Why calculus?

     How/why has calculus, taught has an Advance Placement Course in high school, become the touchstone for admission to top tier universities?  Admittedly I'd never asked that question but it was the focus of today's presentation at the OFH. Why not statistics. or data science, or financial mathematics, or??? The pattern is algebra, geometry, algebra II, pre-calculus, calculus. A student wanting admission to an Ivy League school, or any other selective university, needs to have taken AP calculus in high school even if she wants to study French literature.  A move in Virginia to a more comprehensive math education shifted many voters from support of Biden to the current Republican governor. 

    This fascinating presentation by David Bressoud, retired Macalester College professor, reminded me again of how little I know. It's the same feeling I have when I read a history book. I really don't know very much.

"Cogito ergo sum" 

Takk for alt,

Al

                           Today's random: the power of wind!

Number 4!

      Receiving my 4th anti-COVID, Moderna vaccine today causes a bit of ambivalence. Gratitude is one feeling. Fortunate to have a vaccine available to me. It gives me a good chance of avoiding COVID altogether. Medical science and the medical system works for me and I am grateful. 

    The other feeling relates to those not as fortunate as I. They deserve the protection as much as I do but it may not be available to them. It's a reality of the unfairness of much of life. Would that all could have the access to which I'm afforded. 

Takk for alt,

Al

 

                 Today's random: The Fiord at Arnedal, Norway. 

"...the living is easy!"

     " Summertime, and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good-lookin'
So hush little baby, don't you cry

One of these mornings, you're goin' to rise up singin'
And you'll spread your wings and you'll take the sky
But 'til that mornin', there's a-nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mommy standin' by

One of these mornings, you're goin' to rise up singin'
And you'll spread your wings and you'll take the sky
But 'til that mornin', there's a-nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mommy standin' by"

George Gershwin

    When I'm asked how it is to live in the Old Folk's Home, typically I reply "I've never had it so easy." A caller today remarked that she'd not like the lack of privacy. That's far from my experience, when I want privacy I stay in my apartment. If I want company, there are a myriad of opportunities in the building.  Yes, indeed "the livin' is easy."  It could be a lot worse.  If my memory fails I only need to move downstairs.

    The Little House has only rudimentary TV access. My little set only has rabbit ears antenna so the only stations available are the public ones. I've just not gotten in the habit of watching. Here, in the OFH, I've been enjoying the basketball games via cable on Joanne's large TV.   

Takk for alt,

Al

    Today's random: Memorial to Nobel Prize winner, Jose` Saramago. Lisbon Portugal.

Easily Distracted!

    Walking into the utility room to move clothes from the wash machine to the dryer, I see some shoes that should be in the bedroom closet, there I spot an afghan that needs to be folded which I do, putting it on the shelf I see boots that need re-lacing, when that's finished I put them by the front door and see that the kitchen floor needs sweeping, when the floor is swept I get a glass from the cupboard to get a drink of water, placing the glass in the dishwasher it's obvious that it is time to run it, getting the detergent from under the sink I see a spray bottle which I take to clean the center island's top, in the process I find papers that have accumulated there so I take them to recycling and my desk, at the desk the computer shows I have email so I read and delete,,,meanwhile the clean clothes are still in the washer. And that's why there was no blog post last night. 😁  My apologies to all three of my readers.

Takk for alt,

Al

                              Today's random: The gong show.

Recommended Reading.

      Author, Louise Erdrich, has long been a favorite. Plague of Doves captivated me so much that I read it three times. Her latest book, The Sentence, was published last year. It did not grab me as her previous books have. For part of the book I was reading it out of loyalty to Louise. That changed when she writes about the circumstances around the death of George Floyd and the impact of COVID.

    Erdrich owns a bookstore in Minneapolis, Birchbark Books. A bookstore, obviously modeled on Birchbark, figures prominently in this novel. Observations and insights about life and relationships feature in significant ways in the waning chapters, rewarding readers who persevere. Just don't expect the book to engage as quickly as past ones do.  

