First train trip of the convention

We had that trip today.  It. Was. Long!  We boarded the bus to go to the train at 7:30 and as soon as we got off the bus we boarded the train.  We got back at 7pm. I. Am. Tired!

It was a great trip - being brought almost all the way back by a steam engine, but that meant that we had to travel more slowly.  The steamer is like me - slower and more fragile!

The bad (and only bad) part of the trip was lunch.  The train stopped at a park that had perhaps three benches for lunch.  There are a lot of us older folks that cannot sit on the grass.  G and I found some playground equipment at the far end of the park and I sat on a hot slide to eat.

The best part of the lunch was a man we came across.  At first I just thought it strange that he had no teeth.  Our group is definitely middle class (or some much better).  This is NOT a cheap hobby.  So I  thought it strange this guy had no teeth.

We talked about the train since they were going to do a "fly by" which means the train backs up to come by at speed for those who want pictures of that.  Anyway, we just sort of mentioned the fly by.

Later G said  - "he must be homeless."  And G had to be right!  This man managed to score himself a box lunch in the madness of getting those boxes!  I know that wasn't the "right thing" to do, but I was so glad he was able to have a meal.  I doubt many, if any others, know about this, but I was happy for this man.

He seemed to be very sweet, and when we were leaving, we looked out of the train window.  He was helping the caterer clean up the area.  Well done.  And thanks be to God.

What's the deal?

My house is almost furnished with antiques - and no not G and I.  I really love old things.  At least I did.

Last night we were in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  We were in an 80 year old hotel in a neighborhood that has seen its last days or at least better days.  I think we escaped bed bug free ... at least I hope.  The only real place to eat (without a $4 parking fee for 2 hours) was at the hotel.   It was EXPENSIVE Italian.  And they had the gall to remove the dish I wanted from the menu.

Well - we got out of there.  Tonight?  I am so glad you asked.  We are in a hotel that was built in 1905 in Eureka Springs.  I have to admit, the room is nicer.  The elevator sucks as  much as last night's, and we are once again on the fifth floor.

This place is a full out tourist area.  When we got here, we found streets that were about the width of our single driveway.  We couldn't find a place to park at the hotel, couldn't turn around due to the traffic, and played near bumper cars with a USP truck (second time after we did get a turn around place). 

We finally found the parking lot for the hotel at the bottom of the hill on another street (??!?!?!?).  We parked there, found a phone to call the hotel.  They sent a shuttle (immediately - before I could sort luggage) that brought us and our metric ton of luggage back.  They are there at our call - for a tip each way.

We will see what tomorrow brings.  We are staying here for two nights.

See ya and peace

I really don't get it

Seriously, I am verrrrrry puzzled.  It seems that no plumber repairs leaky faucets these days.  They REPLACE them -- to the tune of several hundred dollars a pop.

Now, if the little guy who is trying to get started had called me back - he very probably would have fixed my leaky kitchen faucet.  That little baby is/was about 15 years old (my, how time flies - seems like I bought it last year), and was a very good, sturdy faucet.  It developed a leak - probably from us not turning it off properly.  It was a single handle, and we would carelessly center the handle to turn it off.  Well - it was leaking unless we really paid attention to what we were doing.

I called Rich weeks ago.  He never called me back.  So I called a big outfit.  I am angry with the plumbers I usually use - but that's another story.  Anyway - we had a leaky faucet in the back yard, and the kitchen sink.  The bill for those repairs was $1600.  Yep - you read that correctly.

The faucet in the back had been "jerry-rigged" so many times, and the pipe itself was badly rusted.  I knew there would be dollar signs with that one.  But the kitchen??  Replace the whole thing?  What happened to repairing the leak?

The same thing happened when the other company was called to repair a leak in the hall bathroom.  It was a good Moen faucet.  I KNOW there is a cartridge in them that can be replaced - and the leak stops.  Nope - the whole thing was replaced.  I thought perhaps this company would be into repairs  not replacement.  I was wrong.  Jeesh!

In other money spending - Simone had her semi-annual check up.  She is well - vaccinated freshly, but she is well.  The whole staff celebrated that.  They know us well.  Very well.  She is such a sweet dog they all love her as much as I do.  The vet said he was delighted to see her doing well.  We have fought her queasy stomach for years, so it was nice to have a well dog check up.  It still cost a bundle though.

