More worn out

 A couple of weeks ago I had a brake caliper repaired in my car.  I didn't notice right away, but eventually I used the e-brake when I parked on a small slant.  Actually, I use my e-brake a lot, whether on a slant or not. The handle pulled up really easy and smoothly.  At first I thought "Wow. My e-brake must have been messed up along with the rear caliper."  Then I thought - wait.  I pulled the e-brake and pressed the gas.  The car moved forward and backward with no issue whatsoever.  Hmmm.... I called the garage. I was busy for a week or two but had my appointment yesterday.

My daughter picked me up and we went out for breakfast and to a thrift store. She dropped me back off at the dealership and I waited another hour.  No charge.  The brake caliper they repaired had failed.  I asked "If I had not noticed my e-brake not working, how would I have known the rear caliper repair had failed?"  She said "You wouldn't."  Yeah.  Certified or not - I think I'm done with the dealership.  I've been taking my (total of 2) cars there since 1996.  They changed hands a couple of years ago.  I think it's time to move on. Besides my car is too old for anybody to care if it is certified with manufacturer parts or not.

This time every year we go to a Swiss festival in an Amish town near us.  There is a wine and cheese tasting event in the fire station. My Son-in-Law's band plays there every year.  After Covid they stopped providing chairs. Now it's just tall tables placed around the station with the establishments set up against the walls. My daughter and I said this year we were bringing our camping chairs. A couple of others did also.  For some reason this year they would not open the big garage doors to let air in. It was so hot, I had to go outside several times to cool down.  It took me a while before I realized it may have been the samples of wine that were making me so warm.  Oops.

There is just something about a small town carnival/festival. With those carnival rides and noises. But, it's the lights after it starts to get dark.  You have the lights, the familiar noises, the smell of deep fried foods, children laughing (or crying, depending on the issue) and running around making their parents wonder why do they do this to themselves each and every year?

And, back home, I continue to prepare for the family get together tomorrow at yet another winery. I am exhausted.  But still, I only sleep 3 - 4 hours.  I thought I was getting better when I did a couple of 6 - 7 hours but it went right back to 4 or so.  My Mom had horrible early morning insomnia.  My daughter and I both have it.  I get up at 3 (or 4 if I try to go back to sleep and fail) and read or browse the news on the Internet.  After two hours or so I am ready to go back to bed.  I can also go back to bed even if I drink coffee.  It is pretty much okay now that I am retired but when I worked it was a bit of a problem. Some say don't go to bed before 11 p.m. or Midnight.  That's okay if I am interested in something and I don't notice the time.  Other times I fall asleep right at my desk while I am reading on my computer.

I do nap if I need to.  Maybe once a year I nap more than an hour, but mostly it's an hour. Sometimes I am just too busy to nap with going places.  I don't want to ask my doctor for anything. I don't want to get addicted to anything or depend on anything. After all these  years I finally started noticing some allergy symptoms creeping in. I have to admit, I've been lucky in that area.  I take Benadryl and that helps me sleep but I don't have a reason to take it all year long when the allergies just happen a couple of weeks out of the year. I remember years ago taking Tylenol-PM or one of the same.  I remember sitting on the couch watching TV when this overwhelming sleepiness came over me.  How nice that was, but I stopped that right quick.  It just didn't seem right. And how long before  you need more and more to get the same effect?  I might pick some up if I decide to go on a vacation where it is really hard for me to sleep somewhere else in a strange bed.  But, I know me.  If it is in the medicine cabinet and I can't sleep, I'll just take it.

I'll try to remember to take some pictures tomorrow at the winery.

Worn out

 Went to Berlin (Amish country) today.  The above photo of my front porch has nothing to do with our trip.  I did see the barn planter (one the same size and a smaller one) but not as much white on them.  

The above image I did over the week-end. I purchased some colorful mums and the orange decoration I made last year after visiting Jo-Ann's shop.  Which is now gone.  I guess a Hobby Lobby is coming to our town.

Berlin is only an hour away from me and honestly, a lot of food items there are stocked at my local grocery stores and small markets in my town. As are the many cheese options.  So much cheese!

Today we went to browse the crafts.  Wow!  So much out there.  A couple of bus loads came in today and there were quite a few shoppers walking around town.  I've seen it a lot busier.  

I'm planning a family camp fire this week-end at Maize Valley in Hartville, OH.  I'm trying to get a family event four times a year.  Christmas we have done for years.  My oldest sister has hosted Memorial day for years (we consider that the summer one).  I think she said it was a bit much for them so they are stopping it.  It is an awful lot. Years ago I used to host the 4th of July (I think if you go back far enough in my posts, you will see pics of some of the parties).  I would get about 40 people. I stopped them when a family member would ruin it each year with her drunken escapades and nobody needs to have their children around that. She had been in prison for years and family get togethers were stress free and so fun.  Sigh.  I have to add this - she is great fun when she is sober.

Anyway, this week-end it looks like mid-70s and hopefully no rain. I reserved the pavilion so we will be under a roof.  I would imagine the campfire will be outside, though.  I am bringing hot dogs and buns, condiments and calico beans.  Everybody loves the calico beans, here is my recipe (some folks call them cowboy beans).

Calico Beans

1 large can of baked beans (with juice)

1 can black beans (drained)

1 can kidney beans (drained)

1 can butter beans (drained)

1 can green lima beans (drained)

2 tiny cans of the small green baby limas (they are too cute not to add in, but sometimes hard to find)

3/4  cup brown sugar (adjust to your desire of sweetness)

14 oz catsup (I get the cheapest brand for this)

1 Tbsp dijon mustard - adjust for taste (or honey mustard, or dried mustard powder)

1/2  lb cooked and crumbled bacon

1 lb ground beef, browned, broken up and drained

1 small onion diced (I use yellow cooking onion or sweet white.  I think red/purple is too strong)

But you do you.

You can add any other beans you want, also save some of the drained juices in the refrigerator in case the beans become too dry and they need liquid.

You can adjust amounts to your liking after you make it for a while and family members tell you they like it this way or that way.  The above way is how I make it for my crew. You can add Worcestershire sauce, I don't as my daughter is sensitive to it and usually has a skin reaction when she eats it.

I brown the ground beef and fry the bacon on the stove but then add everything to a crock pot on low for 4 - 6 hours. I usually make everything the day before and refrigerate the beans in the crock overnight and fire them up early the next morning (make sure you have the time to cook them all the way through before your get together) and take them to the event in a crock pot that travels well.  

Now, this next part is V-E-R-Y important. Get a crock pot with the lock-down lid. And even with a lock-down lid, put them in a cardboard box so they fit snug and cannot move around.  Pad with old dish towels if you need to. You do not want spilled beans of any kind in your car.  Trust me on this. No matter how much you clean it, you will be reminded of the spillage each and every time it rains.

Greed, cheating in horseracing

 Surprised?  Nope. Me neither.  It is so disheartening, though.  I just finished a book titled "Death of a racehorse."  by  Katie Bo Lillis.  The doping of the horses to make them run and perform faster.  Getting caught whether guilty or not.  Lying and paying off people to get out of it.  Horses dying left and right because the strain is too hard (drugs or not).  And after the race they have to service (stud) mares twice a day and if they can't perform they are dosed up on vitamins and who knows what else and this also kills them sometimes.  I loved to watch the Kentucky Derby/Preakness and Belmont.  I also love to watch the trotters at the county fair.  A few years ago I started to wonder.  Is this abuse?  I know that some are treated very well, but it is barbaric to me.  I no longer watch them live or on television. 

