Chit Chat in VOLTVILLE Thread #2 :)

[awsum140]

The Mini is way better IMO than the nano, and I hated the t3's. They leaked, and not just a drop. They leaked as if you just tipped the juice over and squeezed it all over everything. But I have to say the iClear16's are my all time favorites.

Funny you say that, Celt, I liked the iClear 30 and Mrs. Awsum likes the 30s. Now that I found RBAs, CE3s are really the only "cartridge head" style device I use other than the rba stuff.

 

[Semiretired]

I am the same way with the Protanks and their minis - the heads are the same in both and just simplifies everything. Plus I have already stocked up enough on the rebuildable parts to last for years...

 

[Renolizzie]

Good morning, Voltechs.

Nice weekend here in the Silver State.

Back to the real world I have a house to clean today but I don't leave until later.

This client is having major family and life issues and I don't want to discuss his issues so I am trying to get there after he has left. I'm just the cleaning lady and I don't want to talk so much. On top of that, he has COPD and I don't like him breathing the cleaning chemicals.

He used to leave shortly after I got there at 9am but several years later and he doesn't leave until noon. I should be done cleaning by then but I can't be done since he is talking and I am trying to keep him from breathing dust and chemicals. I know he doesn't feel well and I feel for him with his family situation but, again, I'm just the cleaning lady not a psychotherapist, counselor or social worker.

He also seems to think it would take 5 hours to clean his house. It doesn't or at least it shouldn't. It's inefficient and frustrating to be dealing with this cleaning job and it is frustrating to be dealing with this client. Let's hope he leaves because if I have to keep dealing with him, then I am retiring from cleaning his house.

We got our alfalfa for the goats this weekend. We drove all the way to Schurz [an hour away] on Sunday. We got there and a bale of hay was open on the ground. It looked fine but my spidey senses were up. Hubby started to load and he says "Geez, these bales are so heavy. Then, he finds mold in one of the bales. "Throw it to the side." the guy says.

Hubby finds another bale that is moldy. I keep saying "I don't know about this hay, I'm worried." We find another moldy bale. I told Hubby, "We can't take this hay. Do you want me to tell him?" We dumped the bales after a short discussion with the guy who basically admitted the hay was bad and couldn't be fed to the horses because it could kill them. Of course, I am not feeding it to the horses but I am still very unhappy to meet someone who would sell us bad hay for good money!

I think there is a lot of bad hay this year due to the rains we got for days. The farmers cut it and then yahoos like this guy baled even though it was wet. The hay is literally rotting inside the bale and is good for nothing but compost.

That was a waste of time and a large tank of gas.

We called on some more hay in Fallon which we were able to pick up yesterday. That was nice alfalfa hay. Unfortunately, having spent on extra gas, I don't think we saved much over the local price but we are stocked up for the winter. The winter is possibly shaping up to be a bad winter so we want to have hay here and not have to try to buy it.

I'm also concerned that hay prices may go through the roof since the first cut was ruined for most farmers around here. We saw lots of crappy looking hay stacked in bales and lots of hay laying on the ground, ruined by the rain on our way to Schurz.

I slept late and now that I have had my cup of coffee, I guess I better go feed the critters.

 

[Renolizzie]

I try. But given my past experiences, it is just talk. Too many hurts.

I had totally forgotten about THAT button.

Well, I'm all talk , too, since I am married to a really nice guy that I love It don't hurt to drool a little once in awhile

 

[SandySu]

Lizzie, I'm glad you caught on to that hay before you bought it.

I had a dressage lesson yesterday, and the instructor, who was very good and made me ride better, which I'm sure Maija appreciated, told me Maija looked sort of ouchy in front, so I think she'll need shoes in front, even for the indoor ring, which is fairly soft sand. I guess I'll have the barn's farrier put shoes on her front feet, even though she didn't behave well for him last Saturday when he trimmed her hooves. I think he wasn't sensitive enough to her need to flex her legs before she could hold them still for him to work on. He just wanted to get the job done. I think maybe if I longe her before, she may limber up and behave better.

The Grassroots Festival is happening tomorrow through Sunday at the local fairgrounds, and since it's close, the cars are lined up outside on the road to get in tomorrow.

When I was tutoring the other day, somehow, the subject of the World Trade Center buildings being hit by planes and destroyed came up. I plan to read something to the kids about it on Monday, but they had never seen actual newscasts of it happening on TV, so I directed them to a short video of some. I warned them it might be scary and not to watch if they thought it might give them nightmares, but the little girl said she watched it and wasn't scared. I think, to them, with so much violence and stuff on TV, it wasn't any more real than a movie.

