I Am

As usual, the picture has nothing to do with the post

The bridge spans a koi pond built by my brother-in-law after his retirement. The little boy is the youngest son of a nephew's girlfriend. As we tend to do, we have absorbed them into our family with no questions asked and plenty of love. That is our way.

No prejudice. Well, I try anyway. I have fallen victim to laughing at a politically incorrect joke from time to time. Mostly in my younger years when I wasn't strong enough to stand up to other people. Then I went through a phase where I challenged those that told the jokes. Now I am at the stage where I don't laugh, I ignore them - they get no reaction from me and I don't waste my time with them.

I watched "Invictus". Before posting about the movie, I wanted to research it. To get my facts straight. Okay, that was three hours ago. Yes, folks. I have been reading about Nelson Mandela, Winnie, apartheid, South Africa and the poet William Ernest Henley for the past three hours. C'mon! You should know me by now. I'll do anything to get out of housework and yard work.

Poet Henley brings me to the title of my post. "I Am". This can get complicated. I started with Nelson. I continued with apartheid, read a little on Winnie (she just scares me) and South Africa. Then I started on the poem by Henley. During the movie when the poem was read in the back ground I wondered to myself, "Hmmm. I wonder what the name of that poem is?" Silly me.

I googled almost every line of the poem. Come to find out that none other than the coward T McVeigh used the poem to express himself. Forget him. Well, don't forget him and what he did but forget the fact that he thought himself a hero.

The religious undertones of the poem were an interesting read. Many folks deciphered the poem that Henley was an atheist or at least in my opinion an agnostic. Some folks say that he had to know that "I Am" is Hebrew for "God". Interesting.

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Well, I wonder if Neil Diamond knew that when he wrote his song? The article does mention this reference when speaking of Jan Rot's version.

Regardless, the poem is powerful and inspiring in my book.

During my research, I came to remember other African movies full of strife that I have watched over the past couple of years. Three came to mind, "The Country of My Skull (In My Country)", "Blood Diamond" and "The Last King of Scotland". In My Country is set during the apartheid, the other two are different countries altogether.

Sigh. It is time. Time to clean. My daughter is bringing a new boyfriend to the house today. Gee, I hope he likes dogs.

Oops. Almost forgot. Had a wonderful reunion with sister 1954 last evening. My daughter, myself, sister and my nephew sat and talked for two hours after dinner (much to the dismay of the waitress and waiter-in-training). Everything was perfect except for my daughter's undercooked salmon. Twice! We sent the first one back and when the second one came, she was satisfied with just eating the edges which were done to a perfect flakiness and just left the thick soupy middle.

We did a lot of catching up, and took some "horrible" pictures which are not worth posting - the restaurant was very dark (probably so people wouldn't notice the undercooked food). I am now facing another very, very rainy day in the Ohio wetlands. My grass is definitely going to need a brush hog before I can get to it. Hey, wait! The daughter's new beau works in landscaping - you think? Nah! Do not go there! LOL!

I may as well throw this in, too. Since I am stalling. The electricity was off in my neighborhood for 7 hours yesterday. From 5:30 to 12:30. As the day wore on (with the monsoon making the day as dark as late evening) I noticed a stupid headache developing and not responding to my migraine medication. I was getting upset because I was really looking forward to this dinner we had planned. I even drank an alka-seltzer. At about 3:00 it dawned on me. Coffee! Caffeine withdraw. Idiot! After three cups of java and a nice hot shower I was back in form and ready to meet.

Support

My grand nephew had some support when he had his tonsils removed on Friday.

Electricity has been off here during the monsoons in Eastern Ohio the past few days. Trying to keep my head above water (figuratively). Many roads are closed in the area due to flooding. Not much time to post.

Meeting family for dinner in Roscoe Village tonight.

Calico beans

I start with a large can of baked beans. This holiday I used Bush's original baked beans. I brown a pound or so of ground beef. I drain the meat before I add it to the beans. I fry bacon until it is crispy and crumble it in. Two or three slices, the rest of the bacon I freeze or give to the dogs as treats all week long. They love it.

I add a cup and a half of brown sugar. 14 oz or so of ketchup. One teaspoon of mustard. I drain the rest of the beans. Kidney, butter beans, black beans, baby green limas - this makes it colorful and gives it the calico effect. I add more beans if I have them and until the crock is almost full. I save the juice from the rest of the cans of beans in case the mixture becomes dry and I need to add more juice. Refrigerate it until you need it. I rarely need it.

I slice a little bit of a sweet onion in there. I'll use a cooking onion sometimes if I don't have the sweet. Sometimes I omit the onion. Mix it all up in the crock pot and cook on low for four to six hours.

My apologies ahead of time for the after effects of bean eating.

lb

Little Brother

I got a lot of baby-time this holiday. It was blessed hot. We passed him around. I wouldn't let sister 1956 hold him until she wiped most of the deet (OFF) off of her arms. Hee, hee. Myself, I only put the stuff on my legs. So, I have five or six bites on my arms. Criminy!

My macaroni salad and calico beans went over very well. Not so for the salami pinwheels. Oh, well. I still had the Italian Sausages at home, but ended up sending that back with my nephew. I've had my fill of beans and hot dogs for a while.

It was very hard to get back into the work groove today. Tired and all. My alarm is messed up on my clock/radio/iPod player. Who knows what I did to it!? My cell phone alarm didn't work either (I set it as my backup). I must be losing my technological touch! Oh no! Good thing my mental alarm woke me up at 5:45.

Sister 1954 is home after her three-year lockup. Has it been that long? Sometimes it seems longer. I talked to her a little on the phone tonight. She is going about a million miles an hour. I told her to take it easy and rest. She wants to do and see and taste everything. I won't be able to visit with her until the week-end. If even then. I'll drive the 2 hours to see her if they can't meet me in the middle. She is tied to 180 straight AA meetings. Good grief!

The poppies blow

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row...

I give you the first two lines of the poem "In Flanders Fields" a poem by John McCrae. Thus inspiring another poem "We Shall Keep the Faith" by Moina Michael. Now, each time I see my poppies I will think of the fallen soldiers that created a life for us. For this I am eternally thankful.

Sweet!

I added fresh vidalia onions with green/red/orange and yellow peppers to the sweet Italian sausage in the crock pot.

On low for over 8 hours, they did cut like butter when you ate them. Not shown here is the spaghetti sauce that I added, nor the mozzarella cheese.

This was for my Saturday company - they loved it. Today I am taking salami pinwheels, cheese ball/tray with crackers and calico beans. Camera is ready!

All of them

I robbed both peony bushes and cut every bloom and stuck them in a huge vase with water and put them in my kitchen. On the stove. I had quite a few ants the first day and the daughter complained mightily but I stuck with it. Every hour or so I would go and smack the blooms. Some petals fell off now and again, but mostly about 5 ants would drop and I would squish, squish, squish.

