Witches, Goulds and Goblins, oh my!

In a two hour period last night I had over a hundred Trick or Treaters! Cars were parked up and down the street disengourging giggling little monsters! At one time there were 3 cars parked in my driveway. That's more than I remember having any other time EVER! They were all costumed and cute, funny or rather creepy and everyone seemed to be having a ball! I dressed in black and sat on the front porch with a lit candle and a galvanized bucket of candy.

I think the funniest goblin was a little girl (looked to be 9 or 10 yrs old). She was dressed as a Sumo wrestler. The outfit was flesh colored and sooo big! She waddled as she walked. What a hoot! Then there was the little boy. He was 5ish and dressed in camos with a toy rifle on a strap slung over his shoulder. I asked him if he was a hunter (in this neck of the woods that quite probable). He said no, he was a soldier like his daddy...and added that his daddy was "at" the war and he hoped he didn't get shot or "blowed up". Then he spotted Shirley in the window (she had a ball!!) and told me all about his dogs and the one that got "runned" over. What a precious child! They were all cute and very polite, I don't remember any of them not saying thank you.

I slept better last night than I have in months. Guess there's something positive to be said for being unemployed. The only head ache (besides money) that I have is telling Mother. She's gonna freak!

I'll be going to the Humane Society office tomorrow afternoon to get them set up with Quick Books. That should help with the record keeping and today I plan to work on the membership records, I've sorta put that off as I was on the computer inputting data almost the entire time I was at work and just didn't want to do more of the same when I got home at night.

Here's to a fresh start on November first!

Well, here I sit

Don't know if I got fired or if I quit, but here I sit at 2:30 on a Monday afternoon with a check for $30.88 in my purse.

I was expecting things not to go too well today, but this wasn't the outcome I'd hoped for. Joe was quite distant and very cool when I got in this morning...barely spoke when spoken to, but no blow-up like I was expecting. I heard him call his wife and chew her out for a mistake she'd made and I did ask if I could help with anything when he got off of the phone. A very gruff "no" was all I got. He had me go to lunch early and was gone when I got back.

Two vans pulled in behind me when I got back from lunch. It was two coaches and some high school kids wanting to design a t-shirt for the cross-country state finals. (they will probably win!) Joe had shown one of the coaches some clip-art books and he even knew where they were and walked in and got them. They took over the front room (gave them a couple of forms and pencils and the coach told me that they didn't need any help and actually closed the office door when I went back in! I did get up and open the door. Well, Joe showed up before they were finished and worked with them until they came up with a design and placed an order. When they left he came in the office and bit my head off. He didn't know what was wrong with me, I'm not focused, it's his shop, not mine. Now, mind you, we've had a similar talk before, but this one was vicious. He was yelling and really being nasty...not cussing, just really being nasty. Then he brought up the t-shirt order from last week. Well, I had already looked at the order as I had it entered in the computer and finally (after asking him) found the actual packing slip hidden on his desk and I did not do what he was saying/yelling. In fact, I told him that I didn't and that I'd shown it to him and that just made him madder. I was so upset that I thought I was going to either cry or throw up and said I needed to go home...he said "make sure you take your stuff" and I said I wasn't planning on quitting, that I felt like I was going to throw up. He then began yelling again that it was his shop, he paid the bills and if I left I wasn't to come back. Of course, it didn't help matters that I had painted a very mild cat face (a black nose and whisker dots) on this morning and had on my Halloween shirt. The jackass even said that how dare I dress that way when he'd given me shirts to wear. Told him I'd bring the shirts back (and I will), he said no and I said I'd not wear them again, maybe someone else could. Then I asked him to pay me for the overtime Friday and for the four hours today and he said no. Said I could come back on Friday and get it as that was payday. Then he had second thoughts and wrote me the check. Oh, I did say that I sure didn't know what was wrong with him. That helped lots, too.

I've never met anyone who needs to take anger management training like he does. And he thinks he's going to run for sheriff in a few years. Oh God, that's just what we need, a hot head with a gun!

I guess I'll go to Thomasville tomorrow and get a paper. Maybe even Valdosta, it's not all that far. If it weren't for the house I'd leave Monticello.

A very nice Sunday

Today has been one of those laid back Sundays that don't really happen that often. It's not that I've not done anything, I have, it's just the day felt soft. No issues that had to be dealt with today, nothing that absolutely had to get done. Did laundry, took the garbage to the street, cleaned my bathroom (and shower!), Shirley and I took the Sprint bill to the post office, did litter boxes and swept the kitchen and side porch, read the newspaper and just puttered. Feel-good day!

Mother called. She's obsessed with getting an address. Once she latches on to one of these needs she's ruthless! Told her that I'd let her know if I found the address. Then she went into a rather ugly bashing of her step-daughter and step-son-in-law. Said she didn't like them, so I said "they probably don't like you either.". Without skipping a beat she replied "Oh, of course they do, I'm charming. Everyone thinks I'm charming.". Oh, gag!

There was a quote by David Trueblood in Fridays newspaper: "It takes a noble man to plant the tree that will some day give shade to people he may never need."

I have a pot of small white beans on cooking. Gives the perfect smell throughout the house for this slightly chilly day. I'm torn between making a pot of rice or a pan of cornbread. The cornbread sure is winning out right now...with some bacon and cheese in it...and a little onion!

Long cord fever

Okay, I've been dippin' in the jug a bit, so what ever this turns out to be is the cyber equivalent of ages ago "long cord fever".

Shirley and I just came in. "They" said our best viewing of Mars wouldn't be until 9:24 tonight. "They also said he'd be quite yellow. Well, "they" are not totally correct. I could see Mars coming up a while ago right between the trees on the east side of the yard. He has a reddish cast and is quite large. He's storming through the trees like the warrior he is. It's very clear outside now and Mars is very clear and quite beautiful!

I found it hard to believe that there were still Orlando calls on the 'phone bill, but there were 3. Maybe 1010987 is delayed.

My angst about Helen is wanting to dominate my mind. Wish I could cry.

The stuff with the boss is really bugging me. What in the Sam Hill am I supposed to do? I can't be without a job, couldn't be afloat an entire month. The eggs and cat food won't last long (2 weeks max). I've lost a ton of weight lately...rice and eating the same burger for both lunch and supper...well, you know what that's like. Thank God I have a roof. I'll keep that even if I don't have water or electricity. These are supposed to be the start of my "Golden Years", wow!

The squirrels are eating/gnawing the antlers on the deer skull on the pecan tree in the back yard. I thought perhaps someone was sneaking into the yard and sawing them off for handles of things. But, Bud said it was squirrels and it is, I've seem them bunches lately. Don't know what to do, Mother said "run at them"...we can all see that happening!

Just how long does cooked fish keep? I never finished the mullet from the Am. Legion fish fry. That was Friday a week ago. Still have lots, haven't eaten it since the day I got it. Wonder if I refried it would it be okay. I'm a little hungry tonight but don't want to cook and there isn't anything to eat that doesn't need to be cooked.

Drat...

Because of Winn Dixie

Loved the movie!

This afternoon at Winn Dixie I remembered putting the packing slip from the controversal t-shirt order in a read-me position in my printer before I left last Friday (last week, not this Friday). I also remember showing it to him on Monday and he said not to worry about it, it was coming from another plant. I had a sticky note on it saying to remember to show it to the boss.

