Yea!

Got the cortisone injection on Friday!  It has helped so much.  I am not completely pain-free because there are other problems in my back, but the sciatica is so much better.

Things are about the same around here.  I saw the physician who will be my new primary today.  I like him - it's just he wants to do a yearly physical.  Do. Not. Like. Those.  But then I guess I will live through them.  I have been going to so many specialists for so long, I forget about a primary care one!

Tomorrow is my eye injection - one of my favorite things to do.  Just can't wait for that one.

Then it's off to the SSB - again.  I so want to stay home, but that isn't an option.  Geesh.

Then on the 4th is the trip to Hawaii.  I KNOW I should be excited, and I am a little since I am not in such pain, but once again - I wish we were just staying home.

So that's my life.  Isn't it exciting?

Visit to pain doc

Friday I will have the cortisone injection for my back.  The shoulder is going to wait.  I will see (a new) orthopedist (since I seem to not be able to keep one - either death or retirement gets them).  There will be a major body check with him.

The big (horrible) surprise is that my blood pressure is up again.  It has been so good for so long.  Yesterday it was so high.  And that news kept me awake most of the night.

Monday I see a new (primary) physician.  Another to add to my list.

This getting old - and having doctors retire or die -  isn't for weaklings!

Relief soon?

I am really undecided about the Turmeric and its effectiveness for pain relief.  Things were going fairly well until last night and today.  The relief is not there.

I have always had trouble falling asleep.  When the house gets quiet, my brain is on high alert.  I simply cannot shut it off.  My son is the same way.  We really understand each other.  The rest of the family has no clue, but we know.  When my arthritis really flares as it has been last night and today, sleep just doesn't come.  I cannot get comfortable.

I am not sure if the left shoulder might be a rotator cuff tear.  That was once the diagnosis, but I certainly didn't trust that guy.  He wasn't going to do an arthroscopic surgery.  He was going to go "old school" and lay my shoulder open.  Hmmmm.  No!  AND he was just way too eager to start cutting on me.  His office called after I said I wanted to think about it (I was just trying to be nice and get out!) and wanted to schedule me.  Don't think so.  That was nearly 8 years ago - just before William was born.

Last night I was ready to do ANYTHING however.  Today in church it just was aching terribly.

Tuesday I go to the pain doctor.  I told her before I didn't want the meds, but I think I am changing my mind.  I know she can schedule me for the cortisone injections very quickly.  Then I know she will prescribe PT.  I remember the exercises from PT for my back, but when I tried the one that felt so good the last time it was painful, and the pain remained for a day or so.

So here I sit.  Aching, moaning, and complaining to you once again.  I never understood the old saying "if I had known I would live this long - and that I would feel this way - I would have taken better care of myself!"  How true, how true!

Better mood, lousy pain

I am sure I am in such a bad mood so often is the continual pain I am in.  I am trying something new - especially with all the news reports on NAISD pain relievers.  I am trying Turmneric capsules.  I only began last night, so I cannot say yea or nay.  For a while - and when I went to bed it seemed I had a good deal of relief.  Right now (5 pm) that is not the case at all.  I tried to sit at the embroidery machine for a while and only lasted 45 minutes.  Negotiating the stairs was a really scary thing to do because I was afraid I would fall since it hurt so to move.  I will try more capsules in just a bit.

Travel - I still don't really want to do it, but I am not as rabid about it as I was.  I especially do not like to fly.  It isn't because I am afraid of flying.  Not at all.  I just hate going through TSA.  I am tired of being wanded, patted down and the like because I have titanium knees.  Of course,  there is the never to be forgotten time at LAX with Katie was 5 (now 15) when I shut down the whole airport.  The idiot at the curb didn't give out 6 boarding passes, and the little girl was too busy flirting at the first check-point so when I got to the final concourse with the e-ray machine that was a real security breach.

I don't mind relatively short flights.  It is the loong ones that kill me.  Sitting with my knees flexed for a long period of time is very painful.  So with the airlines wanting to transport us like cattle on a cattle truck I don't have the luxury of stretching out my legs.

All else around here is the same.One day just flows into another and time is racing by.

