Eureka Springs

We are almost finished with this part of the trip. We finally got back to the car to put the parking permit in the window.

Last night was spent out on the balcony eating dinner and listening to a guitar and fiddle player play and sing.  They were good, and the food was ok. Then we returned home for me to get ready to go to sleep.

Why so early?  Well, what's with these hotels.  The last one and this one have ONE chair!  So, I sit on the bed - which is really uncomfortable.  AND they are saving electricity.  The bulbs are so small.  In fact the bedside table lamp has a bulb that would normally be put in a chandelier candle.  I am now sounding like my dad - this is all too dim!

Today we - now get ready for this newsflash - rode a train.  It was a nice trip - with scenery we have seen 25 times, but that is just being an excursion rail road.  This was a lunch trip.  The food was really good!  We had a great time.

Then we bought the daily pass for the trolley.  We rode two of the routes, saw some beautiful houses, and traveled several hair pin turns to get to HIGH altitudes.

The hills here are steep.  When we rode the trolley back, we chose the stop that is up the hill from the hotel.  That was a crazy trip down.  The sidewalk is as uneven as a dirt road.  An unimproved dirt road!  Several parts of the trip had to be a 30 degree path.  I certainly watched my step closely.

The part I would like to forget - getting on the first trolley.  G stopped one in the middle of the block.  The part of the street I had to use was way lower than the step.  The driver - sitting in the middle of traffic - had to lower the wheel chair lift to get me on.  I could have died!  My knees simply won't put a lot of push into things.

So, we are on the road tomorrow on our way to Iowa.  It is just a sleep stop, so I am not expecting drama from a 100 year old hotel.  I need a break!

Tonight will go out in style here.  Our room is under the room that can be rented for special occasions.  We have a wedding reception going on up there.  It is only 5:37 - the thing hasn't even begun, and we are hearing a lot of heavy steps.  Oh well - I have my ear plugs, and they have worked well for the last two nights!

Peace.

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.

Well, expletive deleted!

Today has been quite a day.  I went for my annual mammogram.  A little glitch there - seems like I called the wrong place to schedule it!  I thought chemo-brain would have been long gone by now.  I guess old age is settling in with a vengeance.

They worked me in on time, and all is well there.  That's always good news.

I was instructed by the GP to get a glucose meter.  So I did.  That's just the tip of the iceberg on that front.  His office just called with the results from my blood work.  All with cholesterol is good.  But it has been for a long time.  The triglycerides are only 100 units high (ugh), but the blood glucose this time was horrible.  It was 145!

Something with the urine - didn't understand her well - was also elevated. So now he wants me to see a nephrologist and and an endocrinologist.  Well, expletive deleted!

I don't want to see either of these people!  I have had enough is doctors!  I don't need two more in my stable.  S***, s***, s***!  I already have two doctors pending because I just don't want to go - the ophthalmologist, and the dermatologist.

I had other things I was going to talk about today, but now all those thoughts have been pushed out with this.  UGH!

This rant has been brought to you by DOCTORS!!!

Well - peace be with YOU at least.

More clarity I hope

I sincerely  hope this will make more sense today than yesterday.  I am some better than I was - the antihistamine is finally building up in my blood enough that I am beginning to feel human again.  I will swear to who or whatever that I will NEVER let my supply of antihistamines deplete again.  I will travel the 30+ miles to town to get more.  Kinda sounds like a druggie though, doesn't it.

In addition to the main problem, I went with Daughter to put her 15 year old dog down.  That was a hard thing to do.  I had hoped that I would not get emotional about it, but he was a real part of the family.  He was such a good dog.  So that added to my head problems.  Crying always does.

I did decide that the nasal spray that is so out of date (expired in 2007) wasn't such a great idea, so I bought some new.  I hope I don't need it again for another five years.

Step granddaughter is in town.  Several months ago, she decided that it would be cool to shop lift.  She was caught.  Her court date had been put off and put off.  It was finally set for yesterday, but she had to be in San Antonio.  So SIL used his frequent flyer miles to get her here, and he arranged his business meeting for yesterday so they could get that settled.  Of all places to shop-lift - Target!  Well now she can go back to  Alabama, where she and baby-daddy are living, with only fees to pay and reporting to be done.  I hope this will be taken off her record when the probation is done.  What a way to ruin your life at age 19.  Kids are so stupid.  I know mine were.

