stitchintime

Look at my new obsession

2011-02-15T09:15:00.001-08:00

I started another blog, just to follow my own progress with my new thing to do. Check it out here:

In other Worlds

Last Blog Post of the Year

2010-12-31T17:29:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!

Okay, dokey, I think I got it now...

2010-12-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

This is the progress on "The Clock" as of this morning. I sit and stitch for hours, it seems like I'm not getting anywhere. I guess it's because I'm watching the clock too much!

And this is the dirty dog chair with Trey in it. I cover it with a sheet whenever I get a chance to sit in it. (Which isn't much) When I do sit in it, I'll stitch for a while and then fall asleep. It's comfortable.
Now, I gotta see how the camera and I did!

Post Christmas

2010-12-27T08:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone...I don't need to tell you that, Y'all know it. I am so happy with this Christmas. Most years I have this feeling of regret, or guilt, I don't know what it is. Like I didn't do enough. I didn't try hard enough. Whatever. I guess I am over that phase of my life. I told the girls..."No presents this year...please. If you want to give, give of yourselves." The girls, in their twenties still think of themselves as what they have earned and can afford to spend. They out did themselves this year.
I gave my youngest a 104 piece Mechanics tool set. (She is studying automotive courses in college, and rebuilding her own 1974 Chevy truck)
I gave my middle daughter the full set of the large paperback "Twilight" series. She and I were in the book store one day a month or so ago and she said she wanted to read it all.
I gave my oldest tickets to the Tech Museum and money for lunch. They have this dreadful exhibit of a plasticized human body all cut up and showing everything! She is studying to be a Surgical Technologist and is really interested in this kind of stuff. I knew she wanted to go. I figured she'd be good and hungry after viewing this (ick) body, so lunch money.
What they gave me? A brand new Canon PowerShot Camera. My old digital camera was just about done with it's life. My oldest daughter knew this and told her sisters that is what they were doing for me. I am more than delighted.
What was the best thing is that we all got together and had a nice dinner together, no fighting, no nasty remarks about each other.
Everyone was just tickled with their gift and that made me really happy.
Now I can show you what else I have been up to.....

Well, that is when I figure out how to manage this thing...more later!

Spooning

2010-12-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

I read this post this morning, and it touched me. I just wanted to pass it along. I hope I have all the links done right! It is such a small thing to do, but it is such a big way to show support to someone. I copy and pasted the following message with permission from Megan at Undomestic Diva.

"Spooning
Let me ask you one little question: If you could do something to make a person feel better - a person you could otherwise not help in her situation of unfortunate circumstance beyond her or your control - would you?

Think about it. We've all been there. We've all had someone in our life - whether a close family member or friend or perhaps it's just someone we know through the blogosphere or Twitter world or maybe even it's someone whose story we heard from someone who heard it from someone else... but somehow, it touched us, it haunted us, it made us feel helpless and it kept us scratching our heads and wondering What can I do? leaving us helpless because sometimes, in this life, we don't always have the chance to fix things for others. No matter how badly we want to.

So again, If you could do something to make a person feel better - a person you could otherwise not help in her situation of unfortunate circumstance beyond her or your control - would you?

:::

I have a friend (and chances are, she's your friend too - or at least acquaintance) who could use a little cheer. She's had multiple surgeries recently (she lost 13 inches of her colon, her gall bladder, her uterus, her ovaries and cervix) and finally after several emergency hospitals stays was diagnosed with Lupus.

I can't fix her. I would LOVE to be able to fix her. The next best option is to try and bring her happiness in any way I can. And I'm not talking in the form of money or food or CLICK MY PAYPAL BUTTON RIGHT HERE sort of way. This idea, my friends, is far more creative and unique and I hope you'll help me help her make this happen.

In an effort to keep this as low-key and not-so-obvious to my friend I'm not naming or linking you to her blog but instead I'm sending you HERE to read the back story, to help this friend of ours, through the giving of spoons.

Yes, spoons. (The full story is here - a bit lengthy but worth the read.) A spoon from your kitchen drawer, a spoon from a gift shop, a spoon from anywhere, it doesn't matter. That's all. It's rather simple, really.

I'm asking you to:

- Send a spoon (address information here)

- Pass along this information on your blog (you can copy/paste this if you would like)

- Tweet/RT this post to pass along the message

And you will have spread the cheer I was talking about. We can't cure diseases. Sometimes, it's hard (at least for me) to even convey the right sentiments in a tweet or email to the ones we're thinking good healing thoughts for. But this? This is a start.

xoxo"

Oh my!

2010-11-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

It's thirty freakin' pages long my friends! Thirty freakin' pages!
My clock...the last post?
See Ya sometime in the future!

It's About Time

2010-11-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Fractal 267

Finished size:
14 count: 21.5" x 22.25”
Stitches: 300w x 310h

Sorry about the small-ish picture. I was tickled that I could get anything at all. If you want to see a bigger picture of it google cross stitch fractal #267. It will be under xs-collectibles.

This is about a cross stitch project I have been mooning over for a year. I have plans for it. It will probably take me most of next year to finish it completely. I am going to make it a clock! Yes...can you believe that? A Clock! I just thought it would look cool up over my fireplace. I will have to make some adjustments, like changing the colors where the hands are, so the hands are not there. I am going to have a shadow box frame made so that I can enclose the whole thing behind glass. Then there will be the actually hands I do put on it. They need to be special.

I'm doing it on simple white, 14 count Aida, the image will be 21-1/2" by 22-1/4". I couldn't decide between the 14 and 18 counts, but the store decided for me, they didn't have a big enough piece of 18 count for the project. It'll be easier for me to stitch on the 14 count anyway. Besides it'll be a more substantial piece in my front room with the 14.

I can't wait to get started. I have about a week to go before the charts get here. I picked up all the floss and the Aida yesterday, so I think while I am waiting I will sew a grid on my cloth, to keep the counting more accurate on my part.

I don't think I have been this excited over a project for a while!

My Big Brave Dog, Trey

2010-10-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

I know, that for about the first three years of a shepherd's life, that they are not the bravest of creatures. The ones that the police have are trained while they are young, to go into dangerous situations and to not react adversely when they hear loud bangs and such.
Well, my dog is a sheherd. He has not been trained. Much. He sits and lays down. He drops things things he is not supposed to have on command. He's getting good. But brave? I can't teach him brave. He will have to grow into that.
Last night, some of my "favorite" neighbors decided to celebrate the 4th of July again. For about an hour, we would hear the loud popping of firecrackers and the shrill whistles of Piccolo Pete. I hate it. Apparently, so does Trey. The other two dogs barked to ward off the big bad noise. But Trey? He disappeared. I didn't see where he disappeared to for a while. But then...I spotted him.
(Please don't judge the mess in these pictures. I have animals...they make messes. And kids, who don't believe in cleaning.

Ok. wha...?

2010-10-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

This afternoon when I left work, I got up the road about a half a mile when the traffic started backing up. Then I noticed no cars coming in the other direction. Which can only mean one thing.
Accident.
So I grabbed my patience cap out of the glove compartment,(does anyone keep actual gloves in those?)and wished I could get up to the next stand of trees and sit to wait this out in the shade.
The accident happened in the south bound lane, I was going north. It looked as though someone wasn't paying attention to the red light and really clobbered the car in front of her/him. Sucks. What sucks worse is that when the medics opened, or rather pryed, the door open on the car doing the hitting, a dog escaped and ran out into the (thank God) stopped traffic.
Being the animal lover I am, I joined two other people in the lets get the dog campaign. It took a half an hour and two leashes. I just happened to grab my dog's leash out of the truck just in case. The dog ran north away from the accident for about 1/4 mile. This is where I joined in. I pulled off the road, locked up my truck and started herding the dog back to the site of the accident. One lady stopped to help. She shut off her car and the dog acted as if it wanted to get in her car, but she had her baby in the car and was reluctant. (can't say as I blame her) The dog ended up crawling under her car and we were able to get the leashes on her, and pull her out.
She was slightly hurt, and scared to death. She wanted to bite us.
Another woman drove by us and slowed down to tell us that there was a blue truck up the road with a dog in it going crazy. I said,"Oh thanks, that would be my crazy dog. He hates me being out of his sight. He is safe, this dog is not."
Then I got to wondering...how would she know to stop and tell us about the blue truck/dog? And then why would she tell us about the blue truck/dog? I suppose she thought we were just out saving dogs today.
I took that as my cue to leave, before the humane society decided I was abusing my dog. (Believe me, he was not suffering) Since the dog from the accident was in good hands (one of my customers was there with her and going to take her to the vet) I left and got me and my dog home.
If I ever find out what happened with this dog I will let you all know. Hopefully, everything will be okay for all involved. BTW...the dog's name was Breezy. One of the cops asked the owner as they were getting them out of their car. I am hoping they let them know that Breezy was being taken care of. One less thing for them to worry about.

*I found out today that the dog and her owner are fine...shaken badly, but not injured. I guess rear ending someone in a Mercedes is a good thing! (yeah...sure) I was just happy to hear that all involved are good.

My Public Service Announcement

2010-09-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — An ominous theme has emerged from the wreckage of a deadly pipeline explosion in California: There are thousands of pipes just like it nationwide.

Please.

Don't let this happen to you. This explosion happened just ten miles from me. Just on the other side of the hill. I pass by this neighborhood at least once a week. Between four and seven people died. Several people were hurt, some extremely. 57 or so houses were totally destroyed, others were damaged to one extent or another. All the people in this neighborhood, their friends and families lives have been irrivocably changed. Forever. I know it affected me. I have no ties here, I just pass by.

This was caused (allegedly) by our major gas company's inability to take care of aging pipelines. They were told in the weeks leading up to this horrific event that there was a gas leak, because plenty of the people in this neighborhood smelled gas. They didn't do enough.
We are not protected like we think we are.
Write to your utility copmpanies and demand they take care to inspect and if need be repair their aging equipment. I do not want to hear that some of my blogger friends have met with a tragic event such as this.

My Countdown Begins Again

2010-09-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

I finally stepped foot back into the room at WeightWatchers. I had to. HAD to. I'm getting ridiculous. Really. I gained nine pounds since January. That is one pound per month! Damn! I can't do that. If I continued to gain a pound a month by the time I am 60 (in two years and eight months) I'd be another 32 pounds heavier and that much closer to my grave. My feet have started bothering me again, my hips hurt at night when I just want to sleep. I just want to sit around, I don't want to move, I don't even like having to get up to get myself food anymore! (That's bad.)
My psychologist told me the last time I talked to her that she was going to start monitoring me and my weight. I talked to her on the 26th last month and she told me to get to WW that week. I put it off til today. Of course.
I didn't really want to even go today. I put it off until I absolutely had just enough time to get there. I just hate leaving the house. My whole weekend was cut short because Of some errands I had to do, which meant I had to leave the house. I need to get past this mindset. I am too comfortable just laying or sitting around here. The fact that I have no energy is a big factor in not getting up and doing or going anywhere.
So. I will try again. The meeting leader told me not to beat up on myself. Just remember I am human. And keep. coming. back.
So I am going back to being whole on the disappearing act over there to the right. Come back next week and see if I did any good!

A little project I've been doing.

2010-09-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

I found the pattern for this somewhere. It's all over the internet, so am I. I browse at work when I'm not supposed to. I fell in love with all the possibilities of the color combinations a quilt could be made with. I just started grabbing fat quarters off my material shelves and matching up the colors to see what I liked. I don't know how many I will make before I put them together and make an actual quilt, but I can wait! The next one will be maybe blues and seagreens, and the one after that may be all black and white, because I reall, really like the look of the black and white one.
Anyway, now you know I haven't fallen off the earth some where. I've just been in my craft room...
Have a great week you all!

So Far, Not So Bad.

2010-08-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

MD has been home from New Mexico for less than twenty four hours. Of course, she is happy to be home, back in familiar surroundings and away from some Ungodly types, including her dad who claims to be a born again kind of person. Yea...right. I have never known a true Christian to ask and talk like that!
Picking her up was pretty darned easy, even driving to downtown San Francisco. She only waited five minutes for me. The bus depot had moved in the two months she was gone! I went to the old location, because you can't get through to the customer service number at any time of the day or night. She got dropped off and then found out where she was from the old depot and got over there lickety split. It worked out all and all.
This morning she got up got dressed, sat down at the computer and put applications in at five different job places. She got a call back from one place right away and went to an interview this afternoon. She called a bit ago and told me she has an appointment for a second interview. That is a good sign.
BUT, she has decided to hang out with a couple of friends, so that could be bad. I can't make decisions for her and I can only suggest what she should and shouldn't do. The rest is up to her.
At least for the most part she is headed in the general direction of right!

The Other Shoe ALWAYS Has To Drop

2010-08-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

I. HAVE. HAD. IT. UP. TO. HERE!!!!!

Why?!? Why?!? Do I need to put up with this? O.M.G.

I just got a call from MD back in New Mexico. She was crying. She's been calling Saturday nights to check in. That's when the calls are free. So I thought it was odd that she call me in the middle of Tuesday. I should have known. Things blew up for her and her dad back there. Of course, dad was at the helm. He is always at the helm when things blow up. That is why he is my EX.
Apparently, he got into it with the people they were staying with over the people's dogs. (I'm a if you are being put up in my house, you deal with my fixtures, even if those fixtures are my dogs kind of person) You don't "get into it with me about my dogs" Unless of course, my dog(s) piss on your tuxedo jacket a half hour before you are going to a piano concert...in this case, that isn't the case.
He got kicked out of the house...to the tune of the cops would be called if he showed his face. Ever. Again.
He told MD to sit tight, he'll drum up some other poor souls who will take them in. (not his words exactly) Well, now, one of the people at the house where they were living, had told MD that she would drive her to a job interview this morning, but decided she was a dink and couldn't be bothered because of the aforementioned high drama from MD's dad.
MD went ballistic and packed up their toilet paper (? - don't ask) Then gave a portion of it back when asked, but proceeded to go and tear up a stuffed animal that belonged to one of the residents there. (don't laugh, you are getting the story exactly as I was told it)
Now, she is kicked out.
Dad secured a place temporarily with a couple who are friends of his. They used to live here close to me. They are retired and had moved to New Mexico to RELAX.

Well, the phone call went downhill with MD. I told her to get to the post office and put in a change of address to here and have her dad get her back here. She's trying to sober up and doesn't need to learn his stupid ass dry drunk ways. I really don't need or want to deal with her, but I cannot for the life of me figure what else to do. I told her to do the change of address because she JUST got her unemployment straightened out and was going to be getting her first checks from them. ACK!!!
Now, she will have to wait some more. It's been two months since she started her claim.

The dad calls me back and started in on his, "Oh did she tell you this, and that and I told her this and that." "She's not the victim here, we are all responsible. We know this." "I told her to keep her mouth shut."
I wonder why someone didn't tell him to keep his mouth shut...where does anyone think she is learning this from?

Well, let me tell you. After listening to the same freaking bullshit I listened to for eight years when we were married I BLEW UP!
I told him I was sick of him giving up every time things got a little tough. I told him he needed to grow the eff up and deal with it. I used some very colorful language here and there.

MD just called me back to tell me that she will be in San Francisco tomorrow night at 7:30, the dad had just gone out and bought her a bus ticket here.
I feel so bad for her. Yes, I know that a lot of what has happened to her in the last six years is her bad choices, decisions and actions, but she had nothing to go by but what her dad had taught her. She idolized him before and especially after he and I divorced, so she would never listen to me.
I am so done with him and now I think she is too.

Summertime...

