First day

The first day travel was smooth. We are here in some little Oklahoma town north (east?) of Ardmore. Nice place.

I am here thanks to my fancy dancy ATT air card. I have 30 days to determine if I like it or not. I am thinking seriously of canceling Comcast. Then I would use the air card only.

Tomorrow we will be heading to Kansas City. I knew the weather would be hot here, but it's not looking good. I am not looking forward to the rains in Minnesota. I hope the flooding stops tomorrow.

Simone has already ingratiated herself to Daughter. I think they didn't let her out soon enough, but she pooped and peed in the dining room. At least it is a hard surface and not carpet!! I miss my little girl so much. She seemed to be happy to be there however!

I told G I was going to use this card as normal to see if there is enough time on it, but I am cutting a bit short.

More tomorrow.

Peace

About ready

Shadow is at summer camp - hassling Sasha. He thinks he in invincible. The first thing he did was to march right up to their Yorkie to try to intimidate her. Then he took on Sasha. Sebastian is a coward, and he will hide from the little brat.

We went to lunch after I dropped him. I got to see Wiggle Worm! He flirted with everyone he could see.

Then I decided to bite the bullet and get an air card. I have home service at times, and not at others. The air card is more expensive, but it will work: all the time, at the SSB, during storms (i.e. hurricanes). I have 30 days trial. If I don't like it - I can pay a restocking fee (??) and return it. Sounds like a plan.

Simone will go to camp tomorrow. I need to write out her needs for them. The joy of an older dog. She will have a house mate for the two weeks. Their dog, King, is about 12. He is a lab mix. Those labs surely get around!! There seems to be a lot of lab mixes in the world.

I will try to be back daily - especially now. Tomorrow, we will be in Oklahoma - somewhere. Like I told Daughter in Law, I don't sweat the details. Just tell me the end of the trip,when we go and for how long.

Peace.

Getting ready

Well, the "kids" are going away to summer camp while we are gone. Shadow is going to Son's house, and Simone is going to Daughter's house. Shadow will be fine. He will have two other cats to play with (or harass depending on your view point). I am a little concerned with Simone. Monkey Boy drops food all over the house, Simone eats something that is outside of her strict diet, and she gets sick.

It is depressing to watch the weather. It seems the hot weather is arriving before us so it will be there to greet us. I have been looking forward to having some cool weather. These three digit days are getting old.

I have so much to do before we leave, but although the spirit is willing, the body isn't. I keep hoping the knees will stop with the pa. I just don't want to do anything because it hurts so much. I went to sewing club today and didn't think I could get the sewing machine in. It seemed to be especially heavy today.

Well, lunch is over, and I have to get some other things accomplished today.

Peace.

Love the doctor - hate the news

I went to the new orthopedist today. He is really good. He is so understanding. I sort of expected to be lectured about my weight. He didn't. After looking at the xrays, he understood that there is no way I can successfully exercise. He looked at my history, and remarked about how much I have been through.

The bad news that he delivered is that I need both knees replaced. I was so hoping that wasn't going to be the answer. The cartilage in both knees is gone.

He me to get into a water aerobics class now. He wants me to consider bariatric surgery. I just don't know. My problem is in my BRAIN. It never seems to recognize full. Surgery won't help that. I know if you have by-pass, you can stretch out that little pouch. This is something that I really have to consider.

We are going to try the synthetic cartilage injections, but they cannot be started until we get back from vacation. So, for vacation, it is pain as usual.

He was really good, but he doesn't do the replacement surgery. His colleague does that. Looks like I will have more surgery in about six months, followed by another six months after that.

I really don't want another surgery.

Peace.

Survived!

We are back, with only a few bumps. I'm sure we are still a topic of "conversation," but then I knew that would be true regardless of how the trip went. I thought it went as well as possible!

We finally got to her facility about 4. G had called ahead to tell her we were about 30 minutes away. I was sort of hoping she would be downstairs waiting, but I should have known better. We stopped across the parking lot to let Simone out for a short walk. That is when I got into the back seat. I gathered all my belongings around me, and I put Shadow into the front seat. It was a good thing because I found Simone isn't a good travel companion. She wants 2/3 of the seat - and from the middle!!

Over the 42 years G and I have been together, I have adjusted to the fact that he doesn't talk when we travel. I always have my book, and it is just normal. MIL - I don't know. She likes to talk - usually about nothing, but she likes to talk. It was a rather quiet 2 1/2 hours. She probably didn't like that at all.

But I am getting ahead of myself! We had to get her into the truck. G was smart in that he brought a cinder block. I didn't think that would do it, but after about 5 minutes of wrangling - she was in. He did a lot of pushing because she couldn't/wouldn't use the hand bar (sometimes referred to as the "Oh, sh*t bar) to help pull herself in.

Getting her out was about as bad as getting her in! First, she couldn't open the door. She proceeded to call her daughter to the truck like a dog!! Here "daughter," here "daughter." I almost laughed out loud.

We then trundled on to our house. Son and DIL had a wonderful dinner for us. It was a delightful evening.

We got to the reunion the next morning. It was nice. After about an hour, SIL and MIL arrived. They came to where we were sitting. MIL was going to sit but she would just flutter around the chair. Son kept trying to help, and she would flutter again. But it also went well.

At the end, there was a little light (heavenly) rain. SIL has a truck that sits every bit as high as ours, but no running board. She had to use her porch to get her mother in. There was nothing in sight to get her in. SIL never thought about loading her mother again, and we were in Son's Expedition which was full of bodies!

They kept trying to hoist MIL into the truck to no avail. I finally suggested getting the truck closer to a curb to add a few inches. I think Son had to finally pick up his grandmother to get her into that vehicle.

Large vehicles like we all have are in order for that area. The land is rough. It is semi-desert. It is rocky. You have to have high clearance vehicles. It all added to being a situation that was difficult for mobility hampered people not being able to get into those vehicles.

But we all survived. All are back home and into normal lives - sort of.

D Day or rather MIL Day

Quick note here. I have to get out to pack the troop carrier (how appropriate today) - even though I can't load some of the furniture I salvaged from the lake house. Wouldn't you know, no rain in Central Texas for months, and now . . . I understand from the neighbor (20 acres away) that seven inches fell yesterday. It is very overcast here.

Today we will be stopping to pick up MIL. I really, really don't think she has any idea how big that truck is. Being a 4x4, it sits higher than a regular truck - which is already too high for her. My SIL cannot get into our truck without a stool, and I definitely have trouble. I don't know who is going to hoist her up about 20 inches to the running board - not me!

I especially won't be hoisting today. This is a day of terrible muscle cramps. My left leg from the hip to the foot cramped a while ago. I really believe it is the statin I am taking that has lowered my cholesterol very low. When I went to the doctor, they asked if I was having muscle cramping. I said YES!, but that didn't change anything.

Oh well, the last 2 hours of the trip will be sheer hell, but then we are free of her. Younger SIL will return her home (but couldn't come to get her???), so we don't have that. But the rest of the weekend will be with Son and family. Lots of time with Wiggle Worm.

Peace.

HURT!

Today is a terrible day for arthritis, and I don't know why. It began yesterday and continued into the night. It effected my sleep.

I tried to use the recumbent bike Tuesday. If my knees would rotate just a bit, the pain was terrible. I lasted five minutes, but it was difficult.

Yesterday, Son finished the sewing machine cabinet. He managed to get it upstairs himself, but while he was doing that (maybe that's why he moved it by himself), I was moving the old cabinet out of the way. That wasn't an easy task. When you have three machines set up, space is at a premium. I didn't want to move all the tables, so I sort of boxed myself into a corner several times. Plus my sewing chair is an old office chair, so it takes up quite a bit of space itself.

What does that have to do with anything - I think it added to my soreness.

I have finally made an appointment with the new orthopedic guy. They want my x-rays from the last doc. I hate to call to get them. His receptionist (assistant, whatever - only other one in the office) is really sweet, but the doctor is rather abrupt and rude. I didn't want his "lay it open to fix it" idea about the rotator cuff. G tells me the films are mine, not his, but I really hate to call to get them. I feel like asking the assistant when he won't be there.

This post may be a little disjointed. Lady Bug is here. I love her dearly - but she is a "ratchet jaw." She talks non stop! But I love her so!

Peace.

Potpourri

Today is a little of this and a little of that. Nothing earth shattering at all.

Shadow is a big boy now. He has gotten his rabies shot. Next month he gets to use the big boy Advantage for cats. He is only 5 pounds now, and he has to be 9. That will be next month at his rate of growth.

Yesterday, G's mother called. I thought it might be to note my birthday. The first time she called, I was thankful for caller ID. She never said a word, is was just heavy breathing. Now I am notorious for addressing obscene callers - it isn't pretty. The second time, she hung up as soon as I answered. About noon, she called again. Her question was if we were going to the big family reunion this weekend - knowing the answer to this all along. She wants us to stop in the Capitol City to pick her up.

