The Dackel Princess

The Pandemic

I’ve spent the past week stressing. Finally today I am able to sit back and rest. I do not need to “get” anything to keep my house in order for the next month.

I admit it though, I am weary. Running here and there, up and downstairs, and making lists and checking them, is craziness. I’ve never been in a situation quite like this. I am tired.

Now the 1918-1919 Flu that came through Boston and killed so many there and worldwide always did register with me. My grandfather’s sister was expecting her first baby and the Flu took them both. Katchen was a much-loved sister to Papa and best friend to my grandmother. They both spoke of this as a great tragedy and with much sadness.

And here we are 2020 with this Worldwide Pandemic.

WW (Weight Watchers) have closed down their Classes. They are offering a class on their website once a week. But we’ve been told to weigh in at home and they will open classes once they feel positive that they can do it safely.

I really need to chill out. I need to stop obsessing about this so I can move forward and be productive in the home. I would love to clean closets and go through rooms and de-clutter, but I feel oddly frozen in my seat.

I guess the good news is my new laptop arrives tomorrow and I will be busy setting that up.

For now, Gentle Readers, wash your hands, stay safe and we will get through this.

Life or Something Like It

Friday was the busiest day of the week for me. I woke to pouring rain and wind. The skies were dark and it did nothing to improve my feeling of Friday the 13th doom!
I’d gotten ready early and had a light breakfast as I really didn’t have much of an appetite. After making Jack some breakfast I headed out. I had a few items left to buy and the Highlander needed gas. So just after 10 o’clock, I was on the road.
Oddly enough, there was not a lot of traffic. I thought maybe people weren’t panicking and not rushing to the stores. Wrong! The parking lots at Bj’s and the grocery stores were full. I had decided to hit the grocery store on the way back, but I did need three things at BJ’s as well as gasoline. BJ’s was crazy busy, and even the gas line was long. People at BJ’s were a little snippy as I could see the tension on their faces.
I’d built in plenty of time, so I got my items (PAM Spray, Table Pepper and of course the gas in the car and a 5-gallon gas tank), and then I headed off to Mandy and Matt’s with some items I got for them this week.
I was able to see the two of them and drop off their things before heading to my Glaucoma doctor’s appointment.
I arrived, tried to keep my distance from other people and wore medical gloves the entire time. I admit I am a germaphobe and right now I am a little bit on edge. I found myself staring at people and listening for a cough or a nose blow!
The good news is, my pressures were down to 19 in each eye. The doctor was very pleased. The drops are working and I will stay on them until I return in June. Then I hope they will still be working and I can stay on them.
I hopped into the car and headed home. I wanted to get some Eggplant and check for Enlightened Ice Cream Bars at Market Basket. I had 8 items and yet the express lane was so jammed I went to a regular checkout. Good thing. I actually beat the Express Checkout by quite a bit.
I got into the car, and headed home, finally. I was talking to my friend Carol from WW and I told her how weary I was feeling. In the last week, I have tried to get all the things I needed in the event that the Virus causes us to become Hermits in our own home. I can safely say I did a great job and we have plenty of food in the fridge, freezer, and pantry to last for well over a month.
It’s after dinner now and I’m getting ready to crawl into bed. I have accomplished all I needed to and we will be just fine.

The Friday Five

Well, here we are. Another week has gone by. It was a busy one for sure and also one that had me feeling a bit off-kilter. Here is what’s up.

From Sunday until Wednesday I researched Laptop computers. I knew what I wanted and so I read, searched and planned. I pretty much knew on Tuesday which machine I would order, and on Wednesday afternoon I put the order in and my new baby will arrive! I am so excited!
Of course, Wednesday was also exciting because of my weight loss. It’s amazing how joyous I feel about all my hard work and losing weight is work!
Wednesday Night, President Trump spoke of the Corona Virus and the seriousness of the virus. I thought I was handling things well, but it shook me up. I admit that I worry. I worry about all that I love, be they young, middle-aged or old. I woke at 5 AM unable to shut off my brain.
I made a list of the last few grocery store things I needed in case we get shut down. Two schools in neighboring towns have shut down due to the Virus. So it is here and one must take precautions.
Today I go to the Glaucoma Specialist, as this is really important. I will bring hand sanitizer and be very careful. I was supposed to stay at my daughter’s home, but have canceled. I need to be home to keep Jack and the pups tended to. I also canceled my Colonoscopy next week because of the possibility of exposure at the VA.

