Busy, busy

We have been gone - again.  This time we became "leaf peepers."  We took trains to the Northeast.  We left here, went to New Orleans (for the night for our connection).  Then it was Wilmington, Delaware, Burlington, Vermont, Quebec, back to Springfield, Massachusetts then home.

This was a `12 day trip.  I really have to say that while our color is much later, our trees are really just as pretty in the fall.  I was prepared for temperatures in the 30's, but our last day - in Springfield - the low that morning was 19!!!  On the trip from Burlington to Springfield we saw LOTS of snow in Vermont.  They were even clearing roads.

Both animals are freaky from their stay - their "camp" experience.  Shadow was wild while there, and he hasn't left my side unless I have left the house.  Clyde is his usual exhausted dog, but he is like this even when we go to the ranch.  Any change in the routine just wears him out.  He finally ate this afternoon. 

I have a mountain of laundry to do.  I got better with my packing this time.  The only extra things I brought home were one blouse and night clothes and underwear.  I won't go into reasons for those (other than the blouse) being extra.  If you are over 60, you may understand.  Think I will be talking to my doctor about a little bladder lift soon.

But all is well.  G did have us scheduled to leave for the ranch tomorrow.  Gasp.  At least he put it off until Monday.  I keep hoping there will still be flooding in the Hill Country (not to wish anyone any problems, but ...).  But he also said that if we don't go on Monday, then we won't be home before Halloween.  I don't like leaving this house on Halloween.  Nothing has ever happened, but I don't want it to.

So that it where I am.  I haven't downloaded pictures yet.  I did buy a new edition of Photoshop.  I don't have any photo editing on my computers any more.  Don't know where it went, but I have one now.

I will check in later!

Short dishwasher update

Cross your fingers!  The guy came out on Monday, just as I requested on email.  He replaced both controllers and both heating elements.  As he was doing a final run of the machine, he decided the top drawer was making a noise.  My heart sank.  More time with no dishwasher.  I was in luck - he had the plastic (gasp) parts that are with that drawer (it will take more time to explain what they do than I want to spend here).

Anyway - it works - at least each drawer individually.  It's quiet.  He does clean so nicely.  BUT I haven't had a chance to run both drawers at the same time.

I don't think we will really love this machine.  It is small really.  My dinner plates are too big to fit the way they are supposed to, but apparently this is a problem for all people.  The tech showed me what to do - turn the plates around.  I did - and it works,

Guess I will contact Discover and allow payment to go through in a couple of days.

This and that and pictures

Here I sit waiting for the repairman of the lemon dishwasher.  I am really hoping he DOESN'T have the controller is able to fix it.  I don't like it.  It won't hold all the dishes I want it to hold, and from reading various reviews, it will break again.  And we will begin all this over again.  I want this thing gone.

But to more fun things.  This past week was our high school's homecoming.  Katie was kept busy with all the different "days" they had as spirit days. 

Saturday was the dance, but the water polo team had two games.  The coach managed to get them at 12 and 12:40 so they could get back home to primp.  Those were some tired girls however.  The whole team didn't show, so they only had one sub.  Basically they were all in the water an hour and a half or more playing really strenuous games.

This is their "float" for the homecoming parade.  Katie is second from left.  Her first homecoming parade.

The girls (and Som Choi) getting ready to leave.  Don't know what the hands represent, but the girl sitting graduated last year, and did their hair this year.  (Strange homecoming - only present students attend)

Just for good measure, this is my 11 year old grandson.  Yes, he IS a big boy - probably the biggest on the field.  He is playing the sport HE like - not the baseball his dad pushes,.

 

 

The other four grands, while each being cute as can be didn't have something special going on.  The youngest girl has a birthday/birthday party next week.  Sooooooo.

And the beat goes on

Remember the new dishwasher.  That supposed top line, whiz bang thing.  Well it STILL has washed 4 plates, a pot and assorted glass and silverware.  That's it.  Only now it won't drain the water that resides in both drawers.

The technician came out on the 11th (perhaps that's what was bad).  Stayed for over two hours.  Took the control devices from the drawers saying it hoped they would be over nighted. They. Were. Not.

