More Catchup, Please...

• Monday and Tuesday were Fall Break, so no school on Tuesday
• Wednesday, I took Mr. M to the doctor, Cracker Barrel, Walmart, the gas station, and home
• Thursday, we tried again to get the car to pass the emissions test--no deal
• Friday, we left the car at the mechanic's to see if he could get the check engine light to go away--it came on again before M got it home
• Yesterday, after lunch, M and I walked around the yard trying to identify trees--pictures to follow--we had some we hadn't even known we had

So, what has happened since the State Fair?

Thursday, I had my first Algebra test.

Friday, I had to go to the doctor's office to pick up a prescription for Mr. M (they can't call or fax for this medication). I picked up the prescription, went to Walmart, got gas, was headed for home when I thought I ought to look at the prescription to see if it was right. It had been handed to me in an envelope with Mr. M's name on the front--I opened the envelope and discovered that the prescription had been filled out with the wrong name! I called the doctor's office--the nurse said to come back and get another one. I went back and waited over 40 minutes for the doctor to sign the new one--then headed for home--stopped and got the prescription filled (got to the pharmacy just before it closed).

Sabbath, went to Sabbath School and Church--then went to Mr. M's in the afternoon to take him his medicine.

Sunday morning, our family and the Pathfinder Director's family met and cleaned out and inventoried the chuck wagon. We wanted to see what was in it and what needed to be replaced. We finished just as the rain from Ike came in.

Monday, I went to the dentist. My teeth had been hurting for quite a while--finally got an appointment. I took T with me in case I needed him to drive home. They took x-rays--said I have an abcessed baby tooth. The dentist said he wanted to try and save it--did a root canal and put a temporary cap on it. Then we went to a Walgreens down the street and got prescriptions for an antibiotic and a pain pill.

Monday evening was Pathfinders and T's first piano lesson of the school year. We met early for a staff meeting--T did his piano lesson--then we had Pathfinders. We had to meet at the elementary school gym since an evangelistic series is going on at the church and they are using the room we usually meet in. The pathfinders got their Bible Achievement notebooks and study materials, did some drilling and marching, tied some knots, worked a little on a camping skills honor--then it was time to go home.

Tuesday, I got my Algebra test back--83.5%!! Yea!!!

Wednesday, I helped Mr. M take his lawn mower to get fixed. We got groceries, then stopped at an auto parts store for a new battery for his truck. We came home and put the groceries away and unhitched the trailer, then went to lunch in town. When I got home, T was going to mow our grass, but he needed more gas. I went to the closest gas station (about 4 miles away). I noticed the car was driving funny--had trouble accelerating from a stop or even slow for a curve. Since I was planning to take the car to our mechanic in the morning (to see if he could get the emission test to pass with the mobile unit that comes to our town once a month), I called to see if he'd have time to check it. Mr. M said I could use his truck to get to school on Thursday, since the car would be at the mechanic's.

After supper, I reminded M that the car was driving funny. He thought he'd drive it and see what it was doing--I went with him. We got about 3/4 of the way up the driveway and the car wouldn't go forward anymore. So, M put it in reverse and backed down the drive. Then he tried again to go up the driveway. This time it only went about half way before refusing to go forward. So, again, he put it in reverse and backed it down the drive and parked it.

Thursday morning, M talked to our mechanic (needless to say, it wasn't going in for the emissions test). He said it was the transmission. When I left for school, M was trying to track down a transmission for it.

T and I went to school in Mr. M's truck--after class I had to go to the office to fill out a form proving that I am enrolled and attending--I got a summons for jury duty--they wanted me to be on call for the month of November--I filled out their form saying I was in school--they wrote back wanting proof. Then we got the emissions test done on the truck and got the new sticker for the license plate.

Meanwhile, M found a transmission--went and got it--took it to the mechanic--came home and had me call for a tow truck to get it to the mechanic's. Hopefully, it will be ready by the first of the week.

Today, was a busy day of trying to catch up on housework.

The Sooner You Get Behind, the More Time You Have to Catch Up

The lake at ICC

Last Friday, I went to Indian Creek Camp for a Pathfinder Leadership Retreat. We had workshops on Friday evening, all day on Sabbath, and a general session on Sunday morning after breakfast. The workshops that I went to were: Concepts of Outdoor Education, Cold Weather Camping, Backpacking, Resources, Geocaching, and Discipline. I learned a lot and had fun too.

