What a nice quiet day we've had so far....no service calls at all (yet!!). As a matter of fact, the only times the phone has rung today has been family calling with holiday wishes (and, in some kids cases, to tell us all they got from Santa).
We spent a whole long day shopping for office furniture a couple of weekends ago (blasted Christmas shoppers!!)......and came home empty handed...sheesh! The only place we found with close to what we wanted was at Staples...as I thought, we'd have had to get the hutch and block a window, but it was the only set that had all the components we needed otherwise. However, they couldn't get all the pieces. Not only that, but they couldn't promise that they'd ever come back in stock. I tried to order the same thing off their website...with the same result...some out of stock items, with no promise of it ever being back in stock. Hee hee....and, persistent salesman seemed very surprised to hear that I wouldn't consider ordering just half of what we needed with no promise of being able to get the rest.....sheesh!
So.......today we decided we'd go with the more expensive stuff we'd found online (that, except for color, I'd liked better anyway).......and our bank refused to process our debit card for the website. Ok....3 other websites had the same furniture for the same price, so try those......NO??? Refused at all 4???? What the heck?? There's plenty of money in the account, but, naturally, being Christmas day, I can't just call the bank .....so in a little while, I'm going to try to do it with our credit card instead. If that doesn't work, we've got to wait and see what's up with the debit card at the bank. In case anyone's interested, we chose from the Kathy Ireland Tribeca Loft collection...in cherry finish.
Things have finally settled down somewhat with work. We got nearly all our postponed work done...just one cleaning didn't get rescheduled, and she doesn't mind waiting until spring, if necessary, since the system is less than 2 years old anyway. We scheduled just one 1 hour job for yesterday...and the guy called and canceled (his wife didn't want to spend the money the day before Christmas), so we thought it would be a jobless day. NOT. The phone rang before 8 am...by noon, he'd done 4 service calls. Fortunately, it quieted down for the rest of the day.
I got a very big surprise for Christmas. As stated before, we don't normally exchange gifts....so, DH's stocking ended up with a tube of Blistex (the squeeze kind that we both use but is hard for us to find locally). I'd given him a few ideas, but he didn't like most of them, so.....he bought me a set of wind chimes........a BIG set! Now, I only like the big, deep toned chimes and have 4 sets that I have hanging outside about 9 months of the year (our winter weather prevents me from leaving them out year round). This set is a bit bigger than the largest of my other 4.......woo hoo! Stocking stuffer???? Well, he said he couldn't find what he really wanted to put in my stocking, so got the chimes instead. Silly man.......wouldn't trade him for anything, of course. (even when I'm p.o.'d at him!!)
I've actually done some crocheting the last few days.....need a cover for a little sausage pillow I use in bed. I've got the same pillow on the sofa, with a crocheted cover...it clashes with both the sofa and the afghan, so I'm going to put that one in the bed and am making a cover for the other one, in sc with one of the yarn colors in the afghan on the sofa.
Done Ramblin.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Once a month?
I guess if I manage to hit here once a month, I can't complain.
The week of Thanksgiving was busy - our friend and his son did come up Saturday, Nov. 17......they wished to stay the whole week, which was fine by us! So....we had 4 for Thanksgiving dinner! It was nice...usually it's just me and Ed, so we don't actually cook "the works". They went home Sat., Nov 24. We had planned to go to VT to see Ed's dad that following weekend, but, sadly, he took a downhill turn and passed away Sunday, Nov. 25. We spent the rest of that day postponing work, arranging for coverage for service calls and packing and left for VT Monday morning. The funeral was Thursday, so we were gone the whole week, coming back home on Saturday, Dec. 1. Between the grieving process and getting all the postponed work caught up with, we've had a very busy couple of weeks since.
When we started the business, we turned our small den/office into a business office. We thought we could get by for a year or so just by adding a 4 foot table to our existing office furniture (a student desk, a computer workstation, a printer stand and a 2 drawer lateral file). Well, we were wrong........because of the set up, we're tripping over each other when we're both trying to work in there at the same time . I decided that, when I couldn't fit another file into the file cabinet, we officially outgrew that set up!! We've decided that we need to go shopping and get "real" office furniture...the room is very small, but with the right set-up, it can work. The only worry I have is that we may end up having to use a hutch type desk set up, which would mean blocking one of the windows....I really hate the thoughts of that, so will probably spend much more time shopping for "the right thing" than hubby would like!!
I've finished all the Christmas shopping for our DD, SIL and DGD...and everything has been shipped. Ed and I don't exchange gifts...we just buy each other a little stocking stuffer...and I do mean little - our stockings are 6 or 7 inch felt ones! We have an elderly couple that are very good friends that we will buy something for.....I've already picked out hers, and I'm leaving his gift up to Ed to choose.
I've not picked up a crochet hook in 3 weeks.....started a sweater for a friend's little guy, but haven't had the ambition to work on it lately. Where is my muse?????
Done ramblin.
The week of Thanksgiving was busy - our friend and his son did come up Saturday, Nov. 17......they wished to stay the whole week, which was fine by us! So....we had 4 for Thanksgiving dinner! It was nice...usually it's just me and Ed, so we don't actually cook "the works". They went home Sat., Nov 24. We had planned to go to VT to see Ed's dad that following weekend, but, sadly, he took a downhill turn and passed away Sunday, Nov. 25. We spent the rest of that day postponing work, arranging for coverage for service calls and packing and left for VT Monday morning. The funeral was Thursday, so we were gone the whole week, coming back home on Saturday, Dec. 1. Between the grieving process and getting all the postponed work caught up with, we've had a very busy couple of weeks since.
When we started the business, we turned our small den/office into a business office. We thought we could get by for a year or so just by adding a 4 foot table to our existing office furniture (a student desk, a computer workstation, a printer stand and a 2 drawer lateral file). Well, we were wrong........because of the set up, we're tripping over each other when we're both trying to work in there at the same time . I decided that, when I couldn't fit another file into the file cabinet, we officially outgrew that set up!! We've decided that we need to go shopping and get "real" office furniture...the room is very small, but with the right set-up, it can work. The only worry I have is that we may end up having to use a hutch type desk set up, which would mean blocking one of the windows....I really hate the thoughts of that, so will probably spend much more time shopping for "the right thing" than hubby would like!!
I've finished all the Christmas shopping for our DD, SIL and DGD...and everything has been shipped. Ed and I don't exchange gifts...we just buy each other a little stocking stuffer...and I do mean little - our stockings are 6 or 7 inch felt ones! We have an elderly couple that are very good friends that we will buy something for.....I've already picked out hers, and I'm leaving his gift up to Ed to choose.
I've not picked up a crochet hook in 3 weeks.....started a sweater for a friend's little guy, but haven't had the ambition to work on it lately. Where is my muse?????
Done ramblin.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Over four months of silence???
I would love to be able to catch up with myself......but I'm not gonna hold my breath! Here it is nearly Thanksgiving and this is the first time I've posted to my blog since late June......doesn't say much for my communication skills, does it??
Let me do a quick catch up: Ed and his sibs gave his dad a surprise 75th birthday party the weekend of July 13....a huge success, as Dad was very surprised and there were TONS of people there (in the pavilion at the park in his hometown). Unfortunately, he's not doing well now.....his cancer is not responding to treatment and his health has deteriorated dramatically. I won't get into it here on this blog, but Ed's having a really hard time with it, as we're so far away and cannot be there to help.
About a week after that party, we went to a niece's wedding reception. A few days after that event, we had a memorial to attend for one of my cousins who passed away earlier this year.
Now for the big news.....on August 3, Ed went to work and as he and one of his two co-workers were getting things together for their day's work, the boss came out and said "Well, boys....empty your vans. You're all done today - I've sold the burner business."
Well. Thanks for the notice! To be honest, he HAD asked Ed to buy him out last spring, but the 'conditions' he attached to the sale were unacceptable, so Ed refused. So, a month after that bombshell, after checking out the only two employers that were hiring in his field in this area (and discovering they'd not pay the going rate for his licenses, experience, etc)....and after having nearly everyone we saw tell him he could do fine on his own......he decided to become self-employed. That was September 3rd.....what a whirlwind of activity followed that decision!!! Since he wanted to get started right away, within a week we had...(deep breath)....found and purchased a used work van, got it insured and registered, got general liability insurance for Ed, contacted the state for proper licensing procedures, set up business accounts with the bank, arranged for credit with a couple of his main wholesale materials/parts suppliers, got the van stocked, set up an office, made up business cards and put fliers up on area bulletin boards......(deep breath).......PHEW!
We set the official date at September 9....and on September 6 got a call from someone who desperately needed a new oil tank set up before the weekend....so we did our first job on Friday September 7!! (yes, "we" and "our"....when necessary, I'm a decent "gofer", and he needed one on this job). Since that day, it has not slowed down.....he has had work scheduled for nearly every day, and people are being really great so far. I handle nearly all the bookkeeping, scheduling the work and manning the phones, as well as doing my usual housekeeping (not that I do any more of that than I have to!). I'm totally exhausted all the time, but at least the bills are paid! At this moment, we have work booked right through the first week of December. As long as we get enough now to carry us through the slow time in this profession (late spring, early summer), we'll be fine!
On the crochet front, I've not done much....a couple of dishcloths is about all......I sit to crochet and end up nodding off to sleep, no matter what the time of day.
Oh, and.....we had another wedding to attend in mid August.....and after that, another trip to VT to see Ed's dad. It was quiet for a couple of weeks, then Ed's nephew from VT (and a friend of his) came to spend the weekend...the same weekend we were dogsitting for one of my nieces. The dog stayed longer...hee hee! We went back to VT for the weekend in mid-September.
This weekend we have company coming again for a few days....an old school buddy of Ed's (and his son) are coming up to do some hunting.
Let me see.....what else.....oh...my thyroid has gone out of whack again.....ugh. Long ago (probably 25 years ago), I was on medication for several years for Grave's Disease (overactive) and then went into remission about 15 years ago. Now it's gone the other way and my thyroid is underactive, so my Dr. started me on Synthroid last month.....it never rains but it pours???
I think that finally catches me up. Maybe I'll manage to keep current now......?
Let me do a quick catch up: Ed and his sibs gave his dad a surprise 75th birthday party the weekend of July 13....a huge success, as Dad was very surprised and there were TONS of people there (in the pavilion at the park in his hometown). Unfortunately, he's not doing well now.....his cancer is not responding to treatment and his health has deteriorated dramatically. I won't get into it here on this blog, but Ed's having a really hard time with it, as we're so far away and cannot be there to help.
About a week after that party, we went to a niece's wedding reception. A few days after that event, we had a memorial to attend for one of my cousins who passed away earlier this year.
Now for the big news.....on August 3, Ed went to work and as he and one of his two co-workers were getting things together for their day's work, the boss came out and said "Well, boys....empty your vans. You're all done today - I've sold the burner business."
Well. Thanks for the notice! To be honest, he HAD asked Ed to buy him out last spring, but the 'conditions' he attached to the sale were unacceptable, so Ed refused. So, a month after that bombshell, after checking out the only two employers that were hiring in his field in this area (and discovering they'd not pay the going rate for his licenses, experience, etc)....and after having nearly everyone we saw tell him he could do fine on his own......he decided to become self-employed. That was September 3rd.....what a whirlwind of activity followed that decision!!! Since he wanted to get started right away, within a week we had...(deep breath)....found and purchased a used work van, got it insured and registered, got general liability insurance for Ed, contacted the state for proper licensing procedures, set up business accounts with the bank, arranged for credit with a couple of his main wholesale materials/parts suppliers, got the van stocked, set up an office, made up business cards and put fliers up on area bulletin boards......(deep breath).......PHEW!
We set the official date at September 9....and on September 6 got a call from someone who desperately needed a new oil tank set up before the weekend....so we did our first job on Friday September 7!! (yes, "we" and "our"....when necessary, I'm a decent "gofer", and he needed one on this job). Since that day, it has not slowed down.....he has had work scheduled for nearly every day, and people are being really great so far. I handle nearly all the bookkeeping, scheduling the work and manning the phones, as well as doing my usual housekeeping (not that I do any more of that than I have to!). I'm totally exhausted all the time, but at least the bills are paid! At this moment, we have work booked right through the first week of December. As long as we get enough now to carry us through the slow time in this profession (late spring, early summer), we'll be fine!
On the crochet front, I've not done much....a couple of dishcloths is about all......I sit to crochet and end up nodding off to sleep, no matter what the time of day.
Oh, and.....we had another wedding to attend in mid August.....and after that, another trip to VT to see Ed's dad. It was quiet for a couple of weeks, then Ed's nephew from VT (and a friend of his) came to spend the weekend...the same weekend we were dogsitting for one of my nieces. The dog stayed longer...hee hee! We went back to VT for the weekend in mid-September.
This weekend we have company coming again for a few days....an old school buddy of Ed's (and his son) are coming up to do some hunting.
Let me see.....what else.....oh...my thyroid has gone out of whack again.....ugh. Long ago (probably 25 years ago), I was on medication for several years for Grave's Disease (overactive) and then went into remission about 15 years ago. Now it's gone the other way and my thyroid is underactive, so my Dr. started me on Synthroid last month.....it never rains but it pours???
I think that finally catches me up. Maybe I'll manage to keep current now......?
Thursday, June 28, 2007
May 11?? May 11???
The last time I posted was May 11?????? Holy cow....did I desert this blog or WHAT?!?!? Let me see....that was the last week and a half before we left for AK...um....well, I remember that I was right out straight...not only was I trying to get things prepared for the trip, but then Ed was underfoot as well.....he was off work from May 18th until this past Monday. Don't get me wrong....I love having him around, but he's not a lot of help getting ready for a trip. He doesn't worry about anything....I worry about everything...see how it can be?
