I read a post that surprised me this morning. A man was stopped driving through town last night for a burned out license plate lamp. The interesting thing was that this was in the middle of town, and it was not the town police that stopped him. It was a state trooper. While he said that the officer was polite, he was giving the car a very thorough once over with a flashlight. He is an older gentleman, and he was alone.
For those of you who do not know how it works, State Troopers monitor state roads and the areas outside towns. Towns have their own police force who handle things inside the towns.
If State Troopers are providing back up for the city police, this is very interesting. Why is an extra police presence required? It is reported that an ICE vehicle was at a local park. The newspaper reported that Homeland Security is in town.
So...even out here in the boonies, we are not free from this.
Glad we are protesting Saturday. So glad.
I made my sign today. After thinking about Gigi's remark that a picture may confuse people, I decided she was right. My sign simply says, in great sparkly letters, "Ain't no faux king way". Tim has a giant taco emblazoned with 'TACO KING'. He will wear his stand with Ukraine shirt, I will wear my 'In a world where you can be anything, be kind'.
I had PT today, and there was a retired therapist there. He was such a hoot. He took a gander at my scar, and immediately pulled his pant leg up to display his. He had a knee replacement in March. We scandalized the poor aide when we began discussing the bottles of narcotics we both left the hospital with and never used. I mentioned that my husband was watching 'El Chapo' on Netflix and I thought he'd probably learned enough to traffic them for us.
I actually was afraid that I'd screwed my knee up helping Tim with the tin yesterday. The nerve running down the outside of my leg was making my toes feel very strange. I wasn't sure if I should even try PT today, but I went and figured that I'd leave the decision up to them. They are very practical. They listened. I said, "I wasn't sure whether to try to walk it off, or whether to rest it, so I decided to err on the side of caution. I went to bed with a good book and a heating pad."
They were glad to hear that I'd decided to be cautious. I said, "Don't get used to it." The consensus was that I could have taken a short walk just to see how it affected my leg. If it got better, well...great. If it got worse, I could always just stop and do the heat. Likewise, I could do the PT and if I felt things getting aggravated, just stop.
So that's what I did. There was no aggravation. I even went for a walk tonight, just a short one, no more than a mile.
Tim and I went to our favorite discount grocery store. You honestly cannot tell what you will find there. On the drive there, I said, "Remind me. I need to pick up dishwasher soap. We should try out that dishwasher."
When we got there, I found a box of those pods for $13.80. I was standing there studying the box when Tim walked up. I said, "You know, I don't even know how much this stuff costs. I haven't bought dishwasher soap for 30 years." Looking closer, I noted that it had 115 pods in it, which would work out to less than 13¢ a load. I said, "For just you and I, I imagine this would probably come close to a years' worth of pods." I can't imagine we'd be running the dishwasher more than once every two or three days. (All you dishwasher people feel free to weigh in on this.)
Anyways, good news is that we were not skunked. Buying it in a regular store would have cost us $27.95.
So...that was today.
I'm really enjoying the book "Return to Nab's End". It's quite a glimpse of a different time and place, as seen through the eyes of a 16 year old boy. For some reason, the voice of it reminds me of Weaver and Tasker. Sensible, enduring, practical.
Talking of a different time and place, Tim and I realized we graduated from high school 50 years ago. Crazy to think about.
Another crazy thing to think about? How about that Air India crash? One lone survivor, a British national from Leicester. His name is Viswash Kumar Ramesh. He has no idea what happened. The theory is that the plane broke apart, and he was thrown free from the plane before it exploded upon impact. Sadly he lost his brother in the crash.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/world/asia/viswash-kumar-ramesh-air-india-survivor.html
I will be at my daughter's house in a close suburb of Detroit on Saturday. I am sure my 30-something grandkids will be marching/demonstrating somewhere. Both my daughter, son-in-law, and I are not really strong enough to march, but we will surely be watching and worrying about them. I worry now as things just keep getting worse...and crazier by the hour.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard the 3.5% rule? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
DeleteI like your experimental approach to your recovery. You know your body better than anyone, after all.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think so. I try to be mindful in taking care of myself.
DeleteDebby I love your take on your protest sign much better than mine. Gigi
ReplyDeleteI was just so worried that it might be misconstrued. I wanted the message clear and concise.
DeleteI have not seen ICE in Spokane. They're in Seattle, and in the north in some small town whose name escapes me. Newsom won the court case and 47 has to relinquish the guard tomorrow. It would be really good if the Marines would leave, this is not in their wheel house. That's an excellent price on dishwasher pods.
ReplyDeleteI was wrong, ICE is in Spokane running after migrants. The mayor has declared a state of emergency. The cops are escalating the tension with the protesters.
DeleteWhat is awful is to see protesters taking the heat for what is happening. It is not one sided. It's just not. Some of the bad actors are law enforcement and ICE themselves.
