Feds Declare Jo Not a Citizen

I needed something from Social Security so I went online to request it.  They can mail it to me...or so I thought.  My request was rejected.  I called Social Security asking why.  After matching my answers to hers:  Name, DOB, City and State were born, mother's maiden name, 3rd cousin's shoe size...She agreed that I was Jo; however, she went on to say that I am not a citizen. And that is why my request was rejected.  I am not a citizen. She agreed that I was born in Urbana, Illinois but somehow whoever did data entry didn't click the citizen box. "How can I fix this?" I queried.  "Can't you just fix it now over the phone?"  No, I need to get a certified birth certificate from the Champaign County Clerk, which costs $21.00.  I will not comment on the bureaucracy of the government.  

At least SS is sending me my monthly money, which is actually mine to begin with, but I digress.   After sharing this information with Case, I notice that he is bringing bricks and mortar in the house.  Looks like he is building The Wall. 

See ya later....

See you later, alligator...After while, crocodile...In an hour, sunflower...Maybe two, kangaroo...Gotta go, buffalo...Adios, hippos...Ciao Ciao, brown cow...See you soon, baboon...Adieu, cockatoo...Better swish, jellyfish..chop chop, lollipop...Gotta run, skeleton...Bye bye, butterfly...Better shake, rattlesnake!

With winter so early this year I am reading all kinds of things.  This is a doormat sold in one of the many catalogs I receive this time of year.

Bird-feeder

In winter our bird-feeder brings Chickadees - lots of Chickadees.  Two types of Nuthatches:  white-breasted and red-breasted.  Two kinds of woodpeckers:  Downy and Hairy.  On the shoulder seasons there are many more who migrate through.  A few eat the seeds from the ground under the feeder: Junco, Fox Wren and Wild Turkeys.  One morning last week we noticed these huge footprints around the feeder - turkeys.  I guess they are not too proud to eat bird seed purchased at the store. 

Lake Effect Snow

We are receiving lake effect snow.  It is the good kind.  Big flakes.  Fluffy.  So fluffy that when you brush off the car, you can do it with two passes of the brush.  And the flakes land perfectly in the trees and bushes.  It is a postcard.  The lake is Lake Superior.  We don't always get that snow - only if the wind moves in the right direction.  We are an hour's drive from Gitchee Gumee, Ojibwa name for big sea.

Christmas Catalogs

Christmas catalogs have been arriving for a while.  Talked with a friend yesterday.  We agreed that LL Bean has sent the most catalogs so far.  Recently I received a catalog that made me pause.  The overlay cover stated that I had been pre-approved for a large line of credit from them. Order whatever you want!  It was a Montgomery Wards catalog.  Didn't they go out of business? 

First Frost

The frost is on the pumpkin this morning!  Case has the woodstove burning to warm the house.  Late Fall is officially here.  Raking leaves is the main activity.  Should be done in a few days.  It is a lovely and quiet time of year.  "Leaf peepers" have left.  (People who drive around looking at leaves.)  Hunters have yet to start to "sighting in" their guns before Deer Season on Nov. 17.  (Target practice to check the accuracy of their gun sight.)  All is well with the northwoods.

Christmas Boughs - October 9

I saw my first bough hunter on October 9.  These people earn money by harvesting (cutting) 18-24 inch balsam boughs and selling them to the local wreath-making places.  There are two of these places in Hayward.  These boughs are cut in federal, state or county lands.  They need a $20 permit to do so for the season.  You can also make money by making wreaths at these two places. 

I'll do the math...the boughs cut on October 9 will be in wreaths that will be sold in chain stores until December 25 - that's 77 days.  Balsams do hold their needles, but 77 days may be on the outer limit.

Also saw big white trumpeter swans resting in a pond before continuing south. 

