The Dackel Princess

The Friday Five ~ October 14th

I’d hoped for a less busy week, but somehow it just didn’t happen. Here are the top five things on my mind as this week comes to an end.

I went for my dental appointment. No cavities, but I have to go back and get one tooth deep cleaned. Apparently, there is a small infection in the pocket around the tooth.
I went back on Thursday to pick up my new bite guard. I’m a bite-clencher in my sleep. I had an odd experience recently when I woke up and noticed my bite guard was missing. Looking down, there it was, in the mouth of Miss Heidi!
Heidi went for her first real stripping. The Groomer did a great job. We only worked on her for an hour because we want her to get used to having this done. She also has a lot of her baby fur and if we strip down too far she will be bald.
Meanwhile, Heidi was out with me a lot as I drove through the beautiful foliage.
This weekend I have small jobs to get done. You know, the kind of work where you just putter around getting little things done. One thing is for sure, I will be wearing headphones and listening to music.
So a couple of months back I was listening to a TV show and I heard a song from the past. I loved it. When I looked it up I realized it was done by The Guess Who. The talented guys from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I pulled up a playlist and I realized I knew almost all the songs. But the reason it didn’t register was that no one made a big deal about them down here. I read about the group and listened to their songs and I really enjoyed them. Below is one of my favorites from their live performances. They all look like they’re having fun.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

A Rant

Life certainly is crazy these days and most of it is upsetting. I try very hard to ignore it, but try as I might, I am sailing this ship alone, and I find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed. Anyway, in no particular order here are some of my thoughts.

Our first tank of home heating oil came today. Yes, it’s liquid gold! Our tank took $999.95 worth of it. Right now I hope to get to December before we need to refill it, but if we have a cold snap, I may need to fill it before then. When one is paying well over $5.00 a gallon, you dread having to fill it.
I have gone around the house and set the bedrooms at 65 degrees and the family room is set at 68. Last night I woke up freezing. So, I have also gotten out warm blankets and pajamas.
The Electric Company has also doubled our rate. One thing I truly dislike is that our current President does nothing to bring down the cost of oil, gas, and electricity.
This is when I think that the entire men and women in Washington, who miraculously have become Multi-Millionaires need to be sent home.
Do you realize that they get their pay for life? Do you realize they get the best healthcare for life, and it is free for them? And after a short time, they can become paid lobbyists in Washington, DC?
I also find that as these people get older and gain more power they feel more and more able to lie outright.
I am being inundated by political commercials. I live here in New Hampshire. The only time we see our Congressmen and Senators here in the State is when they want our votes.
And quite sadly, the commercials this year ONLY revolve around Abortion.
Now before you jump all over me, I believe that women have the right to abortion. But…in the first trimester and if the case necessitates, into the second. I do not believe that a baby who is viable should be sacrificed on a whim in the final trimester.
Unfortunately, people got all screwy, and viable babies were being killed.
Could I have had an abortion? No. But I believe people and their doctors should make that decision.
And to those who are single-issue voters I remind you, there was never a constitutional amendment giving women this right. It was never codified.
The States must decide. And eventually, the Congress and Senate will need to put forth a change to the Constitution. And then and only then, can it be codified and put into law Nationally.
All that being said, I believe in free contraception for all women. There are so many ways to protect yourself against pregnancy.
I also believe that if someone is assaulted then all care after that should be taken care of. The day after pill, antibiotics, and counseling.
I was the third child. My mother’s friend tried to convince her to abort me, but she refused. Mom was somewhat distant from me, but I am here.
I try to tell people to vote for people who think outside the box. People who really want to work for the betterment of our country and not just go to Washington to line their own pockets.
I hope that everyone will vote with an open mind. Please do not vote single issue, and allow officials into office who will bankrupt you because you need to heat your home, you need electricity, and let’s not forget food and medication.

Well, these are the things that are bothering me, and more. I just needed to get this off my chest. I know some of you will disagree with what I have written. However, I do still believe in free speech and I hope you will not flame me for disagreeing with you. I am for free speech, the freedom to express your thoughts and ideas, without being bullied or injured,

Friday Five ~ October 7th

This week flew by. I was here, there, and everywhere, And aside from today, I had appointments all week. So, let’s go, here is this week’s Friday Five!