I have finally gotten caught up on all things computer related now - finally.  Managed to even leave some comments here and there.  I do have to get the other computer back in working order though.  I really need that router going again.  Of course, the lap top I use for upstairs embroidery designs has a rather small hard drive, and it is almost full!  I spent the entire time at the SSB deleting files that were on it twice (or more).  I have a little room left.  Ah - computers!

Peace.

Exciting days

Yesterday was another test of the Grandma's Lack of Technological Sense.  Thanks to my dear internet friend Judy, I got to play with our "new" home theater system.  The thing is at least three years old, and I still fight it.

I was going to watch the wonderful Adele DVD.  Oh, that meant that I had to put the DVD in the player.  That part I remembered.  Then came the real fun.  I had to get sound out of the speakers AND a picture on the screen.

You have to understand that I have trouble switching from regular tv to surround sound, and getting the radio on - well, let's just say that I try for about 15 minutes, then walk away!

So I loaded the DVD.  The easy part.  Then I began trying to get the sound. I finally got that, all the while knowing that I would never get to listen to Prairie Home Companion on Sunday again!

Then I tried everything I could think of to get the picture.  I knew G wouldn't settle for sound only with something completely off the subject on the screen.

I fiddled and fiddled.  Then the memory came flooding back into my feeble (post menopausal, post chemo) brain.  I needed yet another remote.  This action required three remotes.  You see, our fancy, expensive all in one remote that never worked properly is dead.  It is beyond revival.

We watch so many DVD movies I forgot how to work all that stuff.  When I got the third remote out, I remembered how to control the input, and viola, there was the picture.  I did it.  I had sound - out of the speakers, and an image on the screen.

We sat back and enjoyed the concert - greatly!!

Today began as a good day.  I got to sleep in!!!  We went to the Wednesday prayer and communion service, bought Daughter's birthday gift,and then found a new Italian restaurant.  The food was delightful as well as inexpensive.

That was the end of the beautiful day.  As we had already backed out of the parking space and were getting ready to pull out, there was a loud explosion sounding thingy.  I thought the car (yes, the "new" one) had blown up or something.  Nope - some little girl was in a hurry to leave and backed into us. So my bright, shiny new Toyota has a big boo-boo on the back.

What's even worse, I am hoping this is just nerves, but my sciatica, which has been hurting anyway again, is killing me.  I know when I get upset, it will hurt.  The back tightens up a lot.  Well ...  It is tight !  And I am upset. So, what will tomorrow bring?  We'll see.

Peace.

"Bummed"

Yep , that's me.  The craft show was/is today.  It was down to the wire for the snow to be blown.  If you remember, I said that there was a great chance for rain today.  It was still 70-80%.  The time that the decision was to be made was 10:30.  That was when the snow was to be blown.

Well - when I got up it was very dark and overcast.  Then about 9ish, the sun had the audacity to come out.  I got my first email from the person who chairs that committee. She said she would send an email between 10:30 and 11.

I had already made my decision.  As frantically as I worked last night, I still wasn't ready.  Then after G and Son picked up and unloaded firewood yesterday, I knew any help I sought from G was gone.  I knew  he was going to be too sore.  And he is.

So I told Daughter that I was pulling out.  When the email came, the show was a go.  They decided to blow the snow, so there will be no rescheduling of the  event.  There went my last chance for a show this year.  This means I haven't done a show in 1 1/2 years.  Her being at a swim meet was a big part of my decision.  She couldn't help, and G certainly didn't want to help.  That was clear even last night.

Well, here it is 1 PM, and we are having rain.  I will bet that the snow won't last very much longer, and I am sure there won't be many kids there to play in it.  I know there have been lots of kiddos out of school sick.  I would hope their parents would think better of them  being out in this much cooler, wet day playing in cold, wet snow.

So - my income for the day $0.00.  I guess it's ok though.  I am not sitting out in the wet cold.  My merchandise is not getting wet.  Have to look at the positives.  Got what I wanted - rain.  Not when I wanted, but still got it.  Didn't get to church because it might not have rained.  I need a weather wizard!

Peace.

