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I am encouraged by Ubob’s supportive comment, and measured dose of electrical shock to write another post. I think it’s going to be another “What I did over Summer Vacation (or my day off)” kind of writing assignment. I have to work my way back into long, descriptive and amusing narratives of major events.
The day began with a trip to Elko and an appointment for UltraMom with a Career Adviser at Great Basin College. Yes, UltraMom is toying with the idea of picking up her college education where she left it some 30 years ago. This was the third appt with counselor, Phil; in the first session, he convinced me to take the Myer-Briggs personality test.
This he maintained, would help show me what occupations would give me job satisfaction as well as a lot of money. The second session found Phil brimming with enthusiasm. Out of 16 different personality types, I had tested out as an INFP, the same personality type as his. He gave me handouts and we discussed the pros and cons of our shared traits, but we never really got around to discussing careers. In this, our third session, after both relating a few more personal experiences, I was encouraged to check out a couple of career search books, including one titled “Do What You Are,” which outlines likely lines of work for different personality types. Funny thing: “Storekeeper” is on the “jobs you probably won’t like” list for my type! I’ll keep you posted on my progress, but am seriously thinking about taking a few morning classes next fall while continuing my afternoon job at the prison.
Here is a shortened version I found on the net: Let me know what YOU are!
Take the Test!
All this time, UltraDad had been patiently reading in the car. Now it was time for some fun! After a bit of shopping (always a favorite activity of UltraDad’s J), we met Sisinlaw Pat for lunch. She was having an ultra busy day transporting dogs (and cat) to the vet. She was also getting ready to sell her last puppy and loan out her stud poodle (Jim thinks the term “stud poodle” is an oxymoron, but my two poodle boys are proof it is not). We had other, more fun plans. We were going to the movies! Shrek the Third was quite entertaining, thought perhaps not quite as good as Shreks 1 and 2. UltraMom only had one tiny catnap, which for her is an amazing movie-watching feat. Eddy Murphy as the donkey is a favorite of mine, but eclipsing him in this movie were his 4 adorable dragon-donkey offspring; tiny flying donkeys with the ability to breath fire. Then, the obligatory stop for groceries, and we were home by 5:30, much to the poodle boys relief.
Frozen pizza for dinner, and UltraMom left Udad reading in his chair while she made a run to the prison to retrieve her keys and check out the new merchandise-receiving window that had been installed that day. A piece of removable plywood had covered the opening through which we pass out our “store” to inmates lined up in front of it awaiting their turn. Now, there is an actual glass window, installed vertically. The bottom half is able to be raised, ie, opened to create the necessary access. The draftiness should be reduced and the security increased. The heavy plywood plank that covered the window on the outside when the store was closed, and that my guys had to raise, with great physical exertion, and then hold open with two heavy wooden braces (and which I have been expecting to fall on and kill a customer one dark day), has been replaced with a shutter type affair that opens from the side. Tomorrow we will see how well it actually works.
Came home to find Udad asleep in his bed. Time for me to do the same.
Night all,
UltraMom
Hey, everyone, UltraMom here. Long time, no post, but not for lack of material. In fact when I think about all the exciting and wondrous experiences I should be writing about, I am overwhelemed.
Today was a nice day, though I didn’t get much accomplished. UltraDad and I both had the holiday (Memorial Day) off. We both got paid for not working, which was a first for him. His company recently decided it was costing them too much money to keep a full crew on and pay double time and a half for holiday pay, so were working with a skeleton crew to save some money. I know, I agree; it seems like skeletons wouldn’t make very good workers, but I think they also don’t eat much and never need to sleep, so there you go.
I grubbed about in my erstwhile garden spot trying to beat the weeds into submission prior to planting seeds and seedlings. Already growing, as volunteers from last year’s labors, are carrots, garlic, chives and little onions, as well as thyme, mint, sage, and the occasional lettuce and spinach plant. I have 5 tomato plants nestled happily in their wall-waters, and there they will stay until I am darn well sure the freaky night freezes are a thing of the past. I have always wanted to use these cool plant protection devices, but this was the first year I actually found them when I was ready to purchase. I have every reason to believe they will give my tomato plants a tremendous growing boost, and I love looking at the odd green teepees that say to the world:” This is a serious, knowledgeable gardener,” though, of course it is a lie.
