Heat

Once again we have gone from using the heat right into using the air conditioning.  This seems to be happening quite frequently the last few years.  We don't get a chance to get use to the rising temperatures.  Today's temp was 92 degrees.  Last week it was 60's to 70's.  No happy medium.

 I have all the pool equipment out.  Nothing is set where it should be and the cover is still on.  Guess that can go on my "To do list."   I use the to do list when I feel like it.  When I was young and the kids were small, these things were on the top of my list.  Now that they are gone, I have decided it really doesn't matter.  The dust that is there today will still be there tomorrow.  It isn't as important as it was years ago.  It's not as important to clean it as soon as I see it.  My new motto - I am taking time to smell the roses as long as there are no bees in them....

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day.  We are suppose to remember all our soldiers past, present and future who have fought for our freedom.  Being a Genealogist, I know our family has plenty of soldiers that fought in the Revolutionary War and other Wars.  I don't need to go to the gravesite to remember them today, as I am at the cemetery numerous times during the year.  Everyone knows if they can't find me at home, go look in the cemetery, I am the one walking around with the camera and tablet.  Yes, I remember Aden, Peter, Nathan, Eliphalet, to name a few.  Claude Stevens Sr., Gray Bossi Sr., Robert Bossi Jr., and my Granddaughter Brittnay.  A prayer goes to heaven for all of them. 

Have a good Memorial Day and take a moment to remember all who have fought for us to be free!   

Can I have 5 minutes of peace?

Mom! Mom! Mom - the favorite word of a child wanting your attention.  Not just a minute of it, but all of your attention.  I remember when the children were younger and wanted their own individual attention.  The youngest was the one that the cord was never cut.  When she was two, I only wanted five minutes of peace, didn't happen.  When she was three, I still wanted five minutes of peace.  Even when I took a bath she was there to keep me company, with plenty of toys in case I wanted to play or got lonesome.  I didn't know what lonesome was, I always had one attached to my hip.  Now, I get to watch my daughter with her little girl.  Mom is her favorite word.  Next comes Grandma then Grandpa.  It is a funny cycle to see.  I still am able to sit back and watch, until they want something.  The words then are Mom - Grandma - yes, they both are calling me.... 

Want a frog?

My Granddaughter is still afraid of spiders and some other creepie crawlies but let her know where a frog is and she is on top of it instantly.  Of course she wants me to hold and touch them, ugh!  I don't if I can help it.  I will make any excuse not to.  She was in the house with it yesterday and it jumped out of her hands and almost right into the mouth of the cat and dog.  The dog knew something went by her face and jumped in the opposite direction.  Good thing.  She put it on Grandpa's head, he doesn't mind.  Then it jumped on me.  I was good, I didn't scream like a girl, I did tell her it was time to take it back outside.  She now has three frogs held captive in a plastic tub outside.  Can't wait to see if they leave tonight...

The "I wants"

Everyone at some point in life has the "I wants"  Even if we don't really need it, I want it.  It is something in life we couldn't have for one reason or another.  Maybe it's too big, too small, too hard to handle or too expensive.  Sometimes we need to prove a point to ourselves and others that we can get it.  We can do it even though others won't or don't want you to do it.   It is something we need to prove to ourselves.  After we have done it and conceded, we can admit to others that we have done it, we conquered it and now it is time to go on.   We give ourselves a pat on the back and life does go on.  The laughter is not to hurt you but to help you pave the way to the next "I want."  Just remember you are never alone.

This is another one of those lessons that aren't attached to a book.                

Revenge

Sometime in May I blogged about a little trick that was played on me with a candy bar, but nothing is as good as the real thing.  Now Stacy really didn't want to tell us her funny story.  It took a while for her to break down and tell us.  She had Bella, the puppy, at her house one night.  She showered and after she was done didn't put her glassess on.  Upon arriving in the bedroom she smelled something nasty and knew instantly what it was.  She didn't realize it was as close as it was until she stepped in it.  Ugh!  She hobbled to the bathroom on her heel and washed it off.  Wow, does this sound familiar?  Paybacks may not happen soon but they eventually do.  Yes, I do feel sorry for her, but it is funny. We all had a good laugh with her...

