Who's On First

Grandson, Ben, is one of three freshman selected for the soccer team for his new high school. I showed up for his third game, sat in the large bleachers and looked for Ben.  I don’t yet have my prescription glasses since my cataract surgery, and the sun was low and in my eyes.  I couldn’t spot Ben.  Finally, after the team in white scored and I cheered, I asked the people behind me if the team in white was Woods Charter School.  They explained that the other team in dark jerseys was Woods.  They had seen me cheer so I smiled and said, “Boo!”  They all laughed.

The team in white scored again.  I turned to the people behind me and said that I liked it better when I was pulling for the white team.  They laughed again.

A few minutes later, Peter showed up.  I told him I couldn’t find Ben.  He pointed to number 27 sitting on the white team’s bench.  “But that’s not Woods Charter,” I responded.  

Peter smiled.  “Ben goes to Raleigh Charter.”

I turned again to the people behind me.  “My grandson goes to Raleigh Charter.  I’m for the white team after all.”  They sorta laughed but looked at me like I should be institutionalized.  

The white team won, 6-3, and grandson, Ben, played a lot and did very well.

I hope I never see the people behind me again.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Deer 4 - Steve 0

For the last 50 years I’ve had a summer vegetable garden.  When possible, I had a large garden with many varieties of vegetables, always including tomatoes.  We don’t have space for a real garden in our new home, but we added a mulch bed on the bank in the back yard, perfect for a few tomato plants - or so I thought.  I wasn’t able to plant until the mulch bed was complete in early July, but three small tomato plants thrived in the full sun.  

One evening in July, we saw a deer walking near the top of the bank.  We were amazed and delighted.  In early August, Aloma saw our deer, this time followed by two fawns.

My tomato plants grew to over three feet high and were beginning to bloom.  I could just taste a tomato sandwich.  Then one morning I looked out and my tomatoes were now only a foot high.  We have a big rabbit that hangs around, but since only the tops of the plants were eaten, we were certain it was our deer.

I decided to keep the deer away with a small LED light activated by motion.  I set it on a post near the tomatoes, tested it and announced the deer problem was solved.  And it was - until the tomatoes grew enough to be tasty again.  Back down to a foot tall.  My research uncovered a motion detection light that showed two red lights that looked like eyes of a big cat.  I made over my light by covering it with black paper and adding two holes for eyes covered by red paper.  It was fierce looking.

And it worked - until the tomatoes grew enough to be tasty again.

Finally, my neighbor brought over some Irish Spring soap.  She had heard deer don’t like the smell of it and won’t come near.  I cut the soap into small pieces and scattered them around the plants.  My deer loves Irish Spring soap.

We’re going to the Farmers Market tomorrow to buy tomatoes for my sandwich.  My two-month old, one-foot high tomato plants are going in the trash.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Nuclear and Fracking

Experts from different fields frequently are brought into Carolina Preserve to present information on various topics.  Last week Aloma and I attended a session on the Harris Nuclear Plant, located about 15 miles from us.

I attend these sessions to learn more about the subject and to observe the people and how they react to the presentations and to learn what questions they ask.  I wasn’t disappointed.

The moderator started the session with a slideshow attempting to prove the nuclear plant was dangerous because it depended on the lake levels of Harris Lake to cover the spent rods.  The speakers, one who headed emergency/security preparation for the Harris Nuclear Plant and the other from the National Nuclear Security Agency, politely explained the moderator’s assumptions were incorrect and provided correct facts.  

After a few minutes, the speakers had given me a comfort level that security was tight, most systems had back-ups and training was on-going.  While accidents can happen, the design of the plant and the systems and training procedures seemed to be first-class.

Then the fun began.  The moderator and members of the audience moved into facking, in spite of the speaker declaring he was a nuclear expert, not a fracking expert.  Comments such as:  a fault line lies near the Nuclear facility and fracking causes earthquakes;  drilling might occur two miles from the facility but the horizontal line might extend under the plant and cause an earthquake.  The speaker explained that the power plant owned almost 40 square miles around the plant and no one could drill near the plant.  “No so,” a member of the audience said.  “They can drill anywhere they want, even in your front yard.”

The mob was in full swing now.  Issues with the nuclear plant took backseat to fracking.  Each statement became more outrageous than the last.  Finally, the bottom line was clear.  The Republican governor and legislature were deliberately enacting laws that endangered citizens because they were bought off by big money.

The speakers politely remained quiet while the audienced ranted.

I doubt the  speakers will return to Carolina Preserve.  However, I’ll attend the next meeting in eager anticipation of another mob scene.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

How Many Fingers

After Aloma had cataract surgery a few years ago, jokingly, I would hold up a couple of fingers and ask her how many.  Turn-around is fair play.  She now holds up a finger to me and asks,  “How many?”

Surgery for my second eye was last week.  Surgery was quick, pain free and lasted about 15 minutes.  Amazing!  Surgery was at 8:45 a.m. and we were home by 10:30.  My dad had cataract surgery many years ago.  He was in the hospital for a week with sandbags holding his head in place.  

After my first surgery four weeks ago, I was constantly testing my vision by closing my other eye.  Now I test both of them.  Bottom line:  I can see equally out of both eyes and so much better than before.  My distant vision is crisp and bright.

Close-up vision is another story.  I knew I would need glasses for reading, but I won’t get a prescription for another two weeks.  Meanwhile, I’m using magnifying glasses bought from WalMart.

In the doctor’s office the day after surgery, I started a conversation with a nice man.  I told my surgeon, a nice-looking, young, tiny woman with an engaging smile, that I always enjoy talking to her patients in the waiting room.  She told me that four weeks ago after my first surgery, a woman told her that she talked to me, and I totally relieved her concern about her upcoming surgery.  I left feeling so good that I had helped the woman and that Dr. Gupta remembered from four weeks ago.

Next time you see me ask, “How many fingers?”

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

North Carolina Mountains

When we lived in Mooresville, we were only an hour and a half drive to Blowing Rock, one of our favorite spots in the mountains.   At least once a month during spring and summer, we would leave our home about 8:00 a.m. and arrive in Blowing Rock in time for a two-hour hike before having a meatloaf and sweet potato casserole lunch at the Storie Street Grille.  Aloma would shop after lunch while I sat on the park bench watching people and drinking coffee.  We would be home by 4:00.

We’re now three hours from Blowing Rock, too long for a day trip, so we decided to go on a mini-vacation to Cashiers.  While the temperatures in Cary were in the mid-nineties, Cashiers is at the same 3,800 feet elevation as Blowing Rock and the temperatures were brisk and in the mid-seventies.  Delightful.  We explored three waterfalls, hiked and had three delicious lunches.  Evenings were enjoyed on a private deck with drinks and snacks.  We visited the High Hampton Inn where we stayed before with friends and have good memories.

We decided we weren’t ready to go home when our reservation ended so we spent an overnight in Blowing Rock on the way back.  We hiked, Aloma shopped and I sat on the park bench.  Aloma didn’t feel like lunch so we headed back home before noon.

I’m still thinking about the meatloaf and sweet potato casserole at the Storie Street Grille we missed.

Seasoned Man

Stevelem117@gmail.com