Month: October 2009

  • My Sewing Machine Is Back!

    IT’S BACK!!  IT’S BACK!!  I got the call from the sewing center around noon so the Beast and I jumped into the car to go pick up my machine.  It gave us the chance to stop at Publix on our way back home and get our Chicago Italian bread and also some Italian 5-grain bread.  I got my Boar’s Head bologna and some liverwurst, too.

    While I was there, I grabbed some sugar (ever been out of regular sugar and tried using powdered sugar as a substitute?  Yuk!  The same amount on a spoon comes out much sweeter…just ask the Beast.  ), some more coffee and some artificial sweetener.  That takes the pressure off me on things I need to get through the weekend.  So, if the day is as yukky tomorrow as it was today, I can skip my shopping for another day.  There’s nothing worse than being forced to do shopping on a yukky day.  Ask anyone.  I prefer my days to be sunny and bright.  But then, don’t we all? 

    On the way up, we stopped at the park on the lake to let Baron run.  He almost ran us over to get out of the car when we parked.  He ran around like a maniac for about 10 minutes having the time of his life.  All that was missing was some ducks for him to chase around.  The ducks there aren’t afraid of him at all.  They all learned that he just wanted to chase them and they had fun teasing him at times.  Other times they would fly in his face and he would turn tail and run back to the Beast like he would protect him from those mean ducks!  It was just too damn funny.

    After about 20 minutes, we headed back to the car (the Beast and I were tired from all the walking) and Baron plopped down on the seat with a happy face on him.  He then proceeded to sleep all the way into Huntsville.  Darn him! 

    Once we got into the city, he had to have his head out the window.  It must be all the new and different smells.  We just have cows, horses, rabbits, cats, dogs and assorted birds.  If there is anything else, I don’t want to know, let alone SMELL them.  We ended up stopping at Denny’s for a late lunch.  We both ended up having breakfast for lunch (of course).  We saw a Mexican buffet restaurant not far from the sewing center and the Beast said we will try that the next time we come up to Huntsville.  Unless we are going to Sam’s Club, I hope it’s not any time soon (at least not for my sewing machine).

    Okay, I guess it’s time to fess up and admit what the problem was with it.  I guess you would have to call it *operator error*.  Yes….color me both red and blond.  It seems I had my top tension too loose.  It was at 2 and should have been at a minimum of 4.  But wait!  I had no idea where the hell the top tension was located.  In fact, I didn’t know you COULD adjust it.  But now I know better, I know where the adjustment is and my machine is safely back at home.  I will be doing some sewing tomorrow since I won’t have the baby.  The Princess has the day off.

    They are, btw, all moved into Kym’s house that they are renting.  The Princess had Thursday off work so they got the rest of their stuff moved in.  Now it’s just a matter of getting everything in place.  Even when you get to take your time moving stuff in like they did, it’s still a mess at the end when you get down to the wire.  There’s only so much you can move when you are trying to stay at one place and move into another.  You still have to be comfortable and have clothes available, etc.  Hopefully, it won’t take them long to get it together and be settled.  Especially since the Princess is going to Florida next weekend and will be gone for three days.

    The Princess still doesn’t have drawers for the baby’s stuff and she is stuffing things thither and yon in her drawers and nightstand.   I’m going to have to keep my eyes open or else hope the fraternal grandfather gets her a dresser to go with her *princess* bed he wants to buy her for Christmas.

    As soon as we got home, the Beast flopped into his recliner in the living room and promptly fell asleep.  I really could have used a nap after the walk along the lakeshore, the fresh air and the big meal.  I didn’t even eat anything with tryptophan (sp) in it.    My mind is tired, that’s for sure.   I’m too tired to even tackle another crossword on Pogo right now.

    I’m going to get this ready for posting later so we don’t (hopefully) have another fiasco like the other day.  I’m going to hope this doesn’t disappear on me and shows up for your perusal later.  Meantime, love you all.  Enjoy the colors and sunshine if you have it. 

    UPDATE ON TONTO:  He came home on Wednesday after his exchange.  He is on a four-day exchange schedule for the time being.  He’s going on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  He is scheduling his Friday appointment as late as possible and his Saturday one for earliest time on Saturday so that they don’t have to make that round trip again.  Tara really can’t afford the gas with her van’s bad gas mileage and Tonto’s truck is much worse.  Say a little prayer that this round of exchanges works for him and his TTP goes into remission.  Thanks all.

  • Autumn Is In Full Swing Now

    Like I said in my earlier blog, we went into Huntsville today and got a few things done.  We stopped at KFC on our way home and the Beast got his pot pie (if you haven’t tried them, do so.  They are great…expensive but worth it!).  I had been craving their hot wings so I got those along with two sides (potatoes and gravy and cole slaw).  Big mistake since it was so late in the afternoon.  It was the first time I got them and they were really DRY.  It put a whole new spin on the word *crispy*.  But I managed to fill up with what I could get off them and the sides.

