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.

Is it hot or What?

I realize the entire nation is having weather of some sort or another, but doesn't it seem worse where you are? As they say it's all relative...but it sure is hot here!

I have a snake in the shed. He's curled up on a ledge, lifts his head and looks at me when I go in, but doesn't seem too worried about me invading his home. I figure as long as he doesn't invite friends in and lets me keep stuff in the shed he can stay.

I called last week to start the newspaper and waited ant waited and waited, no paper. Then it dawned on me that I'd used my debit card and later that day had to cancel. Guess it didn't have time to go through before I canceled the card. So last night a rep from the paper called and asked if I wanted to take the paper. Said yes, they'll bill me.

Not much happening, still living with boxes and bags, but each day I do get something else done. I'm finding it sorta hard as I feel I didn't ever catch up on my rest and my dumb broken hand is still giving me fits and I'm working, too. Oh well, I figure it'll all work out eventually.

A weekend for doing nothing!

This is the first weekend in about two months that I've dedicated to doing nothing...well, almost nothing.

Yesterday a friend brought a set of wonderful red & white metal shelves over and I created a pantry. It's so nice to be able to see at a glance just whats what on the shelves!

I also did a bit of puttering in the yard and a bit of this and that in the house (I AM still walking around boxes and bags of stuff and expect I will be for a while), but this is the first time in months that I haven't felt torn between two places and it feels wonderful!

I went to Thomasville this morning to "do" Walmart. The tea I use cost $2.07 there, in my grocery store here it's $3.58! It was worth the trip just for that, but I also got gas for $2.17, the cheapest I can get here is $2.33! So I saved a bunch today!

I have a little grill that I've never used, got charcoal and lighter, too. Think I'll grill a hamburger tonight. May top it with this wonderful horseradish cheese I've got. Sounds pretty good to me!

Mother and Bert will be coming back from the mountains a week from today. I know she's going to hate what I'm doing with the house, oh well.

Will call Mike tonight.

Dueling litter boxes

I have two litter boxes for the cats and they are side by side. I thought at first that Goodness was using one and Mercy the other, then I thought they had decided that one was for poop and the other for pee. This morning I'm not sure just what to think. As I was scooping the boxes Goodness got in, stood in one and pooped in the other! These are two versatile cats!

Storms every night! and, there's a new hurricane forming...wow!

Yeah! The city picked up the hurricane debris (2 large piles) that I put out on the street a week ago Monday. Sure looks better.

Just a minute ago the electrician showed up. He was to be here between 5 and 5:30 yesterday, but didn't call or come. I had to have the plug on the dryer changed out (as I did when I moved into the other house in November!). So yesterday I went to the hardware store after work and bought 2 plugs (one of each type) because I wasn't sure which one I needed. Well, anyway, I can now wash clothes and dry them, but the only water temp I have right now is HOT! Gotta get that fixed too...don't know who to call on that one.

Talked with Mike last night. He's finally meeting some other people in the nursing home and actually went to the activity room on his own (wheelchair) and talked to some people playing poker and got a book to read. Making forward steps.

Gotta go to work.

Goings on

Had a Humane Society meeting last night. Good group of people. Awfully glad I joined, but it was hard to go out after getting home from work yesterday. Still haven't gotten my energy back, I'm sure that too will come. Just wish it would hurry up! Saw a 6 month old shephard mix that I want to visit some...she's been abused and will not even look at a person, very introverted. Wish this was a fenced back yard, I'd think about fostering her.

I am So very bad at my job. I truely have pure intentions and make 15-20 phone calls an hour, just very few of the calls end in sales. Not sure what to do, need the job, but the negative attitude I'm dealing with isn't helping.

Haven't talked with Mike for a few days...tonight.

Mother and Bert still in the mountains.

My sister has lost her swimming pool thanks to hurricane Dennis. Almost lost the patio, too. I haven't talked to her, but she had 10 dump trucks of dirt due there yesterday.

Gotta run so I can go enjoy work.

Finished moving

Yesterday I did my last bit at the old house. It was mainly cleanup, but there were a few things that I still needed to bring here. The biggy was all of the boxes I'd broken down and saved from the move in November...they were too big for me to use for this move (couldn't get them in the car) and I was lucky enough to find a bunch of small ones that I used along with garbage bags.

So this house is covered with black garbage bags and little boxes that I have no idea what they are holding! The kitchen is usuable, the bathroom is usuable and the bedroom is actually quite nice...the remainder of the house is hurricanish!

Had the young brother-in-law of a friend at work cut the grass this weekend. Bless his heart he really worked at it, but he cut it too short and didn't bag it and it's rather butchered. I told him to come back in two weeks...I'll tell him to cut it longer. We'll see.

Left a very long string of Christmas lights on the porch of the old house. Oh well.

Woke up quite tired today. Work will be rather tedious.

It HAS happened before, but...

Today was odd all round! We had a pretty major thunder storm early this afternoon, everything was muggy and foggy when I got off work. I was way in the yellow on my gas gauge and gas was first on my list, but the BP in town (which is cheap, $2.19, and full service) was full up with trucks and trailers, so after stopping at the bank I headed out to I-10 to the BP there ($2.39 and self-serve) and made it!, but there were plastic bags over every hose nozzle and I couldn't get gas there, so I went across the road to the Citgo.

Then I went to the old house. The electricity had already been turned off, damn them, they were efficient! so I just swept and damp mopped, but I should have mopped about 18 times! Animal hair and dust rolled into long strings that I could pick up and put in the trash! I got everything I wanted to except for a couple of braided rugs and many plastic jugs (hurricanes).

Left the house with the car FULLY packed and stopped at the grocery store. Just got a few things, some hot fried chicken (3 pieces), some ice cream and bacon and eggs. Went to check out and didn't have my key! Looked everywhere, pockets, emptied purse a couple of times and even went back to the deli and the ice cream freezer. Now, I'm sorta tired and real sore and hot and I couldn't believe that I could have done something so stupid as lock them in the car, but I went out and looked and they weren't in the ignition so I was sure they were lost in the store, went back in and looked everywhere again, the store personnel were helping by this point, and the keys were not there! Then one of the young managers said that she had never had anyone lock their keys in the car on her watch before and she really didn't know what to do, was there anyone I could call to come and help me? I thought a moment and Mother and Bert are in the mountains, the only other person I could think of that might have a key to the house was the builder, so we called him and got no answer or machine. About that time a man came up and asked if there was anyone there that could help him, it seemed he had locked his keys in his car!!
Everyone got a pretty good laugh out of that one, but the poor man sure was puzzled! I don't remember right now just what made me go out to the car again, but I'd left the passenger window down about 2", but couldn't get my arm far enough in to push the unlock button, oh!, I'd looked in the driver window on my way out to the car and the keys were in the seat, I usually put them in my pocket, but I guess they didn't make it this time, I am tired! There was a very old woman sitting in the car next to me and we chatted a bit then her elderly daughter came out and her mother told her what was going on and she tried to get her much larger arm in the window, then said, "I'll get my grandson, he can do anything", went into the grocery store, got him, he got a long screwdriver out of him trunk, stuck in down in the window and unlocked the car! Yeah! Went back , checked out (soggy ice cream) and came home.

Have a clean-up day at the humane society tomorrow at 8am. Guess I finish the old house after that.

Better

Well, yesterday after work I did absolutely nothing! and...I feel a bit better this morning. I did clean litter boxes and pick up trash in the back yard (tree trash) and talk on the phone and moved a bit of this and that around the house, but I did nothing horrible. Today is the last day I'm paid on the old house and I've got to finish it after work...still haven't emptied the car of the last load day before yesterday, I'll figure it out. Maybe.

On line finally!

It's been a strange past few days!

The phone company was supposed to disconnect the phone at the old house yesterday and connect the phone at this house last Thursday. They did just the opposite and just getting a phone here has been nothing short of a miracle! I told the phone co. on Friday not to worry about the phone at the old house, but that I HAD to have one here...I got it yesterday (after 3 visits from Sprint!!!!!). I got new wires, new jacks, everything but new phones...remember when the phone company actually brought you phones?

Anyway, I'm on line again as of tonight (about 6 minutes ago!).

Friday I decided to bring the animals here for the duration...the hurricane was projected to hit the panhandle Sunday and the only thing I didn't have here was furniture and a refrigerator and this house is so much sturdier than the other one. So I wrestled my chair and footstool into the trunk of the car, brought the cushions off of the sofa, got ice for the coolers, found the battery operated tv, got batteries and Underwoods chunky Chicken Spread and crackers and moved in on Friday. The animals were wild! They have never had this much room in their lives and they ran and romped like nuts all weekend!

It rained and blew all day Saturday and I made 6 trips to the old house to move as much stuff as possible (the crew to move me was due on Monday). Sunday it was much too stormy to go out, so the animals and I unpacked stuff and watched the pecan trees out front decorate the yard with limbs the size of ponys. The power was out for 8 hours, but that was all.

The third Sprint man came on Monday, 8 o'clock and the phone's been good since (it's only Tuesday now, but I think I'll just be happy!). Anyway, I hadn't been able to get in touch with the folks to move me until Monday AM and found out when I did that they couldn't do it till today because of the storm. So today 4 men and I spent 5 hours and got me moved! Not everything, I'll go over after work tomorrow and finish up the stuff and then Thursday after work I'll go clean...at least that's the plan.

