Wonderful whirlwind weekend

I feel like a week has gone by since last Friday!  And we almost pushed a week into two days!

I went along with Krissi (my daughter) to Katie's (Lady Bug) water polo meet.  Krissi stayed behind with the Karington (the youngest) on Saturday morning so that Karrington could compete with her summer league swim meet.  Karrington did very well, and the whole team swept the meet.  But then they were swimming against a league from a rather poor neighborhood, and this is their first year of swim team.

Katie was to be in Austin for the water polo meet (she missed swim team here).  She was sent with another family, and she participated all day Saturday.  They left here about 5am on Saturday morning.

I has told Krissi that I would gladly accompany her since her husband and son had a baseball tournament. 

Since Krissi in on the swim team board, she had to remain for the meet, and that really allowed Karrington to swim.  So we left for Austin about 3.  That wasn't too bad.  It stays light so long now. We got there about 6.

We didn't get to see Katie swim that day, and getting to our hotel was a joke.  First, Austin is miserable to drive through.  Hate it, hate it, hate it!  We went to the first place they had reservations when they thought they would be going on Friday night and stay on Saturday also since the meet was Saturday and Sunday, but when they cancelled that one, they couldn't just get Saturday night only(?!?!?!?). 

We were trying to follow her phone GPS.  It send us in a circle first.  Add THAT to crazy Austin.  Then we headed out for what we thought was the proper hotel.  As we got closer and closer, I was thinking it couldn't be right.  It was getting  too far from University of Texas.  So we headed out AGAIN - this time to the correct hotel.  BUT with Austin's wonderful signage, we went across the freeway rather than heading across another road to get on. 

Got to the hotel, and everything was fine after that.  Krissi was exhausted since she had been up since 4:45, and then the meet, and drive.  But we ate at the hotel, had a couple of drinks at the Manager's reception, and fell asleep.  Well the girls and Kristine did.   Ah insomnia, I know thee well!

Up bright and early on Sunday.  Katie needed to be at the Natatorium by 7:45.  Breakfast at the hotel (they do that soo well), and off we went.  A few glitches after we got there - like the main doors being locked - so I had to negotiate some steep steps, but we got there and watch three of her matches.  I have pictures!

I thought the white hat had thrown an elbow at her head, but she was just going for the ball - and all is legal here!  Rough game

Am I a proud grandma - you bet.  She is just so pretty - in fact - she is the whole package - beautiful, smart, talented, and a really nice person.

Once again - she is going to get that ball.

This is a big ol' boy who was guarding her.  She has the scratches to prove it!  But she did manage to pass that ball.  They beat the other team mightly in this game.

Last game - and last picture I will subject you to.  They played the 12 year old team.  This little boy was assigned to Katie and made the mistake of always trying to ride her back - against the rules.  She dunked him a few times.  It will teach him what will happen IF he goes to California for Junior Olympics.  I am sure his parents thought Katie was really mean!

He's perfect

Or so he thinks.  I am talking about G.  Retirement isn't really all that great for couples.  This 24/7 stuff would have been fun - when we were newly weds.  After 44 years, not so much.

I don't care what I say, he will argue with me.  I have gotten to where I just say "ok" and go on.  I don't even try to change his mind.  Life is so much easier without that going on.  We have enough fuel for arguments and "bad" thoughts about one another.

Before the trip to the SSB, I made the appointment for our semi-annual check up on the air/heat units.  I immediately put that date in my book.  (OT - when I retired I thought I could retire that little book.  NOPE.  I have purchased at least five refills for it)

So last night, he referred to that appointment.  I didn't check my book, and I knew that, once again, I had to pile stuff in the sewing room because the technician had to have access to the attic.  Both doors are in my sewing room.

So I trundled off upstairs at 9:45 last night to toss stuff away from the doors.  Not. A. Happy. Camper.  I didn't want to climb stairs at nearly bedtime.  Didn't fit my regime to try to get away from my insomnia.

After coming back down I checked my book.  The appointment is for NEXT WEEK!  When I told G that, his comment was "I put it in my calendar.  We'll see who is right when they show up tomorrow."

Have you ever wanted to just clobber someone?

Back - no real events.

The trip was uneventful.  That is good.  We did have to kill two hogs, but thankfully no snakes at the house.  G saw one on the road to his hunting stand, shot it with the pistol, but had to go back. 

I am calling the situation with the folks up there a new range war however.  G and the neighbor finally talked about this road situation.  Gene doesn't want us to not use his road because our road to the house washes his out - he is mad at his north neighbor because he is high fencing his property.  Gene believes this will stop his deer.  Well, we have had part of the high fence for a year now.  We had plenty of deer last year.  They just move into the space where the others were.  The Texas Hill Country has PLENTY of deer.  That's why I don't hate hunting.  We have plenty of deer but not a lot of forage for those deer.  Almost everyone there feeds the deer.  (And that brings more hogs to tear up the land - and perhaps worse).

Anyway, Gene is building a new road next to the fence.  Then he is going to fence off his road so that the north neighbor can't use it.  Gene is mad at this guy because he never offers to help defray the expense of maintaining the dirt road, and then the fence was the final straw. 

Technically, we can use the "new" road, but we know that it will be in terrible condition AND it will be so close to our cattle guard, it will be really difficult to turn on.  There will be no real room to swing out.

SO we are looking at putting a road in for us.  So from the air, this part of the properties will have two roads running pretty much parallel separated by a fence right next to each other, and ours taking off at the top of the hill.  It was going to run on the inside of the fence until we could angle it up the hill to the house.  STUPID!

I know this is going to cause all sorts of ill will in the community.  At least we really are not in the middle of it - except to be affected by it.  Upside - at least we will never have to worry about our rights to get to the property.  We have a real easement from his sister, and then we will be on our land.  'Nuf said there (written with my finest Texas accent).

Double blessing

Rain!  First, we were so desperate for it!  And we got a really good rain.  Second - I have another day at home - not away.  We will be heading out tomorrow.  Part of the reason is that we were not the only ones who got a lot rain.  G contacted a neighbor up there.  They got over two inches over night.  So that means the dirt roads will be really goopy today. 

Mother's day was really nice.   Our family dinners can run the gamut from close to terrible to really good.  Most hover around it was ok, but Sunday was a really good one.  The food was good (even though I watched my SIL lick the tongs several times), and the conversations were really good.  Very enjoyable.

Yesterday we took the Vicar to lunch to just let her get to know us better and we get to know her better.  She will be so missed when she leaves.  I am not alone in wishing that she would remain our Pastor.

Part of that is that last week, Daughter (who is treasurer - and runs a tight ship) was pressed to pay ahead for a conference that Pastor pushes each year in Florida.  I am against this conference to begin with.  I have been for four years now.  And, forgive me my Baptist friends, but it is a Baptist conference.  I have definite beliefs that do not fit with the Baptist church.  I KNOW I don't agree because I was being forced to be Baptist as a kid.  I made the decision to change.  I am in a church where I am comfortable.  With that said - I know we worship the same tri-union God, but it's how we go about it that I don't believe in.

Anyway - during the sermon on Sunday (and NOT our Pastor - our student) it was pointed out that discipleship should begin in the home, and this is one of my sticking points - the man is supposed to be sure that the family falls in line. 

Our little church is barely hanging on.  It costs way over $1000 to sent people.  We don't have the money.  Especially to be taught Baptist doctrine when it flies in the face of even what our little maverick church believes.  We do not subjugate the importance of women. 

