Valances--Neighbor's--Climbing up the Branches.

Okay.  I tried it for a couple of weeks and I had to get valances to make myself quit fretting and feel better.

The view as I step into my house

The view as I come down the hall into the kitchen 

The view from my recliner 

Merle and Pearl FINALLY got their tub converted into a shower--by the same company that did mine.  They came down the other night and I took them into my bathroom and went through the installation with them--new green backer boards, new floor boards under the shower pan.  Then I showed them how the seat is really nice and I explained that they would need TWO handles.  One on the back wall near the seat and one by the side where they step in and out.  Then I went on to show them how the shower head can be lifted out and used if you shower while sitting on the seat.

So--I went down to check it out.  The installers were just finishing up.  It looks great.  But--I noticed, only one gripper handle, by the edge to use to get in and out of the shower.

"Where is the other handle so you can pull yourself up from the seat?"  I asked Pearl.  

"Do you think I need one?"

So, one of the installers had her get in the shower and sit down on the seat.  "Now, try to stand up he said."

Of course she couldn't.  She had nothing to grab onto and that was with the shower pan dry!

"You got a fixed shower head instead of a wand.  How are you going to take a shower sitting down?"

"I'll just point the shower head this way." she said.

The installer said, "That can easily be changed to a wand one, if you want."

"How much will that cost?" Pearl asked.

"Not much.  Twenty-five bucks," I said.

She was still sitting on the shower seat trying to push herself up and it wasn't working.  I went over and reach out my hand to help her up.  She had one heck of a time, just walking from the seat over to the gripper handle to step out.

"What would another handle cost?  Over by the seat?"

"I'll have to check the price, but we can get you one, and come back and install it for free."

"What does it matter what it costs?"  I said.  "You can't use the seat without one."

"Well this whole dang thing cost nearly forty-five hundred!"

"So, what's another hundred bucks?  This will be the best investment you have ever made!"

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

Their daughter was there, cleaning house for them and I noticed she was in the bedroom, working on the computer.  She asked Pearl, "What's your bank password?"

"I don't remember," Pearl said.

"03011936", I said.

"No it's not, "Pearl said.  "We've changed all my passwords around."

I told her last year, after I got her computer cleaned out and fixed up AGAIN, that if anyone else worked on, I wouldn't touch it.  Too many people working on it without each person what has been done.

"Maybe you can figure it out," she said.

"Nope,  I wouldn't know where to start.  Kathy has been working on it.  She and you will have to figure it out."  I was in a snippy mood!

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

I got back home and there was a phone call from Pearl.  "The guys just left, but I can't take a shower for twenty-four hours."

"You have to let all the caulking dry first."

"You never told me that!  Why didn't you tell me that?"  Her voice was kind of sharp.

"I guess I just assumed that you would know the caulk has to dry first."

She hung up on me.

I tell you what--there isn't one lick of common sense in that entire house!  I often wonder how those two have made it this far in life when they do the stupidest things!!!    

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

I am at the top of the, in process, family tree and nearly finished with all the research.  Now, I just have to put it all together in the book.  Proof it.  Make sure it makes sense and I will be on my way to completing another nice book for someone to keep forever.

Time Flies!

August is always a pretty busy month, but this month seems more so.

I haven't even made an appointment for my Mammogram--2 years since I had my last.  Maybe the last week of August I can get it done.

You've heard me complain about dizzy spells and the two times they have been so bad, I blacked-out and fell.  My heart/pulse rate has been slow for the last 18 months.  The doc just says, "Better slow than too fast.  You get dizzy because you stand and move too fast and your blood pressure drops."  Yeah--well--in my opinion, if it gets too slow--you die!!!  I started taking ALL my meds in the evening.  Some at 9:00, some at bedtime.  It seemed to help a bit.

The cardiologist's office called to tell me they had me scheduled for my yearly check-in.  The PA would see me.  The usual EKG and blood pressure check and she mentioned that my heart rate seemed slow.  I was happy it was 52--up from the 49 it had been for months.  She mentioned it and I casually mentioned the fierce dizzy spells, and she looked at my chart and said, "Hm-mm.  Why don't we cut your Metoprolol in half and take it in the evening."

I thought Metoprolol was for high blood pressure--to relax and open the arteries, but she said it was also for A-Fib people to slow the heart.  

Wait.  WHAT?

