happyteeth's Xanga

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:44:04 GMT

Random thoughts, insights and happenings from the dental clinic and house #G7, ELWA compound, Monrovia, Liberia

My faithful dog has shown his true colours. A female dog named Princess from 2 houses over is in heat and suddenly I am no longer the best thing since Kibbles n’ Bits. He showed up for about a minute today but then HAD to run off again before he even got a chance to eat. This too shall pass.

We had a lovely birthday party brunch for Rahel Schutte at my house this past Saturday. My stove’s propane tank was empty (yikes) but thanks to the electric frying pan and an electric hotplate we were still able to make crepes and French toast. A lot of fun!

A 10 lb. Bag of potatoes costs $13.00 but, oh, so worth it.

The seas have been very rough with high tides this past week causing a lot of trash to wash up on the beach each day. A young guy named Immanuel Blackie cleans the beach in front of my house every day so my part is cleaner than the rest. Immanuel kept hanging around my house asking for work and sometimes getting in the way as he tried to help with whatever was happening. I finally told him if he’d keep the beach clean I’d pay him $20.00 a month. He has taken this job very seriously.

If you buy eggs in the store here you have to wash them before you can use them. They still have “organic matter” all over them, straight from the chicken!

I now have security lights outside my house all night long, even when the campus generator is off. Before, everything was nicely lit up until 12 midnight and then my house was plunged into darkness just like all the other houses on campus. When would you come out if you were the rogue? Now two 12v. batteries charge up while the power is on. My outside lights are wired to this inverter so when the main power source goes of these lights keep shining. The security guards from the houses around me are most grateful as it makes their job so much easier. I also sleep better knowing the rogues no longer can hide so easily around my place.

I’m having problems with the air compressor at the clinic. The air hose from motor to the tank cracked causing the compressor to run continually. A replacement hose of the same size has not yet been found and our “mickey mouse” fix-up is not too dependable. Do I look for a new compressor (reasonably easy to find) to the tune of $200-$300 or do I spend my days off stomping all over Monrovia looking for the right hose? I sure wish I had a competent maintenance person who could do this kind of stuff for me.

For the past 5 weeks I have been struggling with a growing pain in my right foot. I’m beginning to think I am dealing with a stress fracture. The past 2 days I have had to be driven to and from the clinic. Not sure how to deal with it.

I’ve had problems with mice and cockroaches. Some sticky, gooey stuff took care of one mouse, who was still “shrieking’ as I threw him/her outside, hopelessly stuck to the cardboard. There still seems to be one who is too smart to fall for the ‘sticky, gooey’ trick. My cat is either immune to mice or can’t stand the taste of them, I don’t know. The cockroaches are another story. Captain Schutte had given me a real potent gel that worked on the ship. It seemed to have worked. However, this last Saturday night, as I was washing dishes, a huge roach climbed out from behind the cupboard. I flicked him off onto the floor and then smashed him with a flip-flop. No sooner had I swept him up when several more of varying sizes appeared from the same place and then even more. It was an invasion! I freaked, smashing them with my bare hands. It was like a horror movie! There was no time or space for flip-flops. When I swept them up the dustpan had over 13 cockroach carcasses in it! (Maybe they were trying to migrate, to get away from the horrible gel that was decimating their numbers)

Mr. Fuchs, (the fickle dog) has just shown up. I think a bigger dog has put him in his place and he has come home to lick his wounds, literally. He was “dog tired” too, falling asleep immediately. He needed to learn his place, for his own good.

Some things I find myself pondering are serious and need further pondering. In those I need God’s understanding and enlightenment. Other things I’ll just have to wait for the answers, as they are not so important, just wandering around in my thoughts. Two things I question, no three; Why is God still making wisdom teeth, why did He think cockroaches were necessary and…why hyenas?

Steal the dog!

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:26:53 GMT

Mr. Fuchs, my trusty dog, had been sleeping under my bedroom window. If something/someone woke him he'd bark, I'd get up, open my window and call out so anyone out there knows I'm awake and watchful.

