And it just kept getting better and better - not! Part 2

Our weekend could not be contained in just one post! So here is part 2 of my adventure.

Saturday was overcast with cold winds blowing. We had decided that "Easter" would occur on Saturday since the kids were going home on Sunday. Lady Bug has had some quirky illnesses this school year, so she shouldn't miss more school. Our district would like to start school again two weeks after it lets out in May, but the state made them wait until late August. They took a lot of the holidays away this year to meet the state mandate, and that included the Monday after Easter.

The guys went to the metropolis of Doss on Saturday to get deer feed. That metropolis consists of a church, cemetery, store, school, and a community club building. All occupied by distant family members of mine. The joke was that we would all load up to go because they have the world best hamburgers there! But we didn't.

While they were gone, I put the kites for the older kids together. In doing so, I really made a mess of Lady Bug's. I haven't put a kite together in 20 years. They are so much more simpler now. I ended up cutting the string, so I had to unravel it all. Of course, as I was taking it back in, it would snarl. What a mess!

After lunch, the "eggs" were hidden by the barn/garage. The pinata was ready to hang. Out we went. Daughter must have bought the industrial strength pinata. It took a beating and kept ticking! They finally broke it (before it broke our lights out there), and we got the kites out.

Monkey Boy enjoyed his well enough. He was a typical boy and kept letting the string out more and more. We have the perfect site for kite flying. It is void of trees and everything else. Lady Bug was more conservative in her kite flying, and she kept hers up a long time after Monkey gave up.

His giving up on the kite gave the "big kids" a chance. They were like little kids. They had not flown kites since they were kids and enjoyed it as much as their children.

The day continued being drab and winds. The temperatures were around the low 60's all day. The weather forecast looked like we weren't going to get the predicted strong storms. So we all went to bed not expecting anything.

About 2:20 AM, the power went out. The winds were gusting to 50 mph I'm sure. I looked out the window, and the moon was shining brightly. That was strange. No lights which would indicate stormy weather, but a clear sky.

About 30 minutes later, the storm hit. We ended up with only 1/2 inch rain, but there was quite a light display with the accompanying sound effects.

Before the power came back on, with it being so quiet, I could hear Simone's stomach. I know she is really afraid of thunder storms, but I didn't think it would cause all that. At 5 AM she HAD to go out. Husband wasn't a happy camper - at all.

Sunday morning we got up. I gave her meds (for acid reflux), and she immediately began exhibiting her "pre-vomit" activity. Sure enough there she went. We got to minister to a sick dog all day.

I was really happy that she finally got over her being sick, but because she was doing so well, Monday meant stopping in the Capitol City to visit mother-in-law. Before you get on me, I really don't think she enjoys our visits any more than we do. The silence is deafening. All parties are searching for conversation topics. She has never cared that much for husband and definitely his family. She is there with the "chosen," so she is happy as a tick.

But we are home. Things are all back to normal. If I can get my schedule settled down, Simone will be heading to the vet. She may have a UTI. She just needs to be checked.

So there you have it. Parts 1 and 2!

Peace.

And it just kept getting better and better - not!

OK, the weekend was to be the SSB with a little twist - Easter and three of the grandchildren there (with parents of course). It was supposed to be kind of normal. I wasn't filled with any dread at all. Until . . .

We were getting ready to load Simone in the green beast, and G asked if I had the letter the realtor sent about the lake house having been "severely vandalized." I first thought that would be for the return trip on Monday. Not that I relished it more on Monday rather than Friday.

Nope - we were going on Friday. He called the Sheriff's office before we left to be sure that he was to call when we arrived. So off we went. My stomach was doing backflips and cartwheels the entire three hour trip.

We got there. The trees had overgrown the drive. We had to park almost in the street. When he got out, he said he was going in. He got out the pistol - just to be sure there wasn't anyone in there. When he came back to the truck he told me I didn't want to go in. No s*it Sherlock! I didn't want to be there. If you don't face things, they will go away, right??

I could hear the door crunch on broken glassware. I took Simone for a short walk. In the side yard were two lamps from upstairs. I didn't look with great detail. We headed for the garage area. I was amazed that the door was still shut even though there was a panel out. With nosey rosie Simone, I couldn't really see in, but it looked rather unchanged.

G took pictures of the damage while waiting for the Sheriff. When he got there, he took a statement and pictures giving us a case number. Cutting to today - our insurance is not in effect if the house was not occupied 30 days before something happened. I just love insurance.

We called the realtor. She is going to see about getting someone to clean out all the broken stuff and fix the broken windows and glass door. In the mean time, we discovered some of the neighbors had noticed people around. They didn't call police. Thanks.

The funny part of this is that this time there was more furniture stolen. We took our 25 year old king sized bed up when we got a new one. Yep - they stole it. Must have been desperate. It was nasty being so old.

After two hours of delight there, we finally continued on with our journey. It was rather uneventful after that.

Part two tomorrow.

Peace

Wasting time

Here I sit. I had two different people set to come to the house today. One, who has already been here, as I expected, was to close up little openings that the squirrels have gnawed to get into the attic. And some people find them so cute. They are nothing but rats with fluffy tails. I really don't like them at all. They have cost me a bundle over the years.

The other is Sal*ation Army to pick up our old "entertainment center." Not really much of one, but it was really serviceable. I didn't realize just how much it held until we were getting the obsolete video tapes out of it. Now I have piles and piles of them sitting around.

The entertainment center was replaced by the new fancy flat screen. I thought daughter would take it, but they decided against it. I told her it would be a great place for Doodle Bug to put her toys in. She has the biggest bedroom (but she still sleeps with mom and dad).

They thought it was too big. They were going to help me load it to take to a center. That was at least a month and a half ago. But . . . So there is sat beside my fireplace blocking one way to get to the front door.

So here I sit waiting.

But it's just as well. I am working on my newest addiction - downloading machine embroidery files. I have about 200 that I need to go through to change the format if needed and put into folders where I might find them again. I bought a new program to help with that. It said it went through 10000 files. It said some of those were duplicates however. (Yes, I have an addictive personality.)

I also am hurting today - a lot. The weather is muggy and threatening rain, so that may be part of the problem. The other is I made my foray to the grocery store yesterday. I had to make the entire store. I am so out of shape that I am really paying for it today. At least those things must be the problem.

We are getting ready to make the pilgrimage to the SSB tomorrow. I found kites for the older kids since the winds always blow up there. We don't have the anemometer installed yet, so I don't know the exact speed, but it is usually a gale! We'll see how that goes. Their mom just called and said she had gotten the pinata for them so there is something different this year.

I guess we are set. So Happy Easter - or Passover or whatever!

Peace.

Oops

We belong to a religion that believes in infant baptism. My son was a member of this religion and his wife was too. That is before they joined an interdenominational church.

With the birth of Wiggle Worm, I wondered what they were going to do about him. "Pa" asked that Sunday night after they got here from a service where a baby was given over to the Lord.

Daughter in law said that WW would be in May. Pa said something to the effect that that doesn't save them. Then a discussion of the "iinnocent souls" of babies insued.

I don't have much to say. I wasn't baptized until I was 11. That was because at the time we attended a church that didn't do infants. When I was 11 I joined my current religion. I must say, it is rather strange to be baptized when all the others are babies.

I really wish WW would be baptized. It is one of the tenets of my religion. But then I wish son and dil were still members of the same religion.

I found out recently that my goofy old piano teacher was right. All my ancestors on my dad's side (with the exception of his mother) were of that religion, and when they came from Germany, they were among the builders of the church in the Alamo City where I was confirmed.

But everyone has the right to chose. If they feel a church is right for them, then it is.

Peace.

Cowardice

There are so many things I don't want to deal with. I like to hide from them, and pretent they simply don't exist. I think that's part of my terrible tendency to proscrastinate. I just don't want to deal with something. I feel overwhelmed by something. Or it's a new situation I don't want to handle.

That's kind of the way I feel about the property that has been vandalized. I tried to link to April 2, but I don't know how. Anyway, I got dear husband to email the realtor. I finally told him that I didn't want to face it.

She replied. The door is standing open. She looked inside, and things are all broken up. It apparently has been going on for some time.

She said her cousin lives next door now. My question is why the neighbors allow this to be happening. I don't expect them to be watch dogs, but I believe in watching out for my neighbors. Apparently they don't. There has to be some noise coming from activities there.

I really am not putting responsibility with them, but I would want this type of thing out of my neighborhood. I know one thing however. "Resort" property like this attracts unsavory people. All kinds of folks live around there. Some are retired military. Some are the basest trash you have ever seen.

Guess what lives mostly around that house. I live in a "trailer" at the SSB. I don't really think people who do are trash, but those that are located behind our house there. . . I'll leave it to your imagination. Of course, we live in an upper middle class neighborhood here in Swampland. These kids could do things like this if they had too much time on their hands. I just don't know anymore.

The fact that I don't want to face it still hasn't changed, but it looks like I will have to this weekend either on the way to the SSB or on the way home. My stomach is churning.

