Friday, August 29, 2014

Mean old woman

I guess that's what I am becoming.  I find myself tending to see all the injustices.  Then I get mad.  I think I need to take heed to the song from Frozen.   I need to "let it go."  But instead I find myself harboring these feelings and they fester.


I need to just accept that my son is becoming a stranger.  When we talk on the phone, it isn't the same as it used to be.  Conversations are just stilted.  That is WHEN we have them.

After spending a week at the SSB with our crazy neighbor who is out there building another road next to the existing one because he is apparently mad at the other neighbor gets to me.  We are caught in the middle of that one.  He has tried to deny us easement through his property at all, and had to allow the other people easement.  So he is building a road that will be the easement.  But the road he is building is going to be a terrible road.  Geesh!

I am really worried about my SIL who lives up there.  She is there alone except for her remaining dI think her drinking has gotten out of hand.  She said she woke with a black eye and a finger that really hurt - probably broken - and doesn't remember what happened.  Her son was there, but they were in the hunter's cabin.  As  it turned out, she had to have a pin put in the finger (G drove her to and from the hospital).  She is broke.  I don't know where her inheritance has gone.  She has let the house go to pot.  It is in terrible condition. Her parents are probably rolling over in their graves - or would be having a fit if they could see it now.  She says she is broke.  She only has a cell.  She has given up her satellite TV.  I don't know what is going to happen to her.  It is well known she has a very addictive trait.  She has been in "trouble" more than once.  I just pray someone doesn't find her OD'ed some day.

So I am in a great mood today.  And I am really going to make an effort to "let it go" and be happy.

Tonight should be interesting.  G sent a rather scathing letter (email) to Pastor telling him we were not happy with the little kingdom (literally and Pastor is the King) that is our church.   He told him we should have a church council with committees, the Pastor should not be involved with the finances of the church, and he needs to stop appointing his "yes" people to this Council of Elders that never has open nominations.  Tonight we will be there for the "Trivia night" we have one a month.  Should be verrrrrry interesting.

I am so glad to be home - but it is short lived.  We will be leaving again on the 5th.  This time we are headed to New Orleans, Chicago, and eventually Glacier National Park by train, and then drive home.  G is thrilled.  Last night on "Wheel of Fortune" a contestant said they had been traveling for six weeks.  He said he would love to do that.  I just cringed!

I am becoming such a home body.  THIS home. 

So - I will stop my complaining now.  Hopefully I will look on the bright side more.


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

From the land of the slooooooow internet

We have been here since last Thursday.  We - minus one black kitty.  He decided that he was going to hide before I could get him ready to go in the carrier.  So, he has had the house to himself.

It is HOT here.  But then it is late August in Central Texas.  And this part of Central Texas is in the semi-arid desert like place.  So this is no surprise. 

Now begins the petty stuff.  On Sunday I got a text from my son.  You know that I have long accepted the axiom about "a daughter is a daughter ... and a son is a son..."  I try to be very accepting of that, but this time I was pushed too far.  He had the audacity to send a text (a TEXT mind you) that was quoting his Father in law.  It was that he was looking for a day type lease to do  about a four day/three night deer hunt for the FIVE (FIL, his three sons and Brian) of them and would we be interested in letting them on here - and if not did we know anyone who would do that?

Now - why did that make me boil?  First - Brian hasn't set foot on this place in about two years, and even then he only comes every other year. Even when they would come here, they would stay about two nights, and head off to FIL's place that he then had fairly close to here.  (He sold it last year)  Second, in this time, they have spent two weeks at "camp" with them (it is a Baptist retreat in Louisiana where they are two-faced.  The alcohol flows freely with the exception of the service at night), a cruise for a week, and most recently at the beacn for a week.

I should just let it go, but I am so angry.  I can't believe Brian would even bring this up to me.  I have thought about this at length, and I really believe I am going to tell him how I feel.

I accept they are going to be closer to her family.  It happens.  Her mom and dad divorced quite a while ago, and she was not close to him for years.  He is a controlling SOB.  I am sure that's one reason Ginger divorced him.  So he wheedled his  way back in after the first baby, and has been throwing his money around since to pull them in.

My feelings have really been stomped on.  I am angry and hurt.  I am about ready to tell G that when we aren't able to come up anymore to care-take, we just sell it.  Krissi and all are too busy to commit to make the trip, and Brian just doesn't seem to care - unless it's to bring four other people who could end up taking 15 deer from the place.

