HOW BLESSED WE ARE….

HOW BLESSED WE ARE….

We had some guest come in on last Thursday. And left on Sat. early am.

We have a wonderful time with these guests.  A man and his wife.

We got to take them to another family members home to met and greet. And went to lunch together.  As our s-i-l had not met them either.

The King and I had dinner at our home on Thursday and Friday night for them.

Both days were full of memories of this couple with the King.  Oh, the stories.

Friday night was the same.. and I found an album of the King. The stories and matching the pictures with names of their memories.. as the old pictures did not always have names on the back..  Uncles.  Great Uncles, Grandparents.. and LOTS  AND LOTS OF COUSINS.  has names now.

It had been over 30 years since the King had seen this man..  They are cousins.

Their mothers are sisters.   So the memories flowed.  And the laughter at the tales. The wife had lived with some of it.. But they had moved to ARZ. Before I had visited with the King.  So I did not met either one of them.  

I had become Facebook friends about a year ago with the wife.. We hit it off pretty good..  as we were eventually cut from the same cloth.  We had enjoyed each other on Facebook and Facebook message..

So when they said they were going to lower Idaho.. but would like to come up for a couple days to Northern Idaho to visit .. we were thrilled. 

How blessed are we, to have such fine wonderful people,  who are so thoughtful.

It was kind of sad to take him out to breakfast at 0 half hour.. lol in the morning.. and bide him good bye.  She was at the motel, and didn’t want to give us what seem like a cold..that was coming on..  (see what I mean about thoughtful).  They headed out back to their b&b before they headed back home to the mid-west.. 

What a blessing… thank you David and Judy…

54 years ago….

54 years ago…. 

54 years ago, I was heading to the hospital at 5am. Husband called his friend and business partner and said.. you are going to have to take the truck load in today.. I am heading to the hospital.. Which was 25 miles away.. 

This was not my first rodeo. Been here 6 other times..  But I did make sure it was my last.. See we decided 8 was enough.. and actually between the two of us.. it was going to be #14.

They put a thingie on my wrist and the other side of it fit over my nose and mouth..  it was for loosing up the pain level. The Dr. showed up and said he was going to take a nap, as it looks like a while..   The nurses waited a bit.. then took the gadget away because I was having too much fun..  And then .. SHE decided she was tired of being bound up for 9 months and decided to make a quick entrance to the world..  The Dr. ran..but it was the nurse who caught her..  HELLO BABY GIRL.. this was before you got to see what sex your baby is going to be.  At least in our area.. 

What I did not know is that they decided that date.. was going to be a holiday… Named….EARTH DAY.

So I always know how long we have celebrated Earth Day.. just by the age of my daughter.. who tells people she is older than dirt..

SO… HAPPY BIRTHDAY … J.C.. looking forward to spending the day with you…  Love you forever and a day..

Holy Cow my schedule is full…

Holy Cow my schedule is full… 

April is a busy month with birthdays for sure.. so many friends and family …about 20 of them.. 

But also with Dr. appt. seem to start in April.. We don’t like to make many if possible, as we never know what the weather is going to be like from Oct. to April.. 

And the April is no different..  So blending Dr. appt. and birthdays and visits from out of town..  We sure have a busy schedule.    Our mirror (the keeper of the notices of pending appts..  is almost full … and we already took down the ones we have done so far this month.

The next two weeks is no exception from the rule..  Next week or so will be busy, I might forget to get my blog done.. so if you don’t see any here for that week..  just know I didn’t die.. just I was so busy.. like an one arm paper hanger…..  I just didn’t have time..  This week.. have GGboy, and the King has the dentist.. then end of the week is cousins coming in… which the King hasn’t seen for about 40 years.. so we are excited for that..  the following week… Monday a birthday on the 22, hair perm appt..FINALLY.. on Wed.. Friday coffee get together with old (meaning times and ages) fellow employee’s… for coffee at one of the nurse’s home.  We use to do once a month or birthdays.. but we have not done it for about 4 years.. and we have lost many in that time…  And the Tuesday and Thurs. of course is Lil Dude the GGboy  So that is going to take us up to almost May 1^st.. which is a dr. appt for me.. Which is my last appt. with her as she is moving to Tenn.

 

Being 84, I find myself with less patience …

Being 84, I find myself with less patience …

I am not good at being told what I need to understand and what I am to do.. and what I am told I have to call things. 

When you do things for over 80 years..  you find you don’t give a damn if others like  or don’t like how you react to things. Or new wording, that makes no sense..  WOKE PEOPLE?  what the hell..  by the way I saw that there was in 1860 a group called WIDE AWAKE… during the Lincoln elections.  Google it.. it is interesting.. 

I also got some paper work from PBS with the idea of getting more to donate.. and the author of the letter signed it off with his name…  his position.. AND the word THEM…  What the hell?  Sorry that doesn’t work for me.. in so many levels.. When I have answered his letters or wrote to him.. I did not sign myself off with FEMALE..  Just leave it at the position.. I DON’T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR SEX LIFE OR GENDER!!...   I am not going to write back and say.. Dear so and so.. them..  not going to happen.

See at the age of 84.. changing terminology doesn’t work for me.  It is what it is.. is my theory.  And the old way is my theory.  Why do they take words that already mean one thing and use it for something else..  like the word gay.. while growing up.. gay meant.. fun, good, and etc..  gay time.. was a fun time.. or a good time..  Just like the rainbow.. now we can’t use those colors.. because it means some one who like the same gender.. NOT..  RAINBOW IS GOD’S GIFT TO THE HUMAN RACE… to make us feel better about the beauty of nature..  

