Day 5

Looks like the end of my health cleanse. Hubby came home a little early, not that I'm not glad. But I plan to stick to most of it. Wheat (onlly whole) will get added and small amounts of chicken, I think. Will try to keep sugar and caffeine out. This has felt good and makes you get out of the habit of snacking. That's my biggest problem. I am a grazer!! I know Moooooooo!

New developments. After I told hubby that the gal wasn't running my store anymore he suggested that I head back right away before the weather gets to hot and take care of my business. I know he is right. I have to contact all my customers and let them come in and use their credit up that they acquired when they brought books in. I will let them use it across the board. Its not fair to shut down and technically I owe them. So will be fun to be in my store if only for a couple weeks. Then I will find a local place to sell the remainder books if I can. I may decide to sell the building rather than let it sit empty. Just don't know at this point. Maybe someone will come along while I am there and want to rent it or buy it. Who Knows.

Talked to brother there in Mo. and they are waiting out a big storm that is to hit tonight.
Talked to sister who is in the hospital yet and she is doing pretty well post op. She will be there for a few more days. So I will be at her home probably when she gets out, so maybe it will work out well and I can be of some help to her too.

Heading out Fri AM. My state job I am working on will probably not be ready for me for a few more weeks anyway. Will take my computer with me and hope I can find a signal somewhere and log on from time to time.

Thought for the day: Change your thoughts, change the world---Norman Vincent Peale

Day 4

So far so good. Alot more energy today. Same thing for breakfast. Had a soy protein shake with a banana, 1 tlb. peanut butter and used chocolate soy milk. Yummy. Then got busy during afternoon and didn't get to eat till after 6pm. So just warmed up some more beans and rice and added a little of the vegy soup to it and a few blue corn chips. Then for snack did some air popped popcorn and drizzled a little olive oil on it. It works just as good as butter believe it or not. Bought a jug of decaf green tea. Not to bad. Had one glass with supper.

Got a call from hubby, and they are on their way home a day early so will be in tomorrow evening. Poor guy, he hates to travel with his sisters 2 little dogs. They drive him crazy. Will be glad to have him back home safe and sound.

Talked to my sister on the phone, she had major surg last Fri. and is now in a private room and doing pretty well. Not sure if she will remember much of our conversation but it was good to hear her voice.

Thats it, I am going to bed after I soak my sunburn in the shower.

Day 3

Feeling a little draggy today. I think its the lack of caffeine. Stayed true though, did the oatmeal thing again for breakfast. Did a protein shake with a banana and 3 big fat strawberries for lunch. Yummy. Got a little sun on my legs, then went shopping. Found a receipt on the back of a can of cannellini beans (A white kidney bean). I used left over brown rice, the beans and a can of diced tomatoes, and a teasp of Italian seasoning. Was wonderful. A slice of toast. A few grapes and strawberries. I probably snacked on to many almonds though. OOPS. Almost made a pitcher of ice tea. But don't have decaf so just filled my water bottle and said what the heck. Its all water anyway right? Oh, have lost 2 lbs. too.

Hubby and his sis are doing OK in Nv. Finding out things are never like you remembered. 3 of her favorite stores have closed down. Another huge Walmart on the other end of town. Construction is really down and people reporting no work. I guess thats all over. I feel so lucky to be looking at a job coming up real soon.

Day 2

So far so good. Day 2, enjoyed a bowl of usual oatmeal, walnuts, and ground flax, but added the strawberries and soy milk. Quit good and kept me full all morning. Took a brisk walk and painted on a cabinet I am doing for SIL while she is away. For lunch I had a slice of toast with peanut butter. The bread was as close as I could get to gluten free. It is Ezekiel bread made from sprouted grains. Really good. I added a can of cannelli beans to the vegetable soup I made yesterday and a few almonds for snack. I forgot to mention the soup I made. I cooked fresh green beans, yellow pepper, celery, carrots, and green onions about 10 min. then put it juice and all into a blender to make a sort of cream soup, but no cream, Added some seasoning. Not bad.
For supper tonite I had brown rice, a little more veg soup and a salad. Have been drinking lots of water, no soda. Drank the last one Fri. LOL. I got out my small coffee maker and just made one mug of decaff this morning. No headaches! Yeah.

I know this sounds really boring and nuts but I think I am enjoying having control over what I eat and to eat with planning and not just snacking so much. Anyone interested the plan is from a book called Quantum Wellness Cleanse by Kathy Freston. I already know what I will have tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Spent a very quiet Mothers Day, just me and the dog. Got messages from both kids, so that was nice to be remembered.

Called to check on sister who had major surg Fri. She has been up in a chair and doing well. Her hubby said when the Dr. came in to see her she cried because she was so happy to finally have the surgury after being put off so many times. I think she will heal up and be OK

Health Cleanse

OK here is the scoop>
I have been reading about a health cleanse. It doesn't really sound to far out there. There are 5 things that you don't eat for 21 days. Well I am shooting for a week and then see if I can commit to more. The purpose is to rid your body of toxins, and things you might be allergic to and don't know. You know how some days you go around feeling draggy, bloated, You get the picture.

So here are the 5 things.
1. Caffeine
2. Alcohol
3. Gluten
4. Sugar
5. Animal products

I know some may think gee what is there left to eat. Well first of all I went thru the cabinet and read labels. The hardest for me will be the caffeine, so I have been diluting my coffee for a couple days with more decaf so that I won't get such a head ache. Starting tomorrow it is her tea. The Alcohol is no problem, The gluten means no wheat products. So thats fine, I can live without that. But if it is made with corn, or oats its ok. Sugar, I will try to get used to the taste of my oatmeal with strawberries in it with some soy milk. Maybe throw in a few walnuts. I have soy yogurt and soy protein powder too, so can make shakes with lots of fruit. I just made up a batch of soup with all kinds of fresh vegetables and then whizzed it in a blender and added some Mrs. Dash. Not bad. Had a few corn chips with it.
My big problem is not drinking enough water, so the water bottle goes with me and will try to deliberately drink several a day.
As for the animal products, that is just for the cleanse, later I will add eggs, cheese, and white meat.
So I will report here daily how I do, what I eat, and how I feel.
The thing that will help for this first week, is that hubby is out of town so its just me to please. The dog doesn't mind, she will have what ever I have, well maybe not the fruit.

/Thought for the day: (I saw this on a sign this morning) Only dead fish go with the flow!

What a wonderful bird is a Pelican.

Remember that old rhyme? What a wonderful bird is a Pelican, He can hold more in his beak than his belly can, And I don't know how in the hell he can.


This picture is a view about 5 miles from the prison. The white things you see in the middle is a flock of pelicans. On the way back when I passed this spot they were flying in a big circle over the river, just riding the wind currents.


Got to meet the big boss from Denver today. She was at the prison where I will eventually be working and they asked if I would drive over to meet her. I feel very encouraged. The medical facility is better organized and equipped than the large on I worked at in Nv. You can see that a small staff makes a big difference in pride. Shouldn't but I think it does. The next step is one day of "prison" training required since they will be using me for a few weeks thru a staffing agency and I won't have my official 3 weeks of Prison "camp" done yet. The one day should be a week from tomorrow.





So looking at a week home alone while hubby drives his sister to Nv. to visit friends. I have a plan for my self that I will talk about Sat. So if I put it in writing I can't back out of it. Right?