The problem with this? Well, let's see. We travel to the SSB in the BIG F250. I have trouble getting in. She is supposedly so infirm that she used to have people chauffeur her around in her car - no demands or anything. I do not see how in the world she is going to hoist herself into that truck (besides her arthritis, back problems, she is 88).

The second problem is we are usually loaded with stuff. This time, we will have Simone AND Shadow. I'm glad Lady Bug said she needed to stay with Daughter to help out since SIL will be out of town.

The third problem is that we will be leaving here after noon. That means we will be late getting to the SSB (at least a 5 hour drive - now extended by probably another 45 minutes), but fortunately Son and family will be going tomorrow. We won't have to unlock the gap in the dark.

If MIL was a nice person, it wouldn't be quite as bad, but she NEVER calls us. My family doesn't get birthday cards, and Christmas is acknowledged because the whole family is usually together. She has verbally attacked me on several occasions for no real reason. She has been so hard on G his entire life. His dad worked for the rail road and was gone a lot. She actually abused him when his dad was gone.

Well - enough venting about her.

Something I am thankful for (gotta be positive) is the spell check on the computers. I have never been a good speller. Take that and add 29 years of teaching 13 year olds, your spelling really gets bad. It is so comforting to be writing and have the computer proof read for me! Not only am I a poor speller - I am a terrible proof reader. I know some of the little red underlines escape, and there is one in this paragraph that I am leaving, but what a blessing. And this coming from an English minor!!

So this hasn't been too bad. Two good things and one venting.

Peace

Over my head

Technology. It has left me in the dust!

My internet connection is still wonky. Since Friday, it will be on and off. In fact, as I am writing, my wi fi keeps telling me it is reconnecting to the internet. That is not normal. I KNOW that as soon as I really need a connection - it will be off. That's what happened then. I call Comcast and get them to send a "refresh signal" and it works, usually, for a while.

I really thought I would be able to ditch Comcast and get an air card. I don't think so. The monthly rate is just too high. Daughter and SIL have them, but I think they get a special deal since they are through their business. I don't think my little craft business would qualify me for a special rate. I was really excited about an air card since it would give me access at the SSB, and since we are going on vacation in two weeks, it would give me access then. G tells me two of our hotels advertise free wi-fi. We'll see.

I spent the entire afternoon yesterday trying to transfer music from some of our vinyl collection onto my new Ipod. What a farce!! I finally got one side of one record on the Ipod four times. Not only did I have to learn how to interface the USB turntable with the laptop, I had to learn how to work the Ipod. I am still, obviously, fighting Itunes.

I chose an album that had two lp's. I have all four sides on the computer, but only one resides in Itunes. The others are in My Music. Today I will try to get those files from My Music into Itunes. What a way to spend the day. But I am going to try. We know from experience that traveling in the midwest there are areas that will not have radio transmissions. We thought the Ipod would be a great thing.

So with that in mind, I saw a little thingy that goes into the power port on the car that holds the Ipod, recharges it, and plays through your radio speakers. I was entranced. I ordered it. I don't remember from whom. Guess what! It doesn't fit any outlet in any of our vehicles. It must be for an 18 wheeler. The plastic part that is supposed to go into the hole is way too big. So we are basically back to square one with the exception of the fact that on my last forray into Wal Mart, I picked up some little speakers that are meant for the Ipod and/or computer.

It is sad watching me struggle with technology. I used to be very up to date. I was a go to person at school. I could get the computers working, I could get all the audio-visual stuff working. I could do it all. Now I cannot even hook up the DTV. I am totally intimidated by it. I want to hook up a dvd player to the little vcr/tv (I know - obsolete) that is in the sewing/craft room. I don't know how. Sad.

Time to waste with transferring music now.

Peace.

And the heavens opened . . .

I chose a small local seafood restaurant for our celebratory birthday dinner last night. Their menu is a little more limited than the big seafood place here, but their quality is just as good with portions that are for normal people - not competitive eaters.

As we were on the way, we could see bolt lightening around the area. Showers have been all around us for several days (which we loved), but we had not gotten any rain to speak of. I really thought those showers would just go on by.

We all got to the restaurant at the same time. That was absolutely amazing. I knew Son, Daughter in Law and Wiggle Worm would get there with us because Son had been assembling my new sewing cabinet which was my birthday present from G. But Daughter and brood were getting out of the car too.

I had been worried about the restaurant being able to handle ten of us at once, so G stopped there earlier in the day to check. We certainly shouldn't have worried. They ought to close on Sunday nights! I don't think they served more than 15 people other than us the entire time we were there which was from 6:30 - 8.

While we were sitting there, the skies darkened - and not from nightfall. The winds picked up, and the thunder and lightning got worse and worse. The lights dimmed several times, and we joked with Daughter in Law about eating in Cow Village and the lights going out (that happened last Monday).

After a bit, the winds were really howling. We looked out and a tent they had put up for something that was going on the previous evening collapsed. Then the hail started. The rain was a real toad strangler.

That was a wonderful birthday present however. The rain is a blessed event around here. We had a good time, good food (even Monkey Boy ate - a corn dog and french fries, but that is another story), a good visit, and a good rain. It was really all good!

If the Comcast gods allow my connection to continue - I'll post this. Hope your Sunday was as good as mine!

Peace

64

Yep, one year away from Medicare. With mixed emotions, I am looking forward to that because then my health insurance costs decrease dramatically. That's important! Here in Texas, we retired teachers have not had a raise in our annuity in eight years, and it doesn't look promising in the near future. Last week we got a message in the Bulletin that if the state attorney general approves, we will be blessed with an extra $500 at the end of the year. Oh be still my beating heart! I'll try to not spend it in one place.

Yes the body is 64 years old, and I think I feel every day of them. But the mind is still, oh, let's say 16! We have been married 41 years in a couple of weeks. Just where did all the time go? I can't believe those numbers.

Tonight we will go to dinner with the family. Getting them all together - in a restaurant - is always fun. Monkey Boy and Doodle Bug get bored - quickly. It really gets to be a circus. But I am really glad we can gather as a family.

G "gave" me a new sewing cabinet for my birthday. I went to the store and bought it. Now I have to wait for Son to put it together. I really wish things would be sold in their usable form! There is no way in God's green earth I could get that thing together. It is in TWO boxes, and it is the smallest one they sell. OMG!

It is a very quiet day. The temperatures have moderated - a bit. There is rain in the area, but we seldom get it here. Galveston has been getting quite a bit, and I am thankful for them. Ike really did a number on them. The salt water remained on land for a long time, and the land is highly saline. Trees have died, and crops won't grow. They have been below their rainfall for a long time, and the rain is really needed to wash out the salt.

Hope your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace.

Such service

On Wednesday, the person from the title company that was handling the closing of the lake property called - while I was out for a few minutes, of course, saying they were going to send the papers to G's email at work. In fact, they had already sent them.

He looked them over and saw that only one lot was listed. So that had to be corrected. His IT people at work told them the system would be going down at 6 pm, so he told the title company to send the updated paper work to my main email.

Normally, that would be fine. Yesterday - not so much. The day began with a call from Daughter. Her sitter was sick, and Son in Law was still in Arizona. He would be landing about 10. So I went over. I took my computer and logged on to her router. There was nothing new in my mail.

Son in law did come in at the appointed time (for a change). I went home and logged on here. Things were fine until about noon. My server went down. Wonderful Comcast! (It's acting like it may again.) I had no service. So I called G at noon and told him to check my email.

Finally yesterday afternoon, the papers came in. We had to take them to a notary to sign, and they wanted them back TODAY! Anyway, we got it all done. The papers went off at 5 pm. They should arrive today.

The notary was at the bank. I never go into the bank. I will go through the drive through and hit the ATM. That's it. She showed me all the new things they offer. I am now in the 21st century banking!

So the property is gone. It is the way it is. It's time to move on.

Peace

The time has come

I really have been dreading this. The lake house is going to closing on Friday. I really hoped the sale would fall through. But we got an email from the realtor that the buyer closed on her property on Monday, and would be ready to close on Friday.

Daughter and Son in Law made the final trip last weekend. They brought back so much, but there is still things we couldn't go through. I know I am losing yet more of my heritage. When V died, and it was obvious that Dad wasn't ever going back to the house, her son sold it. Dad lived there for 20 years. He had so much there. I found some things, but there were whole areas that I didn't have time to go through - beside the fact that G was "chomping at the bit" to return to Swampland.

When my mother and Dad contemplated moving to the lake house to retire, they hauled a lot of stuff up there. He had built a three car garage, and it was full. Daughter tried to go through it, but she couldn't get to it all. We both know there are still things there that would be of value - at least to us.

