BOOOOOORING!!!

Today's high temperature:  83 degrees

Today's humidity was:   56%

Too hot.  Too humid.

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I didn't mean that I find flip-flops despicable, in general.  Heck, I am barefoot when I am home and slip on a pair of old, stained moccasins when I run out to get the mail or walk down to Pearl's.  What I meant is I just don't think flip-flops are appropriate to wear to funerals, weddings, church, or to your place of business, if you are a working person.  Wouldn't a nice pair of sandals be better foot attire for these functions?  Plus--they are terrible for your feet, legs and back to wear if you are out walking/jogging/running--there is absolutely NO support!  

I have yet to see anyone running in a marathon, wearing flip-flops.

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/style/flip-flops-fun-but-not-great-for-feet

or--the ever popular Orthopedic flip-flop :-)
http://www.healthyfeetstore.com/womens-healthy-flip-flops.html
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Do not worry about me if I don't post everyday. 

 Things are positively boring around here.  

I am enclosed in my comfy air conditioned wee home.  

If I mingle with any humans, I will let you know.
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What are we going to do about the mess in Syria?

We went into Iraq using the reason that Saddam Hussian had gassed many of his own people and 5,000 Kurds--the Liberals hated President Bush for that.  My friend on Face Book still condemns him for that.

If we go into Syria using the reason that Assad has gassed many of his own people, will my friend on Face Book condemn this President?  

I simply wish we could just stay out of all these conflicts. Those people are still living in the 6th century--let them have at it and perhaps then we could concentrate on bringing some economy to our country--because we wouldn't have to shell our billions to those countries.
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Anyway--if you don't see me on here very often--I will still be here.

I Am Becoming The Old Critical Woman I Never Wanted To Become!

Today's high temperature was:  82 degrees

Today's humidity was:  34%

Sunny, breezy.

Even with low humidity, 82 is still too hot for me!

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Yesterday, I went into Brighton to get my hair cut.  My hair is thick and it grows like "a bad weed", as my hairdresser says.  I almost forgot to go because, I haven't gone shopping nor to get my hair cut on a Saturday for years and years--not since I retired.  Now I know why--so much traffic.  So many people.  Every chair in the salon occupied.  Lots of noise.  So much chattering.  Yeah--I prefer to keep Saturday like an at home day around here.  

As she was cutting my hair, she asked about Karen--who usually goes to her too.  She said, "Karen is what I would call a true Christian.  She isn't judgmental about people.  She never criticizes anyone--she never gossips, she is so accepting of all people.  She goes out of her way to help others--I never would go into downtown Detroit for three days and clean up the vacant lots and houses--you could get shot!!!  And--she never preaches!  She just lives her religion by example."

Wow--what a compliment and absolutely true.  Karen is like that and maybe that is why---everyone she meets loves her instantly?  She is so much like my mother that it is sometimes spooky!!!  I thought about it and then when Karen called, I just had to tell her what Tracy had said about her.  She didn't say, "Oh wasn't that nice of Tracy?"  She didn't say, "Well I try."  She said, "anytime I am compared with Grandma Dorathy, I am humbled."      She had no ego about what was said about her, she only thought how wonderful to be compared to her Grandma.            

                  I adore this child of mine!!!

So then Pammie called me later on.  She has been calling me once a week--I am stunned and so happy.  Some daughters brag about how they call their mother every day, or a couple times a week--mine never did and I never thought anything about, but now that Pammie does--I love it.  She just wanted to see how I was doing and to tell me that "Gene" was moving into his house this weekend and cleaning all his stuff out of her house.  It will take him quite a while to get all his junk vehicles and stuff out of her yard and storage barn, but she is working with him on that.  He will come out every week and bring the lawn mower and Pammie will use it, he will take some more of his junk to his place and when he comes back to pick up the mower, he will take more of his stuff.  Pammie is very kind to him--gracious in the way she acts toward him.  There is no screaming or cursing--they are both being adults and working together.

                I also adore this child of mine!!!

When you see the actions of your adult children, you realize what kind of a job you did as a parent.  At least with these two---I did a very good job.  Pammie is very, very much like me. Sometimes too much like me!! :-)

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When I came out of the salon, I had to walk across the parking lot, as there were no spaces in front of the salon.  There were men working on something on the store next door--I didn't pay any attention.  I was feeling pain free yesterday and with my new hair cut, I suppose I may have been standing tall and doing my long legged stride across the lot.  (What they used to tell me was my run-way stride when I modeled ski pants back in the 60's. no swinging of hips, but a long easy-loping stride with my 34" legs on display.)

