Better mousetrap

Faint "tik"

"What's that?" She says!

"The TV" He says.

......

SNAP, RATTLE, CLUNK!

"ZZZZZZZ" He says

"The trap!" She says

Light on, look. Little pink feet--rest of mouse in trap.

Cat, soundly sleeping on couch!

Score: Mom 3, Cat 1.

Message to cat: Step up, if you want to keep the Turkey coming! You could learn from the Yankees!!!

Out of the mouth of a High School Senior

"The days are LONG....But the years very short!"

Sums up life in public schools according to one young lady!

Ladies Night Out!

Tonight after work I had a hair appointment--much needed. Due to multiple surgeries (Mr. CP and my stylist, but those are other stories)...I was long overdue. Traffic was usual rush hour stuff as I left the X-way. When I got the the edge of the village there was gridlock!

We live in the middle of almost nowhere--a land of state, county and privately owned recreation areas where people describe their property in number of acres not feet. The "village" is where I found the stylist--two blocks of "cute", visited by people who live in the suburbs and are looking for "cute" little villages. There is never a traffic jam, let alone gridlock!

With patience, I slowly rolled by way to town---20 times longer than the normal trip! Once in the business district, there were no parking spaces--usually you can have your pick of any one of a few hundred! I parked in the residential neighborhood and walked a few blocks....as it turned out it was ladies night out!

This chamber of commerce event encouraged roving gangs of women to descend on the town seeking discounted goods, stamps on the door prize bingo cards, and sipping from punch bowls with liquids with descriptions that ended in "tini" and "rita". There were limo loads--gaggles of red hatted-purple shirted bargain hunters, mobs in the "cute" shops! I haven't seen this much estrogen in one place since I last visited a sewing expo....

They were gaily amassing stamps, empty punch glasses, and a few toted bags of bargains. It was awful!

We went to the bar at the edge of town--another surprise--I got to observe Bar night!!! No wonder no one ever meets anyone in a bar. The lights are low, music blaring, the guys hang with their pack drinking cheap beer. The girls look slutty, with too much makeup. It was weird watching this pathetic mating ritual. Maybe the guys would be more successful if they would take off the baseball hats! E. pointed out that they were probably wearing them due to baldness!!

Ladies night out. Avoid it if you can!

Techno girl (at last!)

Today is a red letter day! The cable men had to come to fix the "box" for Mr. C.P, as it had some type of malfunction. They left a remote behind. Matching the Mr. C.P. remote. Exactly the same. Mr. C.P even programmed it to match his! Then he gave it to ME!!! My own remote! Imagine that!

Of course, I will only be allowed to use it when he is out of town or in the bathroom, as the king of remotes will still trump my choices. Today was a rainy afternoon, and Mr. C.P. was busy net-surfing. I entered the man-cave bravely, picked up my remote, and found a chick flick all by myself! Had a delightful little "knit in" with "The Notebook"--was a terrific afternoon. Even finished the acrylic socks that seemed to never end! I was master of my destiny!

I also learned how to "rip" a CD and load it into my MP3 player this morning!

Life is good!

Good (?) things come to those who wait!

Mr. Cat is tired today. He had a very busy night last night!

He has insisted that there was something to stalk in the basement for the last several days. I tend to ignore him, as since the chipmunk episode (see prior post), he thinks of himself as the director of homeland security/jungle hunter/the terminator! I let him enjoy his fantasy! He is 13, missing teeth, and has no claws...

But he has proved once again that he is "the TERMINATOR". This morning at about 4 a.m. he sauntered into our bedroom. Gave out the roar of a LION, and beamed at the small furry offering!! LOOK! What I have!. After a rapid disposal/burial at sea (well, actually toilet), he looked at me--"So, where is it? Aren't you going to saute it for me with some gravy?" I was at a loss, except to suggest that he may wish to go get another. After some complaining about the lack of culinary service, he retreated to the media room to "make sure". If he found anything, he kept it to himself!

He has spent the day in the "happy cat" pet bed--dreaming of the chase, I am sure.
Turns out, he was right. Not only does he have good "cat sense", but he can still walk the talk! Watch out rodents! Once they get a taste of chipmunk, there is no stopping them! I am going out to get more "gourmet" cat food. He deserves a reward!

Story problems that (finally) make sense!

Predict the result, in quantifiable terms, of the following:

A red fast Jeep 8 cylinder leaves the driveway at 6:35 a.m., traveling first west , then south, toward an expressway, slowing to approximately 35 MPH on a slight downhill curve approximately 1/2 mile north of the westbound entrance ramp.

Deer (Male) is running east (perhaps after female deer, however this is an unknown variable) at the exact moment that the Jeep approaches the junction of their true vectors with a velocity equal to of exceeding that of the Jeep.


Result: Jeep, $5,000.00 in body work. Deer lost.


Tomorrow: an examination of the historical roots of the saying "I'll knock the sh-- out of you!"

Hangin'in the Man Cave

It has now been 10 days since Mr. CP went under the knife. 10 days of having a "newborn" on my hands...10 days of step aerobics as I attempt to keep him comfortable and alive in the Man Cave.

Mr. CP chose to recuperate in the Man Cave based on the creature comforts he enjoys. LARGE screen. Recliner. The MC came with a kitchen, Oak bar, bathroom, and hideous lighting. We did a little with the lighting--which MR. CP keeps dim. There are speakers that let you "feel" the sounds. There is junk food. A cordless phone. Internet access....everything he needs!

Which is where the step aerobics comes in. Despite his description of the perfect recuperation venue, most often what he wants/needs, right now, right now!! is not in the man cave. It is upstairs, outside, in the garage, or up-up stairs. Not only is it the 14 steps in each flight, but the carrying of the "stuff" from the far reaches to appease the god of the recliner in the Man Cave is adding to the aerobic nature of this experience!!

My knees hurt! My feet "creak". I feel like any moment I will be a >weeble< and fall or bounce down the stairs.

Despite his professed love of the man cave....he is developing cabin feever! Says he will ride in the handicapped cart at the Costco/walmart---may take him up on that. I need to get out of the man cave tooo--am starting to look like a squinty eyed nocturnal animal!!

Go Green! Go White!

In keeping with my need to have more than one project at a time, I started another pair of socks to celebrate the completion of the super secret socks. The yarn is "interesting". A little thicker than I usually knit. Selected for its colors--suitable for Spartan alumni!

Of course, I took them along to the appointment at the rival school medical center--was eyed with suspicion by the blue and gold army with little block M's on their shirts. Opps! Had not meant offense--I just don't do blue and gold.

So...Go green! Go White! First repeat of the yarn pattern completed. Using easy round toe...like the shape--in toe up socks with 2 circular needles--size U.S. 0. Working up quickly! Fun!

I can't hear you...Or ....la, la,la, la, la,la,la,la(with thumbs in his ears)

And here is how the conversation went:

Dr.: Are you employed?

2 days Post knee surgery patient: Yes

What do you do?

Sales

Travel?

Yes. Scheduled for Germany in two weeks. Mexico, and Germany usually.

None of that for at least 6 weeks. Very high risk of blood clots on airplanes!

I thought I would go into the office tomorrow or Monday

Do you have a couch in your office?

no

Can you keep your knee and ankle above your heart---like on a bed or something?

No

Well, that will not work. The risk of blood clots is very high post-surgery!

I suppose I could not go in until Tuesday

And the swelling will impede the healing. Your leg should be elevated.

I have a chair

And there is infection. But the biggest risk is blood clots and swelling.

O.k., then I can work from home until Thursday.

We do not need complications at this point. You need to stay home for at least two weeks. You will use these crutches for at lease six weeks. No weight for two weeks.

I can go in Thurs or Friday.

You can't drive with the pain killers you are taking.

I only took one this morning, but it hurts now.

So no work, no weight on that leg for two weeks. Call physical therapy for an apt. You need to keep that elevated except when you get up to use the bathroom.

I suppose I can work from home and go in Friday.

You are to keep that leg elevated above your heart. And on ice--both the machine and real ice. We will take the stitches out in 10 days, then we can talk about going back to work.

My computer isn't fixed. That will be a problem.

So, see you in 10 days. Rest, elevate, pain killers, ice, home exercises, physical therapy. Any questions?
No.

Walking out of the building:
I have to go into the office.
Wife: In two weeks. Apt for stitches removal is the 7th. You can tell them the 8th.
I can't be gone that long.
???

