Computer down..no post today

Electronic and the ding...

You all know that I get frustrated with

electonics.. computers and tablets in

particular .

I have been working with the tablet my sweet

daughter gave me a few weeks ago..

I try not to over tax my pea brain.. so going

slowly..

So over the past weekend, I was baffled by

something in my household.. I kept telling

the King, I hear a bell..  of course he couldn’t

hear it..  althought he did admit to hearing it

once.  And of course it didn’t ring on a regular

basis…so could not track it down.. except knowing

it was with in the dining room, kitchen living room

area.

It went on day after day.. So the King asked me..

just want does it sound like to you? A doorbell?

or what?    I thought about it and started to laugh..

I told him it sounded like another angel got his/her

wings bell.  (You know from the movie “It’s a

Wonderful Life”) .  Well, that weekend there was

at least 40 angels got their wings..

Then finally Sunday night I am standing next

two the counter between the dining room and

the kitchen.. TINKLE.. TINKLE… THERE IT

IS.. as I started to pick up each item.. and

as I was picking up my tablet.. which I thought

was OFF(no lights on ).. TINKLE TINKLE… AH HA.. it is the

tablet.. but how can that be, it is off.. Well, no,

it went into its sleep mode I guess and I thought it

was off.  Geesh…

What are you going to do? Wait to die, or....

One of the sad things is as you get older

is, that you start to lose your friends.

The King and I lost two friends in the past week.

One of them married us, almost 18 years ago.  

Then you start looking at your own expiration date.

Especially  when you are older than the ones you lost.

I tend to live life on a daily basis, without looking

or thinking about the future.. kind of like I have an

inter self, that knows I am not dying in the near future.

Or if I think about next year or what ever.. I vision myself

being here.    But I am not delusional as sometime my

children get a little antsy, if something is said about

doing some thing in say 5 years.. I tell them.. well, if I am

around.. They don’t like to hear that….but they know

I am right. Usually the conversation kind of quiets down

until I make a joke of it.. and they easy up.. You see,

I am a realist, I know it is coming.. I just don’t dwell on

that.. 

Many years ago, while working at the nursing home,

we had a woman who lost her husband, and then

got a bad cold .. enough the family put her in the

nursing home, fearing she wouldn’t be taking care

of herself..  She was only 69!  She did have the blues,

and figured life was pretty much over.. We talked about

her husband.. and later when I felt comfortable.. I asked

her what does she think her husband would be doing

if she had gone first..  She thought, and said “I guess

go fishing more.” And we laughed.   I was getting

ready to go on vacation..for a week… so stopped by

and told her I would see her when I got back.. She

told me.. I will be here, no where to go… I told her,

she has lots of places to go.. she still had her home.

She could get an apartment if the house was too big

for her to take care of it.. Rent it or sell it.. Lots of options.

and then I said the words I had told several over the years.

Ruthie, what do you want to do?  Do you want to stay here

and wait to die.. or do you want to go do things, until you

die??.. it could be a long wait, you know. She laughed at

me and gave me a hug.   I came back a week later, and

she was gone.  I asked one of the girls where is Ruthie?

She said.. oh, yea, she left but she told me to tell you…

Hey, Cis….I decided to go live until I die.. and she was

going to go see a sister in Arizona for the winter. Then

see if she could talk her sister into a cruise ship trip.  God

Bless her..

So you see, that is my vision.. I am going to live my

life until I die.. I won’t be signing any long term warranties,

but if I follow my Aunt Harriet and my dad.. I have up to

10 more years.. and I sure would hate to waste them..

So as you lose some of your friends.. it is sad.. but don’t

sell yourself short… 

There is a saying that I use to have at the bottom of my

emails…  and it says it best… there is several different versions of it.. but I like this one best…

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,

With a drink in one hand.. and chocolate in the other….

shouting "Holy Shit, what a ride!"

How about you???

Why punish the children..

There has been an occasion from time to time,

where there are selfish people who will keep

children from seeing their grandparents or parent.

Like the child is a possession for that parent.

Women are the worse for it.. but there have been

men as well.  After a divorce, the children be come

pawns.                 

A adult child will get angry at their parent and keep

the children away from their grandparents. Not

because the grandparent has done anything…except

displease the adult child.. so they punish their parents

by withholding their children.   Sad.. very sad.. to

use children as pawns. Very selfish.

And if there is a divorce it is worse. Some grandchildren

grow up never knowing their grandparents.  Very selfish.

(disclaimer:  some times there are legal reason not

To.. child abuse, sexual abuse) I am talking about

bitter divorces that produce selfish people

Thr frustrating life of electronics

This past weekend has been one frustrating

thing after another.  First my printer acts up.

