Guess my heart just isn't into it ...

Been pretty busy... but not that busy...
So I guess the best excuse I have for not
posting.. is  .....

I guess my heart just isn't into to it...

Haven't taken a vacation for quite a while..
So giving myself one now...

Will be back July 11.....
HAVE A GREAT 4TH OF JULY...... with your family and friends..

Where in the family steps are you?

I was the oldest most of my life… I say most

of my life as we had a foster sister for about

2 years.   That was hell..  You see if anything

happen, my mother would say it was me who

did it.   My brother who was 4 years younger

than I… surely didn’t do it.. he wouldn’t have

thought of it.. And my foster sister was 18

months older than I, and she wouldn’t do it as

she was old enough not  to do such a thing..

So I was IT.

Being the middle child was the pits.  And even

when I was the oldest, it wasn’t good either.

See if my brother did do it.. well, it was my

fault as I should have stopped him, as I

was old enough to know better.  Which my

brother caught on to that early in life, and

played that game well.

When I was raising my children, I never had

my oldest ones be in charge. Sadly when

they lived with their father, later in life, that

wasn’t true.. She was the oldest of not only

ours but of the new family two as well.

So it took many, many, many years

for my oldest one to learn that her siblings

were not her responsibility.  That their lives

were just that.. theirs.

I have seen that happen in many families. Even

when I was raising my own, I had friends who

made their oldest be the baby sitter.  Even if

there were other kids their age at a gathering,

they couldn’t go play, as they had to watch

their sibling.  I thought that was horrible, so

made sure that didn’t happen in our family.

But what happens in your ex’s household you have 

no control over. 

I have watch the youngest ones struggle, as the older

ones usually boss them around.. and even as adults,

it is hard as they don't get the respect that they should.

The older ones seem to think the youngest just doesn't

know enough. 

I don't want to....

I thought about blogging today… and I didn’t

want to… I thought about it yesterday as well.

as I try to get my ideas the day before… but

I didn’t want to….

There just isn’t enough to write about.. We

are all tired of the Hillary and Donald pony show.

We are tired of nothing being done about having

common sense gun laws… and the fact we don’t

even uphold the ones we have anyway.

I think those who hunt, should still have guns.

I think those who live in cities where criminals

think nothing about breaking down your door..

You should be able to protect yourself.  I just 

don’t see the reasoning behind having a gun that was

made for the military, is a necessity.   And I get

that each year seems worse, and maybe you

might have to protect your home, no matter where

you live.  But they have been telling us this for the

past 50 years.   And NRA… I am sick of you screaming

you are not taking my guns and Congress you will

pay for it.. if you do pass a law.   And my answer

to that has been….. surely, NRA members.. you can

not help but be horrified with the murders… So why

don’t you come up with a common sense laws that

should be passed, that protect the innocent. Why

do you go for the all or nothing.. because I am

telling you… if the nut cases keep killing people,

you will lose your guns.. all of us will. So stop

being part of the problem, and help solve the

problem. 

I told you I didn’t want to write a blog today.. 

Just when you think the bar can't go lower....

Representative John Lewis  had a Naval ship named

after him, because he is so well thought of.. He went

thru the civil rights with King in the 60’s  There was a

large article about how he so deserved this honor… YET,

yesterday, a Republican Representative decide to rescind

that honor… What did Rep. Lewis do that was so bad

to be stripped of this honor?    He, with others did a sit

down.. and peaceful protest over the Congress’s

lack of gun rules to make it harder for criminals and etc.

to get guns.  That in the discussion of those rules, the

Republicans threw it out with in an hour or the start of

those discussions. .. Remember the Congress is said

to be serving Americans… And the American people

have been very vocal about they want something done.

And they want it done now.. not years from now.

They want some common sense rules and regs brought

to the Congress and voted on.. Not just a few words

and grand slammed shut down.  As so many times

before..

So there have been several participating in this sit

down.  Look at their faces, America.. these are the

same generation who sat down at colleges, walked

protesting for civil rights in the 60’s…  These people

know protesting and sit downs well. They know in

the past it has worked, sometimes. They are some of the voice of America… Yes, most of them are Democrats.

But at least they are listening and open to discussion.

But once again.. the Republican party acts like they

are in kindergarten.  Shut off the camera of CSPAN.

They don’t want the public to see.. (like in this day

and age of cell phones with camera, that is going to happen.)

But to say they want to remove Rep. John Lewis’s name

off a ship… because of this.. is even a new low for Congress and the Republicans. Mississippi Representative Steven Palazzo pretty well knows that… let’s hope the rest of Congress has some common sense left.