My daughter says she hates flowers and the kitchen smells like beer. She always thinks fresh cut flowers smell like beer. What the heck? I put the flowers on the stove because the cats try to eat any live plants I bring into the house. Usually it is Jasper. I have not seen him even try this year. Wow. Maybe I can put them in the living room the next time? Eh - better not. I don't want them to knock the vase over in there.

They are mostly dead, now. The blooms I plucked and put in a vase. The poppies are really dropping off. Orange petals all over the lawn where they grow. I was able to finally lower the mower blades and get the grass to a shorter status. It took me all day Friday (in the heat I had to take many breaks). I ended up with five huge leaf bags full of grass clippings. I did not wear a hat, but I did take two wet wash cloths and folded them over my head and held them on with my headphones. I am not a fashion plate by any stretch of the imagination. And, I don't pretend to be.

I have my niece and nephew coming to stay Saturday for the week-end. I am fixing Italian sausage sandwiches in the crock pot. I brown sweet Italian sausages and move them to a crock pot full of spaghetti sauce with sliced sweet onions and green and red peppers. I'll make some macaroni salad, too. We will have our fill of hot dogs and hamburgers tomorrow at the family cook-out.

I love it when the sausages slow cook long enough to cut like soft butter when I serve them. I serve them on soft hoagie buns and top them off with mozzarella cheese. I might even bore you with pictures.

My daughter, her guy friend and I caught "Iron Man 2" at the theater the other night. Sometimes I make an exception and risk the noise and flashing lights. I had some earplugs but they hurt too much and I took them out. The flashing lights were awful. It was not as good as the first one. Not much "hero" story line in this at all. I do not like M Rourke but I have to admit - he played his part well. We went late on a week night and had the entire place to ourselves.

I thought that G Paltrow looked very good with a little color to her face. She was not so pale in this feature. I always enjoy S Rockwell, whether he is playing a bad guy or the funny sidekick. And I just gotta say this. Once. K Mara just creeps me out. And I did not mind Cheadle playing the role instead of Howard. I've let it go.

Hey there!

Here is sister 1956 holding the latest addition to our family.

Babies. A new life. A clean slate. Forming, adjusting. What a crazy world he is going to see, huh?

Come on!

Slade wants me to walk more, take pictures less

He is a patient dog, but he also gets quite irritated with me. Eventually he wanders off on his own, but he usually gets an attitude and won't come back when I call him. He gets so tired of me taking pictures of flowers. Even more so, he hates it when I take pictures of him.

I have this week off from work. My daughter and I drove a bit Friday evening checking out places that will install a chain-link fence. She is really pushing for one. I am pushing for pulling up the living room carpet and installing a wooden floor. My push will have to wait because we don't know what we are going to do with the huge, gargantuan organ in our living room. We can barely move it a foot or two. I don't know how anyone will get it out the door.

If I am going to apply for that job I was speaking of earlier, I am going to have to get my resume finished today because tomorrow is the deadline for turning them in. I am so nervous about it. A little bit worried about them not even considering me. That will be a sobering experience. More worried about them considering me, interviewing me, and offering me the position. Then I would have to make a decision. A life-altering decision. Isn't it so much easier to just sit back and let the deadline pass and take a big sigh and just roll with life? It would take a lot of energy to change positions. The new job would be a challenge. I don't know, I don't know.

Been seeing a lot of these

Seems like almost everybody has a purple or magenta rhododendron in their yard in my neighborhood. I can understand why. They are beautiful. I have always loved this flowering bush. I've considered trying to grow one myself but can never decide on the color.

The flowers that were here before I moved in were the orange poppies, the violet-red azaleas and the white moonflowers. Before I knew about them I purchased the two pink peonies, one on each side of my house. They are blooming great.

I added some red tulips (a huge favorite of mine) which really don't do very well. I added the blue hydrangea (but that is next to the patio, not the house). I wanted mostly orange flowers to contrast against the dark gray of the house, like the poppies - the color seems to "pop" out.

But my azaleas in the front of the house are a beautiful violet red. They would probably bloom in and around the same time and I figure that would look silly together. That is if I plant it in the front of the house. If I plant it on either side it would contrast with the pink peony. Sigh. Nobody would see it in the back of the house.

So, nothing gets planted. No rhododendrons, anyway. I'd better get out there and plant my moonflower seeds or I won't have any of them this year. Somehow I manged to delete them from the side of my house last year and only had them near the patio. I picked all the seeds off of them to save for this year.

First poppy of the year

And, of course, my shadow.

Peonies are coming along

With a little help from their ant friends.

I am so "sleepy" tired. Maybe it's the rain. I don't know. I think I slept all night. I remember a horrible dream, but that was early this morning. I was recovering from somebody cutting my right side with a saw. Hey, I just dream 'em, I don't try to figure them out. Well, yes I do, really. What does it mean? I have no idea with this one.

So, what did I accomplish this week-end? Before the rain? Not one page of a book! Not one sentence. Housework. Just clothes, kitchen and bathroom. So, what got done? Outside work! How could I forget I had a ton of outside work to do? And the weather was nice. My grass was so long, I had to use the grass catcher. That was a real hoot. The mulcher flap had not been lifted in years and I thought it needed a lever or something. Finally my daughter just gave it a good yank and it lifted up. Whew. I don't recall how many times I had to empty the bagger, but let's just say I waited too long on a couple of trips.

Then it hit me. While mowing I knew I was doing it. But, I kept going. Mowing is one of those things that if you stop you are afraid you won't get going again. It was hot out. It was sunny. Yep. I am sensitive to the sun. I am getting thin on top. (Not getting thin anywhere else, oh no!) But my hair is getting thin. This leaves my head exposed. I had my headphones on, but the wicked sun got me anyway.

The headache started Sunday night. I went to bed hoping I could sleep it off. Silly me! What a night that was. I made it to work on Monday (barely). The migraine meds helped a lot. After work I returned to the scene of the crime. Blankets were twisted up everywhere. There were wash cloths and towels strewn about.

During the night (Sunday) during a migraine, I get a wash cloth as cold as I can and put it against my forehead. To keep my pillow from getting soaked I lay a couple of towels on it. The wash cloth heats up faster than you can imagine. I had the fan blowing on me directly. I was at the foot of the bed, in the middle of the bed. Yep. It was a long night.

Anyway, I hope to have some pretty pictures of poppies and peonies here soon. The rain is coming down in buckets this morning. I have to take the dogs out in this, I don't feel like bringing a camera out, too.

Keeping score

Friday evening

Books 0
Housecleaning 0
Movies 1

Heh, heh. Watched Precious last evening. Mixed feelings. Myself, I would wonder why the girl didn't live with her grandmother, but I suppose that is the only way her Mother can get the welfare check (under the premise that Precious and Mongo live with her).

