Just Another Day In The Life

Today's high temperature was:  27 degrees

Sunny all day

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Well...here we go again.  Another brand new week.  What shall we do to make it momentous?  Or if not momentous, what shall we do to make it nice?  Or if not nice, what shall we do to make it through?  HAH

Man--I was up late Saturday night watching basketball and then I couldn't get to sleep because I was hyped up.  I had set the alarm for 8:00, because for Lent I GAVE UP, sleeping in and missing church on Sunday.  

I heard a strange noise that brought me up from the wonderful sleep I was having.  I could not figure out what the fuzzy noise was and then....ah yes...the clock radio, apparently tuned into a channel that wasn't coming through clearly.  I hit the snooze for 9 minutes more and fell immediately back to sleep.  Again the fuzzy noise, again the slapping of the snooze button.  That went on a time or two more and then finally, I had to get out of bed and then...it seemed all to be in a rush.

Feed cats, get my warm cocoa, turn on computer--NO--wait--into the shower, combed out the hair (simple task as I have it very short), figure out what to wear.  Clean litter box--Pearl calls and wants to talk?  At this time of morning?

No time to eat, so I grabbed a Special K protein drink and swallowed it down as I headed to the car.  Didn't check the time really and got to church 25 minutes early!!!  EGAD!!  No place to park near the front of the church as the Contemporary service was just ending and the lot was full.

Anyway--it was a nice service.  I almost fell asleep during silent prayer, but we sang some good rousing hymns and I felt content and peaceful as I left.  Forgot where I had parked and went out the front door--then had to walk 17 miles to where my car was.

I stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home to pick up 3 prescriptions.  I hate that store in general, but I love the kids that work in the Pharmacy.  I think I told you, when Fred died, two of them took time off work to come to his funeral.  They loved Fred.  His doctor's loved Fred and also came to his funeral.  The guys at the service garage loved Fred.  Everyone that met Fred loved him.  He was so easy going and chatty with everyone.  A thing we had in common.  I speak to total strangers all the time--in the stores, in the parking lots, wherever.  

I once convinced a pan handler in Boston to come with me into a cafe so I could buy him some food.  He wanted money and when I stopped and asked him what he needed money for, he said, "To buy some food."  So I offered the cafe and he declined.  Then I said to him, "You really want the money for booze, don't you?"  My daughter was standing there tugging at my sleeve, "Just ignore him, Mother."

I said to him, "I'll tell you what.  You come into the cafe and I will buy you a breakfast sandwich and some coffee.  I've got ten bucks.  Whatever is left over from what I pay for the food, you can have."

My daughter stayed outside, just in case she needed to call the police I suppose and the guy and I went in.  I had him order what he wanted to eat and then I handed him the ten dollar bill.  Then I went back outside and waited a few minutes to watch and make sure he was eating the food and not trying to get all the money back.  I could see him wolfing down his meal and drinking his coffee, so my daughter and I walked on.  

My daughter, who lived in Boston said, "Mom.  There are panhandlers all over town.  You can't slow down or talk to them or they can get aggressive in wanting money.  You just ignore them and walk on."  I found she was right.  If you gave money to each one, you'd have to take out a mortgage.  BUT.......

when we walked back to her apartment, we passed the same area and he was there.  I don't know if he had bought his bottle of booze as yet, but he looked up and smiled and waved at me and the rest of the week, while I was there and walked by that area often...if he saw us, he waved and smile and he never bothered us again.  So...........

I digress--anyway, every one loved Fred and so I still go to the Wal-Mart pharmacy because they had such respect for him that they attended his funeral.  
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I finished the large, full-size baby quilt I started in mid-January.  I only work on it while I am watching TV.  During my soap and in the evening.  Of course, with all the basketball games being on TV, I have been working on it a lot.  I cannot just sit and watch TV--I am too fidgety a person to just sit.  People ask me how I can concentrate on TV and cross stitch.  Well--I put the needle in an "X", look up at TV and then down at my work.  Baseball games are the perfect cross stitch companions because those games are so slow.  I have been known to make mistakes during basketball games.