I just put clean sheets on the BED!!! No floor tonight!

Everything is usable and I can even walk through most of the rooms. I'm afraid it's going to take me years to really get done. And then, of course, Mother wants to bring all of her stuff from the mountains here. I may just have to put it in the shed!!!!!!!!!!!

I dragged all of the limbs out to the street on Monday and decided to take the tv antenna out too, well I got it out there, but not before catching it in some shrubbery and pulling the pole through my left hand and cutting the palm from the pinky finger to the index finger (on the diagonal, it looks like a new life line!) nasty cut...hurts...gooky in spots...using sulfadine on it.

Talked to Mike Monday. He's okay, looking forward to the lemonade I mailed.

Too much had happened to talk about now, one of the movers sat on the coffee table and broke it, he glued it together. One lone rain lily is bloomin in the middle of the back yard. Oh yes, the Big One...lost Goodness today. I closed the animals up (with food, water, bedding, litter, etc.) in the small front bedroom today, 'cause I knew nothing would be going in there. They were a bit frantic while all of the moving in was going on and I had the French doors open and couldn't let them out, but I went to Burger King and got us all Whoppers and closed up the house when I got back. Let them out while we ate and the cats disappeared and Shirley entertained royally! When we finished I put Shirley on the sun porch and saw Mercy out there and just assumed that Goodness was out there too. Well, the movers left around 2 o'clock and I opened the door to the porch. The girls ran out, but no Goodness. I didn't worry too much, he pouts and hides. Well, around 4 o'clock, I still hadn't seen him, so I got kinda worried and started looking for him...no where to be found...Shirley and I walked the yard (she used to hunt rats with Mike) and I put her on the hunt, well, she said she smelled him and took me on a wild goose chase to no avail. I came in, said a prayer, went through the house one more time and went back to work on the stuff that's everywhere. Around 7 o'clock I heard a pitiful mewing and called Goodness, he answered, but he has the tiniest voice and I couldn't locate him. Well I charged Shirley with finding him and she kept saying he was in the small bathroom, but I looked (and it's tiny) and no cat. So I decided that he was under the house, under the bathroom. I flashed lighted and crawled as far as I could and NO CAT, but I could still hear him when I called his name. Went back to the bathroom and opened the tub enclosure and out he popped! The only thing I can figure is that he jumped onto the back of the toilet and jumped over the glass door, I'll bet it knocked him out! I'm keeping the door to the bathroom closed from now on!

Hither and Yon

Ever feel torn between pillar and post, tossed hither and yon, stuck between a rock and a hard place....(you get my point!) welcome to my world! I told work yesterday that I'd not be in until I get moved. Don't think they cared for it too much. I've got to get moved...the guys that are going to move the big stuff will be here Monday and this is THURSDAY! I'm in a toss up between two places and neither is comfortable right now. And, of course, we have a hurricane due here Sunday or Monday. Drat!

I've moved a lot and packed a lot, yet there is so much more to do. I've run out of plastic grocery bags...they sure are easy to carry and hard to overfill. That's been one of the problems, things are so darn heavy and a few of them have really given my back fits.

The phone should be connected in the new place today by 7pm. Same number and will ring in both places till Monday...then, if all goes correctly, after Monday it'll only ring in the new place. Power will be off here on Wednesday.

If the phone is in today I'll move the computer tomorrow. Nothing there to sit it on, maybe the card table. It's covered with craft things, guess I'll put a box together and pack all that next.

Just heard on TV that there were several bombings in London.

Talked with Mike yesterday. The nursing home has really begun his physical therapy. They've got him out of his room, going to physical therapy. He's using a walker and a wheelchair. Still needs close physical help, but feels positive about finally getting better. It seems that finally he has a job to focus on.

Talk about fruit basket turn over!!!

Moving, moving, moving...does it ever end?

Yesterday a friend of mine from work borrowed her husbands truck and we moved almost all of the outdoor stuff...chairs, grill, hose, birdbath, etc. I also loaded the car twice, so with the one truck load and the two car loads it was a very productive day. Unfortunately, I broke from my norm and didn't put away anything, so what I was hoping wouldn't happen has happened! I have many unpacked boxes and bags of things at "the house"! Oh well, I'll figure it out. The big stuff is scheduled to be moved on Monday and then that gives me a couple of days to clean this house.

Moving Aches and Pains

Wow! I have muscles that I was unaware of that scream with every movement I make! Lifting, toteing and carrying is taking a toll on this ol' body of mine! Talk about out of shape! I guess this time I really am! My idea of taking a car load to "the house" and unpacking it and putting it away each time may be a good one, but it really is time consuming. A friend of mine from work met me there last night and I showed her what I'd done to this point and it didn't feel like much...and there is SO much more to do!

I still haven't done a change of address for utilities, phone or P.O., must do that today!

The girl that saw the house last night didn't want to leave! We sat out on the back stoop and talked for an hour before she finally said she had to go home and fix supper for her family...it was 9 o'clock! It is a wonderful back yard! and, it had just been mowed, so it really was nice.

Gotta go, must shower for work.

Oh, my #1 daughter tagged me for a meme (?)...I'm working on it.

Stuff and more stuff

Yesterday was quite productive at "the house". I took two large car loads over and got it all put away...vacuumed the entire house (it's about twice as large as this one), vacuumed out drawers, and under cabinets in the kitchen, lined all of the drawers and underneath cabinets and got 2 shelves in the kitchen lined...ran out of shelf liner, and swept out the sun porch.

I had a little accident on Saturday with a heavy wooden blind in one of the bedrooms. It fell as I was trying to adjust it and hit me on the right shoulder and gouged a couple of bloody places as it fell. I'm still all skinned and bruised and the dumb shoulder and arm are mighty sore. It's sorta slowing my packing, lifting and toting a bit.

Last night I was eating supper around 8 o'clock when it dawned on me that I hadn't closed the windows on the sun porch. So, Shirley and I loaded up and went to "the house". I saw that others on the street had put out garbage on the curb, so I put my first garbage out on the street...boy, I'll just have to make the time to visit the dump...I sure will miss it!

The best Burger!

After finishing my list of things to do this morning in Thomasville I went to Dairy Queen! I haven't been to a Dairy Queen in at least 800 years! I had the mushroom/Swiss burger...it came with sauted mushrooms, melted Swiss cheese and a garlic mayo! Talk about wonderful! I'd have eaten another if only there had been more room in my stomach!

I got everything on my list done except for taking stuff to "the house"...maybe this afternoon (I may have to sleep off that burger!), if not then tomorrow for sure!

Meat Goats

There is a wonderful 5 week course (cost $20.00!) starting at Florida A&M University in a couple of weeks. The title of the course is Meat Goat Training Course. One of the girls at work raises hogs and goats (along with many other animals) and is considering the course...she's asked me to go with her and I'm thinking about it...I know I'd learn a bunch and I know I'd enjoy it, but it falls right smack in the middle of my move...what a silly dilemma! This course offers everything from record keeping to Bio-terrorism on the Farm. There's a hands-on training that includes physical examinations and selecting and evaluating breeding stock and hoof trimming and administering medications. There's herd health, nutrition management, pasture management and reproduction management of meat goats along with selecting and evaluating breeding stock and establishing the meat goat facility. Only thing is, I can't have goats in town!

I had a message on my phone when I got in from work yesterday from Helen...she's home! Her surgery was Wednesday, and she's home! Wow!

Talked with Mike...his blood salts have stabilized and he actually took a few steps unassisted. They did some x-rays and the abcesses have greatly reduced in size! He will be going back to the nursing home as soon as they have a bed available for him.

Am going to Thomasville, GA this morning...to Walmart...need kitty litter and a couple of other things. I plan to go by the house on the way out of town and drop off a couple of boxes, gas up the car, go by the post office for a phone card, stop by Radio Shack for more minutes on the pre-paid cell phone and then head out...talk about multi-tasking!

Finally, I'm doing something!

When I got home from work yesterday the first thing I did was call Mike to let him know that I'd just mailed him some more lemonade. He said one doctor had said that it looks like he'll be there a while longer and just a few minutes later another doctor said they were looking for a place for him.

Immediately upon hanging up Helen called. She's a bit antsy about the surgery coming up tomorrow. She seems to think she'll have her kidney removed one day and go home the next. I told her that it wasn't quite like having a tooth pulled, it might take a few days in the hospital before she got to go home. Bless her heart! 82 is awfully old for this!

While I was on the phone with Helen I walked through the house and took everything off the walls. Didn't realize just how much I had up! I completely filled the back seat of the car with wall stuff!

Then I bathed Shirley and stripped the bed and threw the sheets in the washer (I'd already taken all of the linens to the new house).

Then, I took the car load to "the house" and unloaded...there was a large hook type hanger still on the wall in the living room, so I did actually hang one large picture!