Don’t try to change my mind..  I am 84 and I DON’T HAVE TO.. AND MORE SO..  I DON’T CARE..  IT IS WHAT IT IS..

GOOD MORNING APRIL….

GOOD MORNING APRIL….

Ok, so we are a week into April… but still.. we are having teasing weather..  peeking at 60 degree weather.. making one think of the yard.. 

To me…  APRIL is the beginning of the year..  January, February and March are just months to give us enough rest to get going on to the rest of the year. That is, if we aren’t shoveling snow.. and we didn’t do much of that this year.

Oh the yard..  so full of brown leaves, on the bushes.. and dead branches to be cut off..   So much to do.. but it is SPRING..  and sweatshirt weather.. 

Except of course for the days of rain..  after all .. remember.. APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS..  We get so excited..  but the cold stays .. so can’t get the plants into the ground quite yet.  So feel like our feet are spinning in the mud.  Ready to GO..

There is the tilling up the garden. .. the flower gardens need to be weeded and more mulch.   We are so ready to..go get the yard clean up.. I do the front yard first as it has the least of the bunch..  then going around the sides..  the back is the worse. But the veggie garden… is the King’s territory .. he has the green house to start plants.. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAN OUT.. it becomes a catch all in the fall.. 

So it is looking for the buds..  cutting the bushes dead stuff off and rake out the dead brown leaves from the clematis.

Maybe sneak a little of the yard art out.  

But all in all.  April brings on the spirits of joy.. if you can over look the mud and all the stuff to be removed before you can get excited about planting..  and remembering not to plant too soon.. That is anytime before June, in Idaho …..but one month at a time..

Are you home?

Are you home? 

Are you home, watching the sun and moon? Do you have your glasses? 

Two things.. first, here in Northern Idaho, we will only get a very small glimmers of it, if even that… Even southern Idaho won’t get much..  AND THEN  if it is like the Northern Lights.. it will be a foggy, over cast day and we will see NOTHING…

So I am going to wait until the news comes on at 5 and watch it there.. as it should be on ALL of them. and who knows what other programs will have it.. 

Besides when was the last one? 2017? I think they said.. That too was a dud here in Idaho.. 

I just can’t get into traveling hundreds of miles to get a half an hour show.  The money you spend.. and we all know gas is far from cheap.. then you better get your camping gear out, because you are going to be sleeping on the ground somewhere safe..  As every hotel … motel and such will be full.

Nope, I am good..  watching the news after the fact..  Just like last time.

 

 

Water fights never get too old..

 

April 2, 2924 

Water fights never get too old.. 

 

 

As you can see, I am always up for a water fight.. this picture is of my grandson Uriah, who is now about 30 maybe.. When I gave him the hose… and told him, have at it..  as we had been chasing his younger brother…  he was very hesitant ..  told him.. if he didn’t get me as well, that it was surely not going to stop me from getting him.   .. Over the years we have done it with what ever will hold water.  Hoses, cups, water guns, pitchers.. you name it..  By the way I was in my 70’s at the time..  and I can tell you at the age of just days away from number 84.. I am still not too old.

We lived in a old house in Roslyn Washington.. and my kids every summer had the kitchen floor floating..  well, can’t just say my kids.. as I was in the middle of it.. Their dad, not so much.. he usually headed out the door to the middle of the yard .. out of water range. That was over 50 years ago.

Even goes back 60 years ago, when I had a neighbor who thought he would get me with his hose as he watered his flowers..  only to end up drenched, as I have believed .. never lose and make sure the other guys ends up on the soaked end.

So come summer, don’t think.. sneaking up on me and soaking me..  will turn out good for you.. Even the King has been on the losing end.. as I don’t play fair, he says.. He just sprinkled me..  and drenched him..  

Hope you have fun with your kids and grandkids in old fashion water fights..  We use to have about 8 water guns here, but I think they are out at my daughters now..

Happy APRIL FOOLS DAY…

Happy APRIL FOOLS DAY…  

Two days in a row of HAPPY DAYS…  Easter and Fools.

Do people still do April Fools jokes? 

I remember when their was a horrible results from one..  On the radio in the 1930’s Orson Wells did a April Fool story called THE END OF THE WORLD..   a lot of people didn’t get the mention of it being a joke.. some even jumped out of windows I think the stories went, thinking it was the end of the world.

Children, of course over the years have pulled jokes on their siblings, parents teachers and childhood friends.  

Now days, it is hard to do one because the world is soooooo crazy.. people would believe the stories for sure..

The King did one on his mother about 40 or 50 years ago.. He told her that her best friend had died..  And she lost it.. it was when he realized she really believe him, that he had a heck of a time convincing her it was a bad joke..  Now you got to understand.. the King’s mother stood about 4 foot 8 at best… and he is 6 feet.     To tell you.. she made him feel very sorry he pulled that on her.. is an understatement.. As  she chased him around the house with the longest spoon she had and beat him all the way around..   Sad to tell you, it did not stop him from pulling April Fools jokes on her.. but at least it wasn’t as horrible as the one about her friend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAL PAL LORRAINE ALLEN

HAPPY EASTER and the MRI

HAPPY EASTER  and the MRI

Figured I would end up the month of March with an extra post.   Next month is a busy month..  April..  beginning of yard clean up from the winter…  April also brings about 12 birthdays in the month..  Including my husband, the King…myself a day later.. and near the end of the month.. the baby of the family, of my kids.. turns 54.

