Finally Friday

Don't know why it matters that it's Friday, I didn't go to work again today. The boss is royally pissed at me. I don't think he believes I'm sick. I am. Had to go get 3 days check today. He barely spoke. There's some kind of merchants night downtown tonight and he'd asked me to work the booth. I can't and he's mad. It really doesn't take something like that to make him mad...he fluctuated between really happy and really mad. That's getting old.

Was looking at some blogs today. Some are quite interesting. Some actually shocked me with erotic images. Quite a few are in a language I can't read but many of them have wonderful photos on them. I've been blogging for over a year and yesterday and today is the first time I've really looked around at what other people are doing. It's very interesting...fun! Lot of high school/college kids are blogging...I'm finding them fun to read. I know we all thought we were the only ones going through the stuff we went through at that age and today's teen is no different...different technology, of course, but the dating thing is still there and the parent thing and the peer pressure thing, etc., etc., etc.

The pecans have begun falling and Shirley is going bonkers! They are falling on the tin roof of the shed out back and making an awful racket. She is barking almost non-stop and insisting that I check all of the windows and tell her what's out there. She's not computing falling pecans!

When Jenny (a dog I used to have) was a puppy she was very sickly in the beginning and I fed her with a fork for a very long time. Well, Shirley isn't sick, but I'm really having a problem feeding her. There's no dry food she likes and really no canned food either. This morning I opened a can of Alpo and on a whim offered her a bite with a fork. She ate about a third of the can! Yeah!

A very smart dog

I'm certain that Shirley can count! This afternoon she was asking for a Milk Bone, so we did our usual thing of going to the canister and the "sit", "stay" and "take it nice" thing. Well, I always give her two milk bones (two cats live here and she likes to set traps for them)...it just so happened that they were a red one and a green one...her two least favorite. She took them and put them down and just looked at me, so I gave her a yellow one and she put that one down, too....so I gave her a brown one. She displayed them on the floor and nosed them around, pushed the red on aside, ate half of the brown one and then proceeded to use the yellow one and the green one to lay cat traps with. So, she still has one and a half to use. Smart, huh?

I really worry about Mother lately. She called last night (Wednesday) because she hadn't heard from me in a while and wanted to make sure I was okay. We had just talked on Monday night. This is the second time she's done this in just a little while. Recently she called me the very next day "because she hadn't talked to me in a while". I know she's older (80), but she's been so active and alert. Her brother's death may be playing a small part in this, but I think it's something else...not sure just what. Bert doesn't seem to notice, of course he's almost 88. She's so forgetful and repeats herself often. So do I, so what's my excuse?

Am feeling a little better...stomach's still a little wonky...just put some beef ribs in the oven...if I can eat those I'll be fine!

To work or not to work?

Am home sick today. For the past two days I've really felt icky, but last night about did me in. I was up throwing up off and on all night. This morning I tried to eat and much to Shirley's delight wasn't able to...she enjoyed the cheese eggs that she assumed I'd scrambled just for her. Don't know what's wrong...feel dreadfully tired, running a slight fever and have a very sick stomach...must be a bug of some sort. The boss was less than cordial when I called him...his bad.

It feels so wrong being home and just laying around. I surfed some blogs and found several that I really enjoyed. There's nothing on tv...no cable or satellite, just rabbit ears and I only pick up 4ish stations.

I did see the new Martha Stewart daytime show this morning. It's pretty good, but seems to just be a remake of the old show. I haven't watched her night time show, I think it's opposite Lost or something else I enjoy. Survivor is on tonight!

Tall?

I don't think I ever thought about people being short or tall. Probably if I were a witness at some crime thingy I wouldn't be much help, I don't see hight and I seldom see color.

After work today the electrician came by about the shed. When he came in the back door I felt like ducking (what is that? do you grow feathers and quack?) (is it dunking?) Any way, he's tall!

I worked for the boss for several days before I knew he's short. Funny, I wish I really knew why it seems to matter so much to some folks. So many of the tall ones seem to feel they are superior no matter what. I'm here to tell you today that they are wrong!

