‘Ua (Rain)

/in ,

‘Ua  (Rain)

by Tom Conger

 

Tom Conger is a kama’aina haole (Hawai’i-born White) who has lived and worked many places, but still has his roots firmly embedded in volcanic soil in the mid-Pacific.  A published author, he graciously shares his skills and insights with his companions in retirement.

 

Rain. Windless rain came down in heavy globules, too big for drops, and rumbled onto the metal roof. The sky had darkened long before the first scant spatters, which began slowly—almost hesitant—then swelled in volume, pouring straight down, a good soaking certain. It was the kind of rain that falls seemingly unbidden from the clouds, not the pounding thunder showers which seem expelled by force; this was more a build-up which could no longer be contained, falling gravity-bound through the murky half-light to puddle resolutely in the gravel.

I didn’t used to like rain—always preventing something I wanted to do, or make, or plant. Upcountry life changes all that—too little water, too many farms. The power brokers in Wailuku use water to impose their dominion over honest citizens: “No meter, no permit,” they de­cree, as they jealously hoard the meters—almost a punitive reign of dictators. We ran the last one out; she couldn’t understand the “ser­vice” part of public service. But the bureaucrats railroaded in her successor—one more of the same. So we must rely on the rainfall to keep the pastures green.

Now I like a good downpour, having done too often without rain—an artless commodity, so precious, so restoring, so intractable. I had transplanted some poha shoots; they’ll welcome getting drenched. The night-blooming cereus is hardly ever thirsty—it’s really a cactus after all—but will take what it’s given, as will the dandelions and crabgrass. The rain’s not choosy; it even soaks the one-eyed cat, rushing back to the house from an afternoon hunt amongst the coffee trees. He licks my hand as I dry him off.

The rain dwindles, then stops. The sky brightens. The clouds be­come distinct, each defined by golden trim.

I look up from towelling the kitty. “Thanks,” I say, “we needed that.”

Better Than Sliced Bread- Part B

/in ,
Read more

Here, Kitschy Kitschy

/in ,

A Flourish of Fabulous Felidae

Artifacts from the shelves and counters of Daphne and Bob

Photography by Reina Lopez

The mama cat at middle left is a matryoshka doll; take her apart at the navel and find a series of smaller cats inside.

 

Cupcats!  Hair’s to you!  (There’s a napkin holder at the bottom– he lives on the counter under the cups)

 

 

Itty-bitty kitties (penny for scale)

HELP WANTED UPDATE!

/in ,

MARCH UPDATE:  The listing below has been modified to reflect the fact that two positions have been filled — but many more have not.  In particular, some that are an important part of the information and entertainment ambience at RVM are not only unfilled, but are not attracting much attention in the form of inquiries or expressions of possible interest.  HillTopics, the tutorials, and the movies on Channel 900 are important features in the best of times, but even more critical to community well-being when our other activities are limited.  Those other activities will continue to be somewhat limited, vaccinations and declining caseload notwithstanding.

The critical positions carry with them a significant commitment in terms of time and effort, and some require specific skills or knowledge.  The other side of that coin is the  satisfaction of making a genuine contribution to community wellbeing and of providing needed leadership.  If the load looks too great, recruit your partner or a friend to share it with — and don’t feel stuck with doing it as it has always been done.  The point is the product; the process should be negotiable.  Step up and help out. 

Dear Readers — Much of what we value about life at RVM depends on resident volunteers.  With our “old normal” shut down for nearly a year — and with prospects of still more months of restrictions — our system of volunteer activities  needs service, and perhaps an overhaul.  Some of the vacancies are basic to the communication, information, and entertainment activities that have become even more important to us during COVID.  If our “new normal” is to be more than a pale shadow of the “old normal,” we urgently need new volunteers to take on the jobs we all depend on.

HELP– WE NEED:

HillTopics Editors  — two needed; one immediately, one before the end of the year.  Opportunity to train with present editor.  Contact Ken Kase (X6464) or Dennis Murphy (x6076)

For a PDF copy of the editor’s job description from the Residents Council Organization Manual,  click here

———————————————————————————————————————————

HillTopics Publishers — Present publishers are seeking collaborators/apprentices to learn the trade, eventually take over.  Contact Frank/Sandy Roberts (x6561) or Dennis Murphy (x6076)

For PDF job description, click here,

——————————————————————————————————————————

Evening movie selection and showing  — needed ASAP.  Training provided:  Contact Purk Purkeson (x6513) or Dennis Murphy (x6076)

For PDF job description, click here

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Technology Group members or adjunct advisors — new positions, available immediately:  Butch Finley (x6161),  Ron Constable (x6198), or Dennis Murphy (x6076)

Seeking both contributors with information technology expertise and non-technical reviewers.  See Technology Group page on MyRVM, home page, Groups and Activities tab.  For additional info, click here

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Birthday Luncheon Committee — needed ASAP for training.