    The drive up, as always, was nice.  Not much traffic between here and there.  You can always tell when we are getting close by the increasing number of cars around us.  Most of it is pretty because of all the trees, the lake that extends alongside for quite a while and some of the interesting homes.  What is pretty in autumn is the colors.  I know it’s the same everywhere but you know that I went many years without every seeing autumn while living in Florida so it still is a wonder to me.  Being in the foothills of the mountains means that the colors look like they are everywhere. 

    We took a new way home via directions from our GPS.  We were out pretty far west from our normal route so we thought we might as well see where it brings us.  New sights, new route.  Lots and lots of trees.  We came out so close to the house I was shocked.  It meant we missed our usual stop at Publix, which was the only bad thing.  We won’t make the same mistake when we drive up to pick up my sewing machine, believe you me.  I miss the bread we usually buy there.  *sigh*  They also have the best lunchmeats and I usually pick up some since we get the good bread. 

    I found out today from the Princess that I won’t be keeping the baby until NEXT weekend.  I’ll have her from Friday night until Saturday evening.  Then Tara is going to take her and keep her overnight and until later in the afternoon on Sunday.  Then Johnnycakes will pick her up so he can drop her off on Monday at day care.  He’ll bring the baby here before he goes to work on Monday night if the Princess doesn’t make it home in time.  She’s going to visit some old friends there and finally get to see her best friend’s new baby…almost a year old now!    How time flies!

    She wants to go walk on the beach even if it’s cold just because she misses it so much.  I don’t blame her one bit.  Even if you don’t go often (like me), you miss it when there’s no chance.  We would have to go down to Mobile to spend a day on a salt water beach and that is NOT going to happen any time soon, let me tell you! 

    There’s a saying in Florida that goes…*once you get Florida sand in your shoes, you always come back.*  There’s a lot of truth in that.  It’s a pretty state, even if it is flat as a pancake.  It’s very clean….that’s one of the first things that people seem to notice.  But…on the downside, it’s an expensive state to live in.  Hell, it’s expensive even to visit, let’s be honest.  But if you want to enjoy sun during the winter and be the envy of your friends, that’s the place to go. 

    I have to tell you something that really disappoints me this Halloween season.  It’s the lack of really neat movies.  Oh there are some that are on that are gory as hell but even those are few and far between.  And what the hell has happened to all the Godzilla movies?  Frankenstein?  The mummy?  (not the new ones but those are cool, too)  Those are the kind you can actually sit and watch with your grandkids without worrying about them having nightmares.  Maybe they aren’t as realistic as the new ones are but that’s okay.  Kids have more imagination than they seem to use these days.  I am ending up watching my DVD’s lately and I don’t even own any of the Godzilla, etc. ones.  This is when I wish I had my sis’s collection of those goodies.  Oh well.  C’est la vie!

    Time to get this posted and get back to my Crossword Cove crossword puzzle.  I’m trying to catch up on them but it’s gonna take me all week more than likely.  Love you all.  Stop to enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn before all the leaves are gone from the trees.  The time is drawing nearer and nearer.  And be sure your kids are safe if they go out trick-or-treating.  More and more communities are having parties for all the kids sponsored by local businesses and groups.  Get involved if you can (or remember to do it next year).  It’s a nice way for the kids to have fun and still get their treats.

  • Apologies To All

    I had a blog prepared and I thought it would show up as scheduled like it usually does but it is apparently floating out in the airwaves somewhere.  My apologies.  I should have checked but I went to bed early.  Me bad!  Pull out the wet noodle~

    My sister got on my case when I finally got online because it’s not like me not to be there when SHE gets online.  I guess she got worried but it was because the Beast and I went to Huntsville.  FINALLY!  Yay!  I got my sewing machine in for repair at least and got to look around at a true sewing machine center showroom.  What an experience!

    The quilting machines they had were just incredible!  I had no idea such things were available to a regular person.  They almost looked like they belonged in some factory somewhere.  When the gal showed me how they worked, all I could think of was….OMG!  I could keep everyone in the family in quilts forever with one of these.  But, have no fear….there is NO WAY.  I would also go broke just buying the materials and I sure as heck am not looking for a way to make an income doing it.  Sorry folks!  Maybe if I were younger…….

    Had a nice time because afterward we stopped in a couple unfinished furniture places to look for a good desk or something the Beast could use as a desk.  He needs something bigger than what he made for my craft table and he just can’t get the wood needed for it.  That’s why we were there looking. 