Then my email account went wild. I have

Thunderbird, which controls all 3 of my email

account..  The one I use the most is hotmail,

and then I have my personal one.. only family

has that.. and then one that Google decided to

assign to me because of this blog when Google

took it over.   All this happen over night.. I had shut

down everything the night before… and open it

up in the morning.. It asked me for my password.

I don’t have to give it every time.  So what is with

this.. but put it in.. it told me it was the wrong one.

WHAT? It is a simple one.. in fact I was thinking

I should change it.. After several frustrating moments

I went on line and changed it to a very complicated

one.   Still not it. I could go on line, just not get any

emails..  Then I decided to try out the printer. It tells

me after printing half of the page.. that there is an

error. But no where to tell me how to fix such an

error.  So went on line..back and forth.. trying this

trying that..  NOTHING.. NIL.. 

But before I decided to commit a felon, and kill them

both.. I turn them off.. and gave it to God.  To calm

my nerves.  But all night long, it would run thru my

brain.. maybe it was this… maybe it was that…No,

brain shut up.. go to sleep. 

Got up and didn’t touch it until 10am.. I turn it

on.. and up came the request for the password.

I hung my head low.. and typed it in. AND LO AND

BEHOLD… IT WORKED..  Happy dance.. thank

you Lord… then on to the printer.. not so lucky.

after cleaning, it …in several different ways, the

machine took the paper.. and for all sense and

purpose… it took that paper in, twisted it.. smashed

it, as good as any boss who takes your hard work and

crumbles it beyond recognition, and then jammed the

machine.

I walked away, and got myself a cup of coffee… and

went back.. slowly got the paper out.. all the pieces.

started it again.. running, lining up, printer status report.

Took and unplugged the printer at the printer and at the

plug on the floor… went and drank my coffee…  came

back.. plugged everything in.. Wa la… the paper gets received.. and goes thru the printer… and came out….

BLANK… over and over.. back to research.. pages and

pages of reading.. last word… if you have tried all of

this.. then the driver is shot… (why couldn’t it told me

that a hour or so ago.)… Went to Staples to see

what they had.. Had a really weird experience …See

the nerd or what ever she called him… told me that the

printers don’t last long anymore.. about 6 months is

average. WHAT?  Then he shows me the expensive

one.. told him that was out of my price range.. we talked

about the pros and cons of each.. finally he says.. well

you would want this one that sells for $199..and get it

Insured and get your money back.. And I said no.. if

I am going to be putting out of pocket money, I am

going cheaper $79.. after all you said they all die in 6 months. Figuring he was full of bull.. I left.. Went to Walmart..

very nice gal.. had one like the one I was going to get

for $59…had it 6 years.. ink is cheaper than my old

one.. So sold.. came home and hooked it up.. still

simple enough I didn’t need the kids to do it for me.

Have I mention before.. I HATE ELECTRONICS.. especially

when they don’t work. 

For the shortest month, it sure is long

I don’t know if it is cabin fever or what.. but

this month seem like it is lasting for every.
I was thinking that tomorrow was the last day,

so was surprised when I had to type in the date

for this post.. the 20?  I am so ready for March.

It isn’t because I haven’t been outside, as I

have had my share of outside time.. This has

been the month of shoveling.  Not only ours

but also our neighbors as they are snow birds

and we watch their place.  Which usually is pick

up the mail, water the plants and done.. But this

year we have had our usually amount of snow,

instead of the light winter of the past 5 years.

While they felt bad, I told them, no.. as long as

they don’t charge me for my exercise classes

of snow shoveling..  lol…  The madding part is

I didn’t lose one damn pound.

Anyway, it just seems sooooooooooo long… 

Not my job

 look in the top picture.near the pole.. is the flag..below is a close up

You know the run around.. You try to find

out how to get  something fixed and you get, that

is not my job, you need to contact…..etc… only to

be told by that person….. not my job.. talk to….etc.

That was the story of my life for the past few days.

across the street is the fire hydrant for our street.

It is at the edge of the company across the street

parking lot.  So when their snow guy comes.. he

piles it up around the hydrant.  3 years ago, they

put a flag on the end of a 4 foot metal stick.

Last year was a light year.. so it wasn’t bad. But

this year it is stack deck.  It is so high between

the snow mover and the street snow removers.

The parking lot guy has it up over 4 feet and the

street guys have it up to about 5 feet now.

To be fair.. the street guys have their piles about

2 feet from the hydrant. So they aren’t at fault.

but the parking lot guy, (it is on the very edge

of the parking lot).. so it is his area. But trying

to find someone who is accountable.

I made calls a couple of days ago… then sent

a picture to the city hall. As the street guys only

had a recorder.. and the parking guy, wasn’t there

and his workers said they would tell him.. Well,

3 days later.. no one.. 

The street guys came by yesterday to widen the street

snow, so talked to them..(there was the grader and the dump truck). He was very polite, but he said he can’t get any action from the fire dept. and wished me well.

