Thursdays

Some Thursdays are hectic in these parts.  I have my sewing machine club (and IF we weren't gone on the third Thursdays of the month, I would have my digitizer class for my embroidery), and every Thursday G is signed up to play 42 at the community college.

This week we added a "day of beauty" for Clyde.  I forgot about it, and I didn't even get up until after 8.  I am going through another can't sleep time.  He should have been there around 7.  Well, that didn't happen, but it was really OK.

After class today, I was in the area of Costco, so that became part of my day.  I am used to them being busy, busy, busy, but from the talk in the check-out line, today was worse.  There were various ideas about why, but anyway.

I chose a line that looked fairly promising.  From that statement, you should know that it wasn't.  It was moving right along until the guy in fromt of me was next.  Everyone is really good about putting their items on the belt as soon as there is room.  Not this jerk.  AND he had TWO orders.

The poor cashier finally moved over to "help" him put the things on the belt, and was checking him out.  Oh, and he didn't have his card ready.  She got him and his two orders completed by the time I had my things loaded!  She made things smooth and seamless.

So I felt compelled to tell her what a good job they were doing.  She said that idiot has suggested that they only have one line for everyone to use because we have to wait so long anyway!  Unbelievable.  She also told me that one other day a woman wasn't unloading her cart.  The person behind her asked if she thought she was at _____ grocery store where they unload it as you go, and did she need help to unload her cart!  I thought that was priceless.

The old mill

This print was done by an artist in Fredericksburg, and was our Christmas present.  It hangs on the wall in the living room at the SSB.

All didn't go smoothly for the intrepid Germans when they moved to take over this mill.  There is a big retaining pond in back, and I understand the wheel is on the left as you look at the mill.  They have closed it because of the vandals and insurance.  G has seen it - I have not.

Anyway, this creek is normally a slow moving little stream, but there are very heavy rains that can (wish they would again - we NEED them) fall on the watershed.

GGG(+/- some g's) sent the boys to San Antonio shortly after buying the mill to buy a bigger wheel to go on the mill.  Now these days, San Antonio is about 2 1/2 hours away - at 70 mph when you reach the highway.  I can only imagine how long it would have taken the boys.  Atm 30 miles a day, it was about a week, I am sure!

So they set off,  and brought the new wheel back.  It was installed, and was working well - until.  There was an extremely heavy rain.  The creek flooded, and the flood waters ripped the new wheel off.  So there they were - no wheel. I can just imagine the way they felt.

Those Germans were hardy folks.  If you notice on the far side of the creek - across the road from the mill - is a remnant of a rock fence.  This was the way to delinate pastures.  I think the men worked on these fences, but G's theory is that they used Mexican labor to do them.  I can just imagine the work involved in these - especially in the Texas summer heat.

There was only so much work for people at the mill, so as they boys grew into manhood, married and had families, they branched out into other communities around here.  They moved from Doss into Squaw Creek and Cherry Springs.   There are lots and lots of relatives all over that area.

I joke with G telling him that we really couldn't toss a rock without hitting one of our relatives.  He probably more so because his maternal folks are all from that area.  Mine are at least a little more spread out!

A little Texas Hill Country history.  Lady Bug found some of our families listed in her Texas History Book!  She is now a little more interested.

This is not normal!

I was planning to post (easily) some pictures of what it looks like around the house today.  Yesterday was so easy to post!  From the tablet to this computer to the blog.  So, I was all set.  The tablet was dead, so I took the camera.  Taking the card out is easy!  So no problemo! Right???  right??  NO!

I didn't realize the camera was set to internal storage.  To cut to the chase - after an hour and fifteen minutes, I am finally here.  It took utilizing the wonky Dell also, but I finally got the pictures ready.  So here goes.

I also went to the blog to check the layout and realized that I cannot post big pictures in the layout I was using, so I changed it!!

I know this is nothing.  But for us - on the Gulf Coast - in March, it is not normal.  We are just as sick of this as I know a lot of you are.  So - our great ice storm of 2014:

 This is our "grape arbor."  Those are grape vines,  Today they are ice covered.

 Once again, the arbor with some neighborhood trees in the background.  Strange.

On

 We have a wisteria planted in the front yard. It doesn nothing to climb on - and I think that is the reason it doesn't bloom.  In our other house (30+ years ago) we had one planted like this, and it bloomed!  Anyway - today it is ice!!

 Again the back yard - our other neighbors.  The ice actually shows best here.

This is our BIG ash tree in the front.  Our neighbor across the street has their trees pruned to tall, that you really cannot see the ice.  But regardless - enough already!!!

Again?

I know some of you haven't had a break from this cold.  We have.  In fact yesterday was warm - until it dropped 30+degrees in two hours.  We had moved all the plants out of the house and greenhouse.  Please note - I do use the term "greenhouse" loosely.  It is a storage shed with windows and a radiator type heater in it.  But it keeps our tropicals that stay out 75% of the time from freezing.

So now it was 27 this morning.  I know, I know - balmy for some of you.  But still ...

I downloaded some pictures from the last trip to the SSB.  Unfortunately, the tablet (the camera too for that matter) doesn't really capture what I wanted to show you.

This is the road that leads to the SSB.  It is difficult to tell from the picture, but it is dirt.  This stretch becomes terrible when that magical stuff that falls from the sky sometimes happens in these parts

This is from out cattle guard (Texas Gate in Canada we discovered).  There is a small two rutted road leading up the hill.  We can't bulldoze it smoother because the telephone company (Verison) put the phone line right down between the two ruts!  It is taken at about 5 MPH, and even then your teeth rattle.  But then - we have been rattling for about 10 miles by now!

This is the castle.  A double wide.  That is the gate for the new fence to keep hogs and (hopefully one day soon again - if grass returns to the pasture) cattle out.  In the foreground was the previous farm truck - Rusty.  His name is descripive!  It is a 1967 Ford Custom.  Right now - he is just "yard art" because he is very sick.  He doesn't want to start, he is leaking bodily fluids, and once started - he doesn't want to stop.  He has a leaky braking system which has air in the lines.  In the background is the present farm truck.  It wasn't running.  The battery died and we have the new one with us.

This is a view of the Doss Valley from Fuege Hill.  This is the area where my ancestors settled after coming from Germany and San Antonio - that is the ones that didn't stay in San Antonio.  We were coming back from getting groceries in Fredericksburg.,

 

This is Lange's Mill.  This was the "homestead" when that part moved up there.  GGGgrandpa milled grains - when he wasn't making liquors in his still for the Germans in the area.  That was a skill that came with him from Germany!  The mill is closed now, and unfortunately I don't know how long it will stand.  The family there is getting old (late 80's), and I am not sure their kids and grandkids feel like putting anything (money) into it.  The creek in front provided the power to the wheel/

So there you have a brief look at the area around the SSB.

Survived

I have surv ived another week of sloooooooooow internet at the SSB. I am just stopping by for a minute to let you know that. 

On the way there and back, I took some pictures using my new tablet to show you.  I just have to download them.  Quit laughing because I know YOU know how bad I am about downloading pictures.  Yeah, I was going to do that all last week, and well - you know.  Genealogy got in the way!

I will try to get that done this afternoon so I can post them tomorrow.

Well, finally

One of our television gurus finally gave a pollen report yesterday.  Now I know what is out there.  And yes, it is ash, as well as elm and a few others.  The others don't bother me so much because there aren't that many around.  But ash - we have two huge trees in our yard.  While most of the other trees in the neighborhood are oak, there are a goodly number of ash trees.  So I am miserable.

