Oh, I forgot

Some of you may remember me talking about SIL's daughter from another relationship.  She is now 19. She has moved out of her mom's house.

That was like moving from the frying pan into the fire because she has gotten herself in a real pickle.  The girl has problems.  My SIL is a psychologist.  Her assessment of the girl is that she is a sociopath.  Enough said about her mental status.

After leaving mom's house, she lived with her aunt for a while.  She never contributed anything to the household expenses, and that family lives from hand to mouth or less all the time.  She left aunt's house - and moved in with her "boyfriend.'

Boyfriend was engaged just prior to this girl (M) moving in with him.  So, I don't know just how stable this relationship could be from the get go.  I really think she is as much of a rebound for him as anything.  He is 25, and does have a good job.  Her first thing was to move to one of the Carolinas with him.  SIL talked to her about how stupid this probably was.

OK  - so now they are moving to California.  Just as stupid an idea for her as the other move.  (These are job moved by the way - for him) Now there is another factor here.  She is pregnant.  Her mother is livid.  She is seeing M reliving the mom's life.  She is 19, not married to the father, in fact the relationship is only a little better than mom's was at the time.  SIL is really sick about it.  He knows what kinds of hell this can be.  They are going to be tied together for 19 years now.  Daughter sort of laughs and says she will be a 38 year old grandmother.  The baby's youngest aunt will be 4.

I know this all happens all the time.  I have many friends who are great grandparents while I am still a grandmother with grand-babies still being born - the next one in January.  Probably you have been through this situation.  I know it is not unusual.  It will probably work out.  I just know the hell my daughter has gone through having a step-daughter - dealing with the mom who hated the dad (SIL) after she got pregnant.  He has absolutely no love for her either.  It can just be so bad.

Wish them luck - or what ever.  They are all going to need it.

Today is the day

Well - Simone and Angelica will finally attend the "meet and greet" today during the cocktail hour.  We will see what happens.  They have slept side by side in their crates for two nights now.  Angelica has had her crate in the den when we are up so she has been pretty much a part of family life albeit as an observer.  The cat - well, I don't know how that is going to go.  I really suspect it will not be pretty.  I wish at this point he still had his front claws (I know- brutal surgery and all, but I wouldn't have any furniture - or hands left for that matter).  He could teach her that cats are nothing to fool with.

I am praying that they get along famously.  Otherwise I really do not know what I am going to do Tuesday for the six hour trip to the SSB.  G asked me last night just what my famous plans for that trip are.  Well, don't know.  The back seat of an F150 - even crew cab - is small.  I didn't realize until we took the first trip in it. We were so used to the troop carrier (the old F250).

At least I got Daughter interested in the Boxer Rescue group.  She is contemplating fostering also.  She may have to foster this one.

Just very, very nervous, and I have to get over that immediately.  They will be able to tell if I can't act calm, assertive, and sure of the event.  We will see.  Oh, how I wish I could see a segment of Dog Whisperer that covered this again.

Peace.

Quick post

Well, the night went smoothly.  Simone was in her crate - with the door open.  Angelica was next to her in her crate - with the door shut.  Shadow visited the bed twice - very nervously.  All in all quiet night.

This is Angelica the day we transported her to the kennel.  This is when we fell in love with her! 

Excuse the stuff in the hall - grandchildren play there.  This is the initial meeting of Angelica and Shadow.  Did not go well.  My phone didn't do a very good job, but you possibly can see that Angelica is just a little TOOOOOO interested in Shadow.  Shortly after this - in fact when I was putting the phone down  - Angelica charged the crate, and the cat bolted!

When I put Simone in her crate this morning to give Angelica some time out in the house, you would have thought I had done the worst thing to that dog!  She really fought going in.  But Angelica really surprised me.  She knew how to play with toys - which may be a problem later, but Simone usually leaves toys alone.   Angelica appeared to know how to play catch.  Amazing

She's here

We have Angelica under our roof.  We stopped on the way home to buy her a crate - as the paper work that they sent us as a foster suggested.  I am glad we did.  Simone has done a little growling.  Right now, the crate in sitting in the den where we spend most of our waking time.  I think that may be best for now.  I just wish I could figure how to open this crate more easily though.

I thought we were getting a 24" crate.  She IS a small dog, but we got the 31" instead.  It is better for her, but I know for a fact it will  not fit in the backseat of the truck like I planned.  These two better be getting along by next week or I am up a creek!

I am going to let her settle down a little more before I begin flashing pictures of her, but I promise I will post some soon.  She is a real little cutie.

Send good thought - I think I am going to need them!

Oh, the the cat has disappeared.

Peace.

She is our foster - for now

The Boxer Rescue posted on Facebook that they are desperate for foster.  They have taken in 11 since the first of the month yet there are 8 that are in danger of being put to sleep.  One if a ten month baby whose time run out today.

I asked G if we could at least foster.  He said yes, and we probably would adopt.  so ...

We will have a new family member tomorrow afternoon.  There is so much unknown.  We don't know how the other two will react.  We just don't know much except this baby has the most trusting eyes in the world.

When I get my cell charged, I will email myself pictures  - which I will post here.  She is a real cutie!

Now we will see what happens.


Peace

Ohhhh - I want ...

Right now, I am stealing some time from being up in the "room" where I really need to complete the dress I have sitting on the machine.  The craft show is December 4, and I really need to have several more done.  I have done several little shirts with applique and/or embroidery.  They are easy.  This dress will be too - it's just I did nothing on it yesterday, and here's why:

I try to help out our local Boxer Rescue group.  I am a virtual foster which means I donate money each month to the care of these dogs.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to help in a real, physical way.  I volunteered to transport a dog from the vet's office (that treats up to five of these dogs at a time) to the kennel that holds some space for them.

I was to pick up "Angelica" and take her for boarding.  I knew nothing of her.  So, armed with Simone's harness for the car, a choke collar and a separate leash, off I went.  To cut to the chase - when she came out, she was the cutest thing.   She is a small little girl - two years old, or so.  She had just been spayed.  She is a twin for the boxer I talked my daughter into rescuing when my vet's office called me.

So we were off for the 30 minute drive to the kennel.  In that time, she enamored me completely.  I didn't want to leave her at that place.  She gave me hundreds of doggie kisses when we first met - as is the way boxers do.  She loved the ride - going from window to window, not missing a thing.

When we were sitting around last night, G was talking to Simone.  He said - "you need a pal, don't you."  I was ready to sent an email immediately asking to adopt Angelica.  I had fallen hopelessly in love with that baby.  We were seriously considering her - planning how to transport both dogs and the cat the 6 hours to the SSB.  I was ready.

In the light of morning, he had cooled on the idea.  I also thought more.  Some boxers have a huge prey drive - and they don't like cats - at all.  I have no idea how this dog will react to cats.  She seems docile.  She seems sweet.  But she also is still confused about what is going on with her.  So, I guess she will become someone else's baby.  She will make a wonderful pet.  I can see that in her.