Yes, but blackberry?

 One of the first guys I dated was a Jack Daniels fan.  So, I picked up a liking for the whiskey.  It did not serve me well.  I think one of the major reasons I have stopped drinking is because how sick I would get the next day(s).  I can't even imagine how that blackberry would taste coming back up.  I'll tell you one thing.  I never will know because - Hell to the No!

I really have no words...

 I'll just let the article speak for itself.  I don't recall what magazine I read this in, but...here we are.

Ain't We Got Fun?!

 I was housesitting for my niece this past week. She has two dogs.  I got up on Wednesday, let the dogs out and fed them and went to take my shower.  When I came back downstairs there was blood paw prints everywhere all over the family room.  It took me a minute to figure out which dog was bleeding and it was Daisy's dew claw.  At first I thought she chewed it. She was licking it.  My niece had just moved into this house and I did not know where any bandages or gauze was located if there even was any.  To top it all off I had left my phone at my house when I went to check on things on Tuesday (Plants and my dogs, etc...) I did have my computer so I facebook'd my daughter and told her the situation.  She is the one you want to have in an emergency.  She said take a towel, wrap it around the paw and put a hair tie around it to hold it on.  I have scrunchies (old school) but I did just that. Whew. She also said get to a pet store and get a product that stops bleeding.  I'd forgotten about this powder (we had a small container when we had our cockatiel). When clipping any nails on any animal there is always the chance of bleeding.

I wrapped the foot of the dog, knowing darn well she was going to pull it off. I jumped in the car and as I was driving down the road, I realized it was 8:15 in the morning. No pet store or drug store was open yet. I went to a grocery store. Of course the employee who was in the aisle could not help me. This was the pharmacy aisle. The pet section was completely at the far end of the store. I fast walked passing a man in a motorized cart. If  I had to, I would have cut him off and the end of the aisle. I think he was trying to race me.  I persevered and pulled ahead. I was in a small panic. Nothing.  I fast walked back to the pharmacy aisle (Pharmacy was closed so there was no asking anybody in that department). I finally found some Bleed - Stop and I also grabbed wound cleaner. (Totally forgot gauze and tape but she would just pull them off).  Of course I get in line where the person in front of me does not know how to use their card on the machine. I grabbed my stuff and ran to the next line.  That one also took a while.  My debit card is in my phone case holder along with my drivers license, credit cards, grocery store cards, car insurance ...you know.  I did have my small purse with cash, though.  The cashier ran the items up and I gave her a $20.  She said "We don't take cash."  My brain deflated.  Okay, leave the stuff and run to the other side of the town to get to the drug store which must be open by now.  This was in a split second. Then the cashier said "You have to put your cash in the slot down there" and she pointed to a slot under the conveyer belt.  Why the hell didn't she lead with that?!  Instead of saying "We don't take cash."  Then she asked if I had a store card. I did but it was in my phone case an hour away. I said "No."  She asked "Phone number?"  In that split second I couldn't have rattled off my phone number to save my life. I said "No! Just...."  I really can't recall what I said. I grabbed the stuff and quickly drove back to my niece's house.

Yes, the dog had pulled off the towel. The dogs were jumping around the family room smearing more blood all around the floor. I tried to get Daisy up on the couch. She was not having anything to do with that.  The other dog - Pepper, jumped up for me.  She was like "I'm the good dog, see?  I do what you say!"  Sigh. I finally got Daisy up on the couch and opened a packet of Bleed Stop and gently began packing it around the back paw.  Now take a minute here and let me explain something. I have no fear of my dogs or my niece's dogs. They are sweet as can be. But, my daughter was recently bit in the hand by a stray she was trying to take back to the owner and she required 16 stitches. So, I was thinking - great. If this dog bites me, there is nobody here and I have no cell phone. (New house - no land line and she probably won't get one anyway. I dropped my landline years ago). No incidents. The dog was as sweet as could be but she didn't want me touching it - rightfully so.

Now - how to tell if the bleeding stopped?  I had to clean up all the blood on the floor because the dogs were still dancing around.  It took me quite a few wet paper towels but I got it all and kept watching Daisy. No more blood. Whew!  I didn't tell my niece until she returned Thursday afternoon.  It was all taken care of and the ordeal was over, so there was no need to stress her out.  She really, really likes her critters.

I called and checked on Daisy today and she is doing very well. I am reminding myself to get some Bleed Stop for my medicine cabinet. I have two dogs (my daughter has two) and I have one cat. You just never know.

The Haves and Have Nots

 This figurine is dated as possibly 8,000 years old.  How did women (or anyone) get to be obese in prehistoric or ancient times?  There wasn't any pizza, Danish cakes, eclairs, soda pop, or French fries.  Maybe bacon? Did the Mom of the clan finish the bits of food left over from others not eating it all? Did she eat what was left in the back of the cave before it spoiled or reached its "use by" date?  So as not to waste it?

Heavy women were considered attractive due to the fact that they could carry a baby full term.  I guess.  This is what I have read. Thinner women had an issue with being too thin and sickly and a lot of times could not carry a baby to full term.  I don't know. I see a lot of thin women today who can spit out babies like they are baking cookies. That may be due to available nutritious food and modern medicine.

Check out PP Rubens painting titled "The Three Graces" from 1635.  What were the women eating in that time period that put so many pounds on them?  Or, was it being a lady of leisure (the Haves) meant not much physical activity and the pounds stayed with them along with the fact that they had all the decadent food they wanted available to them. However, I am thinking perhaps they were not 'morbidly' obese. And thin women (the have-nots) had to work long hours in the fields or in houses with just scraps to eat and perhaps many days no food at all?

 It seems that today - heavy people are shunned and fat shamed. 

Then along comes Semaglutide. Who qualifies for this "wonder drug"?  Only those with the right insurance or plenty of money.  It is the haves and the have-nots.  Of course we don't know the long term ramifications of this "wonder drug" so it could be the have-nots have the last laugh.  But it does seem more and more the fact that losing any amount of weight (if you really, really need to) can improve your chances of living a longer life so it may be worth the risk.  There are always (and always will be) those that do NOT need to lose weight will think they do and abuse the drug.  Of course.  No woman is too rich or too thin, right?  

Now comes the question.  People who use this drug to lose weight - do they need to take it for the rest of their lives?  If they don't change their eating habits, I suppose they will.  Will the body become accustomed to the drug to where it no longer has the same effect and they will need to increase the dose to get the same desired effect?  I guess we are going to find out. The marketing for this drug has soared sky high. Probably the fastest selling drug in history.  Wait, maybe that was Viagra.  I don't know.  It will be interesting to see how this all turns out.  Anybody remember fen-phen?

The Downstairs Bathroom

 A new shower/stall (not shown) and vanity in the downstairs bathroom.  I let my daughter and her husband choose everything since they are the ones using it.  I could care less.  I have my upstairs bathroom which I plan to tackle next.  As soon as my bruised wallet recovers.  The only thing they did was paint the walls.  We had a guy and his helper do the rest.  My daughter said it was funny (depending on how you look at it) but the older guy (in charge) was really tough on the younger one.  We don't know if that was his son or just somebody he hired.

