Oh, poo!

You know - if it's not one thing, it's another.  Medical things and I just aren't getting along.

I decided to get the glucose meter to keep tabs on the blood sugar thing.  I stopped at the drug store yesterday, talked to the pharmacist and got a meter he recommended.

I brought it home, went upstairs to work on WK's road track while I experimented with that meter.  After five or so strips, I finally got one to work.  Now - there were far more than five sticks with the "painless lancets."

I decided to try it first thing this morning. After my final success yesterday, I thought I had the hang of it.  No, nope, nein.  I have come to the conclusion that I simply don't bleed.  I ended up with three sticks this morning -in places I thought I would bleed - well. 

The first test was not enough blood.  Hurt like heck, but not enough blood.  The second, by the time I got blood and put it on the strip - the machine had gone off.  That ruined that strip.  So in disgust I simply got up.

At the rate I'm going, I will have used the month's supply of strips before the week is out!

I think what I need to do is get some snow white expensive fabric, make a garment that is 90% complete, stick some straight pins in it, and sew more.  I will guarantee that I will stick my finger on a pin and bleed, as we often say in Texas, "like a stuck hog" on that white material thus ruining the garment!

So I have one more thing to complain about.  Getting really boring!

Peace.

I don't know why I'm here

I really don't know why I am here! I just completed my readings of the blogs I follow, and I guess I was so inspired by you folks that I just had to say something. But what?

This reminds me of being with someone I don't know well or just flat don't know. We have no real bonds, that person and I, and the silence is deafening. Someone should start a conversation as it is embarrassing to sit there and nothing comes out.

Being me, my brain goes dead. There is nothing there. I struggle to find a topic better than the weather, but the weather is all we have in common. The harder I try, the worse it gets - at least to my mind.

Time - of time! It has stopped already! It feels we have been sitting, she and I, for days. The silence is deafening. My brain is dead. Absolutely dead. I try to jump start it, but all it sends to my brain is "it sure is hot today." That is a statement that is so true in Texas almost any day of the year. Trite - on my God!

So for having nothing so say, I was able to push out several paragraphs. But you, my blogging friends, and I have a lot in common. So I can find words to communicate with you. Perhaps the words are not much better than a commentary on the weather.

Tomorrow I will, again, try to find a topic out of my exciting life to share the experience with you.

Peace be with you.

Answers for questions

I am going to answer a few questions here, and probably bring up new ones,  or at least make you wonder about me.

The first question is about meal worms.  Here, our school district loves to use the inexpensive (should be free, but that required a little more work) meal worms to show how they change from the larva – hence meal worm – to the moth. 

This will probably gross you out, but in your grain products, there are insect eggs.  There are flour moths and in the oats, meal worms.  I should have known better, but I was once overwhelmed with flour moths because I forgot about those pesky eggs.  I am still battling them to a degree, but I am getting them under control.

When I wasn’t able to get around, my cereal/grain pantry , well, aged.  Suddenly there were little moths flying all around the house.  They took over the dining room because we certainly didn’t use that room.  I was doing good to set the breakfast room table.

I have found the non-toxic glue traps for these little buggers, and putting the grains in the freezer for about a week or so will kill them – and that reminds me – I just bought some flour.  But air tight containers help too.

Anyway, back to the meal worms.  Science supply houses sell these little bugs for the school children to take care of and watch them turn into a moth.  An ugly moth, but a moth never-the-less.

Now a fix for the machine.  I don’t think there is something different for that USB slot.  I am simply going to have to be incredibly careful.  I am considering completely re-arranging the craft room.  I have thought of this before, but I just hate to move things.  Such a mess!  But I may be able to find a way to put much less strain on that little port.

I did write the company.  I got a return email – a form letter – that they had gotten the email and would get back to me.  I also posted to the Yahoo group to see if I am alone in this.  Nothing on that front yet either.

I am really considering trading the machine for another brand.  I am really upset with this.  And the machines seem to be in a snit when they come home from cleaning.  They are cantankerous little beasties at best.

If you don’t get the design in just the right place, it won’t read it at all.  If using the thumb drive – the design has to be in a special folder.    Now from the computer to begin with – I don’t know.  I cannot get that to work at all.  And the cards must be obsolete since I can’t find one.