He didn't hear a word they said that did not agree with his ideas!

Of course, he barely made it home, and collapsed, unconscious, for several hours, so we won't fight the office battle today.

So the people at his office should thank me, as the last thing they need is a drugged invalid in their way....And all the commuters who made it home safely....And the insurance company should thank me too, as I could be a rich widow, unless of course they rule the death by blood clot a suicide!

Super secret socks!

Done!

Not what the yarn ball made me think they would look like--but somehow still "cool" looking!

Bernat--fun colors!

Acrylic--now in the same category as "orange"----nevermore!

Only "real" wool henceforth!

It has been awhile

I have been busy doing other things. Seems I have neglected to blog. There are the weeds (lots of them). New plants to find homes for. The injured husband. Work stuff. Auntie L. stuff. Surgery for Mr. Crabby pants. Life has been very busy.

There has also been knitting. Socks, shawls, UFO's. No excuse really, but have had no issues, interesting stuff, or other topics to blog. So, guess I need to think about some issue to explore. Maybe pharmacies. That was the last frustration in my life....Stay tuned.

The Bionic Man

Men (even those with normal hearing) "hear what they want to hear, and disregard the rest"--nah, nah, nah, nah, nah,nah-nah-nah-nah....Etc.

Did you know that they were going to drill holes in my femur? (yes), ..And they are going to use screws (uh-huh)...And I will have scars here, here, and HERE! (yep).

So went the conversation tonight following his pre-op appointment for the upcoming knee surgery (still dealing with motorcycle accident damage...)

I knew all of this from the detailed explanation provided by the surgeon at a prior visit...He was in the room, (which was barely larger than my oven by the way) but obviously had suffered complete hearing loss during the explanation of the procedure and recovery.....

Men, they hear what they want to hear (and disregard the rest!!)....But I will control the pain meds!!! (tee-hee!) Stay tuned!

Who is Jennifer, and is it that I should I call her?

"Call Jennifer". That is what my "to do" list said. It was among several items, both personal and business that I needed to attend to....

Who is Jennifer? What is it I am supposed to call her about?

It took me days to figure it out! Jennifer is my hairdresser. When we moved, I needed to establish a "new relationship" with someone to cut my hair. This was accomplished by window shopping on Main street with 1's assistance, and choosing the most outrageous person I saw in the shop--which for where I live is still pretty tame.

It was not that I wanted hair on the wild side, but I do like someone who is a little creative, so we are not stuck in a rut.

Anyway, after several days of racking my brain and checking other lists for a clue of who Jennifer was and what I needed to call her about, I looked in the mirror, and remembered that I needed a hair appointment---thus, the need to call Jennifer!!

Now, I do not forget her name, although I usually decide I NEED her on a weekend, and by the time Tuesday rolls around, have forgotten that I needed to call for an appointment.

I need to be able to email my beauty shop for an appointment---maybe I will suggest that! We now have a laugh every time I eventually show up, as she knows the "who is Jennifer and why do I need to call her" story! And this time she actually did what I wanted her to do with my hair--so maybe I should just let her do her thing, as it really did look better last time when I did not interfere!

@%!$@&#^!! Deer

This is what my day lilies would look like if the deer did not keep eating them before they bloom! This morning, I swear they waited until they heard the car leaving the driveway, then sauntered right up to the house to begin their munching. What they hadn't figured on was me being home, gimpy and all. Mr. Buck and Ms. Doe were quite surprised that I took exception to their breakfasting on my plants.

You would think with three acres, and all the neighbors acreage, they could find something else to eat! So I got out my super deer repellent. Sprayed it on the few remaining flowers. Was so rank (had been in the very hot garage) that I had to come inside. Hope it works--sure smells awful!

Lesson learned. You can never drop your guard--deer do not have memories!

Grace

Over the weekend, 2's friends stopped by with new baby "Gracie". Cute. Tiny. Observation: Parenthood seems much more complicated than it did when mine were babies--we didn't have so much "stuff" involved.

Speaking of Grace, or more accurately, lack there of....I managed to take a walk at lunch yesterday, and as I was walking down the street, fell. Not tripped, just hit some uneven pavement and went down. Lots of students from the nearby law school on the sidewalk--very nice--are you o.k? Thought so. One young man pointed out that "people fall there all the time"--either he is destined to be an ambulance chaser, or he has way too much time to spend at this corner.

Anyway, I not really fine. Managed to walk back to my office. Was harder to walk to my car. Harder still to press the accelerator on the way home. Decided to seek medical care. They X-rayed. Don't know anything. Ended up with what looks like an extra large hard boiled egg inserted under the skin at my ankle. Hurts. Gave me crutches (challenging, as I was not graceful enough to avoid the fall in the first place), a wrap, several sheets of instructions and a script. See a real doctor if it doesn't get better on its own. Bill will probably be a thou---if I had an X-ray machine, could have saved my insurance co a lot of money.

I know how this goes. Have been here before. Takes much longer than they say. Hurts more than they say. Crutches are impossible to use unless you are coordinated, and if you are coordinated, you probably wouldn't need crutches in the first place. My hand is bruised--so using the crutches hurts too.

Pass the drugs. Think I should just take a nap!

Federal Feet

I have not mentioned the sock knitting for awhile. It is not that I have stopped knitting, although the production has slowed due to many factors. I finished the Washington D.C. trip socks yesterday. I still have three pair on needles in various stages of completion. Have also been working on gift knitting, which is best not mentioned in the blog in the unlikely event that the intended recipient would be reading.

But the garden beckons....Or rather weed removal is required. Knitting will have to wait for evening.

Deana and Gerard

Live next door to 4. They moved in on their wedding day in 1956--50 years ago. We met them yesterday as we helped 4 start to move in and "fix" things. Deana had on the cutest little house dress, flowered, a little lace collar, pearl buttons and neatly pressed. Of course, she had an apron on to keep it clean. She was hanging out the wash. Gerard (you could call me Jerry, but I really don't like that name) was "puttering". He had embraced a more trendy fashion style, in cap, t-shirt and athletic shorts--a somewhat humorous outfit for someone his age, but perhaps cast offs from a college age grandson.

They had been friends of their neighbors, Helen and Leo. It will always be Helen and Leo's house to them. Deana pointed out what a great house it would be for 4..not too big to clean. I don't think that was one of the selection criteria, but 4 smiled and nodded. (She is very good with the elderly). They assumed she had a husband--she found that "cute".

After the intro's all around, and enough social conversation to convince them that the new neighbor was "worthy", they told 4 to come over if she needed any help. We were actually thinking the opposite.

Alice and Harold, Helen and Leo

The 1940's and 1950's. The American dream. Harold and Leo were Machinists. Alice and Helen "housewives". Harold and Leo made decent money for those days. Skilled and in demand. They bought "nice" houses for Alice and Helen to "keep" on opposite sides of the state.

Alice and Helen had clothes lines where the laundry dried in the breeze. They had plywood kitchen cupboards, tiled baths, and hardwood floors underfoot. The probably both had dust mops. Both "modernized" their bathroom sometime around the late 60's with a vanity.

Harold had a driveway poured, but never got around to building a garage. Leo never got around to the driveway, but had enough garage for 5 cars! Both Harold and Leo took care of things around the house the way a machinist would--- not at all the approach a carpenter would have had. Fortunately, both restricted these activities to areas where it doesn't matter. Thank you, Alice and Helen for making sure.

Alice died before Harold. Harold did nothing to the house..not even vacuum apparently...for years. 1 bought it from Harold. He left behind Alices "special" dresses--too grief stricken, or just to lazy to deal with them. We (really) shoveled the dirt out of the house that had accumulated under the carpet in the years since she stopped vacuuming.

Helen and Leo had more time. Both lived into their 90's. 4 bought their house from "the estate". If they had dirt under their carpets, we will never know, as the carpet had already been removed, but I somehow doubt it. Leo predeceased Helen. She probably continued to vacuum.

Somehow I have managed to raise two independent strong women. I am very proud of them. 1 and 4 both have homes of their own. Independently, their own achievement. They both bought homes from elderly couples who had lived in them a long time. They both have solid, good houses. Along the way, they are also learning to appreciate the history and charm of period homes.

