Winding down

This year Christmas time has been a flurry of activities.  It is beginning to wind down, and will wind down a lot next week when I am whisked off to the SSB - the absolute stillness there.

The activities began with Krissi's birthday dinner.  I am still thinking of that buffalo tenderloin steak.  It was so good, and I was surprised at the tenderness of that thing. After all - buffalo??

So the whole family (adults) were together for that.  Then it was decided we would have family dinner on Sunday.  Gosh Friday, then Sunday.  G wanted to go to church on Christmas Eve, so that was planned. Steve said he would do dinner on Christmas Eve, and presents family-wide would be opened then.

When we got to church and parked, there was a black truck that was backing into the space next to us.  I was thinking it looked like my son's.  As they got even with us, Christina rolled down her window with the biggest grin.  What a surprise.  The other family went to the 3 pm service that was more for kids.  They didn't realize it was for LITTLE kids.  Too bad they didn't wait for the 5 pm.  But I don't know that we could have found seating for 12!

Christmas morning is traditional for us to go to Krissi's for the kids opening their presents and breakfast.  Mr Scrouge announced on Christmas Eve he wasn't going and didn't care about breakfast.  That sent the youngest of their kids (Karrington) into a tizzy.  She always has a bit of the drama queen in her, but she was tired and it upset her that tradition wasn't going to continue.

Since the kids are older, I (foolishly) expected them to sleep in.  But at 7:30 I got the call.  I hurriedly dressed to go.  Didn't bother to wake Grumpy.  It was good.  Presents were ripped open in a matter of minutes.  We had breakfast and I went home.  We were going to my DIL's mother's house for lunch/dinner at 2.  That is another tradition.  It is nice to see Ginger.  She is a very sweet person, and I enjoy her family.  This year she included Christina's brother's wife's family (lots of possessives there!).  Lovely people.

Being with the kids all these  times had my head spinning.  We have gotten away from this much family time.  But who is complaining.  Not me!

In the meantime, I was anxiously awaiting the delivery of a package for G.  His computer is old and slow.  It is running XP as an operating system, and it just won't download things as it should.  SO I found one on my favorite shopping site.  I even paid the $13 to have the shipping expedited.  That's something for me.  It is a discontinued Dell, but it will meet his needs just fine.  It was due to be delivered yesterday (Saturday).  It was supposed to be here by 12 noon.  At 11:15 I checked my email to see where it was.  It said delivered.  This was important because there have been so many deliveries stolen in this area, I surely didn't want a computer stolen.  The message said delivered at 10:50.  I went to the door, and sure enough - there it was!

I wanted to get more lights for the outside when they went on sale.  Mine were so old they didn't work.  We bought two strings when we put up the display, but they were at regular price (and expensive).  They are sparse.  Krissi and I set out for the sale on Christmas decorations.  She bought a whole lot.  I bought two little trees for the porch, and about 5 strings of lights including some ice cycles.

AND the most surprising thing - they want family dinner again tonight!  We have one dissenting vote - Mr. Scrooge, the Grump.

Tomorrow we head off to the SSB where we will spend a week.  I so badly want to stay home.  I am tired of spending a quarter of my time in the near wilderness.  Steve and Reagan are going for a few days.  Steve still hasn't gotten a deer (we eat what we kill - we all like venison, and there are SO many deer in Texas the herd seriously needs to be thinned some - not nearly enough vegetation for them).  I wish G would just go with them and leave me here.  But "that ain't gonna happen."  Bah Humbug.  Poor ending to what has been a really good holiday season.

Sooooo yummy

Back in August,  we went to one of our favorite restaurants.  It is a steak house (and one of the best) so we don't indulge too often (like IF we are lucky once a year).  But we thought that it would be fun to treat the family on Krissi's 42nd (GASP!) birthday.  So we made reservations for the six of us.  Love the grands, but three wouldn't eat anything there, and the other three - well let's face it this IS a great steak house.  I think you can read between the lines. It is just as well it was all adults last night because the dinner lasted two and a half hours!!  Only the nearly 15-year-old would have been able to withstand that.  But even so she had a Quinceanera to attend.  For those who are not in a Mexican infused community, this is celebrating the 15th birthday of a girl.  It marks her admission to womanhood.  It is just as fancy as a wedding - and costs as much as a wedding!

My son-in-law works for a company that makes commercial kitchen equipment.  Thus, he is expected to spend money in restaurants.  He is a VP, but these days that really doesn't necessarily mean anything, but he is.  SO last night his company provided the birthday dinner.

All of us women had something we would never have ordered had it not been for someone else picking up the check.  We had a buffalo filet with a jalapeno glace!  Talk about drop dead wonderful.

Steve also started the evening with a champagne toast.  It was delicious.  Not the cheap stuff I buy.  Then he ordered a really good wine.  We all had steaks of one kind or another. There were salads and the "complimentary" birthday dessert.  At the price of the steaks, there was nothing complimentary about anything!!!  But is was delicious.

All in all, it was a wonderful evening.  I think we all had a great time, enjoyed wonderful food, and appreciated the terrific company!

Time flies

I cannot believe my daughter has turned 42 today!  I know that's not really that old, but it seems like I just had her.  Then I got to thinking about all the milestones that we have passed.  

My dad used to tell me that time flew by as one got older.  What a sage he was.  Time is just slipping away so fast.  The grands are growing up so fast.  Things I wanted to do with them - that's over.  They don't do things like that.  They think they are grown (at least the eldest three).  Wow!

Yesterday I was really miffed.  I went to the grocery store.  Getting out of the house was a comedy of errors to begin with.  I don't carry a purse this time of year.  I have a little crossbody that I made myself where I carry the drivers license, a credit card and (of course) since I was going to the grocery) - the little card. I got all that together, was trying to get out of the door ahead of G so we didn't have to move cars, and found I forgot to put Clyde in his kennel.  

I went to the refrigertator to get his little piece hot dog (I don't say weinie anymore - the eldest grands erupt into gales of laughter) I put all the associated things I had together down.  Well in that stuff was my shopping list.  That made me rather upset with myself. I was distracted doing my shopping.  I couldn't remember what was on that blasted list, and once on the list - it is out of my mind.  Checking out, I checked cashback on the little thingy, and I certainly don't want cash back - not at those rates!  So once again, I was distracted. When I looked at my cart, I thought it looked a little skimpy.  