The parking lot guy called yesterday afternoon.. and

said, yeah, he knows it is there.. (which did not make

me a happy camper) and I asked him then why put it

the snow there.. He went into the usual ….well, you know this is a bad year for snow removal… I told him, yes, I knew.

so does that mean my house gets to burn down because

it was a bad year?  He said he would be out to remove the

snow.  Well, woke up to …. Now not just the flag is snowing

but the stick is showing.. NO HYDRANT. That is he thoughs

on removing the snow.

Took some more pictures, sent it to the city hall.. Who by

the way is not responsible for this.. as it is not on city

property.  The street snow removal pr guy comes by and

apologizes and said .. it really isn’t their area.  I told him I

knew that.. but they did do the front berm.  But the one I

was complaining about, was the parking lot snow removal

guy. He said he would go talk to him, as he knows him.

And the fire dept? WELL.. WE ARE HAVING A BAD YEAR..

Etc. etc. and we have a water tank to fight fires until we can

get the hydrant cleared out.

In the meant time.. the 4 and 5 feet of snow is surrounding the hydrant, waiting for the spring weather to melt it.. but the metal stick and flag is showing..   and most of all.. all of them.. .. IT ISN’T MY JOB…

Oh, by the way.. if this said hydrant was in front of my house

They would expect me to shovel it clear each storm.. 

UPDATE.....
whining does work... the street guys and the company who owes the parking lot.. came together and here was the results early this am. 

From Ice, to slush, to mudbogs

We, of the weary, snow removal crew…

must be careful for what we wish for….

As we ice skate unwillingly, across our

driveways and parking lots.. or down

the roads.. are cussing under our

breaths.  And thoughts of Spring is

in our heads..

But remember.. after ice and slush, comes

MUD SEASON… POT HOLES, MUD RUTS..

At least with snow it is white and clean

looking.   

So don’t rush the season and weather, and

be careful what you wish for. 

If mother nature decides to do this slowly,

it won’t be too bad. Especially if we add in

the wind to dry out things as it melts.

The earth will thaw and the water will go down

into it.  But she rarely does anything slowly.

DO YOU LOVE ME....

As the Contours use to ask…

“Do you love me.. do you love me…

Now do you love me…”

That seems to be the words and question

of the day.. So you go out and spend your

the big bucks to prove to your love … that

you love her..

I say .. her… because it is usually the male

who gets the short end of the stick on this

love day.  She will get.. at the small end..

candy, flowers and a card.. At the top end

it is diamonds, and pearls, dinner at an

expensive restaurant and more.

But what does the guy get? A card… not much

else.. Maybe if he is lucky.. he will get a home

made meal of his favorite food.

There is big bucks in this day.. a dozen roses

that you could get last week or next week for

a mere $13, 98… not cost you $29.99 to $60

a dozen.  And the chocolates.. well, you can’t

just buy a little heart with 12 in it.. You got to

go the gusto…of 3 layers of 24 pieces a layer.

But those who have read my blog over the years,

know that I think Valentine’s day is a rip off.

The stores have lured you all in.. and guilt

you into big purchases.. don’t forget the

Sexy underwear… for either sex..

But if you really want to do this day right.

this is how it is done.   First.. all those

lovely dovey words?  Should have been

said all year long.  Not just one day a

year.  Second.. you don’t have to be a

poet.. just what ever is in your heart..

Write it on a piece of paper… fold it

over.. draw a sweet looking red

heart on it.. with her name in the middle.

You don’t have to be an artist, simple is better.  

Tell how she/he made a difference in

your life.. After all, we all get in the rut

of taking our spouses for granted. We

love them.. but they rarely hear the words.

We see by actions..but the words are nice too.

See it is that simple.. And if your gal.. looks

at it.. and doesn’t look pleased.. doesn’t smile…

Then you have the wrong one.

Out of turmoil ...comes nicety...

I have been writing this blog for just about 12

years (come March 5^th) and there has been

in our times.. ups and downs.  The good and

the no so good.

Right now there is so much turmoil over our

new administration. There is flow of negativity.  

Getting to the point that sometimes you almost

hate to mention anything, as it will be picked to

death, along with the writer, such as I.

So imagine my surprise last week, when I was

contacted thru the comments, by a young lady,

called Rebecca, who like my post about flowers

in my yard, but also of a sign that was within

those pictures.

The sign said. ‘NANA’S GARDEN’. She had

googled the name for a meaning.. and came

across my blog.  In our exchange of notes, she

offered to send me soap that she makes, called

……  NANA’S GARDEN..   I told her that is was sweet

of her  to do that.  That I would be proud to accept

her kind offer.     

And on last Friday, arrived a box.. And there was

not only 1 soap called NANA’S GARDEN.. but

two.. plus two more.. one called Tiger Lily, which

Is heavenly..and another called Mango Sage Bar.

