Search where?

This Portfolio (normajeantrent)

All of Writing.Com

◄ August ► 2020
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31
Archive				RSS

Create New Item

Read & Review

Community

Browse By Type

Browse By Genre

Writing Resources

Saturday, May. 4, 2024

9:45pm EDT

Members: 901

Guests: 674

Total Online: 1,575

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

Previous ... 1 -2- ... Next

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

August 11, 2020 at 5:51pm

#990545

Music To My Ears

Yesterday we went off to the Big City again, Billings. Hubby has to have a crown, seems he broke a tooth and broke a filling. Drag. But nothing like getting up at the butt-crack of dawn to get to the dentist by 8 AM. That means an early up at 5:30 to be on the road before 7 AM. At least it was cool all day.

We did the usual Costco run, because my husband says he will now always buy toilet paper every time we are near that store. Oh great, I think. I'll be one of the t.p. hoarders. But we did get to go at a time when others are not there. Since we are of the senior age now, we get to go early.

Went here, went there, but the good part was we were done early. And since I hadn't eaten breakfast, I suggested a quick bite at Wendy's. And has anyone else noticed the logo for Wendy's lately? If you look, below her face the ruffles on her dress and then the round emblem in the middle, it is like it spells MOM. Really. Subliminal? I first noticed this some months ago, and of course, once you notice something, that's all you can see. Reminds me of a mural we had up behind the baptistry at church. (The inground pool for baptizing in case you don't know) It was old and needed replaced. Someone said, 'All I see is that rock that looks like a cowboy hat.'

It was a mural of a river scene. Well I didn't get it, until they pointed it out. And then every time I went into the sanctuary, that is all I saw. A rock like a cowboy hat.

I stopped after that at the post office. I needed only 17 stamps. 'Sorry, they only come in sheets of 20.' Since when can't you buy individual stamps? Whatever, I get the twenty. I guess the days are gone when you just walk in and get what you want.

So on the way home, I am bored with hearing just car noise. Hubby claims he can't hear anything. Get a hearing aid, is my usual reply. Falls on deaf ears. (pun intended) So I opt for music. Classical music. As I listen to some selections, and I'll just name a few, I watch outside. I feel like I'm watching a documentary, or I'm in a train. I see trees, sagebrush, rushing by. Then there are some antelope grazing, a nice size herd. Some cattle

nearby. 'Thus Spake Zarathustra' by R.Strauss - 2001 a Space Odyssey, 'Wm Tell Overture' by Rossini - Hi Ho Silver!

, 'Morning from Peer Gynt' by Grieg, 'O Sole Mio' as sung by Pavarotti - be still my heart, 'Air' by Bach. What a wonderful way to fill the time as we make the hour's drive home. It reminded me of a time many years ago when hubby and I drove down a large mountain in Tennessee, in a car

with the moon roof open, blaring the 1812 overture. Lovely memory.

Now on to today, I get up early again so I can meet friend and volunteer to fill backpacks

with school supplies. RSVP and Northern Treasures, a volunteer Senior group and a thrift store, every year do this for families in town. They get the supplies with donations, and people can sign up for a free backpack full of what we can provide. We limited the number this year to 50 children. Then on Thursday we'll pass out the packs to the children. A worthy cause I'm glad to be a part of.

After that, I went to a friend's house and shared a letter

I got from my little pen pal. This friend's granddaughter, who she's raising, was a good friend with this little girl. And she really wants to get in touch again, so I went to make sure they have the new address. We chatted for a bit, then back home for lunch.

So now I'm going to work on another non-profit project. I have to figure out the direct mail program on the Post Office website. We are doing a mailing this October and I am in charge. Wish me luck as I wander around the website of EDDM. Every door direct mail. Fun and games.

Queen Norma Jean

1 Like • Comment

August 9, 2020 at 11:09pm

#990397

{e:babygirl} ssshhh secret language

Today was so nice. It was hard to believe it was August! The temperature never got much above 85 degrees here. And now as the sun sets, the temperature will drop. This is why we don't see the need to use air conditioning. Why install something that will cost us a fortune to run, block out the fresh air when you only need it a few weeks out of the year?