   Tookie is the protagonist in the book. The book's primary focus is on Tookie's adult life. Toward the book's end Tookie is reflecting on the difficult relationship she had with her mother. Over the years her thoughts have been largely on her mother's failings. Her mother was a drug addict who only managed to stay clean while she was pregnant with Tookie. As Tookie matures she begins to recognize that she also failed her mother. Tookie realizes "You can't get over the things you do to other people as easily as you get over things that they do to you." P. 358. This is a sample of the profundity for which Erdrich is rightly famous. 

   Yes, I recommend it.

Takk for alt,

Al

    Today's random:  Everyday on my way to school in Ayuthaya I'd pass this temple.

Three?

     Three blog readers have responded since yesterday.  A 33% increase is quite remarkable.

     Before taking the road to the OFH, Kaia and I delivered a 50lb block of salt to the deer. They consumed the last one in about a year. There are no naturally occurring salt licks in the area. Salt is an important part of their diet. While I was chasing cedars yesterday, they're really quick 😁, I found a five point deer shed, i.e., one side of a deer's antlers. It's good to get out of the field, one punctured the large rear tire on my tractor a couple of years ago.

   Kaia and I are safely back in the OFH. A 30mph tail wind boosted the gas mileage. Gas is $3.76 in Sinai.

Takk for alt,

Al

Neither of my readers have commented lately!

      Because neither of my readers have commented lately, perhaps I've lost them, so this blog is for my sole enjoyment. 😏  Driving from St. Paul to The Little House I stopped at the world famous Schmidt's Meat Market, Nicollet, MN.  Among my purchases were two ribeye steaks. 

  

   Why two? you ask.  Especially you might ask because I don't have a grill. It's true, I don't have a grill but Josh, who lives next door, does. He grills and we each have a steak. He's an excellent cook and he often sends food over to me. The wind finally subsided today so tonight we'll have steak for dinner.

   Just had the steak, grilled to perfection.  Josh gave me a weather station! Talk about the perfect gift for a boy from the farm. Weather was such a huge issue in my formative years and that carries over to old age. Can you imagine being the weather man on TV in Hawaii?  Very different on the prairie. 

Takk for alt,

Al

               Today's random: The snake farm in Bangkok.

T.S Eliot was wrong!

    ‘April is the cruellest month’ is the opening line to T. S. Eliot’s 1922 poem The Waste Land.  

   No, no, no...March is the cruellest month.  Proof is the second day of temperatures in the mid-30s and a 30 mph wind. How tiresome is that?  Even working on the leeward side of the trees provided only partial protection. Winter may be over but March can sure be miserable.

    Well, that's my whine for the day.  On a cheerier note today is Frode's 99th birthday. Calling him to wish his a happy birthday this morning provided a delightful conversation. He can tell about his experiences as a WWII bomber pilot in Asia. Not only that, he can tell you what he did yesterday. Often I've said to him "I want to be like you when I grow up."  Is there still hope?

Takk for alt,

Al

Mercy
by Stephen Dunn

The music was fidgety, arch,
an orchestral version of twang.
Welcome to atonal hell,
welcome to the execution
of a theory, I kept thinking,
thinking, thinking. I hadn't felt
a thing. Was it old fashioned
of me to want to? Or were feelings,
as usual, part of the problem?
The conductor seemed to flail
more than lead, his baton evidence
of something unresolved,
perhaps recent trouble at home.
And though I liked the cellist—
especially the way
she held her instrument—
unless you had a taste
for unhappiness
you didn't want to look
at the first violinists face.
My wife whispered to me
This music is better than it sounds.
I reminded myself the world outside
might be a worse place
than where I was now,
though that seemed little reason
to take heart. Instead
I closed my eyes, thought about
a certain mezzo soprano
who could gladden a sad day
anywhere, but one January night
in Milan went a full octave
into the beyond. Sometimes escape
can be an art, or a selfishness,
or just a gift you need
to give yourself. Whichever,
I disappeared for a while,
left my body behind to sit there, nod,
applaud a the appropriate time.

               Today's random: The Bridge Over The River Kwai, where's Col. Bogey?

That was interesting!

        "That was interesting" was the euphemistic verbal cachet used to describe experiences that were not all positive.  By whom?  In my family of origin at least.  It's a good description of my first foray into farm work this spring. A real farmer once told me that each spring he needed to work himself back into shape. Residing in the OFH I've tried to stay active. Cutting cedar seedlings out of the grass quickly revealed that I've lost physical conditioning over the winter.  I, too, need to work myself back into shape. There will be plenty of opportunity for that.

