Progress report: Month 6 (October 2019)

1. ... basement -- Continued work on/in it

2. ... sort/discard -- Discarded/gave away 22

5. ... Clean & reorganize garage & deck.  -- Finished
31. ... paperwork... -- On track
35. ... gym... -- Missed goal, only 2x/per week
36. ... vitamins, etc. -- B+
43. ... book group -- Done
44. ... Uvulati -- Done
45. ... Hearts & Hands -- Missed meeting (quilt show)
49. ... 150 movies -- Watched 4; total 42
      Sylvia
      Can you ever forgive me?
      BlackkKlansman
      Wanda Sykes: I'ma be me
50. ... 125 books/30 I own/15 previous BG/RC -- Read 7; own 3
      Current total: Read 42; own 9
      Pazienza: Dead star twilight [RC 2019] [own]
      Krueger: Ordinary grace [current BG]
      Williams: Eyes on the prize
      Cooper: The rainbow comes and goes [RC 2019] [own]
      Ihimaera: Whale rider [RC 2019]
      Esquivel: Like water for chocolate [RC 2019]
      Johnson: Boardwalk empire [RC 2019] [own]
52. ... current BG -- Done
53. ... current RH Challenge -- In process (3 to go)
85. ... healing/comfort quilts -- Finished 1 for Baby Bureau
94. ... gratitude journal -- Up-to-date
96. ... monthly blog update -- Up-to-date
97. ... 2 blog posts monthly -- Up-to-date

Period poverty

A few months ago, the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer printed an article about "period poverty", a problem for young women who cannot afford to purchase the feminine hygiene products needed monthly.   While I had been aware of related problems abroad, like those in India, described in the Academy-Award-winning film, "Period. End of sentence," it had never occurred to me that there were young women in my larger neighborhood who were without the needed supplies to take care of themselves, go to school without worrying about embarassment, and, generally, to have control over this basic female bodily function. 

In response, I emailed my women's circle at St. Paul's, the Deborahs, as well as all the other women's circles, calling their attention to this newspaper article and requesting their cooperation in undertaking a project to assist in meeting this need.   In return, enthusiastic expressions of willingness to work together arrived from the leaders of the others.  As a starter, Deborahs gave me a check for $100, which I used (in conjunction with $12 in coupons) to purchase the above articles (cat not included), and I have an equal amount in donations left at the collection point at church. 

My hope is to make this an ongoing project involving all the women in our church and allowing us to deliver at least a small number of supplies as they are offered. 

Wherever you are, I suspect you will find a similar need if you begin to ask those in positions to know -- school nurses and teachers, in particular.   While legislation has been introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly which would require the provision of free napkins and tampons at all schools, until such time as this is passed and implemented, the students will continue to lack the proper supplies.  (Given the make-up of the PA GA, I'm not holding my breath for passage.)

Even under the best of circumstances in which this law passes and receives swift implementation, there will be the summer break, which will cut off the school-related supplies for students, as well as  year-round needs of the population of young women who are no longer in school. 

Join in the fight against "period poverty" wherever -- and whoever -- you are!   

Progress report: Month 5 (September 2019)

1. ... basement -- Continued work on/in it

2. ... sort/discard --  Mostly basement: 12
5. ... garage/deck -- Started on deck
31. ... paperwork... -- On track
35. ... gym -- Success!  3x per week 
36. ... vitamins, etc. -- B+
41. ... print photos 2x/year -- Did this month
43. ... Book group -- Done
44. ... Uvulati -- Done
45. ... Hearts & Hands -- Missed September meeting
49. ... 150 movies -- Watched 4; total 37
      Period, end of sentence
      Lilies of the field
      Puss in boots
      Boy erased
50. ... 125 books/30 I own/15 previous BG/RC -- Read 5
      Current total: Read 36, own 7
      Frazier: Cold Mountain [RC 2017][previous BG][own]
      Burke: Robicheaux [audio]
      Jiles: News of the world
      Beattie: My life starring Dara Falcon [previous BG][own]
51. ... older BG.. -- Read 2, total 3    
52. ... current BG book -- Done
53. ... current RH Challenge -- In process 
54. ... previous RH Challenges -- Finished 2017
81. ... 3 healing/comfort quilts per year -- Finished one for Welcome Church 
94. ... gratitude journal... -- Up-to-date
96. ... blog... update monthly -- Up-to-date
98. ... blog... 2 posts per month -- Up-to-date

Quilty doings

In a post last May, I showed my completed 2018 quilts: three for weddings and five as "good-bye" gifts for co-workers.

