Such a busy life (not really)

Yesterday, I referred to the family reunion. G's family started having them about 30 years ago. My FIL was probably the motivating factor there because of the multitude of reunions in MIL's fmaily. He had ten siblings, and they would provide the meat (brisket - after all this IS Texas), paper goods, coffee and tea. The rest of the people (kids, etc) would bring the rest.

We are down to two of the siblings now. Several years ago, the children began picking up the responsibility of getting the location and providing what the siblings did (meat, etc). It would be the children of one of the siblings. This year it is our group's turn. Since the reunion location is closest to us (BIL made the mistake of wanting it in the Capitol City, but they are having a MAJOR three day event - no hotels!), G and I get to do the meat.

When we all were at the SSB weekend before last, we all got together at their house. We began divving up things to be done/provided. We had already decided on brisket. While we were sitting there, BIL said we should also have chicken for those who are on restricted diets. Now this is the same person who has a "eat more beef" bumper sticker on his truck - he had cattle before the drought. They are also the people who eat beef "maybe twice a month."

We usually average 60-70 people at these reunions. The beef isn't that much of a problem. It was .99 a pound this week. But chicken!! If we have chicken there, it won't only be those on a restricted diet to take it. If it is offered, more people than not will take both. We are also having sausage that Community Club has (left from Itsy Bitsy Town's summer festival). I know just as well as I know I am sitting here that there are many people who will take all three meats.

So we decided it won't be chicken (even though they are .88 a pound for whole chickens this week). DIL's mom found smoked turkey. That's the "alternative meat." White meat loaded with salt. Yeah.

In better news, it is raining! It rained yesterday, it will rain today, and there is the dreaded low in the gulf! It will possibly be a toad strangler this weekend. But it holds the temperature down. I love it!! We didn't even reach 90 yesterday. Our fall is just around the corner (like late October)!

I didn't report on the ortho doc appointment, and Judy was sweet enough to ask about the knee condition. I told him that I didn't get the relief from the second injections, yada, yada. He went ahead with the third. I asked him where we go from here, and he said to give it a month.

I am so glad I had G go with me. It was comforting to know that I had someone with me so I wouldn't fall, and there were no close handicapped parking places. He also remarked about the trek from parking to the office. I really don't think they could have gotten farther away!! So my knees still hurt. They woke me a couple of times last night.

I think I may be expecting too much from these injections. I was expecting the magic bullet. I was expecting full mobility with no pain. So I will give it a month. I will dedicate myself to getting some of these pounds off. I know it will be a rough road; they like me too much and want to keep me company. I see another two surgeries in my future (gee - I'm psychic - ha!).

The generator guy called and will be coming by just to see what has been done. He's not directly involved with the installation, but he said he will do what he can. He is just not sure where we stand. Hope springs eternal here.

Peace.

One day I don't want to have again!

From the beginning, today has been the pits! I hope I never have one like this again. Allow me to share.

When the alarm for G went off at 6:15, I knew I needed more sleep. But I got up to let the cat out of his crate, let the dog out, and turned on the tv so he could get traffic alerts.

When he left, I returned to bed, setting my alarm for 8:45, which is a much more civilized time of day. The alarm went off, and I reached to the bedside table for my glasses. They were not there. I knew Shadow had been climbing all over me, and he had gotten on that table, but I didn't think there was a problem with the glasses. There was.

I searched and searched. They were no where. I looked for my next oldest pair. They must be at the SSB. That left me the newest that I cannot see anything with. Now that I have a new driver's license, I am restricted to driving with glasses. Oh, my.

I am still searching and the phone rings. I thought it was daughter, but it was the man from the generator place (the one we ordered mid-June, that is sitting in the backyard, finally, but not hooked up). He looked into our problem with the installation. I discovered last night that our original salesman no longer worked for this company. Well, C gave me his name and direct line. We'll see what happens here.

I go back to look for my glasses.

Oops, it's overtime for Simone's pill. She decides this is the day to fight me over that blasted pill. The phone rings - again.

This time it is Daughter. Now yesterday she didn't call at all. Neither Simone nor I have had breakfast, and I still am wearing glasses that make the world blurry. This morning, she talks, and talks, and . . .