So, the dangers of me having direct contact with these dogs is not good.  I fall in love with them.  I want them ALL.  Smacks of being an animal hoarder doesn't it.  Not really.  I know what the responsibilities are.  I know first hand that a rescued boxer can have health problems.  Boxers have inherent health problems as a breed.  Just looking at my Simone, you can see so much of what she must have endured before I got her.  Her canines are broken at the tips.  She has scarring on her legs.  I really believe she must have been struck by a car at some time in her life.  She had many, many litters of pups in her previous life.  She bears scars today - internal and external.  She is at least 8, and she is on her way to developing cancers.  She has started the mast tumors.

No, the possibility of expenses with several dogs is just too much - but I still fell completely in love with Angelica.  How that name fits that little girl!

And now to work I go.

Peace

Pictures - yes finally!

This is the table my dad built.  Those are my new chairs.  They are WONDERFUL!!!

This is a little closer view of the table.  It could stand having the top refinished, but I will let my heirs do that.  I will just think of it as "character."

Difficult to see, but this is the burn that my brainy step-mother put  on the table.  Daddy tried to finish it out, but as you can see - it didn't work well.  Just adds to the marred finish.  Oh, well.

This is a picture of my favorite cow - destroying the little deer feeder.  If you look closely - there is NO grass.  I will post before pictures later

Again a view of NO grass.  That is purely red dirt.  Red dirt that is turning to dust that is invading like crazy.

This is one of our old chairs from the dining room.  Uncomfortable as can be, and will tip over  in a blink of the eye.

So there you have a thumb nail trip to the SSB.  We have had some rain - I hope yesterday and today.  I haven't heard from friends, neighbors, and relatives (pretty much the same thing out there) about if and how much yet.  Just hoping and praying.  We need some so desperately.  This drought is predicted to last maybe until 2020.  Egad.

Peace.

Technology - bah humbug!

It seems I get farther and farther behind in the technology field these days.  I have been having a real love/hate relationship with this relatively new laptop.  My son got a Mac, and I am wishing I had done the same thing, but I wanted something that would be cheap inexpensive.

I spent the day a couple of days ago fighting with an embroidery program.  It shows icons of what the design is when you open your folder(s).  That is a nice time saver.  I got the stupid idea to look for updates.  Well, you know what that meant.  The whole thing crashed.  I wasn't able to see a single icon.  No real biggie, but a definite time saver.  I do love that program.  I guess that's why I have spent $80 on it total.  You see in my tech savvy way, I deleted the main program.  So I just gave up and bought another license - along with a DISC this time!!  I know - slow on the uptake!

When I got that program re-loaded, I was getting an error message about Explorer.  I am not an Explorer user, but that stupid program was messing with me making CD's to move the embroidery files from here to the upstairs computer.  So, once again, I ventured forth.  I reloaded Office 2010.  I figured that was where the problem had to be.  I still don't know it that fixed that problem or  not, but it caused another one!

When I went to my picture file, none of the jpeg thumbnails would open.  I had to be in a photo editing program.  Well - that just wouldn't do.  So I waged war again today with that problem.  I finally fixed it.  I can see my jpegs.

But, and you knew there was a but, didn't you?  Another of the embroidery programs is acting all wonky now. It is the one that allows me to change from one type of embroidery file to another so I can use them on my machine.

And - speaking of my machine.  Yep - battle there too.  It has been squeaking - a lot.  I know it needs its yearly cleaning and check up, but I just didn't want to give it up for three days.  It has been acting a fool. I have to cut out thread nests about three times for every 1000 stitches it does.  It broke a foot (on the machine - not mine) and ruined my brand new wonderful embroidery scissors when I was trying to get rid of one of those nests.  At least I was able to complete all the fancy stuff on the photo album cover for the youngest granddaughter!  I had to take it to the old workhorse to sew it together however.  So I took the sick machine to the shop a while ago.  I was just there yesterday for club meeting, but decided I would wait until we went to the SSB to take the machine in.  Nope - got to take that drive again today!

Such is my tale of woe.  Technology -  bah!  So with all the problems I have been trying to solve - I still don't have new pics of the SSB loaded onto the computer.  When I couldn't see what I would try to upload here, what was the use?  I have embroidery projects lined up to the ceiling.  I do have dress making to do - so I CAN do that.  Isn't my life just pitiful - don't answer that.  I know the answer.  This month reminds me of just how lucky I am every day.  I really don't forget it with pink ribbons everywhere.  I will try to get those pictures posted tomorrow.  G will be gone again tomorrow and Sunday afternoon.  I should be able to get a lot done!

Peace.

Hi

Just dropped by to let you know I am still alive and kickin'.  That's the problem - there's too much kickin'.  I am behind on a lot of "work" meaning sewing stuff. I am still trying to get pictures taken and uploaded.

I decided that I needed jpegs of my embroidery designs to post over there on those other places.  So I went back to the sources for some, and I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out how to get those jpegs of the others. When you have 45,000+ designs, that is a daunting process.

I will try to get back this week - sometime with the wonderfully, fabulous (?) happenings in my life this past weekend.  G will be gone Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.  That sounds like a plan!

Peace.

Checking in

Yipes, this appears to be my 1000th post!  I really had planned to do something a little more special like look back at where I have been.  But then, life has a way of getting in the way.

When I began this, cancer was looming really big.  I had a business selling candles that has morphed into other things - namely children's clothing.  I had one granddaughter, now I am expecting my sixth something...  probably a boy.  That would make us three and three (unless DIL decided to have another which will definitely be the end).

But since we got back from the SSB, I have been running.  It all began with the appointment with Dr Death (oncology) yesterday.  That went well.  My CA27.29 was up to 24.  The nurse said that was no worry.  The cut off is 38.  Well, ok - but right after the mastectomy and chemo it was something like 10.

I have pictures that are still in the camera with the exception of this one.  This is when we stopped to let Simone have a walk before we really hit the road home.  Her first potty break.  This is an example of our dirt roads.  If you look carefully, you can see the dead persimmons off to the right of the road, and there is absolutely no grass beside the road there in the fore ground.  Ranchers are selling their herds of cattle and even goats and sheep in record numbers.  There is no food for them except what can be bought, and that is so expensive.  Hay is something that cannot be found.

.  It is so very dry up there even the cedars (junipers in reality) are dying.  Live oaks and elms are also dying.  The whole area it basically a tinder-box waiting to explode in flames.

I will try to download more of the pictures tomorrow and bring some out of the folders already here to try to show the difference between good times and bad times up there.  

Be back tomorrow!

Peace.

Update

\In my continual whine - the knee is getting better.  When I woke this morning (to thunder and heavy RAIN), I could tell it was much better. That is a relief.

Simone has her stitches out.  That means no more e-collar.  That is great news.  Last night (or early morning rather) when the storms arrived, she was afraid of the thunder.  That means she wants to be on my side of the bed.  There is not a huge expanse of space there, so the collar bumped and scraped along as she muscled her way there.  Turning around brought even more noises!!  But she is free of that thing.  She can get into her crate again (Yipee), and go outside without supervision.  Sunbaths again for the old dog.

Yes - indeed we are getting some rain again.  I am anxious to see if there was rain at the SSB.  If there was any with these storms, there will be a touch of green beginning again there.  It doesn't take much.  Being a semi-arid biome, it, like a total desert, will green up fast.  Takes full advantage of any good weather.

