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Monday, May. 6, 2024

12:56pm EDT

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

"All the resources we need are in the mind.” Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States of America.

Another quote I find interesting: "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Albert Einstein

What's on your mind today?

Signature for use by anyone nominated for a Quill Award in 2020

Signature for nominees of the 2019 Quill Awards

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 28, 2024 at 7:30am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I know carpal tunnel can be really bad. My friend's son has it really bad. At only 21, his hands were already numb because his dad wouldn't let him learn to drive so he couldn't go to the doctor and his dad wouldn't take him. He's finally moved out and learned to drive. His hands are better after he got a different job, but he's still got issues.

Have you tried learning to do speech-to-text? I hear it's quite a difficult transition for some folks, but once you get it, everything is a breeze after that. I keep meaning to take a series try at it. I did a few sentences one day, just to test it out, but didn't get too far. I need to really buckle down. It seems slower because the words don't appear on the screen as fast as when I type. But in the end, I can talk faster than I can type and I don't have to wait for it to catch up after ever sentence. lol I do need to figure out how much I can talk before it loses the thread, though.

But then, when writing fiction, I have to stop and think a lot, so it will probably be fine. lol I just need to do it enough that I feel comfortable not watching the screen anymore. I hear that's the real sticky point -- watching the words slowly appear as you are talking can be really distracting, so they recommend you don't do that. I will for a bit, just to get a feel for things and to satisfy my curiosity. But hopefully, if I take this seriously, I can let go of that need with practice and really get going.

Hmmm...I know I talk a lot. And I can talk while doing things I can't do when typing like getting dressed or making dinner or whatever. I wonder if I could actually finish a project through speech-to-text or if being bored sitting there typing isn't the real problem.

It's something to ponder and play with. Thank you! As usual, you've helped me with my writing YET AGAIN!

You're the best!

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:37am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

schunujo I don't worry about NaNo or OctoPrep. I think that event is far enough in the future. I am bummed that I cannot garden this year. I've been typing and writing all this time with just one hand and three fingers so...

I am excited to get the pain level lessened. Then I found out from my daughter the other day that she suffers from carpal tunnel as well, but as is typical for her, she won't get it treated. The problem with that syndrome is if it gets too severe, you could actually lose total function of your hand. Now that is the worst case scenario of course. I am scared enough by that prospect, I'll endure a few more months of recovery pain to heal the problem.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:32am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Kåre Enga in Montana

When are you arriving back in Montana? And which airport? I'll be tied up for a few days after surgery. But I think once my husband goes back east to get our car, perhaps sometime in May we pray, I could make a road trip.

1 Like

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 25, 2024 at 7:13pm
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Wow! You have so much going on!

I'm really sorry all of this is happening at the same time.

But I am super glad the doctor thinks he can fix you, even if you won't be good as new. But new things are too expensive anyway.

I'm certainly glad you'll be in much less (hopefully no) pain in the (hopefully not too distant) future!

I've also had times when a specialist told me I should have seen him sooner. Well, maybe if I hadn't been required to get a referral...

The surgery timing sounds pretty good with a 6-month recovery time. You'll be pushing it for NaNo, but I think you can do it. After all, I need my best cheerleader out there!

In truth, you have a big impact on my success in NaNo, but I could probably do it without you if I had to. Most importantly, I want YOU to be okay -- happy, healthy, and pain-free! If that means you miss a year of NaNo, so be it. YOU are more important.

QPdoll

Apr 25, 2024 at 6:00am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

and Kåre Enga in Montana

I hope you both can find transportation on Monday! Good luck to you!

Norma, it's good you have your surgery scheduled. I think you'll feel so much better with pain relief. My husband had carpal tunnel surgery and he is happy that his fingers don't go numb anymore.

Safe travels to you both!

1 Like

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:42am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I don't have to explain my trip back to Montana as you get the picture.

I've been stressed for so long...

I can relax at the hostel and in Seoul airport.

Need to arrange a ride home though...

I assume you'll not be available.

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:05am
In response to "Drama"

Elycia Lee ☮

Try cutting back your plants. Then try dusting them gently. They breathe through the surface of the leaves.
I found this on Google about rubber plants:
Water when the soil is almost completely dry. ...
Spray with a mister every few days, they like to keep their leaves moist.
Place in a bright room, but keep away from super sunny windows to avoid sunburn Between 15°C to 25°C is their optimum temperature.

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:50am
In response to "Drama"

I should be in Missoula May 1st. Chance of 20° or 70° ... sun, rain, snow, tornadoes, earthquake, Yellowstone blowing up?

Elycia Lee ☮

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:02am
In response to "Drama"

I never overwater them, but I think I'm underwatering them. The leaves are curling. When I put them out, their leaves burn. When I wipe them, lines appear on them... I really wanna start over, but I don't know how to... My rubber plants bottom stem leaves have dropped. Only the top is growing. For one of them, their baby leaf hasn't been growing for over 6 months now... Sounds like you've got quite the green finger there.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:00am
In response to "Drama"

QPdoll

It was good to be out and work in the garden. We were both tired after, but that's okay. Digging in dirt always helps. There is always dirt in our lives. We have to dig up through it to get to the shining world on the other side.