I am very happy with their work.  Unfortunately, the "guy" said his wife put her foot down and he now needs to get his stuff done around their house so he won't be available for about a year.  I figured "That might be how long it takes my wallet to recover"  - LOL!  Not really.  I just wasn't sure if he never wants to do any work for me again (you never know) or if he really is behind in his remodeling at home.

Actually, I need a new roof.  I'm leaning towards the new metal ones that everybody is getting these days. My house is dark gray and I told my daughter, "Shoot. They don't have the roof metal in purple."  LOL!  Okay, I'll probably go with the medium blue.  I'm thinking I might be able to save up and get it Spring 2026.  New furnace/AC - 2024.  Remodel downstairs bathroom - 2025. New roof - 2026.  Maybe my bathroom 2027?  My problem is I can't seem to make my mind up about colors.  I'm more or less one of those people who somebody says "Here you go. Your bathroom will be this color." And I work with it.

Ice cold watermelon

 Such a wonderful treat for the week of the 4th.  I would forget about it and when I open the fridge door I see it and I say "Ah!  Ice cold watermelon!  All cut up and ready to go!"  My daughter and her husband don't care for it much so I just eat it straight out of the large container. I also add salt. I'm old school, what can I say?  My daughter was VERY hot and I sad "Oh, grab some of that watermelon!"  She did and after a couple of bites she asks  "Hey, is there salt on this?"  How can she taste that?  I salted it yesterday and I can't even taste it unless I pour the salt on the actual piece before I put it in my mouth.

Funny though. At first she grabbed the smaller container (I had the extra ratty pieces cut up for my dog, Milton as Cheech wants nothing to do with them.)  I saw her and said "No, that's for the dogs!"  LOL!  Well, I have to keep theirs in the fridge, too - I can't let it sit out in the heat and spoil or stink up the kitchen.  I don't turn the A/C on very low lest I freeze the kids out in the basement.  I am okay in front of a fan and I figure - hey, it's summertime in Ohio.  I should be sweating.  

They are painting in the basement.  We had a new shower installed and are prepping the area for the new vanity.  They chose a very pretty green for the two small sections.  I saw a mirror today that I want them to go and look at.  It looks like it matches the vanity they picked out.  What the heck do I do with the huge mirror we took down?  The painting is about all we do.  I have a guy coming in to do the other stuff.  I think we are an afterthought as he seems to be dragging it out quite a bit.  The rainy weather didn't help the drywall dry so on it goes. They have a shower (no door, are using a curtain for now) but no sink.  Well, there is the utility sink that sits by the washer and dryer - yuck!  So they are brushing their teeth upstairs in the kitchen sink.  Mind you - I've been trying hard to keep it empty and not smelling.  Been going through the lemon juice and baking soda.

So, I've purchased most of my stuff for the remodel through Menards.  I had a little tiff with them today.  I don't know what happened when I shopped there last night (pick up the paint, etc...)  We are supposed to bag our own stuff and put it in the cart. I did that. The cashier rings them up and puts them on the belt and I take them and put them in the cart. The cat food, kitty litter and two potted flowers were on my receipt but when I got home I didn't have them.  I did not realize this until about an hour or two later.  At first it was just the cat food I realized was missing. I double checked the car trunk. Nope. Empty.  I called the store.  I'm going to stop this part of the story here, because it turned into a real ordeal.  I had some words with them when I went in today to pick up my "lost" items. I wasn't going to get snippy with them, but I was treated very poorly today.  I'm in the process of writing an email to customer service.  

After about 24 hours I think I realize what happened. I noticed when I wheeled up to the register and gave the cashier my cart (buggy) and she emptied it, I walked to the end of the register to bag and pay. There was a cart already there so I began bagging the paint and stuff and putting it into the cart that was there. I believe she took the kitty litter, cat food and two potted plants and put them in the buggy that I had wheeled up to the register. (which she had placed behind me).  That's the only logical thing I can think of.  Why she didn't see me walking away and there was a buggy full of merchandise still sitting there and she didn't stop me, I don't know. But then I didn't notice I didn't have that stuff, either. 

Ah, you know how it is.  I tried hard to keep my cool.  The heat has been unbearable and tempers are short.  I was almost done with the episode but the lady manager had to say one more thing. And that did it. We were off and running.

Summer Days

 Summers used to stretch out forever when I was young and between school years.  Weeks of anticipation for all sorts of fun things to come my way.  These days I get up and realize gee - the days are flying by.  I tried to read about how we perceive time as we age but I figured I was just wasting even more time trying to figure it out and just go out and live life.

More often than not, I get lost in a news story I am reading and when I come back to reality I shake my head about the time I spent going down that rabbit hole. Today's news can be quite depressing and I find that I tell myself "You have to stop thinking about that.  Incidents like these are not new to the world. They have been going on forever and will continue to do so even long after you are gone."  

Stories about abused animals, children or just people in general are the ones that make me pause and I find my mind grasping at thoughts 'What can I do?'  Why/how are some dealt the hand they are given?

Making lists help to keep me on track.  If I get lost in a book or an Internet posting, I keep my list handy and push myself to cross something off of it.  Even simple things like "Clean the vegetable bin in the refrigerator" can help me get things done during my adjustment to retired life.  If I don't keep a list, I'll put things off for days (forgetting about them) and then when I am lying awake at night they come back to haunt me and I get upset and admonish myself for procrastinating. 

We have rain all day today, so I will focus on inside jobs.  I lifted the image above from the Internet. It is Ohio and reminds me of the images I used to take when I took the time to stop by the lake.  These days I just snap photos with my phone.  I'll add to my list to get my Canon SLR camera out and begin working with it again.

Rustic

 Here is the barn front I had the kids get me for my birthday this year.  I added potting soil and the flowers. They said "Don't you want to paint it?"  I'm like "No.  This is the rustic look!"   Sigh. Kids.  The rust colored dust around the planter is Plantskydd to keep the deer and other critters from eating the blooms.

The Deer are eating my Flowers

 Here is a picture shortly after I set this arrangement up and placed it on my front porch.  I had a little problem with deer eating my Hosta (but I'm not a big fan of Hosta, so I didn't really care).  I've not had much issue with them before.  But these flowers are a different story.  Perhaps it is because I set them on the front porch and there is less activity there?  I don't know.  I'm currently looking into flowers that deer won't eat.  Grrr!

I visited one of my favorite wineries Saturday.  I saw on Facebook that they were selling cheese boxes for $5 each.  I thought they were the size of say - a case of beer.  When they asked how many I wanted I said "Oh, how about three?"  They took me into the back garage/basement so I could pick them out. They were huge! I googled cheese crates and looked at the images. They look like flower window boxes.  That is not what this place was selling.  I'm glad I said only three.  They did fit in my car. Two in the trunk (which fortunately was empty, now that I am retired) and one in the back seat.  I'll see what I can do with them and I'll be sure to take pictures.

I also wanted to get three more bottles of wine.  I don't need anymore, I just like to buy them and have them.  Since I had a bottle at the table and ordered 3 bottles to go - the waitress said add 2 more bottles and you get a 10% discount.  Of course I did, because there were so many flavors I wanted.  Now I have way too many bottles of wine.  I don't even drink it.  I mean I did at the event Saturday but I always try to give most of it away so I don't have to cork it and take it home with me.  My wine rack holds 12 bottles and it was completely full.  Well, one bottle was empty because I want to ask my friend if she wants the empties to re-use (another winery).  