When I got home, I didn't unload all my bags at once.  When I began looking for all the cold stuff, I came to the realization that the roast and stew meat I purchased were NOT there.  At this time of year, after about 3 in the afternoon, I do not go back out again.  I wasn't going to fight traffic for even $25 of meat.  I would go today to rectify.

That was a fiasco!  I surf the marked down meat.  The meat I bought was from the marked down meat.  And that meat is just as good as any other by the way.  I save where I can.  Anyway, obviously MY meat was not to be found.  The butcher had no idea what to do, and to cut to the chase I ended up buying fresh meat (and a half pound more when he cut the roast) and paid an additional $16.  I really would have just preferred to have gotten my money back.  

I don't know what the moral to that story might be.  I guess not to go to the grocery by myself so that I can watch what is going on better.  Needless to say, I am not a happy camper right now.  

Today's musings

The most pressing thought is about my son and DIL.  They have lost the baby.  I am going to sound terrible here, but it is both sad and a blessing.  Any loss of a child, at any stage, is terrible.  She has had at least three miscarriages (my daughter says three, but I think more).  Brian put it well last night when he told me "it's happened before, but not this late."

She had finally told the other three kiddos, and they were going to this ultrasound with them yesterday.  But they are so young, I don't think they will fully understand what this means.  So today at 11 am she went for a DandC.  It is sad.

But at the same time, I will admit (and I will admit that it is NOT my life) that I wasn't thrilled about a new baby.   She had just begun to go back to school to become a nurse.  At the rate she was going, it was going to take a long time as it was.  She only took two classes last semester and is looking at only one this coming one.  The youngest will be 4 in February.  This means full-time school for him is just around the corner, and more serious classes could be taken.  

DIL has worked so hard on losing weight.  She is out to make additional income for the family as being a coach with this company that sells workout DVDs and nutritional supplements.  The selling could still be done, but there is always the dreaded baby weight.

I do see this as a blessing to them, but it is still sad.  I hope I don't come across as too harsh on this.  

In lighter news, my daughter's birthday is the 18th.  She doesn't know what she wants for her birthday.  I don't know what she wants for her birthday.  She, like me, buys what she wants when she wants it.  Ugh!  Gift giving gets so difficult!  

I wanted to show you the teacher's gifts.  I used my phone to take the picture, and rather than hook the phone to the computer, I emailed the picture.  So I had to finally go to that email address (not my usual) to download the picture, and so on, and so on.  But here are the hand sanitizers.  Five of them were easy-peasy.  The owl made me question my judgement!  I threw the first front part away because it was so horrible.  I loved the paisley print for them until I thought about her having two male teachers.  The paisley seemed to be too feminine, so I went back to search for other fabrics.  I came up with the brown.  I thought I had purple and I would use gold thread (school colors - purple and gold), but alas I must have gotten too organized when I "organized" the fabrics.   The owl is because one of her favorite teachers loves owls.

Quick note

And I can do a quick note thanks to my new bestie Mike!!!  Wow this thing flies.

I just wanted to help bring a little update to my friends who are like me and falling a little behind in this fast moving world of electronics and internet.

The Fire Stick is from Amazon.  It is a device that will stream video to a "smart tv" so that movies and the like can be viewed.  It required an HDMI (something else I have learned more about!!!) port on the tv - so it has to be an HD tv.  These are only about $40 at Amazon, and if you have a Prime Account there is a world of free stuff out there!!!  It is a whole new world for me anyway!

Now I am "girding my loins" to head out to Costco.  If I were in my right mind, I would NEVER venture out to a store like this at this time.  But then I live with he who is not in his right mind.  He knew we would have to be going fairly soon because we would be needing dog food, but I would not have waited until we were so close to being completely out,

Ah thus it goes around my house!!!

New and "improved"

Had the local computer guru come over today to work on my computers.  He basically pronounced the Dell as terminal, but he worked for quite a long time on this Toshiba.  Well - it at the very least will get on-line now!

While he was here, I got him to work with my Fire Stick.  I am so behind on all this stuff.  It was so easy, I am embarrassed.  It was done in three minutes.

Last Sunday was the Holiday in the Park here. It is a minor festival where snow is brought in for all these kids that reside here in Swampland. and vendors set up.   Usually I make little to no money.  This year was great!!  But when I posted the new items that I had from the show - nada.  Oh well such is life

Katie decided that some of my stuff would make great teachers' gifts, and they would.  But she asked if I had an owl in one of the things.  I didn't.  So I stupidly   gladly told her I would make a hand sanitizer holder that is an owl for that teacher.  I now have several more grey hairs.  But I managed to get that tarnated thing done along with 5 easy ones.  So I guess they went off to school this week.

And that my friends is what I have been doing.  Hopefully I will be able to access the internet more regularily now!

Thankful

That it's over, and we will be heading home on Monday.

Today we ate the last of the turkey for lunch.  This year, I bought two little frozen turkey breasts and a ham.  It was just right.  We had Thanksgiving dinner and a few more little meals, and it's gone.  No messy carcass to deal with, no worries about the roasting pan being too small.  They were just right with two exceptions.  The carcass would have made a good broth for soup, and there was no skin on the breasts.  But they were great!

The house is so quiet.  Five extra people and two more Boxers make for a lively house.  Clyde is still looking for his kids and girl friend dogs.

We had a great time.  Most of you know the family (minus me) are hunters.  We love venison.  It is not so much for the racks, although G got his first 10 point.  The eldest grandchildren hunted for the first time.  G took them out, and both were successful  Katie's was a 9 point buck and Reagan got a good sized spike.  His was most important - got it out of the breeding stock.

The weather has turned really nasty.  Up to Thanksgiving day, it was hot.  Thanksgiving was still rather hot, but rainy.  Friday was cold and rainy with the possibility of flooding, so they left on Friday,   That was probably best - otherwise the kids were going to be cabin crazy, and we would have three wet dogs most of the time.

All in all, it was a good time.  

Technology - snicker

We are here at the SSB for Thanksgiving - as usual.  I think I have mentioned that we are at the end of the earth.  Well - we are in a place that GPS doesn't want to recognize our location!

When I have a service person out - they usually end up calling to tell us they are lost. 