Wow

My insurance, while taking lots and lots of my money, really has stepped up to the plate. During all the treatments and surgeries, between the physicians and them, my treatments cost me nothing really. Now, the reconstruction has begun to cost some, but really it's not too bad - except for one little ($1000) thing - which is another story.

They have a program for us that I decided to take advantage of. It is a nurse manager and then a nutritionist. I was really doubtful at first. I wasn't sure I would like this at all. The nurse really gave me some good ideas, and she also suggested the nutritionist.

With great dread, I awaited the call of the nutritionist. I just knew I would get the Hitler of that ilk. I thought she would tell me to lightly graze on two leaves of lettuce a day and just suck it up.

She didn't! She was so supportive. She understood. She didn't accuse me of being a week willed creatin. I told her that I lost a lot of weight before, and I did At*ins. No carbs.

I made the mistake in February of a "free trial" of South B*ach. I have another name for them now, but I try to keep this space clean. My "free trial" cost me $200. On their site, in the FAQ section, they STATE they will happily return any portion of the fee if you are not satisfied. DON'T BELIEVE IT. They lied. They, unlike Weight Watchers (which I also tried the week trial), make you call an 800 number. Now, that number is always busy, so you have to sit for a long time waiting on hold.

I wasn't too worried about being absolutely sure I canceled it during that week of free trial because of their policy. Then, when I tried to cancel, they said they sent me a email offering a "special" for a year. They said I approved the "specially priced" yearly membership, and that cannot be canceled during that year. No refund.

The had not been sending me any emails prior to me calling. Now I get one a day. I searched my "trash" bin for an email. I didn't find one. This is a case of "he said - she said" and I'm the one who loses.

The only reason I being this up, my nutritionist said she wants me to eat 140 grams of carbs a day! I laughed when she said that. I had told her about my previous weight loss. She assured me this would work. She gave me very specific things to eat - including a snack before bed! Wow! So this means that SB is clearly out. What an expensive lesson. It's sad that they have to stoop to such means to get people to sign up. They are just snake oil salesmen I guess.

Anyway, I have been adhering to her advice for about four days now. I feel great! I still need to add some of the things she wants me to eat to my diet because I haven't been to the store. I really do feel better though. I am so glad I did agree to participate in these programs - that are free!

Peace

And the beat goes on - or whatever

What is the best thing to follow bad news, why more bad news, of course. And that's what happened yesterday.

I was about to exit from the computer yesterday. I had just dealt with a Pay Friend phishing email. I had just reported it, and another message came into my inbox. It was from my cousin's daughter.

Bill was the last cousin I have been close to. He was at least 25 years older than I, but he and my family remained close. He loved my mother so much. His kids are closer to my age - which makes sense. But I was always close to Bill. I have two remaining cousins, but there was never any real closeness - partially due to my aunt, their mother.

The email from Bill's daughter was telling me of his death yesterday at 6:30 AM. I am really saddened by this. Again, I was thinking he would live forever. There were so many things left unsaid. Left unasked (about the family).

We mostly communicated by emails. I had noticed that the frequency had dropped off, but I didn't think too much about it. We were completely polar in our politics - and I will just leave it there. We may not have agreed about things like that, but I still respected him. He had lead a very interesting life.

Bill, I will miss you.

Peace.

Vandals

I just don't get it. Just what joy is there in destroying other people's possessions? It is a thrill of some sort? Is it some kind of natural high?

My dad and mom built (almost from the ground up) a little house at one of the lakes on the outskirts of the hill country back in 1964. Before my mother died (and I mean almost right up to the very end) they planned to retire there.

Unfortunately, they placed the house in a really bad place. They were after seclusion. So they put the house toward the back of the lot. For years, there were no houses around the house. It got to be that every time we got to the house, it had been broken into. A normal way for the house was to have at least one window boarded up because someone had broken it out to gain access to the house.

Then Henry and his wife built a beautiful home next door. The big plus, in addition to them just being there, is they had a dog. If someone was around our house, their dog would bark spurring Henry to turn on lights which would usually run the perps off.

As time went on, Henry's wife got Alzheimer's. About ten years ago, she died from the disease. That left Henry there alone. But he stayed, and that fact kept the baddies at bay.

When my dad died, I was really tied to the house. When Lady Bug was born on January 2001, that's where we stayed waiting for her birth (two weeks - the docs said it could be any day) in the cold. The house was never well insulated. The house had such meaning to me. He crafted all the cabinets. He built the dining table. It was him - totally.

About three years, Henry had the nerve to die on us. He was 92 - like my dad. Can you believe? Now I'll be more serious. It happened. His house was now empty. There was no one to help run off the baddies. I still don't understand how the people across the street don't see these bums. I acknowledge it would be difficult, but I think they could see something. But they don't.

Two years ago, I walked into a mess. Again, we had been broken into. This time, they stole furniture and pictures on the walls. The worst was the fact they had broken all the curios on the shelf. I packed up as many of the things that were important as possible. I haven't been able to face it since.

Yesterday I got a letter postmarked that area. It was from a real estate agent who lives close by. She wanted to know if I wanted to sell. She said the house had been seriously vandalized. This I cannot understand. It is completely beyond me.

My kids don't really care that much about the property. I am getting over my grief, and I think I am looking at things in more reality. We don't go there - of course, it's not really inhabitable now I'm sure. I have had offers to buy before, but I just couldn't let go of Daddy.

I think I can. I really don't want to face what has happened to the house. I think it would spin me right back to wanting to hold on to it.

I was so upset by the letter, I was absolutely sick. I really wanted to throw up. I knew my thoughts would stay active last night when the lights went off. I've thought about it all day. I haven't mentioned it to G, but I think I will tonight.

I'm pretty sure Henry's house is still vacant. The last time I checked the tax rolls, it was still listed in the Estate of . . .

I just don't understand vandals. I don't understand why there isn't something better they could do with their time.

Peace.

Life's wonder

I am a biologist by training. I appreciate the wonders of nature.

When my children were born, I was a bit in awe of their births. It IS an amazing thing. Creating a new being from something so very small. When my first three grandchildren were born, I felt much the same thing. I was in awe of the simple miracle of life.

When this fourth little boy was born however, I have experienced a completely new feeling. Every time I look at him and hold him, I marvel at how something so incompletely formed could live with us frail humans in charge. I know there are a lot of animals born out there that are in such a incomplete state. I guess I give the animal world more credit than I do to humans.

Not too long ago, a newborn was found in a discarded washing machine at the trash area of an apartment complex. A little girl, umbilical cord still attached, was found wrapped in a plastic garbage sack stuffed into that washer. It was a warmish day, not really hot, but in a plastic bag in a closed container, I would imagine it could get hot very quickly. Perhaps that ended up aiding her survival.

When I hear Wiggle Worm cry, especially as a new born (only hours old), his cry was feeble at best. This other little girl was located because she was able to make her cry heard. That was a miracle right there. She was taken to the hospital, and last I heard, she was doing well placed in the foster care system.

Back to WW. I marvel at him, and really all newborns. They manage, mostly, to not only survive but flourish. I watch him discover his arms. You can see he really wants to know what those things at the ends of those arms are, but he just hasn't made those neural connections - yet. All he can do is squirm a bit and cry. He cannot do anything else. What fragile little beings come to us.

I never felt like this with any of the others. I really don't know why. Perhaps my life experiences of late have changed me. I don't know. I continue to look at him and marvel. How completely helpless he is. What a wonder . . .

Peace.

Promised pictures

As I promised, here are a few of the pictures I snapped from just around the house.
This is a begonia that I absolutely love. I got a small cutting from a dear fellow teacher about twenty years ago. She had gotten it from one of her professors in college. I gave my dad a cutting and he propagated it into several. When I moved them here to Swampland, I brought all his plants here (quite a load too). My begonias like this had all died, so I was given a second chance. I just wish they bloomed all year. It is a "fancy leaf" so the blooms are not what it is used for. The leaves form a pin wheel - if you look closely you can see how they spin around themselves.



This is the standard hawthorn in my neighbor's side yard. It also only blooms in spring. When I look out my breakfast room window (where I use this computer), this is what I see. This picture doesn't do it any justice at all. Her mother and father in law (from Australia) have moved into her house when she moved out. They had just returned to the states. David is not into horticulture - at all. They don't hire anyone either, so the hawthorn has been allowed to become leggy. The branches are from a crepe myrtle that hasn't budded yet, and will become a real problem when it grows into the roof. These are the folks that owned the tree that landed on our garage roof during Ike. Enough said. But this is pretty, and I enjoy it every spring!


Here is one of the three potted amaryllis I have. The hibiscus decided to drop all of its day only blooms just before this picture. Now the other plants are about to open, but I'll try to get the trio later and post them. Unfortunately, I didn't go out to move the waste can from their midst before taking the picture. I was on the other side of our locked gate. Just to prove we do get a little cold, you can see our wood stack in the distance. What you don't see is the pool behind the plants to the right. Only in Texas I guess!