Last night I awoke to strange sounds.  Since Shadow sleeps we me, I thought there was something wrong with him.  No,  it was me!!!  I was gurgling and wheezing!  I guess I am in worse shape than I thought.

The benydril is beginning to work I think because I am not sneezing as much.  I have coughed so much that my  core muscles are sore.  Shows how out of shape I am.

Bleh!

That's how I feel today.  In fact, almost everyone I know feels Bleh.  There is something out there blooming, and we are suffering.

At first, I thoght I had picked up a cold virus when I was shopping for Grandson #2's birthday.  After all I was in the toy department AND the picked over Valentine part of Target.  A breeding ground for bugs!

I wasn't all that careful about not touching my eye, nose, and mouth after I left.  I certainly didn't follow all the rules I had set during chemo!!  So, when my throat was hurting Thursday night, I assumed....  But then you know the saying that goes with assume.

This stuff is still handing on.  I really am pretty sure it is an allergy (allergies?)especially since during Sunday School (we call learning curve because it is really Catechism class for the kids) one of the others came in and said the tree pollens are kicking in.

I should have known since my car was covered with ash tree bloooms when I got in it to go to Grandson #2's party.

And the party - I wasn't looking forward to it, but after missing #3's party, I thought I had better go especially since it was less than 15 minutes from me!  It was at a place that has the blow-up bouncy things, and that was good.  The attendees were from age 18 months to, well let's face it, 68 (me).  Many of the adults went on the blow-up things "with their kids."

They have a rock climbing wall.  Grandson #1 decided he wanted to try it.  Well, he is a bit chunky, and even though parents don't see it - not really fit.  He didn't get far.  Then daughter gave it a try.  She got a little further, but she doesn't have the hand strength.  Then my 6foot 8 inch son gave it a try.  He made it to the top and rang the bell!!  As he said - climbing telephone poles (which he occasionally has to do for work) helps.  I think his height also helped.  We teased him saying that he could ring the bell just standing on the floor!

Oh and the latest.  Daughter bought a new scale.  Their old one only went to 250.  When she got on the new one, she said her weight was comparable to the old one.  SIL got on.  He's the one bragging about losing 30 pounds in a month.  Yeah.  When the old scale went around a second time, he thought it was just measuring what was over 250.  He suddenly realized he was over 300 pounds because rather than weighing the 260 he thought he weighed, he weight 280.  He was strangely silent on Sunday!

And so I will close wheezing and sneezing.  I am  almost  jealous of all of you living where there is snow clinging to the ground.  There wouldn't be all this pollen.  But then - I have no idea how to survive in all that snow.  I still am trying to sent you warmth.

One last thing - I think the a/c is fixed.  I will tell you some more about that tomorrow.  Ah, such excitement here in the attic!

Aaaarrgh!

Warmer weather has come to us.  That means no heat.  Don't be jealous - I will explain.  Last night was also Family Dinner - at my house.  All this equals angst.  So I thought I would share a picture. This is what we saw shortly after switching from heat to a/c because the house was warm after using the oven.  This is the SAME thing we have been fighting for years, and I hoped after they changed the coils it would be taken care of.  Nope.  Not at all.  Nada!

 The company is on their way - again.  Once this is corrected for this year, it will be ok for the remainder of the summer.  But wait - we are not in summer.  We will have more cold.  We will need the heat.  And ...  you guessed it.  We will see the red screen of death yet again most likely.




While I was at it getting a picture of the red screen of death, I was perched on that step of death.  This is the infamous death step.  That innocent lo oking final stair step, but in its heart is just waiting for people to miss it - and sprain an ankle (my son recently), slam into the wall (or possibly break a hip in the fall) - me,  I forgot to get a picture of the wall across the way.   I would say my daughter misses it also and falls, but then even when she lived here she would fall - usually going UP the steps.

Looks innocent doesn't it.  Also note the baby gate at the top of the picture. Actually that is a "dog gate" to keep Clyde (or Simone when she was alive) from going upstairs.  The gap is an emergency escape for Shadow.

Now that doesn't mean Shadow needs it.  He has Clyde bamboozled.  Poor dog.  He isn't sure of that creature.  It will suddenly swell up to twice its size and hiss.  Either that or a "puppy grenade" goes off around him scaring the stuffing out of him!

So what excitement is going on around your house on this President's Day? 

Same old stuff

The most exciting thing I have done in the last couple of days is to change the drapes in the master bedroom.  The ones there had been there 30 plus years, and never fit exactly.  They just barely covered the window width.  Shadow loves to get in that window because it gets the afternoon sun, and he would cause them to separate.  That meant that there would be a bright light coming through in the morning even though they were insulated/black out drapes. Rotten cat!

The excitement is that in my younger days, I put the rod at ceiling level.  I am no longer young.  I had a heck of a time getting that rod down, and in the meantime, it being a cheap little rod, bent.  I balanced precariously on the 3 foot step ladder.  In fact, at one point it  began to tilt.  That sent ideas through my head that were not fun!  I was wondering about perhaps a broken hip.  I tend to forget that I am no longer young and pliable! That thought hits me every time I miss the "killer step " on the stairs - otherwise known as the bottom step.  You would be surprised how many miss that step.

I am trying an experiment with this laptop.  I have tape some paper over the middle mouse pad that is built in.  It isn't perfect, but it is working better than I thought it might.  Plus I figured out thay t my auto spell check wasn't doing its job!  I  can just imagine how badly written all previous posts are!

Today is my son's eldest boy's birthday party.  My DIL sort of amazes me. She is hell-bent on having a birthday party for each child every year.  I missed the youngest one's last month.  It was held in Katy which is quite a drive from here.  Plus I, in my old age prissiness , am put out with the folks who opened their home for it.  Seems like DIL had a surprise party in May at their house.  Finding out that little info was a surprise to us!!  We (and Daughter) were not invited.  So Holdie is only two - he didn't know or care who was there!

I think the cold virus has finally found me.  Two nights ago, my throat was scratchy and I was cold all day.  Being cold in itself is an unusual condition for me.  All the mold counts and pollen counts are low so I don't think I can blame this one on allergies.  I probably picked up the virus at  the store when I shopped for the birthday present.  I am sure all the toys were covered with the bugs!

Have a great rest of the weekend - or if you are still up to your armpits in snow - try to have a good weekend!

-

Latest gossip

PLEASE  NOTE - MY CURSOR GOES CRAZY.  I TRY TO CATCH ITS ERRANT MOVES, BUT THERE MAY BE LETTERS AND/OR WORDS WHERE THEY DON'T BELONG!  SORRY! 

I guess that what this is going to be.  It's about my step-granddaughter.  The one who is so messed up (cleaned that one up nicely).

Perhaps it is that I just don't understand those under 25 anymore, but the ones that are the  "closest" to me, meaning that I hear reports of their lives, I just don't understand.

Megan is now 21.  She is living with this guy she knew for a week before she got pregnant.  They have a two year old.  They claim they are getting married - but NOT at Justice of the Peace.  No, she says she wants the big white wedding.  Personally I find this in extremely poor taste.

She never comes out to ask for money from her dad and step-mom (my daughter).  She hints.  Well for this fiasco that has been set back at least once, she came out and asked just what they were doing for this comedy.