I really feel that we are losing our ties to the natural world. We want to be cold

in the summer and hot in the winter. We no longer a willing to adjust to the climate in which we live. Think of the pioneers. And I know I don't want to go backwards with all the problems and hassles, and like central heat and indoor plumbing. Most people don't know where their food comes from. They don't take the time to get outside and take a walk, get into nature by hiking or even fishing

or bike riding or anything like that. Everyone just wants to sit in their climate controlled car

to the climate controlled store to the climate controlled work to the climate controlled home and then repeat every day. Oh well, I'm just someone who has always been more comfortable outside than inside. I'm just preaching to the choir, I know.

So this afternoon we had a baby shower for a young woman in church. A few interesting things happened at this shower. We had a few little games. Always fun to have shower games, right? So there is this one woman, and she is a different type. "I can't do any of these. I don't know the answers." So the leader says "Sure you can. Just try." "No, I can't." The leader is an older woman, used to teach school, a saint. "Well, then draw me a picture."
"Draw a picture?" "Yes, you can do that, can't you?" So she does. Then the leader says, "Okay, now sign it for me." "I'm not signing that." For real. Like I said, she is different. God love her.

The lady having the baby

is young, maybe 19, and she already has a 1 year old. She is due in October. Beautiful young lady. So as she opens each card she comments on the handwriting. "Such beautiful writing...." Then "What does it say?" She cannot read cursive. When did cursive start to be a secret language folks? Perhaps those of us that are skilled in the magic art of handwriting can use it as a secret spy language. She is a single mom and did get a lot of great little baby girl clothes. It was a lot of fun. But I am sure glad I am not raising children in this day and age. Scary times.

Like • Comment

August 8, 2020 at 1:12pm

#990258

Broken Glass

This morning on the porch it is 45 degrees. Really. I checked. Hubby left early for a prayer breakfast at church. His parting words were 'Don't turn on the heat.' How did he know that was in the back of my mind?

Hard to believe it is that cool for August. Feels like fall. But the light angle has changed. It always does about this date in August.

Last night up the street some kind of altercation took place. I was on my porch swing, relaxing, reading, and suddenly I heard some kind of commotion. I sit up and see some guy beating the back window of a black jeep that was in the street. The black jeep then tore up the street in front of me, a woman driving, with no back window. Hmmmm..... I still wonder what that was all about. I waited for police to show up. The black jeep came back a little later then left again. It hasn't been back since. I don't think I would go back to someone who could beat up my car. ANYWAY, later I thought, I wonder if there is glass in the street. So I walked down there, and sure enough, broken glass all over the street. So I walk back home and report to hubby. Of course he is upset, 'Don't get involved, don't go over there, don't, don't, don't....' Now today I just got back from a walk. I saw a sheriff go by, and flag them down. I tell them about the glass in the street, it's still there, the person still has not cleaned it up. So we'll see if it gets swept up. Drama.

I walked down to a flea market that is held every Saturday. My friend that brings us eggs

weekly has a booth there where she sells fresh vegetables. Most everyone is doing a memorial to a woman who died last week that used to work in a restaurant in town. I think I mentioned that I do not have fond memories of this person, while most all the booths at the flea market had wonderful posters in her honor. Whatever. I actually felt sorry for her, she was treated like a slave, in my opinion, by the owners of the restaurant. She worked from 6 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week. Never took a day off. She was the manager. But then, if you let people use you, you deserve what you get.

Hubby is resting after a trying morning. He came home and said he cracked a filling. At breakfast. Eating bacon. ???? How does one do that? I feel badly for him, now back to the dentist come Monday. Pablum and applesauce for two days, my man.

Everyone enjoy these last summer days! I just hope the sun

warms things up a bit!

2 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

August 7, 2020 at 11:40am

#990183

Moon and Mars

Today may be an interesting day. There is a Red Flag warning issued. For those not schooled on this, it is a warning for Fire Danger. High winds, low humidity mean fire danger. This is a big problem here in Montana and other parts of the West this time of year.

The fire siren down at the volunteer fire station has been going off quite a bit lately. And I see posted lots of fires around. So pray that the winds aren't too bad this afternoon, 25 to 30 MPH predicted. But on the plus side, maybe all the grasshoppers will be blown to North or South Dakota! Score!