And so my moans and groans go on.  I will spend the day later wrapping the tv in plastic.  We have been in an extended period of dry – but now rain, of course.

Happy Thanksgiving to you.  I hope you have a great day.

 

Peace be with you. 

Weekend

This Easter was much more quiet than others. All the grands were somewhere else. My niece was at the SSB with her family, and the joke is that if E is there, hold on, the weather will turn ugly! That has happened before, but this time it was beautiful.

I had long lamented that we didn't have any bluebonnets on our place. Well, Saturday, G came in and told me to come with him. We went to the far back northwest corner. There were fields and fields of bluebonnets. They covered the hill sides. I have pictures to post, but I don't have time today.

Then when we were leaving to go to the BIL's house, we say a hill side covered at the southeast corner. So we do have bluebonnets. The wild flowers are just beautiful this year in the hill country of Texas. The weather, while difficult to deal with, was great for the spring flowers. The cold, wet winter has brought a beautiful spring.

I am finding the medication I am taking from this pain place makes me really goofy. I feel like I have had five or six strong drinks - all the time. When I am not dozing, I am giddy and off balance! So if these blogs sound weird, well they probably are. Bear with me!

Peace be with you.

What a day!

This was one full day! I went to the hospital to pre-register. I was a little shocked when I was to pay them my portion of the bill - today. We're talking like $2000. It was a surprise, to say the least.

I was to be there at 11. I was, but appointments don't mean much apparently. I got to wait for a while. After a poke for blood typing (thankfully my blood work was done last week) an EKG, and filling out p a p e r s!!! And more papers. We finally finished at 1.

I went to the courtyard there in the hospital. It seems more like a mall in that area. Anyway, I went to the place with food. It is more than a snack bar and less that a restaurant. I had a pretty good chef's salad. I just wish they would take a little more time to get the ribs out of the romaine lettuce!!

Then I was off to the cardio doc for a 1:45 appointment. That late means HE is running late. I though they were going to do another EKG. I am so glad the technician gave me a (shhhh) copy. She wasn't suppposed to, but she did. He is concerned with the blood sugar. So am I. Even more reason for a diet - or change of living.

Then I went to get my glasses that came in - early. They are different. I always have to get used to new progressive lenses. I haven't hit the sweet spot for the computer yet. Distance is great. We'll see about the reading part after a bit.

Now it's off to packing away breakfast sausage. G was emphatic that we take the venison and pork to the SSB. Our friend and neighbor had a real kick-a** grinder. He can grind the sausage in less than 15 when with our little grinder it would take hald a day. Anyway, I have over 50 pounds out there.

In keeping with usual Texas weather, it is HOT today. That means the ice will probably be melted. I just LOVE things being dumped on me. Now I know why he keeps working. So I can go to the bank (which he requested today), pack sausage, keep stamps in the house (he used them all last night), and all the little drudgery in life.

Anyway . . .

Peace.

Changes

This morning I was not going to post - anything. I was in a deep funk. The world looked drab, and I couldn't think of anything positive about the day with the exception of the fact that I was breathing and moving about.

Then I met with our Realtor who sold us the other property. We have the house on the market finally. It will be a month after leasing it that we will realize any monies from it because around here the listing fee is a month's rent. Well, that's ok. I want it on the MLS listings.

She was amazed at the change in the property. She made two suggestions, one of which is on the books - a cleaning service to do the windows and so on. That is going to happen. So as soon as we sign the papers and return them, we will have the house on the market.

The real thing that moved me to post was a Christmas card from my "step brother." We are not related in any way by blood. My father married his mother when they were both getting to be elderly. Ron and I seldom had any communication at all. He has five kids, and we really didn't know any of them at all.

When his mother got so sick and I stepped in, that seemed to change things. He inherited a lot more money because of my dad then would have happened before. When Dad died, he inherited even more.

So there has been some communication now. In fact when we went to Disney Land for Lady Bug, we visited him at his newly opened restaurant. We had a lovely time. I got a Christmas card three years ago. He had been treated for colon cancer. Then I got my diagnosis.

We didn't hear again until today. I believe he lost the restaurant because he is selling insurance. But more than anything else, he has had cancer again.