Now, you have to understand, she NEVER calls them - except when she is in a bind for money.  At Thanksgiving, she stood up with the other part of the family and blasted her dad for not being there.  A few choice words were used against him at which time her uncle demanded she leave their house.

She has never told them what the wedding date is going to be.  All plans have been made with her mom and future in-laws (even though they can't stand her).  For her August birthday, Daughter paid $100 to the "venue" and that was the last payment made there.

Daughter sent a text asking just what all the plans were. She knew some of them because she called the person at the venue.  Megan refused to send/call any information back.  Then she and her baby-daddy not only unfriended but blocked them on Facebook.  Now that is really an adult move!

So as it stands, there is no communication.  Not that the situation is unusual.  Perhaps her daughter who is two can be the flower girl for this overblown fiasco that will probably be over in less than two
years.  This judgement comes from the fact that Megan regularly packs her things and threatens to leave.

Just too much excitement!

I figured out why people retired today.  It is so they have time for all the doctor appointments that the old bodies need!!  This week, after having to change a bunch around, I have three!

Last week I told you about the blood drawing fun. That was for the cardio doc on Thursday.  I am hoping that there was enough blood!  The best part about that one is I plan a trip to Costco after the appointment.  I love their selection of stuff.  When I joined, they threw in a cookbook of Costco items, and there are some really good sounding things there.  I am not a fish eater - especially if it's "fishy,"  but I know they have halibut.  I discovered halibut when we were in Nova Scotia.  Loved it!!  In fact I think I ate it every night we were there!

So yesterday was eye doc, Part 1.  The plain jane (oops she is a female too) eye doc.  My pressures were up.  I was taken off glaucoma meds quite a while ago because I have thickened corneas.  That condition mimics glaucoma, but this doc thinks that I now have glaucoma.  Why not? Let's add  something else. So my pressure in the left (of course) eye was elevated.  Instead of adding another med, she wants to do a laser therapy.  So that's planned for the first Friday in March (because we have to take another trup to the SSB).

Today was the retinal folks.  Yesterday Dr G said that according to research, I will be getting these injections in the old eyeball for the remainder if my life.  Oh, goody.  I asked her with all this other stuff, couldn't we just do an eyeball transplant! 

The injection went as usual.  They dialated both eyes however to check them out - again.  So I couldn't see woth a darn, and we stopped by the grocery store since we had very little around.  It is once again cold (I know - for you too, but come on!!) and we wanted venison stew tonight. Had the meat, just no vegies.  Bet my kids would be jealous if they knew.  I am sure there are more than 100 calories in a bowl of stew!

Tomorrow is a fun day/  Lunch with a friend from church while we discuss the "Christmas In July Baby Shower" the group that works with young (teen) pregnant girls helping them finish school, and not get pregnant again!  While I love what they do, the group is getting on my last nerve.  They set the time and date..   We have made diaper cakes for each firl in attendance in the past, but when we ask for a good idea of the number of girls they expect - it is around 15.  Only 5-6 come. 

Last year they even advertised on their facebook and other internet site to get girls to come.  Wrong on so many levels.  This year I am going to suggest we make one that is super nice, and it is a prize for a game.

We do a "noisy offering" at church.  This is the first Sunday, and it is loose change that has been saved for a month .  We collect it in coffee cans, so we shake those coins while we pass.  Each group we help gets two months.  Those folks cashed the check, then made it seem to Minister Sister that we didn't send them the check.  My daughter is treasurer, and she was hot!!!

The dear sweet woman with the constant scowl on her face that I cannot stand is "THE volunteer coordinator" for the group.  That's how she says it too.  It is a job that no one else wanted - I was in attendance at the meeting (first and last after that).  She does nothing to facilitate commnication between the church and the group. 








So that's my life and my week.  Just so much excitement!!!

Rocking along

I hate to even post this, but  -   we are in for a warm up.  We will be going to more seasonable temperatures!  And are we glad.  And really, I am not gloating.  I would gladly share some of this with you, and this summer I would be more than glad to send you part of our high 90s to low 100s.  I know that's what coming!


I found this on Facebook. Seems we can't even get normal snow.  We got some type that begins with a g.  It was explained that it begins as a snow flake, but as it travels through moisture, it forms a little ball.  I didn't get to see it falling, but when I was looking in the eaves of the houses as we neared home - it looked strange.  When I asked my daughter about it before I saw this, she described it as dippin dots!

The bandage comes off G's hand today.  From here on it's just a band-aid.  He is beginning to be able to use it some.  The doctor said he put a lot of  numbing agent in it.  It was hard to do anything because his fingers felt like his mouth after a dental procedure.

Back to the topic of everything these days, next week is the mass doctor appointments for me.  I see my eye doc on Monday, and I am glad.  My eye that is getting the injections (which I get on Tuesday) is hurting. I feel like someone hit me in the eye.  Anyway, as I said Tuesday the greatest thrill - the eye injection.  Thursday I go to the cardio-doc.   I just love doctor's appointments.

Getting ready for the cardio-doc, I went to the lab to have my blood drawn.  Since I can only have procedures done on the left because of the mastectomy, I am very protective of my arm and its blood vessels.

I was lucky (??) enough to get a student working with the "vampire."  I know everyone needs practical experience.  Really.  But with only one arm that can be used - I don't want to think about what the alternative would be to that arm if all the veins are blown. 

The one teaching stuck me in a place I had never been stuck before.  She went to the lateral part of the elbow rather than in the middle where most go.  I was a little nervous, but it actually hurt less. The "teacher" stuck me, and the student attached the vacutainers.  OK.

EXCEPT she forgot to draw enough blood for the ordered tests.  So I was to be stuck again.  The student was going to go back into the same area.  Nope - not allowed, so they went to the hand.  That one hurt, and she didn't get the butterfly in the vein properly.  So they probably only got about 1 millileter.  Great.  They have the ruling that they can only stick the patient twice, and so it was over.

I just hope they can get enough out of the two vials and basically a little capillary tube to run the tests.  I really don't want to have to go again.

My daughter, SIL,  and DIL are on this diet coach thing.   Supposedly SIL lost something like 20 pounds in two weeks.  I really would have liked to witness those weigh-ins.  I know men can lose weight faster than women, but...   Really??  I have walked this earth long enough and lost and gained enough weight that I know this is a little far fetched.  The up side about having to listen to them talk about : I ate this and that, Astrid said ..., the exercise CD did.."  is that I don't have to host family dinner!!  They are so wrapped in this lo-cal that they do the meals.

Meanwhile, I AM cutting back.   I don't exercise because most of the exercises require floor work.  I can't get on the floor- well, I can, but I can't get up without kneeling.  And I don't want to aggravate my deteriorating back.  I have been losing a couple of pounds a week.  I don't feel that I am being deprived.  After all these years, I have heard it all.  I haven't always listened, but I am putting some of those ideas into action.  A couple of pounds a week is OK with me!

What a day!

First - any day that begins at 5:15 AM  is already quite a day.  I am so sleepy that it's a real trial to keep my eyes open.  But if I take a nap, I won't want to get up, and then I won't be able to go to sleep today!

The surgery went well.  The nerve in his left wrist - really more lateral - was deeply embedded, but the doctor thinks his will ease pain and dingling.

Our trip there was by back roads.  The major freeway that connects the two points is undergoing major reconstruction.  Lanes appear and disappear.  Neither of us has been down that way in a long time, and we didn't want to hit it in the dark during the early rush hour.