4 has a coal bin, well pit and fruit cellar. Of course she did not know what they were, and even I was a little unsure. 1 has knotty pine and a grotto--basement finishing method of choice in the 50's. Both have unfinished attic space waiting to be turned into living space. Both (now) have day lilies. Both now know how to change out a lockset. Both have tool boxes.

I hope that Alice and Helen and Leo would have liked what 1 and 4 they are doing with their homes...Not that it matters. (I am sure Harold could care less.) But I think they would. I am so impressed.

"The Drawer"

I had forgotten about the drawer until S. mentioned it. It was the remaining part of a "finish it yourself" telephone stand from--1960 or 70 something. The telephone stand was replaced by a microwave cart--but the drawer was salvaged, as she needed the drawer for her "stuff".

Never mind that it was "blonde" and the microwave cart walnut. Never mind that there was no drawer space on the cart. It sat on the shelf for as long as I can remember--full of pens, pencils, rubberbands, miscellaneous scraps of paper, phone lists, and "stuff"--keys and thumbtacks, markers, paintbrushes, etc. It was the epicenter of planning for pot lucks, phone fan outs, notes to self (which were increasingly more important), and the calendars that chronicled the daily life. The microwave cart developed "groves".

It moved with the cart to the apartment, to the house, and then got left behind when we took her to the "home", as she had no more need for pencils, phone lists, planning, or rubber bands. Calendars were of no use. There were no pot lucks or phone fanouts to be done. It was "inherited" by the "keepers" of "the house".

It held phone books, pizza coupons, and pens. I cleaned it out once. Other stuff, important to the keepers found a home in the drawer. We all knew what one would find in the drawer, and what to put in the drawer, although we had never had lessons. It just "was".

E left. D moved in with his boys. Various comings and goings. The drawer had staying power. The microwave stopped working, or moved, or something. There was no need for the cart. D probably moved it to make way for other furniture when the households were combined and S became his wife. I think it went to the garage. Maybe (?) "the drawer" went with it. No one seems to know.

The drawer is only important for what it was. A depository of the stuff that was important in a life that has left us...twice. First in memory, and finally in body.
The drawer is like my friend Judy's daughter's nana's monkey. An item that no one except those who loved the owner would think was anything other than junk.

It is not about the drawer. It is about the memories! (and knowing where to get a rubber band when you need it!)

Hyperopia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'Hyperopia, also known as hypermetropia or colloquially as farsightedness or longsightedness, is a defect of vision caused by an imperfection in the eye (often when the eyeball is too short or when the lens cannot become round enough), causing inability to focus on near objects, and in extreme cases causing a sufferer to be unable to focus on objects at any distance. As an object moves towards the eye, the eye must increase its power to keep the image on the retina. If the power of the cornea and lens is insufficient, as in hypermetropia, the image will appear blurred.

People with hyperopia may experience blurred vision, asthenopia, accommodative dysfunction, binocular dysfunction, amblyopia, and strabismus.[1]'


In other words...they only see the Forest, not the trees.

Vision, and seeing are important things. Seeing things as they really are is very important. If you cannot see accurately upclose, then you need to do something to correct your vision. It is not as difficult as it seems. Good vision is available if people make the effort.

Remember your first pair of glasses, and how exciting it was to see things clearly? Everyone should remember to change their prescriptions as needed to see clearly that which is around them. Sometimes we get too busy or too distracted or too wrapped up in our projects, but that is not good. It can lead to deterioration. If our vision is not as sharp as it should be we can make mistakes and be disappointed.

Furniture Agnst!

4 admitted that she has furniture agnst. That uncertainty between "oh joy, I bought a house"and "wow,this is perfect". She does not know where the sofa will go. Never mind that she has lived in three apartments and it has always worked out. Must be because this is more permanent....It matters more.

1 has relationship agnst. The uncertainty between the first meeting and sifting through all the meetings to find the right kind to keep. She does not know where she is going to find the keeper....And it also matters more.

I have no agnst. The flowers are planted (sort of), the laundry is not done (who cares, it can wait), and I have the sheet cake for work tomorrow---bringing me full circle to the second blog entry of last year...I have no agnst about seeing the foot Dr. again about my plantar facia, no angst about the big project I have at work, as it is currently going well ahead of schedule, and no agnst about anything, except maybe not taking enough time to knit this weekend.

If you average the agnst, it probably works out to be manageable...Probably doesn't seem like it to 1 and 4. Hopefully next year when it is my turn for the birthday cake at work again, their problems will be worked out.

4 and me

Today 4 came home. We had things to do. It was fun. We did some browsing of stores that we've not shopped together before. She got a doormat for her new back door. We talked of all the things she will need in her new house. Such fun. For me is like having a doll house. Must show restraint--it is her house. Will save it for future grandchildren--the buying because I want to.

So we looked at rugs and curtain rods, and bedsteads, curtains, and "stuff". Browsed the plants at the garden center. We talked about the things that she will inherit. We had lunch, invited 1 (who is still recovering from the fun fair fun) who couldn't come, and then 4 went shopping with Mr. Cp while I took a nap.

Fun was had by all. I like having "quality time" now and then. She found a "treasure" on sale for her living room. The moving starts Thursday.

She can't believe she is buying a house! I can't believe that I have another doll house to play in! I am glad that she is old enough now to appreciate how much little things like curtain rods cost. I am also glad that she will finally have "roots" in a house of her own that she can love. Will be fun to visit, and shop at the kinds of stores that we have not shopped at together before.

Time to plant some flowers

It is that time in the spring that I must find some annuals that the critters won't eat! The perennials have filled in nicely. In several years will not need the annuals, but have big pots.

Need something very distasteful for the deer. Adventures in the flower vendor tomorrow!

Dear FBI:

I am sorry you did not find Jimmy in my neighborhood. I appreciate how difficult it is to find some bones from 30 years ago, especially in a place like this...so many trees on so many acres. Although the townies seemed to have a weird sense of humor over the whole thing, you have to understand that nothing more exciting than a 4th of July parade ever happens here--and even that is not very exciting! Please also understand that the vast majority of us who live here like it that way, thank you very much. It is part of the "charm" of the place.

A couple of years ago my grandson found a bunch of bones on our acreage--and did not have to dig! There they were, right on top for the picking up. I doubt that they were the remains you were looking for, although 30 years ago, my "yard" was just another natural area here in the neighborhood with dense trees--so it is not without some plausibility that someone could have dumped someone here, and no one would have been any wiser. The bones looked pretty much like deer when my grandson assembled them....so we did not call you. He was so thrilled with them, that he bagged them up and took them for show and tell. His teacher (who thought them creepy) allowed them to be displayed on the "back table" for the class. Then they were packed again and kept in the garage, until his mother threw them out.

So, if these were the bones you were looking for, try the landfill at 5 mile in Plymouth Township. They won't be many feet down, as it was just last year (not thirty years ago)and they are probably still in a brown paper bag. I hope they were only deer bones. The parents at the school would probably find it kinda creepy if Jimmy Hoffa's remains were hanging out in their kids classroom for a couple of days.

Lest you think we were insensitive, we did discuss the possibility of famous remains (e.g. the Oakland County Child Killer and Page Marie), however never really thought to call you about Jimmy. Besides, we are pretty sure they were deer bones. We do have pictures, if you would like them.

Sincerely,



A Milford resident

Back from the Oregon Trail

It was beautiful. It was nice to see something new. It was wonderful to be in a place where fibers and fabrics and things related are appreciated, and apparently are big business. I visited three yarn shops!! The first, the Yarn Garden was wonderful. A very nice selection, and nice but not pushy people. I bought stuff I didn't need, but wanted at a reasonable price from a great selection.

The next one was in the "Pearl District". Definitely uptown. Really nice yarn, but pricey (of course what would you expect really nice yarn to cost?) It was a cute shop with an enthusiastic keeper, who sensed immediately that 1) I knew something about knitting and 2) I was a bargain hunter. She left me alone, and worked on more impressionable customers buying $20.00 balls of exquisite wool so they could teach their ten year olds to knit.

I found the bargain bins in the basement. 40%off. Bought another thing I did not need, but wanted, and it was "reduced". Hand dyed, and in my colors!

Third store was the snootiest store. They would (for a price) knit up their pricey yarn for you. She was not interested in knitters (except maybe for slave labor). Interesting--seems you can make a living selling very expensive yarn to the clueless if you have some slave knitters tucked away.