A few nights ago Mr. Fuchs was especially noisy so I knew something was up. At 2:30 a.m. I turned on my head lamp and read rather than being re-awoken many times over. Fuchs had been quiet for some time so I thought "someone" had left. Suddenly Fuchs yelped as though startled out of sleep and I heard a human grunt. After calling security (who has to then come on foot about 1/2 mile) I screwed up the courage to open the back door to see if Fuchs was still even out there. He was right by the door and SHOt inside , shaking and whimpering. His neck was all wet with something. He stayed inside the rest of the night and now sleeps inside every night.

I had tried to get him inside numerous times earlier as there is a thing here where rogues lace some meat with snuff (tabacco) which the dog ingests, then becomes too weak to do anything. They can then proceed to rob and pillage without a dog "humbugging" them. I did not want to lose Fuchs this way so wanted him inside where he could bark at intruders just as well and much more safely. Since this episode Fuchs is happy to come inside each night, lays down on the mat I have convinced him he must stay on and is ready to go out again at daybreak. We are both happier and sleeping much better.

I have just heard there is a dental team coming out to help in late Oct. Their times are exactly the same as another team that wants to come at that time! When it rains it pours. Seeing i do not wish to discourage anyone from coming i am going to swing it somehow. One team will work here at ELWA and the other will go out to the interior where we have a hospital ready to accommodate them. Pray with me as I make all the arrangements. This is an opportunity I CAN'T miss.

Did you know it is possible to phone me? You just dial 01 231 5 663 163. You'd have to make arrangements at the bank first (just kidding) but it is not the cheapest call. Just in case you wanted to know. Not sure what happened with the font here but it won't change to the nicer one. Sorry.

Time to run. Write me,

frieda

washing machines and mixers

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:17:30 GMT

How to make a missionary smile;

Kitchen Aid mixers and washing machines; the one was a straight out gift, the other a gift by a more circuitous route. Now, to explain.

When serving as a missionary, everything we own, receive, purchase or make is either straight out or indirectly, a gift. We are able to do what we do purely because others believe in what we do and are generous enough to give to keep us out here. Payday is a thing of the past and every time I request for and receive cash from our mission cashier I am aware of the sacrifice made so that I am able to do so.

Recently I was being given a tour on the African Mercy, the new Mercy Ship docked here in Monrovia. As I was shown through the lovely 6-unit mini-galley in which the crew can do their own cooking or baking should they wish to, I admired the beautiful Kitchen Aid mixers at each station. Someone had donated these for the crew to use and I was floored by the generosity this gift which was beyond merely practical but, oh so wonderful. I remarked that I had never had one but that most of my sisters and nieces had one in their kitchens. (of course, they all cook/bake more than I do) As I was leaving the ship my tour guide asked me to wait a bit. She returned bearing a Kitchen Aid! It was a spare one for which she had earlier received permission to give it as a gift to someone who may need one. Now I’m making my own bread. I love to listen to the dough hook do my kneading for me. It makes me smile.

The washing machine…Laundry in this climate is a challenge. Nothing should be worn twice due to the sweat factor in this humidity but that makes for lots of laundry. If you don’t have a washing machine you hire a “wash lady” who comes weekly to pummel and wring your clothes out of shape, all the while getting them very clean. Bare hands rarely are able to wring them out as dry as the spin cycle so drying time is longer. In rainy season my rooms often looked like a Chinese laundry as I tried to get my clothes as dry as possible before putting them away. SIM was having a container set our way so I asked the purchasing person there to please buy me a basic washing machine and debit it from my support account.

You can not imagine the glee of unpacking, hooking up and then washing your first load of laundry in your own washing machine! And then to have God so graciously arrange for a dry 2 days in the midst of rainy season. I gathered up all the things I’d been saving for this moment, things too difficult to wash well by hand. In went the throw rugs and out they came, cleaner than I could ever remember. In went a blanket and out it came, fresh and dry after 2 hours in the sun. In went an unusable foam pillow that smelled like mouldy cheese and out it came, smelling better than new. My T-shirts are actually regaining some of their original shape. No longer am I restricted to doing laundry only Saturday. I can do a load after work if the sun happens to be shining. That too makes me smile.

