USHERING

 

          When I was working, I always wanted to volunteer at the 5^th Avenue or the Paramount. I knew people who did, but whenever I checked into the possibility, the theaters didn’t need any more volunteers.

          I now don’t remember quite how my friend and I decided we would volunteer. I also don’t remember which one of us took the ticket by the stub and looked into the possibility. Doesn’t really matter.

          We began volunteering at the Village Theater in Everett the beginning of 2022. Then, we became volunteers at the 5^th Avenue. We both really like it and we’ve seen some amazing shows as a result without a cash outlay. I believe we are going to do it again for the 2023-2024 season.

          We take turns driving. For Everett, we have to drive up I-5, but for the 5^th Avenue, we drive to Northgate and take the train. I think the volunteer coordinators for both places began to wonder if we could tell time. For some reason, we were always late to Everett. For Seattle, somehow, we managed to stay on the train several stops past University Street which is where we wanted to debark. Good thing the planners leave a cushion for us late arrivals. Eventually, though, we finally got our shit together and began arriving on time.

          As ushers, we are the keepers of the doors. We keep attendees from going into the venue until the proper time arrives. There is wine, soda, maybe beer, cookies and other eatables available during the wait time for the early birds. Once the doors are opened, we greet the attendees, “Good afternoon.; Enjoy the Show.; Can I help you find your seat?; and give them a program. Once it’s time for the show to begin, we close the doors and find our allotted places from which we can watch the show. We’ve usually been told about the intermission and end, so we can be ready to jump up and open the doors. When the show’s over, we thank people for coming and tell them we hope they enjoyed the show.

          Then, it’s time to clean up after the show goers. We go row-by-row to pick up cups, bottles, programs and other detritus. We’re provided with gloves for this job, but it’s amazing just how little is actually left behind by the folks filling those seats.

          My favorite job is greeting and scanning the tickets of people coming through the doors. I’ve only done that once, but I’m hoping I can request that position this year. Once you get in the groove, it’s quite possible to catch the fact that some folks just don’t look at their tickets or maybe their calendars. The one time I did the doors, I had two sets of people who showed up on the wrong day…one was for the week before and the other for the week after. Staff take these folks under their wings and try to make arrangements so they can attend that particular show. Just depends on whether there are seats available.

          I know we tried to become ushers at the Paramount; however, it’s a whole separate system and those volunteers also work other locations, i.e., Seattle Rep, Moore, Neptune, ACT. We were unsuccessful, but I now know someone who has been doing it for years. She told me they definitely need volunteers, so I’m going to reach out to the volunteer coordinator and use my friend’s name. Perhaps that will get us in the door and we can stretch our volunteer wings.

          The 5^th Avenue will be showing “The Little Mermaid,” “Cambodian Rock Band,” “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” “Something’s Afoot,” “Spring Awakening,” and “Clue.” We haven’t yet been asked to sign up for shifts at the Village Theater, but I’m sure we’ll do that as well. Now, if we can just get on the volunteer list for the Paramount et al., we’ll have even more events to work and enjoy.

SHOPPING

 

          One thing I’ve really missed in my retirement is shopping. I always loved going to various stores and finding wonderful clothing on sale. I can think of only one time I actually purchased an item that wasn’t on sale. I thought it was on sale but it wasn’t; and I liked it so much, I just had to have it even though the actual price was $158.00.

          What brought on this reflection was putting a bunch of tops on Buy Nothing. They’re all perfectly good, but they just don’t fit me as well as they once did. I haven’t gained a lot of weight, but I do have more of a tummy than I used to plus I’ve developed muscles in my old age. That’s what happens when you go to a fitness class three times a week…you develop muscles.

          Anyway, it’s not that I couldn’t go shopping and buy myself whatever I wanted whether it was on sale or not. It’s more that I don’t need much in the way of clothes beyond what’s already in my drawers and closet. I have jean shorts and tank tops with shelf bras and that’s mostly what I’m wearing in the summer. I do have a couple of dresses and skirts if I want to not wear shorts. In winter, I have sweats and jeans and sweatshirts or flannel shirts to go over my tank tops.