After emptying the car I headed out to the humane society to attend my first meeting...the third Monday of each month. What a good group of people! I'm glad I joined! I'll be helping with the news letter and they mentioned several other things I can do. I told them about moving and that I'd like to wait until all that's done to really get my feet wet. Anyhoo...one of the members of the board (a local lawyer, his wife is also on the board) asked if I needed any help with my move and of course, I said yes. He has trucks and helpers and they are going to move my big stuff on the 11th! Thank goodness!

Got home, put sheets in the dryer, showered, made the bed and was ready to collapse when the phone rang...my son! Had a long chat with him and then a glass of milk and piece of coconut cake and went to bed.

This morning I feel like I didn't get any rest...boy am I pooped! and in a few minutes it's off to work again! Wow!

It's begun!

Yesterday was the grand finale of the Watermelon Festival. There was a parade, an antique car show and street after street of arts and crafts and probably 25-30 different food vendors with every thing from ribs to corn dogs, cotton candy, chicken on a stick and of course, watermelon! It was wonderful! (I bought an Elvis purse!)

After the festivities (the Marine band form Albany, GA, played) I went to "the house". There sitting in my carport were my mother and my sister in folding chairs looking quite comfortable. They had opened the house and were just sitting there waiting for me to show up. Odd.

After they left I spent a couple of hours cleaning up builder junk in the yard I filled a 5 gallon bucket twice with things like roofing nails, shingles, plastic and wooden things. The builder had already "cleaned up", but his cleaning really left a lot of little stuff. I'm sure I'll find more.

I got quite over heated doing the yard at mid-day, even though it was very overcast and threw up in the yard at one point, that was a wake-up call! So I locked up the house and came back here. Around 6pm Shirley and I went back to the house and it had cooled off enough to be bearable. I put one of those screwy things with a chain in the back yard and put Shirely out on it...this is going to take some work...she was fine as long as she could see me, but she screamed and screamed when I would go in. I took my first real car load over...things from the linen closet...well, it's a beginning and officially I have until the 15th of July. I also took shelf paper for the kitchen, but I can only reach the bottom shelves, so I need to take a ladder in order to reach the others!

Talked with Mike last night. He's doing okay, or as okay as one who's been in the hospital since the 22nd of March can be doing!

Oh, I almost forgot...the computer I've been using was a cheapy find from Goodwill last year and it was soooooo slow and had NO memory (who does?) and wasn't upgradable. A girl at work told me about a rental place that sometimes had computers that were returned or reposessed and they sold them...she bought a complete Dell for $300. So I went by there Friday after work and for $50 ($25 down and $25 tomorrow when I get paid) bought just the box that is the computer, I had a monitor, key board, speakers, mouse and printer already. It's an e machine and boy howdy! it's remarkable! It downloads in seconds and is so fast that it gets ahead of me! With the old one even getting on line was a chore, now I don't even have time to get a cup of coffee before it's on!

Happy Birthday Daughter!

Forty years ago today I held in my arms for the first time the most precious bundle in the world, my daughter. She was beautiful and whole and when I looked into those intensely blue eyes, I knew her. She is still beautiful and whole and a woman not only I, but all who meet her, want to know. How blessed she has always made me feel. What a wonderful person she has created in her self!

I was blessed when this first child was born into my life and then later I was blessed with two more daughters and a son!

Happy Birthday, Daughter! I love you!

Mom

Count down

Talked with Mike last night. Two people from the nursing home came by his room yesterday at 11AM and brought him his package and visited with him for a little while. How very nice of them! I'll have to call Ginger today and thank her.

Tried to call my landlord night before last to give notice...got ans. mch...just left word that I called. Called again last night and again got ans. mch. This time I told her why I was calling. I was hoping to talk to her in person, an ans. mch. is so impersonal.

Mother and Bert brought a key to the house over last night. Shirley and I got in the car and immediately went over. I'm beginning to get a little excited. It is a very nice house. The workmen have used tha bathrooms and the toilets were really nasty. I took bleach over with me and just left the toilets sitting with bleach in them. I'll go over after work and do a little cleaning. This is now a count down. I've got to line up movers and pack.

Fleas and things

Got the hood of my car fixed yesterday. The fellow I met at the dump last week fixed it for $45.00. When I left his place it was fine, but I drove a rather bumpy road and it popped up, so I stopped and closed it, drove a little further and it popped up and I stopped and closed it again, then turned around and went back out there. A little piece wasn't seated correctly, so he fixed it. So far, so good.

Talked with Mike last night. They put his pick (?) line in yesterday. He said it went in at his elbow and followed a vein to his heart. Wow. He was in good spirits.

At lunch yesterday I talked with the nursing home. They said they would hand carry his package over to him. Nice.

This rain has really increased the flea population around here! Poor Shirley is covered again. I bathed her at 9 o'clock last night. It seemed to help, but as soon as she went out this morning she was covered again!

Nothing much

Nothing much new is going on...same ol', same ol'.

Talked with Mike this morning. He was in a lot of pain. Said they are talking about putting a semi-permanent IV port in (I forget want it's called), and that it looks like he's going to be in the hospital for a while. Asked me to call the nursing home and have his package sent to him there.

Went by the house today. The blinds have been hung and the driveway's finished. Looks good. Only two or three things to be done before I can move in...motion sensor lights need to be hung and the catches on the kitchen cabinets fixed. Something else, but I can't remember what.

Need to give landlord 30 day notice of leaving. This should give me enough time to do things like move linen closet, line kitchen shelves, move kitchen ( except for 'fridge and microwave) and get a lot of the little stuff moved in before asking for help for the big things. I still don't have a key.

George

George died yesterday. He was truly a loved cat. He was almost 17. The last six months of his life were less than ideal, but the first 16 were grand! He'll be missed...he was Mike's best "bud"...and he and I both loved him very much.

I talked with Mike this afternoon. They still don't have a handle on just what's going on with him. They are talking of perhaps doing another surgery. He's in good spirits, sounds good and thinks he's being taken very good of. I know the hospital and the doctors and I agree with him.

This is very early in the hurricane season for a named storm, but we have one! After going through 3 extremely bad hurricanes in central Florida just 9 months ago, I'm really not relishing what tomorrow may bring with this one. North Florida (where I am now) was impacted by Ivan last year and you can still see his results.

I have canned goods, water, flashlights and batteries...and a full tank of gas in the car if need be...should be good to go...it's just sorta scary doing it alone.

Mike and other things

Just got off of the phone with Mike. He's not better and they have him on two antibiotics via IV. He said a doctor was in earlier and told him they think he has a skin infection...said he couldn't remember the name the doctor said, but that it sounded "Hiwanian".

Had more to say, but it has begun thundering lots...will close for now.

It's just the pits!

I called the nursing home when I came home for lunch today and talked with someone in the office. I told her about them misplacing all of Mike's things the last time he went to the hospital and that no one seemed to be able to find them...she said she would take it on as a personal project and find his things. Then I told her about the package I sent on Monday and she said, "Oh yes, it's here, I was in the mail room earlier and saw it", well, I said I was worried that it would be lost like his other things and she said that as soon as we got off of the phone she'd go get it and keep it in her office. I felt a lot better after talking with her. I believed her.

Talked with Mike when I got home from work. He told me last night that they were planning to do a CAT scan today...they did, at 1:30 this morning! They found 3 pockets of infection. They had also gotten back his blood work and he has two bacterial infections in his blood stream, he didn't know what they are and didn't know what their plan of action is. He did say they mentioned taking him back to ORMC. I worry about how much more he can stand...he's so weak and is in considerable pain. It's all just the pits!

Prent called me this morning. It's been a couple of weeks since we've talked and I depend on his calls so much. It was like medicine for me to talk with him.

Helen called tonight. I love her like a mother and worry so much about her. She has been such a good friend for so many years. I hate not being there for her now while she's going through so much. I worry about her and very selfishly worry about losing her.

I wish I could cry.

One thing after another

Shortly after I got home from work today I got a phone call from Helen, my oldest (82) and one of my dearest friends. She had gotten a message from Mike on her answering machine today asking her to call me and let me know that he wasn't in the nursing home and was in a hospital. She thought he said "Sun" hospital and she gave me a phone number that she thought he left. Well, I called the number and it wasn't a good number and then called the nursing home, the nurses were with patients and not available and the girl on the desk didn't know anything about Mike. She (like me) hadn't heard of "Sun" hospital. So I called Helen back and asked her to get one of her boarders to listen to his message and see what he thought it said. Helen called back and gave me another number which wasn't a correct number, but was a room in a hospital. The lady in the room gave me the number of the nurses station and it turned out that Mike was there and she transferred me to his room. Bless his heart, it's just one thing after another. His red blood count had dropped to a dangerous level and yesterday they put him in the hospital and gave him two transfusions of whole blood and have him on minerals (IV) and sucrose because his blood sugar level had plummeted and his blood pressure was almost non existent. He's scheduled for a CAT scan tomorrow.

In the meantime, Helen found out several weeks ago that she has kidney cancer and she will be going into the hospital on the 22nd to have the kidney removed.

And, I'm not feeling so hot myself...I feel like I'm falling apart. Not sick, just coming unglued. I keep telling myself that it's just a matter of mind over matter, "If you don't mind it doesn't matter", but the reality of everything is that my entire world has crumbled and I feel as if everywhere I stand the ground quivers.

