SO where have I been?

I have a good excuse or two - really I do.  Last week was body maintenance week.  It was the monthly eyeball-puncturing time, as I said in the last post.  Things are going well - just not well enough to be allowed six weeks between appointments.  The alternative isn't something that would sit well with me -  blindness.

It was also my visit with Dr Poison.  Things there are going well - even if the Ca27.29 (the breast cancer marker in the blood) has risen to 31.  As long as it is below 38, but I was questioned about new pains, energy level and the like.  My blood pressure was great, and the nagging blood sugar was low.  I think I may have been effected by Lipitor if you want to know the truth - but proving it.  Don't think that will happen.

We completed week one of the re-do.  It hasn't been easy.  I have what most people would envy.  A lot, lot, lot of storage in my bathrooms.  Well - that means when it has to come out - it just kind of explodes all over the house.  The dust it about an inch thick now, and will only get worse.

The rats that G has been hearing in the attic weren't his imagination.  Last week, I heard a noise in the bathroom.  It was down  to the studs, and the plumbers had opened a small hole in the ceiling.  I opened the door, and in the roughed in shampoo holder spot was ... a rat.  Not a mouse, a big rat.  I am glad the door was closed, and I think I scared it more than it scared me, and that caused it to retreat into the attic,  I was quiet about my discovery, and they closed in the walls that day.  I called the vermin people on Thursday, and they will be here this week to set out traps again.  I really thought we had them under control, but the danged squirrels have chewed new holes that the rats have taken full advantage of.  Darn - so I guess we keep out contract with them to do yearly inspections and get rid of the things.

So here are pictures from last week:

All my hard working with the wall paper (15 years ago) is gone - it is all down.  The mirror is off the wall - leaning against the dresser, and the horrid formica (black textured stuff) is gone.

And you see the carpet is also gone.  Still in place are the cabinet pulls that will be replaced as well.  I need 42 for both bathrooms.  Yuck.  They run at least $2 a piece.  I do have some towel holders purchased as well as toiled paper holders that are cool, cool, cool!  That is the closed door to the tub/toilet area.  The granite has been chosen.

This is the roughed in shower stall.  That will be the bench.  This must have been post rat because we still don't have dry wall in this picture.

This is the alcove for the ADA toilet that was already in place and will be put back.  Looking at this makes me wonder if we will EVER be put together again.

And of course, everyone should have the ADA toilet in the middle of the bedroom.  Notice the accumulation of dust in the foreground.  Isn't that lovely.  Perhaps I can start a new trend.  If I were my mother in law, I would be standing there all day to clean off that dust.  Probably some of you would be doing that too.  Me?   I would rather read blogs, read Facebook, and do more genealogy than clean it only to have it back in a few minutes.  I know - lazy me.

New bathroom - day 2

I was going to get day 2 of construction, but I wanted to delete Alaska pictures from the camera.  Since there were so many, it took a while, and today was the wondrous eyeball puncture day.  So no pics of yesterday's work.

I will get some this afternoon. There won't be much difference really.  The horrid formica counter is gone as well as the mirror - which is leaning against my side of the bed.  The framing of the new shower is there, and there has been jack hammering for the new drain.  The new fixture and shower head are in place.  But really you don't notice much difference.

Clyde was a MOST unhappy camper yesterday.  I was doing my laundry - finally.  So since I couldn't get into the bedroom to put things away and hung, the couch was covered.  That's HIS place.  I know Simone is looking down from doggie heaven really cursing me.  She wasn't allowed on the couch.  I would imagine when Clyde climbs into bed, she is really incensed!  But he had to be on his leash all day.  Bummer for the doggie.

I couldn't get to see Shadow until late last night.  I wanted to go up and work, but I felt I had to help with Clyde.  This morning we went up to change the litter.  I cannot find that cat.  All the noise yesterday and the noise today have sent him into a scared cat delirium.

I asked the contractor for a general time line.  I would love to think what he said would be for both bathrooms, but I am afraid it is only the one, but he said two and a half weeks, depending on Christian, our building inspector.  He can be a twit.

And when Christian does come, he will remark on our stair case.  He will say it is supposed to have a railing or at least a higher wall on the side.  Well - sorry Christian.  It has been like this for twenty plus years!

At church on Sunday, I was laughing with another woman about when we can write our names in the dust on the table it is time to clean house.  They are gone a lot to the lake.  Well - I don't think I will ever be rid of dust again!  They tried - but dust is so insidious.

And to the music of a jack hammer, I will say goodbye!

And it begins

When I was about 20 years younger, I would be so excited with this remodel, but it hit me last night just what we are in for.  G began emptying the cabinets in the master (his) bath, and I started taking things off the counter.  It hit me that I wouldn't be able to take my meds in there or brush my teeth in there for a while, and WE would be sharing the hall bath.  We are used to double sinks, and he is used to being able to "sit on the john" for extended periods.  That changes today for an unknown period.

I know our contractor doesn't like to waste time.  He likes to get in, get done (and he does exemplary work) and get out.  The master will have the most work done, so it will take a while.

Right  now I am listening to them chip out tile.  I wonder what will happen with the tub.  It will go to be replaced by a big walk in shower.  It is enamel over iron.  It is a quality tub.  Oh, my the noise then.

Say some prayers for us!!!!  We will need them before this is over.

This was in Anchorage.  But this is why I dread sharing a bathroom with one sink.  At least the counter is MUCH bigger.  This is all of G's stuff.  I have nothing there.

I did take some before pictures.  And this is not the way it usually looks - not quite this bad.  We were in the midst of taking things out.

 This is a view of the tub/toilet area.  There's nothing special of the area to the right - just a tub.  BUT that's where the big change will happen.  It should be nice.  The tile you see on the wall is being taken out right now.  We decided to re-tile the walls rather than just sheet rock them.  The floor is 40 year old terrazzo, and while I am glad it was white rather than green like my daughter's house, it is dated.  If we are doing what we are doing - then it needs to be updated too.

This is a view from the bedroom into the dressing area.   That ugly cord on the left HAS to go.  I am so used to it, I don't even pay attention anymore, but now ugh!  Like I said, we have begun getting rid of things on the counter because that horrid black, textured formica has to go! Plus  both sinks and faucets will be replaced.  They are dated, and wonderful G was able to make his rust when he wouldn't wash the salt water out of it when he would rinse post mouth surgery.  He is such a help!!  Anyway - the cabinets will stay but with a fresh coat of paint, and the mirror will stay but with a frame.  The rest GOES!

Sluggish Saturday

Last night, I decided that I really have to start attending other grand children's things.  Of course for these older ones, that usually means sports events.  Their dad is a jock, and even though he said he would never force them into sports, Monkey Boy is playing basketball, baseball and doing some water polo.  Huh????

Anyway, I enjoy going to LB's volley ball games.  They are really fun, and she is really good.  I enjoyed her water polo match I saw.  I would go to more of those.  I HATE baseball.  Hate, hate, hate it.  Do you get the idea I hate it?

So I really don't want to go to one of the multitude of games (DURING THE SCHOOL WEEK!!!) that he plays.  Even when I was keeping them, I didn't go to that game, and as soon as Dad landed - he was getting ready to go that game that night.  No pressure though.

I decided I would go to the basketball game today.  The team is really pretty bad.  They got skunked 22-11.  Guess who is the coach.  Yep.  I think MB would do a lot better if Dad wasn't the coach.  But, he is.  SIL finally got his Canadian friend to help coach.  The friend actually played basketball in college, so he has more credentials than the football and baseball for SIL.
 
I did enjoy the game.  I like basketball, and watching nine year olds play is a hoot!  Ball control is not in their vocabulary, and shooting, well, let's just say it is lacking.

This shouldn't be a sluggish day though, and I should not really be sitting here on the computer.  I will finally HAVE to have family dinner tomorrow night.  I have gotten out of it long enough.  So I really need to get a shovel, and perhaps a high pressure hose and clean out my house.  After Alaska, the reunion, keeping kids at their house, and the SSB things have just gotten thrown around.  G made the comment this morning that soon we will need a larger breakfast table - which was a nice way of saying that there is too much stuff on ours.  And yes there is.  Things, like mail and genealogy, have gotten piled and piled, and , well you may get the picture.  Yes - I allowed that to happen,

It seems as I get older, I procrastinate more and more.  You would think I would "live each day to the fullest" because there aren't all that many left.  But I think the little voice in the back of my head is saying "enjoy your end days."  That means a messy house. 

