The Best of Times

Oddly, shortly after returning home (see my previous post), things took a 180 degree turn.

I had been struggling for some time with the problem of getting my hair cut. Gone are the days I could easily get to a traditional barber shop, the closest being 25 miles from my home. I needed to try a new place, and the only options available would be hair salons that happen to do both men and womens hair. I was extremely uneasy about calling or going in to check the place out. On Thursday, week before last, I stopped by to check it out with my DLS worker, but it was lunch hour and the place was closed. Still, I did get a look at the outside and a partial view of the interior through the glass door.

Coincidentally, that same day I was asked about giving a presentation about hunting and resolving power line noise (see this post) at the ham radio club meeting the following Monday. Egad! I felt I was up to doing that, but I really wanted to get my hair cut before being seen by everyone there!

Amazing thing #1… That Thursday afternoon I called the salon (on my own) to inquire about the possibility of getting my hair cut prior to Monday evening. They said they were booked, but they did take walk-ins from 9 to 12 on Saturday. The problem was, the forecast called for heavy rain Saturday.

Amazing thing #2… Friday I called Ben on the ham radio and asked if he could take me into town Saturday morning. If you have read prior posts you know how much difficulty I have asking for help. He said yes.

Amazing thing #3… I walked in Saturday morning and got my hair cut, without too much stress from the whole thing.

Amazing thing #4… aka Totally unbelievable thing #1… Monday night I stood up in front of about 25 people, some of whom I don’t know at all, and talked for 40 minutes about power line noise. And… I thoroughly enjoyed it!? I received numerous compliments on my presentation after the meeting.

Amazing thing #5… aka Totally unbelievable thing #2 and/or Incredible shock #1… The next morning I found myself seriously wishing some other clubs in the area would ask me to come to one of their meetings and give my presentation. I had so much fun I wanted to do it again!

Amazing thing #6… Thursday I called my case manager at her office. That was a first for me.

Amazing thing #7… Thursday I called our local official in charge of open burn permits to see about getting permission to burn some brush that afternoon. I got a green light and spent the afternoon and evening burning brush that has been collecting in a pile for many years. This (hopefully) will be an ongoing project, as I only got about 10% of it on that first day. It is a huge pile, and brush must be dragged about 200 feet out into the open before burning.

My presentation was split into two parts because it is a complex subject that cannot really be covered in the time allotted at any one meeting. Part 2 is scheduled for the November 26 meeting. I am looking forward to it!

I’m not sure how or why things are going so amazingly well all of a sudden, but I like it! I’m trying to find ways to keep the momentum going.