Monday I had to make another mad dash to Tallahassee to run a couple of errands for HWB...of course they were across town from each other...got it done, but I'm sure not crazy about going there!
Rather late in my work day yesterday HWB told me that he needed to talk to me outside. Now, that's unusual, in fact I don't ever remember being called outside. The first thing he said to me as he walked me toward the back of the building with his arm around my shoulder was "Something bad has happened. There's been an accident." The first thing that popped into my head was Chuck, his dog. I'm very attached to that dog, everyone calls him my "granddog". HWB went on to say that it could be fixed. Then we approached my car. He had backed out and creamed the passenger side...poor pitiful Gillie! Her door doesn't open now and she's quite a sight! I'm taking her in this morning...don't know what I'll be driving in the mean time or how long it'll take. He apologized again and again and finally asked if I had anything to say, thought about it for a minute and said "Bless her heart, she's not a virgin anymore." What can you say?
I'm studying 3-5 hours a day for the certification exam. Boy I hope I do it!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Whew!
After such a roller coaster day on Thursday I was really looking forward to Friday...silly me!
When I got to work Friday am HWB called in and said he'd be out until early afternoon and would I go to Tallahassee and get our employee from the hospital and take him home. Said sure.
Ran my morning errands and got back to a message that he'd be ready to leave the hospital in an hour. So that gave me about half an hour to clean up some things on my desk and dash to Tallahassee.
When I got to his room he was dressed and ready except he still had an IV going. He'd already signed discharge paper and was just waiting for a nurse to pull the IV out and give a thumbs up to go...so we waited and waited and waited. An hour later she came in removed the IV and said an orderly would be right in with a wheel chair...yeah, right! It was another 40 minutes before he showed up. Then I had to find my car. Did. And we headed back to Monticello.
Well, this fellow lives pretty far out of town on a farm. It was 1:30 when I got him there. Unloaded the car and headed back to town to the office. HWB was in and I told him that JR said that HWB would bring him his cashed check and stop and pick up his prescriptions. Well, I ended up going to the bank, cashing his check and picking up his drugs and going back out to drop them off. No answer at the door, so I tried the knob and it opened...no sign of JR...heard snoring and followed the sound. Just left everything on his bed and headed back to the office. (notice no lunch yet).
I had an appointment at 3:45 for a flu shot and it was pushing 3 at this time. So I got both my pay check and my bonus check (yeah!), dashed to the bank and then to the Dr.'s office got my shot and headed to the grocery store.
While I was waiting in the checkout line a girl friend from high school, Ann, came in and said she'd just left me a message on my phone at home to come to her house for dinner at 5:15. Well, to tell you the truth, had I not seen her I probably would have called and begged off, I was quite tired, but it's much harder to do in person! So I left the store came home put Shirley out, cleaned the litter boxes, jumped in the shower and got there at 5:15!
It was a nice little dinner party and it was over around 8. Well, Leah Jane was there and she had a snoot full! I offered to drive her home, but she wouldn't hear of it, so I followed her home to make sure she was ok, talked to her in her driveway for a few minutes and came home. Called Ann to let her know everything was ok and invited her to come watch the FSU game and have dinner on Saturday.
I woke up yesterday morning to a not cleaned in a week house and company coming! Dashed around and got most everything done. Ann came at 3 and we couldn't find the game on tv (read in the paper this morning that there was some sort of technical problem and the game didn't get on the air until sometime in the 2nd quarter). Anyway, we looked at my stuff and talked and ate, etc. and looked at the clock and it was 9 o'clock! She went home and I went to bed! Slept until 7:30 this morning! Feel much better!
Right now I have a chicken and rice dish in the oven that I'm going to take to JR with a salad and then I really plan to be a blob this afternoon! We'll see, the way the week has gone something else may come up!
When I got to work Friday am HWB called in and said he'd be out until early afternoon and would I go to Tallahassee and get our employee from the hospital and take him home. Said sure.
Ran my morning errands and got back to a message that he'd be ready to leave the hospital in an hour. So that gave me about half an hour to clean up some things on my desk and dash to Tallahassee.
When I got to his room he was dressed and ready except he still had an IV going. He'd already signed discharge paper and was just waiting for a nurse to pull the IV out and give a thumbs up to go...so we waited and waited and waited. An hour later she came in removed the IV and said an orderly would be right in with a wheel chair...yeah, right! It was another 40 minutes before he showed up. Then I had to find my car. Did. And we headed back to Monticello.
Well, this fellow lives pretty far out of town on a farm. It was 1:30 when I got him there. Unloaded the car and headed back to town to the office. HWB was in and I told him that JR said that HWB would bring him his cashed check and stop and pick up his prescriptions. Well, I ended up going to the bank, cashing his check and picking up his drugs and going back out to drop them off. No answer at the door, so I tried the knob and it opened...no sign of JR...heard snoring and followed the sound. Just left everything on his bed and headed back to the office. (notice no lunch yet).
I had an appointment at 3:45 for a flu shot and it was pushing 3 at this time. So I got both my pay check and my bonus check (yeah!), dashed to the bank and then to the Dr.'s office got my shot and headed to the grocery store.
While I was waiting in the checkout line a girl friend from high school, Ann, came in and said she'd just left me a message on my phone at home to come to her house for dinner at 5:15. Well, to tell you the truth, had I not seen her I probably would have called and begged off, I was quite tired, but it's much harder to do in person! So I left the store came home put Shirley out, cleaned the litter boxes, jumped in the shower and got there at 5:15!
It was a nice little dinner party and it was over around 8. Well, Leah Jane was there and she had a snoot full! I offered to drive her home, but she wouldn't hear of it, so I followed her home to make sure she was ok, talked to her in her driveway for a few minutes and came home. Called Ann to let her know everything was ok and invited her to come watch the FSU game and have dinner on Saturday.