So - I guess I better head off and get the shovel.  It will take that to dig to the bottom.  But, after I go to Facebook.

More moaning and groaning.

First and foremost, I am always reminded how fragile life is.  My BFF's (even though we really don't talk often, email often or see each other - I know, strange) husband fell at home a few months ago.  He broke his hip, some ribs and the like.  He was lying there all day because with a broken hip , well...

My son texted me a Facebook posting from one of her sons.  It was that E was going to have a double by-pass a couple of days ago along with an aortic valve possibly thrown in for good measure.  Then yesterday, he posted that his dad has gotten SIX (yes six!!!) transfusions because they can't stop the bleeding, his kidneys are still wonky, and there is a terrible amount of fluid on his lungs - thus still on a ventilator.  Plus, as one would imaging, he looks terrible.

His other son is a physician, and I imagine he is about to go nuts.  He lives about an hour and a half from here, and I congratulate him on not dropping his practice to come and oversee his dad's care.  I texted my friend, and she said he is improving, but this is a woman who will not ask for help.  A few years ago, when she was having terrible breathing difficulty, drive herself to the ER.  What can I say there.

So if you believe, say a few extra prayers for E.  If you don't believe in prayer, send him some good karma or any other good thoughts.

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I forgot to add while we were at the SSB, after our guest hunter loaded up her deer and drove away, G took Clyde for a walk.    They were between the retaining wall on the north side of the house and the "barn" when Clyde got really interested in something.  About that time, G recognized the diamond pattern in the grass.  There was about a five foot rattlesnake stretched out by the wall.  Usually it would have coiled in preparation to strike, but I guess it was a little too cool, and the snake was sluggish - thank heavens.

Clyde still needs obedience training, and he didn't want to break from his "trail."  G was about to carry him up the steps.  G was the one wisely scared out of his mind!  He came in to get the pistol, and went back - no more snake.

This is getting really bad.  Especially since the next day or so, they were walking across the front of the house, and there was another rattler headed for the house.  This one was about 19 inches.  By the time he got the shot gun, it was gone.

Needless to say, we are really on alert when we are outside these days.  Clyde is certainly going to snake school.  They do use a shock collar, but that will be much less harmful than the snake bite.  And as soon as he is cleared of this heart worm treatment, he will get the rattlesnake vaccine.

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Shopping trip today to get the faucets for the bath remodel.  Really neat shower heads!  Fortunately, I am not changing cabinets, dressing area lights, the faucet in the hall bath, and the bathtub in the hall bath.  My dream of the handicapped tub is just that.  $6000 is just too rich.  So I have convinced myself that sitting waiting for the water, using THAT much water, then waiting for it to drain isn't something I really want to do.  The sitting in the water would be great, but there is just too much with that tub.  Plus I would have to clean those hoses for the bubbles, and I am sure that the door will eventually leak.

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In addition to having to learn Windows 8, I decided that since my virus protection upgraded to cover Windows 8.1, I would do the free update to Windows 8.1.  Ain't nothin' free in this world.  While I didn't have to pay a penny, the time invested was terrible.  After the download, then it had to install, and install, and install, and then tweek and tweek.  All in all, it was 45 minutes post installation.  Geesh!


So that's my life today.  We had no flooding problems, and most of the area didn't have too much.  Austin was hit HARD!  Especially toward the east - like Pflugerville area.

Messy day and an early return

Before the messy news, I forgot one "little" item about our teen guest hunter.  G took the guide and the girl out for a ride on the mule.  Of course, the hunter asked to drive the mule.  She was anything but shy, but after the last post that isn't surprising news!  He asked her if she had driven before.  The answer was yes - her mother's car.  He got more information - she had stolen her mother's car.

SO, I did a bit more research on the "home" she was from.  If, and I do say if, it is the one I think it is - it is not only for orphans, and kids removed from homes, but for troubled kids.  Ya' think???

We finally have been effected by the major storm trucking across the states.  It looked like there would be as much as 6 inches or more of rain around the SSB.  So, we decided that we would leave while it was easy.  We have to cross several low water crossings to get out, and Austin was supposed to really get slammed.

We left yesterday.  While we hit a few showers, we made it easily.  The rain has move, but there is a huge line between Austin and Houston that isn't really moving.

This could make Halloween a washout.  That's OK with us.  I don't like opening my door to six foot, masked fellows!  Really we only get a few of the  neighbor kiddos, so we just don't turn on the light. 

I really do hate Halloween though.  And that's a shame.  I loved it as a kid.

Highs and Lows

EVERY time we have groups at church, Pastor has us share highs and lows for the day/week/month.  I hate it, so what am I going to do - I am going to share my highs and lows for the last few days we have been here at the SSB.  And you know there are both!

Highs:

G signed up for a program around here that brings in orphan/foster/others like that children out to the ranches during the season to hunt.  Last weekend was youth hunt weekend, which means you have to be younger than 18 to hunt.  It was also girl hunt for this group.

We had a girl and her guide come out on Saturday morning for the hunt.  The guide was an absolute delight to talk with.  She has a veterinary practice.  We talked and talked!

They were able to kill a spike.  That was great.  We have too many of these inferior deer.  They will never develop the proper rack of horns.


LOWS:

This girl spotted my computer.  Immediately she wanted to command it to play games.  First, I do not allow a stranger to use my computer.  Second I do not allow a stranger to use my internet for several reasons among which is the fact I only get a certain amount of usage per day, and after that it slows to the old dial up speed.

I knew nothing about this girl, so I told her that I had no games installed on this because it is a new one using Windows 8 and the games are  not free that I can find.  Then I told her that my internet is too slow for gaming.

Then she wanted to use Facebook.  Not. On. You. Life. Girlie!

After lunch, she spotted my Kindle Fire.  She wanted to "read one of the mysteries" on it.  Foolishly, I believed her.  These  are supposed to be good kids who have not gotten into trouble and kept their grades up.  When she was pulled from my Kindle, I realized that she had accessed the internet.

First, she went on Facebook.  THEN because I have that account with Amazon, she watched two on-demand videos.  My battery was almost completely discharged, and the device was hot as a firecracker.  I was, to use a popular term that really fits here, pissed!

So, lesson learned.  All electronics put away, or never to leave my hand.

Other than that fiasco, We have killed another rattle snake - this one about5-6 feet.  Clyde wanted to go over to sniff it.  He caught the scent, and was curious.  It was acting strangely - probably because it was chilly.  It never coiled.  It remained stretched out.  Such a close call for both Clyde and G.  But if he would make the dog use the potty in a certain area rather than walk the property, this wouldn't be so much of a risk.

Yesterday while potty time again (meaning walking ) they came across another one about a foot long at the fence.  By the time he came in to get the gun - it was gone.  So this morning, he has cut the grass - short.  It was just long enough that the snakes are not easily seen.

Yes - there have been highs and low!  The lows could have been so much worse, and I learned a valuable lesson from the other.  And Clyde WILL be getting the rattlesnake vaccine when his heart worm killing is over, AND he will be going to snake training!

Almost over

This morning when I dropped the kids, I was thinking the saga had ended.  I just checked on the plane.  They are on it, but the ETA is an hour later than they thought.  So - I am sure I will do the pickup again today.  But that's fine.

I do love the internet, and especially being able to track that plane.  I was really irrational about this trip before they left.  I was sure that one of the planes was sure to crash.  Hope I am not jinxing now - they are only half was here.  At least they soon will no longer be over the Atlantic.  Geesh - I am such a kook!

I am going to miss seeing those kids everyday.  I suppose I could anyway - they are only a mile away.  But I really will miss dinner especially.  We had some great conversations.  I so love those kids.

I am bone tired.  My whole schedule has been off.  Even to the taking of meds.  Other things have been off too.  I have a little GI track distress this morning - I know TMI!

And so we are off to the SSB tomorrow.  Saturday we have an orphan coming to hunt on child weekend.  It's a great program in the Mason, Texas area that brings orphans from the area out to the ranches around to hunt.  Some of the kiddos have never hunted before.

The rep from this organization talked to us at Community Club last summer, and G signed up.  His brother has done this for several years now.  He usually gets a few kiddos, but we are going for one girl.  She will arrive with a "scout" or something like that.  That means a woman will be with her accompanying her to the blind.  I have to provide an early morning snack and lunch.  Just don't bother ME before at least 8am.  I plan to be unconscious, thank you.