I returned with new additions to my stash. Also visited a needlepoint store, a button store and a very nice fabric store, but bought only a pattern for a jacket. Portland, you are still a wonderland for the home ecers among us (as long as we have enough cash!)

Rocks, Elk, Slides, etc. On the Oregon Trail

We decided to go to the "beach". It required a two hour ride through the rainy wine country, and then arrival in a typical shore town, resplendent with wind sock sellers and taffy vendors. It was hard to see the beach for all the resorts and condos.

We drove up 101 to Tillamock--taking the scenic route whenever available. Oregon has beautiful beaches. (Note, the tour guide warns anyone entering the water to beware of logs--honest! I could see why!). In Tillamok we visited the cheese factory and had some really good ice cream. Then we took the drive back through the mountains--absolutely beautiful, but full of dire warnings of Elk! Slides! Rocks! Snow! Fortunately, it was an uneventful day for our drive through. Except for a little one lane bridge construction, we just enjoyed the forest.

The moss is notable. They get 90 inches of rain a year. The moss is everywhere!! I have seen whole buildings taken over with mossiness!!! Very strange looking.

Oregon is beautiful. Am amazed that not more people live here. I suppose if that happens, it won't be so beautiful.

Oregon Day 4-Beauty!

Today, because we promised to toil under the cover of darkness, we were let out mid-afternoon. Although it was the beginning of rush hour before they stopped talking, Mr. CP and I were on our way in traffic that the residents of our home metro area would not even comment on in their Traffic copters....and in a short time we were headed east along the Columbia River Valley. Absolutely breathtaking. In less time and fewer miles than I drive from home to my office, we were at the pass--lovely!

Amazingly very few seem to live very much beyond the city. Such a different way of life! We had to get gas along the way, and the little man came bounding out to pump it....not only willingly, but required by state law. So unlike our usual existence.

Love the mountains, love the little man pumping the gas, loved the views. But especially loved the waterfalls!

I can see what Lewis and Clark saw in the place!

Bingo on the Oregon Trail-day 3!

After a FULL day of meetings, the hotel hosted a "guest reception". They had food from a Greek restaurant, beer, wine, soft drinks, and Bingo. Really, bingo! There was a whole room full of adults from our conference (most of whom have Masters and PHD's) enticed into playing bingo with pinto beans for markers--not your usual bingo crowd. Mr. CP even got into a few rounds. That was hilarious!

Funny what people will do for a bottle of wine (the prizes). We didn't win. Mr. CP got bored, and tired, and went upstairs. Once the food ran out, the crowd left pretty quickly.

I kept thinking how proud the mothers of those cute, young managers would be of their bingo calling sons! All that money for a hospitality degree, and they end up being bingo callers (but cute in suits and ties)!!! Odd how things work out!

Flip Flops on the Oregon Trail

"They all wear Flip flops"!--Mr. Cp's assessment of the place we are visiting. Perhaps our home climate is wrong, perhaps our friends are just not that "into" flip flops, or perhaps Mr. CP needs to get out more. He honestly observed this footwear preference while on vacation, and found it to be an "unacceptable" oddity.

The city makes him antsy. He had to find some suburbs today.

This city is "nice". Streetcars are free. People walk around on the streets. Most are youngish--20 and 30 somethings. Lots and lots of Tats--another things most of our generation has not embraced. Not little, subtle tats. HUGE, colorful, very visible tats on arms, necks, legs, chests, etc. 1 is right. Laser removal will have its day!

My presentations went "well". This group is a lot like a group attending a wake, and I have been to wakes that are more fun. But at least all I have to do now is sit and listen.

So, although many are wearing various kinds of sandals, Mr. CP has written the natives off as a bunch of urbanized tattooed flip flop wearers. He really does need the suburbs!!!

It is official

4's offer on the "perfect house" is accepted. Still a few more hurdles, but it is looking more like "home"!

Adventure on the Oregon Trail...Day 1

Another early call to be at the airport..Mr. CP in tow. Tried the curb side check in--he deemed slick!!! Dutifully waited with the carry on stuff while he parked and shuttled unencumbered by "stuff".

Security was interesting with sling and brace,etc...Then Mr. cp got upgraded. He was happy:) I however was not upgraded :( however did not expect to be, so was O.K. Did get to board with "those needing assistance"--and good thing too!

I had seat 14C. However the plane did not. NWA had given me a phantom seat! I went back to the "it is too early in the morning for you to bug me" lady at the check in, and after much explanation, and two more boarding passes for seat 14C, I calmly told her AGAIN that there was no such seat on this plane!! Finally, she called someone, muttered a lot, and gave me a boarding pass for 17C.

I was just the beginning of her problem, as there were three rows of other people with no seats either! (I was just the first to appear, due to the assisting part!) At one point, the gate agent boarded the plane and admitted that she had no idea who was on this plane, so if she called out your name, indicate that you were on board. I think people, who had been rioting over "open seating" ,were hesitant to do so, lest they be pulled off....Too much weirdness for my morning.

We had a tail wind, and got to Portland early. Thus had to wait for a gate, and they got the luggage locations all goofed up. It is sunny :) and hot. The luggage arrived, the rental car is a Buick (?), and the freeway was closed. No, really, completely closed!! Thank goodness for GPS, and we have already had the scenic tour of Portland.

So far so good. Tonight we eat...Up the street. Mr. Cp says he can walk. He should sleep well (I hope). Tomorrow I work, and he goes off to play in the wine country....Stay tuned.

You cannot just "run in" to a yarn store

I am going to Portland for a week. I will need to take some sock knitting. Problem is I have 4 or more projects, all in some state near completion,and all unsuitable for a week long trips amusement.

I decided that I wanted to do the pink and black yarn next...but wanted (needed?) reinforcement yarn for toe and heel. So on my "todo" list was the yarn store. Needed black reinforcement yarn. Navy and beige would be good to have too.

Alas, they had no black. Did have beige and grey. Bought that as insurance that it would go away too! Of course saw some purple/beige sock yarn I liked. So more goes into the basket. I still have to find something to take along to knit!

I shouldn't be such an ADD knitter, but it is almost impossible. I have different moods. Different situations. Different lighting and seating. Need different knitting. Only another ADD sock knitter would understand.....

"4" is a real adult!

She will have mortgage debt! That is real!

She found "the" house. It is adorable, and so 4! The cats will love the dining room by day and the upstairs landing in the afternoon. She loves the mail slot, doorbell, the hardwood floors,and the cuteness. Will be so Pottery Barn/Restoration Hardware!! It has good vibes!

It's a grandma b house on steroids with a grandpa B garage on steroids. (We will have to take some lawn chairs, and sit in the doorway of the garage to drink a beer in his memory!) Unfortunately, has a grandma F kitchen (actually worse, if that is possible)where only the cabinet hardware is worth keeping, but we can help her fix that in time.....

I can't wait to plant the ferns and lilies of the valley, and maybe a few hostas...These are "family" foundation plantings.....Handed down from house to house. Needs some day lilies too. And tulips. Must consult on the color. 1's scheme is purple and white. Think 4 will want RED!...Maybe yellow. She will have the sun for daisy's!

It is so exciting.....Now I have a place to move her "stuff"! 4 will be a real grown up with a mortgage, and a little old man neighbor, and grass to mow, and a darn cute doorbell with a mail slot and short drive to work!

Must remember to get her a show shovel for her birthday.....

...and the walls come tumbling' down!

Today was another adventure in house shopping with 4. She had previewed and preselected several, with "the one" on the leaderboard. She was convinced. Cute, Clean, in her price range.

I was less sure, but we went there second. (The first house was cute, inexpensive, painted by someone who had no clue how to paint, had a doggie door that 4 felt no need for, and needed new windows and some siding--making it ultimately, not cheap!)

The pines towered above the house, being planted as tiny things 60 years ago...She thought they were charming. I saw sticky gutter clogers that were going to be expensive to cut down without damaging the house....

The porch was covered with "artificial grass"--probably glued on with some kind of absolutely super sticky stuff that would never cove off--She had not noticed?? (Was she blind!)? We ducked under the pines, scooted past the tacky fake flowers on the step, and behold the lovely floors within.

Really very nice, except for the place where there once was something (a fireplace?) and the floor was patched, oddly. Nice paint, nice redone kitchen, nice bath, three bedrooms, one down, two up. Sparkling, new paint everywhere! (windows hard to open--original, but painted nicely!) Eye candy!!