Have a good one.

I am back!

And the computer is better than new!!  At least I guess it is.  It was pretty bad when I had Mike work on it, and then I had to use the OLD Dell which I am afraid is on its last legs.  This one speeds along.  He cleaned up some things and talked me into a solid state hard drive.  Wow!  It now loads so fast and moves so fast.  Best money spent ever!

Let's see - what have I done.  Well, we went to the Lutheran Gathering in New Orleans,  I wasn't so much blown away with this one.  And getting around would have been fine - IF I were 30 years younger.  The Convention Center there is about three blocks long.  I.  Don't. (Can't) Do. Three. Blocks.  My knees and back simply prohibit that.  With the stenosis, degeneration, and sciatica I can simply forget that kind of walking.

The buses would let us off at one end of the place - where registration and the services were.  To get to any of the sessions, you had to go the second floor and at the other end of the place.  I really hated it.

I love Cajun food, but every night for a week wore thin.  G liked the little place across the street from the hotel, so that's where we went.  Got my fill of fish for a long, long time.  I have never been a big fish eater anyway.

We headed back on the Monday after the Gathering.  That's the day after the heavy flooding in Baton Rouge.  On the train, they said if we could get past Lafayette we would be good.  We did, but the waters were high!

Then a few days later it was off to the SSB.

To make my complaints complete I have to add another.  I shouldn't complain about this one, but once again - if I were 30 years younger I would be excited.  G has us to go to Hawaii.  He simply doesn't understand that with my arthritis and other joint problems I DO NOT enjoy traveling.  I really do not want to go.

So I made an appointment with my pain doctor.  I know I can't get the PT in before this trip.  And before I told her I didn't want the pain meds, but I really believe I am going to change my mind this time.  I just hurt too badly.  It's terrible to be set to go to such a beautiful place and hate the thought.

Really quickly

Having to use wonky back up computer until other one is fixed.

Been gone a lot - SSB and New Orleans

Otherwise - same old stuff with lots of rain coming down.

See ya' next week, I hope!

What a week it was!

My daughter's family is home, and so is their dog.  She spent the week with us.  She is an 11-12 year old Boxer who had been with them for about 6 years.  Our vet rescued her after the puppy mill breeder dumped her alongside the road. She has the canine equivalent of ALS.  The nerves in her spine are losing their covering sheaths and eventually she will be paralyzed.  But everyone here enjoyed her with the exception of the cat!  Things were going fine - until Thursday of last week.

Shadow is fed his wet food at 9pm.  That night, he decided he would "slink" back through the entry hall.  By this time Princess had become very comfortable here.  She had been "protecting" her new home all day.  So when she saw this creature slinking through the shadows, she was on the attack.  That made Clyde attack too. She moved so quickly - it was amazing.  Her partially paralyzed left leg moved just fine!  Normally Clyde just lets Shadow bite him on the butt and goes on.   That was the end of it all for the cat.  He wouldn't venture into the den on his own!   He is so happy she went home yesterday.

The pinnacle of the week was my main laptop deciding it wasn't going to load.  Fortunately I had backed up almost everything, but still it is a bad, bad thing.  I have the wonky Dell that I keep upstairs for loading the embroidery designs onto USB sticks when I want to use them, but it's getting VERY old!

I found it will load in Safe Mode, but that isn't the answer.  I called my computer guru.  He is busy for the rest of this week and will be out of town next week.  Well, so will we so I guess that means when we all get back I will have him look at it.

In trying to recover things from the computer, I discovered that I had NOT been backing up my most recent genealogy work.  I was going to use this one to do more this week, but I have apparently lost about a month of work.  Even though the backup on the "down" computer said it was the recent work - it wasn't.  There was supposed to be a backup on a disc, but guess what - it didn't.  At least all the embroidery designs both already files and those recently downloaded that have to be worked are untouched.

Next week we will be in New Orleans.  It is the Lutheran Gathering.  It brings Lutherans from all over the country for meetings and worship.  We went to another many years ago that was in the Lutheran Mecca - Minneapolis.  This is quite an event, and since it was so close we are going.  Plus we have so many "miles" from Amtrak, we get a free sleeper.  We don't need it for sleeping since the trip is only about 9 hours, but it will be so much more comfortable.  Plus this means meals are included.