I woke up yesterday morning to a not cleaned in a week house and company coming! Dashed around and got most everything done. Ann came at 3 and we couldn't find the game on tv (read in the paper this morning that there was some sort of technical problem and the game didn't get on the air until sometime in the 2nd quarter). Anyway, we looked at my stuff and talked and ate, etc. and looked at the clock and it was 9 o'clock! She went home and I went to bed! Slept until 7:30 this morning! Feel much better!
Right now I have a chicken and rice dish in the oven that I'm going to take to JR with a salad and then I really plan to be a blob this afternoon! We'll see, the way the week has gone something else may come up!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Wow! What a day!
It's only 2:03 in the afternoon and it's been a full day!
I met HWB at the office at 6:15 this morning and we were off to Tallahassee. The Chamber of Commerce had a breakfast meeting at the country club and the main speaker was from the FDP?...Florida Disaster prepardness...or some such and he spoke on bird/avian flu and how to prepare your business, family and self for it. I felt that no one really took it seriously, in fact one of the co-chairs dressed in a chicken costume!
Anyway, he didn't have anything to say that I hadn't already read or heard. His hand-out included some web sites that I've already been to and didn't include many that I've found most helpful and interesting.
The breakfast was yummy! It was a buffet with nearly 'bout everything you can think about, including eggs!
Afterwards we went by the hospital to see one of the guys from work who had back surgery on Monday. He was standing holding on to his IV stand when we got there. Says they may let his go tomorrow! Sounds early, I mean he got plastic discs and screws and things!
When we got back to the office it was 10ish and I got my deposit together and made my run. Got back around 11 and HWB and Paul were in HWB's office and called me in. Made me a little nervous...I'm that sort...but I put everything down and joined them. It was my evaluation!
They started by saying there were 4 ratings: poor, average, good and excellent and that no one ever got all excellents because there would be no room for improvement. Anyway, I got 3 "excellents" and the rest "goods". Then HWB gave me a raise (.50) and a bonus. I'm not sure just why, but they both had a lot of very nice things to say to me and I guess that's enough reason. Then HWB asked me if I'd like to take a horticultural certification course and then the exam. I'm not nuts, said yes! So now I'm enrolled in a 6 week course on line and it starts tomorrow! The course costs close to $200 with the book and the company has already paid for it. Now HWB told me that if I don't finish the course I have to pay it back. That's fair. Told him I couldn't guarantee I'd pass the test. He said not a problem, I can take it again! I know that part of the exam is identifying 100 plants with both botanical and common names! Wow! Sure do want to do this! Hope I can!
This is Thursday, so I left at 1:00.
Survivor tonight!
I met HWB at the office at 6:15 this morning and we were off to Tallahassee. The Chamber of Commerce had a breakfast meeting at the country club and the main speaker was from the FDP?...Florida Disaster prepardness...or some such and he spoke on bird/avian flu and how to prepare your business, family and self for it. I felt that no one really took it seriously, in fact one of the co-chairs dressed in a chicken costume!
Anyway, he didn't have anything to say that I hadn't already read or heard. His hand-out included some web sites that I've already been to and didn't include many that I've found most helpful and interesting.
The breakfast was yummy! It was a buffet with nearly 'bout everything you can think about, including eggs!
Afterwards we went by the hospital to see one of the guys from work who had back surgery on Monday. He was standing holding on to his IV stand when we got there. Says they may let his go tomorrow! Sounds early, I mean he got plastic discs and screws and things!
When we got back to the office it was 10ish and I got my deposit together and made my run. Got back around 11 and HWB and Paul were in HWB's office and called me in. Made me a little nervous...I'm that sort...but I put everything down and joined them. It was my evaluation!
They started by saying there were 4 ratings: poor, average, good and excellent and that no one ever got all excellents because there would be no room for improvement. Anyway, I got 3 "excellents" and the rest "goods". Then HWB gave me a raise (.50) and a bonus. I'm not sure just why, but they both had a lot of very nice things to say to me and I guess that's enough reason. Then HWB asked me if I'd like to take a horticultural certification course and then the exam. I'm not nuts, said yes! So now I'm enrolled in a 6 week course on line and it starts tomorrow! The course costs close to $200 with the book and the company has already paid for it. Now HWB told me that if I don't finish the course I have to pay it back. That's fair. Told him I couldn't guarantee I'd pass the test. He said not a problem, I can take it again! I know that part of the exam is identifying 100 plants with both botanical and common names! Wow! Sure do want to do this! Hope I can!
This is Thursday, so I left at 1:00.
Survivor tonight!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Favorite time of the year!
This crisp fall air and clear blue skys we've been having lately is just wonderful! I love putting on layers of clothes, especially favorite ones that I really haven't seen for a year! Even though I've had to shed layers throughout the day, it's been so nice to have them!
My sister had a dinette set (wood, table and 6 chairs, blue and white, country) that she wanted to move out of her garage and to the end of her driveway. So yesterday I got to her house around 7:15 am and we moved it out. The table had a tiled top and was a little heavy, but ok and, after we got the last two chairs down from the attic, the chairs were a snap. She put a FREE sign on them and we went out for breakfast. Eggs Benedict! Wonderful! She paid! They were still there when we got back.
Ran to Walmart and did pet food shopping and two wonderful red mums! Got back home just before noon. Good morning!
Hadn't been home long before Nancy called and said they were gone along with the cushions we'd put out. That was pretty fast! Of course, once I put the vacuum cleaner out and it was gone before I was back in the house!
Finger seems to be healing quite nicely. It's clean but highly sensitive to the least little touch. Little swolen yet.
Haven't seen Cameo for 3 days.