I hear a wolf whistle.  When I was younger, 30-40's, I used to smile and say thank you, but....not in these times.  I just pretend it wasn't intended for me.  Then I heard it again, and there was a guy, dirty, sitting on the curb, smoking his cigarette.  I just kept walking--of course I was smiling---I am always smiling, but I didn't look at him directly.  I walked around a bunch of trees and got in my car and sneaked a peek and sure enough, he turned his head and leaned over a bit to see me.

I think I was "eye-humped". (I just learned that word today, from Jean.)  I looked up the meaning and it says, "to look at someone in a lascivious manner." "to look at someone with sexual intent."  There was another cruder definition, but I won't print it here.  I used to get whistled at by nice looking men, or older gentlemen, dressed nicely.  This guy was none of those--even remotely.  I kind of laughed, but I drove out a different way so he couldn't see my license number--not as naive as I use to be.

Of course, we all know what "humping" means--don't we all?  When I read that word on Jean's blog this morning, it reminded me of my husband.  On Wednesday's when he came into the house after work, he'd yell out, "It's hump day."  (I knew what he meant).  The kids would yell "Yay, it's Wednesday,", but I would yell back, "I have a headache!"  Then he'd laugh.

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I stopped at the store--man was it crowded, come to find out they had discounts on everything--on-line coupons that I didn't know about.  I got my Finish Quantum Dish Washing pellet thingies and two long sleeved tops for winter--dressy enough to wear to church--$12.00 each.  When I got in the car, I remember my husband practically forbidding me to use a dish washer.  One of my Avon customers had one that rolled on wheels, with a cutting board on top.  You rolled it over to the sink and attached it to the faucet.  It was Avocado green and she gave it to me.  I loaded it into my station wagon, brought it home, sprayed it white and it was great.  In those days, 1974, we had powdered dish washing detergent to use.  My husband informed me that it would clog up the drain.  I thought he was nuts.  "How could it clog up the drain anymore then the dish soap I'd use in the sink?"

So. I of course used the dish washer--everyday--I loved it as I have always hated washing dishes!  Well--it was another 10 years before he left and one day that summer, the sink filled up with water from the draining of the dish washer and would not drain out.  I put Drano down the drain.  I got some lye and used that.  I got liquid drain cleaner.  It drained a bit better, but still very slow.  One day, when he came to pick up Jen, I told him about it and he said, "You're going to have to dig up the drain--from the house out to the driveway."

SAY WHAT? 

"I told you so."  (I hate superior sounding men!) 

I thought, well I'll show him.  The drain tiles are probably filled with roots from the bushes and the plants.  I commenced to dig.  OHMYGOSH--what hard work!!!  When I finally got to the field drain tiles--none were broken--none were clogged with roots, but for about 8 feet, they all were pretty much filled with a blue/white mixture of dish washer soap!!!!!   I replaced the tiles with new ones, shoved the dish washer over by the stove and used the top for a cutting board and never used the dang thing again!!!

==============================

I have started noticing something.  It seems every one on this planet wears those things we use to call "shower shoes" or "beach shoes".  Little foot coverings made from recycled tires?  Originated in Japan where they used them for "house shoes" because they did not wear their street shows inside.  Also used in India for the very poor people to keep their feet from picking up hook-worms, and of course in China.

Now I see people wearing them everywhere!  I noticed in the salon, the only person with regular shoes on was my stylist and me.  Two of us out of forty some people?  Not just young kids, but old ladies too.  Then, in the store, I noticed the same thing--everyone walking around--making that sole-slapping flip flop sound. 

Today in church, I noticed them there also--which in my judgmental sort of mind, that people should present themselves in the Lord's house in a respectfully dressed manner, thought, "How inappropriate!" Of course, I suppose if Jesus walked in, He'd be wearing them also!!   No--He's be wearing his sandals, wouldn't he?  

Can you imagine how dirty your feet would get?  and where or where is there any support to the foot?  I fear these younger's will one day rue the day they didn't wear decent shoes.  Back problems.  The foot tends to roll over, so that mis-aligns the knees, the hips.  I said something to Pearl about it today and she said, "My grand daughter wore them for her wedding."  

SAY WHAT!!

"Was it an outside wedding?  On the beach?  Casual wedding?"

"No--it was very formal--in the church.  She thought no one could see them under her dress.  But they were pretty, with rhinestones on them and all."

Oh well--guess that was proper then.  ARGHH!

We have become such a sloppy society!!!  People in flannel pajama bottoms shopping.  Women in sweat pants shopping.  People now going to church weddings in shorts and flip-flops.

Now--I do not get dressed up to go grocery shopping or make a run to SubWay like my mother would have, but at least I wear decent clothes--a t-shirt and jeans or bermuda shorts.  AND dress slacks to church--I don't wear jeans to church.  It took me several hundred years to even feel comfortable wearing slacks to church. 