2010-08-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

Here on the central coast of "sunny" California, summer is as it was years ago when I was in school. Foggy most days and then on the other days it was drizzling. Our summer weather comes in September and October, when, for me, it is unbearably hot.
My OD has abandoned me for warmer climates. She went to Clearlake in between semesters. I love it! My house is quiet and drama free. Except for the DOG DRAMA. There's plenty of that
YD and her boyfriend have been by the house almost every day. I think she doesn't trust me alone. I might get into trouble. I like when they stop by. Her boyfriend gets out the lawn mower and mows my weeds for me. Then he waters them.
Work is slowing down again. People are spending their hard earned bucks on back to school supplies, not hardware. Although I did upgrade my newest department. The office and school supplies. I brought in pencil boxes and pouches, and some brighter colored binders. I have every conceivable style of pen and pencil imaginable.
I also brought in sewing stuff. Just a little endcap's worth of goods. Stuff that if you were to sit down to do a project and found you were out of something...hand needles, thread, crochet hooks or knitting needles, snaps, hooks, etc. I had fun deciding what to bring in.
Next week I am adding Testor's Model paints to my list of art supplies in the art department. (I'm just having a great time spending my boss' money!)
Today I plan on altering my OD's new scrubs for her. She had to buy a larger size to fit every where it needed they fit, but they are a little too big in some places. She needs to scrubs for the next semester.
Since she has been gone I have done a little deep cleaning in places around the house. Now the house is absolutely cleaned and I can sit down and do the sewing. I may even get to some sewing that is more fun than necessary
It just cracks me up, because she is always telling me that "I" need to pick up after myself more often. It seems since she isn't here the house stayed clean once I cleaned it. Hmmm...wonder who needs to pick up after herself more often??? (Hint: Her dirty clothes are still in the bathroom, mine are all washed, dried, folded and put away)
WOW! What a long and boring post this has turned into. Oh well, it is the way things are around here. I am loving the peacefulness of this house right now. It's nice.

So many things

2010-07-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Last month was a whirlwind of stuff. Wait! Last month wasn't May!
Let's see...May and June were whirlwinds. Okay, that's better.
And here we are, in the throws of July.
I have been sick for seven of the eight days of July. Today, my oldest daughter yelled at me for not going to work. I have been at work all of fourteen hours this month. Counting today I would have perhaps 46 hours of work, if things were normal. I had taken off Saturday and Sunday so I would have four days to spend the 4th at Clearlake with my dad. I got sick Friday before I left and took part of that day off work. Wednesday I went in to work and lasted all of two hours. Today I didn't even try. So the kid is telling me she doesn't want to hear about it when I can't pay the bills. I told her I was sure she wasn't worried about me paying bills when she was off gallivanting with friends for extended weekends and camping trips to Southern Ca. or buying bridesmaids dresses when she's on unemployment, or the gifts she bought for friends and their kids when the utility bill was due. Mean words. I am feeling mean.
Then after she came out of her room, she was all, "What meds have you been taking Mom? Are you drinking water? You need to keep yourself hydrated." I replied with a "Harrumph!" and she said, "I'm only trying to help!" Yes, I feel so helped.
The lake would have been great, except that I couldn't eat much. When I did it was all I could do to get to the bathroom on time. It was hot, I didn't sleep well. But I did get to spend some time with my dad. My youngest daughter along with her boyfriend, his daughter and her friend had fun playing in the water and eating Popsicles. (Their basic diet for the weekend) Really it was a better weekend than staying here and listening to all the neighbors shoot off their illegal fireworks in an attempt to burn down the town.
The new dog had some fantastic firsts this weekend. I was really pleased at how he has come along. He was loose...actually free to run, run, run all weekend. We have an acre up at the lake. It isn't fenced in, but the dogs can roam without running into trouble. He wasn't really into swimming at first, but learned to love it. All the other dogs play in the water and fetch balls, so Trey learned what fun that was. He met a few other dog friends and got along with them all really well. I learned that at times, it does take a community to train a dog. Everyone worked at his training which made him understand that much more that he is a loved member of the family and in turn behaved as such. It even went well for him when he grabbed the whole chicken off the counter right next to my dad. He was soon surrounded by everyone as someone pryed his mouth from around it. The chicken still tasted good, and now we have another story to tell.
Oh Yea!
In other news...MD's father finally stepped up to the plate and took over parenting of MD! It only took him twenty four years. Better late than never, as they say.
She had moved out, stayed with a girlfriend, and at the beginning of May got herself into more trouble than ever. She ended up coming back here much to my chagrin. The dad stepped in. He has now moved her to New Mexico to a rehab house about an hour and a half from where he lives. She will be there for six months to a year. She seemed to be okay with it. In fact, from what the dad said the last time I talked to him, she was excited about starting her new life! I know before I took her to the bus depot on the 29th of June, she was looking up jobs that were available there and looking at housing. I am happy for her that she has this opportunity to be away from the influences of friends here who are not really good friends. I can't wait to see how her new future unfolds. She has such great potential, I just couldn't get her to see it.
I think that should be it for now. I need to go see if there is something I can put in my stomach that will stay there. Wish me luck.

Oh No You Di-nt!

2010-06-23T16:34:00.001-07:00

For Atreyu, it's balls off Wednesday.
I was up at 4AM this morning. Played hooky from work and took my newest family member to the free Spay/Neuter Mobile Clinic. I was the third person there at five this morning! The woman on the phone thought I was nuts when I said I would be there at five. Who's nuts now?!? (Not Atreyu)
I waited two and a half hours, then at 7:30 the mobile animal hospital pulled up. The vets came out and set their hospital up...leveling it, putting the chocks in front and in back of the tires. Getting out the steps and clipboards, lining us up in the order we arrived. About 8:30 they started calling each individual dog's name. When we were called we loaded up and went through the question and answer period. Most of my answers were, "I dunno" Geez...I just got him, I didn't ask enough questions when I took him. That's just how I roll.
We tried to put a muzzle on him, but that wasn't happening. The vet just asked me and the other vet to distract him and she popped him a tranquilizer shot. Then it was time for me to load him up in the cage and be on my way.
I cannot believe how attached I have become to this dog in such a short amount of time. I kept missing him once I got home and kept looking at the clock to see if it was time to go pick him up.
Just before three we got in the truck and went and got him. The vet explained everything to me...for all the "just in cases". He was happy to see me, but soon realized that, "Wait, you're the one who brought me here to this!" GAH!
We're home, he is passed out in the middle of the floor, far away from the dog bed we put down for him. I think he doesn't care. He's tired or depressed, or maybe a little of both. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Well...

2010-05-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

After much searching and pressing buttons and linking to www help sites, I finally called India and they helped me. I have to say Ashish Kumar was a wonderful woman who took me through the problem of why my computer was not talking to my camera. It was all on the computer side. Some fouled programs or something. Ashish took over my computer remotely (this feature still blows me away) and cleaned up the little glitches here and there and my computer is running fine now.

The picture above is the little Kindle cover I made a few months ago.

I've been busy with many things lately. I manage to read everyone's blogs, and comment on most. I just haven't been able to sit and type out anything.

One of the things keeping me busy these days is this little guy...

Meet Atreyu.
My YD and I were looking at a car in San Jose for her boyfriend. (A car that we immediately decided against) The family who had the car also had this dog who was chained up and going nuts. I kept going over and petting him and talking to him. The kid who was selling the car said they were moving and couldn't take the dog..."Do you want him?" Of course. I never think these things through to the end...I just jump at the chance to have a new cute little guy in my household.
Yes, he is cute, little he is not. He has never been socialized. Never had his shots. Was never neutered. All he was trained to do was sit. ACK!!!
Next week we get to go get him "trimmed" if you know what I mean. He will have to get all his shots before then. I think once that is done and he doesn't hate me anymore for it, he will calm down a bit. Then we can start the real training. He is learning some now. He no longer jumps on us. He has learned to hop right into the back of my truck. As long as the days are cool, he will be sitting in the back of my truck while I am at work. It sounds cruel, but it's that or he spends his day howling in a small kennel at home. This way he gets to walk a few times a day and I am there to give him fresh water and loving. I have to cleanout the big kennel so he can live in there when the weather warms up. (Can you say, I gotta get it done today?) He just can't be loose to do as he pleases at home. He likes to find things and chew them up. So far, he has eaten some of my yarn, a few pairs of socks and a wrist brace.
He's about thirteen months old. Since he is of the Shepherd (Belgium) line, he will reamin immature for another few years. It will take a bit of work to get him to stop eating stuff. I am thinking that he will be a good service dog...maybe search and rescue.

Other things to keep me busy are many, many DR appointments. I am still seeing the Psycologist, and then my regular DR because of some allergy and breathing problems I am having. I had chest XRays last week. Still waiting for the results there. And then I had the regular Women's checkups which turned out all clear. (Yea Good!)

My MD is still making bad choices. Actually her bad choices got worse. She is begging me to let her move back home, but I can't do it. She needs to learn that her choices directly affect her life and I should not have to deal with the consequences.

I had better get going on that kennel. That is while it is still cool and hasn't started raining...nice spring we are having here, rain, cold, wind. I think there is going to be a very short summer here this year.

Fort Bragg, California

2010-05-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

May 1st was my birthday. So I gave myself a birthday present and took two extra days off from work. My oldest daughter and I drove up to Fort Bragg. (CA) We spent Sat., Sun., and Mon. morning there. We camped. We borrowed my dad's (new to him) 1982 VW Vanagon Westfalia. Talk about road trips!!!
It was fun, relaxing and I got more exercise than I have in a while. We basically looked for places to look at...walked on Glass Beach, which is a long stretch of beach that is literally sea glass tumbled over and over until it is just bigger than regular sand. There are bigger pieces of it too. We are not supposed to take any, so we (ahem) didn't.
We took in an old historic lighthouse. We had to walk a half a mile to get to it. Which meant I walked a mile longer than I normally would. Nice lighthouse.
It was windy the entire time we were there and cold, but it was still more pleasant than working through my birthday!
Today I feel all rested up from my vacation. There's a million and two things to catch up on at work, so I am busy doing that now.
I wish I could tell you I had pictures, but the damned batteries in my camera went dead on me the first day and wouldn't you know, I didn't have spares with me!!!
So typical...

I did it, I did it, I did it!

2010-04-06T08:39:00.003-07:00

I love this man.....

My oldest daughter, Lena and I went to see Alice in Wonderland (in Disney Digital 3D, mind you)! I choose this movie, because Of Johnny Depp. I would do (almost) anything for that man.

This is a major development for me. I have not just taken off and done anything like this for years. One problem was my adversion to being in crowds. Add extra noise and a lot of visual movement and I have a reaction of anxiety attacks. Thanks to some sessions with my psychologist and the meds they gave me I was able to finally go out and enjoy a movie.

We did the full movie theater thing. Hot dogs, popcorn, soft pretzels and drinks. The seats were comfortable, the audience polite and quiet...including the forty or so children there! The movie was really good, not great, but of course we all have our own visions of what Alice in Wonderland should be, and that would make the movie different for each and every one of us. The 3D was fantastic. I ducked quite a few times. Jumped a few more. Said WHOA more than usual. It was a great experience. About a half an hour before the end of the movie I found myself wondering when it would end, (not a good sign) but then the storyline picked up again and had me wishing there was a little more time left to the movie.

And then there was Johnny Depp. Like I said before, I love this man. Go see it! We went to a matinee which made it more affordable. I will be doing this again and again and again...

ACK!

2010-03-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a while hasn't it??? Sorry. I was here all the time, I just wasn't present. The past month has been a roller coaster ride of sorts and I have finally gotten myself off the ride...for the most part.

What set me on the roller coaster ride in the first place was a move I HAD to make but was afraid to put into motion. I had to ask my middle daughter to move out. Several people encouraged me to do it. Police, my medical doctor and my psychologist...yes I now have a psychologist, are amongst the encouragers. What I had to do was so hard, but she was not trying to grow up and out of here, she was just partying in her little house in the back and bringing all sort of mankind around. Some of them less than what I would call good citizens. So for my safety and the safety of others who live here, it had to be done.

Of course, taking this step plunged me into a depression, hence the psychologist. She and I have been working together bi-weekly since January actually. I have meds, which is really helping me be level mooded. (is that a real thing?)

I am happy to say that I am happy! For a change. I am feeling as though there is something I can do here at home and out there in the world. I do not have a brain full of chaos. The house is no longer chaotic as well. OD and I will be the only residents for now. We will be able to plan out our schedules of cooking and cleaning and paying bills and buying food and going out and coming in. It will be nice to know what to expect!

This morning I got up and did the usual cup o' java and the computer. I got tired of sitting so went into my craft room and decided on some fabric to make a little cover for my Kindle. The prices for the ones from Amazon are fair, I just don't want to pay those prices. I am making one from materials and things I have around here, so it is kind of "free". I just had to spend some imagination.

I took pictures, and tried to put them on the computer, but the computer and camera apparently had a falling out and aren't speaking. Literally. There is NO communication between the two of them. Awkward! Imagine being the third party in a situation like this...

As soon as I can get the two of them to reconcile I will send along pictures of my creation. I like it. It's really cute.

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Crocheted Hats and Shawls

2010-02-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I did get the hats and scarves finished on time...even with a little time left over. BUT...I had to get really sick to do it! I guess those powers that are bigger than me...bigger than all of us, knew I wouldn't be able to get them done on time while working full time and holding down a doctor's appointment a week and a class a week, so scheduled in some time off for me. I came down with some kind of bronchial virus thingy. Doctor told me I could not go to work until my next Monday...which gave me a full seven days with not enough energy to do anything but read and crochet. How very convenient!!!

So here are the two hats and scarves...

This is my daughter "O.D." modeling the hats and scarves. She was kind of excited that I wanted to take pictures of her wearing them to show you all...she's TWENTY NINE tomorrow...sniff, sniff!
The first set was a bugger to crochet. The yarn is beautiful, soft, but "curly". So getting the hook in the right space was, shall we say...challenging? I did it first, somehow knowing that it was going to be a little harder. The pattern itself became a challenge. I had to start over several times. The scarf was made up in my head from the pattern in the hat, so they would match.
The second was a breeze. Still super soft yarn, but not curly this time. The flowers were fun to make. We bought kind of deco patterned antique brass buttons to go in the center of the flowers. I also made up the scarf pattern from the pattern of the hat.
I am excited to find out how much they fetch at auction for my daughter's friend. I am making a hat and scarf set for her, to wear when her chemo treatments start making her hair fall out. I want to keep her warm and give her a little something soft to hang on to when times seem harsh.
In other news...I bought myself a Kindle with some of my income tax return. I L.O.V.E. That thing! I have purchased four books. They cost me $1.00! Two were free, one was $.99 and another was $.01! I have read one and a half of the books so far...thanks to having all that time off. There are a few things I would change on it...if I were smart enough to do something like that. I would suggest to the makers of this great little instrument...make the screen in color and get the voice that reads to me less robotic. I am sure someone in that company is working on those very things anyway. When they come out with it I will upgrade. Now I can rehome all my books (The ones my daughter hasn't already gotten rid of behind my back) I can fit 1500 books on my Kindle...I think that will keep me busy for a few years!
Speaking of Tsunami's.We had a two to three foot tsunami here today. It was bigger in Hawaii from what I hear. We all got to test our emergency systems that were set up after the horrible tsunami a few years back. (I have forgotten where it was) Our systems work well. I am happy about that. Now I just hope we never have to go through a bad tsunami. I also hope no one else has to suffer a devastating enough earthquake to start a bad tsunami ever again. This has been a bad year for quakes already!
Enough of my rambling. Have a great rest of the weekend!

