Captain's Log #37 - Salty Dog


I was given a tour of the Member Services building and saw the 6 lane bowling alley, the PX (nice little store with just about anything you’d need, including ice cream), the TV studio, the Music Recording room, the bulletin board with flyers of the organized outings, keep in mind the Lincoln Theater abuts the building with lots of entertainment for the small, but wealthy, community of Yountville. The last stop was the Allied Council office. I met the secretary, L____, and picked up a menu for the resident’s cafeteria. The day was organized to honor Native Americans with special talks and presentations along with Trout, Buffalo Burgers and wild rice. L____ said she had some Native American ancestry, a great grandfather, “I’m so glad I didn’t inherit his nose!” I asked her if she’d had her DNA sequenced, yes she had, through Ancestry, and a long-lost nephew had contacted her. I boasted that I found two half-brothers. She replied quite enviously, “I don’t have any half-siblings.” I felt sorry for her, and proud of my unique family.

I’m supposed to be talking to prospective members and getting their financial information. We’ve only had 3 interviews so far and I’ve just sat in; the next one is mine for sure, in early October. Meanwhile, they have me, and several others, processing outside medical billing invoices. Holy Mackerel! There’s a lot of money sloshing around health care. Medicare probably costs what we spend on national defense, or more, and there’re delays in getting paid. I don’t know how hospitals and doctors survive. I was given permission to use ear buds after I shushed some co-workers who were talking loudly. I was duly chastised by my supervisor; no more shushing. Now I get paid to listen to classical music.

Apparently it’s hot air balloon season. I drove around a bend and came face to face with one hovering just above a vineyard. I thought it was about to crash but didn’t have time to stop. Turning in to Napa Valley, you’d think you might see one or two but the other day there must have be eight! I always think of The Wizard of Oz. They are pretty, pretty distracting.

There are two large garden areas for the residents to use. One fellow claims to have 50 pepper plants! All sorts of varieties and temperatures, and of course he has plenty to share. He announces his presence coming down the hall, “Put the toilet paper in the freezer!” A salty dog if ever there was one.

Let me know what’s up with you.

Many blessings,

Karla/k.j./mom

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