I will be making another meal for tonight.  I know they won't want to cook, and LB has a volleyball game at 5:30 today.  So I am going to do either white or green enchiladas.  Sounds strange doesn't it - white or GREEN.  The meat is chicken for either.

I have spent the week using the kids as guinea pigs, but they liked the special stuff.  So tonight will be another trial I think -  the White Chicken Enchiladas it will be.  There are a lot of recipes appearing on Facebook these days, so I just add them to my computer cookbook.

Probably will be out of action tomorrow - we will leave (yuck) early, and I don't think I will visit tomorrow night.  But I will let you know how Saturday goes!

There IS a light at the end of this tunnel

Hopefully it isn't a train. 

I am still tired.  Last night was a restless one.  That bed is killing my back, and I figured out that Hydrocodone wires me.  So I either toss and turn because I am in so much pain, or toss and turn because I feel like I have had a pot of coffee.

Not sleeping last night is especially hard today because today is the day we volunteered for our church's commitment to be a partner with a local elementary school.  It was Daughter's turn to pick up the food for the weekend backpacks to go home to the needy kiddos, so we did that, and it was also their little "store" where they can use the "bucks" they earn by turning in homework and other things that indicate good student behaviors.
  
Today was a nightmare.  We did it last year, and the kids were remarkably great.   Not. So. Much. This. Year.  They use these bucks to buy trinkets that basically come from Oriental Trading.  In other words - mostly crap.  I took those things that were $5and $10.  Last year, the only ones that were at that site were those who only had that much or had spent all but that much.  This year - nope.  I was overwhelmed with kids.  And they refused to form even two lines.  It was a mass of bodies.  I hesitated to become the secondary teacher.  They would probably be scared to death.  But that persona was beginning to show.

They didn't know the total of bucks they had, and most of them didn't understand when they were told what they qualified to buy.  They wanted to count their bucks while standing at the table with a mass of kids behind them. 

I don't know how much junk just walked off.  It was impossible to stop it.  Like a kid will do, they had to walk up and handle the stuff.   I tried to make sure I had the bucks, but ...  Mayhem.

We had our first meltdown on the "home front" this morning   I hope SIL's company is paying for the International Cell Calling, but regardless, they call a couple of times a day.  This morning, I let Monkey Boy talk before Little Bit.  That was the end!

But tomorrow is the day.  They have changed the flight from Milan to Paris to an earlier flight.  They don't want to miss the connection to Houston.  I don't either!!

We will see what happens tomorrow!

I'M SO TIRED!

I had two children.  I know how to handle two children.  It wasn't always easy, and I was a heck of a lot younger, but it wasn't really too hard.

I have two sets of three grandchildren.  I am now "mommy" to one set.  THREE!  And I am OLD.  Add those two facts together, and that means I am TIRED.

I used to wonder why Daughter was always tired.  Now I know!  It's having three kids.  I am not even attempting her schedule with these kids, and I am totally exhausted.

Yesterday was supposed to be "cheer leading" for the youngest.  Fortunately, she has finally reached the maturity level where little things don't lead to a total meltdown.  She had, in fact, been great.  I was so afraid she would be whining for her mom, but that hasn't happened.

I am not used to getting up at 6 anymore, but I am doing that.  Their stairs are sans handrails (DANGEROUS FOR ALL), so I do not venture upstairs.  To get around that, at 6, I call LB's cell to make sure she is up.  She (fortunately) is picked up by a neighbor for school at 6:45. 

The youngest one sleeps on the couch - long story - so I don't have to get her up.  Her brother has decided to sleep there also, so I know when they are up.  I get their breakfasts (frozen French toast sticks - easy!), get them dressed, and we are off to school between 7:50 and 8.  Usually I am thinking about getting up about this time.

I come home for my breakfast and peace and quiet.  If I stayed at Daughter's house, her two Boxers would still be all over me.  I do my computer stuff, and try to recharge.  Then at 3:15 it starts all over again.  I pick them up at the pool (if it isn't raining).  Or the car rider line - and I have the sign with the name on it all ready.  Neither Daughter or the kids know that blasted number, but I understand the name will work.

Then, and thankfully G does this, at 4:15 it is time to get LB after volley ball practice. Disney channel is on the TV.  If I NEVER have to watch that again, it will be too soon!  The grazing now begins where I really have to watch.  Otherwise they would probably eat the table.  Of course, that means they are too full for dinner then!

I check folder for the happy faces (or not) and sit with The Boy for homework.  If I didn't, he would rush through it so he could get to his "crack-box." That is more appropriately known as an I-pod or something.  The boy is addicted to video games, and he does have to be monitored closely.

LB, being the good teen, heads off to the Netherlands otherwise known as her room.  She is probably texting and all on her phone, but she really is level headed.  She knows her mom can check that phone easily.  The other two plop down on the couches - usually falling asleep.  Of course, my viewing habits are now out of kilter!

Then it's off to bed for me - on a mattress that I really don't like.  I toss and turn, and then suddenly it all starts over again!

I'm here

Yes, I still walk the face of the earth.  I am so tired, but we are half way through this keeping of the grandkids.  They have been great.  I couldn't ask for better behavior from them.  I was afraid of the little one having meltdowns missing Mommy or Daddy, but she has been in great spirits!

Monkey Boy had a bit of a melt down this afternoon when it was homework time.  He is a bright boy, but this year is "eating his lunch" at school.  He is rushing through his work, so that means he is making silly mistakes.  I think he is wanting to be class clown or something along those lines because he is getting in trouble for talking.  The one paper I saw first was a science paper. he made a 40 on it. .  Of course I was very interested in why.  He was so upset with himself (at least I think that was it), and perhaps a little embarrassed because it was science.  We corrected the mistakes, and to be honest I could see why he missed some of the questions.  But then - I have always had a problem with elementary science teachers.  They usually don't know what they are teaching.

Friday was the worst day of the lot.  It was raining (yes, we are actually getting several days of rain around here - hopefully breaking the drought for good) when I was picking up the two younger ones.  They are to walk from the school about a long block to the parking lot at the city swimming pool.  But since it was raining, they got changed from walkers to car riders.  Of course I didn't know this for sure.

As I was sitting there, I noticed parents and another grandmother walking to the edge of the school's driveway.  I thought they were going to walk there with an umbrella and meet the kiddos.  Then I noticed they were going into the school.  So I went on.  My back was beginning to scream a bit.

I walked into the cafeteria where the kids were held.  We were told we had to go to the main office to sign them out and get a "ticket" to get them.   I was with my ex pool guy.  He had his daughter right beside him, but no - he had to go to the office to sigh her out.   We walked there - my grandkids were waving at me through the window,  but that didn't suffice.  Then I worried - I had no identification on me.  I left my purse hidden in the car.

I could have signed "Mickey Mouse" to take "Super Man" and "Bat Girl" in the book.  The poor secretary at that desk was so overwhelmed by this turn of events.  But I got the tickets to bail the kids out.  I handed them over, the kids were right there then, and another one in the cafeteria said "did she have TWO tickets?"  That was about the last straw.  I am so glad I could get out of there. So we made the trek back to the car, and I was about to die then.

I know there are so many problems for the schools with people picking up kiddos.  But if the child is right there, and most of the people in this school knew that their parents were in Italy, and the kids were glad to see me.  I think I should have been able to get them.  They were going to be walking otherwise - if there were no rain.

Enough of that.  I think their mattress is supposed to be a good one, but it is killing my back.  It is too soft.  And I am about to melt away.  The thermostat is set on 78.  Mine at home is set on 72.  We had a strong front come through last night, but it is warming up again.  My home thermostat is set to be very cool at night - in all seasons, and then it warms up or goes up in the mornings.  Well - four more nights, then back to my bed.  Well not really - it's back to my bed at the SSB.

But the kids are being great.  That makes it all worthwhile!

Things will be different next week!

As I mentioned, Daughter is headed to Italy.  She has been so torn about going, and I really secretly hoped she not go.  But she is going - as of now!  They will leave Friday afternoon, fly to Paris where they will change planes and then to Rome.  SIL is going for work.  He sells industrial coolers and the like for restaurants.  One day they will be in Milan - again he will be working part of the day.  Then they will be back on next Thursday.