Heard from the Company

I was notified by the Company that the book returnability contract is in effect.  Now I will call and see if I can get my book on the shelf at the local book stores and maybe do a book signing.  I'm so excited.  Is it really true?  Guess I'll find out soon.  I will believe it when I see my book in the store.  Guess that will give me the incentive to continue writing and blogging. 
Stacy brought Bella back over to visit and we decided to keep her tonight.  After I showered and made myself comfortable on the couch, Bella came up to sit.  She is so cute.  She started to dig at the cover that I keep on the couch, keeps the cat and dog fur down, and all of a sudden I feel something warm!  She's peeing on the cover!  Ugh!  She's never done that before.  I cleaned it up and jumped back in the shower, then called Stacy to say she has ruined the dog.  We kind of share the dog and she had the puppy while I was in the hospital and recuperating.  I told her no more visits to her house, she stays here.  Now I must explain the living arrangements to Bob.

First day home

How good it was to be in my own bed last night.  I slept like a log.  Upon arising this AM I had quite the surprise in the yard.  Lite face, the bear, was here looking for a meal.  He didn't stay long after he sized up the feeders.  I think he will return later.  Sure enough.  After supper I am sitting with my back to the window, the cat starts his deep growl.  I turn and am practically face to face with Lite face!  Glad the door is closed.  He was looking in the window at the cat, who continued growling.  I banged on the window to scare him after he gave the feeder a good look.  I think he will be back later to see what kind of seeds he can get.   It's going to be a long night...

Good News!

I am no longer a guest at the Hilton.  The Doctor was in and since I have no children here, she released me.  I was ready and waiting to leave in 15 minutes.  Of course I was not the only patient of this nurse, so I had to wait my turn.  I am thrilled to be home.  Bob is just as happy since he doesn't have to run all day.  At least I did it on a weekend and it didn't interfere with work or anything.  He had his first real food in days also.  We both enjoyed it. 

Now, I still must not get into all the things I did before.  Must still recoup.  Can't go outside - raining as usual.  Ah, I hear the frogs.  Pool cover is still on so no activity there.   Can't wait to vacumn rugs.  I at least got the kitchen cleaned up, we did leave really fast.  Hopefully I don't have to do that again... 

Life continues at the Hilton

I finally got some sleep last night, after a visit from the Doctor.  He was here really late and that was okay.  The nurses stayed away as much as they could so I could get some sleep.  I feel more human today.  They are now giving me shots in the belly to thin my blood.  Hope I don't need them when I go home.  I can give shots but when it comes to getting them I am a big baby.  Bob was here to visit today.  I think he is getting a little lonesome at home.  No one to talk to, no one to cook and eat with, no one to follow him around.  He has finished every leftover in the frig.  Now he is telling me we will have to go for groceries, now that is a switch.  The milk is almost sour, the bread is gone, and next he will be eating his camping food.  I keep telling him to go to McDonalds.  He's sick of their food.  Right about now I could kill for McD's.  I am on a low salt diet, yuck!  Now don't get me wrong, the food is good, just needs a little salt.  Is McDonalds food low salt?  Do they deliver?

Life at the Hilton

I hate being sick.  Yes, nurses make bad patients, I can vouch for that.  We have our own way to do things, but when we are in someone else' s house, it is their way.  Some days that works and some days it doesn't.  When Bob is here he helps the nurse tell me how to do it.  He does keep us laughing.  He helps eat my meals - food just doesn't interest me yet.  It could be all the antibiotics.  I now have four Doctors making the calls.  Guess I really am sick. Why didn't someone tell me before this!  At least all systems are functioning.  I'm getting good at pushing my IV pole around, just wish I could dress it, maybe give it some hair.  Then try to get some sleep, not here. It must be payback time.  I didn't sleep last night.  The covers and I were fighting all night.  Then every time I was comfortable enough, I would moan and wake myself up.  I finally went to sleep, if two hours is sleep.  Bob came early to check on me.  When he left I settled down, got comfy and in comes the nurse.  They do wait outside the door to catch you sleeping and wake you up.  Next comes the Doctor - so now forget it, I'm up.  Of course no one comes in.  I think I will do a test, pretend I'm asleep and see how many people can wake me up.  I am starting to feel human again, so in the mean time I'll keep you all informed about "Life at the Hilton!" 