Sorry I missed my azaleas. I don't have as many as I once did. After 35 years, they are dieing out. They are so much trouble that we are letting them go. But even the two plants I have were really pretty again this year. But them were done by the beginning of March.


The pictures I have not taken are the most breathtaking. They are along out highways. The roadsides are seas of blue (the blue bonnets), red (Indian paint brushes), and pinks and yellows. This is the time of year, especially just to our north and west, you really have to be careful driving along the roadways. There are lots of folks that park on the shoulder and put their poor unsuspecting kids in the masses of bluebonnets - with the chiggers and possible snakes get what really is a pretty picture!

Spring in Texas is really a beautiful time. I'm not as sure about the panhandle, but I think a little later they will be just as pretty as it is around here. Spring comes at differing times in this state.

So I have shared some of the sights I enjoy right around me in the spring. I hope to see you tomorrow. I wonder what this new "worm" will do!

Peace.

I know, I'm late.

But I'm here - finally. I am watching a sick granddaughter - number 1 granddaughter. Bless her little heart, she has always has bowel problems. Yeah, we're letting it all hang out today. She hasn't "been" in several days, and now she has the associated problems with that. She simply doesn't feel well. So After the M*ralax, she is with me.

That wouldn't be a problem except I also had Pa home today. It's his off day, nothing unusual. We planned to go to Home D*pot. We desperately need a new back entry door. This is wooden door number 3, and all though the door has been replaced, our "contractors" never replaced the weather stripping. We don't need to hold a smoking thing to see the air coming through. You feel the gale with your hand.

So that meant that Lady Bug had to go with us. I must admit that I was a tad apprehensive about taking her after the dose of laxative she had taken this morning before she came. That trip went well. We even ate out. She was really good, but Pa isn't used to an 8 year old chatterbox. Sometimes a precocious child isn't good!

The real problem is that I won't be getting out to the grocery. I have nothing for breakfast for me. I guess I'll live through it and go tomorrow.

I finally uploaded some of our spring pictures, but since it is so late I won't be posting them today. We'll try for tomorrow again. I am being summoned by my 8 year charge.

Peace.

What a waste

At least that's what so many would say. Since I have become the proud owner of four email addresses, I have spent 3 hours this morning going through messages that I have not had time to read. I have found that I have to decide which ones to read and which ones can wait.

I have a good reason for the four emails. I think I have alluded to these before, but, you know, chemo brain plus menopausal brain . . .

The order of checking is:
1. The main email. That is the one known to family and friends. All the really important news comes into that one. Important email includes those reminding me to pay certain bills.

2. The business email. That takes only a second. We have been too lazy to update the web site and our postings to sell things. Again procrastination.

3. The email for ordering on line and linking to embroidery sites. That one takes quite a while. I spent most of my time there. I read the most pressing first. But today I found I should be reading one when it comes. It sometimes has free stuff (my absolute favorite) offered with limited downloads!

4 The last one is where the groups post. This is the newest acquisition. I was hesitant to join those groups, being the shy, retiring person I am. At ad time, there can be 40 emails in a single day.
It takes a loooong time to check.

So these are all excuses for what I was going to post today - Spring in Swampland complete with some pictures of how really pretty it can be here. I have two pictures safely residing on the card in the camera. I was going to take a couple of others, of course I have missed my azaleas blooming. They were really early this year.

I will try to get some more pictures. I need to get merchandise photos too. I will really try to get these posted on Monday.

In the mean time, as one of our TV reporters used to say (before he died) Have a great weekend, good golf, good tennis, or whatever you do!


Peace.

Freudian slip or simple omission?

As I was confessing my need for a support group for my addictive nature, I "forgot" to mention my trip to M*chael's yesterday. I had a simple purpose in mind. My daughter wanted me to do scrap books for her children. I had done one for the new resident prince at the other household, and she wanted one for her three.

I was a good grandmother. I stopped at the foolish children's garbage items and bought the older three some little trinkets for Easter. I refuse to give them candy. We will be trapped in the rather smallish house at the SSB. If tradition holds true - the weather will be horrible. One Easter we had severe thunderstorms that knocked out power for 17 hours. Another Easter we had an ice storm that coated everything with ice. We were trapped.

So, since they were on sale (ah, those magic words), I piled into the car and began the trek to that Mecca. I forgot (?) where the scrap books were, so I made a round of the store. Guess what I found! Something that I had not purchased in several months. Jewelry findings. And they were on close out. They were over 50% off. I put some in my cart. Then I found the crystal that was on close out. Yes, they went into my cart.

I had found just about all I could use from those two huge bins, so I rounded the corner headed to the scrap books. What just happens to be on the way to the scrap books you say. Why more jewelry things - at 40% off. More was piled into my cart.

By that time, my knees and back were about to kill me. I had to stop - then. So I found three identical scrap books and threw them into my cart. Daughter will have to go with me to choose fabric to cover them.

You know, they will never get done. She will never go to choose fabric. They will be like the three baby blankets that I have in the craft room that she purchased in January for me to embroidery for three of her retailers. Those kids will be in college before they get those blankets!

Procrastination. Where do you suppose she got that?? (crickets chirping in the resounding silence)

Peace.

Where do I find a support group?

I have decided that I must have an additictive personality. I develop passions for things, and I then spend all my time pursuing whatever it is.

For years, it was genealogy. I spent hours surfing A*cestry.com looking for my ancestors. It got to the point where I discovered that many of those on the far reaching vines and twigs could be found. So I was no longer looking for those dear departed kin, I was looking for all the offspring. Did you notice I said all? Yes. I was looking for anyone I could find. These folks would be classified as perhaps twenty-fourth cousins. Addiction.

So along came my wonderful embroidery machine and our little business branched into embroidered items from simply jewelry, candles, flip flops and purses. Looking for designs, and free ones at that, has become another passion. I sit at the computer for hours checking web sites that offer the free samples. I have quite a few bookmarked. I know which ones put out designs daily,weekly, and monthly.

Then, I discovered they had groups to whom they offered more free designs. So I joined their groups. That meant yet another email address. That brings me to about 4. I have our main one; I have my "order on line" email that I use to cut down on spam in the main one. Then I opened the "business" email so that any business interactions would not get mixed up with personal things. Now I have the group email address. I think I have joined about 8 groups. They send out several emails each day, and the groups are interrelated. That means I may get the same message three or four times. When I go to that email, it is not unusual to have at least five new messages per hour.

Now I find myself checking emails most of the day. When I'm not doing that, I am trying to organize the downloaded designs. You can bet I get at least three per day. I tried to work on them only when at the SSB, but I am so far behind.

Now I have decided the best way to manage these designs is to print them. I have one three inch binder stuffed overfull. I have started another, and I have barely made a dent.

And so it goes - on and on. I am in serious need of a support group, but I don't know when I would have time for it.

Peace.

Home!

I never thought I would be so exhausted after a visit to the SSB. But in reality, the time we spent there was minimal. When we were there, we were working. Gosh, I'm really glad to be home!

Of course, Friday was the 5 hour trek to get there. That is always tiring. Add the trip to Community Club to that. Travel, travel, travel. It takes a good 20 minutes to get from the SSB to the CC. Over the wonderful unpaved roads. But they had rain since our last visit, so they were able to get the road graders out there to turn the rocks over. It's just in some places it feels like they had turned the rocks the wrong way. Those roads will jar the fillings out of your teeth. The upside is that they keep motorcycles at bay.

Saturday morning we had to get up and get started to the Alamo City. That is a two and a half hour trip at least. Of course, we hit road construction before we got to the exit for the funeral home. I am glad that we both grew up there and retain some vestige of how to get around. The funeral home is in an area that neither of us frequented in our youth, but we're not talking a huge city. We made it - and on time.

Sunday we were so tired. I worked on my downloaded embroidery designs. G piddled outside. We really took it rather easy. But we still traveled. We went to our second close neighbor. They are probably about two miles away, but the road is basically a cow path. It was too windy to take the Kawasaki. It would have handled the road better. We wanted to take the wedding present for their son who married on Saturday, and we had to miss it.

Monday we finally got to the "spring cleaning" which at least got the floors spic and span. I had cleaned the oven (by pushing the button - not the old fashioned way) on Sunday. So we are ready for the onslaught at Easter. Only daughter will be coming with her family, but that is FIVE!

I finally got an idea for G's birthday present. I am going to have flags made for him to fly there. He really wants his great grandfather's cattle brand on a flag. That property came from the company ranch which he owned. So I have set out to find that brand. It was in the local paper, but their archives don't have it. I have emailed his aunt there, and I am about to email the distant cousins who share that same ancestor.

I am always looking for a present for him that he will really like. This is one of the few times he has given me a good idea. I don't want to miss out on it.

But at least we are home again - where I can get some rest!