On Monday, we met up with our Financial Advisor. We always enjoy these visits because Elena is such a kind and knowledgeable woman. Everything is set for the next year.
Tuesday was Jack’s Primary Care appointment. He did okay but he needs to return in three months. His doctor is a military doctor and is quite good, and a no-nonsense type of doctor. This was also the first time I have left Heidi with Lili for an extended period of time. I am happy to report that they did just fine!
Wednesday was grocery day. I went to two different stores and stocked up on different items.
Thursday was an appointment for me with my Pharmacologist. She is a delight and helps me make sure that my meds don’t conflict with each other.
Then it was onto my dentist. No cavities but I do have one tooth way in the back that needs to be scaled and deep cleaned below the gum line. Somehow I am thinking that this is going to hurt.

So this was my week. Busy. I plan a weekend filled with laundry, and I am actually going out to lunch with my dearest friend. I hope you all have a great weekend!

The Weekend Wrap ~ October 3rd

I was sitting here writing about the craziness of the last week. I had finished up and actually felt I’d written a decent accounting of what life had been like for me, and I added a signature at the end, and my entire entry vanished! I will try to remember what I wrote, but I am almost certain I will not be as eloquent. But here goes!

Hurricane Ian was a disaster for so many of my friends and family. However, I am pleased to share that my family and friends all made it through.

My 92-year-old cousin had the worst experience. She is on the third floor of her apartment and the roof simply peeled off. She was knocked down, but she survived. She is safe in a hotel in Kissimmee.

My other family and friends have all been accounted for and although there will be a lot of work to rebuild their homes and lives.

I picked apples in the yard and made a batch of pretty decent applesauce. Yum!

The coming week finds me driving hither and yon for appointments for Jack and for myself.

The air conditioners are out for the winter. It’s been so cold the last two mornings and I actually had to turn on the heat. I simply hate to do that because home heating oil is very expensive! $4.67 a gallon. We fill our tank, with 200 gallons every 5 weeks in the winter. I will simply be going broke this winter.

Well, the week and weekend were good. Everyone is safe and sound and I hope there will be a speedy resolution to everyone’s troubles. Although the news says that it will be decades before everything is rebuilt

The Friday Five ~ September 30th

I was sitting here when it dawned on me that tomorrow is Friday and I needed to sit down and write this week’s Friday Five. So, here goes.

The week started out with Jack not feeling well. We were due to drive to Manchester for his bloodwork, but since he felt so sick, I rearranged his appointment.
Then I became concerned about the hurricane heading for the West Coast of Florida. Right in the area where I lived for six years. I loved my home, my church, and my friends and family. But, I did not like the hurricanes, tornados, and wildfires that were yearly events. I also detest bugs, snakes, and alligators. After six years when I became best friends with my Exterminator, Jack and I moved back north.
I am still waiting to hear from my cousin, Barbara and my dearest friend. Both were in the “Cone of Disaster”.
Today we need to drive to Manchester for Jack’s bloodwork, and then back home. I am not looking forward to driving North on Rte 93 on a Friday afternoon.
I will end the list with news on my heart. The news is good. Although there are two problems with my heart, it is not anything that is life threatening. I need to make a few adjustments in my life and then things will be good and life will go on quite happily!

So this was my week. I hope yours was good and that your weekend will be a nice one. And to all my Florida Friends and Family, I love you and I am praying very hard for you and for the entire State.

The Friday Five ~ September 23rd

A lot went on this week, and I either contributed something to the day, took blissful naps, or watched Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. In any case, here is this week’s Friday Five.

I had a relapse of my pneumonia. Back to the Walk-In Clinic I went and I am back on antibiotics and cough pills. Today, (Thursday evening) I am feeling better. Hopefully this will do it and my health will be restored!
Last night shortly after 11:00, Lili went crazy. Something had flipped on our motion detector lights, and although we couldn’t see much, both Lili and Heidi could. I got out my good flashlight and pointed it up the hill. There, caught in the beam of my light, were the eyes of a grown Fox. We have apples dropping from the trees and I guess that the Fox had a nice feed.
I downloaded a program called Telegram about a month ago. Yesterday an email from a friend arrived and after that Bitcoin crap began popping up. I searched my mind, and did scans with my antivirus and malware programs, but nothing was working. The next morning as my computer started up, as soon as Telegram loaded, the Bitcoin pop-ups began. So, I did a search on how to get Telegram off my machine (it was not easy!). But since I did and then cleaned my machine, all is once again well.
I really admired all of the pomp and circumstance for the Queen’s Funeral. The pageantry, the music, the dress outfits for the Military, and of course the beautiful dresses of the Royal Family. I watched in wonder Prince William, and Princess Catherine’s children, George and Charlotte attended and were very good.
I’m not really sure how to put it really. Good doesn’t sum it up. They had parents who explained things well, and then a family to show them love and support. I think I was George’s age when my other grandmother died and I was very confused. No one explained. I was lucky to have my sister who held my hand.
Lastly, I will end this week with my thoughts about Harry and Meghan. At their ages, they should have used better judgment. Both proclaimed their deep and abiding love for Queen Elizabeth, yet they ignored her invitations to come to Balmoral (excellent security). I believe that the Queen knew her time was getting closer. Reports from Buckingham Palace (allegedly) confirmed the invitations as well as the refusal because they were too busy. What I would give for one more moment with my Grandma. A nice cup of tea and cookies and the long chats we once shared. Harry and Meghan should get over themselves. The two of them are not the most important people on the earth. There are times in your life when you need to put the feelings of others before your own. The Queen loved them and her heart ached. I know she never said anything in the press. She respected the privacy of the family. How would they feel if Archie and Lily grew up, and in their final years basically flipped them off? At least now, that dear lady, who gave her life for her Country, can not be hurt anymore and will rest in peace.