Looks like summer is here, getting hotter and no rain in the forecast. In fact it was mentioned that we are probable heading into the dry period now till fall. Wow, we didn't see much rain for the spring. They measure rain in the 1/100 increments here. But the clear blue sky is awesome.

Is it really May?

To my daughter: I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself. (That is a silly quote, from my little guy to the right here)

To my son: Happy Birthday big boy! (well almost)

I passed my little drug test yesterday for work, No surprise since I don't even know what half the stuff is. Will be meeting with the big boss this week and if all goes well start working soon under the local staffing agency, till the state gets all their stuff done to hire me on. But thats government for you.

Hubby got his knee injected with cortisone again Monday and it sure feels better. Still waiting for a follow up with the halter monitor that was done over a week ago. He is getting ready to head out Sat. to drive his sister to Nv. to visit. She wants to see some old friends before it gets to hot to travel. So I will have a week to myself. Think I will try the wellness cleanse that I read about. You cut out most everything from your diet and eat only fruits, vegetables and whole grains. (no wheat though) I think I can do that. Coffee will be the worse, but I know I drink too much of that anyway. Might get in the habit of drinking more water, I think I drink coffee when really I am just thirsty.

Thought for the day: The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: "Decide what you want.">>> Oliver Wendell Holmes

Short Joke

A 3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath.

'Mum', he asked, 'Are these my brains?'

'Not yet,' she replied

Hello

Hello, is any one there? I think I am all alone here and no one comes to visit me any more. (sad face) I write here for me mostly but would be nice to know that someone else is listening.

Hello..............Hello......................

Am I impatient?

My horoscope for today is interesting considering I have been feeling impatient about this retirement thing and working on getting back in the work force.

AquariusJanuary 20 - February 18
There is a slow, lethargic pace to the day that might leave you feeling a bit frustrated, dear Aquarius. It may seem as if situations are not progressing as fast as you would like. Don't get seduced by the thought that everything needs to be done faster. Faster is not necessarily better. Today is a great time to focus on quality and efficiency of movement. Examine parts of your life that may be considered wasteful action. Streamlining certain areas of your daily routine may be necessary.

Oh, the Rockies

I know why they are called the Rockies: driving thru the canyons between Gunnison and Canan City is beautiful. the highway follows the Arkansas River thru these beautiful rock walls. You can see the layers of different colored minerals with many areas that you can just imagine the pressure that was exerted thousands of years ago to push these canyon walls up with the layers standing almost on end. Guess I have been watching to much National Geographic on TV, but we really need to take some time and appreciate our world.

Look at me, I'm on WiFi

The big leap, I brought my lap top with me and have managed to hook up to the motel's wifi. Now I see my battery is gettin low. So will be quick. I drove 240 miles yesterday for an interview (investigative) for this job I am looking for. Think all will go well, I have confidence. I guess no one wants to work in a prison, it is the best kept secret in nursing! but don't tell anyone. Gotta run, sun is shining and need to get out and take a walk then get ready for the interview. I typed a nice blog entry on my word pad last nite but now don't know how to highlight it without my mouse so I can transfer it to here. Duh!! Sometimes it the little things that can mess you upw

Looks like her Mamma

This is a picture I finally found of myself in 1989 with my grand daughter. She is the mother of the baby in the last picture. Quite a look alike huh?

Just have to post this picture!!

Isn't this a precious picture?? She looks sooooooooo much like her Mamma!

Need a new loom

I want a new loom. Like a big one that I can make rugs 36 in. wide at least. I currently have a table top one and can only do 20 in. wide. I think I can make room now in this house to put up a big one. If I can make it to Iowa this year, by buddy there will help get me fixed up, but will have to haul it home. Maybe I can find one closer to home.

Here is my baby loom and the warp frame with warp (thread) set up ready to wrap. With the small one you have to wrap new warp pretty often, I can make about 6 or 7 rugs before I have to rewrap. It is pretty labor intensive and wasteful of the warp.

Google yourself

Ever try to do a Google on your own name? I found it interesting that I found myself 3 times in the first 2 pages! Yea, does that make me famous?

Got my nursing license for this state in the mail today so guess I am legal to work if I get a job offer. Won't know for a while, so just biding my time. Been making lots of rag balls to work up into rugs. Just trying to get my clutter cleaned up.

Here is a picture of my BALLS

Food for thought

Our sun is one of a 100 billion stars in our galaxy. Our galaxy is one of billions of galaxies populating the universe. It would be the height of presumption to think that we are the only living thing in that enormous immensity"
– Wernher Von Braun


A great website to visit and spend hours: world-mysteries.com

Happy Easter

All I Need to Know About Life I Learned from the Easter Bunny


Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
Walk softly and carry a big carrot.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There's no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans.
The grass is always greener in someone else's basket.
An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.
To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

Strange that this should be my reading today

Aquarius (1/20-2/18)
You may be starting to be more ambivalent about the future, especially in terms of your career. These unexpected feelings about ambition or advancement might seem like a bad omen, but they are just part of a natural growth process you're going through. You cannot always be driven and goal-oriented. Sometimes, you need to just walk down the path of life checking out the view. Besides, this period probably won't last long. You'll soon be scheming new ways to get up the ladder again.

Found a fishing hole!

Took a drive yesterday. Click on the pic to the left and see the elk herd. Lets see we saw elk, deer, a marmot, prairie dogs, and nesting cranes. Wow. Must be spring, even though there is still snow up at 7,000 feet +.

Now back to work since the sun is shining, picked up a load of cedar mulch this morning so plan to get the rest of the plants in the ground that we moved from Mo.

Bob Woodruff, from GMA: Cho. chip cookies

I saw this on Good Morning America and copied it to share here. They are flat crisp and chewy at the same time. Thought it looked interesting as you use cake flour instead of regular flour.

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs 2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated, then add vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda and salt. Stir with a wire whisk. Add the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture all at once, and mix until they are just combined. Do not over mix.
Fold in chocolate chips with a rubber spatula. Drop 1-tablespoon-size mounds of dough onto a nonstick cookie sheet.
Bake at 350° until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes.
Click here for the full "GMA" recipe index.

Been Weaving

Finally got my weaving area set up. Hubby hung a lamp in the corner and I have music or TV or big window to glance out. This rug is from an old denim rag rug that I have had for years and the warp was worn out and it was coming unraveled. The gal that taught me to weave, told me I could clip it loose and re weave it. I really like it and will keep it for many years of wear. It is 48 in. long.
The second pic is of some denim that I have saved for many years. The most of it is from some old striped denim overalls that my dad wore and I have packed them around for close to 40 years. So this rug is a keeper too. Darn I have a hard time weaving something that I don't want to keep for ME.
Can click on pic to see a larger pic. Working on one now that is from some cotton cable knit sweaters that I wore for years and hated to get rid of. It is coming out nice and thick.
Thanks Betty for all your teaching. I am finally getting back to sewing rag balls and weaving in my spare time.
New project coming up that I will report on later next week.