 Bad news is that apparently the drought has caused a real problem with the pool.  It is leaking water faster than we can fill it.  We were going to have it re-tiled and re-plastered this winter, but it looks like that can't wait.  There are times I think we just ought to hammer up the concrete and fill it with dirt.  I really don't want to do that.  I really think I will swim again - someday.

I will take pictures when we are at the SSB.  I have some already stored on the computer of better days.  It will be a study in contrasts.  I will also get pictures of the table.  When it was still at the lake, it took some blows from the break ins.  It no longer has the perfect finish on it, but then even before the break-ins, my brilliant step mother let a candle burn all the way down.  Daddy tried to repair it, but there is a big dark ring on it still.  Some people would pay good money to have a table distressed like this one!  But with this burgeoning family, it almost seats all of us.

Last night at Sunday Dinner, my DIL dropped the bomb that this coming child (#3) may not be the end.  I nearly fell off the couch,  I am beginning to think it just keeps putting off her returning to school for her professed hope of becoming a nurse.  I really think she believes deeply that she won't succeed.  She just wants to stay at home.  So having babies, then home schooling will  allow that.  But even if there is a fourth, that will be the end unless she finds another Ob/Gyn.  Her doctor doesn't like more than four caesarians. ( now spell check tells me that is wrong, but there is no choice for the correct spelling - so if it's wrong - blams spell check!)

And so my life continues.  We will be taking off in the morning.  I know I can't depend on my phone to become a hot spot.  It is so irritating.  I pay for a service that works here, not there.  I hope we can get out of this contract soon.  It is set for next August, but perhaps ...  I can always dream about a better service.

peace.

Can we talk here?

We're all friends, right?  And friends shouldn't feel self conscious when admitting absolute stupidity, right?  Well, that's what I am getting ready to do here.  Right here in the blogosphere.

Remember when I said that I made the mistake of getting on the floor to treat Simone's incisions?  Remember when I was stuck there on the floor - not being able to get up?  I am also the woman who doesn't get into the pool because I am afraid that I cannot pull  myself up the steps.  Well, last night I was absolutely, positively insane.

My feet and legs were killing me.  I wanted a hot bath more than anything else in the world.  I haven't immersed my body in the tub in about a year - perhaps less.  I do remember it being rather difficult to get out, but I could.  So - I got in the tub.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Now I don't know how to accept help in getting up (or out).  G wanted me to take a bell or something to ring if I couldn't get out.  That wasn't going to happen - regardless.  I thought I had a plan.

Well - you know how things like that go.  But here's what I thought.  I would put a bath towel in the bottom of the tub.  It would give traction.  That would be the answer.  So the towel went in, the water was begun.  Then I was going to lower myself in.  That's when the traction held.  I plopped with a splash.

But I drew the hot water.  I sat there for a while.  I was in heaven.  Then I was going to get out.  Right.  It wasn't going to happen.  In the time between the last time I was in the tub and this time, I apparently have gotten weaker.   Even the loss of weight wasn't going to help me.

I don't know how long I sat there evaluating my dilemma, but it was a while.  Finally I came to the conclusion there was going to be one way and one way only.  So I wadded up the towel that was already there, added another to make padding.  Then I managed to get my right knee on the "padding" but it was at an angle.

Up I went - threw the left leg over the edge of the tub and  - fell back.  Well.  Isn't this a situation.  I did it again, and I was free.  But then and now, the right knee is hurting.  I don't believe I did anything to the knee cap.  I think it may just be soft tissue injury, but it does hurt.

So, since this is the week we will have to go to the SSB, I will see what happens with the knee.  If it isn't better - I will call the Ortho.  This is also the side that I landed on when I missed the last step on the "killer stairs" in our house.  We all have fallen on those steps - even my sure footed son.

Stupid.  I cannot believe how incredibly stupid I was last night.  I guess it was the rain that we finally got (hurrah), but something certainly short circuited in my brain.  Invincible I certainly am not.  I guess I forget that I am getting old, fat and out of shape.  If I ever have that wild desire again to get in the tub, I hope I have the sense to come back to this (if I haven't destroyed my knee) and remember what I cannot do!

Peace

People are just amazing - not!

Yesterday we ventured out to buy a small vacuum cleaner for upstairs.  We have a canister vac - one that uses water for its filter.  It is too heavy to lug up and down the stairs.  So I wanted something other than the one that is up there.  It is really just a hand vac that has a handle that goes in it and a stupid little thingy for using on the floor.  Doesn't work well especially in a world of threads and bits of fabric because try as I might - those things are on that floor.  Plus when anything has to be done in the attic recesses,  crud gets pulled out and deposited on the carpet.

So we went to the store that replaced Mervyn's here in Swampland.  The K**l's store.  I found a vacuum that I THOUGHT was $99.  This was after  my $10 card for their anniversary.  When we checked out - no it was $159 - on sale and minus the $10. Well - OK.  I did like the machine.  So we loaded it up and headed out for the rest of our shopping trip.

When I got it out and put it together, I was wondering why the top of the canister for the dirt didn't fit properly.  As I turned it over and over, the HEPA filter fell out.  It. Was. Filthy.  That machine had been used.  A lot!

I was so upset (use your own word here - they will all fit the situation).  So I repacked it.  G came in, and I told him what had happened.  I expected a real storm of words - especially with his moods of late!  He was calmer than I.  So I called the store and was assured they would make it right.

We took it back this morning.  I had my credit card credited, and got another $10 store card.  We went back to look at the machines, but there was nothing I really wanted.  I don't want the $500+ nice one.  I want something that is fairly powerful, bagless, and above all - inexpensive!  They didn't have it.

I had already looked at their add.  I knew they had one for $80.  I ordered it to be delivered.  Of course - it will be next week, and we all know where we will be next week!  Joy.

The real upshot of this whole thing is I honestly believe that machine will go back out on the floor for some poor soul to buy - again.  It is filthy, and I told the woman at the returns that the power attachment was not there.  I saw her write no information about that thing.  I am really upset with them - I thought they were VERY reputable.   I just don't know.

Peace.

Ho-hum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peace.

Ch ch ch changes

We changed our minds about trekking off to the hinterlands this week.  There were several factors involved in this decision.  Not least among them was Simone and her "buddy."  I was having visions of her trying to get loaded into the truck, and then riding for five to six hours.  I had thought about leaving her part of the back seat up because G sometimes stops short and quickly, and she falls to the floor.  But then I thought of having the cat carrier on the other part of the seat, and the seat being up.  A vision of Simone trying to ride ON TOP of the cat carrier also came to mind.  Not a pretty sight!

We called the furniture store in Kerrville where we ordered new chairs for the dining table.  The ones we have I have always hated.  They are the most uncomfortable things ever manufactured on the face of the earth.  My dad made this table - using a sheet of plywood.  So it is 6x8.  He did a masterful job on it.  It was in the lake house, and while we just left a lot of the furniture there (a goodly portion had been destroyed either by the vandals directly, or by exposure to the elements with the windows that were broken out), I couldn't leave this table.

