Housework…

Laundry. Oh how I just hate to do it. I tend to let it accumulate until you can barely walk across the laundry room floor, and then I grouse, and spend a day or two ‘doing it’. Tuesday was that day for me. I had so much laundry in the mix, that it will take me three days of washing, folding and putting away.

Now this will tell you that either we have a multitude of underwear, or we enjoy going commando, (sans underwear) which I can assure you, is not the case!

Day two will find me washing up the last of the towels and household rags. (Those are old underwear that have become dust clothes and window cleaners.)

Day three will be slip covers and the last of the sheets! And if I am not laundered out, I would love to wash the curtains in the bathrooms.

What brought up all this energy to do so much cleaning and washing? It’s hard to explain, but here goes.

I was rereading the blog from back in 2005. I realized that back in the days of dial-up, I was actually getting far more done. Here I am in 2013 and I have become a computer junkie! Yup, hardcore, computer, got to have it, junkie!

So my goal for a bit is to get more house work done, and for every two hours of work, reward myself with 15 minutes on the computer.

Of course, evenings are my own, at least after I do the dinner dishes and walk the dogs.

How have your lives changed in the last 8 years? Are you on your computer more or less? Do you use your cell phone more like a computer?

The Answers

And here are the answers to yesterday’s questions.

Title:
How Well Do You Know Me?

Question 1:
Where was I born?

Answer A) Wareham, Massachusetts. Although I grew up in Falmouth, Massachusetts, the hospital there had not been built. All maternity patients went to Toby Hospital in Wareham, Massachusetts.

B) Boston, Massachusetts
C) Falmouth, Massachusetts
D) Nashua, New Hampshire

Question 2:

How much did I weigh at birth?

A) 10 pounds
Answer B) 9 pounds 1 ounce. Yes, my poor 5 foot tall mother says I nearly killed her. I was a big one for sure!

C) 7 pounds 12 ounces
D) 6 pounds 2 ounces

Question 3:

What was the Character I played in The Sound of Music?

A) Maria
B) Louisa

Answer C) Gretel. Yes, I was Gretel, and I even had a few solos at the tender age of 8!
D) Marta

Question 4:

How old was I when I got married to Hubby #2.

Answer A) 29. Yup Hubby was a cradle robber! I wasn’t even 30!
B) 26
C) 30
D) 35

Question 5:

How long have we been married?
A) Almost 30 years.
B) Almost 20 years.

Answer C) Almost 25 years. We wrere married April 9, 1988. It has gone by so very fast. Amazing, how we have gotten through the tough times and really enjoyed the good times.

D) Almost 40 years.

Question 6:

Favorite vacation?
Answer A) Cruise. Oh I do love to cruise! I’ve been dropping hints to Hubby how I would really love to go on a cruise for our anniversary!
B) Camping
C) Swimming
D) Hiking

Question 7:

Favorite meal?
A) Ribs
B) Lamb
C) Ham

Answer D) Thanksgiving. Oh how I love all the things that are served at Thanksgiving. It’s totally my favorite meal!

Question 8:

Favorite TV Show
A) Love it or List It
B) NCIS

Answer C) Big Bang Theory. This was sort of a trick question. It used to be NCIS, but now I love, love, The Big Bang Theory. It makes me laugh so hard!
D) Two Broke Girls

Question 9:

First Dackel’s name?
A) Heidi
B) Schazti

Answer C) Shubi. Yes, Shubi. My dear, darling, Shubi girl. I only hard her for 10 years, but she spoiled me for any other breed of dog! She has been gone nearly sever years. Oh, how I miss her!
D) Boris

Question 10:

What makes me smile?
A) Cinnamon toast

Answer B) Savannah Rose. The best thing in life after your own children, are your grandchildren!
C) Flowers in spring
D) Fresh jam

Don’t worry if your missed a few. So did Hubby, who lives with me and has been with me all these years! It was fun to see what you all said!

Put Your Thinking Cap On

Sunday found me feeling rather blah. I woke with a migraine and not much of an appetite. I was dragging around all morning, and about two o’clock in the afternoon, I lay down on my bed with a fleece throw and although I know the TV was on, I couldn’t really tell you much about the actual events.

