Working on Problems

Today I called about the fact that delivery on Saturday was done wrong. I asked to have the delivery fee back and it worked. Now I'm the first on the list for Wednesday morning. I'm sure that means someone will be here at 8 AM, so I will get up early!!!

Today I was expecting paperwork from Hungary. I found a note that this was delievered to the office. When I went to the office, no luck! They said they would ask the UPS delivery tomorrow. About two hours later the office called back and said they had found the delivery!

Misadventure

Today I was expecting my new dining table and chairs to be delivered between 2:30 - 4:30. When I got a call today for a delivery of a bedroom set at 1:30 I said, "No, I was going to call to schedule that on Monday." We waited until 4:00 and when no table had appeared I started to call. Finally at 4:45 I found there would be no delivery because I had refused it. Now I have to wait until Wednesday. My daughter thinks I should ask to have the delivery fee refunded. I'm going to definitely ask for that!

More driving around

Out my windows I see a green space, then Shephard Road and then two railroad tracks. Actually the tracks are quite hidden right now by trees. Behind the tracks is a large wall, maybe 75 feet high. It is actually a reinforced bluff for the Mississippi River valley. The valley here is quite large, perhaps 3/4 mile wide, left over from the glacial days. I have been wondering what were the buildings on the top of the bluff. Then this morning I saw a Catholic sister walking about on the top of the bluff. After work I decided to go for a bit of drive to see what is on top of the bluff. I found it is the hospice operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor. A bit to the left is an old Victorian red brick house that is currently being renovated. So that's what is across the valley, and these seem to very nice neighbors.

Driving Around Adventures

Today I picked up my older daughter and we went on a driving adventure. During October I'll be spending most Mondays and Tuesdays supervising community health nursing students doing hearing and vision screening at various schools in the Hopkins School District. I went to find all the involved schools, as well as taking a long, boring drive to one school in the St. Francis School District. Now I have to photoshop the pictures and then post all this information on the course web site.

Along the way I tried to find a new backpack for my oldest granddaughter. Her father was supposed to buy this, but didn't. The day before school starts is not the time to look for a backpack, that's for sure. I did find some replacement for some of my Fiesta dishes that never got packed and moved. While doing that I found some bedding that I feel in love with, and now my bedroom is moving into a whole new direction. Hope to get things organized enough to get the new bed delivered some time next week.

Views of my New Adventure

River Lights

New Kitchen

I've been in my new place for 3 weeks. Tonight I decided to walk out to see how things looked in the dark. Here is a view of the lights on the river. Most of the white reflections come from the lights on the High Bridge. My older daughter rode the school bus over this bridge every day when she went to high school.

I've been unpacking, sorting, and taking things to either Good Will or Artscraps. The kitchen is at least completely settled.

Today I bought a new dining set. It will be delivered on Saturday. Then perhaps will come pictures of the dining/living room area.

How we say Zywiec in Minnesota

My Polish readers will know exactly what Zywiec means in Poland, at least if one can write with a Polish keyboard and make the letters fit the Polish language. Here's what Zywiec means in Minnesota. I went to a meeting this morning and then to the grocery store. Right at the entrance was a display of sweet corn from the Zywiec Vegetable Farm in Cottage Grove. I brought some home even though on Polish Forums one writer said "only the very poor people in America eat corn." (Not all misperceptions live on the West side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Adventures in Perception

I know I had no idea of what Poland was like before I went the first time. However, what I've heard lately amazes me. I was with four teams of Americans while in Poland. One family said they wanted to visit a Communist country and were surprised to find Polish "people are just like us." I bit my tongue and didn't ask why persons in that family had not noticed 1989, the changes in Poland, and all the other changes in the former Soviet dominated countries.

Last night a potential volunteer called me. One of her questions was whether the hotels used in Poland would be clean. Clean! I've never seen anyone who cleans like the Polish! Why on earth would someone ask that question. Clearly there are some very great misperceptions in this country about Central Europe.

But one volunteer said she was going to go home and tell everyone to visit Poland. All she had heard about was Prague and she thought Poland and its beautiful cities are hidden gems.