So....our trip was wonderful! We didn't miss a connecting flight, though it was very close one time...however, that was the airlines fault, so they'd have had the responsibility of getting us a new connection. I did have a fairly uncomfortable trip for the last leg on the way out, but nothing that could be helped after the fact, so you just deal. We flew from Bangor to Atlanta to Salt Lake City to Anchorage....on the flight between Salt Lake City and Anchorage , the flight attendant spilled a whole cup of coffee in my lap. I got it all sopped up as best I could (he started to offer to help until he realized WHERE it spilled...then got really red faced...hee hee). I only had a change of underwear in my carry on, no jeans, so I just wrapped up in their blankets for the rest of the trip. Then I discovered that the coffee had seeped thru the zipper of my carryon (which was at my feet, coz I was getting ready to crochet), so the undies wouldn't have helped!! Fortunately, all my yarn was in baggies, so it was safe...the little dress I was working on got coffee on it, but it washed out later. My necklight and my electronic solitaire got hit, too...but not damaged. They gave me 1000 free skymiles....like I'm ever gonna use them??? S'ok....it was just a minor accident...the coffee on an airplane is not anywhere near hot enough to burn ya.
A couple of the highlights for me were the scenery, which was absolutely breathtaking and seeing a couple of grizzly bears right up close! Ed didn't get as much fishing in as he'd planned, which was a bit of a disappointment, but he still had a wonderful time. He ended up going halibut fishing twice....the first time was for him...the second time was more so he'd have fish for the family - they all said they'd pay shipping if he got any they could have. Whooo boys, is it expensive!!
We didn't take tons of pictures for a couple of reasons...one: neither of us is big on photography (Ed has to have the camera turned on for him!!), two: we don't have much company, so paper copies of pictures of vacations and such are just something else for me to have to dust(!!), and three: for the most part, pictures just don't show the magnificence of what we saw, but in our memories it is and always will be awesome.
In the 20 days we were there, we traveled over 1800 miles. The RV we rented was comfortable, and being able to just stop whenever we wanted was the ideal thing for us. Everyone asked us if we'd do it again, and we tell them......well....actually.....we'd love to do the same thing only go to a different state this time!!!
While on the trip, I finished the little yellow baby dress I had taken with me.....and made a couple of adult hats, an adult hat & scarf set, a couple of kids hat & scarf sets, as well as a mini tote....I gave them away to various people I met at campgrounds, lightening the load so I'd have room for the souvenirs we bought!! (hee hee...method to my madness, see).
Four days after we got home (Tuesday), the Dish Network guys came and installed satellite internet - WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!! It's not the fastest connection (I chose the least expensive, slower package), but it's WAAAAAAAAY faster than dial up.
I didn't have much time to enjoy it before we were off again, though.....two days after installation (Thursday), we went to VT to see Ed's dad for the weekend. He ended up going in the hospital and it was a couple of days before we were even sure what the problem was or whether he'd make it. The first diagnosis was pneumonia (for the 4th time?!?)...then they changed it to ARDS........we're still not sure how well he's going to recover...we're in wait and see mode and it's so hard to just wait and know you can't do a thing!! Poor Ed....all things considered, he's really holding up well.
I've not picked up a crochet hook since I got home....haven't really had time. Maybe this week I'll do something about that, but right now I'm still trying to catch up on laundry and housework!!
Done ramblin!
So....our trip was wonderful! We didn't miss a connecting flight, though it was very close one time...however, that was the airlines fault, so they'd have had the responsibility of getting us a new connection. I did have a fairly uncomfortable trip for the last leg on the way out, but nothing that could be helped after the fact, so you just deal. We flew from Bangor to Atlanta to Salt Lake City to Anchorage....on the flight between Salt Lake City and Anchorage , the flight attendant spilled a whole cup of coffee in my lap. I got it all sopped up as best I could (he started to offer to help until he realized WHERE it spilled...then got really red faced...hee hee). I only had a change of underwear in my carry on, no jeans, so I just wrapped up in their blankets for the rest of the trip. Then I discovered that the coffee had seeped thru the zipper of my carryon (which was at my feet, coz I was getting ready to crochet), so the undies wouldn't have helped!! Fortunately, all my yarn was in baggies, so it was safe...the little dress I was working on got coffee on it, but it washed out later. My necklight and my electronic solitaire got hit, too...but not damaged. They gave me 1000 free skymiles....like I'm ever gonna use them??? S'ok....it was just a minor accident...the coffee on an airplane is not anywhere near hot enough to burn ya.
A couple of the highlights for me were the scenery, which was absolutely breathtaking and seeing a couple of grizzly bears right up close! Ed didn't get as much fishing in as he'd planned, which was a bit of a disappointment, but he still had a wonderful time. He ended up going halibut fishing twice....the first time was for him...the second time was more so he'd have fish for the family - they all said they'd pay shipping if he got any they could have. Whooo boys, is it expensive!!
We didn't take tons of pictures for a couple of reasons...one: neither of us is big on photography (Ed has to have the camera turned on for him!!), two: we don't have much company, so paper copies of pictures of vacations and such are just something else for me to have to dust(!!), and three: for the most part, pictures just don't show the magnificence of what we saw, but in our memories it is and always will be awesome.
In the 20 days we were there, we traveled over 1800 miles. The RV we rented was comfortable, and being able to just stop whenever we wanted was the ideal thing for us. Everyone asked us if we'd do it again, and we tell them......well....actually.....we'd love to do the same thing only go to a different state this time!!!
While on the trip, I finished the little yellow baby dress I had taken with me.....and made a couple of adult hats, an adult hat & scarf set, a couple of kids hat & scarf sets, as well as a mini tote....I gave them away to various people I met at campgrounds, lightening the load so I'd have room for the souvenirs we bought!! (hee hee...method to my madness, see).
Four days after we got home (Tuesday), the Dish Network guys came and installed satellite internet - WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!! It's not the fastest connection (I chose the least expensive, slower package), but it's WAAAAAAAAY faster than dial up.
I didn't have much time to enjoy it before we were off again, though.....two days after installation (Thursday), we went to VT to see Ed's dad for the weekend. He ended up going in the hospital and it was a couple of days before we were even sure what the problem was or whether he'd make it. The first diagnosis was pneumonia (for the 4th time?!?)...then they changed it to ARDS........we're still not sure how well he's going to recover...we're in wait and see mode and it's so hard to just wait and know you can't do a thing!! Poor Ed....all things considered, he's really holding up well.
I've not picked up a crochet hook since I got home....haven't really had time. Maybe this week I'll do something about that, but right now I'm still trying to catch up on laundry and housework!!
Done ramblin!
Friday, May 11, 2007
15 Days to AK
Hoo, boy.....am I ever going to get everything done in time? Wednesday was a no energy day, so, until it was time to go to the denturist (again!!) at 4:30, about all I did was laundry.
Oh, I did do some work on our tentative itinerary for the trip...a big job for me. I think I've taken care of most of what I need to for the trip to date, but so much that needs doing has to wait until nearly last minute - I've a looooong list of that stuff!! I hate last minute!! I'm always afraid I'm going to forget something vital. Before my stroke I could go with the flo, even though I was the worrier of the family. What a difference since then........now things have to be planned fairly well or I panic....does that ever suck!! I have firmed up some of our plans with a few friends and family we plan to visit - a big help. I'm nervous about the flight......not really the flying part so much, but the check in, getting from gate to gate, etc....we've never done this and I'm afraid I'll screw up something....miss a connector....or something will be wrong with our baggage or it will get lost. I did arrange for electric cart and/or wheelchair service - I'd never make it from gate to gate walking! I've gotten so much advice from others who've flown....it's all so different that none of it seems helpful now! Well, either all will go well and I'll be fine, or things will get messed up and I'll be so stressed I don't cope. Sigh.
Yesterday I did errands and got the groceries. I was bumming.......bought a couple of pair of new sneakers on my last Walmart trip (2 wks ago). I've worn a size 8 in all the Dr. Scholl's for over 6 years, so I didn't try these ones on when I bought them two weeks ago.....wouldn't you know, they're too small and I need an 8 1/2. And, of course......the store didn't have that size, so I ended up having to return them and get a refund. DARN!!! The second pair I bought that day, a pair of Starter brand on sale for $16, were to be my "kickin around" ones...and I did try those on......an 8 fit me ok...but being "cheap ones" are not comfortable for all day wear. Now I need to either try to find the Dr. Scholl's I wanted in a different store or go buy some expensive sneakers so I'll have a good pair. Sigh again.
On to more fun topics!! Here's the picture of the last completed project....another hat and scarf done in worsted and Fancy Fur.
I've got another little tote started, but I've not worked on it in over a week.....just can't seem to get interested in it again. So, it'll sit in the basket and wait for me, hollaring occasionally. I did do a few rows on the baby dress WIP....I'll probably finish that before our trip.
I want to do another bolero/shorty sweater with the Fancy Fur, but I'd like to find an easier pattern. I've a couple that call for worsted yarn - tried to adapt them for the bulky with no luck as usual! I should have known better...I never can do that and it just makes me mad at myself...dur!! I'll have to look around and see what I can find.
So.....I'm outta here!
Done ramblin
Oh, I did do some work on our tentative itinerary for the trip...a big job for me. I think I've taken care of most of what I need to for the trip to date, but so much that needs doing has to wait until nearly last minute - I've a looooong list of that stuff!! I hate last minute!! I'm always afraid I'm going to forget something vital. Before my stroke I could go with the flo, even though I was the worrier of the family. What a difference since then........now things have to be planned fairly well or I panic....does that ever suck!! I have firmed up some of our plans with a few friends and family we plan to visit - a big help. I'm nervous about the flight......not really the flying part so much, but the check in, getting from gate to gate, etc....we've never done this and I'm afraid I'll screw up something....miss a connector....or something will be wrong with our baggage or it will get lost. I did arrange for electric cart and/or wheelchair service - I'd never make it from gate to gate walking! I've gotten so much advice from others who've flown....it's all so different that none of it seems helpful now! Well, either all will go well and I'll be fine, or things will get messed up and I'll be so stressed I don't cope. Sigh.
Yesterday I did errands and got the groceries. I was bumming.......bought a couple of pair of new sneakers on my last Walmart trip (2 wks ago). I've worn a size 8 in all the Dr. Scholl's for over 6 years, so I didn't try these ones on when I bought them two weeks ago.....wouldn't you know, they're too small and I need an 8 1/2. And, of course......the store didn't have that size, so I ended up having to return them and get a refund. DARN!!! The second pair I bought that day, a pair of Starter brand on sale for $16, were to be my "kickin around" ones...and I did try those on......an 8 fit me ok...but being "cheap ones" are not comfortable for all day wear. Now I need to either try to find the Dr. Scholl's I wanted in a different store or go buy some expensive sneakers so I'll have a good pair. Sigh again.
On to more fun topics!! Here's the picture of the last completed project....another hat and scarf done in worsted and Fancy Fur.I've got another little tote started, but I've not worked on it in over a week.....just can't seem to get interested in it again. So, it'll sit in the basket and wait for me, hollaring occasionally. I did do a few rows on the baby dress WIP....I'll probably finish that before our trip.
I want to do another bolero/shorty sweater with the Fancy Fur, but I'd like to find an easier pattern. I've a couple that call for worsted yarn - tried to adapt them for the bulky with no luck as usual! I should have known better...I never can do that and it just makes me mad at myself...dur!! I'll have to look around and see what I can find.
So.....I'm outta here!
Done ramblin
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Lost in the cyberworld
Wow....what a time I've had. Last month I somehow lost my yahoo email account. Went to sign in.....wouldn't accept my password....got an email at my private email account saying my password had been changed ( I didn't do it!!).....so I did the "forgot password thing and asked them to email it to me at my private account...it wouldn't accept the personal info that gives it the okay...said no such account listed for that personal info......HUH? Tried for several days, finally gave up....thinking maybe someone somehow got in and changed my info. So....opened a new yahoo account....and opened a hotmail one as backup. I had about 95% of my email addies elsewhere, so all I lost were some confirmation emails that I'd not had time to print....a few things I ordered on line and a couple of reference things. All the orders came with no problem...the other stuff I'll just have to try to find again.
So, I neglected my blog in favor of setting up the new account, getting all my email addies transfered, notifying everyone and going on site to catch up on posts at the two groups I'm in.
Fortunately, I'd printed off our flight info (the e-tickets, the insurance) and our fishing license info....though I will have to contact them....we were supposed to get our actual licenses in the mail and have not.
We're gearing up for our trip.....18 days til take-off...I'm not anywhere near ready!! Sigh...it'll all come together...or we'll just do without whatever doesn't come together!
For now, we're going back to the denturist about once a week for adjustments. I may have to put up with some problems with my lower.....I've a boney spot that sticks out and it will be ok for about 3 days then start to hurt and get raw.....they may not be able to adjust the denture....that particular area sometimes is really prominent on some people and requires surgery to reduce. I do NOT want (physically and monitarily) more surgery!!!! If I'm one of those people (just my luck), the non-surgical solution would be to have that area cut out of my denture, meaning it would never fit good...I'd not only have to use an adhesive, but I'd have a gap that would probably allow food to infiltrate under, so would have to remove and clean out food every time I eat. And even then it might rub a bit, so I'd probably always have to take them out a lot. Sigh.....not a bad denture....a bad mouth. Huh....never thought it would catch up with me this way (!!). Ahh, well....we'll deal with that if it comes.
I've been on a bit of a roll with crochet lately. Here are pictures of three more projects I've done since my last blog update.....lookee!!
I'm on a hat and scarf kick, as you can see. The first blue one, done in worsted and ribbon yarn, I finished during the last week of April, the other blue one, in worsted and fun fur, was finished on May 1st. The poncho, done in two variegated worsted yarns, was a wip that I finally finished on May 2.