She did find the cedar chest where Dad's Masonic apron was stored. Of course, we are about 3 years too late with that one, but I really don't think he cared. He had stopped paying dues a long time ago. But he was supposed to have been buried with that apron. With the rest of the funeral fiasco, he didn't have a Masonic funeral either. We got him reinstated as a Mason. But, as I said, I don't think it was that important to him anymore.

So with the things that the vandals destroyed, the things that we have no room for, and the things we cannot possibly get through, another chapter closes. I still feel that I have failed. I have to let a property go. As I have said before, it is a property that he put so much into. But when there is no other desire to hold on to it in the family - what's the use.

The really ironic part of this whole thing. When we were there the middle of July, the property behind the house is being developed. We have waited all these years for other properties to be around this one. The house was set so far back from the road that you couldn't see it from the street. When Henry was alive next door, our place was safe. His relative that lives there now, I don't know if he would be watching out as well as Henry, but with a new property behind - maybe there was hope.

But now that's too late, and besides, the entire county has four sheriffs to patrol. I guess we (I) did the right thing. Now we just have to sign the papers.

Peace.

I don't know were my mind is!

Yesterday was Doodle Bug's second birthday. That's great isn't it. Another birthday. Whoo hoo - let's celebrate!

Only in my mind, I thought her birthday was TODAY! I am really beginning to wonder about my brain. For weeks, I have thought her birthday is today. When I talked to Daughter last night, she was cookin to DB about her birthday.

One big problem - I haven't been shopping for her. I did get the scrapbook made, but still . . . Aaannnnnd, I won't go shopping today either. I bought MY birthday present today after I went to the cardio doc. I am tired of holding my hands up in the air to sew, so I bought a new sewing table that fits my machine and brings me into the 21st century. The arthritis in my next was just too much for me to continue.

But the boxes (some assembly required) are still in the back of the truck. I don't know that I can move them. I can't lift things like I used to. Between the arthritis and the reconstruction that put a back muscle in my chest, I just can't do things.

At least I didn't forget her birthday, I just had the wrong day!

Peace.

Memories of grandparents

Watching the news on Friday, one of the reporters commented about being his grandparents remote control to change the station to watch Walter Cronkite's news.

That made me think about memories that children have of spending time with their grandparents. I don't have a lot of memories of grandparents. Both of my grandfathers died before I was born. I have vague, grainy memories of my maternal grandmother. I think I was less than eight when she died. My strongest memory is of my standing in the kitchen when she made potato soup. She lived with us at the time, but that is the only real memory I have of her. I have memories of her presence, but not of her.

My fraternal grandmother died when I was about sixteen. I used to go out to her house and stay frequently, and I do have some memories of her. The strongest is sleeping with her at night. She would pull out her dime novel which was a paperback western (probably what they were called - don't really know). I would have something to read also - probably a comic book, and we would lay there under the reading lamp attached to the head board.

Something happened with the relationship between my parents and my grandmother. Of course, I was a child who was totally self involved. The world revolved around me. This is a situation that I have come to hate at this point in my life. I wish I had listened to stories about family and the like. I was sure my parents would be around forever. Well, forever came sooner than I thought with my mother's death from cancer at 57, and still I didn't take advantage of having my dad. When he developed Dementia at the age of about 88 (dementia is strange - it creeps up), it was too late for me to get information from him.

All this brings me to something else. Last week, when I was over at Susan's Grandparent Blog ,
she was talking about parents having to detox their children after a visit to the grandparents. I think the relationship between children and their grandparents is so special, and I may feel that way because mine was so limited.

I am so lucky. Three of my grandchildren live a mile away, and the fourth lives about 10 miles away. I can see them whenever I want. I usually don't see them except for Sunday dinners. I don't really keep them for extended periods because they are right here. When I do have them, I will admit that I spoil them to a certain extent, but I do try to keep the parental rules in mind. In some cases, I probably spoil less than the parents.

I just think that grandparents are here to be something special to children. My children had a bit more of their grandparents than I had. They had their step grandmother until about six years ago, my dad until about 3 years ago, their other grandfather until 2 years ago, and the other grandmother is still alive. They spent time with all of them. I am delighted that my grandchildren spend time with us.

I hope their memories will be vibrant and good.

Peace.






http://grandparents.about.com/b/

My incredible luck

My luck, or lack of same, still holds strong. Today was the day Daughter in Law and I chose to go to a small city north of here to get my driver's license renewed. What should have been easy is going to end with me in a drugged haze.

We left a bit late, but that wasn't the cause of the problem. The problem was one that we couldn't have known about. The Junior High students from another town in that county had come to take the test for their learner's permit. All ten of them. The Driver's License Office hold six people.

We got there, walked around the building to the door where we encountered three people waiting outside. We were told that the office was full, and we would be called for. The real problem here was simple - there were no benches. That is why I chose what I thought would be easy. I knew the Swampland offices had no benches and a lot of people.

After a bit, we decided we could go in. There was nothing apparently happening. Just a bunch of hormonal teens around. There were a couple of people ahead of the teens who also needed just to renew. They finally got through, and the ONE clerk began with the testees.

I managed to find a desk to park myself in to ease the pain in my knees, feet and back. But then the clerk said the desks needed to be emptied as the tests were going to begin. So, I was standing again.

All in all, I stood for a good hour. I am so miserable right now that mere words don't cover it. I finally got my renewal - which is running two months late! It's me and the paper receipt, baby. What should take no more than 45 days is not 10-12 weeks.

I would love to find humor in this. I really would. But there isn't any. I am off to take one of my horded post surgery pain pills. I hate to do it, but this is a qualifying circumstance. Then I know I'll slip into a quasi-sleep.

Hope your weekend is good. Ours has potential. We are supposed to be getting a cool front bringing rain and greatly reduced temperatures. The predicted highs are 10 degrees cooler that what we have had. I can't remember when I looked forward to 93-95 for highs, but I surely do now. There is also rain in the area. We will be truly blessed if this all comes about.

Peace.

Shadow

That stupid cat thinks he is ten feet tall and bullet proof. I just wonder if he is Simone teeth proof?

Last week, he decided it was so much fun to run by the sleeping dog and bat her in the nose. I thought it was funny too. I was trying to get a picture, so I was concentrating on that. Suddenly Simone jumped at him. That brought all of that to an abrupt halt.

Last night, he again decided she was a play toy. He kept jumping at her, until . . . You guessed it. She had enough. She jumped at him again and snapped.

Of course, this is after I forgot to clear the dinner table immediately. It has been a while since I have had a cat. Our last cat wouldn't get on the table because he was blind. Poor Ralph had detached retinas. He lived a good life even though he was blind. We just made sure we didn't change any furniture around. He even survived Son's cats that we kept for a while (2 years!!).

It was really my fault Shadow got on the table. There were all those wonderful aromas lingering. I also hold him while I am writing on this laptop. I thought he was thinking he was in my arms and not on the table, but I guess I was wrong.

Right after we got him and he was only about 3 inches long, he would stand on his hind legs to be picked up. I thought it was cute, so I did. Well, he is still doing the same thing - and so am I.

But I will try to train him again to stay off the table. Training him to leave Simone alone is a different thing all together!

Peace.

Another headache

My driver's license expires on my birthday this year. No big deal, right? No it is a big deal. This year, everyone whose driver's license expires has to go to the office to renew because the card will be encoded with car insurance information. So when you are pulled over for speeding, the police knows if you have insurance, immediately - I guess.

Now even THAT wouldn't be a problem, but since Swampland is, what, the fourth largest city in the states, we have a lot of people. A lot of people means a lot of people will be having their license expiring on their birthdays. Should still be no problem, but it is. You see, we only have about six offices in Swampland, and one of those is closed for renovations.

This means that the lines are looooooooooong. This means that ol' Grandma K would have to stand for a long time. She cannot do that little thing. Now, in theory, one is supposed to be able to make an appointment. That would probably be true, IF their phone wasn't busy 24/7 (at least I think it is). I honestly believe there is a single line into their office.

To rub salt into wounds, there are two counties close by my house (which is a small city in the far northwest corner of our county) that each have a driver's license office. They have a few citizens in their counties. One of the offices is about 45 minutes away and the other is an hour away. Guess where I am going on Friday! Yes, I'm putting my behind into my car, getting Daughter in Law and Wiggle Worm to go with me, and heading north to a smaller county. While we are there, we will go to a large farmer's market to get our fruits and veggies for the week.

In addition to that problem, the department has a virus infecting their computers. Normally, it take about 45 days to get your renewal. That isn't happening these days. The little paper thingy is expiring before the new card comes. They are asking police to be lenient with expired paper temporary licenses. You can't win in this situation. I foresee a ticket in my future that I will have to take months to settle. Either that, or when we are on vacation, my passport card will not be identification enough, and I will have an expired driver's license.

Life is strange isn't it? At least getting services is.

Peace.