    We found some really great things.  Some were beautifully made and even the edges were so smooth that you could just put a finish on them without any sanding needed.  We finally found a table that would work.  It even has a drawer in it.  It’s longer than some desks and would allow him to have plenty of room with both his computers that he keeps by him at all times.  But….it has to be ordered.  We found another kind of nightstand that will fit underneath and gives him all the drawer space he could possibly need.  At least I hope so.  We did have to come home to take a measurement to make sure that it’s depth (36″) wouldn’t interfere with anything but that looks like it will work, too.  So, the Beast just has to call to make the order…..if he doesn’t get too antsy and decide he just can’t wait the week it will take.  *Sigh*  We shall see.

    Gotta get this posted now.  Again, sorry ’bout that.  Love you all and talk to you later. 

  • The Beast And Halloween

    Have no doubt in your mind….the Beast’s favorite holiday is definitely Halloween.  I told him that as soon as I saw the new haul of candy he brought home from Walmart.  I even told him that I had said that to family and friends since *it’s the one time of the year he doesn’t have to search for candy.  There are HUGE bags of it EVERYWHERE!*  He has no idea that people all over the world (ty my French readers and also the Republic of Moldova).  I notice that I even have someone from Australia reading my blog now.  Wow!  I’m really getting around.

    Back to the candy thing…..on my kitchen counter there rests a HUGE bag of:  M&M with peanuts, Butterfingers, Snickers, Milky Ways, candy corn (two varieties), Mounds, Almond Joys, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and a bag of assorted wrapped individual candies (caramels, tootsie rolls, taffy, Mary Jane’s and Bulls Eyes).  We could host a HUGE party for kids and not run out of candy.  The worst part of all this is that HE will eventually eat it ALL.    I know.  Disgusting, isn’t it?

    He made a joke of it and said that Walmart told him one more big bag of candy and he had to register as a potential pedophile.   As if!!!  He didn’t like his own kids, why would he like other people’s? (his words)  The bad part is that it is one of those half truths.  At least he enjoys his kids as adults.  (also his words).  See what I put up with?  You can sign my nomination for sainthood at a later date.  *Grin*

    I hate the pile of candy sitting on the counter.  It just nauseates me to constantly see it and think about what that has to be doing to his system…his arteries….his blood sugar levels.  Is this something all old guys go through?  Inquiring minds would really like to know.

    I got a call from the doctor’s office on Monday night reminding the Beast of his appointment with the Dr. on Wednesday at 2:15pm.  I had no idea he had to go back again.  He never mentioned it to me.  It means he is probably going to see him about some blood test or other.  It’s NOT his cholesterol because that takes a month for them to get it back.  They send it out to California for some ungodly reason.  Sheesh.  We used to do them at the medical center where I worked.  The special machine we purchased did that test as well as a slough of others (of course, we also billed for it).  I sure don’t understand why they have to send it that far away and wait that long for results.  I mean, even with preservatives in the blood they draw, are they sure the blood hasn’t spoiled and won’t give the right results?  How in the hell do they pack those glass tubes so they don’t break?  It would piss me off to have fasted, gotten blood drawn for the test and then get a phone call that they *needed to re-do it* (since I am sure they wouldn’t admit to breaking the original tube).  I’m a cranky old person when I get up and can’t have my coffee.  Aren’t you?

    It’s so like the Beast to forget to tell me about appointments he has if I am not with him at the time it’s made.  I remember one Sunday afternoon when I got a phone call from his Aunt M asking me where we were.  I told her, *Here….at home.*  Then she told me that they were holding dinner for us.  I could have choked the Beast.  He had committed us to having dinner with her and he never told me.  He has ALWAYS forgotten stuff like that during our whole lives.

     I had to apologize to her and tell her that I had no idea since her nephew had never told me and obviously didn’t remember.  I then told her that there was no way we could make it so go ahead and eat.  I also told her that she should always let ME know about things like that or it would happen again in the future.  Then I went into our bedroom where the Beast had lain down for a nap and proceeded to hit him with a throw pillow several times while berating him for what he had done to his aunt.  It truly had slipped his mind and he still didn’t remember.  I told him he had better apologize HIMSELF to his aunt or she would never forgive him.  I have no idea if he ever did but we did get other invites and she always made sure *I* knew about them.

    He never remembers birthdays, anniversaries, nothing that just might be important or have sentimental meanings for people.  He is the original *bah humbug* scrooge at Christmas, too.  I pretty much ignore him at these times and do what *I* want to do.  That includes the decorating, buying gifts, etc.  I try hard to remember to send my grandkids some cash for their birthdays and other important events.  I admit to sending ecards to those sisters that use the internet. *blush*  That’s because it is a lot easier and no stamps!    Plus you can send cute or funny animated cards that you just can’t buy in a store.

    Boy, today is really kind of filled with complaints about the Beast, isn’t it?  Well, he is no bowl of cherries, that’s for sure.  Sometimes I really wonder just what it was that attracted me to him.  No accounting for taste, I guess.