Not certain if I will read the book.

Bonding

Photo courtesy of sister 1944.

This tot above is my sister's second grandson. She is SO close to the first grandson that she felt (when the second was born) that she would not be able to bond with him. I think this latest photo she took of him will help.

I had to chuckle when she told me her fear. The first is always very special, but I am sure in no time at all she will be just as wrapped up in this one's life. Oh, yes.

The last time I was with him (a month ago) he slept the entire time or ate.

I am enjoying good coffee and relishing in the fact that this is Friday and I have NO plans for the week-end! Shhhh! I can't say it too loud, 'cause I will jinx it. Of course I plan to mow the grass, clean the house a bit and wash a mountain of laundry - but I mean no plans as in getting together and traveling anywhere. Ahhh.

Oh, oh, oh! I also have more books from the library. Oh dear. Will the house get cleaned? Will the grass get mowed? Or will the books get read? Ha, ha! Tune in on Sunday or Monday to see what wins. Evil grin.

On a side note, I had my annual evaluation at work yesterday. Stellar marks. Stellar! And, I also got a nice comment about how I have managed to turn things around (my sarcastic and caustic wit from about 4 years ago). My managers who evaluated me all agree that working with the co-worker that I had in my office for 8 hours a day would drive anyone over the edge. They all believe that she was the bane of my attitude and who knows? Maybe they are correct. I'll take it. I am getting great reviews, I am getting more responsibility (as in GOOD things to challenge me) and I am hoping to put all the ugliness behind me.

And with that, I'll add this. I am going to apply for another job the end of this month. It takes weeks for them to interview so I may not hear anything for a long time, but I am putting my heart and soul into it.

Sound strange? Yes, possibly. But, I don't shrug things off so easily. By this time next year I can just as easily be back on their sh!t list. I have watched them for 15 years. I am going to strike while (my) iron is hot.

My progressing field

My lily of the valley patch. I had to cut a huge rose of sharon bush (tree) down - you can see the stump just right of the center, a very light color stump.

This is one side of my garage facing the alley. I cannot really get my mower up close to the side of the garage (without marking up the side with the mower handle) so I would like my lily of the valley to grow all along the side. The rose of sharon was inhibiting this growth.

I want a field of them (like my neighbor who lives up the alley). They smell so wonderful when I walk my dogs past their yard.

Sable rolls

Sable never passes up a chance to have her back scratched. Here she is rolling around in the grass letting the rough ground scratch her back for her.

She was "feeling her oats" when we were outside on Monday. I noticed while walking her this morning (yes, I took them out an hour ago at 4:30 a.m.) that she walked slower and dragged her feet. Of course it could have been too early for her. I know it was for me.

Blame the boxer. He was the one that woke me up and I couldn't get back to sleep. Blah!

Which does not set me in the best of moods for today. I have scheduled a troubleshooting segment today for what I hate the most about my job. Video. I don't do this part very often. You know how I love to solve a mystery. Not this one. I could care less about choppy video or video with no sound. I am not sure why. Probably because it deals with people interacting. I like machines.

This got dropped into my lap when nobody else could get anywhere with it. It will go like this. Peruby will check the physical cables/machine/equipment. The school will tell me that they have had problems since the beginning of time. I mean since the beginning of the school year. So-and -so, and so-and-so have been working on it. The video gets better, and then the next week it is choppy again. It is self-healing, it is never ending. It is a mystery and it is frustrating. Nothing is consistent.

They want me to test when they are not in a session. This means I call some test sites and stay connected for two minutes looking at a wall somewhere in a building in Columbus. This tells me nothing. The wall doesn't move or talk. How the heck can I tell if the video is choppy? How can I tell if the audio is cutting out? Walls don't talk. At least not in my world. Yet. You cannot troubleshoot when twenty-five students are sitting in a room watching a live autopsy. I know! Talk about "choppy". Sorry.

What I really hate is you troubleshoot something for hours and hours and come to find out - oh, wait a minute. I will hear "We called another school (outside of my organization's network) and they are all having the same issue. It is something at the state level." In other words I could have worked until the cows came home and there would never be a solution. I am telling you, this is how it is going to end up.

Bah!

Their favorite new treat

The pups have a favorite new treat. Ice cubes. This photo makes me kind of sad. As I walked closer to get a better shot, Cheech looks at me very nervously as if I am going to take the ice cube away from him.

They love ice cubes. Poor Slade (the boxer). His mouth/teeth cannot pick up or handle ice cubes very well. He is usually left wondering what to do with it or gets his stolen by those crafty, sly, sneaky, thieving pups.

The party Saturday night was a huge hit. I managed to post 270 pictures and a great video of the birthday gal dancing a solo number. That takes guts but she can pull it off. (Nothing indecent!) I'll get some of the photos posted here in the next week or so.

I spent Mother's Day with a huge headache that got worse as the day went on. I ended up being physically sick by evening. My daughter was here and she did everything for me. Taking care of me here and there. Little did I know that she herself was getting very sick. She had a horrible night Sunday night and by Monday (since I was feeling much better) I was off to the store to get her the Popsicles, Italian ice, ginger ale, jell-o, Tylenol and applesauce. I spoke to her last night, she is still sick. My two questions are "Are you comfortable and out of pain?" She said she was and I told her to give me an update in the morning.

It has started to rain this morning. I did not get the grass mowed as I wanted to. I just did not have the energy last night. I felt wiped out. If I can trust the weather channel I may be able to get to the grass this week-end. Looks like we have rain predicted every day this week. Sigh.

I am enjoying my job right now. I have some wonderful activities that are keeping me occupied and happy. What does the future hold with the new arrangement? Time will tell.

I always feel like.....

...somebody's watching me.

LOL! Can you see him? The song "Somebody's Watching Me" was a hit for Rockwell in 1984. While taking the dogs on a walk this morning I grabbed my camera. This is the field where I used to let the dogs run. Now there is a "NO TRESPASSING" sign near the entry way into the field. They caught onto me and no more free range for us.

I've seen this critter perched here before. I was not aware he was there when I snapped this photo of him, but I have many more pics where I just focused on him once I saw that he was watching us.

I have a busy day today. I have to make 3 cheese trays and 3 cheese balls, wrap the gifts and take them to the party tonight. It starts at 4 and is an hour's drive away for me. I am the official picture taker tonight. I wanted to warm up a little with the camera. The dogs chewed my wrist strap. I am missing that.

I helped to decorate last evening at the hall. It is very nice and I'll have pics to show you. It was so humid and hot, though. Somebody finally turned the air on before we left. I am thinking even though it will be chilly tonight we are going to need that A/C.

Stalled

I wish this bush bloomed for three months and grew in my living room. Wait. Not three months, I'd probably get real tired of it. Regardless, it should definitely bloom for longer than it does. All the science and horticulture - can't they (whoever "they" are) create a lilac that will last longer?