Then our "dream team,"  solely appointed as usual by the Pastor, has the gaul to say we need to begin to look for a place to buy.  We can barely pay our rent.  We have a top ten giver list, and they give far and above the rest of the congregation.  It is expected that these folks "buy an interest in the property" for the church.  In effect, they become the mortgage company - or stock holders.  The property would be the collateral.  That.  Is. Not. Going. To. Fly.  Our top ten are getting a little tired of being the ones who pick up the slack.

But the fee was paid.  Several bills were not, but they are going - again.  And Pastor can take another side trip to Disney. 

Fun?

If I haven't really verbalized it, I think I have hinted that our schedule of spending a week a month at the SSB is getting old, really, really, really old.  I don't particularly look forward to it, and I really miss not being able to do many of the things that go on at home.

This summer is going to be fun/not fun.  All of our monthly trips remain scheduled.  I really don't know why - in this drought, it is going to be hot (really hot) and dry.  I will have to listen to G rant and rave about the heat, lack of rain, the stupid weather gurus on tv that don't have a clue about what the weather is going to do, and then announce it will be a beautiful "_____" (you fill in the time period) without rain - so go out and have fun! 

I try to stay away from politics here.  The immersion in this family is too great.  I need a respite from it all, but here I go with a statement that is a hot topic.  I do believe we are in the midst of climate change.  But I also believe that there is a natural cycle going on that is being exacerbated by our burning fossil fuels as we are doing.  BUT, I hate hearing the statement after some record (of heat or drought or terrible hurricane or,  or,  or...) GLOBAL WARMING.  I am sick of those terms.  Now that being said, I won't address it again.  And I don't want to hear it from ANYONE.  Especially G.

Now on - in addition to all the planned safaris to the SSB, we will be going to Arkansas the first of next month for the train convention.  This is partially my fault.  I thought since it was going to be when school was out, the grandchildren, who love to ride trains (at least the Sunset Limited to Alpine) would like to go.  And we included their parents.  That produced deafening silence of responses.  But we are going.  At least it is only a week, and we will drive there - like it's so far.

The end of the month is a weekend trip to Dallas for another family reunion.  This one is earlier than the one last year because the Aunties will be moving to assisted living.  This move will kill one of them.  She is nearing 90, and she doesn't think of herself as old.  When she looked into it before she said she doesn't want to be with all those old people.  Plus - she is so particular about her food, she will hate theirs.  After all, I don't care how good the food is at a place, after a while it becomes the same thing.  They will have the rotating menus to save money.  Granted.  And after a while it all tastes the same.  There is no adventure from the chefs - if there is one, and it is going to be rather bland because - they are cooking for old folks with sensitive systems.

Then we have just begun considering a trip to San Jose.  I want to go to California again.  Been once, I want to go again.  Lady Bug is going to be swimming Junior Olympics Water Polo.   But we could do some sight seeing as well.   So another week, but we have to fly - ugh.

September we will have another trip,  Plans are to rent a car, drive to Seattle.  Then go to Glacier National Park (before it closes), catch the Empire Builder (train) to Chicago (my love!), then the Spirit of New Orleans to guess where, then home on the Sunset Limited.

Fun, and not fun.  Gone another two weeks.  PLUS back to the SSB. 

Some would call this schedule great.  And granted parts of it are.  I am sure I will have fun.  But I also know all the things I will miss. 

Yeah, like this will contine

Since we are set to make the SSB trek next week I know my blogging of things with great importance will stop - again.

Perhaps it is because we are at the end of the world.  We don't do much, so there isn't much blog fodder unless (and hope I am not jinxing this) a snake appears or a hog does something.  And that satellite internet isn't conducive to trying to do something like this.

And the rain - the long expected rain.  Yesterday it was cloudy with the teeniest hint of mist.  All the rain got caught up in the Dallas area.  Might as well been in Germany.  Today we must have had a fair shower before I got up.  There was an actual puddle on the back patio.

When I was listing my stable of physicians, I probably forgot some.  Those that I don't see often.  My ob/gyn for example.  After years of avoiding that check, I vowed to be on top of it.  Funny what a little cancer will do for you.  So when I was going to make the appointment last year, I was told that I only get them every two years.  That's all that will be paid for.  Now this year I have read that if you are over 65, perhaps every three or four years.  Humph - I guess I can go for that.

The mammogram is covered by the oncologist.  Thankfully it is demanded.





So my days are often filled with appointments.  Those I wish I didn't have. 

Ones that I would love to have are visiting with friends.  Everyone is busy.  Most of them are still working (sorry Sharon, and Dora - I know you will continue since Earl has died).  Those that aren't working are doing a lot of things.  They may still have children living with them (but it works for them), and care for grandchildren.  They also volunteer their services.  But we are all busy.  We try to get together, but we are constantly checking calendars,

Except those weeks at the SSB.  They are fairly empty, unless we make Community Club on Fridays and stay over for Hilda Happy Hour on Wednesday evenings.  There is grocery shopping in Fredericksburg, and perhaps a trip into Mason for something.  We MIGHT see BIL and his wife, and we MIGHT have little SIL come over for dinner.  We used to see the neighbors, but we don't seek them out anymore - not after the suggestion we spend several thousand dollars putting in a new road because he wants to revoke a very long standing easement.  

Appointments done

At least until the first Tuesday in June.  Then it's back to the retinal guy.

I got to thinking about my stable of doctors last night.  Twice a year I see my oncologist and cardio doc.  Dr Poison I really look forward to because I can get a read on the blood thingy that shows if there is a cancer present.  Cardio doc is just to check on blood pressure.  I think he is just feathering his retirement nest.  My heart is fine - has been - still is.

Every month, and it will be through my life, is the retinal specialist.  Once you have wet macular degeneration, the treatment is every month.  Then, once again, twice a year or more often is the regular ophthalmologist to keep an eye (hahahaha) on the glaucoma. 

The dentist wants my teeth cleaned every four months.  Nope.

Now I have once again added the dermatologist.  My mom died at 57 from melanoma.  I want body scans.  So that is yearly.

I DID have a kidney doc, but when he told me I didn't have kidney disease.  So I cut him out.

I don't have a GP.  The one I had doesn't take Medicare which I had then.  Still don't have one.

I have an ear doc, but I don't have to use him regularly.

Too many!

It's all over the TV news

All of our TV weather gurus.  They are talking about us having a really good chance for something I don't understand.  They are talking about this thing that has been happening in other parts of the country.  This stuff is causing all sorts of problems there.  It causes flooding.

They have we have a really good chance for rain.  It seems we used to get this stuff, but it hasn't happened so far this year.  At least real rain.  We have had some stray drops of water fall from the sky, but they are of the 6 inch type of rainfall - you know, the drops are 6 inches apart.

Well - we have the possibility of several inches of rain this weekend.  AND, there is the possibility of a tropical system forming in the Pacific that might  move this way bringing this rain stuff.  Oh my.  Just think - this could become a state wide phenomen.  Wow. 

They are speaking of getting a couple of inches of rain.   I wonder if this means that the drops might be closer together?

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On a more seious note (at least for me) the little dog is still lost.  Her rescuerer called me on Sunday to ask if I had seen her recently.  I was so hoping he was calling me to tell me she had been found, but no.  He said he had seen her when he came down on Saturday evening. 

I just wish she wasn't so fearful.  She would have been picked up and placed in a caring home by now.  I scan the beltway access road everytime I am on it.  Of course, I haven't been down past where she was seen.  I worry about her getting water, but the bayou is just right there. 

He said the daycare center had left food, but she didn't eat it. 

I just wish I wasn't such an animal lover.

Good intentions

And the road to hell - and all those sayings.  They surely apply to me!