Such an exciting life.  I need to schedule a couple more repair people.  The handle on the dishwasher broke - wonder if it will have to be replaced (the whole thing like the faucets)?  Then we have the a/c heater checks.  Don't you wish you had such an exciting life???

Oh, Ju Ju - Shadow did finally come down from the china cabinet.  It took him a couple of days to realize Angelica was really gone.  He didn't even bite me for about a week.  He's completely back to "normal" and I am ready to bring that dog back!

Peace

People are just amazing - not!

Yesterday we ventured out to buy a small vacuum cleaner for upstairs.  We have a canister vac - one that uses water for its filter.  It is too heavy to lug up and down the stairs.  So I wanted something other than the one that is up there.  It is really just a hand vac that has a handle that goes in it and a stupid little thingy for using on the floor.  Doesn't work well especially in a world of threads and bits of fabric because try as I might - those things are on that floor.  Plus when anything has to be done in the attic recesses,  crud gets pulled out and deposited on the carpet.

So we went to the store that replaced Mervyn's here in Swampland.  The K**l's store.  I found a vacuum that I THOUGHT was $99.  This was after  my $10 card for their anniversary.  When we checked out - no it was $159 - on sale and minus the $10. Well - OK.  I did like the machine.  So we loaded it up and headed out for the rest of our shopping trip.

When I got it out and put it together, I was wondering why the top of the canister for the dirt didn't fit properly.  As I turned it over and over, the HEPA filter fell out.  It. Was. Filthy.  That machine had been used.  A lot!

I was so upset (use your own word here - they will all fit the situation).  So I repacked it.  G came in, and I told him what had happened.  I expected a real storm of words - especially with his moods of late!  He was calmer than I.  So I called the store and was assured they would make it right.

We took it back this morning.  I had my credit card credited, and got another $10 store card.  We went back to look at the machines, but there was nothing I really wanted.  I don't want the $500+ nice one.  I want something that is fairly powerful, bagless, and above all - inexpensive!  They didn't have it.

I had already looked at their add.  I knew they had one for $80.  I ordered it to be delivered.  Of course - it will be next week, and we all know where we will be next week!  Joy.

The real upshot of this whole thing is I honestly believe that machine will go back out on the floor for some poor soul to buy - again.  It is filthy, and I told the woman at the returns that the power attachment was not there.  I saw her write no information about that thing.  I am really upset with them - I thought they were VERY reputable.   I just don't know.

Peace.

Tired, tired, tired

I have been 10 year old Lady Bug's play toy for the past three days.  Only three??  It seems like six months.  Please let me explain.  I adore each and every moment I spend with her.  She is such an amazing girl.  But she is active.  She wants to help - and she wants to craft with me.  So guess where we have been spending our time.  Yep - in the craft room.


This morning when we were up there, I was shaving the embroidery machine stitch the shell for the Baptismal blankets.  I was going to make her a bandanna blouse which is the exact same thing as the dress for the little girls. As both machines were purring along, she sat up from what she was doing and said "it is just like a craft room here."  No kidding!!  I guess she just thought it was a messy bedroom without a bed - I don't know.


Spending time up there means I can't fall asleep on the couch or some place like that.  I do like my naps, though I would vociferously deny such a thing.  But I am beat this afternoon.  We had pedicures scheduled for G, me, LB, and Daughter.  When I got home from that, I should have cut out a dress for her.  I was just too beet.  Then the little towns papers arrived.  There is a kin in the one that I don't have in my list, and I cannot find her ancestors.


We seem to have such fun when we are together.  I know my days are numbered.  Soon, far too soon, she will be a teen.  Then she probably won't want to spend time with me crafting.  So I do cherish each and every minute.


NEWS FLASH - There was just something falling from the skies here.  It is something I vaguely remember.  It is wet, but almost disappears as soon as it hits our dry, fissured ground.  It was cooling while it fell.  Now it has stopped, and there is steam coming off the ground.  When I looked this stuff up, it was called rain.  Well, my gosh - we actually had rain.  Probably a scarce .01 inch, but it was rain.


Here's hoping you get some of this wonderful stuff if you need it, and here's to praying that this heat will stop - soon.


Peace be with you.

Rollin' rollin ', keep those doggies rollin'

Oh yeah, that's exactly the way it is around here for me. G sits and voraciously reads novel after novel. I run like a chicken with her head chopped off.

I shouldn't complain. Most of what I am doing is because I want to do it. When G was working, I spent my days alone and here at home. We are getting out so much - probably because of doctor appointments.