Peace

Tidbits

We will leave, as planned, tomorrow morning for the SSB. It is our usual trip and Comminuty Club meeting. I wanted to take the small sewing machine, but that was vetoed at the very beginning. I was reminded that this trip is "spring cleaning."

As it turns out, we will be going to the Alamo City on Saturday for the uncle's funeral. When I read his obit today, I was amazed at the things I learned. He has a daughter who didn't do a flip for him. She apparently has always been a weird duck. He also has an older step daughter who has stepped up to the plate for him. He had a step son also. Never knew that. He has five grandchildren and a mess of great grandchildren. I bring that up because the sisters (the remaining two aunts) talked about how he said he was so lonely. That shouldn't have happened.

I KNOW how hard it is to visit the elderly in some sort of home. My dad was there. I probably didn't go as often as I should. With his dementia, it was just too much. There was never anything to talk about, and he would sometimes become inappropriate in what he said. I did slip into avoidance. But I was there at least once a week.

Did he realize how infrequently I came? I really don't know. He did associate with a lot of the women there. Always the lady's man. I think he was kept busy. He also slept a lot. That had been true even before I had to put him there.

But Krissi and I would be there - once a week with the children. Perhaps that's the answer to my question. I have lived in the glass house, and I shouldn't throw stones.

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.

Dr. Poison

Just back from my appointment. These doctors! Geesh. They have appointments scheduled for like 8:30, and they aren't even in the office! But I will get over it. In this practice, they have three or four offices. The doctors move from office to office. We, the patients, don't usually have to go all over the area, so I'll cool my heels in the room and read. I mean, what else do I have to do?

The appointment went great. The thing I most look at is the marker value. Mine is 23 and the upper limit is 38. That's good. No problems. I guess all the things that I just knew were mets were just a figment of my imagination. But you know how it is - once burned. Well, once diagnosed . . .

I told him of the pains I have in the right breast area, and I thought it was probably reconstruction surgery. He said the mammo showed some scar tissue. He also said to leave things alone there. No more surgery. Right-O!

I was going to ask for some sleeping meds, but I didn't get to it. Perhaps my body will adapt to the time change - before it changes again. I just simply cannot go to sleep at night. I can sleep easily enough in the morning, but at night I'm ready to go.

So things are right in my world -at least for another six months. They would be even better if the arthritis in my neck wasn't acting up so today. It really hurts to sit here and type. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

Peace.

Surprise!

It's Saturday. I'm home. I am posting. These are three very unusual things.

Last night we had dinner with daughter, husband and three little ones. It was so nice because I had not seen Lady Bug in about three weeks. If we were in town, they weren't. Plus they are going out of town again this weekend. In the spirit of being positive, I won't even touch that one.

The weather is really wintry for us right now. It is cold - the temperatures are staying in the 40's, so that is really cold for us - and rainy. The last thing I wanted to do was the grocery store. I was going on Thursday, but at the time I started to go, it was pouring rain. So I thought it was going to clear yesterday - wrong. It is still bad today, but I need items for tomorrow's dinner. It is almost St. Patrick's day. That means it is time for Blarney Pot Roast. That is a delicious pot roast with leeks. It is an annual thing that holds over from the days when George thought he was Irish. I knew I was Scotch Irish, but we found that he is absolutely 0% Irish. But that's ok, the dish is still good.

Being the great trooper he is, he added the grocery store to his rounds. I really think it is time for me to the ortho guy I'm thinking about. My knees are certainly no better - in fact I think they are worse by the day. I am looking for the miracle that will take many pounds off my body before I go!

Hope your weekend is good. I will see the new grandson tomorrow when son comes to help assemble my new sewing table. I was crestfallen when I discovered that the instructions state that it takes two to assemble it. That stinks! So after about a year, I'm going to get it done.

Peace.

Oops!

It is definitely Friday the 13th. The alarm went off this morning. My sleepy brain told me is was Saturday. I turned the alarm OFF! I blisfully went back to sleep thinking what a wonderful time to snuggle deeper into the covers and sleep. It is "cold" - low fortys, and rainy (thank you God).

About 7ish, I heard George in the dressing area. I peeked out at the clock and wondered why George was up, but when I saw he was dressing, I was really confused. Did he have some early morning appointment I had forgotten? Nope - he was dressing for work - an hour late.

I thought spending THE time change at the SSB would help. I thought I would be more into the change. I was wrong. When we got back here on Tuesday, my body was definitely on standard time. At bedtime, I was still ready to go. I read for a while. It got later and later. I read and read. Finally i turned off the light. Then I tossed and turned. About an hour later the light was turned on again. But my eyes were smart enough to realize they should be shut, so I turned the light off again.

Wednesday night brought the same thing. Only this time I was at a really good part of the mystery I was reading. I kept turning pages rapt with the action. Then it was up early so I could get to the lab for the fasting blood work.

Last night, I did fall asleep earlier, but this morning . . . Oh, this morning. Well, I thought the two days he stayed late would cover it. Guess not. Let's say I am a little in the dog house. Move over Simone!

Peace.

Making a change

Endangered animals are a special interest of mine. So I had a changing picture added over there to the right for awareness of just which animals are in special need.

A few days ago, I discovered a little boy who needs prayers - lots of prayers. I have added the "Praying for Jonah" to my blog.

This family is one of the bravest couples I know of. Their newborn is amazing in his fight for life. Click on that icon. Go read their story. More importantly, pray for the baby and the parents.

What fun!

With great trepidation, I visited the vampires again today. In other words, I went for my blood drawing before I see the oncologist next week.

This blood drawing has not always been pleasant. Once at this lab, I left with my arm bleeding. That was interesting. Not too long ago at the other lab for the cardio doc, the tech couldn't find the vein. When only one arm can be used for said sticking, I was a little distraught - to say the least.

Today was easy and almost pleasant. She was really good.

I was talking to my aunt in law this past weekend. She had ovarian cancer, and not too long ago had a scare about possible breast cancer. Thankfully, there was no breast cancer.

We were talking about how we wait for the results of the cancer factors that are measured. A spike could mean the cancer is back. We both said that interval between tests seems to go on forever. Those little numbers, and hopefully they stay little, mean we are probably cancer free.

I have remarked before that six months seems like an eternity. When I was undergoing chemo, my blood was tested just before chemo so determine whether or not I was able to withstand being poisoned yet again If the RBC's were too low, I wouldn't get chemo.

I never had that problem. Things got a little low at times, but I never had to miss an appointment. In fact, I never really had a problem with the chemo.

Krissi and I went to eat a Chinese lunch after my first treatment, and I will admit that Chinese still isn't my favorite food. I seldom have a desire for it, but I was not sick on it. I really never got nauseated at all. When we would grill outside (which is a year around thing here), the smell from the grill which is just outside the door was disagreeable, but never nauseating.

Aunt Flo and I both said we really remember very little about chemo. I guess it's something like childbirth in that aspect. George wants me to be available to a lady he works with who is having a double mastectomy this week. I understand she is really worried about the chemo, and he thinks she will be going to the group practice I go to. She will just go to another of their facilities.

I will be more than willing, but once she starts, she will find the other patients undergoing chemo will be quite a support system in themselves. Aunt Flo said she really regretted that she had her chemo alone in a private room. I told her at first that was what I wanted, but soon discovered that the company was great. She only had her last treatment with others around, and it was so much better.

In a few more days I'll get the results of the blood factors. With any luck, I'll be good to go for another six months. I wonder how I will be able to handle a year!

Peace.

Well . . .

I took the machine in. My sales woman was there. She put it through its paces. It "seems" ok. Of course, OK means another bobbin case to the tune of $35. This is two in about a month. I still think there is something with the machine, but then I guess we will have to see.

One problem is that for what I paid, and that was about 60% of the price, I expect this thing to print a pattern, buy the fabric, cut it out and then sew it. Me being unreasonable? Never!

But it is home. It is "fixed." What more can I ask?

Peace.

Still alive

It was the usual weekend for our foray to the SSB. I forgot to give a heads up before we left. Because of scheduling conflicts, we left on Saturday to come back yesterday, Tuesday.

It was a rather busy weekend with all sorts of things scheduled. Plans were for our neighbor to come over to help George cut a path for a new deer feeder. I was going to sew.

Since we got there on Saturday, that meant the work schedule for cutting brush was pushed to Sunday morning. That meant no church. Oh, well. The problem with that was it was the first day of DST. As we were discussing the schedule, I kept asking if the appointed time was old time or new time. SO we set the alarm to get up at 6:30 A.M. - new time. It is so dark at that time! Anyway, Gene didn't show for two hours. I Was Not. Happy.

I set up the sewing machine after I got them out of the house. I got the scrap book cover done. For my first real quilting experience, it came out OK, but I would have liked it to be better. Am I going to re-do it? No.

A cut out the "church lady apron" that I had bought the pattern and fabric for at least two months ago. The one side is named "god ladies." It is such a cute pattern. The back obviously coordinates with it, but is a subdued two tone pattern. I embroidered the pockets and the front of it. I was ready to put the two together, and began with the sashes. I changed the stitch length, and then all hell broke loose. The machine did what it has been doing periodically - stitch three stitches, then kick like a mule.