While my life is so much more than laundry and the occasional bread baking spree I want to give God glory for the special ways He blesses His children, just because He loves us and wants to do this for us.

I am in week 2 of a 2-week holiday from the clinic. I chose not to go anywhere but to use this time to do catch–up work. A change is supposed to be as good as a rest. The painting in my bedroom is almost finished, the security bars between garage and house are almost finished, my wardrobe and bookcase are to be delivered today but then need painting before they come inside, my bathroom still needs its paint put on and towel hooks screwed on to the concrete walls (hard work) and my letter writing still needs finishing. I have 6 days to finish all that is still incomplete…sigh! It may be good to get back to the clinic to get a break from these somewhat mundane but needful tasks.

I have been asked to “preach” at the church I attend on the last Sunday in July. There are about 300-400 people there each Sunday. I want to speak God’s word. I want to be an encourager and to talk of God’s great faithfulness, something on the “tell it to your children and your children’s children” theme. I feel it is so important that we keep the history of God’s working in our lives alive for future generations. We all love stories and what better way to speak of God’s faithfulness than through stories. I would appreciate your prayers.

I’m baking bread today and then making soup of some kind because Wayne and Donna are coming for supper. But first I have to get to the internet, pick up money to pay all the pipers (carpenters, welders and masoners), fetch the car to go to town to get more propane so I can actually bake the bread…and I wanted to finish painting the bedroom too. See you!

A week and a half later; I made pie for dessert, inspite of not having any pie pans or a rolling pin. and it was good!

The bedroom is painted and lovely, the bathroom too is painted and has potential....(not so lovely a colour, oh well), the metal security grates are up outside and painted and it is SO VERY GOOD to be back to work in the clinic again.

Today is Liberia's Independance day, a big holiday here. A perfect chance to get on line seeing so few are on so it is faster. Now I must go get my laundry on the line while the sun is still shining.

Love to you all,

frieda

Last day of May!

Thu, 31 May 2007 11:54:01 GMT

How did this happen? the year is almost halfway through!

The new Mercy Ship, the Africa Mercy arrived last week. It is huge! Haven't been on it yet, maybe tomorrow when I go to pick up a futon couch and a desk, along with some other small stuff. Soon I can offer guests a place to sit other than dining room chairs.

I have someone washing my floors right now so cleared out to get out of the way. I am at the SIM office, which is now a mere 3 minute walk from my house. This is where I come every Thursday to do my e-mailing, etc.

This next month will be devoted to getting things finished in the house. I have to put in some better security measures. Doing that without looking like a fortress is the challenge. I want it to look nice. The breezeway between house and garage will actually become a nice little outdoor living room once the 2 walls are up, protecting the hidden back door better. I'll put some cheap, cane country furniture out there with some plants...should be nice. The fence around the house is a different matter. Could be very expensive, don't want to cut off the breeze from the ocean, needs to look nice but be able to keep out intruders. How big to make it? I can't decide. I may end up making a small private garden type place behind the house so the bedroom windows are within the fence, leaving the rest of the yard open. Wouldn't you just love to come help plan and build this with me?

If you are reading my blog I"d love to get little comments, just so I know who is interested, who is reading it. Neil always answers and encourages me, as does Terri.

This past week-end was a blur of activity as an architect from the UK came to look at the sight, interview some contractors here and meet with the ELWA board, asking questions and opening our eyes to lots of stuff. I was pleased to see how much Keith and I already had covered, before he came. We will soon have a web-site up. should be www.trinitydental.com.

My personal project this next month is to get all my thank-you letters out to my supporters. I have been so very blessed with people who are faithfully supporting me. This will take discipline to get this done but once done will feel so good. Look for your letter in the mail. I am going to do "snail mail" as well for those who like stamps and the fun of getting a letter mailed to them specifically. Pray for me as I tackle this. I'm serious!!