Got a retractable leash for Shirley at Dollar General for $5.00. She likes the additional roaming room, but the sound the leash makes as she returns to me scares her to death! What a woose! Also got some puppy training pads. I've put one over her favorite spot...she'll probable just find another favorite spot.

Paid the phone bill today (the last of the Orlando calls) and did just a little grocery shopping ($39.00). Got the water bill today and I don't have anything left. Gotta do something.

Oh, last night the chirper was still going strong when I got home from work. So I got the ladder out and the screwdriver and thought I'd just totally disconnect the alarm thingy. Well, I set up the ladder and was standing over the alarm and it chirped...but it wasn't the alarm. My hearing is so bad with high pitched sounds and I had a lot of trouble locating it. Above the alarm box (14"-16" above) is a box that looks like an old doorbell chime. So I stood on the ladder and focused on that box until the chirp happened again, and it wasn't that box. Now believe me, I'd looked and looked for something else and not found anything and was looking again while standing on the ladder and it chirped again. The sound came from the ceiling just inside the hall from the living room...it WAS a smoke alarm (didn't know I had one). I had to stand on the very top of the ladder to reach it (I'm 5'1") and couldn't unscrew it. So I had to get down, get glasses and go back up. There was a little plastic pin-type thing stopping it from unscrewing. Got it out and opened it and, yep, there was a, 9v battery which I immediately shatched out and the damn thing shut up!!!!! Thank goodness! Got a battery, actually a two pack for $1.99 at the Dollar General, and replace the thing today. The funny thing is, tonight is the night "they" recommend you replace your smoke alarm batteries! Is that a hoot or what?

I know Bud is busy (maybe on his way to Idaho) and doesn't have a phone, but I sure wish to hear from him. It's been so nice feeling he was close, but now not being able to "reach out and touch" makes him less close.

Bought a jug of wine today. Cheap, but not bad.

Odds 'n ends

Okay, I'm not sure just where to start.

Things at work have been pretty good the last two weeks at work. The boss was out of town two days last week and has been out of the shop for periods of time this week, so no conflicts have happened.

While he was out of town last week an order of shirts came in and I processed them. Counted (I always count more than once, you know, that little one brain cell I'm working with) and checked them off against the order and put the appropriate shirts in bins for specific jobs. Then entered the incoming order in the computer. Late yesterday the boss started a job that was due yesterday and I stayed late and helped. At a quarter to seven last night I got a call from him. He was spitting fire. He said, among other things, that I had incorrectly processed the order and the job was incomplete because of it. Well, if there was a shortage in the shirts, I feel sure I noted it on the packing sheet...I mean, that's what I do...I make notes and notes and notes, don't particularly trust the one brain cell. Any way, he ranted and raved for a few minutes and then said we'd take it up Monday. Well, I'm not too sure I care to take it up on Monday or any other time with him. I promised myself after the last blow-up that the next time would be the last time. Not sure what to do. Damn!

When I got off of the phone with him I paced with my cup of tea in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Had several thoughts, some of which are not fit for print. (1) At least this takes some of the pressure off of his wife, he got it out of his system with me (I've heard him talk AT her and I know how hard that is. She's talked with me about his fuse.). (2) I'm pretty sure I told him about the order and he said not to worry the remainder was coming from another plant. (3) How dare he talk to me or anyone else that way. (4) I think he'd like for me to quit as I'm pretty sure he's over extended with that new toy of his, the embroidery machine, and what pittance he pays me in a month would probably make up a large part of the loan payment. (5) Etc. Not sure what to do, but must do something.

Thinking of taking a drive up to Valdosta this afternoon.

Helen

Got a call a little after 9 o'clock last night from Helen. She's been in the hospital for the last 9 days. She sat on the side of her bed to put her red boots on and came to on the floor. Doesn't remember falling and had no idea how long she was out. She couldn't get up and said she ended up scooting on her bottom out of the bedroom, down the hall and through the livingroom to her big chair and was able to pull herself up on it. She sat in it until she felt okay and then went outside for a cigarette. Said she went back in and back to bed and slept for several hours. When her daughter came by later that evening she told her what had happened and they went to the hospital. She said they ran many test including x-rays and a MRI. They put in a pace maker and found brain cancer. She had a cancerous kidney removed this summer. She starts radiation on Tuesday. She is scheduled for 3 treatments now. I guess they'll check it out and see if it's working and if she needs more. Bless her heart, she's 82...and like she said, it sure would be easier to just go to sleep and not wake up. I'm going to try to make a one day trip down and back. I need to see her.

A productive day!

Another crisp day. Love it...wore one of my flannel shirts to work today and it felt like such an old, comfortable friend! I felt "good in my skin" today.

One day earlier I cut some magnetic material down to little 2ish"x4"pieces and the boss asked me to apply vinyl to them. Enjoyed it and did quite well except that I grabbed the wrong size for one of them, but it still looked good. He said it was okay. I've caught a few shirts and done a few other odds and ends and enjoy the change so much. Of course, I'm still doing the office, but the other is fun too! I'm checking out pad printing prices on pens, mugs and golf balls right now...you know how much I love catalogs!

Got home and the damn alarm thing is still chirping...every 20 seconds (I timed it). Of course it's almost friendly now, kinda like having a bird that doesn't poop! Anyway, everyone I talked to today about it (all male) seemed to think "Poor little woman, she's an idiot". The very first question from each was "did you hit the reset button?"...DUH! Then the consensus was it must be a battery back-up that needs replacing. So when I got home today the first thing I did was unscrew the face plate (whoever painted last used wood screws to put the plate back on!) and lo and behold! There ain't no battery! Just electronic circuits. So now what?

Shirley and I spent an hour and a half in the yard tonight. I used the wheelbarrow and cleaned up all of the debris the winds littered the yard with and got out to the street with it and guess what? they picked up my other pile today! So now I'm starting a new one. Boy, the ants are bad! The entire yard seems to be one giant ant bed! Got a few really good bites.

Saw a car stopped for speeding (I guess) right out front tonight. They really do speed on this section of the road. A little further down it's too bumpy, I'm a block out too far.

Gotta go feed the bird.

Well, now I've gone and done it

When I got home yesterday the house was cold, so I decided to turn on the heat just to get the chill off. Also there was the pee spot in the livingroom, so I made a bucket of soapy water and mopped the livingroom, hall, spare room and kitchen. Then I decided to use Bud's suggestion and sprinkle red pepper on Shirley's favorite areas to pee. Couldn't find my big thing of red pepper, so decided to sprinkle Cajun seasoning spice. Did. Well, one of her favorite spots is in the hall in front of the air intake register for the heat/air conditioner and of course, with the heat on, the Cajun spice was sucked right in! The house smelled wonderful, but it also caused the alarm system to go nuts. The damn thing had chirped every 20 seconds since 5pm yesterday and I can't make it stop. It's so loud that I can hear it in every room even with doors closed. Called Mother, but they were out partying, so I left a message. Didn't hear from her, so called at 7am today. She couldn't remember the code to stop it, but did make several suggestions, none of which worked. I think that when I get home from work today I'll get my screwdriver out and dismantle the damn thing...it's not connected to any place, just using electricity and chirping. House still smells good though.