The oldest grandchild is perfectly OK with this.  But then she is almost 13, and with that age comes the mother-daughter fighting.  She thinks things will be much easier with me there.  Well - not really, but anyway - I am not expecting a problem there.  Monkey Boy  is so emotional as it is.  When his dad is gone just for overnight on business, he will cry.  His school work is minimal as it is right now.  We don't know what's going on with him.  I just hope he can hold it together next week.  He SAYS he is fine with this, but...   Then there is Doodle Bug the Drama Queen.  When Daughter and SIL would just be gone the evening to work the Livestock Show, she would begin to cry with "I miss my ______" and the blank would change from one parent to another, but it was usually "mommy."

Their schedules are so jammed full of activities, I just hope I don't drop the ball.  I think the water polo practices are covered. I think the baseball on Tuesday is off, and cheer practice is off.  LB's volleyball game is the day they come back, so that's covered.  Now I just have to get them to school, then pick them up.  This is especially a problem these days.  When Texas cut funding to the schools, the first thing to really be cut was bus service.  Since we are within the mile, no buses for the younger two. That means the elementary, which is not meant for a lot of traffic, is a bear morning and afternoon with folks picking up their chicks.  LB has been a car rider, but she CAN ride the bus.  We'll see on that one!

I really feel so selfish in wanting Daughter to not go.  I just worry.  I thought I didn't have attachment problems.  I thought I cut the apron strings long ago, but I guess not.  I don't want to picture her in that blasted rock heavy silver tube over the Atlantic.  Quit laughing at me!  I know I am being really crazy here.  I wouldn't feel like this if we were together.  And deep down, she and I are the same.  She doesn't really want to leave her kids even though she knows Pa (G) and I will do just fine. 

It is true - you NEVER stop being a mother.  Your babies are your babies - forever!

Back to normal

G should be walking in at any minute now.  So that means my "vacation" is going to be over soon.  I do enjoy these times when I can do what I want WHEN I want.

Daughter hosted once again last night for family dinner.  I do appreciate that so much, but part of the reason it that they are leaving Friday for Italy.

I know this is such a great opportunity, but I really wish she wasn't going.  I have always been happy for her to be a homebody.  Knowing she is over there.  This is sort of like "letting go."  My feelings are completely irrational.  I don't like the thought of my daughter being in that silver tube at 40,000 over the Atlantic.  I have to be honest - I am afraid.  Stupid.

Her step daughter is riding the pity party train again.  She is stirring the stuff causing all sorts of drama in San Antonio once again.  This poor girl is so mentally ill.  My SIL is a psychologist, and she says the girl is psychotic.  It's a shame she has nothing better to do than cause problems in a very dysfunctional family.

Once again I am going thorough a sleepless period.  During the day, if I sit still, I fall asleep.  So I try to stay stimulated.  At night - around midnight, I am wide awake.  So right now I am really sleepy. 

When G gets here, I will trundle off upstairs to make little pink ribbon tea-light pins for LB's volleyball team.  They are having a "Pink" game on the 24th.  This is my best chance to get them done because I will be at their house a lot of the time.

Besides - I will be more stimulated to stay awake with that needle so close to my hands!!

Overwhelmed

I finally downloaded my cameras.  There are only in excess of 550 pictures.  Some are of nothing.  They need to be edited out, but the task of going through them is really daunting.

I do want to share a couple with you though.  They aren't of Alaska.  I have some of those that are absolutely breathtaking!  No, these are of three of my loved ones

My gentle giant, Clyde, snuggling with one of his favorite people - my middle granddaughter.

Clyde is making himself right at home - in his new favorite place - the bed.

Blurry Lady Bug serving at her first volleyball game.  It was hard to get a picture of her standing still!!

But at least I managed here where she is waiting to spike the serve back over the net.  She is really an amazing athlete.  

 

She seems to be wanting to leave competitive swimming for water polo - in addition to the volleyball.  She decided that cross-country track wasn't her bag.


**************************************************************************

So what did I decide to do yesterday?  I did a lot of genealogy.  It was fun.  Not so fun was falling down the steps when I went upstairs to feed the cat.

G had called, and he began his rant accusing me of cancelling satellite at the SSB.  That was a mistake.  I had turned around half way up the stairs.  I knew I couldn't make it up to the phone, so I elected to turn back.  We call our last step on the stairs "the killer" because people have a bad habit of missing it.  I turned,, and even thinking about that darned step - I missed it.

So I was crawling on my knees (not supposed to!) to get to the bed to pull myself up.  The phone stopped.  I got there and tried to call back, and to make a long story short, he got back through.   He had that miffed tone to his voice.  I told him to leave that out because I fell trying to answer his silly call.

Anyway -no serious harm.  My back is hurting  a lot again, so I will take it easy and rest it.  It feels like we had to change terminals in Chicago again.  We walked miles with our carry-on. 

I've been bitten by the bug again!

I know I don't need an excuse to skip housework.  I do it easily.  I figure that here at 68, I have been doing housework for 60 years, and now it's someone else's turn (spell check is telling me there is no such work as "else's" - and we know I depend on spell check, but I am not changing it).  How do I figure this?  Easy.  I inherited it from my mother.  She didn't like housework either - so I would do it back then.  I am sick and tired of it.

But - if it's not going upstairs to that disaster area, so I can sew other little thingies for craft shows that I never get to do, it is now my old evil - genealogy. Just how did this happen.  It is all our vacation's fault!

Here's my reasoning - if we were still home, I would have never dropped my Dell.  If I hadn't dropped the Dell, I wouldn't have to re-load all the programs I could find.  That means I wouldn't have had to look high and low for the 2005 discs where all my genealogy files were safely saved.  That wouldn't have tempted me to gift myself the newest version of Family Tree maker.  And that little purchase wouldn't have tempted me to use the two week free trial to Ancestry which was my time waster supreme back a few years. 

I did this knowingly.  I knew I had to give a credit card.  I knew I would have to call to stop the free trial.  I knew they would use their best means to shame me into keeping the subscription.  Been there.  Done that.  Have the lack of funds.   But I did it anyway.

So I have been chained to this computer seeing what new information I can glean from using Family Tree Maker.  I could get much more information if I would just go onto Ancestry because they list the public forms.  They don't care if Cousin Sally's great-great-great grandchild is still living.  There's the birth, marriage and their children's forms right there in the forms area.  It's public record.  All this while FTM "respects their member's privacy."  Dash the privacy!  I want the information.

But, FTM and I are getting really friendly.  We meet every afternoon.  FTM lures me into wanting to blow off preparing dinner - even leaving the kitchen table where I am set up surrounded by notebooks, bills, and tablets.  And yes, bills - my week's mail is stacking up quite nicely on both ends of this larger table that we brought in a few weeks ago.  Good foresight!  I didn't know how much I would need it.

G and SIL are going to the SSB later.  I will have until Monday to myself.  I am beside myself.  All this time for ME.   What to do first.  Do I break this umbilical to the computer and spend the hours upstairs?  Do I just stay down here?  What mind numbing TV can I be watching?  So many decisions.

I could get some deep cleaning done.  Yes, I could.  But that's not fun.  If I just go ahead with the fun things - I will just continue to bar folks from entering my doors!

Time to eat crow and other unpleasant thoughts

As you remember, my biggest souvenir from Alaska is this here little ole' computer.  We are beginning to have a good working relationship, but it is really a steep learning curve - both a new computer AND a new Windows.  Why is this so serious, and why am I eating crow?  Well - it all goes back to the little bimbo that talked me into these new glasses back several months ago.  As my ophthalmologist told me last week - throw those things away.  You can't see out of them!

That little issue brings me to the fact that I have trouble changing sizes of fonts in applications here.  Sometimes it just magically happens - like it did on Facebook the other day, and here on Blogger.  I am talking about just the draft I am working on - I really don't want huge print in the blog.

When the size of font suddenly changed yesterday, I realized that I could not see the title of my post the day before - y
ou know -the rant about of all things grammar and word usage.  I didn't see - and it had been corrected - that my title had an "A" in place of the pronoun "I."   So I just went on praising spell check while dogging on grammar and word usage.  Do I look like a dope?  You bet I do.

I have been following Jude's efforts of trying to get the part of her dad's estate to which she and her sister are entitled.  I won't link to it, many of you know of her blog anyway.  She want to fly below the radar with her blog, so...

When she is talking about her step-mother it brings back so many memories.  My step mother was just the sweetest, kindest person you would ever want to meet - on the surface.  She was a lying, cheating $%^*&(&%&*^!  Even when it was all unfolding, I really didn't want to believe it.  In fact, when she was dying, Daughter, DIL and I stayed with her all night so she wouldn't be alone to die.