Since then, I've finished (finally) a quilt for my own bed.  The top for this was completed (or so I thought) over a year ago, but after looking at a photo I'd taken, I discovered that several blocks were sewn together wrong!   Funny how seeing something through a lens can draw your attention to details that you miss when you look directly at it.  So I had the tedious task of taking apart the mis-aligned blocks and re-sewing the seams correctly.  Not fun when you're manipulating a queen-size quilt top!  Came out nicely, though, if I do say so myself.  Now to make the matching curtains from the patterned iris fabric.  

A couple of odd blocks made from scraps made a cheery and useful comfort/healing baby quilt, I think.  Quilted this one myself.  

Also quilted this variation on what I call my "SIBQ" -- Standard Issue Baby Quilt, which is always made of 1930's reproductions and white, usually alternating 9-patches and plain blocks, but this one is a little different.  It was shipped to California for the first grandchild of a friend there.  

I have a couple throw-size projects in the works, but mostly, in the near future, I want to concentrate on finishing up about half a dozen smaller, mostly scrap quilts, that would be suitable for baby quilts and that I can machine quilt myself.   Watch this space. 

Alaska trip Pt.6 -- Portland, Oregon

The final stop on the Alaskan odyssey was Portland, Oregon, which allowed me to check off another state from my list.

We stayed in an historic hotel, formerly the Multnomah Hotel, now run by a major chain.  The rooms were very comfortable with updated amenities, the lobby area had been beautifully restored, and there was a salt-water indoor pool!

I was in need of some down time, so D#1 headed off to the science museum while I took a brief nap, then a short walk around the neighborhood.  The hotel was in an older area of Portland, so I had a chance to admire the architecture of what appeared to have been a retail area in the past.  Lovely two- and three- story buildings with varied storefronts lined the streets.

D#1 brought me a gift from the science museum -- something I'd been saying I wanted for some months now:  a set of metal straws to carry in my pocketbook!











We had only a little over 24 hours in Portland, but we made certain to visit a local landmark and mecca for readers, Powell's Books, a multi-floor building covering almost a full block.  Needless to say, I found one or two titles to purchase.





Right in our neighborhood was another well-known spot, Voodoo Donuts, which has several dozen flavors, most of which are not found elsewhere.  While I was not adventurous enough to try the "guava colada," I found the "grape ape" to be surprisingly tasty.

D#2 still had several places to go after Portland, so she flew out early Wednesday afternoon.  I had booked a red-eye to get me back to Philadelphia early in the morning, so I spent my additional hours strolling around again.  Funny how I ended up back at Powell's.   

Progress report: month 4 (August 2019)

Another month down.

1. ...basement -- Continued to work on it.
2. Sort/discard -- Lots more from basement: 28!
5. ... garage and deck ... -- Finished garage.
31. ... paperwork... -- On track
35. ... gym... Success!  4x per week in August
36. ... vitamins, etc. ... B+
38. ... swim... -- One more time; 4 total (This isn't a reasonable goal since my eyes are so sensitive to light.  Sun is too bright.)
39. Replace mattress -- First task accomplished on August 7!
43. ... Book group -- Done
44. ... Uvulati -- Done
45. ... Hearts & Hands -- Done
49. ... 150 movies -- Watched 6; total 33
      The beguiled (1971)
      Between me and my mind (theatre)
      Miseducation of Cameron Post
      T.R.A.P.P.E.D.
      Robin Williams: Come inside my mind
      Wuthering Heights (1939)
50. ... 125 books/30 I own/15 previous BG/RC...  -- Read 4
     Current total: Read 31, own 5,
      Baudelaire: Flowers of evil [RC 2017]
      Scottoline: Courting trouble
      Krauss: The history of love
      Alexie: Reservation blues [RC 2017]
52. ... current BG book -- Done
53. ... current RH Challenge -- In process
54. ... previous RH Challenges -- In process (1 more to go to finish 2017)
94. ... gratitude journal... -- Up-to-date
96. ... blog... update monthly -- Up-to-date
98. ... blog... 2 posts per month -- Up-to-date

Alaska trip Pt. 5 -- Glaciers

Haines was our last stop of the cruise, with the rest of the cruise spent on-board: one day sailing in Glacier Bay National Park, the next traveling up the coast to view Hubbard Glacier. 