The RVM Birthday Luncheon Committee is Looking for New Volunteers.

Each month we have an attractive special luncheon honoring those residents having birthdays that month.  Newcomers have an opportunity to meet fellow residents;  long-term residents  have a chance to socialize with old friends and meet new ones.

Our committee sends out invitations each month and co-ordinates with Catering for the party. We enjoy working together and strive to make the Luncheons a festive and fun occasion.

Please call Jamie Harris,  ext. 6555 with any questions.

A good description of the Birthday Luncheon is written up in MyRVM – Resident Information- Groups and Activities- Birthday Luncheon, or for a pdf, click here

——————————————————————————————————————–

Auditorium Display Case –needed by end of covid restrictions:  Bob Buddemeier (x6820), Jamie Harris (x6555)

Identifies, solicits and arranges displays of residents’ collections, crafts, etc.

For a pdf position description, click here

——————————————————————————————————————–

Tutorial Committee— There is an opening for  a Committee Chair, needed by April, 2021 to keep the tutorials running:  Bob Saunders (x6129) or Bob Buddemeier (x6820)

The Chair coordinates the Committee members in reviewing and selecting the Tutorial series on Channel 900.

For a pdf describing the duties of the Chair, click here

———————————————————————————————————-

Resident Preparedness Group:  Contact:  Bob Buddemeier (x6820) or Bob Walden (503-488-9879)

New positions, available immediately.  Details of activities and schedule negotiable.

1.  Information and Data manager (electronic filing, spreadsheet manipulation and record keeping)
2.  Public information and education (assist with program development and information dissemination)

For general information on RPG, click here

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

The Complement:  Contact:  Bob Buddemeier (x6820) or Connie Kent (x6301)

New positions, available immediately.  Details of activities and schedule negotiable.

The Complement is an independent, resident-produced online newsletter serving the RVM community with a wide range of information and resident creations — check us out and come join.  Journalism can be fun!  We will welcome colleagues with blog or website posting/design experience or interest, or who are interested in reporting, writing, editing, or information management.

———————————————————————————————————————–

REVIEW ITEM: Go-Bags

/in

This item is posted for community review and development.  Comment forms follow the text; more extensive materials can be sent to rpgrvm@gmail.com

To download a pdf of this document, Click Here

Go-bags basic, expanded, car and pet                                                               

Go-bags basic    Everyone should have a basic go-bag where you can conveniently grab it on the way out the door.  If you are able to handle a large bag, you can include the small bag into it as you go.

With contents, it should be something the owner can lift and carry reasonably easily.  Even with handicaps, everyone can probably handle 1-2 pounds, which is enough to include a surprising number of important things.

Use what you have, but if you can choose, It should attach to your body so as to leave both hands free.  A shoe-bag (or similar) with a strap or cord long enough for a cross-chest carry is good.  Back-packs or belt-packs are OK if you are able to get them on and off easily and they don’t throw you off balance.  If you opt for a roll-aboard, you need to be able to lift it well enough to get it up/down a flight of stairs, onto a bus, or into a car trunk.

There should be one for every individual (not per couple), with some of the contents redundant – if one person’s is lost or stolen, or a couple is separated, you don’t want anybody to lose everything.

Some of the go-bag items should be duplicated in your car-go supplies – disasters can happen while you are out on a shopping trip.

Light-weight primary go-bag contents:

Information  (if a couple, for both people — and any pets)

  1. Identification – copies of passport, driver’s license, ID card
  2. List of contacts, complete: names, relationships, addresses, land-line and cell phones, emails, other. If appropriate, include key people such as attorneys, trustees, etc.
  3. List of medications – prescriptions and important over-the-counter. Include dose, pharmacy and prescriber.
  4. Insurance information –copies of cards (incl. Medicare) or policy front pages; list of agencies/agents
  5. Record of medical conditions (especially if serious) with name/location of appropriate practitioner.
  6. Make sure that one of your contacts has access to other important but not urgent information—bank accounts, financial advisors, legal document repositories.

[Printed 2-sided w/narrow margins and modest fonts, the above items should require only a modest number of pages — PUT THEM IN A ZIPLOC BAG OR SIMILAR COMPACT, WATERPROOF CONTAINER.]

Supplies  (The following assumes that you will take your wallet or billfold and cell phone separately—but might not be able to.)

Cell phone charger

Money: cash in small/medium bills; credit card (remember that without electricity, card-readers, ATMS,  and vending machines won’t work)

Medications:  Remember things like hearing aid batteries and spare eyeglasses.  Include analgesics (aspirin, or…) and diarrhea medication/laxatives.