Ho-hum

Another hot, dry day.  That means staying in the house, which doesn't really bother me, but it is driving G insane.  That, in turn, is driving me insane.  He begins his tirade on global warming again and again.  He is so irritable about the whole thing.  He insists that he is  not staying here in the heat and dryness next summer.  That is really stupid.  I don't know where or what he is thinking about doing, but it is stupid.  Plain and simple.

Last night I had about enough of it, so I asked why he is getting so upset about it.  Really.  It doesn't make sense to rail and rant about something if you cannot really do something about it.  I have too many other things that I CAN do something about.

I agree that there is climate change.  It is obvious.  I try to explain that some possibly be a natural cycle in nature - which I really believe.  I also know humans are just about to put the final insult on our world.  But ranting and raving about it, threatening to spend thousands of dollars to live someplace else for several months to get away from the heat ...   It would really be funny if he follows through on that and ends up where heat follows - or gets into flooding conditions.  Stupid.

Enough of things that smack of politics.  I don't do that here.  I try to stay away from politics and religion.  Sometimes things sneak in, but that isn't what I focus on.  I get enough around here.

Simone is still restless at night.  That means she is banging and scraping furniture in the bedroom.  Either that or she is trying to get into her crate which is an impossibility.  I am trying to give her more and more time without the e-collar.  She is pretty good about not attacking her stitches, but I have to put it back on if there is a chance I might not be really watching her.

Last night, I decided that I would put the antibiotic ointment on the stitches.  She doesn't like to roll over - at least right now.  G gets upset with her, and the other night he said he wished I would do the ointment.  So I did last night.

I had her in the bedroom with me.  I got on the floor with her and made her roll over.  I was able to get a lot of ointment on her.  Then it came time for me to get up.  I realized I had made a crucial  mistake.  My ortho guy has told me not to kneel.  He fears titanium pressing on the floor with the thin little knee cap between.  Well, there I was.

After about 10 minutes my solution finally came to me.  Thank goodness we had the attic taken in several years ago when the kids were teens (to get them and their teenage messes out of the way).  I had made the mistake at that time to put the stairs in the closet space that was in the hallway - just outside the master bedroom door.  I had always  disliked that placement - after it was too late.  Last night I was delighted with that placement.  I scooted out the door and pulled myself up the steps until I could stand.

Yesterday afternoon I went to work on more of the baptismal blankets.  My machine HAD been working like a dream.  Note the operative word there - had.  I completed the shell which is so very stitch intensive.  I moved onto the date.  That's when all hell broke loose.  The thread formed a huge "bird's nest" on the back side, ripped the stabilizer, and stretched the blanket.  The machine and I fought for at least an hour.  I came back down to cool off.  I was about to pitch that machine out the window and say good riddance.  Anyway - after I went back, there were still some problems, but I completed the blanket.  It isn't perfect, but by that time there was way too much invested to just throw it away.  (I guess I need to serve you some cheese after that whine!)  I only have (ONLY???) five more to go, and then I am free for a while.

So this is the excitement in my life.  A grumpy husband, a sly dog, and terrible weather and fights with my sewing machine.  Sigh.

Peace.

Too much to hope for

Once again, our hopes have been dashed.  I probably won't get a drop of rain from this storm.  It, too, is going to our east, therefore, no rain and higher temperatures because all the moisture will be pulled to the storm.

I should have known as much.  At the end of the week, all we could do was watch our rain chances dwindle.  We are  not on water conservation.  That means we can water only on Tuesday and Fridays, and something like 12:00 midnight to 9 am, and some other time in the evening.

Well - enough for that.  Shadow certainly didn't leave my side too often last night.  He plastered himself right up against me.  That cat is one hot body.  Just what I needed!  He probably won't get anywhere near the bed when it gets cold!

Daughter and I went out to get more supplies today.  I have to get the pictures posted sometime.  Actually, I need to get photos TAKEN sometime.  She took the one of Lady Bug's dress that I finished last Saturday.  I haven't been back up there except to get thread colors I need for the embroidery of the shells on the baptism blankets.

I guess this weekend I will lock  myself up and work of dresses.  Now if I can get an inventory up so I can sell some of those suckers!

Have a good holiday.  I will probably not catch up with you until Monday evening or Tuesday morning - unless I have another animal incident where said animal wants to confess his or her stupidity!

Peace

Rushed again

I think I need to return to work. I am busier now than ever - oh, wait a minute - G needs to go back to work! Yesterday was teeth cleaning, eye exams with a lunch thrown in. Geesh!