My intention about a month ago was to try to write something each day.  Welllll, we see where that has gone.

My new philosophy is that one retires from their jobs so that they are able to make all their doctor appointments.  Case in point - I have had two already (and it's only Tuesday), and just made another today. 

Yesterday was my teeth cleaning.  THEY want me in every four months.  My INSURANCE COMPANY and I want every six months.  Well - it has been ten months.  I have this disease called procrastination.  Couple that with the fact that I generally HATE talking on the phone means I don't get appointments made. 

Fortunately most of my doctors (and this dentist too, but I end up cancelling these) make my next appointment while I am there.  In fact, since we will be traveling a lot this summer, my appointments are made with the retinal doc through September.  With the investment in my mouth, you would think I would keep those appointments.  Nearly every tooth in my head has a crown.  And to think my dentist still hasn't been to Europe.  My mouth alone could have sent him for a month and in five star hotels flying first class!

Today was the retinal appointment, and yes, my eye hurts.  This will be a monthly fact of life for the rest of mine.  Gee - I thought I was through with the discomfortable monthly things.  My vision is important to me.  It is so ironic that I am so careful about vision and develop not one but two blinding eye diseases.   Not only macular degenertation but glaucoma as well.  Gosh - I won the sweepstakcs.

Today the dermatologist called to remind G of his appointment for Thursday.  While I was already talking to her (see what I mean!) I asked for an appointment for me.  So I get one 15 minutes before his.  I will call the insurance company today since I was put on a Medicare Advantage plan (that I see no advantage to) rather than being able to have Medicare as my primary.  Supposedly, I am still on the PPO that allows outside network.  When I went to the nose and throat doc - that wasn't the case,  They said I was suppposed to have a referral.  What a nightmare.

I get to end the month with a visit to the gastro/intestinal guy for the dreaded colonoscopy.  At least that's what my card said, but the office said an office visit before.  I know I will have to have one this year.  I had too many polyps last time - of course I had waited something like seven years since the last one.

I do have good intentions.  Life is just getting in the way.  My current project is getting the scrap book from Alaska together.  I had something like 300 pictures printed through Walgreens, and now I am putting them in the scrap book.  This project has been dragging on for at least three weeks now.  I have had to gather the materials, determine I don't (1) have what is needed (2) have enough of what I have.  This is my first attempt at a scrapbook like this.  May be my last!

And once again

more gripes!

Well - a few anyway.  Like number one on my list, and it seems to get there often - computers!   My baby refurbed computer is basically dead.  I had been having trouble for some time, and Friday it shuddered into a coma.  This is my computer that is (supposed) to live upstairs in the craft room and be the caretaker of my embroidery design files.  Well - being a itty-bitty laptop, it will get thrown into the computer bag to travel to the SSB.  Who knows, I might actually work on getting all those files FILED!

So I finally was upstairs after almost a month to work on a shirt I did for the daughter of a friend.  I was learning a new technique.  I was trying to transfer six months of designs onto that computer, and I couldn't keep it from shutting itself down.  I know that is a characteristic of that little thing even in good health, but I was very frustrated with it.  So Saturday I got it "going" pretty much, and then suddenly it shut itself down again (as I was trying to load the designs from the thumb drive), and would just show me two of its little lights when I tried to boot it.

So it needs a computer doctor. 

I went to get the Dell.  It was supposedly repaired back in December.  I get an error message with these horrible words : cannot find hard drive."  What??  That's the most important thing on that computer.  But I didn't let that deter me.  I pushed on.

When I lost my pictures when the Dell was dropped in Alaska, I swore I would never let something like that happen again.  It happened because I was just too lax to stop and back up things.  So a couple of months ago, I subscribed to a Cloud service.  I went to the cloud to download those things that were on the baby to the Dell.  Kept getting the error message, but I persevered. 

It was taking eons, so I just left it to download.  When I returned, there was a black screen with some kind of message that I don't remember.  Basically, it was that there was no hard drive.  I just rebooted, and my welcome screen was back. 

My plans are to use the Dell as the computer there until I can take the baby to a new, "private" repair guy (whom I should have used when I had the Dell repaired from the jokers I did use).  Then I will, if I like him, take the Dell to be checked, and finally this new one that the joker did something to so that I get a kind of blue-screen of death.

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The reason I had to let the baby sit so long with nothing going on was that our wonderful (not) Uverse was out - again.  This time when it went out, so did the phone and the computer since we have a bundle.

I really thought my craft room was going to be safe from the technician coming in, but no.   One of my Facebook groups is a machine embroidery one.  Ladies all over the world have been sharing their craft room pictures, and I know that mine is really not the worst.  In fact, I showed a lot of the worst ones to G so he would realize.  But no - the guy had to visit me three times.

When I turned on the set up there, it said I was off line for my DVRed programs.  That. Is. Not. Acceptable.  Fortunately he was just outside and could come in to fix it.  Then when (and this is choice irony) ATT called, our phones wouldn't ring because they didn't work.  With Uverse, you can have the caller ID on the screen.

So this time we had to call him.  He didn't hook up a line to the modem that controls everything.  SO disaster averted on that front.  I know it really goes against the tech if you call the company back.  My son works for the company.  The guy was really great though.  He replaced the remotes that Clyde chewed up, and the ones that I replaced with $9 universals I bought from Amazon!

So that was the end of my week and you are up to date.  I know you will all breathe more easily now.

Where has the time gone?

First- we are back from the SSB.  Didn't see any live snakes this time - only ones dead on the road.  Probably because of this crazy weather we are having.  As they said on the news weather yesterday, we haven't had a 90 degree day in six months.  We have had 90 degrees even on Christmas - probably those Christmas days when my aunt would give me a beautifyul velvet dress for Christmas, and I was hell bent on wearing that dress - forget the temperature.  And I suffered for being bull headed.


Now - for my question.  Today is G's birthday.  He is 70.  OMG - where did the time go?  I haven't been as taken by any other birthday as this one.  The clock is ticking.

It doesn't help that my friend's husband died two weeks (I think) ago - at 67.  It just hits me that I am not a kid any longer.  I should realize it - my body tells me at least daily if not hourly.  My brain keeps telling me that I am still a kid.  I don't know what age it thinks we are, but vertainly not 68.

I never expected to live this long in reality.  My mother died at 57.  Even though I had been really healthy until 60, I never thought I would live this long.  I don't know why.  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I really thought that was it.  I would die in two years.  Here it's been 7.

So - we are rocking along.  In my mind I wonder how much longer will we be able to make that 6 hour trip to the SSB.  In fact - I can't help but wonder just how many more days we have left.

Happenings from the edge of civilization

All the big news from the SSB.  And that would just about cover it all.  The bluebonnets are out.  Not as pretty as years past since we haven't had much measurable rain this entire year.  But Easter Sunday is day after tomorrow, and we have had some bizarre weather on Easter Sunday before when we have been here.  With the crazy weather that has been going on, I won't bet on having good weather.

Several years ago, there was a really severe storm that moved through early on Easter Sunday.  Daughter, SIL and Lady Bug were here.   We were going over to have lunch with the "others" in the late afternoon.  We could see the storm brewing.  A cold, windy, wet day was on tap.  SIL had been out working on something,  and we took a break to play a board game before his showering and us getting dressed and ready to go.

The bottom dropped out.  It rained buckets upon buckets.  The lightning flashed, and the thunder was terrible.  And. The. Electricity. Went. Out.  Both houses up here (theirs and ours) are all electric.  SIL went to take his shower, and the rest of us, all being city folk, didn't think anything of it.  Our water is from a well.  We need an electric pump.  He had sufficient water for a shower, but after that - we had none.  And we were thinking of how stupid we were.