Getting dirty

After all it is the first day of spring and you have to get down and a little dirty!! Hubby went to Walmart to get a few bags of potting soil and came back with a pickup full of bags of Chicken manure and top soil. Great stuff. I have painted some huge potting tubs like you get from a green house, that trees come in. I painted them a stone red and now I have big pots to do my gardening in. They look great along the edge of the lawn sitting on the gravel. I plan to have tomatoes, onions, and several for flowers. Will post pictures as things progress. Got the bird feeding station up. We did hear birds singing in the trees a block away so hopefully they will find us. Hung up my first load of cloths on the umbrella clothesline that got set up 2 days ago. Got one rose bush planted. 2 more to go. The flower bed is full of small boulders so it takes time to dig them all out, then will add some of that good stuff he bought today. I brought several small pots of ground cover, cone flowers, yellow spiky plants, and a big tub of hibiscus with me when we moved. Making progress.

Since we can't fish might as well get dirty!

What do ya mean we can't go fishing for 6 mo!

Went to Walmart to see about our fishing license and what the crap! Have to be a residence for 6 mo. before you can get a simple fishing license. Doesn't matter that we own a home, have valid drivers license for this state and our vehicles are licensed for this state. That is so stupid. I would think they would be glad to make the money selling licenses for something so simple as to fish.

We were so bummed out we stopped by the Cold Slab Creamery and drowned our sorrows in big ice cream cones.

OK DON'T LAUGH!!

OK this is one side of our back yard. Mostly rock! We have 500 Square feet of grass. Thats all. Should take about 10 min. to mow it. We will be putting in trees along the back and one side. We plan to do most of the front yard in rock and put in Purple Sage or Heather with a drip system. So we should be free to get the fishing poles out soon.

We actually got the garage arranged pretty good and have both vehicles inside now. Even got the old tennis ball hanging so I won't run into the freezer when I pull in.

Please don't call me for a Tow

When we moved we got a new phone number. It is always interesting to find out who had the number before you got it. Apparently this number belonged to a Towing Company that is now out of business. It is mostly funny to get the calls except the other nite it was about 11 pm. Hubby jokes that we could have made alot of money if we had a truck!

At least this isn't as bad as the number we had when we lived in Nevada. It had belonged to someone who not only didn't speak English as a first language but was wanted by finance companies, collection agencies, and the law. It was hard to make people believe that the person they wanted did not live there. That went on for over a year.

Thought for the day: Smile, it uses fewer muscles that a frown. Besides its catching, try it.

Not a tornado!

Just a weird cloud formation last PM. Had to go out in the street and catch a picture. We had these little dry snow "balls" showers off and on yesterday. This morning the foothills were white till the sun hit them. Mountains got several inches.

Busy yet with unpacking SIL Tooooo much stuff for her cute little house. Already sold her sofa and hassock. She must have 15 lamps!! Oh well she is being a really good sport about it and is just glad to be here and not where the real tornado's are. I hear Kansas got hit again.

We should have our back lawn in tomorrow. Will be glad, we are already tired of looking at dirt. I have roses and some other plants to get in the ground that we moved with us. Putting up some peg board in the garage today, and bought a couple of cabinets to put over the toilets to use as medicine cabinets. Guess they don't put them in new houses anymore.

I have one more picture to add of the sunset last week that was so pretty.

Thought for the day: Look for all my little notes with "thought for the day" ideas. LOL

Oh, the mountains!

If you click on the picture you can see a better view. These are the mountains that are just So. of where I live now. Mighty pretty huh? I can see a bit of them out my kitchen window. All is going well. Talked to hubby today back in Mo. and he says movers are scheduled to load his sister up in the morning. Then they will head out Sat. and get in here on Sun. Will be good to all be in one spot again. The landscapers are getting her back yard into shape with a rock border all around the inside of the fence, sprinkler system installed and they will lay the sod in a few days. Then they will start on our back yard. Getting tired of taking the dog across the street to some grass several times a day. Somehow dogs seem to prefer to poop on grass instead of dirt!

Fri 13th

These pictures were taken when I crossed the great mountains on Fri the 13th by myself! Beautiful huh?

E-mail, almost there

Big accomplishment today, I got my e-mail to work on my new computer. The instructions were very helpful till it got the the last step, which they left off. But my new best friends, the computer guy and his wife got it going. I so wanted to do it myself! Now I have to find a copy of MS Office 03 to load (without having to pay thru the nose) My friend saved all my old outlook express info but it won't run with this Vista Lady. I will live without it and get used to the new program, but dang I loved that old Outlook and I had so many files stored on it. So if anyone wants my new e-mail you already have my yahoo address, just send me a message and I will give it to you. Oh, I don't like yahoo e-mail format either.

New PLAN: I will learn how to do a back up disc for all my hard drive info.

Home At Last, and on line too

Here I am, safe and sound. Also to be noted that I have a new computer and this is my first day back on line. First about the computer, my old one bit the dust. It was bad timing but I think it will work out great. I got some good advice from a really nice computer guy and went to Office Depot and got a new 17 in. laptop by Toshiba. He was able to download my hard drive and put it on this new computer. It has the Vista program and I am going to give it a go, so far it seems easy to use. What the heck I think I will get a wireless router later on. You can't say we aren't doing all we can to help the economy.

Now about my trip back alone. One whole day to get across Kansas, stayed all nite in Colby Ks. and kept getting weather reports about a snow/sleet mix moving into that area after midnight. Well needless to say I didn't sleep very well. Ended up getting up real early and by 4:20 AM I was on the road and the sleet was just starting. Of course, coming west, I was driving into it. I feel sure that if I had waited till 6 or 7 AM I would have been to chicken to head out and would have been stuck there for a couple of days. As a storm was coming over the mountains west of Denver for later that evening. Anyway to make a long story short. I managed to get on some black ice and slid off in the ditch. I was very lucky, as no one was around to run into me, and the ditch was wide and only 2 or 3 feet lower than the highway. After I sat and got my heart to slow down, I just turned the wheels and drove along the side of the highway till I was back up on it. I drove with my flashers on and stayed on the shoulder for at least 10 miles till I saw that traffic was moving along and the road was more clear. I finally drove out of it, but it took me 3 1/2 hrs to go 130 miles. Boy I was ready for breakfast and a break! But the rest of the day went well and I got home before dark.

So I got here on Fri the 13th, Hubby left out on the 18th and is now back in Mo. helping finish up packing his sister up (I think I got about 90% of it done the week I was there). The movers come next Fri and they will make the trip back here to HOME.

I think I will like it here. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful. Ran into a gal at Office Depot who has a weekly "estate" sale locally. Think I will check it out. She takes stuff from all over the area and sells it on consignment. I know a sister-in-law who is moving way tooooooo much stuff that she won't have room for. Dang with all the stuff we got rid of I don't have room either, But I love my house and have just decided that there is still alot of stuff that may have to go. Sometimes less is better.

So thats my thought for the day:: Less is better

Oh, my! I'm not in Kansas anymore Toto!

What a month this has been. Not sure where to start except to say my computer blew up! Can't believe it. I have had a computer for years and this is the first one that a bug got into and blew it up for me. When I took it in they thought the hard drive was still intact. So I will get it rebuilt but it will be probably at least 3 weeks before I get back on line. Gee I hope I didn't loose all my "favorites"

Well where to start. We got moved to Co. 2 weeks ago today. Made the trip over the mountain OK. I spent a week there to start unpacking, and get a little organized. Then I took a bus, yes I said a bus, back to Mo. as we left our pickup here. I got in here last Sun. and am staying with my SIL and helping her get packed. She closes on the sale of here house here on Tue. Then closes on the house she bought in Co. just a block from us later in the week, then I am out of here to drive home if the weather is good for me to travel over the mountains. 2 day trip all by myself!! Then hubby will come back by bus about the 18th and stay with his sister and drive her to Co. after the movers load her out on the 27th.

