Anyway, he went to the shooting range today since we were unable to head for Sam's Club due to my IBS flaring up.  With all this crap going on with the Beast, it's almost not a surprise.  While he was there, he found a neat gun/rifle/whatever the hell you would call a retooled safe mode semi-automatic AK-47.  Safe mode means that it will fire as quickly as you pull the trigger.  It's not one of those they show in movies or on TV shows.  Anyway, here in Alabama there is no need for a waiting period for a shotgun or rifle and no permits required.  So, you can buy one and bring it home right away....usually.  Today, he found out that the state or county (not sure which) put a 3-day hold on it before he can bring it home.

I laughed and told him it's probably because his buying 3 in a little over a week alerted Homeland Security or someone.  They probably are going to check to make sure he doesn't belong to some militant group or subscribe to weird magazines or some such thing.  I fully expect to have made a special list somewhere and it tickles me no end.  Us?  OMG!  Nothing could be further from the truth there.  You should hear the Beast's comments about those groups when they have programs about them on TV.  Sheesh!

  They should be more worried about the fact that he can hardly hold the damn things steady enough to shoot ANYTHING.    It's hilarious.  He's going to have to set up bait that knocks out a deer before he can walk up and shoot it.  Even his sights are set up for only 50 yards.  AND, he has to have a rifle stand to keep the gun from shaking.  It's really a total waste of money except they might be worth something down the line as a solid investment if there is as much of a shortage on both guns and ammunition as the article stated.

So how does one go about getting OFF a list like ours may now be on?  Anyone know?  Somehow, I think once you are on it, you never get off it.....just in case.  Any suggestions?  I wouldn't worry about it except for the fact that I think they may not let you fly on a plane if you are on one of those lists.  Lord only knows if I might have to fly somewhere for a funeral or something.  Guess I will have to cross that bridge if and when I get to it.

Love you much.  Hope you have a wonderful day and don't come to the attention of anyone you might not want to.  Let's hope we have no problems from this obsession of the Beast's.  Tomorrow we SHOULD be able to make it to Sam's Club.  At least, with the choice between a day like today and making the trip, I prefer the trip. 

I was hoping he was settling down from whatever the discussion he watched (and he watches a lot of them on TV) that got him thinking along the lines of the whole economy crashing down around our heads.  But he then came to me and wants me to get information about being able to get a permit for a concealed weapon.     Yeah, that was my reaction, too.  To keep him pacified, I DID look into it.  Other than some very specific type classes, it's really not all that hard.  Plus, most states reciprocate as long as the person follows whatever laws govern THEM that might be different from the issuing state.  *Sigh*  We shall see what happens with THAT idea.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will be heading up to Huntsville to do the long-overdue shopping at Sam's Club.  I somehow doubt he will be leaving the dog behind so that means we won't be getting the freezer I was hoping for this time.  He wants to do a little *shopping* around for it since we have several places around here that carry a variety of them and the pricing might be more competitive.  The last time we went to Sam's Club to shop with the car, the poor dog almost had to lay down and stretch out flat in order to get into the back seat once we had packed the trunk.  I made a list of the things we still have out in the *excess* cabinet so that we don't get more of those until we are ready to rotate them and get them used up.  I have a lot of baked beans out there that need using up before they expire.

The Beast looked around and decided that, now that his back is better (not good, but better), he needs to get the garage reorganized.  It looks like hell out there with his tools and shit scattered all over the damn place.  We can't put the car in the garage because of that.  If we are going to be able to store everything correctly, he'll have to do that on Thursday at the latest.

I was just sitting here going over my list of things that he will feel will work if everything crashes around us and I keep adding stuff.  I think it may require another trip.    There's the staples like sugar, rice, beans, spices, pasta, etc.  Then convenience things for storage and canning.  Basics personal hygiene items:  toilet paper, body soap, shampoo (and creme rinse for me).  Items for the medicine chest.....think about it.  The list could go on and on.  Must have been a real bitch for those people who stocked up their bomb shelters back in the 50's because they also needed to think about water, too.  I don't even want to address THAT issue just yet.  I can stock up little by little in the upcoming weeks.  THOSE can go out in the barn because they definitely take up a lot of space.  It's enough to send you down the road screaming.

I need to get to bed and get some rest.  I'm going to try to sneak in before the Beast because his snoring keeps me up.  And, sure as hell, if I go in there after him, just as I am dozing off, he will have a sleep apnea episode that brings me fully awake.