So you might want to know how did Friday go with the MRI?.. it actually went very well..  And the thought of much ado about nothing comes to mind.  As it went so smoothly. Had a nice gal who explained everything very well.  Step by step..  She was very professional but with a caring side effect. Also asking if I was warm enough..   It took almost 2 hours.. I started at about 6:05 AM and was done by 7:44AM.

We agreed on a wash cloth over my eyes..  which open a new door on the noises.. lol..   See with me not seeing anything.. my imagination went wild on the noises. I play..”WHAT IS THIS SOUND?” First there was the sound of a car wash, expecting brushes to come down and wash me.. lol.  Later there was rat a tat tat.. which sound like the French fighting it out with the Germans in Paris.   Then there was the car shop sounds of banging tools and parts..  See I told you my imagination went wild..  But it past the time..  So if you ever have one.. Know it is not bad.. just noisy.  Have them put a wash cloth over your eyes…and make up your own ideas of what the noises are.

In the meantime.. GOOD BYE MARCH… HAPPY EASTER ..  

 

Your mother dresses you funny….

Your mother dresses you funny….

Remember that saying when you were a kid.. Nope?  Well you must be under the age of 55..

Because it was said in the 1940’s and 50’s for sure.

In those days.. we would NEVER EVER be caught (dead as the saying went) with clothes that were pink and red.. together. Or pink and orange together..   Nor were we to wear blue and green.. UNLESS you were Italian.. as that was the color of the Italy flag.. What that had to do with it in United States.. I don’t know.  

Also you did NOT wear white before March..  or after September..   You, girls, were to wear gloves, dresses and hats to church.. and especially for Easter.. Easter was the time of the year for NEW shoes and hats and gloves..  and especially pastel colored clothing.    So remember that next week when Easter rolls around..  It is the day of wearing your finest.. A real clothes styling day. 

So did your mother dress you funny?  Did you look at pictures from your past or your children childhood and say.. WHAT WAS MOM THINKING?  I KNOW my daughter will tell you about the animal western shirt I made her at the age of 5.. with purple and pink hippos and elephants and etc..  And there is one son, who would probably point out the plaid pair pants he had … and I think they might have been flared bottoms?   It was the 1970’s …… lol..   even have a picture somewhere.. of my husband Marv in a pair of plaid pants.. being he was a tee shirt and jean type of a guy.. I don’t know why he agreed to those..

YUP, MOM’S DRESS YOU FUNNY…

 

Some times things don’t turn out like you figured….

Some times things don’t turn out like you figured….

For those who didn’t get the memo on Friday..  I was already last Friday.. to pull up my big girl pants and get the MRI done with out whimpering…   WHEN fate jumped in on Thursday,

With a call from the hospital.. telling me the next morning MRI was cancelled and moved to the 29^th.  WHY,  you might asked…  those words that shake you… THE MACHINE BROKE… and the parts won’t be in until Friday afternoon.

I asked her is this a bad omen..  she kind of giggled and say.. NO..  we will have it up and running on Monday.. and my appt. would be the following Friday.. A HALF AN HOUR EARLIER..  Heck I will have to get up at 5am.. to get something to eat and take my sedative before I get there.. at 630AM…  Oh, well..  let’s get this done.. 

Woke up yesterday to winter #4…. Yep more snow.. but at least it didn’t add up to much and was melted off by 10am.  It sure was windy while it snowed.. the snow was going sideways and blowing everything ever where.   Oh, well, this is IDAHO.. and we get anything any time.. when it comes to weather..  I remember one year I had transplanted some corn from the green house to the garden..  they said..IT WON’T GROW HERE… NOT ENOUGH SUMMER…  Well it grew up alright.. it was about 6 feet or more.. I was so proud, I had the kids take a picture of me, standing in front of all that green with tiny ears on it..   THEN.. I took a picture of it the next day..  black and on the ground.. See it froze, as the temps dipped to 10 above.. just for the one night..   So you just never know.

Trying to pull up my big girl pants…

Trying to pull up my big girl pants…

Ok, so as you saw I am going in for a MRI on Friday..  Being I have never had one..  never seen the machine..  I googled it.   As they asked about claustrophobic.)  ..  looked at the machine..  it didn’t look like it was small..  but one thing that did worry me.. as .. they stick you in head first..  and no opening on the head side.   As I thought if my head it stuck out on one end.. I would be ok with that..  just don’t like anything over my head … thinking to myself..  well, that won’t be too bad..  but wait a minute..  there is no opening.. 

Was talking to one of my son’s.. he says..  NO PROBLEM, MOM..  I FELL ASLEEP IN IT..  So I thought.. ok.. BUT THEN… I ask two friends and yes they both are female.. and the look of horror on their faces..   OH, NO.. DID THAT.. NEVER AGAIN..NOT UNLESS THEY CAN KNOCK ME OUT!!   Well, this isn’t looking so good..   One of them did mention.. “you need to talk to your doctor.. get a pill to take before you go.. it calms you down.”   Now I am not much for pills..  I barely remember my vits.. each morning…   I put off aspirins in hopes it will go away on it’s own..  but maybe this would be a good idea..  only one pill..  See I take things internally..  meaning my blood pressure hits sky high.. and I think I am handling things just fine.. Last time was when they took some bone marrow to see about my platelets.. at a CANCER UNIT…  I thought I was just fine with doing it.. but when they took my blood pressure it was 201 over 180..  I normally run 130 over 78…  She had me think happy thoughts (walking the beach and etc) and it went down to 160 over 88…  So I called and got the pill..  I am ready to go with this..    I want to know what is going on with my bones.. that over rules.. being nervous wreck.. and backing out.. 