I was frustrated with her for a while before she died.  My dad was very demented.  He never should have been driving.  They gave big bucks to their church, but never called them for help.  (They were in San Antonio then - no family there)  She never would call a taxi, ask for help - nothing.  She would only moan and groan when I was to be there for a shuttle service - which is another story. She never stopped his driving.

I wondered why - and now I think I have an answer.  She was hoping my dad, who was much older than she, would die before her.  Either on his own, which wasn't going to happen because he was physically fit, or get killed in the car.

Why did she want this - so her good for nothing son would inherit all the money.  Monies that should have been just my dad's, but were theirs because we are a community property state.  Had she not ensnared my dad, she wouldn't have had anything.  Her previous husband had nothing.  She would have had $900/month social security to live on.

I won't go into detail, but my dad had managed to save a good amount of monies.  She managed to shield more than her fair share for her son - who could care the least for her.  He was never there.  This fact was told to me by HIS family. 

What did he do with his share of the money.  Opened a "high class" restaurant in Malibu.  Which I really believe is closed now.  I haven't heard from them in a couple of years.  Last I heard he was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. 

Sorry - another rant.  I had to come clean with my goof!  And Jude - you got me to remembering just how evil some step-mothers can be!

Like we had it.

That is the way we are spending money these days. 

I don't know what the little jaunt to Alaska cost us.  I was really pleasantly surprised with the prices - once we got there.  I had heard that everything was so expensive there.  We found lodging was inexpensive.  The hotel in Fairbanks was absolutely great.  It was like a suite!  It seems is was under $90 a night.  Of course, we were  not only at the end of the 0"season," things were closing down as we left!  And we had convention rates.  The hotel in Anchorage was the same way.  In fact, our bill for the dog's and cat's "summer camp" at the vet's office was more than ours!

Of course, the train trips were expensive.  And the fact that we didn't go on one in Fairbanks and I didn't go on one in Anchorage still gets to me - that wasted money!  Those trips usually run about $100 a trip because they are not regular runs for the train.  It's like taking a limo someplace.  You have to pay the crew, the fuel, usually the rail line that owns that rail.  All an expensive thing, but you see things that "normal" people don't get to see.

The food - at least at the grocery (Safeway) was inexpensive.  I guess a large chain can spread out losses over their entire chain.  Restaurants on the whole were more expensive.  In Fairbanks, we had to eat at the hotel, so you KNOW that was high.  But it was the only game in town, and that's when G had the full blown cold.

So where is this all going?  Well - something that is both exciting and will be a good thing in the long run for so many reasons.  When this house is sold, it will come back to us because it is one of the important things folks look for.  We are having our bathrooms remodeled.

My wild dream is to have one of those walk in bathtubs put in the hall bathroom.  With my assorted aches and pains, I would love, love, love to take a nice hot soak.  A shower just doesn't ease the pains.  A hot bath - oh, yes. 

We have a friend who is a contractor.  He has re-done my daughter's kitchen.  He does the most beautiful work.  AND I know he doesn't gouge nor do shoddy work.  He came to give us an estimate
yesterday.  I think my dream tub is going to be just that.  His plumber said that the price on a Kohler is -  get ready for this!! - $9000.  Holy smokes!  And then the door will begin to leak in a year.

But the Master Bath will be able to have the big walk-in shower.  All new tile (which G has let ruin - it's his bath and HE can clean it!!).  New counter tops.  I have hated that master one since we moved in 38 years ago!  It is a textured black formica.  It never comes clean because of that texture which they probably thought gave it "character."  Nope - it traps the calcium from the water, dust, toothpaste, make-up.  Nasty!!  Hate it!!

As I said, this will add value to the house.  We are one of the last to up-date out baths.  I intent to go for the kitchen next - at least having my cabinets done.  They need to be re-stained or something.  I won't have them changed out - my builder was a good cabinet maker.  But they look very tired and dirty.  Jude, and I won't link to you, I just don't have the spunk you have.  I can't get on the floor for the lowers, and the torn rotator cups in my shoulders just won't allow that kind of pressure to really get to those uppers.

So, with great joy, anticipation, and a lot of doubt - here we go again!

I do love spell check - I wish more people would use it..

I know the saying of "people who live in glass houses .." and all that.  I know I am beginning to sound like a dry, old prune of an English teacher.  And that, in itself is funny because I never taught English for a single day in my life.  I actually have a double major - Biology and English.  That happened when I decided that my math skills were so poor that I could never make it to the 24 hours in Chemistry that I needed to teach it.  (In Texas - your teaching minor has to be 24 hours).  So in the summer of my Junior year in college, I began to pursue English as my teaching minor.  Thus I ended up with something like 28 semester hours.

Anyway, you are so familiar with my problems with word usages.  "Your for you're", the "to, too, two" and of course "then and than."  Lately there have been others that I have added to my list.

I am a member of several Yahoo groups where I surf for free embroidery designs.  Some of those in these groups must never actually sew because they are spending hours in these groups.   The owners will set up "searches" where the members are going through the sites looking for a little design hidden in the pages of designs that are for sale.  Smart marketing, but who has that sort of time.

One of the other things that occurs in these groups is the plea for help.  Now that is a good ides. I learn from the mistakes of others that are often problems that plague me.  But!  Some of the grammar used.  OMG.  And the spelling.

I will be honest.  I am a terrible speller.  The greatest thing that has happened for me is the computer word processing and SPELL CHECK!!!  If I am nor sure of spelling, I depend on spell check.  And if the word is  not there, I use a synonym.  It's the simple words that kill me.  I can spell most scientific words easily, but simple words - not so much.

The words I have recently added are those simple ones.  These are the ones that slip by spell check.  One of the messages I read recently went something like this:

        "I no I must be doing something wrong.  I try to click on the sights to go to another page ..."

That one statement took me a few seconds to realize just what they were trying to say.

OK - I am the first to say that I certainly am not perfect.  It is so easy to be typing along (for those of you who know how to type and that's not me!) and a word to come into your mind but the spelling, proper tense, etc don't.  But some of the same mistakes are made over and over.  And I know that spell check will miss a lot of words.  And grammar check doesn't run automatically.  And I have terrible sentence structure here.

I will put my soap box away now.  Sorry.

So what have I been doing?

Basically I have pretty much chained myself to this new computer.  Windows 8 and I are at least being cordial right now.  I still hate some of its characteristics, and I find myself wondering if a true friendship or love (gasp) will ever happen.  It has one of the most annoying facets that I have ever found.  If I dare to move my mouse around too much, I am whisked away to a previously opened window.  Now that window may not have even been opened on purpose, but it will magically appear on my screen, and what I was working on goes away. 

I finally found how to toggle back and forth, but you have to hold your mouth just right and all the stars, moon and sun must be in the correct configuration for the ways to work the first time.  I spend more time hanging around in the far corners of my screen than actually doing something th at smacks of work or even just surfing.

I am getting used to the keyboard.  Not being a typist in the first place is always a problem, but this keyboard seems skewed to me.  It is all pushed over to the left.  That may be due to something that I would have adored when I was a teacher.  I have an actual number pad on the right.  That isn't so important these days since I no longer have to enter and average grades.

I have almost finished loading the files that I have copies of.  I was afraid I had lost the hours and hours of work I had put in on the family trees, but I found copies that I had done in 2005.  So there's not much lost there since I haven't done much work on them since then.  I treated myself (hey - it's only money - can't take it with me) to a new edition of Family Tree Maker, and I am going to join Ancestry again at least for 6 months.  Now - it's the pictures I am still missing.  I am afraid for those.

I can't decide if I should take the other computer to a small business that seems to be very good, or use a guy who advertises on one of the Buy, Beg, Sell, Borrow web sites that are so plentiful around here.  I have read that the more the disc runs after damage, the more damage is done.  I know the little (new) guy in Anchorage tried for hours to get into the files. 

And then other than the doctor appointments from last week, there are the volleyball games.  Lady Bug is on the "A" team.  She is the captain and a starter.  Yesterday she made a save that turned the game around.  Such a proud grandma!

Next on my agenda is the promised pictures.  They are still safely ensconced in the cameras. I will get to them.

Oh, my goodness

It's late - almost time to get dinner on. So this is going to be short, short.