Prescription items:  If possible, 2 weeks worth. Keep your supplies together, in one place, and as close to the go-bag as convenient so you can put them in quickly when needed.

Personal items: toothbrush, paste (travel size), small soap and/or sanitizer wipes, comb, other needs.  A few large bandaids.

“Survival” needs:

Flashlight – headlamp or w/wrist lanyard, to keep both hands free.

At least 2 packs of tissues

Sani-wipes

Whistle

Survival/space blanket; and/or compact plastic poncho

Multi-purpose (e.g. “Swiss Army”) knife, if your hands and fingernails are able to use one

With careful selection, the above + bag should weigh less than 2-3 lbs. 

In the car: the same or equivalent (if possible) in the car; include a 12v phone, and add a change of (warm sturdy) clothes, blanket(s) or sleeping bag,  handcrank weather radio,  2-3 gallons of water, and 6000 calories of ready-to-eat food.

 

Moderate-weight go-bags

If you have strength to carry more, consider:

A pair of warm non-cotton socks

Seasonal headgear

Have both the survival blanket and the poncho

Face mask(s) (N95 or KN95 if possible)

Gloves (both surgical and work)

Additional first-aid supplies

A Lifestraw (or similar) small ultrafiltration unit for water purification

Waterproof matches or lighter

A bottle of water and some energy/granola bars (Water builds up the weight very quickly)

 

Think about anything else specific to your needs or preferences.

Review and modify your practices – store the things you will want in an emergency where you can find them quickly and easily, and can pick them up easily (not a large number of loose items).

REVIEW OUR ILLUSTRATED SECTION ON GO-BAG ASSEMBLY — CLICK HERE

For your car  You will not be able to duplicate everything in your Go-Bag, such as prescription medicines, but you can add useful items that you can’t carry– warm clothing (or blankets, sleeping bags), a pillow,  a tarp, a fire extinguisher — and of course automotive emergency supplies like a tow strap, chains, a small shovel, , flat repair and a 12v pump.

 

And your pet  This is a difficult topic, and we look forward to adding more as we get input.  If you are going to travel by car, our animal friends can add a vast amount of cargo to the load.  If you are on foot, and especially if you have strength or mobility limitations, it can be a real problem

The basics:  Make sure your pet is chipped, and has a collar with ID tags.  Include copies of essential papers with yours (vet records of innoculations, ownership documents if valuable).  After that, the basic minimum is effective restraint — leash plus harness or collar, and if possible a carrier (ut you stillneed a leash).

DOG-GO               CAT-GO

This item is posted for community review and development.  Comment forms follow the text; more extensive materials can be sent to rpgrvm@gmail.com

 

BACK TO TOP

Instacart- Better than Sliced Bread? Part A

/in ,

By Joni Johnson  

A few of us gathered around the Socrates Café talking about what brought us joy.  Joanne Hafner was not there.  But if she had been, she would have mentioned Instacart.com.  She started using it early in the pandemic because she didn’t want to go to the stores.  At that time, there was a question of mask use and a reluctance to go shopping “out there”. She discovered Instacart.com and was an immediate convert.

Instacart works with a large number of stores including Safeway, Albertsons, Costco, Fred Meyers, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Staples, Target, Best Buy, the Wine Shop, Big Lots, Rite Aid, Natural Grocers, Petcoand the Vitamin Shoppe.

According to Joanne, you get two weeks free and then it’s a $99 yearly fee.  When I used Instacart, I discovered there was  also a small service fee – less than $3—for each order.  On the Instacart website, you fill out a shopping list and decide on a tip.  You have to spend $35 at a particular store to avoid a delivery fee.  They offer you time windows that are available for your delivery, and then drop off the items at your door, ring your bell and then off they go.

If they don’t have a specific item, they have can substitute something with your permission.  If they know they are out of a particular item when you order, they will tell you at the time of your order.  Joanne ordered produce and has only been disappointed once with a too soft tomato.

Joanne says that she loves Instacart and feels that it is well worth the money.  She definitely plans on continuing to use it even after Covid goes away.  She feels that it saves her all sorts of time and energy so she is willing to put up with the cost and an occasional mistake.  Other residents who use Instacart were all were happy with their decisions.

I decided that I needed to try this out myself.  Joanne uses a computer, but I have an IPhone and Instacart provides a downloadable app, which I imagine would work just as well on any modern cell phone that provides for message texts.  There is also an 800 number where people over 60 can get help with ordering, but I really think it is much easier if you have a computer.  So I set up my account and downloaded the app.  (They sent me the link so it was very easy).

