BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY! CRISIS RESOLVED!

Hooray! For several years now I have been having an on-going battle with our special Star Trek Hallmark ornaments. They are not "new". New strings of lights do not accomodate their plugs. It all came to a head in the last thirty-six hours, requiring an early morning trip to Wally World to look for new lights to try. Found some lights that lit, but not after trying to put the ornaments into them. HARUMPH!

So I sent out an S.O.S. to our daughters and any Geek Squad and Nerd Herd friends for help. Shortly, and almost simultaneously, I received a phone call from Nurse J and an email from Bikini, both saying they had found adapters online. I checked it out. Just what I had been asking for! My spirits lifted! They were Hallmark brand! I was impatient! To heck with waiting for ordering and shipping! I started calling all the stores in our area. Evidently I am not the only person on earth with this problem. The responses were "I'm sorry, we're sold out." I found one store that had eleven. I said I'd take them all and be there shortly. However, this store is far enough away that it would be necessary to go by way of the interstate. On a Saturday. With heavy shopping traffic. Those of you who know me, know this is not optimum. (for those of you who don't know me, I was in a bad accident a little over nine years ago and don't care for driving on the interstate or around large trucks) Fortunately, Nurse J lives close, was on call today, and has two cells phones for her work to reach her and she offered to drive me.

So, in a matter of minutes, we were off. Got the adapters. Even bought Christmas cards since they were on sale already! Who knew! Then, as soon as I got home, I took a deep breath and thought good thoughts and started installing adapters. And the stars above were happy and all the ornaments lit, blinked, spoke and wished us a "Merry Christmas!" Even the Borg cube hanging next to the Vermont Moose family!

So all is well! Crisis is resolved. I have less stress. And we have another new ornament on the tree, too. I just couldn't resist buying Captain Kirk's communicator for Golfer!

As Bikini has so eloquently put it, she comes by her geekery honestly in light of my Star Trek crisis. There's something to be said for heredity.

More later.... Stay safe and "make it so!"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving, whether you are feasting today or later in the weekend!

I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. this morning to get up, do my exercises and then start preparing the turkey. Even though the turkey had been moved to the refrigerator Sunday evening, it still had to float in cold water for about an hour so I could get the giblet bag removed. The morning was spent watching the Macy's parade and cooking. Nurse J, Cable Guy, and BeyB came over and we all ate about 12:30.

Everything is all cleaned up now, dishes are washed, and I have been moving boxes of Christmas decorations out of the closet in the back room. Golfer is setting up the tree soon so I can start decorating tomorrow. The furry kids are quite excited by the boxes. (new things to get into!)

Bikini called this afternoon. They are all fine. They were on the way to the large family dinner at her in-laws' home. Brief has a large family and it's an annual gathering. They will be coming here to spend Christmas with us this year.

I have frequently thought about posting a message since the last one, but just didn't get to it. We are fine. I had an appointment with my orthopedic doctor. After looking at new x-rays, he thinks my foot is starting to heal okay and the bone is now growing around the screw. I go back in two months.

It's been cold here. There have been a few little flurries of snow, but not enough to stick. We spent last weekend raking leaves and cleaning up the yard. Golfer had to mow the grass again.

Other than that, I've just been busy with the usual stuff that needs doing at this time of the year.

If any of you are going shopping tomorrow, be careful! I will be staying at home enjoying the Christmas decorations. There are many happy memories in those boxes - antique ornaments, things from other countries and other places where we have lived, things that family members have made for us. I will post some pictures after I'm done and things are cleaned up.

Onward!

Finally! Sunshine Today!

Hooray! After a couple days of unhappy weather - to include lots of rain, wind, thunder, tornado watches, warm temperatures and such - today it's Fall again. The sun has been out, it's twenty-five degrees cooler than yesterday, and moods are better! At least mine is!

This was the weekend for the Military Invitational golf tournament at Golden Horseshoe in Willliamsburg. Golfer and a friend were all ready. Friday's practice round was soggy and miserable. Saturday was completely rained out. So they had a one day tournament today, and were given a voucher to play another round when they choose. They are not home yet. I hope it was a good day.