My sister had a dinette set (wood, table and 6 chairs, blue and white, country) that she wanted to move out of her garage and to the end of her driveway. So yesterday I got to her house around 7:15 am and we moved it out. The table had a tiled top and was a little heavy, but ok and, after we got the last two chairs down from the attic, the chairs were a snap. She put a FREE sign on them and we went out for breakfast. Eggs Benedict! Wonderful! She paid! They were still there when we got back.
Ran to Walmart and did pet food shopping and two wonderful red mums! Got back home just before noon. Good morning!
Hadn't been home long before Nancy called and said they were gone along with the cushions we'd put out. That was pretty fast! Of course, once I put the vacuum cleaner out and it was gone before I was back in the house!
Finger seems to be healing quite nicely. It's clean but highly sensitive to the least little touch. Little swolen yet.
Haven't seen Cameo for 3 days.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Just reporting in
Not much new...
Mother and Bert are back from the mountains.
Below 50 this morning, but quite warm now.
After my fall 2 weeks ago and my finger incident last week I think my ol' body just got fed up and this past week and weekend I felt sick...fluish actually. Much better now. Still having hot and cold moments, but better. Didn't do a thing this weekend, well, did do laundry and dishes, but basically just watched tv and slept. Not a bad way to spend 2 days!
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are all well and appear quite happy.
Helen calls daily but I do let the answering machine pick up all calls and on some days I don't answer her calls. At times I feel awful about that, but there is absolutely nothing to talk about for an hour every day. I try to talk with her every other day. Really I started "screening" my calls when she began calling multiple times a day and I found myself feeling angry with her...never let her know I was irritated, but I really was!
Am debating getting a flu shot. Have only had one in my life and came down with spinal meningitis a few days later. Even thought I know it's a coincidence it still makes me nervous!
Mother and Bert are back from the mountains.
Below 50 this morning, but quite warm now.
After my fall 2 weeks ago and my finger incident last week I think my ol' body just got fed up and this past week and weekend I felt sick...fluish actually. Much better now. Still having hot and cold moments, but better. Didn't do a thing this weekend, well, did do laundry and dishes, but basically just watched tv and slept. Not a bad way to spend 2 days!
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are all well and appear quite happy.
Helen calls daily but I do let the answering machine pick up all calls and on some days I don't answer her calls. At times I feel awful about that, but there is absolutely nothing to talk about for an hour every day. I try to talk with her every other day. Really I started "screening" my calls when she began calling multiple times a day and I found myself feeling angry with her...never let her know I was irritated, but I really was!
Am debating getting a flu shot. Have only had one in my life and came down with spinal meningitis a few days later. Even thought I know it's a coincidence it still makes me nervous!
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Catching up
This past Thursday and Friday the two guys inside at work went to a show in Orlando, so I had the office to myself. We were oddly busy in spurts and having to do everything in the office alone I really stayed quite busy. Also, Friday was the last working day of our fiscal year and I had one 4-drawer file cabinet to box up and one 4-drawer to transfer to the now empty file cabinet. Not a very mentally challenging task, but quite physical! I can still feel it in my arms and shoulders!
Twenty plus years ago Mike gave me a microwave. It passed away last week. Still made the sounds just didn't heat anymore. So yesterday when I read in Fred's ad that they had small microwaves for $45.00 I went and got one. It's mighty small compared to the old one, but has lots of bells and whistles and takes up much less counter top space which is really at a premium in this kitchen!
When I got home yesterday from Fred's I brought in the other things I'd picked up and decided I needed to move the old microwave out before I brought the new one in. I'd forgotten how heavy the old one was and when I tried to lift it at first I thought I couldn't do it. But, I wanted to change it out! So I wrangled it around and did get it into my arms, but opted for the side porch as opposed to the street. Was hurrying because it was so heavy and bulky and creamed my index finger on my right hand trying to get it through the door...almost dropped it. Ended up putting it on the love seat rather than in the spot I'd made for it on the floor. Looked at my finger and thought I was going to be sick. I could see the bone between the nail and the first joint. Ran it under water, pulled the skin back into place and grabbed a paper towel and applied pressure for quite a while before I could get it to stop bleeding...had some nice spots on the floor to clean up later. Thought I needed stiches, called both clinics in town and they were both closed for the weekend (after 12 noon on Sat.) and there was no way I was going to drive to Tallahassee or Thomasville, so I slapped on some triple antibiotic salve and a waterproof bandaid and hope that's enough. I've had to change the bandaid several times...movement seems to cause it to bleed.
Of course there was a sinkful of dishes needing to be washed, so a while ago I put on a vinyl glove and got them done. I do have laundry going. But, basically, I've done more TV watching than anything else. This would be my mouse finger! Kinda hard to play games! Kinda hard to type, too!
Twenty plus years ago Mike gave me a microwave. It passed away last week. Still made the sounds just didn't heat anymore. So yesterday when I read in Fred's ad that they had small microwaves for $45.00 I went and got one. It's mighty small compared to the old one, but has lots of bells and whistles and takes up much less counter top space which is really at a premium in this kitchen!
When I got home yesterday from Fred's I brought in the other things I'd picked up and decided I needed to move the old microwave out before I brought the new one in. I'd forgotten how heavy the old one was and when I tried to lift it at first I thought I couldn't do it. But, I wanted to change it out! So I wrangled it around and did get it into my arms, but opted for the side porch as opposed to the street. Was hurrying because it was so heavy and bulky and creamed my index finger on my right hand trying to get it through the door...almost dropped it. Ended up putting it on the love seat rather than in the spot I'd made for it on the floor. Looked at my finger and thought I was going to be sick. I could see the bone between the nail and the first joint. Ran it under water, pulled the skin back into place and grabbed a paper towel and applied pressure for quite a while before I could get it to stop bleeding...had some nice spots on the floor to clean up later. Thought I needed stiches, called both clinics in town and they were both closed for the weekend (after 12 noon on Sat.) and there was no way I was going to drive to Tallahassee or Thomasville, so I slapped on some triple antibiotic salve and a waterproof bandaid and hope that's enough. I've had to change the bandaid several times...movement seems to cause it to bleed.