1 Like

July 9, 2020 at 9:03pm

#987688

Traveling in the Green Kingdom

So it's been a busy few days here. Wednesday we do 'Meals on Wheels', and that takes up the mornings. I was looking forward to the meal - salmon patties. Then I get there, sorry - we changed the menu - sliced ham instead. Really? Uck - I don't eat pork. So I don't stay. Earlier I had a call from the lady in charge of SE Montana tourism. Oh - by the way, a representative is coming your way about 1PM to tour the museum. Can you take her in hand for me, show her around? Kind of short notice, but since I am a board member, sure thing. So I grab something to eat, and meet Megan at 1PM on my wonderful porch. Then we make the short walk across the street and tour the museum. That takes about 2 hours, since I have to explain everything to her. So I didn't get to church as usual. But when she left to go back to Billings, I did get to put in some time at the thrift store. We love our volunteer time there as a church group. We have a lot of fun doing that. Plus it's for a good cause. Then after that I rush home, find something to eat and then head out to Musselshell to our first play practice.

I have a part again this year, if you can call two small appearances on stage a part. But hey! I'll get a picture on the board and my name in the program, so there! And you know, I'll deliver those lines like nobody's business. I have to come on stage with a casserole, I play an elderly neighbor lady, find an even more elderly man dead with his head in a cake, accuse the grandchildren of murder then yell loudly as I leave for the police. And then I yell for the police again at the very end of the show! Hmmm....elderly lady. Type cast.....whatever. I choose not to believe that but I know that is probably what they think. But I've got some ideas about costume and voice already. So there. It'll be a good laugh.

But we did talk about how to do this. With the virus on everyone's mind, how to do the crowds we usually get at our matinee on Sunday, since we have a lot of elderly folks that don't want to drive in the dark. And how to do refreshments. No cookies on trays for everyone to breathe on and handle, and how to do a sit-down dinner like we usually do. And then how to seat everyone in our little theater. Blast this virus business. We pray all will be resolved somewhat by September.

Then today hubby and I decided to take a road trip. He is on a mission to find local, raw honey. I knew of a store near Moore, MT. That is West of Lewistown. But before we take off for that excursion, I had to meet the head of the Headstart program here in Roundup. She wants to have Headstart participate in the M.U.D. program in the fall. I am the chairperson for M.U.D. - the Musselshell Unity Drive. Think of United Way and you know what this is about. Our name is mud. Weird idea. But anyway, we needed to meet since she missed the sign-up drive last month. So I got to see what Headstart here is all about, she met me, she got the paperwork. Life is good. But before I met her, Denise is her name, I stopped by RSVP and said HEY to Shelly for a moment or two. So we chatted, then I had to go see Denise. So I stepped away from Shelly's desk. And suddenly the robot vacuum takes off and goes to where I was standing. Scares the bejesus out of me!!

Shelly comes around and says, "That's George." "You named your Roomba?" "Yeah, go back George!" Well, needless to say, that was just a little too weird. She was still fighting with the robot vacuum as I left.

As we drove through the green hills toward Lewistown and beyond, acres and acres, miles and miles of grass is being cut, mowed, and baled into hay. Those round iconic bales are everywhere. Then I saw a sign "Crystal Lake". It's in the Big Snowies. "Let's go there on the way back. We can go to Eddie's Corner, get something to eat and then go to the lake and eat." So we drive to Eddie's Corner. There's truck stop there, and an Amish store. Poor hubby, no bulk honey like he wants. I'm not sure he'll ever find what he wants. We did pass lots of bee hives in fields. Perhaps we need to get a bee hive and raise our own bees.

We get sandwiches, drinks, of course chippy things, and hubby needs chocolate then head back the way we just came. We take the turn. And start driving down the long dirt road. No signs, of course. We begin to second guess this decision. Aha! A truck ahead.

"Do you know - is this the way to Crystal Lake?" "I don't. I'm lost. I'm supposed to meet someone to drop off this baler." He indicates a big red machine attached to his truck. "But I don't know where I'm supposed to go." He's in worse shape than we are. We can turn on a dime. He can't. so we follow in his dust for a time. Then we lose him. Then another car. This one from Oregon. "Do you know where Crystal Lake is?" "That's where we're headed."

So we follow this car for another long drive up and down a dirt road, beautiful. Suddenly we see a sign. Finally going in the right direction. The road changes to blacktop at the forest service entrance and I suddenly understand why. 'Dear Lord Jesus protect me please.' I want to close my eyes but kind of want to see when my end comes. The road follows a ravine and my side of the car is suddenly a few hundred feet above a river and steadily rising. I lean toward hubby and want to crawl in his lap and suck my thumb.

But then it comes to a parking area and we pull in. Whew. That was close. We find a place to eat, because the hike to Crystal Lake is 6 miles in. I am not interested in driving further along the ravine. But after our lunch we do hike a bit along the little water, probably a creek. Lots of wildflowers. Beautiful. Green and lush.
But then we're back in the car and back along that ravine for the drive home. Next time we go, we'll do more research. Find an easier way in. Avoid the ravine. That's my plan, anyway.

Here and there and back again, all in the same day. I'm tired, not bad for an elderly lady, I guess.

Queen Norma Jean

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