The chairs, however ...  My mother found them.  They are ladder back with rattan seats.  They are from Mexico, and were exactly what she wanted.  They have little knobs from the legs that are sticking up on the front of the seats that gouge into your thighs when you sit in them.  With our tile floor, G invariably will get up and push the chair back too quickly,  The back leg grabs in the grout line, and over the chair goes with a "whap."  So we went to buy new ones (I could have bought two tables to go with them for the same price.  (Shameful!)

We called yesterday.  The chairs are in, but cannot be delivered until the 22nd.  So putting all things together, we are staying here until next Tuesday.

Simone is still miserable.  I called the vet's office.  She has to wear this collar until the stitches come out.  Another reason to postpone the trip.  Those buggers can come out sooner.  So Monday is the target date.

She decided that 2:30 this morning was the time to get up.  I think her ear itched something fierce.  Of course between her bouncing off all the furniture like a pinball, and the thump, thump of her foot on the plastic collar, I was wide awake.  How many days again???

I am so lazy about downloading pictures from the camera.  I know it is easy, but it't not as easy as I want it.  I will do that later today.  I will have some pictures tomorrow - one of my poor baby, and some of the SSB in the more recent better times there.  When it was green instead of dirt red and burned vegetation yellow.

Peace.

Update

Simone is getting along fairly well.  She certainly is not used to the e collar.  She rams into objects (and us) on a regular basis.  I tried to give her a respite from it this morning, but she had to remain in my sight.  I know as soon as she would be out of my sight, she would begin the licking and gnawing on the stitches.

I took a picture before we removed the bandage.  I will upload it this week.

Even if I get it uploaded this week, I doubt that I will be able to post it until next week.  We are off, through the fires, to the SSB.  I say through the fires because unless we go WAY out of the way to drive through San Antonio, we have to go through the Bastrop area.  So - through the fires.  I think they are a little more contained than they were.  At least I hope.

The problem with being at the SSB (that stands for Sting, Sticks, or Bites - because that is what everything there does - it is rough land!), is that my dear phone - with its supposed internet capabilities - does not work well there.  AND I still have about a year on the contract.  Then I can go back to my old carrier.  You really do get what you pay for.  This was a tad cheaper, and the service is waaaaay worse.  Lesson learned.

If I cannot visit you all, have a safe and pleasant week.  We will be back here in Swampland (that is quickly becoming desert) next Tuesday.  I will visit you on Wednesday!

Peace

Changes

I was all set to write about how stupid I am.  You see, I thought I had an appointment with Dr Death (the oncologist) today.  Nope - it is the 27th.  How in the world I wrote today down in my calendar, I don't know.  I was wondering why they didn't call to remind me about the appointment yesterday.  Now I know.

No - my thoughts are far away from that situation.  We took Simone to the vet this morning for her teeth cleaning.  We both were apprehensive.  She is an old dog.  We have had her six years.  So anytime there is general anesthesia involved - there are risks.

G wanted to be sure someone was here by the phone all day.  So I went on my trip, and then he left for his errands.  About 30 minutes ago, the vet clinic called.  She is doing well with the anesthesia, BUT.  It is always the "but" that gets you.  The "but" is that the vet found two tumors on her belly.

Boxers are very prone to skin tumors.  I know that.  Our first baby, Taz, died of a throat tumor.  When we adopted Simone, we knew it was something that they can have.  The vet aspirated some cells, and they appear to be mast tumor cells.  These can be non cancerous, or - cancerous.  So I told her to remove the two.  Well, a few minutes ago I got another call.  There were two more.  One behind the knee, and the other in mammary tissue.

 I wanted these off.  I want to try to stop any spread.  I told them  to take them off all the while knowing there will be more and more.  Our next question was to send them to the lab or not.  We aren't.  If they are malignant, we could go to an oncologist.  I cannot see her surviving chemo.  I don't want to make her absolutely miserable.  I would rather try to make her comfortable for the last days of her life.

When you have pets, you know this will happen some day.  You will lose them.  As much as you want them to be with you forever, you know it won't happen.  When we adopted her, it was thought she was already 5-7 years old.  I don't think that was the truth.  She is old  now.  We think about her leaving us, but we don't verbalize it - until now.  It is facing us now.  Understanding the fact she will leave us doesn't make it one bit easier.

Peace.

I feel like I have a new career

I really feel like I am now a meteorologist!  It seems that the weather has become the only topic I write about.  Boring.

But here I go again.  Lamenting the fact that the rain chances that we had last week - at one point a 50% chance - dwindled away to  nothing (well a FEW scattered showers) that left us dryer than before  because of the winds from Lee.  Great.

We have major wild fires in the state.  As of just a few minutes ago, one that has been burning for three or so days is zero controlled.  That is really scary.  It is not a concentrated population area, and there have been 600 homes lost.  And still the rain chances for the remaining part of the week - zero.

I just looked at my stats when signing on - next week I will hit 1000 posts.  All boring, but wow.  That's a lot.

To get to thinking about other things - Lady Bug is going into a year around swim program and meets.  She has made the Silver classification which is a little more advanced.  I think that is so great.  She only began swim team summer before this.  She didn't know how to swim then.  She wore the floaties in the pool - now she is a silver swimmer.  She is so excited.

I got into making the baptismal blankets yesterday.  Wouldn't you know - the first one botched up.  My fault though.  Instead of trying something new on a scrap - as I should have - I thought I was just too smart for that.  I ended up with the blanket bunched in the middle of the design.  Those babies (the blankets, not the baptised) take me about two hours or more to complete.  This will be a loooooong project!

I finished Doodle Bug's dress that matches her sisters, and I have about half of another set for their cousin - Little Bit.  I don't know if DIL will like it or not.  She likes to take her business outside of the family.  Instead of perhaps paying for the fabric and throwing in a bit, she goes to another business and pays them $30 for the dresses.  So be it!

It is almost time for me to head back and chain myself to the machines again.  I moved the furniture around on Saturday, and I paid for that yesterday.  I am so out of shape!  I was so sore.  I got a little concerned when my back had a few twinges.  It would have been so easy to get back into those bottles of pills, but all I have to do is remember the three week withdrawal.

I go to Dr Death on Thursday.  I forgot to get the blood work done last week, and since it needs to be fasting (again) I made an appointment.  The only morning appointment I could get was tomorrow.  I know he will not have the results.  The only result I am interested in is the breast cancer marked (CA 27.29).  I am going to tell him about the pains I am having.  I think I have nerve damage from all the surgeries, but the little nagging fear is that I have the cancer spreading to the ribs.  Perhaps he will order a CAT.  Don't know.  We'll see.

Peace.

Too much to hope for

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peace

Hijacked

Yep - this is me, Shadow, the cat.  I just hijacked Mom's little place here.  I have a terrifying story to tell.

I went outside with the dog this morning.  No one saw me.  I just slipped out.  It has been over two years since I was outside.  It looked interesting.  SO I went.

Mom saw a black cat walking along the window in the den.  She didn't know it was me.  I am so clever.  I just strolled along the ledge between the window and the gas grill.  I heard her tell Dad that she better move the stained glass piece because if I had been in that window when that other black cat walked along there, it surely would have been broken.  Tee-hee.  They didn't realize. Did called me "Butterball" which is his nickname for me, but he didn't really know. I am so clever!