Then we went to the basement.... 4 pulled out her flashlight!! (MR. CP would have been so proud!!) and began to inspect the rear wall with great interest (I did not share her interest...so I began to look around. Something was not quite right. Two jack stands...not where one would expect jack stands...then I saw it!!

The basement walls were "pushed in"! Second row of cinder block slanted out---below slanted in. Other side was opposite....whole house was going south!!! (Lest you fear for our lives, it probably had been leaning this way for quite some time....). 4 had the "reject look" when she stopped inspecting the wall.

I explained hydrostatic forces (or attempted to). The realtor looked annoyed (or mystified by my explanation of why the house had a bad foundation!). We scampered out , gave the back a courtesy look, and said "not our house". The realtor later called insisting that the owner would call in a structural engineer to certify that the foundation was o.k.---caveat emptor!!

Turns out that the interest in wall inspection was due to new paint since 2 days ago visit! Seems 4 had taken exception to "mold" on that wall, which must have been in the feed back to the owner/flipper.

So, flipper person...We are not buying your house, or your little game. Caveat emptor--or why it is good to take your mother along when deciding on a house. Turns out, she knows a few things from life experience....our pictures are probably up on the realtors board---first an attic with asbestos (hope the buyers will not get cancer---and glad it is them, not us, dealing with it!) Now the hydrostatic action......

For the happy ending, we did come away with 5 possibilities. One of the first two will probably be "the one". Both are sound, cute, affordable, and close to a starbucks ( C1 was right....First find the starbucks, and it will lead you to the right neighborhoods!).....Offer(s) to follow!

Metro Cool

DC was not cool--at least not temp wise. It was cool in other ways. In just 7 years, there has been much "urban renewal"--much nicer now. Condo's and Cafe's and vibrant neighborhoods...

Still lots of street people, beggars, etc. Hard to see people sleeping in the statues and on the monuments--would think they would be rounded up--but know that isn't easy.

Went to the DAR museum. Learned two new things. "Pudding rings". Interesting. Also the origins of bows on the backs of children's dresses. Walked past the south lawn of the white house. Did the moonlight monuments tour with our group. Kind of fun. Too fast to really see monuments (and dark). Mostly a drive by! Still interesting. If you know where to look, you can see the Kennedy eternal flame from the memorial bridge. Coolest view was from Arlington near the cemetery, where everything lines up...Lincoln, Washington, Capital Hill....Quite pretty at night.

But, best of all was finding jeans that fit--on sale!!

I need to get out more!

Hot time in the city

D.C. was hot. It is summer there! Had a great conference, found some bargains, saw some interesting stuff.

Mr. Cat was thrilled that I cam back! Apparently Mr. CP needs more direction than "feed the cat"--which he only did once a day.

Mr. Cat is thrilled that I am back! So nice to be loved, if only for your ability to pull the lid off the cat food can!

Rearranging the hostas

It is that time of the year. It is when I want to play hookey and dig in my flower beds. Today I rearranged some hostas, some lilies of the valley, and filled to huge pots with dirt. I hauled them down to sit majestically on the two stumps left from the removal of the ash trees. It still looks like the Asian bugs killed my trees, but I feel better about it.

I sprayed the deer and rabbit repellent. Sort of in time. Not much eaten yet. Mostly the rabbit I believe. Need to weed. Want to have time to just play in the dirt....Don't.

Must organize my life so I can go to Washington DC for a few days. Always makes me nervous...The flight, being there. 5 years has not made it less so. Always pack too much. Am trying to right size. Hard to do. Cleaned my purse--wouldn't want to have to part with my Swiss army knife. So much to think of. Pack your snacks. Have your ID. Make sure you can lift your carry on over your head....Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Hopefully, I will return unscathed, the house buying agnst will be over, and then I will have time to tackle the weeds!

Game man

Mr. cp got a berry phone! Seems the blue toothed-ness of the car, paired with the injured wing was motivation to embrace the new technology that is available to his level of person.

Took him to the Dr. today--still knitting. Not me, his shoulder bone. 4 more weeks of complaining as he struggles with the splint. They are sending him for an mri--then will decide about the knee....

So, all the way there and all the way home, when he is usually complaining about how I don't know how to drive...he was playing with his multi-purpose electronic toy--it is like game boy for men!! Checking email, editing calendars, organizing stuff....
Probably not as good as Nightmare Before Christmas for game boy, but kept him busy, entertained, distracted from my inability to drive, and thrilled with his ability to tame the "thing"!

Game man....what price sanity?

Location, Location, Location...

C4 is moving closer to work. After doing her income taxes, she is determined to go from apt. Dweller to homeowner. I advised her to pre-qualify for a mortgage and start looking. She surffed the internet. (never mind the back story--if they would just listen to their parents in the first place!)

She found a realtor. The realtor told her to get prequalified. Then they could look at houses. She got prequalified (seemed surprised)(note that parental unit had given this advice and was ignored) and went off to look at houses. She looked at 8. Found 6 to be various degrees of "awful" and "rejects" (duh!)

Then, she called, and invited me to look at the leading two candidates. C1 and I drive to Kzoo (needed a day away from Mr. CP anyway) to see these "gems". First was my definition of awful. Second not much better. Know the realtor thought we were crazy. We though the realtor was "nice"--but offered not much info.

Sans realtor, in an hour, we had scoped the neighborhood, made a list, and laid out a plan for C4. She now has many more houses to look at. At our urging, she went to open houses today. Is headed in the right direction. Wants it to be easy....It never is! At least she is getting a geography lesson.

We have done c4 a disservice. She was too little, not interested, away at school, etc. when we have done the house hunts. C1 was almost always a participant....C4 is house hunting naive. C1 has an impressive grasp of plumbing, electrical panels, ductwork, and structural integrity.

I hope we get through this with C4 intact. She is fragile (and clueless)....And it is totally our fault! Of course, it will be her house, and once she buys it, it will be perfect. She just needs to kiss all the frogs....and find the time to accomplish this important task to find the real "prince"!

Stay tuned!

Who Knew?

I am now in day 6 of the invalid husband game. (Talk about circles of hell!) It is truly amazing how many things a person who is incapacitated needs--usually just seconds after I have finally sat down, or started on a time sensitive project.

My saving grace has been Magnum PI. Who knew that they rerun the old episodes at noon every day. I build my day around it now. On the few occasions that I have forayed into daytime TV I discovered the wedding story, baby story, gardening shows, the noon news, the today show, Ellen, Oprah, etc. Who knew that you could watch the Invasion of Normandy, Magnum PI, the building of the San Francisco Bay bridge, and all kinds of other fodder also on daytime TV? Most peppered with commercials for some type of ED medication or "cure".....Guess I am not the target market!

So MCP is propped up in front of Magnum, enjoying the Hawaiian breezes vicariously. I have at least 1/2 hour before he will need anything--sigh of relief!

GO! -Blue

The saga of the injured husband continues. At at the major research hospital they are obsessed with labeling EVERYTHING with their big blue and gold "M". Now most people would not care, except that we are a family of spartans, and only "do" green and white.

I have been looking at the huge M on the sling, thinking about how a large white S, crafted correctly could almost cover it. Then they added the brace--which comes with it's own "M". Six weeks is a long time, so I guess I will have to detour past a bookstore soon to see if I can find the appropriate cover ups.


In the frenzy of acquiring something that Mr. Pants could wear, I picked up two lounge outfits--the featured item of the week--one for each major university. Today, he noticed yet another "M" on the lounge pants, and wanted to know why I did not just get two sets of "S" wear! (Just so you know it is not just me!)


Who knew that a major teaching/research hospital cared so much about their football team!!

Invalid

So we go off to see the wizard...The ortho guy at the big research hospital. The office personnel were efficient. The forms were dumb, but only because our injury did not fit the pre-defined questions. The exam rooms were small for a big guy and the wheelchair, and the resident was "cute" (and very young looking).

So after some poking and flexing, and pointing at the X rays (which we have the souvenir edition of to bring home) it was determined that there is really nothing that we can do about the broken shoulder but wait--take pain pills, and use a sling. 6 Weeks should bring healing, and we will re-xray. Then the physical therapy will begin.