I am tired of dogs. I am tired of poop. Hey, I am tired. Just plain tired. I was in a meeting yesterday and (of course) I didn't sleep well the night before. I believe I am having pre-menopause symptoms. Big time. It didn't help any that I get the AARP card membership in the mail this week. Thanks. Now I am really dragging and feeling tired.

Anyway, I ended the day with a slight headache. Not intense, just enough so that it was not responding to OTC medication. I chalked it up to being overly warm, dehydrated and lack of sleep. Any or all of the above. I turned my air conditioner on, drew a huge glass of ice water and sat down in my t.v. chair. I caught the movie "Strangers in Good Company".

Oh my, was it good. Since I knew they were not really stranded (because of the cameras) I could not get over how "real" their facial images and remarks were. I don't believe these ladies were real actors, either. Come to find that a lot of the lines were ad-libbed. I really enjoyed it. I did doze off now and again and I missed the beginning but I hope to catch it again sometime.

I had a gazillion things to do. I did nothing. A friend called and I agreed to help decorate for Saturday's party on Friday evening. (A big milestone birthday for a close friend). That leaves tonight. Tonight for me to get everything done that I need to get done. Oh, mea culpa!

Coming Up

We are starting to plan our second annual reunion. We don't feel the need to travel down to West Virginia this spring to scope out a spot. The spot is the same as last year. We are going to have an ice breaker the evening before the event, though.

The food, my God, the food! As you can see, we are big eaters. No alcohol. I'm not sure, but the night before may be drinks - I didn't think about it. Not sure if it is in a social hall that allows alcohol or not.

The entire family and booze do not mix well. There are bound to be plenty of fights if alcohol is involved. Best we leave that out of it, but I can't control that many people. We do well enough choosing a park that does not permit the stuff. Now, for my patio party of 40 and less, I can serve alcohol and control the people. I have certain family members who do not drink that would be there to help me and though I may be the youngest in my immediate family I can whip their asses. Ha, ha! Right! Actually I have thrown men twice my size out of a house. They run from me. They were not related to me, though. I was a real peach when I drank whiskey, let me tell you. Most people had to tell me what I did and it was not pretty. I was a mean drunk.

So most of us - if we can't drink - we eat. Trade one addiction for another. I am so glad my drinking days are over. Or appear to be. We never know when that monster will rear it's ugly head again.

Just as my shoulder is healing, I decide to mow last evening. I had to take a break in the middle, but I finished it. My shoulder did not bother me one bit.

My boxer followed me into the bedroom when I got home from a hair appointment this evening and as I bent down to pat him on the head and give him a little lovin' he decides to jump up and onto the bed. He didn't make it. His hard head hit my jaw bone directly under my right eye. I thought he had busted it.

I cursed at him and fell onto the bed. He sulked away. I felt bad and of course it isn't broken, but that is the third time I have had a hard collision of some sort with him. Holy cow!

I certainly hope there is no mark on my face tomorrow. I have a big regional meeting and I have to be there. I can see me trying to explain a big bruise or red mark on my face to people. I am always getting cuts and bruises on my arms because of clearing the yard and brush and rough housing with my dogs. Sigh. Whatever.

Nope. No mark or bruise. It barely hurts now.

Now, to go make it up to the sorry, sad pooch. He is a lot like Eeyore. He is! He hangs his head down (droopy like) and sulks just like the donkey.

Giving them some sunlight

At the back of my garage are some little bluebell flowers. They don't have much of a chance because the rose of sharon is out of control. This is why I was trying to chop them down - so the less fortunate (weaker) plants could have more of a chance.

Like in life. The American way. Helping out the weaker ones so that they can have a better future.

My plant trimming is all on the back burner now that I hurt myself. Maybe by next week I can resume. Maybe I'll buy myself an electric hedge trimmer or something that will cut it easier. It's holding the device up that hurts. I try to run the weed trimmer, but gave up on that also. That upper arm strength. Bah!

Maybe I should start lifting weights.

Rain this week-end. I worked on indoor stuff.

My life is still an out of control circus.

I got a little further into "The Blind Side". I am skipping the football stuff. Boring!

I watched the derby yesterday, but just couldn't get into it. The show was too long. By the time the race ran, I was tired of it all. I think that they are entering horses in teams, three from one owner and set it up so that two of the team take out a contender so that the third member of the team can get ahead. That is what it looked like to me.

No movies to comment on except a television one - the 2005 version of "Little House on the Prairie". I caught this one the other day and watched most of it. Loved it. Did not get to see the beginning, caught it somewhere in the middle.

I slept more than 10 hours last night (I know!), so I am not very sleepy, yet. I have no idea when that kind of sleep is going to hit me. Like Thursday night I slept about 3 hours and could not get back to sleep, but when I saw the clock read 9:45 this morning I could not believe my eyes. It isn't medicine induced. I took nothing yesterday, such as muscle relaxer or Advil p.m. or anything. Who knows?

Some folks say "You must have needed it" - well, I just tried not to think of the migraine monkey today. It didn't happen. Usually after a long sleep I will get one.

So now we have May. Lily of the valley. Another batch of plants I am trying to get going in my yard. Not doing so well. Up the alley from where I walk the dogs, a house has some big pine trees in their back yard. Underneath the grass doesn't grow so well and they have a thousand lily of the valley plants blooming there. They have just started blooming but I can smell them when I walk past. It is the type of flower if you smell just one or two you think "big deal" but when you see a whole batch of them - the smell is quite heavenly.

All right. I guess I'll go to bed. 5:00 comes quickly and I know I won't want to get up. Ugh!

One more movie review...

One more movie review. I had missed this one or did not watch it in it's entirety. "Legends of the Fall". Oh my. That was one depressing movie. Huh. I just reserved the book version through my library. This is way too easy. Another book is on it's way to my library for me to pick up. Just what I need. Or, a novella - there are three stories in this book, I guess. They say the author (Jim Harrison) punched this one out over a long week-end while he was stranded in his log cabin. I read that somewhere and now (of course) I cannot find where.

Dragging my feet

This display kind of creeps me out. It is from the Fireman's Pub where I met some family for dinner on Saturday.

I am dragging my feet this morning. I am going to work today. While walking the dogs I felt some twinging in the shoulders and neck area. I drove last night. Most everything I do uses that right rhomboid muscle. Holding the leash for the dogs, scooping kitty litter, driving, dressing, picking this up, picking that up, loading and unloading the dish washer. It is endless.

So, that is why I am going to work. To get away from work. A lot of you will relate to that remark.

I am also reluctant to return to work because my daughter has a friend staying for a couple of weeks and we have just been goofing off the past two days having "girl fun". It's been great. But all good things must come to an end.