 I now have four done and five to go.  These are for each of my grandchildren to take for their first born child.  I have them all wrapped in tissue in a nice storage box, so that after I'm dead, there will be something there for a great grandchild.  Weird, I know.

I have to admit, the farm one is my favorite.  Like any of my great grandchildren are going to be interested in farming--NOT, but--this project is also suppose to be fun for Gramma.  

Sunday night, I started a Noah's Ark one--while watching basketball and The Amazing Race.

Okay--a new week.  Let's go out there and do some good!!!  Or talk to strangers.  Or, make someone smile!  Or, whatever is your thing.

Later--Jude

P.S.  I almost forgot--a pix of my fave kid, as DJ in the musical Grease.

I was going on and on about him Friday night and someone

asked me if he was my grandson.

I could not love this kid more if he were!!

I still think he and my grand daughter Maddie are

adorable together  <sigh>

Do You Tingle?

Something Jean posted in the comments section the other day--reminds me of something Dar told me.

She has been having basal cell carcinomas burned off her legs, face and hands.  The doctor told her she had to be very careful because these could grow fast on her.

I asked, "Why would they grow faster on you than anyone else?"

"Oh because, I still have a lot of hormones in my body."

"Hormones?  You mean...like estrogen hormones?"

"Yes.  I still have a lot of estrogen in my system."

"You're nearly seventy-three years old.  How many hormones could you have left?"

"When I lived in Greece and I had breast cancer?  The doctor's there told me that I had extra estrogen hormones and that is why I had to be very careful of any type of cancer reappearing."

"Okay...but...that was twenty years ago.  Don't you think your hormones are pretty much gone by now?"

"Oh no! I still get a "tingly" feeling.  You know...down there.  So I still have very active hormones."

<TMI>

Then she gives out with that loud nyuck-nyuck Three Stooges laugh of hers.


"Oh.  I see."

"Don't you still get the tingles?"

"Not that I'm aware of.  Well maybe...but only if I have to pee really bad."
=============

So--you see Jean, if you aren't still getting the "tingles", even a young Robert Redford wouldn't do it for you!. 

First Full Day of Spring

Today's high temperature was: 44 degrees

Sunny all day

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It is the first full day of spring, but...nothing looks different outside--except the snow is all dirty looking and the grass that is appearing is a sort of Olive Drab in color.  YUCK!!

Jean and T-Shirt--I never even noticed his ties and I wouldn't know the difference between a tie from Wal-Mart and a whatever tie Jean named.  Sorry--I was just staring at his gorgeous face and listening to his voice.  <sigh>

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Louise!!!  Welcome to this weird world of mine.  I am so glad you are here!  Just one requirement, you have to tell me where you are from.  I have that thingie along the right side that tells me where a reader is from and it drive me absolutely nutsy cuckoo when I see the city, but don't know who it is.  Please?  I have a reader from Portland, OR and I don't know who it is.  My grand daughter lives in Portland, so---that has my curiosity up.

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I woke up this morning feeling like I had been dragged through a knot-hole backwards!!  I could not get to sleep last night.  It was either the excitement of being with humans yesterday, or the excitement from watching Michigan State and University of Michigan win their basketball games.  Could have been a combination of both?

I woke up at 6:00 to go potty.  The cats were dancing around with their meow-meows, thinking it was time for their breakfast and I said, "Not yet", and fell back into bed.  Later, I left a little nibble on my arm and a wet nose on my cheek.  I peeked at the clock and it was 9:30 and the cats were trying to wake me up.  Yikes!  I felt like I had a hangover--I think.  I have never drank, let alone get drunk, so I don't really know what a hang-over would feel like, but...my head felt huge and foggy and I sort of staggered out to the kitchen.  By noon, I appeared to be aware of my surroundings--I knew what day it was--and all my parts were working.

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

I had to go outside and check and get the camera down at ground level, but...here comes my spring bulbs, which gives me new hope!!!