DeleteI use my dish washer about once a week. If I cook a meal, I use it to clean up pots and pans. Being alone I don't cook very often so I buy my pods at the dollar store, a package of ten. That last me a couple of months usually. Tonight, I had a salad and later celery with PeanutButter so one bowl, a fork and knife. I wash out my coffee pot each day and the cup. I think I might have gotten a bit lazy living alone. Glad you are getting along so well with the knee. You are still young so bounce back quick.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I'm still young. It is amazing to me to realize that I have less than two years of my sixties left.
DeleteOur small town has had ICE. We actually have Border Patrol here all the time since we live close to the north coast and we are worried about all the Canadians, I guess. One day I swear a Border Patrol car was following me, I saw it three different times. Meanwhile they did take a man who is here on an asylum visa. He moved up here, married, has children, worked at a factory and saved his money and bought an ice cream truck. He was taken and the truck impounded with ice cream inside! There was a go-fund-me and his brother in-law was able to get the truck and then we contributed when they set his bail. He was following the rules but it sounds like they changed the rules. It makes me so angry.
ReplyDeleteI am still working on signs. Ours won't be fancy. I use black foam board and white sticker letters.
I use the dishwasher about every other day. During school vacations, etc. I have used it twice in one day. I then share that information several times - TWICE in one DAY. But that is not a normal occurrence.
I have holographic letters on black foam. I'm thinking I should have gone with white. It made me laugh to think that you have border patrol there to make sure those pesky Canadians aren't sneaking in. Yes. They are changing the rules. People are showing up for their immigration appointments as required by law, and being taken away. Because they followed the law???
DeleteGood shopping as ever! I would love a dishwasher...even though washing dishes is only once every one or two days, catering for one ( rinsing them first of course!) doing all the housework instead of sharing it takes up time to be doing things!
ReplyDeleteStay safe tomorrow. What is happening over there is incredible
You're doing well with your knee..and good to compare knees!
It made me laugh. Two soldiers comparing war wounds! I don't expect violence here. We're a small town. We'll get a few assholes driving by and making rude gestures. Surprisingly though, for a red town, we're getting quite a few thumbs up and beeping horns.
DeleteDishwashers: with two of us ours is generally run every two days, depending on how many pots and pans I use when cooking.
ReplyDeleteICE ... it all sounds ominously threatening from over here.
It is ominous to me. You put your pots and pans in the washer too? I didn't think you could.
DeleteWe have a small sized dishwasher and use it most days, if we have family it gets used twice in the same day. Good luck with your march, people power can work, even if nothing is changed you can tell the world he is doing it 'not in our name'
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that's very important. I need to make sure that my voice is heard.
DeleteWe usually use our dishwasher once a day.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your demonstration and more power to you all.
At this point, they say that there are over 2000 individual protests across the country, and that number skyrocketed when troops were sent into LA. Philadelphia is supposed to be the largest one as far as I have heard, and I would love to be part of it.
DeleteNever had a dishwasher (I had my husband, bless him!) and never wanted one. It seems that the madness in the States is spreading - and to think we were considering a stop-off in LA on the way to NZ. . . It will be Dubai now. I bet that protest will be well-supported. Glad you didn't screw your knee up.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is not a dishwasher. If I go away for a few days, he will hastily wash up just before I'm due back. He's not a housekeeper, but bless him anyway.
DeleteDishwashers are great until you have to empty them and put everything away.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'll mind that, but I could be wrong.
DeleteThe demarcation between local police and troopers is interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe cheapest of decent dishwashing tablets I can find here are AU$0.27c. Only two years ago I could find them for 14 cents each, discounted and that is double the price. I've had a dishwasher in every place I lived since 1979, so I kind of know about them. They are so good now, quiet, clean well and water and power consumption efficient. There will be a few things that need to be hand washed but nearly everything can go into the dishwasher. If you cook at home, it will be at least a daily wash. Having trained my tenants to use the dishwasher rather than washing by hand, I made a monster. My dishwasher does a full load, say thrice in two days. I used to put it on every morning, but I am no longer in control of what happens in the kitchen. Unless your water is hard, the dishwashing cleaning tablets are a waste of money. But they do get dirty around the edges of the door where the door contacts the body of the dishwasher. Along the bottom seal, horrible scum can form that needs to be removed. You might do that cleaning every six months. And most have a central filter, which I clean about once a month. My current dishwasher is a medium range seven year old Bosch and it is excellent, push button to start and a digital display, but a knob dial for settings. You won't find those anymore.
My son has a Bosch and they like it very much. But you have been ever educational. I had not idea that you needed to wash the dishwasher. I will have to sit down with that book. I'm pretty sure we do not have hard water, but that's something else I'll have to check on.
DeleteWell as far as dishwashers go, we did have one but it was hardly used. Paul enjoyed the small talk and washing up together in the kitchen. Just be careful at the protest march you don't know how things will happen, and you have to protect that knee.
ReplyDeleteYou know Thelma, it is going to sound like hyperbole, but it isn't, not for me. There are somethings that are worth taking a pounding for, and this is one of them. Needs must, as our Weaver would have said.
DeleteYou and Paul working together in the kitchen is a idyllic glimpse of a comfortable marriage.