We went to a local bar (?) for lunch today. Now doesn't that just fit for two oldies like us - and I got another year older today - 67. As we were on our way I commented to G that I never thought we would become two oldies driving their 11 year old car that has 80,000 on it with really good paint. Never thought that at all.

I am about to finish my little cowgirl dress. After I finish that one, I need to get pictures of both and upload them.

Oh, for my birthday, I got new rings. You see, last year sometime I put my beautiful wide gold band someplace that it would be safe not heading the little voice in my head that I wouldn't remember where I stashed that ring. At least I had taken the diamonds out and replaced them with a CZ, but still - I really loved that ring.

So off we went to a jewelry store (really a diamond store)where my daughter bought her new ring set. She and the rest of her family were with us. We didn't know we were going, but it would be the practical thing to do since church is between our houses and the store.

To get a new ring, I told G that I wanted to put the old diamonds on it. Several years ago when I put that CZ on the ring and took the diamonds off, he didn't like that at all. They were from my original wedding ring set. Really what I wanted was a totally new ring. I had one picked out too, but he found a setting that would take my diamonds very well. It did and they are being put on now. It is also being sized since the devil arthritis is invading my hands now.

So the ring will be ready Friday, I hope. I am anxious. This ring will be our anniversary gift (43rd) too.

So peace be with you.

Thumbnail sketch

Here we are in Portland, Oregon which is, as I was told, the bicycle capital of the world. I also read "Keep Portland weird" which also happens to seem true. I always associated that phrase with Austin, Texas, but I suppose there certainly be more than one "weird" city in the world.

Also I am being charged $9.95 for the privilege of getting emails, read your blogs to catch up, and write this little ditty. But you are worth every penny of the fee.

We arrived yesterday and I flopped on the bed. I didn't rise for the free happy hour nor going to find a place to eat for dinner.

I wanted to catch you up on some of the things we have seen and done since we have been gone. I still plan to write them. I am going to try to write them in office and then move them over. I will just bet that won't happen though. The new office and I don't like one another! And I am finding writing anything on the train is difficult at best. It is meant for looking out windows and sleeping.

The thing this blog is the train. Ah, the train. This is the one that hugs the Pacific Coast all the way, but is really close from about Malibu (I think) until there are more mountains. We saw scenery that would be difficult from a car, although there were campers, trailers, bus RV's down there along the beach. What a beautiful place.

When we got on board and into our bedroom, there was a little welcoming gift on the sink. Everything in that room was new. It was just outstanding. The food was, as I imagined it, Amtrack food. The menu was basically the same, but this train puts a little more into it. We found, too late, that there was a meal served in the Lounge car. This car is the one that has swivel club chairs and then the booths like the diner.

In the diner you most always meet some interesting people. That is for another visit with you.

The afternoon, there was a complimentary wine tasting. That was really interesting. It was wine and cheeses to sample. That's when we discovered that those booths are made for the mini people in this world, to we didn't pursue eating dinner in that car. The food was the diner food - but fewer choices, but done "fancier."

The train really was great - it even got us here to Portland AN HOUR EARLY. That may not seem unusual or something, but when we travel Amtrack, it is usually very late!

So now I am off to see what you guys have been up to. And I haven't had the latest from DIL - things seem fine. She goes to the doctor on Thursday. So we will see how far I get reading!

After I take this post from the other blog. Train brain - must be

Peace.

Looks like it's a go!

Well - Shadow is doing well with his cousins and Godparents. I just called to check. There is a bit of hissing, but he has found a new front window to watch out of. If he looks around, he will find there is one every bit as good as the bathroom window and sliding glass door at the SSB for watching wildlife. He may not want to come home!

The next thing is to leave Simone with the vet. She knows something is taking place. She knows there is not this level of activity that is normal around here unless we are headed out for a trip - be it SSB or something she knows nothing of. That will take place in about an hour.

Then our contractor/friend/whatever will be here at 8:30 to take us to the train station that is in such a wonderful part of Houston. Downtown with all the homeless. I think that is under pretty much control now. You see, we get train service only about every other day. Then, if the good lord's willing and the creeks don't rise, the train will be in at 9:15 to take off at 9:50. If it does - I will be surprised. But the last one that we got to take in privately owned cars (that spoiled me forever!) did leave just about on time. I hope the track is better than it was between here are SA. We are supposed to sleep then!

But the real news is this here lil' ol' machine will be going along for the ride. I will have internet service (I think) while we are gone. Yea!