But lunch was still to be on.  My Sister-in-law planned a beautiful meal of roasted tenderloin, potatoes, salad and the like.  They have a gas grill, so still no problem.  But alas there was.  The winds were so strong they kept blowing out the flame.  So we had really rare meat, potatoes that were either charred or raw, and a good salad.

Her kids were leaving as we got there.  They took command of their road because things were mud pits and they didn't have four wheel drive.  We did - and almost got stuck.  As my son says - four wheel gets you stuck twice as far off the road.

So another Easter, we had an ice storm.  Out decks were covered in ice about a half inch thick.  All the prickly pear was coated in ice. 

I don't know what this Sunday will bring.  It is really cloudy today,

The excitement has been overwhelming.  Yesterday was Fredericksburg for groceries.  On the way home, we were reminded that the afternoons get warm enough for snakes since we ran over one on the road.  Great.  And Clyde hasn't been able to get is rattlesnake avoidance training yet.  We will just have to watch him closely.

Today was Mason to go to the Department of Agriculture.  We have applied for a grant to get rid of the brush on this place.  Won't know anything for sure until July or so.  But there was a little additional paper work. 

So we are back.  Me and my barely above dial up internet will be doing some genealogy here in a bit.  I can see the bird feeders, and put fresh food in the hummingbird feeder since he was almost banging on the back glass door this morning letting us know "we're back!!!  FEED US."

Sunday dinner

Guess who was the host!  Yep - me.  And we survived.

I don't know if it is just that I don't understand little boys or what, but I really do wonder about Son's eldest.  He just seems to have  streak in him.  I hesitate to say mean because I don't know it that is the truth!  He just gets this look, and then he does SOMETHING.

This really isn't a good example, but at the time it pissed me off.  Son and I were sitting at the table, and the boy came to get in Son's lap.  He pulled a small flashlight out of his belt loop and proceeded to shine in directly in my eyes.  A look of glee was on his face.

As I said - that might just be boy.  I don't know.  My experience with boys was raising my son and Daughter's son.  Both of those were/are surrounded more by women than other boys.  Son has two boys.

Oh well, Clyde was safe in his crate, and they didn't even give him notice, and nothing was broken otherwise destroyed.  Family Dinner is over for at least two weeks.

My "step-granddaughter" is proceeding with the circus she is calling her "big white wedding."  We were wondering if she was even going to send SIL and Daughter an invitation since she has refused to speak to them since about January.  She was demanding (yes - you read that correctly) money from them for this fiasco.  When Daughter pressed her for more information, she refused to return texts or calls.  So it was decided that there would be no money for this forthcoming.  They put the money into an account for the little girl's education.

No one in these parts think this marriage is going to last.  They have been "together a almost three years now (the baby is over two - so baby's age + gestation = time together), but Megan has threatened (packing her belongings) to leave several times.  A trip to the JP would make this mess just as legal - and a lot cheaper.

But the invitation came through.  SIL wants to ignore it.  I can't really blame him.  This girl has hurt him many times. He could have just taken the role as sperm donor, but over the years he has really tried with this little brat.  Daughter knows they have to go.  But she is worried about what will happen at the wedding.  If the groom's father is as much of a creep as they indicate - it won't be a happy family building/joining time.  As Daughter says - reminds her of her wedding where SIL's father faked a heart attack at the reception.  Karma gave him one 17 years later.

And tomorrow we are off (again) to the SSB.  I hate that.  We will miss all Holy Week here.  We (our church) being rather modern does some things in very different ways.  Last year we celebrated Maundy Thursday by doing a take off on the Last Supper.  We did "Beer and Hymns" at a local taverna that is family friendly.  Beer - remember we are Lutheran first, and mostly German next!  It was largely attended, and really a great thing.  Then Friday will be the traditional (at least more traditional) Tenebrae service.  Those are quite moving.

Since they will not be at the church on Thursday, the altar was stripped on Sunday.  That always sets the mood.  Sunday is was even more poignant in that the comparison between the festivity of Palm Sunday was ended with the austere stripping of the altar.  Really set the tone for Holy Week.

I will try to get back before next week, but I doubt that anything noteworthy will happen there!!

I am SO terrible!

First - the whole issue is really not my business.  In my mind, at least, I believe I think I am thinking of what would be best for them.  But, again, it is none of my real business.

Son called yesterday about several things.  Among them was the fact that on Sunday they had planned to announce the SIL was pregnant - again.  She miscarried.  It was a very short pregnancy.  This is about five she has had.  I think her body is trying to tell her something.

Secretly,  I have to admit I am glad.  That makes me feel so terrible.  It's not like they don't have children.  They do.  One 5, then close to 4, and 2 year olds.  In some ways, they are really good kids.  In other ways they are hellions.  When they are here or at Daughter's house - they are hellions.  They are in to everything.  They hit Clyde with hard toys.  They poke Daughter's dogs in the eyes if they are in the crates and can't get away.  My eldest says the girl (almost 4) is mean. 

Children are so expensive.  The only one working in their home is Son.  And he is working four jobs.  Thankfully they are not worked concurrently, but he works six days a week.  He has his telephone company job, he has his band that plays out every other Friday, he has joined another band that plays less often, but still it is a Friday or Saturday night.  These gigs aren't over until 2, then there is the packing up - especially with his band since he owns all the equipment.  Then the drive home.

On Sunday, he is the worship leader at a little non-denomination church far south of town.  He has to be there early because that is when the band practices.  So there goes half of the day on Sunday.

I feel terrible for my feelings.  She is going to go back to the fertility specialist - or at least his general practice since that doctor has retired.  Her ob/gyn told her that after her next cycle they would put her back on progesterone to help keep a pregnancy going.

One thing about this - this will be her last natural baby.  BUT she talks adoption.  There is only so much room in their four bedroom house, and there is only so much money.  Her dad things he is Daddy Warbucks, and he does have a lot of money.  I guess he will finance these kids - especially through high school and college. 

I am so torn about my feelings.  But only because I know I shouldn't have the feelings I have. 

Moved to action

My best friend's husband has been in and out of the hospital for almost a year.  It began sometime in late summer when he fell in the bathroom.  He broke his hip, ribs and hit his head.  He was alone that morning, and he was there until Dora came home that evening from work.  He was in terrible condition.

It was days before surgery to repair the hip was done.  He wasn't stable.  His kidneys were not functionong properly.  I really don't know it he had been having kidney problems prior to this or not.  Although I refer to her as my best friend, we don't communicate frequently.  She still works as I said.  She is also the one I have referred to before because I couldn't understand.  But the street of friendship goes two ways.  So enough here.

He finally, after being in ICU for a while, was released to a rehab hospital.  He was there for a while, and I don't know if he ever wehn homw.  In October, he went back to the hospital.  He was going to have cardiac by-pass surgery.  The kidneys flaired up again. 

He ultimately had the surgery.  He spent 45 days in ICU, and was unresponsive much of the time.  But he would rally.  He would give hope that he was going to overcome,

Then last Saturday, the doctors discovered he had become septic.  He wasn't expected to last the day, but he did.  He lasted through Sunday.  Unresponsive, but the family still had hope.  That was until Monday - the sepsis was caused by yeast.  It came from the cather he had almost continually.  But it could, as easily, been from the trach or feeding tube or almost anything. 

So they finally decided to stop all treatment with the exception of oxygen.  Their oldest son is a physician.  I know this was sheer hell for him, but in a different way from the rest of the family.  He didn't push Dora into removing support, and I know he wanted to.