Made it back

The weekend was like typical weekends when there are more than the two of us in the house at the SSB. There were time it was quiet (3 A.M.?), and there were times of absolute chaos. But we survived.

I was most concerned with the delivery of the new dishwasher. That should have been the least of my worries! That was the smoothest part, and even then it wasn't without it's snag. Friday morning, we got a call that it would be delivered between 11-12. That time came and went. About 1:30, the phone rang. The delivery person said he thought it was at our house and no one was home. No - he was at sister-in-law's house. Then he called saying he couldn't get through the cattle guard. We told him to use the gate. He hadn't seen the gate.

When Daughter and brood got there, SIL started getting ready to install the machine. It had no power cord. We decided we went into Bitty Town Saturday for the craft store, lets call the guy that has a store with one of everything under the sun. After he checked our genealogy, he looked and had a power cord. So the installation would have to wait.

Saturday the craft show was pretty good. Even with the temperature hovering around the 100 mark, it wasn't too bad. We had a great spot - not where I really wanted to be, but closer. We had traffic, but since we had to lower our prices to stay in line, we didn't make as much money.

Back home, SIL put the power cord on. Think that was it? No way! We needed a new water supply line. The one they sent with the machine ($20, thank you very much), didn't fit. So Sunday, a trip to Fritztown was scheduled. To cut to the chase with this part of the story, it finally is in and works!

Monkey Boy was an absolute brat the entire weekend. If something doesn't go his way, he whines and then cries about it. When he is told "no," he continues doing whatever it is. When he is like this, it sets the girls off. I thought "Pa," otherwise known as G, was about to step in, but he didn't -thank goodness.

Daughter, Lady Bug, and I picked up some kind of intestinal thingy. We have had our problems. It started with Daughter, then I got it, and Sunday, LB got it.

LB surprised me. At bed time, she put on the pj bottoms she made. I really thought she didn't like them. She hasn't committed to making the top yet though!

So now we are pretty much back to normal. I've still got things to unload, and I have to get Shadow from DIL.

Peace.

Hotter!

This weekend is going to be rough to be sitting under the pecan trees hawking our wares. For a while, it looked like the temperatures might be in the mid to upper 90's, but the weather gurus are predicting 101.

I sent our reservation in early this year. I am so hoping we get on the east side of the Courthouse. In the past, I have been a little late, and we end up on the west side. It has always been hot, but with the big trees, it was tolerable.

As usual, I tossed and turned instead of falling asleep thinking about all the items I had planned to make, and didn't. After every show, I promise myself that I will discipline myself to go up every day to sew. It just doesn't happen. Then comes the next show (there are 6 month intervals here), and I still haven't done everything I want to do!

In other trivia, Simone went for her bath today. When I called yesterday, the guy that is there in the evenings teased me when I asked if she could get a bath today. He told me I could bathe her when ever I wanted. I was so proud of her. Instead of going for a drag to the back, she actually walked. I did have to go with her, but she actually walked. It might be due to the fact that for the last bath the big guy came out and carried her back!

So it's off to the SSB tomorrow morning. I hoped Daughter and family would be coming then, but she ended up having her boss work with her tomorrow. We needed SIL to unhook the dishwasher so they will take it away when they bring the new one on Friday. I guess G and I will have to learn how!

Lady Bug will be going with us tomorrow. After the last time she decided not to spend the night - I am a little worried. I still think that came about because of the sewing lesson. Kids! They are so hard to read sometime. But she seems to be genuinely excited and happy about going with us. I don't think it is just because she is getting away from her brother.

Monday will be a trial. We are stopping by the lake house - for the last time. It is going to close by the end of the month it seems. We are getting some of the furniture that Daughter wants, and I will do a final walk though. It is going to be an emotional time I'm afraid.
If you aren't under this high pressure system and it is relatively cool, send me some with your thoughts! I will need it when I am under those trees!

Peace.

Break out the overcoats!

Talk about a cold front! The temperature only got to about 93 yesterday! This morning - rain. Are we back in the right universe?

Seriously, this is a nice break from the oppressive heat we have been experiencing, but the weather gurus tell me that our resident high pressure system is lonely and moving back over us. It will remain there for another indefinite time keeping us snugly warm under its blanket of hot air.

I knew the weather was going to change, but this time it wasn't my knees, hip, and back that warned me. I went out yesterday to buy the spray paint to repaint the clothing stand I need for Saturday. If I have an outdoor activity that has to be done today - it will rain. Of course G, in his usual manner, reminded me that I could have done that painting this past weekend. Yep, could have - except I didn't want to get out to the store.

Such is life. I am just glad we got the rain. Things are getting really bad. I see the sun is beginning to come back out. It will probably clear up later, and I can do my outside thing. The "feels like" temp will only be 120 with the humidity rather than 107 like it has been.

Peace.

Plans and other nonsense

Our plan for the partnership discussion with the kids didn't work out. Son and DIL went to spend the fourth with her dad. The holiday traffic kept them in the car for about 8 hours. That is about twice what it should have been. Wiggle Worm was DONE. So they didn't join us for dinner. Of course that dinner was also to have celebrated Monkey Boy's fifth birthday (today) and Son's 33rd

My next plan I don't want to do at all. I have to GO to the office to have my driver's license renewed. Here is Texas - that is a nightmare. Swampland has about 5 offices. I'm not sure they have that many because I know one is closed for renovations. I don't think I can stand for such a long time in line. I really don't know what I am going to do. It is SOOOO tempting to just drive without one!

When I was researching locations, one site said you could get an appointment. I have never heard of that, but then when you try to call it seems they only have one phone line - and it's always busy. Go figure.

Last night I thought would be Shadow's last. Simone was lying on the floor, minding her business. Shadow kept running by batting her nose. She finally had enough. She got up and lunged at him. Do you think that stopped him. Not one bit! She looked like she was going to do him in at any minute. I finally put him to bed in the hall bath.

I did manage to get the turquoise and red coral necklace made. I ordered the materials last year after the up coming craft show. It got made yesterday! I'm really on top of things. What I haven't done is the "crocheted" covered Christmas ornaments. I have about 10 packs of ornaments silently waiting for their covers. Well - perhaps next year. I may try to get a couple of western themed Christmas stocking done before Wednesday.

Peace.

Warm

Happy Fourth of July! As usual, we are facing another day of 100+ temps. I really don't see any relief in the near future. June was a record hot and dry month. But enough of that.

I got my serger to work yesterday. I am making purses from Lady Bug's outgrown blue jeans. That serger just flew through the bottom seams. I have some drapery sample fabric that is making the lining really cute! I think they will sell next weekend.

We were supposed to go to Daughter's house to "hang out," but there is no reason to do that. We have everything here that they have, just not other people to visit with. But it is also much quieter and no drama.

I started wire brushing my display rack that has rusted and looks terrible. The rust is not all coming off. I had thought of spraying it with chrome paint, but I am thinking of using a different color. I don't think the chrome paint will cover as much as I want.

I feel sort of like Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion - it's been a quite day here in Swampland . . . But I don't have any other stories to tell about anything. We are just trying to stay cool and hydrated around here.

Peace.

I owe, I owe . . .

In one fell swoop yesterday, one swipe (well actually a lot of swipes) of the pen, G and I went from owing no one to the probability of owing a mortgage company.

Last Sunday I went to look at a house on the street behind us that has gone into foreclosure. It has been on the market at least three months, and vacant for two. I was really afraid of that house - I mean its condition. The pictures on the Multiple Listing site here were grim. There looked to be a lot of damage upstairs. They stated water damage. I thought the roof was gone.

In reality, it seems the a/c condenser pan overflowed and some goober fell through the ceiling while working on it. The goober may well have been the owner.

I took Daughter and Contractor. We all felt that the house was really fairly nice. It seemed the most it needed was cosmetic. Of course, when we had "the flood" about 5 years ago, it did flood. But I know the city has done a lot of work on the drainage, and the county is doing more.

So G and I made an offer on the house yesterday. We had to go through the pre-approval process. Get this - we are tentatively approved. We have to furnish the taxes we pay on our properties, the insurance, and the deeds to properties. I know the mortgage companies were too lax before, but . .

So IF it goes through - the bid, the mortgage, and the inspection (I wouldn't buy it if there are major structural/mechanical problems), we will have an investment property. The next step is to form a limited partnership with the kids - if they want in.

It is sort of exciting. We've been toying with this for several months now. The first step has been taken. We will know in at least a week.

Peace.

Mr Shadow

He survived his first night at home. He is determined to gnaw at those stitches, so last night I decided that he would have to wear the e-collar all night. Since he had to wear that collar, I then decided that being in the hall bathroom wasn't enough, so I put him in his little crate.

I hate having this collar on him. It is so big that it makes eating and drinking impossible. He also has no balance with it on. The balance issue was the determining factor in the crate. I have dreams of training him to this crate, but I am also a realist. He hates it! I don't think he will ever like the crate.