The waves today are spectacular. Liberia is becoming known for it's surfing places. For true! There is even a movie/documentary being made, soon out. here they call it sliding, not surfing. So, if you want me to plan a surfing/sliding holiday let me know. Keith, my partner in the Trinity Dental clinic is crazy about surfing. He'll make sure you have a good time.

Must go. Someone else is looking longingly at my internet hook-up cord so should be considerate. My floor is probably already clean too so I can go back to the house. Soon my blog should have pictures too. I'm going to figure it out.

Love from frieda

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Thu, 24 May 2007 10:56:46 GMT

How different one week can be from the next at the ELWA dental clinic! Last week was overloaded with swellings; several people in such a state they couldn’t open their mouths enough for me to identify the offending tooth/teeth. I had to go back into the clinic on a regular day off to treat 3 women who had been placed on antibiotics earlier in the week and couldn’t wait until Monday for treatment. This week there hasn’t been one swelling yet and most of my patients have been women. That doesn’t mean their teeth are any easier to remove!! Not by a long shot! Aloysius and I are a regular tag team. He can see things from his angle on the patient’s left which I may not see from my side on the right. He gives suggestions, which often work, or, I give the instrument to him to use from his vantage point. I don’t know how I could do this clinic without him.

Everyday I see something that hurts to the core of my being. It is something different each day, usually to do with someone’s suffering or aloneness. I realize how adept I have become at just keeping these things to myself but they gnaw at me constantly. Sometimes I wish I could just quit noticing things for a while. Examples:

-Yesterday it was a woman who has been in my clinic 2 different times with pain in teeth that are absolutely sound. It has been in different teeth each time and I couldn’t give her a treatment that would relieve this pain. As I searched about in my mind for a reason I simply asked her, “Are you worrying a lot about something?” Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded. After she talked we prayed together. She is to return in one week for reassessment.

-This morning I passed a very skinny woman as I hurried to work. I was astounded at how skinny she was but took no further notice, nor did I offer to walk with her. An hour later I stepped out of the hospital to make a phone call on my cell (poor reception inside) and there she was, lying on a cement and dirt planter, too weak to sit up. She looked too pitiful. I asked her whom she was waiting for. She had come to ELWA to pick up her retroviral drugs for her HIV/AIDS condition. She was completely alone! No one had escorted this painfully thin, sick woman to the hospital. Who loves her? Who grieves for her in her state? Who abandoned her because of her sickness? She had walked in the ½ mile from the taxi drop-off. By the time I helped her across the yard to the right place she was breathing in short gasps, barely able to place one foot ahead of the other. How many others live in her sort of aloneness, with no one to care for them?

-Tonight I talked to a fellow missionary woman here on campus that 2 weeks ago had a rogue in their house late at night, who had first tied up her 17 yr. old son and put him in the back porch, threatening him with a cutlass if he didn’t say where the money was. Tom and Melanie, the parents, met this rogue at the bedroom door, had time to defend themselves with a chair and their own cutlass and the rogue fled, taking only the keys for the house and car (and my bike, which was in their back porch.) Needless to say, Melanie feels very vulnerable. A new missionary, in a strange land with her husband and 4 children, arriving full of ideals of what mission life is to be; only to be met with sickness, break-ins, people who she can’t trust, sensory overload; all the while aware of the “safe” home they left behind in the States. How does she remain faithful? How can she keep herself from packing up kids and simply bolting for home? By prayer, determination, tears, deep breaths and friends who come by and pray with her. Pray for Tom and Melanie.

A total change of subject; the kittens have potty trained themselves! It is so cute to watch them being so grown-up. They tease their mother something awful but she just licks them into submission. Mr. Fuchs has taken to attacking anyone who is running toward, or by, me. I make apologies every day to someone!