Since I am alone with a dog, I use my dishwasher about every two days set on express wash and that does a wash in about 25 minutes. I turn it on before bed when the power is cheapest here, i unload it first thing in the morning. I buy the pods at Costco and have found that Cascade Platinum plus do the best and leave my dishwasher cleaner inside too. I don’t worry about the price as I buy them only when on sale at Costco. Gigi
ReplyDeleteLOL. I will have to sit down with my instruction manual. I'm such a nube that I didn't even know dishwashers required maintenance.
DeleteI read that article that you put in the comment reply on the first comment. It gives me hope, so thank you. Take it easier with your knee, you're not young anymore, and it takes time to heal. I say this because I had another bad fall last night on the soccer field with my grandson. I'm thankful it was a grass field or I would have probably broken something. I forget/refuse to accept my age.
ReplyDeleteGood luck tomorrow and stay safe.
Question for you, Pixie. Do you have a knee or hip problem. I was stumbling and lurching around quite a bit and it aggravated Tim a LOT. It was also embarrassing. I was surprised to find out that one leg was shorter than the other, and it was throwing my gait off. Do you have joint problems?
DeleteWe run the dishwasher about once per week, largely to keep it functional from not sitting dried out for too long.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how that plays out for us. Do you hand wash?
DeleteI've been using the liquid dishwasher detergent. That way I can use less if I want to and as with laundry detergent, I generally do. It does a fine job. I also use the shortest cycle.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm starting to think that next time, I'll stick with the liquid. I never thought of the plastic.
DeleteOne wonders why so many people and organizations are so ready to follow Trumps orders. They are a paranoid bunch when they think that there is danger behind every little place.
ReplyDeleteParanoid sums it up very well, but I'm a little dismayed at how quick 'my side' is to pick up on complete and utter bullshit and spread it all over social media. The only thing that will fight lies is truth. People need to make sure of their facts. On both sides.
DeleteI use liquid dishwasher detergent. I thought the pods I tried reeked of fragrance that clung to all the dishes. I couldn’t even drink from a clean glass. I’ve also read that the pods themselves may not fully dissolve and clog the filter—keep an eye out.
ReplyDeleteBonnie in Minneapolis
Sorry Debby, I can only talk about dishwasher soap. I’m so angry about what’s happening that I can’t even.
DeleteBonnie
Gees, Bonnie, you don't even have to apologize. I get it. I totally get it. I woke up in the night and my mind kicked into high gear. It could not get back to sleep to save my soul.
Delete🤲<----- my dish washers!
ReplyDeleteMarcia, my hands have been my dishwashers for quite some time. They want to do something else for a while!
Deleteregarding those dishwasher pods- watch out because i found the pods from Costco , the plastic does not dissolve but clogs up the pipes. i think the Cascade did dissolve as didn't find plastic left behind when we used those. so now i just cut the plastic and let the dish soap go in the container. just like with flushable wipes- which are not flushable and clog the sewer lines. have to be so careful these days. so glad you are doing so well with your knee surgery. truly amazing. lini from petaluma
ReplyDeleteYou know, there's a lot I didn't know about dishwashers. That is something that I'll have to watch out for.
DeleteI run the dishwasher every day almost without fail. Even with just two of us it's usually ready. (It's smaller than a typical American dishwasher.) We use Finish pods, which I think are only a UK thing. When I was single I did all my dishes by hand, but Dave really cooks and he messes a lot of stuff up, so ever since we got married I've made having a dishwasher a priority!
ReplyDeleteI remember the time that you talked about a dinner party and how you were running the dishwasher for the third time, and the kitchen was finally back to rights. And I have to say, I always thought you were fortunate to have a A1 chef in the house...but reading that blog post, I had to rethink it a bit.
DeleteBeing alone it can be anywhere from 2-5 days before I run the dishwasher...so I do rinse them off first before I put them in--lol!
ReplyDeleteCan hardly wait to hear about the protest!
Congrats on how well you are doing with the knee. I was a little worried when you were hauling that tin around. ;)
Have a super weekend. :)
Thanks, Rita. It will be interesting to see how often it is actually used. I meant to run a load of dishes through today, but forgot.
DeleteMy dishwasher is either me or V (I have unverified rumours that Paris does so at work) but it has been a boon for Dad in these later years. Good luck tomorrow (today here)
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I like about them is that you can sweep everything off the table and counters, put it in the dishwasher, do a quick wipe down and kitchen duty is done. I have waited patiently for a good long time.
DeleteI still use the powder Cascade instead of pods. We get a lot of loads out of one box. I'd say we use the dishwasher about every 3-4 days. (there is 2 of us). I don't put pots or pans in the dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you know what to do when your knee starts bothering you. Be careful!
Enjoy the protest! I am hoping for a good crowd and no rain.
Amazing about the one man that survived the plane crash.
I don't even care if it rains. We'll put on our raincoats and stand to be counted.
DeleteI like your signs. Ive got mine ready for tomorrow and will join the local protest. I've not seen any ICE thugs here, but I've not been out much.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how many show up. We are a small town. I think that the biggest protest we ever had was 150. I'm hoping that we'll top that.
Delete