We knew the weather was going to be cold.  What we had no idea of was mmore SNOW! While we were in the back, it snowed.  Pretty much for Houston, Texas!  Before you know it, we will be so schooled in snow travel our schools won't close.  This is three times this year. 

Apparently tomorrow is supposed to be bad too.  Lucky me - I get to give blood for my cardio doc tomorrow.  Bah!  On days like this one coming, I am supposed to be able to just hunker down and keep warm.  After all, I am retired!

So all is well - -- and cold around the casa!

I'm baaaaaaack!

Finally, but things are hectic anyway.  I guess that should be expected!  You can't go away for a week and a day and not have your schedule full when you come back.

A few years ago, we knew we needed to replace the downstairs a/c-heater.  The company we have used for years and was recommended to us by a friend who did our repair until he got hurt, sold us on this fancy, dancy computerized, high effeciency unit.  I loved it - at first.

To be able to program temperatures, and even have the unit automatically change from air to heat was great - especially in this area where we can use both systems in one day. We began having problems with it changing to air conditioning.  It would display a red light on the thermostat that there was a problem - low pressure switch.  Whatever that means.

In these parts, no a/c is much more of a problem.  Our fireplace will provide plenty of heat if the heat it off, but ...

Anyway - the latest is that the coils had developed a leak, and they had to be replaced.  I was afraid that it would cost a fortune, but the company (grudgeling) covered it.  So that was yesterday!

Today is fixing the handle on the dishwasher. It is a stupid little plastic handle that attaches to metal with two measly screws.  We will eventually have to replace it because of this handle and the little plastic plugs that hold the front on the inside of the unit!

Tomorrow, G will have out-patient hand surgery.  I hope this one works.  He has carpral-tunnel - again!  So I am keeping my fingers crossed, and dreading having to get up at the butt-crack of dawn!  I have a great schedule.  I read until about midnight, sleep until about 8.  Not tomorrow!

So this is my week home!

Making this really quick

Satellite internet is really a poor excuse for internet service, but when you are at the edge of the world, if you don't want dial up (and who does anymore?) it is the only game in town.

I discovered it does not like cloudy, cold weather.  I had no internet yesterday, nor last night.  The sun has finally come out, and so did the internet.  Don't know how long it will last, and I am afraid I will use my measured bytes, and it will once again slow to a dribble. 

I have so much to tell, but it will have to wait.  The weather is supposed to be normal in a couple of days, so "I'll be back!"

SHOT. DOWN.

Yesterday the Clyde training turned to owner training.  I was very apprehensive about this step.   When I am not really sure of things, I don't like to "perform"  in front of someone.  I had told Cat about being nervous at the last training.

She had G start first.  He has NO spacial reasoning.  None. At. All.  It is really serious.  He was having trouble getting the training leash in the correct position.  Well I found out that it is difficult .  It doesn't feel natural to me.

Cat keep saying that someone in Clyde's past had done some training, but they didn't make him actually DO the things they asked, so he has it in his mind that he really doesn't have to do it.  Guess what - my previous dogs have trained me to treat dogs differently.  I thought I could make him mind.  My subconscious takes over, and I find myself not really making him heel.

It was a lot tougher than I even thought!  I felt like such a failure.  But Cat did understand.  She patiently worked with me.  I still don't feel like I was really successful, but I will keep working at it.

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Today when I looked at the national weather map, I saw that we are colder than Alaska!  That really amazed me.  Fairbanks isn't much colder than us.  I feel for our Worship Leader/Seminarian.  He has to be on campus of the Theology school these two weeks - in the Lutheran Mecca - Minneapolis.  That is no place for a Texas boy!

We are headed to the SSB tomorrow .  We have more unseasonably cold weather coming.  By that I mean more temps in the 20's.  I know that isn't really cold for most of the country, but we areGulf Coast for Pete's sake!  We will have to turn off our water, run the pool equipment a lot more, and will probabnly lose our citrus trees that we have in pots on the patio.  These are things that wouldn't be happening if we were here. 

But then, I don't know what the status of the SSB house will be.  I know it's been cold there.  When we had a problem with the water coming out of the pump - like not shutting off - he had the plumber fix the line going to the hunter's cabin.  He didn't have them fix the one going to the house.  We turn the water off, but it doesn't really turn it all the way off.  Water in the lines!!

Because of the laminate flooring, we keep the heat/ac on the highest setting for the service, so that should help keep the pipes somewhat warm.  I am just hoping...

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While I am thinking about it - having a mouse in the middle of where I type on this laptop, my mouse will suddenly make the curser jump around.  I try to change these mistakes that are made with gibberish in the middle of words, sentences, but I don't always catch them.  I KNOW I am a lousy typist (thank you Mom), but this situation makes the typing so much worse.  Please understand what is going on here!!

I will try to keep up here next week.  Depends on how that internet wants to behave!

Relatively uneventful

The day was calm in that there were no more seizures.  Needless to say, everytime he moves I am watching closely.  All his blood work came out normal.  I guess that is good for a dog that is not normal!!  He is such a clown, and keeps us laughing all the time  We have had him about six months now, and we are still trying to really get to know him.  When you adopt an older animal, there is often this period of getting to know one another - like a marriage I guess!

Yesterday, I worked with him and the kennel a bit.  I got him in - with a treat of course - and closed the door.  I walked away, and he actually stayed in it for five minutes, which Cat will love, without freaking out.

Later in the day, he actually walked into the kennel himself and laid down.  To top it all off, he stayed 20 minutes the last time.  I know the door was open, but what a big step!  I put the bed I had bought with the (destroyed) wire crate, and it must have made a comfy bed, so today I am going to make a pad for him.  I have an old egg crate matress pad upstairs. so I am going to take an old sheet and cover a piece of that egg crate.   Perfect pad without bleeding more from my bank account!

Clyde and Shadow met last night - on their own.  Clyde was in his usual place - asleep on the couch.  Shadow strolled through the den.  Clyde awoke and saw the cat.  Then Shadow snapped to the fact that there was a dog in the room.  He ran - Clyde followed. 

All of my plants from the front porch are in the entry hall, so Shadow had no easy access to the dining room (and china cabinet).  He stood his ground, fluffed up to twice his size and spit like a Cobra!  Clyde turned sideways and did his "play with me dance!"  Clyde eventually got bored with it all and walked back to the couch.  When Shadow came back through, there was no interest from the dog!

Pretty amazing day!  Gosh, my life is really dull if this is the highlights!

I will get an "F" on my homework.

When Cat left last week, our homework was to put Clyde in the kennel, and try to work up to five minutes of leaving him in there.  Well - weekends are busy - I know a good excuse.  I planned to work him yesterday.  You know how that was changed.  So I did work him a little.  I did get him to stay in the kennel without freaking out for about a minute, but getting him to go in initially still isn't happenng.  He needs to be tempted with a treat.  I guess that this is part of the frustration that Cat has with him - he just doesn't want to do things on command the first time - that isn't his desire.

After the excitement yesterday, things were quite calm.  We are still awaiting blood test results.  I hope this was a one time event.  I hope there was something unusual, and it will never happen again.  I really don't want an epileptic dog, but...  These things happen with rescue animals, and you take what comes with them.  Not to sound like a martyr, but I am proud of the lives I have saved by having rescue animals.

In brighter news, my mobile mouse arrived yesterday.  I have been using laptops for many years now, and the first time using the mouse were amusing to say the least.  But it soon came back.  I had emailed the facilitator of the digitizing class telling her that I learned (the hard way) during the class that I had to have the mobile mouse.  She said that she has heard that before.  I believe I can draw lines now!!