I decided that I wanted to upgrade our satellite TV service.  Our receiver is 13 years old, and it does have features I love, but I want to be able to record shows too.  And I wanted a second receiver.  Since there is a wireless one now, perfect.  I don't have to drill more holes in the house (and make new entrance places for vermin and dust).

The poor guy ended up in town.  That's 35 miles away. 

I gave directions.  He called again.  Gave more directions (felt like I was teaching again - you know, give directions for the activity, then give them again, and again ...).  To cut to the chase, he passed our place after getting out here.  He ended up down the private road at the hunting ranch owned by a distant cousin.

He did finally make it, but geesh!  I always hold my breath when I have a service person come out.  Even our heating/cooling people - if it is a new guy he can't find us. 

We have had to actually go out to  meet people and lead them to us.  And that is funny in a way because there are four houses around here.  It's not like we are really at the end of the earth, or are we?

Weekend

What a great weekend!  We dined on meals from around the world.  Friday night was Indian food.  We have the BEST small, family owned place in the neighborhood.  They are so patient spending lots of time with their customers making sure the food is to their liking.  Yum.

Saturday night we hadn't planned anything until the last minute.  My daughter will squeeze a penny until it screams.  She found a replacement 52" TV for the one that broke previously last week.  We have Beg, Barter, Buy, Sell computer sites around here.  The TV that quit working was purchased from one.  Anyway - she found another on BBBS - for $100.  Good deal I guess, but we will see how long it lasts.

To get to the point, she couldn't get the back row seats in the Tahoe to fold down, so she called me.  At least my little Highlander will happily fold its seats down!  So she suggested to pay me back for that we get Taco Cabana.

I ate such rich foods last weekend that I am still recuperating.  I discovered my old digestive system is very finicky.

Spending the time with all of them was such fun.  Saturday was packed.  They first tried to see if some kittens could be adopted from another of our friends.  It. Was. A. Disaster!  When asked if I thought it would someday work out for all the animals, my answer was simple.  No.

Then we had lunch, and headed to let Katie get her third ear piercing.  Whatever!

There is/was a little used book store that was closing.  I got two grocery bags and one large paper bag of books for $30.  I bought for the girls, but I have enough reading material to last me (probably) several years.  Couple the books with the Kindle, and I really believe I am set for life.

Surely loved the weekend!  It was all good.

Hi, I'm Grandma K, and I am a procrastinator.

There certainly should be, if there isn't, a Procrastinator Anonymous group, and I should  attend meetings daily.  There is certainly a joke hidden there!

I really haven't been putting things off.  I really have been busy.  There is so much that isn't getting done.  I think (rationalize) I am still trying to get over the trip to New England that bloomed with the follow up to the trip to Mason.  There was a mountain of laundry to do and many small details to catch up on.

The real truth here is that I don't know where the time has flown.  Days seem like they are just hours long, and it seels that someone is fooling with the calendar steeling days from it.

I still haven't gotten the book from the San Francisco book ready to be printed, and the photos from New England still need editing.  I bought a new Photoshop (because the discs from the previous program have suddenly disappeared), and it is so time consuming. 

All excuses - I know.  This blog has become the very last thing on the "to do list."   I am finding myself falling into the trap of so many other bloggers - the evil, time eating Facebook.  That application is as addicting as crack - I think.  Never having tried crack, I can only imagine.

There is some news  around these parts.  News that doesn't thrill me and threatened to disrupt family cohesiveness.  I am accepting it, but I still don't like it.  There will be more on this later.  It isn't something to be shared at this point because things may change.  Now that's pretty vague, isn't it?

This weekend I am here alone.  I have so many want-to-do items on my list that I will never get to them all.  Frankly, I am enjoying the peace and quiet with no pressures, etc.  I would say that, but almost as soon as  G got to the ranch, he called me with the news that the TV didn't work.  To cut to the chase he didn't turn on the power strip. But, of course, I was called to fix it from 250 miles away.  I am so glad SIL got there right after he had made an idiot of himself calling Customer Support!

This should become a "girls weekend" like we used to do.  That means all the things I was dreaming about accomplishing will disappear, but I am just so thankful my girls (daughter and two grands) want to include me in their adventures this weekend.

Busy, busy

We have been gone - again.  This time we became "leaf peepers."  We took trains to the Northeast.  We left here, went to New Orleans (for the night for our connection).  Then it was Wilmington, Delaware, Burlington, Vermont, Quebec, back to Springfield, Massachusetts then home.

This was a `12 day trip.  I really have to say that while our color is much later, our trees are really just as pretty in the fall.  I was prepared for temperatures in the 30's, but our last day - in Springfield - the low that morning was 19!!!  On the trip from Burlington to Springfield we saw LOTS of snow in Vermont.  They were even clearing roads.

Both animals are freaky from their stay - their "camp" experience.  Shadow was wild while there, and he hasn't left my side unless I have left the house.  Clyde is his usual exhausted dog, but he is like this even when we go to the ranch.  Any change in the routine just wears him out.  He finally ate this afternoon. 

I have a mountain of laundry to do.  I got better with my packing this time.  The only extra things I brought home were one blouse and night clothes and underwear.  I won't go into reasons for those (other than the blouse) being extra.  If you are over 60, you may understand.  Think I will be talking to my doctor about a little bladder lift soon.

But all is well.  G did have us scheduled to leave for the ranch tomorrow.  Gasp.  At least he put it off until Monday.  I keep hoping there will still be flooding in the Hill Country (not to wish anyone any problems, but ...).  But he also said that if we don't go on Monday, then we won't be home before Halloween.  I don't like leaving this house on Halloween.  Nothing has ever happened, but I don't want it to.

So that it where I am.  I haven't downloaded pictures yet.  I did buy a new edition of Photoshop.  I don't have any photo editing on my computers any more.  Don't know where it went, but I have one now.

I will check in later!

Short dishwasher update

Cross your fingers!  The guy came out on Monday, just as I requested on email.  He replaced both controllers and both heating elements.  As he was doing a final run of the machine, he decided the top drawer was making a noise.  My heart sank.  More time with no dishwasher.  I was in luck - he had the plastic (gasp) parts that are with that drawer (it will take more time to explain what they do than I want to spend here).

Anyway - it works - at least each drawer individually.  It's quiet.  He does clean so nicely.  BUT I haven't had a chance to run both drawers at the same time.