I just don't know what's going to happen when we are gone, but then I guess I won't really care.  I need to just "let it go!"



Monday, August 18, 2014

Blinded by the light

Not really, just seemed appropriate since I have just returned from one of the many appointments with the various physicians in my stable who keep this body going!  This one was the regular eye doctor, as opposed to the retinal doctor whom I see once a month.

I guess blinded by the light is a little appropriate for two reasons.  One, she uses that awful bright spotlight at the end of the session to look at the retina, and two, I had to have my eyes dilated.  I am always "blinded by the light" for quite a while!

Tomorrow is the long awaited appointment with Dr Poison.We will see where I stand with the Ca25.27 levels.  Come on chant with me "lower, lower, lower!"  Since I am getting so good at complaining, I am going to complain about the pains in that side of my torso.  I really think it is all the scar tissues that are there from the mastectomy and reconstruction.  But it hurts, and I am really tired of pain!

As I am writing this, I was supposed to be back at the cardio doc for the reading from the Holter monitor to check for the irregular heartbeats other docs have picked up.  The monitor was supposed to be shipped to me, and it never came.  So Friday I changed that appointment since there was nothing to read,  AND since we will be leaving Thursday, I am not going to call the  office to tell  them it never came.  I will wait until our return.  Besides I really am not looking to wearing one of those with its five leads for 24 hours. 

Today's appointment was for 8 am, and of course since rt was Sunday night, I couldn't fall asleep.  This is a strange phenomen that occurs most Sunday nights.  I don't sleep in on Sunday - in fact we are up earlier than usual for church.  I don't nap - usually I am cooking on Sunday afternoons.  And we didn't have family dinner (I was sick of cooking on Sunday afternoon - Brian and Christina had just spend a week at the beach, and Krissi and Steve didn't step up to the plate!).  But I couldn't sleep.  I had to be up at 6:30.  That smacked way too much of my teaching days!  Plus since the offie didn't call to remind me as usual, I was hoping I really did have an appointment this morning. 

When I was making the next appointment, she asked if I wanted a Monday again.  Sure.  Did I want 8am again, uh no!  I will fight for parking and if I have to pay to park in the garage.  I don't understand why the old professional building has FREE valet parking, and this one required payment to park!  But my body is no longer on a 6 - 6:30 wake-up schedule.  Never in all my working life did I become a morning person.

So this afternoon - it is time for a pedicure!  Yeah!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Oh the sports!

Karrington just turned 7.  She has now been through two water polo practices.  Amazingly, she is still enjoying it.  Perhaps she has found what she wants to do.  For the longest time, I thought she would be the cheerleader for her older siblings.  Cheer was her passion.  I really don't know if she can hold the tears off long enough to play water polo.  She IS prone to crying - a lot.

Reagan is saying he likes football.  I said he is saying because after the first practice, I was not sure.  His dad is back from his trip, and they went to practice last night.  I think you can read between those lines.  I believe today they practice with full pads, and the temperature is going to be August normal for Southeast Texas.  Hot as a pepper, and humid as a steam room.  We will see!

I have been working on getting the old Dell laptop set up for being the computer for my embroidery designs. I have to remind myself that I have accumulated these designs over a seven year time period - at least.  AND I add some each and every day.  Finding ones I like that are free has become a passion.  Addictive personality and all.

I finally had all the designs loaded on it.  Now I have to open all those zip files of the downloads I haven't addressed in a couple of years, delete all the extensions that are not my machine type, and put them into the proper folder so that I can find them!  I STILL have a long, long way to go!

Tomorrow is going to be a very  early day.  Clyde goes west of here about an hour for a very important training session.  He is going through snake training.  He will be trained to recognize snakes by sight, sound and smell.  With all the durned rattle snakes at the SSB, this is crucial training.  He was supposed to be through this last October, but cold winter descended upon us early rendering the snakes too sluggish for training.

We will have to watch this training that entails a shock collar.  All his previous trainings haven' t been adversion training.  But when I think of what a snake bite would entail this is pretty simple.  So many folks up there have lost their animals.  Regardless of them living through it or not - if treatment is sought out, there is a big vet bill with it.  We never let him go without a leash because of all the cactus, but the one time he was close to a rattler, he was trying to sniff it.  Thankfully it was during cold weather and the snake was so lethargic.  It was stretch out against the concrete retaining wall to try to get some warmth.