So on the 15th I sent a complaint to what they laughingly refer to as Customer Service.  The response from them was to send them the serial number and a copy of the sales invoice.  Of course, we weren't home and I didn't have access to a scanner and especially those requested items.

I sent those back to them three days ago.  Nothing.

Two days ago, I filed a dispute with Discover (it pays to use Discover on items like this).  So I have a temporary credit for this bill.  IF the piece of junk worked, I would pay for it.  Since when I called the dealer he dismissed me with the referral to the company, perhaps this will get his attention.  I don't feel I owe him anything more.  He was aware I had used the thing one day.  This action may take about 30 days for it to come to completion.

Today I used their on-line request for service.  Wanna take bets on what will happen????

"Snake-bit"'

That is a saying here in Texas.  I'm not sure any other area uses it, but it is quite descriptive.  And it makes sense since we do have so many poisonous snakes around here.

Anyway, that's how I am feeling just about now.  And here goes with another moan/groan post.

We had a very nice dishwasher that was about 15 years old, but worked well.  But it had a design flaw.  The handle.  It was plastic connected to metal.  There was quite a force exerted on that handle when you pulled it to open the door of the dishwasher.

One of our hunters has become our appliance repair.  That is his business, but we didn't use him before because he is located on the other side of Houston.  He assured us that it didn't matter.  He didn't mind the travel.

So we called him to repair the dishwasher at least twice.  The last time, he said he didn't think he could fix it again.  Of course the parts were discontinued!  He spent quite a bit of time fashioning a "fix."

So the Lord and Master around this house gave the edict that it was time for a new model.  I cringed a bit because I really hate getting rid of something that does what it was meant to do.  Of course, you risked fingers to open the thing to get it to do its job!

I researched and researched.  We looked at some at Costco.  Then I went to the internet.  G called our hunter/friend/repair person.  I narrowed the search to one I liked.  We decided we didn't want to use a big box store because my daughter, who will make pennies scream before she lets them go, has had problems with delivery AND installation.  I don't want to put up with that.  Those stores used to provide great service - all at once.  Now it is a delivery service and THEN an installation service. She has found on several occasions that when installation gets there, they find damage from delivery.  Then the whole things begins over again.  Nope.  Not for me,

SO we went to the appliance store we have been visiting for over 25 years.  I knew I would pay more, and I knew I would pay for delivery/installation.  But I like to support a "local" business.

When we got there, we looked at the model I had chosen.  Then he showed me a two drawer model.  Hey - there is only the two of us most of the time.  We could get by with a smaller unit that has the flexibility to get larger - the second drawer.

I have given up fighting the appliance color wars a long time ago.  I have gone through the Harvest Gold, the Avocado - not it's stainless which I think will be around a long time, but it's more expensive.  So we wanted white - which had to be ordered.

The new (what I thought top of the line) machine was delivered on Tuesday.  And installed by the same guy (who has installed my cook top, oven, vent hood).  I loaded it Tuesday night and ran it.  Beautiful.  The dishes were so clean.  I was delighted, and the pain of spending more than I thought was lessened a bit.

Wednesday night we decided we would use BOTH drawers to make sure they worked.  Well they didn't.   The error message then was a leak had been detected.  

I called the store.  He gave me the repair number for the maker.  I already felt  neglected by the store.  I called the number.  I also knew that this is an international company, but I really didn't expect a 30 (!!!) minute wait for someone to send someone out.  But they did finally answer, and scheduled me for the next day (Friday).

The service man actually came out early.  I must say he is a great ambassador for the company.  He talked about his experience with these machines, and really praised them.  Of course, he had NEVER seen our problem before - both heating elements are bad,  He was here well over an hour.

The parts (of course) have to be ordered.  So Monday will be the EARLIEST for them.  

Right now we are eating as much left overs as we can on disposables to keep dishes at a minimum.  This  morning was an unusual treat (that I love) - we went out for breakfast!

Feeling "snake-bit?"  Simple answer - yes. 