I don't think we will really love this machine.  It is small really.  My dinner plates are too big to fit the way they are supposed to, but apparently this is a problem for all people.  The tech showed me what to do - turn the plates around.  I did - and it works,

Guess I will contact Discover and allow payment to go through in a couple of days.

This and that and pictures

Here I sit waiting for the repairman of the lemon dishwasher.  I am really hoping he DOESN'T have the controller is able to fix it.  I don't like it.  It won't hold all the dishes I want it to hold, and from reading various reviews, it will break again.  And we will begin all this over again.  I want this thing gone.

But to more fun things.  This past week was our high school's homecoming.  Katie was kept busy with all the different "days" they had as spirit days. 

Saturday was the dance, but the water polo team had two games.  The coach managed to get them at 12 and 12:40 so they could get back home to primp.  Those were some tired girls however.  The whole team didn't show, so they only had one sub.  Basically they were all in the water an hour and a half or more playing really strenuous games.

This is their "float" for the homecoming parade.  Katie is second from left.  Her first homecoming parade.

The girls (and Som Choi) getting ready to leave.  Don't know what the hands represent, but the girl sitting graduated last year, and did their hair this year.  (Strange homecoming - only present students attend)

Just for good measure, this is my 11 year old grandson.  Yes, he IS a big boy - probably the biggest on the field.  He is playing the sport HE like - not the baseball his dad pushes,.

 

 

The other four grands, while each being cute as can be didn't have something special going on.  The youngest girl has a birthday/birthday party next week.  Sooooooo.

And the beat goes on

Remember the new dishwasher.  That supposed top line, whiz bang thing.  Well it STILL has washed 4 plates, a pot and assorted glass and silverware.  That's it.  Only now it won't drain the water that resides in both drawers.

The technician came out on the 11th (perhaps that's what was bad).  Stayed for over two hours.  Took the control devices from the drawers saying it hoped they would be over nighted. They. Were. Not.

So on the 15th I sent a complaint to what they laughingly refer to as Customer Service.  The response from them was to send them the serial number and a copy of the sales invoice.  Of course, we weren't home and I didn't have access to a scanner and especially those requested items.

I sent those back to them three days ago.  Nothing.

Two days ago, I filed a dispute with Discover (it pays to use Discover on items like this).  So I have a temporary credit for this bill.  IF the piece of junk worked, I would pay for it.  Since when I called the dealer he dismissed me with the referral to the company, perhaps this will get his attention.  I don't feel I owe him anything more.  He was aware I had used the thing one day.  This action may take about 30 days for it to come to completion.

Today I used their on-line request for service.  Wanna take bets on what will happen????

"Snake-bit"'

That is a saying here in Texas.  I'm not sure any other area uses it, but it is quite descriptive.  And it makes sense since we do have so many poisonous snakes around here.

Anyway, that's how I am feeling just about now.  And here goes with another moan/groan post.

We had a very nice dishwasher that was about 15 years old, but worked well.  But it had a design flaw.  The handle.  It was plastic connected to metal.  There was quite a force exerted on that handle when you pulled it to open the door of the dishwasher.

One of our hunters has become our appliance repair.  That is his business, but we didn't use him before because he is located on the other side of Houston.  He assured us that it didn't matter.  He didn't mind the travel.

So we called him to repair the dishwasher at least twice.  The last time, he said he didn't think he could fix it again.  Of course the parts were discontinued!  He spent quite a bit of time fashioning a "fix."

So the Lord and Master around this house gave the edict that it was time for a new model.  I cringed a bit because I really hate getting rid of something that does what it was meant to do.  Of course, you risked fingers to open the thing to get it to do its job!

I researched and researched.  We looked at some at Costco.  Then I went to the internet.  G called our hunter/friend/repair person.  I narrowed the search to one I liked.  We decided we didn't want to use a big box store because my daughter, who will make pennies scream before she lets them go, has had problems with delivery AND installation.  I don't want to put up with that.  Those stores used to provide great service - all at once.  Now it is a delivery service and THEN an installation service. She has found on several occasions that when installation gets there, they find damage from delivery.  Then the whole things begins over again.  Nope.  Not for me,

SO we went to the appliance store we have been visiting for over 25 years.  I knew I would pay more, and I knew I would pay for delivery/installation.  But I like to support a "local" business.

When we got there, we looked at the model I had chosen.  Then he showed me a two drawer model.  Hey - there is only the two of us most of the time.  We could get by with a smaller unit that has the flexibility to get larger - the second drawer.

I have given up fighting the appliance color wars a long time ago.  I have gone through the Harvest Gold, the Avocado - not it's stainless which I think will be around a long time, but it's more expensive.  So we wanted white - which had to be ordered.

The new (what I thought top of the line) machine was delivered on Tuesday.  And installed by the same guy (who has installed my cook top, oven, vent hood).  I loaded it Tuesday night and ran it.  Beautiful.  The dishes were so clean.  I was delighted, and the pain of spending more than I thought was lessened a bit.

Wednesday night we decided we would use BOTH drawers to make sure they worked.  Well they didn't.   The error message then was a leak had been detected.  

I called the store.  He gave me the repair number for the maker.  I already felt  neglected by the store.  I called the number.  I also knew that this is an international company, but I really didn't expect a 30 (!!!) minute wait for someone to send someone out.  But they did finally answer, and scheduled me for the next day (Friday).

The service man actually came out early.  I must say he is a great ambassador for the company.  He talked about his experience with these machines, and really praised them.  Of course, he had NEVER seen our problem before - both heating elements are bad,  He was here well over an hour.

The parts (of course) have to be ordered.  So Monday will be the EARLIEST for them.  

Right now we are eating as much left overs as we can on disposables to keep dishes at a minimum.  This  morning was an unusual treat (that I love) - we went out for breakfast!

Feeling "snake-bit?"  Simple answer - yes. 

Happy Labor Day

But to me day could be the Labor Day holiday!  And I love it.  Can't understand why people bemoan retiring.  I. Love. It.  It WOULD be nicer if I were younger to enjoy it more!

I hesitate to say that I have "fair to middlin" internet service these days.  The little guy from ATT came out and put us on a sort of back channel where there aren't many others with the hopes of increasing speed.  It is kind of like being at the end of a line where not much of anything gets there.