Also, for weeks the clocks in the house have really been weird. They gain time, lose time and even stop and restart. This includes the clock on the computer monitor. Don't know what causing that, but it sure is annoying!

Works going well, this week has zooped by.

Gotta get ready to go in.

And I thought it was cold yesterday!

Today it's cold! Just south of here is reporting 32 degrees and I've not stayed outside long enough to look at my thermometer...but surfice to say, its cold!

Mother came to the shop yesterday to pick up the shirt we did for her. She had said that they'd come over this past weekend to get it so I took it home. Took it back to work yesterday and she came over after a day of bridge. She looked cute and sat and talked for about half an hour. She also met the boss.

After work I went to the Humane Society office. We'd discovered another box of records dating from 2002 back to 1987. What a mess! But, after an hour and a half we (MJ and I) got it into some sort of order and discarded all of the really old stuff we don't have to keep. Brought home the membership records...boy! is that ever a mess. Told them to give me 2 weeks and I should have them in order. Of course I set up the spread sheet for them last week so that'll speed it up.

Ran into the lady who is heading up the Democratic party here in Jefferson County. She was one of Daddy's first secretaries! Fun to see folks from back then. Of course, to see her, you'd never believe she's old enough to have worked for Daddy. Talk about timeless!

Gotta ready myself for work. 38 layers of clothes should do it.

Chilly today

Oh, I love it! it's down right cold this morning! My outside thermometer said 44 at 5:30 and 38 at 7:00. Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler. I did put a heavy comforter on the bed Sunday and last night turned the ceiling fan off in the living room. I left the ceiling fan on in the bedroom, 'cause I had my comforter! Sure slept well! Hard to imagine that last week we had highs in the 90s!

I'm holding off on turning the heat on. When Bud checked out the propane tank it was filled to either 60 or 70% capacity. I'm not sure how long that will last, but I plan to not use it as long as possible.

Maybe I'll turn the bedroom fan off while I'm at work...it sure does kick up a breeze.

I think I'm back

It has been so annoying not being able to post...as if whatever I have to say is earth shattering! Anyway, I think I'm back.

When I brought the garbage can in from the street after work today I saw bunches of pecans that the car had crushed in the driveway. All of the looked like good ones...both this last weekend and the one before I've brought pecans in and not ONE was any good. I started noticing little holes in some of them (many of them) and actually picked one up that had a little green worm coming out! So seeing good pecans spurred me into action. I did find however, that it seems only one of the trees is really up to snuff this year, the one in the front on the east side of the yard.

I know "they" said we'd get no effects from Wilma this far north, but the winds today have been astonishing! All of the streets are covered in leaves, debris, limbs and huge clumps of Spanish moss. Looks like a mini war zone.

When I got in from pecan gathering I had a call on the machine from a friend at the Humane Society. It seems we got a rather large donation ($25,000.00) and she wanted my input on the thank you letter. So, I've only been home for a little while. Oh, I'm now on the board of directors for the society. I'm the membership chairman. I think it's because I have a computer and know word and excel. As long as I don't have to go anywhere or talk I'll do just fine.

Oh! Our high tomorrow morning at 7AM is to be 38 degrees and warming up to a toasty 60 at noon! Love it!

having trouble getting things to post

My last 3 post haven't posted. Deleted a couple...lets see if this goes.

The tickle in the back of my mind...

...must be guilt from doing very little yesterday. Intended to sleep in, the tickle and I got up at 5:30. Intended to get on-line early yet the tickle had me outside moving bricks and we only got on line after cooking and eating lunch and cleaning up the kitchen, too! As long as the tickle doesn't want me to paint the house or something we'll get along just fine.

It's nice outside today. There's a constant light breeze and it's cool. I wore a sweater over my t-shirt during the entire brick moving episode.

Shirley and I were outside this morning several times before I was ready to go out for a stay. So, when we finally chained out to the far yard chain, we were ready for a stay. Well, since the weather's changed and the sunlight is shorter, there's not much to weed ...and that's one of my favorite chores! So, while Shirley milled around I looked around for something to do. You know, something little. Spotted the brick pile on the west side of the yard and thought I'd move a few to the eave drip off of the carport. Well, for three trips I carried 5 at a time by hand and didn't make a dent in the pile and I was beginning to feel a little pooped so I took a coffee break. Sat on the patio thinking about how little I'd accomplished. Then the light bulb (bub) went off ...THE WHEELBARROW. It took 5 heavy loads to get them all moved, and I laid them as I moved each load. Covered an area from the carport to the air conditioner, looks like an Esher! Put the grill on a level spot and it doesn't look half bad. At some point I intend to level the area and dig the bricks in but for now, I'm pleased.

Wilma has turned ENE is what I think the radio (NPR) said. She sure is taking her own sweet time. And would you believe it Alpha has formed. She's a step below hurricane, but expected to strengthen to hurricane force. Then when Wilma passes over Florida and out into the Atlantic Alpha is expected to join Wilma. Haven't heard what that marriage is supposed to produce. That'll be interesting.

Waiting to Exhale

According to all of the current weather forcast Wilma will not be looking our way. The storm has slowed considerably (she's still a catagory 4) and will be bouncing off of the Yucatan before heading East. That little bounce will theoretically reduce her fury even more and then sometime on Monday or early Tuesday she's expected to smash into South Florida. We are to have rain today and tomorrow, but it's not coming from Wilma, we have a cold front passing through and that will be dropping some much needed rain for us...and also dropping our much higher than normal temps.!

The American Legion is having a fish fry today. The fellow I made 300 tickets for a couple of weeks ago came by the shop on Wednesday and gave the boss and me each a ticket. I'm planning on going there at lunch and getting a meal to bring home to eat. LOVE mullet!

Chilly this morning

Went out to get the paper in and almost froze to death! Actually, it really was just quite crisp, but my face was cold to the touch when I got back in! Low 50's. Saw the weather forcast for next week and the highs are to be in the mid-70's! We still have several days of low 50's and high 80's and a hurricane before Fall hits, but it's coming! Yeah!

Don't know what to do about Shirley. She is peeing in the house. There's a place in the living room where the finish has been seriously breached on the hard wood floor. Bud suggested sprinkling red pepper on her favorite spots. Think I will before I go in to work this morning. Just don't want to do anything to hurt her.

No news to speak of except for the weather. Did see a window of opportunity for the path of Wilma. There is an outside possibility that she could impact us here in N. FL. I sure don't wish this storm on south or central Florida, but I really don't want her here!

The boss will be out of town today and tomorrow. Going to NC to pick up an embroidery machine for the shop.

Oh! I got a wish book!!!

The Office Depot catalog came yesterday! It's their "Big Book". I started on page one, of course and have finally reached items that are for sale. This may top my list of favorite catalogs. The 1957 Sears Christmas catalog has been on top of the list since '57! I was 12 and that was a good Christmas...in Ocala with Murr and Pappy and the entire family! Lots of cousins, lots of food, lots of gifts and last, but not least, lots of catalogs! We had a ball! The weather got a little nasty and we had to stay in and the catalogs were even more exciting than the gifts! So, YEAH!!! The Office Depot catalog came yesterday!

Everyone up here (N. FL) is pretty nervous about the coming storm. It's the topic of conversation everywhere, but sorta in a whisper...it's early yet to acurately predict a path for Wilma and you know that for sure if you were in Central Florida last season for Charley, Frances and Jean (was it Jean?)...there goes some more of that last brain cell.