We went to VT this past weekend (Thurs thru Mon) visiting my F-I-L. I not only finished yet another that I've not taken a picture of (in red worsted and red fancy fur), but I started working on a baby's dress - I really am determined to get rid of some old yarn and also some of that fancy fur and other novelty yarn that I've not been able to resist when on sale....I'm runnin outta room!!!
Well....done ramblin.
So, I neglected my blog in favor of setting up the new account, getting all my email addies transfered, notifying everyone and going on site to catch up on posts at the two groups I'm in.
Fortunately, I'd printed off our flight info (the e-tickets, the insurance) and our fishing license info....though I will have to contact them....we were supposed to get our actual licenses in the mail and have not.
We're gearing up for our trip.....18 days til take-off...I'm not anywhere near ready!! Sigh...it'll all come together...or we'll just do without whatever doesn't come together!
For now, we're going back to the denturist about once a week for adjustments. I may have to put up with some problems with my lower.....I've a boney spot that sticks out and it will be ok for about 3 days then start to hurt and get raw.....they may not be able to adjust the denture....that particular area sometimes is really prominent on some people and requires surgery to reduce. I do NOT want (physically and monitarily) more surgery!!!! If I'm one of those people (just my luck), the non-surgical solution would be to have that area cut out of my denture, meaning it would never fit good...I'd not only have to use an adhesive, but I'd have a gap that would probably allow food to infiltrate under, so would have to remove and clean out food every time I eat. And even then it might rub a bit, so I'd probably always have to take them out a lot. Sigh.....not a bad denture....a bad mouth. Huh....never thought it would catch up with me this way (!!). Ahh, well....we'll deal with that if it comes.
I've been on a bit of a roll with crochet lately. Here are pictures of three more projects I've done since my last blog update.....lookee!!
I'm on a hat and scarf kick, as you can see. The first blue one, done in worsted and ribbon yarn, I finished during the last week of April, the other blue one, in worsted and fun fur, was finished on May 1st. The poncho, done in two variegated worsted yarns, was a wip that I finally finished on May 2.
We went to VT this past weekend (Thurs thru Mon) visiting my F-I-L. I not only finished yet another that I've not taken a picture of (in red worsted and red fancy fur), but I started working on a baby's dress - I really am determined to get rid of some old yarn and also some of that fancy fur and other novelty yarn that I've not been able to resist when on sale....I'm runnin outta room!!!
Well....done ramblin.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Another Tuesday
The trip to the denturist's last Wednesday went fine....he got all the stuff he needed from me and planned to have my denture done by Friday. However, come Thursday afternoon, he was sick....so we postponed things until Monday.....which made me anxious...each postponement just puts my "adjusting to the denture" process further behind. Sigh. Murphy's Law, as usual.
For the life of me, I can't remember all I did the rest of the week! Friday we got more snow, sleet, freezing rain....ICK! The powers that be where Ed works called and told him not to come in, they were keeping the office closed. Of course, he still had to work, so that only meant that all calls came here instead of through the office. I cut my internet time down some, to accommodate, but not all of it....it is, after all, our home phone, not a company phone. I rode along on his calls that day, as well as the ones over the weekend, since he was on call for the weekend anyway.
Oh...and the snowblower died Friday. It's brand new - bought it in February and have used it approximately 3 or 4 hours total......called Sears, set up for service for Monday. Come Monday, we discovered that our service call had been canceled...and they wanted to shove us to the back burner (April 25). Had all sorts of problems with that.....big row with Sears customer service and their repair service department....suffice it to say that we won in the end and the snowblower did get fixed on Monday.....but they probably don't like us much right now. Tuff.
Of course, Monday brought MORE snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain.....DOUBLE ICK!! What a mess!! However.....I got my bottom denture! It seemed to fit really good...but after I ate supper using them for the first time, I discovered where all the little "tight spots" are....YEEEOWWWW! (and, having to chew slowly, I was hungry again by the time I got done..hee hee...no, not really, but it seemed to take that long)
Since I have one place that juts out a bit, he'd immediately ground that down a bit and put a temp liner in that needs two days to cure......meaning I couldn't have them adjusted today anyway, even if the weather allowed. Yes...more of that storm....another 5 inches of slushy snow. Will it never end??? SHEESH!! If it clears up tonight, I'll give my denturist a call tomorrow morning and see when he can fit me in....he told me to NOT put up with discomfort, to come in as many times as I need to get the fit right....I'm gonna hold him to it!
Sure is weird...it's like having your mouth too full.;....so many teeth there's nearly no room for your tongue...but I'll get used to it. In the end, being able to chew food will far outweigh the little oddities that go along with dentures.
Funny story: Yesterday I got out of my chair to go into the den for something....my left foot (not my bad side, btw) kept...dragging....felt like something was on the bottom of my slipper and sticking to the floor. I checked it 3 times and couldn't see anything...just thought "ok, guess I'll just throw them in the wash and get rid of whatever's there." When I got to the computer desk in the den (which is approximately 30 feet from my livingroom chair), I finally discovered the problem. Yarn. Yep...from the project I was working on...the project was beside me in my chair and the yarn was in the basket on the floor....I'd hooked the yarn around my heel and strung it all the way to the den!!! Sigh....wouldn't have been bad if I'd vacuumed lately...as it was, I had to clean dust bunnies off about 60 feet of yarn! Serves me right for not putting the project in the basket before leaving the chair.
Done Ramblin
For the life of me, I can't remember all I did the rest of the week! Friday we got more snow, sleet, freezing rain....ICK! The powers that be where Ed works called and told him not to come in, they were keeping the office closed. Of course, he still had to work, so that only meant that all calls came here instead of through the office. I cut my internet time down some, to accommodate, but not all of it....it is, after all, our home phone, not a company phone. I rode along on his calls that day, as well as the ones over the weekend, since he was on call for the weekend anyway.
Oh...and the snowblower died Friday. It's brand new - bought it in February and have used it approximately 3 or 4 hours total......called Sears, set up for service for Monday. Come Monday, we discovered that our service call had been canceled...and they wanted to shove us to the back burner (April 25). Had all sorts of problems with that.....big row with Sears customer service and their repair service department....suffice it to say that we won in the end and the snowblower did get fixed on Monday.....but they probably don't like us much right now. Tuff.
Of course, Monday brought MORE snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain.....DOUBLE ICK!! What a mess!! However.....I got my bottom denture! It seemed to fit really good...but after I ate supper using them for the first time, I discovered where all the little "tight spots" are....YEEEOWWWW! (and, having to chew slowly, I was hungry again by the time I got done..hee hee...no, not really, but it seemed to take that long)
Since I have one place that juts out a bit, he'd immediately ground that down a bit and put a temp liner in that needs two days to cure......meaning I couldn't have them adjusted today anyway, even if the weather allowed. Yes...more of that storm....another 5 inches of slushy snow. Will it never end??? SHEESH!! If it clears up tonight, I'll give my denturist a call tomorrow morning and see when he can fit me in....he told me to NOT put up with discomfort, to come in as many times as I need to get the fit right....I'm gonna hold him to it!
Sure is weird...it's like having your mouth too full.;....so many teeth there's nearly no room for your tongue...but I'll get used to it. In the end, being able to chew food will far outweigh the little oddities that go along with dentures.
Funny story: Yesterday I got out of my chair to go into the den for something....my left foot (not my bad side, btw) kept...dragging....felt like something was on the bottom of my slipper and sticking to the floor. I checked it 3 times and couldn't see anything...just thought "ok, guess I'll just throw them in the wash and get rid of whatever's there." When I got to the computer desk in the den (which is approximately 30 feet from my livingroom chair), I finally discovered the problem. Yarn. Yep...from the project I was working on...the project was beside me in my chair and the yarn was in the basket on the floor....I'd hooked the yarn around my heel and strung it all the way to the den!!! Sigh....wouldn't have been bad if I'd vacuumed lately...as it was, I had to clean dust bunnies off about 60 feet of yarn! Serves me right for not putting the project in the basket before leaving the chair.
Done Ramblin
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
And this week....
....is half gone! Where does the time go? Last weekend was "wander weekend" for us. We followed up on our half formed plan of buying a camper this year and wandered through 3 different RV dealerships in Bangor on Saturday. Then we wandered over to our nephew's house and visited with his family for a couple of hours....then we wandered to a restaurant for supper before wandering on home.
Of course, because we got a snowstorm last week, only a few of the new campers at each dealership were shoveled out for us to view....none of them had shoveled out any used campers. That's ok....we looked at those and picked up brochures....next time we have a free weekend and the weather is nice, we'll go back and look through the used ones.
Easter Sunday was not a big event for us...it was just the two of us and I still can't chew, so no traditional dinner. We had no other plans, either, so we decided we might as well wander again! Before we left, I threw the makings for chicken in sour cream sauce in the crock pot - it comes out so tender you can moosh up the chicken...easy for me to eat! Then we took a ride through the woods up Rt. 11 to Ashland, then P.I. (oh, get a map), stopping for coffee (and donuts for Ed) at Tim Hortons (my FAVE)...then on home via Rt 1 and I-95, arriving mid afternoon....and lazed the rest of the day.
Monday I was supposed to leave at about 8 am for a 9 am fitting for my bottom plate, but it was snowing and there was 3 inches of snow on the ground, so I called and left a message for rescheduling - unless it's an emergency, I no longer drive when the road conditions won't allow me to use cruise control.
They'd not called me back by 9:30, so I called - my denturist, Ben, wasn't in, so his boss, Ralph, said he'd have him call as soon as he arrived. By 12:30 I was thinking....hey, what gives?? So I called back....Ralph said Ben was still not there (now, come on...if I were the boss, I think I might just wonder what was going on....especially since my denturist commutes on Mondays from his home 70 miles away!!) and that he'd contact him and have him call me. About 10 minutes later, Ben called....he wasn't in the office coz he'd gone off the road on his way to work and damaged his car.....his boss knew it! Sheesh. Anyway, he was missing all that day's appointments, so rescheduled me for late today.
I spent the rest of Monday and all of Tuesday being a slug. My sciatica/piriformis was killing me anyway, so I watched tv, read and crocheted when I wasn't laying down. I got another one of those little totes done, this one with a longer strap and a crocheted flower & loop closure. I might get around to taking a picture of it! It's nearly identical in color to the first one I did (well, purple fun fur instead of pink, but, anyway!). I'm planning to make more - they're fun to do - but I've got to find some little girls that would like them or I'll end up with the daggone things taking up space!
Today I went to the bank and did a deposit - Ed got his mileage check from Worker's Comp from when he was out of work. I also cashed a couple of checks, did a CD, checked with the loan officer for RV loan rates and bought raffle tickets on a really nice quilt (yes, all at the bank). On the way home, I stopped at Ed's office for a bit - he was so thrilled to be doing paperwork today (NOT). Then I came home to do laundry and be a slug again until time to go to the denturist.
I'm off to catch up on my email.
Done Ramblin
Of course, because we got a snowstorm last week, only a few of the new campers at each dealership were shoveled out for us to view....none of them had shoveled out any used campers. That's ok....we looked at those and picked up brochures....next time we have a free weekend and the weather is nice, we'll go back and look through the used ones.
Easter Sunday was not a big event for us...it was just the two of us and I still can't chew, so no traditional dinner. We had no other plans, either, so we decided we might as well wander again! Before we left, I threw the makings for chicken in sour cream sauce in the crock pot - it comes out so tender you can moosh up the chicken...easy for me to eat! Then we took a ride through the woods up Rt. 11 to Ashland, then P.I. (oh, get a map), stopping for coffee (and donuts for Ed) at Tim Hortons (my FAVE)...then on home via Rt 1 and I-95, arriving mid afternoon....and lazed the rest of the day.
Monday I was supposed to leave at about 8 am for a 9 am fitting for my bottom plate, but it was snowing and there was 3 inches of snow on the ground, so I called and left a message for rescheduling - unless it's an emergency, I no longer drive when the road conditions won't allow me to use cruise control.
They'd not called me back by 9:30, so I called - my denturist, Ben, wasn't in, so his boss, Ralph, said he'd have him call as soon as he arrived. By 12:30 I was thinking....hey, what gives?? So I called back....Ralph said Ben was still not there (now, come on...if I were the boss, I think I might just wonder what was going on....especially since my denturist commutes on Mondays from his home 70 miles away!!) and that he'd contact him and have him call me. About 10 minutes later, Ben called....he wasn't in the office coz he'd gone off the road on his way to work and damaged his car.....his boss knew it! Sheesh. Anyway, he was missing all that day's appointments, so rescheduled me for late today.
I spent the rest of Monday and all of Tuesday being a slug. My sciatica/piriformis was killing me anyway, so I watched tv, read and crocheted when I wasn't laying down. I got another one of those little totes done, this one with a longer strap and a crocheted flower & loop closure. I might get around to taking a picture of it! It's nearly identical in color to the first one I did (well, purple fun fur instead of pink, but, anyway!). I'm planning to make more - they're fun to do - but I've got to find some little girls that would like them or I'll end up with the daggone things taking up space!
Today I went to the bank and did a deposit - Ed got his mileage check from Worker's Comp from when he was out of work. I also cashed a couple of checks, did a CD, checked with the loan officer for RV loan rates and bought raffle tickets on a really nice quilt (yes, all at the bank). On the way home, I stopped at Ed's office for a bit - he was so thrilled to be doing paperwork today (NOT). Then I came home to do laundry and be a slug again until time to go to the denturist.
I'm off to catch up on my email.