We had to make a quick (and I mean QUICK) trip to the SSB.  We were finally scheduled for September 4 to get the internet upgraded.  On the second, we got a call right about noon asking if we could be there on the third since there was an installer in the area.  Fortunately it was before 1:00, so we hurriedly threw what we needed for a few days together and left.

We were there until Saturday.  Normally we don't travel at all on Labor Day weekend, but this was important.  Shadow got to stay home, and Clyde was buckled in.  He had his food there awaiting our arrival a day later.

So far that service seems good.  I was on for several hours after the (poor) guy left.  I get 10 Gs a month, and all the time I was on didn't even use 1 G.  Hopefully it will support the mob that will be there Thanksgiving.

I say "poor guy" because we are so far away from his home.  The company is around Waco (general area).  After he left us, he had to go to Abilene.  He left our place after 3.  He must work LONG days.

So perhaps with my servers in place, and the modification to my laptop (paper over the built in mouse) I may be around more.

Fresh from the wars

As if having computer problems here in Jersey Village wasn't enough, we have had them at the SSB.  To refresh your memory of that place, it is at the end of the earth.  There is one family that lives past us, but they get to their place a different way - they don't pass our road at all.

We have to have satellite internet there.  Now, satellite internet is a small  step above dial up.  But it is better than none.  It went out last month.  I still believe since the dish is in reaching distance from the deck, my grands who were there (you know the WILD ones) managed to pull it even though G said he really didn't believe so.  I didn't call them last month.  This month (last week) I did call them

This is Hughes Net.  Lousy company and here's why:

They could determine that the dish was out of alignment.  The cost to have someone out to repair the positioning - $30.  This is the first company I have come across that would charge that much to repair their equipment.  I was flabbergasted.  To say the least.  So, since I had been thinking of upgrading, I asked if a technician had to come out to do that.  Why yes.  Well hey, saved a bit there.  But, alas this isn't the end of this story.

Of course the call center is in India.  They try to make it seem like it isn't.  These women must work hours to get rid of most of the accent (didn't work really), and use "English" names like Susan Smith.

I was working with one who simply couldn't find the service zip code.  I gave her the county and then the mailing one.  (We are so far from Mason that our mail comes - if we had a box -  comes from a different town in a different county),  To cut to the chase, after about 30 minutes we got to the billing address.  She put our home zip code down, and sent the installer to our house in Jersey Village.

This happened on a Sunday.  I called the Customer Service number back.  I was told they couldn't help me with this.  I had to talk to the dealer.  I was frankly pissed at this point, but called the dealer.  He told me HE couldn't help me.  Now I was beyond words.  I had to call CS back.  Again, and very snottily I  might add, they couldn't help me, call the dealer.  I was ballistic.  I  wouldn't have taken my blood pressure at that point because it would have broken the machine!

To get to what I hope is the end, the dealer who is in Conroe managed to get to the dealer that services Mason County (based in Waco??).  He was going to try to fit me in on Wednesday of last week.  I knew that wasn't going to happen.  We are just too far apart.  When asked when we would be back in Mason I told him the 16th to the 22nd.  Those were the exact dates he was on vacation - flying in fact to and from California.

We set the 4th as the installation date.  So we get to be on the road for another 11 hours to go back.  But if these guys had not gotten together to work for me, I would still be out of luck.

It is time to bring our Customer Services back to the States.  I don't think the people I spoke with realize just how BIG the country is, and especially Texas.  I have to also say that Hughes Net has no Customer Service.  I have to remain with them for a year (contract), but I will spent this year searching for another supplier of satellite internet.  I know I will never get cable internet out there.  Everything has to be satellite.  But I am going to be looking.

Today I called ATT because I am sick of the lousy internet I have with them.  I do have to say, I got service - after I had to call twice because the computer wouldn't give me a real person the first time.

By the way - have a good rest of the weekend!

Trying something different

I am going to try something new here.  I am writing this in Word and will paste it into Blogger.  For some reason even when I try to avoid the built in mouse that is located in the center of  the laptop, all the text will disappear.

So much has been going on I doubt I can remember it all, but here are some highlights.

**************************************************************

The day before Father’s Day, we were sitting at the SSB.  The grass was high and we had no working lawnmowers.  This is a problem because of the snake issue.  G was going on and on about how it seems the kids don’t care about the place and he cannot keep it up by himself.

So I intervened,   I sent both a text.  To cut to the chase, Brian (son) felt he was pushed out by Steve .  He thought  Steve was the preferred.  Got that straightened out.  Brian and family spent the next time we were there with us.  Our relationship with them has blossomed again.  Misunderstandings were straightened out.  He doesn't feel shunned and we don't feel shunned

****************************************************************

Before Krissi’s people left for Junior Olympics and Disneyland, they were at a water polo tournament.  Three kittens were located – no mom found.  Both of my kids are rescue animals.  They waited until the next day  - went back and one had died.  So they picked up the two remaining living kittens.   Krissi and family were leaving for Junior Olympics and Disneyland in a little over a week.  She got a friend to care for the kittens.  They left on Friday, and Monday night she called in in tears.  Her friend had one of the kittens at the Emergency ER.  He was fine, and two hours later limp and almost dead.  Treatment would have run $1500 with no assurance he would survive. With calls to and from California and from me to the vet then to California - the decision was made to euthanize.

The next morning, I took the remaining one to our vet.  I wanted testing for feline leukemia.  While they said he was negative, it was not absolute because he could have still had some antibodies from mom.  There was concern about his clotting factor, and his distended stomach, but he was sent home with some glucose paste to use if he seemed to become too lethargic.  Keep him warm and remember he is so fragile was it.  He thrived for two weeks.  She called me this past Saturday once again in tears.  The second one crashed.  It was euthanized 

  Saturday.  His life ended like his brothers – in the same kind of time frame.  Sad times here.  They were really so cute.  But finding kittens that are two weeks old is a total uphill fight.  Since they were both males, with their deaths so the same, and the reading I have done – I really they had a congenital bleeding problem.  Probably it was hemophilia.  Kittens with hemophilia usually die at birth.

****************************************************************

Katie’s team lost most of their games, but they simply are not as good as the California teams.  Water Polo is serious business there!  It is beginning here.