There are many women I know who don't even own a dress anymore.  We wear pant suits to funerals and weddings.  I may sound very filled with pride, but, I am happy to report that when my girls attend a funeral or a wedding, they wear a dress.  They may go bare legged, without pantyhose (which drives me crazy), but at least they have on a dress.  And my son and sons-in-law wear suits or a really nice shirt and dress pants--even the grand kids are dressed up.  I know the girls wear slacks to church, but none would ever think of wearing jeans!!  I say this only because I noticed the lady in front of me in church today, had on jeans. She is the choir director--and she had on jeans. Yes--they had rhinestone studs on the back pockets, so they were dressy, but......?

The lady that got up to give the Scripture reading, had on a dress and..............flip flops---slap,slap,slap,slap,slap--all the way from her pew to the lecturn.  The minister had on a white shirt and tie AND HIS ROBE.

Probably none of this matters!!!  Just a part of my aging mind becoming critical.  I'm sure God doesn't care what we wear to church.  BUT--even to the funeral of The Wicked Witch of the West, I wore this outfit:

I just see these things and think it is very odd.  Obviously I am a dinosaur, but I just don't get the whole flip flop thing.  My grandma use to tell me, "Wear a good supportive shoe, because when your feet go and start to ache all the time--every part of your body is going to ache."  I think she was right, HOWEVER, I haven't gotten to the point of wearing the kind of shoes she wore!  Every day!!!

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I had to stop at the Wal-Mart today to get my prescription filled.  As I walked around, while waiting, I found something for Evan's 2nd birthday.  I hope he doesn't already have a tri-cycle--knowing that family, he may have 3 or 4, but I got this one for him.  It has a siren on it and flashing lights and car noises--I think it is wonderful!!  He is quite tall for his age--at least he was the last time I saw him, so I think he will be able to reach the pedals.  If I don't get invited to his birthday, I will take it over on a day when the older kids are in school and just he and Pammie are there.  I will be breaking my daughter's law of not seeing him, but I won't go inside the forbidden house, so maybe it will be all right.  I AM SO TIRED OF THIS DECREE OF HERS!!!  I MISS MY LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN!!!

Thank Goodness For the "Delete" Button!!!

Today's high temperature was: 77 degrees

Today's humidity was:  36%

Sunny, a nice freshening breeze from the north-east

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I wish I had a delete button for some of my daily issues :-)  

I am a bit pissed off right now--sorry for the crude language, but it's the only "nice" word I can think of.  I saw a link on my Face Book page about "Gospel Prosperity" preachers like Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyers.  While I have watched and liked them both at times in my life, I do not always agree with their thinking.  So I shared the link and stated how I felt.  A friend of mine, commented that she agreed and why.  Then this other "person" on my friends list came in with a comment that the first comment meant, "You mean we can do anything we damn well please and we will get into Heaven?"  Now, the first comment and my comment didn't say that, didn't infer that.  I have no idea what the second woman was saying, but I know her and I know--it matters not what I post on Face Book--if it is the least thought provoking, the second woman will blast me, or get into arguments with my other friends that post positive comments.

She also commented that "with that kind of thinking, no wonder you right-wingers are all nuts."   What?

I don't know why I just don't block her from seeing any of my posts--I've blocked me from seeing hers on my page, because they are so negative, ugly, wanting to start a fight.  No matter what you might say back, if you disagree in the least, she will nail you to the wall with her venom.  Some of you that are on Face Book have seen some of her comments to me, so you know who I am referring too.  

I have only met and talked with her twice in my life.  Somehow these people get on our friends list.  Friends?  People we don't know--some we haven't met and yet they are friends?  

Before the last election she got on me big time when I inferred I wasn't going to vote for Mr. Obama.  I didn't say I was going to vote for Mr. Romney either, because I wasn't really planning on voting for either one.  Man alive!!  She jumped on that comment and told me, "All this time I thought you were an intelligent woman.  It breaks my heart to realize how stupid you've become.  Why would you vote for someone who is going to take away women's right?  Repeal Social Security and Medicare?  How could you be that ignorant?  I thought you were Pro-Choice!"

Well--her comment hurt deeply as I had never said any of that, nor had I inferred it.  I didn't respond right away, but later, went back and said, "I didn't say I was voting for someone who would take anything away from anyone.  You have inferred that I am not Pro-Choice!  I am pro-choice!  and my choice is...not to vote for Mr. Obama!"

I should have blocked her right then, but I didn't want to appear as petty as she is.  So--today, after seeing as how she was trying to bait my first friend into a theological/political argument--I just deleted the link, the post, and the comments!  Gone!  Off into the ether where no one can see it.  Then I private messaged my first friend to tell her what I had done because....I sure didn't want HER to have to endure what I knew was ahead of her from the second woman!  She is very good at baiting people--trying to argue--trying to get you to slip up--so she can come down on you with both feet.  I will NOT play that game with her!!!!