A Nice (much needed) Day Out

2010-02-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

So, last week, my oldest daughter asked me if I would crochet a few hats and scarves for a benefit auction. I am never one to turn down an opportunity like that. I love to give, I love to help out, but I am not one to go out and look for something to give or donate. If it falls in my lap I will take it on. (Is that wrong? Or am I being sensible in a weird sort of way?)
I am making two fairly simple hats and matching scarves to be auctioned. Then I will make a third hat and scarf more special. OD has a friend with breast cancer. All the people who know her are doing a benefit dinner and auction. Everyone is donating something to auction off. Since I can make these hats and scarves this will be my contribution. The hat and scarf that I am making special will be for her friend, so that when she has her chemo therapy, she has a nice hat and scarf to keep her warm after her hair starts to go.
OD is buying the yarns that I will use. She got her check so we went to the city (San Francisco) today to her bank. Then she took me out for breakfast at a small restaurant at the beach. I had a Veggie Bagel and coffee, she has a Pesto bagel and coffee. We had a great conversation. I met a friend of hers that she had met at this restaurant a few years ago. He is a local man who hangs out at the restaurant. His speech was slow, but he had a great smile and welcomed me to his home town. OD explained to me later that he had an accident when he was three ears old and had brain damage. He told me a little about his job and a lot about the home he lives in with his parents. It has a mural painted on the outside so that it looks like a jungle. I have often seen the home on my trips down that road. Now I know who lives there.
We had done a little research earlier this morning to see about some yarn shops in the city, so we could go check out the yarns there. We did end up getting the yarn for her friend's hat in the city and I got some Egyptian Cotton thread to experiment with making a grocery bag type project. But we just couldn't find the right colors or sizes of yarns we wanted for the other two sets of hats/scarves. We ended up going to my favorite store...where else? Joanns. We found exactly what we wanted there at a reasonable price. (The yarn we bought in the city was $25 for one set, what we got at Joanns was about half that for two sets!)
We were going to check out the other two stores we found out about in the city, but I started my anxiety crap half way through browsing the first store and we decided not to spend any more time there. On the way back to MY store I relaxed some and being in Joanns is familiar, so I was fine after that.
I did have a fun time. We had some good conversations and I met Peter (who put my life in prospective). I like the city a little, and I haven't been there except for a few minutes in the last 6 - 9 months. It was nice spending a little more time there today. It helped me out, because I am supposed to be planning fun time for myself. I think I could consider this fun time.
The weather cooperated too. Cloudy, but no rain...which now has started. I just heard the dripping outside. At least it waited til we got home and warmed up the house!
I'll post pictures as I get the hats and scarves done.

Not Just Sitting Idly By

2010-02-02T16:22:00.000-08:00

In all the rucus and such that has been going on in my house, I have been busy craftwise. Actually the craft thing has been helping me get past the rucus. I have been working intently on an afghan that I had started about a year ago for my sister's birthday that is in May. I was planning on giving it to her LAST May. She will get it this May. It's darned near complete.

The other crafty was something I picked up again after (notice slightly red face) twenty years! It was a quilt top I had made with my silly little self taught skills and materials I had on hand. It's not a beauty by all means, but I was thinking if nothing else, it'll keep toes warm while watching movies on the couch. (If it doesn't distract the movie watcher from the movie!) I have been doing a little something with the quilt for the last year or so, but never really had the motivation to "just do it". I got my small state income tax refund and thought how better to fix the economy than by spending this little stipend on myself? I ordered a Q-Snap quilting frame which arrived on my door step yesterday. I had a 50% off coupon from Joann Fabrics and so saved $50! I like that. It was easy to throw together and easy to set my quilt up on. Talk about motivation! Now all I have to do is sit down and quilt it! Who knows? Next January I might be warming my cold feet under this quilt! I'll probably do some experimental hand quilting with this, why not have a little fun with it?

Not Really Feeling It

2010-01-25T17:59:00.000-08:00

I am so tired of this feeling of whatever I have. It could be the constant rain/wind we've been enduring for the past ten days, that coupled with the battle of the wits here in my house.
I need Springtime, I need summer...I need a deserted island to land myself on.
I'm reading "Codependent No More" Not a great novel or anything escape worthy, but it may give me insight to what is happening in my mind. Maybe it will even help me fix myself.
I wasted my day off today. Went to the doctor to get my blood pressure checked. It was in normal range but high still. I'm on medication for it, so I don't what to say about it. Have to go back in June for the 4 points too high cholesterol count. Whatever. At this point I just throw my hands up. There are people out there with worse problems. When I came home I fell asleep in my chair, in my cocoon (What I now call my bedroom)
OD just wanted to fight with me, because I wouldn't fight with MD. I don't want to fight with anyone. GET IT? She didn't get it. She left instead. It's quiet here now. MD is asleep in her room, because she has to work the graveyard shift. YD is here taking a shower to get ready for her class tonight or is it class tomorrow? Tonight...I think. Wanna get in my face girl (OD) is out with friends or something. She left claiming she would never talk to me again. DRAMA QUEEN!
Who wants to bet she'll be home before midnight? (I do, I do!)
Sorry, I am rambling, incoherent...that's just how I feel. Someday, I may get it back together.
I think I will go back to my cocoon and crochet for a while. I can get lost in that easily enough!
Thanks for listening.

Jealous Much?

2010-01-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

I got a couple of requests to update. I know I have been fairly quiet. It's hard to put to paper(?) the stuff I am going through right now. My life is all jumbled up. I just don't want to get started on my pity pot. And...things just aren't settled yet, so I don't even know WHAT to say. Um...around the 28th of February things will be completely changed so I should have something really great to say right about then...sorry...I don't want to jinx things!
As for jealous much...
I just did my taxes and it's all said and done, sent in, all the "i's" are crossed and my "t's" dotted. I get a refund...YaY!!! The IRS doesn't start processing until tomorrow, so I'll be first in line!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T05:38:00.000-08:00

I went to bed early last night, around 9-ish. I figured that the new year had plenty of chaparones to usher it in without my help. Plus I was tired. Plus I had to get up at OhGawd O'Clock to go to work this morning.
I watched a little TV, and then fell into a nice comfy, warm, dreamy sleep. At straight up 11:58 the neighbors let off a few M-80's. At 11:59 they let off a few more. (You know, just in case someone didn't hear the first ones) At midnight the floodgates of boomers opened. I am so glad that I let others usher in this brand new year!
But you know? I woke up a half hour before my alarm. I feel rested, and ready to tackle my day. I will probably fall asleep at work. I don't know many people who are going to be coming in to buy new hammers to build things today. Correct me if I am wrong, but the pounding of hammers on New Years Day? Not something I think is a good mix. Nor that neat sound you get when you turn on a drill. Hardware is noisy, I am thinking there should be lots of quiet going on today.
I hope your day is wonderful!

They Pulled It Off

2009-12-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

OD and YD pulled Christmas off for me. I had next to nothing to give, not enough money to really do anything with and yet, we all banded together at their urgings and managed to get something for each of us from each of us. It was just fun to see what we came up with.
We had dinner at my dad's house with him and his girlfriend. She is a wonderful woman. She cooks the simplest foods and yet it feels gourmet. I am glad we got to spend that time with them.
Unfortunately, at dinner my dad was asking how everything was going. And how MD is and where she is. (Of course, she was glaringly absent from the table) I don't like lying to him, but telling him the truth about where MD was is not something I want to bring up at Christmas dinner. So I told him she had to work. In actuality, she has moved. It was not a fun move for either of us.
I have hope for the New Year. I hope I get better. I hope MD gets better...really better. I hope she learns about real life and what she needs to do to make it a good life. I hope I can get my house and home back to where it should be.
I know YD and OD will help me pull that off too.
My wish is that all of you have the best New Year possible and that we can continue our Bloggy Internet friendships throughout the year!
CHEERS!

Commercials I Love

2009-12-07T09:03:00.001-08:00

I know I need a life...maybe I watch too much TV...every single time the TV is on and this commercial starts up, EVERYTHING stops and I sit and watch it. I can't tell you how much pleasure I get from this commercial. Now it's on my blog and I will probably watch it many, many more times. (BTW, I have Geico insurance, I've never been attacked by a pothole)

Here's another one: It's older, but still cracks me up when I see it, "Sorry, Roger, You Tiger now!"

Judge Judy

2009-11-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

This is my girlfriend's son and his new wife!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uA_02ebi5k
and then part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK8t28HA37w
Sorry, I didn't think to put up the link to Part 2!

A Project I Actually Finished!

2009-11-25T10:10:00.001-08:00

I know for a fact, that it is not as cold here in "sunny" California than say, in Maine right now. But it IS cold for what we are used to. (that being said, we are experiencing higher temps than usual. Go figure!) N. E. WAY...
I started a scarf with these new loom thingys that were on sale at Joann's Fabrics. I had to go to Joann's to pass some time while I was waiting for my computer to get discombobulated or something like that. Of course, I cannot walk into Joann's without walking out with something! It's just the way I am wired.
Yes, and so. I made this scarf and finished it, because, like I said before, it's cold...for me, here.
I love how it turned out, even though it is my very first attempt at anything on these looms. If anyone makes fun of it, I will challenge them to a loom fight, to see if they could do better. It only took me a few evenings of knitting on the loom, the weave is loose, but that is okay too, because the yarn is really soft and fuzzy, so the scarf is light and not trying to drag my head down.
I put the fringe on it this morning while listening to my girls argue over who used the last of the milk. I laid it on the table and trimmed the longer fringe lengths and wa-la, a nice, soft, warm scarf! Finished!

A Small Favor

2009-11-23T04:55:00.000-08:00

Hey! Everybody! I need to ask a favor. Would you all run over to Suzanne McMinn's blog and give her a vote? She is applying for a job on SAM-e. I'm not great at explaining what SAM-e is about, but I know that Suzanne will be writing for them, and I believe she deserves that job!
But if you have a minute, would you please go over and vote for her? She has made it really easy for everyone to link over and vote. I can also say that Suzanne has a really fun blog to read. She has a little farm in West Virginia, and has miniture goats, miniture donkeys and a gigantic dog, plus chickens and ducks! Go see what she's up to today and give a vote please???
Her blog is Chickens in the Road.

I be having chickens!!!!!

2009-11-22T18:34:00.001-08:00

It's little hard to see them in their brooding cage. (YD threw that cage together in a couple of hours. I had pallets and leftover aviary wire from work and she didn't feel like sawing the wood to make it fit properly, so it is literally thrown together. We scrounged up some nails that I had sitting around in the garage. It was a little crazy. They had to be put in a brooding pen. They were only two days old. We have the momma hen (she is a true bitch, took a hunk of skin off of YD's finger) These were "free range" chickens from the ranch where YD works. The hen laid and then hatched them out where the cats and raccoons would get the babies without question. So she brought them to me. The hen will go back to the ranch after the chicks are a little bigger. My heat lamp for them isn't enough warmth for just the chicks alone so we are using Momma to help out.
I wanted a few chickens I now have nine!
I so excited!

I forgot

2009-11-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

Lisa from My New Thing To Do (sorry, my linky thing doesn't work right now)
http://mynewthingtodo.blogspot.com/2009/ made me remember today in a comment that I hadn't posted my new losses.
I have hit the twenty plus point, so as soon as I can, I will be going out and getting at least some new pants. I have no clue what size I need, so it will be trial and error. How can I be excited about this? I hate shopping for clothes! I will be throwing away my old pants, they are thread bare anyway, and I do not want any thing around here that shouts "GO AHEAD AND SLACK OFF, THERE'S FAT PANTS HERE WAITING FOR YOU!"
I am not going back there!

And Yet, Another Project...

2009-11-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

Let's hope I don't get bored with this one before it's complete. My intentions are always good, I just have a short attention span I guess. The other day I was finishing up a knitting loom scarf (Another craft I have taught myself and I love it! Cheater Knitting, It's so much easier than the real thing. Please don't jump down my throat if you do the Loom Knoitting, I mean nothing mean by it)
ANYWAY...
I made a scarf and I was going to try a different yarn on the loom, but soon found out that you can't use the cotton yarn for dishcloths on the loom, because it won't stretch. I had my crochet hook there with me and the cotton yarns that I hoped to do something with someday. I put the two together and came up with these squares. They turn out so pretty and stitch up in a jiffy. So far, I have made nine of them and when I have stitched up all the balls of yarn, I will sew them all together for a cover or bedspread or something to that effect.
It's been fun doing them and I am just stitching when I sit for a moment in between house chores.
Here's a pic of what I have done so far, and a pic of what is to become...

Thoughts about sidewalks

2009-11-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

No one uses the sidewalks in this town anymore. This morning when I was coming back from dropping my MD off at the bus stop, I had to change lanes because there was a woman jogging with her dog in the middle of the lane I was driving in. WTF?!? I mean comon people, there's a perfectly good sidewalk going to waste here!

I'm ba-a-a-a-c-c-c-k

2009-11-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

I bet you didn't even know I was gone!
My computer died Monday or Tuesday (don't know which, cause when the computer is dead, so is my brain)
I borrowed money against my next paycheck and OD and I went out and got this new one. It's faster than my last one and I think I spent less money on it! Go figure. The other one lasted five years, so I am figuring I got my money's worth!
I'm just happy to be back online!
My kids are calling me a blogaholic. The first thing I did when I hooked up the new puter was to come here and catch up with everything!
I have a few pictures to post of my days without the computer, but those will have to wait til I am all finished getting the new settings in place etc!
Good to see you all again!

My "Before" Picture

2009-10-30T23:18:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have ever posted a picture of me. I decided I had better do one of my before pictures, so that I could look back and see the change in myself after I lose all my weight! So here goes.....

My Promise To Myself

2009-10-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

I promised myself that when I got to 20 pounds off of me, I would buy myself some new clothes that fit. Right now, I am making due with my old stuff which is falling off my arse. Kind of fun, Ya know? Seriously, it is becoming a pain to walk, reach up, bend over, or move in any way, because I have to hike up my britches at almost every move.
I LOVE IT!!!
I'm not going to buy a belt or 'spenders cause well, that is not all that fashionable. At least the 'spenders aren't, and I am not much of a belt person.
So maybe, next week or the week after it is new britches for me! YAY!

Some Headway

2009-10-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

What does that mean anyway? I mean, I know what it means, it just doesn't make sense. I think it may have to do with ships or sailing or something, but once I typed it in, I wondered. Never wondered about that before.
N. E. WAY
I finally got some of my shelves up! I love it! I don't love what happened to the left side of me afterward, but I do love the shelves. I got two up yesterday and two up this morning. I would have gotten them all up yesterday, but I needed my Dremel and seemed to have put it away, which means I couldn't find it. I did eventually. Then since I have a garage full of screws, nuts, bolts, and other various hardware pieces, it took me a while to find appropriate screws for the job.
Once I figured out the "formula" for where to place the shelf brackets, it was just a matter of making holes and filling them with screws. Yesterday was about a five hour affair, this morning it took me a half an hour! And a shorter amount of time to fill them buggers up!

I still have my little two foot shelves to put up on the corner of the longer shelves, but I think I will leave that til next weekend or whenever I get around to them. They go to the right of the long shelves at the same level. Then I will probably move everything around as I find more convenient spots for it all.
As for the left side of me. All the scooching around on the hardwood floor did my hip in. No sleep for me last night and I am hobbling a lot today. It'll work itself out eventually.

That's right...I rock!

2009-10-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

Another 1.6 pounds gone! That's over a two week period though. (I only rock a little)
That is all!

2009-10-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Can you do me a favor?
There's a blogger, Suzanne McMinn, from Chickens in the Road, who needs our votes to get a paying gig, writing. All you have to do is go here and hit her link to vote. We can go once a day per IP address. She does deserve this.
While you are over at her blog, if you don't already know her, browse around, she is fun and talented, and makes some yummy good food!

Ramblin' (or you could call it Friday Fragments I guess)

2009-10-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

I got a call at work from MD today. OD: "I'm signing up for food stamps. How much should I put down that I pay for rent?" Me: Nothing, cause that's what you pay!" OD: "I have to do something, I can't make it on $800 a month." Me: "Yeah, I know what you mean, the price of makeup and hair products has gone up. How will you ever survive?" I'm flabbergasted...she wants food stamps? I am speechless, sort of, cause I am never really speechless. I'm just saying that, because I don't want to say what's really going through my mind.

Work sucks gigantic donkey balls. The owners are changing everything. EVERYTHING! Fine, it's their store, they can do that. But they really need to communicate this with the employees. They can't just walk in and say..."We've changed that. We did that last week, why haven't you gotten it done yet?" What I say to that...in my head...Bite me. They gave a new kid a $3 an hour raise and the hours he asked for, because they moved him to receiving. The guy who was in receiving quit when he found out, because he had asked for those hours and didn't ask for a raise. They told him he couldn't just ask for specific hours. Why did the new guy get what he asked for then???