Of course if we do get anything nasty, I don't expect it to be full force...and the current path is predicted to be quite south of here. But, IF we do get anything I've got the perfect bad weather book! My New Catalog! I can make and revise lists and customise them! Oh, what fun!

That's one way to look at it, I guess the other is to plan to hunker-in this weekend and to prepare accordingly.

Shirley is dancing on one leg and is trying to tell me that she needs to go out. So we will.

Oh, what a moon!

Mother called me at work today at 4:15. She wanted to know if it was okay to bring me a mess of fresh mustard greens (Bert's brother grew them). Of course I said YES!! Got home at 4:35 and they showed up at 4:55. Mother wanted to show Bert the new furniture and they didn't even sit down. We stood in the carport for a few minutes (they loved the fire-wood holder that Bud built) and chatted and they left. I did tell them about sitting out with the fire and Bud with his guitar. Mother said, "Next time I wish you'd ask us. We would love that!" Who woulda thunk it?

After they left I cleaned the greens and put them on to cook with some left-over baked ham I had in the freezer They were really beginning to smell good when I had to turn them off and leave for the 7 o'clock Humane Society meeting. Well, the meeting lasted until a little after 8 o'clock and when I walked out to the street the moon was absolutely breathtaking! It kept a spot light on me the entire ride home, in fact as I was driving down Pearl Street it was directly in front of me leading the way. I was so enraptured with the view that I missed my driveway and had to turn around and come back! I could smell the greens when I walked in the back door. Now that's a combination that doesn't come too often...a breathtaking moon and mouth watering greens!

I was so hungry that I stood over the pot and ate two big bites of the greens (which only served to magnify my hunger, so I headed to the fridge). There was a small foil package that I didn't recognize...two good back pieces and the neck from the lemon chicken! Stood over the sink and devoured the chicken, made a cup of tea and here I sit!

All in all it was a very good day. Was quite busy all day, the boss was in a good mood and there's quite a bit of work left for tomorrow. That feels better.

Well, now it's Wilma

Once more the Gulf states are being alerted that we have a potentially major storm on the way that we can expect for the coming weekend (wonder why they always arrive for the weekend). Wilma has already been named and is on her way into the very warm Gulf waters. Our local tv news said this morning that she's expected to be a "big one". What a way to start a Monday!

I astounded myself yesterday! That's always fun. I swept, Swiffered and vacuumed, clean bathrooms, did laundry, got my bedroom put back together, dusted and did a lot of general puttering. Sure looks better. I'm only sorry I'd not gotten it all done before Bud got here, 'course I wasn't expecting him.

Mother called late Saturday and wanted Bud and me to meet them for lunch. I ended up handing the phone to him so he could explain that he had to get back to Apalachicola, he has work today. She was really put out. How dare anyone mess up plans SHE makes. Thought about it later, I could have gone, but wasn't invited without Bud!

It's down right chilly this morning! Love it!

One of the things that Bud did that has really made a BIG difference was to move the tall (crappy) bookcase from the "work" room into my room. The back was floppy and he reattached it for me, too. Yesterday I got the majority of my books on the shelves. Feels good and looks good to have them in one place, off of the floor. I still need to go back and organize and categorize them, but what a difference this is!

Having the bookcase out of the "work" room frees up a lot of space, too. I had to shove and shuffle boxes to get the shelves out and now can open the closet doors! Yeah! First step in getting all of that straightened out.

Big article with questions and answers about the bird flu in this mornings paper. I read it with great interest and realized when I finished that it was just placating pap. No real answers, 'course there may not really be any answers. I was thinking after reading the nonsense that this anticipated pandemic could be the "Rapture" in another guise. Give that a thought.

Good Weekend!

When the boss came in from lunch on Friday he told me about an estate sale just a little ways down from me. It was someones house that I remember from childhood...I remember both the lady and the house...so, of course when I left work I stopped at the sale. It was being run by an old friend of my daddy and we had a good visit. The belongings being sold looked like I hope my stuff looks like in 30 more years. There were crafting things galore, fabrics, threads, everything, good stuff! Oh, the books! I needed all of them! Didn't by books, but went a little nuts on the crafting stuff. Took a walk through the yard (oh, someday perhaps this one will be like hers) It's the kind of yet that you meander through on lovely, wide, intricate paths. There's a fig that you walk under and a poticarpus that almost rivals some of the oaks in the yard.

Anyway, I was putting stuff in the car when a male arm reached in and picked something up as I was putting it in. I looked up and it was BUD!!!
Oh, what a surprise! What a good way to end a work week! He brought a chicken (really he has a kitchen in his car) said he thought we'd give the grill a try...I put it together in the Spring and haven't used it. Well, he grilled lemon and butter basted chicken, made consume' rice and I did burned beans. It was a glorious meal! We sat and talked and laughed 'til late.

Saturday was really a clear cool day. We spent the majority of it out back. Bud built a fire-wood rack for the carport with pressure treated lumber we found out behind the shed! It's a nice sturdy thing and looks good. He broke down to size and organized the wood I'd gathered over the last little while on it and it looks super! We ran a few errands rather late in the afternoon and that was fun! We "did" Fred's...he's fun to shop with!

Well, we ended up sitting on the patio until midnight drinking beer and watching the fire he built in the little chimney thing. He played his guitar, sang (some wonderful songs by John Prine plus lots of others). Most of them were really good toe-tappers, some of them were hum-alongs and I knew a couple! Loved it all, but especially the John Prine ones! When we went in we remembered we'd not had supper yet. Bud made some grilled chicken sandwiches that were to die for and we were up till close to 2am.

Slept in this morning, didn't get up till a little after 8. We had breakfast and took our coffee outside. Had to wear a sweater! Sat and talked a while and then he had to go. Left at 11am. He and his dog are such good company. Shirley loves Chester and Goodness and Mercy were warming up. Maybe the nuts will remember when Bud and Chester come back that they really aren't afraid and go on from there. Look forward to the next visit!

Now that I played all week, it's time to get to work and do a little cleaning around here and once more, laundry.

It's Friday!

Some weeks seem longer than others. This one has been no exception. The boss was gone the majority of the day yesterday (playing golf) and the phone didn't ring and no one came in and I had nothing to do. Did make-up sorta work. Printed out useless reports and looked through an interesting book on creating with type. 4:30 sure took its sweet time arriving! I'm not paid enough for this...$6.50 an hour...he pays the part-time help (a high school boy) $6.15! I know damn good and well that I'm worth more than 35 cents more.

Mother called at 7:30 this morning. My heart always drops when the phone rings at an odd hour. She and Bert need a t-shirt done for a surprise birthday party. The boss probably will hit the roof.

It's a shame to begin a day with this mind-set. I'll try to do a re-set before I go in.

Well, today the boss relenquished a job

Finally, he trusted me with a silly little job, trimming vinyl on license tags and cutting out the holes for attachment. I think I'm beter with an exacto knife than he is. Maybe he'll let me do other things. I go crazy sitting in the office making busy work and printing out dumb reports that he can actually see on the computer screen. I do get bored easily and thumb twittling isn't a favorite hobby of mine. I get to count out 10 shirts when I get back!

Wore a sweather to work today. Needed it. Like this weather...over-cast and not chilly, but cool. Still have the AC on, but it's not running so much, thank goodness! Quite humid, that should change soon, too.