Later--I am so high right now!!!  I just got home from going to the Brighton High School Musical production of "Grease".  Karen stopped by and picked me up.  The talent in these kids just stuns me!!  It was like a very professional Broadway production.  Of course, I love the music and I got to see Drew and Matthew afterwards and I checked out their hair.  They had it slicked back in a D.A. with a nice pompadour in the front--just like some of the boys wore back in 1958.  I had already told them that they were living in my high school era while they performed, and tonight Matt said, "Grammie--was it like that when you were in high school?"

I said, "The music was, but Honey--if we had smoked and drank and acted like those kids you portrayed--we all would have been expelled!"

In my little school, we only had a couple of boys who wore their hair in a D.A. and wore leather jackets--their packs of cigarettes rolled up in their T-shirt sleeves.  None of us had anything to do with those "hoods" as we called them.  Most of the boys wore Khaki pants--the ones with the belt loop in the back or blue jeans.  Us girls all wore the long shirts, down to our ankles, with the crinoline half slips underneath, and our ankle socks folded down and either Penny Loafers or Saddle Shoes.    NONE of us had pierced ears--none of us except the "trampy" girls who dated the "hoods".  We girls were not allowed to wear blue jeans, but every Friday we could wear dress slacks.  We were sweet, innocent, TOTALLY naive, virginal Methodist of Baptist small town or farm kids.  Actually, it was a lovely time to grow up--in the '50's.

I said to Karen--"Can you even imagine the boys in your class or...your Dad singing and dancing in a show like this?  Not only did they not have the talent, but they would have been afraid their other friends would have teased them unmercifully.  And...they would have!!"  It's real nice that nowadays, kids in band and chorus, ones with good grades, seem to be the popular ones--even more so than the nowadays jocks.

So--I am exhausted from tapping my feet and dancing around in my seat and jumping up with standing ovations and talking to all the kids.  But--sleep will not come easily--I am so HYPED!!!

I've got basketball games to watch tomorrow.  There will be more yelling and clapping and no doubt, a bit of jumping up and down, so I need my rest!!!

Later--Jude

Throw Back Thursday

Today's high temperature was:  34 degrees

Partly sunny

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I was 6 years old

My Mother had to make those ringlets every single morning.  My hair was curly/wavy and it hurt when she had to brush the snarls out of it and then make the ringlets.  They stayed in pretty good however.

This is shortly after my 6th birthday.  My Grandma had given me that gold heart necklace (I still have it) and took me to a photographer's studio to have my picture taken.  My Mother was going to have my hair cut a bit and get rid of the curls.  My Grandma cried--my Daddy cried.  First hair cuts must have been quite a ritual, back in the day, because I have glassine envelopes with my Grandpa's curls, my Mother's, my Daddy's and mine.

My Daddy at 5--just before he got his curls cut off

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

I went to lunch with my School Old Gal Pals.  There were 11 of us!!!  A couple of guests included in that.  It was a great time--the food wasn't too impressive, but it was expensive.  Nice of all the Pals to drive way down this way, but next month--I requested we go to the place in Durand--it is kind of half-way (although farther then half way for Bethie and me), the food is good and not so expensive AND--the method to my madness, I can stop and visit my Sister on the way home.  :-)  

No awful news--everyone had come through this winter unscathed.  We are all going to be seventy-five this year--well, a couple are already that age, but...supposedly this is our Ruby year?  

I said, "Well--we are all going to be seventy-five.  I guess that's suppose to be special?  I don't see a damn thing good about it!"  and one of the girls said, "The good is we're all alive."

Well--there is that.  We are all pretty healthy.  Yes, we have had some dear friends die, but not from age related diseases--like heart disease or stroke or anything like that.  

Then we had to comment on the shock we still get when we look in the mirror and see all the wrinkles.  I've got so many brown spots on my hands, along with my E.T. (essential tremor)--I had a hard time eating my soup today--guess I am going to have to start using my left hand.  I can hardly wait until my head starts shaking to and fro.  (NOT!!)