After a long while, she decides to go to work, and I get the pill for Simone again. This time she takes it.

I go back to looking for my glasses. I have a dental cleaning 11. It is almost 10. I finally find them. They are peaking out from under the bed. I swear they weren't there an hour ago.

I come into the kitchen to prepare Simone's food. I know I don't have time for coffee. That's bad. But I get my breakfast together.

I go back to the bedroom to get dressed. I am almost dressed. The phone rings.

Now, you have to understand I go days without a phone call (with the exception of Daughter). My cell phone plan has 450 minutes. Usually 400 roll over. But today, I am Mrs Popularity!

It is my DIL's mother. She has investigated rolled turkey roasts for the family reunion. I will tell that story tomorrow. The roasts are EXPENSIVE!!

I come in to boot my beloved laptop. I want to be ready to get on line when I get back from the dentist. It doesn't load right, and I have no internet. The internet is working, but my ISPs are not allowed. In fact, even my firewall can't activate.

I installed the "recommended update" for the air card yesterday. It changed a lot on this computer. I really don't know what all, and the kicker is that even the air card wouldn't access the internet. I am calling ATT today - when I catch my breath. Their update is a disaster. Right now, all programs for the air card have been removed.

Last night was the real beginning of my terrible times. I really wanted to watch Hell's Kitchen. G wanted to watch the PBS (it's begging time, so they have decent programming) program on Steam Engine trips. Well, he rarely asks to watch anything. I bopped into the bedroom to set the timer on the stone age VCR. I did that. When I went to check the program an hour after it aired, there was no program. That VCR is difficult to set. When we had a power outage (see - need the generator), the wrong date was put in. So no Hell's Kitchen. I guess I'll try HULU after a bit.

I so hope your day is a good one. Someone on this earth needs a good day!

Peace.

This and that

First of all - does anyone else have a problem with remote controllers? For the system we have right now, we have three controllers. I cannot keep up with all three of them! I have lost the dvd/surround sound remote. It was there just Sunday, now it's gone. It has disappeared into thin air. I have searched everywhere.

So I went on line with the idea of buying another one. So far, no luck. I found one site, but the parts for that system goes on for pages and pages. I will try to search for one in a different way later, but right now I am frustrated!!

Today is the final orthovisc injections. I think I am wasting my time unless these are the magic bullets, and I think that is just wild hope.

Yesterday I went upstairs to the craft room. Just climbing the stairs was painful. When I got up there, I had to move furniture. My new (from July) sewing machine cabinet was up there, and I had to do something with the old one. So I managed to set it all up with all my machines (with the exception of the terrible Singer) up and ready to go.

I came down to take the biggie machine up. I wasn't sure I could make it down the stairs. My knees were so very painful.

Well, enough self pity. I am going to get the injections. I hope for the best.

Peace.

This wimp is upset!

True confession time. I am a card carrying wimp. I hate confrontations. With. A. Passion. I don't like to confront my adult children either. But, this time I need to.

Last night we went to Son's house for dinner. I thought they would be going out of town this weekend, so I called them earlier in the week - I think Tuesday night of Wednesday night. DIL asked if we would come to their house for family dinner. I was frankly delighted. The bloom is off that rose for me. I look forward to going to someone's house. I kept the dinner going through chemo, and it was tough!

When I talked to Daughter the next day, she said they were having friends over at their house, so they wouldn't be going to Son's. I really thought she would call DIL. I let it go. Something in the back of my mind kept telling me that I should call DIL, but I really thought Daughter would do the right thing. If the tables were turned, she would be, well frankly, pissed.

We got there last night, and they had prepared a nine pound brisket and had TWO pies. They expected five more people. SIL called just before we arrived telling them they wouldn't be there.

DIL's mother really doesn't like SIL. He can be very over-the-top, and she is a little reserved. I'm sure words were spoken when he called.

I am going to say something to Daughter. I am going to try to make it non-confrontational. This doesn't need to tear the family apart. But I do think she needs to know. She knows Son is doing everything he can to cut expenses, so I think she was very rude in this.

In better news, we went to see Julie and Julia last night. Julia Child was my teenage hero (heroine?). Meryl Streep did such a great job in that role. G's brother and wife are best friends with the real Julie's parents. So I had followed Julie's blog when she was writing. I bought and read the book, so the movie was the next step. The movie was so well done. I was afraid it wouldn't be showing by the time we could get to the movies since it came out just before vacation. I want to buy that movie!!