So we are preparing for a week in New Orleans.  I just wish I were younger.  Our last vacation there was 45 years ago.  I don't think this will be a similar trip.

Now I have to see how Princess is adapting to being home after Grandma and Pa spoiled her rotten!

It's Junior Olympics time again

When Katie went to her first JO meeting, I was blown away!  I didn't realize the Texas teams consist of any athlete who is still breathing.  If you are from California, you have to MAKE the team, and the competition is stiff.  But regardless, it is a great event.

They are in San Jose again this year.  The competition alternates between Southern California and Northern California.  So events other than the games will be those around the San Francisco area - like Muir Woods.

This year there is a bit of a change.  Since this is the year of the Olympics, the USA Women Water Polo team played a game there.  They played Russia at the Standford Natatorium.  That was exciting for the JO girls.

Katie had the experience of her young life last night.  SHE got to play in the main pool at Standford.  And they won!!  It is unusual for a Texas team to beat a California team.  Water Polo is just beginning here in any strength.  There it is a way of life!

It was an exciting night for grandma too.  A couple of people were live-streaming the game.  It didn't go without a hitch.  My computer kept spooling the feed, and for some reason, the entire fourth quarter didn't come through.  But it was so great watching them.  The Texas (Viper Pigeon) girls played well.  If they had played like this at our state competition I really believe they would be state champs.

So those of us here, it is babysitting one of the dogs.  We have Princess,  the first Boxer rescue I got them.  She is about 11 now and has a condition that affects older large dogs - Boxers in particular.  We lost my Simone to this condition.  It is a nerve disintegration in the spine and they lose control over their back legs.  It ends with the dog not being able to walk.

They were concerned about her being in boarding.  They didn't think she would do well.  Before we got her here, they said she pretty much just laid around.  I was worried about Shadow because she did try to attack some kittens last year.

At first, she didn't move a lot.  THEN she got comfortable.  She does run.  When it's potty time, she is running at full speed!  She will falter a bit, but she is full out.  Shadow had been fine until last night.  He tried to get around the dogs but attracted their attention.  EVEN  CLYDE!  The next days may not go as easily as the previous ones.  She is getting way too comfortable.

But we will see.  Meantime - go Katie!

And the saga goes on

Monday, we killed two snakes in the grass.  There was one other, but we would have gone to prison for killing that one.  That one was the neighbor who used to be so helpful.  Have you ever heard the term he was so sweet that "sugar wouldn't melt in his mouth?"  Well - that was/is this guy.  Until he decides he is going to screw you.  Sorry but that's the best descriptor I can think of at this point.  Yes, he is at it again.

When he knew no one, he was so helpful and kind.  He was the interloper in a county of family members.  The first one he drew down on was his neighbor to the south.  Reggie was fairly young at the time, and he had gotten a huge chunk of land from his dad.  He didn't really know much about cattle and didn't handle that situation well.  We had his cattle when we first put up the house, and I swore I would NEVER let him lease again.  His cattle ate all the grass, and they were starving.  When you have a herd of cattle staring at you in the house and their mouths are full of prickly pear thorns, it breaks your heart.  So Gene went after him.

His latest is that he is trying to deny easement to everyone through his property.  Our big problem is that when my FIL bought our property from Reggie's dad, they didn't draw up a formal easement.  It was just understood.  Then came in big city trouble.  Our attorney says we have no problem because we have been using the road for way too many years for Gene to revoke our right.  He is even going after Reggie however who does have a 30-foot easement.

At our cattle guard, the road is only about 20 feet.  Gene has put stakes at the side of what he is giving.  He is really trying to force us into putting in a new road by limiting our turning space.

This all came to a head this weekend when the guy came to pick up Rusty.  He couldn't swing his trailer into the cattle guard.  So the stakes were taken down, and he did go on to Gene's property.  This is where the hogs rooted it up last year.

