To all my blog readers, even though you might not comment, I know you are reading:
Happy New Year!
May 2016 bring all good stuff to you and yours!
Until Next Time,
JE
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Small towns
I love my small town. It's friendly and pretty, too. It is situated on the beautiful Wabash River. Lots of hills and valleys. Lots of limestone, too. But what I love most is what you probably find in most small towns, friendly people.
For instance, today I received a call from our local public library. The conversation went something like this"
Me; hello
Librarian; Hi Jim, this is P-- at the library. We have a book on reserve for you.
Me; Oh, what do you have?
L: (named the book)
Me; Gee, I was just there this afternoon
L; I'm sorry, well, we'll hold it for you until next Tuesday, okay?
Me: Thanks, I'll get there. Thanks for calling.
Where else can you get friendly, personal service but in a small town.
This evening, I bundled up and walked to the library to pick up the book. Where else can you walk the streets, alone, after dark without fear but in a small town.
I go to the locally owned grocery store and the owners call me by name, ask me if there's anything they can help me with. Just today a friend went there needing the ingredients for a recipe, but she left the list at home. The owner's wife got out her Ipad and helped her look up the recipe and find what she needed. Where else do you get that kind of service but in a small town.
People help each other in small towns. This Christmas one of my former student's family was struggling. Mom was laid off from her job, dad is fighting leukemia and isn't working. People rallied, without being asked, and provided a wonderful Christmas for that family. Neighbors help neighbors around here, too. Last year, my next door neighbor used his snow blower and kept both our drives and sidewalks cleared every time.
Churches here work together, help with the food bank, and provide services for the indigent in large and small ways. Churches and public schools work together and they seem to make things happen.
We still have the Nativity on the courthouse lawn every Christmas. And no one objects or makes a big deal. Believe me, if it wasn't there, a big deal would be made about it.
I love the big city. Going to the one closest to me is fun. I even used to live there, but they are a nice place to visit, but I'll take small towns every time. I was a rural boy, born and raised, as we used to say, "14 miles from nowhere." I agreed to move to town because my wife was a townie. I have been in this town for 46 years and counting. I don't think I want to live anywhere else.
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
For instance, today I received a call from our local public library. The conversation went something like this"
Me; hello
Librarian; Hi Jim, this is P-- at the library. We have a book on reserve for you.
Me; Oh, what do you have?
L: (named the book)
Me; Gee, I was just there this afternoon
L; I'm sorry, well, we'll hold it for you until next Tuesday, okay?
Me: Thanks, I'll get there. Thanks for calling.
Where else can you get friendly, personal service but in a small town.
This evening, I bundled up and walked to the library to pick up the book. Where else can you walk the streets, alone, after dark without fear but in a small town.
I go to the locally owned grocery store and the owners call me by name, ask me if there's anything they can help me with. Just today a friend went there needing the ingredients for a recipe, but she left the list at home. The owner's wife got out her Ipad and helped her look up the recipe and find what she needed. Where else do you get that kind of service but in a small town.
People help each other in small towns. This Christmas one of my former student's family was struggling. Mom was laid off from her job, dad is fighting leukemia and isn't working. People rallied, without being asked, and provided a wonderful Christmas for that family. Neighbors help neighbors around here, too. Last year, my next door neighbor used his snow blower and kept both our drives and sidewalks cleared every time.
Churches here work together, help with the food bank, and provide services for the indigent in large and small ways. Churches and public schools work together and they seem to make things happen.
We still have the Nativity on the courthouse lawn every Christmas. And no one objects or makes a big deal. Believe me, if it wasn't there, a big deal would be made about it.
I love the big city. Going to the one closest to me is fun. I even used to live there, but they are a nice place to visit, but I'll take small towns every time. I was a rural boy, born and raised, as we used to say, "14 miles from nowhere." I agreed to move to town because my wife was a townie. I have been in this town for 46 years and counting. I don't think I want to live anywhere else.
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Winter???
What's up with the winter weather this year? Last week it was in the 60s here in Indiana, the grass was greening and growing and I had a dandelion blooming in my back yard. Christmas Day was a beautiful warm day and the sun shined brightly. Then the rain started. I was beginning to think it might be a good idea to build an ark. There were flash flood warnings out for our area. Yesterday was a most miserable day with rain, high winds, power outages caused by freezing rain as the temps began to fall.
Today it is blustery and cold and snow falls once in a while. I know the weather in Indiana has always been unpredictable, but this is crazy! So far this year, we have had about 2 inches of snowfall. I am not complaining, but it's just weird. All those guys who love to get out their snowblowers and snowmobiles are crying in their beer. But it does give them more of a chance to drink beer since they don't have to get out in the snow.
I brought my snow shovel from the garage to the house porch just in case, but so far, it just sits there! I know we will get blasted when we least expect it. I'm ready!
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
Today it is blustery and cold and snow falls once in a while. I know the weather in Indiana has always been unpredictable, but this is crazy! So far this year, we have had about 2 inches of snowfall. I am not complaining, but it's just weird. All those guys who love to get out their snowblowers and snowmobiles are crying in their beer. But it does give them more of a chance to drink beer since they don't have to get out in the snow.