Of course there was a sinkful of dishes needing to be washed, so a while ago I put on a vinyl glove and got them done. I do have laundry going. But, basically, I've done more TV watching than anything else. This would be my mouse finger! Kinda hard to play games! Kinda hard to type, too!
Friday, September 22, 2006
Glorious Fall
This week the weather has been spectacular! Lower 80's during the day and upper 50's at night! Unfortunately, this is just a teaser, the 90's will be back tomorrow. At least we've had a break from the extreme heat of the summer and I'm viewing this as a promise of weather to come!
I went with my friend Ann to a bar-b-q at the opera house last night. There were 7-8 of our classmates there so it was like a mini-reunion! Great fun and I was home by 6:30! Parking is always at a premium downtown when an event like this takes place, so I dropped my car at the BP around the corner and had her oil changed while we ate. Didn't have to park and it was much closer than any available space! Good thinking!
My sister called me at 10:15 last night...now, guess where I was at 10:15...in bed asleep! She'd missed Survivor and needed an update. We talked until 11:00...I was pooped when I got up this morning!
The wonders of Mother Nature never cease to amaze me! There is a large oak tree outside my window that I watch often, you know, birds, squirrels and things. The other morning I looked at "my" tree and it was totally covered with a fine white webbing, every branch and the trunk was covered. Well, it sorta worried me, I mean, what in the world was going on? Was "my" tree going to die? No one here knew what it was, so I did an on-line search. It had bark lice! This is a good thing...the little lice clean up all of the debris left in the crevices of trees and then move on. They are gone now along with the webbing and I'm sure the oak feels much better having been cleaned up!
Then day before yesterday I had the front door open because the weather is so wonderful and I saw a very large hawk come down, sit on the sidewalk and pluck a snake out of the border and fly away! There's a lot to be said for country living!
I went with my friend Ann to a bar-b-q at the opera house last night. There were 7-8 of our classmates there so it was like a mini-reunion! Great fun and I was home by 6:30! Parking is always at a premium downtown when an event like this takes place, so I dropped my car at the BP around the corner and had her oil changed while we ate. Didn't have to park and it was much closer than any available space! Good thinking!
My sister called me at 10:15 last night...now, guess where I was at 10:15...in bed asleep! She'd missed Survivor and needed an update. We talked until 11:00...I was pooped when I got up this morning!
The wonders of Mother Nature never cease to amaze me! There is a large oak tree outside my window that I watch often, you know, birds, squirrels and things. The other morning I looked at "my" tree and it was totally covered with a fine white webbing, every branch and the trunk was covered. Well, it sorta worried me, I mean, what in the world was going on? Was "my" tree going to die? No one here knew what it was, so I did an on-line search. It had bark lice! This is a good thing...the little lice clean up all of the debris left in the crevices of trees and then move on. They are gone now along with the webbing and I'm sure the oak feels much better having been cleaned up!
Then day before yesterday I had the front door open because the weather is so wonderful and I saw a very large hawk come down, sit on the sidewalk and pluck a snake out of the border and fly away! There's a lot to be said for country living!
Friday, September 15, 2006
Funny Time of the Year
The weather is sooo peculiar this time of year. This morning I needed a light weight shirt over my tee-shirt and now it's only 10:20 am and I've shed the top shirt and am glistening!
This weekend is going to be nice with high 50's at night and high 80's during the day and NO humidity! Maybe I'll get some yard work done.
Helen called last night. She'd been to the doctor. She was so befuddled that I'm not sure what's going on. I may call her daughter tonight. What she said was her blood is thick, but the doctor didn't want to put her on blood thinners. She's going back on Monday and he may operate on her vocal cords to let some of the blood out?!? I tried asking some questions, but it just became odder and odder! Yes, I think a phone call is in order!
Not very busy at work today. When I go to the bank and post office perhaps that will generate some work. I just hate days like this!
This weekend is going to be nice with high 50's at night and high 80's during the day and NO humidity! Maybe I'll get some yard work done.
Helen called last night. She'd been to the doctor. She was so befuddled that I'm not sure what's going on. I may call her daughter tonight. What she said was her blood is thick, but the doctor didn't want to put her on blood thinners. She's going back on Monday and he may operate on her vocal cords to let some of the blood out?!? I tried asking some questions, but it just became odder and odder! Yes, I think a phone call is in order!
Not very busy at work today. When I go to the bank and post office perhaps that will generate some work. I just hate days like this!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Where to start?
Lets see, I guess I'll begin with the most pleasant thing to happen this week. I saw Prentice yesterday!!!!! He sure does look good and is doing some beautiful work in Apalachicola. I saw the door he's building (it's huge!) for city hall and it's really an art piece. He has such talent! He took us (Nancy and me) around and showed us several other projects he's done and we were both quite impressed!
My sister and I went to Port St. Joe yesterday. She's having Thanksgiving on St. George Island and I'm invited along with Prentice, Mother and Bert. If any other family wants to attend, I'm sure there'll be enough food...that was the purpose of our trip to Pt. St. Joe...to check out a wonderful caterer that she'd seen written up in an article in a food magazine. She wants to order everything they talked about and if she does there will be food for weeks! We ate lunch at Provisions (the caterers) and it was wonderful as was just the place itself. We were also greatly impressed with Port St. Joe as a whole. The town has totally reinvented itself with a great walking shopping district with both big and small shops and restaurants. Of course it STORMED the entire trip, but we were able to walk St. Joe because of the awnings on all of the stores!