I had taken the machine in for its yearly check up in January. I didn't report this behavior because I thought I was doing something wrong. When it ate up the little bobbin case, it wouldn't sew at all. I took it back and we replaced just that. It has gone through several of its little snits since then, and I again attributed it to something I was doing. I now know it is the machine. I think it has not been right since I bought it. When I would embroidery, it often would bring the bobbin thread up on top. I would take the tension down to zero, and all was right with the world.

Monday, I bent two needles trying to sew. One was just a nice little curve to the left, the other was bent at a right angle. There is a problem. So I will take it back and give its little history. I am beginning to wonder if this "top of the line" machine is as heavy duty as I assumed. This machine was not in the hundreds. It was in the thousands. I really expected more, and now that I have owned it for 15 months, I doubt that anything like this will be covered - so I get to pay . . . more.

So today, I will go to my little bitty machine that I thought was so wonderful when I bought it several years ago. It is a little work horse, but it doesn't do anything but sew. So, there won't be any embroidery - unless I pull out the really little machine I bought at WalMart several years ago.

In other news, on our way to the SSB we saw something we had heard would live in that area, but had never seen. There was a dead porcupine dead in the road. I really didn't think they were in our area, but there it was. This drought is driving the animals to find water and food. Otherwise we would have never come across that scene. It is supposed to be raining now. I have heard that about 75 miles away, they got 3/4 inch last night. I hope we did too. It was misting when we left. I just hope and pray - literally - that some of that moisture fell on the ground there. Brother in law sold off all his cattle last week. The feed bills were just too high, and we will not be doing a ground lease this year because we have no grass. We are almost desperate.

Peace.

A mild rant

I find it so amusing when people complain about not having enough money that they are cutting on various essentials, but splurge on non-sensical things. I am going to be a little vague because this might get to the ones about whom I am speaking, and I don't want to face their ire.

I am not by any means wealthy. Folks, I am a retired Texas teacher. Our salary schedule is public record, and we are by no means near the top of the salary scales. In fact, look closer to the bottom and you will find us. Since I retired at 29 years rather than 30, I get less in my retirement, pay more for health insurance, and generally get scre*ed with the amount of money I get. But I have enough money to be comfortable, and can afford my little splurges occasionally

With that said, I will continue. When I bought this notebook computer, I felt I had really splurged, but I had a reason for it. I do use it daily. When I bought my sewing machine, I did splurge, but I had just gotten my diagnosis. I was going to do something for myself. But I did not have to take something away from my partner to cover the expense.

There are people out there who spend wads of money on things that are not essentials - and a lot of them. I do not have a Iphone, Ipod or any of those things. I have a basic cell phone on the lowest plan and listen to the radio if I want music. If I want something else, I use the web site of that station and stream music.

These people who complain about finances have the latest phone, spend their time sending text messages, have Ipods, Kindles, and the like. Texting costs money. Why not call the person??? I just heard one person sent 800 texts in a billing period. Mercyful heavens. If you are using your **** phone anyway, use the calling option. If you want to read a book, go to the used book store and buy one at a reduced price and hold the **** thing. Books on Kindle run $30 a pop. I can buy a used paperback for a couple of bucks.

I am thinking of asking for an Ipod and a digital turntable for my birthday. The kids and husband are always asking what I want. If they divide that by 5, it's not that much money. They would probably spend that much buying something I have no use for. I want to put our vinyl records on the Ipod. Our new tv has a place for the Ipod, and our old stereo system is obsolute. It will not connect to this new system. We have hundreds of records that we cannot listen to.

Some of these people have to have the newest and fanciest electronic stuff out - be it phones, cameras, or whatever. I just don't get it. If you have to keep the temperature in your house at a very uncomfortable level, watch your grocery bill, or deny the folks you are living with, then the problem is YOURS. Stop making others pay for your indulgences.

Enough said - probably too much. Rant over.

Peace.

Club Meeting

Today is our sewing machine club meeting. The project for this week is, um, embroidering, um, toilet paper. This ought to be a very interesting meeting. What you really do with embroidered toilet paper is a puzzle to me. I guess as a gag gift? On a serious note, I have heard about this. It will be good because it means I have to really get practice centering a small piece to be embroidered. When we did the fabric post cards, I thought I wouldn't like that one, but it was really neat and the post card came out really pretty.

To prepare for today, I spent yesterday upstairs in the tower working on bands for diaper cakes. I'm going to take them for "show and tell." Probably that's not a really good idea because I may end up with competition in the market place. Oh well, I'm also going to take the receiving blankets, burp cloths, and possibly the bibs.

At one point I wanted to throw that machine (that should be gilded just based on its price) right out of the window. For some reason when I changed over to regular sewing to put the ribbon on the band, it would make three good stitches and then kick like a mule. Come to find out, the three "good" stitches weren't. They weren't stitches at all.

I changed the needle. Still kicked. I cleaned the bobbin. Still kicked. I changed the bobbin thread, and yes, you guessed it - still kicked. I finally changed thread. It sewed. I still wanted to give it a pitch however!

I got that finished only to realize that I have misplaced a new pattern I wanted to try today. Great. I simply don't know where I "filed" it. I guess it's safe for now. I'll look later.

With time on my hands, I decided that I would tackle the serger that I have never used. You see, when it said to thread it by tying onto the existing threads that ran through the machine, when I did that - they came untied - at the worst moment. So I had a machine I knew nothing about with no threads running through it. I have worked periodically for months on that thing.

I decided I had nothing better so I would tackle it again. After two hours, I finally got it threaded and actually sewed a seam on it. Those little buggers are really a pain. I had bought DVDs to learn how to do it. The expensive ones thread the loopers automatically. For the others, the advice is to tie onto the existing thread and pull . . .

Peace.

From my point of view

My point of view doesn't match those ranchers around the SSB. Of course, my training happens to be in biology with heavy emphasis on wild life biology. In my skewed view, this makes me a tad more of an expert - but if I were to speak out, I would clash terribly with those ranchers there.

These people have a "society" that dedicates itself to getting rid of all the critters there. They have a bounty on all sorts of predators. They are particularly after old wily coyote. But he certainly is not alone.

In one of the weekly papers, a cousin of mine made the remark to be careful when out in the pasture. I cougar was sited with some type of prey in its mouth. Right now that country is gripped in such a drought that its hard going on all animals, and what few prey animals that are around are being forced into closed contact with humans. She was correct - you should be wary of the cougar. They can, and do, cause great harm to humans. In times like this - it very well may attack calves, kids or fawns. All those things are a threat to the ranchers in the hill country.

But in better times, these people are hell bent on ridding the area of all coyotes, foxes, bob cats, and cougars. They have "round ups" of the various body parts for the bounty. They believe this will mean that their livestock will be safe.

Then they wonder why we are over run with mice, rats, rabbits, and the like. On our place, there is specific prohibitions to shooting anything that you don't intent to eat. If you shoot it, you better plan a meal from it.

This comes to mind because out closest neighbors (the ones who are not family) have been visited by an armadillo recently. We really thought the fire ants had wiped out the armadillos. My biology friends, and others I am sure, have nick named the armadillo the Texas Speed Bump. In the past, you would travel the roads and there would be many of them dead on the road. It wasn't that people would intentionally try to hit them, it was a fatal flaw in their nervous system. When they are startled - like by a car coming at them on the road - they would jump up straignt in the air about 2 feet. That is right at bumper height. That makes the equation of car+armadillo = dead armadillo.

Skunks have also become a great problem in the places around the SSB. Again - we have no predators. All these animals will bloom if their checks are gone. The skunk is a real problem, and not just because of his odor. In Texas, you can figure that if you see a skunk, he has rabies. That makes them really scary.

Of course, a small predator in the area is fighting rabies also, and I fear for them. The foxes in the area seem to mostly be rabid. We have one family back on the ridge, and I really don't think they have rabies because they have been observed for about three years now. I won't push my luck to find out, but even though most of the foxes may be vectors for rabies, I think our little group is healthy.

Anyway, in my opinion, the bounties should be lifted. At church the other week, our insurance guy admitted that the coyotes weren't the real problem for his livestock. It was the feral pigs that have taken over the place - and so much of Texas. There is no bounty on them - yet.

In the meantime, we will have our bloom of rats, mice, rabbits, skunks, etc - IF it ever rains again.

Peace.

Ah, spring

Spring, or what we here in Swampland call spring, has come. While we still have days that have a low temperature in the 30's, we are reaching into the 80's on many days. The yard people are extremely busy this time of year cleaning the dead herbaceous plants that proliferate here most of the year, but end up quite dead during the "winter" Temperatures in the low 30's and 20's certainly change the look of banana plants. They first wilt, then become brown and dry. Quess what kind of plants are prolific in our back yard. Bananas and cannas. Both becomes dry husks after winter passes.