Oh, while talking to the owners and getting my cheese crates the sound of breaking glass (busting on cement) boomed through the air.  I jumped out of my skin and I looked at them like "What the hell was that?!"  They said "Sorry, that was the wine drop."  I was confused. They explained.  The staff (above us) drops the empty bottles down a chute and into a container (evidently concrete) and  they recycle it. 

I have no appointments all week.  Sweet hallelujah!  But on Saturday I have three events I am going to try to squeeze all of them in.  I have a birthday party from 2 - 4,  a retirement party from 4 - 8 and a gig (my son-in-law's band) plays from 8 - 11.  Between the birthday party and the retirement party is 15 minutes.  45 minutes between retirement party and the gig.  And all an hour or more away from home.  I don't like to drive in the dark.  Especially if it is raining. And they are calling for rain.  I may skip the gig. Especially since I have another birthday party in Columbus on Sunday (2 hour drive). Yay -  no rain predicted (so far).  

I took both dogs to the vet on Friday to get caught up on their vaccines.  With flea and tick medicine (3 month pill for both of them) it came to over $500. Medicine for Cheech (he will be 16 in July) to help him get up and move - anti inflammatory.  It was pouring the rain all day on Friday.  My car smells like wet dog.  I'll try to remember to get the windows rolled down one day this week when it is nice and sunny out and maybe add a new air freshener.  I find all air fresheners for cars way too strong.  I'll probably get a another postcard from the vet for my cat in the next month or so to get his annual boosters. He is such a bully, he beats up Cheech.  Cheech has a lot of fur but Moses goes for his face.  

What to write about

 The news is too depressing.  My books are pretty much the same  I am trying one that is fiction and suspense but I'm not impressed.  I'll finish it.  It is "The Hospital" by Leslie Wolfe.  It looks like she has written a few books.  Not liking this one enough to look into reading her other ones.  I am 50% of the way through and unless something really catches me, I will go back to my non fiction.  I am also looking at a biography of Mark Twain by Ron Chernow.

I could write about insomnia or about what food dishes I am taking to my family get together on Memorial day.  Last year my sister said 56 people came.  It is going to be chilly this year and it's going to be real crowded in the house if we can't sit out on the deck or under awnings in her yard like we usually do.  A lot of the time we would run the A/C for people who needed to cool down.  Not this year.

I could write about my flowers I am planting, but since I've not taken any pictures, I'll save that for another time.

I've stalled on my kitchen work.  I painted all the cabinets and drawers and started removing the wall paper from behind the sink area.  It is proving to be rather stubborn. I bought myself a hand held sander and I found that wetting (soaking) it was easier. I pull the paper off and there is a thick paste (looks like a light brown paper bag material) that comes off under that.  Underneath that is a teal blue paint. The sander produced an orange color under that and even under the orange is a white color.  What the what?  I know that turquoise blue was popular in the 50's but I am hoping the orange was a primer of sorts. It is slow going.  I really enjoyed painting.  This job - not so much.  

The above photo.  A Turkish lamp in purple. I like the blue and green one but I have a good friend who loves the color of purple.  She is having a retirement party in June.  I am trying to think of something nice to give her. I love lamps. But not everybody likes them.  I'll keep looking.  I may go for an outside lawn or garden ornament. She likes her flowers, also - just like me.

And now, jury duty!

 Ugh!  Third time I have been called for jury duty.  First time I was in my mid 30's I think.  Neither episode from before went all the way. Both were over before I had to serve.  The one was a big relief. The judge talked to us and said we didn't want to be serving on that case.  A man had abducted two young neighbor girls.  Yeah, I was really glad he took a plea bargain before that one went through. I probably would not have made it through the screening anyway.  

A friend informed me that we don't have to go if we are a certain age. I checked. I turn 65 end of this month and my jury duty is next month.  I can opt out.  Now, how do I get past the guilt?

My silly cat

 I adopted Moses in 2018.  A co-worker rescued him from a road where cars were passing over him.  His mouth was a bit skinned up but otherwise okay.  He is tailless.  Now that was a weird word to type.

The above photo is from about four days ago.  I heard this noise and I looked over at him.  He probably thought I was going to yell at him to get out of that box or something.  He gets yelled at a lot.  I didn't yell, grabbed my phone to take a shot.  I was being given the evil eye.

He likes it when I eat yogurt and give him some.  His favorite.  

Ordered the vanity for the downstairs bathroom.  It should arrive next month or so.  Ordered another shower door. Hopefully, it is the correct weight this time.  Kids are using a shower curtain for now.  The top is being custom made and will have laminate put on it. The laminate is in - we can pick it up tomorrow.  They picked it all out.  Been a bit of a hassle but what isn't?

Next is either garage doors or house/garage roof replacement.  Then my upstairs bathroom.  I have a window that I don't want to lose so, no shower. I am thinking of having a walk-in tub put in, though. And I think I'm going with purples/mauves for the color.  When I moved in (23 years ago!) the fixtures were pink.  Only the tub is pink, now.  

Then living room windows.  The old ones are painted shut.  I like to open windows and let fresh air in. The lady before me never opened windows, I guess.

Over the past year since retiring, I have picked up having houseplants again.  I had one that developed white, powdery mold on it. I quickly separated it. I cleaned it - but I lost it.  So far I've found it on one other plant, I keep it separated from the rest.  I make sure to open the curtains every day so they get plenty of light and do not overwater them.

I found this image on Facebook a while back. I thought it was cute.

Gonna try one more - Italian stromboli

 I have not had much luck with the Facebook recipes lately.  Most of each dinner went down the garbage disposal.  Oh well.  They looked good on Facebook.  The family "liked" them but they were not anything to crow about and nobody wanted left overs or to take any in their lunches.

So, I have the makings for one more from the Facebook series.  An Italian stromboli.  I am sure mine will not even come close to looking like the picture seen here and if I am brave, I'll post mine.   I figure I probably can't go wrong with pizza dough, pizza sauce, pepperoni and a ton of mozzarella cheese, right?

We'll see.

I finished the biography of Paul Simon by Robert Hilburn.  I skimmed a lot of the book.  Just details I was not really interested in.  Paul sounds like a difficult person to get along with.  He was probably a dedicated, hard worker and didn't care much for the lighter side of life or those who were quite carefree.  Sounds like he thought they were frivolous and a waste of time.

I am a fan of Carrie Fisher (or was, sorry).  Maybe with his serious side he was attracted to her witty, light side.  I've read her book "Postcards from the Edge" (and have seen the movie several times). I may have read "Wishful Drinking". I'll have to look at it and see if I remember.  Looks like she wrote a dozen or more, I'll have to look into her other books.

So, what's next on my reading list?  I have to say, I wonder what a psychologist would say about my reading genres?  Biographies, serial killers, weather/earth disasters, reading body language, psychology, how to manage people/get along with coworkers, (not any more, ha ha!).  I cannot get into the fiction that is popular today.  I will try to read the "best novel" of the month or something. I use Goodreads as my guide. More often than not, I give up and go back to my regulars. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with the raw reality and will go for a fiction story. Usually I pick one that I know and liked and read long ago. Such as Wilkie Collins "The Moonstone" or "The Woman in White". I also like Agatha Christie.  I also enjoy books that were made into movies/tv shows that I have already watched.  Currently I am watching the TV series "Dark Winds" based on the books by Tony Hillerman.  The book series is Leaphorn & Chee. I am on the first few pages of the first book.  I'm not doing too well with it. I am also ready to give up on the TV series.  I liked the first two season but am having trouble getting into season 3.

