Tuesday, May 30
May. 31st, 2023 12:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gottawonderToday I am grateful for:
I had a nice chat with Mom on the phone, where she seemed cheerful. It's so funny for me, that some days her voice sounds just the way it always has, and it's easy to imagine her looking like she did twenty or thirty years ago. She isn't taking any conversational initiative, almost just agreeing with whatever you're talking about, but it sounds the same. It's weird knowing what she does look like now, and pairing that with her voice.
I also contacted the manager of the store where the service was so bad yesterday. I really feel like it's something that needs to be addressed, because it was SO BAD. The manager at least listened to what I had to say, agreed that it sounded like I had a very bad experience in his store, and he said it was important to him that they treat people well. I don't know if anything will come of it, but if we don't say something, for SURE nothing will change.
The air is a little cleaner today after a bit of rain.
Putting in MORE time in the garden, pulling stubborn quack grass roots. Sigh.
There are a couple of spots in the garden that are VERY soft and easy to work, and other parts of the garden that are still hard and mostly clay, in spite of adding a ton of composted manure over the years. My husband and I can't for the life of us figure out why this one spot in particular is so soft and easy to dig.
The parts that have a lot of clay don't make a nice, powdery soil even after tilling. They make smaller blocks. When you try to pull a weed out, it's roots don't come free, even if you dig it with a fork. It's like you get a big block on your fork with weed roots in it.
I went to see River.
On my way there, I stopped because some kids flipped their "side by side" vehicle in the ditch. Around here, it's pretty common (though stupid) to let your kids drive quads and these utility vehicles that are sort of like off-road golf carts and in the winter they drive snow mobiles. They drive in the ditches because it isn't legal for them to be on the road, but they treat the ditch like it's a road.
The ditches though, have lots of hazards. Approaches and driveways cut across, often with steep sides and culverts under them (lots of snow mobilers catch the ski in front on culverts that they can't see under the snow). There are holes, soft marshy areas, garbage, old fences, all kinds of things.
These kids are lucky to be okay. I stopped to talk to them, and their Dad was coming right away. They were not injured.
They drove straight into what looks like a big hole, maybe a drainage trench, then their vehicle fell over onto it's side. It was mired right in there, partly submerged.
When I drove back the same way over two hours later, they were still trying to pull it out of there.
River was very relaxed and sleepy today.
I was able to go for a walk with him at liberty through the trails in his pasture, it's part of me getting him comfortable leaving his friends and being with me in the bush.
There were lots of clouds and thunder and wind, but no rain in that bluster.
Another person was there with her two horses, and it was nice to see her, if ever so briefly. This is her first lesson at the barn since before she had her baby.
River did well with everything, though he was very sleepy. It was all black clouds and wind, and he was trying to nap.
I have a bareback pad for sale, and the woman who was interested in buying River a while ago was interested in the bareback pad...for her daughter's new horse! So, good for them, and hopefully no more creepy testing of my boundaries. They will try the pad first to see if it works for them.
The new horse is a mare, but otherwise looks like it could be River's twin. They sent a picture. I hope it works out for them.
I came home and let everyone out for a while, and it looked like an even bigger bank of dark clouds were coming, but still no rain.
This is not so much a "fact", but an interesting thought process. This is about trying to come up with a way to warn people to stay away from radioactive waste disposal sites...ten thousand years from now, as that is how long the radiation will be a threat.
The challenge is that ten thousand years is a very long time. Literally we did not have written language ten thousand years ago, and may not have any ten thousand years from now, or one that is unimaginably different. What symbols would still convey that message? How do you embed the idea strongly enough into culture that humanity will always know it's meaning? How could you mark a site in such a way that the markings won't fade?
https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/ten-thousand-years/
I had a nice chat with Mom on the phone, where she seemed cheerful. It's so funny for me, that some days her voice sounds just the way it always has, and it's easy to imagine her looking like she did twenty or thirty years ago. She isn't taking any conversational initiative, almost just agreeing with whatever you're talking about, but it sounds the same. It's weird knowing what she does look like now, and pairing that with her voice.
I also contacted the manager of the store where the service was so bad yesterday. I really feel like it's something that needs to be addressed, because it was SO BAD. The manager at least listened to what I had to say, agreed that it sounded like I had a very bad experience in his store, and he said it was important to him that they treat people well. I don't know if anything will come of it, but if we don't say something, for SURE nothing will change.