Peace.

Never fails

We have been having a break from the stifling temperatures here in Swampland. One day, the mercury actually didn't go above 90! Wow, that was new. We have had a week of about 90 degree temperatures. Perhaps fall is just around the corner. I don't want to jinx the break. We can have high temperatures all the way until Halloween!

Yesterday I got to sit in the dental chair for yet another crown. I think I only have two more fillings left in my mouth and a few natural teeth. The thing about me getting a crown is that we have storms every time.

When I had a marathon crown visit (like seven) we had a terrible thunderstorm move through. We were almost finished with the temporary crowns when the lights went out. That meant no a/c, no lights, and probably no drill. Well those temporary crowns have to be drilled to fit.

If you have ever gotten a crown, you know how the teeth look. These were my top front teeth. I was beside myself. My dentist decided to see if there was enough air in the line to run the drill. There was. Hallelujah! With all the flashlights in the place focused on my mouth, the window open to allow air in, and the assistants fanning us both, the temporaries were in place.

This office has tv's in all the rooms. I was watching when a severe storm alert was in place for an area about 100 miles away. We got the temporary in place, and I was on my way. When I got outside, I could see how threatening the skies were. About a half hour later, the clouds opened up! I just sat here, comforting Simone through the thunder, laughing to myself. I guess to get rain, I have to get a crown.

Peace.

Comcast vs ATT

Right now I am sitting here using the air card. Yes, I am in my house, with a connection to Comcast. So why am I using a metered service? Simple, because the other unlimited service wasn't bringing in anything.

I still have a few days before my month trial is over with the air card. I found it works at the SSB. I also have to get out of the "dial-up" frame of mind. I am not charged by the minute, I am changed by the bits of information transferred.

When I saw my bill, I nearly fainted. Then I looked in detail. There was the activation fee, a prorated month, and the month fee. I really had used just a bit of the allowed bits. That makes me want to keep it. In reality, would like to keep both services. It is easy (when it works) to use the regular service. I don't have to worry about sizes of files, etc. It is nice to have a service that works when the computer works. But I have to worry. The last thing in the world we need is to spend this kind of money just to have internet access. So, I have to make up my mind - soon.

It's really leaning toward the card. It is consistent. I have it on the weekends when we are gone. Oh my, I really hate to give up that email address. I can't remember who all I have to notify it won't be there anymore. I am glad I have used some of the free email sources for other purposes, like our business. They don't have to be changed.

Oh, life is just so complicated. LOL

Peace

The confidence is gone!

I marched into the Ortho Doc's office full of confidence, looking forward to getting the second in the series of three injections in my knees. I was full of vim and vinegar thinking that I would be so much better after getting these shots.

I was called back right on time and taken to a room. I was relaxed and very confident. In fact, I was looking forward to the whole thing. I sat on the table, and they brought in the tray with all the paraphernalia for the injections.

The doctor came in, and we exchanged a few pleasantries. He prepared the left knee. He put the injection in, and all was well. Before he could get the band-aid on, I had a stream of blood heading to the floor. He asked if I were on blood thinners, and I replied no. He wiped up the blood, and I had another stream running down my leg again before he could get the band-aid. He got the site bandaged, and the bleeding stopped - or at least was contained. But the injection didn't hurt - at all. OK - let's do this!

He prepared the right knee. He jabbed the needle in, and it HURT! He injected the fluid, and it HURT! Then is was over and I was bandaged. We all said see you next week, and I got off the table. The pain that hit that right knee was horrible. It felt like someone had put a knife in the joint. Every step was agony. Of course, the doc was on to another patient, and the nurse was gone to chart.

I hobbled out of the back into the waiting room. I considered sitting in the reception area, but I didn't know if that would help. I left the office and headed for the ladies room that I noticed when I took an alternate path to the office. I went in. At least I could sit in privacy for a bit.

I couldn't stay there all day, so I went out to take the long trek to the elevators. (Why does an orthopedist have an office as far away from the elevators as possible - in a hospital at that where you have to walk fifteen miles to get into the building???) I finally got to the car. I really wasn't sure I could drive - the pressure of applying the break was sending pain all the way up to my lower back.