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So--today I went to see the PsychiATRIST.  The MD.  The PhD.  He was actually very nice.  I was precise in telling him why I was there--that I couldn't get the correct drugs from my primary care guy until I had a diagnosis from him.  Of course, I handed him my HUGE list of all the diagnoses and drugs I have taken over the last 40+ years and why they did not work.  He actually thought the list was great.  "Don't you think that is obsessive to work on a list like that?"  I asked.  "A bit," he said.  

Of course, he didn't give me a diagnosis--do they ever?  I want a nice tidy diagnosis of what is wrong with my head, so I can become obsessive and research it to death.  Oh no--not that simple.  We have to "discuss" the whys and wherefores and the years of what I had gone through.  No. No.  Here is all you need to know--just give me a diagnosis and prescribe something you think will help these weird thoughts/feelings/reactions I am going through.

After an hour, he gave me a few tests--like him giving me a list of numbers that I had to repeat back to him.  And three words, Purple, Tree, Honest--that half an hour later, he asked me to repeat.  I suppose he was checking for Alzheimer's?  In the middle of one of his numbers list--he asked a question and I answered.  Then he asked me to repeat the 7 numbers back to him and I did.  He said that my memory was outstanding and that my I.Q. was very high.  "Huh?"

He said, "by this list of yours, it seems you have been told you have every mental illness except Schizophrenia."  

I said, "Well, I sometimes wonder about that, but I'm not paranoid.  I don't think the NSA or the FBI are spying on me and, if they are, I don't care...so I guess I'm okay."

He said, "You do seem sort of hyper today."

"Yes--I know.  I have been talking fast and furious because I am trying to go over 74 years of my life history in the fifty minutes I am allotted!"

"You are confusing, that's for sure."  (Whatever that meant.)

I didn't get to really tell him of the way I am feeling NOW.  The irrational thoughts and actions.    He asked me if all this planning of my death and funeral was really about ME or was it about making things easier for my family.  "Have you ever really thought about taking care of you and not everyone else?"

Well, hell no!  I was a daughter, then a wife and then a mother, then an employee, a care giver and a grandmother.  When did I ever think about what I wanted?  It's just not my nature.  

Of course, now all those things I WAS--are gone away, so...perhaps this is the reason for my mental turmoil?  (I thought of this after I got in the car).  I sure hope he doesn't try and make me come up with what I want because---I haven't a clue!  I don't want anything!!  and please...don't make me go to the Senior Center...or a bus trip...or go out each week to eat in a restaurant all alone.  No. No.  

I do not want to socialize--especially with people I don't know.  I would prefer more family time, but other then that, I vant to be alone!

He thinks I may have a death wish.  I told him "probably", but I wouldn't do anything active to bring it on.  I am not suicidal, but...I wouldn't mind if all of this was over with."  He frowned.  

So, 90 minutes later he said, "I think Risperdol will help.  The smallest amount---at bedtime.  Stay on the Celexa."

At least I got something and I go back in a month.  He also wants me to go back into talk therapy with Lynn--the one I went to for 3 months after Fred died--she is in the same building.  We shall see.  What a bore!!  I hate going over all this crap since childhood and how did it make me feel and why did I do that, and...and...  The hurt little girl never heals, okay? She is always there in my mind and soul.  Just give me a damn pill to straighten out my chemical imbalance or something.

Oh yes--and he wants me to keep writing to get my thoughts out.

You poor readers!!!
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I GOT THE POWER!!!

Bye Bye

It...Was a Day...Like Many, but Better

Today's high temperature was:  83 degrees

Today's humidity was:  56%

Too hot for me and too humid.

Tonight--nice cool front going through.

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I finally got to open the front door and windows this evening around 8:00.  Lots of rain south of me, but the cool front it going through and taking the humidity with it.  Tomorrow is suppose to be "delightful".  I am so glad--I like delightful!!

So--this morning I got up later--8:15, which is still about 45 minutes too early for me, but....what can I say.  I guess I am sleeping better?

I missed Fred today.  I have no idea why.  It's not an anniversary of anything special.  I don't know.  He was just on my mind a lot and I found  myself sighing and really lonesome of his voice and smile and arms around me.  Fat lot of good that is going to do me!!!  Get a grip woman!!!  <sigh>

I walked down to Pearl's around 9:30.  I intended to call Comcast and have them walk me through what is wrong with her e-mail connection.  Her internet connection works just fine--she cannot get her e-mail to open--which makes no sense.  If her internet connection is working, so should her e-mail.  I went through all the steps in her "options" and "accounts" and all the information in there is correct.  Then I picked up her new phone, that she bought so she could bundle it with Comcast and it was dead.  No dial tone.  

