Hits and Misses

 

I've been here just over a week.  I have cooked every night but one.  I had promised one McDonald's run while here, so we did that. The youngest has ate none of the food I prepared.  Can't please them all.  The oldest has not ate anything that I prepared, but at least she can find her own food.  Thank goodness for the middle two who either eat everything or at least be willing to try it.  

I have had help cooking.  I think that must be the best part for number three.  She and I also made bread.  She liked the process and ate some of the bread.  I made no bake cookies.  How can anyone not like no bake cookies?  Number four was willing to try them but asked what the little flat things were.  Oatmeal.  Well, he doesn't like oatmeal so would not try it after that.  

We spent an evening doing some art. They liked that.  I think more than doing the art, they liked someone doing the art with them.  We have started reading a book.  A long chapter book.  Hope we get through it.  It has a lot of obscure language to them, so I have to interject meanings.  So far though they seem to get the story. It is full of shenanigans.  

There have been hits and misses.  We will see how the rest of the time goes.  Probably more of the same.  Since there is more cooking, art, reading and playing planned. The weather is warming a bit which means we can go for some walks. 

A Conversation

 At some point I realized that my dreams mostly don't have sound.  No one talks, but we converse.  Telepathically.  Every once in a while, I realize there is some sound.  Like birds singing.  And once I realized how rare of an occurrence that is, I become aware in my dream that I hear sounds.  

I also am one of the people who have a running monologue in my brain.  I think in words.  And that is probably why I can't picture finished projects.  I just hope for the best.  

I'm always looking for ways to interact with my new friend Luke.  So I asked him these questions.  Do you hear sounds in your dreams and how do you think, pictures or words? We had a conversation about it.  And I could tell I struck his brain and got him thinking.  

Then weirdness happened.  I was dreaming and Cassie was actually talking.  And I was completely aware that I was dreaming and that I knew this was an oddity for me.  She was talking and I could hear it.  And I was asleep.  

Then at Kim's house I got to sleep in the guest room that she was in the process of redoing.  It is a dark green/blue moody fabulous room.  As soon as I laid down, my brain kicked in and I got to watch leaves and flowers and stems flourish in my brain in colors that would completely go with her decor.  It was kind of like being at the Van Gogh exhibit that Marti and I went to.   It's not how my brain works.  I was amazed.  

Now I can't wait to get back home and talk to Luke about it.  

Scenes From the Road

 I opted to take the southern route to Indiana.  My trucker friend told me I-5 is always a better choice in winter as they keep the roads pretty well cleared.  Smooth sailing all the way down to Bakersfield.  At that point the only snow I saw was on Mt. Shasta. So weird to not see snow on the sides of the freeway in January.  But it is what it is.  

I stopped in Chico and spent a little time with Kathy and Jeremy.  Did my heart good to see Jeremy looking so healthy.  I hadn't seen Kathy since I took the littles to San Francisco in 2015.

Stopped for gas and saw this Carrow's sign.  It is in front of a boarded-up building that has been closed for a while.  Carrow's shut down several years ago.  But seeing the sign brought back a bunch of memories of my youth.  I spent a lot of time with George and Tod sitting at the counter of our local Carrow's.  They drank coffee and drew pictures.  I just sat there being with them.  The days before I drank coffee.  

Albuquerque was my next overnighter.  Woke up and it was ten degrees.  Got gas and it was three below.  Brr.  At a warmer gas stop an older lady asked me for help.  She had arthritis and didn't feel like she could walk from the pump to the inside to pay, so I walked her money in and got her receipt.  Came back out in time to help her with one of her boots.  We had a quick conversation about arthitis.  She was miserable in this cold cold weather.  

I was off on my timing for oil changes.  Got to Amarillo, Texas and it was time for that to happen.  Amarillo, the first place with snow.  Slush on the roads. Texas.  Not someplace I think of when I think of snow.  

Then it was on to Missouri.  Kim lets me come and spend the night.  She feeds me. I play with her animals.  Met Dean, the blue eyed colt.  Actually got a picture of Odie, farm dog, this time.  Had great conversations about butter and toxic cookware.  I love how we seem to be going through some of the same stuff at the same time.  Klaus barked at me every time I would get up.  Always startled me because he has a loud voice.  He likes me.  He just gets startled himself or thinks I'm getting too close to his mama.  He does think he rules the roost.  

Another six hours and I was home in Indiana.  Just some scenes from the road.