All was really good.  I was enjoying my vantage point there on the ledge.  And then, I got the liver scared out of me.  The guys with those loud machines showed up.  At first one stayed in the front yard, but then one came into the back with me.  Well - it was far enough away, but I was still scared.  Then this really loud thing came in.  It was blowing air everywhere, and all the dirt was flying with it.

I have never been so scared in my entire life - not even when I was thrown out in that forest as a baby to make it on my own!  I tried to climb in the window, but of course it was closed and locked.  I clawed that screen right off the window trying to get away.

Then I got in the bedroom window that is in the corner.  I was still so scared.  It was the only place where I felt like something had my back.  My heart sank then.  Mom left.  I didn't know what to do.  I was really sunk.  How would I ever get back in, but she came back about two hours later.

I heard Dad tell her that I looked sick.  You think? Yes, I was sick - with fright.  Mom said to keep Simone
away from me.  When an animal acts that strange, it is usually rabies.  I. DON'T. HAVE. ANY. OLD. RABIES.  I. AM. SCARED!

After a bit, Dad looked out the door to see me right up against it, screaming.   I heard him go tell Mom that he thought the "sick cat" was me, Shadow.  Sure enough, when he opened the door, I ran in.  What a relief.  I thought I was a goner.  We have an old, big, tomcat around here.  He was in the back of the yard.  If he had seen me, well it wouldn't be pretty.

So I guess I wasn't as smart as I thought.   But I am safe now.  Rabies? - Please!

Busy day

We ventured into the Big City yesterday.  We went to Aunt W's house first.  Actually it is a condo in a verrrry nice part of town.  The people who had it  before they bought it, bought two condos and made it into one large (2700 square feet) unit.  I absolutely love it.  My big drawback is "no animals."  I do love my animals too much.  I have always had pets.  I probably always will (hence biology major me!).

They are trying to sell the place so they can move to Dallas where Aunt B's children are.  I personally do not thing it is a good move - and I will talk about that more later.  W says she thinks it isn't selling because the HOA fee is $1300 a month.  I nearly fainted when I heard that, but that includes ALL utilities.  And if there are repairs...

Aunt B is in a rehab hospital right now.  She had been there about 3 weeks, and isn't expected to be released until Oct 1.  She fell 3 times in one day.  It was finally discovered she had been having TIAs.  These used to be called  mini-strokes.  The place they were going in Dallas requires she be completely independent.  No wheel chairs or walkers allowed in the dining room.  I don't know how they can require that of old folks who would be living there!!

So B's daughter is saying she will put her mom in assisted living and W can have a room there somewhere, and they can see each other.  They planned to live in the condo until one of them died, and then decide.  Don't think this will be a good move for W at all!

We then took Daughter's 35mm SLR to a camera shop to be repaired.  I figured paying for repair wasn't a bad deal when she said she had bought another camera.  The shop advertises repair on line.  When we walked in, the guy rudely told us they don't repair.  Well - he lost a customer with me.  There are a lot of people who sell cameras!  It wouldn't be there.

But they did give us the address of repair places.  It was 3:30 - in busy Big City, but we went to one of the places.  He couldn't do it, but suggested we contact the manufacturer, and send it off.  So we will try that.

We made it home without too much traffic.  We both were dreading the trip though.  Felt like a real country bumpkin too!

Peace.

Stupid, stupid, stupid

I guess I am the epitome of a hard headed German!  Knowing what the CPAP machine did to me night before last, I used it again last night.  Yesterday I was pretty miserable.  G gave me some A**egra to take.  It had an effect almost immediately, though I sniffled and sneezed all day.  Forget tissues - I was using super absorbent paper towels -a lot of them.

So last night I slept with that thing again.  Today I am getting no relief.  That is bad because we are set to lunch with G's last aunts.  I look like Rudolph.  My cheeks are chapped from the tissues and towels.  I have not had allergies this bad in years.  Every little odor sets me off - badly.

So we will see.  All this makes me pray all the harder for rain.  I think it would help -even thought probably not cure anything.  G suggested I have a cold.  I wish.  It would be gone tomorrow.  This feels terminal.

Now back to getting this weight off - again.  That made the CPAP use not needed the last time I lost it.  I really do hate that machine too.  It has head gear reminiscent of the head gear for braces.  Only the little piece fitting over the nose blasts you with air.  Sometimes I feel like I am drowning in all the air.

Well - do visit with the aunts, we have to (gasp) go into town.  They live within the loop.  We never go there. When G asked when to leave, he followed up with "it's either going to take us 30 minutes - or two hours."  How true.

Peace.

Big news

At least around here, this is big news!  It looks like we will finally be looking for a break in the drought AND high temperatures.  The blasted high that has settled in over the entire state is going to move to the southeast (sorry guys).  That is supposed to open a route for sub-tropical moisture to move in.  It means rain as well as temperatures in the LOWER 90's.  There is a feeling of cautious anticipation by the citizenry, but of course the weather clowns are ready to take credit for this change in weather.

I know there has been criticism for the coverage of Irene.  I have been guilty of that kind of coverage myself - then there was Ike.  But now there is rain as a possibility, those clowns have started all over again.  I would rather they get excited about the rain though.  They have  been telling us how many days in a row we have been without rain and over 100.  That absolutely inflames G (good choice of words there GK!).  Hew sets off on his tirade again, over and over.

Enough of that.  I went to my GP yesterday.  He concurs that my symptoms may very well be as a result of stopping the other drugs.  But to be sure, I swear he took a gallon of blood for every test known to medical science.

As I was leaving, he remarked that I might have a touch of sleep apnea.   Well, hello - I did.  Instead of the t-shirt, I have the machine.  I told him I lost a lot of weight after getting that thing, and I haven't used it even after finding that lost weight along with the fans of all those pounds.

So I decided to use it again last night.  I don't know too many Texans who are not having allergy problems right now.  There is all kind of stuff in the air - mostly dust.  I am with them.  Well, after having air forced into my nose all night, I just thought I had allergy problems.

I remember my poor daddy going through several handkerchiefs when his allergies were really bad.  I am that way today except I am using really absorbent paper towels.  I think I made a bit of a mistake last night.  I don't know if I will use the CPAP tonight or not.  I didn't sleep more soundly at all.

Please pray that the weather people are right, and we get some rain and relief from the temperatures this weekend.  It is really time!

Peace.

Open Letter

Dear Daddy (yes I am a southern girl and he will always be my "daddy"

Today is your birthday.  You would have been 99 today.  I especially thought of it when there was a picture of a lady who is 100 today.  Her picture shows her to be healthy and vibrant.  That is something you would not be today.

Your body was still going fairly strong.  I guess all those days of being a postal carrier who was on foot delivering the mail to each and every home was certainly good for your health.  Your poor knees - not so much. I remember how much you really loved that career.  Your patrons loved you too.

You said you didn't like dogs, and I thought that was because I am sure you had to deal with more than your fair share of them.  But in actuality, you had dogs on your route that you loved and they returned the love.  They would join you along your walks.  The love you showed to our dogs was evident!

