Category Archives: 2024

2024, animals, education, Words

Laughing Matter

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Some days it’s all about laughing.

On Duolingo yesterday morning, I started a new section – with words such as lazy and messy.  Clean and dirty have come up before so it was nice to have a few more to go with them.  Then came “stinks”.

Several animals have made it into the lessons: cat, dog, bird, penguin, snake, duck, elephant (the very first lesson!).  But yesterday was the first appearance (after 3 years) of hamster.

Duolingo doesn’t just give you words, they put all the words together in sentences and stories for you.  After all these months, I should have seen this coming.

I tuoi criceti puzzano

This translates to “your hamsters stink”.  Not a euphemism for anything that I can find although it does remind me of the Holy Grail line “your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries”.

I can’t imagine that stinking hamsters comes into conversation too often in one’s lifetime.  My sister had hamsters and I don’t remember them stinking….

What pets did you have growing up?  Did they stink?

2024, Travel, Uncategorized, work

Small Town Stuff

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We have a couple of new staff at work who are from larger metro areas and never lived in a rural or remote area before. They never realized how much they had to learn when they moved here.

One of our newbies, a social worker, came to the office quite upset last summer after seeing what she thought was a suicidal or intoxicated airplane pilot. She lives about 20 miles outside Dickinson in an even smaller community than ours, and while driving to work saw this little yellow airplane fly under and over power lines and dive close to the ground, then suddenly soar upwards. She wondered if she should phone the sheriff or the FAA. We had a lot of fun telling her about crop dusters. She also encounters coyotes in her backyard, a real shock.

Our new clinical director is surprised by the interconnectedness of us all. She was amazed to hear that one of our mental health skills trainers, a 40 year old mother of two, used to babysit for my kids when she was in high school, that her mother worked as a support staff at our agency for 30 years, and that her aunt is a social worker and one of our crisis staff. Then she learned that the parents of one of our staff were foster parents who adopted some of their foster children who I ultimately saw for therapy.

We tell our urban transplants that these new phenomena are just small town stuff, and we are so glad they are here and we will be happy to help them. It isn’t easy to go to an unfamiliar culture. I remember all the new things I had to learn when I moved to Canada, and I know that any of my rural coworkers would need to learn lots of new things if they moved to Minneapolis, or Seattle, or New York. Big town stuff is also tricky to navigate.

What would you educate newcomers about if they moved to your community? What would be harder for you to adjust to-rural or urban?

2024, Family, Food, Technology, Uncategorized

Death By Toaster

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Husband and I got a new toaster the other day, trading in our British-made Dualit for an Italian SMEG. The Dualit worked great for about 20 years, but finally gave up.

One feature I really liked in the Dualit was the ability to raise up the finished toast over the top of the slots with the lowering lever after it was done. No need to stick your fingers in the hot slot to retrieve the toast. The SMEG doesn’t have that capability. The other day I was fishing some toast out of the SMEG with a fork when I heard a voice from the past, my mother’s, saying:

“Stop! You’re going to get electrocuted if you stick that fork in there!”

I think my mother said that to me every time she saw me making toast. I don’t know if anyone ever died by sticking a metal implement into a toaster after the toast was done, but she sure was going to make certain I didn’t.

I ignored the warning from the past and fished out the toast with the fork. I didn’t get electrocuted. The toast was good. Sorry, Mom. I am just going to live dangerously.

What safety admonitions did you get as a young person? How do you live dangerously? How do you like your toaster?

2024, Technology, Uncategorized, work

Lies, Damned Lies, And Statistics

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I was rather alarmed last Tuesday morning to get an email from my Regional Director insisting I attend a meeting that afternoon with her and four other quality control and administrative staff to discuss some problems with my “compliance” data for timely completion of psychological evaluations.