A wonderful Sunday

As a rule Sunday is my least favorite day. I've been that way since I was a child. There's just something so lonely and sad about Sunday...and then there's Monday chomping at your heels.

But this particular Sunday has been just wonderful! Eldest Daughter and her family came by on their way home to the mountains. Shirley, Goodness and even Mercy in her own way were all glad to see them, even though it's been over 2 yrs. since they have seen them. I'm certain Shirley remembered them and even Goodness did. I don't think Mercy did (she's odd) but in her own fashion she warmed up to them.

We had a nice lunch (and I even remembered to do the rolls). I intended to make coffee and completely forgot to...did remember that there was tea.

Ed, my oldest granddaughter is tall and willowly. She's 13 and absolutely beautiful! She's taller than I am and even taller than her mother. In a few years she should model...her look is so striking. The most amazing things about her to me are her kindness and her intelligence. She's something else!

The younger of the two girls, Benard, is quite the looker too! She has amazing eyes and the funniest sense of humor! She has always been a character but with age has really honed her wit! Sweetness shines from her!

As far as my son-in-law is concerned, I couldn't ask for a better one. He's kind and sweet and rather funny himself!

Last, but not least, is RM. I could go on and on about her. She's beautiful, intelligent, talented and the one I think MOTHERS should be modeled after. I'm so in awe of her and proud of her.

The house felt quite empty after they left. I had my traditional cry and then drowned myself in computer games until it felt like my eyes would fall out. I wish we lived closer together. Maybe someday.

Preparations for the day

I'm rather excited. I've been up since 4:30. Today's the day RM and family will be coming by. Yesterday I made a shephard's pie and cole slaw...then I boiled eggs last night and this morning made deviled eggs. I have some good rolls to bake and I think I'll make a pitcher of tea. I'm thinking about dessert...I have a devils food cake mix and a box of Dream Whip. That could be good.

Shirley knows something's up. She can tell I'm excited about something. She's laying across my feet right now wagging her tail and looking up at me as she smiles! Boy, does she ever have ESP! When I typed in her name she sat up on the foot stool and really became animated. How wonderful! Maybe she needs to go outside.

Odds and Ends

The television coverage of hurricane Rita is intense. She went ashore early this morning along the Texas/Louisana border. She had weakened considerably from 24 hours ago, but was still a catagory 3 when she landed. The shored up levees in New Orleans didn't hold...areas that flooded with Katrina had finally dried out and are now once more flooded. The devestation that Rita has wrought will not be known for hours, maybe even days. I did hear that there are a few other systems forming.

I don't know if my eldest daughter and family are coming here today or tomorrow. I thought it was to be tomorrow, but woke up this morning thinking about it and I think they had the house on St. George Island from Sunday to Saturday. That would make sense, I had thought it was from Sunday to Sunday. Need to cook something and do a little cleaning.

Planted two rosemary plants and a celantro this morning...I've been keeping them on the side porch, but they really weren't doing too well. In fact one of the rosemarys probably will not make it and it's sorta iffy about the other.

The weekend was slow coming this week. Yesterday the boss was out of town and the day was VERY long.

Had a message from Mother last night that they were back from the funeral...actually I saw it on CallWave...didn't listen to her message, just called her back. She was just getting in the shower and didn't want to talk. Said she'd call today.

Uncle Gene

Arley E. (Eugene) Vickers, Jr., age 81 of Orange Park died Monday, September 19, 2005 in the Orange Park Medical Center. He was the husband of Marcella for 60 years. Born in Dothan, Alabama he was the son of the late Arley E. and Lettie (Harrison) Vickers. He was retired from the U.S. Navy where he was an air traffic controller and pilot. He served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He was a bee keeper and had citrus trees and loved working outdoors. He was of the Catholic faith and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Orange Park.