We stopped in Apalachicola on the way back.
On the way over we spotted some little bitty houses in Crawfordville made by Stewart Park Home. We stopped and peered through the windows of three of them on the way home. They are adorable and livable.
Left here at 7:30 yesterday morning and got home at 7:45 last night. I'm still tired today.
Okay, now on to something I've been avoiding...Mother.
Last weekend Nancy and Mother went shopping. They got on the subject of prescriptions that they are taking. Mother was a little confused about hers and later when they got back to their houses Mother called and spelled the prescription names and gave Nancy permission to call the doctor to find out what they are being used for. Well, the cat's out of the bag now. I'm not exactly sure of how the conversation went with the nurse, but she did tell Nancy that Mother is taking Ambien and has been for several months. I knew, but for some reason Mother didn't tell Nancy. Nancy said something to the affect of "a sleeping pill for someone with congestive heart failure?" and the nurse said "who has congestive heart failure?". The b---h has been lying to both of us for a year and a half! She's mastered the art of puppiteering (oh, you know what I mean)! We are both so angry with her, she doesn't know we know. Actually, the knowing gives us both a lot of relief. It does cut the strings! Also, Nancy looked in her pill book about Ambien and I did an online serch on it. This mysterious "allergy" that she's had that no allergist can find started shortly after she started taking the Ambien. Now, here's a very abbreviated list of the side effect: Dry mouth, allergy-like symptoms, runny nose, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, palpitations, drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy, sinusitis, rhinitis, confusion and forgetfulness! That's Mother to a T! Also, you shouldn't take it more than 10 days and it's classified as "highly addictive"! Nancy tried to talk to Bert about it, but he was rather evasive with a "we'll see" when Nancy told him that she needs to stop taking it! No help there. We have agreed to not let her know we know about her heart (it's actually quite well according to the nurse who said she sure hopes to be in Mother's shape health-wise when she's 81!), but somehow we need to find a way to get her off the Ambien! She's driving!
I have 14 bags of mulch out in the driveway. A birthday gift from work! I've just started digging a new bed. The timing is perfect! The weather's good right now, rainy and sorta cool, at least comfortable. Good for yard work! I've finished the paper and crossword, so I should go out and dig!
My sister and I went to Port St. Joe yesterday. She's having Thanksgiving on St. George Island and I'm invited along with Prentice, Mother and Bert. If any other family wants to attend, I'm sure there'll be enough food...that was the purpose of our trip to Pt. St. Joe...to check out a wonderful caterer that she'd seen written up in an article in a food magazine. She wants to order everything they talked about and if she does there will be food for weeks! We ate lunch at Provisions (the caterers) and it was wonderful as was just the place itself. We were also greatly impressed with Port St. Joe as a whole. The town has totally reinvented itself with a great walking shopping district with both big and small shops and restaurants. Of course it STORMED the entire trip, but we were able to walk St. Joe because of the awnings on all of the stores!
We stopped in Apalachicola on the way back.
On the way over we spotted some little bitty houses in Crawfordville made by Stewart Park Home. We stopped and peered through the windows of three of them on the way home. They are adorable and livable.
Left here at 7:30 yesterday morning and got home at 7:45 last night. I'm still tired today.
Okay, now on to something I've been avoiding...Mother.
Last weekend Nancy and Mother went shopping. They got on the subject of prescriptions that they are taking. Mother was a little confused about hers and later when they got back to their houses Mother called and spelled the prescription names and gave Nancy permission to call the doctor to find out what they are being used for. Well, the cat's out of the bag now. I'm not exactly sure of how the conversation went with the nurse, but she did tell Nancy that Mother is taking Ambien and has been for several months. I knew, but for some reason Mother didn't tell Nancy. Nancy said something to the affect of "a sleeping pill for someone with congestive heart failure?" and the nurse said "who has congestive heart failure?". The b---h has been lying to both of us for a year and a half! She's mastered the art of puppiteering (oh, you know what I mean)! We are both so angry with her, she doesn't know we know. Actually, the knowing gives us both a lot of relief. It does cut the strings! Also, Nancy looked in her pill book about Ambien and I did an online serch on it. This mysterious "allergy" that she's had that no allergist can find started shortly after she started taking the Ambien. Now, here's a very abbreviated list of the side effect: Dry mouth, allergy-like symptoms, runny nose, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, palpitations, drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy, sinusitis, rhinitis, confusion and forgetfulness! That's Mother to a T! Also, you shouldn't take it more than 10 days and it's classified as "highly addictive"! Nancy tried to talk to Bert about it, but he was rather evasive with a "we'll see" when Nancy told him that she needs to stop taking it! No help there. We have agreed to not let her know we know about her heart (it's actually quite well according to the nurse who said she sure hopes to be in Mother's shape health-wise when she's 81!), but somehow we need to find a way to get her off the Ambien! She's driving!
I have 14 bags of mulch out in the driveway. A birthday gift from work! I've just started digging a new bed. The timing is perfect! The weather's good right now, rainy and sorta cool, at least comfortable. Good for yard work! I've finished the paper and crossword, so I should go out and dig!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Tomorrow's Labor Day
I've been off from work since noon Friday! It's been nice seeing a little stretch of day before me! We open up on Tuesday as usual.
I've actually gotten a few household chores done and it feels better in the house. Now I'm not tripping over dust mice.
Speaking of mice, I found a baby squirrel Monday morning as I was getting ready to leave for work. I'd just gone out to bring Shirley in and saw her and Goodness standing over something on the patio. Went out to get her and thought it was a baby rat, looked a little closer and it was an almost nude eyes still closed baby squirrel and it was alive. So I put it in my shirt pocket, took Shirley in and went to work.