Gene called us Monday about it.  He was upset (mild term), and said "he drove into my pasture.  That ground has grass burrs and cactus.  Nothing. Else.  Then he said he would "let it go THIS TIME,

At one time, this snake in the grass, when he knew no one else, would have even helped.  Now he is just a jackass.

His legal fight with Reggie is still in the hands of the attorneys.   This is a year that the attorneys were going to "talk about it."  This is going to cost them $$$$.  Gene should just give it up.  Reggie was just elected County Commissioner.  If it goes to trial, a local boy, relative to most, and recently elected County Commissioner is going to prevail I really believe.  But in the meantime, he is driving us mad.

And Gene wonders why the folks up there don't sell to outsiders.  Sure wish they had followed suit with this one.

Becoming an old grump

We are midway in the stay at the SSB.  In this heat, G, in his glorious wisdom, had decreed that we will stay only as long as absolutely necessary.  That term is five days!  He must have heard me remark that he can read a book at home as easily as he can here!  And the pool is at home.

We sold the old farm truck.  We bought Rusty a number of years ago to use around here for odd jobs.  He came by his name for a good reason.  He was very rusty when we bought him, and certainly not gotten any better.  We haven't used him in several years.  In this hilly terrain, you don't want to use a vehicle that has poor to no brakes!  And we bought a Kawasaki Mule to do the chores Rusty was to do.  The Mule can go where a 1967 Ford F-100 just couldn't.

Brian is the one who sold Rusty.  The buyer is with the band he sings with, not his band.

The guy finally got headed in the right direction (GPS sent him to Austin not Mason, but at least it was the right direction),  and arrived with the family.  I really wasn't expecting a 10-month-old and about a 3-year-old!  And this is where my title of this post originated.

I must have been a very controlling mother with my kids, and even the first three grandchildren.  When we went someplace, I didn't let them just roam about.  These days, that seems to be what parents do.

I first noticed this when we went to visit one of G's aunts that lives up here.  Brian and family were here, and we all went over.  As soon as we were in the door, William and Delaney headed for another room - uninvited.  G and I  haven't been in that room in ages! But off they went!  I was mortified.  They weren't stopped by their parents.  When they came back with some items (I don't remember what they were now), I wanted to drop through the floor.  And nothing was said to them.  They were allowed to continue to play with them. Of course, William will do that everywhere.  He will open drawers, cabinet doors, etc.

As I said I wasn't expecting children yesterday.  The first thing the three-year-old did was to pick up a book from the bookshelf.  She did have to put that back, but then it was on to the dog toys.  Now, she had toys of her own, but it was the dog toys.  Then both she and the baby took to the vertical blinds.  I thought they were going to be broken for sure!  Nothing was said to them.  Then it was off to the fireplace tools.  She took the broom out and started to play with that.

I just sat with a fixed smile on my face and tried to not scream.  I guess I just don't understand parenting today.  My kids would never have been allowed to act this way.

To get my mind straight

Last night we went with the family (minus SIL and Reagan) out to dinner to celebrate my son's (Brian) 40th (!!!!!) birthday.  An aside here - I cannot believe my baby is 40!!!  I. AM. SO. OLD!

This wouldn't be cause for much discussion with the exception of my feeling ancient, but I went against something G always says.  If you go to a restaurant that specializes in something - order that something.

We went to a restaurant that I guess is Texas in origin and is only here.  It is Saltgrass Steak House.  Hence - they specialize in STEAKS.

I spent quite a while pouring over the menu.  All of their steaks were large.  I usually like the 6-8 ounce filet.  The smallest steak they had was a 10 oz something.  Too big.  I know there wasn't much of a difference, but still...

So after a long deliberation.  I saw they had a chicken breast stuffed with artichoke hearts, spinach, and mushrooms (and some other stuff).  That was my order.

We arrive at this restaurant at 6.  We got our drinks at 6:45, along with salads for those of us that ordered them.  At  7:15 the entrees came out.  There were 10 of us.  Nine got their entree.  I didn't.

The waitress said that mine came out "blue" instead of "black."  Now, I was rather shocked at BOTH colors - chicken is brown.  Anyway, it was being refired.  The manager came out and profusely apologized asking what else they could do, and he was sorry for the wait.  I started to say he could comp my meal!