Along with wife, Marcella, he is survived by sons: Larry and Bruce and daughters: Deborah, Denise and Valerie. He is also survived by brother, Charles A and sister Jane. He is the grandfather of 7 and 3 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter: Pamela, who died in 1975.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service Friday, 9/23/05 at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Ocala. Military Honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy.

Answers

I do believe that all prayers are answered, often not in a way we recognize and often not exactly how we wish, but answered. Yesterday I had a direct answer to a prayer and just as I had asked.

Uncle Gene died Tuesday night and I've coped pretty well with it, but when I got home from work yesterday I was so down, not only from the loss of someone I love, but the new hurricane, even though distant at this point, is rather scary and I'm alone, etc., etc., etc. So, I had a really good cry and then got hold of myself and prayed. It was a rather selfish prayer, but sincere..."Please God, I really don't want to be alone tonight. Please send someone just to keep me company."...shortly after that the bottom fell out of the sky. It rained so hard that I could barely see the road out front. I stood in the living room looking out the window at the storm and a car slowed down as it approached my driveway...it really looked familiar, but I couldn't immediately place it. Then it turned into the driveway. Bud! It was BUD! He came to spend the night! We had supper and talked for hours. He truly was an answer to my prayer! Thank you God! Thank you Bud!

Now, I'm worrying about Miss Rose...She and her family and friends are vacationing on St. George Island. They showed pictures of St George Island on the news a little while ago, and it's already very rough. I know they are grown, but mothers do worry! (I sound like my mother!)

Rewriting history

Well, I talked to Mother last night. She is, of course, in the process of rewriting her family history. I made the comment that it was so good that the family had in the last few years shelved the disagreements they had had and that everyone had finally gotten over Uncle Gene converting to Catholism when he married Aunt Marcella. Well, she went ballistic...according to her, there was never any conflict. It's rather funny that both Diane and I remember differently!

Now I'm not sure that I'll be going to the funeral...it's to be a grave-side service in Ocala...at 4pm on Friday. I really wish they'd have it on Saturday, oh well.

I talked with Helen last night. Allen R., the older fellow that rents a room from her, is actually better. He was moved out of intensive care yesterday and his daughter is looking for a nursing home for him. Modern medicine is really amazing!

Uncle Gene

Got a call at lunch time from my cousin Diane. Our Uncle Gene died last night. He hadn't been sick, in fact he had just finished cutting the grass (6+ acres) on a riding lawn mower, had showered and fixed dinner. He and Aunt Marcella were sitting at the table eating and he just keeled over dead. I know that this unseasonal heat didn't help, but this was something he'd done for years. He was 82. Aunt Marcella has alzheimers (sp?) and he was her sole caretaker. They do have 5 living children. I know she'll be well taken care of, I just hate it happened this way. She must be so afraid and probably puzzled. There is to be an autopsy. I don't know when the funeral is, but I plan on going. Just did a MapQuest and it's pretty much a straight shot from here, 2 1/2 hours.

Second Thoughts

As many of us do, I'm having second thoughts about so many things.

Last night was a Humane Society meeting. The entire meeting was taken up with rehashing the same old things. Of course many of the issues haven't been reconciled and need to be, but, it just seemed to run on and on. We didn't meet until 7pm and it was close to 9pm when I got home. Now, I'm running on empty right now and often go to bed somewhere between 7 & 9. The evening was too late and too long for me.

I'm thinking I'm going to become less active. Is that the same as inert?

I put full coverage on the car. Now I'm looking at the cost for that and think I may drop some of the coverage when I renew in Feb. That $1,ooo.oo a year is too much to continue.

When I got home from work yesterday the lawn man had come. It sure looks good, but paying him is a problem. I need to get a mower and do it myself. Surely I can keep the yard myself.

I need a fence. Other dogs are roaming through and Shirley needs to have the space to run.

Well, this really turned into a bitching post...didn't mean it to, but that's where I am right now. Nothing is great, nothing is horrible (except money) and I'm not sure how to handle anything.

Dogs...The original bloggers?

This morning I watched Shirley as she checked out all of her pee spots from last night. She never seems to reuse them, but does regularly check them out as if seeing if a comment was left for her. Sound familiar?