The Princess and Johnnycakes bought me a beautiful large bouquet of flowers.  I wish I knew the names of them all but just know the calla lilies.  It's a beautiful bouquet and different from the normal roses everyone seems to buy.  I thanked the Princess because she carried it into the computer room but forgot to say it to Johnnycakes.  **THANK YOU JOHNNYCAKES! **

The Beast bought us dinner yesterday while he was out shopping for his new .30/.30 rifle.  He got me my favorite (fried shrimp with cole slaw, hush puppies and french fries).  He also picked up two single serving packages of a pineapple cheese cake that was incredibly delicious.  Thankfully, it was a very small slice because, if it had been bigger, I would have eaten it all regardless and really screwed up my blood sugar.  As it was, I only ate a couple fries, none of the hush puppies (Baron loves them) and half of the dozen large fried shrimp.  I saved the others for lunch for today (even reheated they were great) along with the cole slaw that was left.

Today I made us some cube steaks in a mushroom gravy with mashed potatoes and some steamed cauliflower with a light cheese sauce.  Delish!  We had Chewlee for a few hours while the Princess and Johnnycakes went ice skating in Huntsville.  It seems that Johnnycakes had never tried ice skating before and I can't believe that we didn't ask how he did.  The Princess wasn't acting like herself when she got here and I have no clue if she was just tired or they had some sort of argument.  It just makes me sad that things sometimes seem so serious that life experience teaches us really isn't.  There are always ways for us to resolve any issues unless someone is not willing to make any concessions or changes.  I just hope whatever it was wasn't serious in her mind.

They got here just as I was about to feed us and Chewlee.  I told her that Chewlee hadn't eaten yet and she said that neither had they.  If I had made more than just enough for us, I would have fed them, too.  Oh well, another time.

Our weather is hitting the trash pile tonight with more snow expected and low temperatures.  Then a high enough temperature late tomorrow to make for hazardous driving before we get slammed again.  That time it is supposed to be 2-4 inches of snow possible unlike the 1/2 to 1 inch expected tonight.  I sure hope you all are having better weather than us or at least you can keep warm (or cool if you are in a hotter area....).

The Beast cracked up at Chewlee this morning.  At one point, we came out of the computer room so I could get coffee.  Chewlee ALWAYS has to accompany me no matter WHAT I am going to do.  The Beast was sitting at the kitchen table and she climbed up on the chair opposite from him because she spotted the hand lotion in it's pump bottle.  That will always get her attention.    I filled up my coffee cup, headed towards my room but stopped at the table to tell Chewlee *let's go*.  She looked at me, pointed at my coffee cup and said, *You got your coffee.  Go!* and pointed towards my computer room.    Cracked up the Beast but I got even.  I went and left her there for HIM to entertain.  I kept the door cracked open enough to hear if there was any yelling or crying.  I wanted to listen for Chewlee, too.

A little later, Chewlee came running into the computer room, shut the door and ran up to me.  She put her finger to her lips and said, *Shhhhh....papa's gone sleeping.  Doggy went to sleep with him, too.*  The coward took the easy way out.  He knew Chewlee wouldn't want to go to sleep just to spend time with him.  She fights taking her nap as it is. 

Our movie lineup changed quite a bit today.  I think Chewlee may have had enough of 'Zilla for the week since she was here three different times this week.  We DID have to do the Baby 'Zilla one first.  She was totally *into * it while she sat in my lap.  When her butt got tired (her words) she stood next to me or put her head on my lap while she watched.  After that, she wanted to watch Dora and the Mermaids.  Then it was The Mummy Returns. 

I have all three Mummy movies plus the Scorpion King but she wanted the second one because it has the little boy in it.  *Insert eyeroll here*  But, hey, it was better than a repeat of Godzilla.  Once that movie was over, she decided it was time for a Harry Potter movie.  We watched the first one (Sorcerer's Stone).  After that, it was the second one (Chamber of Secrets).  She finally went down for her nap.  That lasted an hour and a half and might have lasted longer but she fell out of the bed.  No, she didn't hurt herself because she took the pillow with her when she went off the end. 

I thought she might be tired of watching movies by then (although there is some playing around, especially with me, during the parts that we've seen a zillion times and are not *exciting* enough to keep her attention).  However, she told me she wanted to watch *Pendance Day* (Independence Day) and I couldn't believe it.  I got it down to show her to make sure that is what she wanted to watch.  Sure enough, that was it.  She leaped out of my lap to get it out of it's case and put it in the DVD player.  I taught her the right way to hold the DVD's and she's very careful about that.  She has also mastered putting it into the DVD player properly and shutting the little drawer.

