Meredith Kendall's Blog, page 93
July 11, 2012
phone still working...
yeah, it stopped for 4 days last week. I tried everything and nothing worked: charging it, rice bag, cook in rice bag on dash of hot car, charge it, pop battery out, leave in sunny window, set in front of air conditioner. Nothing. Dead.
Heck, I'd tried everything else- I stuck it in the refrigerator overnight. Voila! In the morning I turned it on, it worked, and working ever since.
Heck, I'd tried everything else- I stuck it in the refrigerator overnight. Voila! In the morning I turned it on, it worked, and working ever since.
July 10, 2012
40
I can see 40 houses from my house. Funny, because I have this backyard garden oasis that feels so private.
But yes. On tiptoes, from deck and driveway, I've counted: 40.
Most of my neighbors are retired blue-collar Catholic Amero-Franco-Canadians. There are a few young singles and couples. They occ party and play loud music. They throw back a few beers and sling horseshoes.
They mow their lawns and whack the weeds. They barbecue. One neighbor has a pool and professionally landscaped gardens. Another takes pride in his driveway; he recently had it completely redone: dug up, re-asphalted, and sealed. A flat black seam in the tidy lawn.
My favorite neighbor is the boy a few backyards away. He has a trampoline, and ululates as he jumps. I've never heard him speak, or anyone speak to him. I frequently hear him jump and vocalize. It's soothing, reassuring. Oh, there he is. I'm glad he has his trampoline. He reminds me of a boy I know, a boy with autism.
When I'm standing on the top tier of my raised garden bed, thwarting copper beetles, I can see this young man. He's a teenager. He jumps and bounces expertly on the trampoline. He calls. I listen.
But yes. On tiptoes, from deck and driveway, I've counted: 40.
Most of my neighbors are retired blue-collar Catholic Amero-Franco-Canadians. There are a few young singles and couples. They occ party and play loud music. They throw back a few beers and sling horseshoes.
They mow their lawns and whack the weeds. They barbecue. One neighbor has a pool and professionally landscaped gardens. Another takes pride in his driveway; he recently had it completely redone: dug up, re-asphalted, and sealed. A flat black seam in the tidy lawn.
My favorite neighbor is the boy a few backyards away. He has a trampoline, and ululates as he jumps. I've never heard him speak, or anyone speak to him. I frequently hear him jump and vocalize. It's soothing, reassuring. Oh, there he is. I'm glad he has his trampoline. He reminds me of a boy I know, a boy with autism.
When I'm standing on the top tier of my raised garden bed, thwarting copper beetles, I can see this young man. He's a teenager. He jumps and bounces expertly on the trampoline. He calls. I listen.
awakening
Dreamt liquid green bombs landed on Earth, vines sprouted and covered everything. After the vines were cleared away I wandered with my dog, searching for friends & family. Then I woke up.
But this post is really about my phone. It woke up.
It conked out 4 days ago, as it sometimes does on a hot & humid day. Usually comes back after 24 hours. This time it didn't. I tried everything: plugged it in, popped the battery, put it in a bag of rice, cooked it on the dashboard, everything I could think of. Well, last night I put it in the refrigerator. This morning it works.
But this post is really about my phone. It woke up.
It conked out 4 days ago, as it sometimes does on a hot & humid day. Usually comes back after 24 hours. This time it didn't. I tried everything: plugged it in, popped the battery, put it in a bag of rice, cooked it on the dashboard, everything I could think of. Well, last night I put it in the refrigerator. This morning it works.
July 9, 2012
attunements
today on the shore of small pond.
There were three large metal sculptures. Lots of grass. A pond- covered with lily pads and lotus flowers. Lily pad flowers? hmm. Not sure.
"Look at the fish!" someone said.
There they were. Goldfish? Koi? They were big: orange ones and white ones.
Seventeen fine Reiki students sat silently on the grass. We did a short meditation, and my favorite Sufi breathing exercise.
We started the attunements. The students came up in groups of four. They sat on some flat rocks in Gassho. I attuned them to Reiki. I couldn't help it - I kept looking at the pond- it was so beautiful. Then I saw a turtle. It floated and bobbed. Another one! Sun lit half the pond, but we were in the shade. Perfect summer sun, temp, and humidity. A beautiful day.