Earl was removed at 2 pm.  He passed at 9 pm.  He is at peace.

So why am I moved to action?  With my six or seven recent surgeries, cancer and all - I could have been Earl.  Would I want to spend my last moments in ICU hooked up to who knows what, in and out of consciousness?  Being terribly sick and probably hurting.  NO. 

I keep saying I will execute a medical power of attorney and living will.  I haven't done this in seven years.  It will be cpmpleted this week.  I don't want to have this happen to me.

Irony is not my favorite

When I was teaching science, the first thing we did, the first week of school, was to teach safety.  Now there wasn't much we did in 6th and 7th grades that was unsafe.  Normally the strongest chemical we used was vinegar, and even when we did dissections, we used specimens that were no longer preserved in formaldehyde, and certainly we did not use scalpels.  They kiddos used scissors.  I would joke with my colleagues that I want to do dissections no bisections.  So those science classes were relatively safe.  Even when I taught high school biology - it was safe, although those days involved scalpels and formalin.

Friday was the laser surgery on my right eye to reduce the pressure by opening the drain.  That eye bothered me all weekend, and my left eye is about to pack up and leave home because it has been so mistreated.  This weekend was one where both eyes bothered me.

After church I was remarking to G that it is so ironic that I have diseases in my eyes that can/could lead to blindness.  When we did safety this was my spiel to my students about their safety goggles:
              

               If I tell you to wear your goggles, I mean to wear them.  On your face and eyes, not              around your foreheads or necks,  These are the only two eyeballs you will even have!


So here many (many, many) years later - what is going on?  I am on the verge of blindness.  Not. Funny.  I know it's not because of mechanical injury.  I can't kick myself in the butt because I was stupid.  But still ...

I had the injection today - that's part of what brought this topic on.  My left eye is so sensitive.  They tried to help out this morning by adding "an extra drop" of the numbing drop and letting me sit a little longer, but it is the speculum that prevents my eye closing.  My eyelid is tender. 

Do I wish I could quit - yes.  Would I? Not on your life.  I just thank God each day that I can have this procedure done!

What goes around ...

I really had mixed feelings last night.   It was "Family Dinner" night.  I have a real love/hate relationship with this night these days.  I was with all six grandchildren on Saturday - William (son's oldest) a pre-school program (at 9 on a Saturday morning!!!! Egad), and Karrington (daughter's youngest) an after dance clinic with the high school dance team.  I purposely didn't bring up Sunday dinner.  I was hoping DIL would step up.

Anyway, SIL and daughter did dinner.  Son waited until 5:30 to tell us they wouldn't be there.  We meet at 6.  Just a little late Son.  Very inconsiderate. 

So I got my feathers in a ruffle.  I am VERY aware that a son often will spend the time with the wife's family.  This is apparent - G, SIL, even my BIL.  They just do it.  I don't know if they were with her family yesterday, but I will bet they were. 

It often happens.  Her dad, Chris, is a demanding ^*(*&&(*, will do that.  For years after her parents' divorce, she wouldn't speak to him.  Even before the wedding, she wouldn't speak to him.  Her mom really pushed for her to make up.  I think she is sorry now.  Chris demands (very passively aggressively) they spend a lot of time with him.  He has quite a bit of money, and he uses it. 

I guess I really sound bitter.  Most of the time I just blow it off.  Last night really bothered me.  If they had cancelled early, that would have been fine.  We would have stayed home (and watched either Shameless or Game of Thrones), and so would have SIL and daughter.

Daughter said it rather succinctly.  "When Mom and Dad are in town, it's just a given ..."

While I am venting, here I go again.  The only person in our church I simply cannot stand - at all - did it again.  First, of all the seats in the church, she chooses the same row where we always sit.  God forgive me, but I find other places to "pass the peace."  At the beginning of service - I confess my feelings about her, and I try to be better,  To do that it's best to just stay away from her.  It's impossible.  During Learning Curve (Sunday School) she joins our group.  I know our group is usually comprised of the really fun people in church, but we don't need the wet blanket that she is.  She continually has a scowl on her face.  She is cold as ice to almost everyone.  Only sought out by the ones who got them to come to church in the first place and their family.

She really put the icing on the cake for me though.  We have a prayer table in the back.  It is open before, during, and after church to go back to light a candle and say a prayer.  I have been praying continually for my best friend whose husband had almost died several times while being in ICU for 45 days.

After communion, I was headed back to pray for Earl.  One of our college youths was already there.  The Ice Queen barged right up to the table, nearly pushing this girl out of the way.  RUDE!  RUDE!  OBNOXIOUS!  I felt like doing the same to her - especially when she stood and stood after lighting her candle.  But I held way back waiting.  Some people...

So thanks for  sticking with me if you are still here.  I seem to be a lot more bitchy these days.  I don't mean to be.  I just use this forum because if G hears me vent,he makes rude comments.  I don't think he realizes that sometimes you just have to express frustrations.

So where have I been?

Pretty much - no where.  I didn't go to my sewing club on Thursday.  The weather had been predicted to have severe storms, so I didn't want to be in that, and the project didn't hold any interest for me.  I didn't like the design they were using, I have better, and I have made many pillowcases.  So, there was no reason to go.  Plus - I didn't need anything from Costco.

Yesterday I had the pleasure (not) of going to the eye doctor for another laser treatment on the other eye.  I thought the left might have been bad because that eye gets poked once a month.  Was I ever wrong!  The right eye hurt just as much as the left.

She has four of us scheduled.  Her little waiting area holds four people.  Not husbands and wives.  A wife was back there with her husband.  At first I thought she was there for moral support.  That was before she tried to go in with him when he was called for the laser. 

She then went to one of the assistants.  I couldn't hear what she was saying, until the assistant asked her how long something had been going on.  Then when her husband was finished, she hit up the doctor.  She wanted a consultation right there, without an appointment, and probably for free!!

That bugs me on so many different levels, but mostly because we have to wait such a long time anyway.  A drop is put in the eye to constrict the pupil, and she waits an hour for that to take effect.  She said the longer the better.  Then there is the time for the procedure.  She schedules these appointements for 11.  That means we don't get out until about 1 or later. 

So enough of that rant.

Then I picked up the medication for my eye, and the second batch of the pictures that we managed to save from the Alaska trip.  I thought about half were lost when this computer crashed, but they were all there!  Other vacations and completely gone, and the Outer Banks is half around,

Anyway there was a special deal to have prints made, and I want to do a scrap book, so I printed (a total of 350) the pictures.  I couldn't decide what to cull even though for most folks the scenery really looks much the same.  Let's face it - glacers are glacers.  Denail was fog enshrouded the whole time.  Really there was fog most of the time we were there!!

Today I, once again, got up early for me especially on Saturday.  My number 2 grandson had a program.  I forgot his program at Christmas!!  I wasn't about to miss this one.  It took as long to get to the program as the program lasted.  Four year olds are so cute!

Such an exciting time.

Perils of retirement!

It has really happened.  I completely forgot this is Tuesday.  I really thought it was Monday.

Perhaps one reason is that I am NOT looking forward to Friday.  I. DO. NOT. WANT. THE. LASER. TREATMENT!  Oh course, I don't want to go blind either. 

Daughter when I spoke to her last is debating giving Lady Bug her Guardasil injection.  I think it is the last one, but there is "research" out that it has terrible side effects.  I don't know what to tell her except that I don't know who did the research.  Researchers can skew their results, so I don't know.

I am so sick of Uverse I could scream.  Unfortunately we have it for TV, computer AND phone.  Everyday, we lose our service for a period of time.  It is getting really old.  Calling them is a pain.  At least when we were still with Comcast, their service line was in the United States.