She's started something since I worked on teaching her how to properly hold the DVD.  She would get her fingerprints all over it because she would start out right and then change hands so there were little fingerprints on the playing side.  I would take it from her, holding it properly, rub the prints off on my flannel jammie bottoms after showing her the finger prints.  I would tell her, *See?  You can't have messy fingerprints on it* when I showed her how I cleaned it off.  NOW, she takes it out properly, turns it over to look at it, then rubs it to supposedly clean off MY messy prints.  She will look at me and say, *YOU did it.  You are messy.* and then she puts it in so we can watch it.  She does it each and every time we change the movies now.  And every time, *I* am messy.    Just too funny for words.

She is so proud of herself since she knows all her numbers from 1-10.  She can also sing the ABC song and not forget any of the letters.  She will say the numbers or sing her song at the drop of a hat.  She also decided today that she would tell me when I had exercised enough.  I was doing my core muscle exercises with the 5# dumbbells that the Beast picked up for me.  She came over to me and said, *MY turn, Gramma* as she grabbed one of the weights out of my hand.  I sat up and told her, *Chewlee, those are too heavy for you to hold.*  She just said, *It's for my arms!*  She was holding the one close to her breast and put her hand out for the other one.  I handed it to her to see what she was going to do.  After she had it firmly, she walked off to hide them because I was *done* as far as she was concerned. 

I think I should close for now.  Suffice it to say we had a (relatively) warm day today.  It got up to 40 degrees.  That was warm enough for the snow to melt completely wherever the sun hit.  There are a few spots remaining underneath some of the thick clusters of pines.  Chewlee was totally confused by there being snow on the ground in the morning and it was gone by late afternoon.  It's okay.  We are supposed to get more on Monday.  How much?  We will just have to wait and see.

It was the Princess.  She couldn't get ahold of Johnnycakes (he had to have been deep asleep) so she had to call me to ask me to pick up Chewlee from Pre-school as it was closing at 1pm.  It was 12:30pm when she called but the school is no more than 5 minutes from the house.  The Beast actually went with me to get her.  It took me longer to collect her than it did to drive there and back.  It was my first time picking her up so I had to go through the identity and then look up process to make sure I was one of the people authorized to get her. 

It was almost 1:15pm by the time we got home and Chewlee had been so happy when she came outside of the school to see the snow on the ground.  She yelled, *Oh look!  Snowman!*  I looked where she was pointing and didn't see one so I figured she was thinking it was enough snow to make a snowman.  Hard to tell with her sometimes.  When we got back home, she insisted she could carry in the big bag of Valentine's candy and other little gifts she had gotten.  I actually got to carry in her blankey!    That usually doesn't leave her little clutches until she is inside a house or the school.  At school, she has to put it in her basket until naptime so she has learned to do without it for hours at a time.  I keep thinking I don't want to see her become like Linus in Charlie Brown, unable to go through life *unarmed* so-to-speak. 

We watched Sponge Bob, Dora and then she finally insisted we had to watch *Baby 'Zilla*.  While that was on, she crawled in my lap and wanted to do hugs, then she stood up on my chair between my legs and counted to 10 while holding my hands so she could safely jump down to the floor.  She gets such joy out of little things that you have to laugh with her for the joy of it.

The Beast ran out to Walmart so I had him pick up some 5# hand dumbbells for me that were on sale ($5. each) so I can do some of my deep muscle exercises with resistance.  Chewlee tried to bring me the bag with both of them in it and, when I started to get up to get the bag, she told me, *NO!  I can do it.* and I watched her struggle with them but she was SO determined.  She DID manage to get them over to me and then she had to try them each out.  When I showed her how I would be using them, she tried to lift one with one arm and then said, very seriously, *Too heavy, Gramma*.  I hugged her and told her she would be able to use them one day *soon*.  She seemed to like that idea.

One of the Beast's few friends called this morning and they got to talking about guns and rifles.  He's ex-military and a structural engineer (retired).  He and his wife do a lot of traveling around the country and they have run into another couple that do the same thing a few times.  That man happens to also be ex-military and they got into a conversation one night where a few of the guys were discussing how *the times, they are a-changin'*.  Turns out, this guy has 20 acres or so of land in Florida and he's inviting ex-military retirees (he's not looking for militants, just people who don't have homebases, so-to-speak) and could probably learn to live off the land if necessary.  He wants to fence the land in and just *be prepared* in case everything just goes to shit and they might have to defend themselves and their possessions.  Everyone can come and go as they choose but, with everyone's varied skills and no push for time, he thinks they could at least make life comfortable for themselves.