I wasn't worth shooting yesterday. I was on my butt or back the remainder of the day. Now I am not so full of bravado about the injections next week. But then I think of the recovery from knee replacement. I guess I'm not so bad after all. I just hope these work, and I hope they last at least six months.

Peace.

Shots number two

Today I am scheduled for the orthovisc shots number 2. I am a little jazzed about them because number one seems to be helping.

When we put the house in at the SSB, the installers asked me how high up off the ground I wanted the house. Well, never having a manufactured home before, I thought taller would be better - and that was before the arthritis in my knees got really bad.

That means that it is five steps to get in the back door, and even more (two sets of five I think) to get in the front. As my knees got worse, it was harder and harder for me to get in the house, and once in, I tended to stay in. G would have to take Simone out, and she is wanting out more and more these days.

This past weekend I found that it wasn't nearly as bad to get into the house. It didn't take me five minutes to climb the steps. There was very little hesitation. I am thinking good things are ahead.

Of course, I did talk to SIL M this weekend. She had the shots three times, and each succeeding set of shots did less and less, until she had the replacement. I just hope that they are better these days, and I can keep from getting a replacement. In the back of my mind I think perhaps Dr Ortho knows this, and is just helping me buy some time to shed these pounds. I just believe that the surgery is still lurking out there waiting for me.

On another thought - Monkey Boy began his school yesterday. Things went well. Of course, he was asking the teacher every five minutes when his dad was coming to pick him up. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will do well.

Happy Birthday Daddy

This would have been your 95th birthday. I think you would have still been with us if it weren't for that blasted Alzheimer's. Your body was so healthy, but in reality we lost you many years ago. You were not the same person.

I still think of you many times a day. Little thoughts of you creep into my memory, and they seem so real, so vibrant. I am finally getting accustomed to not being near a phone on Saturday afternoons at 5:30. That was our scheduled time to call, either me to you or you to me.

For years, every time something would happen in my life, I would file it away to be sure to tell you on Saturday. Those calls went on for 30 years after we moved away. When you began to be affected by the disease, those calls became difficult. Sometimes you were far removed from reality. It was in these calls that I could no longer deny what was happening to you.

I was truly "Daddy's Little Girl," and I loved it. Memories of my childhood are flooding into my memory as I write this. I want those memories to be the once that obliterate the memories of you being in the assisted living facility looking so disheveled. You were always of "natty" dresser. You were so lost there. You repeatedly tried to escape and go home. Your escape attempts still amaze me. Your knees were as bad as mine. I don't see how you could have done the things you did! But I want to push those memories into the deep recesses and remember back when. They are just too painful.

Happy birthday Daddy.

Free (?) trials

Today I was over at Susan's blog, and she posted something that brought my blood back to boiling. She was writing about "free trials" and automatic renewals.

In my desperation to lose the weight that managed to find me again after my chemo (and bring friends), I looked into Weight Watchers on line. I found that the web site wasn't easy for me to calculate points. I think that is a good program, but it was time consuming and not easy for me. So I cancelled. No problem.

So what's the problem? Well, I had been very successful with Atkins. I know South Beach is very similar, and I found their web site. I decided to give it a try. Of course, the free trial asks for a credit card.

I used the web site for about a week and again found it not to be what I wanted. Their "canned" menus for the day involve what I consider bizarre foods. I though I was on a month to month program, so I didn't think there was a hurry to cancel.

When I got my credit card statement, there was a charge from them for about $200. (I don't remember the exact amount). I called to cancel and was informed that I had been given a "special deal" that was for the entire year, and I could not cancel. In fact, at the end of the year they were going to renew the contract for another year.

I ranted and raved, and guess what. No refund and still getting sporadic emails (that should have been daily).

Ancestry.com does the same thing. If you want their free trial, you have to give your credit card number. They will also roll you over automatically. That didn't bother me because I intended to join them anyway, but I cannot, in good conscience, tell anyone else to give them a "try" because it is too easy for that trial to become a year membership.

These days, I don't respond to a free trial. I had always lived by the old adage that "nothing is free, and if it seems too good to be true, it is." I learned that lesson the hard way. All I can say is that South Beach diets must be in dire straits if this is the way they get business. Live and learn.

