Sometimes…

Sometimes computers just make me so mad!

You see yesterday I turned on the computer and the little icon for my speakers disappeared from the task bar! I looked and all the little boxes were checked and it ‘should’ have worked, but it didn’t!

So I tried a number of things to ‘fix’ it, and nothing worked. I sat down again today and gave it another go. I unchecked the boxes and saved that. They I rechecked the boxes and the icon appeared. So I very quickly saved the set up and then held my breath and closed the program out and waited.

Well, so far, so good. I’m hoping this has done it.

Savannah had her one year old photo shoot done. Here are my two favorites!

Sav 5

Sav 11

You know, it is just the most wonderful thing to have a daughter and a granddaughter that I am this crazy about! I am blessed!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Summertime is a season of reunions, weddings, and other family celebrations and gatherings…are any of the above on your calendar in the next two months?

Not really. My mother’s birthday is on Friday and as many of the family as can, will gather to wish her a Happy Birthday.

2. June is National Iced Tea Month…are you an iced tea drinker? If so, how do you like yours (sweet, flavored, etc)?

Love iced tea, unsweet (but I add Splenda) and with a little lemon. Not much, just a hint!

3. When were you last nervous? Looking back, was the ‘event’ actually nerve-worthy?

I have several things making me nervous right now. My mother’s illness and my face. Mom is not doing well. Her kidneys seem to be failing and I think she has given up her desire for life. It’s so sad.

And my face, well, I am still disturbed at my appearance and the scars. In fact I had another hematoma on the nose today that broke. The doctor in Boston told me that this is quite common.

4. The bristle toothbrush was invented in China on June 26, 1498…not sure how that date was pinned down so precisely but, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being sick to your stomach and 1 being not at all, how nervous do you feel when you’re headed to the dentist? Do you see your dentist twice a year?

Ten +++++++. I get so nervous. You see we had a terrible dentist as a child and he caused me so much pain. I even bit him once and he slapped me. Then when my mother came to get me he told her and she slapped me too!

My dentist now is a lovely man. I have told him my tales of woe and he totally understands and works hard to make sure I have no pain at all.

5. What’s making news in your town this week?

Last night, while a huge thunder and lightening storm went through here, three towns away a troup of boy scouts were camping and as they huddled under a tarp, lightening hit the tree near them and the electricity hit all the boys. Luckily, no one was killed,a d the last two boys will go home from the hospital tomorrow.

6. Curtains, drapes, blinds…your window treatment of choice? Are there any bare windows in your house? Is that by choice or because you haven’t gotten around to covering them?

Curtains. I think they give the place a warmer look. The curtains are quite old now, but they still look nice.

7. Summertime is officially here (in the Northern hemisphere anyway)…what one song is a must-have on your summer playlist?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Here are a few tidbits. I burned my arm cooking. Anneliese was bitten by some bug near her eye and it caused a swelling. It’s looking better. Cherry trees are all netted against the birds. I have not had to water the garden in several days due to the heavy rain. Lastly, I will be glad when this week is over.

Off I Go…

I’m heading to Connecticut today. Mom has taken a turn for the worse and I want to be there. She has stopped eating and it seems her kidneys are shutting down. Although she has said all she needs is my sister, I’m thinking that this is probably not true any longer. I think she does, at least, need me to come and see her again, before she starts her journey to the other side.

Even if our mother doesn’t need me, I know my sister does, so I will be going down more to be with her than anything.

It seems very sad when you realize that when she is gone Mel and I, along with my cousins, (formerly known as the kids of our family), will be the senior members of the clan. All those beloved Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents, gone from this world. And soon, Mom.

On Monday I worked like mad on Laundry, cleaning and packing. Hubby will have to manage himself and the dogs. I hate leaving them, but it’s important that I go.

I’ll be keeping you all posted.

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!

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The last week I simply have not slept well. Thus, all weekend, it was much the same. Me crashing late at night and then up with the dogs at the stroke of 7 AM. Have I mentioned, I am not a morning person?

Coffee and quiet has been the saving grace. Except then Sunday morning I woke to a long, hard, thunderstorm! None of the dogs would venture out, not even Fritz, who will almost always go out.