He is a little wild man - still. He attacks everything. He will rest peacefully in my arms for a long time, then he turns into the devil himself to chew my hands. Right now he has found his best place in the world. He is sandwiched between me and the laptop - on the table (ugh). So, I will get the disinfectant out in a bit to clean his little 15 square inches of table top.

It is going to be a long ten days. I just hope we both emerge unscathed at the end of the time!

This is a picture of him with the dreaded collar. I took it for G to show a co-worker. He is so black that I had to severely edit it. Otherwise, he would not be visible.



Peace.

Lots of dollars today already

It's amazing how much a "free" cat can cost. I got Shadow out of hock today (picked him up from the vet). I can't believe how much that little rascal cost. I love my vet"s office. There are four doctors there, and I trust them all. I started going to them when I had an emergency, and the vet I had used for over 20 years wasn't in the office. I love this new clinic, but I think they are a bit pricey.

When I left Shadow for the surgery, I had to pay extra for IV fluids yesterday and pain meds including what I would bring home. They do things like this. When you board, if you don't take a luxury suite, your dog goes in a little kennel (crate). As much as I love Simone, I can't afford those suites. They push $100/day. I'm glad she sleeps most of the day!!

I got Shadow home, and he immediately began gnawing on his stitches. So we were off to the pet store for an E collar. It is difficult finding one for a small kitten! Putting that darned thing on was a trick. I bought a collar with a bell on it also. That seems to be doing a good job of distracting him from his feet though. The E collar is still here - just in case.

I contacted a home improvement store near the SSB since the dishwasher there crashed. Boo-hoo! I have hated that one since day 1. I can't believe how expensive dishwashers are. I always thought when you got into the $600 range, those were the top of the line. I was amazed as a perused the listings on line. The one I finally settled on is a lower mid range, but I needed a large capacity. WHen everyone is there, there are a lot of dishes! Paper is not a good option because it has to be brought home only coming home, it's dirty!

So my credit card got big hits today! They would be happier if I didn't pay it off at the end of the month!

Hope you can guard your pennies better than I have been able to do today!

Peace.

We were blessed with a bit of wonderful rain last night. We didn't even get a tenth of an inch here, but it was moisture, and it broke the heat a bit. I know we can easily expect temperatures in the 90's in June, but they gave a breakdown last night on the news. We have not had a high below 90 for the entire month. Seven days were above 100, and there were something like 10 days in the high 90's. Whew. It has been blistering. Some relief for the next couple of days, but back into the 100's for the weekend.

Lady Bug sewed her pj bottoms yesterday. Her seams look like the way a drunken sailor would walk. But she did them. If I hadn't moved my big safety pin, they would have been finished. Without the pin, I couldn't run the elastic. In an executive decision, I sewed the 3/8 inch seam for the hem. She tried, but because she doesn't run the seam from one end to another, it was difficult.

She hates to be wrong. Every time I told her the seam was wrong, she would get upset. Everything comes so easily for her when it is difficult, she doesn't like it. That was the way learning to play the piano went. She has a good ear for it, and that's how she wanted to play. She would get me to play the little piece, then she would mimic it - not reading and learning the notes on paper.

In a whole other vein, this morning when I was at The Biomes Blog, Mark had a link here:the cab ride. I don't know if it is another urban legend because I think I have heard it before, but it certainly gave me food for thought.

Shadow is in the vet hospital this morning. He is being preped for surgery as I write. He will get to stay overnight, on pain meds. He is losing his manhood this morning as well as his front claws. I know it is a terrible surgery, but for our skin, Simones' eyes, and my furniture, it is for the best. He will never run wild outside again. It is for his good too. Besides, a month ago, his future was bleak. He was facing a death of starvation. Even the vet didn't try to talk me out of it!

Peace. (I don't know what's up with Blogger this morning. They are funky about the font - this isn't my doing ig it comes out weird!)

One note song

It seems like the only thing I can focus on is the heat. I know I live in Texas. I know we have heat. But not like this, and certainly not this early. It just keeps going on.

The weather gurus say we have a 30% chance of rain today. I think they are correct. My knees are screaming. I really hope so - it will help with the temperature. Of course, then the humidity will be high, but we do need rain so badly.

I had to joke with Daughter this weekend. When I went to the farmer's market on Friday, they were advertising a craft show yesterday. The spaces were free. Now that's something that normally would have had me there. But with these temperatures? I teased her saying that it was too bad our tables were already at the SSB for the craft show we are doing there. Too bad!

We did go to look at a house behind us that has been for sale for months. The price was lowered - again. It is in foreclosure. We have been looking for an investment property. We were ready to write a contract. Our realtor send us the sellers disclosure. According to them, the house is uninhabitable. It had problems, yes. About $17,000 worth of problems. But it would be a good investment property. After reading the disclosure however, I think we will be offering about $9000 less.

So there you have it. We have been hiding from the heat - with the exception of looking at that house that has no utilities turned on. Talk about hot, and that was 11AM. I know some areas are getting way too much rain, but we surely would appreciate some of it. I just don't want it to be a case of being careful of what you wish for!

Peace

One day

This heat will break. I know I am whining about it. This heat is hitting a lot of the nation. Son in law had one of the chefs from his company in town the other day. We were invited to come to the dinner he was preparing. The company is based in Wisconsin, and Andy is from Wisconsin. Amazing, right!

He said he guessed that he was getting paid back for all the times SIL was in Wisconsin this winter when there were blizzards. I can't believe they played golf in the 103 temperatures, but they did. We asked Andy if he were ready to retreat. He said no, because it was heating up there too.

I just keep thinking if June is this hot, what in the world are we going to have in August? Scary thought. Meanwhile, we are watching our lawns burn up. The county has banned any aerial fireworks for this season. That's more than fine with me. I am such a stick in the mud that I would like to see them banned - period. I think there is more danger than thay are worth.

LB didn't spend the night last night. I am not sure what happened. In fact, I haven't heard from them yet today. Usually I get a call around 9, and here it is 12:30. In a way, I was glad. She would have wanted to sleep with me, and I don't get any sleep when she does. But she did make a "belt" for Doodle Bug. It wasn't really wonderful, but it was a beginning. When she had to turn it right side out, it wasn't fun. She said she would rather just "sew" which means just random seams. I thought she was going to break the machine though. She constantly changed the stitch length and widths.

Well, trying to stay cool here. I can just imagine the electricity bills!!

Peace.

More attentive

Yesterday when I was trying to post about the searing heat, I was being entertained by chatty Kathy otherwise known as LB! She was with me all day. In fact, here she is again! So I may not make a lot of sense again today!!

I am so amazed at how well she used the sewing machine. A friend gave me some video tapes for people learning to sew. It gave me the idea of using paper to learn the machine. It was great. I'm glad I have the smaller machine because the big combo wouldn't have done the job. It will not sew without thread - at all.

So we are going at it again. It will be an interesting day. Son is borrowing one of our trucks. That was decided a while ago. It originally wasn't a problem. That is until yesterday. The big one was in the shop. The owner (who was our neighbor - his parents and original owners of the shop still are!) called with good and bad news. The good was that the a/c was easy. The bad was that when they were test driving it, it was rear ended. Damage minimal, but it was a rental with insurance out of California. So Kenneth still has the troop carrier.

I have the grocery store yet today, the farmer's market and Shadow goes to the vet. All before 4.

Have a great weekend. Around here, we will be trying to not melt!

Peace.

And the heat goes on

I cannot believe the heat here. Another day above 100, and we have had no rain since the beginning of the month. This is supposed to be the rainy season. Guess not this year.

We have been under a heat advisory and it was supposed to last until 7 pm tonight.

But! Things have changed. It just rained. I can't believe it. It wasn't a lot - I haven't checked the rain gauge yet. But it broke the heat. The temperature dropped at least 15 degrees.

Lady Bug and I were upstairs. She wanted to learn how to sew. We were busy. She getting used to the machine and finally practicing seams. I was working on her brother's scrapbook. I thought I could hear thunder. I was thinking how impossible that was. That high is right over us and not moving at all. Thunder - impossible.

I had been telling her all day that I thought it was going to rain. My knees were hurting - a lot. They started yesterday. I really thought I was imagining things, but look at what happened.

So all in all it has been a good day. LB is ready to do more on the sewing machine. We got rain. The temperature moderated - a bit. Good things.

Peace.

Hot, hot, hot and other disasters

Talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire - that's kind of the analogy for our past weekend. I just thought it was hot here in Swampland. The SSB, northwest of the Capitol City was hot! The Capitol City, however, was even hotter. I think we only got to 99 at the SSB while they roasted to a 101-102 temperature in CC. I never got a true measure of how hot it was at the SSB because out thermometer is in the sun. It registered 115 there. But we had the a/c cranked down, and it was pleasant.

