd. There’s lots to laugh about.

GO SEAHAWKS

During have time of the Seattle vs. New Orleans football game where all my NW friends are excited and shocked the Seattle is leading I decided try my camera again. I took e everything apart reinstalled and reconnected everything (expecting nothing) and low and behold everything worked and I set my camera aside to charge. Yes, I want to know what was wrong yesterday. Yes it ticks me off that is was so easy that it all worked today. Yes, I am happy that everything was easy today. Divided personality.

I had to watch the end of the game and was a shocked (but pleased) that Seattle won. Then in the next game the colts get knocked out the Jets. I’m surprised that both Manning and Brees are both out already. These guys are great. Enough about football! Because of the games I never worked with my new camera. Probably tomorrow.

I haven’t been this excited about football since Ronnie Lancaster led the Saskatchewan Roughriders. I miss those guys.

I have been watching film series from Netflix called “Pillars of the Earth.” Netflix describes it this way:

“Political conflict, grand passions and epic ambition fuel this Golden Globe-nominated miniseries set in 12th-century England that centers on the struggles of Prior Philip (Matthew Macfadyen), who's devoted to seeing the construction of Kingsbridge Cathedral. Meanwhile, civil war is roiling Britain as the result of a struggle for succession among King Henry's heirs, with history's outcome hinging on a portentous secret. Ian McShane also stars.”

Disc two came today and now that football is over I need to watch the next three episodes of the series. It captured my attention in the first two episodes and now I have to wait till Monday to see the end. By the way, I hate the character Ian McShane plays and thoroughly enjoy the redhead boy who becomes a sculptor — I think there’s more to him.

ANYONE CAN DO IT

I used to be the go to guy. The one who could make the office equipment work, the one who could figure out how to make mimeograph work and get the masters on and off with little ink on my fingers. I could un-jam the photocopier. I could set the alarm clock. I could get the VCR clock off 12:00, and I could hook up the turntable to the speakers.

I don’t really know when it all changed. It wasn’t immediate. It slowly took over my life and knocked me out. In 2000 I began taking in boys as a proctor parent. Most understand the new technology and enjoyed hooking up anything I needed connected. I didn’t think much about it. Things were beginning to get complicated, they wanted to do it and I liked that it was a way for them to contribute to our lives together. It seemed like a win-win situation.

It is ten years later and I don’t know anything! I feel dumber than dumb. My fifteen year-old 35 mm camera gave up the ghost on Christmas day. I miss it all ready because I knew how it worked. But I decided not to get it fixed. Instead I decided it was time to move into the digital age.

I’m a member of Staples rewards and had accumulated near $78 in rewards that I could use toward any purchase. I went on line and looked at all the cameras, studied the features (and variety of colors) but the numbers, symbols and abbreviations only confused me more. I figured out that mega pixels meant the more there were the clearer the photo would be (I think). The numbers 3x, 5x etc. seemed to refer to magnification. Beyond that, I was lost.

I like Staples. I buy paper and toner there all the time. But I have yet to find a sales person who knows much beyond computers and printers. At least today no one was working who knew cameras. I was told but the clerk that the one I liked was a good one. I suspect I would have been told that no matter which one I selected. Cost was the most important. Get the most for the least — the American way.

The new technology practically programs it’s self, the clerk said. Yeah, right. I brought it home, read the entire manual (a new experience for me) and attempted to follow the directions. Problem one should never had happen, but the arrow on the camera drawing appeared to be pointing to the wrong place. Ten hours later I got the holding strap on (slight exaggeration). Step two was to install the battery. The directions were very clear. I should turn off the camera before installing the battery. Uhh! Without a battery how did I know if it was off or on? Assuming it was off I inserted the battery as directed having checked how it went in multiple times. I only went in one way. I then attached the charger using the proper cords and plugged it in. A battery charging light was to go on. No it didn’t. So I tried, tried and tried again. Nothing. No light. Multiple screams.

When I believe I may ultimately find a solution to a problem I have no difficulty with perseverance. But this time I am going to bed and will try again tomorrow. I know I’m from the dark ages but this little camera that does everything but start the morning coffee is not going to beat me. And if it does — I am not going to tell anyone. I’m going to call my nine-year-old grandson.