     At 35 degrees with a 30 mph wind it was cold. That problem was solved by working on the leeward side of a grove of trees. A weed is a plant growing where it's not wanted. That makes these cedar seedlings weeds.

    The weekly dinner, what I'd call lunch at the bank, bankers and butchers, was moved from Wednesday to Tuesday this week to celebrate a birthday. That was a fun reunion after my three month's absence. It was a time to catch up on the news becasue we don't gossip,

Takk for alt,

Al

PS Kaia had a great run in the grass and trees.

             Today's random: Joanne in Budapest, 2008, no, that is not me on the railing.

Little House

      Kaia and I are back at The Little House for a few days. Too early for tractor work. Last fall, hunting pheasants on my grasslands, I made a mental note of young, volunteer cedar trees. It's a good sign that four months later I can remember where I saw them. Cutting them will be a good project this week, stoop labor because they need to be clipped at ground level. Pheasants aren't nesting yet so Kaia can run to her hearts content. She always maintains visual contact with me. If I stop moving for a few minutes she comes to me to see if I want her. We're far from roads so there's so danger from traffic. Fences are the most dangerous for her because she always goes full speed and doesn't always see the wires.

Takk for alt,

Al

           Today's random:  Our hotel in the Dominican Republic. 

59 degrees!

   It's 59 degrees in St. Paul at this writing. Does that mean I survived a second mid-west winter without a Thai excursion? The apartment in the OFH is so warm I turned down the heat for the first time since occupancy on January 7. 

   Kaia continues to charm inmates of the OFH. Because she's a girl she doesn't poke her nose in places that annoy others. Trygve was famous for that maneuver. There's a great park just above the OFH where we play fetch early in the morning. She's due for a good run on the prairie...soon?

Takk for alt,

Al

                                 Mt. Rainer

Drought Continues

      Eastern South Dakota had a remarkable crop last fall in spite of drought conditions. Those conditions haven't changed over the winter. Driving west from the Twin Cities to S.D., one sees the volume of water standing in tilled fields decline the farther west one drives. Eastern S.D., and I assume the rest of state, received very little snow and what did come usually blows off the fields. Springs field work will likely be early there.

    Commodity prices are high. They are offset by higher fertilizer and fuel costs. Likely many farmers contracted for fertilizer last fall before the price increase, some may also have done that for fuel. That's an expedient that helps for this crop season but will not be available again. Land prices continue to climb. 80 acres of Lincoln Co. land, south of Sioux Falls, sold for $17,700.00 an acre. A banker told me that local prices have increased 20% a year.  Persistent drought? what will that do to the value of land? 

Takk for alt,

Al

                    I'm keen to visit my grass!

OFH Redux...

      Just landed back at the OFH after dropping the girls off at home. One major disappointment of the trip to The Little House, 'no horses.'  For years horses, and sometimes camels, were penned on the edge of town. The girls delighted in feeding them. But they're all gone...empty pens 😞. Other than that, we had a great excursion.

    More tomorrow.

Takk for alt,

Al

                                    Picture from an earlier trip.

Looking back.

      The 'something of a log book,' in The Little House records that I left in on Dec. 17, and I didn't return until yesterday. Much happened in my life in those three months.  In that time I downsized out of my condo and moved into the Old Folk's Home. Then there were 38 radiation treatments completed. From the perspective of The Little House it all seems a bit surreal. Being here seems very normal and delightful with the company of the girls. Kaia is ecstatic.  The vet said she'd be tired after her shots but she isn't cooperating...perhaps she didn't hear.

    Also during that time Russia invaded Ukraine, one of the results of which, is clearly identifying the fascists in our midst, some of whom, have the platform of cable TV.  That could prove helpful in the days ahead. Especially in the early days of his rule, Hitler had his supporters in this country. The suffering in Ukraine is heartbreaking.  

Takk for alt,

Al

                        Today's random: The Reichstag, Berlin.

The Little House on the Prairie.