    The Beast had to go to the doctor today for the results of his blood tests.  Turns out it wasn’t good.  First they found a bad gene in it that is causing him problems internally somehow.  The Beast doesn’t understand half of what the doctor says but….he also has high (bad) cholesterol and low (good) cholesterol.  His prescription is supposed to help with both the problems caused by the bad gene (an inherited one) and his bad cholesterol.  He’s got to go back in three months and get new tests to see how the meds have helped.  We shall see.

    Love you all.  Be sure to tell those you love that you do at every opportunity.  Life is short and more people die unexpectedly than you can believe….especially as we draw close to the upcoming holidays.  Oh….and don’t forget to invite an *orphan* (someone without family nearby) to your festivities at Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.  We always try to and sometimes drop off food to those that are reluctant to *intrude* or physically just can’t make it.  I know this is an *early warning* but the days will be just rushing by, watch and see.  I’ll remind you again a time or two in the future. 

  • We Finally Get Our Internet Back

    We finally got our internet back around 5pm today.  We had pulled the plug on the modem shortly after 4pm so we could figure out when our 24 hours ended.  That’s why the Beast got so pissed when it was still off after 4:30pm.  I ended up on the phone with Tech Support and got a real winner of an answer.  After talking around in circles (which probably works most of the time), it boiled down to …*well, you went so much over your limit that it will take more than 24 hours to reset.*  If that’s not a pile of BS, I haven’t heard any before.    Then she was going to *do us a favor* and reset it for us while I was on the phone…..!  I swear…I really HATE Hughesnet for this crap.  They just take advantage of people like us that don’t have any other resource if they don’t want dial-up.  When we can get away from them, trust me, we will! 

    Other than that news, I just spent my day sleeping in and then doing some more crocheting.  I’m really looking forward to the Beast going up to spend time with his brothers.  Of course, he’s going to be helping Renoir to build a computer but they will still get to visit while they are doing all the required work.  If Renoir wasn’t in such advanced MS, he could probably manage it on his own with just a little direction but the Beast would still have to be there to help.  Once he finds out how easy it actually is to put together, he will probably be able to manage it in the future if he needs to do another one.  The truly hard part of putting together a new computer is deciding on all the parts you want….which mother board?  which processor?  which video card or will the one built into the mother board work sufficiently?  which dvd player?  You get the idea.  Even deciding on the case for it can be a chore with all the cool cases they have these days.  And the differences in RAM (memory) has become incredible, too. 

    The Beast and Renoir have consulted together on what materials are to be used.  I think that Renoir has been ordering the bits and pieces to have them ready for when the Beast gets up there.  If not, at least there is a Tiger Direct store close-by for anything he might not have gotten already.

    Last night I spent a couple hours playing a game that the Beast had bought for me.  It’s kind of an expanded version of the Jewel Mine game that got so popular a few years ago.  This one is called *Jewel Quest* and it has different levels along with a story told from four different peoples viewpoints.  It has some hazards and the various levels are timed.  Well, let me tell you, I got kind of into the story after a while and was trying to hurry and make it through the various levels in order to see what the next segment had to say.  Then I hit a board that really was defeating me.  I couldn’t figure out why until I looked at the time and realized how late it was.  I also found out that my eyes kept trying to slam shut.  I was probably dozing off for minutes at a time and that’s why.    Turns out that it was probably true because when I got up this morning (it was almost 11am before I got my butt out of bed) and carried my coffee in while I tried the puzzle again, I got it.    That’ll learn me! 

    Oh, and get this!  All of a sudden, the Beast is nagging me about getting my sewing machine in to be repaired.  I told him that I could take it in anytime that he wanted to drive.  He seems anxious for me to go and it makes me very suspicious.   Why does he want me out of the house for several hours???  Especially since I have a feeling he MAY be expecting a package he really doesn’t want me to know about.  Hmmm. 

    Oh, don’t get the idea that it would be anything for ME.  That’s a huge laugh.  He only buys for himself and stuff HE wants.  *I* don’t get something until and unless he’s feeling very guilty about buying some big dollar items for his pleasure.  That’s something all my kids and siblings know for a fact.  In fact, when I told Bratfink about a compliment the Beast paid to me tonight for my cooking, she said, *OMG WHAT DID HE BUY NOW?*  That’s kind of the first reaction people have to his being nice to me. 

    I am heading for bed early tonight because I think I just may go ahead and go up to Huntsville tomorrow and get my sewing machine in to be fixed.  It needs to be done.  I have a complete pattern cut out and ready to be sewn together sitting on my craft table.  I would love to get that done sometime before next summer, don’t you think?    It will also give me time to stop at the liquor store on my way home and pick up some of the TGI Fridays mudslide.  I am having yens for it in some expresso coffee.  Either that or some Bailey’s.  Yummy.  Both are great in coffee of any kind.  Or on it’s own.  I’m not fussy.  ROFLMAO.

