Good bye, February… hello March

Good bye, February…  hello March

Finally the last day of February..  and then tomorrow is the beginning of March.. Thank goodness.  Now I know this does not mean that winter is over..  after all this is Idaho…  but the end of February makes one feel like there is an end to the tunnel… which is made of snow and ice.

Today, we once again, are getting snow.. We were told it was going to be about 2 inches … like Sunday.. and the Saturday before.  We know that is just for the newbies report..    But those of us, who have lived here .. with what seems like forever this winter…  know full well, all bets are off.. Because we are wanting to see Spring so bad..  that we are due for more than any mere 2 inches..  After all we had two weeks ago.. the false Spring..  it was in the mid 40’s and SUN … SUNSHINE.. oh, for those newbies.. such folly..  they don’t know about false spring..

But we pro’s know..    So as we brace ourselves for the March coming in like a lion…  we do know… for sure..  that it will go out like a lamb.. and bring.  MUD SEASON..  That is where you drive like a wild carnie ride thru the back dirt roads..   But even that we know… follows the old rule.. THIS TOO SHALL PASS…  (been saying that a lot this year).. But Spring will start in mid May… lasting to mid June..  Then in July  summer will hit like the practice of living in hell with start of two months of 100 temps.

WELCOME TO IDAHO!!

 

GETTING OLDER TOGETHER………

GETTING OLDER  TOGETHER………….

Ok, at the age of 70 … all the fun and games are over.

Well, not quite, as we still have fun and play some games. 

But the King has found out that at the age of 70 things start to fall apart.  With 3 of his sibling gone and only his kid brother and him left… it is on his mind when things don’t go well. Last week we spent 4 hours in the ER.. with him having jab pains in his chest. Long and short of it.. he spiked an outrageous BP numbers  but all the test came back clean. Scan, xray and EKG.. all clear. And at home his BP settled down and return to normal for him.. Anxiety attack?  we don’t know, but stress test in 2 weeks is ordered..

Then this Sunday at 2:10am .. I find him across the bed. Out like a light….  First off, he is fine.. really he is.. but it sure scared the heck out of the two of us.  I talked to him… nothing..  he also wears a CCAP mask, so makes it harder.  I jumped out of bed and ran over to his side of the bed.  He is either heavy asleep or out.. It was out..  I slapped him on the shoulder, and then his stomach, while calling his name..  saw he was breathing, so I got his mask off and slapped his face and yelled at him. His eyes open slowly. And then he started to talk a bit. I grabbed a hold of his hand and helped him sit up..  He said.. where am I?..  I told him what was going on, and he looked at me confused. I got a cold wet rag and put on his head, then took it and washed his face and neck, and then put it back on his head. He just sat there quietly… then he said.. I had a Charlie horse in my calf, it was really bad.. and after that I don’t know what happen.  Well, that explains why his leg is up on the chair across from the bed.. Had him take his BP and it was normal..   then had him do a diabetic test.. it came back normal..  so ok, it is not his heart and it wasn’t his diabetes.  Finally got him to stand and I walked him to the bathroom, as he said he was getting sick to his stomach.  With in about 20 minutes he was pretty much back to his old self.. A little confused about what happen..   Took his BP again after half hour.. still stable.. only his air was down..  to 82..  (suppose to be 90 and over) .. So he rested.. then went back to bed.. Slept well, got up at 7:45 (late for him) and was doing well.. and did well the rest of the day.  

But I am here to tell you, while he was out..  I was scared.. He has never done that before.   And it scared him a little after too.

Sure is hell to get old..   as they say.. our golden years..  

He has a stress coming up in a week.. 

Getting old together… better than alone…  you have some one to be scared with you..  ha ha… 

So take good care of yourselves out there..  and remember the parts start to fall apart after 70…  (Oh, by the way, years ago, I went to my dr.  who had cancelled my appt. the week before as he wasn’t feeling well…  and as he is talking to me about what ever I was there for… he says to me… “why didn’t you tell me that we start to fall apart at 70?”  (he is 4 years younger than me)  I told him.. he was the doctor, not me.. he should have told me years ago..   So I leave you laughing..  and hang in there.. growing old is better than the other option..   

WHAT IS IN A NAME?

WHAT IS IN A NAME?