Done Ramblin
Friday, April 6, 2007
Rescheduled
Yep, that's what happened. Our Monday appointment got rescheduled to Tuesday at the last minute....well, nearly....about an hour and a half before we were due there. The rescheduling gave me some free time before Ed got home, so I kept working on this mini tote that was in my wip basket - and it was finished before he got home! It's cute - about 5 inches by 7 inches. The pattern calls for double strands of worsted, then fun fur added as a 3rd strand for the last few rounds, but I used worsted and a small shiny nubby novelty together instead, then added the fun fur. I had packed Easter gifts for our DD's family in with the ponchos & bolero (also shown here) for her sitter's kids, so I decided to add the tote for our DGD - maybe she'll like it to play 'dress-up' with it.....and, besides...the box of crayons in her Easter package fit just right!!Since we usually see the denturist around 4:30, we go to the restaurant down the road from his office for supper after we're done....hmmm.......oops! I had to scrounge up something for supper. Choices are limited...we had an odd meal....scrambled eggs for both of us, leftover rice in gravy and cranberry jelly for me, french fries and leftover green beans for Ed. Hey, it filled the tummy.
So, Tuesday.....Ben (the denturist) had me put in my bottom denture - took one look at it and said, "no way!" (did I mention he's young?). New bottom denture for me. He did some adjustments to both of Ed's dentures and then took another impression of my gums. I will go back on Monday - he should have the new denture all ready then....I HOPE!!
Wednesday I left early to go to Bangor to get some shopping done. We'd had about 3 inches of snow then some sleet overnight, so it took me nearly 40 minutes to clean off my car. By then, I was beat, so had no energy for roaming or window shopping - I only shopped for the necessities and headed straight back home. Got back around 1:30, unpacked the groceries, laid down to rest my leg...and woke up when Ed came home at 4 - woo, boy!
The weather forecast was for snow again Wednesday night into Thursday - about 6 inches. RIGHT. At 2:30 p.m. yesterday, the plow truck FINALLY came by, plowing more than 12 inches of heavy snow and it was still snowing! I went out and snowblowed my driveway.....Ed did the rest when he got home...and we got up this morning to another 3 inches or so more snow. Good grief.....it's APRIL...where the heck was all this snow in January and February when we WANTED IT???? Sigh. Deal, Ree.......it's Maine.
This morning, I had a whole flock of slate colored Juncos and one Downy woodpecker in the apple tree, waiting patiently for me to come fill the feeders....since the apple tree is covered in snow, it was a pretty site. By the time I got the camera out, most of the Juncos were on the ground - there were still 4 in the tree, as well as the Downy, so I took this picture. SURPRISE!!! My view from the kitchen was just like this....and the birds stood out like black rocks on white snow.......in this picture you can't even see them!!! Even zooming in, they don't stand out.....except the woodpecker.....so I've included a close up of him...he's on the main trunk of the tree, just below where it Y's............see him?
Achy/painy day........
Done Ramblin
Monday, April 2, 2007
April already??
Obviously I've not a lot going on in my life...it's been a week since my last post and I haven't a whole lot to tell.....lots of detail, not many stories.
Last Monday's appointment with the denturist was a wash for me. He asked me to put the bottom denture in to see the fit, but it was really hard to do - with the stitches and the bad fit, it hurt terribly - before I even got it all the way in, he stopped me. He commented that it was obvious to him that the pain was too great for him to be able to work on me.....so, if I could do without them for now, we'd just wait until my stitches were out....there was no sense in putting me through that pain. THANK YOU! Much as I want them in so I can get used to them before our trip....it HURT!
And, because the stitches didn't come out until Friday, it is still all soft meals for me. After he took out my stitches on Friday, the oral surgeon said that if they can't fit my bottom denture at my next appointment, to keep to this diet for at least another 2 weeks to allow for better healing. I tried the bottom denture the next morning, thinking maybe I could at least get used to the feel of it, even if I couldn't use them....but I had two spots in the front that felt like someone was sticking me with a hot poker....YEOW!
So, I took them out....tried to put them in every morning with no success until this morning! I actually have them in right now without them sending me into screaming pain. They're uncomfortable, but bearable as long as I don't try to talk or eat....they're really loose, especially in front.....don't even come close to meeting in the front and one side in the back meets before the other.....but at least I can keep them in my mouth to get the feel of them for a bit. My fitting is scheduled for later today.... it would be great if he can fix this plate - can't imagine how he can, but that's why he's the denturist and I'm not, I suppose! Whatever he has to do, it's all part of what we paid already.
Boy oh boy, though.......aside from the fact that I miss real food, this diet is playing havoc with my digestive system (bleck),
We've had a little ooooooooooooooold fridge for about 30 years that we've used as a "spare" fridge...a $15 yard sale find that we used for a few weeks as a main fridge to get us through til we could buy a new one. After we got the new one, we moved the old girl to the cellar and kept using her....for soda, beer, extra food when company was here. This poor thing was OLD when we got her......I'm talkin' seriously old.....and every time we've moved, we thought "this is it...she won't start up this time".....and she always did. She sits in the entryway behind the door next to the recycle bins....only about 1/4 full most of the time....but we hated to get rid of her. However, she's been making noises for a few months, so we finally decided to put her to rest.....or let someone else use her. While we were in Bangor Friday, we went to Sam's Club and bought a little 4.3 c. f. "dorm" fridge to replace her (the old girls probably about 8 or 10 cu. ft). Emptied her out and put her on the lawn by the mailbox with a sign on her that says "FREE - IT WORKS!". If nobody takes her by tomorrow, she'll go to the transfer station....sigh.
Meanwhile, Ed was on call for work this weekend, but it was fairly quiet...so he built a platform to put the new fridge on...it's too small to use easily if put on the floor. Once the platform is painted, we'll put the recycle bins side by side under it instead of stacked in the corner....the little fridge on top, with some room for odds and ends. Good deal!
And... we went to a trade show in Houlton. It's just a little one (maybe 40 or so exhibitors), but we usually see a few people we know that we don't see often. I think we spend nearly as much time standing in the aisles talking as we do looking at the exhibits. There was a camper dealer at this one (usually they're just at the camper shows), so we went through the campers...they are soooo nice and fancy now........I want one (boo hoo).
Seriously, we'd love to get back into camping - we really have missed it. We'd love to have a motorhome, but that won't happen. We do, however, have a loan all paid off, so have a bit extra each month now.......the plow truck is in pretty good shape for it's age - it's a bit of a gas hog, but has low mileage. Maybe we can catch a deal on a small tow camper after we get home - ya never know!
I had trouble sleeping last night, so I got up around midnight and finished up a bolero originally intended for my DD's babysitter's teenager and finally got sleepy around 3 am, so back to bed then. I'd done ponchos for the two younger ones.....took me forever to get this bolero done....it was supposed to be for winter use and now it's spring. They're in NC....I'll get the items packaged up and sent this week, but they won't need them now....sheesh....slowpoke. Oh, well...I'll leave it to my DD to decide whether to give them now or wait until fall. I'll take a pic of it later.
The weather is yucky today......laundry calls.....and it's time to take out that denture!
Done Ramblin
Last Monday's appointment with the denturist was a wash for me. He asked me to put the bottom denture in to see the fit, but it was really hard to do - with the stitches and the bad fit, it hurt terribly - before I even got it all the way in, he stopped me. He commented that it was obvious to him that the pain was too great for him to be able to work on me.....so, if I could do without them for now, we'd just wait until my stitches were out....there was no sense in putting me through that pain. THANK YOU! Much as I want them in so I can get used to them before our trip....it HURT!
And, because the stitches didn't come out until Friday, it is still all soft meals for me. After he took out my stitches on Friday, the oral surgeon said that if they can't fit my bottom denture at my next appointment, to keep to this diet for at least another 2 weeks to allow for better healing. I tried the bottom denture the next morning, thinking maybe I could at least get used to the feel of it, even if I couldn't use them....but I had two spots in the front that felt like someone was sticking me with a hot poker....YEOW!
So, I took them out....tried to put them in every morning with no success until this morning! I actually have them in right now without them sending me into screaming pain. They're uncomfortable, but bearable as long as I don't try to talk or eat....they're really loose, especially in front.....don't even come close to meeting in the front and one side in the back meets before the other.....but at least I can keep them in my mouth to get the feel of them for a bit. My fitting is scheduled for later today.... it would be great if he can fix this plate - can't imagine how he can, but that's why he's the denturist and I'm not, I suppose! Whatever he has to do, it's all part of what we paid already.
Boy oh boy, though.......aside from the fact that I miss real food, this diet is playing havoc with my digestive system (bleck),
We've had a little ooooooooooooooold fridge for about 30 years that we've used as a "spare" fridge...a $15 yard sale find that we used for a few weeks as a main fridge to get us through til we could buy a new one. After we got the new one, we moved the old girl to the cellar and kept using her....for soda, beer, extra food when company was here. This poor thing was OLD when we got her......I'm talkin' seriously old.....and every time we've moved, we thought "this is it...she won't start up this time".....and she always did. She sits in the entryway behind the door next to the recycle bins....only about 1/4 full most of the time....but we hated to get rid of her. However, she's been making noises for a few months, so we finally decided to put her to rest.....or let someone else use her. While we were in Bangor Friday, we went to Sam's Club and bought a little 4.3 c. f. "dorm" fridge to replace her (the old girls probably about 8 or 10 cu. ft). Emptied her out and put her on the lawn by the mailbox with a sign on her that says "FREE - IT WORKS!". If nobody takes her by tomorrow, she'll go to the transfer station....sigh.
Meanwhile, Ed was on call for work this weekend, but it was fairly quiet...so he built a platform to put the new fridge on...it's too small to use easily if put on the floor. Once the platform is painted, we'll put the recycle bins side by side under it instead of stacked in the corner....the little fridge on top, with some room for odds and ends. Good deal!
And... we went to a trade show in Houlton. It's just a little one (maybe 40 or so exhibitors), but we usually see a few people we know that we don't see often. I think we spend nearly as much time standing in the aisles talking as we do looking at the exhibits. There was a camper dealer at this one (usually they're just at the camper shows), so we went through the campers...they are soooo nice and fancy now........I want one (boo hoo).
Seriously, we'd love to get back into camping - we really have missed it. We'd love to have a motorhome, but that won't happen. We do, however, have a loan all paid off, so have a bit extra each month now.......the plow truck is in pretty good shape for it's age - it's a bit of a gas hog, but has low mileage. Maybe we can catch a deal on a small tow camper after we get home - ya never know!
I had trouble sleeping last night, so I got up around midnight and finished up a bolero originally intended for my DD's babysitter's teenager and finally got sleepy around 3 am, so back to bed then. I'd done ponchos for the two younger ones.....took me forever to get this bolero done....it was supposed to be for winter use and now it's spring. They're in NC....I'll get the items packaged up and sent this week, but they won't need them now....sheesh....slowpoke. Oh, well...I'll leave it to my DD to decide whether to give them now or wait until fall. I'll take a pic of it later.
The weather is yucky today......laundry calls.....and it's time to take out that denture!
Done Ramblin
Monday, March 26, 2007
The Box Fairy strikes again!!
So funny!!! For those of you who remember my incident with a single skein of Red Heart yarn in a great big box a couple of years ago......here we go again! Different company, same type of packaging. The box is about 13 1/2 inches by 9 inches by 7 inches...and the 4 items in it would nearly have fit in a #10 envelope.The three freebies they sent, the packing peanuts and the box they used probably cost them more than one thing I ordered!
My grin for the day!
I survived!
So......the teeth are gone and here I am. Contrary to popular belief (mine!), my oral surgery went fine....I did NOT die from fright, though I believe I was close...I think I came very close to crushing my poor husband's hand during the procedure, as well. My top dentures fit fine and I've had them in full time since the surgery. My bottom ones, however, do not fit, so are sitting in a container. They fit my bottom gum, but they don't fit with my top ones....when I close my mouth, there's a gap between top and bottom in the front where they don't come together...a BIG one....at least 1/4 inch........but they're together in the back - so I can't use them at all.
Ed did fine with his surgery, too, and his dentures fit fine. He's had his over a week - the swelling is going down, so he's ready for a reline, which will be done today. So, while we are at the denturist for that, they'll figure out what they need to do about mine. I have a feeling they'll have to make a whole new bottom denture - I can't see how they can possibly adjust the existing ones, but I don't know.
Oh, and....talk about strange!! No, not the dentures, though that IS a strange feeling. Usually Ed has a very high tolerance to pain and heals more quickly than the average person. I, on the other hand, have a really LOW pain tolerance and heal quite a bit slower than the average. Apparently, this is not true of either of us when it comes to our mouths! My mouth isn't bothering me much at all and his is hurting him....though, admittedly, I'm using every bit of the allowed dosage of pain meds they gave me and he isn't - they knock him for a loop and he can't work or drive. Also, I had much less swelling than the norm and he's had more than the norm! It was 3 days before Ed could eat anything that was not put through a blender with added liquid..........I had scrambled eggs for breakfast Sunday morning (just 36 hours after surgery)......so....maybe I feel better about this whole thing because of that?
We visited friends for a bit yesterday morning and then went to my niece's and hit the tail end of a "2 months til Nick comes home, fill boxes for his detachment" party late in the afternoon, so got to see some of the family for a bit. Nick is my grandnephew in the AF, stationed in Baghdad.
Nothing much else happened last week or over the weekend...not that I can remember, anyway. If anything comes to me later, I'll add it next time!
Done Ramblin
Ed did fine with his surgery, too, and his dentures fit fine. He's had his over a week - the swelling is going down, so he's ready for a reline, which will be done today. So, while we are at the denturist for that, they'll figure out what they need to do about mine. I have a feeling they'll have to make a whole new bottom denture - I can't see how they can possibly adjust the existing ones, but I don't know.