The kids have been restless and impatient and not doing their homework lately, and I wonder how I can refresh their attitude. They will do their worksheets but seem impatient and bored by reading out loud, even if it's something they wanted to know about. It seems they just want to get it over and done with ASAP. How can I make reading and learning interesting?

I was thinking of having a conversation day, when all we do is talk about something. They seem interested then, and talking is good for learning a language. I think I might do that. Any suggestions about how to structure it?

 

[3mg Meniere]

It seems they just want to get it over and done with ASAP. How can I make reading and learning interesting?

I was thinking of having a conversation day, when all we do is talk about something. They seem interested then, and talking is good for learning a language. I think I might do that. Any suggestions about how to structure it?

Take them to the library, have them check out books that interest them, they read them between lessons, then discuss them with you.

Don't structure the talk lesson. Have some subjects thought up ahead of time, in case they can't think of enough to talk about. This would be great for the littlest one, since listening comes before speaking when learning a new language.

 

[Renolizzie]

Good morning, Voltpeeps.

Have some delicious Kati Kati coffee. An African blend.

Little Penny PooPoo is playing with her toy. She makes me laugh every time she plays with that toy.

Sounds like you did have a good riding lesson, SandySu.

Lounging sounds like a good idea. It will let her loosen up.

I decided I need to get out there and bond more with my little horsies. Wiseguy is a nervous little booger but he would be less nervous if I was playing with him more. Neither horse likes fly spray so I need to work on getting them to go into their stalls so I can spray them. I think I will use carrots as treats when they go into the stalls.

Of course my client was there yesterday even though I got there super late. My client announced that the 'kid' tried to commit suicide again [the kid his a forty five old drug addict.] Apparently, not at the house. He seemed to have taken himself to the police station. I didn't really figure it out since I don't really want to know.

I told the client [in a nutshell] that I cared about him and the 'kid' but in the end I am just the cleaning lady. Would he consider Al-anon or a parents whose kids are on drugs support group? I am absolutely certain that he is not the only parent that is going through this. I don't have kids so I can't really understand how he feels. A support group might give him somewhere to share that the people would really understand what he is going through.

I tried to give him some words to use with his kid since berating the kid doesn't seem like a great plan. I told him if it was me I would probably tell his kid "Where there is life there is hope. You have cleaned up and done really well before and that means you can do it again. You did great in your college classes and people like you when you are sober. We all fall down, we all fail. Pick yourself back up and pull it together again. I love you and care about you and so do many other people."

He stated that he can't get anything done anymore because of the 'kid'. I told him the 'kid' isn't the only person in the world and that he had responsibilities he needs to take care of. He has a business and those people depend on him to have jobs, for one thing.

He says that children shouldn't die before the parent dies. I told him "but it happens". My dad died when he was 45 years old and my grandmother had to go on with her life and she did. Again, he has obligations and responsibilities to others besides the 'kid'.

Yes, life is hard but it has its good points. We all make choices. What you are going through, I choose to not let it depress me. In the end, I am just the cleaning lady although, again, I do care about you and the kid. If I start finding this situation too depressing, I will quit.

He did say that he would try a support group as he was leaving.

I hope I was firm but uplifting.

 

[Renolizzie]

Have them do a story where each of you contributes a sentence or two to the story. Could end up being fun and silly.

 

[Uncle]

I hope I was firm but uplifting.

Well - As a Professional Counselor (particularly in "Human Behaviour Modification") . . .Let "Me' just say that "You" did very well, especially to refer him to a support group of "Like" mind people who are going through the same situations and possible issues . . . More importantly, while it is extremely understandable that he NEEDS to talk with someone (anyone for that matter who will listen - given that he still does not know how to coup with the situation) - however it is also extremely unfair that he is putting "You" in that position and almost holding you as a hostage . . . So - To "reset" specific boundaries and the priorities of why "You" are actually there in his home was - WELL DONE - too . . . NOW - Hopefully he finally heard "YOU" and will not broach the subject again without "You" asking for an update . . . However, Just as an FYI - If he is anything like the "Son" (and given what "You" said about some of the things he is doing right now - he just could be) - Ya' just might have to hit him upside the head harder next time to get through to him (AND - Let him know once again that if it should continue "You" will have no other choice - but to let him go as a client, especially since it does emotionally effect "You"/make Ya' feel bad about what is happening) . . . Just Sayin' . . .