So Friday… I will pull up my big girl pants… with the help of the pill..  and get it done..   It is hell to get old.  I told a friend..  why now?  I have gone almost 84years.. no prescriptions. No health issues..  good legs and love to walk.. (not now).. couldn’t God just wait on this..  just wait until he takes me home.. I have a lot of places to go yet.. and want to walk it..

   

UPDATE..   got the call that they cancelled..  MACHINE BROKE.. what the heck?   is this a bad omen... lol..   Anyway.. I am on for next Friday the 29th..

Well, that is a revolting development….

 Well, that is a revolting development….

I went to the dr. and I got my xrays…  And that didn’t quite turn out like I thought.  Well, actually..  I didn’t know how it would turn out..  I wanted the xrays for answers..  and I sure got that.. Not quite what I thought it would be.   She wanted to have a MRI…but the insurance company has to approved it and they have to see xrays to see if it really is needed. Well, they must have seen enough.. as I got in for a MRI on Friday the 22^nd..   Now I have never ever had a MRI..  Have heard other talk about having them.. but not about the procedure itself.. Only seen on dr. shows on tv.. kind of how it goes.  Now I have a better idea of it.. but still unsure.  As I got the call to come in and a little run down of what it is like and what to do before..  Like NO rings or any other jewelry.. Nothing on or in the body that is metal.  AND IT LAST AN HOUR to maybe an hour and half.!!

This is not good.. I am not good in close in places..  Don’t know how bad it can get, as I make a chose not to be in close in spaces.  Worse one was in a underground fort in Oregon, that they have tours thru.. I was doing pretty good until they said.. Here we have a door way, and if anyone has trouble with low ceilings.. this might be a good place to leave the tour.  I didn’t know I had issues so I went ahead with the King..  after all he is taller than me..  Well, I am hear to tell you after the next turn..  and too late to reverse… the ceil was lower.. I had a good foot.. should have not been bad.. it could even be a foot and half as the Ken is 6 feet and he seemed to be ok.. Found out later, he wished he had left too.

So this ought to be good … not…  asked if I could close my eyes.. she said yes, and they can put a washcloth over my eyes if that would help..  I said.. OH YES..  lol..

Anyway.. what they suspect and want better pictures of is.. degenerate bone/ arthritics..  I had them do my back, as well as my hip…, and they found something wrong at my 12 level in my spine? 

 

Not as young as I thought I was…

Not as young as I thought I was…

My body is revolting against me.. Now I know I can not lift as much as I use to be able..  (use to walk off with a 55# bale of hay with ease.. or a 70# bag of feed from the back porch) I understand those days are long gone..   I also know of late, I can’t lift much of anything over 20#.  I get it.. at 83 that is bound to happen. 

And with the way my legs have been acting for about 3 years now.. I can’t walk as much as I use to..  I could walk up to 2 miles without any problem and that was up  until about 3 years ago.  I still walk fast… .on a good day… just not as long.  And now I have to have the cart many times.. if I go thru Walmart.  If I go to Costco..  I need to take aspirin and rub my legs with EMU cream..  to make it thru the store..

Then in November.. my hip bone for some reason decided to give me problems..  It isn’t broke, but it sure is bent.. Enough that I decided to get it x ray’d.  BUT my insurance co.. has to have a referral… to get a referral you have to go see your doctor..  well, I called about January 4^th.. and the earliest I could get is March 13^th.. Yes.. tomorrow..  AND I am so ready…  Hopefully they figure out what is going on.. I know it is not broke.. but is it cracked?   Does it have a spur?  What the hell??   Hoping it isn’t surgery..   I have two counts against that..  one is I would not want to spend so much money on this 83 year old body.. to have it kick the bucket a week later…  leaving the King with a hospital bill..  The other is the platelets problem I found out I had 18 years ago.. And the blood dr. said that if I have to have surgery ever..  I need to have a dr. conference about the platelet problem, as bleeding out is a possibility.  Isn’t that a lovely thought.. hopefully medicine has come a way since the 18 years.

Then I woke up the other morning with my right muscle in my arm aching..  took me a while to figure out why that was.. I was helping out with some house work the other day at the granddaughter’s house.. and I was using a broom to bring stuff out from under the couch..  There was quite a bit and some of it was hard so I had to really pull to get it out..  So that explains that..  but still want to know what is going on with the hip, as it was Nov. when it happen.. and it isn’t getting any better, if anything it is worse as it happens every day..  in the beginning it was once a day or two.  

Hell to get old..  lol..

Well, this is the pits….

Well, this is the pits…. 

Last week was hell on wheels..   Mentally as well as physically..

Started off with Microsoft doing what they have been saying they were going to do..  Change from hotmail to outlook….  I have had hotmail for about 15 years or so.. It is my general email. I have two others..  one is my server which isn’t used much.. and the other is a gmail which is my personal one.. I have had that about 10 years.. As my grandson had made me do it.. lol..