Oh, and....talk about strange!! No, not the dentures, though that IS a strange feeling. Usually Ed has a very high tolerance to pain and heals more quickly than the average person. I, on the other hand, have a really LOW pain tolerance and heal quite a bit slower than the average. Apparently, this is not true of either of us when it comes to our mouths! My mouth isn't bothering me much at all and his is hurting him....though, admittedly, I'm using every bit of the allowed dosage of pain meds they gave me and he isn't - they knock him for a loop and he can't work or drive. Also, I had much less swelling than the norm and he's had more than the norm! It was 3 days before Ed could eat anything that was not put through a blender with added liquid..........I had scrambled eggs for breakfast Sunday morning (just 36 hours after surgery)......so....maybe I feel better about this whole thing because of that?
We visited friends for a bit yesterday morning and then went to my niece's and hit the tail end of a "2 months til Nick comes home, fill boxes for his detachment" party late in the afternoon, so got to see some of the family for a bit. Nick is my grandnephew in the AF, stationed in Baghdad.
Nothing much else happened last week or over the weekend...not that I can remember, anyway. If anything comes to me later, I'll add it next time!
Done Ramblin
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Ugh.....just my luck
I discovered I've not been able to concentrate enough this week to do anything right (frogged the same section of a bolero 4 times in one day), so about all I've done is read and play electronic solitaire and computer games.
Monday afternoon I started having trouble with a tooth....or, to be more precise, trouble with a blood vessel near a couple of loose teeth - every time those two move just so, it bleeds copiously around the third tooth (not loose, had a root canal in that one years ago) for about 30 seconds...just enough to make an ungodly mess. Sheesh. This happened twice that afternoon and once in the night. I had immediately started with salt washes every couple of hours...yesterday it only happened 3 times all day, as I was careful to not let the teeth wiggle (but I had to eat!). This morning, however, that area of my gum was swollen a bit and sore...so Ed (poor man has to do everything for me) called the dentist, who called the oral surgeon.....and they both agreed it's starting with an infection...but if they could get the amoxicillin in me right off, it will not interfere with my surgery on Friday. And, of course, THAT was my biggest fear.......big sobbing fear, actually. It's bad enough having a phobia about the surgery.....but it HAS to be done......if it gets postponed, there may be no AK trip for me. So, they called in the scrip and Ed took time from work to go get it and bring it home to me - by 9:30 I'd taken the first dose.....man oh man, I hope it works.
Sunday's snow didn't amount to much, but it snowed Monday as well.....and the wind blew really hard all day yesterday......welcome to Spring in Maine! All told, we probably only got about 3 inches of snow....but the wind drifted it to over a foot in places.
Got some books in the mail yesterday that I'd ordered at Half.com - I was down to my last book, so I'm all set for a bit....plus I have a bunch more coming that I got on eBay. When I've read them, I'll put them back on eBay - and likely not make a cent, but that's ok......it keeps me in reading material!
Ok.....can't think.
Done Ramblin
Monday afternoon I started having trouble with a tooth....or, to be more precise, trouble with a blood vessel near a couple of loose teeth - every time those two move just so, it bleeds copiously around the third tooth (not loose, had a root canal in that one years ago) for about 30 seconds...just enough to make an ungodly mess. Sheesh. This happened twice that afternoon and once in the night. I had immediately started with salt washes every couple of hours...yesterday it only happened 3 times all day, as I was careful to not let the teeth wiggle (but I had to eat!). This morning, however, that area of my gum was swollen a bit and sore...so Ed (poor man has to do everything for me) called the dentist, who called the oral surgeon.....and they both agreed it's starting with an infection...but if they could get the amoxicillin in me right off, it will not interfere with my surgery on Friday. And, of course, THAT was my biggest fear.......big sobbing fear, actually. It's bad enough having a phobia about the surgery.....but it HAS to be done......if it gets postponed, there may be no AK trip for me. So, they called in the scrip and Ed took time from work to go get it and bring it home to me - by 9:30 I'd taken the first dose.....man oh man, I hope it works.
Sunday's snow didn't amount to much, but it snowed Monday as well.....and the wind blew really hard all day yesterday......welcome to Spring in Maine! All told, we probably only got about 3 inches of snow....but the wind drifted it to over a foot in places.
Got some books in the mail yesterday that I'd ordered at Half.com - I was down to my last book, so I'm all set for a bit....plus I have a bunch more coming that I got on eBay. When I've read them, I'll put them back on eBay - and likely not make a cent, but that's ok......it keeps me in reading material!
Ok.....can't think.
Done Ramblin
Sunday, March 18, 2007
And I'm still waiting...ugh.
Nearly another week gone since my last post....lazy, lazy!
I called the motorhome rental co. and set that all up on Monday. They mailed us the contract, which we received Friday, and as I was reading it over and filling out the necessary parts, I noticed a place where it said something about being able to get into the rental after hours if your arrival time is after closing.....WHAT?? Nobody mentioned that! We arrive around midnight and thought we'd either have to get a room for that night (and the night before we leave) or we'd have to just hang in the airport until they open at 8 am. So...I called them back on Saturday - we can extend our rental times and get into the motorhome when we arrive. We can do the same on the other end (our plane departs at 1 am), and can stay right in the motorhome until it's time for us to get on the plane! So much easier for us - well worth the extra two days rental fees!
Wednesday we left home around 9 am - went to Bangor and did what we needed to do for shopping before going to the oral surgeon appointment. The guy has an issue with my herbal supplement, but not with my coumadin....so they wouldn't schedule me for Friday (they were going to!)....I have to wait until this coming Friday. I will be so glad when this is over....I'm such a wreck....the constant nausea, headache, inability to concentrate.....I can't do anything right........gad! I'd be better off if they just knock me out for the week.....probably Ed would be, too!
We went to my niece's just before suppertime Wed. and dropped off our bags, visited with my SIL for a bit (she was babysitting), then went out for supper. Back to niece's, visit for the evening, to bed, then up early to get to Ed's appointment at 8:30. He was done and back to the car (where I was waiting...no way could I go in that office!) around 10. They'd had a problem with one root and ended up with a little "bleeder", so couldn't put his dentures right in. He was to keep gauze in for half an hour, then take it out and put in his dentures. That, of course, meant that we couldn't head up the interstate for home.....we live an hour and a quarter away and there was no place to stop in half an hour! So, back out to niece's - thank heavens for understanding family!!!
We got home around 2 pm - Ed spent the rest of the day lazing and dozing. Friday he had to go to the denturist - after that appointment, where they rechecked his fit and he was shown some "tricks", he was feeling better, so we headed to P.I. to pick up stuff we couldn't get in Bangor.
Friday night the predicted snowstorm came in.....by yesterday morning, we'd gotten 6 or 8 inches of snow, then it had turned to sleet....by 11:30 am (which is about when the plow truck FINALLY went by), it was pouring rain. Ed went out to plow - got his work van stuck in the driveway, so I had to go help "unstuck" it....then I used the snowblower to do the path to the house and clean around my car (it had blown right up against it) while Ed finished the plowing. By the time we were done, we were both soaking wet. We spent the rest of the day (as it kept raining until after supper) watching tv. Er....well, Ed did....I also did laundry and packaged books and sorted paperwork, etc.
Today it's snowing again, but I doubt it will amount to much...it's a "lazy" snow.
I'm going to print off another copy of a pattern that I misplaced (in the middle of working on it!) and maybe crochet. Or maybe read. Or not.
Done Ramblin.
I called the motorhome rental co. and set that all up on Monday. They mailed us the contract, which we received Friday, and as I was reading it over and filling out the necessary parts, I noticed a place where it said something about being able to get into the rental after hours if your arrival time is after closing.....WHAT?? Nobody mentioned that! We arrive around midnight and thought we'd either have to get a room for that night (and the night before we leave) or we'd have to just hang in the airport until they open at 8 am. So...I called them back on Saturday - we can extend our rental times and get into the motorhome when we arrive. We can do the same on the other end (our plane departs at 1 am), and can stay right in the motorhome until it's time for us to get on the plane! So much easier for us - well worth the extra two days rental fees!
Wednesday we left home around 9 am - went to Bangor and did what we needed to do for shopping before going to the oral surgeon appointment. The guy has an issue with my herbal supplement, but not with my coumadin....so they wouldn't schedule me for Friday (they were going to!)....I have to wait until this coming Friday. I will be so glad when this is over....I'm such a wreck....the constant nausea, headache, inability to concentrate.....I can't do anything right........gad! I'd be better off if they just knock me out for the week.....probably Ed would be, too!
We went to my niece's just before suppertime Wed. and dropped off our bags, visited with my SIL for a bit (she was babysitting), then went out for supper. Back to niece's, visit for the evening, to bed, then up early to get to Ed's appointment at 8:30. He was done and back to the car (where I was waiting...no way could I go in that office!) around 10. They'd had a problem with one root and ended up with a little "bleeder", so couldn't put his dentures right in. He was to keep gauze in for half an hour, then take it out and put in his dentures. That, of course, meant that we couldn't head up the interstate for home.....we live an hour and a quarter away and there was no place to stop in half an hour! So, back out to niece's - thank heavens for understanding family!!!
We got home around 2 pm - Ed spent the rest of the day lazing and dozing. Friday he had to go to the denturist - after that appointment, where they rechecked his fit and he was shown some "tricks", he was feeling better, so we headed to P.I. to pick up stuff we couldn't get in Bangor.
Friday night the predicted snowstorm came in.....by yesterday morning, we'd gotten 6 or 8 inches of snow, then it had turned to sleet....by 11:30 am (which is about when the plow truck FINALLY went by), it was pouring rain. Ed went out to plow - got his work van stuck in the driveway, so I had to go help "unstuck" it....then I used the snowblower to do the path to the house and clean around my car (it had blown right up against it) while Ed finished the plowing. By the time we were done, we were both soaking wet. We spent the rest of the day (as it kept raining until after supper) watching tv. Er....well, Ed did....I also did laundry and packaged books and sorted paperwork, etc.
Today it's snowing again, but I doubt it will amount to much...it's a "lazy" snow.
I'm going to print off another copy of a pattern that I misplaced (in the middle of working on it!) and maybe crochet. Or maybe read. Or not.
Done Ramblin.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Another week gone
Thursday's doctor appointment went fine.....once we got it through the CNA's head what I was there for...happens every time with this particular girl...oy!! Dr thought I had more than 2 appointments with the oral surgeon, so was going to give me a scrip for 5 Xanax. As I'm only supposed to have two appointments, one for the exam and one for the extraction, I had her change it to 3. She also agrees that I may have acid reflux, but since it's not bad and I've no previous history of it, she thinks it may be due to stress....I'm to take Tums or its equivalent (ick, yuck, bleck) until after my surgery. If it doesn't go away then, we'll deal with it. yay. However.....by Saturday night it was gone....maybe I'm in luck.
Ed was on call for the weekend (heating tech) - had one late Saturday night that took longer to get to than to fix! Only had one or two others the whole weekend. His chiropractic appointment on Sunday (yes, our chiropractor works Sundays!) went well....he's all cleared from his injury on Christmas Day and goes back to his usual "every 8 week" schedule for adjustments. So, now we send in the mileage paper and get reimbursed for that.
I crocheted some more squares in between running around over the weekend - my pile of leftover bits of yarn has gotten lots smaller! If I could just get my muse back to finish that bolero I started....it was supposed to be for someone for this winter.....don't see that happening!
I had listed some books on eBay last week...forgot to mention that! Did some on Tuesday and some on Wednesday....around 15 or so, I think. So far, 5 will sell - what doesn't sell I will put in a box to take to VT next trip.
Speaking of Ed......his dad seems to be doing a bit better...they talked this morning, but the doctor had not been in yet, so we won't know if he gets to go home until later this evening.
Oh, Alaska plans are progressing!! Friday we got a bunch of quotes from motorhome rental places in Anchorage. Of the 8 quotes that we requested, a variety of things narrowed the choice to 2 places. One is not taking reservation requests at all; one didn't give us a quote, simply emailed us their rate schedule from their website (which is where I filled out the request for a quote from them!!), 2 were not able to fit our criteria for size (24 or 25 foot) for our dates....we don't want a 29 or 30 footer! We'd had a recommendation from a friend, but that particular company isn't even open Memorial Day weekend......which is when we arrive. That left 3......2 of those were very close in price and the other one was much more expensive - nearly $500 more. Of the final two, which seemed to be nearly equal in features offered as well as in price, we decided to choose the one that is right at Anchorage Airport - I will call them later today to reserve.
Time to send the Roomba around a couple of rooms...boy, I love my new toy!
Done Ramblin.
Ed was on call for the weekend (heating tech) - had one late Saturday night that took longer to get to than to fix! Only had one or two others the whole weekend. His chiropractic appointment on Sunday (yes, our chiropractor works Sundays!) went well....he's all cleared from his injury on Christmas Day and goes back to his usual "every 8 week" schedule for adjustments. So, now we send in the mileage paper and get reimbursed for that.
I crocheted some more squares in between running around over the weekend - my pile of leftover bits of yarn has gotten lots smaller! If I could just get my muse back to finish that bolero I started....it was supposed to be for someone for this winter.....don't see that happening!
I had listed some books on eBay last week...forgot to mention that! Did some on Tuesday and some on Wednesday....around 15 or so, I think. So far, 5 will sell - what doesn't sell I will put in a box to take to VT next trip.
Speaking of Ed......his dad seems to be doing a bit better...they talked this morning, but the doctor had not been in yet, so we won't know if he gets to go home until later this evening.