Bethie said that people don't look her in the eye anymore because of all the wrinkles on her face--I hardly think that is the case, but--we have all had the feeling that some don't even see us--we are becoming invisible.  BUT--not today!  We were vibrant and happy and joking.  It was a nice visit--AND Bethie brought me cat food!!!  Wet and dry, so...I can save on my groceries next month. 

Speaking of old--I sometimes have a hard time reading blogs when the font they use is colored or smallish--I suppose you have noticed that I use a larger font?  Makes it so much easier for me to see what I'm typing--and--maybe makes it easier for you to read?

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Jean--the reason my crush--Greg Feith--is so tan is because, he lives in Florida.  

<sigh>

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I am, once again, involved in watching the Basketball Tourneys.. MSU and U of M both won tonight.  (Daughter) Karen has them picked in her bracket, as the final two teams.  Now--wouldn't that be something?

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I am feeling great tonight and yes...it is probably from the socializing.  Yes...I do tend to spend too much time alone.  It seems such an effort for me to get out and be with people, but once I do...I feel better afterwards.  I will try and remember this.  HOWEVER--I don't HAVE to go somewhere everyday, like "you know who."

See ya tomorrow--Jude

Cougar

Today's high temperature was:  47

Rainy all day--at least it isn't snow

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I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and night-time hear me sigh
I never had the least notion that
I could fall with so much emotion

Could you coo, could you care
For a cunning cottage we could share
The world will pardon my mush
Cause I've got a crush, Oh Baby, on you

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

Yes-I am a cougar.  In the years since my divorce, I have always dated men younger than me.  I didn't go looking for them by age, it just happened that way.  Men age much quicker than women, so it seems only natural and right to be with someone younger.  A lot of those guys looked and acted older than me.  Their friends assumed I was their age.  Too much fun.

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

So today, it was grey and dreary--rainy all day--still is--so it was a perfect day to stay inside.  Since I had just cleaned house Monday, I worked on my friends book.  We are doing a new lay-out so she can self-publish it.

The page templates I downloaded from a publishing site, worked just great for the story and pictures.  Then, I downloaded the template for the cover and it didn't work.  I tried it several times and I could not copy and paste the cover art onto the template.  So--I e-mailed the publishing company and was told I had to have Photo Shop to work with their template.

I do not have Photo Shop and am not in the mood to buy the download, so I e-mailed back.  Got their reply and they said I could use Word (like I did with the page template) and just use the dimensions on their template.

It took a while, but I managed to build a page that shows back and front cover and fits their dimensions.  AHA!!!

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

When I got done with that, I printed out my bank statement for the last month--required by the DHS people.  I wanted to wait as long as I could for all my checks I wrote last week, to show up.  I have a checking account balance of $78.00.  Then I made sure I had all the proofs they required, put everything back in their postage paid envelope and stuck it in the mail box.  I know, it is probably crazy, but...I laid my hands on the envelope and said, "Dear God, please let them help me."    Hey--I've laid hands on a friend as prayed for a healing and it worked, so...who's to say...it might work on DHS?

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

I saw on the news tonight that President Obama filled out his NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket and he picked Michigan State to win it all.  It sort of took me aback that he would be rooting for MY Spartans, and then it occurred to me---he knows a lot about basketball--colleges win records--things like that, and that's why he picked them.  Personally,I don't think he knows a lot about being the leader of our country, but, if we win, the kids will probably get to go to the White House and then he can say, "You were my bracket number one pick."  and everyone will smile and clap and it will be a great photo op.  

Meanwhile, while most of the world regards him as a weak leader--we are headed back into a Cold War with Russia.  I thought we were over that back in 1989--when they "tore down the wall"--apparently not.  

The Ruskies didn't mess with Kennedy or Reagan--they laugh at Obama.

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

Toyota got blasted today with a big government fine and GM is next on the schedule.  Those big companies are much like the government--one hand has no idea what the other hand is doing.  I worked for GM and my ex worked for Chevrolet in particular.  We always drove a Chevy--good substantial cars.  I worked for Buick and they were even better.  All I have to say, I'm glad I am not living on dividends from GM stock or wanting to sell my shares because--they are in BIG TROUBLE!!