I wanted to tell you a little more about our train trip. We left Houston about 9:30 on the Sunset Limited headed to Las Angeles. The train was actually on time. In fact we had no trains that were late. It was really something. I always tell people to not depend on getting where you are going - unless it's a short trip if you are going by train. When you go by train, it's the trip - not the destination.

Our sleeper was about ready which was good. We really didn't need it made up for sleeping - yet. The tracks between here and San Antonio must have been worked on because the trip was smooth. We had a longish lay over in San Antonio because the train from Chicago hooks up, and there is considerable switching to do. It isn't as bad as it sounds. It is like 3-4 AM. I was completely sacked out. Didn't know a thing about it.

We were on that train for a couple of days. It is a nice trip. Eating in the dining car (included in the ticket), moving around the cars - like to the club car or dome. Even just sitting in your bedroom space is nice. You can really be comfortable. REMEMBER this is not coach.

The second morning we woke to the mountains in California, and the desert on the east of the mountains. It was really pretty.

We were going to change trains in LA. We have been stung before, and this was a leisurely trip. So we planned to take one of the Metro trains to Oxnard. I was a little concerned. I see our "Metro train." It is a little play train. Someday it may grow up into a real train. That was a really neat commuter train. Something I have never experienced. So we were on to Oxnard.

I will pick up there since I need to go to my "drug pusher" Pain clinic on (egad) clinic day. I get the results of the EMG and whatever else.

Peace be with you

Do you watch Desperate Housewives?

I do, rather I did until I read the paper this morning. All of the stars, except Teri Hatcher, want more money. Those poor little actresses. I guess they are on rice and beans because they cannot afford better food. I guess they are on the streets living in cardboard boxes. Good thing it stays fairly warm in California.

Could you manage on a mere $400,000 per episode. Why of course not. It's inhumane to ask them to struggle on that. Why of course they need more money.

That makes me thing of the millions that sports figures make. Then they want more. What in the world are they spending it one. How can you "need/deserve more money. This boggles my mind.

To my way of thinking, they must sew it together to make sheets for the bed. Perhaps they use it to light fires or candles. I cannot imagine why millions aren't enough.

I laugh when they "fine" sports figures. The amount of that fine is like $2.00 for us. It sounds like it is so much! Ha!

This is despicable when you look at teachers salaries. They have the student's future in their collective hands. Every one talks about education, but when the rubber hits the road, these people disappear.

There are many other jobs where the worker isn't paid a living salary. But coming up with the money to pay these people who are playing a game, and putting on play there never is a problem.

OK, I'm off my soap box. It is one that I have carried for years. I can't understand someone making 400,000 a day of work (I will admit they probably had to work for that one episode, but still!!) wanting more - demanding more. Just can't wrap my mind around such "salary".

Peace be with you (and me!).

Bah!

No, I am not in a sour spirit about Christmas. Things are coming along rather well after my self imposed slavery upstairs in my converted attic room slaving over a sewing machine for hours on end - oh wait, that's not exactly right. I was in a nicely appointed, air conditioned (yes - it is still hot here) room while my machine works its little heart out. Things did get completed, and now I have the rest of the evening and half day tomorrow to pick up the danged clutter that was down here reproducing. That's what happens you know, when two pieces of clutter ... well fill in the rest.

No, what I am "bummed" about is that I miscalculated when I was counting years of survival from cancer. It is only four. So what's the big deal? It is survival, you know. True, but there is a bit of magic with that number five for survival. I know there are plenty of survivors who die at all number of years. I heard recently of a twenty-five year survivor passing from cancer. No true magic, but it is a special number, and I won't reach it until next year. Bah.

I am still in a state after that one particular "Hoarders" show. The one where she was, to me, just messy. Each little break from changing threads yesterday I used to go around and around the craft room trying to find homes for all the stuff. Some of it simply wants to live under a bridge - it wants nothing to do with a home. All you crafters know that we use some people's trash - or what they would consider trash. As a teacher I surely did. We used old 2 liter bottles, baby food jars - practically you name it. I have really become rather paranoid from that program.