Since golf was rained out and Golfer came home early yesterday, he said he'd work on the bedroom painting that I started last weekend. So we got all the stuff gathered up and went to work. It's all done! We both like it and are satisfied. Here's a picture of Golfer while we were waiting for the paint to dry so the bed and headboard could be moved back into place. Those of you who have been in our house know that the furniture is large and heavy and not easy to move, so we didn't want to do it more than once.

(Please disregard the camera date. The rechargeable batteries completely died. The new ones don't work, I have switched to lithium ones, and the date stays messed up)

UPDATE! Golfer called and said play was long. Had a good time. They came in third in their flight. Yea!

I have spent most of the day working on the new drapes and curtains. I had some issues picking them out when I bought them. The fabric I liked that was the right color didn't come in drapes with the right dimensions. So I ordered extra long panels and went to work. The panels had to be shortened and altered to use drapery hooks and the valances needed to have the rod pockets enlarged. Everything needed to be pressed. But they're done, I like them. I still want to make two small pillow covers. And I have some material for Bikini, who offered to make us a coordinating quilt.

In other news, I took all three furry kids to the doctor for their yearly check-ups and shots. All are okay and all are speaking to me again. :)

Golfer and I had our flu shots this past week, so we're all set.

That's about it for now. Take care and stay safe. Onward!

WOO-HOO! I CAN STILL PAINT!

Hey, all!

I can still do some painting. It's been a long time since I tackled something like painting a room. Strength, stamina and joint issues have kept me from trying. But those of you who know me personally ought to know that if I want to do something, I'll figure out a way to try. This is a personal family trait that my niece and I recently discussed. It's in our genes. My 99-year-old mother has it. My 79-year-old sister has it. And I'm pretty sure Nurse J and Bikini have inherited some of it! Some people over the years have called it extreme stubbornness. But hey! It's who we are!

Golfer and I discussed the project and decided I would do what I could and he would do the rest and we would get it done. I really like painting. There's something about a nice fresh clean wall. It's peaceful.

So this morning before he left for a round of golf on his day off Golfer moved some of the furniture for me. I've been taking my time and been very careful, working at my own pace. I had bought the highest quality Sherwin Williams latex paint - appropriately called "Retiring Blue" (very pale blue). It's the environmentally safe kind (so they say) and there is very little odor. And I am happy to say I have just cleaned up for the day and we now have about 1 1/3 walls drying, except for a strip about a foot wide all around the top of the wall. I did everything I could reach without using a ladder. I think it will be very pretty when it's done. And then I can work on getting the new drapes and bedding in place.

There was hard frost in some areas of Virginia last night. I didn't see any in our yard. The sun has been out and it warmed up enough that it's pretty nice out, although cool.

Please keep some good thoughts and prayers, if you are a believer, for several of our family members. It seems like health issues abound right now.

Stay safe and onward we go!

Just "HI!"

Today started out a lovely sunny Fall day. Golfer left to meet his golf buddies for a round. I left to go do a few errands. I am pacing myself when out shopping because of my healing foot, so I had set the limit at three or four stops. I was on the way home when the sky opened up and the rain fell. Golfer soon returned home from the golf course soaked. More laundry followed. The last of it is in the dryer as I type. And the sun is out again now.

Cinder has spent many hours recently watching out the back window. I think she's fascinated by the lovely gold and yellow leaves floating around outside.

While I was downloading Cinder's pictures, I came across this one of Hermione and Cecil. I call it "Togetherness". They both like to have the warm seat when we get up from the desk chairs.

I hope you're all having a good weekend! Stay safe!

Hey! Things Are Looking Up!

The blizzard is still blowing out West. The hurricane is still blowing around to the South. But here the sun is out, things are drying out, and it's about 72 degrees. I just came in from sitting on the deck with a good book. Thought I'd better check our email. And what do you know, we had a message from one of the local radio stations - they have started their non-stop Christmas music - all day, every day! I have it playing now, because I just had to check it out.

And speaking of Christmas music - does anyone else remember "Willie Claus, Little Son of Santa Claus"? You'd think with all the music the stations play every year I'd hear it sooner or later. But no, not once, ever.

Now playing - "Rudy, the Red Nosed Reindeer" by Dean Martin! I always liked him. Wish he was still around. And Perry Como always had a good Christmas special every year when I was a kid, too.

Anyone else remember Mr. Jing-a Ling on TV? He was always on Captain Penny's afternoon show every Christmas. (Cleveland, Ohio area)

Ah, well, enough nostalgia for now. Stay safe and have a great weekend!