Happy Labor Day

But to me day could be the Labor Day holiday!  And I love it.  Can't understand why people bemoan retiring.  I. Love. It.  It WOULD be nicer if I were younger to enjoy it more!

I hesitate to say that I have "fair to middlin" internet service these days.  The little guy from ATT came out and put us on a sort of back channel where there aren't many others with the hopes of increasing speed.  It is kind of like being at the end of a line where not much of anything gets there.

We had to make a quick (and I mean QUICK) trip to the SSB.  We were finally scheduled for September 4 to get the internet upgraded.  On the second, we got a call right about noon asking if we could be there on the third since there was an installer in the area.  Fortunately it was before 1:00, so we hurriedly threw what we needed for a few days together and left.

We were there until Saturday.  Normally we don't travel at all on Labor Day weekend, but this was important.  Shadow got to stay home, and Clyde was buckled in.  He had his food there awaiting our arrival a day later.

So far that service seems good.  I was on for several hours after the (poor) guy left.  I get 10 Gs a month, and all the time I was on didn't even use 1 G.  Hopefully it will support the mob that will be there Thanksgiving.

I say "poor guy" because we are so far away from his home.  The company is around Waco (general area).  After he left us, he had to go to Abilene.  He left our place after 3.  He must work LONG days.

So perhaps with my servers in place, and the modification to my laptop (paper over the built in mouse) I may be around more.

Fresh from the wars

As if having computer problems here in Jersey Village wasn't enough, we have had them at the SSB.  To refresh your memory of that place, it is at the end of the earth.  There is one family that lives past us, but they get to their place a different way - they don't pass our road at all.

We have to have satellite internet there.  Now, satellite internet is a small  step above dial up.  But it is better than none.  It went out last month.  I still believe since the dish is in reaching distance from the deck, my grands who were there (you know the WILD ones) managed to pull it even though G said he really didn't believe so.  I didn't call them last month.  This month (last week) I did call them

This is Hughes Net.  Lousy company and here's why:

They could determine that the dish was out of alignment.  The cost to have someone out to repair the positioning - $30.  This is the first company I have come across that would charge that much to repair their equipment.  I was flabbergasted.  To say the least.  So, since I had been thinking of upgrading, I asked if a technician had to come out to do that.  Why yes.  Well hey, saved a bit there.  But, alas this isn't the end of this story.

Of course the call center is in India.  They try to make it seem like it isn't.  These women must work hours to get rid of most of the accent (didn't work really), and use "English" names like Susan Smith.

I was working with one who simply couldn't find the service zip code.  I gave her the county and then the mailing one.  (We are so far from Mason that our mail comes - if we had a box -  comes from a different town in a different county),  To cut to the chase, after about 30 minutes we got to the billing address.  She put our home zip code down, and sent the installer to our house in Jersey Village.

This happened on a Sunday.  I called the Customer Service number back.  I was told they couldn't help me with this.  I had to talk to the dealer.  I was frankly pissed at this point, but called the dealer.  He told me HE couldn't help me.  Now I was beyond words.  I had to call CS back.  Again, and very snottily I  might add, they couldn't help me, call the dealer.  I was ballistic.  I  wouldn't have taken my blood pressure at that point because it would have broken the machine!

To get to what I hope is the end, the dealer who is in Conroe managed to get to the dealer that services Mason County (based in Waco??).  He was going to try to fit me in on Wednesday of last week.  I knew that wasn't going to happen.  We are just too far apart.  When asked when we would be back in Mason I told him the 16th to the 22nd.  Those were the exact dates he was on vacation - flying in fact to and from California.

We set the 4th as the installation date.  So we get to be on the road for another 11 hours to go back.  But if these guys had not gotten together to work for me, I would still be out of luck.

It is time to bring our Customer Services back to the States.  I don't think the people I spoke with realize just how BIG the country is, and especially Texas.  I have to also say that Hughes Net has no Customer Service.  I have to remain with them for a year (contract), but I will spent this year searching for another supplier of satellite internet.  I know I will never get cable internet out there.  Everything has to be satellite.  But I am going to be looking.