All of them smell so good. I will give you her site

address…   www.SweetpeaScents.com  incase

you like to check her out..

What a nice sweet thing to do.. and a good reminder,

as we get caught up in the turmoil of life.. that there

is a lot of great goodness.

Thank you, Rebecca, not only for the wonderful smelling

soaps but for the reminder lesson.

A Thorn in my side.....

February 9, 2017

A thorn in my side….

From time to time, we hear about different Senators

calling Social Security an entitlement.  This irritates

me to no end…  Same with Medicare now…

I get to collect Social Security and Medicare because I

had an agreement with my employers over the years,

that they would put in x amount of  money and I too would

put in x amount.   This agreement was decided, of course,

by the government, but reinforced by the company and

myself.  That agreement was on the condition I worked

my butt off and they would put in their share to the pot.

Especially the last job I had that lasted almost 18 years.

So I worked all those hours, I worked over time, and one

time I worked a 24 hour shift.. I did doubt backs.. I did

split shifts.. of 8’s.. giving me about 4 hours between each

shift for 2 weeks. Barely giving me time to take a nap

between. Working from 10am to 7pm, going home,

to turn around and arrive at work at 10pm.. to work

until 6am.. going home for 3 and half hours.. Doing

that for 2 straight weeks.  To cover a shift for some

one whose mother was dying, and they had no one

to cover for her. So I did her shift and mine.  I worked

even though sick.. because we were short staffed.

of this to help put money into my Social Security fund

and the Medicare fund..   

So to have some Senator who did hardly any work before he became a life time Senator…tell the nation, that this is an entitlement..gets in my craw and is a thorn in my side..

If they want to see entitlement.. let them look in their

own building.. NOW that is entitlement.. Where every

one caters to them,  lobbyist throw money at them

go have them vote for what ever they want. Having

trips to islands and etc. for their families.  To sit in

the office at Washington, D.C. and talk on the phone.

that is not manual work..and not really even mental

work. They have a private gym, that the public is

not even allowed to see the inside.  They get auto-

matic raises, and bennies, that only you and I can

dream of.   NOW THAT …LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

…..IS ENTITLEMENT. 

Everyone is sick of snow.. except me...

But actually I like it so far. Noticed I said so far.

As with any weather, you just don’t know.

We have had enough sunshine, I haven’t got

cabin fever yet.  Been out shoveling snow, and

helping the King get some other things done.
Between moving the vehicles while he snow blows

to getting the snow rake, and deicing our freezer. 

This year we bought one of those snow rakes that

has the plastic connect to it.. it is swift.  You put the

rake up and push on it. The snow slices out and

down the plastic it goes.  No more pulling, and

doing smaller sections. This cuts thru a 2 + feet,

and down it comes pretty much on its own. Yes there

is a little pushing, but not much..

With the sunshine, and the snow shoveling going pretty

well, I am doing well with it all… Now we wait and see

what the next couple days do.. with rain coming.. it would

be nice if we had some warm to go with it.. and take the

snow off all the roofs.  I say all, because we are watching

over a friend’s house as well.. and did not take the snow

off theirs, as it was melting and shrinking. They only had

about an inch on before the little over a foot came this

weekend.  Then all the edge froze like a rock. So we

will see what the weather these next 4 days brings.

And for the others.. hang in there… we are just a

month and half away from SPRING..  

SNOW DAY....and I still got it

We have been getting our share of snow of late.. 

We gained a foot over what we had.. on Friday night.

Then Saturday night another foot with Sunday night

finishing us off with another foot for the total of 3 feet.

On top of what we already had. 

this is the doggie path, that the King has in for Misty... to run and also to go to the

bathroom.. 

 

This hang over is icicles and snow melting.. to soon fall off the eave of the roof

This car was wipe clean on Sunday morning..

fence repair in our future for this Spring. ..

This is the drift in the corner.. from the windy night of Saturday

The sun shine thru on Monday moring...peeking thru the snow bound tree

my Jack in the Box Christmas hat antenna ball..

our back yard

Neighbors tree .. beauty in the mess of snow..

At noon time it had warmed up to 37.. so I went out with

gloves and sweater.. and made some fun snow

things.. the snow person.. 

the snow angel

and the snow monster 

at the age of knocking on the door of 77

I still got it.. to play in the snow. 

My kids will tell you that it was common

for me to wake them at 1am..when I found

out it had snowed.... to get them to get dress

and go make snow men and angels. 

Guess the kid is still inside. .

All my grandchildren now how to make angels..

and now my great grandchildren are making them. 

didn't think the rose bush was so close when I went down to make the snow angel

the snow monster.. I only had a little food coloring and that was green.. usually
I do the angels in blue and do the monster in total green with white eyes and
mouth...

happy 30th birthday, Josh...