Back to the Hilton

Went to bed early last night, hoping to catch up on some sleep, that didn't work very well.  Needed Tylenol for the discomfort, taken with a glass of water.  I was thirsty!  Two hours later, it is bathroom time.  Now I am coughing and hear what I call snap, crackle and pop coming from my lungs.  I try to lay down again.  With all the moving around I wake Bob up.  I was sittimg on the side of the bed.  Usually I hit the floor running, but not on this day.  I know I have pneumonia.  I waited long enough and called the Doctor.  The words come over the phone, "Go to the Emergency Room."  I hate to because I know they will hold me captive again.  I do have this problem any time I go near a hospital.

So here I sit with a nebulizer treatment for my breathing, IV's running fluids, and three different antibiotics, with no promise to get sprung in the next day or two.  At least the prisioners here are able to have computers.  It isn't easy to get on the internet, and of course that isn't in my vocabulary.  So in case I can't get on to blog - I'm in the Hilton doing rest and relaxation - I will return as soon as I can.  Thanks to all who read my blog....  

Good Morning All

What a beautiful morning, the sun is shining for now.  More rain is coming.  I have spent the last two days in the hospital, but now I'm home.  I can finally sit up.  They say, "Cough and deep breathe!"  How can you cough when it hurts so bad, deep breathe - you deep breathe and cough, no matter what it hurts.  The first out of bed experience is to walk a lap down the hall and back.  I did make it and then attached myself to the bed.  And medications, If there is an over the counter for your med, you are now taking it.  I do bring my own every time.  Most of the ones they want me to take I have already taken and they don't work for me, so why take them?  The pain meds were great at 2:00 Am.  Pain med with anti nausea, yep, it means long nap.  They didn't wake me for 4 hours.  All the staff were great.  If I wanted something I got it.  It's no wonder we call them angels.  Stacy and Bob did help a lot too.  I thank you all!!!    

Having fun

Years ago when Stacy and Bobby were young they did a "funny" to me.  Dad was in on it too.  I was the innocent bystander.  I am a creature of habit.  Since I work day shift, I go to bed early.  There are times I am in bed before the kids.  This night was no different.  I don't turn the lights on, I just walk over to the bed and climb in.  After saying my good-nights to Bob and the kids I went on my way to bed.  The three of them in one room together should have tipped me off.  We were potty training a new dog and doing well at it.  An occasional accident would happen, so what.  Across the hall and into the bedroom I go.  All of a sudden I step on something gushy!  I scream "Snoopy!"  Whatever it is, is stuck between my toes.  I turn around to go to the bathroom to wash it off hobbling on my heel.  Hey, I not only have to clean my foot but then will have to clean the floor.  I turned on the water and put my foot in the tub.  Now, the laughter should have been a dead give away.  It wasn't.  When I looked at my foot and saw a Milky Way bar stuck between my toes, not dog poo!  Now I hear the laughter.  They did it.  They mushed the candy bar till it was soft, placed it on the floor and waited for me.   I hope they enjoyed themselves, paybacks will be fun...