Today I called ATT because I am sick of the lousy internet I have with them.  I do have to say, I got service - after I had to call twice because the computer wouldn't give me a real person the first time.

By the way - have a good rest of the weekend!

Trying something different

I am going to try something new here.  I am writing this in Word and will paste it into Blogger.  For some reason even when I try to avoid the built in mouse that is located in the center of  the laptop, all the text will disappear.

So much has been going on I doubt I can remember it all, but here are some highlights.

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The day before Father’s Day, we were sitting at the SSB.  The grass was high and we had no working lawnmowers.  This is a problem because of the snake issue.  G was going on and on about how it seems the kids don’t care about the place and he cannot keep it up by himself.

So I intervened,   I sent both a text.  To cut to the chase, Brian (son) felt he was pushed out by Steve .  He thought  Steve was the preferred.  Got that straightened out.  Brian and family spent the next time we were there with us.  Our relationship with them has blossomed again.  Misunderstandings were straightened out.  He doesn't feel shunned and we don't feel shunned

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Before Krissi’s people left for Junior Olympics and Disneyland, they were at a water polo tournament.  Three kittens were located – no mom found.  Both of my kids are rescue animals.  They waited until the next day  - went back and one had died.  So they picked up the two remaining living kittens.   Krissi and family were leaving for Junior Olympics and Disneyland in a little over a week.  She got a friend to care for the kittens.  They left on Friday, and Monday night she called in in tears.  Her friend had one of the kittens at the Emergency ER.  He was fine, and two hours later limp and almost dead.  Treatment would have run $1500 with no assurance he would survive. With calls to and from California and from me to the vet then to California - the decision was made to euthanize.

The next morning, I took the remaining one to our vet.  I wanted testing for feline leukemia.  While they said he was negative, it was not absolute because he could have still had some antibodies from mom.  There was concern about his clotting factor, and his distended stomach, but he was sent home with some glucose paste to use if he seemed to become too lethargic.  Keep him warm and remember he is so fragile was it.  He thrived for two weeks.  She called me this past Saturday once again in tears.  The second one crashed.  It was euthanized 

  Saturday.  His life ended like his brothers – in the same kind of time frame.  Sad times here.  They were really so cute.  But finding kittens that are two weeks old is a total uphill fight.  Since they were both males, with their deaths so the same, and the reading I have done – I really they had a congenital bleeding problem.  Probably it was hemophilia.  Kittens with hemophilia usually die at birth.

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Katie’s team lost most of their games, but they simply are not as good as the California teams.  Water Polo is serious business there!  It is beginning here.

She didn’t make the Junior Varsity in volleyball at her high school (yea!), but she will be a varsity swimmer and water polo player this school year as a freshman.  That’s going to be interesting at least.

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The 26^th I turned 70.  Difficult birthday for me.  I now realize that contrary to my opinion,  my days are numbered on this earth.  Even after breast cancer, I thought I was invincible.  But guess not!  This birthday was really depressing.

Yesterday was our 47^th anniversary.  Can’t say we are as we were 47 years ago.  But we have made it this far.

Using Word to do this has been different – but at least I haven’t had my text completely deleted (as many times).  Now the next thing will  to see if I can get it posted!!

Still kicking

But still have the lousy internet.  That makes it difficult to do things.  One computer doesn't but up with it at all, and that is the one that is best set up for typing.  So that's one reason I haven't been here.  This computer will delete everything if I am not careful.

Plus - I consider myself a middle of the roader.  I have been reading some blogs that infuriate me, so I  have just not been rthe blogosphere  much.  Hypocritical and narrow minded people have gotten to me, so I have just stayed away..

I will try to get back.  I need a new mind set and get away from some of the bloggers about.  There are several blogs I really like, but I am finding myself on Facebook much more of the time.

One month and one day!

Wow!  No, I am not dead nor maimed.  Things have been hectic.  Computer problems.  Travel.  Family.  All these things are eating my time like crazy.  I will try to get back soon.


j

Checking in

Still here with the limited internet capability.  Hence - no pictures for all this time.

