Author: Elaine

New Gig

MCSS Shuttle

Today I had my first solo experience driving the Mountain Community Senior Services shuttle.  I first heard of this service over a year ago, and since I had been looking for a volunteer opportunity, I signed up a few weeks ago. MCSS provides two types of transportation for community seniors: volunteers who drive seniors to appointments in the volunteer’s vehicle, and volunteers who drive the shuttle for what is called the “social” program. For the social program, the shuttle picks up clients at their homes, delivers them to lunch, and then returns them to their homes.  At present, I am driving once a month.

I was fortunate that the first woman I picked up today was adept at giving directions, so I didn’t have to rely on the GPS of my telephone. Although I thought I knew northern El Paso County fairly well, I have discovered completely new neighborhoods sheltering among the foothills.

The shuttle was easier to drive than I expected. I had figured it couldn’t be any more difficult than our (no longer existing) horse hauling rig, and I was right. I was amazed about how small the Subaru Forester  seemed when I drove it home afterward.

 

Achievement Unlocked

ivoted

I live in Colorado. I had planned on dropping off our mail-in ballots this morning, but I screwed up my ballot when I was filing it out yesterday. Jack also made an error. We checked the voting website, and learned that we could vote in our local town hall this morning. They were still shaking out their procedures since this was the first morning, so it took a while, but achievement unlocked!

Autumn Valley

Autumn Valley

I took the dogs for a walk yesterday, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. (The downside of the lovely weather is that we are under a Fire Weather warning today.) It’s cute to watch the dogs struggle to contain their enthusiasm since they are learning that I won’t attach their leashes until all four paws are on the ground.

Basking

Basking

Today we achieved a milestone: I took Bandit and Rion for a walk together. When Bandit first came to us he pulled so badly that I felt I had a sled dog on the other end of the leash: a big sled dog. He has learned not to pull nearly so hard, and sometimes even walks on a loose leash.

Every morning I make the bed, and every morning Bandit rearranges the pillows afterward. Rion never rearranges pillows, but he will take advantage of the nest that Bandit makes.

Field Mowing

I spent over two hours walking behind one of these at a friend’s house yesterday, and slept over eight hours last night. Since I rarely sleep more than seven hours, if I am lucky, I am quite happy this morning.

http://blog.drpower.com/a-piece-of-dr-history-field-and-brush-mower/