At lunch time I went to my vet's office and got formular and a bottle. When I got back to the office the squirrel was dead. It was tiny in life, but in death it was even smaller. Died curled in a ball with his little hands over his face...smaller than a silver dollar!
When I got home I buried him in the iris garden and put a tranquility rock over him.
Yesterday I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce with marjorim, oregano, basil and garlic chives from the garden. Really good! Had some this morning for breakfast.
Went to a visitation with my sister on Wednesday. Saw some people I'd not seen for 40+ years. Wouldn't have recognized them, sure was glad Nancy was there to point folks out!
I've actually gotten a few household chores done and it feels better in the house. Now I'm not tripping over dust mice.
Speaking of mice, I found a baby squirrel Monday morning as I was getting ready to leave for work. I'd just gone out to bring Shirley in and saw her and Goodness standing over something on the patio. Went out to get her and thought it was a baby rat, looked a little closer and it was an almost nude eyes still closed baby squirrel and it was alive. So I put it in my shirt pocket, took Shirley in and went to work.
At lunch time I went to my vet's office and got formular and a bottle. When I got back to the office the squirrel was dead. It was tiny in life, but in death it was even smaller. Died curled in a ball with his little hands over his face...smaller than a silver dollar!
When I got home I buried him in the iris garden and put a tranquility rock over him.
Yesterday I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce with marjorim, oregano, basil and garlic chives from the garden. Really good! Had some this morning for breakfast.
Went to a visitation with my sister on Wednesday. Saw some people I'd not seen for 40+ years. Wouldn't have recognized them, sure was glad Nancy was there to point folks out!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Actually its hurricane Ernesto...
Don't know where I got Elberto (sounds good though). They are saying on our local news right now that we'll miss Ernesto....that's a good thing, just hope we get some of her rain!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
An interesting and pleasant birthday
I think I was sorta dreading yesterday...not the fact of the birthday (I don't feel a day over 60!), but the going out with Mother and Bert. It turned out to be very nice with the exception of a few of Mother's tirades aimed at Bert. He didn't look well. He looked tired and was quiet. Of course, he'd just played 18 holes of golf in 90+ degree weather and had then driven with Mother down to Woodville! Maybe he deserved to be quiet!
As usual we all pigged out. Bert being the only one to finish his plate. Nancy, Mother and I all brought "planned-overs" home. For breakfast this morning I had fried grouper and french fries! For lunch it'll be fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried grouper and french fries. Then I can get back to eating normally...very little fried.
We've had a couple of good rains, one on Friday and one yesterday. It's just amazing what a difference it makes in my yard!
We are expecting Hurricane Elberto on Thursday. Since this storm formed I've had a bad feeling about it. I'm so afraid she'll go ashore in Apalachicola...and the way it's looking right now it could happen...or anywhere along the Gulf coast from Sarasota to Pensacola. This storm's going to be a big one, a catagory 3 or higher. Depending on where she lands it could really be another Katrina.
Of course I'm all stocked up...food, water, kitty litter, cat food, dog food, batteries and a battery operated fan, tv, radio, corded phone, flashlights, lanterns and lantern oil, charcoal, wood. I'll be good for a few weeks as long as something doesn't happen to the side of the house where everything's stored!
As usual we all pigged out. Bert being the only one to finish his plate. Nancy, Mother and I all brought "planned-overs" home. For breakfast this morning I had fried grouper and french fries! For lunch it'll be fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried grouper and french fries. Then I can get back to eating normally...very little fried.
We've had a couple of good rains, one on Friday and one yesterday. It's just amazing what a difference it makes in my yard!
We are expecting Hurricane Elberto on Thursday. Since this storm formed I've had a bad feeling about it. I'm so afraid she'll go ashore in Apalachicola...and the way it's looking right now it could happen...or anywhere along the Gulf coast from Sarasota to Pensacola. This storm's going to be a big one, a catagory 3 or higher. Depending on where she lands it could really be another Katrina.
Of course I'm all stocked up...food, water, kitty litter, cat food, dog food, batteries and a battery operated fan, tv, radio, corded phone, flashlights, lanterns and lantern oil, charcoal, wood. I'll be good for a few weeks as long as something doesn't happen to the side of the house where everything's stored!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Heat and more heat
Lately the weather is the most significant thing happening in my world. It is hot and dry. I have a tendency to bring plants home and then find it almost impossible to dig the holes to plant them in. So far I've not lost anything, but there's a crape myrtle I think may not make it.
I didn't have any luck at all with my vegetables. All of the tomatoes, cucumbers and squash died. I'm thinking it's where they're planted. When I moved into the house there was a raised bed with mint and thyme in it. So my natural tendency was to clear a lot of it out and have veggies. Well, this bed is bordered with railroad ties and I'm thinking the creosolt (sp?) leached out into the soil and killed everything. The only thing thriving is rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, garlic chives and mint. Sounds very Mediterranean doesn't it? There is a six-pack of okra that I bought in March and just sat out in the bed. They are doing quite well, put root down through the plastic and are growing their little heads off!
Saturday is my 61st birthday! Will have dinner with my sister, Mother and Bert in Woodville at the Seinyard late Saturday afternoon. Love the food there and will bring home left overs enough to last the rest of the weekend. Am having dinner with a friend from high school tonight and next Sunday the 3rd will be going to a cocktail party my friend Leah Jane is having. I don't really understand it, but I'd rather just stay home!
I've been on the job eight and a half months...surprise, surprise, surprise!
Need to get ready to go to work. Later.