Starting off to be a different sort of day

Being a Virgo I'm rather patterned. Every morning I make the coffee, feed the animals, put Shirley out and at 6am I walk out and get the paper. Well this morning everything went just fine until I went out for the paper and it wasn't there. So I fixed my spinach omelet, ate it and at 6:45 went out again for the paper. It wasn't there. Hum. So at 7 I called the fellow who delivers it. He said he expects other calls as I was the 3rd from Pearl Street who didn't get one. He said he delivered them all. He'll get another one over here at some point today. Sure messes up my routine!

First thing yesterday morning the boss wanted to talk. It's his way or the highway. Thought I was doing it his way. Don't know what to do.

Don't look forward to work. Long periods that I struggle to have something to do...makes a long day and a rather unpleasant one. Don't think it'd be good to take something in to read...not on line there.

On the deep ocean floor venting

Wow! I felt I was pushing my luck with the boss. I took in a very small job (2 names on 2 each t-shirts) while I was staying an hour late today...actually he'd said when he left it'd be 15 minutes, but it was over 50 minutes! Was almost 5:30 when I left. Anyway, when he got in I showed him the four shirts and showed him the order I'd written up (it was for two law enforcement types...he usually wants to do that sort of thing) and his fuse detonated! He said (and I know he thinks he said it calmly) "Do you know how to do this?", I thought he meant price it out and said no. Well, then he went on a rather quiet rampage, but his eyes and face were nasty. Started saying how it wasn't worth his while and it'd take two screens (well, I know damn good and well that it would only take one screen and he uses vellum for his positives and runs them off on the computer and that's no big deal) and that I should have said check with him later and I could call them in the morning and say he wouldn't do the job. I gathered my purse and said "See you in the morning." and left. It's almost 2 hours later and I'm still stupid and angry. Maybe not in that order. Stupid because I expected a different reaction from him, he is an adult, and angry because of how he was and the way I let it affect me.

I got stupid back cramps on my way to CVS to pick up my prescription, got home and had forgotten cat treats and we've been out for a few days (I've been substituting them for Brewer's Yeast...been out of that for weeks). So I went up to the corner quicky market thing and the don't carry any cat treats, so I went to the IGA and they don't carry any either! What do these poor cats in town do? But IGA did have one bottle of cat vitamins ($3.55), so I bought it. Got home opened the bottle of vitamins and shook it. Mercy and Shirley came running (in that order), no Goodness. So I called out "Goodness" quite loudly and that cat actually came skidding around the corner! I never knew he knew his name! They weren't crazy about them, but they ate them.

Gotta go heat planned-overs.

It was a lovely weekend

The weekend was so pleasant and now it's over. Drat! The weather was absolutely perfect...low 80s during the day with blue skys and mid 60s at night (dark skys). The Tallahassee visit was nice and I actually got some house work and some yard work done.

The garden spider is gone. Do they hibernate? Her elaborate web structure is just a long hanging mass with brown leaves weighing it down...she's no where to be found. I can't find any of her off spring either.

The beds along the perimeter of the yard have been ignored for years it seems. They are anywhere from 4 to 8 feet deep and so overgrown that it's impossible to see everything that's there. I got in the one on the East side of the house yesterday and spent several hours cleaning out and cutting back stuff. I even found a base ball bat (plastic) under stuff and saw some kind of ball that I never made it to and something hanging in one of the azaleas that's red and black, but never made it to that either and am not sure what it is.

Gotta ready myself for work (an Extreme Makeover!).

More at another time.

Fall

The weather is lovely today. Shirley and I sat out on the patio this morning and I needed a sweater! Clear blue sky, light breeze and quiet! Lovely! This is my very favorite season!

Nothing much going on as yet today. I've read the paper and done the animal thing (no pills yet) and almost finished a pot of coffee. Oh yes, I did fix a nice breakfast. Fried the last of the maple bacon, then sorta sauted some of the fries from last night and then fried the perfect over easy egg! Not only was it good, it was pretty.

Must finish laundry (the boss had 4 polo shirts embroidered for me with the company logo...red, black, dark green and white...and he'd like me to wear one every day.), swiffer, vacuum and mop. And I'd like to start on the spare/work room. I'm thinking of bring the tall book case from in there and swapping it with this short one in here. I really want my books in here.

I've piddled away half of the day. Must get off computer and get going on my chores!

Bison on a bun

One of the first things I thought about when I woke up this morning was Mother and deviled eggs. Maybe something in a dream jogged my memory, but she has mentioned deviled eggs almost every time we've talked for the past couple of weeks. So when I got up I thought I'd make some of the basil/tomato/garlic/cheese/walnut oil/lime juice salad thing I make and devil a few eggs and take them to her. Had to get to the vets before noon and needed to get some domestic chores taken care of. So I boiled eggs and set them aside to cool, picked and washed some basil and garlic chives, sorted laundry and dashed off to the vets. Had to wait a bit, but got six pills and a "pill popper" (for $26.00). Ran up to the BP and got $14.00 worth of gas ($3.20 a gal.) Got home and gave Shirley her "today pill" with no problem. After a few false starts and harsh words on both sides (and a few scratches) and with the help of the "pill popper" I got pill #1 in Goodness. Well, Mercy had been watching all of the goings on from under a chair in the dining room, her eyes were getting bigger and bigger and she looked like she was going to sink into the rug, so I thought I'd give it a rest for a while and let her calm down. So I deviled the eggs and made the salad and made a cup of tea. Sat down and read the paper and relaxed for a few minutes. Mercy came out. I had the "pill popper" loaded and waiting near at hand. I took her by the scruff (like they showed me at the vets this morning) got the tip of the "pill popper" through her lips and all hell broke loose! That little bowling ball of a cat turned me every which way but loose! I decided to let her slide. No pill today. But she's gonna get one tomorrow!

Then I called Mother. She was on her way out for lunch and I asked if I could come over at 2...bless her heart, she was excited! I told her I was in my "work around the house" outfit (jeans and a Marvin the Martian t-shirt) and that I wouldn't stay very long, but wanted to give her something.

So I got there at 2 and we sat on the back porch until the FSU game was over a little after 4 and then Bert joined us. Then he said he was hungry and lets go eat. Well, my hair and face didn't look any better than my outfit, but off we went to Ted Turners new restaurant Ted's. I drove and they were tickled to ride in my new car for the first time. (Bert gave me a $20.00 BP gas card for driving!) Anyhoo, Ted's serves bison that's range grown by/for Mr. Turner along with really good beef, chicken, fish, etc. Both Mother and Bert had a hamburger, I, of course, had a bison burger. All three burgers were quite large with very big sides of lettuce, tomatoes, onions and fries. We also shared a humongus order of onion rings. It was all so good! Bert ate half of his burger, I ate a quarter of mine and Mother ate the whole thing! I've got some good eatings in the fridge for tomorrow!

When I got home (at 7) a friend from the Humane Society called and she and I talked for about an hour. Then I sat down at the computer. Nothing worked! I got on line, but couldn't do anything, not open mail or a game or get on Blog Spot or anything. Now, I'd shut it down when I left, including the power strip, so I was stumped. Then I thought about it, I'd installed Goodle Earth this morning before I left. Decided to uninstall, couldn't. Shut it down and waited. Tried again. Nothing. Damn! I could get into start/programs and found a place called "system restoration". Went there. After a few fumbles I got the computer to reset itself back to Friday when everything was okay. Whew!