Most of my strawberry plants are on the other side of the big tree, but I left one in the tomato patch last year, as it seemed to be growing into the wooden railroad tie that was keeping my tier in place. It has proven to be a prolific little plant, and I have decided it’s 10 or so offspring will coexist with the tomatoes. Hopefully, everyone will get along.
The garden is rewarding, but daunting, especially as I consider how much is still left to weed, prepare and plant, but either I will get it done, or I won’t. And the world will, in all probability, still go on.
UltraDad and I tried out the new eatin’joint in town; a little previously closed-down café now open under new management. Udad had the special: hand-stuffed pork chop with baked potato, vegetable, salad and roll. I had the chef salad, which was missing the hard-boiled egg and swiss cheese described in the menu. We weren’t much impressed, and will probably go back to Chin’s, the long-established Chinese restaurant the next time we get the urge to eat out close to home.
Just to give you a quick run-down, I have had company, attended a couple of graduations and had a vacation trip to California. If you are good boys and girls and if the muse hits (or Ubob finds a way to deliver a threatened electrical charge when I am not blogging) you will hear all about it soon. But not today. I think I hear Bookworm calling my name.
UltraMom
I think this was one of my favorite posts. It was easy to read and flowed like butta for me. Also, it is really nice to hear about what you and UDad are up to.
BZZZZT
Finally, another post. I’m busy doing yardwork too. We have to shovel tons and tons of dirt so that we can finish the front yard. At least I’ll get muscles from it.
Jim shot his first turkey the other Saturday. He and his hunting buddy, Dean, went to some property that Dean’s parents own on the Clearwater River. Jim spent a good portion of the day hiking around in the woods looking for a turkey. He finally found one. It turned out to be a rather large tom turkey. Its beard is 11 inches long, and its spurs are 1 inch long. Jim thought that it weighed about 25 pounds. It had a huge fan that Jim is currently working on mounting. I suggested that he turn it into a hat, but he didn’t like that idea. Thankfully, Jim skinned and gutted the turkey out in the woods somewhere so I didn’t have to deal with any of the really gross stuff. My first job, however, was to clean off all the dirt and twigs and make sure that there wasn’t any little pieces of guts left on the inside. At first I didn’t want to touch it, but in the end it wasn’t too disgusting. After Tom, that’s what I named him, was all cleaned off, I put him in the fridge for the night. I cooked Tom for dinner on Sunday night. After church, I made stuffing for the first time. My mom was pretty vague about how to do it so I wasn’t sure just how good it would be. Then I stuffed Tom and put poultry seasoning on him and stuck him in the oven. About an hour after I put him in the oven, Jim found an article online that said that skinned turkeys could not be roasted because the skin is what holds in the moisture. At that point I was sure that my first turkey cooking experience would be a failure. About every forty minutes, I basted Tom with butter. After about four hours, Tom was done. I was using two those aluminum pans to roast Tom in so I had to ladle out of all the gravy with Jim’s tiny tiny ladle before I could take Tom out of the oven. I took out all of the stuffing and carved up Tom. One of the legs was completely burnt because it was touching the top of the oven while Tom was cooking so there wasn’t very much dark meat. There was enough meat to feed seven hungry people and have some leftover. Dean, Nick, Jeff (Jim’s friends), Patrick (Jim’s roommate), Tara (Patrick’s girlfriend), and I were all the people who were there. Jeff made some potatoes, and Patrick brought some rolls. It was like a mini-thanksgiving dinner without the green beans. Tom turned out nice, juicy and delicious. My first turkey-cooking experience turned out to be a success.
The Ultra version of me writes pretty good stories.
Although left off the guest list, I was also at the dinner. And it was most certainly delicious!
Great Story. Wish I could have been there for the actual meal, but my store turkey turned out great also, and I’m sure a lot less work. UltraJessica, you can be my guest post any time!
I don’t always have interesting stories to tell. I may have one next week when Jim comes back from bear hunting. It will probably be about a near-death experience he had while hunting.
Wow the electrical shock really worked! Glad that you are back on the posting but not nice to shock you everytime we want to read.
BZZZZZT (Sorry, Bob told me to)
So what are you thinking about studying? I think that stud poodle is just a ridiculous idea. Poodles are small enough to be cats so we should just call them tom poodles.
So what are you thinking about studying? I think that stud poodle is just a ridiculous idea. Poodles are small enough to be cats so we should just call them tom poodles.