The knee is another issue. Too swollen to do anything about. Ordered up a nifty hip to ankle brace, and in 6 weeks will see what we can do about it.....At least he can use the walker to get to the bathroom...

So for lots of dollars (supplied by my insurance company)we will continue to continue...And in 6 weeks we will reevaluate. In the mean time, lets hope the vicodin helps make him less crabby!

Getting to know U

So, I had thirteen hours to "experience" the ER--and it is not at all like the TV show of the same name. Major teaching hospital, ambulance bay, and people in scrubs--and there the similarities end.

No Jerry, no Sam, no Luca. Triage had nice male nurses--or at least nurses good enough to make you think they care for the 10 minutes that they record your vitals and complaints. Gatekeepers they are--deciding where you go next. Ours took vitals and a history, looked up the number, and helped with the undressing (not easy)--and with good intentions, routed us to X-ray, packed in ice.

I guess another similarity with the TV show was that we waited in the hall. Next to an empty gurney and some trash bins. Seems there was no room wherever it is that one would normally wait for X-ray. In what seemed like forever for Mr. Pants, but was really not all that long, a perky X-ray person (you can tell by the color coded shirts--posters are all over the place showing the coding of the dress) whisked Mr. Pants and his ice off to the X-rays, while the "unit clerk" who had come looking for us, ushered me to a curtain--small cube on the corner. The nurse for this curtain showed up promptly, but with no patient, there was nothing to do. Pleasant chat, then she was gone.

Over the next hour, as I sat knitting, various hospital employees came and went--housekeeping guy emptied the wastebaskets, Tan scrubs showed up with a chart and some labels, white coat Dr. Breezed in, read the papers, looked quizzically at me until I explained about the X-Rays, and then disappeared. Blue scrubs nurse checked as she walked by to see if there was a patient.

They brought an older lady into the curtain next door. She was profoundly deaf--causing quite a stir among the help--and a little frustration for her husband, who had to explain her plight over and over and over....And although I know it was "confidential", with everyone yelling at the poor woman, and the retelling, I know every detail of her illness while in Arizona. Dialysis. Kidney transplant. Kidney failure again. Removal of transplanted organ. Staples. Fever, more dialysis, High blood pressure. Headaches. Coughing, etc. etc. etc. Poor woman. No easy answers. They were our neighbors for 10 hours until she disappeared into the "hospital" for admitting.

There were wandering pregnant women. Lots of assorted companions. A majorly intoxicated man that the police brought in. The Medical Examiner (honest), with someone at the desk (this could happen on ER) yelling who called the ME?? There was a lady who needed stitches in her chin (fell on the ice), and several worried parents with screaming dehydrated little ones. There were old guys with IV's, ladies crumpled on gurneys with husbands holding the coats (and staring into space). There was lots of activity--but none of it seemed to this observer to get anyone either closer to a cure, or out of there. There was a mysterious "holding area" where people were sent--usually after hours and hours in the ER--to be held for whatever was coming next.

Mr. Pants returned from X-ray without the ice packs, and without the pillow they had provided in X=ray. He was gurneied at this point, and trying to be brave in the face of the pain. The blue (nurse) looked at his wounds, confirmed some info, and said we need to wait for the X-rays. We waited, and waited, and waited.

I found bathrooms. Had to find several, as it seems that there are many more people using them than the number they have. Eventually, I figured out that if you leave the ER and go into the "family" waiting room (where no one was waiting) that you had a good shot at an empty restroom (cleaner too!). Of course, you then needed a sticker, and you were supposed to get the official looking family room attendant to buzz you in....But with the sticker and good timing, I found, I could skip that step, and scoot through the doors.

We had arrived before lunch. It was now well past dinner. We were still waiting, although there were some semblance of bandaging. Also some Dr. walking in and out....Honest, just walking in and out. I asked about getting some food. The tan shirt told me that they could order guest trays, but they were expensive, and in her opinion, not very tasty. She recommended the WEndy's. When it was approaching my bedtime, I decided to set out in search of food. A purple gave me directions--down this hall, turn left, through the doors, left again. Take the elevators to 2. Seemed simple enough.

Got to the elevators, feeling strangely like I was tresspassing. I once worked in an urgent care, so I have some "health care sense"--and much like the time I ended up in the restricted to government workers only area of the basement of the capitol in Washington DC, I sensed that I was not in the most public of areas in this hospital. The doors opened at 2--I stepped out, and was in the operating room hallway--thank goodness there were signs, and I found my way to another family waiting room (surgical), and with more sign reading, found eventually "information".

The info lady (in street clothes, apparently either they ran out of colors, or information is so rare that it does not have a uniform) was nice, and said, go back the way you came. You got off at 2, and should have gone to the other 2. (You would think that if they had 2 2's, someone giving directions should have mentioned it. Use the East elevators!

Again, sign reading led me to the cafeteria, and a sharp left, led to the Wendy's right there in the middle of a major research hospital! No tables, just a queue, and some typical fast food workers. Fast, but not mensa candidates. I got some food, thinking how ironic it was that in a health center one could get frosties and fries without even going outside, and found my way back to the ER, where we were still waiting.

I am sure that there is no marketing plan which lays out the scenario that the plan is to keep ER patients there until the brink of starvation to increase Wendy's sales, but it had that effect.

So, here we were, at 10 at night using a gurney for a table, munching our fast food...While we waited......Just before we were moved to the "holding area"....

To be continued.....

He can't afford a big enough diamond...

When you promise for better or worse...You never really have an accurate concept of the possible variations of "worse".

The buyer was on his way with the trailer, and I was experiencing the joy that his mother must have felt when he sold the kawisaki to by the engagement ring! (note: her joy was not over the engagement, but over the bike being gone) Mr. CP had been admonished to let D. do it, as he was out in the garage rooting around for various parts to send off with the bike. I gave him "the look".

Mr. CP, in a total lapse of judgment, or rebellion, or something "male", decided to take the 700cc Honda motorcycle "out" as the front brakes were "wrong". Sometimes people with testosterone in their systems make incomprehensible decisions....Take the bike for a ride because the brakes were malfunctioning...In the snow.....That is something that a woman certainly cannot fathom.

I am upstairs, reveling in the vision of being able to get into my parked car in the garage without having to snake around the handlebars of the bike, when the phone rings...."Come pick me up,I just broke my leg!"...Love getting those calls!

13 hours in emergency, an hour of X-rays, much pain (me too,the chairs were uncomfortable)...He has a broken shoulder (that is the translation, as the actual medical diagnosis is scarier) and a messed up knee...Exact problem TBD. It collapses when he puts any weight on it. (sounds like potential knee surgery to me, but then I am only a limited expert on this topic, having been there, and gotten that T-shirt.

I have had to rearrange the furniture and rearrange my life to accommodate Mr. CP's rearrangement of him body. We now have a bed in the dining room, wheelchair in the living room, assist bars in the 1/2 bath. He is propped in front of the TV in his recliner--cleaner now as the chippie crumbs fell out on the way up from the man cave! He can't walk, can't move....Amazing how hard it is to be the spouse of an invalid, even when you have good equipment.

Will be an interesting week...Go to ortho on Thurs. They are in no hurry. I cannot wait...pass the vicodin....Oh, wait, that is for MR. CP!

Honey--do!

Well, today we had the septic tank pumped. It was time according to the schedule! It turned out to be quite an event, as after locating the 'tank" (honest, Dean said that he remembered our tank from 2002!?!?!), the digging began, and promptly sliced our cable.

Mr. Crabby Pants cannot live without cable! Already being sickly and all, it was not good for his blood pressure,something we were told to avoid! Dean was very apologetic, but it was not his fault. The Cable wasn't there last time he visited our tank. The silly cable company had run it exactly over the center of the hatches (yes, we have two!) There was no way to empty the tank without damaging the cable.

The cable guy got here about 5 ...And now we have both an empty tank and another orange cable across the grass (that will probably annoy the lawn mowing guys.)

Anyway we had no scum (good) and I got to not only observe, but take pictures of the waste management system. It is much bigger and much less smelly than I thought. I saw the baffles (replaced last time) and will be able to mark the location of the tank hatches this spring to make the next pumping easier.

Will put it on the schedule for about 4 years, and will hope the cable people will avoid the spot--will have to use the snow markers temporarily to scare them away from the tank! Interesting the things you learn when you moved to the country!

Two halfs--but not a whole!

