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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

A good week and it's only Tuesday

I've mentioned from time to time how inbred is my valley; these folks live here generation on end, and the Hatfields and McCoys have nothing on how long a grudge can be nursed. So, long story short, one fellow got mad at another and made a public record request for what amounted to seven hundred pages of personnel records and time records on a fishing expedition to prove who knows what. I hoped our legal counsel would tell me I could say it was too broad, but he tapped his finger on the letterhead of a very high power, big city attorney and said give them everything.

Now my artificial hip has been bothering me for the last several months, not to mention a back that does not tolerate standing, so I wasn't too happy. However, what's good for the goose is good for the gander or somesuch; I did file a FOIA in March against the federal government for wage information, got it (in May!), and have used it to my ends, so karma says return the favor. I enlisted two young women I know to tote boxes from storage and we set to yesterday.

Laura had box lifting and staple pulling duty, Emily ran the copier and I stood and restapled my copies back together. The high power fisherman get their 3" of paper loose; better hope they don't drop it on the way out the door. Now, that is petty (of me).

But a long day of standing and stapling and walking papers back to Laura to refile and heave on a shelf and I was barely walking. Thank goodness my long ago scheduled appointment with the orthopedist was today. I was convinced he would tell me a tune up was needed and I was working out why I couldn't see him again until after I go to Ann's later this month.

As I sat in the waiting room an extra hour waiting for the appointment I walked a friend through turning the heel of her first sock. I'm so proud of her, and she's so pleased with herself. Then off to x-ray my thirteen year old fake hip, and see the doctor I haven't seen in almost that long. He's getting so grey. My hip is perfect; I had a bursa. Son of a gun. A shot of cortisone dead center in the little bastid and I was out the door.

I went to pick up Emily from her sketching class with Mrs. P, and the thirty five steps to her studio were not daunting tonight! Here's what Emily is up to:



I said "Oh, look, prickly pears."
Shame on me; they're bing cherries.


But there's a story with her other sketch tonight. A couple of weekends ago she helped Linda at a show in Columbus. A man stopped in the booth, indicated he was deaf and said he was asking for donations for a baseball team for deaf young men. Emily said he did not speak as well as my niece, who is deaf, but she got the gist of it. She answered back in sign language, and they had a little conversation. 

He was surprised and pleased she knew enough sign to get by, plus the alphabet, to spell what she couldn't say, and will study it another year in high school. I am so pleased I told her to look into sign for the rest of her foreign language requirement and that the high school both offers it and counts it toward foreign language credits.




Emily and Mrs. P discussing how a hand looks.

28 comments:

  1. Hatfield and McCoy battles...excellent. Small communities tend to hold onto grudges, so true.

    Getting better supporting shoes is vital. I fight with my hubby about this almost daily.

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  2. Getting good news from the doctor is more than enough to make a great week. I hope the pain stays away for a long time.

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  3. Don't I know that! I remind myself of the joke "why we can't have anything nice." I recently bought an expensive pair of soft, soft leather shoes with a lovely diamond sole that was not a sole, but just something flexible between me and the pavement. My lucky daughter wears the same size and was very happy to have them passed along after one day's wear. Back to the the old sturdy clunkers again.

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  4. SO cool she can sign.

    Hope that bursar stays away.

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  5. Of course they are cherries! Did you get written guarantee for six months pain free?
    Jane x

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  6. Two things. First, I wear Dansko shoes all of the time. Years ago my feet rebelled because I walked on concrete floors in heels. Young and stupid! Danskos are expensive, but they last forever. Second -- we have a little grudge going on down the street here. So and so won't speak to so and so. I'm not sure either party knows why. One of those involved has told me she has no idea.

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    1. They do last a long time. I wore a pair for a decade.

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  7. Lovely artwork. I'm glad your back feels better. And how good that man must have felt to have someone understand him.

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  8. So glad your hip is feeling much better! Emily cherries look very good. I would have thought they were lychees (also fruit)..

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  9. So pleased Emily could sign to the young man asking for donations for the deaf football cause. My donation was very little but i am willing to guess more than other artists who did not have a helper who could sign. My question to Emily was, "how do you play deaf football?" Her reply was that it was the same as hearing football. DAH>

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  10. Lots of good in this post. Powerful good.
    I am so glad that your pain was 'only' a bursa and hope it stays better for a long time.
    Love that Emily could sign. Definitely another language and soooo useful.
    And I chuckled at the loose paper pile.

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  11. Cool that Emily knows sign language and was able to help the man at the show. Such an important service she was able to provide. Her sketch of the cherries is great too! What a project the three of you were involved in! I wonder it any of that information you gave him will satisfy his or if he will want more. Glad too the doctor was able to help relieve some of your pain with the shot!

    betty

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  12. Well done, Emily. Good work with the signing and lovely art. I can't help smiling at the thought of the people dropping all those papers. Knowing that a secretary would have to fix it erases my smile. I was confused by Tuesday, June 30, at the top of your blog. I thought it was still Sunday. The days slip by as I sleep.

    Love,
    Janie

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  13. I think it's wonderful that this is a choice in your schools.
    I think it should be a choice in all schools everywhere.
    Well done Emily.

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  14. Good for Emily! I love it that sign language can count as a foreign language. I wish they taught it when we were in high school.

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  15. Hari OM
    As impressed as I am with Emily... I am super impressed that sign is considered a 'foreign language' in the school. Top Marks! Between her art and her conversation, she was also having a good week.

    For you - bravo on the medical upgrade, even if it is likely only to be temporary. ...though I did wonder at the 'standing' to staple. I'd've been seated for sure! YAM xx

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  16. What a lovely upbeat post today Joanne. Glad about the hip.

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  17. So glad you're getting relief from some of your pain... 6 months? I'd take it too! Emily's art is improving all the time, and her ability to help that man? That is very, very cool.
    A lot of good happening for you right now; that makes me happy as well. =)

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  18. Wonderful post Joanne. Glad you had your two helpers !

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  19. Being the said friend with turned heel (of the sock that may well be worn out before it's ever worn) I thank you a hundred times over for your help! Your granddaughters are so lucky to have your insight and gumption as an example (they won't appreciate for another 20 years)!

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  20. Comes in handy having young, strong backs and legs around. How interesting that signing is considered a foreign language. Handy one to have.

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  21. Hope that shot of cortisone helped ease your pain. I have a pain in my left shoulder and upper arm that won't go away. Maybe, I should see the doctor.

    I am glad that signing is considered a foreign language.

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  22. My wife signs, I think it is such a beautiful form of communication. So happy that you’re hip is feeling better.

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  23. Love her drawings. Very talented. Those are some BIG Bing cherries. Hope by now your hip is better!

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  24. I have long wished I knew ASL; in so many situations, it could be useful and helpful.

    I'm praising modern medicine for that cortisone shot. A bursa!

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  25. As you recall, Joanne, the first time I saw some meaningful sign was at your Mother's funeral. I listened to the minister but watched the girl doing the signing. I will always remember that.

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