I brought my snow shovel from the garage to the house porch just in case, but so far, it just sits there! I know we will get blasted when we least expect it. I'm ready!
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Christmas!
It was a warm day in Central Indiana. The clan gathered before noon for food and gifts and family time. The little ones were so excited that we decided to dispense with eating first, like we always do, and let the gift giving begin. After a lot of paper ripping, paper wads being exchanged, ooing and ahhing, and thank yous being said, we ate! Tradition went by the wayside this year. The traditional breakfast casseroles were exchanged for cold meats and cheese. The traditional Sour Creme Coffee Cake was, however, present. Thanks to my son, who loves to bake.
That old adage,"a good time was had by all," was true about our day. We laughed, we reminisced, and teased each other about Christmases past. One loved one who has gone on before the rest of us, was remembered and jokes were told.
Late afternoon saw everyone packing vehicles to head toward homes. Quiet once again prevailed in my house, but the echoes of laughter still are ringing in my heart. It was a good day!
We even managed to get everyone facing the camera with smiles all at the same time. It took 3 tries to get it right. Try #1, I set the timer on the camera which was on the tripod. Hurrying to get in my seat, I kicked the leg of the tripod. Try #2, I forgot to set the timer...nothing happened as we sat smiling. Try #3, is it obvious that we are all saying "cheese?" Priceless!
I hope you all experienced similar joys on this the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
That old adage,"a good time was had by all," was true about our day. We laughed, we reminisced, and teased each other about Christmases past. One loved one who has gone on before the rest of us, was remembered and jokes were told.
Late afternoon saw everyone packing vehicles to head toward homes. Quiet once again prevailed in my house, but the echoes of laughter still are ringing in my heart. It was a good day!
We even managed to get everyone facing the camera with smiles all at the same time. It took 3 tries to get it right. Try #1, I set the timer on the camera which was on the tripod. Hurrying to get in my seat, I kicked the leg of the tripod. Try #2, I forgot to set the timer...nothing happened as we sat smiling. Try #3, is it obvious that we are all saying "cheese?" Priceless!
I hope you all experienced similar joys on this the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
Friday, December 18, 2015
More About the Bolt
In my last post I mentioned that I had surgery to have a bolt embedded in my skull. That's right, I did! Since about 2010 I have been losing my hearing. Loss accelerated this spring sending me to a different ENT specialist. He determined that my hearing loss was caused by having perpetual ear infections, mastoid surgery at a young age, loss of use of my Eustachian tubes, which an age thing, I guess. After much testing I found that I was a good candidate for the relatively new "Bone Anchored Hearing Aid" or BAHA. This is cutting edge technology for the hearing impaired. A titanium "bolt" was surgically embedded in my mastoid bone behind my left ear. After it heals for 3 months, allowing the bone to incorporate around and with the bolt, I will be fitted with a super duper electronic hearing aid that will snap onto this bolt. There are no plugs or tubes going into the ear. I will hear thru my cochlea thru a process much like sonar. The audiologist and the Tympanic Membrane Specialist (that's the ear drum) have told me that having this device will retrain my brain to hear again. Amazing! I tried the conventional hearing aids, but having the plugs and tubes in my ears was not letting air into the ear canal, thus causing the infections, or at least aggravating the inner surfaces. Now I have to keep all moisture out of my ears, but that't the least I can do. Even sweating was causing problems, so no more tubes and plugs.
March 14,2016 is the big day for the fitting of the device. I have it at home, have read all the literature and am excited. It will be nice to be able to once again hear my grandchildren, and be able to sing with my choir and quartet.
Hasn't technology come a long way from those ugly pink buttons Grandma B used to wear in her ears, and still couldn't hear me!
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
March 14,2016 is the big day for the fitting of the device. I have it at home, have read all the literature and am excited. It will be nice to be able to once again hear my grandchildren, and be able to sing with my choir and quartet.
Hasn't technology come a long way from those ugly pink buttons Grandma B used to wear in her ears, and still couldn't hear me!
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
The Hurrier I Go, The Behinder I Get!
Holy cow! Christmas is about here and I am not ready. I still have shopping to do and presents to wrap. Things aren't going the way they usually do. The surgery I was supposed to have in early fall got moved again and again thanks to Medicare Nightmare! So having surgery two weeks before Christmas has set me back both physically and mentally. Up until today, 11 days post surgery, all I have really wanted to do is sit, crochet or read or watch TV. I need more motivation than just thinking about it.
This year will be somewhat different. Since my wife passed, my daughter has always taken charge of the Christmas prep work. While she lived here with me, she would bake and cook all the goodies for Christmas Day family gathering. She also helped me wrap those last minute gifts. She left the decorating of the domicile to me. Then she moved two hours away. Zounds!! Though I wished her every happiness in the BIG city, and with her love life, I miss having her around to take up the slack around here for the holidays. So, last week she informed me that because she is new at her place of employment, and that her own clients are stores and businesses that remain open until at least 6 o'clock on Christmas Eve, she and her family will not be coming until late Christmas Eve. So I guess I will be cooking and baking for Christmas Day, or the family will either not eat, or will bring treats! I have never made the famous Sour Creme Coffee Cake or the different brunch casseroles that are the family tradition. Guess I can learn, but right now I am feeling overwhelmed.