We are west of the Austin/Blanco/Wimberly areas.  We have had strong storms, but we are on such a high hill that if we even get close to flooding at the house, we all had best look for the ark.  Now we may not be able to leave the area if it were to get really bad because we have so many low water crossings between us and civilization.

My stress level is about 200%.  The storms have been strong, often with vicious lightening bolts.  I worry about losing power.  We are all electric here.  I worry about Clyde having to go out when it is pouring.  Or being taken out and NOT doing his business when we know he needs to - but he is a delicate little 75 pound thing that doesn't want to get his paws wet!

Monday Jersey Village/Houston got hammered.  JV has a history of flooding, and while we have yet to flood (knock on wood), I still worry.  It came up to the house on the street behind us the last time it flooded.  Our rental house has flooded, and I worried about our tenants.  I am not sure they still have our phone number here.  Krissi was telling me her car almost flooded being in front of her house - and it drains rapidly there, but not that night.

To top it all off, Katie and her dad were flying in to Houston as the storm was settled in there.  They had to end up landing in Austin, and after a couple of hours on the plane they were allowed off.  They ended up staying in a hotel for the remainder of the night.  Relief because Krissi was to have go to pick them up at the airport.  She couldn't get out from the reports I was getting via internet here.  I have just about used all my data on my phone!

Hopefully we will be going home tomorrow, but I am worried about that.  Right now Austin is getting hit with a severe storm - again.   The community (Cypress) just to our north at home got hammered with bad flooding this morning between 6 and 10.  

I WANT TO BE IN MY REAL HOUSE!

San Francisco/Bay Area travelog part 2

Beginning to climb just out of Denver  You can see the front of the train going up hill.

Being a South Texas girl, I am still fascinated by snow!!

Higher and higher into the Rockies

The beautiful canyons of the Colorado River

Donner Pass

 r

From above Berkeley

Our chariot around SF - especially to the Golden Gate and Saucelito area

Didn't go in -   but the Palace of Fine Arts built on the site of a World's Fair.  These columns were part of one of the exhibits I believe and were re-purposed here. 

As if you don't know!!!

and again!  Katie told me she bicycled this when they were there, and it was a little scary!

And so brings part two to an end.  Somehow a really neat picture got deleted from this group and I will put it in with the next ones.  Either Blogger,  my computer or my album didn't want to add anymore for today.  So there will be a part three.

San Francisco travelog - part 1

We left Houston and flew to Denver.  Seems like a strange way to California, right?  Well it is, but the TRAIN we wanted to take - the California Zephyr - goes from Chicago to Emeryville - which is just south of Berkeley.  We were going to stay in Berkeley.

The flight was ok, but, as usual TSA was a bit of a pain.  The airlines clearly states that any medical equipment, prescribed by a physician, does not count against your carry on.  The first TSA agent told me I couldn't have my purse, small carry on bag AND my CPAP.  I tried to tell her what it was, but she was getting upset with me.  G, who like me doesn't want to admit he is hearing deficient, was talking in my other ear. So I gave up on my point and just "handed" him the CPAP.  There are things I always carry on:  meds, a change of underwear, toiletries, and perhaps a computer.That was all in a small carry on. 





Anyway I made it through the body scanner with it going off because of my titanium knees and  also the beads (????) on my blouse. But no pat down. Never had one in Houston! Ate l unch at the airport - good salad! Waited on the plane.

Now flying with old seasoned traveler, I ask if he wanted to play the handicapped card to pre-board.  I have a placard.  We  used it when Katie, Krissi, and I went to Riverside, California for water polo.  He said that since we were first class, he didn't see the need.  (since we fly less than once a year - we splurge!)  Well - the people began lining up in boarding group one.  There must have been 50 people.  Guess who was at the very END of the line!    t's pre- boarding for me from now on!

Got to Denver and slept poorly.  Time change (ahead an hour) and no clocks in the room had the correct time.  Our train was an early one the next morning.  But all was well.  Made the train in plenty of time - $22 poorer for the cab.

So I am going to jump two days ahead here to show you what was awaiting us in Berkeley:

The living room of the Berkeley bungalow we rented for the week.