But, let’s work our way back to Saturday.

I spent most of the day running errands, doing laundry, and cleaning the kitchen area. Why is it that I cannot ever seem to get it done? I feel like I am always cleaning or doing laundry. The cooking part, I love, so no complaints there.

Around three we got a call from our next door neighbors, for a last minute cookout. With Lamb, Spanakopita and salad. You would have to be crazy (or my cousin) to turn down a meal like that! We, naturally accepted!!!

Since I hate to arrive without something in hand, I quickly whipped up a gingerbread cake. It was a new mix I was trying and all I can say is ‘WOW’! It was a mix I’d gotten at the King Arthur Museum and shop and it was fantastic! I need to get a few more boxes of that to have on hand just for this sort of last minute cake! It took me 45 minutes and  at the end of the meal half of the sheet cake was gone!

Then, as we were cleaning up two families arrived with their kids. I think there were 5 kids, but 5 kids under the age of 10 made it feel like much more! It all made me smile.

The adults also were quite interesting. A man who owns a gym in Pensacola, FL and  Erik and Ellie Weihenmayer. Erik holds the record for being the first blind man to climb Mount Everest and Mount Ararat. He has written several books and has not allowed his blindness to limit the possibilities in his life. His amazing wife, is a sweet delightful woman, who treats Erik like anyone else. I found myself feeling awkward at one point when we said good-bye, and I wish I was so cool that I could be as terrific as his wife.

Their two kids were also delightful, and I was so please to become acquainted with their entire family!

You see, it made me realize that we are the only ones capable of ‘letting ourselves down’!

The night ended very late, and since we all know my brain goes to sleep at 9:30 PM, when we got in at 11 o’clock, I was totally wiped out.

I was up early due to the hard rain storm. Once again, Hubby slept in, and I kept the dogs quiet for a while.

After Hubby woke, we did breakfast and I started the laundry part of my day and the cleaning.

Now he is getting the nets ready for the cherry trees and I am continuing to work on meals, laundry and writing. The usual!

My cousins, Janet and Dave stopped by with both Rainbow and lake trout! Yay! It will be for dinner tonight and again in a few more days. I just love fresh fish!

The week ahead will be a busy one. Hubby will be staying home with the pups, while I drive down to see my sister and my mother. I’ll also be going to a baby shower for my nephew’s and niece in law’s twin boys. They were born on May 31 at 32 weeks and are both doing well.

Have a wonderful week!

Retail Therapy

First, Happy Birthday to my dearest cousin and best friend, Janet!

Happy Birthday, Janet!

On Thursday I was in desperate need of a little retail therapy. Before my dental appointment, I stopped by a little shop and I found a cute sun dress. It fits okay, but it will look even better when I get myself going again on Weight Watchers.

New Dress

There are really no good excuses for me having fallen off the wagon except of the stress I have been under.

The face, my mother’s illness, and the illness of a beloved friend. All have set me back a ways.

Today we learned that Mom is stage 4 Liver Cancer. There is nothing that can be done. No magic pill, or anything that can make her well, nothing that will give her a few more months. It is what it is.

I’ve also felt depressed about my face. Although I know I shouldn’t, I do, and I wonder how long a road I will be on with this.

My friends illness is not for me to talk about here. All I can say is to pray for them. That it is not too late to do something about it.

So this is why I found myself in the boutique downtown trying on this adorable dress. I even found a necklace and earrings to match.

Anneliese got sick after dinner, but we got it cleaned up and I will rest her little belly until the morning. Then it will be a little baby rice cereal. Hopefully that will help her to feel much better.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Meetings

Here is the report on my meeting with DH Hospital.

I started the meeting with the Patient Relations Man by talking about all the positive experiences I have had there. I even explained that the other doctors involved with this cancer surgery were wonderful.

Then I told him about the lack of communication, being shocked when I woke up after the first surgery and seeing my ‘Klingon Nose’, the fact the surgeon went on vacation moving my second surgery back a week, the fact that when I had difficulty understanding what he had done, and then he did not want to see me for ‘several’ months, that I was very upset.