I replied in a not so nice voice, "I had ONE A-Fib instance!  In the hospital, they told me it was because my Potassium was low and I was dehydrated!  They TOLD me it was not a heart problem.  They TOLD me I have a good, strong heart!"

"You do."

"Then way am I on an A-Fib med?  I have to take that damn blood thinner and now this?  I don't think I need to take it at all!"

"Just take half a pill and call me back in a couple of weeks to let me know."
===========
I swear--we have to have a near medical degree and research every med we take and ask questions and.....no--you aren't going to pat me on the head and pooh-pooh me because you think you know more and I am just a lowly human in her mid 70's and not worth keeping alive and well!!  DAMMIT!!

So, I cut the dang thing in half and take it at 9:00 and---haven't had one teeny-tiny dizzy spell since!! Not a one!!!

I woke up Sunday morning and knew something was different.  I didn't feel foggy in my head.  I felt clear and I felt strong and my body didn't ache!  I went grocery shopping--walked from one end of Walmart to the other and aisles in between and never felt tired or dizzy. I loaded up my cart, came home and made 8 trips back and forth to bring in all the groceries AND put them all away, without having to stop and rest!!!  For the first time since I got it, my new fridge has actual food in it!!

I felt great!!!  I slept great!  I haven't taken a Melatonin to sleep in a week!!

I feel wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
===============
My Daddy, who had a physical to go to college when he was 18, and didn't return to a doctor until his 70's had it right, "Stay away from doctors!  "The cure is worse than the disease and if the disease doesn't kill, the cure surely will!"

ARGGH!!!!
==================
So, yesterday I finally made my appointment at the dentist's.  I had put if off twice.  3 fillings!
I haven't had a cavity in years and years, but the dentist said, older people get cavities more because of the meds we take and the dry mouth the meds cause and---and---

So she numbed me up for the 3 front teeth.  She checked back and said, "Are you numb enough?"

"If you think that being numb from my eyebrows to my boobs is enough, then I guess I'm good to go!"

I had mentioned that there was a gap between tooth #7 & 8 and in pictures, it looked like I had a brown mark on my tooth.  So, after the fillings, she did a little cosmetic dentistry on those teeth and filled in that space--for free--and now my nice smile is back!!

BTW--I was so filled with Novocaine that the numbness took 7 hours to leave!!!!!!!!
====================
I have half the genealogy done.  30 hours so far.  Now on to her mother's side of the family.  Another great family--prominent and influential in the Maryland/Ohio area in the early days.  No pirates or robbers found.  

My family history is soooooooo boring compared to others I have done.  Just a bunch of farmers or ministers.  Who managed to stay out of every war this country has had.  The real champion in my family, in my opinion, was my great grandma on my Daddy's side.  She lived until 96, so I knew her and heard her stories.

She, along with 3 male cousins, homesteaded in South Dakota.  She wore a six shooter on her hip to kill the rattlesnakes while she was plowing up her share of the homestead.  And when the (friendly) Lakota Indians sneaked from behind the bushes and let out a whoop to scare her, she'd just turn toward them, lay her hand on that six shooter and they'd run away, laughing.

You know?  What I've found out.  A lot of times the women in these families had better stories than the men.   It is hard to find their stories or histories because a lot of time, they are listed with their husbands last name--no maiden name--sometimes just their first name listed.  In one Census I just found, it gave the man's name and underneath was listed "and 1 white woman".  Well dammit, that prodded me on to find out his wife--"1 white woman" name.  And I did!  and I found her parents too!  So there!!!

While the men were off, going to their town council or political meetings, the women were at home taking care of the 13 kids they had, building the home, tending the gardens.  I WANT THEM RECOGNIZED!!!
===================
So--other than that--I have been knitting and watching the Olympics and staying away from ANY political news/blogs/postings on Face Book.

Whichever candidate gets in the White House, isn't going to matter.  Our society is so far gone, drowning in debt and with a weak military and racial unrest--we can't ever get back to the wonderful 50's or the fabulous 80's.  We cannot do one thing about it, either.  Sure, we can vote, but it won't matter.  Neither candidate is good for the job.

and, in my opinion, no amount of prayer is going to help this country.  Just simply, "Your will be done",  because God gave us free choice and He's watching to see how dumbed down and immoral we can get. Pretty soon, He is going to see the time is ready and call in His son and say, "Okay my Boy, it's time you go back and clean this mess up.  Bring the one's who believe in us back up here, and knock it all down  and burn the rest.  Then We can make it clean again and start over."