Today is another training day.  We shall see what comes of it.   Soon we will be turned loose to be the trainers.  Oh my!

Not normal Monday

First - to answer a question - a "puppy grenade" is the term Cat uses for the aluminum can with coins in it and tape over the opening that makes an awful racket when dropped (thown).  It is to stop unwanted behaviors.  It does work!

Now for the news of the day.  No this has not been a normal Monday nor any day so far, and it's only 1:19.

G was working in the study.  There is a bed in there, and Clyde loves to get on it.  G was teasing him about messing up the papers that were up there since he was cleaning out his (one of two - remember) desk.  I was sitting here at my desk (otherwise known as the breakfast table).  Suddenly I heard a loud thump.  I thought Clyde had brought down the house somehow.  When I looked up - he was falling against the wall in the hall.

By the time I got up, he had lost bladder control.  Of course, I was my usual lazy self in my PJs.  I ran to him, and he was really limp.  I ran to get dressed because this was going to be an emergency trip to the vet.  He was still in the same position, but he was beginning to lose control of his bowel. 

I pulled him into the den, and he stayed down.  I tried to lift him, but there is no lifting a (today's recent weight) 70 poind dog for me.  He did get up, and he did walk out to the car.  He was able to get in.

On the way, he laid down completely on the floor board.  Not usual for him. I really was afraid he was dead.  He perked up when he realized he was at the vet clinic.  He loves it there.

He was seen.  To cut to the chase - they believe it was a seizure.  That is good news, and bad  news.  It wasn't a stroke or heart attack.  But if it was a seizure, there will probably be more.

So he it at home.  His heartworm treatment has been changed.  We are hoping he will be fine now. 

No, not a normal Monday.  Hope  there isn't anything like it again.

Got put in my place!

I thought I was being pretty successful with my part of training Clyde.  Notice I said "my part?"  That seems to be the only part of the homework that gets done.

Last night I tried to get him into the kennel without throwing the treat in first.  You guessed it.  He stood there with a really cute expression on his face - waiting for me to just give him the treat.  So it was back to the drawing board.  Throwing the treat, in this case cheese that seems to  be favored over the beloved weiner, all the way to the back.  I don't get away with just a small bit either. 

When we came home from church, he looked like an overgrown (yes, at 65 poinds!) puppy.  It was the most amusing gate he used to greet us!.  It is going to be to hard to get him to consistently sit before affection when he does this.  Guess Cat is going to have to train all three of us!

Family dinner tonight.   Glad it isn't at my house, and perhaps there won't be the long lasting talk about dieting, diet coaches, meals and so on.  Youngest granddaughter is running a fever.  So we will see.  Meal still will be at Daughters!  Wonder what low-cal we are having!

"Cat" the dog trainer

Seriously, that is her name - well nickname.  Her real name is Catherine.  She and my daughter went through school together - kindergarten to seniors in high school.  She was always a little different - she had not found her place yet.  But she has now!

She was here to work with Clyde today.  He always gives her a run for the money each time.  She tries to get him to do his commands, and he always will not do them the first time.  So then comes the correction, and he will be good for most of the remainder of the session.

Yesterday he was really off.  I don't know why.  The problem comes with the "down" command.  A couple of lessons ago, he was ready to bite - which I never thought would be something he would do.  But he just wanted to be down on his terms, not hers.  Yesterday was almost the same thing. 

They worked on the crate thing a lot yesterday.  He is doing really well on that one.  Now I have to get him where he will stay in it for five minutes with the door shut.  I think I can accomplish that.  At least I will give it a good try.

She is going to really have to train G. She specifically told us yesterday that when we are given the time to work him, don't ever let him get away with not doing the requested command.  First crack out of the box after she left - G told Clyde to sit.  Of course, Clyde looked at him like he was from outer space.  I had to remind him of Cat's words to us.  I thought that was going to precipitate an argument right there.  And I used to wonder why people would get divorces after 30 or 40 or more years of marriage.  

We also brought Shadow into the mix.  As long as Cat had control of Clyde, things were fairly cool.  As soon as she left, Clyde went on a search and seizure mission, more hoping to play.  He really doesn't seem to want to hurt the cat, but...

So I made up four "puppy grenades" as she requested.  They are to help startle him, and stop the bad behavior.  We used one yesterday when he was barking at Shadow.

I don't think Cat really knows the obstacle she is up against with this dog!  Or should I say a particular owner.

More than one lesson learned.

I am going to try to leave all the moaning and groaning behind  - at least for a while.  So here goes!

Yesterday, the sewing machine place had a class on digitizing embroidery designs using the soft ware for our machines.  That software was expensive, so I wanted to learn a little about how to use it.  I was very excited about this class.

This was going to be a webinar.  So that requires a computer, a TV, the internet and a hook up for the TV.  Poor Glenda - the one doing the class. Something wasn't working correctly.  The program would run a bit, then dump the screen.  To say the least - that was a little distracting, but we forged ahead.

She had printed out the directions, but they were collated incorrectly.  Once I found the correct order, all was good.  I was finding the correct icons in the tray, and I was progressing very nicely.

When doing machine embroidery, especially when making your own desigs, you must draw straight lines that can be changed into curves and the like.  When we got to this part, we were making the pattern for a pocket to be put on a blouse.  I could draw the horizontal line with my computer.  I could draw the vertical line.  BUT when I was to come over one grid square with just a line, I was getting a filled in square.  I was so frustrated!  I couldn't figure out why even the little lady next to me had it done.

After restarting my design about 12 times, I finally figured it out.  Using the mouse that is in the laptop, everyone else had the free standing mouse.  I watched carefully as I was trying to draw that line.  I couldn't do it in one complete motion.  I had to change the position of my hand.  That meant leaving the grid line, and that meant I was actually drawing little boxes all the way that I went.

Needless to say, I missed the second half of the lesson!  I went from total frustration to laughing at my inability to draw a line on this computer. 

Will I go back?  I would love to.  In fact, I am going to order a mouse today.  Will I be able to go back?  Probably not.  G has decreed that we will go to the SSB that day.  In fact, we will probably miss all the remaining lessons.  Sad.

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Last month, I was shocked when I became the mother of a 40 year old.   OMG - that means I am really old.  Yesterday I became the mother of a teenager.  Lady Bug turned 13.  I remember how upset I was when I learned she was on the way.  The reason - I felt I was too young to be a grandmother (remember - I was teaching middle school -you have to appear young or else!).  Her birth was probably one of the greatest things in my life.  I love you Katherine Yvonne!!!

FINALLY!

I don't know when it came.  You see, my desk is one half of the kitchen table while someone else in this house has the other TWO desks.  My kitchen table is usually a mess therefore!  Anyway, G has decided that putting my mail on the stack of calendars, bill paying reminder book, et. al. is a cute thing to do.

I was going through what I thought was junk mail (you do know what that is don't you, lol) I found my Family Tree Maker CD.  And this is right after my scathing email  to Ancestry because their software company is terrible.  It is installed and working well.  I was able to open my files!  Yea!

I also got a package from a Texas group that airs a TV program we get when we are at the SSB.  They showcase Texas songwriters.  My son is a music fanatic - since he has his band and is Worship Leader at a church (paid!!!).  I ordered him a CD of their music.  It was supposed to be here for Christmas.  An email said it would be here about December 12.  Well - need I say more.  The package included two CDs, a tote bag, and an invitation to attend a taping of the show in late March.  Wow - now that's customer service!