So early to rise tomorrow!  Have a good one.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Delightful day

Yesterday was really a great day.  And now I will proceed to bore you with my great day.

It began with what wasn't so wonderful.  I had to go to the grocery store.  I have gotten to really dislike going to the grocery.  But it was either that, or I would have to go out to cut grass and harvest grape leaves for greenery!  But I went - without a smile.

On the way I stopped to send back the "old" new camera with the cracked LCD on the back.  As I read the fine print, I may not get the $71 for it.  Well - we'll see.  The guy at the post drop was so funny.  I told him I would have to buy some clear tape because I didn't have any to cover the shipping label.  He whipped out his tape dispenser and began to cover the top of the package with clear tape.  He moved toward the cash register.  I thought he was going to charge me for sending it.  My expression remained unchanged, but my mind was thinking - "he's going to charge me for tape AND shipping."  After a bit, he put the camera in the package, and with a twinkle in the eye just said thank you.  He was clearly playing with me.  Sweet man. 

At the store, the man in produce was working hard filling the lettuce part.  It looked so pretty - all fully stocked and neat.  I told him I hated to take any out of the display because it certainly did look so pretty.  Made a big hole.  These days we eat a lot of lettuce.  Well, G said I eat a lot of lettuce, and it's true.  When I make salads for lunch, I make large ones.

I laughed as I was making my way through the aisles making sure I was checking my list and coupons.  They came on with the announcement that in two minutes they would be giving away a product to those shopping right now.  It is something that isn't on the shelves.  Hurry over to the end of aisle 12 by the meats, there is only a certain amounts of the free item.  Blah, blah, blah.

No one around me changed direction to hurry over there.  No one seemed to be paying attention.  And I have heard this announcement before.  I was unmoved.  A little curious, but not enough to run over to the end of aisle 12 by the meats.

When it was time that I got there, those five women were listening to a spiel about a cleaning product.  Same thing I saw them demonstrating the last time I heard them do this "give away."

Got home.  Unpacked the groceries.  Heated the po'boys that a greatly loved sandwich shop in the Houston area puts in some grocery stores, and settled in for the afternoon that I was looking forward to.

G was going to be leaving in a bit to take Reagan to the movies.  I. HAD. THE. AFTERNOON. TO. MYSELF!  They were going to see "Masters of the Universe" or whatever that movie is.  While I had heard great things about it, it just isn't in my genre of movies.  And if that's the case, I see no reason to spend the big bucks on it.

He was going to take the girls, but Katie wasn't really interested.  I think she was still licking her "wounds" to her pride, and it was determined that there were too many "monsters" in the movie for Karrington.  So they stayed home and baked cupcakes.  So I didn't have to babysit them either.  Not that it would have been a problem - they are easy.

I wasted devoted my afternoon to perusing my Facebook groups.  I finally weaned myself from the games, but now I have about a million machine embroidery groups I follow.  Facebook, you dastardly thing!  You really pull in all of those of us with addiction tendencies.

Even dinner was easy.  When I put my great find of a pork shoulder that was big enough for family dinner and low priced into the freezer outside - I spied a container of Creole Shrimp.  DINNER!!  Rescued the rice maker that has been put away since Simone's passing, made some rice, and we had a great dinner.  Some bolos (bread) would have been great, but we still managed to force it down.  It was so, so good.

While G was gone, I found some lessons on the digitizer I have, and printed them off.  I like to think he is the one who uses all the ink in the cartridges.  Never let him know that I sometimes print off what is close to a book!

It was a great day!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Your kids watch

Even when you do things that you may regret, they watch and model after you.

Back many years ago, Krissi went out with a couple of boys we knew very well.  I wasn't happy about them going to a Country/Western dance place that did allow under-aged kids in along with the adults.  She had a curfew of about midnight.  I think that's right - may have been a little later.

There were a couple of reasons for that curfew.  One - nothing good happens after midnight.  Two I had to be up early to play early services at a church 30 miles from home.  I needed my sleep.  When my kids were out - I didn't sleep until they were home.  That's why I always liked having the "slumber parties" right here.  I didn't mind having bodies strewn over my den floor at all!

So she and the guys were out.  Her curfew time was approaching.  Then it was past.  This was  before the proliferation of cell phones.  In fact the huge bag phones were the ones that were out.  IF you were lucky, you had a brick phone. 

When she finally arrived, I grounded her.  She plead her case that she couldn't get the guys out early, then I think the truck was blocked.  I guess I was unreasonable - but the grounding stuck.