So far things have been falling into place pretty well for us. Hard to believe really. For us to finally get the farm sold in Oct. Then to sell 2 houses and buy 2 within 2 months. I think someones hand was on us for sure.

Now just don't know why the darn computer had to shoot craps on me. Been on line trying to make sure that I have all my accounts switched to my yahoo act. Am going to try to transfer my Outlook Express info to Yahoo. Anyone know if that can be done??? I have alot of saved folders there that I believe will be lost when I close out that act. next week with my IP.

OK, I said goodbye to my little store today. Feel sort of sad as Teresa is running it now and she will be fine. Doesn't know much about books though, but she has half of the store for her antiques and collectibles and is advertising. In exchange for letting her use half of the store and I pay the utilities and all as I did before, she will ring up my sales, weekly give my sales for the week to my brother who will deposit them for me. I think it is a fair deal.

Well that's it for today and I won't be back for awhile again. Seems funny to not have access to a computer daily. I am using my brothers today while I am here in town.

Thought for the day: Every path has a few puddles.

Last DAY

Today is my last official day in my store. (wipes a tear) I will be back the first couple weeks of Feb and do some blogging then, but for now this is it.

I was very lucky to find a young lady to share my store. She will be selling country collectibles!! Doesn't that just fit with use books! I will maintain everything in the store, utilities ect. and she will be here 6 hrs. a day 5 days a week. I have been working with her for 3 days to teach her how I handle my books, the trade in system, and all. My brother will pick up money weekly and deposit it for me. She will hopefully sell her stuff. She has a hubby who drives semi and is gone most of the week. So she is excited and I am too. This will work out for us. So thats it for now. Will not be around on line till about the 2nd of Feb.

Please send up a little prayer for me for good roads for our mountain crossing next Thursday!

Nut Case?

I know that doesn't sound "Nice", but since the guy called himself that I guess it is OK to refer him to a Nut Case.

This was a customer who came in yesterday. Just a little scary. Here is a description of him:
Big guy, very pale blue eyes, big glasses, dark stringy hair down past his shoulders, bandanna tied around his forehead, front teeth broken and decayed. Nothing to unusual you say, Well he had a bushy beard about 10 in long, BUT only on half of his face!! Duh do you think? He came right out and said he just got out of the Nut House. Of course he was in there against his will and had to take the psyc drugs or they would never have let him out. He talked for 20 min. or more and I just tried to act natural and slightly interested. Because I really just wanted him to leave. Anyway he told me he was a minister of (I think I have this mostly right) Church of Christ and the Arriayn (I don't even know how to spell that) Brotherhood. He said the face thing was his political and religious statement. He has run for governor, you know they are all crazy that run the government, and he was on his way to the local City Council meeting. Oh, Boy, I was glad to see him leave. Wonder if he is the Nut that burned down the Pub down the street a couple weeks ago?

Thought for the day: The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends--if they're okay, then it's you!

Me?

AQUARIUS - The Sweetheart (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.

Yup that me! LOL

Got a contract on SIL's house this weekend!
Now just need to find someone to share my store and get that settled

Thought for the day: My mind works like Lightening
One brilliant flash and it is gone!

Good Advice! Please read

This message was sent to me but I am not e-mailing it on to folks, but thought it worth while to put in here. I have always had a feeling that alot of this junk we send around to each other is not a good thing. In fact I delete alot without even opening. And now feel I will stop forwarding anything at all. No wonder we get so much junk mail from all sorts of sites.



Advice from Snopes:
If any of you are wondering why I didn't return something to you that said something like "if I don't get this back I'll....or, "See how many flowers you can get back", or " Forward this to 10 people in the next 5 mins. or something bad will happen to you", etc.The following is why I don't send them back.Advice from Snopes.com http://snopes.com/1

Any time you see an E-Mail that says forward this on to '10' of your friends, or sign this petition, or you'll get bad luck, good luck, or whatever, it almost always has an E-Mail tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and E-Mails of those folks you forward to.The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' E-Mails to use in SPAM E-Mails, or sell to other spammers.

Almost all E-Mails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guiness Book of Records for the most cards.All it was, and all any of this type of E-Mail is, is a way to get names and 'cookie ' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers - - to validate active E-Mail accounts for their own profitable purposes.


There was more to this but didn't want to bore anyone to death, but I think you get the idea.

Sleepless In Mo.

Still not knowing for sure about SIL's house, they are still countering each other, but I think they are finding a meeting ground. Hope so as the folks in Co. won't hold the house out there for her many more weeks. Its all enough to keep you awake at night. We were worried that her house would sell first and we would be sitting her and she can't move and be there alone.

I just have faith that this will work out just fine. And with the housing market we need to be really thankful to have found buyers so quickly.

Thought for the day: Memory is the Personal Journalism of the Soul:
Richard Schickel

Just a Weaver

I clipped this from the news paper recently, and since I consider myself a weaver I fell in love with it. The poem is by Benjamine Malachi Franklin

My life is but a weaving,
between my God and me,
I do not choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes he weaveth sorrow,
and I in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent,
and the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas,
and explain the reasons why

The dark threads are as needful
in the skillful weaver's hand
As threads of gold and silver
in the pattern He has planned.

New buyers?

Sister In Law got that low offer on her house Sun Nite. So she has countered and will know today what the deal will be. Come on, I know its a buyers market now but don't be insulting!

Starting to feel a panic, well sort of, about my store, Will save that till tomorrow.

Thought for the day: No one can arrange anther's happiness.

Bid on my elk hide!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=110333516933 Here is the site on e-bay if I did it right. Go see and bid it up!!

Ahhhhhh!

Went to a new massage therapist this morning. Boy what a difference from the one I had been going to. I asked for the deep tissue massage and that's sure what I got. Had to come home and take some Tylenol and put ice pack on. But I got what I needed. Just too many muscles in knots, they started hurting in the night again this past week. Couldn't be that I am working to hard, think? Spent all day Sun packing boxes. About have the kitchen and dining room done. Just enough left out to get by for the next couple weeks. Hubby has done great with the garage, has sorted and finally gotten rid of all the plumbing, electrical, and alot of gardening stuff. We pick up something to pack and say "do we really need that or plan to use it ever?" if the answer is no, then it goes. The auctioneer will miss us. Been taking stuff to an old guy so. of town that holds an auction every Fri PM. Been averaging about $100 a week. Better than messing with a garage sale.

Sister in Law got an offer on her house last nite, but it was rather insulting. She is going to do a counter offer then wait and see. She had already listed it way below value then they asked for $30,000 less. So will see. She can't move till the end of Feb anyway so that will be in her counter offer. Need to give us time to get our move done, me come back to help her pack, then hubby come back to drive her after the movers come.
OK enough for today. Will save something for tomorrow.

Thought for the day: Only in America do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke. Well for me it used to be a Snicker bar with a diet pepsi!