The weekend was quiet and uneventful. Going to the street to bring in the newspaper was the most "going out" I did. Never even started the car, well, at least I saved gas. I did spot a gas station not far from here on Friday that had regular for $2.79. Not bad...but I'm sure it will have gone up by the time I gas up. Little car is getting great gas mileage, 'course not running her does seem to stretch the usage!

Read a really good book this weekend..."Almost Adam" a novel by Petru Popescu. Hated to finish it, in fact, I put it down several times just to stretch out the pleasure of reading it.

Boss and his wife were in Atlanta for a trade show this week end. He'll be in today, hope he brought me some goodies!

Not sleeping too well. Wake up as tired as I go to sleep. Surely this is just a phase, one that will pass soon.

Aren't Saturdays Grand!

Of course I woke up this morning at 5:30, but it felt so good to acknowledge Saturday and go back to sleep! It almost seemed sinful to roll out at 7:30. After doing animal chores, taking my handful of vitamins and making coffee I brought in the newspaper and crawled back into bed. Well, I frankly couldn't stay there...the computer called and called. So here I sit.

So much, yet very little actually, seems to be going on in my very small world.

The yard needs cutting, but it's been so dry that I hesitate to have it done (and too, the cost... I'm overdrawn at the bank). This time of year seems to be slowing the majority of the grass growth, but there are patches of odd grass that doesn't seem to care that the days are shorter and there is too much heat and no rain.

I can stand outside and watch leaves shower down from the pecan trees. They are so old and countless storms have pruned them into giant bonsai trees. I love looking at them and now that they are shedding the shapes are so much more pronounced. Last night I stood and watched the moon rise through them. Beautiful! That really big orange orb shining through my bonsaied pecans was breathtaking!

Garden Life

I am particularly enjoying the creatures living in the garden. (Of course I say "garden" in quotes, because actually it's a yard with a garden wanting to happen!) A couple of days ago I was walking around the most neglected part of the yard (and the part that most closely resembles a garden) and almost stepped on a little snake with a black head. He put his tongue out at me a bunch, but seemed totally unafraid. I had to go back three times before he was gone and I could get the branch that had fallen into the gardenia.

Then, that same evening, I was walking down the east side of the yard and found the largest garden spider I've ever seen! Her body is at least 2 1/2 " long and quite wide. She has created the most elaborate web lodge I've EVER seen! It is at least 3 complete spiral webs that are interconnected with cross webs. She sits in the outer most web in the exact center. I was watching her yesterday and a little twig of oak with 3-4 dried leaves fell in to the center web. She was totally motionless for several heart beats and then she crept quite slowly to the leaves. She touched each leaf and explored the twiglet. It was caught inbetween the first and second spiral and on a little mesh of the cross web. It took her several minutes, but she carefully undid the cross web and disengaged the invader leaves and they fell to the ground. Then she positioned herself back in her original spot! I roamed the hedges all around the yard after that and found many of her offspring, but none as amazing as she is!

An odd accident

I had a rather odd accident last night. I took a pizza out of the oven and as I always do was in the midst of cutting it while it was still quite hot (I find that if I cut it before it cools the cheese cuts cleaner) when the pizza cutter slipped and the index finger on my right hand was plunged into the HOT pizza. I immediately stuck the knuckle with the cheese clinging to it into my mouth and got the worse of it off and then stuck it under the cold water tap. However, the cold water isn't very cold (I'm used to a well), so I stuck it in the freezer. Then I hammered some ice cubes, wrapped them in a kitchen towel and kept the dumb finger wrapped in it...even went to bed with the towel and ice chips in a plastic bag and my hand in it. This morning most of the pain is gone, but I have several very nice blisters across the knuckle.

Helen update

Helen called tonight. For the past 8-9 years she's had two men who have rented rooms from her. Over time, they've become family to her. Allen R. is 88 and Allen Q. is in his early 50s.