          I don’t know what I’m going to do when all my Champion tank tops wear out, and having had them for more than ten years, they are slowly beginning to show their age. Champion doesn’t make 100% cotton tank tops any longer and they are very hard to find, even online. I’ve mistakenly bought some that are more poly and her sister ester, that stretch as well as the cotton tops, but I don’t like the way they feel. I’ve also bought some stretchy ones that don’t have the racer back. Instead, they have thin straps. I feel as though these are more underwear than outerwear.

          Ah well, what goes around comes around, so eventually, I’m sure they…whoever they are…will begin making cotton tank tops again. I just hope that happens before I have to resort to the other ones in my drawer. True, I could put them on Buy Nothing, but I’m keeping them in reserve just in case.

          About the only shopping I do these days is Costco and the grocery store. At Costco, I rarely look at the clothing they have available because there’s nothing I need or I don’t like the product. I have two heavy shirts I bought at Costco a few years a go and I don’t care for the way they feel or smell even when they are freshly laundered. Maybe they’ll go on Buy Nothing next.

          I do have to admit that at Costco and the grocery store, I buy myself whatever I want. I still look at the price of the item, but if it’s something I know I will eat/use, I buy it no matter the cost. I deserve it. I’m worth it. I enjoy it.

          You could say I still enjoy shopping, I guess. It’s just a different kind of shopping than I used to do…more for the inside as opposed to the outside.

GIFT FROM AN UNKNOWN READER???

          

         Sometimes I think I may be losing it. Sunday morning I opened my front door to find a box from Amazon. All the way to my desk and during the opening, I tried to remember what the heck I had ordered. As it turned out, absolutely nothing.

          Oh, there was something in the box, but it wasn’t something I ordered. It was a gift from I don’t know who. There was a note with the item that told me I could send a thank you note by scanning the code to the left or by visiting a given link. I tried scanning, but apparently, I don’t have the amazon app on my phone. Typing in the code didn’t help either.

          So, what was in the box. It was a product called a Pet Corrector. I read the information about the product…type was so tiny I had to use my handy-dandy magnifying glass. I also went to the web site and watched a few videos. I haven’t yet tried it because Kuma has been a good doggie so I haven’t had a need to correct him. I’m looking forward to taking him on a walk and see if it works when we come across another dog. He always lunges and barks his head off as though he’s a big huge mean wolf.

          I am assuming…making an ass of u and me…that someone read my blog about Kuma winning our barking battle and my giving up. How wonderful you are my dearest reader to have gone so far as to supply me with a tool that will correct Kuma’s bad habits. I thank you from the bottom of my heart even though I cannot seem to figure out how to send you a thank you via Amazon…and I do have the app on my phone after all.

          So thank you again and stay tuned…actually I guess it would be keep your eyes open…because I’ll blog about the great success the Pet Corrector has brought to both Kuma and I.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

 

          Today is the fifty-seventh anniversary of the day I married John. I do so wish he were here so we could celebrate together, but if wishes were horses….

          Last year I took John’s orb and we went to dinner at a restaurant. I turned on the base, placed the orb on top and sat it across from me in the booth. I even had the waitress take photos of us. I’m not planning to do the same thing this year. I think I’ll hold off until we reach our sixtieth. And, since John cannot drive me home after as many martinis (maybe champagne for sixty) as I’d like to have, I might even rent a limo and/or call an uber to take me to and from.

          I think for today, I’ll spend some time looking through all the cards we gave each other over the years. Cards from the boys are interspersed throughout, so the process will give me way more than one memory lane to traverse. I also still have our wedding album and honeymoon photos as well as photos from every year we shared. I suppose I could haul all the albums and boxes out of the closet. It would make quite a mess and I’d undoubtedly have to add leaves to the table. Still, those boxes are stuffed with memories. Some would make me laugh, others bring a smile and still others make my eyes leak a lot. All in all, though, my walks down so many different memory lanes would leave me remembering how much I loved as well as how much I was loved.