I have never claimed to be a housekeeper. At the time I had a full time teaching job, part time organist, and running and supplying a little craft shop on the weekends, I learned that there are moments that you will never get back. Spending time with your loved ones is precious. The house can wait. I guess my mom was a little that way. A spotless house certainly wasn't on her agenda.

So I will continue on my "hoarder" ways. There is a little clutter about. Sometimes it gets out of hand and I get the whip to it. I don't know how many days are left in my personal calendar, but I think I would be better off if I try to live them fully. I won't be staying home to clean house if there is a better opportunity out there. Happy hoarding and sloppyness to all! Enjoy your life - after all you never know...

I don't know how much posting I will be doing between now and the 4th. With all the celebrating, we will be at the SSB until the 4th. If the elves have added more G's to the service, I might have web service. It is really spotty. So if I don't post again I hope you all have a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year. I will post pictures of my projects too.

Peace be with you,

We're back - and to a mess

It was a fairly quiet weekend at the SSB. G shot a doe, and he is finished until it is Spike season. We have some mighty long spikes running about. Those will never sprout a full blown rack, and they are three or four years old. We don't want them entering the breeding there. That will mean none of the bucks will have any horns.

I forgot to check the home voice mail Sunday afternoon/evening. It was our renters. They had a sewage backup. I found the message Monday morning, and began calling. We had to leave the house, so that meant cell phone. We had cell phone + hills = no service.

Before we left, I got the voice mail of the renter. I left a message. On the road, I finally got the plumber in Llano. I kept calling the renter and leaving messages.

I got home, and renter called. She is really not the sharpest knife in the drawer! She hesitated, and I asked if they had gotten with the plumber, and had it come to fix the problem. No - she just got home. That phone was at home. She sees I have called multiple times. So talking top the plumber. She said they did a stop gap - the sewage is flowing into the back yard. Gasp!!

Then the way she does things, she adds that the heater "isn't putting out a lot of hot air." Ok - I gave her the HVAC people's number to call. She calls it in that evening as an emergency. That is an additional $78 thank you very much!

I am going to send an email, as I promised, but with all my numbers, not the contractors numbers as I had said before. They were so concerned before signing the lease that we would just enter the property without notice. I was trying to respect their privacy. So I have tried to let them schedule meeting with the contractors. Well that is OVER. I am no longer careful about their privacy except to give them notice. You either be there at that time or I will. Simple. Like the apartments do it.

A bit of this and a touch of that

Daughter and I did the little craft show here in the city. Every year there are more vendors, and the take is small. My cards were the hit this year. I think they would have sold last year, but I was getting out of the hospital the day that was rescheduled. Since it was after Christmas, I doubt they would have sold either.

We did not sell a single wreath. They are beautiful. In fact, we sold eight cards, a sleep mask and two girls coins purses. What a waste of five hours on a cold Sunday afternoon.

I went to a craft show on Saturday. That started my back hurting. Setting up yesterday almost killed me. My back was screaming. So much for me not having the injection next week. I am not as well as I thought.

I decided the only way for any relief was a hot bath. I cannot kneel. I have to kneel to get out of the tub. So I thought I would bring a pillow. After the water was out, I put in the pillow. It wasn't going to work well. So I managed to maneuver to get out. I wasn't going to be known as the old fat lady who had to be hauled out of the tub. Not in this little city! Not on your life. It wasn't a pretty picture, but I got out!

Best news of all is my machine is ready. It is earlier than I thought, even though it is too late for this craft show. I will make some things for the grandkids now. Such is life.

Simone may have cancer. It is something that boxers are prone to. She had a bit place on her head. The vet did a quick biopsy this morning. The cells didn't look cancerous, and she has one little place with the big one. They are mostly in a circle - with one outside the circle - a little way out. G met a boxer that lives on the corner who does have that cancer - a mast cell cancer. He is ten, and this is killing him. So we just have to wait and see.

Enough rambling. My hydrocodone dosn't have any effect on me, does it. I feel just the way I have been writing. Ohhh bad. I will try to be more with it tomorrow!

Peace be with you.

Here I sit with other things to do

I just can't seem to break the habit of sitting here at the computer every morning. I check my embroidery sites, read emails (from 4 sources), check Facebook, and then read blogs. Then sometimes I am inspired to write on the weekend - like today.

