You have out done yourself....

These are words I hear from the King from

time to time..  Some times it is good, but

most of the time it is sarcastic.

Mainly to do with a dinner menu.

And the scariest words to him is...

CHEF'S SURPRISE.. when he ask

what is for dinner.

That is when I take leftovers and make

what ever I can out of the little of this

and that..

But last night, he said the words and I

didn't know if it was for the good or bad.

So you can see it is pretty.. and it did

taste good.  And that is what is important,

isn't it?  Oh, yea, and I added to it when

he asked what it was... "and it is good for

you".  That is almost the seal of death for

any meal.

It is stuffed avocado (with tuna salad) on a 

bed of colorful sweet peppers, green onions

and lettuces. topped with a tomato and a 

blueberry on top 

Computers and life...

We all have computers.. (or you couldn't read

this).

It is a love/hate deal.. and kind of like having a

car.. you love it when it works.. and hate it when

it doesn't it.

We all have come a long way with these dang

machines.  Some of us struggled thru.. and

learn all over again, when we updated to the

next new and improved (?) program.

What it has meant to those of us over 50, is a

way to keep up with our children and grandchildren.

Starting with emails and progressing to Facebook.

We get to see our new born grandchildren.. and

great grandchildren for some of us..

And to day, I was able to help my galpal make

connections with her new great grandson in

Montana. By the way of Facebook app. where

you can call each other and talk with the camera...

I got to see my galpal, talk and play with her new

great grandson and talk with her granddaughter.

Bringing great tears of joy to her. And to the kids

as well.

What a marvelous machine this thing can be, when

it is working well..

Wrinkles...

I have noticed lately that my fingernails are

dry and splitting..  So got some gelatin to

make them stronger..

I also noticed that my finger nails are starting

to get ridges. Vertical ones... So I did some

research to see what causes it and can be done.

Well, all the sites that I saw .. says that it is nothing

to be worried about.. If it was horizontal, then there

would be a problem..  

They said it just that the nail needs more

moisture.  (what doing dishes and constantly

washing my hangs isn't enough? Drinking

water isn't enough? 

Also suggestion... hand lotion.. and that I

need to do.. not much of a lotion type of

a gal.. So will do that and see what happens.

What really got my goat..(does anyone use

that saying anymore.)  They said it is common

as you age... and this is the part that got me...

think of it as wrinkles in your nails.  WHAT?

like the ones on my face aren't enough?

Buttons or things we keep, for why?

Back in the days of when I use to make western

shirts.. I had a big supply of pearlized and other

types of snaps..

Also I had buttons.. all kinds, colors.. I increase

the supply, every time I threw away a shirt, blouse,

or dress... by snipping off the buttons.. Never know

when you will need them.

But my sewing days are over... only do patch work

now.. or a missing button..  And don't do any western

shirts anymore...

Saw on Facebook where some one had a round tin

of buttons.. and I commented that I had those too...

Of which my daughter asked if she could look thru

for her crocheting projects.. 

So I went to the place where all my sewing stuff is.

I have 3 draw like boxes under the bed.. Which I

have looked in them .... probably 3 times in the past

5 or so years ago, when I put them in there. Looking

mostly for colored thread and maybe a button..

As I was going thru these 3 draw like boxes I had

to ask myself.. WHY?  why do I keep these things?

What do you have that you keep? and rarely use.

Rarely meaning it could be years before you look

in that container?

For the nice young lady who saw me at Yoke"s

(for those who don't know, that is a local grocery

store) ... thank you for your kind words.. sorry I

slipped up and didn't ask you your name. I guess

I was so flabbergasted that some one local read it

besides Marianne and Toni.  So thank you for your

kind remarks and I apologize for my rudeness of

not asking your name. And thank you for reading

this daily.

Are we there yet? Spring, where art thou?

It is that time of the year... where you

start to wear thin... not enough sunlight.

Over cast days.. winter doldrums... cabin

fever.. lack of enough sunlight.. all the

signs of winter wearing on.. and you have

hopes of spring..

45 Miles south of us.. they have ROBINS!!!

Robins, the bringer of spring.. the glimmer

of better weather.. Rain for sure..but that

is ok, you don't have to shovel rain.

But I haven't gotten my seed catalogs

yet in the mail.. So no plans in my head

of what I want to do this year in the yard.

So are we there yet? Isn't that the sound

of changing of the clocks in little over a week?

March is just 8 more days away.. it got to

be.... or is winter going to slam dunk us again,

to let us know who is still boss? 

High school graduate/ Now what?