When it rains...

When it rains it pours! Isn't that the way it goes?

The nursing home still hasn't found Mike's things. How stupid can they be? He keeps thinking they will find it, I wonder. Yesterday I sent him a package with still another pair of glasses, books, magazines, snacks and a bunch of little things that may make him more comfortable. I need to get a clothes package together for him and some shoes. He has an appointment with the ORMC clinic today. I hope they'll get him there...he missed his last appointment there because the dumb nursing home didn't arrange transportation. He said on Sunday that he was going to verify transportation on Monday. I hope he remembered to do it.

I went by the Humane Society after work yesterday to make sure I could find it as a meeting was to be at 7 o'clock and I wanted to attend...was told that they were under quarantine because of parvo (have lost 12 dogs to date) and wouldn't be meeting...next meeting is scheduled for the 3rd Monday this month.

Drove by the house and they were in the process of pouring the driveway, 2 hours later we had one of the worse storms we've had...wonder how the driveway held up? I'll go by after work today.

When I got home I used vice grips and opened the hood of the car (had to check the oil level), well, when I was finished, the damn hood wouldn't close. Now I don't know what to do...it goes down, just won't latch...sticks up and you can tell it's open. DAMN IT!!!!!

Something fun

Today is the beginning of the 55th Annual Watermelon Festival! The kickoff began with a bar-b-q and a bed race. What with the weather being so ugly and unpredictable, I didn't stay for the race. I did, however, partake in the food! Actually, the chicken was smoked, yummy, no sauce. There were green beans, baked potatoes, a wonderful tossed salad, and an entire table of luscious desserts (I got cocoanut cake!). As I didn't know anyone there, I brought mine home and shared with Shirley, she's really good company!

After work today I had to run by Progress Energy to pick up some ad copy and since it's not far from "the house", I ran by to see if anything had been done. Well doggy, the driveway has been staked and formed out and the electrician was there!!!!! I talked with him about 2 more things that need to be done, the dining room light is on a toggle chain and I want it on a wall switch and I need an electrical outlet on the sun porch. He said that was no problem and that he thought things could be finished today! Oh, I'll keep my fingers crossed! I don't know when the driveway can be poured, I hate to wish for dry weather!

Tuesday Mike was moved from the hospital back to the nursing home. When I talked with him last night they still hadn't found his personal things that were left in his room when they took him to the hospital and he's in a different room now. It all seems so disorganized! It makes me worry about the level of care there, but he seems comfortable with it. I need to send him a clock or watch or some sort of time piece...they said for a week that they'd get him a clock and haven't yet.

As for the abscesses, the surface one was packed and Mike said the deeper one is draining into his colostomy bag, so evidently it also ruptured. He says he actually feels much better, though he is still quite weak and bed ridden.

I hear thunder, so I think I'll get off of here for now.

A fine kettle of fish

Well, things seem to constantly happening with Mike. I couldn't reach him yesterday or last night, nor could I get an answer at the front desk of the nursing home. I really didn't worry too much about it since I'd told him that I probably wouldn't call on Friday, but I wanted to see if he'd gotten the 2nd pair of glasses I'd overnighted to him and if they worked for him (the first pair I sent weren't strong enough). Also, that phone in his room hasn't been working too well, so I just figured it once more wasn't working. Well, this morning I called and got no answer in his room or at the desk and had the same results this afternoon, so I really did begin to worry. Then tonight I got an answer in his room, it was a woman who said I'd called the wrong number, but I checked it on my cell and it was the correct number. So I tried the front desk again, and after multiple rings did get someone. She told me that he wasn't there and since she didn't have my name she said she couldn't tell me anything else. I pitched a little fit and she finally told me that he'd been taken to ORMC, but couldn't say anything else. Soooo, I called the hospital and finally found him. I talked with him. He had an abscess in his surgical area that ruptured yesterday, so they immediately sent him back to the hospital. They did a CAT scan yesterday and there is a second, deeper abscess that they are going to address on Monday with drainage, etc. Bless his heart, he's really been through the mill, but he says he actually feels much better now that the first abscess is draining...it relieved pressure and pain. He's actually happy to be back with "his folks", they know him!

Finally, a phone for Mike

When I got home from work today, I called the nursing home and the front desk still didn't know of a phone for Mike, but they put me back to the nursing station and the nurse went to his room to check for me. Sure 'nuf, he had a phone and she gave me the number, but couldn't transfer me, so I added yet another long distance call to the growing list. Bless his heart, once more I called during dinner, but we did take the time to chat. He says this place is quite different from the hospital, but he's not sure if it's for the better or not. He does have a tv, but no clock...he said someone is working on getting one for him and I needn't send one...I still need to call back again, I need the address to send his new glasses to.

I went by the house after work. The shingles are on the roof of the new double carport and they exactly match the roof of the house and look wonderful! It looks like the only things left to be done before I move in is the electrical work (door bell, carport lights, electrical outlet on the sun porch and it seems there's one other thing), finishing the interior roof of the carport and the soffits and then paving the driveway. It all seems so close, but so far away.

Work's okay...fleas are still bad.

I can't believe it's Wednesday!

Wow! Where has the week gone? I Suwannee it was Sunday yesterday...I've got so much going on and it seems so little time.

When I got home from work yesterday I called the nursing home hoping to talk with Mike. Damn it, he didn't have a phone in his room. I finally did get his nurse and asked what was going on. she said "he's in isolation". Duh! I said "he isn't ambulatory and is infectious and he doesn't have a phone in his room?". She thought about it for a minute and said "well, I guess that's not right, I'll call maintenance and get one put in". So I called back at 8:30PM and they still hadn't done anything, they said "maybe tomorrow". We'll see.

I may have to go down there.

I fighting a major infestation of fleas. I sprinkled borax outside and in yesterday. I bathed Shirley last night and flea combed Mercy. Goodness won't let me get near him with the flea comb, though I know it would help.

Mother called twice yesterday...for some reason she thinks I need to hear from her often. She did ask me to go by the house after work today and let her know if any progress has been made. Well...I don't have a key, so it'll be hard to see anything inside.

Gotta dress for work.

Things are happening

When I got home from work today I had a message on the machine from a social worker at the hospital in Orlando saying they were moving Mike tonight to a nursing home/rehab center tonight. She said they'll move him by ambulance, of course and on a gurney. I called him as soon as I put Shirley outside. I think he's happy about the move, he feels (and I do too) that things are finally happening! He's been quite bored in the hospital and sees this move as positive. I really do hope they'll be able to finally start some rehab for him, they didn't seem to do very much in the hospital. He also said that on Wednesday he'll go to some clinic for evaluation and that on Friday they are going to do a skin graph over the incision site.

Things are happening!

Work went well today. I came home for lunch...let Shirley out and was back in less than an hour. I sold 11 ads in 5 hours. I think that's ok.

The Garden

Yesterday I went over to "the house". Out back is a raised 8'x8' bed that was horribly overgrown, so I weeded it. In the process I found a basil seedling, some old plantings of rosemary, a large clump of lemon thyme, lots of garlic chives, lots and lots of various mints and two seedlings that look like either squash or cucumbers...I don't know how to tell the difference until they bare (since I didn't plant them). There are three sagos planted in the bed that I'll move after I move in. Around the rather large patio are daylilies and what looks to me like yarrow. I even found several red impatients under an oak tree on the side. Since the house is 81 years old some of the foundation plantings are also quite old...some old camellias and many huge pecan trees...lots of dogwoods and red buds and old ivy and lots of lantanas, the front bed off the front porch is planted with the palest yellow lantanas...so pale that they seem almost white...pretty. The yard really hasn't been neglected, in fact it's in extremely good shape...not so much for me to work on, so I'll start things of my own. I'm looking forward to that!

I haven't talked with Mike for a couple of days...he keeps saying not to call for no reason. I'll call tonight.

I'm chilling three chicken breasts that I poached this morning. I'm going to make chicken salad and a pitcher of iced tea. The weather's so warm that it's hard to think of anything appealing to eat, and since I start the JOB tomorrow it'll be nice to have something for lunch.

I got up this morning at 4:30. There was an old white car backed in and parked out front. I went out for the newspaper at 6:30 and it was still there. The drivers seat was reclined, but I didn't look in, so I don't know if anyone was in it or not. Well, here it is almost noon and it's still out there. I'll feel a bit safer after I move. At once I feel quite isolated and quite exposed here. US 19 is within spitting distance of here and the train is maybe a ball field away...it'll certainly be quieter after I move!

My refrigerator still has that smell, maybe it's a good thing it won't fit in the kitchen of the new house. I'll have to put it on the glass porch (or tear out cabinets in the kitchen). My kitchen hutch won't fit either, so it'll either go on the glass porch or in the back hall, I'll just have to see.

I found out Friday that a friend of mine grew up in the house. Small world!

Stuff and things

Monday I met Mother in Tallahassee and we went on a shopping spree (on her Visa). We went to Talbots (for some reason she thinks that's the only place that carries petites). They had all of their new summer clothes out and it looked like a candy shop! The colors are bright, bold and very fresh this summer...so pretty! I ended up with several pairs of slacks, many tops, a skirt and two dresses! I don't remember the last time I wore a dress! We worked up quite an appetite with our shopping so we went back to her house and picked up Bert and went out to lunch at Marie Livingston's! It was wonderful and I brought home enough left overs for another meal. Yummy!