On Monday (we stayed until Tuesday because we went on Saturday), we had the people come out to do maintenance on said a/c. It runs well, but we always have the one here serviced in the spring and the heat serviced in the fall. It has been six years there and no servicing. They said the unit is drawing maximum amps, and we can look for parts to begin to fail. Well . . . So we signed up for their "club" which includes the servicing. It also puts up one up when calling for repairs. That is the most important thing. In that area, it is almost impossible to find someone who works past noon on Saturday. And when are we there? Saturdays and Sundays for the full day. Fridays are after 5, and Mondays are before 11. So that gives me some peace.

I don't like to waste power and water regardless. Water there is going to become a really big deal. We have a very deep well and pray the aquifer doesn't dry out. So my dishwasher was full - three days worth - on Monday night. I loaded the remaining dishes into it, set it to the dry cycle, put in the detergent, and turned that sucker on. I began noticing an electrical smell. Then I noticed that it filled, but that was all.

My relationship with that danged thing has been difficult to say the least. We hate one another. It has failed twice before (in six years). I wanted a new one. So I fiddled with it for a long while. I finally decided it wasn't going to work. So I began doing the dishes by hand. UGH!! So now I will be investigating a new one - plus having it delivered to the ends of the earth where we are.

On the way up, we noticed that the troop carrier's a/c was being a snit. It blew hot for a while and finally allowed cool air out. When it was time to eat, G decided that we would go trough the dive through at out usual fine dining spot on the way to and from - Sonic. The a/c went into uncooled air mode again.

We were headed out for a short detour. The woman who is buying the lake property has the contingency of selling some properties to buy ours. One was a 7 + acre plot. We were considering a swap of properties. We went to look at that. As we sped along the highway, the troop carrier was kind enough to spit out cool air again. And we decided we didn't want the property.

We nursed the a/c along all the way back - in 102 degree temps. It was iffy, but we were cool enough through that trip. Troop carrier goes into the hospital tomorrow.

And through this, Daughter got to install a new furnace to her system. She noticed Monday night the a/c wouldn't come on. They came out and diagnosed it to be the furnace part that wouldn't allow the a/c to come on. So they sweltered until about 10 pm while a new furnace was installed in the attic. It was 101 - remember. All were so comfortable.

I hope you faired somewhat better through the weekend. Ours was just a mild bother, but after a while it adds up. I figure our a/c at the SSB will completely fail in August. The entire family will be there for a family reunion. That's the way it usually happens!

Peace.

I should know better

I love my grandchildren, and I enjoy being with them. In a few minutes, I am going over to watch them for a "little" while. Daughter is getting her first crown on a molar and SIL is going to the chiropractor.

So why the title? Daughter asked me to watch the kids. If it were just for her, I know she would be home ASAP. SIL, not so much.

When Lady Bug was a baby, I kept her. SIL was the one to pick her up. He would make all kinds of stops before he came to get her. Sometimes, it would be to go hit baseballs. It always was to stop by the house first, change clothes and check emails.

When the other two came along, Daughter has changed jobs and didn't have to be married to the job. She was here right after work. I never had to keep them for extended periods.

SIL sometimes doesn't have an original thought either. If Daughter has a sinus headache, surprise - so does he! I swear if she would have PMS, he would too. He says this chiropractor doesn't do him any good, and he feels worse after he leaves. But Daughter loves the woman, and she swears it is doing her great good.

So just exactly why am I going to babysit? I think I lost something in translation.

Not really. SIL will do anything to get out of keeping those kids. It makes it really hard for Daughter. Her present job does require her to attend regional meetings about twice a year. Overnight. She ends up finding a way for the whole family to tag along because . . . This man's job requires him to travel monthly. Hmmmm.

But I will go and sit with them. Want to bet it is more than an hour? Not a good bet. It will be. He will go over to the dentist side to "hold her hand."

I'm back and adding. I was absolutely right. He went to S*m's Club before coming home. I really think he went somewhere else too because he took Monkey Boy to the appointment. The toy that MB came home with doesn't come from that store!!!

Peace.

Ready or not . . .

I would think that a 45 year old house that already needed work done on it, and has been vandalized to the point that it is uninhabitable would not be something that someone would want - at all. But that's not the case.

We put the lake property on the market just a few weeks ago. The agent has been showing it a lot. It is for sale completely "as is" which means all the broken glass on the floor along with all the wrecked furniture. We had a verbal offer almost right away, but it was $19,900 under our asking price - which is $35,000 below the taxing authority's evaluation. We declined that offer.

Then a woman came through with an offer that was $5000 less. It was contingent on her selling some property since no one in their right mind would loan money on our property! Not in that condition - like I said - uninhabitable.

She listed her properties yesterday with our agent. The agent went to see the acreage. She called to ask how to send us the contract, and said she saw the property. It is beautiful and not too far from the SSB. She thought we might just trade.

I talked to G about it. He is interested. So in addition to our trip to the SSB, and to see MIL (bah) we will go to see this property.

How do I feel about all this? I still am dreading selling the property. There is so much emotion. But that gets me into trouble. Even around here, keeping things for emotional reasons has my house cluttered. The SSB is sleek and smooth. There is very little there that is extraneous. We have some things that came from G's father's room, but not much. Most of that is things that hang on the walls.
But there is just so much that is my dad in that house. That house is his work.

Do I want more property? I don't know. There are seven acres there. It might be a good investment. My real feeling is I have to see it before I really decide on that.

Anyway, there is a contract on the house. We are accepting. It is set for closing in October. So, ready or not, a property that I thought would never sell is pretty much sold. I just have to accept it.

Peace.

Sibling rivalry

When I got my two children out of the house, I thought that would be the end of sibling rivalry around this house. Well I was wrong about that as I think of it more. Now I not only have sibling rivalry, I have in-law rivalry. No one things they are getting their fair share.

But that's not what I had in mind when I thought about posting this. I really was thinking about pet rivalry - the children can be another time.

Simone is so loving to her "puppies" - the grandchildren, but I'm not at all sure about her love for Shadow. Two weeks ago, we went to Son's house for family dinner. Shadow is in his playhouse rather than my bathroom. We came home to find the playhouse had been pushed away from the wall a bit. I would like to think it was just curiosity, but I'm not at all sure.

Then there was the night Simone was way too close when I was trying to get Shadow. That resulted in a good clawing and biting. I was the victim.

I am really afraid that there could be a real confrontation between the two, and both would be losers to some extent. Shadow is so small compared to a Boxer's mouth, and Shadows claws are so sharp to a Boxer's rather protruding eyes - not to mention her nose.

So to give Shadow time to run and play, I let him out periodically. When I do, I put a baby gate in the doorway to the hall. I wait until Simone has decided to retreat to her crate in the bedroom. That is no way a punishment. In the past, she has spent the entire day in that crate. But now that Shadow is here, she is in there less.

When I do let Shadow out, Simone is right there at the gate, looking as forlorn as possible. You would think she had been banished forever. She has gotten to where she will go back to the crate. I'm glad because I don't feel nearly as guilty then.

I am really waiting for this kitten to become a cat. When he is bigger, they will have to meet. But I am waiting until he can make it to a chair or couch in one jump. Right now, he only makes the side and has to climb up. Eventually, even though I hate the thought, he will be declawed. I KNOW how bad of a surgery it is. I swore I would never have it done to a cat again, but I have just had all the furniture reupholstered. We had one cat that wasn't declawed, and he really shredded the furniture.
I also don't want Simone shredded. Shadow will be a house cat. If he goes outside, it will be in his playhouse. He will not be allowed to run free - ever.

So meanwhile, I try to control the rivalry. Perhaps I just attract it??

Peace.

Snotty answer

When I replied to my answer from the sewing machine people, they were rather snotty. I referred to the newest update as 2.2. After I did that I realized that it was actually 2.01.

Well, the person replying definitely jumped on that. They went on to say that perhaps I should make sure of what I was talking about.

I guess customer service is another dinosaur that is decomposing out there somewhere. I absolutely HATE calling customer service for a computer matter. I don't think I really have to tell why. When I bought a new computer several years ago, I bought one that is manufactured here in Texas. I, naively, thought that when I needed help, that person would be here in the US. Nope! I still hate that computer - with a passion. I had a major problem with it, and those people had me down on the floor taking the blasted thing apart.

I am not a computer repair person. My best friend went to night school so she could get out of teaching and into IT. She can take one apart, but I also remember her telling me that there were some parts that retained stored electricity. Electricity + touching = SHOCK!

But I was tearing that thing apart. My modem was fried. So now that computer only has a cable modem and no dial up because I was instructed to take that part out.

Eventually they actually sent someone out. That is what I thought I paid for in the super-duper extended warranty. But you have to take the blasted thing apart yourself two or more times before that is even offered. Oh, and it still needs a new mother board. When the third repair person came out, he didn't think that was needed, so . . .