You have been gone for six years now, but you were gone long before that.  The mind was ravaged by dementia.  You weren't the same.  You never got mean like so many with dementia do, but the real you was hidden so far down - if it even existed anymore.

I still miss you each and every day.  I don't find myself deciding to be sure to remember something to tell you - as often.  I don't have the feeling that something will happen (the phone calls) at 5:30 every Saturday.  Those things have faded some.  But there is always something that makes me think of you.

When I think of all the things you experienced in your life, I wonder what you really thought of our country.  You saw so many changes - things that people didn't dream of.  I never asked you that question.  But then I was so stupid that I didn't ask you many questions, and I didn't listen well when you talked about things from the past.  I am paying for that now.  I want to know more about the family.  I have so many questions that I will never find the answer for.

Yes, today would have been 99.  I firmly believe you are in a much better place.  Your last years, while relatively safe for you, were not happy ones.  You were the escape artist of the memory unit.  You really kept them on their toes.  But as time went on, you gave up.  I could see you deteriorate rapidly.

 Once the sharp dresser - you looked like a bum.  Sorry - but you did.  I know they did a lousy job on your clothes.  I had to give up trying to do your clothes myself.  The incontinence was just too much for me.  I would have to do three or four loads a week.  Your hygiene also had slipped.  I suppose those ladies did as much as they could.  I know they were working for peanuts, so I have to be glad they did what they could.  I wish I could have had you here with me.  I guess it's really  no excuse, but I just couldn't keep up.  Once again - you wandered too much.

So, Happy Birthday Daddy.  I so miss you.

Irene

As I watch the news reports about this storm as it chugs up the East Coast, I also pray for all of you in its path.  I have never been to NYC, but my impression is that it is the LAST place I would want to be in a hurricane like this ones seems to be.  I know about the winds, the power outages, and the flooding.  The last place I would want to be is in a high rise apartment building.  Around here, you are to put coverings over windows (which WE never have done, but....)  How can you cover those?  What do you do until power is restored - unless you are luckier than we were.

These are just the thoughts of a simple "flatlander" Gulf Coast resident.  I haven't seen most of the area where this storm is heading.  I have been further north - like New Hampshire, but never to the south along there.  I really do hope you get through this storm well.  What's the deal with these "I" storms??  Ike is the once that really made believers of the folks in Galveston again.  They didn't get the hint with Katrina.  That storm went so far to their east.

As for us, we are huddled under the a/c vents looking for the season's record breaking heat today  and tomorrow.  Sorry our little 1/4 cup of moisture is being pulled into that storm to drop even more rain.  We are left with dry, HOT, HOT air.  I have to listen to G go on and on about how he is not going to put up with this heat next year.  He is correct, we are supposed to be lucky (?) enough to have another high pressure area over us the rest of the year and again next year.

So with that, I am scaling the stairs to my sanctuary to slave over hot sewing machines.  I have the granddaughter's dresses to finish and complete the final draft of the shell for the baptism blankets.  I will take it tomorrow to get everyone's approval.

Have a cool, safe weekend.  We had a reporter on TV who would say; "Good golf, good tennis, or whatever makes you happy."  Oh, and he was the TV reporter who inspired the movie "The Best Little Whore House in Texas!"  Just a little factoid for today.  Gotta go - the brain is getting toooo weird.

Peace.

Odds and Ends

There are some things I really don't address here anymore, and cancer is one of them.  I know it is in my information section, but I just don't really write about it.  That doesn't mean that the thought isn't always in my mind.  All I have to do is take a shower or otherwise change clothes.  I see the scars.  Yesterday, I was changing clothes and got a terrible cramp in the muscles in the area where the mastectomy was and reconstruction took place.  Reminder?  You bet!

Then I have an appointment with Dr Death in September.  That always brings you back to the reality that regardless of the fact you are getting close to the "magic five year survival,"  it might come back.  With the other things that are going on right now, I have to wonder.  My headaches - withdrawal, sinus (since Texas is turning to flying dust), brain tumor ...

There is pain in that right side of the thorax.  One of our dear friends had her breast cancer return and that was a symptom.  But then I think there is some nerve damage from the muscle being pulled from my back to my breast.  But I will bring it up in a couple of weeks.

I sound like such a whiner.  But these thoughts live in the recesses of my mind.  G went to the bank to try to deposit some of the monies from his mother's estate.  They pulled out an actuarial table.  He was told he has 18 1/2 more years.  I wonder how many I have?  Do I really want to know?  Aren't there far too many variables in my life?

OK _ enough gloom and doom.  I really believe if I don't think about the Little C it will just go away. (Dreamer!!)  G is still wandering around here mumbling "global warming" with every news cast.  I have tried to explain to him that we have a variety of factors involved with the weather, and yes, we humans have done a really good job of ruining our environment, but he is absolutely sure the high that settles over  Texas in the summer (last for sure and apparently in the future) is caused by coal burning electricity plants.  Now it would make more sense for us here in Texas, where there is an abundance of clean burning natural gas, to use that gas for powering out plants.  But that would mean the politicians ( and I don't care if they are Democrats, Republican, or Tea Partiers - all want the same thing - re-election) would have to use some COMMON SENSE.  That is lacking in each and every one of those jokers in political offices from local school boards to the White House.

Oh, right - I don't become political here.  Forgot. But I do think they are all clowns, and when you cut through the outer BS, they are all the same.  Just deeper BS.

So I sit and listen to him complain about global warming and ranting that he will not stay here next summer.  He will go somewhere else.  I finally told him the other night that I wasn't going.  I didn't add that I wasn't going to come home to find the house falling down on our heads because the slab dried out and cracked into 50 million pieces, the pool was the Black Lagoon - at least the four cups of water that would be left, and the pool equipment burned up because there was no water going through it.  Stupid!

Oh - here come the men in the little white jackets to pull me off my soap box.  Sorry!  Sometimes I get a little wound tight.  This is one of them.  Time to go play nice again.  That means three loads of laundry before I head off to sew dresses.  Yep - still put that baby off.  What excuse can I find today?  Gotta go look for one. Later ...

Peace be with you.

Happy, Happy Day!!

WE HAD RAIN LAST NIGHT!  Sorry to shout, but you cannot imagine the celebrating going on around these parts.  It has been so dry and hot.  With Irene on her path, we are looking for high temperatures this weekend as she pulls out our remaining moisture.  But it actually rained again.  It may not for another really long time.  That's what the meteorologists say.  And we will be under the same high next summer too.  Ugh!

I am gradually re-integrating back into big city life.  I really needed to go to the grocery store yesterday, but Doodle Bug (the youngest in daughter's family) caught the bug that was going around the neighborhood while we were gone.  I went over to sit with her for a while, so that dashed all my plans for yesterday because two hours stretched into four.  Oh well.  I am so glad I can do it for them.  I know how hard it was without family here.  Glad I am here.

Today we went to lunch with Daughter.  Then to the grocery.  That is really the time to go.  I haven't felt well myself for a while (2 weeks).  I had a small lunch - in fact I didn't feel full when we left.  That soon changed, and by the time we reached the store the thought of food was rather sickening.  Oh and by the way, as of yesterday morning, I have lost 22 pounds this summer - most in the last 45 days.  For some of you lucky ducks, that would make you a skeleton, but, believe me, there is still way enough to keep that from happening to me!