I will have time in the evenings to return to your posts and read them from the time I had to leave them. I am so excited to catch up on your lives - that sounds a little pathetic, doesn't it. But it's true. I have missed reading it all.

So until the next time - Peace be with you. (and a little ps here - if you have a bit of time and a bit of inclination to do so - please say a few little prayers for DIL. I will fill you in later, but this pregnancy is not going as smoothly)

Ya gotta remember it's a PAIN clinic

So I survived. It was tough, and I persevered. I had my monthly appointment at the Pain Clinic. I really believe it is a plan to keep us coming back to THE PAIN CLINIC.

My appointment was for 11:30. I dreaded that time. When they are running behind (I said "when?") I know I will be there for some time.

When I opened the door and saw the teaming mankind in the waiting room, I really should have just left. Forget the pain meds. I have enough for years! But I didn't.

I carefully surveyed the room, noting quickly, there was one chair and a place on the couch that will swallow you up in a millisecond never to be heard from again. I made my way to sign in, and Rosie welcomed me. I should have known the smile on her face was to mask her giggling at my situation - all of our situations!

I signed in and went back to the door and the open chair. In this time a rather large (and I have no room talking)lady had spread out on two seats on the couch. I wasn't going to fight her for that space, plus with my knees I would have to remain on that thing until the block and tackle was located to remove me.

So this office was abuzz with conversations. Most of them were: "and when was your scheduled appointment? OMG."

The nicely dresses lady beside me leaned over. She asked if her name were called while she was outside talking to her boss, would I call her. I, of course, agreed. She worked in Uptown. (You see we have Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown as well as other small cities - to we have to clarify.) I'm sure she didn't want to let us hear the yelling from her boss.

Suddenly they called my name. MY NAME? Above all these others. They will kill me on the way in because they have been waiting. It was just to add a picture to my file, and I was thrust back into the waiting sea of humanity. To wait.

After about an hour has passed, there was movement from our mass. Someone was really called back. There is hope.

In the mean time, two of the patients who look like what I perceived as pain clinic patients found each other and began talking - and going out for a smoke - and talking - and going out for a smoke - and ...

Then a poor guy in a wheel chair and his aide from the nursing home came back in. I though he was sprung, but, oh my gosh, he is back. Then I find out why. He needs public transportation for the disabled to get him. The van was there, but they left because he couldn't get his phone to work.

So they have their phones on SPEAKER, trying to get Metro Lift back.

It was a sad situation for them, but they were calling Metro Lift over and over and over and over at 100,000,000,000,000,000 decibels. Oh please let me get out of here.

The first round of waiting crow had dwindled. Slowly but surely we were getting called to the back. You know that never, never land that all patients wait for. For us, it will be on our gravestones. "She was a patient in the waiting room." But now the second wave of folks were drifting in.

After an hour and a half, I became the anointed. I was called to "the back." My blood pressure was higher than norm. I wonder why? Then I went to a room. The doctor came in right away (surprise of all surprises). I saw him for 10 minutes. Part of that time was discussing the book I am reading.

And so, here I am scheduled for next month, but with a new twist. I will go on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. I will be there for a nerve conduction test. Just as well next time - I don't think any nerves were conducting this afternoon!

Peace be with you.

Fun, fun, fun!

We finally were able to have lunch with the previous pastor to the previous church today. That sounds really vague, and in a way it is. He went on disability with his heart condition because of some of the church members decided they were going to get rid of him, and with their little secret meetings, secret letters and the like put enough pressure on him that he just took disability. That was a sad day for us. My son had a knee jerk reaction, and went to a non-denominational mega church - not my cup of tea by any means. Daughter and family has gone to a mission church. I am the one who got here there in the first place. And now we are there too.

Anyway, back to lunch. We had such a glorious time. L is not your usual run of the mill pastors. He is still in the 70's in many ways, but he is special to us. We can get him to come away from the pressures here to come up to the SSB to hunt. Those times are really special. We get to spend extended time with him.

The restaurant where we met is less than six months old, and is the perfect place for us. They serve outside on picnic tables with umbrellas. I never wondered how they will operate if it rains, but then we certainly haven't seen that wet stuff in a long time. They are good to go.

But today it was cool - unlike temperatures in the 90's like yesterday. In fact Lady Bug is going to be terribly cold at swim practice today. It was a perfect day to sit and talk with an old, close friend. Don't get too many of those.

Peace be with you.