Sigh.  But I have to discipline myself. I still have a lot of work to do around the house and the weather is finally starting to get nice and I want to get flowers and plant them. Enjoying retirement but along with that comes the down side. I broke a tooth off last week (dentist is sending me to a specialist who will extract it and make an implant - it is a front/side tooth).  I am already missing molars in all four corners of my mouth. Another downside is the aches and pains. I try to take care about eating foods that cause inflammation.  Sometimes I get out of bed and just go "Ow, ow, ow, ow ow!" Long car rides are another issue. I say to myself "God, I hope my neighbors aren't watching me" as I hobble out of my car and my first four to five steps look like I am a staggering drunk until I can right myself and keep the pain away for the following steps. And of course I can't do the things I used to do around the yard/house.  But I am not wired to be driven. If I don't feel like doing anything or getting something finished that day - I am able to let it go. It was probably living a long life with migraine headaches that made me realize I don't have to have it done that day because as anybody who has migraines know - you can forget trying to get anything done with those things.  For years there was no medication and when I read about new medicine (mid 90's, I think) it was a life changer.

Now, I have to watch my daughter go through the years of misery I had.  She is currently working with her doctor to tweak her medication to find the right dosage for her headaches.  As I've mentioned before - mine quit with the full hysterectomy.  Gone, gone, gone.  Maybe one a year, now. Good riddance.

Facebook is now my cookbook

 It seems that more times than not, I get recipe ideas from Facebook.  I see a few posts from family and friends, and of course the usual cute cat videos and a sprinkle of stupid people doing stupid things (a lot of fireworks and falling down) and the never ending idiot drivers.  But for me - I can't pass up watching somebody put a delicious recipe together.  Chicken, garlic and butter. What's not to love?  Anything with pizza sauce and cheese and pepperoni. I was never one to watch cooking shows.  I don't have regular television.  I watch shows/movies on my computer.  I get a TV and I end up giving it away because I never turn it on after the first week. I stopped "surfing" when I dropped my cable service. I only have Internet now and the kids have Netflix.  I have Amazon Prime but I never watch anything on that but once in a blue moon.  I like documentaries and true crime stories.  

My Mom loved books. She had several cookbooks.  I think one of my sisters got them after she passed.  I have about a dozen that I've picked up.  A few are ones that were put together at the place I was working at the time. We would have a pot luck get together and everybody wanted recipes, so we would make a cookbook.  One "smart aleck" guy contributed his recipe of how to make ice cubes.  

I also find myself not following a recipe a lot. I don't always measure and I don't always follow the list of ingredients. If I do happen to make something and everybody really likes it or I really like it, I'll try to write down what it was I added or did differently so I can do it the same way the next time. It bothers me to no end to make something and it is not good. I don't like to waste food. I don't give my dogs "people food".  Maybe a bit of chicken or meat after I have rinsed off any gravy or spices. Cheese is used if I need to give them medicine in pill form. I've found pills on the floor later  - sneaky little devils. Like my daughter when she was young. I found children's Tylenol chewable tablets in the trash can sitting right on top of all the trash. I told her - you could have at least hid them in the trash so I wouldn't see them!

Currently reading a Johnny Cash biography and I found a cookbook that his son published that I looked through.  I thought that Cash just went from Vivian to June but come to find out he had several affairs. Well, that is what this book says - author Robert Hilburn.

I was reading John Grisham's book about people who have been wrongly convicted of a crime. My computer updated one night and the book closed and I never opened it back up. I will get back to it eventually.  Another biography by Hilburn is waiting - Paul Simon. 

I also started reading about the serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson by Jack Olsen. I think I saw an advertisement of a tv show or movie about it so I looked the book up online - ebooks.  That is what I read:  ebooks. I got a little ill reading the book so I stopped for a while.

Freedom Rally in my town

 I knew the weather was rainy but I had to go.  My first protest rally.  I lost my voice several times yelling. I was at a point in the sidewalk where if the light was red, traffic stopped.  Some folks had their windows down. Most of them cheered us on and gave us the thumbs up sign and honked their horns.  But once in a while I would see a man sitting in the drivers seat (usually a big four-wheel drive truck) and I could tell by his face he was not happy to see us.  That's when I would do it.  I  hollered "Hi Ho! Trump must go!"  One guy in particular really took offense.  As soon as I started, my comrades around me joined in and he went ballistic shaking his fist at us and yelling something.  We could not hear him. Traffic moved on.

I only saw one person I knew. She and I talked a bit afterwards and it was nice to catch up.  Prior to the protest I made a couple of new friends with a couple of ladies there. We talked and listened to each other.  The signs on display were interesting to read.  One guy walked around with his homemade sign that read "Muck Fusk".   

I finished reading "The Penguin Lessons".  It was a quick and easy read.  I have a couple more biographies lined up and a couple of true stories about serial killers  (two of my favorite subjects).  

I am working on the last two kitchen cabinet drawers to paint and I need to put another coat on the back door. I can't do that one until it is warm enough to keep the door open.  It's getting there and Spring is  taking it's sweet time.  A lot of flooding in the surrounding area.  A lot of puddling and mud in my yard that makes it fun when the dogs come back inside. I have a stack of rags by the back door and they love it when they get wet and we rub them down.  They dance around and arch their backs and you can tell it feels so good.  Funny - I ordered a garden stool (to help me get back up when  I kneel down outside to work in the ground) and it came with this glove that has serious digging claws at the end of it. This is the right hand only (sucks to be left handed - I'm not but I do have 2 siblings who are).  I scratch the dog's backs with the glove. I make sure I don't press too hard.  They love it and when they have had enough they walk away.  I looked them up and you can get them on Amazon for about $6 (both gloves have claws). 

Visiting family on Tuesday.  One year from the eclipse (my great niece's birthday - she will be 2).  This one is our newest addition to the family.  My niece had her at 48 so she was a long time coming.  I am taking cheesecakes that I special ordered.  There is a lady in a nearby town that makes these cheesecakes to die for.  They area  bit pricey but heavy as a brick and so delicious. They should be illegal.

Could not wait

 Waiting for the movie to become available, I downloaded the book to read.  It's a story about a teacher in 1976 who went to Uruguay to teach and saved a dying penguin from an oil slick. 

I was a bit shocked when I read more about Gene Hackman and his wife's death. It was kind of a strange situation. Makes you consider what might happen if you or a loved one develops a form of dementia or Alzheimer's and what the circumstances could be.

Mysterious like a book or a movie. 

Sierra, not foxtrot

 Sigh. Working with technology, I memorized the Phonetic Alphabet  years ago. I would cringe if somebody used David or Nancy or elephant.  Although I have to admit, I have mistakenly used yellow for yankee and umbrella for uniform and quarter for quebec when I was in a hurry and just could not think of the damn corresponding word.

So. My health insurance changed in July. I get 90 day supplies. Come to find out I only get two refills at the Pharmacy then I have to get them sent via the US Postal Mail. I guess I didn't read the fine print. I've not had meds delivered in the mail (I'm not against it, I was just in our pharmacy store quite frequently, picking them up worked for me.). 