I decided to order from Freddie’s. I ordered using my computer but during the shopping phase, the texting occurred using my phone and app.  I ordered later in the day.  I could have had it delivered within 5 hours but I preferred to wait until the following morning.  I had loads of two-hour windows to choose from then, so I chose 11am-1pm.  Later that evening, I decided to add 4 more things to the cart.  It was very easy to do.   In my order, they found 2 items that might require substitutions and asked me if I would accept particular substituted items just in case. During the shopping phase, I was texted with another substitution choice which I was able to work out with texts and pictures.

Before Joanne called me up and suggested this article, I had never thought about ordering on-line even though I really don’t like shopping.  I kept thinking the produce or the meat wouldn’t be as good. After writing this article, I am beginning to convert.  It certainly saved me time and I like to shop by computer- especially in the winter. But I realize there are other delivery options out there, so I’m going to do some more looking around before I settle on which one I want to use.

Thank you Joanne.  It certainly could be better than sliced bread!

STAY TUNED NEXT MONTH FOR Part B:  JONI’S GROCERY DELIVERY RESEARCH AND SELECTION ADVENTURES.  This will include more input from residents as well as information about the differences between pick-up and delivery and the differences in delivery directly from Fred Meyers, Albertsons, Costco and Safeway versus delivery using Instacart.com. It will also include how the Manor provides delivery service from Fred Meyers to any of its Residents.

 

 

 

Inaugural Poem

/in ,
Read more

FSpreps

/in

Facilities Services Helps You Prepare

See below for information on furniture fastening and garage door opening

Work order:  x7231, on MyRVM, or Front Desk

From:  Rogue Valley Manor • hillTOPICS • December 2020 – January 2021 • page 2

Don ’t Neglect Earthquake Preps

Do you have heavy items in your home such as tall bookcases, mirrors, artwork, or pictures hanging over your bed? All can be dangerous and cause injuries during an earthquake if not properly secured. Here are some tips from Drew Gilliland, Director of Facility Services.

Bookcases should be secured. Facility Services can do that using strapping that is screwed into the wall. Large items or those higher than four feet above the ground should be prioritized.  Facility Services will cover these costs.

However, other personal items such as antiques may require special straps and additional care so as not to damage the item.

Filling out a work order to Facility Services is your first step. Complete a work order form available at the Manor front desk, go to MyRVM.org to complete the form online, or call Facility Services at Ext. 7231. When the Facility Services technician arrives, be specific about what you want secured.

By Binny Blechman

Meeting Minutes – 11-04-2020 Facilities Advisory Committee Meeting
Bil Meers, Chair

New Business:  4. Garage Doors: During the recent evacuation numerous residents were unable to open their garage doors when the power failed. A work order can be submitted to adjust garage door springs so that doors open quickly when power is out. A longer release rope can also be installed. Drew favors metal doors with battery backup. Doors will be replaced as-needed, depending on the budget. Manor garages: staff must go around and open them for residents in the event of a power failure.

Nit Wit Newz

/in ,

(Nit Wit Newz is an unauthorized, often unreliable, on-line news source designed to keep Manor residents abreast of the inconsequential, trifling and superficial events that dramatically shape and inform our everyday lives here at Rogue Valley Manor.                                                                                                                                    

 Ed Note:  our roving correspondent has returned to campus, but we continue to receive bulletins from our far-flung news services.  We may have to fling this one a little farther next time.

 

PLAZA REVAMP PLAN STIRS RIFTS

           Defending Design Decisions

Residents, dining committee, interior designer at loggerheads on Plaza re-do. Sticking points abound. Should room centerpiece be movable orchid planter, or tasteful sarcophagus?  Should restaurant model be “The French Laundry,” or a K-12 cafeteria?  For walls and ceilings, some favor muted earth tones, others lean toward a monochromatic fifty-shades-of-gray.

Many fear proposed demise of banquettes and Friendship tables. Claim proponents have bias against comfortable seating and good fellowship. Outraged proponents deny charge. Disagreements spread to rotunda and restrooms as well.

Meanwhile, as disputes fester, thirty-seven sub-committees have rapidly formed to hammer out disagreements.

First sub-committee report disappointing:  Table Linen panel deadlocked on napkin fabric. Group may be sequestered until concurrence reached.

Some early progress reported.  Leak from Beverage Container Committee meeting claims proposed replacement of stem ware with Tippy Sippy Cups has been nixed.

Dining Services Committee urging rapid resolution of all sub-committee disputes.  Seek to avoid threatened large-scale food fights among increasingly militant factions.

Stay tuned.

 

—A. Looney

 

 

 

RV Country Club featured in their support of RVM during Evacuation of Almeda Fire

/in

Rogue Valley Country Club was recently featured in BoardRoom Magazine, a major industry publication that reaches thousands of clubs worldwide, regarding their community efforts during the Almeda fire crisis.  Here is a link to from their magazine about their efforts in supporting RVM residents during the evacuation.

https://pub.lucidpress.com/BoardRoomMagazine/#_0