Clyde loves remotes, and he has chewed up three of them.  The first, I called ATT.  It was two weeks before we got a replacement.  With Comcast, all I would have had to do was go to the service center.  Not ATT.  The call went someplace out of the US, it took almost an act of Congress to get a new one, and then it was  not delivered for two weeks.

So when Clyde chewed the other two, I went to my old stand-by Amazon.  They were delivered within days.  They work just as well!

So while I have a signal, I better post this!

BUSY!!!

Our church observes Lent with Lenten services on Wednesday, Sundays are not part of Lent.  But you would think we are in any other season of the church year the way our little church is doing.

Every quarter (I guess) we have a Trivia night.  It isn't church trivia - it is general trivia.  Out Seminarian (and Worship Leader) is a mid thirthies guy.  His history is interesting.  He was a devout church goes - even going to a Lutheran school throughout school, and to a Lutheran university.  Then something happened, and he quit.  Didn't want a thing to do with church.

His wife has been a devout church goer, and so is her family.  When our church organized, they were some of the first to join.  Laura convinced Mike to come - once.  Well, that was then, and now he is going to Seminary. 

During his time away, he worked as a bartender.  And he would organize these trivia nights at the bar.  There they were for money for the teams.  For us, no.  The money we donate (because it is not mandatory) goes to something the church is funding at the time - and not our operating expenses.  Although for a time, it looked like that would be a good idea.  We almost needed to be our own charity.

So - Friday night (in Lent mind you), we had Trivia night.  G and I were going to go, but a spring thunderstorm was threatening with hail and all, so we stayed in.  I think the turn-out was good 

Last night was our "Festa Italiana" dinner.  We have been working on this for months.  It is to pay for our Vicar.  Now what is a Vicar?  It is like a "Practice Teacher" only it is a "Practice Preacher."  She is completing seminary, and this is her internship.  The sticking point is that we need $20,000 to pay her for the year she is with us.

One of our members thought up this dinner.  I really thought it would be a flop because they set the tickets at $100/person or $600/table of 8.  Time went on, and the tables weren't selling.  For the longest there were only two tables bought.  As it turns out, instead of the 10 we originally set, we ended with with 11 (at the last minute - causing a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth).  We hoped to clear $6000, and we cleared $6400 with more coming in.

I was in charge of the decorations.  I have a "team" of ladies who can channel Martha Stewart and transform our little store front church into quite a nice place for something.  So we went to work yesterday morning, and transformed it into a quaint, cozy Tuscan restaurant.  The meal was lasagna, which I was afraid would be cold as ice since people had to bring the cooked item from home. 

It was all prepared by one person, and she THOUGHT SIL could cook them all in his restaurant cooker, AND would have the rolling holding cabinent to keep them, but that didn't happen.  I am sure that poor woman probably gained a million grey hairs, and lost 15 years off her life with this dinner.

But it was beautiful.  The food was adequate.  The wine flowed freely, and there was plenty.  The entertainment was her brother who is an opera singer in New York.  It was great.

But all this happening in Lent???   What are we giving up again?

Breathing more easily

Yesterday, I had my yearly mammogram.  I will never miss another one.  The last time I did that (for about 10 years), I ended up with a mastectomy.  Don't want that again.  I also had a bone density test because I am on the medication that stops any production of estrogen.  My tumor was an estrogen receptor, so I want to try not to have that around.

We completed the mammogram.  She even did the right breast which is pretty much muscle from my back and an implant, but since there has been pain there, I was delighted to have that one done also.  We went into the room for the bone density.  I wasn't too worried about my bone density.  With the number of times I have fallen on my hips, they must be in pretty good condition.  But at the end of that, the radiologist wanted two more pictures of my breast.

That puts a cold chill down my back.  There is scar tissue there also since when I had reconstruction, the doctor did a reduction.  Hence - cutting and scars.  So I have had some pain because of the scar tissues.  Of course, I worried about that!

Today I got my letter in the mail that the mammogram was normal, but it also said that I have dense breast tissue and yada, yada.  Always had that.  So I am not too worried.  I really am thinking about telling Dr Poison that I have had pain in the right breast which was reconstructed.  My CA25-27 has been rising over the years (7!!!!).  I have to admit, I would love to have a CAT scan to make sure there aren't any little tumors beginning in this body somewhere.    We will see about that one.

Today it was back to the eye doctor.  This was a follow-up on the laser she did on the left eye for the drain that was making the glaucoma worse.  So what did she find?  Well, of course the right eye has to get its fair share.  The pressure was up in that one, SO I get to go in next Friday and have the laser surgery in THAT eye!   I am so thrilled I can't stand it.  And where are the cortisone drops that I use after laser surgery - at the SSB.  And what will my insurance probably say?  I am probably going to have to pay outright for those, even though it will be a new procedure.

I am not looking forward to that procedure.  At least this time, I KNOW it will hurt.  Last time, I thought it was going to be easy.  Not. So. Much.  So I am prepared this time.

Got to sleep in my own bed last night.  The last night in Daughters nearly killed me.  My back hurt so much, and I didn't take any kind of pain pill over there.  I was so glad to be back in my 13 year old bed.  It was great.

Yawn!!

I have been on a period of time where sleep comes with much difficulty.  I get ready to fall asleep - in fact I almost drop my Kindle when I doze off.  Then I turn out the light, and like the light that goes off, my eyes pop open.

Now add a new bed to that picture, and never having used the alarm on my phone, last night was a night of naps.  I am really feeling it today.

I had to stay moving after taking the two little ones to elementary school (the oldest was picked up for middle school) because today was my mammogram and bone density appointment.   I would have loved to have gone back to bed for a while!

When I keep the grands, the oldest one gets up before 6.  I get up at 5:55.  That still gives me time to get her up and ready for her ride that comes at 6:50 should she not wake.  The little ones get up at 7, and then can be dropped off between 7:45 and 8:15.

They aren't missing the parental units too much it seems.  They played especially with Daughter when she called to tell them good night, and this morning when she called.  It was "Hi, love you, bye."  I thought that would hurt her feelings, but she said she was glad because it meant they were doing very well.

So we are at it again tonight.  All of them want my White Chicken Enchilidas - with the exeption of the youngest.  So I will just make her a chicken taco.  SIL left stuff to make a crockpot pot roast, but I decided I was able to cook for them.

Daughter comes back in tomorrow, AND she is supposed to provide soup for the Lenten soup supper that comes before the Lenten service.  I told her I would make the soup in the crockpot.  So I am going to do Tortilla Soup in the crockpot  I think it will be good.  I just don't have any cilantro.  But we will do something.

So that's the happenings down here.  Our temperatures are actually beautiful.  It is still a little cool - especially for us, but I know what is coming.  We need to enjoy this as long as we can.  But the sunshine is so pleasant.  We (hopefully) will get rain this weekend.  We do need it badly. 

Staying with the grandchildren

Both daughter and SIL have business trips this week.  She will only be gone until Wednesday, but still someone needs to be with the kids.  So I will be the one.

I am looking forward to it.  They are fun.  The oldest granddaughter and I get along so well.  She is sharp as a tack, and gives as good as she gets.  We have a terrific time together.  But I am so used to 13 year old kids.  I know that makes me strange, but I really get a kick out of that age group after working with them over 20 years.

Our Rodeo has finally wrapped up.  They did something very unusual - they broadcast the events.  Not the concerts, but I don't care about  that as much as watching the events.  I picked up from the semi-finals through the finals.  Then last night was a different things all together.  It was eight groups chosen to represent the big rodeos in the country.  It was the ones who had won these rodeos the most.  Really good riding!