     The Minneapolis Public School teachers are on strike. This puts my two granddaughters out of school. Today the three of us, plus Kaia of course, motored to The Little House for a couple of days. It's a delightful opportunity for some bonding time. While grandpa pointed out a number of things on the drive he resisted the urge to provide long, complicated, male lectures to substitute for school lessons. Kaia and I left S.D. in mid-December and this is our first return but, she had not forgotten the routine. She even got her annual shots at the vet, which she hates, as we passed through Brookings.

     The Old Folk's Home doesn't know that one of its inmates has flown the coop. Which brings up an interesting bit of today's conversation in the car. The granddaughter's family have a flock of six chickens in their backyard.  The six chickens are of four varieties. In response to my question about various personalities among the chickens they gave a clear enumeration of the traits of each chicken. With the large flocks of chickens we had on the farm when I was a child we never were observant enough to notice specific chicken personalities.  

     The Little House wintered well and the propane I contracted for at $1.51 per gallon last fall for heating seems like a real bargain these days. No frozen pipes this year.

Takk for alt,

Al

      Today's random: The Little House with snow another year.

Coffee With Courtney.

      Every two weeks the administrator of the Old Folk's Home, Courtney, schedules an 8:30 a.m., "Coffee with Courtney" which is held in the dinning room. It's a chance for her to share updates about the community and answer questions from the inmates. As you might guess from her name, she's way younger than those of us who live here.

   She reported that there is a significant waiting list for independent living apartments. Last October when I committed to residence I got the last available place. Now I'm no longer the newest kid on the block because some have occupied vacated apartments. Memory Care is full in spite of three recent deaths. Courtney said many inmates want to be shielded from news of deaths. That strikes me as humorous, though I can find the humor is almost everything. There are a few vacancies in Assisted. Living, While there are some residents under the age of 70, average age is in the early 80s, which is young for an OFH. Very disappointing to me to learn that I'm average. 😉  Additional dining room staff are being hired which may allow it to be open more evenings and also to open the bistro. Perhaps a tavern is next.

   Yes, yes...life here could be a lot worse.

Takk for alt,

Al

Today's random:  Taken in 2018, I'm standing with me left foot in Norway and my right in Sweden.

    

Disaster averted!

      Some things don't change!  Living in my condo in the Crossings entering an elevator with Kaia evoked two typical reactions. Some people clearly are not 'dog people'. Their reaction to Kaia was either total ignoring or fearful withdrawal. Then there are the 'dog people' who fuss over Kaia while totally ignoring me. The same is true of the reactions of inmates of the Old Folk's Home. 

   Kaia and I were walking down the hall today when we met one of our neighbors. She hadn't seen Kaia before so stopped to pet her. She had a sandwich in her left hand and was petting Kaia with her right. In doing so, the sandwich was inches in front of Kaia's nose! The good news is that Kaia didn't grab the sandwich, much to my relief. 

  I'm keen to get Kaia to SDak. so she has more opportunity to run. She seems to have settled into the OFH well and has forgiven me for the long boarding at the kennel. Hopefully kennel stays will be brief in the future. 

Takk for alt,

Al

This random photo is from our last trip together to Norway in 2015. In 1958-59 Joanne helped her father found an American Lutheran Church in Oslo. The picture is in that church and shows Joanne visiting with a charter member of the congregation whom she recruited in '58, and he sang in Joanne's choir. His wife had recently died. 

Soaring!

      Kaia and I ventured to Kaposia Landing (see below) to play some fetch today. While we did that we were treated to multiple eagles soaring and circling above. Several were fishing in the Mississippi River next to the Landing. Seeing eagles always makes me glad. 

South St. Paul’s Kaposia Landing opened in 2008 nestled along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Over ten years of planning and creative funding transformed the former demolition landfill known as Port Crosby into usable public recreation space reborn as Kaposia Landing. This 87 acre area is incrementally being developed and currently hosts a 6.3 acre off-leash dog area (permit required for use), river overlooks, and almost two miles of interior paved trails. In 2017, five new athletic fields for softball and baseball opened in addition to a centrally-located concession and restroom building on the north end of the park.  Kaposia Landing can be accessed using the vehicular bridge located at Concord Street (TH 156) and Bryant Avenue, or by the regional trail access via the pedestrian bridge at the Simon’s Ravine Trailhead located at 1308 North Concord Street.