Toys R Us

Just heard on the radio that there are less toys available on the shelves to buy this fall until Christmas.  Why?  Toys R Us is no longer in business.  What a shame.  I have fond memories of that store.  When both children were too young to know what was going on, we could shop there for their gifts with them with us.  Both of us  had a cart and a youngster.  We were older parents and were gleeful to shop there.  At that time Toys R Us had the cheapest diapers in town.  Many trips were made for diapers.  This was PW - pre-Walmart era.  Toys R Us was the only toy game around except for a few KB Toys. 

Those fond thoughts continued for years.  When children were in second grade, I worked as a temporary before Christmas.    The store in Schaumburg on Golf Road was my store and that was where I applied.  Afternoons and Saturday nights until midnight.  What an experience!  Because I had half a brain, I was put at customer service near the front door for returns and problems.  The feather in my cap was when corporate (New York) sent a mystery shopper to evaluate our store.  I waited on the mystery shopper who was unknown to me.  Customer service received a 100%.  It was all glory - no financial compensation.  I asked at a staff meeting.   

During the year the store had 4,000 customers a day.  During Christmas it had 12,000+ a day in 1992.  This was not a sit down job.  At peak times all hands were on the registers.  I was amazed at how many $1000 customers I had.  That was a lot of money to pay for toys. I was also amazed at how many customers there were on Dec. 26.  There was no special after Christmas sale so I guess they didn't get enough toys. 

During the Christmas season two semi's of toys would be unloaded every day. Employees didn't get a discount on merchandise, but we were able to buy hard-to-get toys just off the truck.  My daughter had a "Teacher Barbie" for Christmas that year when other girls didn't. 

This was when early hours were first used on Black Friday.  That day I was at customer service at 7 am with my blue pinny on.  I liked that pinny. 

This job was the only one in which I used a time card to clock in and out.  I used my earnings to buy Christmas for our family that year and to satisfy my Toys R Us longing.  

Final memory - Toys R Us stores had an odor - not good or bad - just distinctive.  It was soothing to me. 

Small Town Living on a Sunday

After church we go grocery shopping together before heading the twenty miles home.  We chat with several friends we see in the store.  Only four stoplights in town.  Little traffic except for Minnesotans on their way back to the "Cities."  Peak fall colors are within a few days so our drive home is pleasant and sunny.  Then root on the Packers to a win over the Bills at Lambeau Field.  This is small town living at its best.

Wedding Donuts

Case and I attended a wedding recently where the dessert was donuts!  Yeast glazed; cake-type with chocolate frosting; blueberry with sugar coating.  Blueberry was the best!  (So, does that mean that I tried all three? That is correct.  But only part of them.  Someone at our table brought the three kinds back to the table to sample.)  The extra fun was how they were displayed.  There was a huge peg board - the kind that you have in your workshop to hang tools.  The peg board had the hooks to hang tools but each hook had a donut. 

I was a behind-the-scenes assistant to the women's dressing room which included 2 two-year-olds.  (I brought toys.)  When I saw the groom had arrived, I asked him if he had breakfast yet.  (I just got done forcing half a bagel in the bride.  No one is fainting on my watch!) Groom replied that he had donuts for breakfast.  And he was having donuts at the reception as well.  My reply, "Is this a great country or what?"

My skill set now includes spanx adjuster.  The two mothers wore them and needed smoothing out to make their dresses look right.  Now I know the moms real well.  Before the special dances one of the moms came to my table and asked if I were "still on the clock."  I knew what she meant and off to the ladies' room we went for additional smoothing before dancing with her son.

All weddings are unique!

Crimes within the Catholic Church

I want to go on the record about this issue. 

All allegations should be investigated by civil authorities.  Those charged and found guilty would go to prison whether a priest, bishop, cardinal or pope.  No exceptions.  Those found guilty of coverups would go to prison as well.  No exceptions. 

These are crimes that defy understanding.

The Catholic Church still contains clergy doing the work of Jesus.  The church will prevail.