To some of us… a lot..  or at least an irritation.  My bank is changing its name… THEY bought out another bank or merge, depending which article you read… but the deal is my bank took over the other.   Mine … took over the other.  So why do we have to change our name?  Why not have them changed theirs?  Maybe have a vote among all of the customers.  My bank’s name is Columbia..  Now that has some majestic to it… Columbia River, which is a huge river..  running thru the 3 states involved.    Also we have DC… District of Columbia …Columbia College,   Columbia University just a nice name….. a name to be proud of…

BUT no, they decided to go for the name of the lesser of the two banks..  and name that sounds more like a hmph sound.. of disgust.

Now the actual name is from an Indian tribe out of Oregon. Now don’t get me wrong it has nothing to do with the Indians.  I admire the different tribes.  I admire their culture. All of the tribes.  And no I am not from the want to be tribe..  that is those who make claim of some heritage of any given tribe.  I find that to be an insult to all of the Native Americans… and the white man has screwed them over for over 200 years… So it is not that I am against them..    It is just the sound of the word..

When I Googled the name..   it had two marks against it.. one was about a building the bank owns…  it is named after the bank.. plaza…

The building is one of an unusually large number of properties whose owners are appealing their valuations, seeking to lower their taxes. But as they are required to do, the owners of other buildings seeking to get their valuations lowered paid their taxes in November. The Umpqua Plaza’s owners didn’t—and are racking up interest charges.

Also there is a lawsuit from last year, when they found out a man named Kenneth Casey had used funds from investors.. and some how this bank is in the middle of that..  a Ponsi like scheme, they say..  In my book that is not a good bank to invest in.    Victims Of Marin-Based Ponzi Scheme Given Go-Ahead to Sue Umpqua Bank For Its Alleged Involvement (sfist.com)

Now I am not even going to try to say that I understand banking and investments companies..   but this kind of stink in Denmark, as the old saying goes.

So why did our perfectly fine bank decide to help them out and merge with them.

I have a lot of questions… so going to the bank and see what I can find out..  If nothing else.. there is other banks in this town..  but it is sad, as I have been with this bank and it one other name it had, .. for 25+ years.  And the girls that work there..  are really nice local gals.

I have had this bank account so long, I got it when that branch open up and I have a low account # that is easy to remember and say. 

Why do they try to fix things, when they were not broken..    It is like Sears buying out K-mart who was having trouble..   and it took Sears down with it.. 

So what is in a name..  some times A LOT..  to some people.

 

Music

Music

Music holds us together… music soothe us,  music brings back memories of the past… and brings back the feeling of that moment when you first heard the song, or even the last time you heard it.  Even the elderly in nursing homes…  who may have not said a word for a long time… lights up and bobs their head to the rhythm of the music of their generation, when they hear it.

I would say that music is still alive and well, especially among the young people.   After all, there would not be cd’s for sale or streamed, I think is the word..  there wouldn’t be award shows the Grammy or the Country Western music awards.  

But I miss the days when I was younger… when we heard a song, it was played over and over …  on the radio, if you were lucky to be able to afford a record, 8 track tape, cassette and then cd’s.  There would be some songs that spread over all of the types of music.  That everyone would know it.. AND KNOW THE WORDS…   I don’t find it to be that way now..  There is still the younger crowd who rock, rap and hard rock with music.   But they stay pretty much in their own lane..  I have not heard of a song that has crossed over all of them..   a song that everyone knows..  never mind know the words.   I know I am going to really sound like the old lady that I am… by saying….  I don’t understand ANY words that they are screaming at us…    Is there any ballads sang anymore.. where it is slow and the pronunciation of the words is clear?  Or a ballad of any kind?

So do I listen to music?  Yes … from time to time.. when I am home alone.. but it is all music from the past.  Johnny Cash, (yes 90% of my choice was country western)  Dr. Hook…  I have even listened to classical …(but not often).  Simon and Garfunkel, and such.   Even drum solo’s…  But to turn on the radio to hear music… well to be honest with you, I don’t know one that plays the oldies but goodies anymore.

How about you?  do you still listen to music… is there a radio station you listen to??  I guess there is some cables that has music on their list of channels… but when I have been at someone’s house it seem more like wallpaper music. 

I miss when a song came on, and everyone sang it.

Daughters too,

Daughters too,

OK OK.  So it is Valentimes Day.

To my husband and I..  it is just another day..  I refuse candy, flowers and etc..  and if you go back and read my Valentine Day post over the years.. you know why…  so not going to go into it again…  So for those of you who guilt your guy into buying you stuff that is way over priced…   go for it..   for the rest of us.. every day is Valentine’s day and gifts have no part in it.. You can spend money all you want..  but it is time and kindness and patience that shows all year around that shows if your spouse loves you.

