Confirmation 1924

 HermanThomas Schroder, Jr.   February 24, 1924  Confirmation

Grocery Store "Amnesia"

 I won't use the other a-word, too predictable. 

  I don't keep a grocery list. Now I just replace the regular items as needed. But about 3 weeks ago, I noticed one item was almost depleted, so I added it to my mental shopping list. But when I got back from grocery shopping, I realized I had forgotten to buy it, so I wrote it on a slip of paper near my phone.  A few days later, I noticed another item was also running low, not a regular purchase, so I wrote  that on the piece of paper with the first item, noting that both items started with the letter c. When I arrived home after the next shopping trip, I realized I had bought the second item, but again had forgotten the first. 

  I was at the store yesterday and knew I had to get that forgotten item, the one beginning with the letter c which was on the slip of paper on the counter, and it was not the Clorox. I could not remember what that item was. It started with c, was not routinely used, and I could recall that it was packaged in a box, in multiple servings but I could not remember what It was. I walked down each aisle in the store, thinking I could spot it, but that was fruitless. The first thing I did when I got home was to look at that piece of paper with the several-times-unpurchased item. A rectangular package, seasonable usage, multiple sections:  Of course, it was c****. How could I have not been able to recall that!

The Cardio Offense (or maybe Defense)

Ellis Hospital just announced that 22 cardiologists are leaving St. Peter's to join Ellis Hospital practice. Rather heartbreaking, when you think about it. 

Blue PiePlate

 

M. had delivered a freshly baked apple pie several days ago. The empty dish, washed, was on the counter. ready for return. Last night, while I was on the computer, Dave appeared, holding the plate and a dish towel, remarking how intricate the design of the plate was, and how  many levels needed special cleaning. He seemed absorbed by it, and wanted to talk about it. I, busy with something else, just said that it needed to be returned, along with another blue dish, and added that the plate had once been Dorothy's. 

  So we're in the car, setting off to  return the dishes. Dave is not in the mood to talk, and I regret not having responded much to his previous comments. The road is long and winding, and snow has  fallen, so of course I am a little concerned about the driving conditions. The route is familiar, but seems rather treacherous, and at one point Dave chooses a longer way around rather than the more familiar direct route. I ask him why, but he nonchalantly dismisses the question. We continue, in the oncoming darkness and snowfall. We both realize now that we are returning the plate to Dorothy. It seems we are never going to get there. And we don't. 

Submerged Reality

David was here and said he was going to take a walk down to the old place and see how things were going. He was happy and looked fit, wearing a bright  geometric plaid  print shirt. He had just left when Juliet said she and her friend wanted to join them on the walk. I noted she was wearing white shorts and knew she would be visible on the roadside. So the two little girls started out to catch up with David. As they ran off from here, I could see the white shorts were obscured by the foliage, but was confident they would quickly join David and be safe. A short time later, David arrived back home. He was smiling as he told me  Juliet was going to take Michael Madigan and one of his friends on a tour of the village. The humor was in her, as a newcomer, wanting to show Michael around his old stomping grounds. But he had evidently agreed. My only concern was how Juliet and her friend would get back here since it would soon be getting  dark. I wasn't worried, figuring Michael wouldn't let them walk home in the dark. ****It must have been what we call a dream, unless it was a scene from an alternate version of life. Maybe at some point, we get to choose.

Flounce

Diminished Expectations.

 The hope of summer accomplishments has been largely eviscerated:

New dishwasher---one disherwasher, paid for and delivered, but stalled in the driveway

New flooring in kitchen and (former) playroom---Nah, just don't trip.

Driveway paving---didn't happen

Replacement of 15-year-old roof--reduced to installation  of  rain and snow diverter

Window World call to repair kitchen window----didn't happen yet, but maybe

Clear home of unneeded, unwanted items----gone are about 2 dozen baskets and some florists vases

Organize accumulated paperwork----bonfire still pending

Schedule neglected medical visits---new toothbrush and cleaned  eyeglasses

Establish and stick to healthy diet---Yasso Yogurt and Snickers

BUT, successfully replaced the toner cartridge in printer and renewed auto registration.

Take it to heart...

 The Cardiology War continues: Ellis sued St. Peter's; St. Peter's sued Ellis. That non-compete clause is at the center of the conflict. Seems like Schenectady is on the raw end of the deal, with potential loss of life in E.R. due to lack of cardiolgy access at Ellis. Could it be St. Peter's is more concerned with finances than with fatalities...