By that time - I was no longer hungry, but realized that I would still be charged for the meal.  It finally arrived at 8.  I ate about half.  We got Brian a HUGE piece of carrot cake (as you can see) which should have been free anyway since it was his BD (I didn't ask G about it - I knew the bill was as huge as the cake anyway!).  We shared this cake, and the evening was over!  Now we are gearing up for his surprise party on Saturday.

Moral of the story.  When in a steak house - order steak!

This is a rant

I have deleted the words here.  I will only say "all lives matter."  This is upholding my decision to be non-political as possible here.  I am devastated by recent events.

Surprise ending

Another happening in our hotel drama today!

G just told me that he received an email from the hotel manager.

They send a note of apology for our experiences with the "neighbor" this past weekend.  The real kicker is that they comped BOTH nights for us.

This wasn't something we requested, and as far as we're concerned it was far and above what we even thought of in our wildest imagination.  It, of course, is appreciated.  Think we will push for further reunions there - you bet!  Guess they thought that 35+ people staying at their facility was important.

I DO regret this ever happened.  From the first perceived insult on, I do regret the situation.  But this lady repeatedly tried to find anything for retribution.  We both bet she is on some list somewhere for this chain.  Just sayin'.

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

Unrelated to the above.  Went to the cardio doc yesterday.  I was wondering when he was going to announce his news, and it was yesterday.  He is retiring in October!  Boo!

I am beginning to feel like the Queen (I think) song - And Another One Bites the Dust.  I think at this point in time I just need to get a Primary Care Physician.  There is no reason to see a Cardiologist.  I don't have heart disease (yet!).  All he does for me is to check my blood pressure and those meds.

I am going to miss him however.  Our relationship over the last few years has become really good.

Looks like the rain will hold off for a while today, so hopefully I can finally make it to Costco!  Meal planning has been difficult because I don't have any vegetables - fresh or frozen.  No potatoes.  Sides are sparce about these parts.

Where have I been?

The answer is kind of a long story.

Of course, two weeks ago we were hunkered down at the SSB trying our best to stay cool.  After a wonderful Spring, the heat is coming fast and furious.  It still wasn't as bad as it can get up there, but it was plenty warm enough.  After the refrigerator fiasco a few months ago, I understand we have to go check on things.

The hunters are really coming along with the new hunter's cabin.  The foundation is done, sub-flooring in and walls are roughed in. I guess next will be the roof.  They want a metal roof, G doesn't want to pay that much.  I just shut up!

Before we left, I went to the Pulmonologist/Sleep Doctor for him to check the CPAP.  All that was fine, and he gave me a new script for a nasal spray.  Reading the pamphlet, it said a side effect could/would be a sore throat.  Well - I was getting a really sore throat.  Within two days, my throat was raw.  I just wanted to cry it hurt so!  Then the cough started.  So I spent 6 days suffering.  There are no doctors close.

Here we are almost two weeks later and I am still coughing.  The sore throat is gone, but I have terrible laryngitis.  For me, that's really bad.  I still haven't gone to a doctor because I don't think there is anything that can be done.  It's just going to take time, but I DO have a cardio appointment tomorrow.  Perhaps he can have some miraculous cure for me.

This past weekend was a family reunion in Dallas.  There were some rough spots, but overall it was good.  The first one had to do with Brian (son) making plans for us all to go to dinner on Friday night.  It was to a restaurant owned by one of his friends.  Steve (son-in-law) doesn't believe in waiting until anyone else heads out.  This place was 30 minutes away, and off he took.

When we got there, Steve has already arrived and gone into the restaurant and took over everything.  Brian had told the owner we were coming, and (to me obviously) should have been the one to set things up.  He was really furious.  Steve has an insecurity complex 100 miles wide.  He has to bluster his way into things so that he looks important.  And he did.  I really can't blame Brian.  This was his deal, and he was so thrilled to do it.  We knew the owner had to be in Ft Worth for a wedding, and that is a shame with the way things turned out. John would have shut Steve down in a heart beat.