I am getting ready to head up to begin sewing dresses for the two girls.  I was able to complete cutting them out yesterday.  That was a relief.  Now to the machines.  I have to do the final stitch out of the shell design for the baptismal blankets.  Pastor sent me an email last night.  We have a baptism Sunday, but I don't have to have it done - just the final approval.  So here I go to slave over the hot machines!!

Our prayers around here and across the state are for more rain.  Our property up there is so sad.  It is a sea of yellow.  It has happened before, and will again, but we dearly need rain.  Wells are drying up.  Ranchers are selling off.  Sad.

Peace be with you.

Hello again

I AM still alive!  We have been gone for a week in the dry Texas Hill Country.  It is really bad.  If we have any deer this time next year, I will be surprised.  We have about 20 head of cattle - a bull, cows and calves - for the next 30 or so days.  I don't know what they will find to eat by the time they go home.  It is such a terrible situation.  Ranchers all over our little community are selling off their herds.  Nothing to eat.

So this is to be a quick post to let you know that I did survive my cold turkey stopping of the pain meds.  It really was rough for a while, and perhaps I should have sought  medical advice to do it.  I honestly thought I wouldn't have a problem - at all.  Well ...

I quit a week ago Friday.  By Saturday, my head was splitting.  There were the other associated "problems" too.  When we were getting ready to leave on Tuesday morning, I couldn't think about what I really needed to pack, but we are pretty self sufficient there.  My main problem has been not sleeping well, but that happens sometimes up there.  I sleep like a rock or I don't sleep.  Such is life there.

I am better than I have been in a week.  But more than anything I am not in pain.  My back doesn't hurt.  My knees don't hurt.  I can climb stairs better than before.  Things are looking up.  I still have some other problems, but I am planning a trip to the GP to check them out, and I have a standing appointment with the oncologist in September.  So I will have other things checked out.

I am NOT saying the Pain Clinic was all bad.  The spinal injections absolutely helped.  I just couldn't see being on opiates the rest of my life.

Glad to be back with internet!!

Peace.

Well, I did what I planned to do - I quit all my pain meds.  You remember this all began with the first knee replacement that will be two years in January.  The knee pain wasn't the factor - it was my back.  So later that year I was put on hydrocodone, Lyrica, Elevil, and later a muscle relaxant.  


I decided I was tired of all that.  As I said, G thought I was over medicated.  I tended to believe it too, and even though I didn't take the prescribed amount of the hydrocodone, I was anxious to quit.  I didn't really think the pain clinic was doing anything anymore anyway.  Just getting me hooked.


So - I stopped all of those pills, just as I had planned, never believing there would be any physical problems.  I was wrong, wrong, wrong.  Either that or I have had a strange flu.  Saturday I developed a splitting headache.  When I get one of those, I also get diarrhea (nice -sorry).  But my sinuses were clogged, so I thought it might be a sinus headache.   



We planned to eat dinner out with Daughter and SIL, so I just sucked it up, and out we went.  The headache was nearly blinding.  I slept fitfully that night.  Sunday morning came around, and there was no way I could chance church.  The headache endured.


Last night I really was not a lot better.  It was another night of waking every hour on the hour.  Today, there are still vestiges of the headache, and nothing is really "right" yet.  I just looked at some of the things of withdrawal.  It is a laundry list that could fit anything, but it fit me too.


I am in hopes that tomorrow is a new day because we are scheduled to pack up and drive the 5-6 hours to the SSB.  


And I thought I wasn't hooked.  I have probably 500 untaken hydrocodine pills.  That, to me, meant I was far from any dependence.  I don't know.  I  don't know, and I guess I will never know.  I am not going back to the pain clinic - that I do know.  I was in pain with the pills.  I do  not have the pain now.  Why???  Well, lesson learned.

Experiment

Today I am going to try something.  It actually has me a bit nervous, but perhaps I won't fall asleep anytime I get too still.


G has been telling me (well once) that he doesn't think the Pain Clinic is doing any good, and he feels I am over medicated.  That well could be since I really don't know the exact count of medications I am taking unless I look at the bottles or read my list that I carry for doctors' appointments.


When I told him I was going to do this his response was "well, you moan and groan when you move anyway, what could it hurt?"  Point well taken.  So we'll see what happens today.


I have really hit a wall after running ragged with LB.  I need to cut out her dress so I can get it made before we head off to the SSB on Tuesday.  I thought I would get it done last night, but alas, the fabric is still sitting in a chair.  At least I got the pattern pieces separated.


And that thought brings on another rant.  Those of you who sew and use a pattern.  Does it bother you that the companies cram 10 sizes of four "looks"  into one envelope so that you have to open all the six by six foot pages of the most delicate of tissue paper to find all the pieces you need?  Then the trick is getting them back into the same envelope?  It makes me think of the phrase "putting toothpaste back into the tube.


So I have ranted enough for one day.  I really have to get moving before noon.  I am sitting here in my pjs ; I have read all my blogs and then some new ones.  It is just difficult to get the motivation to do much of anything.  I DO love a peaceful Saturday!


Peace.

Tired, tired, tired

I have been 10 year old Lady Bug's play toy for the past three days.  Only three??  It seems like six months.  Please let me explain.  I adore each and every moment I spend with her.  She is such an amazing girl.  But she is active.  She wants to help - and she wants to craft with me.  So guess where we have been spending our time.  Yep - in the craft room.


This morning when we were up there, I was shaving the embroidery machine stitch the shell for the Baptismal blankets.  I was going to make her a bandanna blouse which is the exact same thing as the dress for the little girls. As both machines were purring along, she sat up from what she was doing and said "it is just like a craft room here."  No kidding!!  I guess she just thought it was a messy bedroom without a bed - I don't know.


Spending time up there means I can't fall asleep on the couch or some place like that.  I do like my naps, though I would vociferously deny such a thing.  But I am beat this afternoon.  We had pedicures scheduled for G, me, LB, and Daughter.  When I got home from that, I should have cut out a dress for her.  I was just too beet.  Then the little towns papers arrived.  There is a kin in the one that I don't have in my list, and I cannot find her ancestors.


We seem to have such fun when we are together.  I know my days are numbered.  Soon, far too soon, she will be a teen.  Then she probably won't want to spend time with me crafting.  So I do cherish each and every minute.


NEWS FLASH - There was just something falling from the skies here.  It is something I vaguely remember.  It is wet, but almost disappears as soon as it hits our dry, fissured ground.  It was cooling while it fell.  Now it has stopped, and there is steam coming off the ground.  When I looked this stuff up, it was called rain.  Well, my gosh - we actually had rain.  Probably a scarce .01 inch, but it was rain.


Here's hoping you get some of this wonderful stuff if you need it, and here's to praying that this heat will stop - soon.


Peace be with you.

Here and there

The weekend was, as I knew it wold be, busy.  The kick-off is meeting daughter and family along with their present BFFs for dinner at the local Mexican Food restaurant. That will  be another story.  It's fun, but mainly it's good because I don't have to cook.