    Kaia seems happy in the Old Folks Home. Inmates fuss over her while ignoring me. 😀

Takk for alt,

Al

                      Today's random: Mowing CRP grass.

Completed?

     Today a desk arrived, thanks to a daughter with a Honda, Element. Deconstructed, the desk barely fit in the Element leaving the driver barely enough space to maneuver. Perhaps the only thing lacking for the apartment now is an occasional chair or two. The desk chair from Restore goes nicely with the new desk. It's looking increasingly like I should remain in the Old Folks Home, then. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Leisure

by William Henry Davies

What is this life is, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

                                    Non-random pictures. 😁

She's here!

     At first it was going to be "she's back" but she's not been here before so the appropriate title is "She's here!."  She being Kaia, the current iteration of  the 'wonder dog', arrived today. She had been at doggie camp since very early January through my radiation appointments. It was a grand reunion and, she's much loved and well cared for at the kennel, yet it's a kennel, where she'd lived for five years. It's clear that we've bonded and now she's exploring her new digs in the OFH. 

   Caring for her is part of my rehab routine because she needs much exercise which keeps me moving. While at doggie camp she had her sixth birthday, so she'll need a special treat. While she was away the necessary paper work for residence in the OFH was completed. 

Takk for alt,

Al

She likes looking out the glass door of the OFH but there are no squirrels at the 4th floor level.

Completed!

      It seemed daunting at first, to hear that seven weeks of radiation was prescribed, actually seven and a half weeks...38 times. WOW! That seemed like a lot! Then, upon reflection, it took on a different aspect. Knowing how fast time flies it occurred that this will be no different. Once one starts, gets in the routine,  quickly the time will pass. That's exactly what happened and today I had my 38th and final treatment.😀 All of this with virtually no side effects. 

    At the risk of being redundant let me enumerate that for which I have to be grateful. Think of the medical science that has developed to identify prostate cancer. That is a great gift. Now medical science is able to treat that cancer when it has been identified at an early stage. That's a huge gift! Also among my blessings is that I am fortunate enough to have excellent medical insurance. So...another great gift. There's still more, treatment was effective and completed with out difficult side effects. My treatment was scheduled far enough in advance to allow me to choose my time: "11:00" and that was my time everyday so I could easily establish a routine.  "Want to meet for lunch? Sure I can do that." 😃                                YES, I'M GRATEFUL! 

Takk for alt,

Al

                     Guess where this random picture was taken.

Surprised by delight!

      C. S. Lewis, in his book Surprised by Joy, says that a person doesn't find joy by pursuing it. Joy comes of it's own surprising accord. C. S. Lewis' book and insights came to mind in, a minor form, I'd call 'surprised by delight.'

     For two months I've lived resident in an independent living apartment in the old folk's home. When moving in, with the aid of family, smaller pictures were quickly hung. Heavier pictures, hangings, the clock and a mirror were leaned against the wall awaiting hanging.

   Living here for two months in that situation was fine. No surge of impatience to get things hung bothered me. As noted in yesterday's blog, the maintenance man came and did the hanging. It was clear that he knew what he was doing and I'm grateful that I left it for him.

  The accomplishment of that task has surprised me with delight. While not conscious of  discomfort at the lack of completion, now that it's accomplished I'm filled with delight. It really makes me happy! 😄 

Takk for alt,

Al

                         Art work in the bathroom of the OFH.

Pictures are hung!

      As prearranged the environmental services director (think 'head of maintenance') hung my heavy pictures and clock today. So glad I had him do it...not my best gift, such hangings. 😃 With only a couple of changes the pictures are above where they were placed by the family. Since occupying my space in the OHF I've had much company, now they need an invite back to see how I'm settled. I have a line on a desk so I'm waiting to hear back from the seller. Facebook Marketplace takes some patience. 

    With all the picture hung there is a sense of completion. The Little House On The Prairie is beckoning so it was good to accomplish this task before I divide my time between abodes. Having the pictures hung means I should stay here which, as you know, "could be a lot worse."

Takk for alt,

Al

               Antique Laotian silk and thee Harvey Dunn's hung above the couch.

OFH bennies!