I came home to a rumor from my OD. About MD. Turns out MD was sitting here in my front room with two of her clowns from her "Parade of Clowns" watching TV. (middle of the day) Each of them was sucking on a 40 ouncer. We don't drink here. I don't care if people drink, we just don't drink here. Then MD and her (I hope not) boyfriend get up and go out to her room...her g/f was still sitting here messing with something. OD looks over and the little bitch is rolling a joint in MY FRONT ROOM! Spilled some of her precious whacky tabacky on my coffee table and floor. Then got up and left the mess and went out to MD's room. When MD came back in (sans friends), OD confronted her with the fact that we have dogs (that I LOVE) who could conceivably get the spillage and get sick. MD was "surprised" that her friend had done that. I think I am being tested. Guess who does not pass the test? Not me!!! I am pissed. I am calling the police department to find out what I can do to have her removed from my home. She has no respect for me, her sisters or the animals here. Her world is going to change. I don't think she will like it.
I didn't go to WW last Wednesday. I was exhausted when I got home from work. I just wanted to vege out. Everyday I have come home this week I am tired. It must be all the crap going on at work. (and home) I am still sticking with my WW eating guidelines. I will not take a step backwards here. I have come too far forward for that.
I love most of my customers. I tease them. The thing about most of them though, they tease back. I love that! I can dish it out and take it! They are the bright light in my life some days. I will hang on to that thought.
I need to find another job though. I see the ship I am on sinking slowly.
My dogs are the best thing I have going. I get kisses and happy jumping when I come home from work and they follow me into my room, so they can see how my day went. The only thing is that Max likes to hunt dust bunnies in the hallway at three in the morning. I'm going to have to take his hunting licence away!

Simple | Green | Frugal | Co-op
There is a great idea on the above mentioned and linked blog. She is doing a project called "The Fifty Things Project". Getting rid of stuff. Sounds do-able to me. I think I will try it on my next few weekends. Heaven knows I can use a good de-cluttering around here.

Well...

2009-10-09T18:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday to all of y'all! I hope you get a good weekend. Mine will be spent at work as usual. But when you all are going back to work Monday morning, I will be pretending to sleep in. (Mainly pretending, because I don't do sleep in well, I am up at the crack of dawn 7 days a week)
About the new snack food I spoke of in the last post...don't get Chocolate Caramel 1 point bars from WeightWatchers. They aren't all that good. And the caramel lasts way too long for as lousy as it tastes. I haven't tried my new cookbook of recipes out yet. No time, and I have to wait until I get paid again, so I can some of the ingredients.
So my feets haven't been bothering me much at all. I was thinking on my way home tonight that I really don't mind going to work anymore, because I am not in pain all day. It is amazing what a difference it makes. Even some of the ding bats I work with aren't bothering me anymore! I've decided that pain is a real buzz kill!
This weekend I will get to start in on some exercise. That will help get more of this flubber off of me. I know soon I will have to start battening down my hatches if I am to continue losing. I will have to measure on the food scale and edit every bite I take. I will have to get used to using sugar substitutes as well. That I will not like, as my tea just won't be the same. If I want to keep getting more and more healthy I will just have to do it.
I hope all of you out there who are following the WW plan are having a good week with it. My thoughts are always with you all as I travel this path. I know I am in good company!
Take care!

Magic Tracker

2009-10-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

At WeightWatchers there is a Tracker, so that we can keep track of the foods we eat. I talked about the tracker last week when I brought the "Magic Tracker" home with me. It is Magic! I kept track all week, of course I wasn't perfect, but I still lost! 3.2 pounds to be exact!
I also figured out a simpler way to get the foods that I eat listed without a great deal of hassle.
What I did was to keep the tracker with me as I prepared my breakfast and lunch and then just make a list somewhat like a grocery list. I write the points values down as I know them and if I don't know them, when I sit down to drink my coffee or eat my breakfast I look all the unknowns up and put them next to the foods. It worked for me.
This week I brought home a new cookbook and a new snack to try.
Let's see what this week does to all my flubber! I will be able to excersize in earnest probably next week. The feets are loving this!

I Fupped Duck...just a little

2009-10-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

I was bad last week. I gained .2 pounds. I know it isn't much to gain, but you know it's those little gains week after week that catch up to ya eventually. .2 pounds per week = 10.4 pounds a year = that's over 50 pounds in five years. And that folks is how I got into the shape I am in. It really didn't sound like a lot in that first sentence...did it? I am (was) almost 100 pounds overweight. That was ten years of telling myself, "Oh, it's just a little weight, no biggy!"

An Epiphany!!!

I'm not getting on myself over this. I understand why I gained and that is a good thing. I just have to remember why and I will strive not to do it again. My reason for that smalllittleittybitty weight gain? I just wasn't into the program. Oh I ate the good foods, the ones that are recommended. Even the really good for you stuff. I just wanted more of everything, instead of being satisfied with healthy portions and drinking water or tea to fill me up the rest of the way. Then one night I just couldn't take it any more and went to Taco Bell. Oops! That would have been just fine except that I didn't account for it in my weekly points gathering. I. did. not. track. my. food. BUT. I went to my meeting even though I knew it wouldn't be great news.
We all get Tracker Booklets when we weigh in. Or we can buy a Three Month Tracker Book. Our leader bought one for the whole group. She calls it the Magic Tracker. It gets passed around week to week, member to member (totally voluntarily). It's a good thing to take for a week, because I can see how other members are eating and tracking and then at the meeting I can see how they have done. I took the book this week, because I know it will help me be more into my program and do better for myself. And it will make me practice tracking. It's like turning in homework. Someone else is going to see how I did!
So stay tuned. I am more determined now to keep at this until that ten years of smalllittleittybitties go away!

Whoops I did it again!

2009-09-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

Another 2 pounds has left the building! Yep! That's right folks 11.2 pounds gone! GONE! Off me, into thin air...THIN AIR! Yes, it's gone. I'm looking like those kids who can't seem to find a pair of pants that will stay on their asses. You know the ones. They run from the cops, but don't get too far cause their pants fall off and around their ankles and trip them up.
I LOVE THIS!

Meet Max

2009-09-22T06:29:00.001-07:00

This is Max. He is a two year old Lab/Heeler mix. He's a goofy dog. I met him at work. At work we call him Counter Dog. He would come into the store with his dad and make a bee-line for the service counter and put his front paws on the counter and demand his "cookie". We give cookies to all the dogs that come in...they all know this!
Max made some mistakes in the recent past which made his dad have to make a decision. Not a good decision either. He either had to have Max put to sleep or find him a home where he couldn't make these mistakes. He was nipping at small children, even the owner's small children.
Max is a sweetheart! Max is also a heeler. Which means anything he thinks he should herd, is to be nipped in the heels until it goes in the direction that Max wants it to go. Children don't understand this. A lot of adults don't understand this, so Max has been touted as a biter. And yes, he is. He bit at us when I brought him home. I understand most breeds and their reactions to situations, so I understand why he bites. He bit us because he was plunged into a situation that made him nervous and he had to protect himself. What I noticed though is that he never really bit down. He mouthed us, let us know that he wasn't comfortable. He didn't even leave a mark!
I am trying Max out in my house. I don't want to see him put to sleep. I've had heelers in the past and I understand their psyche, so I know what to do and how loud or softly to do it. So far he is fine.
Ahem, if you think that living on his dad's time schedule is fine. His dad's schedule is up at 4AM! Two mornings in a row...I get this feeling in my sleep that I am being watched. Then I hear growling. I open my eyes and there is Max telling me his alarm has gone off, and there is no snooze button! It's cute now, I don't know that it will be as cute in say, a week, or even tomorrow morning.
Of course there are always little quirks and things that dogs do in one home that are not great in another. He was never collared or leashed before. I will not let the dogs out the front door without both on, Max doesn't like the collar and leash. (Although I do have the collar on him and he is understanding that it is standard uniform here.)
We'll see. OD has just taken Max and Tootsie out for a walk. She has always been good at taking the dogs out for me. I can't walk a lot, so this works for both of us. It works out well for the dogs too. We'll see how it goes when she gets back.
At least I am thinking that if Max works out here, Tootsie won't be so depressed. She has been since Dante was put to sleep. Hopefully Max will kind of fit the bill!

Looky! Looky! -------->--------->

2009-09-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

Another 3 pounds gone by the wayside! This has been a challenging week for me as far as getting all the food I need to eat. Simply because there were a few days that I looked at food as something I didn't want. I wanted my dog back instead.
Then there was the tempting foods. My YD bought everybody Taco Bell the day we had to put Dante to sleep, because she was getting him a bean burrito, and couldn't go to the house with Taco Bell without bringing some for her sisters. She told me she was doing that, and I guess it was a good thing at work cause Taco Bell would have made me feel real good right about then. I thought I would just stop on my way home from the vets. On my way home I decided I just wanted to be home, with my other dog.
The other two girls have since brought chips in a couple of different types and left their partially eaten bags right under my nose. Of course, I ate some, but since they weren't my bags, I only ate a few.
I also measured my hips, waist, etc. Lost two inches on my thighs, 1.5 inches on my arms, waist and hips. Nothing on the boobs. (oh well!) I embarrassed my OD by pulling my jeans off in the front room without unzipping them! According to her, I'm just weird! No, I am just proud that I could do that. Of course, I won't be showing anyone else that new trick!
So far, I haven't felt malnourished or anything. I don't have the feeling of being deprived either. I eat basically want I want, and just account for it. That's all.
I know in the future this won't be this simple, but for now I am learning what I need to have in the house, and what I don't want in the house. We are experimenting with different recipes from WeightWatchers, so that we can have some variety. It's fun most days!

R.I.P. Dante

2009-09-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

I had to put my big guy down today. He stopped eating on Thursday. His health had been failing. The trip to Clearlake (where he came from)for the weekend was hard on him. But he did go in his water, not swimming though, he just stood there. That is when I knew that life was just not good anymore, he didn't even get excited about the ball being thrown for him to swim after.
I am going to miss him so much. He has been my solid rock for ten years. He has kept the bad guys at bay. He has been a constant loving companion.
We buried him in the backyard, next to his kitten that died a few years ago. His passing was easy and peaceful. For that I am grateful.
There's a big gaping hole in my heart, but filled with gratitude for the Vet and the Technician who made it so easy for us to do this.

Another one bites the dust.

2009-09-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

Lost one more pound. YaY! Apparently, it came off my face, that's the comments I get about that.

Dude, I'm losing it!

2009-09-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

Supposedly after I left work Sunday, rumors started around the store that me and the wonder co-worker were sent home because we couldn't get along. I just laughed at everyone when they came up to me today asking, "What happened?!?" Excuse me...I am 57years old, since when do women my age get sent home for behavior problems? Wait, don't answer that. It turns out that wonder co-worker got into it with the other "experienced" employee (a.k.a. over 50 years old) He literally told her to put a sock in it. She got all butt hurt and went crying to the manager. The manager told me today that wonder co-worker said that EVERYONE was being mean to her and she couldn't handle it anymore. I say there was probably a good sale on somewhere that she didn't want to miss. Or she had homework due Monday that she didn't get finished. It had nothing to do with us telling her about her mouth. Or it may have had everything to do with it. Who knows? I just know that she wasn't there today and it was peace and quiet and we all got a lot of happy work done. Together. As a team.
So the big news!!!
I went to my first weigh in after the first week. (Trumpets sounding..dun dun da da)
FIVE POUNDS LOST!!! 5.2 pounds to be exact. I'm so very happy. I will keep it up this week. I know I probably won't lose that much again, but every ounce off is that much closer to freedom for me. Freedom from the fat, freedom from the high blood pressure, freedom from foot pain hopefully. YAY!
I struggled to drink all my fluids, I forgot my vitamin five out of the seven days, I ate a Snickers Bar and some Pringles. But I did count them in, so it was all okay. The best thing I found out is that I tend to think I want to eat and I forced myself to wait to see if I was really hungry before shoving something in my mouth. I also would just get up and get a drink of water before I would eat. That killed two birds with one stone. I got my liquid and I quelled the "hunger" most times.
All in all I am quite happy this week!
What are you happy about this week?

There's nothing today.

2009-09-01T19:55:00.001-07:00

Nothing much to write about. I left work early Sunday cause my foot hurt and I couldn't stay there with one of the bitches that thinks she knows more than anyone, and telling ME how to do something...ME! In front of customers, without being asked for help. (the computers were giving everyone problems. I just asked the manager for a step that I needed to do to make the damned thing move forward) N.E.WAY I figured that I was hurting, and she gave me more pain, so I went upstairs when I finally gave the customer the receipt he needed to leave the store, and told the manager that I was leaving and officially asking for someone to tell the co-worker to put a sock in it before I do. Cause when I do it's isn't going to be pretty. Not at all.
Yesterday OD and I went to San Mateo. To a K Mart. She wanted some wife beater type t"s that she could tie dye. Only K Mart had them. I bought towels, a few tubs for storage, and a new bra. Yippee!
Last night I cut out the material for a purse. I got the pattern from Anna Maria she's got some really cute patterns. She designs materials, and writes books as well as loving her six children and husband. You should go and take a look at her blog. She is just the sweetest person!
Today, I sewed up that purse...it not as much a purse as it is a ginormous bag to carry everything you will ever need in a day. I will post pictures of mine when I can take a picture of it...like when it's lighter out. The bag is called a MultiTasker.
Anyway, that's all I've got. For now. Actually I managed to ramble on quite a bit, didn't I?!?

This makes me happy/sad

2009-08-27T19:02:00.001-07:00

New Details About Abducted GirlKidnapped at age 11, Jaycee Lee Dugard was kept in a shed for 18 years by a convicted sex offender.
Captor Fathered 2 Kids

Y'All Are Probably Going to Get Tired Of This

2009-08-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

I just paid for Monthly Pass on over at Weight Watchers. I have to do something about this rather large pile of fat sitting at my computer morning, noon and night. It's getting in the way of my life and happiness.
I am going to my first (8,434,914th) meeting tonight. I will be there at 6:30 to get all the literature, weigh-in, and talk to my new leader. I have started and stopped meetings more than some of you have _____________ fill in the blank. (make it something you do quite often)
I had a little trouble getting all the eyes dotted and the tees crossed and during this (supposedly painless) process, I was thinking, "Oh, here I go again...I am trying to sabotage myself before I even get in the truck to go to the damned meeting!"
I have to lose the weight. It's getting hard to breath properly. My other foot is giving me fits, My knees, hips, yada, yada, yada. You have heard all the complaints from me.
I bought a nice little leather type journal the other day, just because I liked it. As I was signing up for the Monthly Pass, I started thinking I could use that little journal for keeping track of eveything weight-wise. It'll do well for notes from the meetings too. Instead of using their trackers, or journals, or whatevers.
With the Monthly Pass I have access to WeightWatchers Online as well, so I can look up everything I need to know. I can carry all the literature around with me so when I have a moment, I can look it over and memorize what I need to know.
I'll have more information after the meeting. For now I need to go and get something to eat before I go, because I know if I don't, afterward I will be starving. I know better than to let myself get to that. I will have sabotaged my first day before it was even a whole day! (Did that makes any sense at all???)

New Week, New Attitude

2009-08-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

And it's not a good attitude.
After all that work I got accomplished last week, this week...NOTHING!
I got up late this morning, and there was no energy present. At all. I rarely sleep in past 6:30. 6:30 is the latest, otherwise I feel as though I wasted an entire day. I was up at the crack of 9:30 this morning. I hate that. HATE. IT! As the day has progressed, it's just gotten worse.
I had to forcibly drag myself from the house to go buy some much needed T-shirts for work. The ones I had were very holey and becoming pretty ris-kay. (I don't know how to spell that correctly) I also needed shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, shower gel, that kind of stuff which I always buy all at once at the Target closest to my house, it's less expensive there. I bought a few other goodies that I didn't have to have, but saw and wanted. I need new pants too, but those I will drag myself out to get tomorrow at Ross. I get the discount there on Tuesdays.
The back yard re-do sits as it was last Monday, there are still three cans and three bags of weeds in the back of my truck to be taken to the recyclers.
I. HAVE. NO. AMBITION. NONE.
I have come to the conclusion that if I work full time, that is it. I do nothing else. If I work part time, I may be able to have some semblance of a life...without money though.
I'm just sick of this.