I didn't have any luck at all with my vegetables. All of the tomatoes, cucumbers and squash died. I'm thinking it's where they're planted. When I moved into the house there was a raised bed with mint and thyme in it. So my natural tendency was to clear a lot of it out and have veggies. Well, this bed is bordered with railroad ties and I'm thinking the creosolt (sp?) leached out into the soil and killed everything. The only thing thriving is rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, garlic chives and mint. Sounds very Mediterranean doesn't it? There is a six-pack of okra that I bought in March and just sat out in the bed. They are doing quite well, put root down through the plastic and are growing their little heads off!
Saturday is my 61st birthday! Will have dinner with my sister, Mother and Bert in Woodville at the Seinyard late Saturday afternoon. Love the food there and will bring home left overs enough to last the rest of the weekend. Am having dinner with a friend from high school tonight and next Sunday the 3rd will be going to a cocktail party my friend Leah Jane is having. I don't really understand it, but I'd rather just stay home!
I've been on the job eight and a half months...surprise, surprise, surprise!
Need to get ready to go to work. Later.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
A hot summer day and Mother
Today was my bi-annual shopping day with Mother. What with this being my birthday month she went a little overboard. What FUN! Actually, I really, really hate shopping for clothes. I do better in a thrift shop...then I don't feel obligated to try anything on and if I find later it doesn't fit I'm not out much. But today was a try-on day. Mother always sits out in the main room and I have to model everything for her. Today I showed her one outfit and she said quite loudly "who in their right mind would wear a color like that?"...one of the sales ladies hovering near was decked out from head to toe in in! I did end up with lots of really nice things that I will wear.
I prayed all the way to her house that I would remain clam with her. She's such a buttonpusher! Our first little tiff was about who would drive. She knows I will not ride with her driving. Bert intervened and I drove. We hadn't gone 1/4 of a mile from her house when I told her I would turn the car around and take her home if she didn't settle down. She did for a little while, but I had to keep reining her in! Wow! That was like working a 40 hour week in one day!
Stopped at Walmart on the way home for cat & dog food. It's SOOOOO much cheaper there! Also got a new mouse, I'd 'bout worn the old one out!
Went to Tallahassee this morning on I-10 and came almost home on US27.
Saw a road I thought I knew and decided to take a short-cut. Enden up on US90. Boy! I zig-zagged all over Leon and Jefferson counties today! It was so hot that the air conditioner in the car was not enough and I was soaked with sweat when I finally did find home!
Had the air conditioner people out yesterday. The unit here has been freezing up and it's been really hot in the house. It cost me $121.00, but it's quite comfortable in here now. Thank goodness!
Brought home half a sandwich from lunch...think I'll go eat it and call it supper!
I prayed all the way to her house that I would remain clam with her. She's such a buttonpusher! Our first little tiff was about who would drive. She knows I will not ride with her driving. Bert intervened and I drove. We hadn't gone 1/4 of a mile from her house when I told her I would turn the car around and take her home if she didn't settle down. She did for a little while, but I had to keep reining her in! Wow! That was like working a 40 hour week in one day!
Stopped at Walmart on the way home for cat & dog food. It's SOOOOO much cheaper there! Also got a new mouse, I'd 'bout worn the old one out!
Went to Tallahassee this morning on I-10 and came almost home on US27.
Saw a road I thought I knew and decided to take a short-cut. Enden up on US90. Boy! I zig-zagged all over Leon and Jefferson counties today! It was so hot that the air conditioner in the car was not enough and I was soaked with sweat when I finally did find home!
Had the air conditioner people out yesterday. The unit here has been freezing up and it's been really hot in the house. It cost me $121.00, but it's quite comfortable in here now. Thank goodness!
Brought home half a sandwich from lunch...think I'll go eat it and call it supper!
Monday, August 07, 2006
Summer heat
We all are talking about the heat. Not much else we can do about it.
It is HOT! The past few weeks have been so hot that the air conditioners don't seem to be working, but all you have to do to appreciate them is step outside! Some days I find that I'm sitting at my desk sweating, but a step outside always makes me feel much better.
At a nursery the majority of the employees work outside. I feel so bad for them.
My friend Leah Jane got home last week from a month in the mountains. So good to have her back!
Helen called me three times yesterday. She didn't remember that she'd called before.
Am talking with my sister quite frequently. That sure is different for us.
Nothing much happening.
Gotta get ready for work.
It is HOT! The past few weeks have been so hot that the air conditioners don't seem to be working, but all you have to do to appreciate them is step outside! Some days I find that I'm sitting at my desk sweating, but a step outside always makes me feel much better.
At a nursery the majority of the employees work outside. I feel so bad for them.
My friend Leah Jane got home last week from a month in the mountains. So good to have her back!
Helen called me three times yesterday. She didn't remember that she'd called before.
Am talking with my sister quite frequently. That sure is different for us.
Nothing much happening.
Gotta get ready for work.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
I left here Thursday morning a little after 6am. Drove to Orlando, got to Helen's around 10am. She wasn't home. We had talked the night before and the only place she thought she might go was to "Seniors" if her friend Evelyn could take her (didn't tell her my plans to visit). So I went to the center and there she was, holding court with all of these younger (70s) men. They buzzed around her like she was the queen and they her drones. Wonderful to see!
As I walked to her table we made eye contact twice and I knew she didn't know who I was. When I got within couple of feet of her we made eye contact once more. I said to her "the third time you see me surely you'll know me". She got the most amazed look on her face and then her eyes filled with tears and she opened her arms to me. I was afraid to squeeze her as tightly as I wanted to...she's so tiny. The last time I saw Helen was in June of 2005. She probably weighed 120-125...now it's under 100. But her hair was done and she had makeup on and of course was dressed to the teeth...pretty little silk dress and a sweater and, get this!, red tennis shoes!
Cute, cute, cute!
I took her home from the center after lunch and we visited until 2pm. Hated to leave and she cried.