A slow day

Wow, only a little running today.  Cat needed food.  How can I word that differently?  ( A writing tibit from class)  See, this cat weighs at least 18 pounds now.  Since we have adopted Mama and Big Boy and Bella the dog, he sees someone come downstairs and runs to his food dish and eats.  He is a stress eater.  No one here will take his food but he guards it.  The puppy will sneak over and steal a tibit or two and gets the usual growl.  I go through ten pounds of dry food in a month for him alone.  He also gets a quarter can of wet food twice a day, so there is no chance he will starve.  He likes to clean the other cat dishes if there are leftovers in it.  My cat is a slave to food.  Then there is another dish for Mama and Big Boy of dry food, they don't like Pumpkin's, that I catch him in on occasion.  Maybe he is trying to live up to his name!!!

What a day

We spent the day mostly on the go, as usual.  We found a cemetery I have been looking for, for two years.  We finally went far enough on the road.  It wasn't big once we got into it.  The three other cemetery stompers were with me.  I took my first picture and started to write the information on my tablet, with the rest of the gang yelling out a new stone.  It does take time to do this, slow down.  I did finally catch up to them.  By this time the black flies are getting bad.  I can feel them in my hair.  My new bug hat was home, it may mess my hair. All winter I couldn't wait till the weather broke so I could do this, I just wish the bugs would go away.  The bugs made me write faster.  Good thing I can understand my own writing.  Our next stop was to go looking for mushrooms.  I stayed in the car.  No more bugs, I can't take it.  The walk was unsuccessful.  They returned in record time.  Can we go home now?  I need my computer to print my pictures.  I didn't tell them that tho....

Hit the ground running!

Amazing the endless power a seven year old has.  The second they get up, they are ready to roll.  I need at least half an hour to get myself on go.  What are we doing today?  Let's go.  Let's try breakfast first.  Okay that is over, now what are we doing.  Now, I'm not saying that I am old, but sometimes I can't keep up with this bundle of energy.  Give her a dust rag or vacumn and she will dust or clean the floor, not always the way I want it, but she's being helpful.  Cooking with a partner is always fun for her.  Kids this age want to be busy.  Occasionally she will use an electronic device to keep herself occupied.  Some days we just run out of ideas to keep her busy so we then just sit and cuddle for a while and watch TV.  This is one way to get extra Grandma time in and she doesn't realize that we aren't busy.

Site now running!

Sorry I wasn't able to blog yesterday, site was down.  We were having fun watching the squirrels getting into the porch feeder.  Bob thought the plastic would stop them.  It did for a few days!  Now he has gone back to the drawing board. 

A friend reminded me of a funny story today.  When the kids were younger they could never figure out how their little furry pets would live so long and their friends' pets didn't.  Gold fish all look alike, hamsters do too.  We would see that they were gone and rather than having them heart broken we would replace them while they were at school.  We did have some problems because some of the hamsters would be mean.  We told them it was hibernation or mating season.  It worked.  A friend said his daughters fish was sinking slowly.  I told him go and get a new one, she'll never know.  How many times have you done this?

Genealogy

Just another one of my "hobbies!"  I call it looking for dead people.  Sometimes it is more fun playing with dead people.  They can play hide and seek with you when you want.  Sometimes you never find them.  I have one like that.  I add new ones on a daily basis, young and old.  I stomp (not really stomp) through cemeteries as much as I can to find new stones.  I get strange looks from people when they see me with a camera in the cemetery.  Some have actually asked me why I am driving around the cemetery.  I like the dead people because they don't ask "why are you mad at me?"  They also don't require me to watch over their shoulder to be sure they are on the right path.  I don't have to feed them or clothe them, give them money, take them anywhere.  I just take their picture, print it on my Ancestry site, put their information in and see if I can find any history on them.  See they play nice in the sandbox.  I love dead people....

Feeder update.

The bear has returned a twice now.  Bob catches him before he can get up the new feeder.  He now knows if the squirrels can get up the post that the bear will also.  He won't let him but the day will come when no one is home and I am sure he will destroy everything.  I do hate to see that.  Bob has worked long and hard on this project.  I will post a pix of the top of it.  The whole thing doesn't fit on the camera.  Remember it is on a 12 foot post!  There is a crank on it to make it go up and down.  While the bear was here yesterday, he also climbed up the tree to the other bird feeded.  He really can do it fast, must be those nasty claws that help.  Once again Bob saved the feeder.  Too bad the bear knows where that one is too.  Can't wait to see him hang from the wire to get it.  Ah, country living...