    Okay…love you all.  Have a great day and I hope good weather, too.  No updates on how Tonto is doing yet since I haven’t gotten to talk to Tara.  I will let you know in tomorrow’s post.  Hugs for you all.

  • Stealing A Neighbor’s Internet

       I screwed up and overshot the allowable download limit on our Hughesnet account today.  Suffice it to say, the Beast gave me this *gadget* that looks like it’s an old model card reader since he seems to have lost our good (new) one.  We both searched all his gear and it was nowhere to be found.  He probably left it at one of his brothers homes.  *sigh*

    The type of files that it converted the photos I was trying to take off one of my cameras was strange.  Microsoft told me that I needed a certain kind of converter download.  So, I go to the site (non-Microsoft) and end up paying almost $40. since it also can fix broken files.  I know Microsoft has told me that I’ve had broken files from time-to-time so I thought *What the hell….let’s get it*.  Well, after it scanned all my files, it found 51 broken files of various types so it said I needed to download these OTHER files to fix them (free ones).  I just went crazy and said download them all!  But I forgot to look at how big the darn things were.  :(   I did, however, finally get the pictures downloaded and into the proper folder).  So….I am going to show you the pictures I promised…oh, heck…quite a while back.  These are just two pictures (that came out halfway decent) of Tonto and Tara’s little guy from the day I babysat him while Tonto was in the hospital the first time.  Here we go:

                              Isn’t he a cutie?

    I am going to cut this short because, as I said in the title of this post, I am currently piggybacking on my neighbor’s internet.  They are asleep so they won’t notice.  I just hope they don’t have Hughesnet, too…..ROFL.

    Love you all.  Have a great day and I should be back tomorrow stronger than ever….I hope. 

  • 2 Year Olds Sure Keep You Moving

    The one thing about having Chewlee around is that she really does tire me out.  Especially on days like today.  She INSISTED on my full attention.  She wanted to be held, hug, tickled, rocked, fed, to share discoveries she made (around here?  Well, she DID find this huge chew bone that Baron apparently hid).  She also wanted to look at pictures and have me tell her the names of some of the people in them that she didn’t know.  She’s cute at the ones she does know even tho’ she hasn’t actually met them yet.  It’s from other pictures that we have looked at for the past year.

    Yes, she has been here in Alabama a full year now.  Along with her mother, of course.    I found out from the Princess that when she, Johnnycakes and Chewlee went out to dinner with the paternal grandfather it finally happened.  Chewlee called Johnnycakes *daddy* a few times and the Princess said it hit the grandfather kind of hard.  But that’s the breaks, buddy.  If the father doesn’t choose to support or visit, tough shit.  Johnnycakes loves her like she’s his own and Chewlee loves him, too. 

    We even laid down on the floor and did some of the exercises she likes.  Then she decided to ride on my legs so I REALLY got some leg exercises anyway.    She’s been fighting sleep all day, however.  She wouldn’t take her nap even though she was cranky as hell.  Now she is fighting sleep still.  She wants to be right here with me so she’s laying down on my recliner.  When she does fall asleep, I’ll move her onto the bed.  I know I shouldn’t spoil her but I so seldom get to spend time with her like I did today. 

    Her speech is getting better but she does get excited at times and just chatters away a mile-a-minute.  She is trying to tell me SOMETHING or else she’s making her own comments on something.  I let her chatter and just say, *Oh, really?*  or *You think so?*  The Beast watched me while some of this was going on and I just know he thinks I am either crazy or that HE can’t understand what she’s saying and I do.  Either way, it’s funny. 

    When we were putting lotion on our arms and legs (if *I* do it, she has to do it, too), she started inspecting me for *boo-boo’s*.  She thinks some of my freckles are boo-boo’s and, since I found out my back is covered with them these days, she’s VERY concerned and starts kissing them to make me feel better.  ROFLMAO  I found two broken blisters on her feet (and gave the Princess hell about that ’cause it’s from new shoes.  Those plastic/rubber/whatever ones with no flex).  I put some triple antibiotic ointment on them and a bandage and she’s happy as a lark.  She also got one on her finger because she reached up and touched a hot cookie sheet when she had been told it was hot.  Kids never believe you.

    The Beast finally got his Windows 7 today and got it installed on one of his hard drives.  He couldn’t put it on both because some of his programs won’t work with it.  So he’s keeping Vista on the drive he uses for his pictures.  He is in love with it.  There are no downloads you have to do, for one.  Even his Nero program (which he knew needed updating because of the new operating system), Windows 7 came with all the updates needed for just about every program he has except for his Spy Sweeper.  He’ll do that after 3am, probably tonight since we all know he just can’t wait to do stuff like that when it’s something new.  *I* plan on being asleep.  Chewlee will be waking up fairly early, as I already know.