Peace.

This and that

OK, the visit to the Ortho Doc went well. I was very apprehensive about the whole thing. I'm not good at new situations - especially those involving probable pain. The injections did hurt, but more than anything they felt very strange. He began by using the aerosol numbing agent that I was already used to from chemo. They used it to numb the skin for accessing the port. He then felt around to get under the knee cap, then stuck the needle in. I could feel the liquid, and it was a combination of pain, though not excruciating, and then the sensation of my tissues filling with a liquid.

Right after the injections, I was really happy. The knee pain was diminished greatly. I had thought of going to the craft store near the office, but I was not sure how I would react after the initial time. The pain in my knees is less, but this morning, the right knee is still letting me know it's there. But then, that's why there is a series of three injections - each a week apart. I am hoping these will work. If they do, I can foresee six months of relief without surgery. That would be wonderful. As I research knee replacements, I really don't want one. This weekend I will talk with SIL M since she has had both knees replaced. She has been urging me to do it for years. Hers have done well - even though she almost died on the table because they used the wrong anesthesia on the second replacement!

In other things, MB did pretty well yesterday. He still is not compliant with requests, however. He spent the first hour in the bedroom watching Star Wars. He came into the den where I was working on the computer. I told him to change the station on the TV if he wanted. They have the DVR attached, and he found that he could reverse the feed over and over. I got him to stop that because it was really annoying. That he did, but then he kept playing with the remote. I told him that I did not know their system, and if he "broke" it, I could not fix it. Well - you know what happened. In a little bit I could hear the static from the TV. He looked at me and said "this TV is broken." Um - not! I know he is way too young to know action/consequence in a lot of situations, but he clearly didn't see it here.

I think they promised him the moon and stars to behave. He has a hand held game that he has become addicted to. He is only allowed to play with it on certain occasions. This was one. Plus, I think he was bribed with movies all afternoon after I left. Well - it worked for me. He was generally good. Can't ask for more than that. After all - it isn't my TV!

Today

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

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

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

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

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

Daughter should be here soon, so I will go.

Peace.

Grandson

It's getting to be time to stop kidding ourselves. Monkey Boy apparently has some real, deep seated problems. His parents put it off to "being a boy," but I think the problems are much more serious than that.

I am well aware that boys are very different from girls, but . . . MB has been coddled since birth. He has been the little prince in the house. Whatever he wanted - he gets. If the family is eating one thing, all he had to do was say he didn't want that. He would get a meal of frozen breaded chicken nuggets, french fries, and ketchup. They didn't believe that he would eat when he got hungry.

A little while ago, they would make him try foods (by the way he just turned 5), and if he said he didn't like it, he would get a lunch meat sandwich. Still today, he has to have ketchup on everything.

If he wanted a toy his sister had, Lady Bug had to give it up. Every time something happened, she was blamed. He was held innocent.

Well, last school year, he had some kind of disagreement with the day care teachers. I know there are two sides to every story, and I don't know the teacher's side, but I know how Monkey can be. To act out, he smeared feces all over the bathroom. Of course, according to parents, it wasn't his fault. The teachers were yellers, etc. Well, so are parents.

A couple of weeks ago, he got into a fight with another kid at the child care at the gym. Again, it wasn't his fault. The kid was bothering his nine year old sister. Believe me, LB can and does take care of herself.

Last night, he was in a "mood." When he saw me and the shirt I brought him from our vacation, he made some noise and disappeared. He later remarked how he didn't like the shirt. So the response was "does it scare you?" I purposely chose one that is like one he has with a wolf on it.
He went through intensive speech therapy. His words are clear, but he babbles things that don't make sense and are not about what is going on. When they brought Simone home on Saturday, he was babbling about something being his TV. It had no bearing on anything.

Next week, he begins a new program - the bridge program. I am going to be interested to see how he manages in that program. As a professional, I see aberrant behaviors here. My problem is how to tell his parents. No parent wants to hear that kind of news, but your own family is even more difficult. My personal opinion is that there are going to be more problems. We have seen aggression to his two year old sister. I think there is going to be more this year.