At least that's what I read in the book that is still ranked as the best seller in this world.

Happy Trails to You

Detective Miller here!  I am on the trail of another genealogy.  

Once again finding good stuff and, once again finding errors galore.  Some well-intentioned human, tried to convince me that George was the father of Joseph.  I saw right through his "scam", because George was born in 1699 and Joseph was born in 1710.  I don't know and shouldn't call foul--I suppose a boy of 11 could father a child, but ya know?  It looked pretty suspicious to me.  LOL

Although all the documentation avowed that George was the father of Joseph, I discarded him and went looking again and yep--I found the real father of Joseph.  His father's name was George, but this George was born in 1688, and in the same area, so---I'm going with him.

Oh--I do love this stuff!!
====================
Got my hair cut yesterday and it is short--and I mean short.  I have a wedding in 2 weeks and reunion in 3, so by then--the hair will be perfect.  I have to have it cut every 5 weeks or it is too long and hanging down the back of my neck.

Hot weather continues.  Even my perennials are looking a little shriveled.  Usually I never water my perennials.  They have long, deep roots and I was told, if we water them the roots grow up toward the surface.  We don't want that.  We want them to learn to grow deep and long, searching for underground water.  Rain expected tonight, if not I will soak them tomorrow.  My annuals look like they should be taken to the Garden Hospice, as they are on their way out.  What an awful summer we have had!! I can't even imagine how the farmers are dealing with these drought conditions.  Which means the price of anything made from grains will go up in the grocery stores this fall and winter.  Probably the price of milk too.

I don't mind nice warm weather--I prefer mid 70's, but I can live with the 80's, but this 96 degree stuff with the humidity in the 60-70% range, is taking me down!
==================
Pearl wanted me to review her genealogy book I did four years ago for her and see what else I could find.  I didn't find any ancestral new stuff, but I did find something that confused me.

Pearl and Merle were married in Angola, IN, June 29, 1954, or so we all think.  We had their 60th wedding anniversary party 2 years ago.

But--right there, on my computer screen was a marriage record for a Merle Ott and a Pearl Cook, from Howell, Michigan performed in Angola, IN, September 9, 1963.

What to do, what to do?

I've stressed over this for nearly a month.  Should I show it to her?  Did they live together and have 3 kids BEFORE they married?  Would this knowledge, I have,  embarrass her?  I'm sure they wouldn't want their kids to know.

This morning, I decided it was time for me to stroll up there, while Merle was at work and just hand it to her.  So--I took back her family tree book and told her I had found no new ancestor's but, "I did find this on the computer and I'm confused," and I handed her the license.

She took it.  "I don't understand.  What is this?"

"It's from the Indiana Marriage records.  It says you and Merle were married in 1963."

"1963?  I don't think so.  We were married in--oh I can't remember.  1954, weren't we?  Didn't we just have a party a few years ago?"

"Yes.  I thought 1954 was right.  I know you got married in Angola."

She looked at it some more.

"Methodist church.  That's right.  Angola, Indiana.  That's right.  Who filled this out?  The writing looks strange."

"The minister would have filled it out and there---see where you signed it?  That is your hand writing."

"Oh.  This must be a fake.  One of those computer scams or something."  and she tossed it on the dining room table.  "While you're here.  I have a computer problem."

Hm-mm.
========================
You just never know what you're going to find when you research records.  ;-)

Curtains

I got my new curtains via UPS today and I love them!!!

But I don't love them entirely closed because I can't see outside

and I don't love them just hanging on each side. because I can see too much outside

 Plus, see the blinds and all the hardware that shows at the top?

So I pinned them together at the top and draped them back

and I will be getting a valance to cover up the hardware at the top.

Memories--Memory Building

Isn't it something how just a word or a picture can trigger a memory from long ago?

I read blogs and if someone posts an old photo or tells of a memory of their young life, I am right back there.  I can see that memory of mine as if it is a movie, playing out in front of my eyes.

