Hello, November

 

I love the calendars my friend Bryant sends me every year. 

Always something different; always fun. 

And, so, it's always a fun exercise each month to turn over the page and see what the new month offers.

This month's is a good one. 

I had never before connected looking for a parking space with online shopping, but after seeing November's image, I'm thinking that is certainly another plus to go along with the convenience of shopping from home. 

And, when  you're my age, finding that parking spot after leaving the store could turn into a major stressor unless you plan like I do and always park in the same general spot. 

At Wal-Mart, I usually pick out a place at the far north of the parking lot right next to where people return their shopping carts. 

On days when someone is already nabbed my spot, I have to do some intense pre-emptive plotting with my brain. 

"You ARE going to remember that you're in a different spot when you leave the store," I tell myself while driving around looking for another spot. "You must find features that are going to lead you to the strange spot."  

Occasionally, I forget to do the brain work, and whenever that happens and I don't really remember where I parked, instant poise must kick in. 

"Do not look like you've lost your mind along with your car," I tell myself. "Just keep walking calmly and pretend that you know exactly where you're going."

After all, there are those parking-lot voyeurs, usually older husbands waiting for their wives and who have done the preparation to position the car in a spot where they can watch all the comings and goings of  the store, especially the crazy women exhibiting a sudden onset of dementia. 

Often these folks are parked in the handicapped spots, so I always figure that if I can make it past them and keep on walking, they may not be able to turn their necks enough to see the moment when panic sets in and I'm almost to McDonalds or to North 40 and still haven't found my parking spot. 

So far, I've survived these moments and have been able to maintain my composure.

I'm sure the time will come, though, when I lose it while driving my shopping cart and not finding my car. 

So, let's go back to online shopping.  After recapping some of my "oh-oh, where's the car?" episodes and seeing the November calendar message, I'll always remember why I love online shopping. 

So, it's November, and there's good news on this day after we wrapped up October. 

My wizard friend Tony very nicely came to the place yesterday and, with his usual mechanical brilliance, figured out why our tractor had no power. 

Actually, he figured that out twice---once when he checked the fuel filter, cleaned it and jotted down the need for a new one, and secondly, when the tractor still acted a bit woozy. 

During a short period of time, my mood fluctuated from depression to euphoria and back to depression.

"It's the clutch," he said.  The second depression came when Tony described what had to be done to the tractor to put in a new clutch. 

Seems it has to be dissected and put up on jacks. 

I tried not to groan or cry, and that was good because then Tony said, "Let me look down under the tractor and see what's happening."

Well, what was happening was something underneath there needed some tightening. 

Tony did so.  The tractor reclaimed its power.

I really don't know what we would do without Tony's willingness to come and without his spot-on expertise.

He has helped us out of so many jams during the years, and I must say yesterday's mechanical performance ranks at the top. 

Since then, at least a third of the hay field has been groomed and Bill and I have breathed deep sighs of relief.  Tony will come once again Thursday and replace a couple of filters and attend to some other servicing. 

THANK YOU, TONY.  We are so grateful. 

As you scroll through the photos, you'll see I've begun my annual applesauce renewal and that we have a nice supply of Halloween candy for Bill to enjoy over the next few days. 

It always disappears, regardless of the quantity. 

Last night we had our solo group of trick or treater, the youngest of the five Taylor boys.  Seems the others have aged out of trick or treating. 

The two young men enjoyed a few handfuls of candy, and we enjoyed some fun visiting with their parents. 

Meanwhile, off in Seattle, our daughter Annie, like so many other adults these days, was vying for a costume prize at her office Halloween party. 

BTW: when I went to North 40 yesterday and voted for the best employee costume, I was granted a free and a big Salted Nut Bar. 

Anywho, Annie decided a while back to go to her Groundspeak party as Liz Truss.  If you don't remember Liz, no need to worry about the onset of dementia. 

She's the British prime minister who reportedly didn't last in office as long as a head of lettuce. 

Annie nailed her, I thought, and the fellow employees voted her as the "most humorous."

October has ended, and my second least favorite month of the year has begun.  January is always the worst, but November with its darkness zone hardly ignites my adrenalin. 

I guess we just go with the flow and the darkness, and if we feel a need to slumber through it all, we just do. 

No time for sleeping today, though.  Still lots of projects to attend to before the snow flies. 

Happy Tuesday.