Of course I am completely out of medication when I discover this. I was just going about my business ordering my meds and the Pharmacy let me know they were ready. When I go in to pick them up, they then tell me - Can't give them to you through insurance but we can give your our Pharmacy discount. Due to the limit of 2 refills and then I have to go through the mail. At the time I turned this offer down.

So. I call my health insurance on Feb 21st to set it up. It took forever. Remember the Vitamin D2 was under Vit2 and she couldn't find it? (Feb 26th What Ever post).  Nightmare. I patiently wait. I am out of the medication but I know how this stuff works and I waited. Nothing. I have no idea how long it takes to send/get medication in the mail as I have not gone that route before.

Finally, I call them back. For some reason I get the automated answering rigamarole and nothing they offer is what I need to have. I would chose "refill" and they would come back with "You do not have any refills available" - finally I got a live person.  You know how it is.

We went back and forth and (since I am off my meds, I was a bit testy) she was apologizing all over the place. Come to find out my doctor would not grant the insurance company any refills because according to them I had refills waiting at my Pharmacy.  You can't make this stuff up! She said they tried three times with the doctor and they never responded.

I said "Tell me this. Were you just going to leave me out here with no meds? Never letting me know?" She said 'Oh, we emailed you ...'  and she rattled off three separate dates. I immediately checked my SPAM folder. Nothing.  I said "I have nothing from you."  She repeated the name of the health insurance.  I said "Nope."  

Then, I said "Let's go over the email address....."  Yep. That's where it went wrong. s and f sound alike over the telephone and my email had an S as in Sierra in it and they had it listed as F as in foxtrot.

Now, I have to call my doctor's office because they are still refusing refills. I have to tell my doctor to transfer my medications to the new health insurance. Even though this doctor has all my updated health information, copies of my insurance card etc... and should know all of this.

 Everything is taking four times longer than it used to. Why is everything such a hassle? Where did it all go sideways?  If it isn't matters such as this, it is security on top of security. I make a list (most days) and if I have to call or fill out any forms/paperwork online, there goes my entire day.

Wait, I just looked at the image again.  ALFA?  I thought it was Alpha. Well, bust my buttons! It is ALFA and looks like it always has been! 

Never on a Saturday

 Hah. So the winery we went to didn't take reservations on a Saturday anyway.  About 17 of my family showed up and we had a blast. I asked the bakery for lots and lots of icing.  This is what I got. That is a full sheet cake and it just happens to be the least amount of icing I have ever received on a cake from them.  

I almost said something when I picked it up, but for some reason I did not.  I was pumped for the get together they were astronomically busy and I knew there was not much I could do about it anyway. I did not want to say anything negative at that time because I was going to have a great time come hell or high water.  I guess I will just have to spell it out next time.  I had also ordered 7 cookie kits from them and I told myself I could always put the cookie kit icing on it.  Of course I am kidding.  

That cake was consumed like an out of control wild fire. I was cutting as fast as I could.  I was more than half a bottle of wine in and I was being quite generous with the piece sizes. I did manage to bring some back to my daughter and son-in-law (they had stayed home sick).  I got about two bites of left over cake this morning. 

When I take a cake like this, I always share with the staff.  I figure if they were nice enough to let me bring this in to their establishment (where they serve desserts) then I can at least give them all a piece. I also handed out pieces to family to take home to those who could not make it. I had it all under control until the waitress came out and said "Can the kitchen staff have some?"  Of course they can!  I shoved a couple of pieces in a container for my daughter and gave the rest of the cake to the kitchen.  What did I care?  I had more wine to drink!  

My favorite wines from this place were "Coal Miners Daughter, Blackberry and Han's Favorite Blend."  We just mixed them all together. A little from that bottle, a little from this one.

A Lost Art - RSVP

 I've mentioned before that I come from a large family. I am the youngest of eight. All my siblings are still living and tomorrow is our March/Spring get together. I usually plan these things.  I am good at it and everybody seems to look to me to see what is going on in the family, etc...

We have 11 birthdays in our family in March. It just seems weird to celebrate March birthdays but no other months. So I think I am going to start a Seasonal family get together. We get together in December for a family Christmas bash.  March will be for Spring, June for summer and September for the fall. That should space them out.

My son-in-law came down with a very bad sinus infection so the band he plays in had to cancel for tomorrow so we moved our get together to another winery.  The problem is getting people to R.S.V.P.  I like to give the restaurant a "heads up" as to how many of us rascals are going to show up.  

I tried to get answers the past couple of days but then I just threw up my hands and say 'Whoever shows up, shows up.'  If there is room to fit us all in the same area, great - if not ... we will all just sit where we can. And it is not just the younger generation.  I can't seem to get a solid yes or no from a few here and there. 

Before my SIL had to cancel his gigs (he had 3 this week-end) I planned to add three more bottles to my stash. That is all my home-made wine rack will hold. He was going to play at 2 wineries and one bar. But now I'll be visiting a different place. Which is okay because I only have one bottle from there in the above photo.  They sell a "Coal Miners Daughter" and I'll grab one of those for certain.  Recently on Facebook they advertised that they are selling a treat where they will mix vanilla bean ice cream with any wine in their inventory.  We've had a beautiful couple of "starting to feel like Spring" days but it looks like rain tomorrow. Maybe no patio, but I'll still give that ice cream treat a try.

One evening while listening to my Son-in-law's band at a winery a friend of my daughter's decided to pay our bill without telling me in advance. Well, I like to keep my wine stashed (I give them away, I'm not a big wine drinker) so I added 3 bottles of wine to my tab.  Not knowing he was picking it up. I did this up at the bar and he did not overhear this as he was sitting at our table.  Towards the end of the evening the waitress asked if there was anything else and I mentioned "My tab". She said "Oh, he got it." And she tilted her head toward my daughter's friend.  I said "Oh no! You are NOT paying for my wine!"  I laughed and fortunately had cash on me enough to cover the wine. I gave him the cash and we still laugh to this day when I could only imagine what he thought when he got the bill.  He comes often to the gigs and I told him he gave me a great story to tell at gatherings.  I always think to myself "What must he have thought when he got our bill?  'Why that leech...she added 3 bottles of wine'..."  LOL!  And I got him an Amazon gift card to cover our food bill.  He goes to Florida for the winter months, can't wait for him to return to the North so we can meet up with him again at the gigs.

I'll try to get some photos tomorrow at the bash.  A lot of times, I just enjoy the time and don't even think about taking pictures. I need to take more.  I am slowly getting older pictures from our family albums and scanning them into a digital format and sharing them on Facebook with our Family group. So many great memories.  A lot of times I'll ask various questions such as:  "Who drove that beat up station wagon in this picture?"  Sometimes I get an answer, other times crickets.  I asked recently on our group chat - if anybody recalled us having a pinball machine in our kitchen one winter by our back door.  Two people recalled but nobody remembered getting it and bringing it into the house. I know my Mom didn't do it (and my Dad had passed, I think).  It is fun for me to hear their answers. 

What is that funny saying the Royal Family started using?  "Recollections may vary."

Where will we go?

 When my daughter was young we made several trips to the Cleveland area.  The Art museum and our favorite the History museum.  The Cleveland zoo offered a section called The Rainforest.  (Doing research for this post, I realized they just closed it and are opening a Primate section).