Just my thoughts on this Friday.

Memories of Fritz

This weekend I was trying to catch up on some sleep and on Sunday while I was listening to the BBC, I started to think about my dear old White Shepherd, Fritz. Ah, what a splendid dog he was.

Fritz

We were so lucky to have him for 12 and a half years, and all who met our boy fell instantly in love.

Fritz had a number of cute, yet strange things about him. Things that make me laugh, smile, and then bring tears to my eyes. He was that special, that wonderful.

Fritz always slept in my room. He would start to settle each night while I brushed my teeth and got into my nightie. But when I turned on my old Panasonic TV (not a modern flat screen) the TV would make a strange noise! Almost like a little static sound. When Fritz heard that he would jump up and run to the TV. After a moment or two, he would settle back down.

Fritz also had one song that he loved. Halfway through his life, there was a commercial for Honda called “It Must Be Love”.

Each time this commercial came on the TV, Fritz would run from wherever he was and stand in front of the TV tipping his head back and forth.

Fritz also would sit at the top of our front yard watching. When he was a little guy he went down on the ice to greet some Ice-Fishermen. I went to let him back in and not finding him quickly donned my winter clothes and boots. I climbed down the snowy sidehill, and with leash in hand went over to Fritz, snapped on the leash, and dragged him home.

All the way home I admonished him that he should never leave the yard like that!

Apparently, he understood because after that he never roamed away again.

Fritz also loved to ride shotgun whenever Jack or I would take him out. In fact, the day he passed away, Fritz could barely move. We managed to get him into the back of our station wagon, and we flew upstairs to get our coats. When we got back, Fritz had crawled into the front seat passenger seat!

Anyway, I just thought I would share this story about my boy Fritz. He was one of a kind.

The Friday Five ~ September 16th

This week was an odd one for me. It seemed I had more chores to accomplish while balancing other strange happenings around the house.
So here we go with this week’s Friday Five.
1. After my Well pump died, we ran out of water again. While checking the house I found a seal inside the toilet tank that had dissolved causing the toilet to run continuously! Ugh!
2. At 8:00 AM, I called the Plumbers and made an appointment for the next day for them to come and fix this for me. A note to anyone who is young and looking to learn useful skills for their future life. Learn some basic plumbing and also learn where all the small filters are, that can get clogged if you lose water pressure.
3. I’ve been getting back on my feet after pneumonia. The only thing leftover is the cough, but even that is better. That’s been good as I have been able to cook a few meals and actually go out.
4. I went to my Ladies’ Meeting and after I drove to Super Walmart to stock up on Progresso soups. The store I shopped at during the Pandemic had this soup for $3.75 a can, and Super Walmart had the exact same soups for $2.18 a can! I loaded up as Jack has a can of soup every day. This is saving me a lot of money!
5. My last item this week is about this silly heart monitor that I have been wearing for two weeks! By the time you read this, the monitor will be off my chest and I will be taking a long, hot shower where I wash my hair and do a deep conditioning. Keeping this blasted thing dry has been such a challenge and under the device, my poor skin is red and raw. I have stuck it out because I do not want to have to do this again, anytime soon!
So that was the week that was. I hope you all are enjoying your weekend and that the weather will be splendid wherever you are.

Queen Elizabeth II ~ King Charles III

It’s been an odd time. I’m sixty-three years old and for the very first time, Queen Elizabeth II is no longer with us.