There is a used book sale starting this morning. The friends of the library have this yearly. A good time to stock up on books. Of course, I already can start my own library. But so many books, so little time. I just have to go and see what treasures I can unearth. Of course, they are making it annoying, masks required, and gloves. Fuss and bother. I'll take my own mask, but gloves? Really? I would think it would be cheaper to just put out sanitizer and make sure people use it. But the powers that be say use a mask and gloves, and I want books, I guess I'll do it.

We do the museum volunteer guide thing today. It is a quiet 4 hours the past few weeks. No one has been in on our tour of duty. Nice time to sit, talk a bit, read a bit, and I take a notebook and sometime write. Of course, since we are retired, we don't get all that tired anymore, but it is nice to just sit and have no agenda for a few hours.

Did anyone see this thing posted about the moon and mars being together in the sky on August 27th? Well - I did some research, and no, Mars can never appear as big as the moon. Just a bunch of hooey. As usual - Facebook hooey. But it would be fun if it was true. You can see the moon and Mars close to each other this weekend, but Mars is never more than a red star for us. Unless you write SciFi and then it is the most wonderful place in the universe, full of undiscovered aliens and towns and new technologies.

So, off to the book sale.

It only happens once in a Blue Moon!!

Like • Comment

August 6, 2020 at 10:37am

#990104

Chili Dog Contoversy

It is a beautiful day on the porch. Blue sky, sun just up a little behind the museum. It promises to be a hot one. But since it's August, we expect and hope for a few more hot days before the weather starts to change. And change it will, come September.

Let's see, yesterday was my busy day. Meals on Wheels, church, then volunteer time at the thrift store. I didn't go to play practice, since it was Act 2 only, and my only line is at the very end, and that is only "Ahhh! Murderer! Ahhhh! Police!!!" I begged off last week. I didn't see the virtue of driving 20 miles to say three or four words. And suffer through two hours of rehearsal with everyone's struggling. So I'll pick it up again next week. I'm gathering up my props and costume though. I believe that the sooner you get all that in order, the easier it is to get into character.

Meals on Wheels

was the usual route, except at one stop a lady comes running up to us. "You don't have us on the list?" Nope, that name was crossed off.

"Here, take a meal. We'll go back and get another."

"Oh, no, can't put you out. It's okay."

"Really, it's okay, we'll go back. No problem."

"I know I told them today, but not tomorrow."

Well, of course, someone had it backwards. So we drove back to get another meal. So as I stand there and ask for another, the powers that be start discussing whose fault it was that this happened. I didn't care, just get me a meal so I can get back in the car and get the rest delivered before things get cold.

So the meal was chili dogs. Oh brother. I don't eat pork, no hot dogs for me. I don't eat chili, can't do the beans. I don't eat bread, the gluten. Yeah - welcome to my world. So I ate coleslaw, pickled beets, raw cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes. Sour cream dip? No, can't do the milk. A cookie? No, can't do the wheat. My husband then asked the server, well, since Norma isn't eating a hot dog, can I have hers? The answer, 'No, there are only so many for this many people.' And she waves her hand in the air to indicate the overwhelming crowd of twenty. 'But you can come back after everyone is served and if any are left, you can have one.' Okay folks, to us it didn't make any sense. I wasn't eating one. He could have had mine. Correct?

So next time I will just take the dirty dog and give it to hubby. Eliminate the confusion.

I rode my bike to church. I have a sweet Columbia bike replica from 1952. Since I live in a small town in a flat area of Montana, I can ride this baby everywhere. Yesterday hubby had to make a trip to Billings, again, for the remodeling project. A special stain for the woodwork. So I pedaled on over. We had our little study. It is led by a lady who used to teach school.

You can tell she was a great teacher. Then after that we make our way to the thrift store.

The thrift store is doing well. Bang up business lately. But I think that is because people don't want to drive to Billings. That city has a lot of the virus right now, and masks are required. Folks just don't want to do that. So they would rather shop local. Anyway, the store is busting at the seams with donations. Holy Cow!

Yesterday I worked on just getting pictures, picture frames, those sorts of things in order for a big sale come Monday. 'Starving Artist Sale' is my proposal. $1 for any artwork. We have so many pictures. I thought this might be a way to unload some.

I have taken on the task of dreaming up sales for the store. It is fun, and sometimes it pays off big. Before I started do it, maybe the manager would sometimes think of something to do. Now it's several times a month, always something goofy. Because that's how the Queen likes it.