Well on Thursday, I believe it all came to a screeching halt.  I was caught off guard as it has been telling me since the first of the year…COMING SOON.. changes to Microsoft ..stopping hotmail and going to just outlook.  Out look they have had for quite some time. But I am a creature of habit.. and it made no difference which one was used.. I got my hotmail.  But with out a date of when this would all happen..  I just plowed on..  I did make a copy of my sign on for gmail.. and put it in a folder.. And I knew my provider one..  But the King’s gmail.. I had not got around to copying.  And I went to the site and it would not let me sign in as they said it was the wrong password.  Well, I knew dang well. It was the correct one.. as I have a book with all my password in it.. so knew it was right..  Then I decide to go to Facebook.. it would not open.  Told me that my password was not correct. Once again.. I knew it was correct.. and I knew  it was really really hard for someone to figure it out.. As it has about 15 letters and numbers and symbols and etc.  I finally after 2 hours of trying to figure out how to get out of this mess..  I walked away.

When it starts to frustrate me.. I walk away..  and remember the words my son, the computer guy.. said to me many years ago..  MOM, IT IS JUST A TOY..  he told me that in the late 1990’s and at that time it was true..   and still kind of ..yet. but we now keep in contact with our friends and family… by computer.. be it Facebook. Or Messenger or emails..  So it is harder to take that advice.  But knowing if I kept it up.. my frustrating would get worse and there would be mistakes.. So walked I did..   He had called that afternoon, and I was complaining and he said.. what does this have to do with Facebook.   I said I thought because of one of the gmails is attached to the Facebook account..  He said it shouldn’t matter.

But long story short.. it didn’t and the reason why I could not get into my Facebook was FACEBOOK WAS DOWN.. NO ONE..across the nation could. 

So by the time I settled down the NEXT DAY..  I had no problem getting into my Facebook.. it came up with my account with no problems.. 

So then it was the emails to figure out. 

I found out that … the King’s gmail.. I had some where in my sanity.. gave my gmail for the kick back incase of trouble with his.. SO while it would not accept my password, it would go to  “forgot your password?” section..  And it would sent to MY gmail.. the way to redo the password.. which was kind of funny.. no so much humor.. but..  I put in the password I had in my book..  and guess what it said..   do not use old password…  now how the hell did it know it was my OLD password.. yet would not accept it?   So I figured out a new one.. yes, I put it in the book… and so far so good.   The HOTMAIL/OUTLOOK  email.. well, that got to be mostly junkmail anyway..  I took what ever was important off of that one in January and gave them my gmail.  So if I never see the Microsoft one again.. I don’t care. And all those junkmails are going to never never land.

I did try to get ahold of Microsoft and tell them how I felt… BUT when I hit send.. it told me it was a…. no reply address… which was not in the return address.  I tried the .com but that went off to some other stuff.  So gave up.  Good bye Microsoft.   The hard part was .. I had used outlook.com for the combo for all my emails.. but I can’t use it.. as gmail.has blocked them when I tried to sign them back up.. why it was erased in the transfer is beyond me.. after all the combo was listed as… you got it.. OUTLOOK.COM.

Any way.. I am like a bad steak.. I AM DONE. I AM OVER DONE.

By the way.. did I ever tell you .. I HATE COMPUTERS..  the necessary evil.??

Not giving up yet...

NOT GIVING UP YET.....

Wow.. it is not 18.. it is 19…

Yesterday, I was looking at my blog, and saw I started in 2005!! Not 06..  So tomorrow is the start of my 20^th year..

So as I was thinking .. as I do at this time of the year.. do I keep going .... is there enough people who still want to read what this simple mind writes…  and then it dawn on me.. 19 years done..  wow..  (that is a lot of BS.. lol)  and can I do one more year and end it on a even year. A milestone so to speak.. after all 20 years..

Then I thought sure I can..  just write 3 or 4 paragraphs twice a week… as I have done for the past several years..   After all I am no quitter. AND it is election year..  and my soap box may be a little wobbly.. but it is still strong enough to hold the weight of my thoughts and words of wisdom…  lol… Don’t know about the wisdom. But this year..  it is going to be either … for me.. a hell of a ride… or I will get sooooo disgusted.. I just won’t care anymore.. 

The country needs Niki to stay in the race for a while longer.. so the mouth of the east, doesn’t get a free ride..  She needs to stay to show… 1. a woman can stand up to corruption.. 2. there is someone who really cares..  even if her way isn’t the one we really were hoping for.  My self I like the gal of Texas..  Gov. Richard.. now she was a character and some one to pay attention to.. but we don’t have those kind of women anymore. I don’t remember what party she belonged to, but I really don’t pay any attention to parties anyway.

Anyway.. as you can see.. I am sticking it out.. so unless God comes up with a better plan.. I am in for the ride..  HANG ON TO YOUR HATS… LADIES AND GENTS.. this could be a hell of a ride.

Still coming in with a roar …

Still coming in with a roar …

We have had some pretty mild weather for over a month..

More rain than snow.. temps about 10 degrees warmer.

But as we headed in to March.. it is living up to its saying, of coming in like an lion and out like a lamb…  but with this year.. who knows..  March just might be a lion all the way thru April. Anything is possible this year… that is for sure.