Did I mention my Maringa trees before? 4 weeks ago I planted three 12” Maringa trees (look them up on the net), which are now 3 feet tall. The leaves are most edible, tasting peppery and green and are very high in protein; the bark, when boiled and used as a tea treats malaria and typhoid as well as glaucoma and hypertension. And then, this last week a patient brought me a Neem tree, another wonder tree God provided to treat many ailments. This I’ve planted in my front yard. Things grow like weeds here and I love it! Next to be planted is lemon grass for cooking and to repel insects.

What does it mean to be a missionary? Let me know your thoughts. Somedays I find myself wondering too.

Downsides to living alone

Fri, 18 May 2007 11:38:56 GMT

It was around 10:40 p.m. I was preparing for bed. Both outside doors were locked; my keys and phone were by the bed, alongside the trusty flashlight. I went into the bathroom and as I shut the door I noticed the door handle felt very loose. It wasn’t until I tried to leave that I noticed the door handle had actually fallen apart inside and I was now locked in!

I have a real fear of small spaces. (my bathroom fits this category, especially late at night) Rogue bars on the windows allow no escape from inside. Even if it had been possible I was not dressed to climb out of the window. No worries; brute strength should have me out in no time. I reefed on that sucker with all my might! When in a state of panic the cost of replacing items does not figure into the equation. Alas, the door was too strong for me!! And I had nothing in there to help break the door down. Nothing to knock the pins out of the hinges…. My breaths are starting to quicken. I pray! What is in here that would help? I spot my toenail clippers. The file may help remove the screws. It worked!!! Once the faceplate was off I could reinsert the handle and I was out! I can’t describe the relief. If that clipper had not been in there….. who knows when I would have been missed enough for someone to come looking for me. I’m considering leaving a multi-purpose screwdriver in every room of the house from now on. Or finding a room mate.

The clinic is very busy now that the Mercy Ships clinic has closed for 6 weeks. 16-20 patients a day is the norm, a lot when you try to spend quality time with each patient. It is a pleasure to finally have a patient come in who needs fillings. I’m beginning to feel like a “deconstructionist” with all the extractions I have to do. Many of these seem to be lower wisdom teeth, the hardest to get out and especially without the benefit of an x-ray first! Perhaps you have a way to help me get an x-ray/imaging machine for this clinic??

This past week we had a very positive meeting regarding the dental clinic/surgery expansion. One the 26^th an architect from the UK arrives to look at the proposed site and to meet with the board. Things are moving ahead step by slow step. I have also been asked to help the national army-training base set up a dental clinic on the base. I would then work there one day per week. That could be interesting. The training is being overseen and funded by an American military training company so the money is there for a good clinic, hopefully well stocked. This may be a way for me to get supplies for our ELWA clinic as well, via their monthly containers.

My 3-week-old kittens, Fritzy and Mitzy, are becoming more entertaining every day. Mr Fuchs remains as devoted as ever. Our daily walks to the clinic and then to the beach after work keeps him happy. He chases crabs and runs in and out of the waves. Joggers on the beach are not to be trusted. He thinks any one who is running towards me is a danger and wants to attack. He is small dog but doesn’t know that. I am surprised at how fearful strangers are of him but that’s okay. I’ve discovered his breed. He is a BAD (Basic African Dog or Brown African Dog)

Rainy season is on us for real now. Several dramatic thunderstorms have cooled the nights down. The humidity during the day is intensified though. Getting laundry dry is a chore.

I am considering having a bamboo fence put up around the house and enclosing the breezeway between house and garage with cement block. I am also having steel doors installed. I didn’t want to do this as they are so ugly but may have no choice. Our base security seems to be undergoing an attack and we all need to do what we can to make ourselves as safe as possible. I am grateful that I sleep well. My safety will always ultimately be in God, no matter how a many ugly metal doors I install. Thanks for praying for my safety.

Siannara (phonetically speaking) until next week

I'm calling them Fritzy and Mitzy

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:09:33 GMT

Yep, she had them. There were only 2 and for this I am glad. One male, one female, both identical except the male is a shade darker. Katya is a good mother, much calmer now that she has tehm to care for. She lets me pick them up, allows others in to see them (I've has a lot of little visitors this last week) and is always hungry.