At the time, I recall seeing a countdown clock (like the ones you would see for how many days, hours minutes left until the year 2000, etc...).  It was counting down how many acres or hectares of rainforest were disappearing.  I was astounded and it made me nervous.  I was ignorant of just how vast and huge the actual size of the rainforest was but it still gave me anxiety.

While perusing the news this morning I came across an article that just made me shake my head.  I'm too old to be surprised by this nonsense any longer. Here is a quotation:

"A new four-lane highway cutting through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest is being built for the COP30 climate summit ..."

One family has had their livelihood destroyed by this deforestation. He said "Where will we go?"  I'd like to know where humans will go after we have destroyed our earth.  How about it Musk? Build us a rainforest on the Moon or Mars? I forget. Which one are you going to colonize?  

Now, where is that satire magazine I so enjoy reading?

I was just talking (thinking) about him.

 You know how it is. You read something. A headline story/the death of a celebrity and say to yourself "Whoa...I was just talking to so and so about him."  Or "I was just thinking about them."

Gene Hackman.  On Feb 7th I downloaded a couple of his books to read. I didn't get around to reading them yet, but for some reason I had been reading (Oh, I recall - I was reading about it being his 95th birthday on January 30th) about him and saw that he wrote a couple of books. Westerns are not my favorite genre but I'll give them a go. Just because it's Gene.  If somebody like say - Al Pacino wrote a book, I probably wouldn't bother. I don't care much for AP.  (As an actor, I don't know him of course). 

I've caught a talk show or two with a celebrity on it and funny - it seems like the actors I don't care for, I end up liking them on the talk show and actors I did like ended up looking like a total ass.  So - there you go. I might like Al if I ever saw him in person.  

Please wait 5 minutes....

 Most of my employment history was working with computers. The last two years of my last job, security was getting so ridiculous I spent half of my day recovering, securing, double-locking my logins and the other half of the day assisting customers/end users recover their login/passwords. I got nothing else done. Of course I am exaggerating but I'm not that far off.

What. Ever.

 Don't you just get tired of dealing with it all?  It finally got above freezing and I made a car appointment. My battery had died about a month ago and I've been using my daughter's vehicle when I needed one. I was a little annoyed at my dealership because aren't their computers supposed to warn them of things like this - a battery going bad or a cell dying....something?  So I don't get stranded. I've had this car for 15 years and I don't recall ever having it give me a mechanical problem. 

I told them if my car started I would bring it in. It did (it didn't want to) and I sat there for two hours (I don't mind, I brought my puzzle book) while they kept it on some kind of machine to test the battery. She said it was under warranty and as soon as the machine gave them a code she would be able to get me a free replacement.  Unfortunately, the machine said my battery was good.

She said I could drive it home and if in a couple of days if it happened again, I could bring it back to them and they could try it on the machine again.  I looked at her and tried to establish if she was for real or not.  I said 'Just replace the damn thing.' I mean really. In two days I have a dentist appointment and I really didn't want to drive my daughter to school so I could get to my appointment and pick her up later. In case my car battery decided it wasn't "good".  Screw that. I wanted to ask her "And how exactly will I be bringing it in, if it doesn't start?'  She has no idea if I have Triple A or not (I do). I get three free tows a year (I have the regular Triple A) and I haven't needed it at all this year, yet. She did give me a 15% discount on my entire bill (oil change, rotate tires, replace rear tail light and the new battery) - so --- what. ever. Be done. Be gone.  Give me my car back and let me move on.

Oh, and Triple A?  You might be waiting 2 - 6 hours for them to get to you if you are lucky. 

On a side note - my neighbor worked for this dealership 26 years. A few years ago, he slipped and fell on the ice at work on a Thursday. He took Friday off to go to the doctor. They (the dealership) called him on Sunday and told him they decided to move on without him.  (This more or less happened to me except I did not fall and I had 29  years in. We have decided to move on without you. - What a crock! ). So since they got rid of him the service there has been sub par. Word has it the owner put his brother in charge of the dealership and the brother decided he wanted all his friends and family to work there and the regulars had to go.

And the matter of other things. Here is a good one. The other day my insurance decided that after two refills, I needed to get my prescriptions on line. I did not know this. I have a new insurance (since work tossed me away) and I am not eligible for Medicare, yet. Fun stuff, I can't tell you. Yes, I know the phrase is "I can tell you" but I really can't right now. But then again - I am going to go ahead and tell you. See?  This is driving me bonkers. I don't know if I am coming or going.

So, I am setting up my prescriptions with the lady on the telephone. It is taking so freaking long. I refill the first one, but when we got to the Vitamin D2 she said that one isn't on the list. She can't send me that one. She said there is Vitamin B(whatever number), Vitamin C, Vitamin E -  but no Vitamin D2.  I'm like 'Well, what in the hell do I do?'   She asked me if I was sure I was reading the prescription correctly because sometimes the doctor's writing is bad.  (Me, being sarcastic in my mind only - "You don't say?!")  I sighed and told her I was looking at a computer printout label on my prescription bottle from my pharmacy.  I told her my doctor had not written me a physical prescription in years  - they all do it electronically now. Then she said "Let me look at Vit D2".  I looked at my label. There it said Vit D2 generic for Vitamin D2.  She found it under Vit D2. How in the HELL am I supposed to know that Vit D2 is the generic code for Vitamin D2?  Evidently it isn't that way for Vitamin B(whatever number), Vitamin C or Vitamin E.  Who in their right mind is going to say "Vit D2" instead of Vitamin D2?  The entire process is set up to drive us all insane. And really - certainly she had to know it was listed under Vit or why else would she suggest it?  

So much of this type of annoying problems come up with all this asinine paperwork that needs to be completed for retirement, insurance, taxes - the list goes on.  How do you keep your sanity doing all this crap?

 Reading "The Faculty Lounge" by Jennifer Mathieu.  Most recommendations for fiction novels come from magazines I read such as 'This Week' or 'In Touch Weekly'.  A few I read because I watched the movie.  This one takes a teacher/administrator of a school and tells a little bit about them in each chapter.  It works for me because I worked in education (not in a school but in the environment). 

I also started "The Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison.   I've heard of it but never read it.  It is slow going.  I can't seem to get into it.  Not to be confused with the movie.  Whew!  Watched that a couple of years back. 2020.  Elizabeth Moss - Psychological Thriller.  It was a good one.  IMDB rated it 7.1 out of 10.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051906/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%2520invisible%2520man

Movie I watched recently "Flight Risk" with Michelle Dockery (from Downton Abbey), Mark Wahlberg and Topher Grace.   Another thriller.  It was okay.  The majority of the movie takes place in a small airplane with the three of them. IMDB gave it only a 5.3 rating out of 10. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10078772/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_flight%2520risk

Movies I want to watch:

Death of a Unicorn

Novocain

On TV - currently my fave is "History's Greatest Mysteries" with Laurence Fishburne. It is in it's sixth season and last week was about "The Valentine's Day Massacre".  This week is "What is the Yeti?"  

A great site for all you want to know about your favorite or any TV shows:

https://epguides.com/

For a fun trip down memory lane - check out the first edition of the theme song to 'Gilligan's Island'.  It is not AT ALL like the one they ran on the regular TV show!  In the pilot, Mary Ann, Ginger and The Professor were played by different characters than what the regular show aired.  The Professor was a High School Teacher, and Ginger/Mary Ann were secretaries.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpimVRP3EW4  (for the song - skip to 25 seconds in to miss the intro)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IkZ2neSamw   (for more detail on the pilot episode)

And in between all of my reading and watching, I am still painting my kitchen cabinets and drawers. I don't plan to stop there. I want to change the walls. 