And to be honest with you.. I am hoping that Spring holds off for a couple more weeks as it is. When I walk around the yard with the GGboy.. all I see is a hell of a lot of work..

Still hoping for a couple more feet of snow…at least if not more for the mountain. We need it for ground water for July

Do you remember??? And I wonder.

Do you remember??? And I wonder.

As I was looking over the blog pages of 18 years ago,

I came across this one …   do you remember? It was in the news ..  everyone had an opinion.. most was let Terri go.

As I remember that story of 18 years ago…  I wonder how the story would have panned out today.. With the state congress’s making up the rules of lives.. women’s in particular..  Their take on how the human life should begin.. when will they decided to when it ends… as in this story.

It is just a matter of time..   After all they reverse .Roe and Wade..  and now working on starting with life at the sperm.

Will the health care owners get lawyers to prolong life to

line their pockets more?  Who knows..  20 years ago we didn’t think we would be here on Roe and Wade. 

this story seems sooooo far in the past and yet.. 

 

 MARCH 31, 2005

Somewhere Over the Rainbow......

Some where over the Rainbow, Way up high,
There's a land that I heard ofOnce in a lullaby
If happy little bluebirds flyBeyond the rainbow.
Why, oh why can't I?

That is the first line and last line of
Somewhere over the Rainbow...

Today, it finally ends. And hopefully the media
will take their 3 ring circus some where else and
let the people at the Hospice Center have peace
and quiet, they deserved.

For Terri, it has ended. To be trapped inside
a body for 15 years. Now she is free. Only one
can make decisions for her. And I trust him
more than any earth bound person. He will
have her whole and happy....
And the other people left behind? He will
take care of you all too... He will judge, not I.

So Terri, I hear, SOME WHERE OVER THE RAINBOW...

For those who don't remember
the words...here they are...
at this site.
Good bye Terri, God Bless
http://www.reelclassics.com/Musicals/Wizoz/rainbow-lyrics.htm

 

Heading out of February…..

Heading out of February…..

Just 3 more days. Adding in the leap year day of the 29^th.  We head into March.  March the month that comes in as a lion and out like a lamb…  Which I don’t know if it will be like that..  as the weather has not been lion like for over a month… Even yesterday and today.. we have had winter storm warnings of MAYBE snow and winds 25 to 50 mph. and so far it has been a no show of just rain only.

And then there is the every year sessions of thought..  with March 5^th coming up… what do I do..  I have wanted to make it a 20 year thing.. but I am only celebrating 18 years this year.  Do I have it in me to do 2 more years… Hell, will I still be around in 2 more years.  

Last week I started with thoughts of ending it as I was having trouble coming up with something to say..  after all there has been how many post.. well over 3,500…

Started out with every day.. 7 days a week.. then shorten it up to 5 and then now 2…  Some days I have a lot to say, especially when I find my soapbox…. Other days it is a struggle.. and it was a struggle day that I thought of writing… AND SO SHE WALKS AWAY..  had a few lines.. but didn’t write them down…  so with my brain.. there went that…   ha ha…  There has been sooooooooo many times, while away from the house, I came up with what I thought would be great subjects..   but living life, wiped them away.. so figure they must not have been that great..  

Any way.. that is what is on my mind this week..  do I keep on, or do I finally say enough??

President Day…

President Day… 

I am old enough to remember when there was no “PRESIDENT’S DAY off’”….  Oh, we celebrated PRESIDENT WASHINGTON birthday day.. and of course before that… PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S birthday..   22^nd and the 12^th.. in that order.. 

Now they not only throw in the whole bunch.. meaning all of the presidents… and not on their days but on the third Monday of the month.  EVERY YEAR.. 

And to be honest..  (as in those two President were… Honest Abe..  and I shall not tell a lie (Washington).. I don’t remember if they were a day off.. they were for the schools, but don’t know if they were actual Federal holidays..  Probably were.    And that is the sticker… with adding new Federal holidays.. they had to cut down on the ones that they had. Can’t give the workers too many days off.. I guess.

I saw lately where the Oriental people would like to make Lunar Year a holiday..  not sure if they want a federal one or not..   but I say .. go for it.. Why you ask?  Because the blacks have two days and a month of recognition.  They have January… MLK day..  ALL OF FEBRUARY for Black month.. AND then they added Juneteenth Day on June 19.. I think that was suppose to be when the slaves were set free.   And being from R.I. and we did have slaves in the 1800’s.. but we also had Irish slaves.. Oh, they call it indenture?   It was where the Irish were brought over for stable help, because they were and are great horsemen. And the woman came over for kitchen help.. They were told when they worked enough.. they would be free to go where they pleased..  only trouble is . they didn’t tell the Irish employee/slaves.. that it was almost impossible to be free as the owners kept adding in more and more money owed.. with money for rent.. money for clothing.. money for food and etc..   So I wonder..  when did they set the Irish free.. was it the same time as the blacks… or did that go on for a while.. I will have to google that .. But they at least got a day too.. not a day off for the nation.. but one of recognition.  ST. PATTY'S DAY. 

And finally the Native American's got  a month.. but again.. not a nation holiday as the blacks have gotten.. but one like the Black's..  a month  of recognition. 