Sally posted a photo of her Mom riding in the rumble seat of a Ford Coupe.  Right away, I see my parents Model T Ford sedan.  No rumble seat.  My Daddy got that car his Senior year in high school and they still had it 5 years later when I was born and up until the time I was 5.  So dang cold in the back seat in the winter time.  Mother would bundle me up in a wool blanket, along with a hot water bottle.  We didn't drive too far, but it seemed like a long way.  The windshield wipers were manual.  Daddy steered with one hand, and worked the wipers, back and forth by a little lever up over the window.
================
Jean wrote about message T-shirts she and her husband used to wear and right away, I could see all of mine from years past.  I think my favorite T-shirt was one I got from the Tall Girls shop.  It was white with a long blue flower and said, "Tall Is Beautiful."  I still have the T-shirts from every place I visited.  Mt. Rushmore, Niagara Falls, Boston, on and on.  The ones I mainly wear now are green and white and have a big MSU on the front or a the Spartan logo.
=================
I had a great weekend.  The weather was mild and with low humidity, so all my windows were open 24 hours a day and still are today.  Apparently, the heat and humidity are coming back so I am enjoying it, while I can.

Pammie called me on Saturday just to see if my furniture had arrived, or if I was still sitting in my camping chair.  She said she felt bad taking my recliner before the new one arrived.

We talked about the upcoming wedding on the 21st, and I am going to ride down with her.  She may be staying here because,  Jennifer and ALL her family are coming in a few days before the wedding, staying at Karen's, and Pammie wants to be close enough to spend every minute she can with Jen's kids.

I told Pam that my new couch is as comfortable as any bed she ever slept in and she is more than welcome to come and stay as long as she wants.

Wouldn't that be fun?  At least for me. :-)

My son Mark continues to feel well and will also be driving down for the wedding.  I look forward to that day!!!

I don't think the marriage will last, but I look forward to the family get-together FOR the wedding.

I can hardly wait to see Jen and her kids!!!!!
================
Sunday I went to one of Maddie's best friends "Send Off" party.  I have known this darling young woman since she was about 5 years old.  She and Maddie were in the home school group and she and Maddie were in the ballet classes.

Susanna, was adopted from China, when she was just a baby.  The last 3 years she has been studying at a prestigious ballet school in Mississippi.  Now she is off for a 4 month adventure to China.  They will be dancing in a museum in the southern part of China and, sort of under ground, missionary work.

That part scares me for her, but in China, if they find out you are teaching about the Bible, they don't shoot you, they "caution" you.  If you keep it up, they jail you.  The people that come to the Bible classes, bring their children to learn and it is all very hush-hush, with only the interpretive ballet performances seen by the public.

While she is there, she is going to the little town where she was born.  She is not real enthused to do that as she says, "I am as American as you are," but it is for her own curiosity.  Like her looking into her genealogy, I suppose.

After the party, I drove into Brighton and picked up the (30+ years) old, much loved posters I had Michael's rehab for me.  What a great job they did.  The paper was all wrinkled, the poster frames broken.  Now I can put these favorite pictures up on my walls to once again enjoy.

I ordered a small chair side table from WayFair, so I put that together.  Even these old arthritic hands got the job done.

The neatest thing of all?  The bolts were coming out of my rocking chair.  None of the Allen wrenches I had, fit the bolt head.  I got an Allen wrench in the hardware bag with the table.  After I got the table put together, I remembered the chair and tried it.  Sure enough, the Allen wrench worked, so now my chair is nice and stable too.  That Allen wrench now resides in my tool box!!!

Karen stopped over after they attended the Send Off party and we had a nice chat.  

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

Today, I am being lazy.  Doing laundry--all of two loads, sitting in my comfy chair, watching the Olympics and knitting.

Tomorrow starts a busy couple of weeks, so I am catching any down time I can. :-) 

Still Hot and Humid, but...........

--today was Brighton Day. 

I spent part of the morning cleaning up in this computer room.  At least now, I can walk in here and get to my desk without have to maneuver through a war zone.

After watching my Soap and feeling pretty chipper, with my cool skinny Jeans and cute top on, I headed up to Michael's. I have two old, but very loved posters, that I found when cleaning and realized that, with my new living room,, I wanted them back up on the wall.  So, I am getting them re-matted and re-framed. 

Then on to JoAnn's for some embroidery floss and yarn. Of course, these items are way at the farthest wall in the place, but I kept smiling and kept walking.

Then on to Bed Bath & Beyond. All three of these stores are within a block of each other in a strip mall.  

I have never been in that store and probably will not go back. Too much stuff! Yes, they have everything for the bed and the bath--it's just that they have way to much stuff for the beyond.  I felt claustrophobic!  