Yesterday I did the proud of my son’s . and it would be amiss of me to not do it for my daughters…   I have two that don’t speak to me.. for which I am not going there..  but I am proud of them as they have stood up for what they believe.. they have gone against the rules of women and men jobs..  being separate by gender. They have done mechanic, welding, landscaping and sales person of tools… over the years…  

The other two.. the oldest and youngest have made me proud.  The oldest never took slack for what she stood for. She was a champion for trouble kids with her husband Kevin.  She stood up for what she thought was right..  and apologized if she found out she was wrong.  At her celebration of life there were a long string of young people who stood up to talk about the difference she made in their lives.  She was a strong friend to those she called friend. And when you got married the second time..  who became the love of her life...  she was way shorter than Miles.. but he always knew she was as tall as him, in spirit.... Sadly in 2017 God figured he needed her more than we needed her.  While she and I have difference of opinion many times in her short life time..  I was still very proud of her and who she became.

Now we get to the end of the group.. the baby of the tribe.  Who took a lot of static from her older siblings..  Yet grew up to be her own person.  Over the years when her boss and friends tell me what a great job I did raising her…  even she gives me way more credit for that than I deserve.   But as I have said with all my kids.. I laid down the foundation..  each and every one of my kids .. son’s and daughter’s … became whom they are.. because of THEIR hard work, their persisting in going on, when some times life threw the monkey wrench in their way.   And the youngest is no exception to this.    She was a single mom for many years…  and she raised her son to be honest and a hard worker.   She has 7 grandchildren because of her second husband Tim, who we lost in 2018.. She has been a great grandmother to all 7…   then life brought her 2 more. Who live near her.. They would be the first to tell you that she is the greatest of great person in their lives.  They never doubt her love for them.  And because they are just across the field (the rest are in California) she does so much with them.  Just about every Sunday is arts, and crafts and cooking with Grandma. The scene of those boys running from their house across the field with huge smiles on their faces to her house, is etched in her mind of great joy.  So she is a wonderful grandmother to all 9.   She is the rock at the company that she works for…. For 27 years, she has been loyal, persistent in keeping everything moving in her department with the company in mind. She has raised up thru the ranks 3 times.. she is full of fun as she and several girls come up with new ideas for fun for the rest of the employee’s.    

And she is a darn well great daughter..   she leaves me alone, to not feel like an old lady, yet is just a call away if needed.  And sadly when the time does come, when I get too feeble minded.. she will be the one who fills the shoes of responsibly.  Oh, don’t get the idea that it is all wine and roses..  lol.  As she does not shy away from telling me that she has a different opinion.. than mine… and politics is a hard subject for us to navigate sometimes.. when the true of the matter, we are pretty close to the same  page, just we look at it differently.   Of which I would stand up with her to tell anyone that she is entitled to her opinion and I will defend her.  Even if it is not same as mine. 

I have raise all of my children to be independent. To stand tall for what they believe…  even it is not my thinking..   especially that, I did not raise them to be come  “little me” .. I want them all to be different..  to do what is good for them..  Only request I have is for them to work hard, to be honest,  to tell the truth..   3 of the hardest things to be.. but I raised them to be that.  7 out of 8 isn’t bad… lol.

As the saying goes…. I love them to the moon and back. And proud of them being who they are.

 

 

 

Giving my son’s a high five

Giving my son’s a high five

I am proud of all my kids..  you all .. already know that.  But I got to thinking the other day..   I was thinking of how lucky I am that the King knows so much about taking care of things in life for us. Saving us a LOT of money.. A LOT..   be it taking care of our cars or the house.  If we need something taken care of..  He knows how to do it.  What he doesn’t know, he finds out.   Like our house siding last year.  He has backed off of working on the vehicle some what.  With all the changes to computers in vehicles.  He just isn’t into it as much.   Or just plain can’t figure it out and even his friends are baffled.  So we have to bite the bullet. But he still does the smaller stuff.

But thinking of this..  made me think of my 4 sons.. And how they are several different occupations, yet each one can fix just about anything at home.   The oldest one with his wife did so much remodels.. They also have rentals that they have done the work on.

