REMEMBERING

MAYTAG

July 14 – 20

REMEMBERING

07.14.2020: 
Ana surprised me with this 2013 clip this morning.

 That’s when she learned about Rabbit Day.

The song we are dancing to is one that my dad sang and played on his guitar:

 “I Fell In Love by the Ocean” an old Mexican classic. -Ana

 I danced with Ana on her birthday. Ana was a student of mine in the fifth grade.  In 2013, my pants were size 44. Today, they are size 36, thanks partially to PD.

Preview YouTube video Birthday Party 2013

Do you remember a moment or time in elementary school that stands out? Write about it for us.  We’ll print as many as we have space for. If you don’t want your name published, the editor will use your initials. Or, to add to the mystery, why not use a pseudonym?

07.14.2020: We had a visit from Raven, a beautiful black labrador. She is a member of the Shulick family. I gave Sabrina a copy of Helena’s (unfinished) story: Welcome to Nowhere. Let’s see if Sabrina enjoys the story as much as I. The best is yet to come, I think.

2100 -2130: We took our hand-held 40x binoculars and attempted to find NEOWISE, our newest comet. In the process, we were able to see the international space station. (Lance’s family came out also.) It was less than spectacular presenting a faded fuzzball image. Hard to find just below the Big Dipper. It should be visible for another six or seven days. I’m guessing each night, it will be brighter. I was disappointed that we couldn’t see a tail. It’s the first time I’ve missed my Ultima 2000, 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Tomorrow night if it’s clear I’ll set up the tripod and we will find it with our  9×63 astronomical binoculars.

07.15.2020: 0500: I cleaned up the backyard this morning including Raven’s “gifts”. We have a “free” day, today.   I may actually get some writing done.

 “Sam, there is ice in the chamber, but no ice will drop.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Ah, well.

Later. The LOW last night was 89º. Tough.  No chance to watch Comet Neowise.  Cloudy this evening.

We drove to Wild Birds Unlimited and used their curbside pick-up. They loaded ten seed cylinders.  That should last three months. Tomorrow, I take PJ to the Pain Clinic for her steroid shots. She says the exercise helps, but her back still gives her problems.

Sorry I didn’t take a picture of the lettuce wrap dinner last night. We were late making dinner. By the way: Dragon is working! Geeks 2 You fixed it remotely.  It took an hour. While he was familiar with other dictation programs, he had not worked Dragon before. He learned more than I did. I should charge him for the lesson. HA!

07.16.2020: 0500: The housecleaners came over today. Phyllis has a tooth problem. We’ll see how soon we can get in to see the dentist.

Parkinson’s: I have an appointment with the bank this morning. I’ve been doing automatic deposits. (You know what a deposit is, don’t you? That’s where you put money in the bank instead of taking it out.) My cell phone is set to take the picture automatically after I put the check on a dark surface. My tremor was so bad I couldn’t hold the cell camera steady.

By the time I got to the last check, the automatic feature was jiggling so much that I had the repeat the process. There’s a time limit for the program to make a deposit. (I didn’t know this.) I was just ready to do it again when it said I have to reboot because I’m out of time! So I took some deep breaths meditated on flowers and called upon the gods of technology (pleasantly, of course) again. This time, it worked however but somehow it duplicated the deposit. I don’t know how to UN-duplicate the check. So I’ll call Peter Graziano (Branch Manager) for help.

What I need is a stand to set the cell on just the right height to shoot down and take a picture. I’ll bet they already have something like that. I know: I’ll check on Amazon.

07.17.2020: Found a solution to stabilizing the camera in my closet! My watercolor tripod! It doesn’t tremor. One more hoop of success.

We received a thank you letter from Dr. Senait Dyson, our Dermatologist, for the see-through mask so that the HOH people can read her lips.  We’ve been passing them out to our doctors. Since we started, ALOHA has a newer mask with a wider view – (think sliding glass doors) – Ha! We still have a few doctors that might need them. If you ever need a dermatologist, PJ, and I can recommend her highly.  She has two offices: 2222 N. Craycroft Road #100. (520) 838-0777; Another in Green Valley: 516 E. White House Canyon Rd. #100 Phone (520)625-0800.

Sunflower ~ One of many by Ana Felix (Vincent would be happy!)

Our granddog, Raven, is visiting for a while. She doesn’t know what to think of the quiet compared to life with Sabrina and Zack.

Here’s a shot of Raven (not) playing with her toys.

No view of Comet Neowise – Clouds. We can go for thirty days with clear skies. Let there be a meteor shower or (in this case) a comet and you can be sure we will get upper-level clouds. It has often been said among people in Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association that the presence of clouds means someone has gotten a new telescope. For the first light as the lens cover is removed the stars the view disappears because the sky suddenly gets cloudy!

07.18.2020: I’ve been battling a bad case of indigestion with my gut. I did get a chance to attend the zoom meeting which brings me to the subject of remembering. You knew I’d get to it sooner or later, didn’t you?

07.19.2020: I’m trying to take a selfie of Raven and me.  I’ll get better. She sits and heels.  I’ll get PJ to take some shots.  Remember your first dog, cat, pet? Writ about your first impressions.

If that is too difficult a question, try writing about the last steak dinner you had. That may be harder to do.

Sirloin Steak with White Wine Demi-Glace: Excellent if we do say so ourselves! We’ll have leftovers on Tuesday. The first time I’ve used our George Foreman grill for steak. I finished it with my stir-fry pan, the peas, potatoes, and white wine. To do these meals, it helps to have both of us doing it Phyllis knows what she’s doing; I have to read the directions twice and I’m never sure that I’m on task.  This dish worked.

07.21.2020: Meanwhile, our daughter and granddaughter are “suffering” at the beach. You can read it on their faces. Somewhere near Timbuktu, I believe.

Sam and PJ in 2008. Thanks to Ian Lewis who keeps files like this.

PJ, SWOMBO, Phyllis of the Red Hat Club. Any way you call it, isn’t she beautiful? And perfect. Of course: She’s Sweedish! (I idolize her!)

Tonight is the best for viewing Comet Neowise.  You guessed it! We are covered with clouds!