The necklace I ordered for Daughter also came this week.  I had gotten an email with a request for answering a survey.  I did!  I couldn't help but give them very high marks for craftsmanship.  These are individually done since they are  monograms  done in silver (or gold - my pockets aren't that deep).  I also said that this was my second order, and both were excruciatingly slow.  I said they could send me all the offers with discounts they wanted, this was my last order since delivery was way later than the occasion   I wonder when I would have gotten Daughter's necklace if I hadn't paid for expediting the order?  Probably Easter.  Her bd was Dec. 18!

Everything I ordered this year was late.  The crock-pot for SIL barely made it for Christmas when it was promised at least a week before that.  Even the printer I ordered (since G has worn my other one out - he still thinks he is at work and can print whatever strikes his fancy - don't worry about the ink - don't worry that these are HOME printers, not heavy duty work ones) was delayed.  Usually, I get things like that from the office supply places the next day.  This one was over a week.

But everything is here.  Time to take a deep breath - and hit the ordering again!

Perhaps I should just stay home - alone

Sunday night was the infamous "Family Dinner" night.  DIL was going to fix chicken chili.  Now if you are a true Texan, that just isn't chili. But her reasoning was that she, SIL, and Daughter are all "dieting."  So she would fix the food, and we would eat at Daughter's.

The meal was good.  It was filling, but I still wouldn't call it chili.  I was really amazed.

BUT, then the war stories about the previous week's dieting began.  I am fully aware that I should be on a very strict diet.  I am on a diet, but I will never say a word to anyone about it.  I am just trying to be very careful about what I eat, and I am trying to  move a little more.

Their talk got to be soooooo boring.  "well, Astrid (their diet coach and very naturally bean pole body type) said that ..."   Geesh! They have bought all these work out DVDs, they eat just chicken and fish. I think I would rather die - I know there are lots of people who do eat nothing but chicken and fish .  And I know they are healthy for it, but I really dislike the taste and texture of most fish, and since I have been forced to watch my weight (go up??), I have eaten enough boneless, skinless chicken breasts to carry over to 25 lives - if I had them.  My child and in-laws even got out the measuring cups to measure out their chili. 

But on to better things.  Monday I had several errands to run.  I went to get new curtains for the master, bathmats for the dressing area,then I was going to check out ATT giving me a better cell phone rate, and on to the pet store for a new kennel for Clyde. 

At the linen shop, I found the black-out curtains that I think will over lap enough that Shadow won't cause them to separate when he has to get in the window, thought I bought two little rugs, and a new shower curtain liner, since I cut the last one too short.  Got home and found that the mats were a single mat.  Stupid!

Went to ATT - got my rate lowered, a new top of the line phone since mine was acting like a fool!  If I used an app, it would say the battery was dead!  Anyway - because I got that phone, I also could buy a tablet for $100.  Cool!

Then I went to get Clyde's  kennel.  The trainer is working with him to get in the kennel, and she wants him to be able to turn around.  Now - Simone was the same size as Clyde, and she could turn around.  In fact, she could make herself so small that you couldn't even see her in the back of the kennel.  So I measured the one I had.  I went and thought that the next size up was the one that was an inch bigger in most places.  I. WAS. WRONG!

So, yesterday I had to go back.  There is a bigger one.  It is the X-Large,  It looks like it should be another room on the house.   It barely fit in the Highlander.  It wouldn't go through the door.  We had to dismantle it.  We will see what the trainer says about that today!!  It will take up half of my entry hall, moving furniture to give her room to work along with access to the kennel - I don't know how that is going to happen!t

Last night I went to  Lady Bug's first basketball game.  What a game.  He was her first because she finally got out of the cast.  She was quite good, but she has a set of Viet Namese twins that  play all year around on a league team.  They were amazing.  The team has won every game so far by at least 20 points.  I will bet the they win district!

Today we worked the little  store at the elementary school.  After the last one where the staff had to help out, there were a lot of changes today.  I think there will be more after today.  The kiddos get these little "bucks" for doing good things.  Then this store lets them buy crap or if they have enough coupons for neat things (extra recess and the like).  Some of the kiddos have over 150 of these little bucks (whereas, some have only 5).  A lot aren't counted out.  I think the teachers will be told to put them in stacks of 5 from now on.  The teachers I personally would love to kiss are the ones who have gone over the items, gotten the kids to choose, and write it down so we can fill the order.  Some of the kids will stand there for over 5 minutes fooling around.  We see too many kids for that to be happening.  The first grade team was wonderful.  They had their act totally together!

So you have been caught up on my really exciting life.  Oh well - I AM alive, and I am grateful - honest!

Another gripe

It seems as though there is always something, usually computer related, that gets to me.  This one is no exception.

I have talked about being a genealogy nut.   I tried to swear off this addiction.  I really did.  Then something moved me.  It probably was re-loading the old Family Tree Maker on this computer - BTW (that's "before the wipe"), and I got a message there was FTM 2014.  I was hooked once again.  I bought the M, but, of course, I didn't spend the extra $10 for the disc.  Nor did I take note of the associated information.  I wasn't going to lose the program.  No,  not me.

Well - when I was wiped clean, FTM disappeared.  So that means since it was a new version, all my family files are locked.

So, I sent an email to support.  That was before Christmas.  Not. A. Word.  Nada. Nothing.  I was hoping they could find something.  Well, if that were possible, I will never know.

Sooooo.  After Christmas, I decided I would purchase a new copy, but this time I would also buy the disc.  I tried to download while at the SSB.  I have talked about how slow that internet is.  It corrupted the file.  I tried a second time - was disconnected.  I tried a third time, and it said I had used all my downloads. 

So, OK, got home expecting to have the CD.  Let's face it, one week had passed.  No CD.  STILL no CD.  So I wrote the company on the support site that was listed.  This is a portion of what I got in return:

Cher(e) client(e),
 

Nous vous présentons nos excuses pour le retard de cette réponse, du fait d'un problème technique indépendant de notre volonté.
 

À la suite de votre demande, nous vous informons que nous venons de prolonger votre lien de 28 jours. Pour réinstaller votre logiciel, merci de suivre la procédure que nous vous envoyons en pièce jointe.








Oh great!  I still don't have an increase in my downloads, I did get an email yesterday that the CD has finally shipped, but in the end - I still cannot get to my family trees that I have hours and hours in researching. 







Am I an unhappy camper.  You bet.  I would contact Ancestry, but when I did before, I got a phone number for help.  I have found that usually a phone number for help isn't any help at all.  An email does far better.  

 

Scared

I am having pain around the incision sites and in the right breast where I had reconstruction post my mastectomy.  The last oncology visit showed the blood marker to be well within its limits, and I have had pain in this right breast area since the reconstructions  So, I called the plastic surgeon today for an appointment.

It really began to hurt just before Christmas, and the only thing that abates the pain is to wear a sports bra or regular one 24/7.  The pain set in the other night so badly that I couldn't sleep. I have an implant and that seems to be one of the main places that I have always hurt.

Other breaking news is that I have finally gotten my Costco membership.  Supposedly their dog food is supposed to be a very good one, and Cat - our dog trainer - suggested them as a place to get a good dog bed since we are wanting to keep Clyde off the couch - at least most of the time.