Thank you for your service

 I know it isn't Veteran's day or Memorial day. Three of my family members have served in the Armed forces. The older ones had it pretty rough when they returned from Viet Nam in the 60's. They were treated poorly. It is encouraging to now see them wear a hat when we go out and are proud to be a Veteran. They get a lot of compliments and attention - as they should. 

It was a very real experience when the Wall Memorial came to my town and we went to visit. I remember assisting a couple of people with finding their loved one(s).  It has been a few years but it is something like you go to the information booth and give them the name of the person you are looking for. They give you a panel number that pertains to the section of the wall. Then you go down the side of the panel to find the line number and find the name. My brother-in-law had about four friends he lost. They were so young.

One of the amazing things is they have a person from the military guard the wall. That person stands there without moving for hours. I can't recall how long before they get relieved but it was pretty impressive. I remember they hold a gun but I can't remember if the gun gets to rest on the ground or on their shoulder. I could not find any information on this aspect of the tour.

I did see the "changing of the guards" in 1970 when my family visited DC. Such a remarkable ceremony.

Painting

 I started painting all my cabinet doors and drawers in the kitchen. I had purchased the above paint to freshen up my front door and realized it would work on my kitchen cabinets/cupboards. I only purchased a quart at the time because I was only thinking of the door.  I bought two more cans of the quart size because I like handling the smaller can. My cabinets/cupboards had begun to show little chips and I realized (horror of horrors) that at one previous time, the owner of the house had painted their kitchen turquoise blue. All those little nicks (and some surface cracking) are getting covered up nicely with this paint. It's a slow process but as they say - "I've got nowhere to go and all day to get there."   

I've kept in touch with some friends I worked with back in the 80's and 90's and we met for dinner last night. All but me live in the same vicinity. I live about 40 minutes away. We've been meeting for so long we know pretty much everything about each other. The past two years another from the workplace has been joining us so she gets to tell all her stories. She was busy raising her family before. The birthday girl chooses the restaurant. She chose the same Asian place as last year. Our next birthday get together is in April That birthday girl usually chooses Italian.

The group skips March (nobody born that month).  I'm so glad, though. My family has 11 March birthdays. Two of them are extended family members. We are meeting at a winery this year in the middle of the month. For some reason we get together this month to celebrate (but not any of the other months).  LOL - whatever.

My brother and sisters have all stopped smoking. The three (out of 8) who did smoke. The one brother didn't even start to smoke until he was 50.  I see less of the vaping than I used to. Or I should say "smell less" because that is the part that gets me. The smells.  Even though my migraines have all but dissipated, I still get annoyed by strong odors.

I meet up with another group of former co-workers once a month. They are ladies I worked with at the Educational office. There were about 10 of us but after Covid, we only have a regular 6 - 8 that show up. All but one is retired and she works only part time. A new one came last month and it was SO nice to catch up with her. I send out the invites and while dining, we choose the next restaurant and date.  We used to drive a lot farther than we do these days. With good weather, we may venture out more as we tire of the places close to home.

I make certain to keep up with the get togethers as my family has a tendency to shut ourselves off from the world and gather only with family. We have a large family so that keeps us hopping. Through therapy and reading I realize that it is very important to do this - for mental health. Large families who get together often are probably fine for getting their socialization. Especially as members marry or change partners (bringing in fresh people to get to know) and have children. And sprinkle in a friend or two here and there.

I only read two books in January. Getting a slow start this year. I think this was due to me watching a marathon of "Call the Midwife".  I've caught up to the current season so I'll probably read more. I discovered that the actor Gene Hackman wrote a couple of novels. I am going to give them a go. And puzzles (not jigsaw). Crosswords, kryptograms...etc.. I get the variety puzzle books and I'll go through and do all my favorites first. Alphabet Plus, Codeword, Syl" La-cros'tic, Crostics, and Flower Power.

The Amazing Horse

 I read a book a couple of months ago (surprise, surprise) titled "The Horse: A Galloping History" by Timothy C. Winegard. It made me realize how humans would not have evolved as much as we have without this wonderful creature. In war, the advantage goes to the side with the newest weapons. When certain armies began using horses their advantage was substantial to win a war. 

I average about 4 books a month. I like to read autobiographies and biographies and true-life stories. One is "Lost on a Mountain in Maine" by Donn Fendler. When he was 12 he got lost while hiking with his family in July 1939. He was lost for 9 days.

And yet, another one. "The Ride of Her Life" by Elizabeth Yetts. Tells the story of a 64 year old woman who rode a horse across America in the 50's. Yetts also wrote "The Eighty-Dollar Champion" about a horse named Snowman who was rescued from a trip to the slaughterhouse and became a champion jumper in the late 50's.

I guess I like to read about rescues. True that. I do like books, movies/tv shows about the cave rescue in 2018 in Thailand. And a big subject I've done a lot of reading on wildfires, also. The firefighters who train for that kind of work is phenomenal. Not to mention the risk they take and their bravery. One that really hit me in the feels is the notorious Camp fire or Paradise fire in 2018.

Gosh, I could go on and on. Besides reading I have been doing a re-watch of "Call the Midwife" on TV. Another non-fiction story.  I relate a lot to the borough of Poplar in London and how the families lived in squalor. 

After I retired, I started out really well with getting things done. I've sort of stalled. I guess that is due to the winter season. I hope I pick back up in the Spring and do not procrastinate. I have about four major house projects I need to do. 

Keeping busy

 I'm looking at the above color/theme for my kitchen. Trying to stay busy and not feel guilty about not working. My last day was one year ago in mid-March. However I was paid until June 30th and that was my actual retirement date.

 I guess I'm too depressed to say anything about the state of the nation. I try not to read too much of the news because I get anxious. I already can't sleep well. 

This is the year I get to start Medicare. I am bombarded with paperwork. Again. Nobody said retirement was so much paperwork. Sheesh. Non stop.

I usually get into a baking mood around October. Since I was retired this year, I did a bit more than I normally do. My son-in-law and daughter gave me a stand mixer. I hated to tell them by the time I got it, I was kind of out of the phase.  Our favorite cookie this year (or mine, anyway) was white chocolate chip with craisins and white chocolate chip with maraschino cherries.  Sorry, no pictures.  No...wait. I did get pics of the white chocolate craisin ones:

Holiday Family dinner

 I plan our family holiday party/dinner each year. This year I made the children's saran wrap ball. If you have not heard of this before it is a game the kids play by unwrapping the saran wrap ball and getting the prizes they unwrap before it is the next person's turn. Here is a link to see how it can be played:

https://www.partygameideas.com/saran-wrap-games-rules-and-party-ideas/

We also do an adult version. My niece takes care of this one. I spent plenty for the kids I can only imagine what she spent on her ball. It is crazy fun! 

At the party I was telling some of the younger family about playing spoons. Have you ever played that one? We broke a kitchen table playing that game. Here is a link to that game:

https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Spoons-(Card-Game)

We didn't play it exactly like this article says. The loser got a letter (like one on one basketball) and we spelled out horse or pig etc...Actually, I'm not sure we even kept score. I think we just played it over and over.