So this is all churning in my head and I am trying very hard not to get carried away. But it’s hard not to. I hope next week is a better one.

Finally Getting It!

Things have been moving right along for me this week, but the biggest happening was at WW this morning. I was working so hard, hoping this day would come and it did. I lost my first twenty-five pounds!

I’m actually down 26 pounds now, but when I started to think about losing my weight I would tell myself to take it a day at a time, and only celebrate the big milestones. Twenty-five pounds is a big one.

Now I decided not to reward myself with food. That would be a bad habit to get into. But since I have been abstaining from all alcohol, I decided to enjoy a nice single-malt Scotch. Just one serving.

So I am happy and celebrating and feeling very good about what I am accomplishing. Life is very, very, good!

And yes, I did have my Scotch and it was delicious!

This & That March 11, 2020

This will be short and sweet as I am working with a computer that is nearly dead. I have been looking at computers online and tomorrow I will decide and order my computer.

Meanwhile, here is a picture of my grandson and me playing with his birthday gift.

It’s funny but I never realized how much of a family resemblance there is between us two. It makes me very happy!

That’s it for today!

Corona Virus

So, what are you doing in your little part of the world to prepare for the unlikely event that the Corona Virus comes to your town?

I admit to going out and buying extra canned food products and also paper goods and cleaning supplies. I want to be clean, keep our house as germ-free as I can, but with three dogs and a husband to contend with, it isn’t easy.

When you hear, over and over again, “wash all surfaces” well it was like a subliminal thought. Suddenly, I just wanted to wash everything. And I just about did. I only have a little left to do tomorrow.

In other parts of the country, shortages abound. Even here in my small town, they were all out of cleaning products with none due in until midweek.

Jack is a bit more concerned and since I have been caring for his feet for a while, I suggested that for now, he should cancel his appointment on Wednesday with the Podiatrist and go in a few weeks when we know what is happening with the Corona Virus.

Now I wait to see what happens with my colonoscopy. Since it is elective, they may postpone it until all of this is over. (One can only hope!)

I have not seen anything like this in my life. Each day it seems like there are more States with cases and more deaths. I am trying not to overreact, but I come from a long line of “over-reacters” so this is a bit difficult for me.

The Weekend Wrap March 9, 2020

I know I often write that the weekend flew by for me, but this weekend it really did! It could be that the time change (Spring forward) did me in. I didn’t think it would make a lot of difference, until Sunday morning when I actually had to be somewhere.

Saturday morning I was up bright and early and I began my work on the laundry. I spent the entire day catching up on blankets, towels, and all the other thinks that Arnie had dripped blood on after his dental. In the end, I think I did about 8 big loads of the stuff. I always say, in life, you are never alone. You always have laundry!

I was so tired on Saturday and I knew that the next day I had a ride down to my daughter’s house and back, as Savi was in a community theater play. She was a chorus member in “Alice in Wonderland”. The kids did a great job. the music was sweet and it brought me back to the days of my youth when I also was in plays.

Traffic both down and back was pretty tricky due to very heavy traffic. On the way down it was Pick-up truck after Pick-up truck, with trailers carrying snowmobiles from the north back to their homes in the south. Apparently, Punxatawney Phil was right and winter is over! Yay!

I got to bring Quinn his birthday gift. Quinn loves to color and create, so I bought him a box full of markers (washable!) and paper, coloring books, and instant paint pictures! The gift was a hit.

Mandy and I went out for lunch and this has always been my biggest downfall. But yesterday I looked at the menu and ordered grilled chicken with a salad. No dressing! I felt pretty good about my choice. Then last night at home I made some eggplant for my dinner.

Arnie is doing great since his dental and in another few days, we can allow him to eat normal food. Right now everything needs to be mushy.

I have narrowed it down to three laptop computers. One will be my new baby. A friend once told me to always consider getting as much memory for the buck, and one of them fits that bill. It’s just that it is a 17-inch machine and I’m sort of reluctant to go to a larger machine, but then I think 1. My vision is such that a larger screen/font combination would be good and 2. When I travel now I take my tablet and not my laptop and 3. Considering the world health problems, I will not be traveling anytime soon. Especially not on a cruise.