Tomorrow is the last craft show of the year. My embroidery machine is still in the shop - not unexpected. So that means I can do sewing projects to add to the merchandise, but that's it. So I am working on little lovies (you know, the things with different ribbons sticking out) that are in the shape of a cat. I had a program for embroidering one, but well...

Yesterday Lady Bug came to help. I had her cutting those blasted ribbons. That takes time. So she cut while I sewed. We completed 3 1/2 in an hour and a half. Not too shabby.

I want to go to one of the school's FFA craft show today. I think Daughter will go with me, and if not, I may not go. I really do not need to spend any more money this month!

I have been reading all you wonderful people who have decorated for Christmas. It makes me a little sad. All my stuff is still put away. I want to put up the tree this year, but I am worried about that cat who should be dipped in gold when he passes. I am afraid, and for good reason, the little critter will try to eat the thing. I surely don't need to pay for another exploratory surgery!

So I have wasted enough time. Simone is sitting here coughing because she has a bad case of reflux, so I am going to get her an antacid pill and sew more lovies!

Peace be with you.

Where have I been?

It has not been pretty - not at all. I have spent the last three days cussing up a storm. You see, on Monday afternoon, I was trying to make a back-up CD of my hard work in organizing my embroidery designs. Some were purchased, most were free - and offered once. As I was trying to do that little thing, the computer locked in a non-ending loop.

I turned it off because it was getting late. I tried everything I knew to stop it, but to no avail, so I just pushed the button and held it until it stopped. Tuesday morning, I turned it on again. It was in the non- ending loop once again (still??) So, I somehow got into a screen that had the option of reformatting the hard drive and re-establish Windows. It said that there were two options. Option one got rid of everything on the hard drive. Option two would put them in something around B:\\

That sounded like the thing to do - my problems would be solved. The computer would be back, and I could find my information again. That was wonderful. So I did it. Then I started trying to find the way to undo it. I couldn't find that file where all my hard work, my personal and business websites that I had so judiciously bookmarked, the free designs that I had been so lax in backing up. They were gone. So were all the programs except for Windows.

I was sick. I began opening everything that could open. One thing that said something along the lines of backup was locked! I still opened, opened, opened. I finally found a file that had the data base and the big design file, but the program files were just bits and pieces.

I had the feeling that something was going to happen to this computer last week. I sat and wrote down my most important email addresses to the business and personal. That's one thing I don't like about Fiiefox. You cannot make a copy of your bookmarks. In explorer, there is a file. It is intact. But I have lost so much. I just don't know how I will recover some things.

Some were programs that were free. I don't remember where I got them. One I had to pay for, but it was internet download. I can't restore it. I have a lot of things to load back on from discs - if I can find the disc.

When your computer crashes, and you don't work from a desk, it is really a disaster. I will spend the day tomorrow loading things on the computer, and still hoping that I will be able to find some more of the lost. I can't even call the hogs to come!

Peace be with you.

Stupid add ons

I finally discovered and corrected the problem I had with this computer. I would visit blogs, and when I wanted to post a comment, Java popped up. I had to check yes to have it allow me to comment, with one little exception. It wouldn't let me post. So for about two weeks, I have not been able to post - even to my own blog.

I had a little icon that kept popping up that said Java needed to be updated. I ignored it forever, and finally it wore me down. I installed the update. I really thought it would make videos and the like better.

Then I started having trouble. I couldn't post a comment on just one blog in particular. I thought the blogger might have done something that changed something. These last ten years have left me in the dust with computers. Then when my firewall showed that Java wanted access whenever I wanted to post a comment, especially on blogger, I finally figured out the problem.

So I began deleting the downloads of the upgrades. Each one took about 30-45 minutes. So I plugged away at those offending updates not knowing nor caring which one might have been the problem. I am sure that there will come a time when I wish I had that program. I certainly may have been way too hasty, but I can post comments now.

I don't know why some programs can cause such problems. I never knew this one in particular would not act properly on my computer, but then I am far from an IT person. I am also far from the information about dangerous or faulty upgrades. But I do know how to delete the program! (I am ignoring the fact that there are remnants of that program left on my computer - ignorance is bliss)

Peace be with you.

Look out clutter!

For about ten years, clutter has been residing here, inviting friends in. It is sort of like a flop house for that mess. After all, who was around to check credentials on that s**t. The man of the house was rather oblivious, or at least that's the way it seems. He easily ignores the build up, and his hands are never fouled by touching it. The woman of the house was too busy at that time to check it. She was handling a 1 year old toddler and a 92 year old toddler who at least was in a care facility. The clutter seemed to be sneaky slipping in when no one was home.