The night before, we had received the official map/flyer from the National Park, which was incredibly informative as an introduction to the Bay.  Even better was finding out the next morning that four park rangers (all young women) were now on board to provide information in person.  One staffed the ship-wide announcement system, another explained and sold literature in a lounge, and two circulated on the deck to answer questions.  They had come from the Park headquarters by boat early in the morning and climbed up a rope ladder to board and would reverse the process to go home at the end of their stint on the ship!

When the ship slowed and stopped, we were still some distance away -- at least a mile -- from the three glaciers we would have the opportunity to view.   (For all the below photos "objects appear much smaller than reality.") 

The dark "land" form below is actually the Grand Pacific Glacier, with sediment on its face, therefore looking quite different from what we expect.  This glacier, about 2 miles wide and with a 150 foot face, lies at the innermost point of Glacier Bay and is currently receding, like most of the glaciers.

The Margerie, a mile wide with a face of 250 feet, provided the most dramatic view, in my opinion, with the whitest and bluest colors on the face, appearing like a cliff dropping directly into the water,

while the Lampugh (below photo using "zoom") was crossed by fascinating lines, a top that was craggy rather than mostly flat, and had a smaller "outcropping" that seemed almost separate. This was the smallest in length, measuring about 3/4 of a mile long with the face 150 feet high. 

(Information about the sizes of the glaciers is taken from an overview of selected glaciers on the GBNP site.)

Our last glacier visit was the next day, when we stopped over a hundred miles north, to see Hubbard Glacier.  Hubbard was the largest on our itinerary with a width of over 6 miles on the ocean as well as heights on its face of up to 400 feet!   Once again, the scattering of light made it appear blue.

The next day was the final day of the cruise and we had to be up and about at 6:30 am when we docked in Seward.  We'd booked an excursion train to take us from the port directly to the Anchorage airport where we'd catch a flight to Portland, Oregon.  The train cars were specially designed for observation with windows up to the peak of the roof.   While we (I )drank our (my) much-needed coffee, we got to see some of the scenery a bit farther away from the coast.  Everyone was on the look-out for more wildlife, too, though a black bear climbing a mountain in the distance was our only success.

While I knew that I had seen only a tiny fraction of this gorgeous and amazing state, I was so grateful for the opportunity to view the sights I had seen on this trip, as well as to share it with my wonderful traveling companion!   What a great way to start off my retirement!  

Progress report: month 3 (July 2019)

I continue to work on my goals.

1.  Finish organizing basement -- I started to organize the basement.  A long way to go, but I've already pitched several BOXES of old papers, among other stuff.
2. Sort/discard ... goal 10 items per month...  -- With the basement purge and other activities, I counted 48!
31. Keep up with paperwork -- OK with this.
35. Gym 3-4x per week -- Success!  Three visits per week all month.
36. Vitamins, etc. -- B+ again
39. Replace mattress -- New mattress ordered
43. Went to July book group.
44. Went to Uvulati.
45. Went to Hearts & Hands.
49. Watch 150 movies -- Watched 12.
   Current total: 28
      Northanger Abbey
      Kiss me, Kate
      Yesterday (at theatre -- LOVED IT)
      Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
      Where the heart is
      Tab Hunter confidential
      Confirmation
      Punchline
      Fosse/Verdon
      Children's hour
      Mildred Pierce (1945)
      Suspicion
50. Read 125 books, including 20 I own. -- Read 12, including 1 I own.
     Current total: Read 27; own 5
      Beagle: A fine and private place [RC 2015]
      Bronte: Wuthering Heights [RC 2015]
      Kellerman: Guilt
      Greer: Less
      Michener: Alaska
      Silber: Improvement
      Gottlieb: Best boy [RC 2019]
      Tamaki & Tamaki: This one summer [RC 2019]
      Stoll: High tech heretic [RC 2017 + own]
      Hausman: Sitting on the blue-eyed bear [RC2019]
      Weatherford: Schomberg -- the man who built a library [RC 2019]
      Bryson: Neither here nor there [RC 2019]
52. ... monthly book group book... -- Done
53. ... 2019 Reading Challenge... -- In process
54. Finish 2015/2017 Reading Challenges -- Finished 2015.
94. Gratitude journal -- Up to date
96. Re-start blog -- Did 2 posts plus update
   