All that ballyhoo

Well, it seems that all of the hype regarding the storms in the Gulf may have just been a bunch of hooey. This area of the country is so jumpy because of all of the horrific storms that have come through lately that a few dark clouds and a gust or two of wind have us cringing in our dark corners. I think our day will be overcast, but okay. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it!

Hurricane Tammy

Well, hurricane Tammy went ashore just south of Jacksonville, FL and meandered a bit and now the remnents of the storm is out in the Gulf of Mexico and is showing circulation and signs of regrouping...headed this way. It has been raining steadly since midnight...no off and on this time. I haven't heard any more about the remnents of Stan...wonder if the two will unite?

IT"S FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a class on planting Fall herbs and vegetables at a nursery in Tallahassee tomorrow at 10am. It's free. I've been thinking about going, but the weather is supposed to be even worse tomorrow, so I probably won't go.

Two perfectly good days with the boss

Well, I don't want to push my luck, but there have been two good days at work. I've finished a project that I've been working on for a few days (I've been compiling what I've called a "Temporary price list" by going to jobs done this year to date and pulling items from past jobs and using their unit cost...oh, it's amazing how the prices fluctuate!) and it's all been quite pleasant.

At lunch I delivered a banner and 2 t-shirts (the boss gave me 15 extra minutes) to a new shop that's opened in town. The premise of the shop is good, rather trendy-nostalgic-garden sorta stuff, sorta sudo-country...it should be in a city mall (but it would have to compete with others of its kind). I've spent the last 40 years in either Atlanta or Orlando and this little shop has been around for a while. I don't give it a long run.

The small town living certainly has its benefits. When I left work at 4:30 I went straight to the IGA. Shopped (butter, bread, peanut butter, eggs, etc.), and I was home at 4:55!

Speaking of peanut butter, when I got in this morning the boss was looking at the clock, so I did too. It showed me 5 minutes late. I looked at my watch and it was 9 o'clock. I said "Oh, I didn't know I was late (God! I hate to be late for anything!), but by my watch, I'm not." the boss said "Which do we go by, your watch or the clock?" and I said, "Of course, the clock." and he said something else, I forget. And then I said, "I'm covered in dog hair and peanut butter." the boss said, which came first and I said the dog hair and he said good. My watch and the clock seemed to be back in sinc this evening.

I almost locked myself in the bathroom today. As soon as the boss left for lunch I hurried to the bathroom, and even though the office was locked up, I closed the bathroom door. When I was finished I couldn't open the door, it was locked, the handle would not turn and I had pulled it all the way shut. I had visions of being in there for an hour! Well, I jiggled and lifted and wiggled and banged, and it opened. Whew!!

Odd little night outside while Shirley and I were out there earlier. Its overcast, but bright. There are high grey clouds, but the sun peeks through in the low West and is reflecting from the bottoms of the high grey clouds and it's very still and very muggy. The grass was cut today so the mosquitoes were not so bad. I think I heard at lunch that the storm out in the gulf already had a name. Don't know what it'd be...this is an offshoot of Stan (Mexico), but it was a different name and Tammy is headed up to the mountains. We'll see.

This time I've got a funny feeling

Well, this storm thing is for the birds! Not only is tropical storm Tammy coming ashore almost due west (140 miles west of me) of Monticello, but as of now she's moving WNW. The news said a minute ago that best case senereo (spell check has absolutely no idea what I'm saying, so is no help with the spelling, hope you know what I'm saying) we can expect extreme

rain, high gusting winds and possible tornados. AND, there this really big system (they're calling it a large storm) in the Gulf that is also moving this way, it's moving NE. They are both due at the same time, but they say that Saturday could be quite nice, maybe even cool. Hum, wonder if they meant "hip" or chilly?

My spirits have been lifted considerably by an aside I heard the boss make to a customer today. They had asked me to duplicate some tickets for a fish fry that had been misprinted and to correct the mistake and make 300 of them. So with a quick call to the boss's wife because I was having trouble stacking them (the lines were centered) and she's really good with both Word and Excel. She told me a quick fix and I got the job done (including cutting the pages down into individual tickets) before the feller left. When I handed them to him, the man thanked me and as I walked away he said to the boss "If you ever let her go let me know I'd hire her on the spot." and the boss replied "Yeah, she's good.". I needed that.

Got hurricane supplies after work. A head of lettuce, three beautiful home-grown tomatoes and a red bell pepper all for $1.99! This was at the little farmers market down the street. Lately I've been eating the stock of supplies I have on hand, so my larder isn't that well stocked, but I could still get by for a while with what I've got. And I've got 5 1-gal. containers of water and some small ones too.All of the bags of ICE that I froze for the last storm are still in the freezer along with some single servings of a good coffee that I froze for the last one. Have candles, batteries and a small bag of charcoal and lighter fluid and matches. Somewhere in the dark recesses of the "spare room/work room" are a couple of tarps and I do have part of a box of good large garbage bags. Have an upholstery stapler and staples and Duck tape.

Shirley says she need to go out. Might be a good idea while there a lull in the on going showers.

A lovely little tea

A few week ago I ran into a wonderful deal at Ross. A tin of Bentley's Lemon Tea...Pure Ceylon Tea from the mountains along the Equator. There grows an evergreen shrub with 5 petal blossoms, which resemble wild white roses. Legend has it that as far back as 2737 B.C. Emperor Chen Nug of China used to boil the leaves of this remarkable shrub in water and drank the infusion - thus beginning the ceremonious art of drinking tea. It then quickly spread to Japan and eventually to England and all of Europe. That, of course, was straight from the tin! As I sit here at the computer I have a mug of this aromatic tea that is too hot yet to sip, but the frangrance is amazing! I rather forgot about the tea after I bought it and only rediscovered it last night...it took forever to get the tin opened but once I did I found two sealed foil packets of tea bags...25 to a packet. I really lucked into this, as I only paid $2.99 for the entire tin which breaks down to less than six cents a bag! I'll bet the house would smell wonderful if I sat hot bowls of this everywhere! Oh! that first sip is fantastic!

The weather today had been quite odd. Terribly overcast and dark interspersed with bright sunshine and then occasional 3 minute torrents of rain! It's blowing and dark right now.

Yet another storm

This morning it's rather cloudy and humid and warm. The weatherman, Casanova Nurse, said the tropical storm in the Gulf is now a category 1 hurricane...Stan. At this point Stan isn't expected to have any impact on the US at all, just a bit of Mexico. However, there is a system in the Atlantic sorta off the coast of Jacksonville, FL. This system is expected to come due west and will be here tomorrow. High winds and heavy rains are expected. I guess as long as it doesn't have a name we're okay. I need to pick up some bread, water and cat food.

Still employed

Well, for what it's worth, I'm still employed. The boss never even asked how I was feeling, however, I did hear him ask two other folks how they were. 'course one was a friend of his and one was a customer. Oh well...minimum wage is certainly better than no wage at all! I don't look too good, dark (almost black) circles under my eyes and my face lost weight and I'm a funny color, sorta greenish grey, not my most becoming color. I think the makeup only made it worse. Still running a fever, so when it broke the makeup ran. Lovely!