    How did I end up with her for the night?  Well, I guess the original plan was for the Princess and Johnnycakes to have a night together to *just hang out* but…..Johnnycakes hasn’t spent any time with his friends in quite a while (the birthday thing was cancelled if you recall) and they wanted to have a *boys night out*.  The Princess had a chance to go do something with a few of the people she works with doing something or other in Birmingham so……..that’s what they are doing since they can spent tomorrow together while they are moving stuff over to the new house.  She hopes to be all moved in by the end of the week.

    I found out that the next two weekends, she will have Sunday and Monday off.  She likes it because it gives her more time to spend with him. She has to call this new day care center at a local church on Monday because they may be able to move some kids around to make room for Chewlee.  It will be closer to home and more convenient even for me if I should ever have to pick her up or go over and put her in a corner. 

    I just put her to bed.  She wasn’t falling asleep in here because she really can’t get comfortable on my recliner like she could when she was smaller.  But she didn’t give me an argument this time so she really WAS tired after not getting a nap.  I just checked and she is sound asleep.  She didn’t even have time to notice I don’t have the night light in there.  Usually she will yell when she notices it’s missing and I have to get it out of my bathroom and put it in one of the outlets for her.

    Time to close this missive. I’m sorry if they are long lately.  It just happens.  I become motor-fingered.    Love you all and have a great day tomorrow (Sunday).  Oh, I knew there was something else.  UPDATE ON TONTO:  He’s back in the hospital.  He had a relapse and it happened just after it seemed like his body was starting to respond and produce white cells on it’s own.  The drop was drastic and sudden.  Even after they did the exchange at the hospital, it continued downward.  PRAYERS ARE NEEDED, PLEASE!  TTP is like a cancer.  You can have remissions and relapses.  The difference is it never goes away no matter what you do.  Love you all.  Love you too, Tara.  You know it, I hope.

  • A Crochet Day

    A strange weather day today.  I woke up to a really windy day.  When I went to the back door to let the dog out, the wind was so brisk it almost ripped the door out of my hand.  The dog stuck his nose out, felt that wind and backed up.  I guess he decided he could wait a bit longer. 

    About a half hour later, still windy as hell, it started to pour down rain.  I mean a HARD rain.  But it passed within about 10 minutes and was over.  As the day progressed, the sky cleared, the wind died down and the sun came out.  We ended up with a 77 degree temperature.  It was ideal.  When the Princess came over for lunch, she and the Beast sat on the deck at the table and talked until she had to go back to work.

    The kids haven’t moved into Kym’s house yet but expect to this weekend.  They have been waiting for Kym to get all her stuff out of the house.  I guess Johnnycakes is going to check it on Saturday and they hope to move in on Sunday when the Princess is off work.

    The Princess is writing up a rental agreement for them all to sign so there’s no misunderstanding about their rights AND Kym’s.  Kym wants to leave the dog there and even that is going to be part of the agreement.  The dog’s food, vet bills, etc. will be taken out of the rent.  The Princess isn’t really happy over the dog because he’s mean but he’s an outside dog or he will be on the sun porch, which can be closed off from the house.  I gather he’s not only mean but he’s not to be trusted on his *potty training*.  I know the Princess…and Johnnycakes.  That is one thing they won’t stand for at all.  I have no idea why Kym would leave the dog behind.  He’s not an old dog and she is on a big farm.  I guess they don’t trust the dog around the chickens.  If he’s mean, he could be a killer among them.  Who knows?

    I spent the day working on completing some afghans I had started.  One in particular only needed a trim to be finished.  I got that done at least, thankfully.  I also started (I know, I know…always starting stuff) a Granny Ripple Afghan.  I like the looks of it and I have more than enough yarn for it.  I need my projects for when I go to the doctor’s office, ride in the car with the Beast or just want to lay back in my recliner and relax.  I like to work on them then.

    Right now I am a bit burnt out on Pogo games.  The ones I really like I have *ranked out* on so there are no more badges to be had unless they are made one of the weekly challenges.  The tokens you get are really worthless unless you like to enter the drawings they have every day for cash, they also have weekly and monthly drawings for cash.  Every month there is also a grand prize drawing that varies greatly but one friend of mine actually got a free chance for a drawing for a laptop.  When she won it, she thought it was a joke.  That is until the day it was delivered to her door.  It is now the main computer she uses every day.

    It’s always nice to be playing a game and you can earn those tokens that are useless except for entering the drawings or buying stuff for your mini-avatar.  It is still something that you can track your successes with….or the various badges you earn for reaching different ranks or weekly challenges.  When you don’t have those to look forward to, it becomes kind of a drag.  I will be doing more crocheting and less game playing for a while but I do know me.  I will return to meet up with online friends that I have made every day for a few hours and will probably ignore most of the games.  It won’t last because I love so many of the games they have and they are always introducing new ones.