She lost is right about then!!

"Why do I have such bad luck with this computer?  It's like it has something against me!!"  (I thought she was going to cry.)

"Hon...it isn't against you.  It is just a machine...like your mixer.  If something is wrong inside...your mixer wouldn't work.  Not because it had anything against you, but...just because something was broken."

"But my mixer works great!"

"and so will your computer if...you add more memory, a new video card and audio card."  (because for some reason her speakers do not work now--although they did yesterday.)

So I looked around in back of the computer and found a cord that was just hanging there--plugged it into the back of her computer and...her speakers worked.  Ta Dah!!

She has this "thing" about all the cords behind her computer.  She keeps trying to straighten them all out.  Is bound and determined she is going to enclose them in empty paper towel tubes.  In her efforts to do this, she keeps pulling out wires, where they are plugged in, and doesn't realize it or doesn't know where to plug them back in and......things quit working.  Just like yesterday when she called me down all in a panic because she couldn't get an internet connection, only for me to find her router was unplugged.  She had to get in and check her bank account to make sure her Social Security deposit was there.  She was still frantic this morning.

"Why would you worry about your deposit.  Has it ever been late or not showed up in your bank?"

"No.But you never can tell.  With this government...I heard Obama was going to take away our Social Security and our Medicare!"

"No---I think it's the Republicans who are going to do that"

"WHAT!!?"

"Only kidding.  It depends on which report you read from which group.  No one is going to take your Social Security or Medicare away!"

"Well--I wondered about that.  They can't take Social Security away from me...I put that money in that saving's account all the years I worked!"

I smiled.

"What?  Why are you smiling?"

"Well--actually...I hate to tell you this, but....."

"What?"

"You didn't put anything away in a savings account.  The money you paid in for Social Security, they were using to support and fund the people who were already on it.  Now, the money we get every month, comes from our kids and other worker's pay checks."

"What?  I don't understand."

"No one is going to take away your Social Security."

"I'm done with this computer.  Don't even call Comcast.  They can't help.  It's the computer, not them."

So we went out into the front room and chatted for awhile--then I came home.

She has cable on her TV--which would cost her $45.00 a month.  But to get a better deal, she bundled her computer and a non-existent phone and is paying $130.00 a month.  She is paying for an internet high speed computer, which doesn't work and a phone land-line, which also doesn't work.  She only uses the internet to check on her bank balance--she could call the bank for that.  She hates the computer--she doesn't use her land-line--doesn't even know the number, so...why...doesn't she just get the connection for her TV?

So I called the computer place where I get work done and asked them if they have a technician that makes house calls--they do--and what it would cost to get her a new computer--$350.00.  I just about dropped my teeth.  $350.00 is all?  Brand new.  Windows 7 operating system.  Microsoft Office suite and enough mega bytes and gigabytes to last her from here to eternity!!!  They would take her hard drive and put her pictures over onto the new one--as that is all she has on her hard drive she'd want to save basically.

My computer is seven years old--it cost me $800.00, which at the time seemed like a good deal.  Heck--I should give her mine and got get a new one for myself, LOL!!  She came down later and I told her what I had found out.

"I don't have that kind of money." she wailed.

"Sure you do.  You told me you have been putting money aside and you have over one thousand dollars."

"Well...yes I do, but that money is for a new refrigerator."

"What is wrong with the one you have."

"Nothing...I just want a new one so I can get a bottom freezer."

Okay.  I AM DONE!!!  (I think I have said that before!)

If she had a decent computer I think she would really love it--there would be nothing to make her frustrated.  She could access her bank account, her e-mail, FaceBook--all the damn games she wants to play, but NO--she would rather get a new refrigerator which she does not need--just so she can have a bottom freezer, which she will hate because SHE CAN'T BEND OVER TO GET INTO IT!!!

I GIVE UP!!!  I GIVE UP!!! I GIVE UP!!!

She knows her options concerning a computer now and it is up to her what she wants to do.  I will NEVER mention it again!!!!!

=============================

The dish washer repair guy came this afternoon--what a nice young man!!! I told him I wouldn't "hover" and he said I was more then welcome to stand there and watch and ask questions and he wanted to show me how to do maintenance on the drain anyway.  YAY--right up my alley.

He showed me how to take off the lower washer arm and get the sump out and take out the filter (which I had no clue DW's had filters), how to clean them and how to put them back in.

Everyone has been more then willing to tell me Frigidaire is the worse appliance I could have, but he said, "That's not so.  I have one myself.  You can't beat the price."  which is true.

He practically tore the underneath stuff apart and took out the drain pump and it was fine (YAY), cleaned everything--even blew compressed air into the drain pipe, and put it all back together.  Then--he asked me what kind of dish washing detergent I used and I showed him my big plastic tub full of Cascade power pellets and he said, "May I suggest you never use that ever again?"