Postal Rates, so confusing

Now I remember why I don't usually ship outside of the US. I sold a jacket on e-bay and let a guy in Switzerland win it on the understanding he would pay the extra postage. All was fine, then I let him know I had another one that was real nice and a little heavier. Sent him pictures and he wanted it too. So I added a couple dollars to my shipping cost. Duh< Never assume anything. This coat weighed 11 oz over the limit and had to go priority at 17$ more than I quoted him. So had to offer to refund or let him pay more which ever he wants.

Lesson learned: 4 lbs is the cut off then the price goes UP!! But I don't' think I will do this again unless I just charge some outrageous postal fee and let them bid away. Getting ready to put a big elk hide, fur and all on line today. Its beautiful but not very practical unless you live in a lodge in the mountains.

They're burning the Roadhouse down!

I think thats how the song goes. Last Sat. nite they burned the "Pub" down. Just two doors down from my book store. Now I'm not in a bar neighborhood, its just a very small town.

Seems a "mental" guy was in earlier and got nasty and the bartender had to make him leave. As he left he said "You'll be sorry" So around 2 AM he threw gas against one side of the building and it was a very old building, so it went up pretty fast. I hadn't realized that it was 104 years old. It was the old train station. My sister and her husband owned it a few years ago and named it The ---- Station and the recent owners collected alot of old train stuff in there. Here is a picture of it now.

A Challenge

I have accepted a challenge from a favorite person to blog daily for the new year. Well I won't be able to do it daily as I only have access to my computer 5 days a week at least for the next couple months, then after I get moved I should have daily access.

All is going well with the transition: At least I think so. We took possession of our new home yesterday. Sort of anti-climatic since were were sitting here in another state. Oh the wonders of the internet and over-nite mail.

Our good friend and Realtor in Co. did the walk thru for us.

I was having a horrible feeling about the gal who said she would manage my store for me. I think I mentioned that she had fallen from her sulky and fractured some ribs. But after she finally called to tell me that was why I hadn't heard from her and she would be in to see me that next week, she didn't come in for over 2 weeks and didn't return my phone calls.

So now she is coming in next Tue to start training with me. But we need to sit down and have a real heart to heart talk about what my expectations are and how she will be able to meet them.

Dang it this is my baby here and I am having a hard time turning it over to someone else. But I will take the risk as apposed to converting it to an apartment.

Well I best shut up or I won't have any info for those daily posts!!


Thought for the day: Life is too short to wake up with regrets

Quote

A slip of the foot you may soon recover,
But a slip of the tongue you may never get over---
Benjamin Franklin

Two Posts in one day?

Before I forget, which could happen at any moment.

Not sure if I had mentioned what I was planning to do with my book store. Well Brother and I had been making up plans for how to convert it into a studio apartment because I own the building and don't want to sell it. Would like to continue to get a little income from it while I am gone. ( I will return one day)

The week before Thanksgiving a gal came in ( she had talked to me last summer about this too).
She said she had heard that I was closing the store and she wanted to see if I would consider letting her run it. I assured her that I could not make it worth her while financially. We seems she is looking for a place to open a quilting guild. She just wants an area to set up her stuff and do her quilting here and teach classes and have other gals come in to quilt together!! Do you see a WIN-WIN situation here? She wants me to teach her how I do my book sales and trade ins. She wants no income, just the use of the space and wants to help pay the utilities too. I got really jazzed up about this.

We went to Co. and was gone a week, I got back and tried to call her and got no answer. I left messages for 2 weeks. I was beginning to panic because I had been sorting books, hauling culls off to auction or donating to a little local library. Even took down one whole wall of bookshelves.

She finally called me last Sat. Seems she was driving her horse ( she has a sulky ) The horse got spooked and threw her out and she fractured a couple ribs and has been laid up. She still wants to do this, and should be in soon to help me start making firm plans for her space and teaching her. She will be able to work part time in the store thru the winter and then full time by spring, so that should fit my schedule fine, as I will be coming back after we move to stay with my sister in law for a couple months at least. ( hope her house sells in that time)

So I am back to sorting books, getting rid of all the hardbacks and "junk" books. Want to have only the best Used books available for resale.

Gotta get busy with paper work now. Want to get taxes done early this year. Groooown..

Am I Sick?

Do you ever get Christmas Paralysis? I seem to catch it every year in December. At first it seems like Christmas is along way off, then all of a sudden its only 7 days, and you find you have done nothing. And this year I mean absolutely nothing, no cards, no gifts, nadda. I am really sick this year.

I could blame it on selling one house and buying another in the month of Dec. Plus arranging movers, utilities, packing, and the endless lists on my counter because I can't remember squat anymore without my lists! But I do love it when I cross things off the list as done. Guess that's one satisfaction.

So if no one hears from me this year, give me a break, maybe I won't get "sick" next year. But I don't guarantee it. I think it is something I have had since about 1980.

So I will say Merry Christmas.
Be kind to one another.
Kiss the kids, cause its really their time.

We accidently sold our home!

This is no joke! How did this happen? We have been planning for some time to move back out west. Not as far as Nevada but to Colorado. We lived in Colorado for a year and loved it there. I am talking on the Western Slope, not up in the mountains.

We had talked with the Realtor that assisted with the closing on the sale of our little farm in Oct. With the housing market like it is, or at least what we are being told, we were going to be a little cautious. So we had her and her broker come to the house to help us decide on a fair market value. Of course they suggested much lower than we wanted. So we had been putting her off and thinking we would wait till after the first of Jan. Well she called us a couple weeks ago and said she had this couple that she had shown alot of houses to and she just wanted to "show" it to them if we would sign a consent and establish what we wanted. So we did and set the price higher than their high end. Dang if they didn't come back with an offer of cash just a little under our price and gave us 60 days to move, no rent! So we just felt it was meant to be and had to take it

We had already planned another trip to Co. to look at houses again and it worked out perfect. We left on Thanksgiving and ended up staying a whole week because we made an offer on a house and couldn't leave till we got an OK on it. Really had no other back up plan so were relieved when it was accepted. We ended up buying a new smaller home in a new area on the west side of the little town. We even have horses in a pasture across the street from us. The new home was the same price of the ones we were looking at that were a few years old of similar size. But they were already run down, back yards wrecked with dogs in most of them. One even had a bunch of pitbulls.

I have said I didn't want a new home. There is always so much to do and added cost, but we are working it out with the developer to have the landscaping done before we move in.

Details, details. So much to do with closing on one house and trying to make moving plans and closing on the new one. Have a huge stack of boxes in living room but no packing done yet. Took a bunch of furniture to an auction last week. Heck we're sick of moving already!

A funny,(well really not so funny), glitch with closing on the house we are in. We close tomorrow and on Mon. the folks did a walk thru to just ask questions about things, and he brought his tape measure and was measuring the lot. He couldn't make his measurements match the survey map info that we had done in Oct 07. Long story short, we ended up having to have the survey folks come back out and the buyers were right. The fence between us and hubby's sister was 25 ft over on her side. We had it surveyed last year and no one looked at it and the fence co. followed the old fence just like we told them, so it was no one's fault but our own. Just should not have done the survey!! So now sister in law has to deed that 25, actually 24ft over to our property. The fence stays with her property. She doesn't really care because her house is up for sale too and with it all fenced, that will work out fine. What a mystery, as to why that fence was where it was. Someone just didn't want to mow so much lawn, or just didn't know better.