Gross But Graphic

 Of late, this expression from ages ago is haunting my memory.  As a response to opinion or disagreement:  "Go sh*t in your hat and punch it."

Life's Tragedy According to John G.

 Just read his lengthy acount of recent misfortunes in his life. He had to replace his dishwasher and his tire blew out on his way to work, necessitating replacement in the amount of $240. Yet he finds comfort in that he survived what could have been a serious accident and in knowing he had the money to pay for the expenses he incurred. Geez.

Ballet to Politics

 Good advice,  from Rahm Emmanuel:   "Disagree without being disagreeable."  

"Nobody likes him"

 In my efforts to achieve my goal with the VA, this is the best advice I ever received, and it was free. 

As recounted previously, I finally got the results I wanted, but not without intensive efforts. Including contacting every source that I thought could possibly apply. The VA had already rejected my case filed by a well-known doctor, who was also a lawyer. (As it turned out, it seems the majority of those involved in veterans seeking service-connected disability are certified in both medicine and law.) 

 This first doctor, Dr. B. , charged an exhorbitant fee, had several published recommendations, spoke with Dave and me several times on phone calls, predicted a favorable outcome, and since my attorney had told me, knowing where we were headed, to spend as much as I legally could in order to qualify for impending Medicaid, we enlisted his services. As soon as we received the copy of his appeal to VA, I knew we were doomed to failure.

   His approach to the VA was that he had extensive experience with and insight into such matters and that his knowledge surpassed theirs. That's all I'll say about him for now. Of course, we filed an appeal, which was also rejected a total of 5 or maybe 6, up to that point.

I kept looking for more options, contacting more potential help, and among scores of requests that is when I encountered Doug, a doctor/ lawyer located in North Carolina. His initial response was that he was unable to take our case, but he wished us well. Okay, I'm used to rejection, on with the hunt. 

  But then, unexpectedly, Doug  called me on the telephone, saying he had not intended to condemn me to defeat. He had re-read my file and noted that I had used the services of Dr. B. He told me he had often encountered him in the courtroom and that NOBODY LIKED HIM. The takeaway was to find someone else.

  I persisted  and eventually happened upon another doctor/ lawyer.Although outside his area of chosen expertise, he agreed to take the case, for a very reasonable fee. He did so, and the VA doctors agreed with his assessment and awarded the sought-after  VA rating.

  What is notable is that this doctor presented his areas of disagreement in a cordial and professional way, pointing out where the VA had overlooked the facts relating to treatment. (Dr. Remington Nevin is the most professional, organized, reasonable, and successful person I ever encountered in my hundreds of attempts.)

The VA changed its rating to favorable. 

I would conclude that if nobody likes you, your chances of achieving success or fame will eventually be  doomed  to fail.

Screwdriver Excess

In  trying to organize, downsize, clean house or whatever, I found I have in my house at least 35 screwdrivers. And probably at least 100 tines that number of screws.Say what you will.

Lost---and Found

 (Bear with me, Blog)

It is frustrating, when you live alone, to lose an item in your house, because you know you have no one to blame but yourself. You wrack your brain trying to figure out where you might have put it. You go back to the last time you saw the lost item, and try to recall why it is not where it should be. You exhaust all possibilities, conduct a friutless search,  and finally accept that you may never know what happened to it.

1) I lost a theater program that I had listed on ebay, sold it, couldn't find it, issued a refund. I later, quite a bit later, discovered it beneath the pad on my kitchen table, where I had placed it to make it wrinkle-free.

2) I knew I'd recently seen some old Star Wars coins, remembered changing their longtime location when attempting to organize, looked everywhere I could have placed them, to no avail. I came across it searching through a box of ephemera while looking for something else.

3) I have Dorothy's deluxe steam iron, in great working condition, but the teflon sole is scratched due to crafting. I vividly recall putting it in a plastic bag for donation, and placing it in a spot I'd be sure to find it. I still don't know exactly where, because Danny handed it to me the other day when he was here.