She didn’t make the Junior Varsity in volleyball at her high school (yea!), but she will be a varsity swimmer and water polo player this school year as a freshman.  That’s going to be interesting at least.

****************************************************************

The 26^th I turned 70.  Difficult birthday for me.  I now realize that contrary to my opinion,  my days are numbered on this earth.  Even after breast cancer, I thought I was invincible.  But guess not!  This birthday was really depressing.

Yesterday was our 47^th anniversary.  Can’t say we are as we were 47 years ago.  But we have made it this far.

Using Word to do this has been different – but at least I haven’t had my text completely deleted (as many times).  Now the next thing will  to see if I can get it posted!!

Still kicking

But still have the lousy internet.  That makes it difficult to do things.  One computer doesn't but up with it at all, and that is the one that is best set up for typing.  So that's one reason I haven't been here.  This computer will delete everything if I am not careful.

Plus - I consider myself a middle of the roader.  I have been reading some blogs that infuriate me, so I  have just not been rthe blogosphere  much.  Hypocritical and narrow minded people have gotten to me, so I have just stayed away..

I will try to get back.  I need a new mind set and get away from some of the bloggers about.  There are several blogs I really like, but I am finding myself on Facebook much more of the time.

One month and one day!

Wow!  No, I am not dead nor maimed.  Things have been hectic.  Computer problems.  Travel.  Family.  All these things are eating my time like crazy.  I will try to get back soon.


j

Checking in

Still here with the limited internet capability.  Hence - no pictures for all this time.

We are west of the Austin/Blanco/Wimberly areas.  We have had strong storms, but we are on such a high hill that if we even get close to flooding at the house, we all had best look for the ark.  Now we may not be able to leave the area if it were to get really bad because we have so many low water crossings between us and civilization.

My stress level is about 200%.  The storms have been strong, often with vicious lightening bolts.  I worry about losing power.  We are all electric here.  I worry about Clyde having to go out when it is pouring.  Or being taken out and NOT doing his business when we know he needs to - but he is a delicate little 75 pound thing that doesn't want to get his paws wet!

Monday Jersey Village/Houston got hammered.  JV has a history of flooding, and while we have yet to flood (knock on wood), I still worry.  It came up to the house on the street behind us the last time it flooded.  Our rental house has flooded, and I worried about our tenants.  I am not sure they still have our phone number here.  Krissi was telling me her car almost flooded being in front of her house - and it drains rapidly there, but not that night.

To top it all off, Katie and her dad were flying in to Houston as the storm was settled in there.  They had to end up landing in Austin, and after a couple of hours on the plane they were allowed off.  They ended up staying in a hotel for the remainder of the night.  Relief because Krissi was to have go to pick them up at the airport.  She couldn't get out from the reports I was getting via internet here.  I have just about used all my data on my phone!

Hopefully we will be going home tomorrow, but I am worried about that.  Right now Austin is getting hit with a severe storm - again.   The community (Cypress) just to our north at home got hammered with bad flooding this morning between 6 and 10.  

I WANT TO BE IN MY REAL HOUSE!

San Francisco/Bay Area travelog part 2

Beginning to climb just out of Denver  You can see the front of the train going up hill.

Being a South Texas girl, I am still fascinated by snow!!

Higher and higher into the Rockies

The beautiful canyons of the Colorado River

Donner Pass

 r

From above Berkeley

Our chariot around SF - especially to the Golden Gate and Saucelito area

Didn't go in -   but the Palace of Fine Arts built on the site of a World's Fair.  These columns were part of one of the exhibits I believe and were re-purposed here. 

As if you don't know!!!

and again!  Katie told me she bicycled this when they were there, and it was a little scary!

And so brings part two to an end.  Somehow a really neat picture got deleted from this group and I will put it in with the next ones.  Either Blogger,  my computer or my album didn't want to add anymore for today.  So there will be a part three.

San Francisco travelog - part 1

We left Houston and flew to Denver.  Seems like a strange way to California, right?  Well it is, but the TRAIN we wanted to take - the California Zephyr - goes from Chicago to Emeryville - which is just south of Berkeley.  We were going to stay in Berkeley.

The flight was ok, but, as usual TSA was a bit of a pain.  The airlines clearly states that any medical equipment, prescribed by a physician, does not count against your carry on.  The first TSA agent told me I couldn't have my purse, small carry on bag AND my CPAP.  I tried to tell her what it was, but she was getting upset with me.  G, who like me doesn't want to admit he is hearing deficient, was talking in my other ear. So I gave up on my point and just "handed" him the CPAP.  There are things I always carry on:  meds, a change of underwear, toiletries, and perhaps a computer.That was all in a small carry on. 





Anyway I made it through the body scanner with it going off because of my titanium knees and  also the beads (????) on my blouse. But no pat down. Never had one in Houston! Ate l unch at the airport - good salad! Waited on the plane.

Now flying with old seasoned traveler, I ask if he wanted to play the handicapped card to pre-board.  I have a placard.  We  used it when Katie, Krissi, and I went to Riverside, California for water polo.  He said that since we were first class, he didn't see the need.  (since we fly less than once a year - we splurge!)  Well - the people began lining up in boarding group one.  There must have been 50 people.  Guess who was at the very END of the line!    t's pre- boarding for me from now on!

Got to Denver and slept poorly.  Time change (ahead an hour) and no clocks in the room had the correct time.  Our train was an early one the next morning.  But all was well.  Made the train in plenty of time - $22 poorer for the cab.

So I am going to jump two days ahead here to show you what was awaiting us in Berkeley:

The living room of the Berkeley bungalow we rented for the week.

Also the living rook

Kitchen

Kitchen

Dining arrea

Sitting area in dining

View from dining/den

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 1

View from bedroom one

also view from bedroom one

Hollywood style bath - toilet tucked away at left.  Pocket doors were a pain however

utility room off bath

second bedroon

second bedroom

second bedroom - the  house was set up in a circle - the living room is to the left

garden around the front porch

the landing for the second floor where one of the owners lives and the garden again!

roses as big as salad plates

climbing miniature roses acoss the front gate and fence

We really stayed in a spa like setting.  It was great.  When we went to SF we took BART.  But I am getting ahead of myself.  See you later with part 2!  So be forewarned.`

Mystery

That's my internet connection.  For the last four days, it has only worked properly if the moon and stars were perfectly aligned, I held my mouth just right, and mostly in the afternoons - sometimes.