He is back on steroids, at least as needed.  He seems to be having heart worms breaking up that cause him to have a dry cough.

I will tell you - my life is so interesting.  I don't know how I stand it!  I just know you are jealous of such a full, active life!

Guess I am just an old coot

Last night was the infamous Family  Dinner which is always wrought with some type of drama, and last night's was no different.

The kids were the usual kids - screaming if Clyde got too close, or poking out his eyeballs if he were restrained and we weren't watching closely.  Same old s*it!  Leaving toys everywhere, but they hit a new low last night in tha  they ripped the top off the old toy chest to put the rocking car on.  Geesh!

But the parents were the amazing ones last night.  G wanted to have venison gumbo.  Ok.  I will do it. BIG batch.  DIL is from a part of  Louisiana  that eats potato salad with their gumbo - as well as rice.  I forgot about that when G went to the store to buy the vegetables that I needed mayo.  So I did about a half bowl (medium mixing bowl) of potato salad and 6 cups of rice.

Here's where I sound like an old crone I guess.  While Daughter, SIL and DIL were parked around the table discussing this new passion hitting around here where they sign up with a resident for a "weight loss challenge" that seems to smack of "Biggest Loser" they were consuming seconds of gumbo, rice AND potato salad.  "Yep - gonna have to watch the carbs, yada, yada, yada."

By the time Son and I got to eat,  we split about 3/4 cup of potato salad, a cup of rice, but as much gumbo as we wanted.  My problem - I don't like dark roux gumbo.  Son was a bit - well - pissed.  He certainly didn't appreciate them going for seconds while some of hadn't eaten at all.

I do love being surrounded by my family.  I just hate hosting.  Just becoming an old coot!

Getting up to speed

I hardly know what to do with a computer that isn't slow as a turtle when it's 30 below!  I can move about the internet with lightening speed

lI thought I would post a picture of Christmas Eve.  All are there except Monkey Boy and the youngest one.  I found these silly animal hats on one of those internet stores that have reduced items (supposedly).  I thought the kids would like them - all except Monkey Boy who is 9!

 

Of course the girls would pose, but Son's eldest got pulled in if he liked it or not.  Sorry this is cut by the side pitcures!

Then I thought I would add an old picture from Thanksgiving  where it was wall to wall Boxers.  Clyde was in heaven!!!

Clyde is closest to the camera.  Angelica (the cat terror) is in the middle, and Princess is looking at the camera.  It's amazing how much room 3 Boxers can occupy.

 

FINALLY!!

Yes - it's really me.  I AM alive and kicking.   I just had reaaaaalllllllllly slow internet for the last week, plus I was trying a new (to me) password saving program.  When your connection is already slow, gets slower with use (that is measured daily rather than weekly or monthly), and a program that makes getting on-line slower, one becomes very frustrated.  The best I could do was surf.  Couldn't even think about posting anything.

I did try to post two times.  The first, my "repaired" Dell gave me the message that it couldn't find the hard drive.  Great.  I was assured that computer would work just fine.  Not so much after all.
Begin
Anyway - Daughter's birthday was the 18th.  That was a fun time - after I got over the fact that I have a 40 year old child.  Christmas was very nice.  Son and his family joined us at church (he told his pastor that he was not doing a 6 pm service - he had a long way to go to get there and ATT doesn't close because it is Christmas Eve).  We had a nice dinner, and opened presents.  What a great time.  Then Christmas Day we went back to Daughter's for those kiddos opening their presents (another tradition).  The 26th we were off to the never-never land of the SSB to get the last hunts in.

But pictures of the bathrooms!! I will try to get them here is a progression that makes sense. Begin  

with this post.  This is the original, but I realize it is only the master, and the other pictures are lost - forever.  The mid point ones are between that post and this one - somewhere.


So here goes.

 This is the hall bath.  Didn't get before pictures, but this is the new.  I don't think it needs any more descriptions.

 Again hall - notice I did have the bars added.  I REALLY wanted one of those neat walk in tubs, but too much $$$, and after a while I am told (by the plumber) the seals leak.  So same old tub

 Hall vanity area,  I wish the color came out more true.   It's a light moss green.

 Master vanity area.  Again wish the color was more true.  It is a dark camel.  Beautiful.

 The wonderful shower stall -  with the seat.  Heavenly.

Both bathrooms have these shower heads.  The middle is hand held.  You can have only the outside spray, only the center hand held or all of it.  Very nice.


So this is the work of our wonderful contractor,  It was such a joy to come home to this after being away for Thanksgiving for two weeks.  That allowed him to finish much more quickly. 

Blah

I am STILL putting items Items away.   Now I realize that I am a lazy slob, and I haven't been diligently working doing that task every day, and (what a run-on sentence - I would get an F if this were one of my high school term papers!) I only spend about an hour when I am working.

When the task gets to the little piddly things, I really lose interest.  It isn't fun.  Besides, I am trying to decide what goes where.  Obviously I am down to the end - the less used things.   For instance, I am not going to do any baking this year.  Not a thing except for a bought cake mix that is red and green velvet cakes.  So that means all my tins that I put cookies in need to be put away.  That means they go in the tippy-top of the cabinet.  That requires a ladder.  I do n't do ladders well anymore.  Especially the little 3footer that I have in the house to use. 

I used to climb all over and hang off that thing like a monkey.  Now I get to the first step, and I am hanging on alright - to anything and everything I can grab.  It isn't even the old rickety one I used to use.  This one is very solid.  But I am so afraid of falling!

I have once again ordered almost all of my Christmas presents.  Unfortunately I did a lot of them last week.  Hopefully they make it in time.  Of course, Daughter waited until the last minute to tell me she wanted a special order necklace like I gave DIL for her birthday.  It MAY be here by Christmas Eve.  Even though I paid extra to rush it through the plant, and special speedy shipping.

Oh, and her birthday is today.  OMG - I am the mother of a 40 year old.  Where did the years go??   I cannot believe she is that old.  Seems like yesterday I was taking her to her Sports Association Basketball games (that was 5th grade).(So she knew that the necklace was an absolute no go for birthday!)

So, I will go piddle with something else for a while, then put my tins away!  Progress!

Freudian slip??

I am a terrible Grandma.  I cannot believe I really did this - old-timers has me fully in its grasp today!

I was supposed to go to "Wall writer's") Christmas Program ,morning.  Five minutes before it was to start, my son calls.  My first word after he spoke was "Oh my god, it's Wednesday!" 

I feel about four feet lower than dirt right now.  I cannot believe I forgot.   In my very weak defense - I have been either a day ahead or behind all week.  I am just crushed.  I have never forgotten any of the other three's programs and the like, but then my daughter calls me daily.  To forget would be almost impossible.

Oh I  just feel terrible about this.  Freudian?  I don't really know.  I would never knowingly do this however.  Never.

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In  other news - yesterday I subscribed to an on-line storage service.  I will never, ever lose files again - unless they go bust.  But it is part of the Norton system, so.  I am backing up each and every computer in this house.

For the little, toy computer that I have all my embroidery files on, I have three other back-up devices.  Two external hard drives, several thumb drives, some files are even on cd's.  When one has something like 8000 or more embroidery files - some free, some purchased - you really don't want to lose them.  Many digitizers will allow only one download of their files that you purchased.  So I have a lot of irreplaceable files - like my pictures were!

So it's time for this terrible Grandmother to close.  I got a lot more "stuff" put into the bathroom cabinets yesterday, but I still have a long way to go. Then straighten the stuff that was just thrown into the bedroom.  Have a great one - better than mine I hope!

