contours provocations - 2005-1129

contours provocations
journal - 2005-1129 - tue 2030

Wireless from the bedroom; Momsy; A walk in the park; Poster Stamps

This is my first time to use the wireless connection from the bedroom. It seems to work ok, but sluggish. I'm sure there are some more settings I need to check.

I'm having to type carefully because Minerva decided to take a nap in my lap. She's appears so confortable, I hate to disturb her.

I went to the hospital around noon to check on momsy. When they did tests Saturday evening, it was mentioned that her potassium levels were low. I was not surprised because she has been on a number of pills of late to reduce fluid retention. And the results of the pills can strip potassium from the system.

She's on a fluid-restricted diet to allow the potassium levels to return to a more normal state. The nurse asked me to check with the desk before bringing her any outside beverages.

She appeared very drowsy when I went by. I had to ask her several times to look at me. This concerned me enough that I returned after lunch, but she was asleep. But I did get to talk to the nurse who said that her reaction was due to a number of factors including the low potassium levels, pain medication and tiredness due to some walking therapy.

Around 4:30, I decided to make another visit. This time she was eating and was more alert. She said she felt terrible, and I tried to explain about what the nurse had told me. She has trouble hearing, so I know that frequently she doesn't understand because she simply does not hear what is being said.

After lunch, I took a walk in the park. This is the park that I used when I lived at my previous house. It has a curving path that meanders under some magnificent old trees. Some years ago, a number of the trees had metal identifying labels on them. I found this so intriguing that I took a pad and wrote down the names.

Winged elm; willow oak; loblolly pine; sweet gum; southern red oak; swamp chestnut oak; red mulberry; hackberry and osage orange.

There was also an incredible shag bark hickory that looked like it belonged in Tolkien's Fangorn. It had a circumference of at least 20 feet. But I never had an idea of its height. Then one day, it was gone. I could not believe it. Someone obviously made an executive decision that it was too rotten or damaged and had to be removed. I'm sure that orcs were sent out at midnight to chop it down.

There is a walking path near where I now live. But I don't care for it. It's sponsored by the local hospital and is wedged into an area behind the emergency room and the delivery area. That certainly dispels any sense of a being in a sylvan retreat. Also, the pavement is uneven and frequently cracked. A dangerous situation unless you're very careful.

Yesterday, I bought the newest copy of "American Bungalow," a magazine devoted to the Arts and Crafts movement. In browsing through it I came across an article on something I'd never heard of: poster stamps.

"There is no exact definition of what makes a poster stamp but the basics are obvious: a printed message on gummed and perforated paper in imitation of a postage stamp."

The eight-page article included about 20 examples of colorful, striking stamps. Alas, the AB site does not yet list the Winter 2005 issue. But you can see some similiar examples at Alphabetilately: Poster Stamps.

PAX!