The chapel at ICC

Monday night was our first Pathfinder meeting of the year. The director went over the "how to's" for the new kids. They learned how to "fall in" and "fall out", how to stand at attention and do an "about face". They tied some of the knots that they will have to learn this year.

Tuesday morning, T and I went to our first college classes (Freshman Comp for T, Intermediate Algebra for me). We both survived--T is probably the youngest in his class and I am probably the oldest in mine.

Wednesday, I took the car back to the mechanic to work on the "check engine" light problem so I could get it to pass the emissions test and get my new tag. Before I got home with it, the light was on again. We took it back and left it for him to work on on Thursday.

Thursday, T and I went back to school. We each had quizzes. T had to write a 500 word essay in class. We talked about "polynomials". I picked up the car from the mechanic's again--the light came on again. Guess I'll have to go to the county office building and see about getting an extension.

Thursday night, the Pathfinder club met at a local pool to work on the Beginner's Swimming Honor. All but one got the swimming requirements done--still have to do a couple safety requirements. We were there for about 2 hours--everyone seemed to have a good time. We had two instructors, so divided the kids into two groups.

A Busy, Busy Week!

Monday night was Pathfinder registration. We made cupcakes in honor of T's birthday and took them to registration.

Tuesday, we took books back to the library (and got new ones), did some shopping, and I filled Mr. M's pill box. (Last week, the lady who had been caring for Mr. M since he came home from the assisted living called me and asked me to come to his house. There she proceded to tell me she was leaving that night--U-haul already loaded--and would I take care of his medicine and Dr. appointments. What could I say? Her husband (ex?) is doing whatever else he needs). I also had the car to the mechanic--it failed the emissions test--he worked on it--the "check engine" light went out. I put up flyers about the puppies while I was in town and we gave away two that afternoon.

Wednesday, I took Mr. M to his primary care doctor, who promptly referred us to another doctor (fortunately got an appointment for that afternoon). We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel, then went to the other doctor who wants him to go to rehab for his balance (nurse thought it would be three times a week--will find out tomorrow). We got home in time to give a puppy away. Then, since M had already picked tomatoes, we made salsa (finished about 10 p.m.--made three batches--each batch was two canner loads). The slips of paper on the lids are to indicate how much hot pepper was in each batch until the lids dried and I could label them.

Thursday, I took Mr. M's truck to get washed and gassed up. Got some prescriptions filled for him. I also called Home Instead, a non-medical senior care company, to see if they could come see him (and hopefully sign him up). The representative came at 4 p.m.--told what they offered and the prices. Mr. M wanted to wait about signing up.

Friday, someone from Promedical came to Mr. M's to bring him a C-Pap machine and show him how to use it. He wanted me there to hear what to do also. After that, I came home and did some cleaning and laundry. I also did some okra for the freezer (sliced and breaded for frying).

We left home about 4 p.m. to meet L at a Pizza Hut near the airport--she was riding with a friend who was picking up someone at the airport. We got to the Pizza Hut to discover that it was a carry-out rather than dine-in. So, we drove around looking for somewhere else to eat. Finally settled on El Chicos. The waitress recommended some vegetarian options for us--which turned out to be quite tasty. After supper, we went to the airport and visited while waiting to see if the person being picked up would actually make it there (their flight had been delayed and they missed their connecting flight and were waiting to make another flight). About 8:45 p.m. we got the word that they were definitely coming, so we told L and her friend goodbye. We got home a bit after 10, the girls got home about 2:30 a.m. Got a nice picture of T and L saying good-bye at the airport.

Sabbath, we did Sabbath School and church--came home and had haystacks for lunch. I took a nap, M did Bible Achievement questions, and T listened to Adventures in Oddessy. After my nap, I went to Mr. M's to help him change a medication patch (has to be changed every three days--I'm trying to teach him to change it himself since I'll be gone some days when it needs changed).

Sunday, M and T prepped tomatoes and I canned crushed tomatoes (chopped in the Vita-Mix then cooked with a couple cans of tomato paste, jarred, and processed--good soup base or spaghetti sauce base). I did two batches--a total of 14 quarts (plus almost two more--not enough to run through the canner--put them in the fridge to use later this week).