She still remembers that.  And I am sure she is still very bitter.  But those guys knew me well.  They should have known I meant business.  To rub salt in the wound for her, I think one of the guys kidded her about the grounding.

So where am I going?  Katie had a similar problem.  She went to Galveston with about six of her friends and one's parent. They were to be back here at noon.  (Ummmm - something about that 12 o'clock time).  I couldn't take the other two so Krissi could go to work because I was at the cardiodoc. 

Krissi was really angry.  Probably if Katie had not texted her mom at 2am telling her they were once again playing with the Ouige (spelling ??) board it wouldn't have been so bad, but she did.  Don't wake your mom from a dead sleep especially when you and your dad are out of town!!!

I don't know it Katie is grounded or not.  I know they "talked" about it.  I know that Krissi knows that it really wasn't all her fault - she can't direct an adult to get a move on to get home.  But every time Krissi talks about this - she remembers when ...

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Musings for the day

Since I don't post comments to my own page, I am wondering if it's Blogger or the individual who has changed the way you post comments.  On a couple of pages, I have made at least two attempts to post a comment.  On one - I just gave up.  It may or may not be well known, but I do have two Gmail accounts.  If I am in the "wrong"one the signature on the comment is different.  Imagine that.

That in itself will cause a problem when trying to post a comment because I want to change it.  What is happening is that I write my comment, go to publish, I choose my account, then my comment is gone - vanished.  So if I am not commenting - sorry.  I guess I will have to see if my blog does the same thing to folks.

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Went to the cardio doc.  Told him about my problems with other doctors telling me I had an irregular heart beat.  Even at the hospital when I had the colonoscopy.  I was afraid they wouldn't do the procedure, and after I had done the prep I would have been really upset.  So now I get to wear a Holter Monitor for a day.  At least when it gets here.  The one they had at the office didn't have any leads on it.  AND I get to go back next week for the results.  Couldn't they just mail them or phone me???  Parking there is a nightmare, and this appointment is for 11 am.  Uh, and AFTER my 8 am appointment with the opthalamologist.  My grand total of appointments for next week is standing at 3 right now.
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I wanted to sign up for the Patient Portal they have.  There must be 14 million trying to do the same thing.  I would type in two letters for something and it would take one, if I were lucky.  Then I got completely dumped.  So I guess I will have to start over with another phone call for a "temporary" id number.  Geesh.

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Really need to go to the grocery store.  We have no lettuce, tomato, or anything else for salads which we are now eating at lunch especially.  No fresh veggies which are becoming a huge part of our meals.  I just really don't want to venture out.  Been out once.  That should be enough.  I am a hermit after all.

So I will now take all my whining and try to adjust my attitude.  Have a great day.

Monday, August 11, 2014

All the news that is news today,

And gosh I am tired!

Guess who had Krissi's younger two.  Me!  They were great until almost lunch.  Then Karrington got bored and constantly asked when we were going to have lunch.  They thought, I'm sure, that I was going to take them out to lunch.

But grandma had other ideas.  I had frankfurters (I am making a real effort to use that term rather than wieners - because of the giggling from the peanut gallery) and buns.  So we would have hot dogs.  Then I asked what they wanted on their hot dogs.  The first answer was chili.  I didn't offer chili dogs!  Then it was ketchup and cheese.  Fortunately I had some ketchup.  I thought Reagan was out of having to eat ketchup.  The cheese was frozen.  But they got it.

They were good until the energy that kids have hit - in abundance.  Then they got really tired of all of  each other.  So the fighting began.  After I got that quelled, the running around began.  If Karrington had not had on such a cute (and expensive) dress - they would have been outside running. 

Finally mom got here and saved me!

I tried going back to the digitizer today.   I forgot how to do it.  Back to the drawing board.

My new, used (refurbished) camera arrived.  I really hate getting a new camera.  I hate putting that strap on it.  My manual dexterity has flown out the window.  I forget how it winds over itself and back.

But I really thought it hadn't been packed.  I was ready to take the one off the camera I am sending in.  But I found the new one.  Now if I can get it put on I will be a happy camper.

