EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Sunday afternoon was wonderful. Three neighbours came down to the pool and we chatted about ancestry!  I am always fascinated by other people's heritage, and when I discovered that one of my neighbour's was what is commonly known as ''first' generation, with her parents having moved here, separately, as children, from Europe, I was even more engrossed in the stories.  Perhaps I questioned too much, but mentioning places to where I visited as a child, was really quite the treat.  The conversation started with a particular regular question asked here, to wit, "Where did you go to college?"  (Here, the word 'college' can mean any university. I once got into trouble by asking an English girl where she went to school.  She responded that she had left school, and so I apoligised and asked where she went to college. Big mistake. "It's a university, actually".  I did not like to add that at one time that particular 'university' would have been considered a polytechnic, e.g. a technical college, because that would have added insult to injury.  The fact that all is called school here would have been considered an enormous slur! - however, I digress!)  I listened to the responses, and added that I did not go to college, or university.  In fact, I left school on the Friday and started work on the Monday, as I no doubt mentioned in a post or two ago!  I did have a t-shirt that had the logo, 'Idontgoto University'.  Did that count?  "Life.  I went to the university of Life", I continued.  Everyone laughed when I told them the story about the cookies!  "But you grow things" said one neighbour.  Her husband looked at her, and then at me. "I have often thought we should start a 'garden' here", he said, quite seriously.  We discussed the prospect, and where to put it, and how to maintain it. We chatted about cooking, and baking, and that led to various other threads, which ended up in heritage.  It was concluded that an education is all well and good, but when you get to a certain age, experience is really vital!  By the time everyone left, we were all rather enthusiastic about next year's bumper crop of fruit and vegetables that perhaps will never grow!

Knowledge is a good thing to have.  Practical knowledge can help if the particular subject is ever called for.  I do not have much academic prowess on paper, but I do have experience.  I am still not completely au fait with all things American, or indeed Texan, but some things do not require cultural comprehension.  Painting a door, for example, does not differ from country to country.  You either do it well, or not! Sandpaper is available on both sides of the pond.  It may be called something else, but it's use is the same.  Cars, and their components, are (almost) universal.  Although different models are called by alternative names, the species is still the same.  Admittedly, looking under a bonnet (hood) now is different to that of the sixties or seventies, but despite the advent of 'electric' engines, there are some things that do not change.  I do not profess to being a mechanic, and certainly, as mentioned, did not go to a polytechnic to learn the art, (or science,) despite deciding that it would be more advantageous to sign up to the night school classes for car maintenance rather than 'keep fit'. I think I attended one class of keep fit, and my (then) boyfriend decided the mechanics course was worthless, so I did not bother swapping or keeping fit!  Again, I digress into the wilds of my memory!  Suffice it to say, you do not need to go to school to have car trouble!

My husband mentioned that his car had acted strangely when he started it on Monday morning.  The radio screen went black and various 'warning' signs came on.  However, it was fine after that.  I had my theories, but kept them to myself.  I pottered around on Tuesday morning, making a mental note to take in some things that Dana had forgotten, and set about making a cheesecake.  I had an idea for my Wednesday night dinner, but would have to check on recipes.  Suffice it to say, my mental note got thrown away, with egg shells and empty packaging, and I forgot the papers.  

"My car wont start!  Where are the mini keys?"  The call from Dana was not frantic, but urgent.  He needed to get back to work, and his car was, apparently, erring on the side of deceased.  I usually keep my keys with me at all times, but for some reason, probably something to do with the mental note book going missing, I had forgotten to transfer them from my weekend bag.   He arrived at the office, and unfolded his higher than average frame from the driver's seat, to a group of spectators, who all but cheered.  Despite there being ample room for him to sit and drive, getting in and out proves to be a bit of a challenge.

Samantha and I headed back to my house, and after pushing the car half way out of the car port, hooked up the jumper cables.  Nothing happened.  Our maintenance man appeared on the scene, and he was adamant that the battery was in the trunk.  I persisted that the connectors were under the hood as we had given someone a jump a couple of weeks ago.  He kept mumbling that the battery was in the trunk, and I kept persisting that the connectors were in the front! Either way, the car would not start and I steered, whilst my daughter and Raul pushed the car back into the port.  We headed back to the office.  

Dana was quite insistent that he needed to have the car towed, either to our mechanic, or to the dealership.  I was keen to have the dealership look at it, as I was convinced it was the battery.  "Could be the starter.  After all, it was clicking".  Here is where the 'practical knowledge' came in.  I was suddenly in my element.  "Nope, not the starter.  I know the sound.  Not the starter".  Of course, what do I know!  Suddenly, as is the norm, and it is, I believe, human nature, everyone, and I mean everyone, had a 'starter' story!  "Why didn't it respond to the jump?"  "If it was the battery, everything would be dead".  Again, my 'practical knowledge' came into play.  I remember my mechanic telling me, when I took my car for its inspection a couple of years ago, that the battery was 'low', and that modern day batteries were not like those of yesteryear.  A battery now had a lifespan, and it did not really matter if you gave the car a 'long run', to keep it charged.  It's death was almost predestined!  "It's the battery", I insisted.  A compromise was reached.  Rather than spend an undisclosed, (and in my opinion, unwarranted, but my opinion was not expressed,) on getting a tow truck to tow it to either the mechanic, or dealership, perhaps the battery could be taken to a facility to have it checked.  All agreed it would be a good idea.  Grant and Samantha headed back to my house.