Hope to have good news about my book store real soon. Got my fingers crossed.

Brrr, its cold outside!

Lots to talk about but no time just now. Just got back from another trip to Colorado. I feel like a snowball rolling down hill!

Another Tunnel

OK here is another tunnel picture my brother sent me. I think he said his wife took the picture and it is a reflection on their glove box, as they were going thru the tunnel. The tunnel opening seen is actually behind them. Cool huh?

Just want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Keep it simple and remember all the things we really need to be thankful for. Like gas is down to $1.49 today!!!

http://dorothykarmictruths.spaces.live.com/ This is my other blog site that I keep up, mostly with duplications of this one, but it has a great feature to post photo albums that I like, I posted pictures from my recent Co. trip there if anyone wants to be a looky loo.

Another from inside the tunnel

I liked the way this looked. Looked like an alien could just come walking up from the end!

I see the light!

Did you ever wonder what the light at the end of the tunnel looks like? Well this is it.

Just got back from a trip to Colorado and took a bunch of scenic pictures. Always wanted to take a pic of one of the tunnels. Will post a couple more next time.

Yes, we are "looking". Probably a bad time to be doing anything but doesn't hurt to look. So who knows. Had a beautiful weekend to make the trip. Up to 80, had to run the air conditioner.

Thought for the day: Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice: it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.--William Jennings Bryan

New windows

Here is a before and after on the new windows we had put in our house last week. They are really nice. I know the white shutters look funny, but the rest of the windows are set where there is brick and the white looks really good. There is just vinyl under the porch roof. Hope this increases our value in case we want to sell. Hmmmm, will she, won't she, will she, won't she?

God's Wings

I don't usually copy and paste things in my blog, well because it is MY blog, but this was sent to me today and whether it is true or not it is pretty good so want to share it. Thanks big brother.


A little something to put things in perspective...After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast ...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.'He will cover you with His feathers,And under His wings you will find refuge.'(Psalm 91:4)Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. To realize the value of a friend...lose one.

When hubby is away, I work too darn hard!

Hubby is off on a trip and I always make this huge list of things I want to do while I am "home alone" Problem is its not just a little list like arranging my sock drawer! No, no, no, not me.
Here is my list:

1.Shampoo Rugs
2.Wash vinyl siding on back of house
3.Power wash back deck
4.Paint back deck
5.Clean my end of garage
6.And if I have time start sorting stuff for garage sale
7.Oh, and in my spare time I could sew some rag balls for weaving.

And he is only gone a week! Lets see, he has been gone 3 1/2 days and I have finished No. 1 and 3. I have half of no. 2 done, then smarted up and bought some cleaner to use with the power washer so will do the other half much faster, maybe this evening if its not raining. I got no. 5 about done. Supposed to rain today and tomorrow, so the painting will have to wait till about Thurs. I figure if it rains I can work on that sorting for a garage sale. Going to get rid of alot of "stuff" this time. Anyone need a nearly new foton?

Thought for the day: Don't measure my quart by your half bushel.

Do I Miss the Prison?

I ran across this list today while cleaning my computer desk. Does everyone have such clutter around their computer?

Anyway I had compiled this list of things I would miss and not miss about my old job as a prison nurse. So here goes, only 2 years to late:

I WILL MISS:
Good pay
Good Benefits
Fresh Air
Camaraderie of officers
Views of mountains
Coyotees howing at nite
Frost on barbed wire
Funny Inmates: Like the Transgender ones who shave eyebrows and legs, then use ink pens to paint eye liner and brows.
Being a real patient advocate in a crappy system
Riding around in the golf cart
Having the responsibility to assess patient needs
Laughing with Pat

WILL NOT MISS:

Whining nurses
Lazy nurses
Dirty bathrooms (not the inmates either)
Inmates in boxers
Inmates with pants below their butts
Manipulation tricks
Cussing: Inmates and staff
Hope to never hear the "F" word again and have to pretend it is OK in normal conversation
Smell of burning toilet paper wicks (called punks)
Noise level
Banging of cell doors
Back ache from standing to long
Looking at old men who you know are child molesters(Chesters)
Seeing young men messing up their lives
Being glad that some of them are behind bars
Packing large numbers of keys
Having to remember several codes to access keys and doors
Hearing Pat yell at Inmates

Scary Times

These are really scary times. Makes you want to go hid somewhere up in the mountains, preferably in a snug little A frame with lots of firewood and no TV!! All I would need is a big box of books and maybe some yarn or rag balls to weave with, oh and some music.

Actually I could live very simple if given the chance and the way things are going it looks like I might have to do just that.

Don't want to jinks myself, but looks like we got our little farm sold. At least the folks have accepted our counter offer verbally. Waiting for the signed copy to be faxed, as they are out of town this week. What a relief if it all goes as planned.

Hubby is taking his sister on a little trip this coming week, so got alot of projects to work on.

Thought of the day: Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time----Steven Wright

Not funny

I hope I didn't sound to "frivolous" in my last post. Death is not funny, but we have had enough saddness and I wanted to show the human and sometimes funny side of Marge. Just 3 weeks ago we were in Branson with her blowing bubbles and acting silly. She told us then that she would get to be the first one to see our brother again, and she was right. We told her to give him a big hug for us. We will miss them both till one day we are all together.

Hooters for Marge

And hey there girl,

Can you hold my hand.

Cus when they bury my body,

I'll be dust in the wind.

And like a dream in this reality,

You will carry my soul in the mind like a memory.

(copied from a song by An Angle)

Marge passed quietly from this world at 12:30 AM Thursday Oct 2nd. I just want to spend a few minutes and put some of my thoughts about her down.

She was my big sister, being 10 years older, but I didn't grow up with her at home, so I have no "being the little"sister memories of her. When I first saw her again I was an adult and we were then scattered all across the country and didn't get to be together very often. It wasn't till much later when our families were raised that several of us seemed to settle in the same area and were able to spend more time together. So here are some of the things I will remember most about Marge.

This picture is a perfect example: Always a puppy in her arms. She loved her dogs and loved raising puppies.

Always a ready smile and a big one too.

Willing to laugh at herself, like the time she bought me an AC/DC tee shirt because she thought it great that they made a tee shirt with my husband and my initials!

Always optimistic about life, willing to deal with what life dished up.

Usually a cigarette in her hand and if none were available, like once on a family get together, would resort to smoking her brothers pipe.

Vain about her looks, worried if her "wrinkles" showed.

Owner of many padded bras, even the blow up kind and butt pads.

Liked shiny things, rings, necklaces, and such.

LOVED to shop the catalogs.

Always ready to share what ever she had with others.

She loved to cook and collect cook books and boxes of receipts.

Sorry sis, you never got the bigger boobs you wanted, maybe in the next life you will have great big hooters!

Terminal

As I was driving yesterday this word kept coming to my mind, as we are now thinking of this word in connection with our sister. To say that out loud, She has terminal cancer. But as I was driving along, I got to thinking, heck we are all terminal. We were terminal the day we were born. At least this body as we know it now is in a terminal condition. This body is not getting out of here except in death. A rather sobering thought huh?

And what do we do with that knowledge? We blunder along day in and day out, pretending that we will be here forever? We do, you know it as well as I do. We don't ever want to acknowledge that one day we too will be gone.