    The Granny Ripple that I am making will more than likely end up for my granddaughter Sheepie.  She is the one that belongs to my daughter, Buttmunch and is living with Brutus, her ex.  He kidnapped her nine years ago and, since she was discovered thanks to MySpace, she has been able to keep in contact with her mother on an almost daily basis.  Of course, sometimes Brutus interferes with that just because he is an asshole and a verbal bully.  I could say a lot more here about him but I won’t.  I hate the thought of Sheepie being with a convicted felon who spent time in prison but……at least she has been found.  It won’t be long before she will be able to be free of that cretin without the need for attorneys and court and all kinds of crap.

    I love the ripple on this afghan because it is a deep one.  Some are very gentle, this one is a deep V pattern.  For some reason, I like that much better than most of the other ripple patterns.  I made some adjustments on it so that it is wider than the original pattern calls for so that it’s nice and big for her.  It’s going to be in white, two different pinks and a brownish color that looks really pretty with it.

    Ut oh….it’s time to get this posted.  Love you all and I hope you are enjoying Indian Summer weather with us right now.  The last hurrah of summer…*sigh*. 

  • Blog #2 for today

    I got off Pogo around 12:30am or so (which is early for me) and needed to walk around for a bit because my right foot was swelling from not moving around for a while.  I started taking vitamins again because I have been getting charley horses at night that have woken me up out of sound sleeps.  I know it’s low potassium (me bad  ) and I am really tired of having to walk them off. 

    So I am in the kitchen, cleaning it up and I get this bright idea.  My Bunn coffee maker has been giving me signs that it needs some cleaning out (a long process with it’s storage tank so you get almost instantaneous coffee).  I figure, I might as well clean it out while I am doing the kitchen.  I have a couple other things I can do at the same time.  Not a problem, right?

    I pull out the vinegar that I buy by the gallon just for this purpose and fill one of the pots (I have two), put in a fresh filter (to catch any stuff that might come out) and start.  Well, let me tell you…even though it’s only been maybe a couple months tops since I last cleaned it, I have NEVER heard it make the sounds it did tonight.    I kid you not!  I sounded like it was percolating in the storage tank.    It did that for almost 10 full minutes. 

    Normally, once you throw in the cold water that actually forces the available hot water into the coffee pot, all you hear is a sound like you get while heating up water on a stove.  Very low and no *perking* at all.  It sounded like it was almost exploding in there…and if I didn’t have a stainless steel tank, I would have been worried sick.

    I have a feeling there is still something wrong although I got a LOT of little tiny whitish pieces that I assume are minerals in the filter.  How do I come to that conclusion?  Because I timed a pot of just plain old hot water and it was in the pot in just over a minute.    It is supposed to take 3 minutes, no more, no less.  I actually checked to make sure the disperser was still on it because I was THAT shocked at the timing.  Either I have the fastest Bunn coffee maker in history or it is going to crap out on me.    I shall let everyone know.

    In the meantime, I am finally going to try laying down again before the sun comes up.  Love you all.

  • The Beast And Windows 7

    The Beast is driving me nuts lately over his expecting Windows 7 to be delivered.  He bought it several months ago at a *pre-sale* price.  Now that it’s out, he was notified that it is *in the mail*.  So he’s haunting the mailbox every day waiting for it. 

    He actually asked me if I had any interest in having it on my computer and I gave him a resounding *NO!*.  I will NOT let him near my computer again….for any reason.  I told him I was just getting used to Vista, tyvm.  He can have his Windows 7. 

    I asked him what the big deal was anyway and he said that it was because it’s not supposed to run *stuff* in the background like all the other windows programs do.  Since this drains resources, it figures he would be interested because his Photo Shop programs have big *footprints*. 

    He has three main interests when it comes to the computer:  email, Pogo’s Hearts game and his Photo Shop programs.  That’s it.   Period.  He doesn’t chat primarily because he has no friends, even online.  His family is very much like him.  Very insular.  If he didn’t have any family, those three things would be pretty much his life.  So I guess I can see why he is constantly craving excitement from new *things* whether it’s a program, new processor for the computer, new Motherboard or some new piece of camera equipment.  Other than that, he goes through periods where he feels the need to build something but this is usually only because *he* needs some more space for storing all the shit he accumulates.  You would die to see the floors of my closets (I do keep him off MOST of the shelves for storing blankets and sheets there) and most of the drawers in the two usable bedrooms.  I have no drawers in here other than a small one in my desk but I keep MY stuff in that.  Even the bookcase in here has piles of his stuff on the shelves.