Just heard the news - the next hurricane is going to be named .......................


                              Karen

Oh, look out world!  She is going to be, well I will just leave that part to you to fill in!!!!

Fifty years!

There are still no pictures downloaded onto this computer, and I have a good reason.  This past weekend was my 50th high school reunion.

To prepare for this event,  I treated myself to new clothes for the weekend.  Usually I shop the clearance racks.  I hate to pay a lot for clothes.  But I wanted to be self-assured for this deal!  I still got a lot of bargains.  So all that was good,

Friday night was the mixer.  I found a few of my friends from high school.  We visited for a while, but overall most of those who were there weren't my good friends.  So we decided to pack it in after a couple of hours to eat.  That's when a good friend from the past found us in the restaurant.

Saturday was a full day.  I have often spoken and even shown pictures of my high school.  It is a beautiful campus    It was built in the depression years.  It is a Moroccan style with columns, painted plasters, tiles all located on a huge plot of land.  It was so much the same. We got to tour the school on Saturday morning.  Some modifications have been made to the school - and more are going to be happening due to safety reasons.  It was such a joy to be in those halls once again.

At lunch, the middle schools had reunions.  It was there I got to see some really old friends, but missed talking to some because I thought they would be at the dinner that night.  Of course, the bill for two would be $100.  But I did make a little contact, if only to know they are still alive.

The dinner was beautiful.  I was able to sit with the "girl" who was set to be my room- mate.  She ended up not going to that college, and I changed where I was going as well.  But it was so good to catch up with her and another of my friends.

When we were being seated they had playing, in the background, the school song, fight song, and a most favorite cheer (that I think is still being used today).  I had to fight tears, and had a huge urge to "salute"  as we did in the "pep squad" at the football games.

It was such fun.  Then on Sunday, before coming home, we met my matron of honor from my wedding.  She graduated a year ahead of me, so she wasn't at the reunion.  It was a good visit.

I was so struck by the different ways we have aged.  Some look the same, others I still don't believe their name tags!  Of course, I was worried about being there with all my extra pounds.  I imagined that everyone would still be slim and trims as they were in high school.  And, in fact, some were.  The really popular ones mostly were still slim.  But some were carrying as many extra pounds as I.  Of course, I shouldn't have stressed over it.  Let's face it - time (menopause et al) most often brings pounds.  And many of us have faced chemo.  That doesn't help.

And so now I am sitting here really wanting a 51st reunion.  I hope they plan, and have, a 55th if not one sooner.  It was such fun.

Still no pictures

I am still fighting working with Windows 8.   It has a lot of things like 7, and I wasn't really in love with 7.  I was so comfortable with XP.  I am  not sure about some of the quirks I have going on.  I don't know whether they are Windows 8, the computer, and/or the new Office 365.  Anyway, this is a steep learning curve.  I used to think I was pretty computer literate, but I have really been left in the dust now!

I have found an individual who tells me he probably can get the files off the Dell.  I am in a quandary.   There is a computer repair place near-by, and G took his computer there.  He was very pleased. I just don't know what I am going to do about that computer.  I so dearly want the files back.  There were pictures, my family trees that represent hours and hours of work.  Just so much.

I had downloaded and saved the embroidery designs.  They are all safe. Why in the heck I didn't deem the other files important, I have no idea.

Today is going to be busy.  I want two new outfits.  I don't need them, but I want them.  It will give me a boost in confidence this weekend at the 50th high school reunion.  I never lost the 30 pounds I wanted to.  That sounds typical doesn't it.  My wardrobe has fallen into the very casual category, and while this is "business casual" I really don't have anything that fits into that category.  So - spend more money!

This afternoon, Lady Bug plays her first volley-ball game.  She is, of course, on the A team and is a starter.  That is something that we just take as normal because she really has physical talent, and she is so driven.  She is totally a type A, and she doesn't accept anything else from herself.  That scares me.  I have seen to many of those kids.

I was going to DIL's this afternoon to take the trinkets we brought back.  Son didn't really like that.  He actually wants to see his parents, which is like him.  So we will go out for dinner with them.

 G doesn't like all this socializing.   He is turning into a hermit.  I really think he needs to see a specialist to do something for what I see as depression.  He is very different from 4 years ago.  In fact, I do not like the new person too much.  But I guess like all relationships and marriages, this does happen periodically.

So I won't get to working with pictures until  next week.  I got Photoshop downloaded, I have the problem with a program for my embroidery, and I got the family tree maker on the computer - just missing the families.  I need to find the CDs that I have at least some of the information stored on them.  I had been planning to re-join Ancestry anyway, so I can work on the data that way.

So busy, busy until Monday.  See ya' then!

Hello from the depths of despair.

I just know that you are awaiting vacation pictures with baited breath. Everyone just LOVES someone else's vacation pictures, and I will bring you this pleasure soon, but first I have to load all the programs I used to have (and some are gone forever) that don't seem to want to play with Windows 8.  There are plenty of problems for me here.  New computer, new keyboard (and I am not a typist anyway), hitting keys that do things I don't want to happen, having the screen change for no apparent reason, and trying to remember those danged passwords as well as user names.

So far, I hate 8.  I wasn't a fan of 7; finally felt comfortable with XP, but here I am.  I think I will have to find a Windows 8 for Dummies to try to figure this OS out!

For those of you who, like me, live(d) in La-la land, PLEASE back up your files.  Your computer will fail.  It is as certain as our deaths.  So like I feel that death is for everyone else, my dear departed Dell was never going to die.  I could have those files stored there forever.  And if I wanted a new computer, I could ju st, as before, migrate my files onto a new computer.

Nope!  So lost are my family trees, my self made cookbook, my pictures of Simone, the kids, past vacations, etc all because I was so stupid.  Lost are those *&)(^ passwords because, if you find problems like me, you have to change them often.  Of course, when G retired and commanded the computer desk putting me here at the kitchen table, I didn't keep up with my "little black book" of passwords, and never had something ready to organize those new password..While I try to make them easy to remember, I don't remember who has which easy password.

Then it comes to downloading programs.  One of my dearest programs seems to not play with 8.  Not in it's present form.  Fortunately the software guru that wrote this program is easy to work with.  The problem with this program is that I loaded it from a CD that may be set up in an old format - because, after all, my Dell wasn't supposed to die.  I have emailed for help.

Please, please back up your computer. My Dell had survived a lot of bumps and jars.  When I dropped it, the distance was less that 6 inches.  I thought that was not going to be a problem, but after it happened,  I had a terrible feeling in my gut that that was the end.  Sure enough.  It was.

When I bought this one, the IT guy tried to migrate my files.  After two days he finally said he couldn't.  I asked my son if he knew any computer gurus.  They all are too busy.  But one thing they said was to not keep trying to get it going.  The less it runs, the better.  AND do not use the store's IT guy.  They don't know what they are doing and do more harm.  It can run upwards of $1000 to retrieve the files.

So alas,I have done everything wrong that could be wrong.  Use my stupidity to learn for yourself - and not the hard way.

Big Silver Bird Day

We spend the night on the plane. We take off here at 5 pm and arrive in Houston at 4am - if all goes well. I am packed. But then I never completely unpack! Even when I do "unpack" things - I put my stuff in the bags that linens come in. Makes it much nicer - especially if your bags are searched. Mine were searched both coming and going from Los Angeles during the trip from hell around the LA airport. G, on the other hand, unpacks everything. And with that statement, it explains the fact that he has lost a belt, paperwork (i.e. flight information), and something else. I will post a picture of his dirty clothes and that bag will just be forced into a suitcase. Don't know where he is going to put those Ulu knives. I really am looking forward to getting home. I will be sad that I didn't get to do some things here in Alaska. I knew if I didn't go on the train trip yesterday I would miss animals, and I did. The whales were active, there was a sheep about 200 yards from the track, and someone says they saw a bear on the mountain. If I had known about the nature preserve here, I would have made sure to go, and I started to yesterday. I was too chicken to go by myself. I will bet my luggage gets searched this trip because my poor dead Dell is in there. It is well protected, and I really don't think anything can do any more damage to its hard drive, but I still worry. The tech said he could get it to boot, but the error message said there was too much damage. I am hoping someone in Houston can access it. Talk to you in a couple of days. I can't believe the hours of our flight, but that was the way it was getting here. This time the layover will be in Tacoma rather than Chicago. See ya'.