I have been watching the BBC, as well as Sky News, and ITN on the computer. I’ve watched the Church Services and heard the Choirs singing. I’ve watched the Queen being moved all over Scotland and England, and I have seen her family weeping at her loss.

Each time I went to Great Briton, Elizabeth was there. For a while, I even subscribed to HELLO Magazine which was sent over to me. How I enjoyed reading all about the Queen and the Royals.

In Great Briton, they call you a Royalist if you favor the Royal Family. I don’t know if I am a true Royalist, but I did love the Queen, and I love to follow William, Catherine, and their young family. I also enjoy other members of the family, like Princess Anne and Countess Sophie, who do so much charity work.

I believe that King Charles will do a good job. He is finally old enough to understand what he needs to do. And bless his Camilla. She has taken a lot of flack, but after their marriage, she’s kept her head down and worked hard towards children’s literacy, the prevention of cruelty to animals, and her most important work with domestic violence.

I’ll keep following them. I wish King Charles a happy and healthy time in office. I pray for him and for the family.

And may her gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II rest in eternal peace.

September 11th, 2001

I think we all can tell you where we were, and what we were doing on that fateful day, in September.

September 11, 2001

It was a beautiful day here in New Hampshire. Sunny, bright, clear with blue skies. I was taking a shower and getting ready for a dental appointment, while Jack was working on shingling the house. It was a day like any other here.

Jack had the TV in our bedroom pointed out the window so he could listen to the morning news.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm and Jack told me I had to get out of the shower now, something was happening. I was a little dazed and confused. I shut the water in the shower off and grabbed my towel.

Jack and I sat in our family room watching Fox News, ABC, and CNN. A plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in downtown New York City. Jack, as a former Airline Pilot knew immediately, that it was no accident.

While we watched, suddenly another plane came in and hit the other Tower!
We were both in shock. We listened to reports. No one was saying terrorism, not at first. But both Jack and I knew.

I look at this picture, and I know that none of those innocent people got out alive. That thought brings me to tears each time I see it.

We watched the Towers come down, one and then the other. We knew people had died. We just didn’t know how many.

At 12:30 I drove to my dental appointment. There was not another car on the road. Not one. I got to my dental appointment and found that I was the only patient that hadn’t canceled that day.

When I got home we watched TV all day. I called my family and my close friends. Just to hear their voices.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliations, or how you feel about war. What matters is on September 11, 2001, innocent people died in New York City, In Washington, DC, and in Shanksville, PA.

People like you and like me. Just because. That was the day I learned that we are no longer safe here at home.

I also learned that when our country is attacked in such a manner, we pull together and unify.

God Bless all who lost their lives that day, to their families, who will never be the same, and all who serve this country each and every day to protect and defend us.

September 11, 2001: Basic Facts

Chronology
8:46 AM Plane crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM Plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
9:17 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halts all flights at U.S. airports. It is the first
time in history that air traffic has been halted nationwide.
9:38 AM Plane crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 AM The White House evacuates.
10:05 AM The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
10:10 AM A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 AM Plane crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:22 AM The State and Justice Departments, as well as the World Bank, are evacuated.
10:28 AM The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses.
10:45 AM All federal office buildings in Washington, D.C. are evacuated.
1:44 PM Five warships and two aircraft carriers are ordered to leave the U.S. Naval Station
in Norfolk, Virginia to protect the East Coast.
4:10 PM Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses.

The Flights
American Airlines Flight 11
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 92 people on board
Crashed into North Tower of World Trade Center at 8:46 AM

United Airlines Flight 175
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 65 people on board
Crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 AM

American Airlines Flight 77
From: Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport)
To: Los Angeles, CA
Lives: 64 people on board
Crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 AM

United Airlines Flight 93
From: Newark, New Jersey
To: San Francisco, California
Lives: 44 people on board
Crashed into rural Pennsylvania (southeast of Pittsburgh)

Victims
Victims came from more than 90 countries around the world.
The following are the number of people who died at each site:

World Trade Center 2,823 (includes airline passengers)
Pentagon 125 (not including plane victims)
Flight 11 – 92 people on board
Flight 175 – 64 people on board
Flight 77 – 64 people on board
Flight 93 – 44 people on board

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m, the times the Towers were hit. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. The time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

That day, these first responders also died, as they raced to the scene trying to save anyone they could.

343 Firefighters (including a chaplain and two paramedics) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
37 Police Officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD)
23 Police Officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and 8 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics from private emergency medical services.
1 Patrolman from the New York Fire Patrol

Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
August 15, 2002