I am also wondering if my painful situation soured my view of Avatar. For those of you who really love it you may (or may not) like this. New release of Avatar coming this summer. My nephew told me this after I talked with him about the movie. He loved the movie. Of course he is one of those that went at midnight when it first came out and saw it in 3-D or something like that.

I will say this much. I loved the blues of the movie and the glowing, beautiful plants. I wish I had seen that on the big screen.

I am not making much progress on my book reading. Darn it all! I have barely cracked "The Blind Side". I moved an extra computer back into my bedroom and am using that for myself. My daughter and her friend have taken up residence at my other computer desk area. Two laptops and my mammoth PC sit there. They are all wireless so the dogs cannot chew the cat5 cable that my other computers need to connect to the router. This one does, but I have the cable strung up so that they cannot reach it.

Oh, another reason for my strained muscle. My purse. Yep, it's too heavy. It hangs on my left shoulder causing significant strain on the right side. What to do, what to do. I am the type of person who carries a saddle bag. I need to have everything in my purse.

Sigh. Enough stalling. It is time to get ready and roll.

In pain

The Hibiscus syriacus has caused me immense pain the last 24 hours.

I awoke yesterday starting out just fine. Walked the dogs, drank some coffee, read some blogs, hopped in the shower. Well, I don't hop anymore - it's more like slide or glide in. I was almost done when I reached up to rinse off my razor in the shower and "slam" I was hit with a twinge in my right shoulder blade.

I immediately stopped what I was doing and waited for the twinge to subside. It did not. It got much, much worse. I manged to get out of the shower and drape a towel over my hair and get my robe on.

I was still hoping that this "twinge" would go away. With each step it became more evident that I had a problem. A debilitating problem. I began to curse under my breath.

I tried to continue, but had to wake my daughter up to comb my hair. By the time she was done I could barely walk. She helped me to the t.v. chair (laying flat was not an option) and began stacking pillows up around me. I had already taken the ibuprofen.

I could not get comfortable. Every breath caused a stabbing sensation in my right lung. She surmised that I had a collapsed lung. I pooh-poohed that suggestion and just hoped it was not a fast case of pleurisy. I have manged to keep that ailment away for some years now.

Warning: Movie spoiler alert! Skip next two paragraphs.

I called the doctor at 7:30, they could get me in at 11 a.m. To pass the time I asked my daughter to put in the movie "Avatar". Since the drug store was out of rented copies, I just bought one. I have heard so many good things about it. I fell asleep during the movie. If you have not seen it, I will tell you this. If you have seen "Fern Gully", "Spirit", "Surrogates" and any movie out there that has depicted how the white man literally bulldozed the native Americans - roll them into one movie and you have "Avatar."

Fern Gully carries the message of how the white man wants to destroy the habitat and does not care about the people or critters who live there. Spirit is a narrated story of a free spirit (parts of Avatar are narrated the same way). Surrogates gives us the scenario where a human goes to sleep and his brain is transported into another creature and he/she walks around feeling and experiencing life as that other creature. Please forgive me if I say I didn't care for the movie.

This movie is long. It helped to pass the time until my appointment. One good thing. At least I had my shower over with. I manged to get dressed (after a double dose of ibuprofen) and my daughter drove me to the doctor's office.

She (the doctor) examined me and determined it was my right rhomboid muscle. There is more to the injury than just the shower. I have decided to begin chopping up (or down) my hibiscus syriacus that has appeared to be taking over the back side of my garage and (if I don't get a grip on it soon) will begin to take over the back side of my house.

The previous evening I went through a frenzy of chopping these dastardly bushes down. I had my clippers and I was seriously angry (or frustrated). Two things contributed to the anger/frustration. It was raining that day. My boxer would not do his "business". The sissy marshmallow would not leave the back porch unless I pushed him off. If I waited on the porch he just hung his head low and stood in the rain giving me those sad eyes.

So, I grabbed the clippers and in the pouring rain began chopping bushes. This at least made him walk around a little bit. He was still being stubborn.

Warning! Movie spoiler alert. Skip the next three paragraphs.

Now, the second thing that made me angry (more frustrated). The movie "The Lovely Bones". Oh my. My daughter and her friend wanted to see it because they had read the book in school. It is the story of a 13-year-old girl who gets raped and murdered by a man that lives in her neighborhood. Through the movie the girl is caught between worlds. In the between world she narrates certain events. She tells of all the young girls this serial killer has raped and murdered throughout his life. In her "between world" all the little girls come together and meet - they are all sweet and happy to see one another. But it hit home. This one man was responsible for almost a dozen lives lost.

Therein lies the anger and frustration. I could not watch the rape scene so I went outside. (My daughter paused the movie to wait until I returned - uh gee, thanks.) Anyway, they didn't show much - it is rated PG-13.

The killer looked very familiar and I finally guessed what actor he was. The girl was just fantastic. I had seen her in "The Atonement". All this with the help of imdb.com. My favorite movie site.

So, the clipping of the bushes (while angry) probably is the real culprit to my rhomboid muscle strain. That and possibly sitting at my computer desk for long periods of time.

I got some muscle relaxers. Blech! I hate those things. They give me a headache that will not respond to ibuprofen and made me feel very restless. I slept about an hour after taking one, and it did take care of the pain, but overall - I'll just stick with ibuprofen.

So today begins my second day off from work. I cannot drive a car. I cannot turn my head. I was supposed to meet my manger at some of my schools yesterday so the fiber optics company could scope out where and how they were going to set up their fiber connection. Drat. This is why I cursed under my breath. My manager didn't know where the wiring closets were. I'm sure they found their way but darn it all! I really needed to be there.

I can get comfortable in my t.v. chair with a heating pad and about 3 large pillows, 1 travel pillow and my neck pillow. I cannot live without my U-shaped neck pillow.

Now, I have been at the computer too long and it is starting to hurt. Ciao - until next time.

Gumballs

Photo courtesy of Sister 1956.

Post 1705

The lilacs are not the only thing blooming this week. My neighbor must treat his lawn with something because he does not have any of these that I can see. Harrumph!

I missed the marking of post number 1700, so 1705 will have to suffice.

Met some family for dinner tonight here.

Have a bit of a headache even if I only drank H20. I'll take some medicine and retire soon.

I receive a new recipe in the mail about once every two months or so. It comes in a postcard from my real estate agent. What has it been, seven years or more since I have seen this woman? How long will I keep getting these, I wonder? This recipe called for jicama. Never heard of it. I had to look it up. The dish does not sound good to me at all. It is called Grapefruit Vinaigrette salad. I don't believe I have eaten a grapefruit since I lived at home back in the early 80's.

Blah. I think I'll pass.

I have to think "What in the heck does a "grape" have to do with this sour fruit?" I researched and I guess the grapefruit cluster on their branches like a bunch of grapes. Okaaaay.