Today we are cleaning the car. Ugh. We have to shampoo the upholstery, clean the rugs. It's a real mess. It was spotless when hubby drove it home last July. We are bad car owners. We let it go too long.

A real victory was had the other day! The neighbors mowed their grass. These folks bought a huge house next to us, claimed they would be totally rehabbing it soon. Right. That was last fall. Nothing since then. The grass

hadn't been mowed since late in June. It was a real jungle. Finally I called the city office and complained. I know that is where all the grasshoppers

I whine so much about came from. And after my complaint, they came and mowed. Hurrah!

So the Queen is off to clean. I do hate so when all the workers leave for vacay.

1 Like • Comment

August 3, 2020 at 11:17pm

#989826

Facebook Chopped Me

Here I sit in the living room, just about ready for a storm to start. Or will it? Gray skies on the horizon, but the air is dry. The barometer is falling and the weather service and radar says it's on the way. Perhaps.

We could use a good rain. But please, no hail. That would be bad. Worse than the curse of grasshoppers. And when the hoppers show up as a big green blob on radar, you know they are a problem.

Tomorrow is Billings day. Oh brother. That means a whole day of shopping. Fun and games. Then today I added another stop. Let me back up. Friday night hubby and I were sitting in the same living room watching a TCM movie, innocent enough. I rubbed my eye, no big deal. Then it seemed a bit scratchy after. So when the movie ended, I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. "Uh, honey...Look at this!" My entire eye looked like a big red marble. His response, "Get in the car. We're going to the ER." So we go, 'Did you call your eye doctor?' is the response of the RN, and no, I didn't because he would probably say go to the ER! and then the provider on duty, which by the way is never a doctor, just a nurse practitioner or some such thing, gives me a cursory glance then calls an eye doctor in Billings, then sends me on my way after telling me it's a type of superficial hemorrhage. Should clear up after a few days. So we go home. I've been laying low for a few days. But then today I thought perhaps my real eye doctor should look at this.

So I have an appointment to see him tomorrow. But of course, I had to rearrange my haircut appointment to make that work. Now we have a laundry list of places to go. Stop here, stop there, get this, get that. Buy this, buy that. I'm already tired.

A lady that worked at a restaurant here in town passed away a few days ago. She'd worked there for years. I worked there for a few weeks. My opinion of her was not kind. So at a meeting this morning everyone was saying how kind and caring and wonderful she was. I just had to say "Sorry, but I must be the only person in town that has to disagree with all of you." None of those people ever worked with this woman, strange how opinions of people are formed. I had no preconceived idea going into the job, but sure had an opinion as I left that position.

I went to the post office this morning on behalf of a non-profit group I head. We do a mass mailing in the fall, and I have no clue on how to proceed. And as you would know it, the previous head gave me no information on how to do this. The post mistress was the most helpful person, she even gave me her home number, call me at home

at night if you need help getting this going. When is the last time a government employee told you that?

So now I have to work on EDDM as they call it. Get with the printer, edit the flier, get the project going.

Then today at our lunch time a friend calls and asked if we could open the museum, we live right across the street. The volunteer was running late. Shelley is the volunteer coordinator and knows we'll pretty much do whatever she asks, within reason. 'Sure, no problem.' So I wander over, carrying my lunch plate. But boy, she sure takes her time getting there. Then I go back home and we have dessert. Mmmm, homemade yellow cake with chocolate icing.

Monday is Bible study at church, then we do a Bible study live on the radio and Facebook. Except today as we got started Facebook had a hiccup and stopped in the middle of it all. DARN! Since I was the moderator today, I looked down at the computer and thought to myself, really?? So I just exit out of the blasted computer and say FINE!

No more computer. I will post an apology to our listeners when I get home.

Most every Monday I motor over to my favorite thrift store and say hey. I found a really cute skirt I put on hold til I volunteer there on Wednesday. So we talk a few moments before they close then I come home for the night. Now I'm watching a favorite show - 'Chopped' - on the Food network. I love seeing what they do with normal and weird ingredients.

Still waiting on rain folks!

1 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

Previous ... 1 -2- ... Next

© Copyright 2024 QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham (UN: normajeantrent at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/profile/blog/normajeantrent/month/8-1-2020/sort_by/entry_order DESC, entry_creation_time DESC/page/2