Mr. Fuchs continues to entertain the community with his loyalty to me. He "carries" me to work in the a.m. and usually stays until I am ready to come home. So much for having a watchdog at the house while I'm gone to work!

Enough about the animals (but they are a wonderful distraction). The dental clinic is hopping and I often feel overwhelmed with the reality of being only one in the midst of so much need. Aloysius, my assistant, is turning out the most wonderful dentures and soon we will be running out of "teeth". I hope we receive a donation of more acrylic and teeth before too long. A prayer need.

I need prayer. I admit to feeling rather down recently. Perhaps it is the aftermath of the intensity of the home reno, then moving in and suddenly having nothing really intense to sink my teeth into. (To many dental analogies here) Though the clinic is intense it is what I am used to doing, not something that needs solving every day. I seem to have lost any inertia I may have had. Plodding along is hard and discouraging. I think that being a team player and then having to work/plan alone so much may have something to do with how I'm feeling too. I'd love so much to have someone dental to work with me to move things ahead. I gets lots of encouragement from many but just because they am glad I'm here in case they may need me someday, not because they can actually help move things forward. Things move slowly and I often don't know where to push next either, to move anything along somehow. I miss the "me" of about 4 years ago when I was full of untried, unrealistic enthusiasm.

Tonight i had supper (sloppy Joes) with SIM friends on campus here. They have come with their 4 boys, ages 17-2, for 5 months. I am Auntie Frieda to the boys and they are a spot of normalcy for me.

Time to walk home now before it is too dark. My love to you all,

(Auntie) Frieda

My cat's having kittens!

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:45:56 GMT

I think that by the time today is over my cat should have delivered herself of her "belly". I hope so!!

Last Saturday a group of us took a train ride, (the only train in Liberia) to Bong Mines, mostly to once more look at a potential site for a dental team to go in to. It was also a site seeing trip to see how quickly what was once a thriving mining town can disappear into overgrown forest when the nation it is in succumbs to war and becomes a failed state. 17 years ago the rebels marched all the workers out at gunpoint, the iron ore mine shut down, the power plant which supplied electricity as far as Monrovia ceased working and all mining trucks, equipment, houses, offices suffered the looting and breakdown that goes with this type of insanity. Now only the steel skeletons of this once huge operation still stand, and even that is being taken down by companies who take the money out of Liberia from the scrap metal sales profits they are making. Unimaginable even as you stand and look at it. We were taken on a tour by a man who worked in the electrical division of the mine, a Liberian who grew up in this town, got all his training there and then to see it come to nothing. You could feel his pain and disappointment. He is now the services manager at ELWA where I live. He is also on the board that manages this train and railroad so our trip in was free. we loaded 2 vehicles onto the train so we would have transport and be able to see more. I wish my camera was working so I could have gotten pictures of the flat car we put our cars onto!!! And then how we of loaded them!!! Things you wouldn't think of doing at home are just how it is here!

The dental clinic is coming along fine. I was sick for 3 days last week so missed treating alot of people. Monday was crazy as these in the most pain came back. We got through it though! Just glad we are here to help.

I hope to get the finishing things done on my house, closet fixed, bench made, shower curtain up, and bathroom finished...and pictures hung. Drilling into cement instead of nailing in a small nail to hang a picture makes it much harder to tackle but I've got to get it done. Also, I need to get some more storage built in somehow. It all costs money and I'm caught between 'should I get some living room furniture (so guests don't have to sit on dining room chairs only) and all the other little things to finish up....what to do??? ' I remind myself that I have so much more than most households so just let it be. Things will come in their time.

Pray with me to find an affordable, dependable, tough vehicle that will make getting around a lot easier. Now I often have to wait for someone else to be going and that is very hit and miss. It will also help in planning for dental clinic trips outside of this area; places like the Dixville orphanages, etc.