I keep telling him, this is not how it goes...

This is day 22 of the King’s retirement… and

day 5 of his fishing trip…

I get daily updates on how the trip is going.

See he was invited by his nephew to go on

the fishing trip of a life time..  It is a 64

Foot by 15 foot house boat.  On a lake in

Washington state.  A week of it.. 

He packed for a week before.. had a list a page

full, of what to bring.. from clothes to food.

And gear, of course.  He went over a couple

hours early.. he wasn’t excited.. no .. lol

It started off bumpy.. seems they had to be towed

back to the dock about a half hour into the trip.

But all good things come to those who wait.. as

they were up graded to a nicer boat.. with a JACUZZI!

And they were given an extra day..

So every am, he calls to tell me how great it is..

On day four he was sitting on the top part with

coffee cup in hand, looking over the landscape of

woods, to see a deer mosey down the hill to the

Lake.  And the fish they have gotten.. and ate

for dinner.. And when I asked if he was going to

be able to bring some home.. he said he didn’t know.

Told him …hey, you are out there on the boat, enjoying

yourself.. eating the fish as you go… how about me?

I want fish too… lol…   

He called me on day 3 at night.. telling me about

just getting out of the Jacuzzi.

Also have to keep reminding him.. “you know this

is not the normal retirement life..”… I have been

retired 13 years and I had none of that in my

retirement years.. and he laughs, yea, I know.

He sounds so happy and relaxed… and I am

happy for him. 

Flying by the seat of my pants...

Trying to get things as I know it.. on

the new computer… so I know my way

around… has been an education to say

the least…  And sometimes I think this

old brain goes with the adage of …

Can’t teach old brains new tricks..

One of the things I had to take care of,

was putting in the virus protection of

my choice..   as the computer comes

with a temporary virus protection of

their choice..  one which I didn’t do well

with, years ago.. so went with another one.

I went with the free one for many years

and then in 2012, I spent the money to do

the better one.. and less ads.  Because as

we know, nothing is really for free.

Now I had to download my virus which is

paid up to 2017.  As I was trying to download

my paid one, it was getting complicated…so

asked for their support team..  which they did

a great job… but one of the parts was… letting

them control my computer, to get the right setting

that wasn’t working for me.  That took a leap of

faith…. A big leap of faith… as I could tell by

the name of my support help, that his name was

not from around here.   As it turn out to be.. he was

from India…  So I took a deep breath.. figuring

the company I am familiar with and has been

helpful in the past… so I flew by the seat of

my pants and click ok..  and it worked out

perfect.  Even had a nice conversation while

we were waiting for some of the download.

By the way they can retire.. depending on the

company at the age of 58.  

One thing I have found out from the new computer is,

NOTHING…COMES WITH IT.. well, nothing I use.

Office.. over $100 and that is for only ONE YEAR!!

I got that for free when I first started computers.

Windows photo gallery… gone.. and while the computer

recognizes my printer for printing.. it doesn’t for importing

pictures…  So download (luckily for free from Microsoft)

photo gallery which has all the things I know.

Yes, a learning curve… so far I am staying up with it. 

The longest day of the year....

Or so they say.. you see I never have

noticed the difference..

Just how much longer is it? 

A minute? Or an hour?

It just seem like any other day..

Just like in December.. the shortest

day… that never seem like the sun

went down any faster than it did

the day before or the day after.

I think it is all in someone’s head.

Plants in...... plants out...

The past two nights have been plants in the

shed, and then out of the shed in the am.

So came up with the idea of the wheel barrow.

Of course that means cover up the squash,

tomatoes and etc. 

Just think 8 days ago we were worried they

were going to burn up.  Well, with the rain,

we haven’t had to water them.. at least there

is one high point.

Just was looking at the date of this post.

June 16, 2016……..

6-16-16    or

61-6-16.. reading both ways is the same…

What the hell happen to summer?

The King insisted on putting in our air conditioners

a week and half ago.. It is 78.. we need the AC…he

says…  I told him, we don’t put them in until the 4^th

of July…  But nooooooooooooooooo, he wanted them

then.

Well, we have them in alright!!.. and I am freezing

to death..   The weather went to the 60’s   and

then last night.. it dipped to the 40’s with early

morning today.. being at 38…

I AM FREEZING..  I have my winter pjs on.. I

am wrapped in a blanket, watching television..

and I am afraid to go out and see what my

garden looks like.   Yes, the King went out

last night and covered over his garden and

moved out baskets into the shed… but I am

still wondering…   And there is snow up

on Schweitzer Mountain.