Oh, Alaska plans are progressing!! Friday we got a bunch of quotes from motorhome rental places in Anchorage. Of the 8 quotes that we requested, a variety of things narrowed the choice to 2 places. One is not taking reservation requests at all; one didn't give us a quote, simply emailed us their rate schedule from their website (which is where I filled out the request for a quote from them!!), 2 were not able to fit our criteria for size (24 or 25 foot) for our dates....we don't want a 29 or 30 footer! We'd had a recommendation from a friend, but that particular company isn't even open Memorial Day weekend......which is when we arrive. That left 3......2 of those were very close in price and the other one was much more expensive - nearly $500 more. Of the final two, which seemed to be nearly equal in features offered as well as in price, we decided to choose the one that is right at Anchorage Airport - I will call them later today to reserve.
Time to send the Roomba around a couple of rooms...boy, I love my new toy!
Done Ramblin.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
We have teeth!
Ok, that sounds weird, I know...but, it's true. Yesterday, I lazed and crocheted until Ed got home - he came home "on time" so we could go to the denturist and pick up our teeth. Now, they're sitting in their little bags on the kitchen counter waiting for our trip to the oral surgeon next week. I thought about putting them away out of sight....but that would mean out of mind for me....I'll be in no shape to remember them when the time comes.......ugh. I've got an appointment with my dr today...she's gonna give me Xanax, otherwise I'll never make it through the door for the surgery....I'm a wreck just thinking about it.
I never did get any crocheting done Monday.....I did more housework and a bunch of paperwork.
Ed's dad is having a hard time of it again......had more fluid in his chest cavity, so went into the hospital Monday. They've drained it and put some powder in to soak it up...I think as soon as it stops draining, they'll send him home. Poor man - as of last night, he's been in 3 different rooms in the 3 days he'd been there...he was in the women's & children's wing one night. Unless something changes, his knee surgery will be on the 20th...then he has to restart chemo again asap after that......geez, it never rains but it pours for the poor guy....and it's hard on the whole family, too.
We've had three days of quite cold weather with lows in the -10 degree area...and windy - with the wind chill, it's been about -25 out there the last few days! Normally I don't mind it too much......it IS winter, after all...and it will all be a distant memory soon. (about the middle of blackfly/mosquito season, half the people around here that complained about the cold will be wishing some of it back!)
Even as cold as it's been, Tuesday I had to go grocery shopping - I'd not been since we got home and we had NO food in the house. Oh, well...ok, so that's not exactly true, there's always cereal or crackers. But, we had no food for meals. So, I went to Houlton and got enough stuff to get us through the week.
Woke up with an awful taste/feeling in the back of my throat in the middle of the night...it sort of went away after I drank some water, but it's back this am...comes and goes.......gad, I think it might be acid reflux. Figures.....I always said how lucky I am that I don't have it.....and everyone else in my family does. Murphy's Law, as usual. Just what I need, another med. Sheesh.
Gotta get ready to go to my appointment.
Done Ramblin
I never did get any crocheting done Monday.....I did more housework and a bunch of paperwork.
Ed's dad is having a hard time of it again......had more fluid in his chest cavity, so went into the hospital Monday. They've drained it and put some powder in to soak it up...I think as soon as it stops draining, they'll send him home. Poor man - as of last night, he's been in 3 different rooms in the 3 days he'd been there...he was in the women's & children's wing one night. Unless something changes, his knee surgery will be on the 20th...then he has to restart chemo again asap after that......geez, it never rains but it pours for the poor guy....and it's hard on the whole family, too.
We've had three days of quite cold weather with lows in the -10 degree area...and windy - with the wind chill, it's been about -25 out there the last few days! Normally I don't mind it too much......it IS winter, after all...and it will all be a distant memory soon. (about the middle of blackfly/mosquito season, half the people around here that complained about the cold will be wishing some of it back!)
Even as cold as it's been, Tuesday I had to go grocery shopping - I'd not been since we got home and we had NO food in the house. Oh, well...ok, so that's not exactly true, there's always cereal or crackers. But, we had no food for meals. So, I went to Houlton and got enough stuff to get us through the week.
Woke up with an awful taste/feeling in the back of my throat in the middle of the night...it sort of went away after I drank some water, but it's back this am...comes and goes.......gad, I think it might be acid reflux. Figures.....I always said how lucky I am that I don't have it.....and everyone else in my family does. Murphy's Law, as usual. Just what I need, another med. Sheesh.
Gotta get ready to go to my appointment.
Done Ramblin
Monday, March 5, 2007
Home Again
The trip home on Saturday was better than expected - the weather forecast was for rain and snow, but they were wrong - yay!! We ended up making a short side trip halfway home to see the parents of a close friend in southern ME. They treated us like their own for so many years - they are very special to us.....we had missed his 90th b'day party a couple of months ago, so we were glad to have the time to stop in.
After all our other stops (gas, meal, etc), we got home around 8:30 pm. Got the car all unloaded and got some things put away, started a load of laundry and relaxed for an hour, then to bed. Got up late Sunday morn, went to breakfast then stopped at our neighbors to get our mail and visit for a bit. Caught up on emails while Ed cleaned up the yard - it snowed while we were gone, but we only had our friend plow enough to get the vehicles in, not actually do a "real" plow job.
Got 4 loads of laundry done Sunday....sent the Roomba through 4 rooms, too. I finally got around to opening all the mail late in the day...hadn't paid much attention to the packages in the bottom of the box, as I knew I had two coming (meds)....but there was a third....a really NICE surprise for me!
A cyber friend of mine had sent me TWO (count em...not one, but two!!) BIG BEAUTIFUL DOILIES....."just because"!!! I was nearly overwhelmed....it was such a sweet thing for her to do. And the card was almost as nice as the doilies, too......I will cherish both, "S".....thank you!!
Oh.....I don't believe I mentioned that the old snowblower sold within days. The old Olds, however, is still here. We've had one email on it - the lady misunderstood that it was a parts car, saying she'd thought about buying it because she needs a car...she called a garage to see how much it would cost to fix...then she went on to complain about that cost to me. I was going to respond, but in the end, I just deleted it - the ad lists it as a "parts car - as is"........it's really not my problem if she doesn't understand what that means.
Today is lazy crochet day, I think. When I get off here, I'm gonna see if I can finish up a couple of wips. Ha. We'll see!
Done Ramblin.
After all our other stops (gas, meal, etc), we got home around 8:30 pm. Got the car all unloaded and got some things put away, started a load of laundry and relaxed for an hour, then to bed. Got up late Sunday morn, went to breakfast then stopped at our neighbors to get our mail and visit for a bit. Caught up on emails while Ed cleaned up the yard - it snowed while we were gone, but we only had our friend plow enough to get the vehicles in, not actually do a "real" plow job.
Got 4 loads of laundry done Sunday....sent the Roomba through 4 rooms, too. I finally got around to opening all the mail late in the day...hadn't paid much attention to the packages in the bottom of the box, as I knew I had two coming (meds)....but there was a third....a really NICE surprise for me!
A cyber friend of mine had sent me TWO (count em...not one, but two!!) BIG BEAUTIFUL DOILIES....."just because"!!! I was nearly overwhelmed....it was such a sweet thing for her to do. And the card was almost as nice as the doilies, too......I will cherish both, "S".....thank you!!
Oh.....I don't believe I mentioned that the old snowblower sold within days. The old Olds, however, is still here. We've had one email on it - the lady misunderstood that it was a parts car, saying she'd thought about buying it because she needs a car...she called a garage to see how much it would cost to fix...then she went on to complain about that cost to me. I was going to respond, but in the end, I just deleted it - the ad lists it as a "parts car - as is"........it's really not my problem if she doesn't understand what that means.
Today is lazy crochet day, I think. When I get off here, I'm gonna see if I can finish up a couple of wips. Ha. We'll see!
Done Ramblin.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Almost the end....
of the week.....boy, has it gone fast! Hard to believe it's Friday already. Monday we got just a few inches of snow - enough to keep us inside. Tuesday was supposed to be chemo day, but it got canceled as all his docs want him to have the bad knee taken care of - most likely that will be done next week, so he can get back to the chemo pronto. He'll probably be in hosp 4 - 5 days for that, then will likely go to the nursing home that Ed's Mom was in for a bit - they have a rehab section and will get him back on his feet.
Wednesday we took an aunt to lunch in MA for her birthday - a really good oriental restaurant.
Thursday saw us back in the same area of MA to hit Walmart....took a few days, but we finally figured out why the heck I kept having to sweep bits of "whatonearthisthis???" from under the table......the chair pads were leaking....and after discovering that they'd all had the seams resewn more than once, I requested that we throw them and buy new ones. We also figured what the brown plastic pieces on the sideboard were, too.........from the crock pot control.....we made it through the meal whichever day that was, but I watched it quite closely most of the day. It was old old....the liner wasn't even a removable one....all the plastic parts were disintegrating...and there was a crack in the outside of the pot, too. After the meal, we chucked it. He chose non-skid chair pads this time (no ties to rip) and a 6 qt West Bend - less $$ and not as fancy as some of the others, but he doesn't use one much. We would have gifted them to him, but he's a tad stubborn and refused us, so we just stole the lunch check instead...his son did get some of the stubborn tendencies :-))
Today the weather has been bad - started around midnight with snow, sleet, freezing rain and constant wind...all at the same time! It has now turned to just rain - what a mess. We'll stay in until it's time to go to Ed's brother's for supper tonight.
In between all that, I have been cleaning a bit....Ed has been doing some of the heavy cleaning (floor scrubbing, etc). I've actually gotten some crocheting in, but I probably won't get that box mailed until tomorrow or Monday (you know who you are!!).
We head home sometime tomorrow morning.....so.....
Done Ramblin
Wednesday we took an aunt to lunch in MA for her birthday - a really good oriental restaurant.
Thursday saw us back in the same area of MA to hit Walmart....took a few days, but we finally figured out why the heck I kept having to sweep bits of "whatonearthisthis???" from under the table......the chair pads were leaking....and after discovering that they'd all had the seams resewn more than once, I requested that we throw them and buy new ones. We also figured what the brown plastic pieces on the sideboard were, too.........from the crock pot control.....we made it through the meal whichever day that was, but I watched it quite closely most of the day. It was old old....the liner wasn't even a removable one....all the plastic parts were disintegrating...and there was a crack in the outside of the pot, too. After the meal, we chucked it. He chose non-skid chair pads this time (no ties to rip) and a 6 qt West Bend - less $$ and not as fancy as some of the others, but he doesn't use one much. We would have gifted them to him, but he's a tad stubborn and refused us, so we just stole the lunch check instead...his son did get some of the stubborn tendencies :-))
Today the weather has been bad - started around midnight with snow, sleet, freezing rain and constant wind...all at the same time! It has now turned to just rain - what a mess. We'll stay in until it's time to go to Ed's brother's for supper tonight.
In between all that, I have been cleaning a bit....Ed has been doing some of the heavy cleaning (floor scrubbing, etc). I've actually gotten some crocheting in, but I probably won't get that box mailed until tomorrow or Monday (you know who you are!!).
We head home sometime tomorrow morning.....so.....
Done Ramblin
Monday, February 26, 2007
Gray Monday
Dreary and snowing, it's supposed to turn into sleet....so I'll be staying in most of today. Yesterday I did some shopping - mostly groceries. We'll need to get some non grocery items, but there's not a lot of choice here. This city has the smallest, least stocked department stores on earth, I swear...and mostly old and not updated....a tiny Walmart and a K-Mart...a JC Penney and a Sears...none of which had what I was looking for. I had simple things on my list....kitchen chair pads, for example....they had 4 mismatched ones at WW, one set of icky green at K-Mart.....and I AIN'T payin $10 EACH at the other stores (even if it's not my money)!! I'm hoping we can get to a mall somewhere before we leave for home, to pick up the household stuff that I just can't find here.
I set the roomba to work yesterday, too....vac'd the kitchen, dining room, living room, hall and master bedroom....it only got stuck three times (and once was Ed's fault!). I'm learning what/where it can/can't/should/shouldn't go here.....it'll be a cinch to work at my own house.
I ended up having to go all the way back to the grocery store yesterday, too.....I'd not been home 5 minutes when I discovered they'd not put one of my bags of groceries in my cart....needed all the items to fix supper! (baked beef stew)....and the groc. store I was at is at least 15 minutes away....sigh. Went to visit Ed's brother & family for a bit after supper, back to watch tv with his dad, then to bed.
Today, I cleaned the fridge (icky, yucky....the box of baking soda said January 2000!) while Ed & his dad went to get stuff to clean dad's heating system. I also set the roomba to cleaning the small bedroom.....it was done cleaning a long time before I was! Oh,and they got rubber stair treads for the cellar stairs (progress....we've convinced his dad he needs some of this stuff done for his own safety!!). I got supper going in the crock pot when they got back (chicken in sour cream sauce)....and I'm DONE for the day. Even if there was more to do, I quit....can't do any more! Ed's gonna cook the noodles to go with the chicken.
I've only had time and energy to make exactly ONE square since we arrived.....plan to make at least a dozen and get em in the mail by Friday. Maybe I'll do a bunch tomorrow while Ed takes his dad to his chemo session. We'll see.
Done Ramblin.
I set the roomba to work yesterday, too....vac'd the kitchen, dining room, living room, hall and master bedroom....it only got stuck three times (and once was Ed's fault!). I'm learning what/where it can/can't/should/shouldn't go here.....it'll be a cinch to work at my own house.
I ended up having to go all the way back to the grocery store yesterday, too.....I'd not been home 5 minutes when I discovered they'd not put one of my bags of groceries in my cart....needed all the items to fix supper! (baked beef stew)....and the groc. store I was at is at least 15 minutes away....sigh. Went to visit Ed's brother & family for a bit after supper, back to watch tv with his dad, then to bed.
