Yes, I’m still here, but on Yetzirah’s puter. Mine is still ailing (read dead), but her lovely husband is going to see if he can resurrect it. Maybe my next entry will be on my own puter, maybe not. We’ll see.
Anyway, more about Illinois. I was there at a particularly nice time of the year, and I think I mentioned before that the area reminded me of where I grew up in Idaho. California has been my home for so long that I really don’t feel any homesickness for Idaho, but pleasant memories do come forth from time to time.
Anyway….Bobbi had errands to run (what housewife doesn’t?), and so I got to see a lot of places in the general area where she lives. We did some Wally Mart shopping, and I found my favorite cheesecake, which I can’t find anywhere in any of the stores I shop here. Next time I go to WM, I’m going to stock up!! And on that note, a new one is soon to open in my neighborhood, so I won’t have to travel 20 miles to shop.
Note to Trauma Mama: There’s an interesting article in May’s issue of Smithsonian magazine on a special breed of horses. The breed is called Merari, and it probably originated in India. The ears stand up like a mustache curled up at the ends, much like the Sikh soldiers of time past. An American woman has managed to get permission from the Indian government to bring breeders to the US, and she has been working with breeders in India to try to set some standards for the breed. Of course, every breeder has his own opinion on what the standards should be, so it’s a little tough going to get a consensus.
Back to Illinois. I think that part is considered part of the Breadbasket of America. At least the soil is deeply brown, almost black, and rich, very fertile. There wasn’t much growing for harvest at the time, as Spring comes a little later there than it does in California. But the country is beautiful. I wouldn’t mind living in Bobbi’s little town except for the bitter winters and hot, humid summers. Plus the fact that my family and best friends are here. (Lot of excepts there.)
I brought back a baggie of soil from Bobbi’s back yard for Yetzirah, just to show her what non-amended, naturally fertile soil looks like. She put it in one of her raised planter boxes.
A little anxious news. My daughter had a very mild heart attack at work. She was able to convince the paramedics that she didn’t have to/want to go to the hospital, but she did call off from work and went home and rested. Her vitals are approaching normal again, but only approaching. She has an appointment with her doctor on Thursday. I hope he’ll order a cardiac workup, or maybe even put her in the hospital for a day or so. She’s given up smoking and coffee, and that’s a real hardship for her. But I think the attack scared her more than she’s willing to admit. She’s three years younger than her father was when he had his first heart attack. Of course, I’m nagging her. And of course, she’s responding, “MA!”
That’s it for now. One way or another, I’ll get my puter fixed and will be back writing more about Illinois. But right now, I’m going to go read some diaries. I’m shuddering to think how much mail I have waiting, so I probably won’t leave any comments, but it’ll be good to be sort of back in touch.
Shalom all!