Now who the hell stole summer and bring it

back.. because I AM FREEZING.  

So far, so good...retirement that is...

So far the King’s retirement has been busy.

and he has so many things he wants to do,

but it seems things just keep jumping up.

He is trying to get ready for a fishing trip

that starts Sunday early hour am… But

it seems everything is just jumping up.

There was the school district retirement

breakfast on Monday.  That is for all the

employees who are retiring..  Teachers,

and all the other departments as well.

He has to go get his Washington State

fishing license.. which turn out to be an

odd ball. See he has to pay $34 for a 3

day fishing trip. But he is going to be

gone a week.. so that would be 3 times

the price.. for 7 days.. Knocking on

over $100… or buy one for the year at

$55.  That is crazy. $34 for 3 days is

crazy too. Over $10 a day.  Anyway

lucky for us, the state of Washington

is just over the border 30 miles away, so

he can get his license before he goes.

Being he will be gone for a week, I got

to figure out what project I want to do

while he is gone. 

Speechless and silence....

When you think, that the human race can not go

any lower… it does…

Orlando, Florida…. 50 dead…more than 50 injured

and in the hospital.   This isn’t about guns or the

control of them.. this is about ignorance, tolerance less,

people, who think they should decide what should be.

There is nothing further to say… as I am speechless..

So to all those who lost love ones… who have injured

love ones…    I leave in silence of prayers.

A bad day on the Lake is better than....

Yesterday was a great day.. We were up at

0 hour.. well, not quite… but we were on the

Lake before 6:30am. Lake Pend Orielle, that

is.

It was overcasted and actually warm for that

hour.  We took off from the dock and I had

my camera.  The hills and mountains looked

great, but with out any sun, it wasn’t quite

the picture taking I wanted. 

We were not alone on the water. There was

one other.. then 2 more joined us out there.

I had the first hit. But sadly, as I lifted it

up, it was gone in a flash. But not to worry

we are just starting..  Well, as it turn out..

it was all over except the crying.. lol. As I got

one more hit and then nothing.. Absolutly nothing.

Luckily the King got a hit and landed.  He

lost 2 more but ended up with the total of 4.

We headed to the bridge dock to make a run

to the little room.  The Fish and Game were

there and we got checked out. Along with a

friend of ours, who was another one of the boat

in the water, fishing.   We were all legal.

But as we were matching stories… we heard

some rumbling.  We had some quick showers

off and on, but nothing big.. But this was getting

serious.  A few flashes and we were all in our

boats and heading to the dock we all came in.

We were there first, loaded up… pulled

out of the way, so the others could follow

thru as well…  As the last thing you want to

be in.. on the lake, is a metal boat during a

lightening storm. 

But it was still a great 3 hours.. and enough

fish for dinner. 

 a view I never get tired of seeing...  

 THIS IS WHAT RETIREMENT LOOKS LIKE...

 a few of the ones out there...

This fisher one.... looks to see how we are doing and where he can swoop down
and get his...

 3 of the 4 the King got..  nice dinner fish... 

Back to the cave, Batman

We are back to the pull the curtains, put in

the air conditioners… and the house becomes

a cave like for ¾ of the day.

We usually don’t put the AC in the windows

until July.. around the 4^th. But here we are the

7^th of June and it was just to hot for the King.

He couldn’t take it anymore.

Tried to tell him that it would be cool in a day

or two..but 3 days in a row of mid 90’s, he didn’t

care.  He wanted to be cool NOW.. he didn’t want

to be sweating…. So out they came.

Forecast? 60’s and rain off and on.. Oh, well

we are ready and on Tuesday we were cool.

Now to day.. we are heading out to go fishing.

our first time this year.  Hope we get to go

more often than last year.. we went twice

last year.. and cooked both times. It was just

too dang hot.. Even for the fish.. they weren’t

biting.  But they say they are catching blue backs,

So we shall see.

Maiden Voyage

Here we are … me and the mouse in my hand…

The start of my new computer… First day solo.

after weeks of help, transferring, learning and

still a lot more to learn.. my new computer.

With Windows 10.   My Windows 7 computer

ended up going belly up… only letting me in

for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.. just long enough

to copy my different folders, pictures and etc.

And then there is the OLD computer.. which is

always my fall back, when the other one need

work.   So the OLD computer, which is Vista

Mode… has been my life line to hang on to.. with

a throw in of a flash drive to download keeping things.