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Tomorrow I go to Fenton (nearby) for the Old Gal Pals luncheon.  Bethie and I haven't gone to the last two because we found them more tiresome than fun. The rest of the group decided to drive down this way and have lunch closer so it was easier for us to attend.  ARGGH!!  What can you do?  We gotta go, but it will be okay.  It's been a couple of months and it will be fun.  <she said with hope in her heart>

You know how Dar hates the cold weather and also, you know she HAS to have her newspaper or her day is ruined?  This morning I happened to glance out the front windows in here and there she was--in her short robe, in the rain, 27 degrees, no coat, no umbrella, getting her newspaper.  She is so weird!

Gosh--I sound like a snotty witch!!!

Spring Is Coming--Honest

Today's high temperature was:  48 degrees

Sunny all day

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Patches of lawn are showing up where the snow has melted.

I have Daffodil noses peeking up from the earth, where the snow has melted on my garden.

I saw a Red-Winged Blackbird today and heard him sing.

I drove into town today with my car window rolled all the way out and my elbow leaning on the opening.

Spring is on her way.

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

Determined to unhook the VCR today.  Thank goodness Melissa Geiger e-mailed me a "how to", which made me a bit braver.  However, I was shaking so hard--scared that I'd get it all apart and then nothing would work.  I couldn't tell what was what with all the wires back there, so...I just decided to unhook the VCR and "pretend" all I had was the DVR and the Cable box and TV.  

I left the cables from the VCR attached to the cable box.  I could not get the plug for the VCR up through the back of the shelf, so...I just cut the dang thing off and put it all over on the couch.  Problem solved.

The instructions and extra cables.

I read and I went step-by-step.  Then when I thought I had it right, I read the instructions again, touched each hook-up and said, "Done" and then straightened it all out, said, "Please God" and turned on the TV and... nothing worked.  

I wailed, "GOD" and He said, "You forgot...you turned off the surge protector."

I reached in back, pushed the button on the surge protector--went around and turned on the TV and...

"Thank you God!"

It all works perfectly.

Thank you Angel Melissa!!!

Have you seen this guy on TV?

Greg Feith--ex pilot and NTSB expert

He has been interviewed on FOX and NBC, giving his

opinions on the missing Malaysian plane.

Well--I have fallen quite in love with him.  Well--perhaps not love--more like lust, but...I think he is just the most handsome man I have ever seen.  AND his voice--OMG!!!  I would like one hour with him--just one.  No wait--I will need two because the first hour I would be shaking so I couldn't speak.  But, by the second hour, after listening to his voice, I would convince him that hugging me would be in his best interest.

MY GAWD--HE IS SO HUNKY!!!!!

He even has a Face Book page, but I'm afraid to ask him to Friend me.  What if he rejected me?  Best to just dream....................HE IS SO GORGEOUS!!!

CRAP!!!  I just Googled him--born August 1957--he could be my son!  No wonder he is so pretty, he is just a kid.  DAMN!!!

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I got my hair cut AGAIN--it has only been 4 weeks.  It grows so fast.  Then I went shopping for groceries at Meijer.  I used to shop at Wal-Mart, but I hate that store now.  I love VG'S, but it is so expensive, so I have been shopping at middle of the road (price wise) at Meijer--for you southern gals, it is kind of like a Publix.

One again, I needed Nestles Quik for my daily breakfast and could not find it.  Not in the coffee/tea/cocoa mixes aisle.  I asked an employee and he didn't know.  Then when I got up to the cashier, I asked her and she didn't know, so...she called the manager.  

"It's on aisle eleven.  With the baking products."

"Baking products?"

So he runs off to get me some and...comes back with the sugar free kind, but...I didn't want to tell him that was the wrong kind, so I bought it and came home and mixed it in with what I had left in the container.