I have 20 working days from the time I first see a client for an evaluation until the report has to be entered into our electronic record system. I do about ten evaluations a month. My compliance rate is typically 90-95% of the evaluations completed within the 20 day time period. Compliance is a big deal for my agency, as our accreditation and licensure are dependent on everyone getting their paperwork done on time. 90-95% is an acceptable rate of completion.

We have electronic scheduling that helps determine paperwork compliance for most appointments. If your note is completed, a little “F” pops up on the appointment on the schedule. Due to reasons that are too tedious to relate, that doesn’t work for psychological evaluation completion. Someone has to keep a spreadsheet that lists the client’s name, date(s) of evaluation, and date of report completion. A quality control staff has to hand calculate the compliance rate. Most importantly, the appointment in the electronic calendar has to be deleted by the keeper of the spreadsheet.

At the meeting I was informed my compliance rate had dropped to 7%. Well, I knew that wasn’t accurate. I asked who was keeping the spreadsheet. None of the five other people knew what I was talking about. I then reminded them that unless the appointments were deleted from my electronic calendar, it would appear that they weren’t completed if they ran a compliance check with the electronic appointment system. I also told them that none of my evaluation appointments had been deleted from the calendar for more than a year, so it would erroneously seem that I hadn’t finished a report since January, 2023. It was at that point that the they suddenly remembered that my “noncompliance” coincided with the departure of a support staff who had apparently been responsible for the spreadsheet and the deletions, and hadn’t told her replacement or anyone else about it when she left. Everyone was quite apologetic about the mix-up.

Dealing with this nonsense took the better part of a day, what with my fuming and gnashing of teeth and doing my homework to figure out what had gone awry. It reminded me yet again of the danger of poorly run statistics.

Do you access your medical records on-line? What work deadlines have you had to contend with? When have you been wrongfully accused?

2024, education, Family, Farming Update, Travel, Weather

What Day is This?

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The weekend Farm Report comes to us from Ben.

I have been completely discombobulated since returning home from Seattle. The weather did hamper our Sunday return flight and because I had purchased my plane ticket separate from Kelly and daughter, Delta automatically rebooked me on a redeye from Seattle to Minneapolis, while leaving those two on their own. Eventually they were able to get on the same flight. We left Seattle at 12:30 AM Monday, arriving at MSP about 5:30 AM and back to RST about noon Monday. We were all exhausted and needed naps.

But the extra day in Seattle allowed me to see the ‘gum wall’.

It’s… something.  It’s kinda gross. Glad I didn’t have to pay for that.

The dogs were mildly excited to see us. They had good sitters while we were gone, and those people said they did their best to turn the dog’s loyalty. I think a few more days they could have done it. I laughed that all the dog treats were gone. No wonder the dogs liked them best.

I attended that workshop called “Psychology of Stupidity”. It was presented by a group called ‘Risky Business Resources’. The room was full, standing room only in fact, which I thanked the crowd for being that interested in safety, and kudos to the presenter for his title. If he had called it ‘Analysis of theater Safety’, it wouldn’t have been so full.

We discussed how people make decisions, and the factors that lead to people making mistakes. He had us play ‘rock paper scissors’ with our left hands, while thumb wrestling with our right. It can’t really be done. Some takeaways: Sleep debt and fatigue increase risk taking. Underestimating risk is a big one.

What stuck with me the most was discussing step ladders. We’ve all stood on that step second from the top. The one that says not to stand on. So why is that step even there?? Some ladder manufacturers have tried removing that step. People complained the ladders weren’t tall enough then. And there was nowhere to put the sticker saying not to use that step. It made the whole room laugh.

On the last day, I took part in a Kazoo parade.

It’s part of a fundraiser.

By Tuesday I was right back into things. A ceiling leak at one theater. Striking lights at another. Back to my set at the college.

I saw a killdeer! It’s nice they’ve returned.

I ordered some extra tough shoelaces off amazon. I got some that are fire and heat resistant. I could  see the need for that if I was a firefighter. But if I need shoelaces that are fire and heat resistant, I’m doing something wrong.