Upon their returning to the office, I realised that I had to eat some humble pie.  The battery was indeed in the trunk.  However, it was not as bitter tasting as it could have been, because the 'connectors' were under the hood.  I made a mental note, in my new mental notebook, the old one no where to be found, to tell my findings to Raul!  However, the lady (yes lady) at the battery place, had indicated that a charge from another vehicle would be useless on this type of battery!  I did not physically punch the air, but all could feel it!  Later on in the day, we found out that a cell was dead, and a new battery was needed.  Grant kindly went to purchase the new one and he and Samantha fitted it in the trunk connecting it to the connectors, under the hood!

My dinner on Wednesday was somewhat different to the proposed menu.  I had decided to do an alternative coquilles St. Jacques, using the Barramundi fish I had bought, rather than scallops, and to house them in potato cases, rather than shells.  However, when I saw it was Australian Sea Bass, I decided a creamy sauce would not really be appropriate, and glazed it with some raspberry chipotle sauce, and hoisin, with a touch of jalapeno huckleberry syrup.  Where did I find all these items?  I had bought some 'on sale' oddments a while ago at the supermarket, thinking that one day I would use them.  Voila!  I chopped up some bok choy, left it overnight in some seasoning, and threw (yes threw) it in some brown butter, before placing in the well of the potato case (oh, I was on a roll) and then seared the fish in brown butter and sauce, before placing (yes placing) on top of the potato well!  It looked pretty exotic.  Apparently, it tasted good too!  (My opinion is never counted, as I am the chef, and self-praise is no praise.)  I was excited!  I received sufficient 'wow's to know it was a success!

Explaining to an attorney the difference in rules, and their implications, ramifications and finally the ultimate mechanism, on how, why and whether, was quite interesting.  Another 'practical' piece of knowledge that I have learned, without attending school. The amusing thing is that the attorney did have to attend school, and ultimately, gain a higher level of education, in order to present himself as a lawyer, was even more interesting!  My knowledge within the legal world has come from two sources.  Firstly, from my husband, as he is referred to as the 'attorney's attorney', despite never having gone to law school!  He often has to tell them, "I am not an attorney, so I cannot give you legal advise, but these are the rules".  Secondly, I read them!  The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure are available to all.  I would imagine that most of our clients have forgotten more than I will ever know, but it is amazing how many do not know off the top of their head, what is second nature to me.  Perhaps there are another two reasons for that!  They do not deal with them every day, or someone else knows the answer!  Suffice it to say, I had to let the American give the explanation, as the Englishwoman is not always believed!  

I did not apologise to Raul, but commented that we were both right!  The battery was in the trunk, but the only way to jump was by hooking up to the connectors under the hood.  He accepted my explanation.  

Wednesday saw the temperatures drop.  It was not cold but there was a significant fall, by over ten degrees.  The water on Saturday morning was cooler than it had been for months.  It was still fairly pleasant, but not as easy to get in as it has been!  My swimming days for the year are numbered!

Having revived from the car battery incident, where I had to remind myself that it was not the end of the world, and there was a solution, and not to panic, I was faced with another dilemma.  As I cleaned my fridge before going to work, I noticed that the top shelf was unstable. As I pulled it out, it fell to pieces.  'Practical' experience should have warned me not to do what I did next.  I knew we had some 'super-glue' around, and went to find it.  Placing the plastic pieces on newspaper, I opened the top of the glue.  It was still sealed.  I went back to the countertop and pushed the nozzle down into the aluminum seal, whilst still squeezing the tube!  Yes, I did it again!  Glue spurted everywhere.  When will I learn!  My fingers were covered, as was the counter, a cutting tile, and the floor!  I managed to wipe most of it up, but by the time I had finished, my fingers looked like a Hollywood make-up artist had made me look like a swamp monster!  No amount of education, school, college, polytechnic or Ivy League University could have stopped my action!

Samantha and I shopped and came home on Saturday.  I had bought some more items for my winter vegetable plot.  One of our servers, 'in the field', had sent me some 'indoor' ideas, with pages and pages of equipment.  Samantha had told her that she considered it was Grant that had turned me into the gardening monster, but he had nothing on this lady!  The server in question found it hilarious and sent more pages at my request!  She asked for pictures when I finally get everything up and running!  I told her that I was looking for somewhere to store Dana, as I could live in a small space under the stairs, and the rest of the house would be a vegetable factory!

Dana ordered my new shelf for the fridge.  It was a little more expensive than I had thought, but not as much as a new fridge.  He told me that I had saved him a fortune on towing and mechanic fees, for which he was grateful, so a shelf was my reward!  

Fall is upon us, and the leaves are tumbling off the trees.  It is still
green, but much cooler, and although the overnight temperatures are rising above sixty for the duration of the week, I am not sure how long that will last.  I may not see too many friends and neighbours pool side, as Texas autumn means too cold to swim for most!  

Once again, another year is hurtling to its demise, and I am enjoying the somewhat fresher air, and actually looking forward to changing my wardrobe.  That might not happen for a couple of months, but the 'practical' knowledge I have gained over the past seventeen years means that I know, that I don't know!  You don't need a college degree for that!  Life is good, and all is well, and that is what is most important in my book.  I am glad to be here, and what is more, I am glad to be looking to sending ............ another story!