I have picked up the book "The Blind Side" that the library held for me. I started the first chapter. As in the movie, it starts out explaining some football moves. Not a fan. While there I picked up about seven books on managing people in business. I like to read it to see what people do wrong. Ha ha. Actually, with the first book it is more about realizing how I am under my own version of self deception.

Pouting

"You care more about that damn [camera (lilacs, fill in the blank)] than you do about ME!" Arrrrghh! What a baby!

Anyway, the lilacs are in (almost) full bloom and have my entire back yard and half of the front yard smelling wonderful.

Newest Addition

I almost typed "edition". This is the newest addition to our family. Finally his eyes are open.

No computer time. You would think that a house that has 3 computers and two laptops, that I would get more computer time? Uh, no.

For starters only the laptops and my "big" computer have wireless. Wireless is essential with chewing dogs.

My daughter has a friend staying for a couple of weeks so they have been using all the computer space/area/time.

It's all good. I'll live. I mean, really. I am on a computer all day at work. Of course I do not blog, or do personal things. I am not risking getting caught. I am not going to supply them with any ammunition to ever use against me.

Work has been a mixed bag of busy and sad. Some long time friends are retiring. Not direct co-workers, but people I have known and worked with for the past 15 years. Sigh.

Here is a slap in the face. This happens to a lot of folks, I know. A week ago, I told my manager that a device we have on our network should be able to do something we have been looking to purchase. (Remember the suicide incident?).

He gave me the password to the device and gave me the go ahead to look into it. I did a little browsing, but didn't have a lot of time. I would actually have more time next week and next month to really dig into it.

At a meeting yesterday another manager made an announcement to 25 of our school districts that he (and the manager I spoke with) were able to track school district's networks, blah, blah, blah. Exactly what I was supposed to be looking into and had told them the device was capable of doing.

Another rug pulled out from under my feet. I am so glad they figured out (on their own, right?) that we actually have had that capability for a long time. Grrrr.

Later, after the meeting he needed a phone number. I got it for him and gave it to him on a sticky note. He said "Thank-you." I wanted to say "For what? The phone number or the realization that the device can actually record the network flow of our clients' traffic?"

Double grrrr. Spilt milk. Whatever. Okay, griping session is over. Chin up. Grow up. Sit up and just be satisfied that as an organization we are capable of doing this service for our clients regardless of who figured it out. I'm still going to get in there and look at the feature. Just as soon as I have the time.

Jester

Heh, heh. I'm related to this one, too.

Wiggling toes

Like this little tyke I am not doing much today. I tried working outside but I just could not get into it. I got some of the 'Rose of Sharon' bushes cut down. They can take over, you know. It is darn cold out there.

A birthday party I went to yesterday was supposed to be held at the lake, it was changed to indoors because of the weather. Brrrr!

Actually the temperatures are normal for this time of year. It is just that we were so spoiled by the record-breaking warm temperatures a week ago that when we plunged back into the 40's we are crying like little babies.

I had this appetizer "Tropical Crab Rangoon" at the party and just devoured them. I am going to make some as soon as I get the chance. I won't do it unless I have a party/get together to go to or if I have people coming over. I'll certainly eat the entire batch myself and get ill.

We watched "Moon". I have really liked the actor S Rockwell since I saw him in "Galaxy Quest." What I found really interesting is the writer/director is the son of D Bowie.

We also watched "The Box." Creepy and I did not like the ending. It did have some jolting and strange incidents pop up in the movie that kind of kept you guessing.

Slipping Time

Time has slipped away from me

I had two training sessions at work this week. I mowed the grass (for the first time this year). I've been doing this and doing that. The week slipped away from me.

On a positive note, my bad mood seems to have lifted. I had a few deadlines this week and now that they are past, I can focus again on a handful of issues instead of that mountain I was facing for a month or so.

Equal Opportunity

Here are the black olives from Easter dinner.

Sigh. Yesterday got much, much worse. I was out with the dogs in the fresh air and I realized that this headache was not going away with OTC meds. Drat! Another imitrex? Or, generic imitrex, rather.

Yes. If I wanted to get to that birthday party. I tried the very, very hot shower. I moved slow. I lay back down after the shower. My pets hovered around me. "What are you doing?" I dozed on and off. I told my sister I would probably be late. She told me to stay home (in a nice way, LOL!) if I had a migraine. She gets them, too.

My daughter was coming over to watch the dogs for me. She had one hell of a night fighting with her boyfriend. It was all dramatic and tense. It set my headache flying again. She was crying. I listened. Finally, my head hurt too bad and I left for the party. It was breaking my heart to watch her.

I stopped at a store (not walletmart, yeah!) to get myself a new coffee pot. A migraine exacerbates little pet peeves. For starters, I hate shopping. I do like people, as most of you know from my previous posts, I will talk and joke with just about anybody.

This trip was much different. It started in traffic. Everybody was getting on my nerves. While turning into a parking lane, some lady was just sitting in her car (I think she was texting) - not in a parking space, but parked in the lane where everyone had to drive around her (once they made sure nobody was coming from the other direction). She is one of these drivers that makes me want to park my car. Get out and go up and bang on her window and scream 'What the f#&* are you doing?!' But, I didn't.

The lights were excruciating. I grabbed a buggy and it was buggy Nascar in there. You ever have one of those encounters where you are wheeling your buggy down an aisle and there is another shopper coming straight at you? I always try to steer to the right. I did. They steered to their left. I switched and so did they, again - and again! By this time we were getting pretty close to one another. We missed each other but I heard him make a remark to his wife. I was giving no eye contact and no response. Usually I would have smiled and joked about it. NOT today.

Of course I could not find the coffee pots. The only help I could find was a cashier at the very front of the store. And as typical of a horror story, the moment I ask her a question "Where can I find the coffee pots?" somebody (some idiot new employee with butter fingers, I am certain) decided to drop a metal pipe that must have been forty feet long onto the concrete floor of this massive home construction store. It echoed through the entire four counties all three times that I tried to repeat myself to the cashier." Where can I find the coffee pots?"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you."

"Where can I find the coffee pots?"

"Sorry." She gave me a bewildered look.

"Where can I find the coffee pots?" The echos were still resounding through the store. I sighed.

She motioned towards the sound. "Can't hear you."

Sigh. Finally, she was able to answer me. Of course! The coffee pots were all the way in the BACK of the store. So, back I go. Then there are the people who block an entire aisle. When I stop to browse or read something, I pull my cart in as close to my area as I can, thus leaving room for another buggy to get by. Not most people. Every aisle I tried to go down, had one or two people on one side of the aisle looking at something and their buggy would be stretched out (at an angled position) blocking the entire, frickin' aisle! I was livid. I was fuming. See? I despise migraines for doing this to me! It is no wonder older people can be so cranky. If they are always in pain, that is. And, I think most of them are.