I had two job interviews Monday afternoon. This morning I got a call from one of them and I start Monday doing ad sales for the Monticello News. I'll enjoy that...it doesn't pay much and it's just 25 hours a week, but I was assured that I'll make more as I produce more...and it's 9-3 Mon-Fri with an hour lunch, so I shouldn't burn out like you do on so many 'phone jobs.

I've talked with Mike 'most every day for the past little while...out call today was quite short as they had just brought his supper in...I have the most uncanny way of calling either when he's eating or using the urinal. Usually we go ahead and talk, but I was only checking on him and telling him about my job today, so I cut it short.

They are working on the road out front and the dust is amazing...I think they bring it in just for the effect!

Something rather odd

This morning I turned on the morning news on TV while I perused the newspaper and had my first cup of coffee of the day. One of the first stories I heard was from Monticello so of course it caught my ear. There had been a shooting yesterday in Rooster Town leaving one person dead and one in custody. The dead man's name was Ricardo Fadell. That's the person who has been calling me for months and scaring me so badly. My stomach dropped when I heard that...such a mixed bag of feelings!

Movie

I just watched a wonderful movie...Finding Neverland...if you haven't seen it, do!

Nothing going on today that I'm aware of (so what's new?)...haven't talked with Mike since last night. Haven't talked with Mother for 2 days. Haven't talked with anyone today except Shirley, Goodness and Mercy and they don't say much!

Elvis has left the building

Tonight there was a wonderful special on TV called "Elvis by The Presleys". Two hours...and I watched every second of it! It took me back to pre-teen age and I salivated! I remembered a tabloid thingy that I read (we all read and talked about while wearing our crinolyns and saddle oxfords) about Elvis autographing some girls breast and she wore a band aid over it when she showered!!!! We all agreed that we'd do the same thing! Damn! we never had the opportunity!

Talked with Mike again tonight. They removed his feeding tube today and he took six steps! The damn hospital lost his glasses... moving him two doors down from where he was! I mailed him a package today with glasses and books and his sister's and brother's and my telephone numbers. He keeps loosing these things...and he asks for them and doesn't have a pen, so I included pens and a pad of paper. He said tonight that VA had accepted him into the rehab system...they now need to find a place for him. His infection is a major problem as it prohibits him from using communial equiptment or facilities in any place they may find for him.

Dream or nightmare?

Mother called today and wanted to come over. She said look nice and wear makeup. Oh joy! When she got here she came in to talk for a while and brought up how miserable this house was this past winter and asked "Do you remember when I said you'd never have to spend another winter in this house?" Well, I played along, but actually didn't remember her saying anything of the sort. Well it seems that while I was in Orlando with Mike she bought a house here in Monticello. It's a 3 bedroom 2 bath on a huge lot in town. We went to see it...she's in the process of having a double car carport built and the driveway paved. The house is 81 years old with beautiful hardwood floors and ceilings that have been dropped to 10'. There are big windows and a fireplace, a dining room and a large windowed side porch and an absolutely wonderful front porch with a swing. There' a gigantic patio out back and a small storage building way out back. The master bedroom suite was added on and is quite large with a huge, deep jacuzi tub and a walk-in shower with a double sink vanity and a linen closet. It's quite nice. It's mine for the taking and I'll receive it in total at her death. Wow!

Now, for the strings...she's calling it her house. She's decorating it in her mind with all of the stuff (all new, of course) from her condo in Waynesville, NC. She said I could put all of my junk in the shed out back. She said a lot more, but when she started talking about my junk I sorta tuned out. My hackles are up and I'm in a dilemma. She's paying the rent on this place (I don't even have a job) and will stop when the house is ready for occupancy.

You reckon I should go for it?

The hospital called while I was gone with Mother. Mike is stable and ready for rehab. They are trying to find a place for him...it'll have to be a hospital...I'm hoping for VA.

The Derby and other things

Today is the running of the Kentucky Derby...I've probably watched on TV or heard on the radio at least 40 Derbys...Probably more. How exciting it is to watch or hear those magnificent animals do what they're bred to do...To run for the roses!! The coverage today started at 5pm...I don't think they run until 6pm.

Yesterday was the first day since I've been back fro Orlando that I felt half way decent. My legs and back have given me such fits...I guess from a lot of standing, walking and driving. Oh well, except for my back, most everything is good.

My friend Kathy in Orlando has been by to see Mike everyday since I've been gone. She calls and gives me an update, and each day is better. I'm talking with him also, but Kathy sees and hears things that I don't get from a 'phone call with Mike. Bless his heart, he sure doesn't sound like himself, his voice is soooo different. Of course he's talking through his trac and I guess I should have expected this. It is so good to hear his voice again! For what seems such a long time we didn't think he'd make it at all.

I just spent 2 hours in the back yard with an electric weed eater and a 40 foot cord. I've had this weed eater for several years, I got it when we had the house, just to trim up and do the edging and keep things neat after Mike mowed. It sure wasn't made to clear an area with 2-3 foot tall weeds, but it did a remarkable job considering that it only cuts an 8" swath at a pass. And adding to that, I was tethered to a 40 foot cord that was actually shorter than that, because I had to run it from inside the house, so I probably lost 15 feet! Anyway, the back yard really looks good! Now, tomorrow the front!

Mother seems better, she and Bert have gone to his beach house for the weekend. That should be good for her! She tends to do too much when she's home. Now she can sit on the porch and watch the waves and maybe even take a walk along the beach. Boy! That sounds good!

Shirley lost so much weight at the vets! She went from 11 1/2 lbs to 8 lbs! That's a lot for such a little dog!

I hope to put out some annual seeds tomorrow, but I haven't dug the bed out yet. There are a couple of spots that had trees taken out some time ago and the roots and stumps have rotted and they look promising...I'll see.

Mike

Tonight Mike had his fourth surgery...his third was Friday night.

Friday they were able to close his surgical site down from a 12 inch gap (in width) to a little less than an inch. They also closed it from his breast bone completely about an inch and a half and up from his pubic bone completely about an inch and a half. However, this was only the skin and fat layer, no muscle. They tell me that he will be facing a surgery in about a year to close the muscle layer and in the mean time, there will be a hernia in the entire abdomen area. Tonight's surgery was to close the remaining ten inch area. As far as I know it was successful, I've only talked with nurses, not the surgeons.

This surgery was the hardest for me to go through, I wasn't there and had to call and call to get any information. I did talk with two of the surgeons (that I know) yesterday and they felt very confident...that in turn gave me comfort.

Just a few thoughts

I returned home this past Sunday, after 5 weeks in Orlando. It was both nice and strange getting back.

When I walked into the house (no animals...strange) the first thing that hit me was the smell...really bad smell. I decided it was a combo of old house smells, smoker smells, an undumped litter box and the house being closed up for so long. I looked in the 'fridge to find something to eat and discovered the source. The power wasn't on in the 'fridge and everything had spoiled including the jam-packed freezer. I spent the next two hours cleaning things out and scrubbing everything down with a bleach solution. Then I put crumpled up newspaper and kitty litter (fresh) in.

Monday AM I dashed to the vet to get Shirley, Goodness and Mercy out of hock (to the tune of $609.00 after a 25% discount) and hurried back to check on the 'fridge. The smell seemed just as bad as it was originally, so it was off to the store to get baking soda, air fresheners and coffee...and I put all three in the 'fridge when I got back.

Today is Thursday and I think there is a reduction in the odor...the ice cubes taste like the smell...I guess time will tell.

I've talked to the hospital every day since I've been back. Before I left on Sunday I was told that an order had been issued for Mike to be moved into "step-down" or intermediate ICU as soon as a bed was available.

Yesterday I spent several hours talking with nurses and surgeons. He is scheduled for a surgery tomorrow at 5PM to begin closing his surgical site. I'm taking the animals to the vet at 7AM tomorrow and going back down.

More when I can...this is the first time I've been on line since I've been back.

Mike

Things are slightly better...but that is all so relative. Mike is still on a ventilator. His every system is on support of some sort. His nurse told me today that of all of the patients on all of the floors in ICUs, that Mike is the sickest...so when he has a better day, it means that he had made some slight progress forward instead of backwards. He has a long way to go.

The uncertainties of life

This past week has been perfectly horrible! Mike is in the ICU here in Orlando and it's not certain that he's going to pull through.

Last Thursday (or was it Friday) the doctors removed his entire colon (he's had ulcerated colitis for several years). Yesterday he required another surgery to try to control the raging infection he has developed. He isn't aware of his surroundings and hooked us to every imaginable machine and drainage thingy and IV. So far they are trying to stabalize his heart rate, blood pressure, renal system and the infection...and so far they are not having much luck. The doctors say that the next 24-48 hours will be the telling ones. Pray for him.

Mother was checked into the hospital in Tallahassee yesterday with phenumonia (sp?). I talked with her this morning and she says she's being "killed with kindness" and expects to go home in a couple of days. Pray for her.

I've only had one night's sleep since being here. Pray for me.