Today, I cleaned the fridge (icky, yucky....the box of baking soda said January 2000!) while Ed & his dad went to get stuff to clean dad's heating system. I also set the roomba to cleaning the small bedroom.....it was done cleaning a long time before I was! Oh,and they got rubber stair treads for the cellar stairs (progress....we've convinced his dad he needs some of this stuff done for his own safety!!). I got supper going in the crock pot when they got back (chicken in sour cream sauce)....and I'm DONE for the day. Even if there was more to do, I quit....can't do any more! Ed's gonna cook the noodles to go with the chicken.
I've only had time and energy to make exactly ONE square since we arrived.....plan to make at least a dozen and get em in the mail by Friday. Maybe I'll do a bunch tomorrow while Ed takes his dad to his chemo session. We'll see.
Done Ramblin.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
In VT
Here we are, safe and sound. Left home around 7:30 am...stopped for breakfast and gas, then stopped at Sam's Club and bought a Roomba (woo hoo!)...one more stop for mid day snack and arrived around 4:30 pm.
Except for a bunch of idiot drivers, a pretty uneventful trip (thank heavens)
Time for relaxing...
Done ramblin!
Except for a bunch of idiot drivers, a pretty uneventful trip (thank heavens)
Time for relaxing...
Done ramblin!
Friday, February 23, 2007
The hurrier I go.......
The behinder I get. Sheesh! Been a busy couple of days here. Thursday I went through my Quick Cooking mags and picked out a bunch of recipes to take to VT. I finally got our AK flight booked - our flight leaves Bangor at 2 pm on May 26 (arrives Anchorage around midnight). We leave Anchorage at 1 am on June 15 (arrive Bangor around 5 pm). It took me nearly 3 hours to do this - my internet connection is sooooo bad. Next need to book our motorhome rental - will send email enquiries to 4 places this week while at my FIL's (he has DSL!!!).
Friday was the day from h*ll........Murphy's law prevailed BIG TIME. I had a 9:10 am appointment with my doctor to get my pain med scrip. I get there at 9:05 and the receptionist looks at me like I have two heads when I "state my business". She looks at the computer and says "you don't have an appointment today." I correct her...yes, I do...she says no, so I pull my handy-dandy appointment card out of my purse and say "Oh, YES, I do!" After examining it, she concedes taht I should have been in the computer (ya think??).....and says there happens to be a 9:10 opening, do I want it." ???? I simply hold up my card and say "I already have THAT time....I'm here...why would I NOT want it??"
So....at 9:40 I finally get in. 30 seconds later, the doctor is in the room, handing me my scrip.....I've a couple of questions for her (yay, she'll give me a Xanax to get me into the oral surgeon, if whatever they're knocking me out with does not clash!).
The trip to the drug store is nearly as bad....the phone lines are not working, and it's affecting the DSL, so they can't just punch the info into the computer and have it call the insurance company for discount amount.....so 30 minutes later, I'm finally done there. Stop at the PO and drop off a letter that needs 1 cent more postage....I've NO CHANGE. Sheesh. I turn around, see that I know the guy behind me quite well and bum a penny off him. Go to the bank to make a deposit (our state tax refund arrived) and get my jacket sleeve caught on the doorknob...nearly hauls me to the floor before I catch the door!
Back home I find that the power is out...the house is fairly cold, so I call the power company...it's been out for over an hour, they have no idea when it will be back on. It finally came back on around 1:30 pm....so I finally got back into "laundry mode"...only had 4 loads to do, dontchaknow, in order to pack for the VT trip!
Sure was glad when the day was done!
Done ramblin
Friday was the day from h*ll........Murphy's law prevailed BIG TIME. I had a 9:10 am appointment with my doctor to get my pain med scrip. I get there at 9:05 and the receptionist looks at me like I have two heads when I "state my business". She looks at the computer and says "you don't have an appointment today." I correct her...yes, I do...she says no, so I pull my handy-dandy appointment card out of my purse and say "Oh, YES, I do!" After examining it, she concedes taht I should have been in the computer (ya think??).....and says there happens to be a 9:10 opening, do I want it." ???? I simply hold up my card and say "I already have THAT time....I'm here...why would I NOT want it??"
So....at 9:40 I finally get in. 30 seconds later, the doctor is in the room, handing me my scrip.....I've a couple of questions for her (yay, she'll give me a Xanax to get me into the oral surgeon, if whatever they're knocking me out with does not clash!).
The trip to the drug store is nearly as bad....the phone lines are not working, and it's affecting the DSL, so they can't just punch the info into the computer and have it call the insurance company for discount amount.....so 30 minutes later, I'm finally done there. Stop at the PO and drop off a letter that needs 1 cent more postage....I've NO CHANGE. Sheesh. I turn around, see that I know the guy behind me quite well and bum a penny off him. Go to the bank to make a deposit (our state tax refund arrived) and get my jacket sleeve caught on the doorknob...nearly hauls me to the floor before I catch the door!
Back home I find that the power is out...the house is fairly cold, so I call the power company...it's been out for over an hour, they have no idea when it will be back on. It finally came back on around 1:30 pm....so I finally got back into "laundry mode"...only had 4 loads to do, dontchaknow, in order to pack for the VT trip!
Sure was glad when the day was done!
Done ramblin
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Disappointed again!
This picture is from a few days ago....shows what a pitiful bit of snow we have, the good side of the house at this time (need to finish putting up siding and then stain it).....and my new car!
Not much went on the rest of Monday or Tuesday...laundry and reading mostly....though I did cut my hair on Tuesday. I also have done a bit of crocheting the last couple of days....dug out some odds and ends of yarn to do some afghan squares that I'll donate to a worthy cause...but I've only done one....I'll do the rest at my FIL's..
Yesterday I was in a bit less pain and, realizing I'd not need to go do any errands this week, I suddenly got a serious case of wanderlust. Said to myself, "Self....go to Bangor (nearest city, 80 miles away) and just see what stores interest you". Said to Ed "Uh oh...I've got wanderlust....leftovers for supper!"
When I went out to warm up the car, I realized that my temporary registration had run out the day before....er, dur! So, I had to wait about an hour for the town offices to open so I could register it. And, when I got there, I was really disappointed.....the Olds is unsafe to drive as is and we don't plan to fix it, so we parked it, took the license plates off it and put a for sale sign in it - we're selling it as a parts car only. I wanted to just transfer the registration from the Oldsmobile to the Buick, having it run out the same time (Oct), just paying the difference in excise tax and paying the extra registration fee......which is what we do when we trade cars. It wouldn't have been much difference in cost compared to a new registration. Well, I found out that ya can't do a transfer that way if you didn't get rid of the car that the plates came off.......BUMMER. You can use those same license plates, but you have to do the registration as a new one......PHOOEY...I didn't want to have my registration run out in Feb.....Oct worked for me. Sigh....deal with it, Ree.
Anyway, I got going around 9:30.....late for me. By the time I got to Bangor, I decided that AC Moore was my first stop (no brainer). About half an hour into the wandering, some lady asked me if I'd seen any rug yarn in skeins......hmm....n-o-o-o....but maybe it's by the macrame cord? She asked where that was, adding that she made dishcloths and scrubbies as gifts, and preferred rug yarn over nylon mesh for the scrubbies. WHAT??? TELL!! TELL!! She said that they work great...the rug yarn isn't as rough as the mesh, but still rough enough to scrub a pot, and they don't get "prickly" parts on them after a bit of use, like nylon mesh ones will (coz we've yet to find nylon mesh narrow enough, so you have to cut it to width). Now.....I just HAD to follow her as she looked for rug yarn! We ended up asking an employee....and what he pointed out for rug yarn is NOT what I've ever seen....it was on a card - it wasn't much thicker than worsted yarn and was much softer than what I know as rug yarn...not nearly rough enough. The lady said they had limited colors of rug yarn at Joannes.....so I said "you better beat me there, then!!". She laughed and said she'd already been there and got what she needed. Needless to say, after I got done at AC Moore (just 5 skeins of clearance yarn, a magazine and a pattern book), I went down the street to Joannes....I was a good girl, picking up just two 99 cent skeins, in case the idea doesn't work for me. Then I picked up two of those big skeins of the store brand Rainbow Boucle....the color is called orange, but it's more of a rust....don't know yet what I'll make with it, but I liked the color. Also picked up a pattern book.
A stop at Walmart for a couple of things, and on over to Sam's Club.....where I once again did NOT buy the Roomba that I keep wanting....then came on home. Ed still can't believe I haven't grabbed the Roomba....I've wanted one ever since I first heard about them...what.....4 or 5 years ago and he has no objection. Matter of fact, we discussed the fact that, if I'd bought it, I could have taken it with me when we go to Ed's dad's for the week....we do a lot of cleaning while we're there, and the vacuuming is a you-know-what for me to do with his big Electrolux. Well, DARN....why didn't I think of that before I left the store without it??? Hmmm...we do have to drive right past two Sam's Clubs on our way...........:-)
Today I've got to get recipes together (can't cook at Ed's dad's without some), and start packing. Also need to figure out what yarn and patterns to take with me! Oh, and must contact the people that will be taking care of our house while we're gone and make sure all's set with them.
Done Ramblin
Monday, February 19, 2007
The Weekend
Well, I'm here, so I obviously survived the visit to the denturist. Phew! Should be just one more visit to him, to get the dentures...then the bad part...the oral surgeon in a bit under 4 weeks.
Ed was on call for work this weekend and was fairly busy with calls, so I spent a lot of time sitting in the van, playing electronic solitaire. Not exciting in the least, but sure beats sitting home alone! In between the calls, we did some snow cleanup...shoveled out the Oldsmobile (which is now for sale) and moved it so Ed could finish plowing the yard. While he was plowing, I took pics of the car - to email to possible buyers. Also took pics of his plow truck and our "new-to-us" car to email to my DD.
When he went to shovel the walks, I asked what was wrong with the snowblower (which is 38 years old, but still runs great). The reply was "nothing, but it's easier to shovel than to pull start that old thing." Ah, true, I'm sure....you have to pull nearly straight up on the cord...and really hard, too. I can't do it - even if I weren't too short to pull the cord the necessary length, I'm not strong enough, though if someone else starts it, I can use it on a flat area. My next thought was......AHA!!! After 2 broken shoulderblades, 4 broken ribs, a punctured lung and a new back injury, all within 3 years....he's FINALLY admitting that something is too much for him. Progress? Yes, and a bit scary, too...as Ed would say "t'ain't gettin older that bothers me, it's the "decrepidness."
Now, it seems to me that buying a new snowblower with electric start (now, while they are on sale) and selling the old machine would be a whole lot easier on the back and shoulders than shoveling...and I said so. Apparently, it made sense to him, too...he agreed and we took off in between calls Saturday and found him a new snowblower. He did the paths with it when we got it home...and was done in about 10 minutes, whereas it would have taken him about an hour to shovel. This new one is only a half hp smaller than the old one, but I bet it only weighs half as much!
So...got the camera out again and took pics of the old snowblower. I put both it and the car in the local online swap and buy site - we'll see how they go. If they don't sell in a month, I'll send them to the local swap buy sell guide sold in the stores. We live in a small town, so by the end of the week, everyone one in town will know they are for sale....don't see the need to advertise in town.
Sunday Ed had another chiropractic treatment - this time he was taken off restriction and put back on full duty for a 3 week trial period....WOOHOO!
Pain issues abound for me right now....I'm having to stretch my pain meds this week, as the doc gives me 60 days worth every other month...except that my appointments are month end to month end, and this time that's 64 days. Catch 22 - if I keep my appts at the end of every other month, I run short of pain meds for about 3 days a couple of times a year......if I make the appts 60 days apart, I end up short of money for office visits each year, as it ends up adding two extras...since that's nearly $180, I'll take the few extra days of pain, thanks.........eh, I'll survive....I always do.
Time to check my email and get on with the day.
Done ramblin.
Ed was on call for work this weekend and was fairly busy with calls, so I spent a lot of time sitting in the van, playing electronic solitaire. Not exciting in the least, but sure beats sitting home alone! In between the calls, we did some snow cleanup...shoveled out the Oldsmobile (which is now for sale) and moved it so Ed could finish plowing the yard. While he was plowing, I took pics of the car - to email to possible buyers. Also took pics of his plow truck and our "new-to-us" car to email to my DD.
When he went to shovel the walks, I asked what was wrong with the snowblower (which is 38 years old, but still runs great). The reply was "nothing, but it's easier to shovel than to pull start that old thing." Ah, true, I'm sure....you have to pull nearly straight up on the cord...and really hard, too. I can't do it - even if I weren't too short to pull the cord the necessary length, I'm not strong enough, though if someone else starts it, I can use it on a flat area. My next thought was......AHA!!! After 2 broken shoulderblades, 4 broken ribs, a punctured lung and a new back injury, all within 3 years....he's FINALLY admitting that something is too much for him. Progress? Yes, and a bit scary, too...as Ed would say "t'ain't gettin older that bothers me, it's the "decrepidness."
Now, it seems to me that buying a new snowblower with electric start (now, while they are on sale) and selling the old machine would be a whole lot easier on the back and shoulders than shoveling...and I said so. Apparently, it made sense to him, too...he agreed and we took off in between calls Saturday and found him a new snowblower. He did the paths with it when we got it home...and was done in about 10 minutes, whereas it would have taken him about an hour to shovel. This new one is only a half hp smaller than the old one, but I bet it only weighs half as much!
So...got the camera out again and took pics of the old snowblower. I put both it and the car in the local online swap and buy site - we'll see how they go. If they don't sell in a month, I'll send them to the local swap buy sell guide sold in the stores. We live in a small town, so by the end of the week, everyone one in town will know they are for sale....don't see the need to advertise in town.
Sunday Ed had another chiropractic treatment - this time he was taken off restriction and put back on full duty for a 3 week trial period....WOOHOO!