If it does come about, I am going to have to say something. I think I will consult with my "resident" psychologist - my sister in law. Sure is nice to have one in the family!

Peace



I am biding my time. I will see what happens

Joys of home

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peace

Last day!!

I didn't get to post yesterday. We had WiFi at the motel, but my firewall kept warning me about intrusions from it. I switched to the air card, but the signal was weak. We were in the Missouri boot. With all the intrusions, I just didn't trust that connection, so I just turned it all off.

The hotel was really something. It was definitely older, but every room was a suite. We opened the door, and the room was really spacious. I then looked to my right, and there was another room that had a hide-a-bed, two chairs, a coffee table, another TV, and a desk. It was really a nice room. The only thing that freaked me out was the creaking of the floors. They creaked in the hall, in the room - everywhere!

I am going to be so happy to be back home. I never thought of myself as one who needs handicap things, but I have come to appreciate handicap ready bathrooms. Some of the toilets I have encountered seem like they are on the floor. Some do have bars close, others are just there. Out in the middle of the floor. Those scare me - a lot. I am also so pleased when I find a restaurant that has a handicapped stall! Getting old and infirm - but that's another topic.

We are in a litle town in Texas - Atlanta. The WiFi here says Carthage. We are just south of Texarkana. About five more hours and we are home.

Daughter tells me Simone has settled down - finally Wouldn't you know - after 13 days, she settles down. I am told she has been sick about 60% of the time. Great.

The trip was fun, but I am so ready to be home. I really miss my bed, my bathroom, my dog and my cat!! Oh, I also miss the family, too. Just going to be glad to be home.

Have a great weekend.

Peace.

Here in Indiana

Home is at least two days away, most probably three. This was a long trip today - especially waiting on the International Bridge. There was construction, and then the wait at customs. If the customs guy wasn't so chatty, things would have gone faster. I really think those customs checkpoints are a joke. Between the US and Canada, there is no real checking, not like between the US and Mexico.

I knew I should have put Simone with the vet. She has been sick with Daughter - especially when her in-laws arrived. Daughter tells me she looks like she is going to be sick most of the time. I need to get back to my furry baby.

So here we are in Indiana - and there are bad storms moving through. Nice.

Check with you later.

Peace.

Last night in Canada

We took the Algoma excursion train today from Sault. It really was a pretty trip. I found the seat to be a torture chamber.

We go back home starting tomorrow. Next in sights is Ft Wayne, IN.

Exhausted. I didn't sleep well from 2:30 A.M. on.

Peace.

We are here

OK, this is the farthest point of our trip. We are here in Sault Ste Marie, Canada. We are going to (gasp) ride an excursion train tomorrow. Then we will stay the night. Wednesday will be the bee line home. Hope those storms in the Atlantic decide to go away. I don't want to come home to one of those - especially since the generator isn't in yet.

It took us 45 minutes to get into Canada. We sat on the bridge and waited. I've never waited that long to get into Canada before. But then again, I don't think we have been here since 9/11.

Our trip here was really beautiful. Northen Michigan is beautiful. The Holiday Inn in Marquette was a very comfortable place, and the grounds were just beautiful.

So far I don't find Sault as beautiful as I remember. Perhaps it is just where we are. But hopefully I'll see some of what I remember later in the visit.

I am now tired - and it's dinner time even on my central time zone body.

Peace

Whatever day

We are out of the Rat'sson (I know - that's not the name of the hotel, but I hated the place). It only took about five minutes to get the elevator to take the luggage down. Fortunately G found a cart. I think it was the only one left.

We are now in Marquette MI. It is a pretty place so far. The drive from Duluth was really pretty. The weather wasn't cooperative. It was misty and some rain. But we are here. That's the main thing.

This morning, I watched the folks that are taking the train back to Minneapolis cross the street, and down the hill in the rain. I'm sure that was so pleasant. My though was I was glad I didn't have to do it. I really think I would have called a taxi. I would have been completely soaked through by the time I got there. That hill is quite a hill, and I have to take it really slow with at least one stop along the way. But thinking back - I don't think I ever saw a taxi in Duluth!

Tomorrow we will head into Canada. So there isn 't anything to post. I just hope tonight we get a good sleep.

Peace.

Day eight

The days are beginning to run together. If a drop down menu didn't show up, I wouldn't know what day it is!