G made a terrible mistake on Saturday morning, and we suffered a bit for it.  He was leaving our room.  There was a woman coming out of the room next to us, and he mistook her for one of the hotel employees.  They were dressed much alike - I would swear they bought their purple smocks at the same place.  Unfortunately the women are black.  Our "neighbor" was highly incensed about his error.

He often does let a hotel room door close rather loudly, but if you let it close on its own - they do make noise.  One time he was leaving after their initial encounter, she accosted him saying "do you always have to slam the door."  After that, we did everything possible to make sure it made NO noise at all.  Which didn't happen, but it was really quiet.

That evening, she was at the desk complaining about us.  The family met in the lobby because the meeting room was booked, and we were allowed to meet in the lobby and pool.  I heard her say that there was "an old man that slams the door."  My hearing isn't great, and we were all talking so I didn't hear it all, but my daughter said she heard her say "because I am black."

I don't talk politics here.  That is not what my blog is for, and I am going to bring it up this time and this time only.  We are liberal.  VERY liberal.  Her skin color has/had nothing to do with anything or any exchanges we had.  So her statement bothered me and still does.

Yesterday, she was back at the desk.  I had no idea what she was saying this time, but after a bit when we returned to  our room to pack things up, there was a knock at the door.  With trepidation, I went to the door expecting to see the little bespectacled lady.  Nope - it was the woman from the desk.  She said that it had been reported that we were smoking in our room!  We. Don't. Smoke.  Even when G did, it was never in the house or a hotel room.

I told the desk person to come in.  There was no smoke.  I can't remember all of what I said, but apparently I alluded to the problems with this woman (who was standing in her door way observing and probably hoping this situation would get us fined and/or thrown out).  The desk person said - no that woman didn't complain, to which I replied that she had been doing nothing but complaining at the desk.

The kicker that I really loved was that she had a little yappy dog in her room.  Now - we had not heard a peep from that animal at all, but it was going nuts then.  I was able to remark about "Oh - that dog!"  Stupid woman should have shut her door to shut up that dog right then.  I kept telling the desk woman to come into the room and smell for herself that there was NO smoke.

After she left, the phone rang.  You know what I thought - it was crazy woman.  No - it was the desk apologizing AND comping us a night!

My daughter in law had thought crazy was the one hoping to get a free stay, but we did!  The desk person said it was clear, she smelled no smoke.  She was aware we had not been smoking.  I think she saw all of what had transpired the night before.  I don't know if crazy got anything comped or not, but we surely did!!

Oh and by the way - crazy woman stepped to the outside door that night.  G and Brian were outside.  Brian WAS smoking.  I think that's where she got that hair brained idea to "get us."

What a day!

I believe I have alluded to the fact that I have claimed the upstairs of my house as MY area - my crafting/sewing area.  It is two bedrooms (just one has a bed), a bath and a sitting area because when we took in the attic, the contractor couldn't figure out what else to do with that space that runs in front of the Hollywood bath and bedrooms.  So he called it the gallery.  It too is a storage area.  No one is to breach my area.  So there were some things that haven't been done - in YEARS.

One of those things was to move an old mattress under the bed that is there.  It was stored there when daughter, son-in-law, step-grand would come to visit.  Megan had to stay WITH them.  Not in the bedroom downstairs that had a twin bed.

When my son and his wife were living with her mother, the mother didn't want his cats.  So we kept them for a while.  Back in some of the earlier posts, I am sure I lamented about one of those cats - Sasha!  The took great joy in watching things commit assisted suicide.  She would get on the counter (which I also hated, but could never catch her) and tap objects, especially glass ones, until they fell off and shattered.

So I found a cat playhouse.  It was about 2x3x6.  She and Sebastian were to spend the unsupervised times in said playhouse.  It really was for outside use - so they could be getting some fresh air while safe, but for me, it was the bunkhouse.  She HATED it.  I would have to chase her down.

She loved to hide under the bed upstairs.  That room had not become the fabric/ribbon, completed projects awaiting sale room.  But that little mattress was under that bed, and it gave her perfect cover.

One night I pulled it out of the one side of the bed.  It has remained there for a long time because getting it back was not easy like it had been.  It looked horrible and took up a lot of space - that I really need for my totes.