Then I got to thinking about how we feel about these mortal bodies and how we care for them. Mostly how we don't care for them. We all hate different things about our bodies. Our thighs are too big, boobs not big enough, hair wrong color, too short, too tall, and the list goes on and on.
Then how do we care for this wonderful body we have, and yes it is wonderful even if we don't think we like it. We eat crap that clogs our veins, makes us fat, gives us cancer! We put lethal things into it like drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and way too much food. Then we probably don't exercise and take care of the physical aspect. Then we have the nerve to complain when it isn't working right!! Oh, we should just be ashamed of ourselves.

But we are human and we have weaknesses. Maybe we just need to just sit back from time to time and remind ourselves that we are all terminal and how we spend our remaining time is totally up to each one of us. Wow, just think about that last part. It is our own free will and choice to live our life any way we choose! I wish I had that insight many years ago. I know there are many things I would have chosen differently but since that is all past tense we can only move fore ward, and forgive ourselves because we did the best we could with what we knew at that time. There are many things I would like to see and do, maybe it's not to late.



Thought for the day:: we know from daily life that we exist for other people first of all, for whose smiles and well-being our own happiness depends.
—Albert Einstein

Brothers and Sisters

Sis no. 1 made it home from the hosp. yesterday. Thurs. Yea, no tubes and seems to be doing OK for now. Hope this lasts awhile. Bad news, the dog that bit her hubby died, no kidding. I could joke about that but I know it is no joking matter to them to loose their little chiwawa.

We were going to have a little cookout at Bro. No 2's home tonight before Bro. No 1 heads home in the morning. But No. 2 is sick with a bad cold so we X'd him off our list of fun places to go to. So Bro. No 1 is headed out to spend some time with Sis before he leaves.

Oh, did I mention that his flight is at 6 AM. I volunteered to take him back to the airport. Lets see he has to be there by 5 AM, and it is about 1 1/2 hr drive. So need to get up at: WHAT!! how did I get myself into this. No wonder Bro. 2 said he would go pick him up last Sat. Yea, he got in at 1 PM!! But guess he is worth it. IT has sure been nice to have him here this week. We have all shared him around and let him be our errand boy too. Hung out with me in my store and looked at computer pictures. Gosh, never did get him over to put up my new ceiling fans for me. And he is an electrician. Silly me.

Thought of the day: How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures? (maybe I should have asked that electrician brother!)

$4.00 scrip

Well he did get the 4 $ scrip {antibiotic} but forgot to mention that when he was there with the 60$ scrip he had a second one for 20$ He had no idea what it was but he took it. Find out later that it was for Cultirelle, something that keeps you from getting diarrhea when you are on antibiotics! But all is well, I think, Took him for Pizza Tue pm after all the confusion and the brothers had taken him to see his wife.

Sis No 1 seems to be better. Sis no. 2 went up this AM early and they have clamped the GTube and letting her take clear liquids and see what happens. The bowel blockage is partially relieved for now. So maybe she will be able to go home in a day or so and see how she will do.

A "funny" story: When the 3 of us were in the oncology Dr. office he was telling us about the possibility of putting in a PEG tube, {basically a feeding tube, but used to open the end and let the build up of gas in the stomach out, which was a BIG problem at that time} He barely finished telling about that and Sis No 1 in her Jessica Simpson impersonation said "I want one"!! Well we were scheduled to see the dr. about putting on in on Monday but she was already in the hospital by then. I would like to see one put in before she goes home, because I know we will end up with similar problems again before long.

Big Bro. has been spending time with all of us and it has been great to have him here. We had to kick him out to the farm to sleep as he was keeping sis #2 awake with his tickle cough that he has. After his first nite out there he told me it sure was dark out there in the country. Seems our security light had burned out, so called the electric co. to come fix it, since it belongs to them. We just pay a flat fee monthly for the electric and use of their light.

Ok thats it for now.

Things have gone to hell in a handbasket

Where to start?
So much has happened in the last week or so that I want to just make a note here to help me keep track of it all.
First of all, I have two sisters. The oldest will be No. 1 and the other No. 2, I also have two brothers and I will identify them as bro.1 and bro. 2.

On the 8th the 3 of us sisters went together for No. 1's consultation after her testing and we were not surprised to find out that she had a malignant tumor in the abdomen. She has been sick along time and many tests, till she had this one which gave a confirmation. She was told that it is inoperable and that she would be terminal from it. It was decided that she would be put on hospice and she was to get her affairs in order. She is doing a very brave thing. She has done the paper work to donate her body to a medical school in Kansas City.

So we notified her 2 daughters and son, who all live in other states. Also bro. 1 lives in an eastern state. We did do a get-away trip, the 3 sisters to Branson Mo. as mentioned in the prev. post. That was the 13th. and 14th. On the 18th her "kids" arrived and were able to spend 2 days with her. On Fri PM the 19th within an hour after the last one left she got pretty sick and I went to her house and called the hospice nurse. We stayed till things were under control and felt she could rest. Sat. was so so for her, not great but not to bad. Bro. No 1 got here on Sat. Then Sun things got worse and hospice came in the morning, then later in evening a neighbor had to call them again and both of us sisters went too and it was really bad. The pain could not be relieved by any measures that the hospice nurse had so she called the Dr. and we got an ambulance called and took her to the hosp. This was around 9pm. Sis No 2 and I went up together and stayed while they did xrays, gave her "good" stuff to stop the pain and other drugs to try to get her BP down. Got her admitted after midnight. ER Dr. told us she was totally obstructed in her bowel and gave us a pretty poor prognosis. I had Sis #2 go home {she had just been in ER the night before for a bad UTI and really needed to be home in bed} I stayed the nite. Brothers and sis showed up next morning, Monday. Oncology Dr. made rounds and felt we could work on this and try to resolve at least temporary some problems. They gave suppositories, also started a med called lactulose thru her NG tube to help loosen the stool up on the upper side.

Now on Mon late afternoon her husband is in the room and shows her his finger. Find out that one of their little dogs had bitten him a couple days before and just broke the skin good. Well his finger was badly swollen and red streaks going up his arm. So he was to go to Urgent Care on his way home. About 7:30 sis no. 1 got a call from Urgent care, they were concerned about the husband as he was unsteady and was to go to the local hosp to be admitted for IV antibiotics. Sis no 1 had just gotten to sleep but she called me, I am closer to their house, Can't reach him on the phone, so I head out to his home and find him, a little bit confused and I take him to the hosp ER. {Oh, if you are still with me, it just gets better and better}

ER was slam full, {many folks use ER for their family medical needs} So I left him there with inst to have them call me if they don't admit him. Went home, exhausted, went to bed. Guess what? At 11PM the phone rang and I had trouble trying to figure out how to push the right button to answer it! ER said he was ready to be taken home!! My hubby said," stay in bed I will go get him and take him home." He had gotten a shot and sent home with a script. Grrrrrrrr why didn't Urgent care to that?? So I find out about this after I had gone to the hosp where Sis No1 is at 6 AM so I could be there when the Dr. came in. A niece had come in and Sis was doing much better this AM so I left to go help husband of No 1 with his script. I was afraid they had ordered some real expensive RX and there are many Walmart scrips that are only $4.00. So I get there and we decide he will go to his primary Dr. and then go get the scrip filled. Wellllll, he forgot to tell them he needed a 4$ scrip. I get a call, that his scrip is $60. So I tell him to let me call the Dr. and try to get another scrip. By this time I am here at my store.