    When he dies, I am going to conduct a massive cleaning and giving away party with my kids in attendance.  After that…..landfill. 

    I was thinking about the Beast today and his true personality.  Mostly this is because of thinking so much lately about Goldie.  I hope that this is not part and parcel of the kind of ESP that our family is known for….my family will understand why I say that.  It isn’t usually a good sign when we get those nagging thoughts about someone in particular.  It usually precedes bad news.

    The Beast has never been one with any self-control.  Not of his temper, his language nor his selfishness.  He is prone to excesses, including a long stretch of excess drinking he did for several years.  He loved being successful at our business and it’s a good thing we were because there are some lingerie girls that probably retired just from his tips.  He was a nasty drinker.  Some people get mellow.  Others get tired and go to sleep (that’s me).  Still others get violent….and that was him.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much damage he did to people and things.  He once threw an expensive lamp through a sliding glass door in front of a bunch of people and our young grandchild.  The worst part was he didn’t remember doing it the next day.  I will never forget his face when he got up and saw the damage (although my kids and I had cleaned up the glass). 

    When the Beast had his first stroke, he woke up in Intensive Care, looked around and asked the nurse that was taking some readings why he was there.  I swear to you this is what she actually said…….*This is God’s way of punishing you for all the bad things you’ve done in your life.*  No one knew who the nurse was (I was going to talk to her and kiss her.) so I think it must have been an angel who was there to give the Beast a warning that he had better change his ways because he wasn’t going to be around as long as he might hope.  Whatever the reason those words came out of her lips, bless you because, in truth, it was his total lack of self-control that led to his stroke.  His own doctor tried to tell him that but I don’t think he has listened well.

    Oh, make no mistake, he’s MUCH better now than he ever was.  And I can handle this new him.  Sorta, kinda.  There is still much of the old him that hangs around but it’s relatively minor.  If he goes off like a tea kettle, no one goes running for their lives.  He’s also pretty mild around the kids and grandkids these days.  But, laughably you would probably figure him for an old person trying to get into heaven.  But he doesn’t believe in Heaven so that’s another reason he’s a miserable person.  He doesn’t really believe in much of anything and I find that terribly sad.  He’s a conflicted person.  If he believed in anything…reincarnation, the Guf of souls, heaven, hell…even angels, it would make a difference.  It’s why he’s so afraid to die. 

    No one WANTS to die but it terrifies him.  To him that’s THE END.  Nothing exists afterward.  There is no comfort for him even if such a thing were true.  He sees nothing good about having people who love and miss you afterward.  That’s not a legacy or philosophy he can embrace.  It would mean he would have to care about other people and how they feel.  He doesn’t.  Not in the long run.  He can be a good friend at times….but don’t ask him to *do* something.  Borrow money?  His truck?  His tools?  Sure.  But to go out of his way to help you move?  Bail you out of jail?  Go change a tire for you if you aren’t less than 10 miles away?  And good lord, don’t expect him to give any thought to birthdays, anniversaries or even Christmas.  It requires thought and caring.  You have to just learn to expect that and accept it about him.

    If I had known what to look for in a boy/man back when I was young, I would have run as far and as fast as I could away from him.  But I was such a sucker for the underdog and the emotionally needy as a kid.  Color me blonde to the bone.  It took me years before I could really SEE him for what and who he was and not my perception of the person he COULD be.  Or what I wanted him to be.  Whatever.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  We all have our regrets.  I hate to say it but he killed any real love I had for him a long time ago.  Now it’s just familiarity and a history.  We had four kids together and those kids produced five wonderful grandkids and one great-granddaughter (so far).  *I* love them all and I try to buffer them from his attitude as much as I can. 

    My life is not so bad right now.  I get to travel, with or without him.  I’m not suffering from any lack of clothing or food.  We have a nice house and a dependable (and fairly new) car and truck.  He has stopped fighting me about Holidays and gifts for the kids and any of my family I choose to buy for.  When I insisted on a cell phone, he fought with me until he finally decided it was HIS idea.  I know how to get around his many excesses when I need to and want to do so.  I have access to money when I want it.  And I am the beneficiary of his small but adequate insurance policy.  It’s not all that much but better than none at all.  If it had been up to him, I wouldn’t have ANY.  Trust me.  I know.

    Well, with this sad admission, I am closing this missive for today.  Love you all and have a great Friday.  Indian Summer will be drawing to a close in the next few days.  I will be sad to see it go because that means dry heat in the house and warm clothes, coats, hats, etc.  Ick!
    Here’s a thought to ponder:

    Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say goodbye or *I love you*.  So while we have it, it’s best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken and heal it when it’s sick.  This applies to marriage, aged parents, children with bad report cards, family, grandparents, dogs with bad hips….and old cars.  We take care of them because they are worth it…and so are you.  Hugs for all.