After a bit, the 2 year old toddler went to day care, but the 93 year old was still around and had to be check on. There was a new shady character coming in, this time attacking the knees of the woman. it brought a friend - the sciatica that attacked the lower back and right leg. She soon had trouble walking and standing. The clutter - well it was reproducing at an alarming rate. Real, live people really weren't welcomed into the house with that nasty clutter.

The woman managed to keep things sanitary, but the clutter was there. Sometimes it was moved to the office. It couldn't be moved upstairs because the clutter left by the children when they returned to home was there. There wasn't much room, but some found it's way there anyway.

Then after all those years, the woman decided that she really didn't want to become wheel chair bound because she couldn't stand or walk long. She went to the magic doctor who went right after those non-working knees. He also referred her to another doctor who began working on the spine that had bone pushing on nerves and was narrowing the spine. He helped take the pain from the back and leg.

So now the woman is able to focus on her surroundings. She is sick of the clutter. She is getting organized, and has a plan for attacking that unwanted guest. Is she organized? Really? Yes. Look at the schedule. Look at her calendar. Even look at her penmanship. All that is different. It is very organized.

Clutter, haven't you noticed you've lost some friends all over the house. They are gone. They aren't coming back. As new clutter tries to come in and get settled in, it is escorted right out - either the trash or the recycling bin. It never has a chance to meet other clutter and form a family. You old guys over there in the corner, your time is limited. You are going to be history!

Peace be with you!

Finally home

Our trip to the SSB was really uneventful. I rode with daughter and the kids. The kids were really excellent. She owns the troop carrier now, and there is really more room in that big old F250. I realize it each time we pack up to go ourselves.

We were to meet SIL at the airport in Austin. His place was due to land about 1:30. I thought there would be some kind of foul up. G (which is the first letter of grouch!) was to meet him in our truck. I just knew something would go wrong. Having him come in from California in itself could cause all sorts of things, but it didn't.

We stopped at a Sonic just south of Austin on the way for lunch and to let the kids get out and move around. We stayed there just long enough. We headed on to meet just outside of Austin. The plane landed right on time, but there was a big storm that hit us while we were eating. That could have caused a delay, but it didn't!

So on Saturday, we loaded up to set up for Round Up. We got set up, and things were arranged well. About the only sales were the neck coolers. Had it not been them, it would have been a real bust. The purses that I ordered that I thought would sell, didn't. I have made the decision that next year, if we are there, it will be a spectators for the parade and the Donkey Race. I am not selling next year. Not worthwhile.

The rest of the weekend was peaceful. The kids were really good the entire time. Doodle Bug was a typical three year old, but not to the extreme.

We stayed an extra day so that we could have the HVAC checked. It was fine. No charge.

We got the repairman out for the dishwasher. He didn't want to make that trip since we are 37 miles from town on a rough dirt (rock) road. His basic fee was $100. I thought there would be a $2/mile charge, but I didn't see it.

G was going to just buy another one. I wasn't against it. I really thought we just had a lemon. When I bought it - LAST YEAR - I bought a medium one. So with all this trouble I really thought it was a lemon. I made G do it because there were veiled accusations that since SIL had to install it, that somehow broke the thing - I guess. I refused to do anything about getting a new one. I had the problem last year, and what we have was the best I could do.

Well, I'm off the subject again. The repairman showed up. He opened the control - like our hunter did last hunting season. I thought there was a loose wire in that for sure. When the repairman finished, he held up a yellow wire nut. That was the problem. It wasn't allowing a good connection in the wiring we had to Jake leg because we didn't know to keep the power cord since they don't come with them. Fair enough! That little thing cost $123. That would have been the fee for them to send out an installer last year, and it would have been days later.

So there you have it. I thumbnail sketch of our weekend. I began the week today using my Medicare card the first time - to have blood work done. By the way, I think there might of been about seven people ticked at me. Last night I went on line. The first appointment I could get was 9:10. That was great for me. I picked up my orders from the doctor's office, walked down the hall, registered at the lab, and barely had time to sit down before I was called - ahead of all those folks. Call for an appointment people!