So another day.  Tomorrow early rising to get to the cardio doc.  Sweet man.  Waste of time.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

The celebrations roll on and other musings

Yep - more celebrations last night.  Since the swimmers were in California for Karrington's and my birthdays, we gathered as a family last night to celebrate those two.  I used my birthday present from G and roasted two pork loins. I had a total of 8 pounds of meat in that cooker.  I decided to use the stream bake because I really wasn't sure how it would handle that much meat.  When you are cooking for 12 it takes a lot of food.  The roasts were done in about 90 minutes - just like a real oven.  AND it didn't heat up the house.  Of course, I foolishly allotted something like 2+ hours.  But there is a "buffet" mode which kept the roasts nicely warm, and the steam cooking meant they were moist.  Success.

Today is our 46th anniversary.  I swear there are times I wonder if we will make 47, and marvel that we made 46.  It certainly hasn't been smooth sailing.

Then tomorrow we will have another (contrived) celebration.  We will have had Clyde for one year.  He has settled in quite nicely, and he is really a good dog.  That's even with his new learned behavior that makes us believe he really must go out to relieve himself.  That's a chore on these days of the heat index being well over 100.  Needless to say, when he just sniffs the air, we become a bit perturbed with the little fella.

Today will be quite nice in that I don't have to clean house for "guests" nor do I have to prepare a meal for a crowd.  Possibly we will head over to Krissi's for dinner - or not.  G probably won't want to go.  He gets that way, and it seems all the programs we like on TV are on Sunday night.  With those like "True Blood" we can't share them with the grands.  In a way, I think I might like to stay home anyway.

Tomorrow I will watch Karrington and Reagan.  Katie is at the beach with some friends and one of the girl's parents.  They won't be home until Tuesday about noon, and Steve has to fly to Denver.  So I get them.  I was hoping G would take them to "Masters of the Universe" (or whatever it is).  But he's talking Tuesday or Wednesday.  We'll see.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.


Saturday, August 09, 2014

Learned a lot

I got the second design digitized properly yesterday.  It stitched out really well - once I quit fiddling with the hoop which caused the design to shift a little - but not much.  I was able to fix those little stray stitches.  But generally I am pleased with the outcome.  Now I will go back to re-digitize the other design that I like so much better.  We will see what Christina thinks.

I will post a picture (after much weeping and gnashing of teeth).  That's because for some reason this computer just doesn't like to download some things.  A lot of embroidery designs (even though they were free) were lost because they didn't download.  I think my anti-virus/firewall programs are fighting, and my downloads are paying the price.  So I had to turn them off and download the picture.  I wasn't too afraid of doing that because it was my own file so I knew there were no little trojans or other things attached.

So here it is - needs to be pressed, but ...  Here it is hot off the machine and just freed from the hoop!



Friday, August 08, 2014

Rats

I thought I was being so smart!  Well - you know what happens when you get that attitude, and yes it happened.

I have two digitizing programs for machine embroidery designs.  One is fairly inexpensive, and the other is horribly expensive.   One I used successfully this year and it worked beautifully although it was such a dense design - way too many stitches.  The other has always overwhelmed me.  The one I used was the less expensive - of course.

Christina and her friend are really getting into this gourmet kettle corn stuff.  I do aprons, so I thought it would be really great to surprise her with aprons that were embroidered with their logo. 

Yeah.

I used the less expensive program.  This time, there were a lot of stitches that should have been there.  Not good at all.  I didn't even put it on the machine.  So I got the big program.  I digitized one form of the logo.  It looked really good on the screen.  I took it up, loaded it, did a brief trial by stitching portions of the design.  All looked good.

So instead of doing the whole thing (and I should know better) I did the apron.   There were still portions missing.  When I tried the old tried and true way of filling in - using a permanent marker - the fabric absorbed the ink and it spread.  Ugly. 

I returned to the computer and then could see why.  There are little bits of colors that couldn't be picked up.  So I fiddled with it, but couldn't fill those in.  I KNOW there is a way, but... 

I took the other logo and worked on it.  Last night it looked really great.  This morning I reloaded it on the computer and it looks weak.  I think there are colors there that don't show up.  I am going to do a trial to see what it really looks like, and if it is thick enough I will then put it on an apron.

So how was your day?

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Venturing into something new

I have spent the last week or so trying to find a place that would even consider repairing the LCD screen on my new Olympus.  It isn't an expensive or complicated camera.  It is a nice "point and shoot."  Some of the repair facilities were really curt in their answers.

Plus, I do not venture into Houston these days unless it is a real emergency.  Our freeway is under MAJOR construction - like adding two lanes in each direction and that is causing them to move the access roads out.  What. A. Mess.  Lanes are being changed all the time, and some are so narrow they seem better suited to bicycles than cars.  So most of the camera repair places are - you guessed it - in Houston.  Almost downtown.  Not for me.  Nope.