Sunday Progress

2009-08-18T05:54:00.001-07:00

Some more progress! Actually, as I look back over the previous progress pictures I can't believe how much we got done! We're talking one crippled up old lady and one kid at a time. We all have such different hours that getting all of us at once would not happen.
Monday, MD and I hauled off three garbage cans and three bags of weeds. It didn't take any time at all to get rid of it. Since the recycle yard takes it for free. From the looks of that place, everyone in town was pulling weeds! We did take three more of the cans and bags to the recycler, but we got there just as they were locking up the gates.
The piles of gravel that are left on the patio have to wait until I get the yard in back cleared out. That is where the gravel came from. It ws moved there by OD's boyfriend for some unknown reason years ago. I think I will by some weed block cloth and put that down after we pull all those weeds and before I put the gravel back.
Today, was going to be some light clean up. There is a huge cabinet in that part of the yard that MD threw out of her room. We started in on that yesterday, but didn't get too far into it. I am going to put that wood to use, by making MD a set of stair covers for her door. The wood that is on the stairs now keeps chipping away and they are getting kind of dangerous. I guess I will have to try to do that after work this week.
OD and I are on a mission today that we hadn't planned on. My Dad has to have surgery on a hernia. My sisters both have to work and since I am off we all decided that I would take him. He had told everyone that he and his girlfriend could manage. But after some thought and talking behind their backs, couldn't let them do that. She shouldn't be driving and he isn't going to be in any shape to drive. We feel lucky that he even shared any of the information about the surgery at all. Usually he tells us afterwards!
So all in all, I am extrememly pleased with what I got done this four day weekend. I only wish that I had more time every week to devote to taking care of the property. Since my feet are feeling better I may be able to do little bits after work on some days. I'm going to take it one day at a time, cause I never know what my body is going to allow me to do. I'm not even all that sore right now!

Saturday Night, 9 O'Clock

2009-08-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

Can't see much in the top right picture, because I took it as an after thought after YD came and did her thing. You can kind of see that there isn't as much weedy stuff going on.
YD just left with her "new" boyfriend. They came by after she got off work and pitched in a little...no, a lot on the backyard project. She got out her machete and whacked away on the thistles and rose stems along the fence. I hadn't even thought about getting to that side yet. Now all I have to do over there is rake and pull the smaller stuff.
I got quite a bit done today. All along the wall of the house is basically cleaned up. There's just a few more little weeds under a Camelia bush that is huge in gerth. It's a little hard for me to get under there, but tomorrow I will tackle that first thing, before I start feeling sore. I managed to fill up two garbage cans and one big constuction trash bag. (Donated by the boyfriend) Then there is a half of a smaller yard garbage sized bag, that wasn't tough enough at all.
I got my two surviving tomato bushes caged up with some welded fencing that I had gotten from work. I have to staple that down so the plants don't grow and knock them over. Hopefully I will get a tomato that I can actually eat from the plants now. Up 'til now, the tomatoes have just been homegrown balls for the little dog to play with, or at least that is what she thought!

The Agenda

2009-08-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

Today when I get home, I am doing some things that I would normally do over the course of my regular weekend. That involves the deeper cleaning of the front room and kitchen. I will probably throw in my laundry since that pretty much does itself anyway.
I bought two pairs of gloves yesterday. I have gloves here...somewhere...um, has anybody seen them lately? Thay are probably out under some bushes in the backyard. Which means bugs live in them now. Two pairs, just in case someone wants to help out. (MD? Do You hear me?) I also have all my tools at the ready.
I'm putting the speakers from my stereo out the bedroom window, so I can rock on while cleaning up and I am making a gigantic jar of iced tea so I have some refreshments ready when I need them.
I am hoping that a little fog is in the forecast for the weekend. That would make it so much easier to stay out there and dig in. I'm ready, I'm even a little excited. I may see my patio by Monday!!!

Please, will y'all hold me accountable?

2009-08-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

I am thinking that if I tell you guys that I am going to do something and show you before pictures maybe I will do some. thing.
I have the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th off this week. YAY! for me!
I do not want to waste all that wonderful time off. So I am thinking that I will get out in the yard and work. I should be able to get at least a little done, after all, I am only going to be at work three days, my feet should be able to hold up another two to three days, Tuesday I will rest. Probably with my feet in a vat of ice.
Now, when I show you the pictures, don't judge. I have not been physically able to do much in the way of yard work, so the yard looks more like a jungle. I am hoping that I can get the patio portion of the yard cleared. I have three empty garbage cans to put green waste in, that the scavenger company will pick up for free on Monday. I KNOW I can fill those up in a small amount of time. I can also take green garbage to the recyclers for free. Plus, they will take wood and furniture free as well. This should only cost me a couple of gallons of gas.

Looks like I need another Magical Mexican!
Wish me luck!
Get on my Ass if I don't do it.
Don't back down...I am sick and tired of finding reasons and excuses why I cannot take care of this yard!
Oh yeah. That's not my kayak, that is one my daughter is trying out. Um yeah...trying out.

About the craft room

2009-08-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some old posts and came across the first one I posted about painting the room. Ya know...I still haven't finished it. I got one and a half walls painted, which is the norm for me. I rarely ever do anything straight down to the finish line. I think it is because my dad told me once in my formative years that I never finish anything, either that or he was just right. I always start out planning to finish, but I get so excited to use whatever it is that I am working on that I just start using it and it doesn't get finished. Or I find something else that I want to do and can't wait to get started. So I start and the first project goes by the wayside. And this is why my house looks like it does. An old joke in my family is that everything is permanently temporary.
So yeah. The craft room. I couldn't wait to use it. So I started moving furniture in and placing bookshelves and tables and dressers where I wanted them. Then I just found my chair so I could sit and do my hand work, that got brought in, with it's cute not so small ottoman. Now the room has this little path from the door to the TV, that branches off to the sewing table. I can either head right to the TV or left to the sewing table. I actually go left and then grab the remotes and turn on the TV.
The room is so packed with stuff that it seems like it would be impossible to get anything done in there. On the other hand it is really, really cozy and homey feeling. It's like being in a cocoon. Safe and comfy. The room? It's great to go off and close myself up in. If the girls are being verbal and loud at each other, I wander off in there, close the curtain (there's no door) and grab a book or some stitching and just be in peace (relative peace, I can still hear muffled arguements going on).
I just need to get in there and finish some projects! New habits are hard to form, but since I love being in there, it shouldn't be too hard to start.
Hope your week is a great one!

Yada, yada, yada

2009-08-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

I'm just checking in.
Hi!
I have tried to write two posts but they didn't set well with me when I got part of the way through them.
So they got deleted.
The two girls of mine who still live here are both out tonight.
It's quiet in the house. But not in the hood. Someone just set off a M-80...or bigger. I don't know, it was just loud. And now my big dog is pacing and slobbering.
Why do they feel the need to do that? I think they need attention.
My YD is getting ansy. Her goal in life is to have her own training center. She and I had planned to get some property and start one. But the economy got in the way and she had a little set back last year. That set us back three years. She and a friend were talking the other day. (that can get dangerous) YD called me and asked me to ask a friend of mine what he is doing with his property. She wants to lease it and start her training center. My friend is a very private person...I think he will not go for that, but I told her I would ask, so I will. (Me thinks he will say no thank you)
Work sucks.
While I was off Sunday one of the girls started one of those post office games...or is it telephone? Anyway, she said something to someone else (about a co-worker)and it went around the store. (Like I don't get enough drama at home, I have to work around it too) By the time it got through everyone who was there, it did some major damage. And caused some major drama that got quite loud. I'm so pleased I missed the whole damned thing. Of course, I had to hear it from two different people today when I got back. Yay! I am so happy they think they need to keep me up to date. The idiot who started the whole thing knew full well, that when I got wind of it I would take her out to the back and tell her to keep her trap shut. I didn't; but only because when she came to work she got into her little corner of the world and avoided me all day long. Yes! Silence is golden! I'm not a boss or a manager or anything. The manager doesn't like to get into stuff like this (until it affects the workings of the store or the customers) So to avoid letting it get to that point and since I could care less if some of them at work like me or not, I tell the young ones when enough is enough. In so many words, with an attitude. I just don't like working with pissy little girls. (some of the guys are pretty bad at times too) Tomorrow, a friend of mine will be back at work after her weekend and since she was involved in all this, and she is OLDER...I am going to have a talk with her. What she does and says there can directly affect me, because I recommended her for the job. Tomorrow, I tell her to just do her job and leave the crap at the door. Better yet, leave it at home, in the closet, in a little box in the back that has a lock on it...lose the key. She is just too old to be joining in on these shenanigans.
Do I sound like a bitch? Yeah, probably. I don't like work that much anyway, I certainly don't like going in to stuff like this.
Okay, I have stepped off my soap box.
DAMN! Speaking of soap. I want to make my own. I have been gathering the ingredients. I went to Safeway tonight on my way home and forgot to check if they have the last ingredient I need. Ah well...tomorrow's another day.
I'm going to go read a while before I go to sleep. I finished my friend's book. He said the next one is coming out in a few months. I can't wait. I forget what he said it is titled. The one I just finished is called "Bootlegger's Cove" It is a true to life work of fiction. It was good. I liked it because I used to fish commercially about the same time he was fishing and the book is partially about that. I could relate to some of it.
Now I am reading "House Rules". I'll be done with it in about a week. Another book I can't set down.
Okay, I have rambled on enough. See you all later! Have a good one!

My YD's Birthday today!

2009-08-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

"The Binks" is 22 today! Happy Birthday Sweetie!
Twenty two years of laughter, tears, frustration, fear, triumph, and lots of love!
What can I say about my baby except that it has all been wonderful and I am looking forward to what life has to offer her and what she does with it. I am proud of her and what she has done so far...even the hard to love parts!

July 26

2009-07-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

I just happened to be looking at my side bar over there---> and noticed that I started this blog back in 2006. I had wondered sometimes just how long I had been doing this but never looked. I went so far as to scroll down to find out what day I started...July 26! That's coming up soon! YAY! me, I'll be three soon! And my, how things have changed. I was in between jobs back then. I didn't yet have the job I have now. That was to happen a little over a month later.
So much has changed. I have met new people, reconnected with some from my past, and disconnected with some. My girls have grown. They've made me mad, made me smile, but always made me love them.
There have been babies born, christened, started walking and eating big people food. My extended family has grown by two. My closest friends have become grandparents. I even became a grandma...surprising!
I got rid of an old dilapidated car and bought my little truck. I have repaired it a few times. I have owned three washing machines and two dryers, and repaired those countless times (yes, in three years!)
I have gone on long weekends to my dad's cabin, lost sleep in an uncomfortable bed and gotten a little sun burned because I forgot how long I was in the sun.
I have lost a few pounds, but always gained them back and they brought some friends when they returned. My hair has grown long and turned gray.
I've gone kayaking, but not as much as I would have liked. And I vow to go more...as soon as the racks get on my truck.
I have connected with a world outside my own. I have made friends here in the blogosphere. I have learned so much from the people who care to share their lives with me in these posts. My heart has been broken for others' losses and I have also rejoiced in their happiness. I have seen many places that otherwise I would not have seen. I have learned to share in a different sort of way. I have sent out prayers for hope and strength and healing, I have received prayers as well.
Yep, three years. It's not long in the scheme of things, but when you look back at all that has gone by, it seems to have had a lifetime of happenings. I know there is so much more to come. I am looking to the future with hope and optimism. I want to think that everything will be alright.
So here is to the next three years and the three after that and the three after those. It's been a thrill to meet you all, and I hope we can have continued good friendships over the innernets...

Plumbing 102...or...202, I don't know!

2009-07-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

In our last class session we learned how to not turn off water at the source. We also learned how to get a man to drive probably ten minutes from where he was working to turn a knob we could have turned ourselves had we not been told that breaking said knob would make us responsible. (Who the heck WANTS to be responsible???)
In Plumbing 102 or 202 we will learn some new vocabulary words. Most of these words should not be used in public. Hell, I even made my own face turn red a coupla times, when I said these words!
I think I left off at letting the bolts that hold the toilet down soaking...it didn't work. I said a few of those words. Got out my trusty little Dremel tool. (Ladies, this is a tool you all need to have in your household. It will do everything but wash the dishes!) I cut off the damned bolts. My MD and I set the tank on a towel on the toilet bowl and proceeded to be amazed at how much crud accumulates where you can't reach. We sprayed that bugger all over with bleach and water. Then we sprayed it again for good measure.
I looked to see what it would take to get the actual drain thingy out of the hole in the tank to put the new one in. I looked high and low for just the right tool and found I was fresh out of dynomite. (dynamite? well, okay, TNT) Picked up the trusty Dremel. I cut that thing off..with a vengeance, and a few little cut off blades. They break easily.
Got that out, MD proceeded to scrub the crud off. Made it sparkle, like a new toilet. Okay, a fairly new toilet.
The we had to reverse all our previous actions. This was the easy part. Clean tank, new parts,everything was where it was supposed to be at the time it was supposed to be there. It went together like a two year olds' five piece puzzle. NICE!
Turned the water back on, no leaks. Adjusted the little chain thingy, tightened the handle just a little.
And...
And...
Flushed it...

It acted just like a toilet would act. Water went down the bowl, tank filled up handle positioned itself, BY. ITSELF. No noise...no freakin' noise!!! YES!
I'm starting my own business. Claudia's No Cracks Plumbing. Think about it! (snicker, snicker)
Bad words were omitted, cause even though I say them IRL, I find it hard to type them unless I am rully rully pissed.
BTW.. I slept ALL night, no toilet serenade to keep my eyes open!

Plumbing 101

2009-07-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

I'd show you pictures, but it's a little gross...not real gross, but ya know when you can't get to something to clean, but the dirt and grime can get there to mess up? It's that kind of gross.
Anyway...
I got up this morning all fired up and rarin' to go. Got my coffee, sat at the computer and then started dreading tearing apart the toilet. I mean really, I have to tear the toilet apart! The tank thing on top has to come off in order to fix the flush valve, which is what has been keeping me awake nights. Weeeee ch, ch, ch, ch Weeeeeee
I finally relented and got dressed. Then swore a little cause I really, really did not want to go out and shut off the water to the house. I don't know why that bugs me, but I hate having to shut the water off. And then I couldn't shut it off. The valve at the house doesn't work anymore. So I went out to the meter to shut it off and the shut off valve is covered in about six inches of dirt! (How do they read the meter then?) I called the water company to ask them just that and she told me I wasn't supposed to shut the water off at the meter by myself, because if I damaged it, I would be responsible. How a simple thing like that would make me responsible after all these years I will never know. Oh and then she told me they have some magic wand thing that reads the meter. No more pulling off the cover and actrually looking at the numbers. (I'm surprised it doesn't just go on their computers and then lick the envelope to send the bill in the mail for them)
She sent a man over to shut the water off at the meter and I got the usual lecture about doing it myself. I told him to marry me and then I would be able to afford to hire a real plumber to come and do this all for me. I'm capable even if I am JUST a woman! Excuse me, but I have the tool to shut the water off, and all the man did was get out his tool that looked just like mine and turned the little knob thingy just like I would have done. Hmmm. Wow, I can't believe that people have to go to college or trade school to learn that stuff.
So, water off, toilet tank drained. I start to pull of the angle stop to replace. It is the reason I couldn't just shut the water off at the toilet, it's old. When I took it off, I panicked because the pipe it is attached to is looking like it came from Roman times. Old, rusty and in need of replacement which would require a real plumber, and apparently I am allergic to real plumbers.
I said a little prayer, bit the bullet and ran down to my local hardware store, where I used to work several years ago and where I haven't stepped foot since the ass laid me off. But I had to go there, because even though the water was shut off there was still a tickle coming in and I had no time to waste.
Got the new angle stop and a new supply line and asked the owner who is also known as the ass, if there is a possibilty of fixing the now rusted out 1/2" galvanized pipe coming out of my wall if there is a tiny bit of thread left on it. He assured me it could be salvaged if I just bought a $15 tool. "Sell it to me!" Shit, I'm bleeding money here!
Came home, put on my contortionist costume and proceeded to finish what I started. The angle stop did go on as promised! YAY! I now have a shut off to my toilet once again...Did I say YAY! yet? I unscrewed the first set of nuts that hold the toilet tank on to the bowl, and got the tank off. Herein lies the mess. Things were disintrigating back there. Nothing that can't be replaced...which is why I am doing this. The disintrgation is what has been causing the toilet to sing.
Now I am at a spot where I needed a little help from my favorite can of WD40. The second set of nuts don't want to come off easily, so I am soaking them for a while.
Be prepared for Plumbing 102 in the near future. Take notes, there will be a quiz later.

Why???