It was also the Wrap-up party for the different committees.  Daughter and SIL are on "Horsepatility."  As you can imagine, they help in the horse barn.   Anyway, SIL says he has lost 50 pounds in the last 10 weeks (we don't see it, but...), and he didn't realize that the weight loss coupled with the fact that he had not been drinking resulted in him getting a bit, shall we say, looped.

Daughter was really ticked at him.  She even drove home.  Family dinner was here with only that family, and SIL slept for the two hours they were here.  Daughter was not happy.

I was a little hurt that Son and family wasn't here.  I understand that he had a really busy weekend, but the fact they did some things during the week hurt my feelings.  Like they went to Katy to see her dad at least during the week.  But the old poem about daughters and sons is so very true.  I accept that.

I don't know how he is going to keep up with his new schedule.  His band played on Friday night.  Those gigs last until 2, and then he has to break down equipment, get home and put the trailer in the garage, and finally get to bed.  He has three kids under 6.  You know they get up bright and early, but I HOPE their other grandmother had them that night!

Then Saturday he sang with another band.  They hired him (they had wanted him for a long time!) as their front man.  So now he will be appearing with them.  He is keeping his band also. So he has Brian Loftin and Texas Reflections AND Lonely Roads.  He will be playing out every weekend.

Add to this being worship leader for a church way south of us on Sunday mornings.  As with church musicians - especially those who have day jobs - the musicians get to church early to practice.  Then, especially for churches who are meeting in rented spaces, you have to break down the church.

So I do know he was really beat last night.  Plus in his day job he has moved back into the fiber-optic part again.  He has done it before, but that was a while ago.  So he needs to be on top of things.  He is having to relearn the job.  But all of this will help with being moved into management!

I have finished my tales of woe.  Nothing serious.  Just a little moaning, but that's life

Here we go again

Heard around the homestead yesterday:

G:  Did you buy another cartridge for the printer? (asked as I was printing two PDF patterns for dresses that I had downloaded)

Me:  Yes.  I told you I did.

G: I thought you said not to print because you didn't have a cartridge.  I haven't been using the printer because of that.

Me:  says nothing but thinking - I am sorry you know there is another cartridge.  That means you will print everything you come across.  That's why I had to buy a new printer.  Darn!

Today:

G:  Are you printing something?

Me: No, at least not right now.  Why?

G: Something must be wrong with the queue  I guess we will have to reload the computer.

Me:  thinking - Oh, sh*t - he has broken this one too.  

Me:  What were you trying to print.  I will shut this computer down to see if there might be something stuck in the printing.

To cut to the chase, it was fixed.  While I was in the study, we talked about his computer not coming on properly, and the like.  Me thinking that I wish it would break because he is used to working where there is IT people, and unlimited printing available that he didn't have to pay for.  Come to think of it - HE doesn't pay for the printing here either!!!

Oh, get ready little printer.  You are going to get worked to death like your predecessor!

Another find!

On a whim, I decided to download "My Legacy" as another way to do my genealogy research.  I am still trying to fight Family Tree Maker to be able to make CDs of the work to share with family.  Not. Going. Well.

It was while playing with Legacy that I discovered a link to newspaper archives.  Of course, it was a pay for service since the program was free to begin with.  There are many, many mentions of my great-great and great grandfathers in the San Antonio paper.  I can't believe what movers and shakers they were.

This morning I discovered that Ancestry can access those archives.  Yeah, I know, I am a slow learner.  There was the write up of great grandfather and great grandmother's wedding.  They had 800 guests!!  Can you imagine?

I would love to know how the family fell apart.  There is certainly not the monies in any of the families that was once there.  I guess the Depression did them in.  Don't know.

It has just been one discovery after another.  My head is really spinning. 

Heading home tomorrow

While this trip had some diversion, I am still ready to go home.  There is so much I want to do at home.  The diversion was our hunter, his wife and granddaughter were here for the weekend.  He was planting "deer crops" down in his hunting area.  I don't know how he thinks they are going to grow - we still aren't getting rain.  And if the hogs come up from the creek - they crops will be gone.

Yesterday we went to the fellowship hall at the church to buy the book.  It made me realize that I am really related to so many people up here.  I had forgotten I was related to this guy too!  I should have known. 

That got me to close down the research I was doing on G's family and go back to mine.  It has been a while since I have looked at the research, and now that I am more familiar with and know more people, I was amazed at all those I knew.  For a girl who was an only child - I am finding I have a huge extended family.

I was even more surprised when I was looking at my grandmother and family.  It was a surprise to learn that I had another aunt who died in 1936. That I learned when Dad was alive and talked about her.  She was named Florence, and so was my Grandmother.  I thought he was talking about his mother. Nope it was his sister.

  Ancestry is opening up new files now - especially the 1940 census.  There I discovered that I had another cousin. She was born in 1929.  I have no idea where she might possibly be now.  Her dad was from Washington, and I am thinking after Florence died, they moved back there.  Needless to say, I was blown away.

So I have spent a lot of time working on organizing embroidery files and on ancestry things.  I have gotten some books out that are here again.  I also read Warren's autobiography.  He states that it was written from the heart, and it was.  It is his words.  Some things could have been stated differently - I am not sure there was a proof-reader.  But when you figure that German was his first language, and he didn't speak English regularly until 1941 when they were forced to speak English at school, he did a good job.  Errors are easily made when there isn't a proof-reader!

Today will be laundry and cleaning out mess from being here.  Love it.  (NOT)  As I said, the "joy" of having two houses is cleaning two houses.  I have never been one who just loved cleaning.  If I could afford it, I would hire someone to come in.  It's tough being cheap and not a house cleaning fool!

Time flies ..

I don't know about having fun to cause the time to fly, but it does here.  The pace is so slow, but the time just disappears.

Yesterday was going into Mason for bird seed, deer corn, and the groceries I didn't bring.  We took the old Dodge because it needed gas, and we wanted to take it in before it got too hot around here.  Its a/c is a little wimpy. 

We went to my favorite place - the resale shop. As usual I got some really nice fabric - as if I needed it, for an average of about a dollar a yard.   Usually they have yard lengths or less, but this time there were a couple of bigger pieces.  I intend to make some tops.

The damper on everything was the drunk driver who plowed into the crowd at SBSW in Austin.  That's where we get our news, so it was carried most of the day.  ythat is such a wild, eclectic time.  Continual party.  But this guy wasn't partying.  He had stolen a car - probably in Killeen.  (Jude that is about 100 miles up north from Austin.)  He just didn't want to get caught driving drunk again.  He has a record from Alaska.

Today I was working on genealogy again.  I could be taking blinds down to wash the dust (fine dirt that comes in the smallest gaps) from them.  I could be doing a lot.  But I am not.  The big downside of having two houses is cleaning two houses!!  Even though this is MY house.  When we stayed in MIL's, I would kill myself to make sure it was cleaner than when we came in.  If she could see that house now, she would die on the spot.  SIL isn't interested in keeping it up.  It is horrible - inside and out.

So our hunter came up with his family.  That gives G someone to play with in the evenings!!  Out of my hair.

Yesterday the guys came to clean out the cattle guard.  Hope that shuts up the old maid man across the way.  He wants to have us use another way to get into our property.  He claims the water washes the road out.  No.  It. Doesn't.  Besides we haven't had rain in so long!

He b*tched about the dirt filling the cattle guard.  When I talked to him last night with his intended racial slurs toward the Mexicans who work for this company, he was quite subdued.  I think he realizes that we are not going to bulldoze a new road for him.  This is what happens when the land is sold out of the family.  We get people like him.