Saturday was Monkey Boy's birthday party at a laser tag place.  Needless to say, we DID NOT participate in the games.  But we have missed so many of his parties - along with the other two's parties - that since we were in town, we should go.  Got to talk to some of Daughter's friends (and mothers of the boys of course.).


When I got up Saturday I put on my glasses when I got out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen.  I have a condition where my eyes will be blurry because of the excretions from the tear ducts. Whenever I looked up that morning, I couldn't see.  I could see fine close up, but distance was just a blur.  In fact my eyes are blurry now - but close up. I kept waiting for it to finally clear, and I still could not see far.  


I finally took the glasses off,at  only to discover they were my READING glasses.  My new progressives are in a wire frame - like I would always wear before last year when I got the thick frames,  So I was trying to look at far things, I couldn't see.  I guess when I took the readers off, I put them were the progressives should have been. Que estupido!  Now I can tell the difference by feel - IF my fingers are not numb.  The readers have a little twirl on the ear pieces.


Sunday was church.  I managed to piss G off because I wanted to get there 30 minutes early.  We now have two services with 30 minutes between for social.  The folks I wanted to see all are in the early service because that's when Children's Church is.  So it was just my luck again.  They all went to the baby's room meet about who was going to teach what during Children's Church.  So no fellowship there!


The afternoon was great and worked like I wanted it to.  We were taking Lady Bug to the little suburban theater's yearly Mellardrammar.  She loved it.  Popcorn was thrown at the villain. She threw the popcorn she didn't  eat during the time he wasn't on stage.  But she absolutely loved it, and being an interactive play, it was great.


After the play, Family Dinner was held at Daughter's house.  Monkey Boy and Dad were at a baseball thingy.  THAT's another story.


So that was my weekend.  Fun filled.  I had great fun - loved it when we were on our way out of the play when the fella playing the villain admonished LB to "get your PARENTS (!!!) to buy better seats next time."  He certainly made my afternoon.  I haven't been mistaken for her mother in 10 years! 


Peace be with you!

Where is it?

I know it was here just a minute ago, but where in the heck did July go?  I know I am anxious to get out of this heat.  I know I was rooting for Tropical Storm Dan to give us a little moisture.  He turned out to be fickle!  But who took July away?


This summer has been a real challenge for most of us.  Not only is it dry, but the heat is like living in the clothes dryer.  Well, someday it will end.  I don't want another winter like the last one either.  We had too many freezing days.  My fruit trees are just beginning to come back.  That is a real trick now that it is hot and dry.  I don't know if they will ever be the same.


The big event on this week's agenda was going to the Embroidery Club meeting.  I am getting better and better with my machine, and it is going to be difficult for the organizers of this club to find things that I need/want to learn.  


We did beautiful lace snowflakes today.  They are impractical.  I don't want/need them for decoration, and they wouldn't sell at all.  I would have to charge $50 for each one according to the suggested pricing on all this embroidery stuff.  They also take 60+ minutes to complete.  I guess that wouldn't be so bad if I could set 10 machines going.


And so, another day of finding fault with things.  I guess I sounded rather pompous with all that.  I don't mean to.  I still have a lot of things to learn with that machine.  It can almost fix dinner.  It has features I haven't even considered using yet.  


So now it is time to lug the 50 pound machine up along with its 20 pound machine trolley.  I also need to re-organize the craft room.  I have put some things away so securely that, wait for it ...   come on you can guess the answer ... I can't find them.  What a surprise.  I still cannot find my other wedding ring.  It is someplace verrrrry safe - at least I hope it is.  So it goes with things in the craft room.  Things that will be found after I die, and my kids are repulsed by all the stuff I have,


Oh, I watched a little of the program "Horders." Bless his heart - my dad was a horder.  I never thought of it as a sickness, but what else do you call it?  He wasn't a crafter that needed stuff like he had.  He reupholstered furniture, but that was it.  When he was living alone, you couldn't walk through his house.  


I guess I'm like that a little, but as a science teacher, we used everyday things for our equipment.  Even as just a regular teacher, you never knew what you could use for bulletin boards and the like.  I do about 5 different crafts.  I use a lot of different stuff.  I know as soon as it is in the trash can, and loaded on the trash truck, I need the item.


Right now I am looking for some colored "jewels" to put on girl's hair things.  I remember putting them someplace out of the way.  Well just where is that place.  I'll bet I find my ring there too!


Peace be with you.

Weekend

Wow - a new form for Blogger.  I am so surprised I can hardly type, but then again that's really not new!  Can't type anyway!


My weekend was a killer, and most of it was my own choosing.  


When the subject if Vacation Bible School came up, my response was NO.  Been there, done that, used to have the t-shirt.  I was absolutely sure that was my answer.  I did VBS for years and years, and being the church organist full time it was, of course, determined that I would do the music program.  Does anyone realize how surly and non-participatory pre-teens are?  I absolutely hated trying to get those little monsters (and mine were in that group when the time came) to sing and learn the new songs for Sunday service.


Then I stepped out of the frying pan into the fire.  I was VBS director for two years.  Where was my mind?  I surely don't know.  At least I had a co-director.  But still, I must have been drugged to have said yes.


So all the times VBS was brought up in our little new church, I mentally said - nope.  Not me.  Until two weeks before the day.  I decided to go to one of the meetings.  I decided that they probably use another hand.  It was all on that Saturday, and it ran from 9-5.  We should have played that song by good ol' Dolly.  But I didn't know the ramifications of that.


I went to the next meeting.  That was easy.  They were after church.  I was already there. Daughter was signed up to work, and all three kidlets were going to be in classes there.  Sure, I'll do it.  I will just help out.  Music, er no, I don't do no music!


Saturday rolls around.  I get up at 6:30.  I have only done that a handful of times since my retirement.  But, this was for church and the children after all.  Up and at 'em for the 8 o'clock meeting to iron out cliches.  And for me iron on the patch.  


Things were looking good.  Everything was set.  I was doing registration with another grandmother.  Good, someone read my mind.  That's what I wanted to do.  AND as a result, I got to know Sharon who I had some work time the previous Saturday at one of our church's volunteer places.  Neat O!  Then we would go to the Children's Annex which was four or five storefronts down. (We are in a shopping center and the place next to us isn't available - so we took what was there)


About 2 o'clock the kids were out of it.  They were bored and tired.  The staff and student helpers had reached their limit - and we had three hours to go.  OMG.  The director had a melt down.  It was a disaster.  But Daughter found crayons, markers, and coloring sheets.  We had happy campers for about two hours.


At the end, I was afraid our little Pastor was going to have a fit.  Ours is a multi-use space. Church, but can be just open.  One of the young helpers got the boys to run around to expend energy.  Pastor C HATES running in the church, but I guess this really wasn't church. It was a wide open space.  He said nothing though.


Five came, the kids left, and we broke our the wine and cheese we (SIL and I although G had to be involved) thought it would be a nice ending to a long day.  And you know what? Almost everyone stayed and we had grand fellowship for a couple of hours.  It was wonderful.


Peace be with you.