Baking products?  I suppose in with the Hershey's dark chocolate powder?  I have baked for over fifty years and I have seen many a recipe and I have NEVER seen a recipe call for Nestle's Quik.  It's a chocolate powder you mix in with milk.  On the front it shows the Nestles Quik Bunny drinking out of a glass with a straw.

By the time I got home, my back was killing me from running all over that dang store and I was mad about the way they do their coupons--all electronic.  Just lower the dang prices and do away with those store coupons!  Anyway--I was so mad I sent an e-mail to the Meijer Corporation customer care and told them what I thought of their lay-out.  Must have been a man's idea to put it in with baking products.  Hrumph!!

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I watched the DVD "12 Years A Slave" tonight.  It was an awful movie!!  A good movie, but awful.  It has given me a nervous feeling the rest of this evening.  

I called Pammie today to make arrangements so I can take my grand daughter Elise out next week for her 10 birthday.  Pammie can find out what day she can go and clear it with Jennifer and then, Elise and I can go shopping and out to supper.  It has been almost a year and Jennifer still is not speaking to me or attending any functions that I might be at.  <sigh>

Well--let's see what tomorrow brings--the good Lord willing.

Someone Got a Bit Feisty Today

Today's high temperature was:  38 degrees

Nice and sunny all day

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Our weathermen around here always show the yearly snowfall and the records we have set.  Or the record lows we have set, or how many days we have had snow on the ground (76), but---I think they should also keep track of how many sunny days we have had since January 1st.  February always gets me down a bit, but this year, we have had so many days of sun that I didn't feel a bit depressed.  February is usually a grey, drab month, with dirty snow and mud patches, but this year, we had so much snow on the ground and new coming every other day, with the sun reflecting off it--it was a rather nice, bright month.

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

I got up at 9:00 and looked at my "to do" list.  Laundry, dusting, vacuuming, tidying up the kitchen, unhooking my VCR.

I had the vacuum sitting in the middle of the living room,  my chair pulled out because today I was vacuuming all floors, furniture, under and behind furniture--polishing the mirror behind my chair--on and on and....in walks Darlene.  I was way in the back filling up the washer with bedding.

"Oh," she says, "Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"I was just getting the laundry started.  I was so lazy this weekend that I need to do a lot of cleaning today.  To get ready to be lazy this coming weekend." 

"I need a favor," she says.

What's that?"

"I need you to get on-line and order one of those magnetic chair pads for me.  My back is hurting again."

I came into the study and told her to sit down in my chair in front of the computer.

"Why am I sitting in your chair?"

"I thought you wanted me to show you how to order on-line."

"Oh Honey, no.  I want you to order it and I will pay you."

<say what?>

"Why can't  you order it?"

"Well...I know you order stuff all the time on-line and...well, I don't want my information anywhere on line."

<okay--this is not happening>

"You want me to order something that you need and...charge it on my credit card and then you will pay me back.  Right?"

"Yes.  Exactly!"

"I'm not going to do that.  I am not using my credit cards anymore.  I don't want any more charges on my cards."

"But--I will pay you back."

Yeah...I know, but...I don't want to charge anything."

"Okay--then use your debit card and I will pay you back."

"No way!  I don't ever use my debit card on line.  I do not want my debit card, which is linked to my checking account information, on line either!"

"Oh."

"You don't want your information out there and...neither do I."

"Oh...okay."

"I can show you how and then you can go home and use your computer to do it."

"Nah--I'll get Sheila to do it for me.  She'll do anything for me that I ask for."

<okay>

She leaves pretty quickly after that.

OF ALL THE NERVE!!!

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

So I seethed as I vacuumed every room and the chair and couch and behind the chair and couch and my mattress and made my bed and fumed as I ate lunch and then...calmed down as I scrubbed the washer and dryer.  

Then I called and made a hair cut appointment for tomorrow and started making a grocery list.  

Of course, the minute I got everything cleaned up and vacuumed everything, put the vacuum away and when it got quiet around here, the creator of all of the cat hair I just vacuumed up,  decided it was time to deposit a fresh coating of hair on the rocker cushion and take a nap in the sun.  

  .