So - another 5 or so days.  Tomorrow I will go to Doss.  One of my distant relatives has written a book and the signing is in the church's fellowship hall.  I would really like to get the book. 

Try to catch ya' later!

This and that

I am sorry I was so angry and yet maudlin on the last post, and I should probably take it down, but it is how things were/are.  So, in blogger fashion, it will stay.

Today was eye-injection day.  I told that doctor that I would rather have the injection than the laser thingy!  He said "well, at least I am better than someone."  That was what I thought of as being out of character for him. He seems to be rather a sober-sides, so this really surprised me.  But then, I see him less than five minutes a month, so I shouldn't make rash decisions about his personality!







I guess this is another sort of history lesson.  A Facebook page of a Texas magazine posted a drawing of a map of the hill country.  I tbough I would share it.  It shows all the little towns

If you see Doss, which is northwest of Fredericksburg, that is our mailing address - that is IF we had a mail box up the road.  We don't.  But we are off a little dirt road to the west of that.  Where the road number sign is the even smaller (as in a church and the community club building) community where G's family settled,  It is called Hilda. 

Where we really live is another three hours southeast of either Austin or San Antonio.  So this gives you a (kinda distorted) view of where I spend 25% of my time!

And speaking of which - we are off again tomorrow for six days.  We were to go later in the month, but Daughter has a must attend meeting in Austin for her job, and SIL has a "Pizza convention" that is a must for him.  Since he is in the hospitality business - working with restaurants and other food establishments he goes to these conventions to sell equipment.  That means someone stays with the kids.  That would be me!  And that is the time we were going to be gone!

You can follow my trip beginning about 1 pm in Austin where we will head north through Cedar Park to Liberty Hill, Burnet, Llano, Castell, and Hilda.  Then we head west on dirt toward the Llano River where we will stop at the SSB!!  Be there about 4pm!

Partially answered question

When I was younger, I wondered why folks who have been married for 25 plus years get a divorce.  After all that time??

I am beginning to understand.  And it is all that time.  You put up with things for all that time.

So where does this come from.  Well - I know that we are constantly changing as people.  And that means that couples change.  Sometimes, it isn't for the best.

That's how I feel right now.  I really would like to get out.  All this after 46 years.  There are changes, and I don't like them.

We have always had humm .. disagreements.  Some would become loud.  Always there.  But I am tired of them.  I don't fight back anymore.  I just shut up and let him go on.

Last night was almost the end of it all.  SIL and grandson were away at a baseball tournament,  so we went to dinner ":with the girls."  G had gotten meat out - our fav - venison backstrap.  When we didn't go out to eat, we decided it would go into (oh, such a waste) stew for Family Dinner.

It was on the counter  That's important.

When we got home, to cut to the chase, Clyde had gotten it off the counter, and ate it.  Guess who got blamed for it.  That's right me.  Only me.  "If SHE had put it away ..."

I was ready to pack my bags and leave.  I was totally fed up.  I don't know where all this is coming from, but I am really and truly sick of it.  One of the women at church was surprised to learn that he was Daughter's dad.  "He always looks so grumpy"  And he is.  And I am sick of it.  And I am sick of not going/doing anything because he doesn't like "crowds."  He just doesn't like people - and right now I think I am included in this.

Thanks for listening.  I should take this down, but I doubt I will.  I should just keep this to myself, but ...   This is my blog, and this is one of the things it is for.  So, it will stand.

Partially good day

This morning was like old times.  Daughter and I went shopping together.  We used to do that all the time, and I got really used to that.  I looked forward to Saturdays when we would go out to do whatever shopping.  Then came all the sports stuff.  Baseball tournaments, basketball games, and on and on.  There went our shopping expeditions.

Today we went to a Farmers' Market that was in another little burg that is outside Houston.  There are many of these, and this one is just right up the road.  I didn't really expect to get anything exciting.  It is at the very beginning of the growing season, and we did have that ice last week.  I also had been to Costco and bought cherry tomatoes, lettuce, artichokes, and strawberries.  So I didn't need much of anything.  I wanted to get a look at this place though.

This little town is one that we used to frequent a lot.  I haven't been there in years, and it has changed a lot.  The main sreet is quite charming and quaint now.  Our Railroad museum is relocating there soon - in fact the work has begun on the new facility.  The market was small - as I imagined it would be today.  But we managed to buy.

I have suddenly begun to like Indian food.  I mean like from India - not native!  There is a little restaurant close by that we go to occasionally.  They have these things called samosas that I really enjoy.  Where am I going with this?  Well - of all things there was a person there selling Indian food!  Yea.  So we both bought some items from her.

Daughter got two bows from a lady there who had bows and pillowcase dresses (that were too expensive), and then we found a person selling Texas olive oil products.

The only produce were greens (that G won't even begin to eat), beets (same thing), cauliflower, broccoli, some onions and some tomatoes.  There was grass fed beef, but I passed on that today,.  It was an interesting trip,

Today would have been really great because Son was going to come by to do some work for us.  But I should have got together with DIL because I am pretty sure he forgot.  So they are at a birthday party.  They will be coming by later.  But that means he is going to be dressed, AND he won't have his tools, and (this I shouldn't say) the family will be with him,  That means Clyde will be terrorized.  And the toys will be scattered.  And on and on.  Terrible grandmother I am.

So with that negative ending - I will go hang my head in shame.  I do love those kids, but I have never been really good with those who are from 9 months to five years. 

And the eye says "enough already!"

The last time (about three weeks ago) I went to the regular ophthalmologist (don't you wish you had regular and special doctors??) she said that she didn't like the pressure in my left (of course) eye.  She could prescribe another medication for my glaucoma (still think thickened corneas) or use a laser.

She thought the laser would be better, and I thinking that that would be great - not another co-pay, would be good.  So it was scheduled for today.

My appointment was for 11.  G had made an appointment for a pedicure at 1.  He said he tried to call, but I didn't answer.  Well duh!  I told him I would be vacuuming.  So I didn't get to remind him that I had the 11 appointment,

I hate having later appointments.  The doctor always gets behind, and this one really does.  That's part of what I love about her  - she doesn't hurry her patients, but that is also the problem.  She then gets behind.  So I got in at 11:45.

They sat me in an exam room until 12.  Then I got (SURPRISE) a drop in my eye, and was moved to the section where you wait for your eyes to dilate.  At 12:30, I called home.  I told G to go on, and I would be there ASAP.

It was 1 when I got in to the laser room. G had already cancelled the nail appointment.  I wasn't worried about the laser business because about 10 years ago I had a treatment (in the same eye I might add) to take an aneurism out.  So my vision has been crappy (sorry - no other way to put it) for 10 years.

So another drop, and then the dreaded speculum - only it wasn't really a speculum - in the eye.   It was like a speculum, but I believe it was a magnifying device with some sort of liquid in it.  I was still ok - every month I get that blasted speculum for the injection. 

Then the laser started.  She said it wouldn't hurt, and I would be fine to drive.  SHE. LIED.  Like a big dog.  That thing was painful, but not in the eye.  It was in the cheek below the eye.  I was at the end of my rope when she finally stopped.    I hope that little drain is now open to allow the pressure to drop

Driving for the first 15 minutes was quite painful.  Making things worse, the highway is under major construction.  Lanes appear and disappear daily.  It is always bad, and today was horrendous.  And it is really the only way without going miles out of the way to get from the medical center back home.

I survived.  My eye hurts.  The drops to go in four times a day hurt.  And my eye is about to run away from all these procedures.  I may wake up with an empty socket tomorrow!

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.