WHAT’S THE DUMBEST ATTRACTION YOU’VE SEEN?

2024, Family, Food, holidays, Mysteries, Seasons

Eggs-tremely Envious

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Every year I am jealous of Renee.  Her daughter always tells her she wants an Easter basket and tells her what to put in it.  No guesswork, no trying to figure out what might appeal to a grown daughter.  SO JEALOUS.

As I mentioned a couple of times, YA likes the traditions of Easter but doesn’t like to admit it.  I’m not sure why; it’s the same with some other things.  So every year when I ask her what she wants in the basket, she says “Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs”.  That’s it.  Well, you all know me – it’s hard on my nature to fill up her basket with just one item.  Every year I get carried away and every year she enjoys it. 

This year was the same.  Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs.  I spent a few days thinking and routing through her room before I headed out to shop.  I wandered through Target and Walgreens and Cub – oh, and the Dollar Store (which really needs to be re-branded since everything is $1.25 these days).  I ended up with a handful of skin and hair products that I know she likes.  One Lindt chocolate bunny.  Amy’s Bunny Grahams.  Ghiradelli caramel bunnies.  Little bag of Garden Veggie Chips that are egg-shaped and in spring colors.  A lambie toy (this is technically for Guinevere – I tied an Easter ribbon around it’s neck).  Two Apple giftcards as YA is saving for a new computer – safely ensconced in spring giftcard holders that I made.  Cheddar bunny snacks and, of course, Reese’s PB eggs. 

It’s a glorious looking basket and even without the Apple cards, surely the most expensive basket I’ve ever assembled for her.

Why did the Easter Bunny get its job?

2024, Health, home, Medicine, Uncategorized

Rolling Pin Redux

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Husband and I have four rolling pins. Two are French-style ones I use for pie crusts, one is a knobby one for hardtack, and the biggest one with narrow grooves is for lefse. I use the French ones pretty regularly. The lefse rolling pin only comes out in November, that is, until now, thanks to my physical therapist.

My physical therapist really likes to attack knots in my sore muscles by vigorously rubbing them. This is not gentle massage. It hurts, but helps loosen the muscles. The other day at my PT appointment after the heating pad and dry needling there were very sore knots on the muscles on the outside of my right leg above my knee. My therapist got out a large and heavy styrofoam roller and rolled it up and down those muscle knots for about 10 minutes. After she was finished it felt wonderful. I told her I thought I could do the same thing at home with a rolling pin. She agreed, but cautioned that the narrower circumference of the rolling pin might hurt more than her roller did.

I spent a good amount of time Saturday doing my PT exercises and rolling the lefse rolling pin up and down the knots in my leg. I had the most pain-free day I have had in a couple of months.

What is your preferred rolling pin? What are some alternative uses you have found for objects? Any odd home remedies you have tried or heard of?

2024, Business, Food, Gatherings, Mysteries

End of an Era?

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I saw on the news that the last Hooters in West Virginia closed last month with a large candlelight vigil prior to its demolition.  The local news mentioned it ahead of time and several hundred people showed up. 

The vigil part of the story didn’t surprise me but the fact that there are still Hooters was the shock to me.  I haven’t heard anything about Hooters and I never see them anywhere but a quick search reveals that there are over 400 worldwide, including one right in my backyard – at the Mall of America.  Guess that’s what happens when you only go to the Mall of America once a year (to redeem birthday coupons at Auntie Annies and Cinnabon).  Since I’ve never eaten at a Hooters (just seems a little too tasteless of a gimmick to me), I can’t say whether all of West Virginia franchises closing is a loss or not.  But I know the chances are slim that I would ever go to a candlelight vigil for one.

Is there a restaurant that you’d consider attending a vigil for if it were closing?

2024, Food, holidays, home, Technology

Egg-citing!

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Last month, after my egg run down to the farm, I delivered a couple dozen to PJ.  We spent a nice hour chatting and I don’t think we talked about eggs once.