Anyway.. I hope you had a fun day yesterday.. IF YOU GOT IT OFF,   as there is a lot of companies who do not recognize it.. and the workers work..  And of course in the nursing occupations for hospitals and nursing home.. that is not a holiday..  Altho.. when I was working the nursing home.. they gave MY birthday off instead of paying time and half for a holiday for all of us.. Giving us our own birthday off, was just straight time..  so a saving for the nursing home.  Oh, forgot.. they don’t called them nursing homes anymore.. they are HEALTH CARE CENTERS..    .

 

 

I.... Hate... PAPER WORK...

I hate paper work.. I hate trying find things… 

As life slips by I try to keep thing in order.. Fat chance.

As my aunt told me years ago..  PAPER WORK, PAPER WORK.. I HATE PAPER WORK… she was telling me of her dining room table which had stacks of papers on it.. So were junk and a lot of it was stuff she had to do something with it. And even some that had to be filed..  Her daughters came to visit.. and they would go thru the piles with her..  both of them office workers, so an fairly easy chore for them..  And she was SOOOOOOOOOOOO GRATEFUL..   But then in a week or so.. there it was again, she said.  She said she tried to take care of things. as they came in.. but some how, the piles returned. 

Here I am almost 20 years later and I know EXACTLY what she means..  I am not a smart phone person.. I do have a file cabinet.. I do have a file thingie, that I put recipts in for each month as it comes, so at the end of the year I can do taxes. But there is other papers.. that I hang on to..  They are not so important that I need to file them in my file cabinet.  So I have folders on my desk.. and I try to go thru them from time to time to throw stuff away.. But it seems it is a matter of time before I have the folders filing up with “temporary save”

As they become to be known.  And THEN THERE IS THE COMPUTER.. I have so many things saved in my Doc. File.. then there is folders on the desk top.. that are temp holds..and some are just a file..  My head is aching..  WHY CAN’T I BE LIKE MY GRANDSON…  he files EVERYTHING on his phone.. (yes, a smart phone, but remember I flunked that a year ago)  he THROWS AWAY HIS RECIPTS!!  Oh, my God.. how can he verify he paid? Some is on his phone.. some he just doesn’t care..  because no one is going to want to see them anyway..  And I know deep down in my heart he is right..  but my heart and sould won’t let me throw any of them away.. None of them.   When January comes, I have every single recipt for the past year.. I have every bill with the check number, date and amount on it.. I have every single thing I think I MIGHT NEED.    And then there is the going thru each receipt… just in case I put one in that I need for taxes.. Which is crazy as there is less and less they let us use on our income tax..  

So I tell you  … I HATE PAPER WORK.. I HATE PAPERS…FOR ANYTHING.. You know it is sad, when you go thru your file cabinet draw that has the folder for all the booklets for anything you bought..  and find out there is at least 4 that you don’t even own the item anymore..

I feel like that commercial where the old guy tries to break the younger generation.. from becoming like their parents. Making them throw things away.. and etc..  those people is me….   I know sure as hell if I throw it away.. something will come up…  just like as soon as you throw away a tool or etc. you haven’t used for 5 years….  You will need it 3 days later.

And NO I do not do THE CLOUD..  I know it exist, but I have no clue how it works and etc..  AND I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!  It is just more information.. to have to take care of..

And I am not going to say anything about spending 4 hours trying to find out what I did with some ancestry paperwork.. as I don’t know where in this house it  is.. and I gave up my account.. and I don’t want to pay just to copy one list!.. That is a whole another area.

 

 

 

 

It is... WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHT SEASON

It is WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHT SEASON

 

This is the part of the year.. where we run in one spot.. day after day after day..  This year to add to that.. we have no snow.  Oh, we have a patch here and there, where we piled it up in the beginning of January.. when we got about 9 inches one day and 5 more the next and then another 5.. after that NOTHING..  But lots of rain.. and wind and GOOD BYE, SNOW.

So now it is like end of March.. no snow, mud everywhere. Load limits on the road..  The walk around the yard is frustration.. You see the dead leaves of Fall. The branches that need to be taken down..  the vines that need to be trim around on the bushes..  But with lots of rain and wind.. you just can’t get into the mood.   If you get any sunshine it is about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, when you are winding down for the day. 

Will we get more snow?  Who knows. Surely the weather man doesn’t, as he is just as frustrated as we are, the change signs.. only to have mother earth switch it around in the air.. and warmer comes..  The Mountains did get some snow.. they got 13 inches last week and they were THRILLED.. as it has been disappearing there too.. and then of course there are avalanches to worry about.

They got more snow today… about 3 inches.. we got rain.

Cabin Fever is going to be coming early this year.. 

Wasn’t going to watch… but did

Wasn’t going to watch… but did

I use to watch football..  on the weekends and the Super Bowl over the years .. off and on.. if I wasn’t working.. but of the last couple of years.. I just haven’t had it in me to watch. It wasn’t anything big or even little.. just wasn’t into it.

Wasn’t going to watch it this year.. BUT SURPRISE.. the King decided to start watching the game… they surprise is.. because he DOES NOT LIKE FOOTBALL.  Now a good fishing show, he is right there.. but football.. nah..

Yet here we are..

Then as we switch to watch the news during half time.. we come back and it is 10 to 13.. The 13..to 13…. 16 to 16.. then 19 to 19 AND IT GOES INTO OVER TIME.. WOW..

Even the King is excited..  Now we have no horse in this game.. either one is good. But the game itself.. turns out to be good…  It is not a 45 to 3.. it is in overtime…. And down to the last wire.. less than 2 minutes of the over time…

AND THE  KANSAS CITY CHIEFS WON… 

What is your occupation?