I was a little skeptical (of course) but, knowing this friend of ours, he would have been also.  So I was surprised to find out that he and his wife have decided that they are going to take him up on the offer.  The area where the property is located has lots of wild life (deer, bear, wild turkey, etc.) and they have even talked about possibly fencing in an area for some cattle or cows.  I'm guessing that they mean possibly milk cows vs. meat cattle.  He and his wife had been down and looked over the area plus they met with a couple people that are already there and have been settling in for about a year.    He said no one is a militant, no one is a government conspiracy theorist or anything *hinky*.  It's more like a small expatriate community that you can find in other countries.  But they are all a bit afraid that they will both lose their SS or pensions and that there may be a huge bank failure.  They just figure it's a lot easier if there are more of them banded together, looking out for each other.

I still think it sounds hinky but what do I know?  I don't know all the people involved but I do trust our friends.  I hope they enjoy it and that we will get to see them sometime soon.

Anyway, what it inspired in the Beast was the need to go out and buy a damn deer rifle.  I was and I told him, *Do you really think you could hoist a deer up into a tree by their back feet and field dress one?*  He said he could do *anything he puts his mind to* so I just rolled my eyes and told him to please find someone that KNOWS what they are doing go out with him the first time he decides to try for it.  Next?  Camos....watch and see.

It's late and I am going to get this posted for you before I lose my internet.  We only got about an inch of snow today and it looks like it will be warm enough (36 degrees) to melt most of this off tomorrow.  Next storm?  Monday. 

I gave him some water and watched him closely to make sure he swallowed it without a problem.  With all the moaning and thrashing around he was doing, I wasn't sure he could do it without a problem.  I got him some coffee after I made a fresh pot and then sat with him until the muscles finally stopped spasming and he could sit calmly and quietly. 

He told me he was SO tired but was afraid to lay down for fear it would start again.  I called his attention to the fact that the back had stopped it's spasms and, would you believe it?  He hadn't noticed until I called it to his attention.  He hadn't noticed because, although he was still in pain, until he moved, he hadn't noticed it was just *normal* pain.    He drank his coffee and went back to bed to try to get some rest.

He slept until almost noon and got up again, not because he was rested or refreshed but because his coughing was causing him a lot of pain.  He sat there and I saw just how white his complexion was and that's not a good sign with him.  He decided to take some Nyquil for his cough (?  I don't know how he thought that would stop it but...) and went back to bed.

He's up and sitting in the recliner.  I made him some soup since he said he really didn't feel well.  He is showing a bit of confusion because he worried that he had taken the Nyquil after taking the pain pill.  I told him it was six hours after the pain pill before he took the Nyquil so that couldn't be it.  The pill only lasts about four hours according to the doctor.  But, I know him, he's going to forever think that taking the pill and Nyquil together made him feel so groggy.  Personally, I know that Nyquil does that to him all by itself since he had his stroke.  Don't ask me why but it's just like liquor affects him.  Just a tiny bit of it and he gets all dizzy and feels a little nauseous.  But, he won't listen so I just say what I have to say about it and then it's HIS choice.

I spent the day just keeping an eye on him and cleaning up a few things.  At one point, I had to go try to locate his teeth.  He never puts them in the same place but takes the bottom teeth out and leaves them wherever he happens to be.  I guess he started to go to bed, realized he had them in his mouth and put them on top of the dresser.  But, of course, he never thought to look there.  He kept insisting the dog *probably* took them.  **Insert an eyeroll here**  The dog has never shown the slightest interest in them but, since his brother's dog once *ate* his upper plate, the Beast thinks all dogs like to do that.  Like I said, he thinks what he wants to think.

He's watching TV right now and I can hear his ughs and other sounds whenever he moves even though he's in his recliner and should just be trying to relax.  Even Baron has been coming to me when he needs to be let outside or when he's hungry, instead of going to the Beast.  He knows the Beast is definitely NOT having a good day. 

I've been up and down at my computer and playing a game I can put on *hold* when I check on the Beast or did some light housework.  Tomorrow, like it or not, we have an appointment to keep and, Guess what?  We are supposed to get the snow like Texas is getting right now.  I checked the radar and it's heading right towards us.  They claim we will be getting almost an inch of snow and are urging people who *don't need to be out to stay home*.  Oh well. 

We actually got about an hour's worth of sunlight today.  Even Baron was excited about that and, after he saw it in the backyard, insisted I open the front door so he could visit with *his sunbeam*.    I was just so glad to see it that I sat and stared for quite a while.  And smiled.  It was nice while it lasted.

In the meantime, I braved the cold and wind and ventured out into the world.  The forecast is not good for our future weather.  It seems that the cold, wet and possibly snowy weather has finally caught up with us.  Our high today was a wonderfully balmy 36 degrees and has been dropping steadily since about 5pm.  It's 26 degrees right now and I can guarantee you that all the rain we got today is frosting up some of our streets now.  It's supposed to drop down to 20 or 22 degrees tonight.  It's the general forecast for the next four days with Friday being the worst of the weather that will hit us.