Help - I am drowning

I have so much to do, and things keep getting in my way.  I DO love my family, although  yesterday it didn't seem like it.  But - let's face it - getting a dinner for 12 together takes time - plus I had to put away as much as I could so there would be room for people!

I picked up the computers yesterday.  They were wiped clean.  The Toshiba had the files in a file on the desktop.  I can access most of them, but Family Tree Maker won't load.  The family files won't load. My version of Office has gone from  360 to 2007 which is a mixed blessing.  I am having to reload things like the PDF reader and the like.

The Dell - nope it is clean.  There went all my pictures - of Simone, vacations, the kids at their various things, all gone.  I know it is basically my fault.  They should have been backed up.  But.  If the tech I talked to had done both - my pictures would have been in a file on the desktop. They are not.  Even Office is completely gone.

I realize I thought the Dell was a dead computer, and it's not.  I even ordered a new battery for it.  It will be OK, but I am once again in mourning for my lost things on the computer.  I would contact them, but I know they don't keep the files that they take off to put back.  Those things are in computer heaven somewhere.

I would much rather mess with the computers than put stuff away.  What a drudge.  It wasn't any fun taking it out, but putting it back is worse.  Deciding where I want the stuff is not easy for me.  I want it organized, and I probably am over thinking it all. I don't want to do that.  Think that is.

I would like to be upstairs sewing.  I would like to be doing something.  I have promised pictures since September of Alaska - and I have THOSE.  I just am having trouble (thinking) deciding which ones would translate to the blog best.  It is such a beautiful place, and pictures simply cannot capture its enormity.  At least my little El Cheapo camera can't.  I know the pros can get some of it, but especially from a train window it just doesn't happen.

The oldest granddaughter gets her cast off this week, while the youngest got her walking cast on.  Strange juxtaposition!  The middle already had hers a year or so ago when her brother, without thinking, swung a bat and broke her arm.  Both in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing.

I am not helping myself just sitting here trying to think of something else to write  I know there was something, but it is still in the dark recesses of my mind!

Catch ya later!

Grandchildren

I love ALL my grandchildren - all of them.  Some just not at much at times.  Last night was a perfect example.

Lady Bug came over to help me put up the Christmas decorations - which meant outside.  She wanted to do inside as well - like a tree.  But dear Clyde is a chewer - at times.  He doesn't chew anything, but the count right now is Clyde -2, remote controls - 0.  He seems to love those little things.  So I am not going to put up my little Charlie Brown tree however easy it is.  I am afraid I will come home to a tree all over the house.  He is terrified of his crate - so...

Anyway, we had a delightful time.  I pretty much gave her her lead, and off she went.  We now have both sides of the yard decorated for the first time in several years.  I have a lot more decorations, but I didn't want to get them out, and she isn't able (especially in her cast) to put those things up.

Then came family dinner.  Then two of the three little ones (my son's kiddos) came.  The girl wasn't here  because she went to a production of  The Nutcracker.  This after her morning of having HER right leg soft casted to await a hard cast.  She and the older brother were playing on the elliptical while DIL was in the shower.  DIL is going to have to resort to evening showers when someone is there to watch those kids.  Read on for further reasons.

While I was holding onto Clyde  because the baby is freaked out by him, his older brother was in the hallway where the toy chest is - emptying the WHOLE thing out on the floor (which already makes my blood boil) to find a crayon (that shouldn't have been there, but sometime one of the six threw it in there in the hurried clean up to leave).  He then proceeded to write on two of the walls in the hall. 

He is a sweet boy.  He really is, but he is the one involved in the "accident" that morning, and he just doesn't seem to be able to control these actions.  He IS only 5, but still...   I don't think his dad saw this, and later I told him my walls were not for drawing, and that if he wanted to draw, I have A LOT of paper. He knows he will catch heck for misbehavior, but he gives in to impulses.  Hence my ruined walls and a sister with a broken foot.

Then the baby decided that he would chunk one of the large, hard toys at Clyde.  G was holding him while I was eating.   I heard the baby crying (he is almost 2), and poor Clyde trying to get away while being held pretty tightly on the leash to keep him away.  Of course, everyone was so worried about this kid.

So I guess I sound like a terrible Grandmother.  But last night was just horrible.  I still have things that belong in the bathroom closet out, the collection of Christmas presents about- needing wrapping, getting dinner for 12 done, a dog that is awaiting training and really means no harm - he loves (loved) children and people in general, and two of 6 kids acting like little demons.

Bah-humbug!  But the earlier time with LB was a delight!

Might as well be crack

Yep - that's my addiction to my computers.  Yes, I did say computers.  And my addiction to them is just as expensive as crack. At least I guess not having ever  bought crack, nor do I plan to since I have my computers!

I loaded the two large laptops to take to the fixit place today.  I was hoping the newest one would be a quick, simple fix.  Nope.  When we went to boot it, guess what.  You guessed it.  Good old Windows 8 had decided that my password wasn't worth the electrical signal it takes to load it, so it wouldn't load today.  It is going to require purging the system and re-loading it.  BUT, when it is re-loaded it will be with Windows 7!!  Yes!  Hardly worth the money it will cost for all this, but no more Windows 8!!  Yea!

Now, he SAYS he can do the same thing to the dropped Dell.  I don't know.  But I told him I wanted my pictures back.  They were so important to me.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.  At the end of this adventure, I could buy a completely new laptop.  But who puts a price on pictures.  If your house is destroyed by fire for example, it's your pictures that you will miss the most of all the possessions.  They can't be replaced.  Our vacation pictures are on that computer.  Pictures of Simone are on that computer.  Pictures of the grandchildren are on that computer.  And, if he can do it, I will have the dropped Dell back as a real computer!

I just wish all this wasn't at Christmas time, but if I had gotten off my duff back in September when we returned from Alaska, it wouldn't be!  And if my wonderful contractor wasn't so busy that he is working Saturdays and almost holidays (like the day after Thanksgiving) because he has so much business, I wouldn't be trying to buy the things needed for the new bathrooms here at Christmas! 

Oh well - it's only money (!!!????!)  The bleeding of bucks will stop at some point.               I hope.

I will try to get back with pictures of a lot of things - Alaska, which are on the "new" computer, the bathrooms which are still in the camera because this little "toy" Toshiba doesn't even have a hard drive it is so small.  I don't want to load it with a lot of byte hogging pictures!  The baths are beautiful, and I want to show them off!

Yes - I do exist

Things got hectic for a while, and we are finally home with two 99% completed bathrooms.  That means what came out has to go back!

I will post pictures of various things soon, but as usual with me - there are problems about,

Thanksgiving was hectic, and I was really thankful that son and family (and little puppy) didn't come.  We were FULL as it was.  When you add two more boxers to the mix - even if they are small, a smallish house becomes tiny!

While there, I decided to add a program to my "new" laptop because I was getting pop-ups on my email page.  It warned me that removing some of the apps would take out some of the things that were needed to get on-line. Never happened before, and I have used this program for years.  Well - you guessed it.  So I am off to the computer repair with the old Dell to see if they can get the pictures off the Dell and get the other back on line.  Geesh.  Try to be good, and this is what happens.'

So I am on my little 7 inch computer which is really supposed to be for my embroidery and sewing stuff.  It's toy keyboard is killing me.  So with a promise (if you care) that I will be back soon - I will!