I certainly will be including Ron and his family in my prayers. I think they have had some very hard times. I think the bills were stacking up big time from what his wife said in the letter.

I am not in such a blue mood anymore. I have heard from several people today. So far I have not had a recurrence of cancer. This is another day for me to be grateful, not down.

I hope you have found something of value in this day.

Peace.

In the continuing drama of my life

I took the machine to the shop yesterday. One of the sales people who claims to love these machines looked at the computer slots, and said it should be easy to replace. I tend to agree because it looks like a pretty much stand alone component once you get into the guts of the machine. But when the owner of the shop looked at it, he wouldn't even guesstimate about the machine. He said they would have to run diagnostics to check the mother board. Well, a mother board couldn't cost over $2000 - could it??

So there is sits. I am awaiting word. I keep telling myself Ken (the owner) probably likes the Brother machines better than mine, or he just doesn't really know the machines at all. They just make him money. Nevertheless, I really need it back.

This down time gives me a little spare time though. I am on my way up to the craft room anyway. The a/c-heated people are coming to do the fall check on the systems. I was just telling Daughter I should have made her old room into the craft room. Son's old room (the one I am using) has both access doors to the attic where the equipment lives. We had taken in our attic when the kids were teens/preteens to give two bedrooms, a bath and a sitting area. It was nice to get them and their associated mess upstairs and out of sight. In fact, I even found a poster that announced "Teen ager lives here." I put it at the base of the stairs. So I have to go up to move the ironing board and other associated sewing equipment away from the access doors.

Tomorrow we will be heading to the SSB. Son in law, Contractor dude (who is working on the investment house) and Old Friend will be going with us. I don't know how long I can stand the testosterone in house. I may have to go to the next mountain for some relief from my friend there!!

Hope you have a great weekend. I might check in, but usually things are too busy. At the least, see you Tuesday!

Peace.

Whoopie!

The gas company has finally come to put in the meter here for the generator. I hate the gas company! Last week, they called, out of the blue, to put in the meter at the other house. It wasn't there for the inspections. Yesterday I discovered the water heater probably doesn't work. I never got any hot water. But I don't think a water heater would have sunk the deal anyway.

But back to home. We are on the last leg of the generator saga. The meter has been paid for since July. We are finally getting it.

Yesterday, the construction crew from the phone company came to fill in the hole that has been dug out three times to fix the nicked cable. They even put in new sod! Soon, I can go back to locking my gate so that I don't have to worry about strangers coming into my back yard! Finally!!!

Things are looking up. Now I just have to face . . . the knees. Still scares the stuffin' out of me. I'll make the appointment with the doc probably next week. We (G and I) have decided on sometime after January 18. Oh, what am I in for?

Peace.

Mass confusion

I brought the lap top up to the craft room so I could do my emails and read my blogs while sewing. You know, that was a stupid idea. It really can't be done.

When I have the machine going, I thought it would be a great time for doing the computer stuff. It isn't. I just get started with one thing when the other thing calls. I'm finding I'm only getting 50% efficiency. It has helped to have the computer though because sometimes I have to download a design onto a disc, and it's all right here.

G was off today and we spent the afternoon looking at trucks. He gfeels it's time to replace the troop carrier. So we looked at C**max. They didn't have anything. We went to the dealer. Found two we like, but $$$$$! I really don't know what we are going to do in the end. I know what I think, but then again, I hate to think of spending that kind of money. I feel like we have been bleeding money these days.

Well, the machine has stopped, so that is calling.

Peace.

Sew, sew, sew your felt . . .

That's what I am doing. I am in the process of making pencil toppers. I got into these when I found a very inexpensive set from a digitizer on the internet. I made those, and Daughter remarked how neat it would be if I could make some for Christmas to have at Holiday in the Park. So went back to that digitizer to buy the Christmas set. Then I found two more sets. That is why I am sewing my little heart out now. I have my list of projects posted right here by this machine to keep me on track!

I will post pictures (if anyone might be interested) as soon as I charge the batteries for my camera, download the multitude of pictures that are stored there from way before August, and get the items ready for their pictures.