Got a Progress Energy bill today...I swear I just paid one. This one's $10 less than the last one, so I guess sitting on the computer with no lights on does make a difference. The animals and I have gotten pretty good at navigating at night with the light from the tv and the night light in the kitchen. Not sure just what I'll do this winter. I think the heat is propane and Mother said a piece is missing from the tank. Wonder if they'll charge me to check it out? There is a fireplace, need to get a screen...and wood.

All my horoscope talks about right now is money (going out).

Monday

Well, in less than an hour I'll be at work. It will be interesting if I still have a job and if in fact I do, if I can bare the boss and his attitude toward me. This will be interesting.

The day's still going okay

Interesting. I found out yesterday that two of the folks I've been working with at the Humane Society either have or had what I've been sick with these past few days. The president had it last week and the veep and I have it this week. It seems rather contagious. Wonder if the boss will get it? It'd serve him right!

I read the following on a blog called "All about my routine..." it's hosted by an 18 year old boy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

"Life is like a piano, the white keys represent happiness and the black represent sadness but as you go through life's journey remember that black keys do make music too."

Nice.

I've been burning white sage. Such a comforting smell.

So far it's been a good day...

When I walked out the driveway to retreave the paper this morning it felt like October the second. It was cool, a little misty and smelled like a forest. Nice. The rains have caused the little pink rain lily to pop up all over town and they also seem to have caused a wonderful orange, spider-like lily show up everywhere! There is a nice little group of them out front under one of the pecan trees!

So far it's been a good day.

What to do with a week old roll

Just finished a nice little brunch. Sliced one of the rolls that was left over from last Sunday and dipped it in a beaten egg and lightly fried it in melted butter. An interesting thing happened, the slices seemed to rise a bit and the outside was golden brown. Topped each slice with a dollop of Daisy and a drizzle of maple syrup. Yummy!

Today I feel almost human. Weak, but human. Still have achey muscles and a sore tummy. But human never the less! Yeah!

It's really scary what the media is letting us know about the Bird Flu! If what they are telling us is true, can you imagine what they don't know or are not allowed to tell us? This could be it for lots of folks world wide!

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!

Mixed feelings

We, here is the easternmost part of the panhandle of Florida, are suffering from the the pangs of guilt from feeling relief that the wrath of hurricane Katrina missed us. We prepared, we bought plywood, water and masking tape. As it turns out none of that would have done us any good had she come ashore even 200 miles east of where she hit. The horror of the aftermath of the storm is not imaginable to anyone not actually living through it. I heard that it will actually be decades before New Orleans and the surrounding areas can possibly recover. Can you image the fear and helplessness those people must be feeling?

We were slightly impacted here...I spent about an hour and a half after work yesterday lugging pecan limbs to the curb and we couldn't call long distance. Wow!

Recent Happenings

Thursday I let the nursing home, Mike's family and, unfortunately, finally Mike know that I couldn't bring Mike here. Then I found out from the nursing home that Mikes condition wasn't nearly as horrible as Mike had led me to believe. I'm not sure why he did that.

Thursday night my son came over from Apalachicola, spent the night, took me to breakfast on Friday morning, got all of the tag transfer and car ins. handled for my old car and was back in Apalach before noon! Talk about a whirlwind trip! He's coming back this coming weekend. I really did enjoy him!

Friday was my 60th birthday. That seems like a milestone of some sort!

Yesterday I went back to the Publix I went to a couple of weeks ago. It's 18 miles from the courthouse and such a pretty and nostalgic drive for me! When I was a little girl that was basically the only route to Tallahassee from here and we must have traveled it at least twice a week for 13 years! So much of it is the same, but "progress" has crept in in the form of sub-divisions and filling stations and convenience stores and finally, as you near Tallahassee, strip malls. Now, these are done rather tastefully, with an eye toward preserving the feel of the Desota Trail (which is what Rt. 90 is). I just don't think Desota had much in common with a convenience store!

After lunch I met three of the other members of the Humane Society at our new office. The four of us spent four and a half house sorting through bags and boxes of old HS records. These papers covered 1998-now and they were also covered with rat poop and pee! They had been chewed and nested in and there were some that just screamed of previous birthings! And, the remarkable thing is, the four and a half hours flew! We did a lot of talking and it was a first "girl thing" I'd done in a while. We're getting together Wednesday after work to attack the last box. It really will feel so much better to had this done!

I've made great progress with the boxes and bags of stuff I've been living with. I've gotten all of the boxes out of the living room but one and it goes in the work room and it's stacked to death with boxes and stuff! That's my project for the afternoon, for now I'm going to get another cup of coffee and read the Sunday paper.

Wow!

A younge woman who works in the hospital in Orl. called tonight (she calls fairly frequently...went by to see Mike quite a few times...and was a very good friend to me) and is in S. GA visiting family there. She wants to get together between now and Wed. night. Well, I work till 4:30, don't drive at night and plan to leave before the sun's up Saturday to get Mike (what does that have to do with anthing?). Also, the bosses wifes uncle died over the weekend and they are leaving tomorrow and won't be back till Friday, so it'll be just me at the shop. Also, the furniture from Mother's condo in the mts. is due here this week and I seem to stay pooped. Don't exactly know what to do, maybe have them here for supper? I'll pull up a map and see what the roads look like and how far it is.

No real news, just venting.

Monday morning

Sometimes it seems there are more Mondays in the week than Fridays! It's Monday again!

Where did the weekend go? I read an entire book Saturday and did laundry. Can't think of anything particular I did yesterday except for taking out the trash! We reached 100 degrees here yesterday and the animals and I stayed in most of the time.

Gotta go to work!

Mike Update

I got a call from Mike a little while ago. He's being discharged from the nursing home next Saturday, a week from today. He asked if I'd come get him. I said of course. I don't really understand this, I know he isn't well and probably should still be in care. I don't know what it will entail having him here. There are steps/stairs to every door, don' know how he'll handle those. I guess we'll see. I know the animals will be absolutely thrilled to have him around!

The end of a very tiring week

Tonight is the first time I've taken the time to really sit down at the computer other than to check e-mail and play a game or two. I've been going to bed around 8:30.

The first week of work was good. A lot of it felt like when Mike and I worked together. I worked some in the shop and some in the office. Of course, the shop was almost unbarable with the heat...our heat index was over 100 every day and with the drier cranked up to 400+ degrees it really was just awful at times!

I talked with Mike Sat., Sun., Mon. and Tues. He's been running a terrible fever. It seems he developed a topical infection under his abdomible dressing and the dumb nursing home didn't catch it. Not only was he running a fever, but had a horrible odor coming from the dressing. He's better now.

Helen called tonight. We talked for over an hour. She is such a good friend and I really do miss our over the fence talks in the evenings! We did that for over 12 years. Hard to belive that she is 82 now.

Mother found out earlier this week that she has cataracts in both eyes. She's scheduled for surgery for the first eye in a little over a week and the second eye two weeks later. She's quite nervous about it!

I had just gotten insurance on the old car last week and Mother and Bert gave me the new car last Friday. Well, I found out today that the $195.00 that I paid for ins. on the old one is sorta just a down payment for this new one (I had the ins. transfered) I now owe an additional $308.00 for the new car ins.! Ouch! Not sure how I'll handle this, but I'll have to do it somehow.