The City Beautiful

Well, here I am in the "City Beautiful", Orlando, Florida.

I got a phone call Tues. night from my oldest daughter to tell me that Mike is in the hospital here in Orlando...ORMC. By the time I got down here he had been moved to MD Anderson Cancer Center. At this point, they don't think he has cancer (but they haven't been in), but they have told him in no uncertain terms that if his ulcerated colitis continues unchecked that is the next step. At this point, what he has is an acute attack of the ulcerated colitis. His colon is swollen to the point of rupture. When the doctors show the size of his colon with their two hands there fingers are about 2 inches apart. He is on steroids, antibiotics, vitamins, potassium, insulin and a saline solution all by IV. He's on morphine every 3 hours. It's very bad, very serious. He is being closely monitored and we have been told that emergency surgery is a high probility. Yesterday the doctor said 48 hours to see if there is any change...this morning another doctor said a couple of days.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are being boarded with the vet in Monticello...$8.50 per animal, per night...so, I can't stay terribly long without making other arrangements for them.

I'm staying in his room at this point...there is a Murphy bed.

What the Bleep do we Know?

I have just finished watching the most amazing movie I've ever seen! It's "What the Bleep Do We Know". They also have a web site: www.whatthebleep.com

I highly recommend this movie and site!

Rainy, rainy day! Grey, chilly and a little bleak, but in its own way quite glorious!

Bad caller

For the past several months I've been getting 'phone calls from a young sounding Hispanic male. On one of the earliest calls I did ask who he was and he said Ricardo Fadell (the only reason I spell the last name that way is that is the only close spelling I can find in the local 'phone book). He called several times a day for a while, usually while I was at work and he'd leave word on my answering machine. I told him early on not to call, but it continued, so I called the non-emergency number of the sheriff's office. I had already tried hitting *69 only to have the recording say that the number was unavailable. So I told the girl at the sheriff's office this and was told that there was probably nothing that could be done, but to call back if he called again. Well, he did and I didn't. There were many calls left on the answering machine from what sounded like collection agencies for a Vanessa Fadell and many calls from him. Then one night at almost nine o'clock I got a call from a man asking for Vanessa or Ricardo. I said it was a wrong number and hung up. He called right back and said he was with Progress Energy and did I know anything about a service order with Progress Energy for a location on Waukeena Street in town. Of course I didn't. The calls continued for a while after, I'd hang up without saying anything whenever I was here and happened to answer...I usually listen to the recorder before I answer. Well, the calls stopped for several weeks and I sure felt better, then yesterday morning a little before noon the phone rang and I listened to the machine before answering (habits are hard to break) and it was a whispering male voice that said "I'm back". Scared me so bad that I couldn't catch my breath. I couldn't identify the voice. Last night around 8 He called. and again this morning at 7:45. I guess I should either go to the sheriff or call...I just hate to.

Mother

Yesterday I went to Tallahassee to try on a formal dess from Mother's closet. On the 14th of April there is going to be a rather grand gala honoring Bert and his long time partner for their years of medical practice. Mother is truely agog about this! The dress I tried on fit me, but I look like a sack of potatoes in it. Mother said that all I need to do is lose 10 pounds between now and the 14th and I'll look just fine.

We sat and talked for an hour or so after the "trying on"...really, I sat and listened, Mother talked. She had more pent up gossip in her than I could ever imagine! She might have burst had she not gotten it all out! I didn't even know most of the folks she was talking about, but it seemed to give her some relief to vent. I guess it helps all of us to have an ear to bend every now and then. (Thank you RM and Prent!!!!) After about an hour of this she got to the part she was really wanting to talk about (looking back on it). It seems she hasn't been feeling well lately and Bert actually took her to the emergency room last Thursday night. She has two damaged heart valves. She sees her main doctor on Monday afternoon and may know something then. I asked her was there anything she was supposed to do or not do...her answer, "no". I then asked what were they going to do about this and she said as far as she knows, nothing. I'll talk with her Monday after she sees her doctor and see if there are any other answers. She does have sleep apneia and is supposed to wear a breathing mask when she sleeps, but, it messes her hair up and leaves a mark on her face and she has to sleep on her back, etc., so she's not religious about wearing it. She said her doctor yelled at her the last time she was there about having to wear it every night. I did put in my two cents worth, too, but, I don't think it helped.

More on this when I know something.

Beautiful day today, but the rain comes in tomorrow for the week.

Worries and woes

I talked with Helen last night. She's concerned because she hasn't seen Mike in 2-3 weeks. He was stopping by to see her several times a week (without fail) and hasn't even called. She has asked around town and no one knows anything about him. Of course, I haven't heard from him in months.

Last night Goodness went nuts! He's such a big cat and when he choses to be crazy it's hard to ignore. From about midnight on he tore around the house, thundering on the hardwood floors...he tore up window blinds and broke several things. I'm not sure just what his problem was, but I'm thankful that he seem exhusted now and is sleeping soundly! And I've always called Mercy my "bad cat"!

Cold again this morning...our high was only 52 yesterday...they say it'll be in the 60's today.

Icky day

Today is cold and overcast. This has been really weird weather...sunny, warm and beautiful one day and really icky the next. I guess it's normal, I just don't remember it this way.

In the past three days I've unpacked 8 large boxes...the trick will be finding spots to put everything.

I think Shirley's bored. She wants in then out, then in, then out, I wish the yard had a fence so I could let her out to run. The chain I have her on is mighty heavy for such a little dog.

I was sitting by the front window at dusk last night and had no lights on inside, so I could see quite clearly out into the yard. A movement caught my eye by the bird bath...two very small rabbits were just poking about. I watched them for several minutes until something spooked them and they dashed off into the underbrush. It's so funny to see things like that here right by the highway.

Last week was the first week in a long time that I didn't hear from Prentice. I miss our talks. I hope everythings okay with him. I haven't heard from Mike in a long, long time. I worry so much about him.

Just stuff

There was a terrible storm last night. Shirley and I were on the sofa watching t.v. when a boom sounded over the house. It was so loud that I thought a train had derailed or an explosion had happened. The windows rattled and the pictures on the walls shifted. Cats ran everywhere and I was scared. Then it happened again and again and again...then, I could see flashes of light through the blinds. When the rain started it was a blessed relief...at least I knew what was going on! I ran around and unplugged everything and went to bed with a dog and 2 cats on top of me. I'm not sure how long this storm raged, but we got over 2 inches of rain. This morning it is clear, beautiful and cool. The forecast is for freezing or below tonight. Wow!

I was thinking about age this morning. I'll be 60 this year, Mother will be 80 and my oldest daughter will be 40. I remember standing in line in the lunch room when I was 11 or 12. One of the girls we all admired had just turned 15. We whispered and giggled and thought she was over the hill! Can you imagine? Over the hill! If we had only known the hill was so much longer and higher and harder! I've heard many people say that they feel no differently inside than they did at 11 or 12 (or older or younger) and I agree, I feel no different, I'm still me with all of the insecurities and fears of youth. I don't feel I've gained anything with age other than lines, aches and all of the other baggage that comes with additional years. I'm still insecure and afraid.

Books

I just finished reading the fourth in a series of books by Jan Karon. These are based in a little North Carolina town called Mitford, which is loosely based on the town of Blowing Rock, NC. At Home in Mitford, A Light in the Window, These High, Green Hills and Out to Canaan are the titles. I sencerely hope there will be more of these as I really hated to finish the last one. It's been a while since I've felt so at home in a book, so warm, so comforted! I highly recommend these!

I still have no idea of what I'll do with myself, but the feeling of panic has grown quieter and I'm sure there's something for me to do to support myself. Of course, the age of 60 might make it a little harder, but I'll find something...look at Grandma Moses!

The straw

Well, I guess I've finally lost it for sure!

Friday at work I packed up all of my stuff and put it in my car and left without saying a word to anyone. I guess I quit...no, I know I quit. The bitch that has hated me from day one won. Talk about burning bridges...there goes another one. Don't know what I'll do. I have nothing and frankly don't know what to do, or what to look for. In one sense I feel an enormous relief, in another I feel abject fear. There was no one to talk to about it. I just did what I had to do at the time. I haven't told anyone, who would I tell? I almost feel there is a law suit in this somewhere...I was promised one thing and given nothing. In fact almost everything I was doing had gone to other people and I sat for eight hours a day waiting for the phone to ring. On Thursday I started keeping track of the calls coming in, at times it was over half an hour between calls...55 minutes one time. Talk about going nuts! That did it. Between 8 and 10:30 on Friday there were 6 incoming calls.

I haven't finished unpacking from the move from Orlando...and can't get motivated to do anything. Went out and raked leaves for a while this morning. Got blisters.

Martha Stewart is OUT!

Bless her heart, I'm sure these past five months have felt much longer for Martha than for me, but I have thought about her almost every day and celebrate the fact that she is finally out of prison! I hope these next five months of house arrest will go quickly for her.

The weather is weird! We have had below freezing temps for the past 3 mornings and rain all day yesterday to boot! I even had to scrape ice from all of the car windows day before yesterday!

Leg is better...still hurts if touched and still oozy.

No word from Prent.

TGIF!!!!!!!