The camera seems to be my nemesis these days. Last weekend when we were at the SSB, G's cousin was having the local community happy hour. They took the great grandparents house (what is left of it) and salvaged it. It was in terrible shape. She told me they began this task because they wanted a place to stay when they came up. They live in San Antonio, and they wanted some privacy when they visited her mom and dad when they came to visit.

They have taken the beat up little remains of that house and restored it to a beautiful place (even if they have to have an outhouse). Anyway, Daughter gave me strict orders to take pictures. I dutifully put the camera in my purse. When we got there, I pulled it out to turn it on. It was on some setting that I never use, and the batteries were DEAD!

I thought I was sunk until I remembered that I, as usual had my cell phone, so out it came and I snapped a few pictures. Cousin said she would send me pictures if I wanted as she takes many. And she should. I think I may email her because I have no idea how to download pictures from that phone. I have no cables or anything to tell me how to do it. Besides, I am becoming absolutely technologically illiterate. It is getting worse and worse as technology evolves more and more.

So - back to my hoops and threads.

Peace.

Shopping

I absolutely NEED to go out shopping today. I need things from the grocery store, and Wally World has sheets on sale. I need additional sets for the SSB. We are getting more visitors there. I can't keep up with the washing of said items,

I just don't want to go out - at all, but today is the day. Tomorrow I could go, but after my sewing machine club, I usually don't want to go. I will pick up fast food and head in. Friday is out.

The reason Friday is out is simple. I have to wait around here for the gas company to install a new meter and turn on the gas at the house we are buying. The other owner's mortgage company finally made a decision. We sent them a new offer after they turned down the first one when we were in Canada. I think they really believed someone would come in with a better offer. The place has been empty since March, and it was on the market before that.

So I spent yesterday afternoon calling all the utilities setting them to be turned on so we could schedule the mechanical, structural and termite inspections. Those are set for Monday. I get to stay close to the phone because I have to be there when they put the meter in and turn on the gas.

I also called the electric utility that turned on the power on August 12 when I wanted it on the 21st at the earliest. Then when I finally found it was on by calling to postpone the service, yet again, found it had been on. I thought that was all taken care of, but then I got two bills totaling $426.

I called yesterday to get that cleared. When I called the number that was listed for those of us who felt the bill was a mistake, I found that there was a credit on September 11 of the same amount that is still "owed." That line would just allow me to make a payment, or ask for balanced billing. When I told the computer I wanted none of the listed options, I was whisked to Customer Service. As I was explaining my case to the guy, as soon as he said "I understand" we were "disconnected." And he ever tried to call me back.

I sent an email to the address that was given for comments, etc. I didn't expect to hear anything at all. I did get a almost immediate response promising she would look into the matter. So far - nothing.

So there is my whine. I guess I should offer some cheese to go with it. Now I am off to take my meds, get dressed and hit the stores. Ugh!

Peace.

Ahh weekend

I have hopes of a peaceful weekend. G is on his way to Austin to visit his mom. I told him I would go if he really wanted me to, but otherwise, I would like to stay home. I have hopes that Daughter will volunteer for Sunday dinner. I'm not going to hold my breath however. They usually wait until noon on Sunday to ask about it!

Next weekend is going to be the circus. That is family reunion weekend. We are doing the meat. I just hope it all comes together. SIL has promised that he will get the briskets done. He is going to take them to a customer in College Station who will do them in his restaurant equipment. If not, I will really be up a tree. I have four huge ones in my freezer. My smoker isn't big enough, and my Shake and Bake oven could do possibly three if I had pans big enough. I really miss my old ovens. They were large enough. These replacements are better insulated I guess. To fit the opening, I had to get ones that were smaller inside!

I bought the excess sausage from Wide Spot Community Club. It was from the celebration where I do one of my shows. They don't usually have any left - they sell "German Tacos" which is sausage wrapped in a tortilla. The Boy Scouts were set up close by selling fajitas. Whenever the Boy Scouts are near selling whatever you are selling - you are out of luck. Anyway, that is covered. I ordered smoked turkey from DIL's mom. It pays to know someone who orders food in bulk! She is the director of a child care facility. Sweet!

So this weekend, I am looking forward to peace and quiet. G will be gone until late this afternoon. Daughter and brood are attending the birthday party for the little girl across the street who goes to school with Lady Bug. They will be at the park for that party until 3. Son has a gig tonight, but they don't usually call anyway. Since it's Saturday, I don't expect any workers falling over one another in my backyard, but the gate is unlocked anyway.