As a senior, you are all hyped, can't wait for

the big day in June.. Test, prom's, pictures,

and all that goes with it... Then the big day

comes... but the day after? Then what?

Some get summer jobs, and putting money

to the side for the fall.. College bound.. and

the newness of that.  They say that less than

50% of those that enter.. make it out of the

other side.. be it 4 years or more.  Wonder

if the price of education has anything to do

with that.  After all you can almost buy a house

for less.  Especially those who end up going

for 8 years or more.

Some head to the 2 years worth local college's.

Heard they fare better.  Not a lot better but

somewhat better.  And then they decide if

they want to go on with more.. adding 2 to

4 more years. By this time getting a passion

for what they want out of life.

The other one, which I like so much better..

is Vocational schools.  The numbers are

higher for those who enter. I would guess

because when they finish, they are almost

guaranteed a job. Some of those schools,

there are employers knocking on their doors

before they graduate. And that is why I like

it.  As college you spend the first year and

somewhat the 2nd year.. redoing what you

did in your senior year of high school, before

you get a serious start on your goal.

But what about the others. The ones who don't

have the money to go to any school. And their

grades aren't high enough for scholarships?

Whose summer job becomes the job of life.

Add a wife and children to that.. and it is hard

to come out of the hole. Not that there is any

thing wrong with working Wal-Mart, local gas

station, McDonalds and etc. After all someone

has to work them.. but rarely go on

to management because they want a degree to

climb that ladder to higher paying jobs.

When I went to school there were some classes

that let to jobs. There was secretarial classes.

Our school has a beauty shop. Also in those days

every high school had a auto shop in it. Again

almost a great heading for a job at that time.

But time has changed. High schools rarely leave

you with any more than the white piece of paper.

Which a dollar and half and that paper buys you

a cup of coffee.

We went to a movie on Saturday night. The man in

front of us, was telling us that he was starting a new

class. He was starting a class of teaching how to

overhaul airplane engines. In high school.

What a great idea.  And we told him so. He was really

looking foreward to teaching the class. 

Now if we could just find more like him.. to step up

to the plate for those kids whose parents can't afford

the extra schools.    I know with all my kids, I couldn't.

Some of my kids went back to school after they worked

for a while. One went into the military to get that education

and still goes to classes as he works civil service.

I don't know what Common Core is.. but it sure would

be nice if it included vocational classes.

 /

Sportsmanship, What a difference...

There is a college in Washington, near Spokane.

Called Gonzaga.  Fans call it Zags...

I guess over the weekend when the opposing team

came in.. the fans who sit in a box call the doghouse

or something like that... stood there and turn their backs

on the opposing team. 

Now those of us who are older.. see this as an insult.

It seems like a rude thing to do.. not very

sportsmanship like...  But I guess it is acceptable to

those involved.  

Now let's jump across the world to Sochi, Russia. The

Olympics... Where we have seen time and time again

such great sportsmanship... Shawn White who did not

get a medal this time around.. yet congratulated the

young man from another country as he won and won

very well.. He did not dampen the young man's

enthusiasm and joy of winning. He went over with a

great grin on his face and hugged the young man..

He said later he was sad about his own performance,

but so happy for the young man who won.

Another young man who won.. went around and shook

hands with all those who lost and told them what a great

job they did...

The girl snowboarders jumping up and down, hugging

the winner, even though they themselves, lost the spot for the

medal.. Not their countrymen but other countries.. all

in joy for them.

Bode Miller, also congratulating those who beat him out of

the gold.. The friendship thru out the countries.. if there was

any sad faces or angry ones, I didn't see it.

It was great to see, and made me proud to be an American.

And proud of the other countries whose athletes also did

the same.  All in this together.. all finding great joy in the

ones who won...  Such sportsmanship...

To bad politicians who try to make something out of these

games can't be better sportsmen as well, as these guys and gals.

President's Day

When I was a kid... there wasn't a President Day...

There was Lincoln's Day....

there was Washington's Day..

AND it was on their birthdays.

February 12, was Abraham Lincoln Day.

February 22 was George Washington  Day.

Don't recall if we got Abraham Lincoln Day off.

But we did get George Washington Day off.

Then some bright person decided that it was

wasteful to have two days.. and then they

couldn't name it after one... so they came up

with the bright idea of PRESIDENT'S DAY...

So no longer is George Washington as

important.. guess Lincoln isn't either.

And then of course, if you are going to screw

around with it in the first place.. you have to

put in an official day.. Not on anyone's special

day.. but the 3rd Monday of the month of February.