I accept the razzing

Before I accept all the razzing, wow, this is my 925th post! That's a lot.

Now down to business. I have no idea why I was bundling up for temperatures that would top out, and this makes it worse, in the high 60's and lower 70's. I used to beg for that kind of weather. My normal "knock around" clothes are exactly as Judy put it - a tee and shorts. What happened, I don't know.

I am even opening myself for more ribbing. I turned on the heat. And I pushed the thermostat to 72. I don't usually do that kind of thing. Usually G is the only one around here with a long sleeved shirt and trousers. So go ahead - laugh at this silly Texan who cratered under this last front. I deserve it.

I am really finally a firm believer in the six degrees of separation. There have several surprises of how close to me some people are. When G and I met, it was his high school physics teacher who had married the girl who would become my Matron of Honor. That relationship got even closer - my aunt, who was 18 years older than my mother and I never met, had married into the guy's family. Intricate I know - it does make sense the way it was written. But I my head still swirls with the closeness.

Today I was talking to Son. He told me the youngest child of my best friend (I guess - haven't heard from her in months) lives close to him. So, let's see how many of them are out there. A guy that was in Daughter's graduating class and we used to go to church with the family for one - he is up the street. Across the major street is (and here we go again) my Matron of Honor's son lives there. Now this newest one.

I would think living in the fourth largest city, things would dilute a bit. But out here in the northwest part of the city and into the county, it is like a small town. And things still make me wonder.

Peace be with you.

Surprise - it's me on Saturday!

I know I don't usually post on Saturday, but it's such a nice day I need to stop to let my lunch digest a bit before continuing my chores. When I was working, I had to do all my chores on Saturday. I've been retired 10 years, and I still do them on Saturday. Such a creature of habit - or is it my absolute hatred for chores? I'm putting my money on the second. There are always a chance I'll get a good invitation and I am off.

I just had to post this amazing thing happening. I was so worried about G retiring. So far, knock on wood or whatever brings luck to make this statement true and last forever, everything is going well. G has a terrible temper, and not much impulse control. He has been really pleasant to be around. This is the best yet.

Right now he is tackling our garage. Now our garage is/was an absolute mess. He wants to blame it all on me, but it is not my mess. I have confessed to being a bit of a horder. I know, because it has happened over and over, as soon as I decide something isn't needed - the very next day I really could use it instead of perking the economy. When you teach science and craft - well either you know what I am saying, or you don't.

But this garage - now that is another matter. I may have put some things in there - in relatively safe places that I wanted. As they are coming out now, they are garbage. When the kids would move out and back home and out and back home (phew!), some of their stuff would stay here "until they can come get it - we just don't have room for it right now." It had remained.

When we would get something out like my craft show tables, drink coolers, etc, and G returned them, he would just throw whatever in the middle. When he found that B didn't need this shelf that had been for advertising something, G proudly put smack in the middle of the floor. He has been having everything else join those shelves. Now I am not saying that I don't like that display unit. It does hold stuff. It's just it would be much better on the side of the garage.

When he would begin this pre-retirement, I would always have something else for us to do. I put myself in the bedroom - it's a mess too with the dog kennel "right in the middle." It also has my stationary recumbent bike. It had to be shoveled out. When I started with all my surgeries, things didn't get put away properly. My fault - no one else's (for the most part).

Today is going well. If he finds the things that are mine, and so far there have been three baskets for plants that have gone to the other side - he puts them on a table that I marked to get rid of and asks me if I want them. His mood is pretty much ok. Who knew?

So obviously we are having another nice (hot) day. It would be nicer if it were raining since we need it so bad, but it is pretty with all the plants enjoying the weather before the high 90's and low 100's begin with 99% humidly. So all in all it's good.

I hope pleasant weather comes into your neck of the woods soon. It has been a bear for part of the U.S. so far.

Peace be with you.

It may come about

First an update on the horrible fire here. It was apparently a pot with oil in it was left on the electric (makes a difference??) stove, and thus the terrible smoke for the amount of fire. The woman does appear to have fled the states. They have a tape showing her at Target at the time of the fire. The death count still stands at 4 with three in various conditions in different hospitals. Luckily two children were not in day care that day.

Now on to today's stuff. Yesterday I went to every woman's favorite physician's appointment. Yes, I went to my ObGen. I love him so much the exam just flies by. Or perhaps I am so old nothing bothers me more, I don't know which truth is strongest. Anyway, after the results of not having gone in 10 + years (the breast cancer) I make that appointment every year - and make sure I love it - I'm alive to be there!