I know there are those who could ascertain the problem in a couple of seconds and fix it, but not me.  I have been refraining from calling ATT because I know the first step, and the one I considered myself, was to unplug the danged thing.

I have spent the time that I couldn't be on the internet trying to reload the million of so embroidery designs to this computer.  I worked on some on the train (even when I was on the one without wi-fi.  All I needed was the external hard drive and I was using my baby laptop (it is about 5 includes wide).  The external hard drive was seeming to be really wonky so I wanted to get them onto this one where I have paid for a Cloud account.  So after a couple of days, my valued designs are safe living in the cloud.

I still haven't downloaded the pictures.  I really have to do that while this feeble brain recalls what things are!  I also want to have them made into a book again.  I think this time, rather than Snapfish, I will use Costco.  Snapfish did a beautiful job, but I want to see what Costco can do.

I did the book on Alaska.  By the time I was finished I probably spent $100 and it took me hours.  It is a big, bulky scrapbook.  The one of the trip to Seattle and Glacier was from Snapfish and it is really nice (and neat!!).

My children have finally decided what we are doing tonight for Mother's Day.  There is some animosity growing there between daughter and DIL.  I know one reason it that Katie didn't get her birthday present from DIL until G's birthday April 23.  Her birthday is January 16.  And DIL has never liked SIL.  Of course SIL doesn't like DIL either.  FAMILIES!!  Just glad I get to see my son tonight.

Happy Mother's Day to you all.

Home again, home again and all that jazz

And back to Physical Therapy, mammograms, eye appointments and other various doctor appointments!

We had a great time, and I do have pictures to share - when I have time to download them to cull.  The sights on the train were absolutely fantastic.  The Rockies and Sierras were breath taking.

We spent two days in San Francisco utilizing a "hop on, hob off" tour bus.  Saw the Golden Gate on both days, Saucelito twice and the beautiful Muir Woods.  We found a park above Berkeley (where we stayed in a fantastic bungalow) that had breath taking views.  Drove Highway 1 (the coastal highway), and went to a National Park - the Pinnacles that was so inspiring.

Of course there were downsides to it all.  Looking for elevators in the BART stations.   I have just enough vertigo that I am afraid of escalators - so it was stairs much of the time.  I know I really irritated those commuters who were in a big hurry.
he
The last leg of the train trip back to Denver wasn't great (still pretty good though).  I AM an advocate for good treatment of the handicapped.  I am pretty close to being one.  But an intellectual handicapped woman got on the train in Salt Lake City - which was in the middle of the night.  She  probably has a minimal physical handicap - clearly no worse than mine.  I will talk about her later.

This is it for today.  Had the mammogram this morning, and this afternoon is my eye injection.  So if the computers and modem decide to be nice and cooperate unlike yesterday afternoon, I will be back at some point tomorrow.

Late

I am alive.  Getting ready for the trip to Francisco tomorrow.  ATT internet service stinks.  Thought the satellite was bad - NO.  Haven't been able to use most of the internet (this include) for   a week.  Don't have time for repair either!

Try communicate while gone if possible.

Horrible disease

I just learned from Facebook one of my friends - not really close, a fellow member of the little failing church.

She and her fiance joined about three years ago.  They came pretty regularly.  A darling early middle aged couple I believe.  I am not sure with ages.  Then at the beginning of the year three years ago, they got married.  It was a beautiful service, but it was after they had married at a Justice of the Peace.

The wedding was for family and very close friends, but they posted pictures for all of the rest of us to see.  There were two weddings because, you see, she had been diagnosed with ALS.

It all began with her right leg being very week and not working the way it should have.  Their future wasn't as sure as it had been.  So there was the first wedding. They were making sure they would be married.

Her goal for the wedding was to not use her cane.  She did it!  She walked down the aisle in her beautiful gown - without the cane.

In the ensuing year, they traveled as much as they could.  Alaska was one of the trips they took.  They were so much in love.  They radiated love.

As time has gone on, she was not able to attend church.  The last time I saw her, she was in a wheelchair - a motorized wheelchair to enable her any mobility.  But they were still so obviously in love.  It radiated from them,  

Her strength kept diminishing.  She was totally homebound in the chair, and no ability to move much of anything.

Yesterday morning, she died in her sleep.  This terrible disease has taken another beautiful, loving, productive person.  This is the second I have known pretty well.  One a distant relative and now this one.  I know there are several diseases that appear to have no cure.  We have lost ones we love to pancreatic cancer.  These diseases seem to not have a cure.  They progress rapidly and always end the same.

So Jamie - you are finally released from a body that no longer does what it was supposed to do.  You leave so many behind who loved you.

Busy Easter

Usually, we don't go to church on Easter Sunday.  We did when we were going to the other church because there would be perhaps 75 people there, but in our "new/old" church folks come out of the woodwork.  I used to laugh that I was glad to be organist - at least I had a seat.  It's true that the C(Christmas) and E (Easter) members show up for these services.

It was crowded, but there were plenty of seats for all.  That was good.

There were lots of activities going on.  The high school youth had their traditional pancake breakfast for a fund raiser.  They will be heading to Detroit later for a national youth gathering later.  There was an interactive ativity for the littles in the school part.  Lots going on.

Never heard from son.  Not a call.  Not a text - nothing.  Rather disappointing.

Getting things together for the SSB.  That means to PT for over a week, but the therapist is really happy with the way things are going.  But I am ready for it to be over.  I am tired of giving up an hour and a half in the middle of the day.

Hope your Holy days were great.

Here we go again

Literally.  Thursday we will be going to the SSB.  It seems we just got back.  Geesh.  Of course, the end of the month is the trip to San Francisco - that I am really beginning to worry about.

PT is doing me such good.  I am feeling better than I have felt in a long time.  The back still will scream some while walking, but it is so much better.  But everyone who has been to SF tells me that it seems like everything is uphill - both ways!!  I know there is a lot of walking involved in this trip.  The place G booked for us to stay is (as he puts it) ONLY (that's me) five blocks from the transit station.  FIVE BLOCKS???  Right now, I don't even walk the ONE block around our house.