          Not a bad way to spend the day. It would leave me feeling nostalgic but happy to have had all those years and memories.

Happy Anniversary to John and moi!!!

WHY I WRITE AND BLOG

 

          When I first began blogging a very long time ago, I had many reasons for doing so. The original blog I began in 2011 I cannot find anywhere any longer. I suppose the contents were deleted into the ether when I neglected to return after being absent for many years.

          I tried a couple of other times and even took a class, but never stuck with it until after John died. That’s when I began “Paula’s Widow’s Mite.” When I began, it was for several reasons. First, I thought my experiences might be helpful to other widows. Second, I figured my blog might attract a large following. And, finally, there was the small idea in the back of my brain that it might attract a publisher.

          Well, my number of followers never rose above maybe twenty as far as I could tell, and almost no one ever responded with a comment on the blog. Since I post the blog title and link on Facebook, there were/are some folks who comment on Facebook about what I wrote. And it’s true, when I was posting erotic fiction, chapter by chapter on my blog, I did end up having an interested publisher. Unfortunately, it was my first draft and needed a lot of work, so a book with my name on it won’t be appearing in the local bookstore anytime soon…or anytime at all for that matter. That’s because I decided I didn’t want to spend the energy on a massive revision.

          For a period of time, I didn’t write or blog at all. I just didn’t have the any enthusiasm or topics which made me want to do so. Don’t ask me what happened recently that led me to take up the keyboard and begin again…I just did.

          I’ve decided my main reason for writing and blogging is for my own interest and satisfaction. The topics about which I write and post may be of little interest to most people; however, I enjoy the process and end result. I’m doing it because it’s fun for me. Of course, when I do receive comments, either on Facebook or in my actual face, those comments, since they are positive, do make me feel good. 

          Of course, this doesn't mean I don't hope people will read my blogs and enjoy them because I most sincerely do. Still, I imagine if someone told me they hated a particular blog or said I was a horrible writer, I’d continue to write and blog simply because me, myself and I like doing so…a lot.

GOOD FOR ANOTHER TEN THOUSAND MILES OR TEN YEARS

 

          This past Tuesday afternoon I had my annual mammogram and saw my doctor face-to-face for the first time in far more than a year. That’s not to say we haven’t emailed or talked on the phone about minor concerns (mine) that didn’t require an appointment. This was a wellness visit.

          With Kaiser Permanente, you have to fill out a form prior to your appointment and I did that but also prepared a document which I attached to an email…the questionnaire wouldn’t let me attach anything. I wanted to make the best use of the forty minutes allotted to me with my doctor.

          Of course, no one had looked at the email, printed out my document and given it to Megan (MD’s name). Fortunately, I had brought my own copy and gave that to her. I had prepared it so my concerns for the visit were listed first, followed by things just for her information. Megan quickly scanned what I’d sent. I should say she also knows me because she’s been my doctor for at least ten years or more.

          Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that can be done for the peripheral neuropathy which was caused by a breast cancer drug…Cytoxan. The neuropathy has now moved up into my ankles and slightly higher in the left leg. They check this by having you close your eyes while they touch the bottom and top of your foot, then your ankle and calf. It looks like a long pin, but it’s rubber. I was supposed to tell her when I could feel the touch. She was well above my ankle on the right and a bit above on the left.

          I wore flip-flops to the doctor’s office because I knew we would talk about my feet. It is not, however, a good idea for me to drive in them since I cannot feel my feet. I almost rear-ended someone on the way to the doctor because my flip-flop got stuck behind the brake pedal. I yanked it out in time but it scared the crap out of me. I almost always wear actual shoes to drive because I can feel the pressure my foot makes against the pedals.