Also the living rook

Kitchen

Kitchen

Dining arrea

Sitting area in dining

View from dining/den

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 1

View from bedroom one

also view from bedroom one

Hollywood style bath - toilet tucked away at left.  Pocket doors were a pain however

utility room off bath

second bedroon

second bedroom

second bedroom - the  house was set up in a circle - the living room is to the left

garden around the front porch

the landing for the second floor where one of the owners lives and the garden again!

roses as big as salad plates

climbing miniature roses acoss the front gate and fence

We really stayed in a spa like setting.  It was great.  When we went to SF we took BART.  But I am getting ahead of myself.  See you later with part 2!  So be forewarned.`

Mystery

That's my internet connection.  For the last four days, it has only worked properly if the moon and stars were perfectly aligned, I held my mouth just right, and mostly in the afternoons - sometimes.

I know there are those who could ascertain the problem in a couple of seconds and fix it, but not me.  I have been refraining from calling ATT because I know the first step, and the one I considered myself, was to unplug the danged thing.

I have spent the time that I couldn't be on the internet trying to reload the million of so embroidery designs to this computer.  I worked on some on the train (even when I was on the one without wi-fi.  All I needed was the external hard drive and I was using my baby laptop (it is about 5 includes wide).  The external hard drive was seeming to be really wonky so I wanted to get them onto this one where I have paid for a Cloud account.  So after a couple of days, my valued designs are safe living in the cloud.

I still haven't downloaded the pictures.  I really have to do that while this feeble brain recalls what things are!  I also want to have them made into a book again.  I think this time, rather than Snapfish, I will use Costco.  Snapfish did a beautiful job, but I want to see what Costco can do.

I did the book on Alaska.  By the time I was finished I probably spent $100 and it took me hours.  It is a big, bulky scrapbook.  The one of the trip to Seattle and Glacier was from Snapfish and it is really nice (and neat!!).

My children have finally decided what we are doing tonight for Mother's Day.  There is some animosity growing there between daughter and DIL.  I know one reason it that Katie didn't get her birthday present from DIL until G's birthday April 23.  Her birthday is January 16.  And DIL has never liked SIL.  Of course SIL doesn't like DIL either.  FAMILIES!!  Just glad I get to see my son tonight.

Happy Mother's Day to you all.

Home again, home again and all that jazz

And back to Physical Therapy, mammograms, eye appointments and other various doctor appointments!

We had a great time, and I do have pictures to share - when I have time to download them to cull.  The sights on the train were absolutely fantastic.  The Rockies and Sierras were breath taking.

We spent two days in San Francisco utilizing a "hop on, hob off" tour bus.  Saw the Golden Gate on both days, Saucelito twice and the beautiful Muir Woods.  We found a park above Berkeley (where we stayed in a fantastic bungalow) that had breath taking views.  Drove Highway 1 (the coastal highway), and went to a National Park - the Pinnacles that was so inspiring.

Of course there were downsides to it all.  Looking for elevators in the BART stations.   I have just enough vertigo that I am afraid of escalators - so it was stairs much of the time.  I know I really irritated those commuters who were in a big hurry.
he
The last leg of the train trip back to Denver wasn't great (still pretty good though).  I AM an advocate for good treatment of the handicapped.  I am pretty close to being one.  But an intellectual handicapped woman got on the train in Salt Lake City - which was in the middle of the night.  She  probably has a minimal physical handicap - clearly no worse than mine.  I will talk about her later.

This is it for today.  Had the mammogram this morning, and this afternoon is my eye injection.  So if the computers and modem decide to be nice and cooperate unlike yesterday afternoon, I will be back at some point tomorrow.

Late

I am alive.  Getting ready for the trip to Francisco tomorrow.  ATT internet service stinks.  Thought the satellite was bad - NO.  Haven't been able to use most of the internet (this include) for   a week.  Don't have time for repair either!

Try communicate while gone if possible.

Horrible disease

I just learned from Facebook one of my friends - not really close, a fellow member of the little failing church.

She and her fiance joined about three years ago.  They came pretty regularly.  A darling early middle aged couple I believe.  I am not sure with ages.  Then at the beginning of the year three years ago, they got married.  It was a beautiful service, but it was after they had married at a Justice of the Peace.