I told the Patient Relations Man how the Physicians Assistant had gone out of the room and then she came back and said that this was correct, he didn’t want to see me for ‘several’ months.I explained that I was furious that he didn’t take the time to talk to me that day.

I showed him the pictures. The ones taken on the first day after the forehead flap. Then I showed him the ones taken before this whole thing started. I explained that I will not be going back to their doctor. That I have gotten a second opinion, in Boston and will use the Boston doctor, Dr. P. and that the Dr. P. indicated that I should never have had the forehead flap!

I stressed how happy I have always been at DH Hospital. However, this doctor was not only poor with his people skills, but has scarred me for more than likely the rest of my life. I sure hope the new doctor can do something, but I am not expecting miracles.

I got the ‘sometimes life isn’t fair’ speech, (If this man only knew how well I know that life isn’t fair!) and a firm handshake, but no real satisfaction. He did keep two of the pictures ‘supposedly’ to send to the Board of Directors, but again, I don’t know if he meant that or not.

Hubby has encouraged me to write to the Board of Directors, and include a summary of this meeting, the pictures, and my experiences.

So now I am exhausted, and I have a headache! Time for a cup of tea!

Thursday Thirteen

Nov 24 015

By the numbers!

  1. It was a picture perfect day here in New Hampshire. Sunny skies, moderate temperatures and clear air. Perfect!
  2. A friend called and asked me out to lunch at the last minute.
  3. This was perfect as it got me thinking about other things.
  4. I did some additional planting in the garden. A few plants died when I put them in, so today we filled in with a few more cucumbers and summer squash.
  5. I’m sure I will live to regret this additional planting. I always have too much!
  6. But I share. I pack up bags of produce and deliver it around!
  7. I even caught up by paying bills and getting everything mailed!
  8. I was trying to figure out how to get our computers to talk to each other.
  9. After a couple of hours, I finally did!!! Yay me!!!
  10. Tomorrow I am going to the hospital where the first plastic surgeon operated on me.
  11. I am just so upset. You see I learned that I did not need to have my forehead carved up and tomorrow I plan to make the hospital aware.
  12. It’s supposed to be a good day, and I have made up two new CD’s to listen to.
  13. Yes, a relaxing trip, will be a pleasant trip!

Teeth & Noses

I finally was able to go to my dentist for my bi-annual cleaning and check up. No cavities, but a crack in one old filling. So, I go on Friday to have it worked on.

The only problem is, after they cleaned my teeth my face started to throb! I can only image what Friday will bring!

When I got back home, Hubby had errands he wanted to do, so I tagged along in order to buy the dogs canned food and other perishable items for us to have in the house.

Then, finding no other TV program on (but news) and wanting to fill the air with something positive, I grabbed my copy of “Mama Mia” popped it into the DVD player, and have it on. I just love the music!

Hubby is working on the trees now that the rain has stopped and it is dead calm. I told him to go ahead as I am not really hungry for dinner, so off he went on his tractor.

Gosh how he loves that thing! Best gift I have ever given him, I think!!!

Just three weeks and I will be going in for the next surgery.

June 18 13 002

As much as I can hardly wait for this, I am also really nervous!

Deep breath! It will all be good!!!

Cleaning Monday

After a night spent feeling like I was going to jump out of my skin, due to having to use my inhaler, I woke early. Despite the lack of sleep I quickly dressed after breakfast, and started in.

The vacuum whirred, and sucked up the dog hair and dust, and I was about half way through when I noticed that the family room curtains need a serious washing!

I got them down, and started the process of laundry, dusting, and meals. I was thrilled with my productivity!

The house is in pieces all around me, as I clean, when Hubby walks in with our new neighbor! Ugh! I talked to him for a while, and then, mercifully they went back outside and I could get back to my work!

I even got to wash the dog beds and blankets, for which Anneliese was very grateful and Fritz turned up his nose! He like his blankets smelly, I guess!

As I write, I have only the valences left to do, and the rest of the house is looking really great! I told Hubby that we would have a dinner of leftovers, and make things easy for me. Tomorrow I’m making a herb crusted roast beef.

This confirms what I have thought for a while. When seriously stressed, I either am frozen with inactivity, or I clean! Much better for all when I clean!

This really is a pretty house! lol!!!