Not looking forward to the SSB.  I am still sniffling.  It seems something new is blooming, and I am sneezing and nose running.  This is an important trip I guess.  Our hunter, Andy, will be there and PERHAPS we can get the riding lawn mower fixed to that G doesn't have to use the push mower mowing the acre about the house.  If nothing else, Andy has a rider there too and said he will show G how to use it.

So I guess I better "suck it up" and try to enjoy going.  From all reports the wildflowers are jaw dropping beautiful - especially the bluebonnets.  Have to look at the bright side.

Have a great Easter if that's your thing.  Or just enjoy what I hope is a beautiful weekend.

A quick funny little post

Before I head out for today's appointment.  This week has been full once again.

Monday when I was paying after Physical Therapy, I was going to put my cross-body purse on.  It is heavy because I guess I don't have the philosophy for the cross bodies - I carry all my junk in it.

As I was pulling it over my head, I got snagged on my wig, and horror of horrors - that wig came off.  I don't know how many therapistspatients saw but fortunately the office women didn't see a thing.

I was horrified!  At least for a couple of minutes until I got it back on.

That was definitely a first.  I shouldn't be to vain about the wigs.  I try to be sure that I always wear the same one to the same outings so there isn't a marked change!

For those who came back - milder day

While I am still bothered by things, I vented and let it go.  There is nothing I can do about it except look at what I do and work on me.

Doctor appointments/PT keep filling my day.  When I got back from the SSB I had a message from the cardio office.  They had made the appointment for the carotid doppler for me on Wednesday.   Surprise - I have two other appointments!  I got that one cancelled, but rescheduling is going to be difficult I know.  But I will give it a go.

I have found that I can walk better.  Yesterday for PT I had to park in the parking garage.  That entailed a lot of walking.  And I could do it without breaking into a sweat because of the pain.  In fact, I didn't have pain.  So the PT is definitely working on my back, but not my shoulders. Each time we work on them, I am in pain the next day.

I am a little upset with DIL - not enough to make an issue, but at the same time a bit put out.  They will be gone at Easter - again.  She has been good about rotating major holidays - except Easter.  Last year the excuse was that her grandmother had just passed, and they were going to the beach to be with her mom and get her mind off the death.  They are going again this year.

A few years my SIL suggested we rent a house at the beach next to or close to a house they would rent.  That way the families would have some extended time to be together and the second cousins play and get to know one another better.  DIL said she didn't like the beach.  Her actions have shown she apparently doesn't like the beach with OUR family.  She goes with her mom and also with her dad (they are divorced).  Oh well.  I just miss seeing my son.

Allergy season is alive and very well here in the Houston area.  Everything is blooming, and I am miserable.  G kept trying to tell me I had a cold (and gave it to him).  I stopped using the Flonase that I got from the pulmonary doc because it makes the glaucoma worse.  That has lasted one day.  I am miserable.  But I see the ophthalmologist on Wednesday.  That will be a primary question for her.  If not Flonase - what would she suggest.  Bet it won't be anything!!!

So today is eyeball puncture day.  Got a late appointment, and I am really worried about parking.  But G is dropping me off then going to a plant nursery for parts for the riding mower at the SSB (??? - doesn't seem to go together).  So I don't have to park.  He will afterwards!

Gets my goat.

Hypocrites.  They really get to me.  Just today on a neighborhood board I came across one.  Someone posted the question of wanting to know if there were any charities that accepted small sizes of toiletries.  This particular woman has seemed like someone who is kind-hearted and charitable.  I suggested a group in the Houston area that distributes items to the homeless.   Her response was that homeless people are homeless because they choose to be.

I responded to her that I prayed that she would never fall on hard times that made her join the ranks of the homeless.  Then I don't believe she would continue with that attitude.  Then several more commented with statements that were far more harsh.  

So she did a pm telling me that I knew nothing about her, etc.  Well, no.  I am sorry she didn't like being called out with her attitude.  And I responded just that.

Then it got me thinking.  People who claim they follow Christ are among the worst.  Her response to the question was much like so many of these "Christians."  My son included.  He doesn't recognize that bad things can happen to good people.  There are so many folks just barely making it out there, and it doesn't take much for them to become homeless.  But I could see him making the same type of statement.

It's strange how people look down on those on public assistance - that is until they find themselves there.  Then it's ok - for them but not those others.  I am special.  I deserve help.  I cannot help myself.  It just doesn't take much to find oneself in need.

G worked in the county "charity hospital."  He saw people who had bad times and ended up on welfare.  They, for the most part, didn't like it, and tried to get off as soon as possible.  Often that meant they had to work two or even more jobs.  Wasn't easy for them.

Then there are those who think they deserve what amounts to cheating - after all we are talking about large companies here.  They make plenty of money.  So what I get from them after putting in just a little of absolutely ok.  I deserve it.  This goes from accepting too much change to cheating the company out of money.  They have plenty.  Well - at the end of it all, someone does pay.  And that's the rest of us that play by the rules.

Politicians that want to cut medicare, food stamps, other medical benefits and on and on - hypocrites.  They sit there with their huge salaries, great retirement plans, Cadillac health plans.  But that isn't for the diminishing middle class, and certainly not for those who need a better salary.  Nope.  Not at all.

I realize just how fortunate I am.  While my retirement isn't great, I can live on it.  Sure - I would love an increase since I basically have the same monies that I had in 2000.  We got one small increase ($100/year) a couple of years ago, but I do have an annuity with the state.  Don't get much Social Security that I paid into (being an organist) because of it, but then that applies to a lot of government workers too.  I have a fair health insurance plan.  I have a roof over my head that is paid for.

Sorry for the rant, and if I stepped on toes, I am a little sorry.  We are supposed to treat others with the same respect that we want for ourselves.  The old WWJD bracelets always tickled me.  Those same folks would deny help to their neighbors. That isn't WJWD  (what Jesus would do).

This is just another rant here.  It hurts me to see others hurting.  I know some of those on the street corners are scams.  I realize that.  They are among those trying to get something for nothing.  There's a lot of that.  But so many of those are mentally ill people.  There are shelters for them, but honestly - when you look at those shelters, I am not sure I would want to be in one either.  Guess that's why I am so glad our Life Group at church made bags of "snack" foods that don't require refrigeration, water and socks to give to the homeless makes me happy.  

So if you leave me because of these feelings, I really will miss you.  I just had to vent my feelings though.