Now, I agree that it's a heck of a lot better than snow but at least the people that DO get snow have some experience with snow and ice conditions.  Here in N.E. Alabama, this weather is out of the ordinary for winter.  We get cold but we don't usually get this rain and sleet, too.  A snow flurry or two, yes.  But it only lasts for maybe an hour or so once the sun comes up.  Sun.  Oh yes.  That's something else we haven't seen for over a week now.  I'm a sun person so the longer this goes on, the more depressing it is to me.  HELP!!!!!!!!!

The Beast made some Northern Bean soup for us for dinner tonight and, if I didn't know better, I would say he's trying to poison me.  The chopped, raw onions had a decidedly chemical taste to me.  But then, I have a cold and my taste buds are off so, who knows?  I couldn't finish the soup because of the taste.  He also could have applied some Icy Hot or something else we have in the medicine cabinet and not washed his hands afterward.  He thinks wiping his hands good on a rag works just fine.  That could explain the kind of taste it gave me. 

I started to say, I braved the day and went to do some shopping since we were out of or low on a lot of things.  I picked up some ingredients for a dish that sounds just so tasty to me.  This woman is awesome and you should take some time to peruse the collection of recipes she has made available.  She also has a recipe book  you can purchase.  Here's the link for the recipe I'll be making tomorrow (Wednesday).  Check it out and see what you think:            http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/02/drip-beef-two-ways/ 
Thank you, Bratfink, for introducing me to her. 

I'm going to try the recipe with the pepperoncini.  Partly because I love them but I think they will add the kind of zest I like with my beef sandwiches.  I got some great buns to use with them, too.  *Grin*

While I was out today, I picked up a small bottle of brandy.  It's been a long time since I had any but I thought, with all this cold weather and my cold, it might just be a good time to have some in the house.  I used to have a little brandy with my dad during the winter.  He actually had found a Mexican brandy that he liked and, I had to agree, it was very good for sipping.  I haven't been able to find it in years.  It probably never *took off* in the United States and isn't available any more.  The story of my luck. 

Well, I am going to go jump in the shower and put on a warm pair of jammies.  I need to get this posted before I lose my satellite connection (again).  Love you all and I hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are.  Hasta manana!

PS:  Hello Republic of Korea.  Thank you for reading my blog and continuing to visit. 

The funny thing was he was sleeping soundly and without any moans or groans until I got into bed.  His hand found me and suddenly there was moaning.  It deteriorated from there.  I heard him snoring lightly and fell asleep for a short time until, perhaps, he heard me?  Then I got woken up again with his need for some more cream on his *boo-boo* back.  The one thing we did find out is there are no cracked ribs.  He has had them before and said the pain from coughing is all in his muscles in the back. 

Today he actually was more mobile than we expected.  He took a hot bath but discovered it actually made him feel worse instead of loosening up the muscles.  He told me tonight he had a feeling this was not going to be something he would shake in a day or two.  *Rolling eyes here*  Gee, wonder what gave him the first clue? 

The dog got tired of hanging around him and decided to come sit with me.  I watched Armageddon on TVtonight.  I just love that movie with Bruce Willis, Billy-Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler.  It always makes me cry...and at several spots.  But, I love a good cry from time-to-time, don't you?

The funny thing was Baron came over during one spot where I was crying profusely and tried to comfort me.  He laid his head on my lap and then kept licking my hand.  It was just so cute.  After the movie was over, he went back and laid down in front of the TV again.

I took a nap at one point today and went out like a light.  I slept soundly for about 3 hours but I guess I never moved.  My back was just killing me when I got up.  I grabbed the back brace and put it on while I got a few things done around the house then took a pain pill.  Once that kicked in, I could take the brace off.

With the Beast out of commission for a while, I am going to have to brave the cold, rainy day they predict (again) for us tomorrow (Tuesday) and get a few things done.  I have a couple things I have to go to the bank for and then do some grocery shopping for things we are out of and need ... pronto. 

 I couldn't believe I was out of sugar.  All I have left is what is in the server and that's not much at all.  I have plenty of my substitute but the Beast won't touch that.    He uses up more than half the sugar we go through.  The rest I use in baking things from scratch.  Yes, I still do that kind of baking on occasion.

I'm getting so depressed with the lack of sun here.  It's been dismal and overcast now for more than a week.  If you have a lot of sun hanging around your area, could you send some our way?  I'd really appreciate it.