MY LEFT FOOT (sounds like a movie)

Go figure. After all the tests I have gone through in December, it’s the podiatrist that found a problem. He’s pretty sure, but there will be more tests.

The growing problem is one I have lived with all my life. I have never given it a second thought. I knew that I limped like my father. I walk like my father. I always guessed it was hereditary. It’s not like there haven’t been problems before. There have, but everyone has problems and mine seemed insignificant.

The first I recall having foot problems was when there was frostbite on my left foot. This may be hard to believe, but I got that as a student in Regina, Saskatchewan (the tropics no doubt) on a very cold day. My car was scheduled for repairs so I took it to a place on Albert St. with the intent of catching a bus back to the college. It was so cold I decided to walk along the bus route toward the school hoping to stay a little warmer. No bus ever came and I got back the college with my feet freezing. At least now I know when cold weather is coming. We’ve had a couple of nice days, but we are headed back to colder weather. My weather foot has predicted so.

As I got older more and more people commented about my limp. It never bothered me so I ignored it. In ’94 I had terrible pain in my left leg and was sent to a neurologist. He told me my right leg was shorter because the binding at the lower part of my spinal cord is tipped. He predicted that whatever the problem was with my leg it would pass. I told my chiropractor who would then lengthen my right leg every couple months or so. Everything was good again. But I ran out of money to see Dr. Dawson.

Facing back pains while here, I found another chiropractor and while he helps is some ways, he wasn’t able to help with my leg.

Surprise, surprise – I’m getting older and my doctored referred me to a podiatrist. My right hip gives in when walking any distance. My left foot hurts in less that a block as it feels like I am walking on its side. I’m falling apart. Except that all the other specialists say nothing is wrong. What do they know.

Well my right hip twists forward when I walk and my left foot is rolling under more and more and if something doesn’t change I’ll be doing even more sitting that I already do. When people sit with feet outstretched, they form a “V”. My feet are right leaning parallel bars. The inside foot muscle is tightening up and the outside muscle is getting looser. See I am falling apart.

They plan to fit me with a brace to try and correct these muscles to the right position. I’m laughing. Now that I am old and limping more they want to fix something I have lived with my entire life. I have my doubts, but am willing to go along if Social Security will cover it. Maybe I will enjoy walking again.

Don’t feel sorry for me. I have a full life am in a great place and enjoy all that I have. My issues are minor in the big scheme of things. I have nothing to complain about. However that may come later.

BUT IT'S SO OBVIOUS

Some peoples kids! You would think by retirement age they would grow up, be considerate, roll with the punches or just be understanding. Instead many just get more and more selfish and demanding and stupid.

The weather has been unseasonable cold. Having lived in Canada I consider winter here to be somewhat mild. However, it feels a lot like Canada this winter. We had a water leak that ran into a couple of open parking spots in quest parking. Rocky put salt on it yesterday and it melted. This morning he and another maintenance man where trying to find the source of the leak. More ice had developed. It wasn’t enough that the men were outside in the cold and icy weather Joyce came along to give them grief for the ice and explain how dangerous it was and that it should have been fixed yesterday.

The ice was not located in any direct path to anywhere important. While it was near the garage door, it blocked nothing. Men were outside presently trying to correct the problem, but Joyce found it necessary to go on and on about what they should have done yesterday and why it was a top priority and demand to know what took them so long. After all she parked near there and could have gotten hurt.

She made Rocky so mad he had to walk away to keep from giving her what-for right then and there. He tried multiple times to get her to be quiet and move along. She continued ranting about the obvious. If there didn’t know about the problem, why were they there fixing it.

What is wrong with people? Who died and put them in charge? Why do some think their priorities ought to be everyone’s priorities? Why would it be against the law to put masking tape over the mouths of these people?

I have had dealings with this woman and try to leave when I see her coming. She is confused by everything. She asks the dumbest questions. She pries into things not her concern. In other words she is a pain in the _ _ _.