Spring flowering plants are all blooming. When I was teaching, I tried to get our unit on flowering plants to come at this time of year. I have azaleas in my front bed. At one time there were a lot of them, and they bloomed profusely. They were wonderful flowers to have the kids dissect to learn then parts of a flower. My plans were usually not good because we too often would be mired in the study of vertebrates about now. Flowering plants were a long way off, and the azaleas wouldn't wait.

I finally have come to the conclusion that my pin wheel begonia only blooms at one time of the year, and that's right now. I have learned to love it for its foliage. Just as well because there won't be blooms again until next year.

But, the congress of the United States has done something that destroys this beautiful time of renewal. It comes in on a early Sunday morning - about 2 am. It ruins the entire season. What is this dastardly thing? It is Day Light Savings Time. I hate it, hate it, hate it.

Being retired, this time of year shouldn't bother me that much, but it does. George still is working. That meant we are on a schedule. We are effected by this blasted time change where we are getting up an hour earlier. Just when it is daylight when the drive to work comes, it is ripped away again, and the drive is in the dark again.

During this change time, I am chronically tired. My body tells me everyday for about a month that I am forcing it up an hour early. I am not a morning person - never was. Working was a terrible thing for me. When we moved to Swampland, I didn't know the schools took up at 7:30 in the morning! I grew up with schools beginning at the more civilized time of 8:30 This is an outrage. Then when DST was thrust upon us, it almost killed me.

I really don't see the reason for the change. The sun doesn't stay around an hour longer. The amount of daylight is the same. If you need sunlight for your jobs, you get up earlier. Actually, I wouldn't mind DST - IF we stayed on it all year. I think it would be helpful more in the winter. We would have more daylight in the late afternoons. More people are functioning at that time, and it gets dark so early.

But, those in power don't listen to us. I know I am not alone in detesting this time change. I have not heard anyone praise this blasted change. If that is so, why do we still do it? Statistics show there are more traffic accidents during the first couple of weeks of time change than normal - usually pedestrian/vehicle. It's just not a good thing.

Peace.

I did it!

I knew the day would come. It was a given. It rolls around every year at this time, so it was inevitable. I had been waiting for it and really dreading its arrival. It came on Saturday. It was The Day. It was . . . income tax calculating day.

That in itself brings great trembling to me. In years past, there was much yelling and cursing. It was horrible. I usually found some other place to be. The kids and I would flee in terror. Recently, there has not been such wrath. I think part of it was when George worked at H&R Bloc*. Now we buy the software, and things seem to go well.

The real terror of the day was the fact that I had to clean off the computer desk. That room that was affectionately called "the study" had become "the catch all." Of course we have satellite "catch all" rooms. I simply don't have the energy to put things where they should be. I'll get one room straight, but all the junk from that room has to go someplace.

I know I should put myself on a schedule, and I have one worked out in my brain. But I am still too immature to stick to that schedule. I have watched the OCD people, and I could become one of them if I didn't watch it. They don't have any fun. They are constantly alphabetizing their pantry and medicine cabinets.

When the kids were little, I knew that they would someday be gone. I wanted to make memories with them. I wanted to go places and do things with them. I knew no one would come in and clean up. It would be here when we returned. I never said we couldn't go and do because I had to clean house. My house was clean enough to be healthy. It may have clutter, but it was basically clean.

I had a house keeper come in once a week for a while. She really tried to do things to please us. I hated for her to do the laundry because somehow she managed to wrinkle permanent press. When you would go to the closet for a clean blouse, it looked like it had been slept in - by an elephant. I can't imagine how she thought that would pass.

She also began cooking for us. She made some delicious Mexican food. It was heavenly. I learned a lot from her. But the cooking took time from the cleaning. Cooking I don't mind - cleaning was what I hated and was paying her to do. So the housework was still there. We let her go - telling her that Krissi was going to do the work for an allowance.

But back to the monster that was looming in the study. I finally slunk in there. After moving all the things George had piled in my desk chair, I sat and looked at the mountain of stuff. I made a plan. I started at the far end. I went through piece by piece. I found things I had completely forgotten about. I found tax things that I had not put in the file cabinet. Wow.

All the while, I was waiting for the computer in there to load. It had not been on in months. It always takes forever to load. I hoped it still worked. So it is sitting there, just spinning its hard drive along, loading away. I sat there going through stuff. I made piles of things. I had things to go upstairs to the craft room, things to go into the file for taxes, and a lot of junk.

After just a few minutes I was done. I asked George if he wanted me to load the software. He was a little non-commital so I knew. The answer was yes. As the computer inched its way along the loading process, I became impatient. I started hitting keys to try to hurry the process along. I ended up in a continuous loop. I had frozen the computer. So I left it alone after restarting to have lunch. After several minutes - like a couple of hours, the program was loaded and updated.

During that time, I returned to that room and picked up the rest of the junk that had accumulated in the room. One could actually get to the book case! Movement could happen. There was more than one little pathway.

I tackled the printer then. I finally got a document to load from "My Documents." I hit the print command. For a minute, the printer just sat there. Humm. Finally it spit out a sheet - with nothing on it. My cartridges were empty.

They were the ones that I had Walgr**ns fill. What. A. Mistake. Never again. They never worked properly. I then remembered why I had not printed anything in a long time. I put in new cartridges and it worked like a dream.

Later George went in. In a couple of hours he came out. I waited breathlessly for the result. He said he wasn't in a hurry to file. I knew what that meant. So I asked the pressing question: how much do we owe? It is a pittance, so that was a great relief.

It was a successful day. I cleaned the study and the den. Have two bags of paper to go out for recycling. Shredded enough papers to fill two bins. And the taxes got done. We did good! And there was no yelling if you discount me yelling at the computer for being so balky.

Peace.

I give up - I think

Yes, here I am wildly waving a white flag. I give up - I am beaten.

Tuesday when we returned, I went to the mail box at the same time as my neighbor. Since my diagnosis, and following whilrwind treatments, I have become somewhat a recluse. We waved, and she came over toward me. I decided to come clean with what had been going on over the last two years.

During our conversation she reminded me of the fact that she had a partial knee replacement. Everyone I know who has had a partial or complete knee replacement is so glad they did it. Since I was absolutely miserable yesterday, I think I am waving the white flag. I think I will look into it. Maybe.

She told me her doctor had also replaced both of her husband's hips, and they love him. I had tried to get an appointment with him before Christmas when I was having the shoulder pain. The scheduling dude for them is a little less than stellar. When you call, you are put on hold because he "is on the other line." When you come off hold, you go to his voice mail which says he is away. You have to leave a message. He returns the call much later.

I think I may go ahead and run the gauntlet to get an appointment. I cannot stand the doctor I went to with my shoulder. If I had listened to him, I would be sitting here with my shoulder bound most of the time, and doing dreadfully painful physical therapy on it the rest of the time. I also would have less freedom of motion.

I am hesitant to go because I know he will tell me to lose weight. I know I have to lose weight. Knowing and doing are two separate things. I was successful with a lot of weight, then came the cancer. That slowed me and the lost weight found me. It had made new friends while absent from me, but brought them when it came back.

I have to do something. We have a vacation scheduled for August in Minnesota. It is another train convention - that means walking and standing. Those are both things that I cannot do now.

So my mind is made up - sort of.

Peace.

Hello!

We're back, and as usual when we are home, the day(s) are filled with "must do's." Today was the exterminator we have used for over 20 years. Last year we had a scare with termintes taking over an old storage building we lovingly called the greenhouse. We had him add termite treatment to our usual coverage. So it was time for that.

Our "yard man" is supposed to come today or tomorrow to cut down the forest of banana plants and jungle of grape vines for the year. He has cut our yards for 20 years or more. Living in Swampland means that you cut your grass - all year long. Yes it still grows. Of course, it doesn't grow as fast, but there are the leaves and so on that have to be picked up. We started using Lupe because we could n't get the kids to do it, or at least so that it wasn't a mess!

Our trip to Stings, Sticks or Bites was good. I spend the entire time cataloging my embroidery designs so I can find them. I probably have 2000 of them. They are supposedly in some order, but I still have trouble finding them. We'll see how this works. If it doesn't then I'll buy a program that does it - or so it says.

The downer was two fold. One we missed the Community Club meeting. One of the distant relatives did a presentation about the book her husband wrote especially for their grandchildren as he was dying of Lou Gehring disease. The book is really good. It has a message for us all, and it is meaningful to the larger family because he has some great anecdotes about some family members in it. (That entire community is the large family with the exception of two couples who managed to buy some property.)

The other downer was that the cousin that is our neighbor to the north (about 5 miles) has finally gotten her definitive diagnosis. She had not been able to keep food down for a couple of years. She has been degenerating rapidly. They thought it was an allergic thing at first. Now they know. It is terminal cancer that has already metastasized to the bone. It is just a matter of time.