Then as I was leaving, Hans came down and when we told him I had delivered eggs, he starting telling me about his little egg cooker.  It wasn’t long before I was in the kitchen and he was demonstrating the various parts.  (There aren’t actually that many parts, so it was a short demonstration.)   It seemed very intriguing and with the internet at my fingers, I had ordered one before I knew it!

It’s a fabulous little contraption.  It makes soft boiled and hard boiled as well as omelets and poached, if you want to use one of the little plates that are part of the kit.  And it’s extraordinarily easy.  I’ve been using it pretty regularly – mostly for soft boiled eggs, which I haven’t had for years since I can never get them just right using a pot of water.  I also made a few hard boiled with eggs from the farm and got the brightest orangey-yellow egg salad I’ve ever had.

Unfortunately I can’t use it for the dyed eggs this weekend.  The cooker requires a teeny pin prick in the top of each egg and that pin prick will let all kinds of dye into the eggs when they are submerged.  Oh well, not the end of the world and my little cooker won’t be side-lined long!

Thanks for PJ and Hans for introducing me to my latest kitchen gadget!

When was the last time you dyed eggs?

2024, education, Family, Food, Kids, Technology, Travel

Where in the World is XDFBen?

56 Comments

A rhetorical question really. The photos will give it away. But I hardly ever get to say this so couldn’t pass it up.

A college sponsored vacation? Well, sure! At least for me. Kelly and daughter are the bonus on the trip.

Thirty four years ago we came here on our honeymoon. A year ago when I knew this event would be here, I said we couldn’t pass it up. And now I keep asking, do you recognize anything? Nope. Even the famous places, I know we were there, but not much recollection. And that’s ok. The weather was beautiful Sunday – Tuesday.  Wednesday was cloudy and Thursday It rained in the evening.

One day we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island. Standing on the deck watching the water, it was just beautiful. I tried to get that to be an indelible memory. I made a comment to Kelly that I thought it was pretty cool go back to an island we had been at 34 years ago and she pointed out we were on Whidbey Island, not Bainbridge Island. Damn. I don’t know where I got Bainbridge from. Well, I’m a writer, time to change the narrative! From now on, we went to Bainbridge Island as part of our Honeymoon. Wasn’t much to see there, it’s 55 minutes between returning ferries, and we were back to the dock in time to catch the next one returning to the mainland.  We all enjoyed the boat ride.

Tuesday we rode the Ferris wheel, we went to the aquarium, and we visited three used bookstores. Everything’s expensive here, but some of the food has really been good.

We hit some of the other tourist attractions, and got to watch them toss some fish.

Wednesday was the first day of the USITT conference, the United States Institute of Theatre Technology, and I am now a certified MEWP operator. Mobile Elevated Work Platform. Scissor lift, genie lift, all those big bucket things you see at construction sites or theaters. It was a good class.

Thursday I attended a soldering workshop and wired up a little LED strip,

got my hearing tested for free, saw a famous Broadway lighting designer and listened to her speak: Dawn Chiang.

Friday was a class on organizing your shop, which I’m hoping will be useful for home, as well as a class titled “the psychology of stupidity”. I’ll fill you in on that next week.

The convention Center: Two buildings, 6 floors. Getting my steps in. Not to mention how far UP HILL it is from the wharf to downtown. We were never lost, but I went the wrong direction multiple times. 

We rode the light rail and monorail, we met some friends here and had supper at their house, I made a couple new friends, and more surprising was the fact we three survived all being in one hotel room together for a week!

The people watching has been great!

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day. 3,21, because down syndrome comes from the fact those kids have three copies of the 21st chromosome as opposed to two. That’s why it’s also called trisomy 21. Daughter is a pretty interesting kid. Lots of people will smile at her and make conversation with her, she says hello to a lot of people, and animals just love her. She’s kind of fun to hang out with.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CERTIFIED IN?