After their attunements, the students found a spot in sun or shade and meditated or did self-Reiki.
As we walked back, one student said, "Did you see the heron? It was there the whole time."
There were three large metal sculptures. Lots of grass. A pond- covered with lily pads and lotus flowers. Lily pad flowers? hmm. Not sure.
"Look at the fish!" someone said.
There they were. Goldfish? Koi? They were big: orange ones and white ones.
Seventeen fine Reiki students sat silently on the grass. We did a short meditation, and my favorite Sufi breathing exercise.
We started the attunements. The students came up in groups of four. They sat on some flat rocks in Gassho. I attuned them to Reiki. I couldn't help it - I kept looking at the pond- it was so beautiful. Then I saw a turtle. It floated and bobbed. Another one! Sun lit half the pond, but we were in the shade. Perfect summer sun, temp, and humidity. A beautiful day.
After their attunements, the students found a spot in sun or shade and meditated or did self-Reiki.
As we walked back, one student said, "Did you see the heron? It was there the whole time."
July 7, 2012
kayak
Last week I decided to see if my old kayak would fit into my van. I went out back of the shed, picking my way carefully through the bushes and plants, watching for poison ivy. Didn't see any.
I loaded up the kayak on my shoulder and carried it a short distance. I felt strong. Then I thought I would drag it the rest of the way to the car, so I set it on the ground. I bent over to grasp the handle and
eeek. Mice. At least three mice. They were running around the bottom of the kayak. "I just had that on my shoulder," I thought. Have I mentioned that I have rodentphobia? I do. Nightmares about them running around and nibbling on me.
I watched them, trying to desensitize myself. "Cute," I told myself. "Many people say they're cute." Yeah, that lasted about 3 seconds. I backed away slowly, then turned and ran, silently shrieking .
I loaded up the kayak on my shoulder and carried it a short distance. I felt strong. Then I thought I would drag it the rest of the way to the car, so I set it on the ground. I bent over to grasp the handle and
eeek. Mice. At least three mice. They were running around the bottom of the kayak. "I just had that on my shoulder," I thought. Have I mentioned that I have rodentphobia? I do. Nightmares about them running around and nibbling on me.
I watched them, trying to desensitize myself. "Cute," I told myself. "Many people say they're cute." Yeah, that lasted about 3 seconds. I backed away slowly, then turned and ran, silently shrieking .
July 1, 2012
Lobster roll taste test
Spinney's Restaurant at Fort Popham is still the best.
Every summer I do lobster roll taste test. So far this year I've tried Spinney's, Panera, and Amato's.
My fav is just plain fresh lobster on a thin grilled-in-butter bun.
Panera was citrusy and too much mayo, too much bread. Not enough fresh lobster flavor. No sea. Amato's was pretty good. Lots of lobster, only $8.99. Mayo, lettuce, salt, & pepper, white roll. It was good.
Spinney's was right on the water. Three tanks full of lobsters. Plain bun, no mayo, no lettuce. Lobster, salt & sea. yum.
Every summer I do lobster roll taste test. So far this year I've tried Spinney's, Panera, and Amato's.
My fav is just plain fresh lobster on a thin grilled-in-butter bun.
Panera was citrusy and too much mayo, too much bread. Not enough fresh lobster flavor. No sea. Amato's was pretty good. Lots of lobster, only $8.99. Mayo, lettuce, salt, & pepper, white roll. It was good.
Spinney's was right on the water. Three tanks full of lobsters. Plain bun, no mayo, no lettuce. Lobster, salt & sea. yum.
DVT
"It isn't DVT," he said. "Well, there could be a clot, but we can't see it. It's hard to see in the calf. And it could be superficial. But that won't kill ya," he chuckled. "That won't go to the lung," he clarifiied.
I thought he was a helicopter nurse, he was that slim. Short too. Just right fora flight nurse.
Nope, he was the ER resident. Bright blue eyes, long dark lashes, and a quick smile. He was talking about the results of her ultrasound. They didn't see a clot, though she had all the symptoms.
The attending came in to affirm. He asked the same questions, "I know," he laughed. We ask the same questions 3 times." (Yeah: nurse, resident, and attending.) "Any history of clots? Any cancer? Any surgery? Do you sit for long periods?" All the while he was tinkering with the phone cord.
"What the heck is he doing with the phone?" I wondered.