Pain issues abound for me right now....I'm having to stretch my pain meds this week, as the doc gives me 60 days worth every other month...except that my appointments are month end to month end, and this time that's 64 days. Catch 22 - if I keep my appts at the end of every other month, I run short of pain meds for about 3 days a couple of times a year......if I make the appts 60 days apart, I end up short of money for office visits each year, as it ends up adding two extras...since that's nearly $180, I'll take the few extra days of pain, thanks.........eh, I'll survive....I always do.
Time to check my email and get on with the day.
Done ramblin.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Got snow?
Yep. Did. It has stopped, however - we're not sure how much we got, but think around 13 inches. The wind blew so much that in some places it barely covered the ground and in others it's well over 2 feet deep. Normally we'd be out playing in it....we can't this year, yet.....but I won't gripe, as it is desperately needed in our area!
Ed and I are both having all our teeth out and getting dentures soon (around the middle of next month)......and I am absolutely terrified. I have a phobia about dentists, denturists, oral surgeons and anyone else besides me that's gonna put their fingers in my mouth...so I'll be a wreck until it's all over. I hate it...the phobia....but I can't control it. We'd gone to the denturist a week or so ago for impressions. All he does is put the form filled with stuff in your mouth, then have you hold it down on your teeth/gums til it sets....about 45 seconds....and even that's hard for me, though I can do it without being sedated as long as Ed is allowed in the room with me.
We had to go back to the denturist yesterday afternoon for me to have another bottom impression...that wasn't too bad - the denturist knows how I react now, and just works around me, as he should!! Yuck, though. Takes me the whole trip home (40 minutes) to stop the jitters....good thing I don't have to drive!!
I thought I'd slap my muse awake yesterday...with no luck. I picked up one of my crochet projects....and only did one row on it. Sigh....hey....a whole row....progress!
This morning a friend dropped in for crochet advice - she crocheted a little bit years ago but stopped for a long time. She has just recently picked it up again and with some support from me (mainly "yeah, do it!") is now working on an afghan. She doesn't seem to have much self-confidence about her work.....I can't imagine why, as it looks great...but I'm sure that the more she crochets the more confident she'll be.
A big change in her attitude was caused by a change in hook brand! She was using Boye and I mentioned that I couldn't work them comfortably, due to the fact that the flat finger spot on the shank is so far from the hook part...I've short fingers and prefer a short "reach", so I use Susan Bates. Since she's got tinier hands than I do (heck she's just plain tinier...I'm only 5'2" and I tower over her!!), I suggested that she try a different brand hook and I loaned her a Susan Bates hook. She was all excited to find that she could work much easier with it....went right out a few days later and bought herself a whole set. I think I have a wooden Clover one somewhere here. It looked so nice and felt so smooth....but it has a round shank with no flat spot and I discovered that it doesn't work for me......my hand slides down the shank in about 6 stitches, so I have to constantly pull the hook back. If I ever find it, I'll give it to her...she may like it. However, today's problem was a yarn one......I got her going again, so she's happy!
Ugh...I had just enough cream for one cup of coffee this morning. I poured another 1/4 cup before the first was empty, which extended it a bit...but then I had to decide whether to make a special trip to the store to get some more, use milk or just go without! Knowing that we're going out to supper and I'll have to use milk in my after dinner coffee, and not wanting to get dressed early, start the car and drive 30 miles for cream, I chose to go without. My darling husband stops in to change his boots...I jokingly say "you dare to come home without cream for my coffee???"......the man had the audacity to laugh and say he'd had some in his pocket earlier and took it out. Tsk....the gaul of the man. Good thing I'd gotten that cup and 1/4.....otherwise I'd'a had to bop him! :-)
I'm still having trouble staying online, but I'm going to try to book our AK flight within the next few days. Then comes reserving the RV.....oy! Big step!
Done ramblin. Off to finish laundry (yuck).
Ed and I are both having all our teeth out and getting dentures soon (around the middle of next month)......and I am absolutely terrified. I have a phobia about dentists, denturists, oral surgeons and anyone else besides me that's gonna put their fingers in my mouth...so I'll be a wreck until it's all over. I hate it...the phobia....but I can't control it. We'd gone to the denturist a week or so ago for impressions. All he does is put the form filled with stuff in your mouth, then have you hold it down on your teeth/gums til it sets....about 45 seconds....and even that's hard for me, though I can do it without being sedated as long as Ed is allowed in the room with me.
We had to go back to the denturist yesterday afternoon for me to have another bottom impression...that wasn't too bad - the denturist knows how I react now, and just works around me, as he should!! Yuck, though. Takes me the whole trip home (40 minutes) to stop the jitters....good thing I don't have to drive!!
I thought I'd slap my muse awake yesterday...with no luck. I picked up one of my crochet projects....and only did one row on it. Sigh....hey....a whole row....progress!
This morning a friend dropped in for crochet advice - she crocheted a little bit years ago but stopped for a long time. She has just recently picked it up again and with some support from me (mainly "yeah, do it!") is now working on an afghan. She doesn't seem to have much self-confidence about her work.....I can't imagine why, as it looks great...but I'm sure that the more she crochets the more confident she'll be.
A big change in her attitude was caused by a change in hook brand! She was using Boye and I mentioned that I couldn't work them comfortably, due to the fact that the flat finger spot on the shank is so far from the hook part...I've short fingers and prefer a short "reach", so I use Susan Bates. Since she's got tinier hands than I do (heck she's just plain tinier...I'm only 5'2" and I tower over her!!), I suggested that she try a different brand hook and I loaned her a Susan Bates hook. She was all excited to find that she could work much easier with it....went right out a few days later and bought herself a whole set. I think I have a wooden Clover one somewhere here. It looked so nice and felt so smooth....but it has a round shank with no flat spot and I discovered that it doesn't work for me......my hand slides down the shank in about 6 stitches, so I have to constantly pull the hook back. If I ever find it, I'll give it to her...she may like it. However, today's problem was a yarn one......I got her going again, so she's happy!
Ugh...I had just enough cream for one cup of coffee this morning. I poured another 1/4 cup before the first was empty, which extended it a bit...but then I had to decide whether to make a special trip to the store to get some more, use milk or just go without! Knowing that we're going out to supper and I'll have to use milk in my after dinner coffee, and not wanting to get dressed early, start the car and drive 30 miles for cream, I chose to go without. My darling husband stops in to change his boots...I jokingly say "you dare to come home without cream for my coffee???"......the man had the audacity to laugh and say he'd had some in his pocket earlier and took it out. Tsk....the gaul of the man. Good thing I'd gotten that cup and 1/4.....otherwise I'd'a had to bop him! :-)
I'm still having trouble staying online, but I'm going to try to book our AK flight within the next few days. Then comes reserving the RV.....oy! Big step!
Done ramblin. Off to finish laundry (yuck).
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Plans for AK....and other trivia
Now, see...I was so intent on getting this blog going that I totally forgot that yesterday was Valentine's Day! Belated Happy Valentine's Day to all! And, I've a feeling that, until I have this blog up and running a while, I'll probably be posting a couple of times a day during the week! Oy...can you stand it???
SNOW! Though we've yet to reach the predicted amount of 15 - 20 inches (and that frequently doesn't happen anyway), we are getting snow finally! Since it started yesterday morning, we've gotten around 11 inches, we think - the wind has blown so much it's kind of hard to tell. It's still snowing and blowing this morning, but is supposed to stop by noon. And, of course, school has been canceled for 2 days here (didn't realize it was that bad!!), so I've been having trouble getting on and staying online (dial up - ARGH!!).
I've been asked if we've firmed up plans for the AK trip....well....sort of. Our plan of flying round trip from Bangor, Maine to Anchorage, AK has stayed the same. Our flight dates are still tentatively May 26 to June 15. I've not booked our flights yet...I was going to do it last week, but my isp decided to be a pain in the butt (knocking me offline every 5 minutes). This week I have no excuse except procrastination. We have definitely decided to rent a motorhome instead of staying in motels and renting a car. Though we'll take our chances at finding campground sites, it will give us much more freedom to roam around. It will be a tad bit more expensive, but we feel it will be worth it....no scheduling motel changes.....no eating every meal in a restaurant...no packing and unpacking 5 or 6 times. Neither of us really wants to eat out all the time...and since I'm the one that does all the booking and packing, it's a definite plus for me!
Now that we have a newer dependable vehicle and our finances are more stable, we will probably be making trips to Ed's dad's in VT more often than in the past. We used to only go about 3 times a year (it's an 8 hour trip), but want to go more frequently. Also, Ed wants to be able to give his siblings a break from helping dad, who is not only dealing with chemo, but also hurt his knee, so isn't very mobile right now. We've planned our next trip for Feb. 24. We'll probably stay the whole week, so should be able to take care of all sorts of stuff that others don't have time for.
On the crocheting front, I went great guns for a few weeks, starting and finishing several projects.....then....splat.....the muse took a nap. Sheesh. And here I am in the middle of trying to make a bolero for my DD's babysitter's eldest DD - I already did things for the two younger ones....and if I don't finish it soon, they won't be able to wear them this year, as they're all in NC!!! So...here's hoping I can wake my muse soon.
SNOW! Though we've yet to reach the predicted amount of 15 - 20 inches (and that frequently doesn't happen anyway), we are getting snow finally! Since it started yesterday morning, we've gotten around 11 inches, we think - the wind has blown so much it's kind of hard to tell. It's still snowing and blowing this morning, but is supposed to stop by noon. And, of course, school has been canceled for 2 days here (didn't realize it was that bad!!), so I've been having trouble getting on and staying online (dial up - ARGH!!).
I've been asked if we've firmed up plans for the AK trip....well....sort of. Our plan of flying round trip from Bangor, Maine to Anchorage, AK has stayed the same. Our flight dates are still tentatively May 26 to June 15. I've not booked our flights yet...I was going to do it last week, but my isp decided to be a pain in the butt (knocking me offline every 5 minutes). This week I have no excuse except procrastination. We have definitely decided to rent a motorhome instead of staying in motels and renting a car. Though we'll take our chances at finding campground sites, it will give us much more freedom to roam around. It will be a tad bit more expensive, but we feel it will be worth it....no scheduling motel changes.....no eating every meal in a restaurant...no packing and unpacking 5 or 6 times. Neither of us really wants to eat out all the time...and since I'm the one that does all the booking and packing, it's a definite plus for me!
Now that we have a newer dependable vehicle and our finances are more stable, we will probably be making trips to Ed's dad's in VT more often than in the past. We used to only go about 3 times a year (it's an 8 hour trip), but want to go more frequently. Also, Ed wants to be able to give his siblings a break from helping dad, who is not only dealing with chemo, but also hurt his knee, so isn't very mobile right now. We've planned our next trip for Feb. 24. We'll probably stay the whole week, so should be able to take care of all sorts of stuff that others don't have time for.
On the crocheting front, I went great guns for a few weeks, starting and finishing several projects.....then....splat.....the muse took a nap. Sheesh. And here I am in the middle of trying to make a bolero for my DD's babysitter's eldest DD - I already did things for the two younger ones....and if I don't finish it soon, they won't be able to wear them this year, as they're all in NC!!! So...here's hoping I can wake my muse soon.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Getting started...and getting to know me
Blog? Ok...if everyone else can do it, so can I. I'm really good at rambling, so I'm sure I can do this....heh heh heh. So.....I've set all my settings and changed a few font colors....and set up my profile. Later I'll tackle seeing what else I can do!
Because I spend most of my time here in the house, I say "I have no life".....strangely, when I do get out and around, weird things happen to me....so, you may find it boring here a lot of the time......but expect the unexpected!!!
Ok...for those who don't know me, I guess I'll do a brief intro (and if you know me, you KNOW I can't be brief!!!). I was born in this area, and though we moved away from it when I was small, it has always been "home" to me. I grew up and married a transplanted Vermonter......we moved around the state a bit and raised our only child. About 10 years ago - several years after our kid was grown and gone - DH and I decided to get away from the "ratrace" of southern Maine and moved back to this area about 10 years ago. It has it's ups and downs - we put up with the "cons" to be able to enjoy the "pros".
Last year was a hard one emotionally for us - my husband lost his mom, an aunt and 5 uncles in 2006. 2007 didn't look as though it was going to be much better, but it's looking up now. Hubby was hurt on the job on Christmas day, but he's nearly back to full capacity, so we can throw that out the door! And though his dad is now undergoing cancer treatments, we're staying upbeat and confident that he will beat this!!! We just got a new-to-us car, so I am able to get out and about again - WOO HOO! And....this summer we're going to be able to realize hubby's lifelong dream of fishing in Alaska.....ya can't beat that!
That's it for now....
Because I spend most of my time here in the house, I say "I have no life".....strangely, when I do get out and around, weird things happen to me....so, you may find it boring here a lot of the time......but expect the unexpected!!!
Ok...for those who don't know me, I guess I'll do a brief intro (and if you know me, you KNOW I can't be brief!!!). I was born in this area, and though we moved away from it when I was small, it has always been "home" to me. I grew up and married a transplanted Vermonter......we moved around the state a bit and raised our only child. About 10 years ago - several years after our kid was grown and gone - DH and I decided to get away from the "ratrace" of southern Maine and moved back to this area about 10 years ago. It has it's ups and downs - we put up with the "cons" to be able to enjoy the "pros".
Last year was a hard one emotionally for us - my husband lost his mom, an aunt and 5 uncles in 2006. 2007 didn't look as though it was going to be much better, but it's looking up now. Hubby was hurt on the job on Christmas day, but he's nearly back to full capacity, so we can throw that out the door! And though his dad is now undergoing cancer treatments, we're staying upbeat and confident that he will beat this!!! We just got a new-to-us car, so I am able to get out and about again - WOO HOO! And....this summer we're going to be able to realize hubby's lifelong dream of fishing in Alaska.....ya can't beat that!
That's it for now....
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