Alaska trip Pt.4 -- Haines

Our final stop was to be Skagway, Alaska, where we had another excursion booked, but we were re-routed to Haines, because of a jet fuel spill in Skagway.  Haines usually hosts cruise ships once a week, on Thursdays, and a few specific times through the season.  Our ship arrived on a Friday, causing many changes in the population's plans for the day!

Many excursions were cancelled, but we were fortunate that ours was not -- in fact, it picked up additional participants from the schedule change.

We boarded a motor coach for the 45-minute ride to see the animals at the Kroschel Wildlife Center.  The inhabitants of the family-owned Center have often been used in films from Disney and other companies.  Many (probably most) of the animals are trained to some degree and all are kept outdoors in fenced areas, though the fences have large spaces between the wires so you can take photos that look like you've spotted the creature in its native, wild habitat.

This magnificent falcon greeted us at the entrance.  We went on to observe a wolf, who resembled a pet dog with the guide/refuge owner, as well as a leashed wolverine that similarly followed him and did several "tricks" on command.

The majestic lynx acted like a typical cat, wandering around his compound, unconcerned with all the people just a few feet away.

Other animals in residence were a red fox (more gray than red, as he was shedding his winter coat), several members of the weasel family, including a pair of baby sables, and at least half a dozen reindeer.

Members of the tour group were encouraged to take advantage of a photo op with a porcupine (that was MUCH bigger than I expected) and a moose.  We were happy to oblige.

The tour ended with Kitty, the grizzly bear, having a little snack of her favorite pie, blueberry, of course.  (Bear is farther away than appears; one of the few times a photo taken with the "zoom" on my camera didn't come out blurry.)

This excursion was so much fun!  I strongly recommend it for anyone -- of any age -- who is in the area whether docking on a cruise ship or visiting Skagway or Haines in some other way. 

Before we returned to the ship, we visited the local public library.  This lovely little place offers free wi-fi to all visitors -- a welcome benefit to cruise ship passengers who, for most of a week, have had the choice of no connectivity at all or having to pay a substantial fee to access the ship's network.  There was no doubt that we were visitors, rather than locals, when we sat comfortably, pulled out our phones, and began tapping away.   A donation jar sat on the circulation desk, and I happily inserted some folding money to show, in a small way, our gratitude.  Should you ever find yourself in a similar situation, I strongly urge you to do the same.  LIBRARIES RULE!

Progress report: month 2 (June 2019)

Better late than... (you know the rest). 

2. Sort/discard... goal of 10 per month -- Got rid of 17
35. Go to gym 3-4 times a week -- Didn't make the 3-4x per week. 
36. Teeth & vitamins -- I give myself a B+ for this.  Not perfect, but better than before.
31. Keep up with paperwork -- OK
38. Swim 10 times this summer -- 2 in July; 3 so far
43. Book group -- Missed June meeting for travel, but reading book.
44. Uvulati -- Attended June meeting.
45. Hearts & Hands --Attended June meeting.
49. Watch 150 movies -- Watched 7;  current total 16.
     Shampoo
     Genius
     A dog's way home
     Dumplin'
     Three identical strangers
     Late night
     Irma La Douce
50. Read 125 books, including 20 that I own -- Read 8, including 3 that I own.
        Current total: Read 15; own 4
     Finney: Time and again [RC 2017/own]
     Segal: The awkward age 
     Smith: Don't call us dead [RC 2015]
     Moon & Ba: Daytripper [RC 2017/Graphic novel]
     Semple: Where'd you go, Bernadette? [RC 2019/own]
     Okorafor: Binti - Home [RC 2015]
     Peters: Keeping you a secret [RC 2017]
     Hambly: Wet grave [Own]
52. Book group book -- Done
53. 2019 Read Harder Challenge -- In process
54. Finish 2015 & 2017 challenges -- Finished 2015
94. Gratitude journal -- Up-to-date
95. Re-start blog & update monthly -- In process
96. Two new posts a month -- Only did one in June.  
99. Go on Road Scholar Civil Rights tour -- Paid in full for November 3-10.