"Why?"

"You live in a hard water, heavy calcium area.  It clogs up the drain and drain pipe.  Just a minute--I'll be right back."

He goes out to his truck and comes back in.

"This is what our store manager recommends to all our customers in this area."

He handed me a small box with 4 Finish Quantum pellet thingies in it.  Then he handed me 4, really nice, big cash off coupons to buy more.

"The Finish will not only help keep your dish washer clean, but it will also keep the calcium from clogging up the drain--even the drain from the kitchen to outside.  Every month, I want you to use this...Finish Dish Washer cleaner and use the Jet Dry to keep your dishes from being all spotty--it also helps keep things inside the dish washer clean and will keep the lime build up off your dishes."

Then he noticed my collection of wooden carved people and wanted to know all about them and the story behind the wooden boxes I have.  "I love vintage things like this," he said.  I just wanted to adopt him!!!!!

I had a really nice 90 minutes and I learned another maintenance chore and you all know--that makes me real happy.  I so like to be able to handle these kinds of things by myself.

One thing I noticed, as I was cleaning the filter--it was full of lint!  How did lint get into my dish washer?

Now, I will spend the next few days trying to figure that out.

======================

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting morning--I think.  Going to an PhD-MD psychiatrist (not psychologist) to see what he might recommend for me to be on to help with my depression/manic episodes/obsessiveness/compulsions/weird thoughts and remarks. I can't wait to see his diagnosis.  

(If you don't hear from me for a few days--I will be resting in the padded cell, on the 4th floor of the hospital.) 

  

Truth or Not and Is It Important?

Today's high temperature was:  82 degrees

Today's humidity was:  43%

Sunny, breezy, a bit humid

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I missed Tuesday--well, I didn't really MISS Tuesday, I just didn't blog about a do nothing day.

I got up at 7:21 today--for the third day in a row.  I don't know what is wrong with me!!!  

I asked Pearl and this morning, she and I went to see the movie "The Butler".  I have heard a lot of good comments and bad comments about it, so I figured I wanted to see it to make up my own mind--because, I am that kind of person.  Pearl gave it a 7 out of 10, I gave it a 6.

The butler at the White House, Mr. Eugene Allen had a really nice life--an exciting life, which would have made a really good movie.  He served 8 presidents--in the movie they only show him interacting with about 5.  The first one Eisenhower--which is inaccurate because he came to the White House during Truman's term in office.  But that isn't where the untruths and the inaccuracies end.  In the first scene they show his mother being raped by a white man and his father being shot by the same man, in a cotton field in Georgia.  Untrue!!!  

Mr. Allen grew up in Virginia.  He had only one son, not two.  His son was never involved in the Freedom Riders or the Black Panthers.  He did fight in Viet Nam, but he was not killed there and is still alive.  His wife was not an alcoholic, nor did she have an affair.  They were married 65 years.  and Mr. Allen was never involved in the Civil Rights movement, because as Butler in the WH, he had to remain non-political.

 I won't tell you any more in case you want to see the movie for yourself.

In the Lincoln movie, there are so many untruths that it is almost laughable.  The Civil War was NOT fought over slavery!!  Lincoln was NOT a friend of the black people.  He didn't like slavery, but he wasn't for equality or anything even remotely like that for the blacks--free or slave.  He wanted to bundle them all up and send them to Liberia to live among themselves.  He said in a speech in 1854:

"If all earthly power were given me, I should not know what to do, as to the existing institution [of slavery]. My first impulse would be to free all the slaves, and send them to Liberia, to their own native land." After acknowledging that this plan's "sudden execution is impossible," he asked whether freed blacks should be made "politically and socially our equals?" "My own feelings will not admit of this," he said, "and [even] if mine would, we well know that those of the great mass of white people will not ... We can not, then, make them equal"

The other inaccuracy in that movie was they portrayed the representatives from Connecticut as being AGAINST the Emancipation Proclamation, when in fact, all of them were for it!!

Now--why would a screen writer AND a director include untruths in a film that is suppose to be based on historical facts?  I will give you the answer--and not just my answer.

The writer of the book on Mr. Allen, is an ultra Liberal--as is the director.  Oprah paid for and was involved in the movie and we all know her political leanings.  All of Hollywood is Liberal, so to get anything from a historical movie from them, is impossible.  They HAVE to put their own agenda in the film.  The fact that Hanoi Jane played the part of Mrs. Reagan in the film, did not bother me a bit.  What she did 100 years ago really doesn't annoy me now AND the Reagan's and the Fonda's were very good friends in Hollywood.  Mrs. Reagan is said to be very pleased that Jane played her.  Jane had about 6 speaking lines and was "face" for about 30 seconds.  Oprah played her part very well too.  I did not realize that she was/is a smoker in real life.  That is why she talks so much about doing everything she can to be healthy--can anyone say hypocrite?  That doesn't matter either--she played her scenes well and Forrest Whittaker was great in his role!!