Sad, sad, sad

Last week I dropped my beloved Dell laptop.  It slipped from my fingers as I was getting ready to put it into its case.  It would never boot again.

So I went to O*fice D*pot looking for another laptop   While we were in Fairbanks, I did manage to get it to run some checks.  I got to the part where it was checking blocks.  Every 200 I got an e rror message.  I knew that all my files on it were gone.  All my Simone pictures, my recipe collection, vacation pictures - gone. The only thing I took off was my newly downloaded embroidery designs.  It is so easy to look back on things.  I am so sad right now.a

So rub salt into my wounds, the new computer runs on Windows 8.  A new keyboard and a new OS, this is simply too much for me!
 
The trip is really good though.  We have seen some moose,  and Beluga whales!  They are in the sound feeding on the salmon.  We have seen salmon spawning in a little roadside ditch!  We have perhaps seen Dall sheep HIGH up on the mountains.  I just want to see a bear! I promise I will begin uploading some pictures because this is so beautiful. I didn't take today's train however. I have seen so many mountains, glaciers, and the like. Yesterday about half the train did see a bear - going after a crew man. But today was going to be a lot of run-bys (folks get off the train with their cameras, tripods and so on to become animals about getting their spot to film the train running back by), and I was so hoping that I would get the word that Brandon at OD could migrate my old hard drive to this computer. But no - so I will take it home to see if someone in Houston can get my stuff back. Tomorrow we will get on the plane, and it is really time. So many things and places we have stayed are closing right after us!!!

i sm alive

This is from my Kindle Fire.  Computer broke just bought new one.  Pray that files transfer to New one.  Hope to post tomorrow we or next  day.  Alaska beautiful!

Made it

I may have made it to Alaska, but I am pretty sure I would never make it to Europe or Australia.  The six and a half hour flight from Chicago just about did me in.  By the time we were almost here, I was wondering if I was going to become one of those unruly passengers that is banned from flying - or at least taken away someplace after landing the plane.

I was so miserable I could cry - and we were in  Business Class which means that rather than the 17 inch seats with 6 inches of leg room, we had 17 1/2 inch seats with 12 inches of leg room.  Oh yes, and we had the leather seat that resembled a recliner chair.

We had to lay-over in Chicago.  Now - I love Chicago.  O'Hare, not so much.  We thought we wouldn't have to change planes.  Well, that wasn't true.  Not only change places, we had to change terminals too.   My luggage consisted of the travel tote (Vera Bradley that daughter and DIL gave me for my birthday -so I had to use it so feelings weren't hurt), computer bag (with various other things besides the computer), and my rolling bag.  You  notice the "rolling bag" came last.  That's  because it was checked.  When I packed, I
thought - OK - all this other stuff goes on the rolling bag and all is well.  Changing terminals - it wasn't OK.  
But I became super trooper and bullies my way all the way across two terminals to get from the landing gate to the departure gate.

I haven't seen  much of Anchorage yet, but what I saw from the airport is really beautiful.  I have pictures of the mountains that we flew over on my cell phone - the only camera I had in my possession.  I have to email them to myself, and then I will post them.

I can post pictures of what most would consider a problem here.  Only one is a real problem.  The train isn't because after last year when we discovered sound machines in Savannah, I have one.  The bathroom one - without a big argument and all, there is nothing I can do about that.   I have lived with it for 45 years now, and it ain't gonna' change.

 You will notice there is not much remaining room.  Nothing thee is mine.  When I brush my teeth - I have to balance everything on the front part of the counter.  All my "stuff" is out in my suitcase until I need it.   Fortunately I used the little make-up remover cloths that are packaged.

   That is the train we will be taking to Fairbanks tomorrow.  We are across the street from the station.  That means a lot of train traffic.  Come to find out, we are not the only ones with the convention staying here!  Wonder why?

Pay no attention to the dates on the pictures.  I changed batteries, and didn't change the date.  I need to remember to do that.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is September 11.  The terrible day in history, and we are celebrating it by getting on a plane that heads from Swampland to Chicago (love the city - hate the thought of their airport(s)), then on to Alaska.  I feel a bit like Alfred E Neuman (and if you are under 30 you may not know who I am referring to) with his :what me worry?"  Well, yeah.  A little.

There are little things  that are going wrong with this trip, but I guess that's to be expected when things are planned so far in advance.  The first was that we were to be on a plane, that while it stopped in Chicago, we didn't have to change planes.  Well - no  more.  That has me a tad worried.  Now we have a lay-over in Chicago, AND I can't enjoy the city.  Oh well.

Then we have been expecting Clyde's records.  They were supposed to be here Friday or Saturday.  Nope.  And they didn't come yesterday.  I really didn't panic until yesterday because we have such lousy mail service.  I guess it's karma or something.  My dad was a letter carrier and later supervisor, so it is natural that I would be getting lousy service all these years later.

Sending the records is normal for an adoption group.  They want to be sure they get their monies!  Who can blame them.  Anyway, Ann sent the records along with the tags for the microchip and rabies tag.  Those are important, and cannot be replaced.  As it was, Ann had to go to a restaurant to send the copies via email since they don't have internet at their property.

So there are little hitches.  I have to believe that all will be well in the long run.  This is a trip of a lifetime for me.  I wish we could have added a cruise along the coast, but we will be riding trains that will be going where a lot of others don't get to do.  It's a trade off!

The best news - I finally learned to cut the amount of clothes I pack for a trip. I never admit that I return home with clothes that have never been on my body during that trip!  So I really cut down - still more than I had originally intended - but I got it all in ONE suitcase.  Yea me!

I DID forget to mention

I did forget to mention that we adopted Clyde - escape artist that he is and all.  Even though we will be leaving him for two weeks plus another weekend.

He went to the SSB with us.  We got to spend extended time with him.  It was his first time without Bonnie.  She went back to the rescue group.  He did well.  My grandson spent time with him and said that he really liked the dog, but I really think it was because his dad was talking the dog up so.  I don't think he really liked Clyde so much.

September 5 was the day Clyde was going to be picked up, so we needed to make the decision - before then.  So I emailed Ann.  She was thrilled.

It was then that the escape artist became the destroyer.  Almost as fast as I could crate him, he would be out.  I put him in Simone's hard-sided crate.  He became hysterical.

I didn't have wire cut and no plastic ties, so I used the panty hose that I don't wear anymore to tie the crate together .  He was still hysterical.

I went to one of the Petsomething stores to look at leashes - and crates while there.  I saw that they had a one year warranty.  SO - I got to thinking the piece of c*ap that I have tried to put Clyde in might have a one year warranty.  It was from Petotherthing store, but I managed to look at their brand on line.  What I discovered is that all of them - I don't care the brand - has a one year warranty.  With ONE exception - animal damage.

Now that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of.  These yahoos sell these flimsy metal crates for an exorbitant price, and then it is made from such soft metal that a strong boxer can get out of it.  I have heard (reading the write-ups in the boxer rescue) of dogs destroying their crates. I couldn't believe it! Well - now I do.  It isn't so much the dog - it is the poor construction of the crate.

The one I have for him has two doors - bad design right there.  And the latches on these doors are very poor.  If you have ever put a crate together, they just basically "snap" together.  There are gaps everywhere.  They are certainly designed for the dog that is already crate trained and likes it.

The plastic ones do not allow the dog to see all around, and so a dog that doesn't like to be confined and not see - will panic.  I was really afraid he was going to hurt himself in there.  A crate that MIGHT work is the decorative one - with wood and all that looks like a piece of furniture.  But at $400 (on sale) I am not going to try it to see if it works.

So Clyde gets to remain out.  He isn't perfect.  He likes to get "toys" out of the trash cans - not food stuff, that is in the compactor that he can't get to.  He liked the packaging of G's insoles.  He liked the mailing envelope of a package I had gotten in the mail.  Yesterday he discovered a teddy bear that has sentimental value to me.  A student gave it to me, and she was so proud of giving me this HUGE bear;  I just have to keep it.   Clyde put it in the middle of the bed, but destroyed the red ribbon that was on it for Christmas.

All in all, he is a good dog.  He is gentle with the smaller grandchildren.  He doesn't bark a lot, only occasionally.  His bladder must be the size of Texas and Alaska put together.  And we are all getting to know one another a lot better.

I really feel he is a good fit all told.

Apprehensive

We are "gearing" up for our trip to Alaska.  We will be gone for 13 days, and as much as I really want to go, I am very apprehensive.