We arose early again to eat the cinnamon rolls and scones we bought with lunch yesterday. I have my coffee maker, so we have coffee. Just like me - I don't trust the hotel's coffee maker. I know how dirty mine is. But then I bring my own pillow too. That isn't because I am attached to that pillow - I just know where mine has been. I would have bought one of those new bed liner dubies, but I didn't have time. I really thought about making one. I've been this way since chemo. I hate walking on the carpet barefooted, but I also hate shoes. Quite the dilemma there.

We left here about 7:30 to go two blocks to the Rail Road Museum to board the train. It is a miserable trip for those who are mobility deficient. If you know Duluth, it is hills that end at the lake. Walking down that steep grade hurts my knees and back a lot. I have been using my hoarded from surgeries pain pills. This is why I hoarded them in the first place.

This is really beautiful country. The trip went to Grand Rapids. Unfortunately, the train was about an hour late getting in, so we had limited time. Walking about town would have been difficult, but I think I would have tried. As it was I sat on a bench with another lady from the train who is mobility deficient. Our husbands brought us the box lunch (the first one on this trip). Then we boarded the train to return to Duluth.

Tomorrow we head out to Marquette I think. I'm just along for the ride. I have a couple of days before it's on another train. I really am glad. Today was a bit trying. When we got the the Museum, the line stretched for a couple of blocks. We had coach tickets which shouldn't have been a problem. When we boarded the car, there were no seats, or at least a few - scattered. We walked to the next car. Same thing. Then it was stale mate. We couldn't move. As it was we ended up in the club car. My feet were kicked five times, and I couldn't have gotten them another centimeter under the seat. My legs and knees were screaming the entire trip - there was little padding in the chair front. But the scenery was really nice.

So this brings the convention portion of the trip to an end. We are on our own starting tomorrow for the most part. No downtown hotel. Yea!

I haven't used the air card since the first day or two. I have been using the free stuff. I said I would use the card, but . . .

Anyway,

Peace

Day seven

Today has been one of rest. There were sessions scheduled, but no rides. The last one is tomorrow, and it will be a long one again.

I wanted a real breakfast this morning. So we set out (in a direction I didn't want to go) to find a restaurant. I was tired of scones or other carbo stuff. We found a Burger K*ng. So we stopped. Not exactly what I had in mind. Oh, well.

Later we had to go across the street to the public library. Our realtor called last night, and our offer on that blasted house had been denied. We decided to go up some. But that meant downloading a form, printing it, then faxing it.

I first downloaded it to a thumb drive. The problem was a printer. The library was no help. We came back and wonder of all wonders, the hotel computer and printer was open. So the form is printed. Now I need to find a fax.

We drove around a bit later, finding a nice little restaurant for lunch. It was good!! I'm sounding like Aunt W. When you ask about a trip she has been on, she rates it by the food.

I have worked on cataloging my free embroidery designs today. G went across the street to the museum (rail road of course). It's been quite and peaceful. Restful too!

Peace

Days five and six

I hit the wall yesterday. I was so tired and drained it was terrible. The day began with boarding the bus at about 8. We were to get on the train at 10. It was a "lunch train." We were in Wisconsin - a first for us.

We took the train from a museum, so some time was spent in the museum. There was a little shop that probably thought it hit the gold rush when we all got there. There were three bus loads of train enthusiasts that arrived in Spooner, WI. A little shop with scones and coffee was located. That was breakfast!!

The train (at least in coach) was not air conditioned. We knew that, but this is Duluth!!! All the cars were set in tables. It was a lunch train. The food was great. The tables got a little old at the end. On a train, tables are close and set for four. Enough said.

We got back here about 5:15. There were those who were taking the dinner train that night. It was tight. And that's the problem. Here at the Rat'sson, we have 15 floors. There are two SMALL elevators. People crowd them until I am really afraid they will fail. Did I mention I was afraid of elevators? It takes forever to get people to their destinations.

Today, we were to get on the train at the museum. We were warned on the way over about the spray. We have been spoiled by the steam trains we have ridden before. They were oil fired. THIS one was coal fired. We were spewed with water and soot when it arrived at the site. I had on white, but it can be bleached. G had on a new shirt. I don't know about it.