What makes me angry about these kinds of films is:  young people or people not knowledgeable about history will go see a movie like this or the one about Lincoln and take what they see as fact, when it is not.  Then they get a misconception of what was real historically and go with that for the rest of their days and will argue with anyone that knows the difference because "I saw the movie, so I know the real story!"

Reminds me when the "The Da Vinci Code" came out.  I was around quite a lot of young people in those days and they all were "in shock that Jesus had an affair with Mary Magdalene and they had a daughter!"  I tried my best to stay calm and tell them that Jesus may have been "human" in His appearance, but He was the human form of God and was without sin.  Certainly He did not have sex with Ms. Magdalene, nor were they married--although I am sure He loved her.  

My funniest experience with that film was an small argument discussion with a young lady in her twenties.

She said, "The one thing I didn't like about the movie.  They had a Jewish woman play the part of Mary!"

The guy I was dating at the time was sitting across the table.  I looked at him and he said, "You take this one."

I said, "Why is that strange to you?"

"Well (humph) everyone knows that Mary was Catholic!!!"

{Sip of water--try not to laugh}

"Ah--no--actually Mary WAS Jewish.  So was Joseph.  There were no Catholics when Jesus was alive.  There weren't even Christians.  There were Jews and Gentiles and Muslims.  Even Jesus was Jewish."

Ah--the look on her face.  I will remember that conversation forever.

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So--I went to a movie--which I thought was boring, but....the popcorn was great, however.

My dishwasher will not pump out the water, so Mr. Repair guy is coming tomorrow.  As I was telling people on face book, they came back with comments that my brand of dish washer--Frigidaire--is probably the worse brand for appliances.  Who knew?  When I was a young married, Frigidaire was the top of the line.  They were made by General Motors--we certainly could not afford them.  I had Hot Point and later Kenmore from Sears.  Now--the top appliances for long wear are GE.  All of my appliances, except the dish washer, are 15 year old GE's, so---I guess I should have known, when I replaced the DW ONLY 5 years ago!!!!!

I went down to see if I could help Pearl get connected to her new internet service.  She was furious, frustrated and fuming.  She actually thinks  her computer does things on purpose to irritate her.

So I checked and found the problem immediately, when she held up a cord that wasn't connected to anything.

"I was trying to untangle that rat's nest of cords behind the computer and I have this wire left with no where to plug is in."

I looked at the end of the cord, it was a power cord.  I looked at the other end and picked up her router and plugged it in.  Viola!!!  She thinks I am some kind of computer genius!!

Then, she showed me a large yellow cord that was connected to her modem, but disconnected on the other end.  "What do I do with this one?" she asked..

"Well I do believe," I said in my best southern accent, "we plug that thang right in heah, in this little ole' plug place in yorah computetah, Auntie Pearl.  It connects your little ole' modem to yorah computetah.  Now, lookie heah--all dem lights are blinking and---great lord in heaven!!!  Ya'll internet thingie is workin'!"

She replied in a quiet whisper, "Smart ass!"

Can you see that dark profile in that window?

Well--that is Auntie Pearl doing mischief on her computer!!!

  

Country Roads

The high temperature today was:  79 degrees

The humidity today was:  42%

Sunny, breezy--perfect

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"Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong"..........................today, I took a quick trip up to the place "I belong"--will be some day--back home.  I wondered how this would make me feel.

I walked up slowly--thinking it might creep me out, but it didn't.

It is so new and clean and bright.

I had my design similar to my bachelor uncles, because...

He and I are book ends for my parents.

My sister and brother in law, will be to the left, and.....

Freddy down from them.  I forgot to take his doggie statue with me to place on the corner--

that is the whole reason I got him a flat stone!!

Tootz, his dog, whose ashes will be buried with Fred.

She will rest on the upper right hand corner of his marker.

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So--I have put in my advanced reservation in the "family" green space--until the Son comes in the east and the trumpet sounds!  

After I left the cemetery, I drove on over to Susan and Chuck's farm.  Had a new Debbie Macomber book to give her--that I just received.  I give all my brand new books to my sister to read first.  She gets to open the mailing carton, take out the book, break the spine and read it.  Then she gives it back to me, I pass it on to Pearl and Dar and THEN, I read it.  I am so far behind in my reading, that I am about 4 books behind all of them.