First of all - the airport.  I am not afraid of flying - even if we fly out on September 11.  I just hate, hate, hate the airport and TSA.  If this is being read by someone else who thinks I am a terrorist because of what I have just said, well LAX would tend to agree with you because of my experience 7 years ago when I, with the help of Chica TSA agent shut down the Continental gates.

I wrote about that then, but a thumbnail is that we took Lady Bug to Disney Land.  It ended up that her mom, dad and brother went too - so there were six of us on the plane.  When we left out bags at the curb and got boarding passes, we were only given 5.  I didn't know this until we were at the scanner - my belongings having already gone through.  I was last in line.  Guess who didn't have a boarding pass.  IF the girl at the steps - the first check point - had done her job rather than flirt with a guy standing there, we would have all been together (and I would have had my purse and everything in it with the exception of my ID) to go back to the idiot at curb side to get my boarding pass.

So that's how a 60+ year old grandmother with most of her entire family was able to shut down LAX.

I am not looking forward to going through all that mess on Wednesday.  Plus spending hours and hours in airports.  Not.  Looking. Forward. At. All.

My other apprehension is Clyde.  We (G) went against what we had said.  We were going to wait until we were back in October to adopt a dog - so that we didn't just get one only to board it.  I am worried about him, but it a way this timing may be better.  He is bonded to us, but not so much that he will simply pine away.

We are going to put him at our vet clinic.  I told them yesterday he was an escape artist, and I will need to remind them when we drop him off.  They will have to make special arrangements for him.

Of course, after last night - I am   not so sure how upset I would be.  He has completely destroyed his crate.  The bars at the bottom are bent in.  He has gotten out three or four times.  I didn't have any wire available last  night, and since I have several pairs of panty hose that I don't wear anymore, I tied the crate together with those.  But he became so anxious about being in the crate that I gave him a tranquilizer (thank you Simone for being an anxious traveler so that I have those meds on hand) at midnight.  At 6, he was back to chewing, scratching and panting.  I can't let him roam the house because he will chase the cat.  (and that was going to be another quality we wanted - a female who is cat friendly).

Right now, I am a very uneasy, very sleepy person.

Horrible memory brought back

The worst has happened here today.  A seventeen year old high school student was stabbed to death in the cafeteria of one of the high schools in the northern part of the area.  This was before school, while the breakfast was being served.  All the details are inconclusive so far, but what is known is that one child is dead, four are hurt and three are in custody.  It appears it was a misunderstanding.

Why is this a horrible memory?  Well, thirty plus years ago, I was a high school teacher.  I had a student leave my fourth period biology class, walk around the corner to the cafeteria for lunch, get in the line, and get stabbed to death right there.

Thankfully, my memory of all this isn't as clear as it was.  Thirty years ago, collection of evidence wasn't as thorough as it has to be today.  School continued.  Parents didn't mob the school demanding all stop for them to get their kids.

I'm not saying it wasn't a usual occurrence. In fact, that is the only time in my over thirty year career anything like this happened in a school where I was.  It is just that common sense took hold.  It was/is a sad thing.  Today that boy would probably be a grandparent.  Who knows what he would have contributed to the world.

This situation today was a total circus, and it wasn't caused specifically by the school  nor the sheriff.  They were doing what they needed to be done.  And here is where I will probably get flak.  The circus atmosphere was caused by the parents who immediately left home to come to the school to get their child.

I don't know the student count at this high school, but I am pretty sure it is about 2000, and in fact I will bet closer to 3000.  I KNOW the administrators' and teachers' main concern is for the safety and welfare of all the students.  I also know that, especially now, there are emergency policies that take over - and they are there for the entire student body.  The faculty and staff know what they are doing!

The first complaint from parents, who were completely excluded from school grounds (thankfully), was that they couldn't get into the school.  I know you are worried about your child.  I just wish you had trust for those who are looking out for the welfare of not only YOUR child but each and every child.  Then they were upset that some of the teachers confiscated cell phones.  Well - I am sure the students were ripe with erroneous information.  Most teachers aren't thrilled about the proliferation of cell phones anyway.  They are great for cheating on tests.

The parents wanted their child immediately released from the school.  I guess they thought there would be a mass murderer around the school, breaking into classrooms that were locked down.  Locked down works two ways - keeping in and keeping out.  If all these kids were released, just how can the school be aware of just who the child is leaving with.  Can you imagine the outrage if the kid went with someone he shouldn't?  And then something terrible happened because of that?

The district said the kids who ride the bus to and from school would ride that bus.  Well:  "I have taken off work, and I will have to wait more - and miss more work?"  Perhaps you should have stayed at work until all decisions were made?

This went on for five hours.  The school sent the message to parents after about 2 hours.  That is when the parents clogged the parking lots belonging to the local businesses.  They weren't told to do that.

And then finally they said they weren't happy with security at the school.  I am pretty sure all hell would have broken out if the schools had metal detectors at all the doors.  It would have probably prevented this, but many of these same parents would have raised holy hell about their little darling having to pass through it.  Not their precious pumpkin.  They wouldn't have contraband.  And if they did, how dare the school confiscate said item.

So, ok - I have probably gone a little (ya' think?) too  far to the other side of all this.  But I think the teachers deserve a bonus and any and all accolades there are for keeping these kids with them in order for FIVE hours.  For getting them out of the building in an orderly fashion.  For controlling the mess in the cafeteria (I have had that duty before - ye' gads what a mess), and no more students were hurt AND the perps were in custody immediately.  The sheriff did what they needed - they kept the kids in school until they could talk to anyone who might have witnessed the fight.  Last I heard, the weapons were still missing.

All in all, the school did its job.  The parents, while meaning good, caused the problems.  They blocked traffic, caused multiple businesses to lose patrons, caused more problems for the school.  Shame.

Shhhhh

This is a secret.  I should be ashamed, but I am not.  I just" unfriended"  G on Facebook.  When you boil it all down, we have the same political views,  religious views, and so on.  He has just become a radical.  He and my son are just alike - but on different sides of the isle.  But they are just as radical.  Think family dinners aren't fun??  We have banned any political or religious subjects on Sunday nights.

But as to me "unfriending" him.  He is always on these radical sites, then posts that cr*b on his facebook page (and it's not crib or crab - that star could give a lot of meanings I saw when I looked at it.)  I do not want to have to shift through all that.  I wish others would do like I did!  My son used to be bad, but he as stopped so many posting.  Several family members were ready to "unfriend" him too!

IN OTHER NEWS.  Our remote on U-verse died last night.  So I changed the batteries  just to be sure.  I tried to go on line then because I knew it was dead and we needed a new one.  What a farce.  The ATT website is just as bad as talking to them - which I got to do later - for over an hour.

All that time I was thinking - just send me a new remote for goodness sakes!  But I got to interact with their computer robot on problem solving the dead remote.  That meant talking to it a total of three times.  It also meant missing most of "Hell on Wheels" and messing us the recording of Dr Pol.  I elected for them to reboot the receiver rather than me do it - so there went my programs.

Finally I was directed to a real, live person.  But only after a looooooooooooong wait.  Then - we ordered a new remote - that will be shipped by UPS with approximate arrival here of FIVE days.  For Pete's sake, where is it coming from?  So I took the one from the bedroom to bring in here, put fresh batteries in the TV only remote, and we are in business - sort of.

DOG NEWS:  Clyde does not like to be in a crate when we are gone.  He will stay in it when it's bedtime, but he has destroyed  my $100+ crate.  Friday we went for pedicures, hair cuts, get my birthday present that goes on my sewing machine, and lunch.  We opened the door - and Clyde greeted us at the door.

G us famous for his temper tantrums, and shared one last night about Shadow, the baby gates, and Clyde.  So basically, the cat and the dog have pretty much free range of the house - except at bedtime.  So far, there has only been a little interest - which is what sparked the temper tantrum.  Shadow sashayed into the den, right under a sleeping Clyde on the couch.  I freaked out!  Then the temper tantrum.  So ..

That brings us to today.  We put Clyde in the crate.  We left for church, then lunch.  We opened the door, and you can fill in the rest.  Except this time, I don't think there is any repairing the crate.  That dog is strong.  I can't pull the wires to straighten them out.  Plus, I don't know how he got all that dog through that little opening.

That leaves me with Simone's big plastic crate - like those used on airplanes and the like.  Don't know what will happen there!

And so such is life here in the suburb of Swampland!