I had the photo of the curtains I wanted, on-line it said they were in stock--not so. So I ordered them from their computer, and they will deliver them to my home--free shipping.  I find it quite curious.  Curtains used to come in pairs.  Now they come in single panels.  If you want a pair, you have to order two panels.  The sale girl and I both thought that was ridiculous. At least, if I don't like them, it will be a short ride to take them back.

Then across Grand River to Meijer's to buy the "10 Pepsi for 10, with 11th one free".  That's all I got and headed up to the "20 or less" lane.

I got flirted with in the check-out lane. I was behind my cart and wanted to get in front to unload it.  I had to squeeze between my cart and the side thingie, The guy behind me-probably mid 60's, cute said, "Well, it's a good thing you've kept your model figure." 

I smiled. 

"You're are so tall and thin, did you ever model?, he asked. 

"Yes, back in the 60's, I modeled ski wear for a couple of months." 

"Oh. I thought you probably were a Victoria's Secret model."

So, apparently he wasn't referring to my long, thin legs!!

I didn't know what to say.  I moved up to start unloading my cart, then turned to him and said, "Sir, when I modeled in the 60's. Victoria had no secrets, neither did Debbie, and neither did I." 

Turned my back on him and concentrated on talking with the cashier!

Dirty old men--disgust me!

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

When I first moved here, I dated a guy like that.  He flirted with every waitress.  Made comments about their figures.  Called all of them "Sweetie".  He thought the waitresses loved it.  I could see them rolling their eyes and shaking their heads as they walked away.  That's what this guy today reminded me of and totally turned me off!  Why do old guys get like that?

When I got home, I took a shower--not just because I was sweating and hot from the weather, but to wash off the dirt that man made me feel.

It's Not The Heat--It's The Humidity

---which is a dang lie!!!!!

When it's in the 90's, it IS the heat.

None of my annuals are growing like they should.  Too hot and dry.

Orange colored leaves are appearing on my Maple trees.  Too hot and dry.

I don't even want to go outside to get the mail.  Too hot and humid.
===================

Last night, I decided that today--TODAY--I would go up to Howell and then go to Brighton.

I had a prescription to pick up at the Howell Walmart, I also had to get cat food, file folders, Hershey chocolate bars and D cell batteries. I also had to stop at the bank.

After I was done there, I "planned" to drive to Brighton and go to Bed, Bath & Beyond to buy the curtains, stop at JoAnn's and Meijer's where Pepsi is "10 for 10 with the 11th one free".

I was really feeling punk this morning.  Probably brought on by the fact that I had an intestinal episode that kept me awake from Midnight until nearly 3:00.

Nonetheless, after my Soap, I got in the hot car to go up to Walmart.  For some unknown reason, today of all days, the car's air conditioning fan decided to cooperate and I had nice, cool air blowing on me the entire 2.5 miles.

I decided to refill my prescription for Ativan.  60 pills last refilled on 05/01/2013.  I discovered that they really help when my inside get nervous and also when the trembling starts in my hands.  Teeny-tiny, 0.5 mg miracles. An old drug used for anxiety, cheap at $1.25 and they work great!!!

I am a fan of Ativan!!

As I trudged across the hot parking lot, I wondered if I was going to make it to my car without fainting!  I wondered if the shimmering I saw was heat radiating up from the asphalt or if it was the start of a black-out!

I drove the short mile to the bank and was cooled off nicely.  When I pulled out of the bank, back onto the main road that runs from Howell to Brighton, and right past where I live, I just felt tired.  As I neared the entrance to my Park, I did a right turn and came home!!

Brighton can wait until tomorrow.
====================
I spent a couple of hours, making new labels for my new file folders to go in my new hanging file folders, in my desk.  I felt like I was back at work doing my Administrative Assistant job.  Everything in my big desk drawer is organized and looking pretty.

Then, I decided to try and straighten this room.  My Gosh--what a bunch of stuff, still sitting out from when I moved it in here BEFORE my paint job.  Dust on all the shelves.  Things need moving around.  Things need taken up to the Salvation Army place.

I soon stopped that nonsense and played a few Face Book games and then decided it would be a good thing to climb into my recliner, watch a bit of TV and knit.  

Tomorrow is another day!!
===========
When are those storms from Canada going to move on down here and cool us off???!!!