Special time

Grandparents are something that should be cherished.  We don't have them in our lives for long.  My Grandmother was special in my life.  I spent all my extra time with her.  We walked all over to go shopping or visiting other relatives.  She didn't have much money since she was living on Social Security, so the little things she bought for me were appreciated.  I was her favorite Grandchild and I knew it.  No one else in the family lived close to her and I was always there.  I remember not having a bathtub in the house when I was a child.  Since I had a brother and sister that were older I got the bathwater last.  Not at Grandma's.  My water was always fresh.  On Sundays I went to church and by the time I got back, Grandma had a chicken dinner with homemade lemon meringue pie.  These are things I can never have again.  They are my memories.  I lost my Grandma when I was 14.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of her.  This was my special time with my Grandma.  What are your memories with your Grandparents?      

Happy Mother's Day!

Anyone can be a Mother by having a child.  It takes someone special to be a Mom.  What makes a Mother?  This can be answered by everyone differently.  Kids don't come with instructions so we must make our own.  Love, caring, nurturing.  I was really going to write a long column today and decided against it.  Don't let your child become part of the throw away society.  Give them your help.  Have a great Mother's Day.

Ten seconds of fame

Bob was watching the news this morning and they had the Chef from our local Diner on.  He yelled to me to come and watch.  Yes, this was the one I saw recorded when I met a friend for lunch to deliver my book.  I was in the spotlight for a whole 10 seconds!  That was the day we were trying to get their attention to maybe do a little story on a local writer.  I still haven't given that up.

I was taking a writing course on line recently.  It was asking questions to help jog your mind for writing.  One question was name some handy hints to live by.  These are mine: Never put on paper something that can crucify you; Never say something you must apologise for later; Don't compare kids, each is an individual and different; If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all.  I have feelings just like the next person.  My husband, my children and my grandchildren are what I live for, you hurt them and you hurt me.  This is something you learn later in life but if my writing it helps one person, I have accomplished something today.

Groceries anyone?

On Friday or Saturday I do the same thing I have been doing for over fourty years.  What is that you say?  Going for groceries.  I go even if there is nothing on my list.  They say I go every week because it is a habit now.  I won't tell them they are right.  While having my AM tea, I write on the list the things I can remember needing.  I don't put milk and bread on the list, just things I have run out of or something I need for a new recipe.  Yes, Bob is sometimes a guinea pig.  He doesn't complain.  We see the same people in the same store, they have gotten to know us.  If he can't go with me the girls all ask where he is.  I do have to send him to work during the week.  The cashiers love the entertainment we provide and try to get us in their aisle.  We like to fuss over "paper or plastic?"  I like paper so we can put our papers in them, he likes plastic so he doesn't have to buy plastic to use when he cleans the cat pan.  I bag, so it's mostly paper.  There are some things we can't get at that store and have to go elsewhere.  Last time we went together, I decided to shock him.  "Can we go to a different store?  He was shocked, but we did go elsewhere...

Decisions, decisions!

I wanted to do something today rather than stay in the house and do womanly duties, you know clean, do laundry, wash dishes.  Should I go shopping or go to one of the Historical Societies?  Decisions, decisions.  Bob was no help.  Do whatever you want.  I finally decieded to go to the historical society, but which one.  I need information from both.  I was at one last week, the other that is further, I haven't been to in ages.  Since it was such a nice day, I opted for the furthest one.  What a beautiful scenic drive.  I enjoyed every minute of it.  Next week it will be the other.