2009-07-16T18:41:00.000-07:00

Why is it that everything I own, that has anything to do with water, is leaking right now??? Why???
I had the washing machine experience over my weekend, now the toilet. The shower is always giving me fits.
Last night the toilet decided to sing to me sweet love songs of the toilet type. Except I am not a toilet, so I don't really appreciate the songs. Weeee Ch, Ch, Ch, Ch...weeeeeee, Ch, Ch, Ch, Ch...that was 12:30. I got up and fixed it. 2:30 AM Weeeeeeeeeeee, Ch, Ch, weeeeeeeeeee, Ch, Ch, Ch, weeeeeeee, got up, fixed it. Finally went back to sleep at 3AM.
Alarm went off at 5AM, I hit the snoozer til around 5:40, and then got up figuring I had better get a move on if I was going to be to work on time.
I had to be there at 8.
Got ready, looked at the clock and freaked out, I was sure I was going to be late. Got going, drove fast (but safely) to work. I pulled up next to the store and thought to myself, "Why the hell is the store closed???" I looked at the clock in my truck...it was 6:45, not 7:45. I was an hour early.
I told my co-worker I was not going to wait an hour to clock in so that I would have to work an hour later. He clocked me in at 7. I left at 3:30.
I was going to fix the toilet when I got home, but now the damned water to the toilet won't shut off. Hopefully, I can keep that devil quiet until Monday when I can just shut the water off to the entire house and replace the angle stop, water suppply line, and the flush valve.
Then again, I may install an outhouse!

I'm all about the drama.

2009-07-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

Just a few things...little notes.
Because I am all about the drama I wait until the last possible minute to do N.E.THING! I just want any one who hasn't already, go over to Hallie's blog at Wonderful World of Weiners and donate to her fund raiser for Organ Donation. You can read all about the story behind the fund raiser there. (Take tissues with you, it is a very heart warming and tugging at the heart story.) Also, be prepared to get addicted to her blog, she is all about the funny, informative and just plain fun reads!

The next note...my foot. I have been asked by a few as to how I am doing, what the doc said about my foot and what I am doing.
I'm doing as well as can be expected. Some days are good, others not so much. BUT...the foot does feel a bit better than it has in the past few months. The doctor told me that what I have is a tight achilles MUSCLE. The tendon is fine, but the muscle that is over the tendon is pulled so tight that it is making my foot curl under itself so to speak. If you look at your right foot, while you are sitting with your foot flat on the floor, picture the muscle from the back of your calf going down and under the heel then towards the arch of your foot. Now picture that muscle pulling up and you get a foot that is turning under towards the inside. (Confused enough?) Since our feet want to be flat on the floor, and not turning under it makes for pain when you are standing on them all day. Which is what I do.
She gave me excercises to do and I take a anti-inflammatory medication once a day. Then I am supposed to get a pair of really, really good shoes and an ankle brace. Right now, since I have missed work (without pay) I can't afford the shoes and ankle brace. But I can afford the excercises. The meds are covered, so I am taking those. Plus I can never, never go barefoot again or wear any of those cute little flip flops I like to wear occasionally or my slippers. But I cheat on those every night, I just don't walk around in them like I used to. Oh yea, and I can't walk for excercise. I need to swim. Which means I need to get a swimsuit....um, yea...

The x-rays of my foot showed a hammer toe, bunnion, (I don't know if those are the same or not) mild athritis and degeneration of some of the bone in my big toe. Apparently those don't hurt me. Go figure!
I am trying to get back on Weight Watchers, because I know if I get some (or all) of my excess weight off, that will help immensely. The thing with that is, I am so damned stuck in my ways and I can't get it through my thick skull, that I would feel better, and it should be an easy thing to do. I mean hell, in my twenties I would get a burr up my ass about my weight and fast for a week and not blink an eye!
Anyway, that's about it. Thank you for commenting and asking. It is nice to know that we have built up a community of friendship across the blogophere. See you on the internets!

The Foot From Hell

2009-07-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

I still am not convinced that anything from the ankle down will ever feel good again.
I am fresh back from the Podiatrist. She was great and all, and actually spent some non-rushed time with me, but I have heard so many things from so many doctors that I don't know who to believe anymore. You'd think that because this doctor is a PODIATRIST I'd want to believe her the most. But for some reason I am skeptical.
I didn't think at all that I would get out of this with my pocket book unscathed, but I have spent far more on this foot than any other body part so far. Nothing has helped. Now, the podiatrist is telling me I need to buy more, and more costly things for this one foot.
Now I need to go out and buy shoes that are over $120 and some ankle brace that is $30. There are still excercises I need to do. She said swim, for other excercise, no walking for that. (Um, they JUST closed the local pool down for renovations, I know, my daughter worked there.) She wants me to drive 15 miles away to go to the next pool. Um. NO!
I am reluctant to spend the money on all this other stuff, because I have spent enough money already that hasn't done anything but make my pain last longer. The appointment alone cost me $50. She sent me home with a nice list of where to get the shoes and wonderful (insert sarcasm here) pictures of the excercises. Those I will do, they are free. I guess I HAVE to buy the shoes and the brace, cause I can't go back to her when it all doesn't work and give her that look, if I don't at least waste my money.
Have I ever said before that I HATE Kaiser-Permanente? If I haven't, let me say that here and now. I HATE Kaiser-Permanente!

And the decision was...

2009-07-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

Clearlake! Yes I went. My OD drove so I got to watch anything I wanted, leaving watching the idiots on the roads to her.
It was hot, it was fun, noisy, hot, and sis I mention that it was hot there?
We got there late Friday night, and of course did not get to sleep til much later. I slept on a folded up futon. (The arthritic hip is PISSED) Got up way too early, the sun peaked in the window directly at my eyes at 6AM.
We went and played with the dogs in the water. (I didn't get in the water) But the dogs had a blast chasing their after their balls, tennis balls that is.
Went to bed far too late Saturday night and up again early this morning. We unfolded the futon this time (hips not as angry this morning)
We left there early to beat the worst heat driving and got home around 2:30 this afternoon. I took a much needed nap on my couch and then got up and took a much needed shower.
I am refreshed, mind and body. (Although, still tired and a little sore)
Tomorrow is my podiatrist appointment. Let's hope this doc has some fantastic fix, cure, whatever, to make my feet happy feet again!

Why Can't I Make A Damned Decision???

2009-07-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

So...the 4th of July is here! YAY!
I had plans to go to "My Lake". I had to take last Sunday off. I was planning to take Saturday and Sunday off this weekend, and spend four days at the lake. After going to the doctor a few weeks back, I ended up with an appointment with the podiatrist (finally) and the only appointment available was Monday, of course. So four days at the lake was out. I decided that since I really couldn't afford three unpaid days off in the same pay period, I would work Saturday, have Sunday off go to the doctor Monday and use Tuesday as my usual deep cleaning day around the house. No lake. :(
Then my OD started trying to talk me into going some where for a day trip. She's off all next week and staying home isn't her thing. We discussed, I vetoed, we discussed more. I said no, I can't afford this. But I DO want to see my lake again, feel the heat, listen to my Dad's girlfriend's roudy family be, well, loud, laugh, relax and just sit.
Now, I'm thinking that it is only one pay period that I would be a little more broke than usual. I've had less money than that at other times, because of illnesses, I cannot pass up a 4th of July at the lake again. (Although I had to last year) And I could bring my Dad a watermelon! Just kidding, he doesn't care for watermelon.
I could conceivably go up Friday night, spend Saturday and most of Sunday, come home go to my DR appointment and do the usual on Tuesday. Or work Saturday go up after work, getting there at around dinner time...(he he) spend most of Sunday, etc., etc. I don't know. We'll see how I feel Friday after work. or today after work, cause no matter what we have to pack up the truck.
Any thoughts?

Speaking of YD

2009-06-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

Things are starting to look up once again for YD.
Last year about this time she had fallen in a bucket of shit (figuratively speaking) and wasn't coming out smelling like a rose.
This year she is turning everything around for herself.
A few weeks ago, she and one of her friends went over to "Pick ur Parts" and got a "new to her" transmission for her old classic truck that she bought a couple of years back (It has been sitting in my driveway for a long while, since the tranny died) They labored under the truck for two days getting the new transmission in place. After a couple of days one of the mounts slipped. It didn't cause any damage, so they are replacing that today or tomorrow. At least this time the truck is in her driveway and not mine.
About three weeks back, I had a customer come in the store and as per the way I do business, started chatting it up with the customer. She was buying various things that I recognized as being part of barns and fencing for large animals. Of course I asked her what she was doing with them. She told me she had seven horses and ten big dogs and that one or more of those critters had broken through their fencing and it all needed to be repaired.
I asked her further about her horses. She told me she wasn't really the horsey type, but she owned seven in various ages all of which needed training, because she didn't know how and she didn't have the time. Of course I mentioned that this is what my daughter does for a living. She immediately gave me her number and told me to have my daughter call her.
YD called her that night, but the woman had to be in court and couldn't meet her the next day, and took YD's number. But YD never heard from her. So on a whim yesterday, YD called her back. The woman was so happy! She had forgetten to save YD's number in her phone and had lost it. And then asked if YD could come right then. She went.
The husband was at the gate to their property when YD pulled up. He asked her what she was there for and YD said, "Well, I'm not really sure, but to talk to someone about the horses." He asked her if she was a handler and YD told him..."of sorts". He told her she was hired!
They went on a tour of the property, met all the horses and dogs. Discussed the horses diet and experiences so far. The woman met them at the barn. Talked to YD about her past experiences with animals and asked how much she wanted to be paid. YD has always been told what she would be paid, and told them that. So they said how about 20 hours a week at $XX/hour? YD said she got really light headed and almost fainted. Then they asked if that was enough. O.M.G.!!! They also asked YD to make a list of everything she would need to train their horses and she would have it all in a few days.
She has a three month old, a six month old a yearling, two stallions, two brood mares and one eight year old mare to work with. One of the stallions is two and barely green broke. She told me she was starting with him. (Apparently the owner has a little trouble with him)
YD called me last night to say thank you for hooking her up with this woman. I'm just so happy to do that. I know that YD is a great trainer and with the right people and references she can make a fantastic living at what she loves to do.
It all has to do with an old mare I bought 18 years ago to keep my kids away from the front of the TV. That mare trained YD in the ways of horses.

Why I love my YD

2009-06-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

*Now with an update*

Ring, ring. Ring, ring. (that's my phone, ringing)
Me: Hello?
YD: Hi Mom! Whatcha doing?
Me: Hi Binks! I'm hobbling. How are you?
YD: Hobbling?
Me: Yea, my feet, can't walk after work.
YD: I'm sorry, that's not good! Well,I'm good. Mom?
Me: Yes.
YD: I have a great idea! Ya wanna hear my great idea?
Me: (Hesitantly) Yeasss...
YD: You know how I'm moving to a house in July? On July 5th?
Me: Yeasss...
YD: Well, I was thinking,
Me: That's always good!
YD: Well, what I was thinking is that since my room here at the ranch smells just like a shit hole, (she lives right next to the sewer clean out that always needs to be cleaned out)that it would be a good idea for me to come and sleep on your couch until the 5th of July! How do you like that idea??? Isn't it a great idea Momm...You know I love you and well, it sure would be great to spend more time with you and I'll clean out the kennel and the dogs can sleep out there and there won't be lakes and islands on the frontroom floor form Fatty (Trixie), cause she'll be outside, and you know.

Me: Okay. Fatty isn't going to chew up any more furniture is she?
YD: No.
Me: Okay, when are you coming?
YD: Tonight. Thanks Mom, I love you! MUAH!

YD came back...for a whole day!
She brought her clothes and when her new landlady heard that she was staying here until the 5th, told her to just move in there and wouldn't charge her for the extra days. It isn't like she was going to make anything from the space in the meantime anyway. So, one of YD's friends helped her load up her belongings at the ranch and she is all moved in now. She just has to unpack. I know she is going to love it there. The landlady is only four years older than YD. Her friend that helped her move in has been helping take care of her for YEARS. He has known her since she was 8 or 9 and is almost like a dad to her. He lives at the house too. The house is a big one and is in horse country about five miles from here. She'll be happy there.

More experience with Magical Mexicans

2009-06-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

It seems that every time I ask my YD for a hand with something she shows up with one of her co-workers or another person she works on the side with in training horses. Today I called her for an idea of who might be able to change the starter in my truck. It broke yesterday. It's been breaking for a long time. I just didn't know it.
For the last two or three weeks, every once in a while, like if I drive to Comcast (a ten or so mile drive) The truck wouldn't start. But if we jumped the battery, it would go. Yesterday, MD and I went to Serramonte (a mall about 12 - 13 miles away. I knew I'd be taking a chance turning it off, so I sat in the car while MD paid her phone bill. Then we went to Joann's. I figured that the truck would be okay to shut off. (Heaven only knows why I thought it would be okay then) So, in we went and an hour later, out we came. To a truck that would not start. My neice, who I just happened to buy the truck from was there also and had parked next to us, so we just waited til she was done with her shopping and got a jump from her.
We came home and stopped at the grocery store to pick up some food. I called OD and told her to stand by, cause we may need a jump. We did. She came down and we jumped the battery and drove home.
I figured that in the morning, the starter would be cool and I would be able to start the truck, but that was not going to happen. I called the local parts store, got a price on a rebuilt starter, and told them I'd pick it up when I could find a ride. That's when I called YD. She said she'd be up after work and I could talk her though the procedure, since I (ahem) know how to do that kind of stuff. She brought her friend whose horses she is training. She made him get under the car, she and I handed him tools, and held the light. It took about three hours, but my truck started again!!!! YAY!
This is where I found out that the starter had been breaking for a while. I didn't realize it, but when I started the truck with the new starter it sounded so much better. Apparently the old one didn't sound right and I didn't know it. Some mechanic I turned out to be.
At least we have found another Magical Mexican in our midst. Now I have one that does emergency roof patches and one that does mechanical stuff.
But now I have to go to work tomorrow, I was kind of hoping I could use the truck as an excuse.

New Trix

2009-06-11T19:20:00.001-07:00

Every Thursday, I "babysit" my furbaby grandson. So I expected to see Dozer when I came home from work. It's always a happy occassion, cause I love Dozer. Today I had a surprize when I got home. YD had gone all the way to Gilroy (about an hour and a half away from us) to pick up Trixie. She will not be Trixie long if YD has anything to say about it. She doesn't like the name, but she loves the dog! I'm pretty taken by her myself. She is six months old, very well behaved. She's a little leary of the cats, doesn't chase them though. She just gives them wide berth. (Funny to watch) She is not all that quiet, but not a pesty barker yet. Of course, we are all new to her and I'm sure she was told to be on her best behavior, so for now she is minding.
Right now she is doing what dogs do best...laying on her side sound asleep.
I'm thinking it is a good thing that YD has her own place and it is on the ranch. There is just not room for four dogs here. I don't even know how we managed with three! (and I am looking for a new German Shepherd...oh my!)