He is a logger…

The next one down son #2 has done a lot of his own repairs as well..  he has remodeled his boathouse and the garage which is a huge warehouse like floating building. It is amazing what he has done and how he and his wife have remodeled it into a party place as well.  It serves as a boat repair and garage for his toys. But also had a b-b-q … picnic tables and booths and a boat bar.. yes a bar he made out of an older boat. He has also did a lot of remodeling at his house that he lives in…in town.  He is a restorative of old vehicles that people come many miles away, even states away to get him to work on them.

Then there is Son #3   He and his wife bought a farmhouse, that they have completely remodeled inside and out.  Doing their own plumbing, electric and wood work and roofing..   The place is amazing from what it was.  He even remodel the garage..  He is a vehicle mechanic for the local city.

And last but not least is #4..  he is no slouch either.  He has built several building on his property..  He has build two garages, opps I got corrected on that.. they are SHOPS.. because they are very large.. One on his old place and one on the one he has now..  also a paint room off his garage, and a parts shed. He is doing an amazing job of building a she shed for his wife.  He also does the plumbing, the electrical and wood work.   He, too, generalize what he does,  is a computer tech for the state he lives in.

Saving all these families thousands of dollars.  I could say that their father and I did a good job of training them..  but that would be a lie…  Yes they watched and yes they help by getting tools, and holding tools for their fathers.. but no where near enough for them to learn a trade in this line.   Yet, they all chose different occupations for their passion… they also taught themselves to fix, and repair and remodel.. all on their own..  and for that I say..  And all of them are highly thought of thru their occupation ...

HIGH FIVE for doing a GREAT JOB… I AM SO PROUD TO CALL YOU .. MY SON’S.. 

 

IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, it is Superman… NO NO, IT IS A BALLOON…..

IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, it is Superman…  NO NO,  IT IS A BALLOON…..

The last few days have been interesting.. with a balloon coming out of China into Alaska air space, then into Canada and into Idaho and then Montana before the news got a hold of the story.

The Idaho part didn’t make it to the news until yesterday.  Guess because it was such a quick across the tiny corner going into Montana from Canada. One of the questions I had was…  did it go thru Russia?  After all, to get to Alaska from China, doesn’t it have to go thru the corner of Russia?  Maybe I should go look at the map and see if that is possible.                                             

The other amazing thing is …  THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME.  ( 3 times during Trumps.. (no one said anything) and once before in Biden term  and who know how many before that?)…nor is it the last as there is one going across South American.. but guess they weren’t too excited about it as the United States is.  But then again..  I think maybe things are cool between Mexico and the rest of South American..  not like it is with United States.  Also maybe there isn’t any silo or such.. to see there. Maybe they were just checking to see.  Who knows.. And will we ever really know. Oh we will get some type of report from our country, but you know how that is.   We get what the government wants us to know.. not necessarily the truth.

Looking like it is pretty much a dud… until we hear what the balloon had attached.  And when will that happen..  But the good news is… it did not have bomb on or in it.   But the way China and Korean are going, they don’t have to send the real deal…  they can MAKE US THINK THEY DID… saving them all kinds of money for the real deal. Korea has been playing this game for about 20 years..  Throw up a missile ever so often and watch the American’s go nuts.  Now Russia has caught on to that..    If you come near our borders.. (not even in Russia) or you help those in Ukraine too much I am going to send my nukes to you and all the rest of you NATO counties.   In poker it is called bluff..  in kids it called chicken.

Hopefully we never find out..   As the possibilities these past 4 days…  are so much of what could have been..

 

Oh, and my friend Val made me laugh with her meme on Facebook…  here it is

Corporations and their news letters..

Corporations and their news letters..

My bank has decided to sell out to another bank.  We got word last year…  a coming soon letter.

But Saturday, we got .. it is coming soon letter. That full information is coming soon… but here is a newsletter for you to read.   OH, MY GOSH!!  Talk about small print.

I know my eyes are not the best.. but this is ridiculous!!

I did sit down and read the first section of 6 pages. But then there is a booklet.  With my shoulders slumping from the first 6 pages..  I put off the booklet.

I have gotten taught the hard way, you got to read the small print, even if you don’t understand it all.  So I made it thru it in ¾ of an hour.  All about their polices that are coming.  Granting to me, that theirs is going be different than the old back. Because if it was the same…. They would have said it will be the same rules and regulations.  They didn’t.

They also addressed to “dear value client”  now that made me feel special.. they don’t even know our names yet. 

I haven't started the booklet yet

this is the 6 pages... of fine print...  for the start of explaining...