Peace be with you.

What a day

It has been quite a day. I really don't want to relive it either.

Years ago, G was driving the blue truck we bought from Son, and gave back to Son. Confusing, but that's our family. We pass things like trucks and tables around - we are weird. Anyway, one evening G came home and told me he had a fender bender. Well it bent his grill guard, but the car wasn't as lucky. It was at a yield sign to merge into other traffic on the freeway feeder. He thought the car in from had gone on, but it hadn't. So blue truck meets rear of car. Not so good. But G was lucky the guy in the car didn't want to pursue anything. Probably he didn't have insurance nor a drivers license.

Today was sewing club. I weighed going or not. I missed last month when they made some real progress on the sewing machine cover project. I had not even been able to make the things at home that we were supposed to do. But I really want to finish that project because it is just so darn cute. So I went. I also took my "show and tell." We didn't get to do that part so I decided to leave at 12 instead of 12:30. I thought it would be nice to get home a little early.

The plot thickens here. I just read that Mercury is in retrograde. Perhaps that's the cause of this or I was just stupid. I got to the intersection where I needed to turn. There was a Tahoe in front of me. The light turned red, and there were three cars leaving the mall parking lot. They passed. Way back was another car. I thought I could go on. Nope. The Tahoe was still there. So I hit her rear.

There is bumper damage to the Tahoe and the back quarter panel was bent to that the tail light won't stay in. At today's prices, I'm sure that will run at least $2000.

We both have the same insurance. She was insistent that we call right then after the police left. Now that I think about it, she remarked that she was surprised I didn't get a ticket. I think the policeman knew that, yes I did hit her from the rear, but perhaps she could have gone on too. Anyway, she took her vehicle to the repair shop and got the rental car that was awaiting her. I was told that out insurance rate would probably rise. And this being the first and only accident I have ever had. Great.

As for my truck. All I can say is grill guards do their thing. It may have to be pulled out, but ... I think there still would have been damage to the other car, but not so much to mine. That makes me feel much better riding those dirt roads around the SSB. Should a deer decide to commit suicide, we will probably be drivable.

So - the despised accident causer will sign off for a while. Shawna, I have problems leaving you a message in particular, so if I don't you'll know why. We are off to the SSB until Tuesday. Don't know what kind of reception I'll get on the air card. Might let you know about Round Up if it works!

Peace be with you.

Comedy of Errors

Things were jumpin' around the old homestead here today. Lots and lots of traffic - both in person and telephone.

On Sunday, I went upstairs to sew. As usual, I turned the thermostat on that air conditioner to a more comfortable setting. I was working along without really thinking for a while until it suddenly hit me - it was getting too cold. So I got up to go to the thermostat to turn it warmer. I returned to the machine and worked. I was getting really cold. I turned off the fan. I worked a while longer. Then I was really cold. I turned the thermostat even warmer. To make a long story shorter, it kept getting colder and colder. I finally turned the whole thing off.

We went to Son's house for dinner that night. They can have fireworks - we can't. I knew he changed his thermostat out in his house, so I thought I would save a few pennies. We had to go to Home Depot as it was, so I would pick up a thermostat.

He came over on Monday. As he was putting the thing in, he found the directions and the actual thermostat a little different. He thought he was putting it in correctly. When he turned the unit off, it was off, and so on. As I worked, I knew it wasn't cooling as it should. It was hot up there. But the compressor was running.

I turned the whole thing off, and came downstairs to fix dinner. That unit has a vent in the kitchen as well as upstairs. I was standing in front of it and felt . . . heat! The air coming out was hot. I turned and climbed the stairs again (sure am glad I have had PT!). The thermostat said the unit was off, but hot air was coming out of the vent, and the read out registered 104. Great! So I turned it back to cool.

It stayed that way all night, and I called our a/c people this morning. They sent a repairman out - right away. I wasn't expecting that. He went up and found that the a/c and heat were running together. Son thought there might be a problem with the heat, but certainly not that!

I asked the repairman if the original problem could have been the thermostat. He said it probably was. Well - I feel a little better. I would have had to call them anyway, so trying to save a bit wasn't really a bad idea. Just didn't work. By the time I had him do the other thing that needed to be done to that unit, the damage to my monies was a cool $350. Saving - not really, but it MIGHT have worked!

Peace be with you.