He wrapped the phone cord around her right calf, measuring the distance from her patella with his fist. He repeated on the left. "Yup, it's definitely bigger," he muttered. Gosh, I could tell that just by looking.
Blurted out, "I make my nursing students carry measuring tapes," and was instantly embarrassed.
She called me in the morning, said she had a question. I went over. She showed me her legs. It looked like lymphedema, the left was so much bigger than the right. "And I have this feeling, like the end of a Charley Horse, you know?" she told me. "I keep rubbing it."
"Don't. Don't rub it. I'm taking you to the hospital."
It was an hour over. Three there. An hour back, well two. We stopped to eat and to look at an old graveyard. Stones from 1786. I had a lobster roll, she had a vegie panini. I drank lukewarm decaf. It was 3:30; long since our broccoli breakfast quiche. The cemetery had slate and marble stones; Longfellows and who all. Engraved with urns and weeping willows. Mostly early 1800s. Peaceful and shady spot.
"It's not cellulitis. Not CHF. We don't really know. If the swelling continues, come back. If it gets worse, come back right away. If the pain gets worse, come back right away." Her Homan's was negative. Her ache was a 2.
I dropped her off and stopped to visit an old friend. He's going through a rough time. Hell, really. We talked for 2 hours. It got late and I hate to drive in the dark, so off I went.
Not DVT.
Came home and picked peas in the gloaming.
I thought he was a helicopter nurse, he was that slim. Short too. Just right fora flight nurse.
Nope, he was the ER resident. Bright blue eyes, long dark lashes, and a quick smile. He was talking about the results of her ultrasound. They didn't see a clot, though she had all the symptoms.
The attending came in to affirm. He asked the same questions, "I know," he laughed. We ask the same questions 3 times." (Yeah: nurse, resident, and attending.) "Any history of clots? Any cancer? Any surgery? Do you sit for long periods?" All the while he was tinkering with the phone cord.
"What the heck is he doing with the phone?" I wondered.
He wrapped the phone cord around her right calf, measuring the distance from her patella with his fist. He repeated on the left. "Yup, it's definitely bigger," he muttered. Gosh, I could tell that just by looking.
Blurted out, "I make my nursing students carry measuring tapes," and was instantly embarrassed.
She called me in the morning, said she had a question. I went over. She showed me her legs. It looked like lymphedema, the left was so much bigger than the right. "And I have this feeling, like the end of a Charley Horse, you know?" she told me. "I keep rubbing it."
"Don't. Don't rub it. I'm taking you to the hospital."
It was an hour over. Three there. An hour back, well two. We stopped to eat and to look at an old graveyard. Stones from 1786. I had a lobster roll, she had a vegie panini. I drank lukewarm decaf. It was 3:30; long since our broccoli breakfast quiche. The cemetery had slate and marble stones; Longfellows and who all. Engraved with urns and weeping willows. Mostly early 1800s. Peaceful and shady spot.
"It's not cellulitis. Not CHF. We don't really know. If the swelling continues, come back. If it gets worse, come back right away. If the pain gets worse, come back right away." Her Homan's was negative. Her ache was a 2.
I dropped her off and stopped to visit an old friend. He's going through a rough time. Hell, really. We talked for 2 hours. It got late and I hate to drive in the dark, so off I went.
Not DVT.
Came home and picked peas in the gloaming.
June 21, 2012
Back home
Even more important and exciting than my GPS.
My sister is in the US. She's back!
My beloved sister and best friend is back in Minnesota after spending the school year in Beijing, teaching 2cd graders. So good to hear her voice. So good to be an hour away instead of 11- - we can talk on the phone every day, or nearly. When she's in Beijing, all we can manage is one call a week, because of the time difference. If she's home relaxing after a tough day at work, I'm rushing to get to work. Vice versa.
But she's back. Back in the USA. Welcome home, dear sister.
My sister is in the US. She's back!
My beloved sister and best friend is back in Minnesota after spending the school year in Beijing, teaching 2cd graders. So good to hear her voice. So good to be an hour away instead of 11- - we can talk on the phone every day, or nearly. When she's in Beijing, all we can manage is one call a week, because of the time difference. If she's home relaxing after a tough day at work, I'm rushing to get to work. Vice versa.
But she's back. Back in the USA. Welcome home, dear sister.