The wedding was for family and very close friends, but they posted pictures for all of the rest of us to see.  There were two weddings because, you see, she had been diagnosed with ALS.

It all began with her right leg being very week and not working the way it should have.  Their future wasn't as sure as it had been.  So there was the first wedding. They were making sure they would be married.

Her goal for the wedding was to not use her cane.  She did it!  She walked down the aisle in her beautiful gown - without the cane.

In the ensuing year, they traveled as much as they could.  Alaska was one of the trips they took.  They were so much in love.  They radiated love.

As time has gone on, she was not able to attend church.  The last time I saw her, she was in a wheelchair - a motorized wheelchair to enable her any mobility.  But they were still so obviously in love.  It radiated from them,  

Her strength kept diminishing.  She was totally homebound in the chair, and no ability to move much of anything.

Yesterday morning, she died in her sleep.  This terrible disease has taken another beautiful, loving, productive person.  This is the second I have known pretty well.  One a distant relative and now this one.  I know there are several diseases that appear to have no cure.  We have lost ones we love to pancreatic cancer.  These diseases seem to not have a cure.  They progress rapidly and always end the same.

So Jamie - you are finally released from a body that no longer does what it was supposed to do.  You leave so many behind who loved you.

Busy Easter

Usually, we don't go to church on Easter Sunday.  We did when we were going to the other church because there would be perhaps 75 people there, but in our "new/old" church folks come out of the woodwork.  I used to laugh that I was glad to be organist - at least I had a seat.  It's true that the C(Christmas) and E (Easter) members show up for these services.

It was crowded, but there were plenty of seats for all.  That was good.

There were lots of activities going on.  The high school youth had their traditional pancake breakfast for a fund raiser.  They will be heading to Detroit later for a national youth gathering later.  There was an interactive ativity for the littles in the school part.  Lots going on.

Never heard from son.  Not a call.  Not a text - nothing.  Rather disappointing.

Getting things together for the SSB.  That means to PT for over a week, but the therapist is really happy with the way things are going.  But I am ready for it to be over.  I am tired of giving up an hour and a half in the middle of the day.

Hope your Holy days were great.

Here we go again

Literally.  Thursday we will be going to the SSB.  It seems we just got back.  Geesh.  Of course, the end of the month is the trip to San Francisco - that I am really beginning to worry about.

PT is doing me such good.  I am feeling better than I have felt in a long time.  The back still will scream some while walking, but it is so much better.  But everyone who has been to SF tells me that it seems like everything is uphill - both ways!!  I know there is a lot of walking involved in this trip.  The place G booked for us to stay is (as he puts it) ONLY (that's me) five blocks from the transit station.  FIVE BLOCKS???  Right now, I don't even walk the ONE block around our house.

Not looking forward to the SSB.  I am still sniffling.  It seems something new is blooming, and I am sneezing and nose running.  This is an important trip I guess.  Our hunter, Andy, will be there and PERHAPS we can get the riding lawn mower fixed to that G doesn't have to use the push mower mowing the acre about the house.  If nothing else, Andy has a rider there too and said he will show G how to use it.

So I guess I better "suck it up" and try to enjoy going.  From all reports the wildflowers are jaw dropping beautiful - especially the bluebonnets.  Have to look at the bright side.

Have a great Easter if that's your thing.  Or just enjoy what I hope is a beautiful weekend.

A quick funny little post

Before I head out for today's appointment.  This week has been full once again.

Monday when I was paying after Physical Therapy, I was going to put my cross-body purse on.  It is heavy because I guess I don't have the philosophy for the cross bodies - I carry all my junk in it.

As I was pulling it over my head, I got snagged on my wig, and horror of horrors - that wig came off.  I don't know how many therapistspatients saw but fortunately the office women didn't see a thing.

I was horrified!  At least for a couple of minutes until I got it back on.

That was definitely a first.  I shouldn't be to vain about the wigs.  I try to be sure that I always wear the same one to the same outings so there isn't a marked change!