It seems to me that businesses really don't care about making their customers happy. Perhaps it is because there are so many really terrible people in the world that demand too much from these companies. I know dealing with customers can be a pain for them too. A lot of people are not nice. They treat others worse than dirt.

With this silly machine, I have tried to be nice. But when you are looking at mid four figures for a machine, I think you are due some really good service for that machine. I haven't gotten it at all. All I get to do is drop more dollars into it.

Peace.

Wasted day

We began the day taking my car to be checked out. General things like oil change and the check to make sure my little old lady school teacher car that is 11 years old will make the trip to Deluth later this summer. It qualifies as the little old lady school teacher car because it only has about 67,000 miles on it. I taught really close to home! That car wouldn't have that much if it had not been on out trip to the Bad Lands a few years ago.

It is OK. So it will be going. I had kind of hoped to go by train. Oh well.

The rest of the day has been spent trying to load the update for the sewing machine that is supposed to "fix" everything onto the machine. It appears to load, then when I restart it - the same version shows.

So I emailed the customer support with my problems of the bobbin thread coming through to the top of my design. I told them I was doing everything that is suggested - loosening the tension, adding stabilizer, using THEIR bobbin thread (pre-wound by them). When I got the answer back, it included me doing all those things.

I resent the problem telling them that there are several of those machines out here that do the very same thing and the company really needs to address the real problem instead of blaming the operator. They also said to have the dealer check it. I replied I had just gotten it from the dealer, and the dealer doesn't have a clue about these machines and this problem. That is true because one of their instructors is having the very same problem. The dealer is trying to find out why!

Oh well. As I told them I am just loading the bobbin with the same thread so when it gets pulled through, it doesn't show.

Moan, grown. I just am so misused. I did get the scrap book cover for my grandson, Monkey Boy, almost completed. Now I just have the girls' to go.

Peace.

Peaceful Sunday

The day has been quiet. We should have gone to church, but we didn't. I know G would have rather gone to our real church. I wanted to go to the mission church. I have become one of those old fogies I guess. I don't like the new hymal - at all. The mission church is much more modern in the things they do, so the music doesn't bother me there.

It has been a productive day. I made seven toddler hats for the craft show in July. I didn't put embroidery on them - saved myself that headache. They really went fast.

I also fixed the purse that I had been fiddling with. Amazing - when you put the lining in the proper way, it fits!! I was really frustrated with that purse. The idea was really neat. You have a purse that is nothing spectacular, and then you can have other outer purses that you can put it in. I really wanted to have these ready too. Now that I'm not such a dummy I just might be able to do it, but the outer purse will NOT have the extensive embroidery on it.

Perhaps if I can install the update to my expensive update, the embroidery will be right again. I loved the repair man at the shop telling these machines come in a lot. I should have gotten a Brother. I think they will give me about 80% of my purchase price on a trade in. I surely am thinking about it - seriously.

Well - family dinner at Daughter's awaits. I don't have to cook! Yea, yea, yea. Hope your weekend was a good one.

Peace.

Day with the LB

We had quite a day yesterday. It began with lunch at her favorite place - The Black Eyed Pea. We then went to the linen store to buy cushions for the chairs that were moved to the SSB from the lake house. They are so very uncomfortable, and cushions was the least expensive fix - I hope!

From there we found the little vegetable market. That was after pulling into the wrong place that was a little scary. The vegetable place had local - even if from area - produce that really looked nice. They also have a coop going. I may have to look into that.

We ended the outing with a visit to the local ice cream shop. They are under new owners, and they are quite a nice place. They added a little deli. They make quite good sandwiches!

So we finally escaped the heat (the high was 97 although my greenhouse said 104). We trundled off upstairs. I showed her how to put the fabric in the little yo-yo makers. She did well with the exception of not cutting the fabric close enough.

But there always seems to be a down side. My newly upgraded machine would sew about five stitches, stop, make it's warning signal, and the screen would say to re-thread. The first five times I DID re-thread, but I soon grew weary of that. It would occasionally sew about eight inches, and then do its same thing.

I took it back to the store today. They worked on it. It sewed beautifully. It embroidered letters beautifully. I got it home, and it pulled its old stunt of pulling the bobbin thread onto the top of the embroidery design.

I don't have time for that nonsense. My next craft show is July 11. I've got too much work to do. Bah!

But at least I am interesting LB in learning to sew. She has already staked out the other sewing table and machine as "hers." She was busy making plans for the next time she visits. She is a really neat kid!

Peace

Busy day

It is going to be a busier day than normal. I get to have Lady Bug for the day.

Her dad is out of town. They decided rather than put Monkey Boy in day care for the summer, they would hire a baby sitter. Well, yesterday the baby sitter reached her limit. The two argued all day long.

So it was decided that rather than drive the sitter bug nutty, I would take Lady Bug. It really isn't a problem, but I don't want her to feel she is getting punished. She is getting the blame for the bickering. So we will be doing some special things today. I will take her to her favorite restaurant for lunch.

I had planned to do some shopping as it was, so we will just add the lunch to the rest of the things I have to do.

I still want to get her into sewing. I hope there is time this afternoon after we get back. I bought a set of yo-yo makers. After all these years of thinking they were hokey (thinking back to the clown I made of them at camp), we made them in my sewing machine club meeting in May. They really are cute and can be used for many things. I think it would be a quick enough and cute enough craft for her to learn how to do some hand sewing.

So it's time for me to get in gear and get moving. She is being good (as is normal), but I don't want her really bored.

Peace.

Now I remember . . .

We've not had a kitten around here in about 30 years. I think I'm too old! Like babies, you get too old for some things.

I know I kept all of Daughter's children when they were born. Of course, the time I kept them decreased with each grandchild. It wasn't too bad because I could send them home! Having a kitten is so much like having a baby around.

Shadow is nothing but a bundle of energy (I know - some of you are very aware of that). We have an unusual situation around here with him. He lives in a cat playhouse. It is about 5feet square and about 3 feet deep. That gives a lot of space for an 8 week kitten. The reason he is in there is Simone.

I had been worried about her accepting Shadow. Night before last might have been the real test. I took him out for a romp. He is totally wild when he gets out. He is older and thinks he is invincible! He was skittering around here, and I decided that it was time to put him back for the night. I bent down to pick him up, and he tried to run. I grabbed him, and he turned into teeth and claws. About that time I realized that Simone was just right there - all too interested. Needless to say, I had a few wounds to tend to.

Today, I decided to put one of the baby gates we still have around here to good use. I blocked Simone off in the hall (she was really asleep in her crate in my bedroom anyway), and let Shadow out. He ran and played for about 40 minutes, and then was ready to be picked up. Of course, Simone had realized something was up, and she wasn't a part of it.

Shadow is just so active. He ran and ran, skittered here and there playing with anything he could find. It made me worry since he is still rather little. I am amazed at his growth in just a week, but still.

I have to give him "exploration time," but at the same time I worry about him getting into something and getting hurt. Like a child, he has no sense. He just goes on impulse.

I think I will like it much better when he is an aloof adult cat! Kittens are cute. They do funny things. The saying was "the trouble with kittens is they grow into cats," and that was supposed to be bad. Now I can't wait!

Oh, and I almost forgot - the pool is almost filled again!
Peace.

Life's adventures

It seems that if it's not one thing, it's another. We have had the contractor come in and paint the kitchen and breakfast room. That was a blow. I used to do that. But that was then, this is now. It's not going to happen anymore. He also poured the step for my front door. Now if he can come back and lay the tile and do the fence . . . But then we will have to bleed some more money.

I finally got my sewing machine back. In addition to the expensive upgrade, I bought the expensive bobbins that are specific to the machine. I also tried to use the little embroidery machine (that came from Wally World) only to realize that I have lost the power cord. When I thought I would never use that machine again, I wasn't too careful with its accessories.

Monday we came home to find a door hanger from the pool guy. He missed last week, and we had the black lagoon again. We were to call. He said we would have to let out about 8000 gallons of water. The water was "dead" and taking enough chemicals for three pools. It still didn't hold them. So yesterday, we almost emptied the pool. I'm guessing that 9500 gallons went out. Today we can begin to refill ($$$). But I personally don't like swimming in pea soup. So what are you going to do?

He still has to replace the filter ($$$) which is a good 20 years old. When I told him to go ahead, we had not decided to replace out downstairs a/c and heating unit. But things wear out. It seems they do it all at once.

I figure I'll be on a street corner soon with my little cup. Perhaps I could muster some sympathy with: "retired school teacher being devoured by house." On second thought, I doubt it!

Peace.

Yes, I'm here

And I have been here all weekend, but C*mcast has not been since last Thursday. This has been horrible.