This post is about sock knitting frustration. March is a good month to knit socks (but then so is just about any other as long as you have central air). I had garden socks (now done), some "manly" socks (in a holding pattern, as have run out of yarn) and some really soft interesting ringle type socks (for me) going. Just broke out some multicolor BRIGHT bernat yarn......lots of halfs, no wholes....

And I had been so good about the whole ADD thing!

Chip and Dale

The chipmunks have decided to invade my house! Apparently the Chipmunk massacre of 2005 (see prior post) was not the fault of a careless husband, as they have appeared again in the water treatment area. I am not sure how one gets rid of chipmunks in ones well room.....Must look for "rat traps", I believe. I saw some sticky traps today, but they did not look like they would slow them down enough.

Cannot let the cat get them. Think that is what has made him sick. You never know were they have been!! They are currently being deterred by a few cases of Molson's blocking the space under the door --hope it works. Thank goodness for empty beer bottles and warm weather.

The house has its own set of noises, some of which are strange. But the first indication was a "new" noise in the mud room. Haven't heard it lately. Maybe it is nice enough to stay outside. Will keep you posted, as I am sure it will not be this easy to eradicate the pests!

Wonders of the Work World

Through an odd set of circumstances, Z. Was dropped off at my workplace to be transported "home" (which really was only to my house....S had to pick him up there, but it saved her over 100 miles and a few hours.)

It was supposed to be Wednesday at 4:30, but turned into Thursday at 2:30. This meant that I needed to keep Z. "busy" for two hours while I finished working for the day. I went to the dollar store, and found a 6-pack of colored mechanical pencils--really wanted markers, but had to settle. Figured he would like to color.

Reality was that he liked the mechanical pencils! Something I had forgotten...The little boy fascination with mechanical pencils, and how "cool" it is to have some. Z. made a birthday card for D...Involving using a clip board, stapler, etc....Took quite some time.

Then we visited the snack shop--food is always good for a few more minutes. He choose carefully (probably unlike the choices of the prior few days) sensing that my guidelines were probably going to be very similar to S's. Actually they aren't, but at least it was admirable that he "clicked into" respecting the S list. Of course, my co-workers are suckers for the occasional kid that hangs out there, so they had candies from their candy bowls, pens with goofy tops, and other "stuff" to fill his goody bag with prizes!

Who knew that the most fascinating thing in my office according to Z. is the freight elevator!?! I had never really though about it.

Temporary Insanity

I was on a road trip, with extra time before meeting my group for dinner. I had my list of yarn shops, so managed to find one nearby. It was "cute"--multiple "stores" in this cool turn of the century house. The yarns were in the "parlor and dining room"--best part of the place was the quit fabrics--which filled up several rooms... And did eventually suck me in (where I also bought some fabric I did not need.)

They had added scrapbooking, which was gradually creeping into the yarn space...Like a cancer! They had interesting sock yarn (like I needed any), which I fondled for awhile, and found one ball that was very interesting......Of course there was no second. I also checked out all of the sample socks--(probably the reason only one ball was left, as they always only have one on display!) I recognized many of the patterns from several of my growing collection of sock knitting books, so of course, became excited about trying something "new"--alas, there was no solid color yarn, needed to showcase the intricate patterns. (Thus maintaining the need to continue the quest for more sock yarn!)

Then it "grabbed me"--some "tucked in the back" balls of Regia in bright spring colors. The sun was shining, the weather mild (for winter!) and I thought---I need this to make bright spring socks for planting my flowers! Temporary insanity!

Now that I have started them--what was I thinking!?? Obviously not thinking! The orange leaps out at me.....Rule: never , never, again buy yarn with ORANGE, no matter how "minor" a player it looks like it is going to be. These socks are NEON! The ball of yarn looks "perky" and "fresh"....The resulting socks are shockingly, um....Shocking!

At least they are warm, and the yarn is nice to knit. They would make great little kid socks, and definitely cannot get lost in the wash. There will be some left overs, so I can play with that little socks thing. They will be wonderful socks for gardening, retirement, or a Halloween costume accessory!!

Moral of the story: Just like you should not judge a book by its cover, you should not picture the finished product based on how the ball of yarn looks......

February Knitting

I managed to complete three pairs of socks this month. Two will probably be gift socks. The grey stripes were a challenge. Tried a new toe up pattern. Ended up not liking the pointy toe that resulted from following the pattern, but optimistically finished the whole socks, thinking maybe it would look better. It didn't! So I ripped out the toes (backward--not easy like tink-ing) and reknit them from the middle up---much happier with the more rounded toe!

It was interesting to do the heel on these, as they have a heel flap on the sole, with short row turn cupping the back of the heel. The pick up runs along the side of the sole---different. Will refine this technique, but like the waste yarn toe part better......That is what makes this so much fun...Not only the mathematical challenges, but the different approaches to shaping the sock.

The green ones are fabulous...Used every bit of the yarn on these! Loved knitting them!!

So, for Feb, I have increased the pace to three pair of socks a month! Stress management, and a deterrent to eating chocolate! Not really the whole story though, as the purple ones which I hated the feel of the yarn while knitting had been started long ago....Just forced myself to finish them this month!

Dutch Girls!

Kid 1 and kid 4 went to France. Somehow they managed not to kill each other--good thing, as that could have gotten complicated with international borders involved. Next time I think each will take along a friend--to dilute the family-ness. Siblings have sibling issues, and in the confines of small European hotel rooms, that can become "interesting".

They brought me stuff. I got some French perfume--smells wonderful, and I am really enjoying it. Also go some chocolate crepes....Interesting, but not something I would want to eat everyday.

I am glad that they managed to share an adventure as adults---maybe there is hope that someday they will be friends like Gma B and her sisters! (or maybe more realistically, half as friends as "the sisters"--they were a tight group!

Oh, and the Dutch thing....Everywhere they went they hid their American-ness well. All thought they were Dutch. Am not sure if that is good for the American image, or perhaps damaging to the Dutch, but at least it gave us a good laugh---incognito in a foreign country without trying!!! Signey Bristo would be proud!

Obsessing

L. has been feeling "neglected". Only explanation I have for multiple phone calls about nothing. She has fears of identity theft. Think she is watching too much T.V. She doesn't have much of an identity to steal....it is pretty hard to impersonate a 95 year old unless you are a little old yourself!

Maybe I am just in my Feb. funk. I should be more patient. I should be more attentive. Sorry, I am doing the best I can. I think that is all that can be expected.

I will have to remember this. Hope I can still knit socks at 95----as long as they bring me nice yarn, I would be fine!!

green socks

These are delightful socks to knit. Love the Jawoll yarn. Using size "0" needles. Self-patterning yarn with a great hand. Comes with reinforcing yarn for heel and toe!

The Brotherhood of BOB

Once, a long time ago, my family and I discovered the "brotherhood of Bob"--mostly located on the Hawaiian Islands--downhill Bob, snorkel Bob, bicycle Bob's, etc.

This week, I visited another of the Brotherhood of Bob locations--the BOB--(Big Old Building)...A renovated big old building with restaurants and meeting rooms, bars, etc. I had dinner with a group of colleagues and friends. Before our hike back to our hotel in the cold, we of course, visited the ladies room.

As we exited, a cute young guy was beckoning us from the stairs--he wanted us to join his party...Had dinner for 50 and open bar...No one came....Conversations ensued--weird this boy, inviting these middle aged women to a "party"--someone asked if he was going to try to make us AMway distributors--he said no--his company was having this party for the "CD installers". We were a large group, figured we could take him, or at least manage to call 911, and had nothing better to do, so against all conventional wisdom, against all advice we had given our daughters over the years, we followed him up the stairs--6 of us--the rest thought it "too weird" and abandoned us.

At the top of the stairs was a party room, open bar, buffet and an assortment of people--with plenty of seats for our group to join them. We improved the gender balance in the room. The drinks were not made with cheap well booze...Turns out his business was not "CD's"--noisy bar and beer caused us to not hear him correctly. It was a legit company with a real product, and there were other "enticed" guests.

We chatted with "real people" who have real jobs from Texas, Illinois, Indiana, and some teachers from Michigan. We passed on dinner, but enjoyed the drinks. It was kind of fun, and the drinks were free!! Our host was charming, and delighted that all the stuff that he had to pay for was not going to waste (or in the busboy's tummy). We still cannot believe that we were "picked up" outside the ladies room, or that we took the chance. But it was fun to live life in the fast lane for the time it took to down couple of drinks! We owe you "CD" guy!! Of course, we did make you look better, if anyone was watching...Guess that is the beauty of the brotherhood of Bob--something for everyone!