And, that isn't the worst of it. If you are defeated and actually have to wheel up one of the blocked aisles, they don't notice you. I make as much motion and noise as I can before I get to them so that they have plenty of warning. I cannot believe people are so oblivious to their surroundings that they cannot see another shopper standing less than 2 feet away from them with a buggy, trying to pass. I REALLY have a hard time believing that people are this clueless to their surroundings. What must they be like on the roadways? I fidget and ahem. Then just say "Excuse me! May I pass?" Then they act like they are being inconvenienced. Arrgghh!

They were lucky I had a migraine and was moving slow that day. Or, I would have plowed into their buggy like some crazed snow plow driver that had worked two too many shifts and was pushed way over the edge! I can see it now. Purses and merchandise would go flying up into the air (heaven forbid they have a toddler sitting in the front of the buggy) and the silver buggy (that never had a chance against me and my demon buggy - buggy Nascar, I tell ya) wouldn't know what hit it as it goes skittering across the store's waxed floor. The people would stand there mouth agape, in shock. I would nod as I passed them and say "That's right! Get the hell out of my way next time! Idiots!"

They are fortunate I don't get physically sick much anymore with these monster headaches, or I would have to vomit on their shoes as I pass them. You can bet your sweet arse they would get out of my way, then! Again, I do not like the monster that I become.

Ah, yes. So, the next time you witness one of these crazy lady buggy drivers in a store, try to remember. We do not want to be there. Sometimes we do not have a choice. I only shopped because I absolutely HAD to get a coffee pot or I was going to go insane with caffeine withdrawal. Migraines make us monsters! Beware, and please forgive. In retrospect I should have waited and shopped at a small drug store. Whew!

And if you do ever read in the newspaper about some lady in Ohio that went berserk at a store or while driving, remember that I am not always like this. It is the migraine monkey coming out in me that tortures me.

Green or black?

Are you a green olive person or a black olive person?

I like (and eat) both, but I prefer the green ones. I love salt! I put the black ones on all Mexican dishes that I make. I am making a seven-layer taco dip for a birthday party today.

I've probably posted the recipe before.

I use a pan or dish with a lip on it because the sheer weight of the ingredients pushes the bottom layers down so that they ooze out.

First layer is (1) refried beans.

I mix (2) sour cream and (3) small curd cottage cheese together and spread that over the beans.

Next is (4) salsa. (I use mild or medium).

Then (5) shredded lettuce.

Then finely (6) shredded mild cheddar cheese.

Then (7) sliced black olives.

We dip tortilla chips into the mixture and eat it up.

You guys are probably SO tired of hearing about my headaches. I had one yesterday. I even had to take a second pill. AND my coffee pot died on me! I had to drive to Mickey D's to get a cup. It was awful! Just awful. The taste of their coffee has really deteriorated. I am drinking hot tea this morning to get my caffeine fix. Funny how I only like creamer in my coffee (no sugar, blah!) but for my hot tea it is no cream and two teaspoons of sugar. Weird.

What really irks me is that we had a beautiful day yesterday and I could do nothing. NOTHING! I slept most of the day. Bending over to put the harness on the dogs was pure torture. Everything makes too much noise. The tea kettle this morning pierced my head like a high powered cross bow shooting an arrow into my skull. A dog bark will send me into a raging fit of anger.

Sigh. It has abated today. I am still taking the OTC meds like generic ibuprofen and generic acetaminophen. Huh. I guess I AM on meds! That lady at the G Corral last month guessed right.

Talking to my nephew last night he said that when he looked at the weather, it said that the indices were high for aches and pains like migraine, arthritis and sinus sufferers. Well, then.

With any luck I will be able to get through today on the generic OTC alone. I hope I can find a good cup of coffee. And, I suppose I will leave early for the party so I can shop for a new coffee pot.

One very nice thing happened yesterday. I had our old faithful dog Sable and the ever so rambunctious boxer out in the front yard. No leashes or harness on either, though I was carrying the boxer's harness and leash in my hand. The lady across the street was mowing and had sat down to take a break. We waved at one another. She hollered "Is that one of those puppies?" That was all the boxer needed. He bounded across the street and right up to her. I was following close behind telling her that he was friendly.

Thank God no cars were passing. I mentally kick myself. Dogs are so unpredictable.

She fussed over him a bit (he is a big marshmallow) and I told her that the two pups were inside and I had also found this dog. She said "You have four dogs?" I said "Yeah, just shoot me now." My standard response when somebody asks or points that out.

She and I proceeded to talk for about half an hour. I had the harness and the leash on the boxer by that time and dear Sable just plopped down in some grass and waited. We talked of the economy, we talked of movies, we talked of what I do for work. We told each other our names for the umpteenth time and laughed how neither one of us could remember. I think we will now.

She is a great lady and I have always admired how she gets out there with her electric lawn mower and mows away. She looks to have ten years or more on me. She has health problems (pain in her legs) but does her best.

It was a very nice visit and I didn't want to overstay my welcome. I went back home and she returned to her mowing.

The blues have it

I browsed the pictures at DQ and decided on this puppy image to put on my daughter's ice cream cake. It was delicious! I used to hate the taste of grainy sugar in my mouth, but the flowers were so soft and melted very quickly. Yum!

Yes, it is 4:30 a.m. I have been up for over and hour. I can't sleep yet, again. I am not drinking any caffeine in the evenings. Well, I did drink an extra cup of coffee at a meeting yesterday after lunch. Maybe?

I am dizzy when walking the dogs. It is stress-induced, I am sure. I have to sign a retirement paper and it is affecting me so deeply. It is like jumping off a cliff into the unknown. All I see down below is pure darkness.

I do not have any 'faith in' or 'respect for' the people (person) who are (is) deciding my work fate.

Yikes!

19 today. This photo is an old one (of course). We actually do not have a lampshade on the floor. My daughter was standing on the back of the sofa. She loved the rubber rats and spiders of the Halloween holiday.

I can remember every night giving her a bath and putting those cute pajamas on her. Then I would comb out her long, blond hair. It was a ritual and one that I wish I could still do today.

Take me back, oh time machine. Take me back.

A simpler place and time

I so want one of these light up toys. I found them at the Tractor Supply store and gave them out to the kids. Now, I want one for myself.

My co-workers backed out of the legal endeavor. Whatever. What will be, will be.

I find myself mentally (and physically) exhausted these days. I'm sure it is stress (as my migraines have increased quite a bit) and my insomnia is kicking in. Two of the jobs I wanted to apply for were already filled. The third is much more complex and I must re-structure my resume to fit it better. There are a few things on the qualifications list that I have covered and a few things that I don't. I'll give it a go. Of course if I wait any longer, I'll let it slip through my fingers as I so easily do.