Well, Allen R. had emergency surgery on Saturday to remove 6" of his intestine and isn't expected to recover. It seems he swallowed a pill of some sort a few weeks ago and didn't take it out of its shrink-wrap. It lodged in his intestine and caused a major infection. Today his daughter went to Helen's house and got his Will and his wallet. Bless her heart, Helen's so upset, but at the same time she's saying that only God knows when it your time to go and if it's Allen R.'s time it's beyond anything that anyone else can do.

A chill in the air

I woke up this morning at 5:30 with two cats and a dog on me. It was down right chilly! Turns out it was 57 degrees outside and really cool inside! How wonderful! It feels like FALL!

Late yesterday the beasts and I were all in the kitchen when we heard a loud crash. Needless to say the cats disappeared and Shirley began barking her head off and I was puzzled. On investigating I found that a plastic book case that I'd overloaded with heavy books had collapsed in the bedroom. Talk about a mess! I really need to figure out how to make a good, strong book case...I've got lots of heavy how-to books but none of them tell me how to build things.

Off to work.

Yesterday

When I didn't hear from Bud Friday night I figured he wasn't coming over just for supper. (I left him a message on his machine (from work) that the boss had hired someone he'd talked to a few months ago to build the room and he shouldn't come all the way from Apalachicola to put a bid in, but if he just wanted to come over I'd feed him.)

Well, Saturday dawned sorta loomingly, it felt like a big expanse of empty time that I hadn't planned on having and it didn't feel good. So I decided to go to a thrift store this side of Tallahassee (out 90) that I'd heard about. (I'm looking for a couple of bedside tables and don't want and can't afford something new.) When I got there they told me that their main store had all of the furniture and gave me directions to get there. It was almost 30 miles....through Tally and south! Well, I found it and they didn't have what I was looking for, but I did get a 22"x35" bulletin board that looks brand new for $2.49! I'm thinking for painting it and covering it in something wonderful and using it on my desk.

Anyway, when I left there it was closer to come home US27 than to go back 90, so I did. I saw a Ross and stopped there looking for sheets for the new beds (Mother got a nautical plaidish print for the sheets, they'll do for backup)....found two sets of a black and white jersey sheets for $8.95 a set. They're rather different and appeal to me. Then found next door a wonderful shop that sells essential oils, incense, books, saris and other grand stuff! Then headed home. Passed where my sister lives, stopped. She wasn't home, but I looked at her back yard where she lost the pool after hurricane Dennis and it looks fantastic! You can't even tell that a pool had been there. The sod looks just like the rest of the yard. Looks good! Left and headed home.

Pulled into the carport and the first thing I saw even before I got out of the car was some twigs on the steps going up to the back door. On closer inspection I saw the twigs formed PST, BUD!!!!! He'd been here! I wasn't! Damn! Then I saw a receipt stuck in the back door with a note on the back from Bud saying he'd been here 3 or so hours and had decided that I wasn't merely at breakfast and he'd gone back home. I missed him by less than a half an hour both when I left and when I got back home. I waited until I felt he'd had time to get back and called. He wasn't there, I left word. Then he called while Shirley and I were out back and he left word. Then I called him back and left word again. Then I had an idea and called again and asked if he was busy today. Thought I'd take the steaks over there. Didn't hear from him. Called this morning and got a really weird message and started a message, then said I might have a wrong number. Called back, got same message. Left word. Haven't heard. Will stay home and do laundry and such.

This little spinning ball of ours

All of the natural disasters we have had, not only here in the US, but worldwide, have caused me to ponder how very fragile we humans are. It seems that we are so intent on killing or at least controlling everyone else, yet we don't use common sense to take care of ourselves.

Engineers have known for decades that New Orleans was a prime target for a truly horrific disaster and have done nothing to shore up the levees, dams and dikes that were in place to protect the city. Why? It isn't simply a matter of ignorance...is feels like apathy. Even the citizens of New Orleans were aware of the peril, yet stayed there...it was home. Now what? I ache for all of the folks that Katrina impacted. Ultimately, Katrina impacted our entire country.