Guess we are lucky they kept the same month.

But maybe because there was too much time

between New Years and Easter... oh, yea..

Easter isn't a holiday. So I guess Memorial Day.

Although you would think they would put it in

March or April.

Is this better? Guess there are those who like it..

but I like it when a holiday was on the actual day.

Even if it is Wednesday.. it is nice to have a day

off in the middle of the week.

Oh, well, we will hear about President's Day Sales

all week.. even though February 17th is no one's

birthday.  So enjoy your day off.. at least it is a 3

day weekend.. Which that the workers like. 

To ALL Valentine's

In light that tomorrow is Valentine's Day

I am going to repost an old post from 2006.

It seems to be applicable during these days...

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2006

SOAP BOX Revisited

I wrote this to another blog
a year or so ago. (2005)

And it still bothers me that
Boise is passing a law against
marriages for gays. We all
know that most of Idaho is run
by the Boise set, and that there
is a heavy religious set down there,
that rules us. But I was hoping
that the politicians would stand
up for a union ceremony at least
for the gays.
So here was my opinion last year...
and it still stands.

There are 3 types of marriages.
A. The one in a religious house
(depending on which religion it is)
and headed by the head religious
person.(Priest,Rabbi and etc.)

B. The one where a minister
marries people in their yards,
parks, mountains, underwater, or
while sky diving.

C. one called the Civil Union
done by a Justice of Peace, Judge,
or even a mayor.

A and B involve God.
C. is done by the words of: By the
power given me by the State of (fill in)
you are now married.

Each of these has had their fair
share of divorces. A. probably has
the least, but not by a lot. All have
been gone into, what we hope, are good
intentional people. Good decent
people. People who just want to live
with someone they love and hope to
protect legally. Those who go by God,
either understand the gay life,or chose
not to understand. And some have
the Service idea of "don't tell me and I
won't ask you" way.

The truth of the matter is, gay life
coming out of the closet and choosing
to try to put it back in, is like
trying to put tooth paste back into
the tube. Can't be done and most
really don't want try to do that. So
what about gay's, aren't they entitle
to have some kind of a legal protection
for their love ones?

C. Civil Union seems to be the answer
as they aren't involving God. I really
don't know what the answer is. But I
do feel that there should not be a law,
especially an Amendment to the
Constitution forbidding ones rights
over another, as long as there
is no harm. Gays have been together,
for over 100 years or even more.
Just now they are asking for a
commitment that is legal to protect
them legally in hospitals, (to see their
love ones, as most only let in relatives)
and financially. They too just want
to commit to some one they love.
When do they get to be treated the
same as the rest of the Americans in
this country?

So in honor of Valentine's Day, wouldn't

it be wonderful... if the states were to let

there be gay marriages... it looks like the

federal people are trying to.

Valentine's Day and the guys...

Valentine's day is Friday...

Many years ago, some one decided there would be

a day to profess or show their love to another person.

And then some one decided it should be a holiday,

with cards.. Being this person who started it all.. did

a fancy lacing card that he made for his lady love.

The card business was not to be alone in this

project.. then flowers followed with candy bring up

the rear.. Three very well to do businesses thrived on

this day...

Of course the other business were jealous of this

great wealth that was done for that one day. After

all ... all they had was Christmas.

So one by one, they jumped on the band wagon.

Clothing.. fur coats, when it was fashionable.

Jewelry, got to show your love by a bling of some

sort. A necklace or a bracelet.. and then to make the

day even more romantic ... there came the big

question..... WILL YOU MARRY ME.. as the man

bend on one knee with a diamond of value. Some

were answered yes.. and sadly some with no.

And ever since. the male gender of the human

race has been held captive.  Yes, some women

give gifts.. but it is mostly children and men who

have the great responsible of the show.

Children? You say?  Why children? They don't

have to show their love? No, but they have the

contest of who gets the most valentine cards?

You didn't think the card business were going

to stop at just the men and women.. did you?

And surely you remember the embarrassment

of being on the low side of the box with cards.

You gave out 33.. and got 4 or 5?  Ah, yes..

So such a loving day.. a celebration of professed

love.. it can be a down side for many people.

Oh, I forgot.. another business.. the restaurants.

Surely you are going to take your lady love out to

dinner.. and McDonald's, Taco Bell doesn't cut it.

So good luck on Friday, guys... wishing you well.

2 more shopping days left.

Hopefully it doesn't drain your wallet too much.

I let my guy off easy.. we just go out to dinner.. if

we feel like it... Because, as I have said before...

everyday is Valentine's Day in our house.