Ran into some really bad weather on the Turnpike, 20-30 mph type weather, but the big trucks weren't a numerous as they had been on the trip down and after I was on 75 and past Ocala the regular traffic cleared out some, too.
Got home around 6pm. Pooped!
My new travel thought...try not to travel East in the morning and West in the afternoon!
As I walked to her table we made eye contact twice and I knew she didn't know who I was. When I got within couple of feet of her we made eye contact once more. I said to her "the third time you see me surely you'll know me". She got the most amazed look on her face and then her eyes filled with tears and she opened her arms to me. I was afraid to squeeze her as tightly as I wanted to...she's so tiny. The last time I saw Helen was in June of 2005. She probably weighed 120-125...now it's under 100. But her hair was done and she had makeup on and of course was dressed to the teeth...pretty little silk dress and a sweater and, get this!, red tennis shoes!
Cute, cute, cute!
I took her home from the center after lunch and we visited until 2pm. Hated to leave and she cried.
Ran into some really bad weather on the Turnpike, 20-30 mph type weather, but the big trucks weren't a numerous as they had been on the trip down and after I was on 75 and past Ocala the regular traffic cleared out some, too.
Got home around 6pm. Pooped!
My new travel thought...try not to travel East in the morning and West in the afternoon!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Road Trip
6:00AM
Leaving in just a few miutes to dash down to Orlando to see Helen. Plan to return later today.
Leaving in just a few miutes to dash down to Orlando to see Helen. Plan to return later today.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
The Assignment
Yesterday the boss called me into his office and "gave" me an assignment. It seems our driver isn't leaving the business Visa card when he goes home to Thomasville after his runs. HWB told me that from now on it was MY responsibility to make sure to get the card from him. Then he added that if I failed to do it he would fire me. Now he may have seen that as incentive, but I see it as a threat and as much as I hate it, I'm thinking of looking for another job. I'm quite upset!
We've had four straight days of wonderful rain! Actually thunder storms with major lighting and buckets and buckets of rain. Glorious!
Brought an oakleaf hydrangea and a dwarf red Japanese maple home on Monday. Need to get them into the ground.
Six straight hours of Survivor on tv tonight! Yeah!
We've had four straight days of wonderful rain! Actually thunder storms with major lighting and buckets and buckets of rain. Glorious!
Brought an oakleaf hydrangea and a dwarf red Japanese maple home on Monday. Need to get them into the ground.
Six straight hours of Survivor on tv tonight! Yeah!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Boom, boom, boom
Well, there's something to be said for canopied roads, Spanish moss and rain. They are all beautiful! The rain especially, since we've been so dry.
Yeasteday the rain started around 2:30, not hard, but rain! We're going weeks in between rains and I'm finding it impossible to water enough. In fact, there are 4 dead azaleas in the front of the house...I've been concentrating on the new things I've put out back.
It rained lightly until I got home around 4:30, however, it wasn't nearly enough, so I stood out in the sprinkle and watered. Probably looked stupid, but it was necessary. Neighbors mother came over and we had a nice visit.
By the time I went inside (around 6) the rain was completely gone. Turned on the Golden Girls and here it came...BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! and the power went out. Of course I went out on the front porch to see what was happening and was just in time to see a runner of flame traveling down the power lines to the pole out front, the street light exploded, glass going everywhere, and then one of the cross arms that hold the insulators split in two and it and the insulators went everywhere. Dashed inside grabbed the phone and it was dead. Then the power came back on. All of this happened in a matter of moments.
With the power the phone came back so I called Progress Energy.
Then I went back out so I could keep an eye on the pole. I was shaking like a leaf and of course my back went into spasms.
Monticello is a town of beautiful, old canopied roads. When it's dry for so long the added weight of rain on the moss in the old trees is just enough to bring them down. That's what happened last night. Just 4 houses down a beautiful old oak fell from one yard all the way across the street into that yard. It brought down lines and created a traffic jam!
When Progress Energy got here I asked if I'd lose power while they worked on the lines. One fellow said "Lady, you've already lost power and we'll restore it". When I told him I had power he said "How?" looking up at the pole!
Yeasteday the rain started around 2:30, not hard, but rain! We're going weeks in between rains and I'm finding it impossible to water enough. In fact, there are 4 dead azaleas in the front of the house...I've been concentrating on the new things I've put out back.
It rained lightly until I got home around 4:30, however, it wasn't nearly enough, so I stood out in the sprinkle and watered. Probably looked stupid, but it was necessary. Neighbors mother came over and we had a nice visit.
By the time I went inside (around 6) the rain was completely gone. Turned on the Golden Girls and here it came...BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! and the power went out. Of course I went out on the front porch to see what was happening and was just in time to see a runner of flame traveling down the power lines to the pole out front, the street light exploded, glass going everywhere, and then one of the cross arms that hold the insulators split in two and it and the insulators went everywhere. Dashed inside grabbed the phone and it was dead. Then the power came back on. All of this happened in a matter of moments.
With the power the phone came back so I called Progress Energy.
Then I went back out so I could keep an eye on the pole. I was shaking like a leaf and of course my back went into spasms.
Monticello is a town of beautiful, old canopied roads. When it's dry for so long the added weight of rain on the moss in the old trees is just enough to bring them down. That's what happened last night. Just 4 houses down a beautiful old oak fell from one yard all the way across the street into that yard. It brought down lines and created a traffic jam!
When Progress Energy got here I asked if I'd lose power while they worked on the lines. One fellow said "Lady, you've already lost power and we'll restore it". When I told him I had power he said "How?" looking up at the pole!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Hot, hot, hot!
"They" say it'll be above 100 degrees here today, but it has a ways to go. Just looked at the thermometer and it's 90.1. It's also overcast and mighty muggy!
Nothing particular to say...just a weather update.
Nothing particular to say...just a weather update.
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