Good morning all:

Weekly entry into spring day quote:

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ~ Margaret Atwood (seconded by Marcia)

As most of you know, it’s quite unlikely for me to smell like dirt – grass maybe (at least the mow-able kind). I only drink my ‘mud’; as I am doing at this moment.

During the night I woke up while a wonderful thunderstorm was howling outside. I don’t know if that was the cause, but this morning I then awoke a bit earlier than usual – so lets not waste time and get started.

Retirement activities – This past week the Ongoleas were in a bit of a ‘pickle’. Tevita was in Cleveland and Adrianne was as busy as ever at work. It was my opportunity to sit for the kids, so thanks guys for the confidence.

Anyway, I had forgotten how taking your eye off a 9-month old for 2 seconds is a huge mistake—several times over; most having already disappeared into the fogs of time. However, the second instance was when I spotted a tube of lip balm laying where previously I had seen nothing. Cap, I thought, there has to be a cap. A quick look around that included turning over all the pillows on the couch, and swishing the deposited cheerios around with my fingers produced nothing. Nothing. I then took note that little Viliami was sitting oh so content sucking away on something. My “pinky-hook” motion produced the lost item. And so it went.

Yup, from food to poo I really enjoyed experienced it all. Well, a bit of  a qualifier; age three is the “I can do it” stage coupled with “I like to be private”, finally the call for “help” means its time for a quick inspection. Hence, Vai goes by herself and just asks for an assessment. Vili, on the other hand, has perfected a nano-second flip maneuver which has him rotate his lower body and the half-removed diaper complete with its load, all in the second it takes to blink. The wipes stuck in the crevasses acting like waving semaphore signal flags—conveying the message; “y-o-u l-o-s-e.”

My every three or four year event – is called Lumbago. My walks are great, my standing is great, my back spasms getting up after sitting are excruciating. Last time I had it, it resolved itself with the aid of a Home Depot employee style waist-wrap which prevents intestines and kidneys from floating away from one’s body. Now I realized that this contraption is laying solidly frozen in some dresser drawer in the cabin in Canada. To make matters worse, it actually belongs to Tevita.

What has been a positive is that Vai and Vili are too young to fully realize that the sight of me dropping to my knees and using a straight-backed chair to gain verticality is not normal. Now it was just a bit of a game which demanded playing “horsey”; though my “neighs” sounded a bit more like yelps.

I just hate taking meds, but at the present I do have an affair going with Ms. Advil.

Also, I love Aldi grocery stores. Yesterday Marcia returned from shopping carrying a shrink-wrapped “Lumbar Support Cushion” she found in the center aisle they fill with stuff you never knew you needed and hadn’t intended on getting. I have no idea if it’s the elastic cushion strap, the orthopedic contour design, or the highly resilient foam which makes it work—maybe it’s everything in combination. All I can say is that it’s great.

Finally: hey Kirstin, I really could use a massage.

Temperature was a problem – especially when it’s in the mid-eighties and with back spasms and taking two kids to the library’s Story-Time; one in the stroller and the other saying, “I am hot and I want to ride!” Saying it with emphasis!

The dear librarians looked up and said, “Dirk (they know me by name), it sure is hot.” Their statement was in response to seeing the sweat roll off my forehead, Vili on my arm leaking fluids on my shirt, and Vai happily sitting in the stroller with the shade down.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that both love dancing to Jim Gill’s Silly Dance Contest I might have stayed home. But, “Silly Dance” is a standard at Story-Time.

Atlas Shrugged – is one of those must-read books. Years ago I had. Thursday morning Vai was at school and Vili took pity on me and decided to take an extended nap. I had a choice, clean up, nap, sit on Adrianne’s porch and greet neighbors, or hunt about Netflix. Netflix won and so it became the perfect time to watch the movie; Atlas Shrugged Part 1. Ayn Rand wrote her opus in 1957. If you haven’t read it; the year is 2016 and business and politics have taken to new lows as a Steve Jobs style manager tries to cut through hindrance after hindrance and road block after road block. Now, fifty years later, I was able to enjoy the first of what will eventually be a two movie set thanks to the complete cooperation of two little kids.

Closing – A fun time was had at the St. Paddy’s Day parade last weekend. OK, maybe too many parade walkers in green shirts. But the bands and especially the Pipe and Drum groups absolutely made my day.

Tomorrow, there is a concert honoring our neighbor, Bonia Shur, professor emeritus at Hebrew Union College. Bonia, past Director of Liturgical Arts is a world-class composer creating sacred music. The concert will have members of our symphony as well as 40 cantors from around the world. Should be great! Cathy and I have a date to attend. More on the concert next week.

Welcome back Jason – the Temple, TX solar array project will be better for your work on it.

Make it a great week everyone and be safe.
Cheers,
Dirk