Cause the gov'ment says so

2009-06-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

I have been so sick of hearing this government mandated switch over to digital or else you don't get to watch TV thing. What has it been? A year? Two? That they have been touting this BS over all the TV channels and radio stations.
Perhaps I am a bit paranoid, but it seems to me, at first it was just a ploy to make every one pay for all entertainment. Right now, my TV and computer are the only things that really entertain me. We've paid for cable for as long as I can remember...well, wait, in the early 60's we didn't pay. So they told everybody and their brothers that if you don't have cable already, you need to purchase this stupid little box to convert some damned signal going into your TV so it is digital and you can watch TV. I think it is a great way for them to start watching us.
They put it off and put it off, and now they are saying okay, we are serious this time, June 12th (or 19th or whatever date they have set) is it, you must be prepared to switch to digital...or else...and then afterward every once in a while you must scan something to add new channels, and then you get to watch more...
I figured we were out of the loop here at my house, because we have been paying for cable forever and they kept saying if you have cable you are ready...Even showing people in T-shirts saying I AM READY. (No I never wanted one of those T-shirts either) I got a letter from Comcast the other day (Comcast is our entertainment director/cable company) I normally don't open much in the mail from them, cause it's usually some threatening letter saying pay up or else you don't get to watch TV. By chance I opened this one. It said. You need to get some digital adapters for EACH TV in your house or else you only get to watch channels 2 - 32. Yeah. Like any of those channels are worth watching. Yuck...local crap, paid advertising hour long shows, Chinese TV, Mexican TV (three channels of it) One blue screen channel. (just in case you are fond of the color blue and want to watch it all day and night) I do have the 4AM local news on every morning so I can laugh at all the people who commute two hours to work and back when the traffic on the 880 is at a stand still...they actually call it the parking lot! Of course I need to see just how much fog is in my near future so I know whether to wear my light jacket or not as light jacket. I could jut look out the door and know first hand, but where's the fun in that?
So...in order to get the channels I actually watch: TRU TV, Court TV, HGTV, the channel with all the families with all the kids and the one about how to dress yourself on it, I have to have a digital adapter. To the tune of $1.98 per box...and that's per TV! We own five TV's!!! Oh but it is okay, the first two are free. MD decided that she wanted a regular cable box, so when I go through all the free premium channels, she can watch movies out in her little room. She's paying the extra $7 for that.
Alrighty then. I called and ordered everything we needed. They sent it post haste. I think we ordered on Wednesday, the boxes were here today! I have NEVER in my life seen such a quick turnaround! (See the government wants in our frontrooms something bad.) Only...they sent four cable boxes! Not three adapters and one cable box! Geez! So I made a few phone calls and when I didn't get the answers I wanted started asking for supervisors and managers. They checked around found that our local Comcast office had what we needed and sent us up there to trade. We didn't know they had sent four cable boxes. We thought they had sent four adapters (instead of the three and one cablebox) We went up with one and there was a huge line out the door. People waiting to trade boxes, pick up new boxes, pay bills, bitch and complain and all manner of whatevers they do at the cable office. CA-RAP! MD stood in line until it got close to our turn and then I went in to sign papers answer questions, etc. That is when we found out that our entire order was wrong. The guy laughed and said he had never seen such a screw up. He let us come home with the adapters and a promise to return the other two cable boxes on Monday morning.
Went out to my truck and the freaking battery was dead as a door nail. I am thinking I will need a new battery here. Everything else is working fine...I hope. Anyway. a really nice gentleman by the name of Guerrmo came over to us and asked if we needed help in his broken English. I said yes please. He moved his car over to our truck and created magic on my battery and wa-la we came home. We are now waiting for our hook up to be complete, so that the government can start watching us. Cause I know that is what they are doing!
Okay...they said...it should only be around fifteen minutes to make the connections complete and it has been two hours! I have to make another on of those phone calls! Damn!

I. AM. PISSED.

2009-05-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

Warning...may include some nasty swear words, not for the feint of heart, I'm not going to apologize for any of this. So, if you don't want to read major rants and raves, STOP READING NOW.

And I am not afraid to admit it. Damn the effing powers that be. DAMN THEM all to hell. No. Really.
My eyes changed color today. It doesn't happen often, and although it may be intriguing, it's NOT a pretty sight.
I know, I know, you are wondering if I have gone off the deep end. You are wondering what in Heaven's name I am talking about aren't ya?

Well, I'll tell ya....

First off. The eye color change. It is temporary. I didn't know this happened until about five years ago, when someone told me it happened. This person had the guts to stand in front of me one time when I was raging...RAGING mad. The look on her face was precious and I almost lost my rage, but I didn't. Then she told me..."Your eyes changed color when you got mad!" I wasn't mad at her, she was listening to me when I was talking about an incident. So, then I knew. People could tell when I was absolutely died in the wool, ragingly pissed off at them. GOOD I say. Let them know I am serious. I hope that when it happens they piss themselves, cause when I am that mad, I want something to snortle about afterwards.

Next history...my bosses told us all last year that the insurance premiums were going up. Okay fine, shit happens, a problem, but something we all just have to live with. Then they say (because they love us all so much) [YEAH; RIGHT] BUT, we are going to do this...we are going to change your coverage so that the premiums stay the same, but you will have to pay a $50 co pay when you go to the doctor. You bring the receipt back to us and we will cut you a check for $35 to off set what you paid at the doctor. This way we will save money and there will be no more out of your pocket than you have already been paying. Everybody leaves the meeting happy. (Okay, smile now)

So. I went to the doctor yesterday. I paid my $50. (Which, by the way I had to BORROW) I take the receipt back to the boss. Well, the accountant. She told me I would have to wait til the boss comes back to sign the check. No problem. Until the boss comes in. He says, "No I am not writing a check. She will have to wait for her next paycheck." The accountant came downstairs and relayed the message. I had to wait several minutes before I could go ask the boss what he was doing. (Cause swearing would have happened)

He gave me that same song and dance that all bosses are so good about. "You misunderstood what we said at the meeting, we could change your coverage so that your premiums are higher but you only pay the $15 co-payment. I could let go of several or all of our employees so that I save money by hiring stool pigeons to do your work, I just bought a fourth store and we are going under and I am floundering here, why don't you feel bad for me? I just got back from Hawaii and God it was hot and I was so miserable. We can do what you want, but things are going to change after that." Oh beside the fact that they want to put my $35 in my paycheck and TAX it AGAIN...no shit, I would get about $31 and change. It was some mumbo jumbo about medical premium advance something-er-other.

My response was, I didn't buy all those stores, I didn't go to Hawaii, I was here working my ass off in the store, doing what I do best...selling stuff. I did not misunderstand a thing. I don't do financial stuff, I don't understand that, what I do understand is that I was told one thing and now I am being told another.

I got my money, in cash, just after I clocked out for the day. Now I have to find the letter that they gave us at the time they told us about the changes. And then I go to the labor board. I am thinking this is highway robbery.

I'm feeling passively threatened about my job. The way he said, we could just "let" people go and hire yeah, I said it...stool pigeons. Go ahead asshat! Make my day. I could use the next 6 months off with pay to develope my business at home. I'm not backing down, I will stay and make them do what they said they'd do, I will fight. I'm to old to let their idle threats bother me.

BUT I am still PISSED!

Elton is in the house!

2009-05-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Actually "Elton" left the house. My oldest is on her yearly adventure with a friend. They are driving down the coast to surf other waters. This maybe their last year to do this for a while. OD will (hopefully) be going into her Respiratory Therapist Program after this summer. IF she can get the funds! It's going to cost her about $9000 for the classes, books, fees, etc. and she was turned down for a loan. The $9000 doesn't cover the cost of living and transportation to and from school. She will be going full time, so working a part time job like she's been doing won't cut it, and she needs to study, study, study, so a job is going to be hard to do.
I'm hoping her grandparents will come through for her. All they have to do is
co-sign, after she starts working she will pay the loan. (Which is a scary thought, because what if she doesn't get work after she graduates???
Anyway, I hope they have a blast on their three week trek down the coast. (Her friend's parents are going too, so I know they are relatively safe...else I would have been a little nervous)
She's been gone for under twenty four hours and I already miss her!

I Have to Make a Change!

2009-05-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

That's Tootsie up there. She has nothing to do with me needing to make a change. I just like the picture and thought I would share.

As for me making a change, well, that is what I need to do. I have tried in the past and failed. I mean, I am in charge of my life right? Why can't I make myself do what I need to do? Is it down right laziness? Is it fear of success? Is it that I don't know what I think I know to make these changes? It may be all of the above. Or none of it.
What got me to thinking about this now is that I just spent the better part of my day making myself a tunic. It's just a plain ol' shirt, kind of cute...for me. Different than what I normally would wear these days, but what I would like to wear, instead of all the stupid T-shirts I get cheap and then wear out in a year. I made it in a size I figured would be roomy so I could wear it to work and have plenty of movement space. But NO! I finished it except for the hemming and little embellishments I was going to do. I tried it on and Oh HELL no! It is as tight as it can get!
I HAVE to lose weight. I have to get on that bandwagon and take care of myself. I don't know what is going to make me follow through. I do all that imagining how I could look with a few less pounds (who is kidding who here? I need to lose a lot more than a few pounds) I imagine how I will feel when I lose the weight. Maybe that is what is wrong; I can't imagine that far ahead! I am paying for WeightWatcher's online. I know deep down that I MUST lose it. If I am going to be around on this earth for a while I need to lose the weight. All of it. Every last ounce of it.
I do well for a while. You've seen it on my side bar. I lost some weight. Well, people, I put all that back on and then some. I am not giving up the WeightWatcher's online because I want to save the money. I am leaving it there and paying for it until I get my head out of my ass and use it.
Anyone got any suggestions!

2009-05-02T17:53:00.000-07:00

I may not have been blogging, but I have been up to something. I crocheted the afghan in the pictures. It was a really fun afghan to stitch. My daughters even made comments about how I was sticking to it for a change! (Something I rarely do) I do finish things, but usually it takes a while to accomplish them. This, I just couldn't leave alone. I saw the beginnings of the afghan at
http://charmingly-wicked.blogspot.com/ and fell in love with the design. I am partial to Dragonflies anyway and this was just another way to work some into my life. I had the yarn already so I just started. It took a lot more yarn than I had on hand, so I kept having to go back to the store to get more. Which if you do any kind of stitching like this, you know is a big boo-boo. The last 20 rows ended up being an entirely different tone of white altogether. Damn! It is still pretty and will still be warm, I just don't feel as though I can gift anyone with it, so it will just have to remain mine! Darn! The whole concept of filet crochet was foreign to me. I thought it would be hard, but it was as easy as it gets. I am so glad that I attempted it in the first place! The pattern is Dragonfly Afghan Pattern from http://www.hassdesign.com/FiletCrochetDesigns/IP/FiletAfghans/ I paid only $2.50 for the pattern itself.
My sister took me out for my birthday last night. OD also went, because she likes any excuse to hang out with her old mom and Auntie. Plus, her "cooler than cool itself" cousin was going to be there as well. Cousin's boyfriend was playing in a band that we went to see. Go to:http://www.robincampbellband.com/ to see the band for yourself and hear a little of their music. Pretty darned fun! My ears are still ringing! We got home a little after midnight. I managed to get through my day at work. It wasn't too bad considering I had about 5-1/2 hours of sleep! It actually went just fine. I feel a nap coming on now, but I am going to wait til bedtime, so I can sleep.
That's it for all my fun in the last few days. Monday I have an appointment with a new doctor. I am going with a laundry list of things I have concerns over. Namely my feet, knees, hips. I think I should talk to a nutritionist and get some feed back on what they might consider a better diet for me. Maybe some pointers on cutting out my sugar intake, cause I sure can't seem to make myself cut it out. Maybe get them to do blood tests and make sure everything is working as it should be. I am tired of being tired and in pain twenty-four/seven

Good-Bye, Uncle Cliff

2009-04-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

Today one of my sisters and I, and some other parts of our family traveled to Carmichael, CA to attend a memorial for my uncle. My favorite uncle. He was my mom's only brother. What a man he was.
It was good to see my cousins, who my uncle and aunt adopted when they were newborns. Four of them. They adored their daddy. He was a great dad, still is, because he lives on in his sons and daughters and in his grandchildren, who he cherished.
Now he's there with my mom, their youngest sister, my grandma and grandpa. They are having a family reunion, just as we had one down here. I'll miss him, but he is getting to see the family gone before him and that...is a happy thing.

Well this is one for the books

2009-04-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

I know, I am all negative most of the time. I read yall's blogs and somehow I rarely ever find negative stuff. I read over mine and it's always a negative thing, well, with a few positives thrown in here and there. But for the most part, I can't seem to find great happy, happy stuff to write about.
This time I am being purposely negative and you'll like or, or well, whatever...

This time the negative is a GOOD thing...
My biopsy came back today, they called me right away and YES...It was NEGATIVE!!! Woo Hoo! Yippee kyo ky yay or however that is spelled. Who cares anyway? We all know what it means.

So I am celebrating, in my mind, there's a big party going on, with champagne and balloons and confetti, loud horns, the whole nine yards.

Love you guys. You all rock, you were here supporting me and I really appreciate it all!

I'm Tired

2009-04-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

I had my appointment. It was not at all what I was expecting, but then it was a lot more than that. Of course, in my mind it was going to be all painful and I was going to be tearing up and trying not to show what a wus I am. The worst of the whole biopsy was actually in my head and maybe what will be in a few hours..after the Lidocaine wears off. (I'm feeling it a little now)
The three people who were assigned to me, doctor, radiology technician and the technician's assistant were wonderful people. I had to lay on my stomach with left arm up over my head and right arm at my side. (Which made me think of those chalk figures you see on dectective shows) This proved to be the most uncomfortable position ever. I found my hand falling asleep and the assistant noticed me wiggling my fingers, so she put one of those squishy balls in my hand to give it something to do, I thought that was great!
The doctor told me about pinches and pin pricks and pulling and some pressure, I felt none of that. Can you say grateful?
The biggest worry to them right now is excessive bleeding, so I have their permission to do NOTHING for the next day or two. This only bothers me, cause I also cannot take a shower for two days...yuck, sponge bath city, which really never did anything for me. I guess it's better than nothing.
I think I am going to use it as an excuse and call into work tomorrow to take Wednesday off and RELAX. I just don't want to go in without a shower.
One of the doctors involved will call me in three to five days to let me know what they found out. The doctor in the city told me 90% of the women he biopsies don't have anything but calcifications. I'm thinking that is the way I'll be going. Nothing big!
I'm just glad this day is over with.
Oh! My OD started feeling bad that no one could go with me. They all had to work. She called in a favor at work and had someone work her mid day shift so she could take me. She and I went to Mel's Drive-In (circa 1950's) on the way home. Late lunch cost me $40!!!!! For two burgers, one shared order of curly fries and two malteds. E-Gads! Oh well, it really was kind of worth it.
More when I get news!
I love you guys!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:06:00.001-07:00

I have an appointment

2009-04-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

2:30 Monday. In San Francisco. Which freaks me out more than laying on my stomach on a table with a hole in it for my boob. I HATE going to the city. I always get messed up with the one ways and the wrong ways and the this ways and the that ways. At least the hospital has it's own parking garage. That is always a big deal up there.
I should see if I can find some needle work places close by, so when I am done I can go and do some "just for me" waste my money shopping. You know as a reward for being such a good girl for the doctors and all.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Love you all! Happy Easter, if I don't get back on here before then.

Just a quick note...

2009-04-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

...Cause right now I am not feeling much about this....

I got a call from the docs office last week to come back in for another look see after squishing the girls again. It turns out they just needed to squish one, and look at it really close, like magnified like.
So I had my appointment today, and it was really uncomfortable this time, cause they really needed to compress it. Poor girl!
They found some calcification that they don't like. Just great! I have to wait til Wednesday to make an appointment at the Kaiser in San Francisco to do a biopsy. I'm not freaking. My sister had to do this a while back and everything was okay. I had some calcification a couple of years ago, although not checked out this closely.
Say prayers please though, ya never know...
The one thing I really noticed different today is that everyone worked in teams. Last time I only had to deal with one person at a time. This time, they had two people doing the magnification X-rays, and then the doctor AND her assistant talked to me about the next step. What's up with that? Oh yeah... the doctor freaked me out. I was expecting something, I mean this is the second time I have been there. We all sat down in her office, she took a breath and then looked at me in this kind of pitying way. In my head, I was all like, okay, there is something to check out, why are you looking at me like you have to tell me I have six months to live? Geez, I understand this is really serious, but I am not going to start freaking out until they say, "You have breast cancer". Until then, I don't have it.

Learning Photography

2009-04-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

My OD, picked up her grandpa's old camera, that he had given me, did some repairs and some cleaning and bought film.
I downloaded the manual for the camera off the internet. The camera is older than my OD!
She's been practicing and teaching herself what will and won't work. She did the first roll and had it processed and the following are a few photos that she and I liked the best. She is also learning to tweak the pictures to make them really stand out.
What do you think?