       Living in the Old Folk's home has its benefits. My regular barber is on a visit back home to Mexico and, needing a good shaping up, I went to the salon in the OFH. No need to drive and the fee just appears on my monthly bill. Particularly nice because it was a good haircut and beard trim.

     Today there was a knock on my door and opening it I found a man with a ladder. He announced that he'd come to replace the batteries in my smoke detectors, an annual event. It had never occurred to me that someone else would assume that responsibility.

   Tomorrow I'll see podiatrist who comes to the OFH monthly. He/she will help me with a bothersome toe nail. How handy is that?  Also tomorrow the OFH maintenance man is coming to help me hang the heavy pictures. Then if anything goes wrong it will not be my fault. 😁

    As I've been known to say life here could be a lot worse!

Takk for alt,

Al

        This is an illustration of the unhelpful use of an euphemism. 

Pastor in a church announcement:  "John was called home last night."

Child after church: "Why would the pastor announce someone going home?"

Mother: "John died."

Child: "Why didn't the pastor say that?"

Today's random:

                                           Riga, Latvia 

Weather woes!

      It's been a cold January, February and early march. Needing to make my daily drives to the clinic has meant many cold mornings in the car while I wait for garage parking. Yesterday it rained much of the day and overnight we got about 4" of snow. Today I dug my car out so it would be ready for tomorrow morning's jaunt. The winter experience has been a reminder of why I spent so many winters in tropical Thailand.

    About to feel sorry for myself about winter, the news of the terrible tornados in Iowa broke in on me. A little cold and snow is nothing compared to tornados that kill and destroy homes and much more. Then there's the terrible tragedy unfolding in Ukraine. That's too sad for words (see comment below).

"Still, the sudden attempt of the Republicans to rewrite history cannot erase the fact that every Republican in the House of Representatives voted against impeaching Trump when he withheld $391 million in aid for Ukraine that Congress had appropriated, offering to release it only on the condition that President Zelensky announced an investigation into Hunter Biden. That is, they were willing to look the other way as Trump weakened Ukraine in an attempt to rig the 2020 election by creating a scandal he hoped would sink his chief opponent." Heather Cox-Richardson

Takk for alt,

Al

Todays random: 

                                       Brandenburg Gate Berlin

Music

      One of the gifts of my current hearing aids is syncing with my smart phone. This makes telephone conversations enjoyable. Through the COVID pandemic much of my people connection has been via the phone. 

    Another gift of that syncing between aids and phone is the access to music. Music in this connection is better than if I were hearing the music played in person. When I tune to music times slips away. Last night I spent time learning about Hardanger fiddles and listening to music played on that Norwegian instrument.

   This poem captures the melancholy I often experience listening to music.

Music
by Anne Porter

When I was a child
I once sat sobbing on the floor
Beside my mother’s piano
As she played and sang
For there was in her singing
A shy yet solemn glory
My smallness could not hold
And when I was asked
Why I was crying
I had no words for it
I only shook my head
And went on crying
Why is it that music
At its most beautiful
Opens a wound in us
An ache a desolation
Deep as a homesickness
For some far-off
And half-forgotten country
I’ve never understood
Why this is so
But there’s an ancient legend
From the other side of the world
That gives away the secret
Of this mysterious sorrow
For centuries on centuries
We have been wandering
But we were made for Paradise
As deer for the forest
And when music comes to us
With its heavenly beauty
It brings us desolation
For when we hear it
We half remember
That lost native country
We dimly remember the fields
Their fragrant windswept clover
The birdsongs in the orchards
The wild white violets in the moss
By the transparent streams
And shining at the heart of it
Is the longed-for beauty
Of the One who waits for us
Who will always wait for us
In those radiant meadows
Yet also came to live with us
And wanders where we wander.

Takk for alt,

Al

              Today's random: "Joanne's piano" at Grace University Lutheran.

A woman of note!

Frances Perkins took her post as U.S. Secretary of Labor on this date in 1933. She was the first woman to serve on an American president’s cabinet. She had become involved in politics after witnessing the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City in 1911. It was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in American history: nearly 150 garment workers died. Perkins made workplace safety her first political cause and helped draft many fire regulations that are still followed today. Franklin Roosevelt, who at that time was serving as governor of New York, named her to his Industrial Commission and he relied heavily on her advice throughout his career. Before he began his first term as president he offered her the cabinet post; she told him she would accept if he would agree to let her address several labor problems that she felt needed fixing. Roosevelt agreed.