Yesterday I tried to backup my computer.  It said the directions were simple.  Well, not simple enough.  Hit this button then hit that one was fine.  Then it asked for a flash drive.  Yes, I do know what that is.  I plugged it in.  Now what.  In the mean time I have a portable hard drive (at least I think that is what it is called) plugged in too.  I know something is happening because it is vibrating ever so slightly.  Now I think I am backing up my computer.  All of a sudden it wants a CD.  Why?  Well if it wants one it can have it.  I put it in and hit the icon and then it said something I didn't understand.  I do know what abort means so I hit that button instead.  Then it wants to know, "Do you want to try again?"  Why would I?  I couldn't do it the first time.  Stacy where are you?....  

Spring brings frogs!

Spring not only brings flowers but also tree frogs.  I was outside yesterday, just when the thunder started and lo and behold that noise I was hearing was the return of the tree frogs.  It brings back many memories of running out the door so many times a day to go and listen to them because Bob loves the sounds they make.  Try to figure out where they are.  For the last four years they have returned to my pool and held it captive.  I get to take the lid off the pool and fill it but no chemical or filter till the frogs mate.  We have never had any eggs survive in the pool.  Last years chemicals did them in.   This really puts me behind in getting the pool cleaned for the season.  Bob finds them and moves them off the pool, only to return faster than he can.  Bob has heard them already so I know all to soon he will be on the hunt for the elusive tree frogs. 

Flowers for Grandma.

I just stepped out the front door and the sweet smell of Spring flowers hit me instantly.  I kept breathing in the smell that lingered in the air.  Suddenly the light went on in my head and I remembered another story.  Bobby was visiting with the two young girls.  It was Springtime.  The flowers were just popping up.  I just finished planting flowers for the summer.  My, they looked nice.  We built beds next to the sidewalk that we planted every year.  The girls went outside to play.  Aunt Stacy was with them.  As with any child, take your eyes off them for a second and they are into something they shouldn't be.  These two were the same.  About ten minutes after going out, in they come.  The oldest said, "Here Grandma, I picked you a flower."  First I made a fuss as to how pretty the top of the flower was, it had no stem, then I made a request for the remainder of the flowers to stay right where they were.  Yes, who can resist picking more flowers for Grandma.  After they left I had to go and buy more flowers to plant as she kept bringing Grandma more flower tops a few times a day.  Lesson learned - don't let the kids outside...   

Teenagers!

Today's blog will start with a thank you to all our service people who are fighting in all corners of the world keeping us safe.  Please keep them safe.  Hope that there are no repercussions from the killing of Bin Laden.  We have lost enough.

The kids all cleared out by 8:00 last night.  Wow, was it quiet, too quiet.  Did I say that?  They were good for the most part.  The teenager on the other hand was a hand full.  She could think of more ways to be annoying than I could imagine.  She pouts, stomps down the hall, talks back, burps loudly and doesn't like doing anything but eating and spending money.  When I let her Father know all these things I learned, he thought I was nuts and joking.  No, Bobby, this is what we put up with for a week.  You must not know this girl.  His mouth fell further and further with each new sentence.  By this time we were laughing - he was in shock.   "Not my daughter!" were his words.  Well then, you gave us someone else's kid because this was the one we had.  The only thing she liked that I did was take pictures at the cemetery and of the old house that belonged to the family over seventy-five years ago.  She wanted no part of any place we wanted to go.  "Oh I don't like museums or libraries.  I don't like reading."  So therefore, there is no place to go.  So, what can we do when it is raining all week?  Nothing but pout.  Oh well, we all survived, she went home - I think to boot camp, Bobby was in the service.  I do think that when she comes back again that she won't be such a handful.  Love her anyway.   

No Posting!

Sorry I wasn't able to post yesterday.  I have a housefull of company.  I have two teens, one who doesn't like to listen, one infant who is really a good baby, and four kids under nine, with six adults.  We had a great supper and fun conversation till 1:00 last night.  Not all are here yet, so I have a moment to blog in peace.  Sometimes the kids belong to the Mafia and are into everything, then on the other hand they are perfect angels.  Oh, that all centers around being a child.  Sometimes as adults we don't understand it.  Love the days when we went through the trying times with ours.  Now I sit back and watch my children with their children, going through the same things.  I always said paybacks are great...