I think I will mosey on up and work on stuff for my Christmas craft show! Have a great one!

Peace.

Today

Today's events are planned and unplanned. The planned event is going to the Ortho doc for my synthetic cartilage injection. They called the house twice while I was on vacation and once on my cell - even though I told them of the return date. Oh well.

I am a little apprehensive. After last night, my knees can't hurt worse than then. They kept me awake most of the night. I couldn't find a comfortable position. I am praying for good results. I really don't want more surgeries.

The unplanned is me watching Monkey Boy for a few hours. They must have threatened him with his life. He is being so very good. He is even pleasant.

If I were here awaiting SIL, I would not have said I could do this, but Daughter is the one who will be home. She is so very careful - at least with me watching the kids - to be on time.

I am anxious so see the paper bill with the air card. What I saw on line is twice what it should be. I have decided that I am paying the "restocking fee" and getting rid of it. I have a month. The thing runs at 3.6 mbps. With all I do on line, 5K is eaten up rapidly. I'm sure glad that I had free WiFi at the hotels. My bill for that thing would probably have been $500.

Daughter should be here soon, so I will go.

Peace.

Joys of home

Sleeping in familiar surroundings is really nice. My very own bed felt so good, and that in itself is a very good thing. One of the souvenirs I brought home was a cold. I know I had gotten totally fatigued several times on the trip, and my system must have been compromised. G said he was not feeling well after the Algoma train trip. It turned out it was a cold. Guess who got it two days later?? I tried to stay away. but when you are trapped in a car . . .

Simone got sick last night, just as I thought she might. I don't know if coming home was too exciting for her or what. I think her last two weeks were rather trying. She is used to peace and quiet with two old farts, and she was thrown into a household with three lively children that even under the best of circumstances is not quiet. Daughter was so worried about her getting sick that she watched her like a hawk. Simone wasn't allowed to even be outside by herself because she will sneak something green to make herself throw up. She also was cut back on food with the hopes that she wouldn't get sick.

Today, she has taken two long sunbaths. I am not sure she had pottied at all, but she is calm and has slept a lot - and soundly.

Today we get Shadow back. Son and his band were booked to play for a wedding in Galveston last night. I miss that little dickens (Shadow), but I was really glad we didn't have to drive even 10 mote miles out to get him. I could not get into a vehicle for days and be happy.

But that won't be happening. The Ortho doc's office called three times while we were gone (twice here at home and once on my cell) to tell me the injections are in. So I guess I'll call tomorrow for an appointment. I am looking for some pain relief with them; I am praying for a "fix" with them so I can avoid surgery. I am a little worried because I am imagining needles shoved into my knees and injecting a thick fluid - three times. But overall, I am excited about the possibility of a reduction in pain.

School begins tomorrow for the grandchildren. Lady Bug is going into third grade. She is still grouped with the gifted and talented. I am sure she will be classified this year. She is excited about the new school year. I think it will be a good one for her. She has the same g/t teacher all day, and her class is only 15 students. Sounds good.

Monkey Boy will be going into a "bridge program." He only turned five last month, and none of us think he is mature enough for kindergarten. The school will not retain him at the end of kindergarten, and we are really afraid that might be the best thing for him. We really don't want him to float along, and then about third or fourth not be able to cut it. All this does is to give him another year to mature. He really needs it. I wish I had such a program available for Son when he was this age. School was always hard for him. By the way, his birthday is the day after MB's. So there was a maturity factor there too.

So goes my life. The cold is going away - some. I am feeling a little more human. Good thing. I have a huge pile of laundry to do!

Peace

Sunday Potpourri

It is unusual that I am posting on Sunday, but here I am all alone - at least right now.

G and the guys are at the SSB. They have unloaded the large table my dad made years and years ago that was at the lake. Daughter got a picture from Son in Law's phone. She said it looks good. It makes sense to have that table there. It will seat 8, and when everyone is there, we need something that large. In a few years, we will still need a kid's table though. Right now there are 4 grandchildren, but I know that number will increase. Plus, our house is usually the gathering place if the extended family gets together - but that seems to be happening less and less since Father in law's death.