4) I keep a hard-cover journal type notebook in a secure place in my living room; it's important because among other entries, it contains all the poems Snookie has read to me over the phone, which I have submitted to The Express, most of which were published, and I need them to remind her of her past successful, published poetry. It was missing, I searched everywhere, and could only conclude I must have gathered it up with a bunch of newspapers and magazines and inadvertently recycled it.It appeared in a basket with other paperwork, stashed in the bedroom when I was trying to unclutter for the Fair company.

The timing was propitious.

 Another sleepless night, so again I turn to you, O Blog, since I have thought scenarios running through my head. Here's one such:

  While writing  one of my high school research papers, I was taken by the sound of the title sentence above, and   included it in my paper. Not wanting to be caught up in a plagiarism issue, I thoroughly researched the meaning of the word propitious, though no question was ever raised. During my freshman year of college, I took a beginning French course, not realizing the other students in the class were not unfamiliar with French, just trying for an easy A in an already familiar language. I had no issue with that, but I certainly did not volunteer to answer any questions the professor asked. Except once. While reading some selection of literature, he asked if anyone knew the definition of the word propitious. No one answered. Except me. It hadn't to do with French, but I answered the question. He said I had a good vocabulary. Yay.

     Years later, when I worked at Herkimer BOCES, a guest speaker, author of a number of books, happened to stop her lecture and inquire if anyone knew what propitious meant. No one answered, except me. She announced to the class that I had a good vocabulary. 

   So if anyone would like to be complimented on word meanings, be ready to reply with the meaning of propitious. You never know when  it might be helpful. 

  N.B. An apt synonym begins with the letter O.

   

For DSS

 

Not them, it's me. Ha!

 In certain seasons of life, it seems it has become necessary to show that one is  {still} able to conduct the affairs of life. When fate intervenes in admittedly insignificant  ways, the person in that specified season of life consciously or subconsciously becomes defensive, supplying  justifications and explanations to deflect blame, and any corresponding shame.

Case(s) in Point:

1. Customer orders and successfully pays online for a home appliance, with inclusion of delivery, installation and removal of present appliance. 

     Appliance arrives at home, but technician is unable to install, due to unforeseen changes in specs of said appliance and its ilk.\

    Because customer's longtime credit card company was acquired by another company, the customer's payment was declined pending notification or investigation or other cr*p, and the customer had to undergo process of duplicate payments.

2a) Due to an installer's claim that a replacement horizontal roof diverter parallel to the rain gutter would be better than the customer's request for the inverted V shape, the doorway became a target for last winter's snow-covered doorstep, and the rain and snow melt likely caused the front door to warp, and make it difficult to open, especially with rotor cuff issues.

2b)Calling a roofer (original installer) whose ads proudly promise no job is too small, and receiving no CB.

3) The pharmacy is, for unspecified reasons, unable to refill prescriptions online, making it necessary to plead one's case in person, and undergo a waiting period. 

4) I'm not even going to reprise automobile and tire, towing and loss of use problems, only remembering what it's like to try to drive with missing lug nuts right after having new tires installed.Each wheel needs 5!

5) Failed usps delivery of package where first response is to blame amazon. Nope.

6) Receiving receipt for school tax payment as separate and terse receipt only, with no return of submitted school tax statement,as formerly. I suppose it can be retrieved somewhere, but why not just check the "paid" box as usual. 

7) Finding that the "order checks" page in your checkbook no longer is able to re-order checks, perhaps because it's been a long time since checks were ordered. I write few checks now, it's true. So ordered checks from another source and was told delivery in 2 weeks. 

8) Not gripes, just things that are not usual---pertaining to ebay sales

     Sales are down. One of my own children said b/c everything in my house is crap. But the last 2 items sold are empty boxes.  I find the latest sold item listed has had 62 views so far---for an empty box. The buyer of the previous empty box paid $2 for the item and $24 shipping, for an 8-ounce pkg. I emailed I will issue refund and he said things happen, he knew usps was expensive and n.p.

9+ to be continued

  

Ancestry:

 I think our 

 mother's father, and brother Timothy:

O Lordy

 Going through stuff acquired in my youthful days. Somebody's got to clear the clutter. I find written in one of my books:  "I'm schizophrenic and so am I."  Ah, to be young...

P.S. I wish I had saved more boxes, as per FB.

You the Juror

 Just askin'   

The "suspect" was handcuffed to a door in the police station. He pulled away and the door broke. The police charge him for the door, the cost to repair or replace. Would you as juror vote to hold him responsible for door damage?