     

Alaska trip Pt. 3 -- Juneau

Next port of call was Juneau, Alaska's capital city.  Typical weather, we were told, was foggy and rainy, so we were certain to wear the raincoats suggested by the description of our shore excursion.  Very helpful suggestion!

Our outing included a hike, then boarding a small boat to see if we could view some humpback whales in the inlet.

The trail through the rainforest was not too challenging for me to keep up, thankfully, and we learned a lot about typical plants living in that environment, both useful and harmful.  (Ask me about spruce-tip tea...)  I was taken by the many shades of green we saw as well as the wild lupines that grew near the lake.

By the time we emerged from the forest, the rain had stopped and most of the nearby fog had lifted, a rarity at that time of year, we were told.  Unfortunately, the now-hospitable weather seemed to have used up our good luck as we headed out on the water for whale-watching.  A few spouts or tails were spotted in the distance, but none close enough to photograph or even to be able to say "Yes, we DID see a whale."  Our wildlife viewing was not totally unsuccessful, though.  We cruised past a buoy known as a resting place for sea lions.  If you can enlarge the photo, you'll see them piled on top of each other on the buoy.

When our outing came to an end, we had some additional free time to walk around the town, grab a bite to eat, and wonder why Alaska had decided to make a city which cannot be reached by land (Juneau is accessible only by air or water) its state capital.

Alaska trip Pt. 2 -- Sailing and Ketchikan

Monday was sailing day.  We walked from our hotel to the cruise ship port where three ships were docked and began the process of being checked in.  In addition to the usual baggage and passport checks, we were photographed for our ship IDs which would get us on and off the Norwegian Jewel and would also be our on-board credit card.  Though it took several hours from start to finish, the process was well-organized and mostly painless.  We found our stateroom and went to the cafeteria-style dining room for lunch.  By 5:00, rain was steadily coming down, but we could view the departure from the window, with Vancouver (and another ship) in the background.

This was our first time on a major cruise ship so we did a lot of exploring to find out what was where, how to get various places, and, which activities we wanted to join.  We found that each day an overview of the day was published and delivered very early in the morning.  From bingo to shows to cabaret-type performances, there was quite a variety of possible things to do.  Through our week, we saw a comedian and a troupe of acrobats (their performance made more challenging as the ship was traversing some rough waters at the time).  But we most anticipated the shore days, where we would get to explore, either as part of an organized excursion or on our own.  

The first stop was Ketchikan, Alaska, where we had planned unscheduled time.

When we arrived, we discovered a local bus line ran from the center of town to Totem Bright State Park.  Over a dozen poles were found in this beautiful park, with helpful explanations of their history and meaning.  

There was also a reproduction of a typical Tlingit building where groups would gather as well as a shed in which repair and restoration was completed on some of the poles. 

The park itself offered gorgeous views of the breathtaking Alaskan scenery and a serene place to wander along the trails and take in the sounds and smells of the woods in addition to the sights.

The return bus arrived on schedule so we went back to town for lunch, after which D#1 went partway back on the bus, to a stop that had been announced as a good place to find a hiking trail.   I chose to wander around the town and enjoy the surroundings. 

In a small pocket-type park, I found some of the most glorious rhododendrons I've ever seen, along with bleeding hearts that covered the area under the shrubs.  

Since most of the coastal area was occupied by tourist-oriented shops and restaurants, I shopped my way back to the dock, where I met my daughter who had thoroughly enjoyed her hike.