Today Loraine and I came to a parting of the ways,
an irreconcilable divide, as it were: she is always thinking about ways to save
money – and I am all over that! (At the same time I observe SO many ways that money
is evaporating out the window – for instance, radiators chugging away
throughout the entire hotel, whether rooms are being used or not; lights on day
and night that don’t need to be; great scads of food never refrigerated, left
to spoil, that could be eaten by the family later.) The issue was over the most
insignificant of items: vacuum bags. I
saw that she was emptying out a bag there in the house and had to think, ‘you
have GOT to be kidding me – now you’ve gone too far!’ (In the rooms in the hotel,
rather than throwing away those thin little bin liners in instances where they
are totally filled to the brim, we are to empty them into a larger black bag,
and go right on using them – and often they are soiled inside, though invisibly.)
My theory is to cut back in those greater areas and save time on the
inconsequential ones. I mean that is what vacuum bags are made specifically for
– to gather in all the dirt and germs, and THEN to be tossed!
Even the sisters got in on the act and were able
to do some hours of service, as is encouraged of all missionaries. (When I
first heard that ‘the sisters’ were coming to help, I erroneously took that to
mean the sisters in the ward. Hah, silly me!)
It suddenly dawned on me today, as I was working precariously
close to the edge of the unprotected stairs in the house, that I have never had
occasion to supply Loraine with any emergency contact information. SO if anything
dire ever did happen to me, she’d have NO idea how to notify my next of kin.
Not good – especially knowing my seeming penchant for accidents!
Speaking of missteps I learned that, just the day
before, my visiting teacher, Val Chasteauneuf (pronouncd like ‘cha’sten.off’), had
fallen down her stairs in the middle of the night. It seems she was up doing
what we older ladies do in the middle of the night, and while making her way
back to the comfort of her own little bed, she got too close to the top of the
stairs in the dark – wasn’t even headed down – and lost her footing. (Oh, my
gosh, is that what I have to look forward to?!) Can you believe it? She came away from that with only a broken
arm – could easily have been her neck. And she’s in her upper 70s! (Obviously
not her time to go!)
(Found out why Jez – whose name is Jeremy – is
called ‘Jez.’ Turns out not to be QUITE as mysterious as one might imagine –
seems ‘Jez’ is short for ‘Jeremy.’ Alright then.) We were talking about ‘the
states’ - I was trying to help place where Utah was for him. (Obviously he has
never been to America, as so many have. He wanted to know where tornadoes
occur- said he’d really like to see one – in person! Guess we’re weather buff
compatriots.)
When I arrived back at the hotel I went and
changed out a couple rooms that will be needed for tomorrow (we have a Group-On
deal going – with MANY takers.) I am seeing that I am the perfect patsy for
Loraine’s demands (honestly not saying anything about Loraine – it’s my problem,
my choice – totally) because I am prone to workaholism. If I have a project in
mind, it is very hard to divert myself away from its conclusion – no matter
what time it is. We’ve had in a couple Job Center chambermaid-wannabees this week – one young plump
mom and an oppositely-physiqued tall, thin and very shy young lady. The idea is
for them as interns to gain some work experience – very much like Andrew is
doing in Amsterdam, only on a much reduced level, of course. That last thing I
did was to go have a check on how these ‘trainees’ had done without me in
getting the ‘Jaymie-floor’ fiasco together, also needed for tomorrow. Let me
just say this team lacks a ‘little finesse.’ (Can that be learned or is that an
inborn thing?!)
Can you guess by the subheading what I did tonight?!
The movie was wonderful, just as Andrew and Ashley had reported - one DVD
everyone will want in their collection! What it did for me was to give me the instantaneous
desire to be home, embracing you all in a giant group hug. Good thing I will be
coming back VERY soon – because it really made me miss the ones that I love SO dearly! I ended up going with
Paula, a single sister in the branch, the one with the amazing van that is paid
for by the funds she receives from the government for her ‘disability.’ (There
are an astonishing number of singles in our branch whose former partner is also
in the unit. That has got to make for some uncomfortable interactions –
especially in the size of our unit where EVERYBODY knows everybody else’s
business! Both Paula and Malcolm fit into this category.) She has this sort of movie
pass where you pay a monthly fee and then can go as many times as you want – and
on Wednesdays you can bring a guest. She tells me that if you go a minimum of
twice a month, you’ve broken even. (She had, of course, already seen Les
Miserables, but was MOST happy to share the experience with a novice!)
Photos_
1- Ricky and Mikey – all around workerboys, in the
hotel, in the house – you name it!
2- Andy (Loraine’s intended) in the new kitchen
3-6 Les Miserables (2012)