          We also talked about whether or not I have hammer toes that require treatment (surgery?), so I have a referral to a podiatrist. Only two of my toes actually bother me. They lay in such a way the toenail touches the shoe bottom. I need to keep my toenail as short as possible so there’s no pain. I don’t know if the podiatrist can help me, but I’ll find out.

          My blood pressure was a little elevated and I had just re-ordered lisinopril on Sunday. This morning I had an email telling me I needed to check my blood pressure on a regular basis and send in the results or I won't receive another refill. I didn’t think you’re supposed to take your own blood pressure, but I don’t see why I can’t, so I will.

          Most of the appointment was spent talking about how I am doing as far as friends and family goes, the various activities in which I’m involved, my daily life, and of course, Kuma (Megan loved his photo). At the end Megan told me she’s pleased and impressed with how I’ve come to manage my life since John’s death. It made me feel good to hear that because sometimes I don’t feel as though I am managing very well at all.

I needed no tests or follow-up aside from getting my Covid booster. I wanted to have the flu vaccine as well, but they won’t be giving those until September and I’ll get it then. So, here I am, good to go for another ten-thousand miles or ten years, whichever comes first.

I GIVE UP!!!

 

          Kuma has won. I give up. Tuesday night, we were already in bed and I was almost asleep. Kuma began barking, hopped off the bed and ran to the living room to stand on the couch, stare out the window and continue barking his fool head off. I kept saying loudly, “NO BARK!!!” but it did absolutely no good.

          I got myself out of bed and went down the hall, remote in hand and tried the noise button…no response, just more barking…, the vibration button…no response, more barking. So, I hit the shock button and Kuma yelped, hopped off the couch and headed for the bedroom.

          I felt very bad, but he no more got in the bedroom than he turned right around, ran back to the living room and began barking again. I followed and hit the shock button again…he yelped and I felt bad. We played this little game a couple of more times until I closed the bedroom door to keep him there.

          Apparently, the shocks made Kuma very nervous and upset. I was upset, but not nervous. He was up on the bed, off the bed, panting, growling and acting totally crazy. I put the remote away and took off the collar, thinking Kuma would calm down if he didn’t have to worry about being shocked.

          Well, that didn’t work either. He did get up and stay on the bed, but he continued growling and making little barks. I wasn’t going to get to go to sleep; in fact, I was now wide awake…wide awake and pissed. So, I picked Kuma up, walked down the hall to the dining room and pushed him into his crate. He spent the night there and seemed just fine this morning.

          After I put him in his kennel, I looked out all the windows to see if there was something going on that was making Kuma bark. There was nothing and no one that I could see. I could see the young man next door in his kitchen with someone. The window was open so could it have been that Kuma could hear them talking and that was what he found upsetting? Don’t know, just wish he’d save his barks for daytime and not when I’m going to sleep.

          Anyway, I don’t know if Kuma enjoyed his night, but I certainly enjoyed mine. I slept like a log and didn’t wake up until after 8:30 am (Kuma gets me up at 6:30 am). It was later I realized the Covid booster shot I received Tuesday afternoon was most likely responsible for my long sleep.

          Today, Wednesday, I took Kuma to bally-ball hill. I chucked his tennis ball repeatedly and he was a good doggie. There was an older man and woman picking blackberries; and while Kuma went up to them, he didn’t try to jump on them. There was also another couple that came into the area with a dog on a leash. They walked around the perimeter of the field. Kuma was interested but didn’t bark or try to chase after them and their dog. Those were both improvements in his behavior.

          One thing I love about taking him to bally-ball hill is that Kuma lets me know when he’s done chasing after the ball. He goes past me with the ball in his mouth to the car. I open the back door to get his bowl, but when I open the front door, he tries to get inside. When I begin pouring water into his bowl, he gets back out and drinks a lot. Then, it’s back inside where he pants all the way home.

          Today, I didn’t put Kuma’s shock collar on or pick up the remote. I couldn’t stand how he yelped last night and how upset he was as a result. So, Kuma wins. No more shock collar. I’ll just have to wear earplugs when I go to bed, I guess.