The air is a little cleaner today after a bit of rain.
Putting in MORE time in the garden, pulling stubborn quack grass roots. Sigh.
There are a couple of spots in the garden that are VERY soft and easy to work, and other parts of the garden that are still hard and mostly clay, in spite of adding a ton of composted manure over the years. My husband and I can't for the life of us figure out why this one spot in particular is so soft and easy to dig.
The parts that have a lot of clay don't make a nice, powdery soil even after tilling. They make smaller blocks. When you try to pull a weed out, it's roots don't come free, even if you dig it with a fork. It's like you get a big block on your fork with weed roots in it.
I went to see River.
On my way there, I stopped because some kids flipped their "side by side" vehicle in the ditch. Around here, it's pretty common (though stupid) to let your kids drive quads and these utility vehicles that are sort of like off-road golf carts and in the winter they drive snow mobiles. They drive in the ditches because it isn't legal for them to be on the road, but they treat the ditch like it's a road.
The ditches though, have lots of hazards. Approaches and driveways cut across, often with steep sides and culverts under them (lots of snow mobilers catch the ski in front on culverts that they can't see under the snow). There are holes, soft marshy areas, garbage, old fences, all kinds of things.
These kids are lucky to be okay. I stopped to talk to them, and their Dad was coming right away. They were not injured.
They drove straight into what looks like a big hole, maybe a drainage trench, then their vehicle fell over onto it's side. It was mired right in there, partly submerged.
When I drove back the same way over two hours later, they were still trying to pull it out of there.
River was very relaxed and sleepy today.
I was able to go for a walk with him at liberty through the trails in his pasture, it's part of me getting him comfortable leaving his friends and being with me in the bush.
There were lots of clouds and thunder and wind, but no rain in that bluster.
Another person was there with her two horses, and it was nice to see her, if ever so briefly. This is her first lesson at the barn since before she had her baby.
River did well with everything, though he was very sleepy. It was all black clouds and wind, and he was trying to nap.
I have a bareback pad for sale, and the woman who was interested in buying River a while ago was interested in the bareback pad...for her daughter's new horse! So, good for them, and hopefully no more creepy testing of my boundaries. They will try the pad first to see if it works for them.
The new horse is a mare, but otherwise looks like it could be River's twin. They sent a picture. I hope it works out for them.
I came home and let everyone out for a while, and it looked like an even bigger bank of dark clouds were coming, but still no rain.
This is not so much a "fact", but an interesting thought process. This is about trying to come up with a way to warn people to stay away from radioactive waste disposal sites...ten thousand years from now, as that is how long the radiation will be a threat.
The challenge is that ten thousand years is a very long time. Literally we did not have written language ten thousand years ago, and may not have any ten thousand years from now, or one that is unimaginably different. What symbols would still convey that message? How do you embed the idea strongly enough into culture that humanity will always know it's meaning? How could you mark a site in such a way that the markings won't fade?
https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/ten-thousand-years/
no subject
Date: 2023-06-01 02:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-01 04:55 am (UTC)She has very little memory left, doesn't watch any television, or do any crafts or hobbies. She spends most of her time sitting and looking out the window.
Our family is good about visiting her lots, almost every day her brother (who is probably ready to move there too) comes to visit her, TW visits her a lot too. She doesn't remember the details, but she does know that they visit a lot.
She enjoys the meals there, she has her own room which is getting very rare these days, but this care facility is in a small town, and she is comfortable.
She seemed to enjoy listening to music when I visited her.
She is at the stage of her life where all you can hope for is that she is comfortable, feels safe, and is taking care of bodily needs.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-01 04:50 pm (UTC)It surprised me that Lois used to enjoy crafts, singing and helping to prepare for meals; she thought she was working there but it kept her active and happy until her last few weeks.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-01 06:46 pm (UTC)I do think there are some day trips, and TW mentioned that she did go on one.
I know she doesn't play cards, not sure if she plays Bingo. No evidence that she does the crafts.
She used to try to do puzzles with another lady, but that person passed away.
I don't think Mom is unhappy, but I don't think there's a lot of function left.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-01 07:29 pm (UTC)