I got up before the dogs needed to be fed and Hubby made me a nice fire in the hearth. I decided to cook an easy meal of London Broil, mashed potato, and Brussel Sprouts with bacon and onions.

I worked on a little quiz this afternoon. It will be fun to see who know what about me and my life!

How Well Do You Know Me?
1) Where was I born?
Wareham, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Nashua, New Hampshire
Powered By:

QUIZYOURFRIENDS.com

Thursday Thirteen

princess

Today I worked to renew my web hosting and dot-com. I decided to do it for 2 years as I got 50% off. Here is a little bit about Dackel Princess, as I look back and ahead.

  1. My cousin, Janet encouraged me to start writing. I asked her what I could possibly write about? Her answer was…”Shubi” your Dackel Princess.
  2. So, she helped me find a web-site person and get set up.
  3. Before I knew it, I was ready and on May 11, 2005 I made my first entry!
  4. I knew no one would be reading me, except my cousin, sister and the woman who set me up, but I had promised myself that I would write every day, as long as I was paying for and using the medium of blogging. And I did! Soon, I had made new friends, around the world!
  5. We had Fritz, Shubi and Greta then. Our house was full of love.
  6. Shubi had been sick, but for a while, she appeared to recover, and had been more like herself.
  7. Above you will see the Thursday Thirteen I used when I had my first Blogoversary. I’ve always loved this!
  8. Shortly after I started on February 16, 2006 Shubi passed away. My heart was broken. Shubi was the dog of my heart.
  9. But Dackel Life went on. 10 months later the first litter of Dackel Princess pups were born.
  10. I remember looking down at this wiggling, squealing puppy, and I knew that she was for me.
  11. Yes, Anneliese had come into my life!
  12. Today I made a commitment to myself to keep on writing, but even more, to challenge myself a bit more.
  13. So I hope you will join me and enjoy this time together!

What I Did This Past Weekend

Miss Marple 2

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

***************

The weekend seemed to fly by quite fast. Between working, and caring for Greta, who has been ill with Cystitis, my days seem to be very long. On Sunday I simply refused to do all that much. I did computer stuff, with Greta by my side, and then, once the venison (a gift from a friend) had thawed, I worked chopping, peeling, sauteing, and then slow cooking the Venison Stew in the Dutch Oven.

Football finally started at 3 o’clock, after a rumored start of 1:30. It brought back a time in my life when I had been living near Norwood Massachusetts and the home of The New England Patriots.

I became quite ill after the birth of my second child, and needed to have surgery. The hospital was quite full that November and I roomed with a wonderful woman. Her husband played for the team. They were such nice people and she was there having a baby.

She delivered a boy during this time, and today when I looked it up I saw that this little baby went on to have a career in the NFL! He is now retired. I think the thing that made me happy was that this little baby had grown up healthy and happy, and his parents were also still happily married.

I recalled these people for many reasons. Their kindness, their generosity (they sent me flowers) and the fact that they were just like me and you, despite the fact that her husband was a sports hero.

Have a great week Everyone!

More On Greta

Little Greta is still quite ill with Cystitis. I hated to leave her on Saturday to go to work, but what can I say, like every one of you, work called and I had to answer.

Thursday Thirteen, Greta

Greta was still in tough shape, so I did call the Vet who suggested some pain medication to help her out. Hubby wasn’t sure that it actually would help, but within half an hour of having it, she was far more comfortable.

I only had to work half a day, so when I got home I started to walk her every hour on the hour. I will feel so much better when she can go wee-wee and not be passing blood at the same time.

During this week when I worked I also discovered that no amount of exhaustion makes it worth eating frozen meals. I mean really…they all stunk! There was only one good one. Smart Ones Meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes. That was it. The rest were just plain garbage!

So, for my last night working, I am cooking a baked sweet potato, honey pork loin and cauliflower. All made by me! Hubby and I are really excited!

Of course nothing waits for the working girl, so this weekend I will be doing laundry, cooking and doing house work. I need to try to get the stains out of my bedroom carpet from poor Greta. It’s hard to be angry at her when I know what Cystitis feels like!