Surprise Weather

Boy! I suppose I should listen to the news/weather more often! Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning to 32 degree weather! Yesterday it was shirt sleeves and this morning it's heavy coat! I even bought flower seeds yesterday because I thought Spring had sprung...guess I'll wait a few days or so to put them out.

Fellow at work brought me a movie that I watched yesterday. "An Angel for May"...really good!

Oh how I wish for cable TV or satellite. With rabbit ears I get 4 channels, three quite well and, of course, the one I watch the most is at times unviewable. Oh well, surely my ship will come in some day.

Shirley is in heat. I hate that. I must have her spayed.

Rainy Sunday

Yesterday was a constant downpour...it's been a while since I've seenit rain so hard for so long. The birdbath actually ran over for hours as if it had a built in water fall. It was glorious!

Friday I rented 2 movies and watched them yesterday. The Notebook and The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. They were both WONDERFUL! I had thought I'd return them today, but I want to watch each of them again before I do!

The rain did some wonderful things. This morning when I put Shirley out it looked like there was white paper torn up all over the back yard. On further investigation, it was white violets blooming everywhere! and, there are azealas blooming and the Japanese magnolias and dafodils are in bloom...of course, all of the camellias are still in bloom, too, so it's a fairy land out there!

My leg's itching like crazy, thank goodness, I think that means it's healing!

Better (than what?)

Well, I'm better. I went to work yesterday and one of the first things I was asked to do was copy an entire policy file. I stood at the copier for about an hour and a half. Really did my leg lots of good!

Got a call from Prentice last night at 10:30. He knows I go to bed earlier than that, but when he gets a snoot full it's all about him and he just doesn't care. When I said I was in bed he got rather ticked off and started to hang up, perhaps I should have let him, but I stopped him and we talked about half an hour. He can't come this weekend and I think that's just as well...I'm going to drop the idea until he can get here on his own power, then so be it.

Rainy weather, but warm.

Gotta run need to whip through the dump on the way to work.

Up but not running

I've been down for a few days...physically and mentally. This has really been an awful week for me. I had a biopsy done on my left leg a week ago Monday...no cancer, thank goodness, but there was an encapsulated infection. The lab report said it was a few months old. The biopsy released the infection and it has been a horrible experience. Today is the first day that it didn't break open and drain when I got up. I'm still running a fever and feel rotten as all get out, but the swelling is down and the reddness is more of a brown now and the pain is very much reduced. Boy, this has had me down. I was able to shower and wash my hair this morning and that feels better.

I have no idea what this has done to my job which has felt tenuous at best. Now, I'm working with all of these self professed Christians, this "office family" as they call themselves and not a damn one of them has called or come by. I sure could have used a few things during this time, friendship not being the least of them. I guess that puts me in my place as the uppity "new girl"! Oh hell, I wish I knew what to do. I'd like to just run around and scream and kick butt! I'm sure that would get me far!

Who am I kidding, I knew in my first week there that I didn't fit in...and I really tried to. What to do, what to do?

FOG

The fog is so thick this morning that I can barely see my car outside the bedroom window...I don't ever remember seeing it so thick. I could feel it on my face when I put Shirley out earlier. The weatherman said it will last at least until noon. WOW!

My dumb leg throbbed all day yesterday and is still going strong this morning. Not much meat on my shin so I guess that's why.

Am taking myself out to breakfast this morning, so will dash for now.

Young neighbors

Now I'm aware that in order to get to the wise ol' ages that we have reached we all were in our early 20's at one time or another. But were we totally stupid too? My next door neighbor is in her early 20's.

We had rain all Sunday night and until around 3 yesterday afternoon...so last night aroud 9:00 my young neighbor and her boy friend built a BIG bonfire between our houses...wet wood...need I say more? MY house filled with smoke and the animals went absolutely nuts. It didn't help that I reassured them that it was nothing, they wanted OUT! For that matter, I kinda wanted out myself. To make matters worse, my neighbor and her boy friend proceded to drink beer and then decided to pull his van up to the fire with the sliding doors open and make whoopee and to drink beer and to play very LOUD noise that I'm sure passes for music in their world and to drink beer. Do you see where this is going? The whoopee turned into a very loud fight with van doors slamming and house doors slamming and van tires screeching and motors gunning and then blessed quiet in the smoke for about 15 minutes. Then damn it, he came back...young love. They sat arount the bonfire and yelled at each other, her octives rising as more beer went down. This lasted until after 11:00 when they both left in the red van. Happy Valentines day!

Went to the doctor yesterday for my initial visit. Hate doctors, even the good ones. This one seems to be a good one...liked him as far as doctors go. Showed him my leg and he biospied (sp?) it right then and there. I'll get results mid-week next week.

Mabel, our 80 year old receptionist, had us all to her house for a Valentine lunch yesterday. It was wonderful! Fried chicken, collard greens, creamed corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, purple passion salad, potato salad, sweet tea, rolls and two desserts. Ate until I couldn't any more as did everyone! Still forced myself to have supper last night...no cobbler.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

This has been a glorious day! mid-60's, sunny, nice.

Got a call from Helen a while ago. She's been in the hospital with an ear infection. I think her daughter's going to try to put her in a home. That'll kill her! She said that Mike comes by a couple of times a week and always has George in the car with him and always is drinking.

Except for getting a paper this morning early, this is the first day in a while that I've just stayed home. Feels good! I've watched a couple of movies and made soup and just vegged out! Lovely!

The grill

Today I went to Fred's and got a little covered grill for $19.99. Now this grill wasn't assembled, but I thought "how hard can that be, guys put them together all of the time". Well, let me tell you, it's not as easy as you may think! The directions said it would take an hour to assemble. This particular grill was made in China and there were a lot of references to assemble this part to resemble the picture.......tiny pictures, even with my glasses on. I put each and every nut, bolt, screw and washer in twice, once to resemble the picture and once correctly. There was a point when I was attaching the lid that I considered not attaching the damn thing, but then I had a little talk with myself and got it on. Not only does it open and close, but it fits! However, I don't think I'll be grilling out tonight...I'm pooped. Two hours to put an eighteen inch grill together is just entirely too long. Maybe I'll have greater respect now for the guys out there that put their grills together in an hour...then, maybe I won't!

While I was outside with the grill I got a call from the furniture store. My chair is in!!!!! They'll call Monday and make arrangements for delivery! Yeah!!!!!!!

Went to the vets office this morning and got worming pills for the 'mules...Got Shirley's down her with no problem, however, I'm scratched all over both hands and arms from Mercy and never did get hers in her. I tried twice, don't know what to do now. Never even tried to give Goodness his...he kept running full out every time I approached him!

Beautiful day, 60's.

I think Prentice may come stay with me for a week and change some locks and do a few other little things for me. That'll be nice!

Internal clocks and things

My magic number seems to be 4:44am...at 4:44 every morning I wake up and look at the clock. Now I'm wondering what would happen if I changed the clock forward or back a little...what time would I wake up?

I haven't heard from Mike in a few weeks. I worry about him.

Mother took me shopping last week and over the weekend gave me a few things from her closet. I've really dressed for work lately (since I actually have something to wear), but today they'll be surprised...I'm in jeans and a sweater...really, it feels better...more like ME!

I'm gaining weight, wonder if it's the cobbler with ice cream and caramel sauce I eat every night before I go to bed? Surely not!

This past weekend while recovering the hassock I worked up a really big blister (from the staple gun) on my thumb...it popped before I knew it was there and everything I do seems to agravate it. It actually bled at work yesterday and washing dishes is quite painful. Seeing that it's on my right hand, I really can't baby it. Wonder how long it'll take to heal?

Got my bank statement yesterday. It seems I didn't record 2 checks (actually debit card transactions). Now I don't know where I stand...I think I'm overdrawn. Drat!

Busy weekend

This was such a busy week end for me! I needed 48 more hours! Saturday morning Mother called and asked if I'd like to go to a movie. So I dressed and dashed to Tallahassee. My first stop was the new Goodwill that opened last week...found a notebook I've wanted for a dollar and a Will Rogers tape for a dollar (less 10 percent of course). Then I went to Ross to look for a lamp shade for the floor lamp I found at the dump last week (I'd been wishing for one, but the ones I'd found in stores were awfully expensive and not what I wanted). Found a big red one that looked perfect and a mosaic table with elephants. Then to Mother's house for a quick tuna sandwich. We went to see "The Wedding Date"...cute movie, but a little embarrassing to see with my 80 year old mother! Back to Mother's where she gave me several outfits (she's cleaning out her closets) and a watch (the one with a swan as the logo). From her house I ran by Joann Fabric and found a wonderful red fabric with elephants to cover my old hassock with and some sissors. Then by Walmart for groceries and then home. It was almost 6:00pm when I got home.

Well, when I got home I found that the big wonderful lamp shade was about 89 sizes too large for the lamp, but it sure was pretty!

Sunday morning I dashed back to Tallahassee and exchanged the lamp shade for one that quite a bit more conservative, but nice and got a smaller version of the elephant table that nests nicely under the other one. I took a short-cut one the way home and added about 35 minutes to my traveling time, but it was a pretty drive and I enjoyed it.