Just after my appointment last year, some woman in my extended family told me he had bladder cancer. That was such a blow, so when I saw him yesterday I asked about it. He had been diagnosed before my last appointment which was January 2010. To bring the story to where we are, he is participating in a study. He has two more chemos which appear not to be as devastating as the chemo for other cancers. And right now - he is clear of any cancer. Hallelujah!

But I did have a question for him beyond our cancer connection. I was pretty sure I knew the answer since he referred me to this surgeon for the breast cancer. I have mulled the gastric sleeve for a year now. I mean seriously this time. I talked to the surgeon last year, and I have all the forms that have to be completed before insurance would approve this. I guess they want to weed out those who really don't need it for whatever reason. So I took step one with my PCP.

Anyway, my darliing OB did say that my surgeon would be someone I would have anyone use. My PCP sounded like he didn't really like the surgeon. He said to really look around. That's funny because the surgeon didn't want my knees done by my orthopedic guy. And he was great.

So yes, I am seriously looking for this surgery. It appears I just can't do this on my own, and the OB said I should come through it well because of my past history (starting 4+ years ago with the mastectomy). I am embarrassed to admit that , one, I am that overweight, and two, I seem to not be able to lose it without major surgery. I have to do something. I thought the metformin would do it, but the good effects are going to stop.

Enough crying on your shoulder. And I just heard a news break - the day care owner's family are also "on the move" whatever that really means. I guess I will learn in a few minutes.

Peace be with you.

Crazy Boxer Lady

I was sitting around here not doing much when the telephone rang. I looked at the Caller ID, and it was my vet's office. Now, you have to understand they ALL know Simone and me - very well. One of the office folks told me that Dr J had found a Boxer, and they thought they would call me and ...

I pondered the situation for a bit, then told them I would be up there to see the dog, all the while wondering just how I would present this new little dog coming in behind me to live here. So I told them I would be up in a bit.

In an effort to deflect some of the fall-out of this situation, I called daughter to come with me. All along I really thought I would adopt the dog. My concerns were how G would react, and more how Simone would react.

The staff brought the dog up. She is a beautiful little fawn colored girl with a beautiful mask. We both fell in love with her. The crazy thing here is that Daughter ran into her Senior English teacher. They talked some, and Ms F remarked about what a good body structure she has - she conforms to Boxer bone structure.

The dog was abandoned near Dr J's parents. She picked her up, treated her for heart worms, spayed her and was nursing her back to health. She is just skin and bones.

So - grandchildren are happy with her, SIL, who was out of town at one of the food trade shows, likes her. They have gotten a crate down for her since in her excitement has her urinating inside!

It looks like this is a good match. All thanks to Simone making me the "Crazy Boxer Lady" who came to their mind to call first!

Peace be with you

Happy Post Super Bowl Day

I never had a big emotional tie to the Super Bowl. I'm not a football, nor any professional sport fan. The Super Bowl is a good way to interact with some folks, and from what I gather, they aren't big Super Bowl fans either. I find the conversation goes around and through the plays, but when the commercials come, they are watched with a close analytical eye comparing the merits of each one as they arise. So last night was no different in that respect.

For the last several years, we were at the SSB for Super Bowl. Being the new kids on the block, and the only ones who stayed through on Sunday, we opted for our own Super Bowl Party for several years. In the closest years, we haven't and were blasphemous enough to watch other things on TV. I'm surprised the football gods hadn't clawed our eyeballs out - or some such penalty. (Ooo, good one there Granny - what a play on word? A penalty for TV watching instead of football! High five)

Getting back to the subject at hand - after years of not watching the game, we ventured forth to daughter's house. They were having their new bests friends over along with NBF's boss (??). I like the NBF, and really like her boss. I met them the week before at a house party to sell, um, well, um adult toys. One of the other women was laid (don't say it) off, and she was looking at a way of bringing in more money.

DIL used to do these, and she made about $700 per party. Not bad. Well NS really is trying to get started and needs people to tell people who tell more people and so on. Well, it was a good group of women, and NR is really good at things like this. I don't think anything makes her blush and stammer!

All in all, it was good. The kidlets entertained each other. The only thing I had against them it that they ate ALL the banana pudding. Little rats. Conversation flowed well, and with the exception of the male part of NBF shouting really loud when the half scores had a 1 and a 0 because that were his numbers, the evening was really nice - even without the banana pudding.