Off to a wonderful start

2009-03-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

Today was a special day. It still is, I am only half way through.
I got to start it out by going and getting the girls squished for their glamour shots. I have to hand it to Kaiser Permanente at this point. As much as they piss me off with other stuff, like refusing to do a colonoscopy (it costs too much! yea, right!), they make up for it somewhat by doing a quick and painless mammygram. I had this done at another place and I walked out almost in tears, being pushed, pulled, poked and prodded, Not to mention sqished to about a quarter of an inch. The Kaiser people are gentle and non painful. Plus, they are quick! They said plan for an hour, I was there under 25 minutes! Didn't even have time to read my waiting room book.
So the rest of the day will be working on water related appliances etc. The toilet innards broke yesterday before I left for work, so we have been camping out with that. You know...pouring a bucket of water in to flush. I turned the water off to it, because the tank wouldn't fill. Then I need to tighten up connections in the shower. We keep getting sprayed with cold water while in the shower cause something on the cold water side needs afixin'. Then I have to address the washing machine. It spews water out the bottom everytime we do laundry. That sounds looks like a crack in the tub or the bottom bearing is giving out. My new washer is going to a machine repair guy for parts after I find ANOTHER washer. I have the worst luck with these things!
Hope your day is great!
Oh! After I figure it out I will post some pictures my daughter took with my dad's old camera. She took some fantastic photos and cropped them so they were perfect. I am in awe of what she has accomplished!

2009-03-22T19:10:00.001-07:00

See what happens when a person gets bored and they are tired? I came home and looked online...blogger...I don't remember who's blog, but I found this and thought it was funny. Candy Love!

more fail, owned and pwned pics and videos

I am feeling better 'bout that shoe.

2009-03-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your support.
Now, I am beginning to believe that YD was freaking out inside and just couldn't say things the way she wanted to say them. Then they all came out wrong. Plus, she knows horses, not medical terms and she is only 21 so therefore immortal.
We went to her Dr. appt today. I was a bad mommy and drilled her most of the way over the hill. (a 45 minute drive) Not really drilled, but I asked quite a few questions. Most of which needed, say a nurse to interpret, to get laymen type answers. YD doesn't know all of what the stuff was they were doing or the name of the actually medication they injected. She told me, "Mom, I am not worried, so you shouldn't be worried." I replied, "Well, sweetie, (in my most sickening sweet voice) sometimes you don't worry when you should. It's your age, it's okay. I'm the Mom and I am going to worry, cause I love you and I would hurt if you hurt, so let's agree that you will let me support you in any way I can." She agreed. (If only to shut me up with the questions)

The result of the past couple of weeks medical visits are good. It is just a tissue. The cervix being operated on a few years ago is doing double duty to heal it self...or "over heal". The tissue built up in her fallopian tubes and caused a fluid build up in her ovaries. The shots she received last week are doing their job. What ever they were looking for in her bloodtests came back better than they had hoped. They wanted some count down by 15% and it came down 25%, so the doc is happy, which makes me happy!
She needs to go back once a week for blood tests until the whatever they are watching for is at 0%. (or 8 weeks, whichever comes first)
Thank you for being here for me to sound off to. I was near to tears last night. Now I am mostly smiles....I am pooped!
Love you guys!

The Other Shoe Drops...

2009-03-18T17:13:00.001-07:00

I have been going along my merry little way. Getting more positive day by day. Things have been going fairly well, and Spring is around the corner.
Yea...that's what she said.
My YD has been dropping little tid bits of information about her medical problems, choosing her words carefully so as not to upset my applecart. But I have Google. Damn you Google!
About two years ago, give or take four or five months, YD found out she had cervical cancer. Thanks HPV, yea, thanks a lot! But it was taken care of. The doc told her she had to have pap smears every six months.
She just had another one about a month ago, and mentioned that they were concerned about some swelling in her fallopian tube. So they sent her to someone else, who sent her to someone else and on and on. She finally is getting the help she needs.
I know I am slow. I know she can tell me things in a way that I don't fully grasp the full extent of what she is telling me. She. Does. Not. Want. To. Freak. Me. Out.
I am freaked out.
They gave her Chemo last week. I didn't get that that is what she was telling me, cause she just said shots to get the tissue to stop growing. But I have Google. And I found out. Well, after a couple of days of her talking about these shot and how she was feeling nauseated, and couldn't eat.
My daughter, my youngest is taking this all on, by herself. Because she doesn't want to freak me out!
Tomorrow we go to the doc for lab work and "maybe" more shots. I am having a talk with her about how I have found her out, and how I am more freaked out about her going through this alone. She can't do that to me.
Her cervical cancer has moved up and on. I don't know the full extent of the cancer. It scares the shit out of me.
What really scares me is a comment she made about dropping a girlfriend the other day. What she said was...in other words...if this cervical cancer is going to do me in and I only had six months left to live, I do not want to spend that six months with a "friend" who does nothing but complain about how bad her life is. (She told the "friend" that) She said, "Mom, it was just one of those thoughts that takes on it's own life, it wasn't coming from anywhere and it's not going anywhere."
What would you think?????

My First!

2009-03-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

Sue over at Stitching and Life in the Company of Pets gave me my first award. Like I told her I will wear it with pride! Sue has a wonderful blog where she shows us her beautiful stitching and stories of her pets and daughter who is an adventeress. Pop over and say hi!
I would like to pass this award on to five others who I feel have been great commenters!

Kim-D

Mary Ellen

Debbie

Lisa

Hallie

Do y'all know how hard it is to pick just five? I love you all and I think you are all great commenters. You have given me a good look at all sides of the coins out there in life. And you all make it fun to blog.

Thank you Sue!

I got this in my email box yesterday

2009-03-14T20:18:00.001-07:00

http://www.bornagainamerican.org
It moved me to tears. All I could see were the beautiful faces and hear the beautiful voices. I was mesmerized by the awesomeness of it.

Me as Superhero

2009-03-07T19:14:00.000-08:00

Thank Stacie...I just had to know...

You Would Be a Crafty Superhero

You are naturally curious and even a bit of a snoop. You like to have dirt on everyone - both enemies and friends.

You get bored easily and need excitement in your life. You like having problems to solve.

You understand people quite well and often know what others are thinking. Because of this, you can get people to do what you want.

You are a shapeshifter who fits in with almost any group. You can get along with anyone. You're quite flexible.

You are a true philosopher. You are thirsty for wisdom. You are trying to figure out the meaning of life.

What Kind of Superhero Would You Be?

Little Prince Dozey Boy

2009-03-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

His name is really Dozer. I just like to shorten things up a bit. Ya know? Like a nickname.
I thought I lost him yesterday. I get teary eyed just thinking about it even now. Now that I know he is safe and sound and okay. I guess I am not that safe and sound or okay. I don't know what it is with me.
YD had a class to go to last night. Dozer is a whiney little boy when YD isn't around, so she didn't want to leave him by himself. (It's my version of getting to watch the grandkids) She called and told me she was going to drop him off, and I said fine, but I wouldn't be home until later. That was okay, she has a key.
I got home, expecting Dozer to be at the house with my two furbabies. I pulled up and they were all singing at the top of their lungs. Dozer's a natural leader when it comes to howling, everyone joins in. I came in the house and my two greeted me, the back door was wide open and Dozer was no where in sight. I PANIC-ed! I also had to go over the hill to pay a bill and had no time to really look for him. He has a tendency to wander about and look for YD. He adores his girl! I drove around a couple of blocks, then a couple of more blocks, and didn't see him. I had to get over the hill, and decided that I would look more when I got home.
I got over there and back as soon as I could, stopped to pick up a few things I needed at the grocery store and headed home. The whole time dreading that I would still not be able to find him.
I pull up to the house, and hear the singing again. I'm thinking my damned dogs are taunting me. They never make these kinds of noises unless Dozer is with them. I come in the house, and here's Dozer! I just completely fell apart. I kept asking him where he came from and crying and petting him and hugging him. And asking him more where he came from. He was very obliging in getting all up on me and whining with me and wagging his tail and giving kisses. I felt like a goof, breaking down like that, but I couldn't help myself. I love this dog to bits. He is so sweet and we had a heck of a time getting him back from some mean people when my daughter was gone last year.
What had happened was that YD was running behind while I was running behind. She got to the house later than I thought she would and hadn't even been here by the first time I got home. I came in, lost it, thought I lost Dozer and left to go look for him and then go over the hill. While I was out looking, she came by dropped him off and left. We had to have missed each other by mere seconds! I am still traumatized by it.
When she got back from her class I told her what I had done and I got a hug from her for it and a promise to make sure that if she ever drops him off again, she will make sure that he can't get out of the house. And I tried to promise that I wouldn't worry so damned much, cause I know that is part of my problem here. I can't help it.

It's the 3rd?!?

2009-03-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

I don't know where I have been! I know I have been sick, but I thought it was just a day. Last I remember, I took OD and party out to dinner...damn I have been that sick I guess. Yesterday all I wanted to do was die. Really! I literally kept telling myself that the pain I was feeling was all the good stuff in my body doing battle with the bad stuff in my body and the good stuff would win out sooner or later. (praying desparately for sooner) It's "just" respiratory thing, but man, I have never felt this much pain all over in my life. I knew Saturday night, when we were on our way to dinner, that I was getting something. I had that itchy, scratchy throat thing going on. Sunday, I spent most of the day thinking that I could have made it through work, but didn't try because in my older, wiser years decided that they don't pay me enough to try too hard. Heaven forbid I should have gone to work, because I got enough rest Sunday to help me survive Monday. Today I feel better. Whatever battle was being fought yesterday is done, I just hope the whole war is over. But I am not going to push myself.
I'm going to try to get my bedding washed and dried and make my bed, so that later I can take a good hot shower and crawl back into a nice clean bed. We'll see just how far I get. It's hard for me to just stand long enough to make a cup of tea.

I did sit still on the couch covered with my big fuzzy blanket and do my stitching. I got quite a bit done and that was the main reason I blogged today. I wanted to show it off. I wish my picture wasn't so out of focus.

Hope you all are doing good!

28 is a special number

2009-02-28T21:13:00.000-08:00

Today is, the 28th of February.
Today is my oldest daughters 28th birthday.
I had her when I was...28! (Now, y'all know how old I am)
So I bought two lotto tickets.
I took OD, MD and OD's friend out to Mexican dinner, then came home and had Rainbow Cake, with Rainbow Sprinkles Frosting. (OD's request)
Here's my birthday card to OD:

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Claudia needs

2009-02-23T19:13:00.000-08:00

Now this can be funny. But after I got a few of my needs on the list, I started seeing a pattern. Damn! A person could get a complex over this stuff. I didn't take the first ten exactly. It wouldn't have made any sense at all...sure; like it does now. But it is funny...

Perhaps Claudia may need medication
Well, yea...medication could help!

Germany needs more than Claudia draped in a flag
This isn't what I need, but it was funny.

Claudia Needs to Get Off Early
Um...okay, depends on how you take that.

Claudia needs shows!
Please, entertain me!

Claudia needs everything
Not everything, I do not need a frontal lobotomy!

claudia has lost her phone in her drunk state, so needs numbers pleeeaseee!
Like the number three...I kind of like that number.

Claudia needs to be outed
Why? Was it something I said?

Claudia needs to go
Again, it depends on how you take this...to the bathroom, or in general? And then again, was it something I said?

Claudia needs all the healing vibes she can get!
Don't we all?

Claudia needs to find out what's really going on
Yes, I would like to know what is really going on!
That was fun...
I ended up taking YD to a doctor appointment today. I had forgotten that I said I would go with her. Then we went to another of her appointments, and then to DMV which was a wasted trip, they wouldn't let her register her friend's truck that he has loaned her. He has to do it himself, since we could be invading his privacy by doing him a favor in exchange for him doing her a favor. Stupid government laws.
More rain on the way...next thing you know, I'll have to mow my lawn! Geez! Will it ever stop???

Rain, rain, rain

2009-02-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

As some of you have posted that you are sick of winter and the snow, so am I sick of rain. We need it. But comon! My weather Channel window says rain from now until Kingdom come. And that's a long time!
The tarp is holding up. I love it. The Magical Mexican asked me to tell him when I want to do the repairs, he wants to fix it for me. I was wrong about which Magical Mexican did the repairs...it was actually the dad and not the son, but who ever...they both worked on it and it's still my favorite thing that has happened in a long time. YD speaks two languages, another of her many talents. Her boss has told her that she needs to teach all the Mexicans that work as guides English. It is really a good idea. After all, these guys are guides for people who are riding 1500 pound animals and if something is going wrong, it would be a good idea to be able to tell the people what to do to fix it. In English! She has taught the Magical Mexican dad quite a bit. He did a good job of talking to me the other day, I speak very little Spanish, so I was impressed.
I still have some research to do. My dad wants me to find out what the rest of the roof is made of, (which means I have to get up on the top of an eight foot ladder, to a place where there are way too many cob webs and look into the attic of my house. Um...yech!), then find out what the city code is for roofs (rooves?) here. Then he will probably send my neice's husband and his company over to do what ever needs to be done. He wants to keep it in the family, I think that is only right.
I was going to take pictures of my progress on my latest stitch. It's coming along nicely. For some reason, I put my camera in my purse and left it there about two weeks ago. Um, the battery is dead, dead, dead. No pictures happening today.
I have nothing to really concentrate on today and tomorrow, so I will play it by ear. There are things I should do, but the question is...do I want to do them? We'll see. I am so not motivated at all!
Y'all have a great day!

Some Pictures...yech!

2009-02-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

These are from the inside of the garage. The garage door is to the left. The blue that you see is the tarp that the Magical Mexican put up for me. (You know I always thought my garage was cold before. Tarps do not keep the outside tempuratures out.)
The water that poured into the garage Sunday morning has dried up and it's a little more back to normal, I know that is temporary, cause when the roof gets repaired or replaced I know that it is going to be a big mess. But with big messes comes big clean ups, I am hoping that it'll get me motivated on re-organizing too. I think you might already know that I am not good at sticking with a project, cause there is always a bigger and better project waiting for me to not finish!
Speaking of not finishing...My craft room project has been put on hold and yet again. I am never going to get my room! (Yes, I am whining here) Because we got copious amounts of rain in a very short period of time, Mother Nature decided that along with the new skylights in the garage I should have a pool in my backyard! YAY! for Mother Nature. Mind you, this is not a heated pool, in fact it's kind of a gross pool. My water loving dogs won't even go out there now! I wouldn't give a rats ass about water standing in the back yard, but MD's room is detached from the house and has become an island unto it's own. MD came out of her room to come in and get ready for work yeseterday and found that she was ankle deep in the backyard turned pool. I told her, until these storms are gone and over with, you might want to move your belongings into the main house and use my craft room. It took her about a half an hour to bring in her most prized possessions, and some stuff she would need for work. I can't wait for our Indidan Summer that I usually hate, it will dry this mess out so well!
On a more fun note. The friend who I joined for dinner Sunday night was off work yesterday for the holiday. She and I have different days off, so we don't get to spend a lot of time together. Since I am off on Mondays and she had the holiday, we planned on doing something. Her daughter is getting married in August, so they spend all their spare time shopping for things for that day. They are making everything themslves, so Michael's and Joann's are getting the benefit of their wedding dollars. I couldn't think of a better way to spend the day with my friend! We went and had lunch first, and then hit Michael's. I like to look at stuff at Michael's but I rarely buy from there. So I had fun giving my opinion on things that they were picking up and adding my two cents worth on ideas they had. She says that I helped out on a lot of things, I hope that is true. When we got to Joann's I didn't see her again, til we left. I am so addicted to things Joann's. Plus, there was this super fantastic sale going on and I ran around in a frenzy to see what would come home with me. Oh my! I'm happy to say I didn't spend an awful lot, but I did spend. I bought fifteen fat quarters (which to explain to non quilter/crafters is literally a quarter yard of fabric that can be used for an enormous amount of crafty/quilty fun. They bundle them up and a person can get lots and lots of color going on for a small amount of money.) The fat quarters are usually $1.49 each, I got them for $.90! YAY! Then I found some nice material suitable for quilt backing. It was marked down from $7.98/yard, to $3.00 a yard. The there was 50% off and I had a coupon for 10% off of everything. The material ended up being $1.35 a yard! Another YAY! for me! I also got some quilt batting at 50% plus another 10% off. I wish I had more time, but then I would need to build another room on the house to store all this stuff!
The TV is warning us of nasty thunder storms approaching. I'm going to have to get off the computer. Oh boy! I just can't wait for the next exciting chapter of stormy Northern California! Anyone want to venture on what part of the roof is going next?
Wish me luck...ya'll have a great one!