I do have the domicile decorated. Only four trees this year instead of the regular 9 that we have had in the past. Call me Scrooge! I decided to just scale down a bit. Ha!
So all this being said, I have a shopping trip planned with my best buddy, Curley, and hopefully I can finish up those pesky last minute things. Wrapping is going to be gift bags from the Dollar Tree.Except for the little ones who love to tear into gifts. Those I will wrap with care, knowing full well that St. Nicolas will soon be here!
The food? Well, I could whine and whine to my son, daughter-in-law, daughter and my "sin"-in-law(daughter's live in, both been married and are gun shy when the word "marriage" is mentioned) and suggest strongly that we have a carry in brunch and I will furnish tableware, table and chairs for all! Sounds good to me. After all, I just had a "bolt" embedded into my skull! Give me a break!!
Until Next time,
Peace,
JE
This year will be somewhat different. Since my wife passed, my daughter has always taken charge of the Christmas prep work. While she lived here with me, she would bake and cook all the goodies for Christmas Day family gathering. She also helped me wrap those last minute gifts. She left the decorating of the domicile to me. Then she moved two hours away. Zounds!! Though I wished her every happiness in the BIG city, and with her love life, I miss having her around to take up the slack around here for the holidays. So, last week she informed me that because she is new at her place of employment, and that her own clients are stores and businesses that remain open until at least 6 o'clock on Christmas Eve, she and her family will not be coming until late Christmas Eve. So I guess I will be cooking and baking for Christmas Day, or the family will either not eat, or will bring treats! I have never made the famous Sour Creme Coffee Cake or the different brunch casseroles that are the family tradition. Guess I can learn, but right now I am feeling overwhelmed.
I do have the domicile decorated. Only four trees this year instead of the regular 9 that we have had in the past. Call me Scrooge! I decided to just scale down a bit. Ha!
So all this being said, I have a shopping trip planned with my best buddy, Curley, and hopefully I can finish up those pesky last minute things. Wrapping is going to be gift bags from the Dollar Tree.Except for the little ones who love to tear into gifts. Those I will wrap with care, knowing full well that St. Nicolas will soon be here!
The food? Well, I could whine and whine to my son, daughter-in-law, daughter and my "sin"-in-law(daughter's live in, both been married and are gun shy when the word "marriage" is mentioned) and suggest strongly that we have a carry in brunch and I will furnish tableware, table and chairs for all! Sounds good to me. After all, I just had a "bolt" embedded into my skull! Give me a break!!
Until Next time,
Peace,
JE
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Finding Out Who Your Real Friends Are
I had surgery this week. My children and my best friend Cheryl were there with me. While waiting to be taken to surgery, my kids, who seemed to revert to their teenage years, entertained me with singing and joking. When the nurses would pass by my area of pre-op they would stick their heads in and smile at the antics going on in there.
My associate pastor was there, too, part of the time. He offered prayer and words of encouragement. He held my hand right before I went to sleep and they carted me into surgery. He stayed with my family until I was out of surgery and in recovery. (I still haven’t heard a word from our Senior Pastor, and our church isn’t that big!)
Since I have been home, I think it’s strange that other than my kids and my friend Cheryl, I have heard from only one person in my church. A lady who doesn’t sing in my choir, or serve on any committees with me called me the next day to check on me. The people who I am closest to at church, those who I sing with every week in choir, party with and those in my quartet have remained mysteriously quiet. I have heard from only one. I am puzzled by this. They call themselves “choir family” but remain reticent. I wonder why. I surmise that though they might care, they are too busy to show it. Life goes on I realize. I also realize that I am old, alone and don’t give a lot of time or money to my church. I hope this doesn’t make a difference.
Just who are my friends? It makes me wonder!!!
Peace,
JE
A New Year, A New Blog
I am sorry that I lost my other blog and that the "powers that be" weren't willing to help me find it. I know where it is, and I know what is wrong with it that I cannot access it any longer, but, the "not to be mentioned" server locked it up and access is denied.
So, that being mentioned, I will quit complaining and get on with adding a new blog. Hopefully, this one will be successful. The one I started on another blog site was not. I guess my followers either gave up or couldn't find me, though I sent out a notice.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and are preparing for a great 2016. Politically, I am hoping for some great changes. Physically, I hope changes are minimal, unless for the better! Being 70 is hard!
Peace to All,
JimEarl
So, that being mentioned, I will quit complaining and get on with adding a new blog. Hopefully, this one will be successful. The one I started on another blog site was not. I guess my followers either gave up or couldn't find me, though I sent out a notice.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and are preparing for a great 2016. Politically, I am hoping for some great changes. Physically, I hope changes are minimal, unless for the better! Being 70 is hard!
Peace to All,
JimEarl
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