I spent Sunday afternoon rewiring the floor lamp and recovering the hassock and vacuuming and doing a little cleaning. There's so much more to do! Well, I'm off this afternoon, maybe I'll get more done today...just not stapling, I worked up a really big blister that popped on my right thumb...boy is that sore!

Must close so I can run by the dump before work.

Woops

Well, I spoke too soon...things are definitely different at work, not necessarily better. I wish I could just live in a hole...I could probably afford the rent. I'm depressed, lonely, sad, stupid, nuts, and every other thing I think when I'm not sitting at the computer. Damn, I'm unhappy.

24 Hours...What a difference!

This time yesterday I was thinking of needing to find another job. This morning, I'm rather excited about going to work! The difference? Everything has changed! Two people that I never looked to as allies, Renee', the office manager and Ric, one of the partners, called me aside early yesterday for a talk. They both apologized for the turmoil of the past 30 days and thanked me for the job I'd done. Then they offered a solution...beginning yesterday, I'm in charge of the telecommunication system, the deposits (these run to $100,000.00 twice a week) and various assorted smaller responsibilities. Thank goodness! I'll be busy, but not bored! Things are looking up! Now if only my personal life weren't so black!

Rainy dogs

This morning I went to put Shirley out (I think it was a little early for her, 4:45AM) and there was a very large black dog on the back steps. Of course Shirley went bonkers, but the poor dog just stood there in the rain and wagged and smiled. I felt so bad for him and put some dog food out. He sniffed it and wandered off. Later Shirley did go out and the dog reappeared. He's awfully sweet, and awfully thin...can I keep him? Probably not, I don't think he'd fit in the house.

I'm feeling like I'm really getting the shaft at work. I was promised training, I've gotten none and now it appears that I'm the permanent file clerk. If they'd pay me more, I might stay...otherwise, I guess I'll have to find something else, I don't like this feeling of being used.

Never say yes to DOS!

I guess you're never too old to learn something! Yesterday I was exploring this computer and in programs under games I saw a link to a DOS based game...being a little stupid, I thought it'd be fun to see what it was all about. When I clicked on it a message came up that said in order to run the game, Windows98 would have to be closed...was that okay? I said yes! Well, no game ever came up and I lived in panic for almost 2 full days with a black screen with white writing asking for a command...well, I tried a few, most of which I'll not print here, and nothing worked. So I typed in "uninstall DOS"...damn thing told me that if I did that it would uninstall Windows98...it took me a week to get Windows98 installed correctly and I certainly didn't want to uninstall it! So I called a fellow from work, got his answering maching and no call back. Didn't know what to do. Woke up this AM with the bright idea to call AOL. Of course, my question wasn't an AOL question and they couldn't help me or even venture a guess when I BEGGED! However, he did give me a number for Microsoft support. Now, Microsoft support is on the West coast and it being Sunday, and three hours behind us, I had to wait until 9:30 to call...about went bonkers waiting! Now, here's the good part, when I finally went through all of the computer menus on the 'phone I did get to tech support...bless his heart, this fellow had a mid-eastern accent so thick that I could hardly understand him and it seemed that my rather thick southern accent gave him a bit of trouble too, but I finally did get across to him what had happened and what I wanted (NEEDED!!!!). Well, they no longer have free tech support for Windows98 (obsolete), but he gladly gave me a web site to go to (right!) or for a slight charge of $35.00 (I never understood this part) I could get help on the 'phone, but it might not help and I'd be out the $35.00. So back to square one! Finally in total despiration, I typed in the uninstall command thinking that the worse thing that could happen was that I'd have to reinstall. Well, it worked and here I am, a little worn for wear, but back on line and reconnected to the world!

Another find at the dump!

I returned the sewing machine to the dump and made yet another wonderful find...a bunch of window shades (all sizes) still in their packages w/hardware! They're still in the car, so I don't know exactly how many or just what sizes, but WHAT A FIND!!!! There was also a bundled bunch of white metal rods with end-cap sorta things and wooden cross-bar things. Got it, too. I'm not sure just what it's supposed to be, but I put it together last night (have pieces left over) and I have a few ideas of what it can be, maybe. It's outside now.

I sure do like ordering from the internet. I couldn't find brewers yeast for the beasties (the local pet store didn't get it in), so I went to Petco.com and ordered it. It arrived yesterday (3 working days) and the animals are much happier now.

It's much warmer today, 48 at 6am. Better!

Must run...want to make a swing through the dump before work.

The dump

I stopped at the dump on the way to work yesterday...to drop something off and lo and behold...I left with more than I went there with! I found a huge box of books, a bamboo bird cage and a sewing machine! There was also a wicker chair, but I couldn't fit it in the car. I've begun to think that Mike isn't going to bring me my sewing machine, so this was a MAJOR find!

Worked 1/2 a day yesterday and got home at noon. It took longer to unload the car than it did to load it and I enjoyed every moment of it. The bird house is in very good shape and the books were unreal! There were 8 paperbacks by Edgar Rice Burroughs that wereprinted in the '60's...his science fiction works...and I've only heard about them, never seen or read them. And, many, many other really good ones. The sewing machine on the other hand had been canabalized...not much of it was there, but I salvaged 2 needles, a bobbin and bobbin case, a drive belt and a good pressure foot. Maybe I can build one.

The weather is wild! Saturday night I put Shirley out around 9:30 and checked the temperature...64. When I got up around 7 Sunday morning it was 24! 26 this morning.

Stormy stormy night!

We had quite a storm pass through last night Tornado warnings all around us, nothing but high winds and mega rain here...Thank goodness! It's still raining now, but should clear by noon...colder after that. I rather look forward to the colder weather...it IS winter!

Change is in the air

After 3 weeks of unusally warm weather, we are in for a change. We have been having highs in the mid to upper 70's and lows in the 50's. Starting tomorrow the powers that be say we'll be lucky to have highs in the 60's. I was finding the other ideal, but what's coming is going to be more seasonal...after all, it is winter!

Mike sold the house. At least it didn't go into foreclosure. I received a check yesterday for a bit less than a third of the profit. I opened a savings account...I have nothing to retire on and this isn't enough to retire on, but maybe it'll grow.

Thursday sure snuck up on me. Weeks (and life) seem to be zipping by. Tomorrow will surprise me, too.

Mother

I was on line a few hours on Sunday afternoon trying to get this computer set up and all that jazz and then was again on line Monday afternoon/early evening for a couple of hours. Well, it seems that Mother tried to call both days while I was on line and evidently never hit a time I was off line. I shut the computer down around 6:30 PM on Monday and fixed my supper (baked chicken breast, herbed rice, asparagus with alfredo sauce and sliced tomatoes). Got everything ready and my tray fixed in time to settle down in the living room (on my new red sofa) in front of the television to watch Wheel of Fortune. Had just gotten through the first puzzle when I saw head lights pull into my front yard...went to the front porch, looked out and low and behold, it was Bert and Mother. Of course Mother was acting franic, said "I've been worried sick"...of course I asked "why?". Well she'd only gotten a busy signal for 2 days and decided I'd been murdered. I told her next time to wait and call me the next day at work. This close mothering from someone who NEVER was much of a mother is what is going to kill me! She's just having to put on a good show for her new husband. At the prime age of 59 (60 this year) I'm not up to having her mothering, nor am I up to a "step father". We'll just have to see how this plays out...don't quite know how I'm going to handle it. I didn't tell her about the computer, she'd FLIP! Told her the cats had knocked the phone off the hook. That's good enough for now. You'll notice what time I'm posting now. I'll just have to start getting up an hour earlier for a while.

Funny Monday

It feels so odd to have Monday afternoons off work! I just gear up for work after having a weekend off, and I only work for 4 hours and then at noon on the button, I'm off until Tuesday. Odd! Now, I'm not complaining, I like working 4 and being paid for 8...and, it's every week...it's just odd!

This afternoon I went to the local pet center (yes, we really do have one!) Bought Shirley a lovely red turtle-neck sweater...the brown one is really too small...and ordered The Three some more brewers yeast with garlic. It'll be in next Tuesday. Then I came home and worked on the computer some (installed Windows). After being totally flustrated for an hour or so I went to town to run a few errands...cleaners, farmers market, grocery store and the DUMP! I love the dumps here...I've not found anything wonderful or anything...I just love them! Actually, this was my second trip to this one today, I put a bag of garbarge in the car yesterday afternoon to drop off this morning...kitty litter and stuff...and this morning I was running slow and didn't have time to drop it off on the way in, so it sat in my closed up car until noon. It's quite warm here now and the smell blew my head back when I opened that door at noon! So, on my way home from the pet center I dropped by the dump. Drove home with all of the windows down and as fast as I could. Hair was interesting.

Work is good.

Things are okay.

Thank goodness for Goodwill!!

I feel like a bird let out of a cage! Yesterday I went to Tallahassee...found a tiny Goodwill store...broused and spied an old computer...hard drive, monitor, keyboard & printer for $189 less 10 percent ('cause I'm over 55...HA!!!). Brought it home, set it up, got on line & here I am! Had to get a new mouse and need a new keyboard and it's slower than anything I've ever used, but, how WONDERFUL to feel reconnected!