They are installing a card swipe system for our garage door. It presently works off radio waves, but there are so many strong radio systems in the area that create problems for our door that it must be operated electronically. That is why there will be a change. No one knows why it has taken so long to find this out, but Joyce demanded an explanation. She also wanted to know: 1) would we have to get out of our car to operate it? (There is not enough room in the garage for everyone to park and her spot is outside). 2) Would her arm get wet? (Since she parks outside, her whole body will get wet). (3) Would we still use our present door buttons? (She does not have an opener). 4) And my favorite — would there be more spaces inside the garage? They shoot horses don’t they?

Like I say, some people’s kids. I assume she was always out to lunch, one fry short of a happy meal, one card short of a full deck. She has most likely always been confused. Her husband was no doubt extremely frustrated. All I know is that she is driving Rocky and many others crazy. When she says these things she looks totally bewildered. Maybe she really is, but is she also blind? Must she harass a person to do a job they are doing?

It’s a weird world after all (Sing to the tune of It’s a Small World).

RESOLUTIONS OR COMMITTEES

Happy New Year! Let’s get things straight right from the beginning. I do not make New Year’s resolutions. Never have never will! I have no objection to those who do. My opposition Has no basis in superstition, nor any in religious beliefs. I object because it would just be one more area in my life where I might have to face failure. If you don’t make any goals it is very hard to miss the mark.

I had a phase (more than a phase, most of my life) where I lived by goals, projections, plans, schedule’s. Didn’t mind it at all. It was all a necessary evil. It had nothing to do with resolutions, but my personal life and committees. The eleventh commandment should be “Thou Shalt Not Committee.”

I spent 40 years or more attending committees of all kinds. I have no idea how many, but probably 1-2 a week for 40 years. It that was close I sat through 4,160 committees meetings. People still want me to work with a committee or two. NO, NO, NO! The worst was sitting through the same information in four different committee’s with each being just an ever-larger number listening in. No one ever believed me that there was a simpler way.

It was in the seventies that I really began to dislike committees. I did them because it was my job. I was a young new youth pastor serving in Canada when I was invited to represent the country on the international youth ministry committee. My head swelled. I had only two years under my belt and I was going to the Mecca of our denomination in New York City. I was movin’ to the top quickly and it was only 1966.

My first trip took me through Minneapolis and on the JFK. I took a tow can to the train and rode that to Grand Central Station than caught a cab to my hotel. I had come from the furthest distance and had to arrive the night before. Everyone else was close to the city and would arrive then next morning. I got in early so went for a walk. I had not idea where I was. The hotel was directly across the street from our headquarters on 44th. I could see it from my room window. I headed out for a walk. Being from the west I had never seen so many people on the streets at night. I walked one block east to Broadway. I could see Times Square to the north and shops galore to the south. I walked down until I found Macy’s. There was a bagger or street entertainer on every corner. The road was a sea of taxis. Eventually I turned around and walked to Times Square and turned right onto 42nd. My sheltered life had a hole poked in the bubble. Wow! There was an entire block of porn on both sides. When I reached Madison I went back to my hotel.

The new morning at the committee meeting I was told never to go out in this area of town by myself. One of the guys offered to show me around that night. I kept my mouth shut as I had been out for nearly two hours, had no fear, and nothing happened. That night Glen took me for a walk. Four individuals who wanted money from us approached us. When we turned down 42nd Street two female prostitutes and one male prostitute approached us. He offered to take us both on. Glen also pointed out a large number of both uniformed and undercover cops. I didn’t notice prostitutes or cops on my walk. Go figure.

It took only part of the first day of meetings to realize I had been trapped. I hated the meeting. They were working on various constitutions and arguing over the use of certain words. Frankly I didn’t care. I wanted the constitutions thrown out. Any suggestion to that end constitutions were laughed at. This was the beginning of my lifetime dislike of committees.

Now there I have always enjoyed planning and creating with a lively group. I lead by consensus. Don’t remember ever having a vote. A decision was made when all agreed.

OK this wandered from the original topic. That should only better explain why I don’t make resolutions.