Oswald Garrison Villard, the editor of The Nation, praised FDR for his choice, predicting that Perkins would prove to be “an angel at the Cabinet in contrast with the sordidness and inhumanity of her predecessors.” But many people, including labor union bosses, opposed the nomination of a woman to the post. Perkins believed men were more amenable to women who reminded them of their mothers, so she dressed modestly and rarely wore makeup. She kept quiet in meetings. She later recalled:

“I tried to have as much of a mask as possible. I wanted to give the impression of being a quiet, orderly woman who didn’t buzz-buzz all the time. [...] I knew that a lady interposing an idea into men’s conversation is very unwelcome. I just proceeded on the theory that this was a gentleman’s conversation on the porch of a golf club perhaps. You didn’t butt in with bright ideas.”

Her policies did away with child labor in the United States. They also led the way to the 40-hour workweek, the Federal Labor Standards Act, and Social Security — and they formed a large part of the New Deal.  From today's Writer's Almanac

   What can I add except that I'm profoundly grateful for my situation!

Takk for alt,

Al

                Today's random: The house in which I was raised.

Dr. Stenseth

      This was the day of my annual meeting with my primary care provider, Chris Stenseth, NP, at the the VA. "No" he said "I don't know of relatives in South Dakota but I was born in Oslo, Norway." This was in response to my inquiry referencing my German teacher at Augustana College, now University, Frau Stenseth.

    While I passed the required two years of German the experience was a clear indication that I did not have a future in foreign languages. Had Augustana offered Norwegian classes at the time that would have been my choice. Both my parents spoke Norwegian but their dialects were so different that they didn't easily communicate with each other. My mother said when dad spoke to his mother in Norwegian she could barely understand them. In our home they used Norwegian to keep secrets from the children. When they spoke Norwegian to each other in our presence we'd ask if we could go along, assuming a trip to town was planned. 

    When I visited Norway I'd try to recall what little Norwegian I knew and all that would come to mind was German. That was funny for a couple of reasons. First, I didn't think, that after 25 years, I remembered any German. Second, in German class at Augustana Frau Stenseth would say to my efforts at speaking German, "Negstad, you're not speaking Norwegian!" 

    Apparently I passed my physical at the VA because Stenseth said "See you next year." I replied "Tak skal du ha." and he "værsågod".

Takk for alt,

Al

Today's random; the opera house, Oslo, Norway.

Where's home?

       May 1, 2020 I relocated from Minneapolis to The Little House On The Prairie. From that time until mid-December '21, I spent most of my time there. When I was in Minneapolis for a time I'd catch myself saying "I'll go home next week," i.e., to The Little House. Prior to that extended stay in S.D. my Minneapolis condo was definitively "home". Now the condo is vacant and I've been in the OFH since January 7. So what's home now?

    It doesn't really matter does it? It's indicative of what a simple life I have that such a question would occupy my time. 😀  Life in the OFH is comfortable and moving here was clearly the right decision.

Takk for alt,

Al

                                  Today's random: The late Gunnar, in The Little House.

Katrina

       Every Tuesday, after my therapy session, I meet with the doctor who is overseeing my treatment. Prior to the doctor's entrance a nurse interviews me. One of the nurses I've seen regularly is named Katrina. Her name caused me to engage her is some personal conversation to which she responded eagerly. Medical professionals are people, too. She said she's from Slovakia and that her family remains there but America has been good to her.

    Today, as she concluded her medical questions, I raised the situation in Ukraine. She sat back in her chair, let out a big sigh, and said her town in Slovakia is only an hour's drive from the Ukrainian border. Her family there are very concerned and are preparing themselves for nuclear fallout. She'd talked to her mother this morning and all her family are very worried. 

    Putin's attack on Ukraine is hard to fathom. On further reflection I wondered "How long has it been since the United Sates attacked Iraq?  Differences, of course, but??????????

Takk for alt,

Al

PS Good medical news; my PSA has fallen from 10.4 to 00.1.

              Today's random photo is from St. Petersburg, Russia.