Yesterday when I was at the play, I took out my hand sanitizer to apply and oh my goodness! The smell was so strong you would have thought I’d spilled a bottle of Vodka! My friend, Rachel and I had a good laugh at that.

Upon arriving at home I had three very happy doggies, who greeted me warmly and let me know they wanted their dinner.

The week ahead is not so bad. I do go back for an eye pressure check on Friday and then will be spending the night at Mandy and Matt’s home with the kids.

So as we start the week I wish everyone, a good one and hope you can get outside and enjoy the Spring!.

Happy Birthday, Quinn!

My sweet grandson turns four years old today. It’s amazing how quickly time has gone.

I certainly remember before Quinn was born, but somehow it feels like he has always been with us.

My favorite picture of Quinn, right now.

Quinn is quite the little man now. So grown up and interested in everything. He is also amazingly interesting. At four years old he carries on long conversations that make perfect sense.

He loves life, Spiderman,

building things, making noises for his cars and airplanes and is so very much a boy! I smile just watching him!

One of the nicest things Quinn has ever said to me was that he had a great time hanging out with me! High praise from a four-year-old!

So here is a short montage of the best pictures of Quinn from birth, until last year. Due to my computer issues, I wasn’t able to make a new one, so I added some current pictures to this post. Oh yes, and the song? Well, who knew back in 1968 when I first heard this song, that one day I would have a grandson with the same name!

Happy Birthday, Quinn!

The Friday Five

The week flew by and now we are officially into March. Here are the five things occupying my mind as the week closes.

Arnie went in for his dental on Thursday. He lost three teeth. One was pretty bad, and I think it was causing him pain. It’s the reason I called for a dental cleaning. I simply had a gut feeling that he was in pain. Chalk one up for the old lady. Unfortunately, I was right.
On the way home from the Vets, Arnie howled the entire time. He also sat in my lap (Jack drove) and cuddled against me.
Currently, he is asleep next to me.
The VA called today about my colonoscopy. They wanted to be sure I was still going to do it? Yes. Was I nervous in any way? Yes. I told them about not wanting general anesthesia and they said they would relay that to the doctor and get back to me. I’m not being a baby, I just got really afraid when I didn’t wake up correctly the last time I had surgery.
It’s Frost Heave Season in New Hampshire.
For those of you that do not know about Frost Heaves, as soils freeze and thaw, ice layers can also form underground. The most common ice and soil feature that we see in New Hampshire is the ubiquitous Frost Heave. When water turns into ice, it expands. When it happens underground, it can cause the overlying material to lift upwards, which is known as a frost heave. Frost heaves can be strong enough to damage roads, bridges, buildings, foundations and railroad tracks. Today it was like trying to drive along the San Andreas Fault Line! OMG! It was a challenge to find parts of the road that were not heaved!
This weekend will be a busy one for me. I’ve got a ton of laundry to do, a house to clean and a little doggy boy to spoil and take care of.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy it!

This & That March 5, 2020

Today Arnie is off to the Vets to have his teeth cleaned. He gets terrible tartar on his teeth, and after he has a dental they look so much better and his breath is manageable. For whatever reason, Arnie has always had tuna-breath!

They will also trim his nails for me, as his nails grow longer, faster than the girls do. He also hates to have them clipped.

I did very well again this week at WW.

But I found myself in an odd position. We are having a substitute leader that I have always liked and enjoyed, but the last few times she has filled in, she will ask questions and when I raise my hand, she will call on anyone else but me. Perhaps I am being overly sensitive about this, but today I felt like Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter books.

Hermione always knew the answers and yet Professor Snape refused to call on her because she was a know-it-all.

I just feel that I finally get it (understanding what to do to make the WW program work for you) but I was unable to share. A little frustrating.

After class, I came home and made lunch for Jack and me. Shortly after I was unlucky enough to get a headache. I decided to lie down in my bedroom to get rid of it. All I wanted was an hour of stretching out and resting.

First Jack let Anneliese in. He closed the door, and of course, Anneliese did not want to take a nap, so up I got! Next, the phone rang, and then I got a cramp in my foot and jumped off the bed! So much for a little nap. I gave up and got up and made myself a cup of tea.

Friday I go for bloodwork and to meet with the Anesthesiologist for my upcoming colonoscopy. They put me down for general anesthesia and I do not want that. I have a lot of trouble coming out of anesthesia, so twilight sleep is much better for me.

Happy Thursday!