I just ran up to Burger King for a breakfast sandwich and was happy to see that our downtown B.P. still had gas for $2.95! This morning's paper noted several other things that will probably increase in price...everything from home owner's insurance to electricity. Bus fares, shipping on products and grocery prices were all mentioned as areas to also be watched for increased prices.

I don't like to second guess our government, but it feels like we should be pulling our troops from the middle east and concentrating our money and human resources on internal security including things like better bridges, better levees and dams and an all out push to elevate the plight of the poor.

Tomorrow is the 4th anniversary of 9-11-01. I don't feel any more secure or any safer than I did on 9-12-01. Do you? I know there's another shoe, I'm just waiting for it to drop.

This little spinning ball we live on seems to be in dire straits. If not from natural phenomenon, then at least from ourselves!

Time Flies!

Hard to believe that tomorrow's Thursday!

Had a message on the machine from Mother...her second cataract surgery went quite well. Her vision is amazing she says!

There's a group out of Tallahassee that's going back to Mississippi for the second time on an animal rescue mission. I didn't know that they can't transport the animals from state to state. The animals are all quarantined. This group is taking in food, water and medications for the animals...and they are doing rescue. They have gathered a lot of donations and looking for more. www.bigdogrescue.com

Having leftovers, so what's new?, and must go nuke them, Shirley's hungry!

Happy Labor Day!

Today is Labor Day...funny name for a day that most people don't work. I'm going in for a few hours this morning. Need to show the bosses wife what I've done on the new computer program so she'll have access to it also.

My new furniture arrived at 8:30 yesterday morning. Twin beds, chest of drawers and bed side table...corner hutch (that lights up!) and table w/2 leaves and 6 chairs. First dining room I've ever had! The cats love the table, now they can see out the windows in the dining room.

Weather seems to be moderating a bit, lower humidity and a little less hot.

Bud came over from Apalachicola yesterday and we went to Thomasville to Lowes. He put a peep hold in the front door and a chain latch on it, installed a toilet paper holder in both bathrooms and hung two shades on the sun porch. Then Mother arrived with a trunk full of sheets, pillows, etc. for the spare room. The three of us had an interesting visit. Mother left around 4pm and Bud left at 5pm...he had a date at 7pm...hope he made it.

Bud brought Chester (red Chow) with him. Didn't see a cat the entire time he was here, but Shirley was in hogs heaven! Those two dogs ran through the house until they finally had to flop down on the floor panting! What a hoot!

Sometimes it's the little things!

Today I paid bills, did laundry, scrubbed the patio chairs, rearranged the patio (and took the grill and charcoal back outside), read the newspaper, found a blog I'm very fond of (science musings), played some computer games, read e-mails, talked with Mother twice, took Shirley in and out several times, vacuumed and went to the store. I was kicking myself for not getting much done today, but when I list it out it looks okay.

I just did spell check and the only word it mentioned was "blog". Funny!!

Bud's due tomorrow and so is the furniture. Mother wants to come over when the furniture gets here because she went shopping today and bought sheets and things. Also, she wants to see Bud and Bert wants to meet him. Should be an interesting day!

It's Saturday...

This morning for the first time in months I was able to go back to sleep after waking up at 4am. Boy that felt better, I slept until 7am! When I went out to bring in the newspaper there was a major change in the air! It was cool and drier...it was slightly foggy in the distance and very quiet. All in all, it was such a lovely stroll down the driveway!

The electrition came by yesterday to give me a quote on getting electricity out back to the shed. I want an over-head light socket and a plug. But, it's going to cost me more than I make in a week, so I'll have to think up some other way to do it...extension cords!

Bud won't be here today after all...had a job to finish. He'll be here tomorrow.

The furniture from Mother is due to arrive tomorrow morning (Sunday!).

Wednesday after work three of us finished the HS records. Just took 2 hours. Wonderful feeling of accomplishment!

No plans for today. Maybe a little cleaning, maybe not. Laundry!