I can barely get the trash out and the sink cleared out let alone find the mental energy to come up with a fresh and professional looking resume. There is a song out by Matchbox 20 ( a couple of years old, actually) that is called "Push". I changed some of the lyrics to fit my present condition:

I don't know if I'm up for an interview, I'm a little bit rusty,
And I think my head is cavin' in.
And, I don't know if I have a future with this job, it's a little uncertain,
And I feel the walls are closin' in. And, I'm a little bit angry.

So don't stand there, sayin' nice things to me.
I've been cheated, I've been wronged.
You don't know me.

Yeah, yeah. I've been singing it nonstop for two weeks, now. Now my head is really starting to hurt. I can go along just fine for an hour or two and then "wham!" just out of the blue I get a real bad pain. I'm sure it is from getting up too early this morning, and it only lasts for about 30 seconds or so.

But hey! I have not had any foot pain for a long time. I'd do the happy dance, but there is the headache and ... oh, you know.

I've been drinking lots of water because the weather here in Ohio is unbelievable! We marched straight into summer, skipped the spring cool air altogether. I've had the air conditioner on for about four days now. My office at work is hotter than an oven. The building was arranged poorly and they moved the server equipment room so a brand new air conditioner had to be put there to keep it all cool. Well, in the room next door to the server room is the thermostat that controls my temperature in my room. Since that A/C cools the equipment down so well that thermostat barely kicks on. I swelter.

But, I can't say anything because I don't pay any rent! I just roost there from some arrangement that was made in 1995 between a retired superintendent and one who has passed away. Nobody really knows what to do with me.

With the changes coming up at work, I'll probably have to drive to the home office every day. That is 60 miles one way. I will be an "at will" employee. I know, I know. Just be glad I have a job, right? Right. Be glad I have insurance, be glad I have dental coverage. Be glad I get sick days and vacation days. Remember my mantra. Just do the best you can and hold your head high. All well enough until that headache zaps me again.

Oh, and I was SO disappointed in "The Men Who Stare at Goats".

Age of Innocence

Before the world and life affects you. Sleep a peaceful sleep.

It's gettin' ugly out here. They predicted a cold rain for Monday this week. That's why I said last week I didn't mind working today. I got cheated! It was a beautiful, sunny day. Big deal. Boo Hoo. I had a migraine anyway. I took medicine at about noon and it was gone by 3. Fun city.

I've been asked to head up a team for legal issues concerning my tabu subject. The subject of where I should watch what I say. I'm not sure we are going to get five to approve the action. We are hesitant as to who we trust.

My work history:

Cook (summer of 74 and 75)
waitress (summer of 76)
Ice cream parlor (summer of 77)
animal cage care (fall/winter of 77)
office secretary (78 - 81)
data entry operator(83 - 85)
office manager (85 - 88)
data entry operator (88 - 91)
PC Specialist (91 - 95)
network technician (95 - present)

I have three jobs lined up that I am going to apply for this week. Big breath. With this economy and there are still reports of hundreds of applicants for one job, we'll see if I get any calls.

Sigh. I'm either nuts or very, very desperate. You will probably notice the gap between 81 and 83. I spent the summer of 82 in El Paso caring for my nephew while my sister was in the army and then I spent a year writing poetry and floating and finding myself. I became a semi-recluse.

Well, the ham is in the oven. It was so funny. When I unwrapped it and was putting it into it's baking pan I looked behind me. The three (newer) dogs were sitting in the kitchen lined up as if to say "What are you COOKING? And, can we have some?"

Sable? She knows better. She was lying in her usual place by the back door, acting oblivious to everything. But if I give one little treat to any of the pets, she knows it. She isn't all that oblivious to what is going on around her. She knows.

Watching Shrek

I babysat for this little tyke last Saturday. He is the son of my nephew's girlfriend. We watched Shrek and an Elmo video (that had to be repeated no less than three times). I had not seen Shrek in a couple of years (perhaps longer). It was interesting to hear about onions and layers and building walls to keep people out.

I repaired the computer that was in my sister's home. A song had been downloaded from the dreaded "Limewire" program that carried a virus. It took a while to clean up the system and perform all the updates. At one point I found a complete and unopened box of an anti-virus program which I proceeded to load onto the unit. They should be good to go. Of course they got a little lecture from me about downloading from this dreaded site (Limewire) and I told them about a program that I use at mp3panda where the songs are a nickel each. Yes, that's right: a nickel apiece.

Edit: I just logged into the site. Songs are now ten cents each and albums are no longer 99 cents but $1.14. BOO! I can see where this is going. In a few months they will be a quarter each and before you know it they will be a dollar each. Sigh. It never ends.

You must have a credit card or some way of starting out though, and that can be tough to come by for this younger generation who do not have any credit established.

Meanwhile, we are off to a wonderful week-end here in the Peruby household. It is full of people during this Easter holiday. I am going to kick into "Mom" mode and start to cook and bake and feed people. 'Cause that's what I do best. Besides fix computers, that is.

Open wide

I have kept this photo in it's original size (2592 x 1944). Still using my 5.1 mp camera from 2003. If you care to look at this sort of thing click the photo to see deep inside the mouth of this massive muskellunge fish. A.K.A. "muskie".

Note: You may want to set your browser to "NOT" re-size the photo automatically. For some reason when I download the photo (before I changed the browser settings so that it did NOT re-size the photo automatically) it saved it in a 400 x 300 pixel size. Boo!

In Internet Explorer, choose Tools. Choose Internet Options. Choose Advanced. Scroll down to the Multimedia selections. Remove the check mark from "Enable Automatic Image Resizing" and click Apply and click OK. You can view the photo in it's large format, now. You can return the browser to it's previous settings by going back through the steps and checking the box for "Enable Automatic Image Resizing."

In Firefox, choose View. Choose Page Style and select "No style". Warning: Your page format will change. Click on the photo to view the larger format. When you are finished viewing the photo, return the browser to it's Basic Page Style setting by choosing View. Choose Page Style and select "Basic Page Style."

My nephew (1984, I think) caught it last year or two years ago. They are just now getting it back from the taxidermist.

I can't sleep this morning. I awoke about an hour ago with a headache. I took some acetaminophen and am drinking a cup of java and reading blogs. The dogs are a bit confused. The cats are just angry that I have not fed them, yet.

I work today and am off tomorrow. That is all for the Easter break. Back to work on Monday. I am not minding so much because the weather forecast for early next week is lousy. Beautiful today and tomorrow. It may be tough getting through today. I am thinking of going to my little home town this evening for a benefit dinner. With not much sleep, I don't know how I will be feeling. I usually get a little "manic" when I am sleep deprived. Sigh. I suppose somebody will ask my daughter (if she goes) if I am on meds again. LOL!

Oh, and no April Fools' joke from me today. I love that Google changed their name to Topeka for the day. Of course they are trying to appear as if they changed it (as in for good) as an April Fools' joke. I know better.