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I only stayed at Susie's for half an hour--they were getting ready to go into town to get roofing shingles to put on the "ice house", which they retained for Susan's garden shed--the cedar shake shingles are all rotten.  She had been painting it barn red all weekend.  When I left their drive, instead of turning left and heading up to the Little House On The Corner and the main road to get home, I turned right and came home the back way--and I mean, the back way.   No pavement or tarvia has ever touched these back roads--gravel for at least 6 miles, but nice and hard packed.

and narrow.....

and large farms.  Nowadays, you gotta go big or you won't make a living as a farmer.

I stopped at a road side table with fresh veggies on it.  The Honor System--you take what you want and leave what you think is a fair price.  I got two tomatoes and an ear of sweet corn and left five bucks!  I think that was a fair price and YOWSER--were they delicious.  You CANNOT get that veggies that fresh in your grocery store--I don't care how fancy the place is.  This stuff was just picked!!!

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I feel bad about ranting about Pearl!  Wish I hadn't!  Makes me sound like a snob.  I too have bought things and made wrong decisions that cost me money.  I don't think Pearl is dumb enough to "loan" $10K to a husband who beat her and then wouldn't pay her back--I had to go through bankruptcy too!!  HOWEVER--this is what frustrates me so much.  SHE asks for advice.  Merle has even asked my opinion from time to time.  I tell them what I know about finance rates, about checking the small print--about, "are you sure this will save you money?"  They want me to research things for them and then, they go with just the opposite.  Like the gas log they bought last year.

I first asked them why they wanted one.  "To save money on our gas bill."  Then I researched the BBB and websites and found the most reputable dealer in this area and also--the dealer with the worse reviews.  They went with the worse dealer because he was $50.00 cheaper.  The gas log has been a huge failure!!!  As I told them, when the log is burning, it is pulling in the furnace heated air from the room and taking it up the chimney.  Their gas bill was around $60.00--after the gas log, it was at least $90.  AND it is so near their thermostat (which I also pointed out) that the thermostat won't come on and the rest of their house is freezing, which causes them to burn the gas log all the time, which causes the thermostat not to come on, which.................................well, you get the idea.  THEN--when the gas log malfunctioned, the dealer would not stand behind his "spoken warranty" and they had to lay out another $150.00 to get it fixed--by the FRIST dealer I recommended AND because it was installed incorrectly, the heat has "melted" all the varnish off their mantle!!  BUT---Pearl got it into her head one day that she wanted a gas log and...Merle just went along.

SO--last night when she called and told me she couldn't access her e-mail--"even after you checked all the account information and told me it was correct!" and wanted to know what she should do--I told her to call Comcast.  "But I won't know how to explain it to them!"

"Sure you will.  Just tell the person that answers that you are getting an error message and cannot connect to the server.   That person will walk you through each step to make sure everything is set up all right."

"I have to call AT&T first and tell them to unhook me.  Maybe the two servers are fighting over which one will work."

"No--that isn't necessary.  When Comcast was hooked up, AT&T was automatically disabled.  BUT--now don't be surprised if the Comcast person tells you that your computer isn't able to handle it.  Remember...we talked about six months ago, when you were having trouble accessing anything--that your computer needs more memory--or you need a new computer..remember?"

"Yes.  I should have bought a new computer instead of this stupid carpeting!"

Oy Vey!!

I called her when I got home this afternoon to see if she had called Comcast and she said, "I called AT&T first and they told me my hook-up with them had been cancelled.  Then I called Comcast and the lady there walked me through the entire set-up of my account.  Everything was correct.  She told me I probably don't have enough memory in the computer to run the high speed."

So--now, as with Dar--I am no longer going to be Pearl's "teacher" anymore.  If they want to know something or want to research something--I will show her how.  That's it!!!  GOOGLE IT, BABY!!!

She is going to the doctor tomorrow--MY doctor.  I hope she likes him or it will be all my fault!!

When will I ever learn?  

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After my first attempt at selling all my Cedar Cove books on e-bay, I have a new box full going up for sale.  All of Nicholas Sparks books.  Then---it will be all of the (Father Tim) Mitford Series.  I keep books--thinking I surely will read them again, but never do.  So--another way of cleaning out AND making a bit of money.  

My last sale, went to pay for a figurine I found on e-bay that I have been searching for since 1985.  It is part of a pair of figurines I purchased back then---but I could only afford to buy one, in 1980.  Then in 1985, I went back to the same store to get the other one and of course, they had quit making them.  They are made by Francis Hook and will have Jennifer's name on both, as she was with me when I bought the first one and has loved it forever.  

They are called "Beach Buddies".

It cost $50.00 back in 1980--when I had lots of money.

Sorry about the distortion--I got the pix off the seller's site.

It cost half price.  YAY

Both are numbered on the bottom with the year produced and

Francis Hook's name from her "Child's World" collection.