G just called and said they will be bringing the "large chest" back here. I gave exact directions that if it was damaged too badly by the vandals, leave it. Well . . . It looks like it is. It is not where I wanted it. The other one is not where I wanted it. Men!! Well I can change it June 19 weekend. I need to paint those chests that are there. They don't go with the colors in the house - at all. One of the chests is an antique cedar chest that is painted "cheokee red" which is in fact a dark pink/rose. Does. Not. Fit. In.

Enough of all that. Lady Bug had been promised Build A B*ar today, but since I said that I don't think I could walk that much we are going to a thrift shop that has great new (from model homes) furniture, lunch and a movie. Of course, BAB is on tap for tomorrow.

At least I will be getting out of the house. I have lots to do here. I need to complete the inner and outer purse that I am doing. I want to have that for the July craft show along with other outer purses. I will post pictures when I have finished. I also want to make baby and toddler hats. They are supposed to sell like hotcakes. The only problem with these projects is it still takes time to embroidery them.

Happy Sunday.

Peace

Nappy time it is!

I have just returned from one of those "you're in town" command performances. Lady Bug was in her second swim team event. I was informed she would be crushed if Grandma didn't come to at least one event. I went and stayed for four. That little girl is actually incredible. This is her first year, and she is really good. She improved her time on three of the events, and actually participated in one where she didn't know the stroke. Not only was she not disqualified, she placed third.

I really should have gone to Son's vocal recital. But I think he will understand. At least I hope.

G and Son in law and friend went to the lake house to remove some of the furniture before we put it on the market. He called Daughter and said the way the vandals tore up the place made him want to cry. Yep, me too. I am really having to distance myself from that house. My parents put so much of themselves in it. It was just a shell, and they completed it.

I feel like a failure in keeping the "estate." First, the funeral home really wrecked Daddy's funeral, and now I have let the vandals ruin that house. I just feel like I can't really do anything right.

Hope your holiday is a good one.

Peace.

Here we go again

It seems like I do more venting here than anything else, but here I go again.

I really like using Fire*ox for my browsing the web. I feel, perhaps without real justification, safer there. I think it is harder to allow bad things to happen.

But, for some reason, there are many times that I cannot get that browser to open my homepage - or anything else for that matter. That's what has happened today.

The real problem with this is all my bookmarks are on that browser. I have very few over here. I really feel hampered. Bah.

After I returned yesterday, George's aunt called to check on me, but she had gotten a call that his last remaining uncle on that side was in really bad condition. They were getting ready to head over to the Alamo City to see him. Last night she called to say he had died. We are down now to two sisters from that family of ten.

She told me one very interesting thing. She never married along with another sister. Two of the boys never had children. But this family has produced 102 nieces, nephews (and their children and grandchildren). What a family! One of the cousins is way ahead of the rest of us. He is a great grandfather. Our grandchildren are next in age, and our oldest is 8. Amazing. It's no wonder I love searching my genealogy.

Peace.

Scheduling conflicts

Most days, I sit here with nothing to do really. I do find a lot of things to keep myself busy, but there are no appointments per se.

But occasionally I get slammed with appointments. This is one of the two times a year that is chock full of doctor/dentist appointments. Now that I have joined the sewing club, that comes up the first Thursday of the month, and then we added to it all when we bought the new entertainment center last week.

All things met today. I was supposed to see the radiation oncologist, which is still a puzzle to me. I don't know why I see her. She looks, pokes and gives me another dose of her Middle Eastern folk medicines! I never could understand why she advised me to drink only regular temperature water - no ice, but that's a whole other story.

Today is also club meeting day. I really wanted to go, and perhaps I still can. They have morning, afternoon, and evening meetings. If I can I'll go to the 1:30 one.

But right now, here I sit waiting for delivery of the new stuff. I thought they would arrive early, but there are differing definitions of early. I am scheduled for morning, but there are still many hours in "morning."

G really hates the store where we purchased the stuff. I am very nervous about how this is all going to play out. When I was getting ready to move furniture, because the G*ek Squad is not supposed to move any furniture, I realized that I didn't know how big the stand was. So, I went on line to get the specs on that piece. It was then I decided I would read reviews of that stand. Fine time to do that - since it has been paid for! But that's me.