I thought I was having computer problems on Friday. I even deleted a program that I suspected of conflicting with my logging on. That wasn't the problem. My problem was one of those slow, insidious little things. I would get error messages that F*refox couldn't find the host. Then I would switch to M*crosoft, and it would fix things - somehow. Then it got to where it couldn't log on.

I fiddled with the modem on Saturday. It wouldn't respond to my sweet murmurs. I couldn't coax it into life. So I bit the bullet and called. I tried letting them send a refresh signal. Nothing. I was beginning to sweat a little.

I called. I was disconnected from the first person. The second tried deleting my modem and then reconnecting it. Nothing. So I had to have a technician come out. The first available appointment? Today between 2 and 5.

Well, the good news it that I am up and running. Thank heavens. When I went to my Y*hoo account, there were something like 350 messages. Most were ads from the groups, but even so.

I went to lunch with G and Daughter yesterday. I asked her how much her air card was. You know - it isn't really any more than my cable connection. I think I am going to change. Then I would have service at the SSB - even though it is s l o w. I know this from Son In Law's. But that's ok. I would have it on vacation this year too. I won't have to pay for internet at the hotels. Yea!

But more than anything - I am back in touch. I can respond when I am directed to a web site. Yes! Things are good.

Peace.

Impatience

I'm keeping Lady Bug today. I love to have her here, but sometimes . . .

She loves to get on the computer. She still plays the toddler games I got her when I was keeping her full time - she was about 2! The big computer in the office is old and slow. She is young and impatient. Put the two together and you get a hung up computer!

She wanted to use one of the games to make her dad a birthday card. She wouldn't wait for the computer to load. I told her not to touch anything for a while. Well you know what she did. I turned it off and rebooted it. I told her not to touch anything for 30 minutes. Her 30 minutes is more like 7. So - hung computer again.

We finally got the program running, but there was something that was still running in the background - I guess - because her picture wouldn't print. I couldn't even turn off the printer.

At this point, the computer has been restarted yet again. We are waiting. I don't know.

I do know she has certainly inherited her patience!

Peace.

Rather expensive day

Today was the sewing machine club day. I wasn't too jazzed about the project, but that has been the case before. I usually love what we do after we finish/ Today - not so much, but then it could be due to the fact I am getting to drop $500.

I really believe there is an intrinsic problem with my machine. I am on my third bobbin case since January. Needles have gone right through them when they begin bouncing around in the bobbin. My threads shred, meaning I get to re-thread a lot.

I was about half way through with the project - shoe stuffers that are embroidered. I was doing the word "right" when my thread kept breaking and the bobbin thread was being pulled through - not the top thread showing.

One of the leaders said she was having the same problem. There is a "fix" for it in the form of an update. My machine is an 11000. There is an update available to make it an 11000SE. The "fix" was for the, you guessed it, the SE.

So trying to put a program on where there is no existing software - well you know the answer. The little tech guy wasn't sure that even upgrading my machine would fix it. The woman there asked if I was ok with the $500 for the upgrade. My response was "6000 or 500 - pretty easy answer!" The machine was a huge paper weight the way it was, and I knew trade in value would have been zip.

So the upgrade of the software is done - the machine worked. It is still there having various mechanical parts replaced to go along with the new stuff. It does great quilting. That's what it was made for. Guess who doesn't quilt!

Peace

Changes have to be made

Mr Shadow came home yesterday. This was after I went to Pets*art and dropped a bundle of dough. That what happens when you think you are out of the cat business.

One of my purchases was a cratel. I have become a believer in crates for dogs. Simone has hers here and at the SSB. She loves it. I know I don't close the door, but she will go to her crate several times a day to nap.

My idea was to train (Ha-Ha) a cat to a crate. I thought it would give him his safe place to sleep. Even the picture on the crate showed a cat, and it said it was the right size for an adult cat. Dream on. He was absolutely miserable in that thing.

I guess I am going to have to take back the kitty playhouse I bought when I had Son's Sebastian and Sasha here. It is like a large parrot cage. It would at least give him room to run and jump.

I feel I need something for him because Simone is showing just a little too much enthusiasm for Mr Shadow. I had him on the bed last night when G came home. Simone tried to lunge at the bed.

She gets excited with human babies, but she is showing such mothering. I don't know if she is seeing Shadow as a baby animal or a snack. I just can't take that chance. He is just a mouth full for her.

Right now, he is living in my bathroom. This is not a good place. It has been taken over by the paraphernalia associated with a kitten. One of the things I bought was the self cleaning litter pan. Expensive!! But I hope worth it. Of course, after I put the blasted thing together is said it was not recommended for kittens under 6 months. Well - guess what!

His crate is also in there, along with his food dish. What I want to know is who ever decided that bathroom doors should be more narrow than regular doors. I wondered this about 15 years ago when I had broken my ankle and couldn't put weight on it. Navigating those doors was a problem. Getting that big a**ed litter box in there was a problem too!

So I guess I will call Son to see about the kitty playhouse. Where am I going to put it? Don't know. But I will find a place. I have to. At least things are never dull. Who says retirees don't have anything to do?

Peace.

It's a what?

About 20 years ago, a beautiful orange cat appeared at our house. We had two kitties at the time, and G forbit us from feeding it. Well, that had a lot of influence around here. Soon, not only had we fed it, it was brought in the house.

The accepted feeling around here was that it was a pregnant female. The cat just reacted like a female. It was really big too. We really thought she must have several kittens on board. So, never having had a pregnant cat because the first order on the agenda around here is to have them "fixed," off we went to the vet.

We were on first name basis with this vet. She took over the practice of the vet we used when we moved here - and went into the horse "business." I, like so many little girls, always wanted a horse. So we eventually got three. We had them until Daughter was born. Then we had to sell them. Sad day. Babies and the horse pasture don't mix. I know, I tried.

Anyway, we had dubbed this kitty Noel because it was between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We told the vet all we knew about her. She palpated Noel. She thought it strange that she only felt one kitten. I neglected to also add this was a very long haired cat. When she did further exams, she reported that Noel was Ralph. So we had Ralph for about 18 more years.

Why did I go into such a long, drawn out post you ask. Because it has happened again. Son and DIL dubbed my new kitted Shadow. They had thought about Sassy and some other names (out pets all have "S" names), but Shadow was the choice. We were going to adopt Miss Shadow.

G repeatedly asked Son if it was really a girl, and he said he was pretty sure. They had gone though many names and Shadow seemed to be a really good name for her.

So he called me after the visit to the vet yesterday. She was pronounced to be healthy, but they
gave her treatments for worms and ear mites just in case. She was to get a bath.


Now let me introduce:


MISTER Shadow - yes once again a male, not a female!!

Once again

Today, my focus is once again on Simone. She had been doing so very well. She obviously felt great.l She often acted like a puppy again - at least that's what I'm going to assume since we didn't have her when she was a puppy.

We had "Family Dinner" here last night. Son, Daughter in law, and Wiggle Worm got here right on time. Daughter called and said they would be a little late. That figures - they only live a mile away. Anyway, DIL sked how Simone was doing. I said great. Before too long, Simone began coughing.

I had made Margarita Shrimp and Wino venison on skewers. It is so much easier for me to do that sitting at the breakfast table because I just can't stand all that long. I MAY dropped some cilantro, but it was very little. Plus - we vacuumed after the major part of making the marinade and the stringing. But - regardless, she started coughing.

About the time the others arrived - Simone spewed. Fortunately she had not been fed. But it was bad enough. Nothing puts a damper on a gathering like a spewing boxer.

We have acres of tile down here. It is easier to keep than carpet - especially with the pool. When we replaced the carpet, I gave the edict that (1) you would dry off completely before entering the house - which the biggest kid around here (G) wouldn't do, and (2) there would be no eating in the den. Ha! So when I could, the carpet went and tile came in. I do have an area rug to mark the seating area. It is about 5x7. Where do you think the dog spews?? Of course, the area rug or a few steps further - in the hall.

This morning I was hell bent on giving her her anti-acid pills. She didn't want them. As soon as I got them down, she started her "licking the air" again. This was reminiscent of the last round we had. I just knew she would start the whole thing over again. But things settled down, and she got about 1/3 of her breakfast.

In pet news - we are going to adopt a kitten. Son found three that had been dumped in the area where he was working. He is a kitty-nut. He called Animal Control, and they got two. This one disappeared until the next day. He couldn't just leave her. His plan was to take her to a no kill shelter. They were completely full of kittens. So she came home.

When I was keeping his cats, because one was so bad about liking to watch objects commit suicide, and I was tired of my things getting broken,I bought a kitty play house. His cats went in there at night. Well, kitty is in that right now. They are taking her to be vetted today. If all goes well, she will be spayed and come to us. We only thought we were cat free.

But it's ok. I have been missing a kitty. I'm looking forward to her becoming a member of our family.

That should give Simone something else to get sick over!

Peace.