This afternoon I tackled that mattress.  I would have had someone take it down to put in the garbage, but with our rains and garbage day being on Tuesday for this type of thing, I couldn't get one of the boys to help.  It went back into its place.  Someday, someone will have to deal with it.

But to move it, I had to take the top mattress off, the box springs off, and then pull that thing under.  There isn't that much available room for all that "stuff."  I was petrified that I would fall.  I.  Don't. Fall.  At least if I can possibly help it.  I can't get up easily.

But it is done.  Now it's quiet time to let my poor old body freeze up.  I will go back tomorrow and tackle the totes that have to be sorted and put away more properly!  But there's always tomorrow ...

Amusing

Do you get a number of solicitors and/or robo calls?  We surely do!

I have gotten to where I use my Caller ID all the time.  If I don't know the number - I do not answer.  My philosophy is and always has been that I pay for this telephone, therefore I speak to whom I wish.  If I don't answer, and it's important, there is always an answering service of some sort hooked up to that line.  Leave a message.

This attitude of mine carries over to the phone at the SSB, although it is more difficult there.  I will answer more calls than here at home.  We often have calls out to service people.  It is a difficult situation there because their attitude is that they don't want to work in the first place.  It can be done later - they are going hunting, or fishing, or ...  They are not lazy people, but life moves at a completely different pace.  That can be infuriating when the time for them to get something done is short.

I also don't answer my cell to calls that are not in my directory.  I am immensely happy that there is no longer the monthly charge PLUS a charge for each call!!  I hate that those numbers have been supplied to the solicitors!  Just this minute got one from 00000000000.  You KNOW I was going to answer that one!

I did miss an important one yesterday.  I didn't recognize the area code.  I also didn't know G had been calling people about the trip he wants to take to Hawaii.  Guess what - it was one of those returning the call.  I didn't check messages until 10pm last night!  I didn't think there was going to be a message.

Two others we got were from area codes that were strange.  The calls were even stranger, and I really need to call the police about them.  They weren't the common IRS scam calls.  They were saying that someone at this number has been charged on five criminal accounts, and they were going to "help" us get through these accusations.  One ended: "if you ignore this call, all we can do is wish you good luck."  Very legal, right?

Hello from Aqua World

Just this morning on the news, the weather guru said that our "excess" rain is in double digits, and we are good all through the summer with all the reservoirs, rivers, creeks, and bayous overflowing.  It. Can. Stop. Any. Day!  I know when it is hot and dry (at least I guess it may be) in August, we will be wanting some of this rain, but it is dangerous around here.

Last week I accompanied Daughter and Grand to Austin for a water polo tournament.  This was the day following another of our catastrophic area rain events.  This time, it was to our north.  I KNEW how bad it was between us and Austin, and frankly, I wondered why the tournament wasn't cancelled.  But off we went.

When we got to the bridge across the Brazos river, I was amazed.  G and I had gone over the river a few days before, and it was the highest I had ever seen it.  This time, it had spilled out of its banks and covered all the adjoining pasture land.

I had seen coverage of this on TV the night before, but in person, it was just horrible.  I knew there were cattle in that particular field.  The rancher couldn't get them to higher ground before the flood because it came so quickly and at night.  The cattle were swept away, many drowning.

That morning we crossed that area, there were about six large stock trailers waiting in the area for any stock that were found.  There were a few cows that had drowned in the pasture.  It was such a sad thing.

Now the river is cresting downstream, and ranchers are waiting until it is almost totally too late to move their cattle and the result is again some have drowned.  People are not leaving ahead of the crest.  They are getting stranded.  Apparently they haven't been watching what happened to the folks in Waller/Montgomery counties.  Such a shame.

But we finally made it to Austin (about an hour later than planned because of the HORRIBLE traffic in Waller County), and Katie swam in four games.  In actuality, it was a waste.  The only teams they swam against were from the same water polo club.  Which is named Viper Pigeons by the way!  What a name!

Nothing has been going on in our lives because we tend to stay in during these rain events.  For one thing, I don't like to get too far away in a heavy rain because we might not be able to get back home.  If the bayou about a half a mile away goes out of its banks, we can't get home.