 

[Renolizzie]

Thanks for your thoughtful input, Uncle. I'll bear that in mind for next week when, hopefully, he will already be gone!!!! My plan is to get there around noon or after so that he is leaving the house already.

On a lighter note, the new shade cover has allowed me to sit outside for hours. Or, in this case, 20 minutes before I got too hot, and I am watching some baby hummingbirds. I can tell they are really young by their size, their coloration, their behaviors and, mostly, their awkwardness in feeding compared to the older hummers. How fun is that?! Watching baby hummers eating from penstemmons in my backyard.

There are also quite a few orioles and baby orioles eating from the jelly feeder.

Raven, hope you are well. How is the action at your feeders?

 

[tmcase]

Thanks for your thoughtful input, Uncle. I'll bear that in mind for next week when, hopefully, he will already be gone!!!! My plan is to get there around noon or after so that he is leaving the house already.

On a lighter note, the new shade cover has allowed me to sit outside for hours. Or, in this case, 20 minutes before I got too hot, and I am watching some baby hummingbirds. I can tell they are really young by their size, their coloration, their behaviors and, mostly, their awkwardness in feeding compared to the older hummers. How fun is that?! Watching baby hummers eating from penstemmons in my backyard.

There are also quite a few orioles and baby orioles eating from the jelly feeder.

Raven, hope you are well. How is the action at your feeders?

I envy you the baby hummers. I just have 1 male that dominates the feeder and once in awhile I'll see a female but the male usually chases her and every other male away. I also envy you the Oreoles. I didn't get any this year but I saw some at Rave's. They are so beautiful.

 

[Renolizzie]

Good morning, Voltpeeps.

How's your back, awsum?

How you doing, Celti?

RAven, miss you!

Terry, life in the woods suiting you?

Wuzz, doing a lot of smoking?

Semi - how does it go in your neck of the woods?

SandySu - when's your next tutoring session?

I have lots to do and less time to do it today.

Cleaning a house and running errands today. At least I slept good last night and have the truck loaded up with my supplies already..

 

[awsum140]

moanin', Volties.

Thanks for asking, Lizzie. My back seems to have gotten back to what passes for normal. I was at the chiropractor this AM for another "adjustment" and will go back again in a week for the final tweak. I was supposed to go yesterday, but the chiropractor canceled at the last minute, just before I left the house. He fell getting out of the tub last Sunday and gave himself a nasty concussion. He's a younger guy, 40's maybe, and works out daily and is in great shape. Gotta watch those tubs, their dangerous at any age!

You have more patience than I do dealing with that customer who's having problems. It's one thing if you're friends or at least close in some way, but with just a business relationship hearing all that stuff gets old really fast. I know people need to talk their problems out but he should be a little more selective in who he talks to. Just my take on it anyway. I have a friend that I value and he's going through some really serious medical problems. I don't mind talking with him about it at all, he's a good friend, and try to provide an ear and some common sense viewpoints to him. In short, I care about him, his health and his well being. That makes it easy, well difficult really, but you know what I mean.

 

[Semiretired]

Semi - how does it go in your neck of the woods?

I am doing good, only the weather is keeping me in more than I like - do not like 100+...

Awsum, good that your back is doing better - take care of it - you may want to use it for a while longer...

 

[tmcase]

Terry, life in the woods suiting you?

Yes, it sure is. Only complaint is heat & bugs. I can't wait for Fall. I can't wait to get back to cutting firewood.

 

[awsum140]

Terry, there will come a time when "can't wait to get back to cutting firewood" turns into "can't wait to slam my hand in the car door". Trust me on that, LOL.

 

[tmcase]

Terry, there will come a time when "can't wait to get back to cutting firewood" turns into "can't wait to slam my hand in the car door". Trust me on that, LOL.

I don't know awsum. I've loved cutting wood all my life. I started cutting wood when I was a teenager.

 

[awsum140]

I dunno. I cut firewood, and hauled firewood, and split it, and stacked it, year 'round then dragged it inside, and burned it, and cleaned out the woodstove, in the winter, for almost ten years. It got old after the second year and I was in my 30's then.

 

[cindycated]

I don't know awsum. I've loved cutting wood all my life. I started cutting wood when I was a teenager.

OK Terry, let's see if you still feel that way after a couple more winters over there...

 

[Renolizzie]

I don't mind cutting wood at all. Of course, Hubby does most of the work but I don't mind hauling it in or cleaning up after it. Saves us a ton of money and is so much toastier than the propane heat. We also get to go out into the woods and hang out, have lunch and feel superior to the rest of America who is sitting on their .... while we are earning our heat with our own hard work