When you think of that area, it is kind of scary. The cousin who spoke about the book had colon cancer shortly after they moved there. She is doing well right now. Her husband dies of Lou Gehring. I had breast cancer. She had the mystery disease that is now cancer, and her husband has been having some heart problems.

It would seem that there is something up there, but we all came from far differering parts of Texas. We haven't been there long. The only thing in common is that we are old. We don't recognize that we are old, but that is a fact. I wonder when I will think of myself as old?

Well, I need to get on the phone to call our pool guy. We need to replace our filter. It's only about 20 years old. I don't understand why it is wearing out! Could it be that it had to function everyday? That might be a clue.

Peace

No energy

I know I didn't get much sleep last night, but I am really dragging today. I was going to go back to the hospital yesterday, but I just didn't have the get up and go to go! It got up and went! I'm not much better today.

I really don't think that hospital could have found a room further away from where I have to park if they had tried. Of course, my knees pick this time to decide to act as though the joints are simply bone against bone. Wait! That's exactly what they are!

When the door to the hospital whoosh open, there is a covey of wheel chairs just sitting there, all poised. Do you know how tempting it is to just plop down on one of those babies and wheel away. So I sit here, thankful that I HAVE to stay here for a while to wait for the electrician.

The pull to see that baby is strong. I've only had him in my arms for about 10 minutes. He is a cute little snuggler. It appears the trial may wind down today fairly early, so that means we will take off in the morning for the SSB. I've been so positive about going until now. I have so many things I need to do here. But I will also miss that little sweetie coming home.

It's funny how you don't percieve getting older. Your mind still tells you that you are a youngster. Now the body, that's a whole different thing. My body is telling me I'm ancient. I have seen three difference bone docs. One of them has a big center across the atrium from where I go to see the baby. Yesterday George told me to go in there and tell them I need a new knee! Nope - that's the last thing I need.

Perhaps I will get a burst of energy here in a bit and I will tackle the trek to the hospital.

Have a good weekend! I probably won't be around until Wednesday since we will be with dial up until then.

Peace.

It really was a "B" day

It's a boy. He weight in at 7 pounds and 12 ounces. He was 21 1/2 inches long. I don't have the other stats - like head diameter. I forgot to get them. Poor Christina labored for 12 hours, and then
she ended with a C section. Her doctor thought all along that was a good possibility, but let her try anyway. Part of me wishes she would have just scheduled the section, but the other part of me knows it is better for the baby to be born.

Several times yesterday I was really alarmed for the baby. The heart beat would drop from its usual 145-150 to 70. That was so very alarming. During Krissi's labors, I was plastered to that monitor. I watched the whole thing like a hawk. With this one, I would watch the contractions lessen, and if she was on the wrong side (left) the heart rate would drop dramatically after a contraction. I was so afraid that a section would be called at any time.

They were adamant about the name. No one was to know (with the exception of her mother) until we were all together again after the baby. This caused me some angst because at first Christina didn't even want us to know the sex of the baby until we were all together again. That means even with the baby brought back from the nursery. Fortunately, that got squashed.

George and I left pretty soon after the birth. He had just gotten to the hospital right after the birth, but had been on the murder jury all day. The testimony yesterday was pretty tough. I had been there all day, and I really needed to come home. So we left without knowing the name.

When we got there this morning, they had just taken the baby for his hearing test. So the name wasn't mentioned. Krissi was there, but had to leave before he got back because she was reading to Katie's second grade class. When he got back, after a few moments, they told the name - with Krissi on the phone so she could hear as soon as we did. Basically, he is named for my father which is so fitting because Brian is his grandfather all over! So we now have little William.

I got to hold the little sweetheart. He is like so many newborns. He just sleeps until someone or something distrubs the status quo. He doesn't like that one bit.

So the little family will be in the hospital until Saturday. My son is so proud of his son. Last night watching them in the window of the transition nursery was really something. He would look into the baby's eyes and the baby would be looking back. The practical side in me kept telling me William could only see a shape, but my emotions were telling me dad and son were both deeply bonded.

Welcome to the family little William.

Peace.

Today is "B" day

Today grandchild 4 is expected to make his/her appearance. I will be at the hospital for an undetermined length of time. Christina's mother has said she expects me to be there to keep her company, but I really am not looking forward to it. This will be experience #5 with pitocin. One was deeply personal, and the other 3 previous were with my own daughter. I know how much pain there is with this. I know my (and Krissi's) OB/Gyn says there is not difference in labor with or without. I would like to ask him when he personally experienced pitocin!!

Anyway, I hope to post tomorrow to tell the world that we have a happy, healthy baby _______. I think it will be at least 8 pounds. Christina's doctor said so much. When I looked at Christina Sunday evening, I didn't see how that baby could gain another ounce. There can't be any more room. Krissi and I are lucky - we are tall. Christina is not. She is miserable. She is hurting. A lot.

All this and the fact that I am working so hard to get my embroidery files together to get this business going makes me wonder. I know there is no absolute for anyone of us. None of us were given a ticket with the number of days we have on this earth. But I wonder if my cancer will return - soon.

I can't help but think I am spinning my wheels doing all this stuff. This is all such a waste of time.

I also think that only one of my grandchildren will remember me, and when she is 25 I'll be just a dim memory. That is the way I remember my maternal grandmother. My most vivid memory is when she was living with us. I remember standing beside the stove in the kitchen, and she had just made potato soup. That was probably the best thing I had ever tasted.

I was 16 when my other grandmother died, but I had not seen her in several years. Again, I don't know what happened there because something obviously happened to sever that relationship. Our pastor called us at 7 A.M. to ask if the person he had just read about in the obits. No one even called my Dad to let him know she was in bad condition. Anyway, as old as I was, I mostly remember staying out in the country with her overnight. We would be in bed and she would be reading her western pulp novels.

Sometimes I wish I could have a crystal ball to see what was in the future. But would it really change anything? I don't think so. I think I would go on living, as I really do now, thinking I am impervious to anything. Silly isn't it? But at least I might know the sex of that baby!

Peace.

I wish I had the same confidence

Krissi's job doesn't require a lot of travel, but it does happen. The problem with her company is they are used to being a "good ole' boy" company. It was a male dominated company who when they had meetings liked to turn them into frat parties. So they quite often have the parties out of town - away from wives. The "meetings" begin on the night before so they are in place and "ready to go" the next morning. Ha! They are hung over! That next evening, there is a dinner that usually has some sort of "awards," and the next morning when they finally wake, they can sober up and drive home. I know because I once went with her when my grandson was still a small baby who needed to nurse.

Now Steve is saying he can stay with the kids for the three days that she will be gone because he doesn't have to be out of town. If she could handle it, so can he. Nope. Not. At. All. I have referred to him before - a heart good as gold and big as Texas, but the man is a wuss. There is physical strength, but that is it.

So she asked me to call and check on him while he's gone. She is hoping to aleviate the calls (and he calls every 15 minutes and has from the get go) will be how he has a headache, he can't sleep, and on and on. I know him all too well after all these years. She does too, she just doesn't want to face it. He is incapable of taking care of three kids.

One of the last meetings that was in Galveston, he went with her and took the kids. She was absolutely miserable. He was upset pushing her to leave the evening functions. She didn't want to be at those functions, but the bosses expect her to be there. She was miserable. The kids were miserable.

When the meetings are here in downtown, she manages to leave and not stay in the hotel. She doesn't advertise it, just slips out. It puts great pressure on her. SHe knows she is going to be busted at any time.

It would be best if she would just quit, but first in this economy she doesn't want to give up her salary. She likes her job. It is fairly easy - most of the time, and has great benefits that include a vehicle. Also, his work history wouldn't give me much trust in nothaving a job. I have lost count of the number of jobs he has held since they have been together. They usually don't last much, if at all, over a year. So history tells her to keep hers!

I know she is completely stressed, and I wish I could do more to help. She has pressure from job and home life. But she is a big girl now. She, in some ways, made this bed in which she sleeps. When things like this would come up for me, I didn't have family in the area. We had to figure a way to handle it. We did. We were successful, but then George isn't prone to headaches. Hummmmm.

Peace

Feeling the past

Occasionally, I have such vivid memories of my childhood flooding back it takes my breath away. I can be doing something else, and here come those memories. They are so vivid that I can even feel soft summer breezes that would accompany those memories wafting around me.

I enjoy such times. I enjoy remembering my youth, my family and those places that were dear to me. I just wish I could save them for my children and grandchildren. I have this silly notion that those memories would be as pleasing and mean something to them as well.

Before I had to move Dad and Vivian here to live, I remember sitting at their kitchen table talking about Dad's memories. He had talked about them before, but dumb little twit I was, I didn't really pay attention. After all, he would be here forever, right. Even on this occasion, I didn't listen as closely as I now with I had, nor did I ask questions to delve further into family.

When I fully realized he was in the middle to latter stages of dememtia, I decided that if I were to know more about my family, I would have to be the one to research it. That launched me whole-heartedly into genealogy. I had already lost my mother in 1972, and as an only child, who is basically separated from the little extended family we had, I better get moving. It was way too late with my mother, and really too late with my dad.