So, I will work on the carpets tomorrow. **Groan** I am hopeful that I will get the stains out. I have some stain remover and it should work. If not, then the carpet is 12 years old and it might be time to either get new carpet or install laminate flooring.

Happy Friendship Anniversary

Today is the 12th anniversary of my friendship with Uschi. You can go HERE to learn how we met each other. Over the years, we have written to each other almost every day. We aren’t able to speak on the phone like many people, but then, sometimes I think we know each other better because we can write all of our thoughts down and send them off.

When we get together and start talking, it is as if we just saw each other yesterday and we chatter along like two little parakeets!

It still amazes me, that when I least expected to find a friend and sister of my soul, I found one in Uschi!

Happy 12th Anniversary to us!

Thursday Thirteen-Before & After

food-turkey

It dawned on me the other day that when I am watching what I eat, and by this I mean, tracking the points and being careful of calories and fats, etc. not only do I lose weight, but I feel better. Here is what convinced me this was true.

  1. I was not careful at all in the month of December.
  2. I gained a total of five pounds during that time.
  3. That was on top of the other weight I gained after my Dad died.
  4. I can tell you that I felt really unwell during that time.
  5. Sluggish stomach and at times a really aching belly.
  6. At one point I thought it was my gallbladder!
  7. At New Years I was determined to get back on track with Weight Watchers.
  8. I started New Years morning, eating healthfully and tracking it all.
  9. I have been struggling, as I wasn’t sure it was working at all.
  10. I think it takes some time for your body to get back in shape.
  11. I went to class on Wednesday January 9th and I have lost two and a half pounds!
  12. I’m still struggling, but it will be a good month until I am feeling comfortable again.
  13. I so want to look like my after picture again!

Nov 17 051 Nov 17 08 one year later

Before I joined Weight Watchers (left) & After I reached my goal a year later. (right)

What I Did This Past Weekend

Miss Marple 2

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

***************

Since I got my diagnosis on Friday for my heart, I’m feeling as though a tremendous burden has been lifted off of my shoulders. I know what it is, and it will not inconvenience me or anyone else. It’s just a little uncomfortable and perhaps, since I know what it is, I will forget about it and live flip flop free.

On Saturday I was looking for something to watch on the satellite and I found Leonard Maltin’s  best of “movie reviews” for movies that have gone under the radar. Two were foreign films. So last night Hubby and I watched one!

Headhunters. It is a Norwegian movie and I found I did have to speed read the sub-titles, but it was well worth it!!!

Headhunter

I was on the edge of my seat and could not believe the twists and turns. This is not for the squeamish, but if you like a good mystery movie, this is for you! I watched it on Amazon.com Prime for free.

I was about to take my Christmas tree down, and I heard that Sunday was Armenian Christmas and also the day the Kings arrived to see the baby Jesus. Somehow it just didn’t seem right. So, I did laundry instead

I made steaks and baked potatoes one night, and Buffalo Wings, celery with blue cheese and french fries on the other night. I’ve been counting my points and I am hopeful that Wednesday will be a good weigh in.

I go on Tuesday to see my Retinal Surgeon. I have been having a little problem with my eyes and i hope he can calm me and assure me that all is well.

I desperately need to get my hair shaped. My bangs are in my eyes, the crown of my head is flat and I look like I stuck my finger in a light socket. The woman substituting is wonderful, but I think she worries about cutting my hair.

I am not sure if I mentioned that my good friend and hair stylist is in treatment for cancer. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Well that wraps it up for now. Have a great week!

Good News

I finally got in to see the Cardiologist. What a nice man he is! I have been diagnosed with having PVC’s. This is extra, abnormal heartbeats that begin in one of your heart’s two lower pumping chambers (ventricles). These extra beats disrupt your regular heart rhythm, sometimes causing you to feel a flip-flop or skipped beat in your chest. Premature ventricular contractions are very common – they occur in most people at some point. Many of them occur when you lie down at night. You feel your heart having this extra beat, and then a momentary skip until the heart starts again.

It is a harmless, benign, condition. Aside from this condition, I’m a very healthy 54 year old woman. I was so happy to be given such a happy report.

So this is the final verdict, and I am so relieved!