Peace be with you

Not as bullet proof as I thought

It has come to my attention that I am getting old, and the weather we are having illustrates that fact so well. This is the kind of weather I used to think I would love. Growing up in the southern parts of Texas - be they Gulf Coast or outside the Hill Country, I longed for weather like this. We are right at freezing now, and we may be out of it by Saturday, but we will be pretty assured of snow (and sleet).

The only weather I really knew was summer time temperature usually with highs in the high 90's and lows in the mid 80's. There were times we would get the extreme heat from the deserts to the west from that southwest wind that would be channeled. Then the high could get to 100, 101. Our winters were generally mid 20's to high 60's. It was pretty much a close range in temperatures.

This long spell is something that doesn't usually happen, and now that I am old - I don't like it one bit. I don't have clothing for this weather. My summer and winter attire for lounging about the house is a ratty old t-shirt and a pair of shorts. It fits my needs all year around. I am not prepared for this.

To add to the general misery we Texans are feeling right now, we are being subjected to rolling blackouts. Say what? That's a summer time thing. When it's over 100. Not now. Not with it this cold. But it is happening all over the state. Here in the southern part of the state, it isn't that big a deal. We just don our winter garb - long pants and a long sleeved shirts. As far as my fellow Texans go, my heart goes out to North Texas. They are already covered with ice, and the temperatures are really low. I can only imagine how miserable it is to be sitting in the dark with these cold temperature.

Now for the rest of you folks in the northern parts of the states, my heart and soul goes to you. I simply cannot imagine how terrible this winter must be for you. This year it seems that you have suffered through terrible extremes in the weather. Seems like you got blistering heat last summer, and now you are a frozen wonderland.

At least you are smart - you have basements. I guess we could have basements, but we would call them our in-door pool. Now that would make for some interesting times with electrical wires down there. I do envy you a basement. There can be so many things a basement is good for. But I digress.

It has come to my attention that I am getting old. Now I don't know when this old stuff slipped up on me. I still think of myself as, say 16. Other than forgetting names, where my keys are, and most lately my wedding ring, I think I'm, as we like to say down here, six feet tall and bullet proof. Not so much anymore. When I am talking about something, just as sure as not, I will forget the word I need. For the life of me, I cannot remember names. I forget where I put things - like my ring. When I put that thing where ever I did, I thought at the time I will forget this place. So did I move it? You can guess that answer.

We have a light at the end of the tunnel I think. It is supposed to be warm by the weekend, which would be an especially good thing for those in Dallas and the surrounding areas so the fans can safely get to the Super Bowl. This should be the winding down of our winter. We will have a few more freezes where it does get to 30, but we are almost done with it. I wish I could bundle a package of warm air to send to you all. As Jude put it - you all are tough! (And I am old)

Peace be with you.

Another day

Strange day. The large house is worth all the cleaning (who am I kidding) and extra utilities. We can be together yet apart. Retirement isn't half bad. Now you know I already knew that it wasn't bad - in fact it is rather heavenly. I am of the opinion that retirement should come when we are young so we can enjoy it fully. All these aches and pains are a limiting factor. But today was another good day. No voices raised.

Now the weather is another thing. Hey - who blew down the protective fence we had up about the middle of the state to keep this winter crap away. The weather nitwits are saying we could have snow or at least a winter mix come Friday. We are just not cut out for this.

I know for a fact with just the temperatures not getting far above freezing is going to cause all sorts of havoc around here. Sprinkler systems are a really popular thing to have here. After all, we look more like a tropical setting than a tundra. Anyway, tomorrow there will be thousands of pictures uploaded to the news stations with beautiful ice sculptures make by broken pipes in the sprinkler system.

It hits us with the tropical bodies of water out back (pools). While they won't freeze over for skating -at least I really hope not - all their little pipes and such that move the water to make it clean need to be protected. You see, if we were to remove all the water from the pool, it would pop out of the ground.

Our freezes last year didn't stop us (yes me too) from going out and buying more of the tropical plants that look so beautiful pool side. Gives you a little vacation right in the backyard you see. Well those babies are usually in excess of five feet. I have started a nice collection of citrus. Right now they are huddled close to the house on the south side adorned with Christmas tree lights and a blankie to keep them warm.

So the village is peaceful, but cold. There are no hot words making the rounds in here, and the icy blasts continue. I really need to find that fence that is letting the cold reach this far! We've had quite enough. I really don't know how you all take this every year. I admire you.