Winter Olympic Review - South Korea

The best part of any Olympics is the opening ceremonies.  The size of it commands attention.  Thousands of adults and children involved.  The country is showing off.  I so enjoy it.  This year I especially liked the skiing outside the stadium and the drones creating the Olympic rings.  Plus the lighted pillars at every seat that was a part of the light show. 

Previous Olympics highlights:  Los Angeles in early 80's - when 100 grand pianos raised up from under the stadium playing a Gershwin song.  France - when the Olympic cauldron was lit by an archer shooting a flaming arrow.  Vancouver - 8 years ago - when Canadian William Shatner was one of the announcers.  This is all personal preference, you know.

Positives and Negatives
+Tara Lipinski - fun to see her again
-Jonny Weir - wore colors that didn't complement his complexion
+Shaun White - watching his strategy and performance winning Gold
-Lindsey Vonn - hope not to hear about her again - overexposure
+German Bodsled winning in prelims on its side
-Host Mike Trico (sp) - as exciting as watching paint dry
+Seeing the Korean landscape
-Curling - team from Duluth won gold.  They reminded me of the SNL skit about Da Bears with the guys sitting around a table eating ribs
+Jesse Diggins and Kikkan Randall winning gold in cross country ski - first US gold medal in X country ever - Jesse is from MN and used to ski the Birkebeiner in Hayward when growing up. 
-Luge and Skeleton - are these sports or suicide missions?
+Norway cross country skier Klaebo winning gold.  At 21 youngest x country gold winner.  He just toyed with the other skiers.  So much fun to watch.  They named the last hill after him - he is so good.  He is in a stratosphere of his own.  Wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers either.  

American Birkebeiner

The largest cross country ski race in North American is set for tomorrow from Cable to Hayward, WI.  Last year's was called off due to lack of snow.  This year is a go!  One of the women's gold medalists in cross country skied this race growing up - Jessie Diggins from Minnesota.  My part this year is to make rich desserts (Mississippi Mud) for the Spaghetti Feed (carb loading) tonight and bus tables.  My church usually serves 800 skiers and families at $8 a person.  All the food is donated.  Church members run it.  What I like is about this event is it is not in the church budget.  All the money is donated to local food pantries.  It is America at its finest.

Missing Muffin Tin

I decided to make muffins this morning to help warm the house (8 degrees below outside).  The muffin tin is kept in only one place.  Not there.  I continue to look in the cabinets and drawers even though I it won't be in any of them.  Confused and frustrated, I walk toward the office to ask Case - even though I KNOW he won't know - it's just something one does.  Partway to the office I see the tin.  I use it to sort puzzle pieces by color.  It is on the puzzle table which I sit at and put in a few pieces each day. 

In any situation that has gone awry and can be found, fixed, turned around, bought new or done without is not a problem any more in my opinion.  If no one has died because of the situation - it is all good!  Tin found.  Muffins made.  

And that goes for spinning the truck 3 times on ice.  I was able to drive away with a smile on my face.  It is all good. 

25 above zero means...

...it is cross country ski weather!  We got up this morning, suited up, and loaded the car.  It felt great to be outside in the sunshine.  Haven't skied in a few years for me so I only did one mile.  Case skied two.  It is now mid-afternoon after showers.  We are SORE.  What a wake-up call.  Both of us are determined to keep skiing on good days....left the skis and poles in the beater car for the next time.

Here Kitty, Kitty

On Christmas morn our neighbor had an unexpected guest - a bobcat...sleek...beautiful...hungry.  Bobcats are rarely seen unless they are hungry and going places they don't usually go.  We live a quarter of a mile from them.

Happy 2018!

Cold enough for you?  Today is the first day in over a week that the temp is above zero.  It is Tuesday so the hiking group went out as usual.  This time on trails at a member's house.  Don't remember who won the "number of layers" contest.  We are a hardy lot!

On the home front Case has been using oak in the woodstove.  Because of the deep freeze, only the living room gets warm.  We now have fireside dining 3 meals a day.  Luckily we received sturdy, wooden TV tables for Christmas that are being used more than we thought we would.  It's all an adventure!