I want to be 5 ..again..

I am tired of being the adult. The grown up.

I don't want to have to make sure we have the

proper food in the house. I don't want to have

to decide what to make for dinner.  I don't want

to have to make sure the bills are paid. The

clothes are clean.

I WANT TO BE 5 AGAIN..

Where I woke up at around 8 a.m.

I would get my clothes on and go to the

table and breakfast was already there.

The day would be full of playing with my toys

and running around outside. Seeing my friends.

Watch television cartoons.  And at lunch time,

my mom would call for me to come in eat.

Maybe a nap after lunch... and out to play

again. Until it was time for dinner.

Adults talking about things I don't understand,

Words like work and bills and maybe about

someone called the President. While I make

piles out of my dinner as I ate.  Followed by

desert, and no worries about being fat.

A warm bath, and pj's.. maybe some tv.

And then off to my warm bed. To have

the next day be the same.

The school would be new friends and learning

how to write my name.. and the playground.

Weekends would be filled with friends, and

rides in the car to the grocery store.. or just

to look at things around the highway. Summer

would be beaches... winter would be making

snowmen and angels.

My worse worry would be, would Santa

bring me the toy of my choice.  Which

would be forgotten by that day. As I

come down the stairs and see the

wonderment.. of the lights and presents.

At 5 everything would be new.. the wonderment

of animals and flowers, the ocean.... everything

in life would be a great adventure.  YEP, I want

to be 5..

THE OLYMPIC'S

I have been watching the Winter Olympics.

I usually don't.  I really not into either one..

The Winter or the Summer Olympics.

I am not anti- Olympics.. just I can take

them or leave them.  I am more into the

horse ones in the summer, but because

they aren't really very popular, as the others

are.. they get shuffled to the late night or

very early morning.. as in 2am in the morning. 

But mainly because it is the Russian's who are

putting it on, I wanted to see what they would

do for opening ceremonies.. and also they usually

give the not so beaten path of the country, who is

hosting it..  And I have not been let down in

either bracket.  I guess because of one my 

favorite movies Julie Christie and Omar Sharif

in Doctor Zhivago  had some great Russian

scenery.

As I did watch the different competition.. I had

wondered, why is it there is such nastiness among

the countries..  Why not root for the best athletic?

Yes, you root for your own country men and women.

But find joy in good performance, no matter who

wins.  Let the athletics do their own thing.. the

very best they can..  After all, that was what this

whole games is for in the first place. So show

off the greatest of the athletic. 

When I was watching.. I was in appreciation

of the performance of the Russians.. the Norwegians,

the Japanese, etc. and of course of our own. But

as each one went on to do their best.. no matter

what country they were from.. I felt happiness for

that country and their people and what a great job,

he or she did..

And the nice thing is.. I saw some of the athletics

do just that.. congratulate other countries as they

did so well..

And by the way, as they showed Russia, itself.. both

summer and winter shots.. and their towns.. they really

have something to be proud of as well as we do.

So let the torch soar.....let the light come in to all of our hearts.

Nothing to watch on tv

There is getting to be less and less to watch on

television..  I am tired and overloaded with

the many CSI. And the rest of the show.. just

not my cup of tea. Have a hard time keeping

up with Dateline.  So leaves maybe 20/20 and

60 minutes.

Which is just as well, as the King watches the

shows that sees how low the people in the

south can lower their bar.  Hillbilly something

or other is a new one to him.. Appalachian

Outlaws... and many, many, many, many, many

(you get the picture) American Pickers. After

the 6th hour, I am glazing eyes over the set..

And that is with me walking in and our of the

road.  Don't' get me wrong I like Mike and Frank

but 6 flaming hours?  Pawn shop is the same

way.. I like the Restorative what ever it's name is.

I have watch a lot of 1930's movies of late on

TMC.  Saw Gone with the Wind the other night.

That movie is 4 HOURS LONG... no wonder

I never saw it all the way thru until the other

night when I couldn't sleep. 

Our Direct tv contract ends the end of this

month.. And I am seriously thinking of

going back to the antenna we will have up.

Let's see ...13 channels for free.. or 56

channels of which we watch about 15 of them..

for $69+...  If we don't dump it by March, we

surely will by the end of May.

With so many of the shows going Netflix, which

we also have.. we can watch any show that the

King likes..just be a few months late. and who

cares.

The frustrations of dealing with Dr. offices...

First off, I want you to know that 98% of doctor offices

are fine and helpful... but it is the 2% that will drive you over

the edge.