So that is where we are at this moment. The brothers are headed to pick up the husband to go visit at the hospital and then pick up his scrip. I am crossing my fingers that they followed thru and got him an appropriate scrip. Finger still looked pretty bad this morning. Needs soaked I think but they didn't tell him to do anything, {he says}

Not sure if I left anything out. I probably need to go out to check on him this evening and make him soak his finger and put a dressing on it if the Dr. office didn't. Need to see what kind on instructions they gave him. {ER had sent home a nice pre printed instruction sheet on what to do for a dog bite and the signs and symptoms to watch for.} DUH! A little late for that info!

One more night's sleep and I will be A-OK Ready to face what ever is next.

Girls Gone Wild

This is what happens when you try to take your sisters to a respectable resort for a little sister get-away!!

We had a great time. Took in a show, Pierce Arrow. WOW!! They are awesome. Great music and a bunch of good looking guys to boot.

The comedian was very entertaining, kept us laughing too.

Then Sun AM we went down to the lake front to The Landing, and did a leisure stroll thru the area and had breakfast in old downtown Branson. Had rained 4 inches while we slept so the lake was up and we couldn't go on the walkway on the edge of the lake.

Having lots of family in this week to visit with Sister No. 1. I know she is looking forward to seeing her family.

Quote for the day: May you live all the days of your life. _ Jonathan Swift

Well, lets see: Got the window repaired in the pickup. Had forgotten that I didn't carry comprehensive on it as it is an older truck, so had to pay $193 out of pocket for the pleasure those boys had in knocking out the window. Hope they are real proud of themselves. Hubby thinks I should park out in the street about 1/2 block away from the store. But I decided I wouldn't be held hostage and feel I couldn't park right behind my store in plain site of all the folks that travel the alley and the local police dept just up the alley. So There!

Had a little scare Sat nite. We stayed out to the farm, been trying to do that a couple nites a week. Anyway, got a call at midnight on my cell. I figured it was the nursing home looking for some help. But it was my sister in law. She said her heart had been racing and skipping for over an hour and thought she should call an ambulance. We told her to unlock her door and sit on the couch till they got their and we were on our way. They kept her in ER for an hour or so and she had another short burst of this arrhythmia. Sent her home with some pills and to follow up with her cardiologist. So far no more incidence but at 83 you never know. We think that she over did it Sat. Was cleaning the window screens with the hose and a long handle brush. You think??
Of course that sounds like something I would do. We always think we can keep doing stuff that we shouldn't.

Thats it for now. Reading Memoirs of a Geisha, very good book if you get a chance to read it.

Waiting the the left over rain from Hurricane Gustov. Supposed to come in tonight and last a couple days. Sure have have had more rain than usual for this time of year. Grass will grow clear up till we get a hard freeze.

Thought for the day: Why do you have to "put your two cents in".... But it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going?

NOT AGAIN!!!!

Well here we go again. Small town crime hits us again. Notice anything unusual about our little farm truck?

Yea, the window is broken out. Happened Wed. I drive it to the store alot, saves having my better auto sit out in the hot sun all day. I park in the alley way behind my store. (The police dept. is just one block up the alley) I have 3 witnesses that saw 3 boys going up the alley with baseball bats just before someone came in and told me my window was broken out. The city cops got here right away and one went to find the boys and talk to them. Of course they didn't know ANYTHING about any broken windows. And no one saw them do it. So that is pretty much the end of it. All you have to do is deny that you did something and you won't be punished for your crime. Hmmmmm sounds like some of our politicians doesn't it. Maybe thats how they learn. Amazing that people think that being dishonest is an OK thing. Our little local police won't do anything. They are still "investigating". Isn't that a joke. It will just be paper work for them to file away. Just like the break in out at the farm in June.

Not much more news, Oh, we did trade in the big FJ Cruiser for a Subaru Outback. Much more practical for folks our age, we don't need big 4 wheel drive vehicles anymore, (if we ever did). Love the new car. I broke it in driving to my grand daughters wedding last Sat. in the rain all day! Well back to my weaving. Lets hope we have had our share of law incidence!

Thought for the day: Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom....

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Can Do

Don't let someone tell you that you can't do something just because you are a female. I had 2 electronic items sitting that I thought were shot. Yesterday, I decided what the heck, they are going to get trashed anyway so I sat down and guess what. Both are fixed and work fine!
One was a VCR that we have packed around for several years with a movie stuck in it. Ended up buying a combo VCR/DVD unit that I like. Well I got the trusty screwdriver and opened the case up and got the mangled movie "Dances With Wolves" out and plugged it in, popped in an old movie I didn't care about and it worked just fine.
Second one was my printer/copier that I had for several years and a few months ago I put in a new ink cartridge (first time that I had one refilled by Walgreens for me) Thought I would save about 20$. Well I couldn't get it to stop printing test pages, then give me an error and do it again, over and over. Silly me, I just unplugged it and went out and got a nice new little HP printer/copier that is real cool, and it takes your camera chip and you can view your pictures on it or download to computer, only costs about 129$. Well I had an extra color cartridge for the old unit and decided what the heck I would change it too, and guess what. It printed the page to test and accepted it just fine. I didn't know that the color ink was out too, when I put in the new black one. I was blaming it on the black and figured it just was fowled up. So now I have an extra printer. Think I will take the new one home and put my old one back in the store for now.

I guess the moral of my long story is that sometimes we throw things out to quick and it sure can't hurt to tear in and try to fix them. (Just unplug them first)

Had tried to plan a little get away with hubby this last weekend, (Sun and Mon for me) And he blew it by saying he had to much to do, so I said well heck I guess I will show you and just stay home and clean house all day. Boy did I show him. Even shampooed some area rugs, filed 4 months of receipts, moved some furniture around. I was glad to come to work today!

Finally got our hay field cut (first cutting) at the farm. We had to cancel out with the neighbor who was getting it free but has had all summer to get it baled and haven't done it. You know sometimes enough is enough, you give and give and get kicked in the teeth, but that is a long story as it ties in with the gal that lived at the farm (she is friends with the neighbor) for 6 weeks and left us a mess with a break in and theft plus all the cleaning, mowing, and weeding we had to do to catch back up. Oh, did I mention that she cleaned out all my "stuff" from the house, you know towels, silver wear, cups, glasses, and such. I know it sounds petty when you think you are helping someone out, but I am so glad she is gone, oh, even left a garage can half full of beer cans. Anyway another older neighbor is baling it and we get firewood from him in exchange and the field will be clean. Maybe I will get a picture soon.

Boy I have really rambled on, Thought for the day: When somebody does you wrong, be actively angry with them. (from a little Be-Good-To-Yourself Therapy book.)

Ohhhh! A new Grandma!

Isn't she sweet? No not the grandma, the baby!

Still can't believe my little girl is a grandma. Little Miss Sweety Pie is a great baby. Sucking down that good breast milk and sleeping and pooping just like she is supposed to.

Had a great day visiting with daughter and all her girls. Grandma just can't stop smiling, actually giggling most of the time and with good reason, but I can't tell you. Did I mention Love is in the air? Well you didn't hear it from me!

Thought for the day: Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.