Peace (and warmth) be with you.

Changed my mind

All day I had been composing a post about a topic that is as far away from now as it can get. I am prompted to write about this. It is flat eerie about these parts lately.

As you know, G retired not all that long ago. During the time we were at the SSB, things progressed normally. I would cook, clean and load the dishwasher. Same thing as always.

The change has been in the almost week we have been home. He is doing so much more around here. He took over the kitchen Saturday night. He prepared venison stroganoff. It was delicious, and then more than that - he washed (loaded the dishwasher). Spell check is fussing at me for the name of the dish, but I don't want to go find it in a cook book. Sorry. I think you will know what it is!!

Today, he got dinner out of the freezer - while I was having a spanking new temporary crown put on my molar. Doc says it should be the last for a while. But getting back, he is going to do them outside on the grill since this will be our last chance for the week. We are going to share a bit of the weather you all have been getting hit with.

He is actually is being calm around the grandchildren, but that had its seeds in the weeks previous - Thanksgiving in fact when I told him everyone went home early because they didn't want to upset him with the noise. He is a lot more accepting now.

So thus far, living with him being newly retired has worked out well, but I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I expect him to get his tighty whities in a ruffle soon. I hope I am going to be surprised and this is the G I will live with around here nearly 24/7!

Peace be with you and please stay warm and dry!

Here's a new one

I wanted to begin this post as a story, but there really isn't a good beginning because it never really begins nor ends. It is a true segment in these people's living. So here is just a free standing story that you, at first glance, won't believe. But it is true, sadly.

Poor SIL's dad called. He did his usual hemming and hawing. That's trouble. It means he wants money.

So he went on talking, not really getting to the point, but then it came out. Yes he needed money. He needed money to pay his AT&T UVERSE BILL of $150. Uhhhhhh - excuse me, but just when did cable television become a life need? And this isn't BASIC cable. They have more extras than we do! And our cable bill includes internet.

The more I spoke with Daughter, she said they haven't even had to pay rent yet. He has been able to (supposedly) do enough odd-jobs on the house to pay the rent. Has the owner looked at the house to see these things completed?

The real kicker tho this story is that they put out the plea for money before Christmas. So Daughter and SIL decided they would give them money ($150), and they wanted the other siblings (3) to give the money they would buy for nieces and nephews to the parents. Don't know if that happened or not, but the fact is they were given money - not even a month before.

So here is SIL between Daughter who will squeeze a penny until it yells, and parents who believe it is perfectly ok to ask for money for things that aren't absolutely necessary. With us being gone, and then the day we returned she left for a conference, I haven't heard what happened. All I know is that everyone who hears this request is first completely shocked, and then they laugh at those people's gall.

His family is so very jealous of that Daughter and SIL have. They have said it is because we bought it for them. They have called Daughter a pretentious B*tch, so I can only imagine what they call us. That family knows that Daughter and SIL make really good money, but then they have no real concept of what good money is. They know they have money saved, and certainly have that kind of money available - which they do.

So it appears that truth is really stranger than fiction. These folks will always give me a subject for my blog. G swears he is going to write a book about them, and I haven't even begun to disclose the idiocy of their actions. My, my.

Peace be with you (and Daughter too)

OK - I lied

Here I am again even when I said I wouldn't. Yeah, I lied.

I wanted to talk about Advent. I have said before - I am an old time Lutheran. I love the ritualism. I love the old hymns. I love the old liturgy. I hate the new hymns. I hate the new liturgy. I hate the loss of the ritualism and the bringing in worship leaders with microphones, loud guitars, and no robes. There I said that.

Now on to Advent. When I was younger, Advent was just the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It sometime brought extra services for me to play. It had a wreath, and sometimes a calendar that had candy in it. It was the blue vestments.

Now I have the need for the full meaning of Advent. I need it to be a time of contemplation. Of watching and waiting. The anticipation of the birth of the lord. I never really understood the not singing Christmas carols - until Christmas. Now I understand the beauty of waiting. Them beauty of contemplation. As the world (even Lutheran Churches) turn left, I turn right. Again. Out of step.

Oh and the left and right I used are not political left and right. They are just how far apart I feel from the churches that are in vogue now. We are at 180. I know there has to be change. The church needs to be a living thing, and therefore it has to change. I just never thought I would be the one who wouldn't change with it.

So save the Christmas carols until at least tomorrow night. Contemplate peace.

Peace be with you.