So I found one place on line that advertises they replace the LCD on even this camera.  Yipee!  No travel to downtown.  So, and here's the glich, I emailed for a quote.  I only paid about $140 for this camera, I don't want to sign a blank check for repairs that may be almost (or more) than what I paid.

I sent the email on Saturday asking for a quote.  Monday morning there was a response in my email asking the make and model.  I provided that information.  And that was the end of all communication.

That was the end of that idea for me.  I could see shipping the camera off, paying big bucks for repair that would take a year.  Nope.  Not something I am going to do.  People working for these companies need to realize that they are the representatives of the company we want to do business with.  This incident didn't inspire confidence in me.

So last night I decided I would look at my fav spot.  I went on Amazon to see what they had.  That's where I came across my new idea.  I can trade in the old camera; I just had to be honest about its condition.  The lens is perfect, the body is perfect.  It's just the LCD. 

I also found a refurbished camera like this one.  Good price.  It was refurbished by Olympus.  I think this is probably where the old one is going after I send it in.  Anyway - I get about $70 for the camera, and the new one, since it is refurbished (with a guarantee) is about $130. 

I think I will at least break even.  I don't pay for repairs.  And more importantly, I don't have to drive anywhere near downtown Houston.  Yea.  Win/win I hope.

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Shopping and lunch with Karrington went well.  She knew she wanted to go to Tar*et.  Great.  I asked about lunch.  No problem.  Steak and S*ake. OK.  We got into the store, and I think she knew all along what she wanted.  I asked if she wanted clothes.  Nope - she had a greater wardrobe that three normal little girls.  Did she want toys.  YES. 

We got to the toy department, and she hesitated.  I told her "this is your world - go for it!"  There was another grandmother there who gave me a knowing  smile.  I told her that I sometime question my sanity when I take grandchildren shopping.  She agreed.

After cruizing the isles three times, we ended up back on a panda that I think moves.  I really didn't look too closely because I knew Krissi would groan.  Another stuffed animal!  But she knows that if I take them shopping, if they want it, and it is in the budget that is in my mind, that's what they get.

So Karrington's zoo had a new addition!

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Should be an interesting day

With all the activities of summer grinding down, the day has come for me to take Karrington for her birthday shopping and lunch.  She can be a little spit-fire - jazzed to the max, and just as quickly become moody.  When they came in Monday morning, the rest of the family was dragging.  Not Karrington.  She was a ball of fire - bouncing off the walls.  Apparently SHE slept on the plane - head in Katie's lap, feet in Reagan's.

But today I take her out.  I asked Krissi this morning where she thought Karrington wanted to shop.  She didn't know, but said probably Ta*get.  I hope so.  I am afraid she will say Wally World, and I will have to tell her I don't go there.  I am, quite honestly, afraid of all those stores in this area.  There have been so many crimes in their parking lots it's unbelievable.  These range from simple thefts to kidnappings.  So....

Wherever we go, I really hope she can choose her gift fairly quickly.  This week has been a bad one for my arthritis.  I have had a really hard time preparing dinner this week because my back hurts so much I can hardly stand.   Walking and standing (especially) is really tough.

I have been using my birthday present that came on Saturday.  It is (and really this is the name) a Ninja cooking system.  What that means is it is a jazzed up crock pot.  It will brown in the device, so it has a "cook top" feature.  It will cook like a small oven - which is great because we are eating a lot of baked chicken and fish (post Gout diagnosis), it will be a steam cooker with the oven setting, and it will be a regular crock pot - but you don't have to brown on the stove and then put the food in the crock pot.  I love it.  I did a whole chicken night before last in the steam oven setting, and it was cooked in a little over an hour.  Last night was fish.  It doesn't heat up the entire kitchen, and here is Swampland that is really important!

Today I am going to try to stitch out a design I made for Christina (daughter in law).  She and her mom's sometime boyfriend (and long time friend when he's not the other) have started a business of making and selling kettle corn.  They will be doing several shows in the area, and in fact already made a batch for a baby shower.  Bill has had several businesses that go to craft shows, and he has been successful at them, so I know they will do well - until Christina gets tired of it all.  She has found it is a lot of work.