The only thing new is that a friend wants me to write an article for her quilting magazine.  I.  Do.  Not. Quilt.  I know very little about it.  I am really putting her off.  There are many, many good articles out there about combining machine embroidery and quilting.  The authors of THOSE articles know what they are talking about - totally, and not just the embroidery.  I care nothing about being a published author!!!

So this has been my life.  Next week I will take the oldest grandson out to do something.  I didn't go to his "graduation exercise" from elementary to middle school (it was raining as usual), and he got his feelings hurt.  Katie keeps teasing her siblings that she is the favorite grandchild, and right now he is believing her.  I guess we will go to lunch (just the two of us) at least, perhaps a movie (I don't like his preferred genre, but...)!

From the trip to the oncologist

This was my regular check with him.  I was on 9-month recall.  The extended time periods are good - there are no apparent cancers, but bad in that you worry that there ARE cancers.  You look forward to having the appointments lengthed in frequency, and you worry that something will pop-up without being found in time.

But this was a scheduled visit.  He, of course, asked how I was.  I said I thought I was great - until my mammogram last  week.  Now the mammogram office is across the hall from his office, but he had not gotten the report yet.

I explained that there were a lot of calcifications in the left breast.  And so on.

He said I should not worry.  Go for the check at six months as I had been instructed, and NOT WORRY.

Phew!!!  (and now I am on a year recall)

Strange happenings

I know Texas and Texans have a reputation for things that make you go "huh."  Some are deserved, and some not.  But this case is one that has even this Texan wondering just what was going on.

There are some neighborhood information sites on Facebook.  I learn a lot about happenings in the area from them,  I was reading one today that absolutely shocked me.

There was a major accident on our main highway through our neighborhoods.  It is already bad enough that there is major, major construction going on, and the traffic is almost always snarled.  You never are quite sure exactly where the lanes will be from one day to the next.  It is a total nightmare.

Last night the traffic was completely stopped in one of the worst places,  It is pretty much a bottleneck there, but it was even worse than normal.  It being a Friday evening was making it even worse.  And people really had short fuses.  They were ready to get home to start their weekend.

Someone asked one of these sites why the traffic was so bad.  The answer was an eye opener.

It seems a young man was traveling along when there was debris on the road that he had to make a quick maneuver to avoid.  That seems improbable right there.  Usually, the traffic is crawling.

Well, in this maneuver, the pistol that HE WAS HOLDING (yes you read that correctly) discharged hitting him in the head.  He completely lost control of his vehicle and went careening off the freeway.  In doing so, he ran into a concrete embankment and was seriously injured from that as well as the bullet in his head.

The comments were about what a foolish thing this was, and the details weren't clear about what really happened.  Was it road rage?

My concern is if he had that pistol in his hand, who was he planning to shoot.

I am aware that there are many other states that allow open carry of pistols.  I am not a fan of this idea.  This is one good reason for my feeling.

The idiot is still alive after being air-lifted to a hospital.  IF he survives this, I really hope there are more answers forth coming.  I really want to know why in the heck he had a gun  IN HIS HAND driving down the roadway.  (And he certainly deserves the huge bill for the helicopter!)

In the continuing winnings of granddaughter

I guess one day I will stop bragging talking about my eldest granddaughter, but the girl flat amazes me almost daily.

I have crowed about her grades, her making all-region in water polo, all-state in water polo, going to the state competition in swimming with her relay team.  Now she has made All-American in water polo!

She has done all this as a freshman in high school.  Most of these kids don't make all these things until they are Juniors or Seniors in High School.

I found that her class has some outstanding athletes.  Several of those freshmen girls lettered in their sports this year.  So many don't until their senior years.  What a group!

I still am looking forward to my grandson playing the tuba.  I think he will do well.  His perfect pitch will take him far.  The youngest (in that family) granddaughter will join the dance team when she gets to HS.  Then on to cheerleader.  She is only in third grade at this point, so it is too early to tell.  Whatever she does, she will continue to be the DIVA!

The other three will go far in music I believe.  But since they range from 4 - 8, who really knows!

But I am a proud Grannie!