We went to Two Harbors. It was a very quaint little village. Both lunches were hot. I expected box lunches, but they were both absolutely delicious.

I wonder, however, if I am becoming tired of riding trains. It may be the heat. But I am tired. The routes look the same for the most part. I am tired of the "run bys." Those are where the photographers can get off, set up, and take pictures of the train as it runs by - hence the name.

We didn't make the second trip today. We were both tired. I am really not looking forward to Saturday's ride - and that's the one I really chose. Perhaps I am just TIRED!! Tomorrow is a play day for us. I want a real breakfast. I want to explore Duluth and that should not be too difficult. It seems Duluth is about 26 miles long and two miles wide. I just want to sleep!!!

Peace.

Day four

We made it to Duluth with time to spare. That means our room wasn't ready. As usual for a downtown hotel, there is not a cheap place to eat within a block and certainly not in the hotel. There is one here, but G loves to travel, travel, travel until I am about ready to eat the seat belt then stop at about 2PM. Well guess what! The place here in the hotel closes at 1.

We registered for the convention, then I got settled while he went to scout for a place to get something to go. He was successful, but I am worried about breakfasts, etc for the remainder of the time.

Tonight is a dinner cruise on Lake Superior - makes sense doesn't it?? Come to a train convention and have a dinner cruise., Ok . . .

I'm glad we didn't take the train from Chicago. It was a specially chartered train, and I really wanted to do it, but it is three hours delayed. It was supposed to be here at 3; it won't be here until 6. The cruise is at 6:30. A little tight! But that's train travel. To us the trip is the exciting part.

We will be on the bus to the train trip tomorrow about 7:30. That should be fun.

Daughter reported last night that Simone got sick. It is always something! I keep telling her she can board her at the vet. She keeps telling me no. Oh well.

Off to change clothes. It is HOT and humid here. Just like home. I knew it wouldn't be cool. I've been in Minnesota before in August!

Peace.

Day three

We are in a small town north of St Paul tonight. It was the only place we could find a room. It is a nice place however.

The lady at the desk recommended a restaurant. Since it is our anniversary, we splurged. I had halibut in a white balsamic sauce. It was absolutely to die for.

Just as I predicted, the heat is here with us. I know it isn't as bad as Swampland, but . . . I really wanted to experience cool.

Tomorrow is Duluth, and the train rides will commence. Our first activity however is dinner on the lake. That should be fun!

I did not fry the IPod. I was all set to work on it last night. It came on, and charged. We used it a bit today. I haven't gotten taking our OLD 33 1/3 vinyl and putting it on the IPod yet. The sound is not very loud. I'll have to work on that.

We had tremendous thunderstorms last night. This morning was bright and sunny. The thunderheads seem to be building once again. Hope they stay away!

Peace.

Day two

So here we are at the end of day two of the great adventure. We have had (knock on wood) a very uneventful trip - at least on the road.

Last night our room was about 4 rooms from the pool and around the corner from the elevators. That means the headboards in our room backed up to the elevator shafts. All afternoon, we didn't hear the elevators. I will swear that the volume of those elevators was tied to the lights in our room. The lights went out - the elevators got louder. I say this because this morning, they didn't seem so loud.

Also, we had bikers who were returning from Sturgis. That is the biggie for motorcycles. They partied hard - and late. Guess where they met. Yep - the elevators.

Anyway, we traveled a little further today. We are north of St Joseph, MO. There are thunderstorms in the area, but I think we will miss them. The weather - HOT. I knew this would happen. Tomorrow, we will be in Minnesota, but we don't have to be in Duluth until Tuesday. So I don't know if we will spend time in St Paul or Minneapolis. Either is fine with me.

Daughter called to let me know the latest with Simone. She slept poorly last night, and it's evident she misses us. I miss her too. Every time we stopped today, I would look back into the back seat so check her and the windows. I have been traveling with her too much I guess!

I think I fried the IPod last night. We have free internet here, and I plan to go to Apple to try to get help to bring it back to life. I was in a hurry and using the air card - for the second time. It was a comedy of errors. But the result is the Ipod that I was trying to charge is DEAD.

I'll try to be back tomorrow - if I don't fry the computer!

Peace.

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.