I got their logo off Facebook yesterday and I digitized it using an easy program, but it looks like there were a lot of skipped stitches.  I have another very expensive program that I really don't know how to use, but I guess I will give it a try if the one I have doesn't do well on a trial piece of muslin.  But I would like to make them aprons to wear at the shows. 

So that's my day!

Monday, August 04, 2014

Really is six degrees of separation - or less!

Katie had become close friends with another girl on her team.  They had done the competitive swim club things together and now are doing water polo.  The girl spends the winter in Singapore, where her dad works.  She is back in the NW Houston area in the summers.

She was talking about her grandparents once lived in our little city - Jersey Village.  The girls thought nothing of it.  When Krissi heard this fact AND the last name of the girl, I bright light went off in her head.

When they were moving back from San Antonio, and Katie was only a few months old, the house they were trying to buy fell through.   The owner had divorced, remarried and had a young son.  You know how that story goes.  Well he was separated at this time, and he was in a hospital in Canada.  The reason he was there was that when he was putting up Christmas lights at some time, he fell from the second story - ON HIS HEAD.  Thus he was deemed incompetent to sigh legal papers, AND it was nearing closing (the next day) that the presence of this little boy - a legal heir was discovered.  No. Clear. Title.

They began looking immediately, and found the house they are in now.  It wasn't as nice as the first house, and now I know why such a large house was such a deal.  But this house was OK.  They could be happy there.  The man was rather a jerk.  The offer was for full price, but he balked when he was asked to pay for a $400 insurance on all the appliances - the home warranty thing.  The house is the same age as ours, so then it was over 25 years.  I couldn't believe he was willing for the deal to go south over a home warranty item.  But when I was in real estate - I had one that almost died because of a shower head - at closing!

So when Krissi heard the other girls last name she was absolutely shocked. You probably see where this is going - she is the granddaughter of the owners that Krissi and Steve bought from! 

Wow!

Kinda sad

Well, the Pigeon Viper (don't ask me!) girls, Gold 14 u didn't get into the finals.  They lost the two games that would have put them there, but they did come out 5th in the Junior Olympic Water Polo competetion.  Still proud for kids who come from an area where water polo is just being discovered.

I shouldn't really be surprised at some of the things that happened though.  Seems like some of the California teams (mostly) were quite rude to the girls and their parents.  I am not really surprised because this is one of those sports where the parents pay A LOT of money for their kids to compete.  Therefore, you sometimes get the asses that go along with this type of thing - you know what used to be Little League parents.  That has translated into other sports.

I still would say it was a successful outing though.  So far I have only gotten a hug from Katie (Karrington was bouncing off the walls, and Reagan fell fast asleep on the couch.  Steve thought their tickets were for 12:30 PM , but their flight from San Francisco was 12:30 AM!  G went to the airport at 7 (they waited a half hour), and I went to the local kolache/donut shop so they would have something to eat before they all crashed for a bit!

But all are looking forward to next year!

Saturday, August 02, 2014

OMG!

Just got the notice (via Facebook of course).  Katie's team is basically two games away from a gold medal!  They play today, and the winner of that game plays for the medal. 

Oh, how I wish I were there!!
Here she is - sitting on the floor of their vacation apartment - hair a little dry from the chlorine!  Good luck, Baby!

Friday, August 01, 2014

Ah - weekend,. like it's really different.

But I guess it is different because it means I will have to be chief chef.  But that's ok - I will only be cooking for 4 (and three non-eating kiddos).  The others will not be back from California yet.  I will post some pictures taken from Facebook about them (Katie) at the end.

My beautiful flowers are fading, but those lillies are still opening.  The whole thing is thin, but still sort of pretty!

G's birthday present for me arrived today.  It is a Ninja cooking system.  It looks like a slow cooker, but browns, bakes and does the usual slow cooker stuff.  It is really neat.   And with all the chicken and fish I have been doing in the oven that is a great thing.  Our summer has been unusually mild, but it has been trying to get to 100. I am sure it will happen before fall!  Really looking forward to using it!

OK - now PICTURES!!  I guess I am worse than showing vacation pictures to a captive audience.  And it isnt even my vacation.  Just my Katie!!
The whole family taking a side trip.  Selfies really distort!

Katie is the one on the right.  This is after a game  - and right now it seems they are 4 wins and 2 losses

G and I disagree, but I believe Katie is the 4 th from the left. 

A little pep talk before the game. 
So have a great weekend if I don't come back this weekend to strain your eyes with my stuff!