And the times I had to get up and walk around.. to

keep from screaming and pulling my hair out… I

would call in the big guns..  My future granddaughter.

Who spent a whole day of transferring, giving me step

by step instructions on how to access things that use to

be a clickable.  How to put my icons on the desktop.

to learn the “tile” system, which is still a learning

process.  Downloaded pictures… and then where the

heck did they go?  But I found them..

So today, I placed the new and improved (?) computer

into service… but the Vista OLD one is on standby just

in case. 

I have to say, I am kind of proud of myself.. as when I

couldn’t figure out some of it.. and Big Gun wasn’t

available… I figure it out.. it was strictly a try and

error …..lots of errors and redo’s …. But I did it.. 

30 years.... 17 of them married....

30 years ago… 1986… was a year of many changes

for me… 

In April, my husband had passed away… end of April

I started my first job in about 20 or more years… June

brought the leaving of my twin son’s to different states

as they graduated from high school… So in a short few

months we went from a household of 5 to 2.  My youngest

still living at home and going to high school.  And me

being in full charge of our lives.

In October, or so,  after doing so many double shifts,

and doing 6 days a week, many times… a family

friend suggested I take a night to go out to dinner, and

a movie.  That I needed a break.   And we did. With a

funny thing happen at the end of the night.  I got home

at midnight.  Only to be greeted at the door by my

daughter and a visiting son… demanding where had

I gone.. after, all dinner and a movie doesn’t last until

Midnight.   I never laughed so hard in my life…as I

told them…. “So how does it feel to have the shoe on

the other foot”…  But the answer was.. after the movie

and a late dinner, we sat and talked with a glass of wine,

next to a fireplace at the restaurant.  

That started a 30 year relationship, which took 13 years

to decide to make it a permanent one. And here we are

17 years married, later yesterday… still together… and still strong. 

Well, this is a revolting development...

Well, the King is officially retired.. and he went to

his send off with 2 other future retirees.

He had a good time, with good food and good people.

with a slight tear in his eye, he said his goodbyes.

There were lots of laughter as well, as his major

Boss roasted him with a sour valuation. To the laughter

of all. And applause.

But thru all of this.. he had developed some medical

problems.  Out the clear blue sky came first a severe

headache. That was from the Bells Palsy he got after

the stress of dealing with the suicide of his sister.

Then as he got thru this.. his hip goes out.

It is bursitis they said. So he got a cortisone shot. Then

It went to his calf of his leg.  Thru it all there were MRI’s

and x-rays. This time it was an enlarged vein. Good new

it isn’t a blood clot.  I told him all of this is lasting 2 weeks

each. So next it should  hit his ankle and then his toes…and

then it should be finished with his body.  Lol..  He didn’t

see the humor of it.  

As we sat in the doctor’s examination room, he looked at

me so sadly and said… but I am retiring.. I am suppose

to be enjoying my life.. what the heck is all of this?  I’m

suppose to be having fun.. this is NOT fun… So much

for my golden years.. Gold for the doctor and hospital.

I told him, this too shall pass. 

HOLY COW, he said....

Today is the first day of the King’s retirement.

Crossing our fingers that all the paper work is in

order and July 1^st everything kicks in.

And the past couple of days have been eye openers

of what is to be…  for the King..  He figured he

retire and get up late (for him that is about 4am, as

work time was 2am)  and walk around the yard with

a cup of coffee and plan out his day.. Do some of his

projects he has lined up.. like working on his 47

Ford,  that has been in the works for years.  And a couple

of honey-dos that he even set up for himself.  Like

redoing the front porch and etc. And he wants to put

in a walk way from house to the back garage, instead

of the rock one we have now.

But the forecast is full of new plans that others are running by

him.  First is the potluck tomorrow at his job for them to say

good bye..  Then mid month is the school districts breakfast

as they say good bye to all their employee’s who are

retiring this year.  And baby shower, and friend’s birthday

dinner, and a niece’s graduation AND best of of all… a

whole week fishing trip. It is a 3 generation but I kind

of call it Old Farts fishing trip.. There will be 4 men over

the age of 60… two mid 30 years olds (sons of the host) and

4 (grandchildren of the host) who range from 5 to teens. 

It will be a blast. NO women, which suits me fine..

(humm, a week…what project can I do?)

 BUT, it has left the King with…

HOLY COW.. I NEVER KNEW

RETIREMENT WAS THIS BUSY..lol..

And all of these are in June.. then we jump to August

to our son’s wedding and a visit round trip for us all

rolled into one.   And I suspect the days and weeks

between will fill up as well.