What is your occupation?

What kind of work did you do over your years?? And what is the longest..   being a housewife and mom doesn’t count.. while it is an admiral occupation.. I have not found any that paid for it..  So count the ones you were paid for.

My first paying job was the usual, especially for women. Babysitting.. Wages… were 25 cent an hour… I did it from 14 to 17…  with another thrown in when I was 15 for the summers..  I worked for a Produce Stand. Selling produce. So I learn how to tell a good watermelon.. a good cantaloupe and etc..  wage.. also 25 cents an hour.. 

Then I graduated. And got a job at the Naval Exchange dept. of the Navy base in Newport R.I.  wages was a big whopping $1 an hour..  I got fired.. a year later for insubordination.. didn’t know what it meant.. so he told me to go home and look it up in the dictionary that I would have plenty of time to do so.  Reasoning being I did not know how to play office politics..  I had upset one set of the office group, while working for the other side..  plus I had walked into the supply room on a couple that was married to others…. Who were top bosses.. one of which was the one that fired me.

But that sent me down to Florida with my grandfather..  While there I would go swimming in the ocean which was lined with hotels.. One of which I got to be friends with the housekeeper’s daughter.  One day the restaurant cook asked me if I ever waited on tables..   which I smart-assed ..only my family..  But ended up telling him, I was willing to try if he was willing to teach me..  His normal waitress, had to go home to a funeral for a family member.  I was living with my grandfather who was not the happiest camper that I took the job.. but figured maybe it would do me good.  Well, it was a learning thing for sure.   Found out how horrible men where to women waitress, and because I was kind of a smart ass, I survived the 5 days.  And because of it.. I have had a respect for those who waitress.  Wage… lol.. two free lunches after the 5 days..  no time to collect during working time.   I took the orders, walked them out to the table..  Kept the tables, clean, filled sugar, salt and pepper containers, and ketch and mustard ones… and always wiping down everything as I went.. There was no kid to take away the dishes and get the table ready for the next customer.  The cook was a fairly decent guy.. but I had him as I warned him, I was not a waitress.. no experience … and HE ASKED ME to work..

Next I was off to San Diego, Ca. as my mother’s friend came to Florida to watch over my grandfather (who really didn’t need anyone but company).

My first job was working for Christmas holidays, in a music store. As soon as Christmas was done.. I helped with inventory counting and then I was laid-off..  wage $1.25.

Next up was Ratner Men’s manufactory..  which made mens suits and sports jackets. I was hired in the payroll office. I was a counter.   We were given sheets of paper.. with stickers on them.. Some times it would be about 3 or4 stickers and some times the sheet was full or there would be up to 3 sheets full. On these sheets were stickers..  about inch long and ¼ wide.  And on those stickers were numbers.

Those numbers represented an item that was sewn on to the jacket or pants of the suit.  There were 3 of us who did this part of the job.. There was another one who took over the sheets and took the items, plus the wage for that sheet of items sewed.  Bigger ones were one price.. small ones another.  Could be a pocket, a collar or waist band.. bigger ones were the legs sewn together.. and the front of the jacket to the back of the jacket.  I lasted there 2 years.. and had some fun times with fellow employees.. especially one called Judy.. I have already written about her and our escapades.   I left there, as I had gotten married and then was pregnant.   Wage $1.50 an hour.

After that I did a short time in a 26 Flavors ice cream shop that also did hamburgers and hot dogs, with fries.  That one was about 9 months.. as the man who owned it was in the Navy.. and his wife ran it while he was gone..  And he came back two days early.. and found out that she was not at the store for opening..and she wasn’t there for closing..  That I had been doing all of that… she only showed up to take the money for the day.   So he closed the shop. Wage was $1.30 an hour. Babysitter was $35 a week.

I did several years of doing the Mom job… and ended up divorce and then remarried.  I help with the business by being bookkeeper for mechanics and then for scrap iron. Even ran the smasher for a short time..  and was the car burner when it was legal.. to get the copper wire out.

When my husband passed away.. I had been going thru nurse aide classes and graduated 4 days before he passed. I went to work at a nursing home a week after his funeral.

All the kids were teens so no babysitter. And the boys left shortly after.. with just my daughter at home in school.

I worked for 18 years there.. starting at $3.35 an hour.. got a raise  6 months later as the owners really like me.. a whole whopping 5 cents.. lol.  So it was 3.40.  by the time I left 18 years later. I was making $9.11 an hour..  see our wages were frozen for 3 years.  When the new nursing care center went in and workers were jumping.. those of us got small raises as we were loyal and stayed..  those who threaten to leave got 75 cents to a $1.25 raises to stay..    Those of us who stayed were rounded off the nearest dime.. One gal had been there 34 years.. she was making .09 so she got one cent.. I was an lucky one.. mine was . 04   so I got 6 cents. Lol…  But anyway..  I was 63, we had new administration in that was cutting everywhere.. and a new nurse director.. who wrote me up for changing the residents too often and using too much supplies…   I could see the hand writing on the wall..  so I turn in my notice for the end of the month.. which was also the end of the year. HAPPY NEW YEAR… I AM SO GONE.  Lol..  hello SS…  

I did some home health for about 4 years.. and like that.. so much more gratifying.. So appreciated. Turning 70 soon, so gave up home health after my last one when into a health care center.

 

So what did you do for an occupation?