See! I knew something was up!

I met Mother and Bert at their house at 3:00 today as directed. They immediately hustled me into their car and off we went, down roads I'd never seen and they talked the entire time about how pleased they were that the chef at the restaurant (that they never named) could accommodate us at 3:30! The turkeys! While we were driving all over the place Mother handed me a gift that weighed a ton and said to go ahead and open it, so I did. It was a box with a brick in it and a little package. She wouldn't let me open the small package, but let me fondle it and try to guess what it was...it was wrapped in tissue paper and really sorta lumpy. Then it began to storm, the rain was coming down in sheets. It was really a wild ride! Then all of a sudden Mother said "quick, open the package", so I did. It was a key chain and a key and then Bert turned into a Honda dealership. Well, to make 2 hours much shorter, they gave me a 2005 Honda Civic (with 183 miles on it) for my birthday. It's pale gold, misty gold I think, and smells wonderful! See, I knew something was up!

When we left the dealership we went to a lovely French restaurant where they actually did have reservations. I had brook trout stuffed with crab, saffroned potatoes, asparagus, Caesar salad and an absolutely wonderful coconut cream pie. Oh yes, my sister met us there and while we were waiting to be seated we went for a walk to window shop and I found a hundred dollar bill on the sidewalk...YES I DID!!!!!! Talk about a strangely wonderful day! This was certainly it!

Tomorrow I've got to get my car insurance upgraded and then from noon to 4:00 I'm taking a class in animal CPR.

So Far it's Mercy's Day!

Today had been all Mercy! She's the only cat I know who LOVES electronic/noisy things. So far I've used the blender and the vacuum and she totally supervised each operation and is sitting at my feet asking "What's next"? I'll turn the radio on later and that will just have to do her for now!

I made an interesting facial mask in the blender...strawberry yogurt and oatmeal. I'm wearing it as I do this and Shirley is beside herself with wanting to lick my face, of course, she always wants to lick my face, but this is something special. Goodness, bless his heart thinks I'm scary looking and runs if I approach him. Animals!

Don't know if I've mentioned that the newspaper and I parted ways last week...well we did. Cold call selling isn't my bag (and I knew it when I took the job) and I was very bad at selling ads. Did it for 3 months and finally last Wednesday the boss said to me "You're really not enjoying this are you?" and I said "No, not really"... so his suggestion was that we mutually part ways. Thank goodness! I was so afraid I was going to have to quit and I hate doing that.

Anyway, on Tuesday before the parting on Wednesday I stopped by a screen printing place on the way home and introduced myself and told them that I'm a screen printer, spent about an hour there talking with the owner and left my name and number and said if he ever needed help after 3 in the afternoon or on the weekends to give me a call. Well, Joe called this Wednesday and asked me to come in on Thursday and talk with him (I told him then that I wasn't at the paper anymore). Yesterday he offered me a job running the office and I start Monday! Yeah! This is something I CAN do! 9:30-4:30 with an hour for lunch and almost a walkable distance from home!

Today's the day I'm going to Tallahassee for dinner with Mother and Bert at 3:00! This should be interesting!

Something's going on!

Last night Mother called and asked me to join her and Bert for dinner Friday night. I thanked her and said "that would be lovely" and then asked what time I should get there. When she said 3:30 I thought that was quite early, but they know I don't like to drive at night so I didn't think much about it. Well, she just called a minute ago and said that they need me to get there at 3:00 instead of 3:30. I said "Mother, that's certainly not dinner time, what's up?" and her reply was that Bert said 3:00 was a better time than 3:30 and to be there! Then she added that she had just finished wrapping a little something up and of course I asked what and she said a birthday present and of course I said "it's not my birthday" and she said "it will be"! So, I think something's up! Well, enough "she said/I said"!

A while ago we had really dark skys and lots of thunder so I ran out and got the rug I had drapped over chairs to dry and drapped it over the roof of the car. How dumb can I get? The car's so dirty! I think it'll all vacuum out. Now the sky's bright blue and no thunder!

Just washed, blew-dry and curling ironed my hair. It's not so bad, but there's hardly enough to go around the curling iron! Oh well, it'll grow.

Hair cut

Tonight I cut all of my hair off. It actually amazes me that I've waited this long..5 or 6 months. Usually my very first reaction to stress is to cut my hair, and usually I wait until I've got a snoot full! I do believe that my mother is driving me absolutely nuts! The month of July was quite bearable...she was in the mountains, but now she's home and I really don't think she has enough to do and has decided to take me on as a hobby! I lived apart from her for 42 years and now I remember why!

I made the mistake of telling her that someone she knows came by to see me and she called her and thanked her for coming by! Good Lord! I'll be sixty in a couple of weeks and you'd think I was 12! I just hate this and when I fuss at her she really gets bent out of shape and actually called me a bitch several months ago!

I'm slowly, but surely getting unpacked. My "work room" is the depository of so many boxes that it'll take an act of congress to get it straightened out! I'm going to have to move everything out and start from scratch...need many shelves and I'm not sure how I'll work that out. sure would like to build them in, but having never done that I don't know how to go about it.

A friends 30 year old son was killed in a truck the other night. He was alone and the news said he'd been drinking. The funeral is tomorrow, I won't be going, it's not here. Such a sad thing!

The week I moved here I put an old rug that had seen better days out on the patio. Then the rains came. Today is the first day in a couple of weeks that it didn't really pour and the rug's looking good! I think the worse thing about it was the smell and it looked so ratty. Well, it not only doesn't smell bad, it smells "summer rain fresh" and it looks quite clean. I'm thinking of putting it in the dining room. I've got it draped over some chairs to finish drying and I put another ratty rung on the patio in its place. Can't wait to see how that one will turn out!

Something very dumb

A few weeks ago I got a new (used) computer tower. I unplugged the old one, stuck it in a corner and installed this one. All was right with the world. Then I told a friend at work about having a tower that I was no longer using and she offered me $60.00 for it...sold it! Shortly after I began having problems staying on line and the computer seemed to get slower and slower. Welllll, I didn't uninstall anything on the old comp. and the folks that have it were going on line with my aol account and each time they did it kicked me off. Somehow, a bug got in and in the end totally fried my computer! Got it back late yesterday and have spent forever getting everything reinstalled! But, now I'm back in business!

Fellow came yesterday and mowed and edged the yard. It's amazing that something so simple as edging/weed-eating makes such a difference...looks good!

Mother told me that in 2-6 weeks some of her furniture from the mountains will be arriving. A bedroom set for the guest room and a dining table, 6 chairs and a corner hutch for the dining room, which at this very moment is stacked window sill high with boxes.

The second small bedroom is a total jumble of boxes, bags, books and totally unidentifiable things. In order to get it usuable as my work room I'm going to have to empty it and then refill it. Oh joy!

Most of the rest of the house is in fairly good shape. There are still several boxes of kitchen stuff to unpack, it's just that I hate ladders so much and the only space left for kitchen storage requires a ladder to access. I know I'll figure it out eventually but it sure would be nice if it were alrealy done.

Talked with Mike on Sunday and on Wednesday. He's so improved, yet still needs his wheel chair and some assistance. He was excited about an outting to Walmart that he went on with a group from the nursing home. Thank goodness he's getting out some, it seems to make such a big differance in his outlook.