If anyone finds a real good deal on a digital camera let me know. I can make arrangement for you to buy it for me and then have someone bring it over. Quite a few different folks are coming over in the next while from different places in the US. Mine camera is completely finished. They tell me a camera lasts about 3 years here due to the heat and humidity.

Must go. Someone is breathing down my neck for the internet modem which they want to take to their place for the weekend. Love to you all,

Frieda

Now for the latest...

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:11:10 GMT

The last few weeks have been rather uneventful other than feeling quite homesick and feeling the "sting"of missing out on the childrens happenings and growing ups.

I have had a lot of company, folks over for supper, along with my regular COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS on my porch every saturday morning for whoever wants to come. I enjoy that drop-in time. A girl named "Roof", (Ruth in Liberian english) comes around 9 and I buy fresh warm homemade doughnuts for $5.00 each (Liberian) which is about 10 cents Canadian. Mmmmm-mmmm! I am enjoying having my own place a lot. The AC at night sure is a plus too!

I have to run and let someone else use the internet now. I've had it for 2 hours. Let me know how you are.

I love you all, Frieda

the next saga

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:53:08 GMT

This was my "happening 2 weeks ago

March 18, 2007

Any vestiges of misplaced conceptions of the romance of living as a missionary in Liberia quickly found their rightful place at 4:37 a.m. Sunday morning. I awoke instantly to a noise I was not accustomed to hearing, that of “the rushing of mighty waters” coming from INSIDE my abode. We have been having some rain showers, which are much too early for rainy season, but this water I heard was not rain! A water hose on the face basin in my bathroom had burst off and water was spraying out at an alarming rate!!! At this time of the night there is not even supposed to be any water pressure as the power has been off since 12:00.

By the time I find my flashlight, my misplaced keys (not in the nightstand as usual,) my glasses, the cell phone (to call someone for help, but who?) move all cardboard boxes onto the bed, get shoes on my feet and an adjustable wrench in my hand 2 minutes have passed and the water was now over the 1 inch lip of the bathroom threshold and pouring into the bedroom. I burst out of the back door as Memo comes out of the garage where he sleeps. Together we storm across the backyard into the neighbours yard to where we know our water meter and valve is. Memo does not listen to my “righty tighty, lefty loosey” advice and opens the valve more!!! He finally listens to me, turns it the other way and the meter quits it’s hectic spinning, signifying that the water flow should have stopped in the house. I trudge back in, not wanting to see what I see. The bathroom and bedroom are completely awash. Now I find a reason to be thankful for the terrible, uneven job the floor tilers made of my bedroom. The uneven slopes have kept the water in the bedroom and none has flowed into the main room! BUT, the water in the bedroom is about an inch deep in various places.

Memo starts looking for ways to clean up. All is dark and the power does not come on for another hour yet. I sent Memo back to bed, slogged to my bed, dried my feet and lay down. What else to do? I can’t sleep so I read. And then, the power comes on ½ hour early!! I started the long arduous task of mopping up, using a big thirsty towel and a bucket. After 1 hour of solitary and self-pitying labour I awoke Memo and asked for his help. 2 hours and eight 3 gallon buckets later the floors are dry once more. I have blisters on the inside of each thumb and my body feels very sore! However, as I mopped and wrung I thought how fortunate I was to even have this problem. Up across the road the whole community is without enough water and are constantly trying to find water from ELWA taps and would love to have this problem.

My dog and cat have finally reached the stage where they no longer eat everything I put out for them. The cat is fat, sleek furred and PREGNANT. Not what I wanted. Fuchsy is a wonderful little companion and has such a wonderful doggy smile for me when I’ve been gone a while. He follows me to the hospital, sleeps outside the door the whole day and then bounds up all excited when I come out to go home. Doggy devotion!!

Memo starts remedial reading/tutoring tomorrow at the cost of $25/month. I think that if he were tested in Canada he would be at about 4^th grade level but somehow he is in grade 8. Lots of catch-up to do! If you have any workbooks and a way to get them to me…help. He really wants to learn.

That about catches me up. From the land of too little water in some places and too much in others, this is Frieda signing off.