Ummmmmmmmm. . . . . . . . .

It is the 6th of November. It's been dark, cloudy, rainy, and windy here in Virginia for a few days. There is a major blizzard out West. To the South there is a hurricane brewing. What message should we be getting??? If I hear about hell freezing over I'm going to stock up on supplies in a hurry!

Take care!

The Vote Is Cast

It could have been worse. I was in line a little after 6:00 a.m. - after hunting a parking space for at least ten minutes! The well monitored and well directed line was a serpentine type so as many people as possible were under cover and not getting soaked from the predicted all-day rain. Total voting time was about an hour and forty-five minutes. Then it was off to Starbucks for my free cup of coffee and then home to put my foot up for a while before going to work.

Traffic in our area is heavy, especially so around polling places.

Nurse J called to check on me and said it took her less than an hour to vote. She goes to a different location.

Golfer voted early/absentee since he's on a TDY trip. In Virginia, we don't have "early" voting but just absentee. Bikini says she and Brief voted early in Georgia. Our relatives in Ohio can also vote early if they choose.

Don't let this discourage anyone from heading to the polling places. Go vote! (unless you're for the other candidates!) :) Like they say - if you don't vote, you shouldn't complain! Onward!

Some Miscellaneous Stuff and Ramblings

It's a dark, damp day here in Virginia today. After going to work and then going to the "Y", I have been catching up on some odds and ends.




This is BeyB on Halloween ready to go ring doorbells!



And here is the elusive, timid Cecil. (it's like trying to take a picture of a little unco-operative kid! Notice the squinty eyes!)


















Some wonderings:



Don't they teach the meaning of the yield sign anymore in drivers' training class?




Why are some grown women always surprised and complaining that the floor is wet in the shower and pool area at the "Y"?





Why can't manufacturers package electronic products in something that won't rip your skin apart when you try to open them?

If fruit has to be individually labeled, couldn't they use something that doesn't take the peel off when you remove the label?


This is the Thanksgiving decoration that Bikini gave us. I think he's cute!

And this is the front of the house after cleaning the plants up a little yesterday.

And..... WOO-HOO! I filled up Duke's (the Mustang) (yes, I like to name our cars) gas tank this morning on the way to work for $1.95/gal.!! Thanks Nurse J for the "heads up" on that!

Stay safe! Onward we all go! AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

One Holiday Done, More to Come!

I hope everyone had a nice Halloween and didn't overdose on left-over candy! We didn't seem to have as many trick-or-treaters here this year; but we had a decent bunch. No one was too rowdy. Of course, the home owners' association called in extra security for the evening, and publicized it, so maybe the rabble rousers went elsewhere.

You can check out adorable pictures of Boxer and Bloomer on Bikini's blog. BeyB dressed up as an ice cream cone and was cute, too. If I can, I will post a picture of her soon. Of course, I think all of them are great!

The Halloween decorations have been put away and a few Thanksgiving ones put out. I am in the midst of Christmas preparations. I do not currently have the strength or stamina to do heavy duty shopping due to my foot, so I have been shopping in short bursts. You know, like where I can park by the door closest to where I want to go in a store and just do the one store that day. Several gifts need to be shipped and I like to get those ready early. Right now I am at the point of having a large pile of things still in bags that need to be sorted and wrapped.

My foot is progressing. I wear the special boot fewer hours each day and am getting along okay. It's nice to be able to get back in the pool at the "Y". I missed that. Hopefully the screw will hold the bones together and all will mend just fine. I am being careful.

So Fall is in full swing, the leaves are starting to change color here, time has changed and it's dark early. The squirrels and birds ate all my decorative corn outside, and Cinder managed to knock over two vases of flowers that were on the fireplace mantle. Cecil did his part by grabbing a flower and dragging it away. Hermione had enough sense to get out of the way. In the grand scheme of things - all is normal and all is well.

I would like to say a big thank you to God now for watching over me. Nine years ago - November 2, 1999, at about this time of the evening, I was unconcious in a crushed car out on I-64. Eighteen-wheelers not paying attention can do that to a person. So on a happy note - Yea, God! Thanks!

I will sign off now and try to keep the annual heebie jeebies in check. No driving for me this evening. Stay safe!