After moving him here, when I would take him to various doctor's appointments, he would make statements that I thought were really off base. He would take about his sister, Florence. I thought he was really off somewhere because I knew of only one sister - Helen. As I did more work, I discovered he did have another sister. She died in 1935 of a respiratory disease.

I could go on and on about the strange and wonderful things I have discovered in my genealogical quest. In fact, I have discovered that George and I have common relatives about 8 times removed!

I know my children and grandchildren still don't share my quest for information about family. They are wrapped up in just trying to keep up with the present relationships. That is day to day living. I know at some point, they may want to look back and discover from where they came. The information will be there. I have done my family, and I have done George's family -at least that that no one else has done. Thank heavens for those on his side that already had that spark ignited. But the records are there and waiting.

Peace

Telemarketers

Oh, how I hate telemarketers! But I have to shamefully admit I was one - once - when I was in college - for about 2 days.

I wanted some spending money, so I took a job at one of the local newspapers. Just thinking about newspapers brings other thoughts to mind, but I am not going to ramble.

I really thought it would be an easy job. I liked talking on the phone. That was the absolute worst job I had ever had. In fact, that may be the cause of my aversion to talking on the phone these days. I really don't like it.

With my aversion to said people, I figured that my registration with the National No Call list had expired since I would get one or more calls daily from one of the blasted people - even on my cell! That is sacred. Not many people I know have that number much less the lowest of the low!

The calls I get are to either extend the warranty on my vehicles. The newest vehicle we have is a 2002. The others are 1999 - with the exception of the 1967 farm truck and the 1965 MGB that still sits in the garage after G shorted out the electrical system (another story for another time).

I finally would take these calls. I told them that sure - I was interested. My car is a, ready for this, a 1965 MGB. The telemarketer didn't find any humor in that. Well, waste my time - I'll waste yours.

The other calls are to get me a better percentage rate on my credit card. My credit card people already don't like me. I don't have a balance. I use one of them in place of a check book. So that means it is used a lot. But at the end of the month, I pay my balance and collect my cash back.

Today I had enough. I took the call. The question was if I had more than $3000 credit card debt. I replied no, and then I had the audacity to ask the name of the company. The slug on the line said something, but I told her she had better check her no call list because I was on it. She hung up on me, but then I am accustomed to that. When I play mind games they do that.

Perhaps one way of stopping these intrusions is for people to take them and play mind games with them. But I have started a log of these calls. I will put the number down, the date, and what happened.

I know this has to be the worst job in the world, but really . . .

Peace - even to telemarketers. By the way - Happy Valentine's Day!

It will be the 18th

That's the date the newest grandchild is scheduled to make his/her appearance. Daughter in law went to her Ob/Gyn yesterday. She asked to be induced since her feet are like bubbles rather than feet. Before and when she got pregnant, she was absolutely against this. As time has gone on, she has grown weary of being pregnant. Yes, it does get old, doesn't it?

Her doctor told her the hospital wouldn't induce until she was 39 weeks. She reminded the doctor that would be Monday. So, it is set for her to go on Tuesday to get her papers, then show up at the hospital at 5 A.M. on Wednesday - that is if there is a bed. So that will be the fly in the ointment.

I was getting ready to work on my blog list that used to be over there on the left only to find it has disappeared. I don't know where it went, but it is simply gone. I guess I have done too much tweeking, and there simply wasn't enough room. Humm.

This month has been dental month for us. Most of us go to the same practice. C went two weeks ago, B and G went on Monday even though at different times and to different hygienists, and I went yesterday to the same one B had on Monday. The baby is the talk of that bunch!! Simone went today. I'm a little worried. She is not a young dog. Her actual age is a mystery, but I think she is about 8. She is in good health, so I don't think the anesthesia will be a factor. What bright clean teeth we have!

All the people at the dental practice asked if I was so excited. I don't know how other grandmothers are, but this is number 4! I know it is number 1 for my son and wife, but for me - number 4. That doesn't mean I am just completely unemotional. I am looking forward to this birth. I'm looking forward to holding a tiny baby again. I'm looking forward to learning just what it is. I will love it completely. I am apprehensive, hoping the birth will be completely normal and this baby is perfectly healthy. I have all those feelings, but excited. Not so much - at least by my definition.

When I emailed G with the news, his question was "will we still go to the SSB that weekend." My reply was simply "yes." For C's mother this is a first. It is her daughter and her first grandchild. She should have the weekend to be with the baby. I've had that experience - three times. I will gladly let her have that wonderful experience.

Well, this has been rambling at its worst. I'm sitting waiting for B*st Buy again to complete the installation of their equipment. I think it is going to be a Friday the 13th experience. The last crew gave me a tight time frame. This one just said between 9 and 11. I see trouble ahead. Wish me luck.

Peace.

I made them free!

I surely didn't start out to make burp cloths free, but that's what I did. I had a "little old lady from Pasadena" (the one who is elderly at 58!) order seven customized burp cloths. She visited web site where I foolishly placed them on sale. But I was still happy. There would still be a profit. Not as much, but a profit nevertheless.

We were supposed to meet Sunday. That didn't happen. I had not done my homework. I had not investigated what shipping would cost. I asked G what he thought. What a waste of time!! I asked daughter, my partner. She didn't know. We guessed perhaps $2.50. How naive we were.

After my fiasco yesterday, I went to buy an envelope to place the cloths in. It was $1.99. Not looking good here. I was ready to mail said envelope. This part is my own fault. I went to a private mailing place. I surely didn't know he got that much profit. Anyway, the total of this little mailing event was right at $10. I'm losing ground quickly here.

The diapers probably cost less that $1 each. I did buy fabric especially for these, but there is so much left and it makes such cute burp cloths, I really don't want to add that in. Plus it hurts too much. I don't know how to measure the cost of the thread. I don't add in fabric and thread, I made 66 cents. At this rate, well you can finish this statement.

I can hope that llfP will see the postmark, take pity on me, and send another check for additional postage, and/or she will send business my way. I know there is another option, but I won't do it. I could call her and ask if she would send more money for the postage, but I made the foolish mistake. She didn't. I, for better or worse, stand by my word.

I have to look at it this way. I paid to learn a lesson. Same as when I was in college. After all was said and done, I used the computer to find out shipping costs from both the post office and Big Brown. I got smart enough to bookmark those pages! I'm not a slow learner - nope! If this is the biggest mistake I will ever make in my life or in this business, I will be so lucky. It takes a kick in my butt to really get me moving these days. I consider myself so kicked. I won't make that mistake again.

I have learned a lot during the last three weeks with this entire process. I've set up a business email, I have posted my items on a published list, I have actually made a web site for the business (which is really time consuming and an ongoing project), set up PayPal, and found what costs are involved with shipping. This meets my need to keep my brain active, and the need to learn new skills. I really believe non learning something new contributed to my dad's dementia. I really want to do all I can to beat dementia. So I'm on a journey to beat cancer and dementia. Wish me luck.

Peace.

Two posts in one day!

And two posts are due to the fact that I am so angry I could chew nails and spit tacks. Plus I have just narrowed my stable of physicians by one.

I got to the radiation oncologist office this mornings. All was normal including signing all the Hippa forms - again. After a few minutes, the nurse called me back, took my weight (gasp), put me into a room, took my blood pressure. All the normal things.

She left me with the gown reminding me that it opens in the front. But I could tell when she left the room that Dr R wasn't in the office yet. I undressed and donned the gown. I sat in the chair and resumed reading my book.

After a few minutes, the nurse sheepishly returned telling me that there was a problem. Dr R wasn't there, in fact she had not left her home yet. She wasn't feeling well that morning. Apparently she had not called in at that point! Now just what kind of a job, and yes, being a physician is a job, allows you to just not show up.

They said I had three options: wait about 30 minutes in the exam room, come back in about 1 hour or after lunch. I told them after lunch - which is after 1:30 (they get from 12 - 1:30). I have elected choice d - none of the above.

I was a lowly teacher. What do you think would have happened if I just decided to not show up for my first three classes without calling? Heck, I was very frowned upon if I didn't call by 6am of the morning I wouldn't be in. I don't know why Ms India Doctor feels that she can do this type of thing.

After consulting with daughter and husband, trying to be sure that I am not acting too impulsively, I have made the decision the only one benefiting from this relationship is the radiation oncology practice. She will do a visual exam and sometimes palpates, but there is nothing else -- other than her strange (at least to me) Middle Eastern medical theories.

I will not stop seeing my oncologist. At least he has a blood test to read the CA25, 27 markers to mark tumor growth. I will tell him that I'm not going to the radiation oncologist. When, and if, the radiation office calls, I will tell them I'm not coming back. I don't have a relationship with this doctor, and I don't like what she pulled this time at all!!

I need to watch my insurance EOBs now. They better not charge the insurance for this "visit."

Peace. (now I've got to find mine)