Friday, March 29, 2013

Nothing new, thanks.

Both the desktop PC and the Apple Macbook are giving me fits these last few weeks.  Both of them have gotten so slow, I'm nearly covered in spider webs waiting for a connection.  This is the desktop, and up until yesterday it refused to even connect at all.  DH went online with the error message and found a downloadable fix; all I had to do was figure out how to get it when I can't connect.  Finally succeeded.  It reminded me of the braille instructions on the ATM in the drive-up lane.  A puzzle.

The jury duty for DH is dragging on and on, and he is peeved.  Today would have been day 4, but one of the attorneys was in the ER today, so no court.  The immediate thought was, "ambulance chaser"  but that is unfair (I guess) since even lawyers can get sick just like real people do.  So next week the jurors have to come back, luckily on Tuesday since I rescheduled my therapist to Monday.  Again.  I hate to drive at all, but her office is especially difficult to get in and get out.  In my opinion.

We put up a squirrel feeder and a bird feeder on the weekend, and so far have had to fill the birdfeeder twice.  And yet we never see more than one or maybe two birds on it at a time.  *Somebody* is eating all that seed, and where are the squirrels?  I think we need to move the squirrel feeder over near the tree.  I know some people go to great lengths to protect their birdfeeders from squirrels, but we enjoy watching them and their antics.  We have 3, I think, in a group.  When I worked, I always parked in the same spot and the tree in front of the car shaded the car (a + in the summer) and made a home for a friendly squirrel.  I brought nuts to it (mostly peanuts) and it would come to the base of the tree waiting for them, but never too close.  Eventually it came no more, but it was a bit of sunshine for several years.

Bumper sticker for the day:  "Don't rush me!  I'm waiting for the last minute."

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Breaking news: Puxsutawny Phil fired!

Once again old man winter paid us a call, dropping 6 inches overnight on Sunday.    Today it is 39 and the snow is beating a retreat, hopefully for the season.  It's spring, dammit!

DH is off today doing his civic duty (jury duty).  Hope it is nothing too lengthy, here trials are usually only one day.  I have been on jury duty several times over the years, although some of the trials were boring in the extreme.  I discovered that 10 jurors will vote for conviction, and 2 will vote for lunch.  The last one I was on, I said, does anyone think this guy is innocent?  And there was a pause, and no one spoke a word.  He was accused of forging his mother's signature and selling his mother's house while she was in a nursing home, and using the money to buy a bar.  Not the brightest of the bright.  The man who bought the house was particularly steamed.

The week after next I see the oncologist for a check-up.  Outwardly I am composed and inwardly I'm anxious and dreading it.  I don't know what he's actually looking for, I just had a mammogram and all was clear; I can only assume it is for the blood work, to make sure my liver is up to the mark.  I could, of course, ask, but am afraid of getting an answer I don't want to hear.  How weird is that?   No logic for cancer survivors.

My very best friend is coping with a diagnosis that is more critical than mine (hello S) and it is hard to be on this side of the of the equation.  I'm sending out Hugs and thoughts of wellness every day, and if worry would fix everything then she would be mended right now.  If only tears were at least good for the complexion...

The horses are being especially obnoxious these days.  Maybe (the mare) bit DH a few days ago, and Willie kicked #1 son in the butt.  They have been cooped up in the barn until the footing outside is not slippery and gooshy; they will surely kick and run all around when they get out, and these senior citizens do not need to slip and fall.  A little discipline  would make a miraculous improvement in their behavior, like lunging, but the footing is too poor for that as well.  This winter has been a long one, with few nice days at any time.

 That is it for now, I will try to keep up with this blog a little better.  It is hard, when the every day is like the previous ones...

Bumper sticker for the day:  "Wrinkled was not of the things I wanted to be when I grew up"







Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Here I come (again)

Goodness, Has it been that long since my last post?  Well, it was due to life that needed to be caught up.

I have been knitting an afghan, it is 60% done, not counting the final crochet on the edges, and I am pretty pleased with it so far.  I knitted only one before this.  It is supposed to be "beginner simple" I will see after I begin braiding the panels together.

Spring is almost here, and I am desperate to get some sunshine and warm temps.  The horses have been kept in the barn with only a few outdoor trips in the last 3 months, because the footing in the paddocks is too slick and glue-y and I fear a sudden fall and and a broken leg.  Willie is 22 and Maybe is 20 this summer.  They were born here, I missed Willlie's birth (drat that mare) but saw Maybe's.  After she was born I slowly followed the instructions for imprinting the foal, gently handling her feet and head.  It went well, I thought, until 24 hours later when she wouldn't even peek around mom and no way would she be touched.  Willie was friendly and interested from the start.  The difference between them is the same now as it was then, although her intensive emergency handling at the trainer's  when she was two at least let her be haltered and brushed.  (I didn't know any horse alive that didn't love grooming.)  His secret weapon was peppermint candy and a lot of patience.  I would have sold her if she had not calmed down.

All of our feline beasts are doing fine, touch wood, so our vet bills haves gradually been retreating from the breathless levels of the winter.  Most of the scars from dosing them have faded too.

The Newfy dogs are OK too, although pretty smelly.  To cold for baths, though.  Now if I could keep them from drooling...

I passed my 2 year check up with no problems (breast cancer), I am good until July.   My scars there are fading too.  In my mind though, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, doing a  breast check every time I shower.  I know it is redundent, and that the first one was found from a mammogram, but I can't seem to quit.  Maybe with more time I will feel more secure.

I have apparently solved my problem with weird comments on this blog.  As near as I can tell, they were posted and then erased after a few hours.  A mail drop?  Anyway I added word verification and banned anonymous comments, and I haven't gotten one for weeks.

All for now..
Bumper sticker:  "You can tell Monopoly is as old game because there's a luxury tax and rich people can go to jail."