The King had a reaction to something at work.. We went to the ER and he was given meds... which helped.  We don't know what it is that made the reaction.. all we know is when he was under the bus, that dirt and etc. fell on him.. his face.  Even with safety glass on, it still burnt his face. He got out right away, went in and washed his face and hand very well. 

By the time got home, his face was puffy. Then he woke me

at 1am.. and said I can't see out my eye.  I turn on the light

and one eye was shut and the other one was almost.

Told him to get dress, and off to the ER we went.

Long story short.. he had to go to an Occupational something Doctor. Who didn't have a clue why  it happen but it sure did.

Just continue the meds.

It went down and the meds played out until the end of last week.

Friday it was starting to get bad again. Over the weekend it got better... Then Monday it was starting over. Tuesday a little worse so he wanted to go to an allergy dr. But you have to have a referral.

Was told he had to go back to the Occupational Dr. and get a referral.  And that is where it started to go crazy.

At the Occupational Dr. he said you need to go see an dermatologist.

So he gives a referral to one. They had called but no one answered.

It was on our way home, so we stopped by.  Was a possibility of an appointment at around 3.. Great...  Was given the usual paper work to fill out.. And THEN the gal said.. we have a problem.

You need a referral from your PRIMARY  doctor..   The King replied, but they told me I need one from the last doctor seen. Nope, got to be your main doctor..  So no appointment. .... off to the Primary doctor.

Got an appointment an hour later.. Went thru the whole explanation of what was going on.. and he gave the King a referral. Off to the dermatologist.  Office closed.. the sign says closed at 4pm. Looked thru the door at their clock and it says...... 3:52.

So I called from the parking lot, the scheduler. Explain the whole run around of the day.  She tells us.. well. we don't take referrals from Occupational Dr.  WHAT?  So we said ok, well, we were told to get one from the primary doctor.. and have one.. She gives the King an appointment for Wed. afternoon. at 2:15pm... AND THEN SHE SAYS..  you didn't need a referral from a primary doctor.. WHAT?

Don't forget to be there by 2pm.

So I get home.. and this is after I have gave a lecture to the King about loosing it with people.  That you just go with the flow, do what you have to do... try to keep smiling.. and then you can get pissed off when you get home.. Things go better that way. As being angry at the moment, people shut you down.. I gave him this little speech 3 times as he was dealing with this.

So we get home.. and he is not happy.. Well, true to my word, I told he could get pissed off NOW..  and the more I thought about it all.. the louder I got.. because it then dawn on me... When we were in the dermatologist office.. IF SHE HAD TOLD US ... that they don't do the occupational referrals... and we didn't need a referral from the primary doctor... HE COULD HAVE SEEN THE DOCTOR... THAT DAY!!!!  AND... IF THEY DON'T DO OCCUPATIONAL DOCTOR REFERRALS.. WHY DID THE DOCTOR SEND HIM THERE???? 

The King looked at me.. and said well, I am glad you waiting

until you got home to explode.  

Some how I don't think this is going to end well.. I just have

a gut feeling... if they didn't need a referral.. are we going to

have to pay for this out of pocket?  NOW THAT WILL REALLY HAVE ME GOING CRAZY...  And they wonder why people go postal...  we feel like a ping pong ball, bouncing from office to office. 

The new BUZZ WORDS.......

With all the things that came out of this years

Super Bowl.. one stands out.. and if it doesn't

become the new buzz word,... it sure the heck

should be.

Those words were uttered by Russell Wilson's

father.. not on Sunday..but years ago..  And

every parent...EVERY PARENT should say those

words to their children. To drum it into their minds.

Russell Wilson, was not your ideal football player.

Words like too short, not enough weight were just

some of the words said about him as he played for

high school and college..  But his father's words

drove this young man on..

What great words did this father tell his son?

WHY NOT YOU? 

Seems innocent enough.. When his father

saw his son was being challenged in life.. he

said those words.. And when Russell made it

to the big time leagues, again his father challenged

Russell. You can go to the Super Bowl with this.

After all.... WHY NOT YOU?

Thank you, Mr. Wilson for saying those words.

I am sure there are many, many parents who

have encouraged their children, just as you did.

But you put it so simply. 

What makes these words even stronger is...Mr.

Wilson passed away about 3 years ago.  Yet,

he had a front row seat on Sunday, looking down

as his son.. as he filled those words...

YES, let's shout those words to the sky.. embed

them in our children.. challenge your child...

WHY NOT YOU?   WHY NOT YOU.. IN DEED.