The biggest thing that was negative about the piece was that assembly was a bear. Well - that's what I paid them for. I just hope they check it out before they leave with it to make sure it is all there and in good conditions.

I think I will have them in my house for at least three hours. It appears that just the stand will take at least 1 hour. So the big question is just when they will arrive.

I think I will be canceling my club meeting today too!

Peace.

Our weekend - again

The weekend was really rather quiet. I spent almost all day Saturday and a good part of Sunday opening zip files of downloaded embroidery designs. I couldn't believe how many I had!!

The part of Saturday I wasn't working on the computer I participated in something I had never done before. We made venison link sausage. I have made breakfast sausage myself, and this year we did it at the neighbors because he has a terrific grinder. It took just a few minutes to grind that meat where it takes me most of the day because our grinder will burn out if it gets too much pushed through it!!

We decided we would do some link this time. It really was fun, and very, very easy. The only thing is that it couldn't be smoked because E had already closed up the smoke house for the year. But that was ok. We had some for dinner Sunday night, and it was pretty good.

I am totally sleep deprived. Simone has always been an occasional snorer. But this weekend she was the champ. She out-snored G! I tried to sleep in another bedroom, but I am so funny about beds. I don't sleep in different beds very well - even if they are in my own house. I think she was so bad because it is so dry up there - especially for us swamp dwellers. One day the humidity in the closest big city (Capitol City) was 8%! But she is going to get to have her teeth cleaned soon. Ill have her checked out.


Before leaving on Friday, I checked the business email. I got a good chuckle out of it. A woman emailed asking for a close up of the diaper cake, and then asked what else I had for a little girl for last weekend. Our cakes are custom. I guess I need to make that really obvious. I told K about it, and her response was we should make some generic ones to have on hand. I guess that's a good point. I started that with some of the burp cloths - that's why I am five short instead of three for the recent order. Well, three or five, I still have to go out today to get more so it doesn't really matter.

I guess this is something that is in our society today. Even though items are advertised as being custom made and personalized, the expectation is still there that something of that quality still can be had on the spot. So, I will begin making the bands for the cakes in a generic design. Putting the cake together only takes a few minutes. Sounds like a plan.

Peace.

I'm stimulating!

Yep, we are doing our part to stimulate this economy!!

When all the talk about TV going digital, G thought we would have to replace our sets. Now I was really stupid when I revealed my superior intelligence on the subject and told him that since we had cable here and satellite at the SSB, we were fine. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! I have wanted a flat screen for a long time. If I had kept my mouth shut - I would have that set.

The problem with that is our present set is absolutely fine. It has a great picture, and shows no signs of dieing any time soon. I just can't throw out a perfectly good set for really no good reason. My son has the same set, and his is rocking along just fine as well. We bought them about the same time - probably a good 12 years ago.

Finding a good home for a 12 year old, 27 inch analog TV is not easy. The poor baby is obsolete, and it just doesn't know it. It sits there proudly running programs all day without complaining at all. How can I just pitch it. I doubt that even the resale shops would want it.

Well, I now have that problem. Sunday I looked at the ad from the remaining electronics biggie. I usually don't because G hates them with a passion. He tried to get something covered under warranty several years ago, and it didn't go well. When things like that happen to him, he does not go back to said store (or chain).

This store had a 42 inch flat screen, surround sound, and their people to come set it up for $1200. I was talking about it to the kids before dinner. Yesterday, after our respective doctor appointments, he suggested we both go to that store to see about that TV. I really was quite amazed.

So off we went. We got there. Marched right up to the set. And no one was there to help us. There was one salesman, but he didn't even acknowledge our presence. I know he had a customer, but he could have said he knew we were there.

So I decided to wander up to the front of the store with my bewildered face. It worked. We got a very knowledgeable young man with a great personality. I finally walked out of there about $2000 lighter with the date to put the stand together and set up our TV next Thursday. I guess he was really a good salesman, but technology has run by and left me in the dust. Probably I could have gotten by with a cheaper surge protector, but I also remember the PC being all but destroyed by a close lightening strike. This one has the cable going into it before the set.

Happy Valentines Day (I guess) to us! And viva the economy!

Peace.