Snow, Snow, Snow

Superbowls and snow seem to go together in Detroit! It is beautiful. It has been a beautiful winter--lots of the snow that turns everything into the "winter wonderland" of my youth--heavy, wet, sticking to the branches, making everything match the sky! Not bitter cold--so the stuff piles up. Lots of snow!!!

I love to watch it accumulate. I love to look at it. I enjoy how it sound (muffles everything) and smells (fresh, wintery smell). I like almost everything about it except driving in it--which I have to do today for work.

Who plans a conference for superbowl Sunday? Who plans a conference for February in Michigan? We are going to get major flack on this one I think....thank goodness I had nothing to do with it. I just have to drive to get there---drat!

Would rather sit and knit and watch the snow. It is not my idea of fun to watch the superbowl in a hotel lobby with a bunch of my coworkers and people that I either don't know or don't like. There are a few that might be fun.....but, I am taking my knitting just in case, so I can return to my room and my socks. My boss optimistically thinks this "reception" will be over by 8 p.m. Not likely I am thinking. At least it is a "jeans" event--less to pack and drag through the snow!

Would rather stay here and look at my winter wonderland!

What do you do with all those socks?

I have a friend, K., who just moved into one of those senior "independent living" apartments--which is where she needs to be. Because she has been on my mind since her husband died, I check on her once in awhile. In our phone chat the other day, the subject of my sock knitting came up....And she relayed the info about a mutual acquaintance who knits socks for charity out of yarn from K-mart.

I assured her that I was neither a K-mart shopper, nor a contributor of lovingly hand knit socks to the Salvation Army! I explained that I search for exquisite yarns from Italy, Germany, etc. in fun colors. She asks" What do you do with all those socks?"

K. is not a knitter---if she were she would know that I have lots more yarn than I have socks. I knit 2 pair of socks so far this year. I have three more pair in various states of completion. I cannot possibly knit more than about 30 pairs of socks in a year---and once gardening season starts, my sock production slows down.

The obvious answer, of course, is that I wear them! I wore the pink, burgandy, and tiny orange strips (Xmas yarn from E.) to the office the other day. They were so admired by my assistant, that we had to run out at noon and buy a ball of sock yarn so that she will have an amusement this weekend!

It is only those who do not knit socks who would not realize that sock knitting is cheaper than therapy, and the bonus is that you get some really nice socks too!

You are always on my mind....

It has been two years, almost to the week, that Sammie was overtaken by the cancer. I have never stopped missing her, but as the time went by, I stopped hearing the "tink" of her collar tag, expecting her to meet me at the door, or thinking about calling her to point out some minor spill on the floor for her to clean up.

In the last few days, she seems to be everywhere....First a story (and picture)shows up in E's blog---I had completely forgotten that she would refuse to go outside, no matter how much she was desperate to Pee, if S. did not first put on his jeans. The whitey tightys must have signaled some remote chance that he was not going to let her back in, or worse yet, would embarrass her should they get locked out there in the undies. (In her later years, she had her own key, so I doubt that was at the root of her adversion to undies in public!) She also seemed not to care in the least what I was wearing if I was the one to answer the call...

Then, in dusting (a somewhat rare event in my life) I felt compelled to linger over her little box in our bedroom, where her cremated remains sit. It is hard to hug a box--but when I picked it up to dust it, I could almost feel her Sammie fur, Sammie breath, and unique Sammie smell--fleeting, comforting, and disturbing. I still miss her.

Then, last night, we watched the Tom Sellek made for TV movie about the Police Chief in Paradise--episode 2, the pre-quil. In the movie Jessie puts his dog down due to the dogs renal failure. It was touching--not because of Jessie in the movie sitting with the dead dog, but because it reinforced how hard it is to loose a good friend. Those who have never experienced the unconditional love and wisdom of a great dog will not understand.

When we had Sammie put down, she was more than ready. She laid in the back seat, her head in my lap, all the way to the vets. She was calm and resigned--she knew it was time. Her body had been taken over by the enemy, and the enemy had won. She had fought the good fight, but it was over. I was the one who was not ready.
Just like in the Tom Sellek movie, the injection was almost instantaneous--she was calm, and did not move, just slipped away--I felt like someone was ripping out a piece of my heart.

She was a unique "pound puppy"...Shepard? Definitely some border collie, retriever? "mixed breed, large dog"--who turned out not to be all that tall, although she did have a propensity to be a little "plump" in the later years, and the large was mostly her feet. We "rescued" her from the animal shelter, with an estimated age of 3 months. She had "unique" fur, allergies, fears, and a big heart. She was smart, knew how to work the crowd, loved pizza, hated green vegetables, and was the "center" of our household. She was the constant as four teenagers came and when, she was always there, no matter who needed a friend or companion. She got older with them, then after they moved on, got older with us....Except that dogs get their first.

Some day we may get another dog, but it will never by like the Samster. It will be "our" dog--the dog of "the grandparents". Not the rough and tumble dog who raised four teenagers. Not a dog that belongs to 6 people and all their friends. Not a dog who waits up for kids returning from their kid jobs with "pig" on their boots from the meat packing plant, or hamburgers in a bag from their fast food jobs. There will never be another dog like Samster. This is not to say that another dog may not be just as good a friend, but that the circumstances will be different, so the dog will be different. Just like our houses are not longer their home, it will be "the parents dog", not the "family" dog.

So, if there is a dog heaven, I hope that she is happy. I have adjusted to her loss, have stopped automatically stepping over her favorite spots to rest, and know that I must sweep up the crumbs. I still think of her a lot, and am thankful for all that she taught me... About love, and life, and dying. She was a very good friend, even though she was not completely mine.

Man Socks

Child 2, being male, needed something more "masculine" than paint box or sparty, although I am sure he would have appreciated sparty too. I found this ringel last September, and bought it with my Birthday Discount Coupon from the little yarn shop in a near by town. Loved the yarn--so soft, and with such a nice hand. It was a joy to knit. Because the repeats all so far apart, I had to unroll quite a bit to get them to match at the start (a little obsessive, but I like it that way). That meant that I had to reconnect the yarn at the end as it was too short. Unfortunately, I got the wrong end when I wove them in--so the toes are different. A right and a left, as it were.
Must remember next time to mark the direction of the yarn.....Found some more of this lovely yarn in a green.....Can't wait to start!!

Art teacher socks

The choice for child 1 is profession driven. What better for an "art teacher" than bright crayon colors on a bright red background. Multicolor and fun! A little hard on the eyes because it is so bright, but perfect for the person. These are knit with Patons Kroy Sock yarn in "paint box" (approprite color name for her). The wool is not quite as soft as others--is mixed with nylon--probably why. Those polyamids(whatever they are) feel better, I think. These socks have reinforced toe and heel--this person is "hard" on clothes. They should wear well, however I suspect that she will save them for "special occassions". Hand knit socks (at least mine) are knit to be worn. If they wear out, I can fix them, or knit you a new pair.

Hopefully, they will become favorite socks. I should have given 1 some safety pins for the wash--she is famous for visits from the "sock fairy". We will have to talk about how to have both of these come out of the wash--or go into the same wash for that matter. 1 is right brained--next time I will knit her a "pair" of 4 socks, just because it will better fit her lifestyle!

Spartan Socks

For Christmas I decided to give each of the "children" (except for Florida Boy, as he would seem to have no need for wooly socks) a pair of my "lovingly" hand knit socks. For child 4, I chose MSU Spartan green and white, as she and friends have alumni football tickets--and wooly socks seemed like a great idea for tailgating--and displaying your loyal team colors. (As an aside, I am not sure it is at all about the football, as much as it is about the excuse to party and hang with one's college friends). These were the first "ringel" socks that I did, and I am quite pleased with the outcome. Child 4 was appropriately appreciative of the socks (unlike the appreciation for the aprons I lovingly created with my sewing machine, but that is fodder for another day's blog). The Regia sock yarn is thin, but nice. Was fun to knit. Hope it helps keep her footsies warm, and can't hurt the Spartans to show more spirit!

Working Socks

As you can see, I have spent lots of time snuggled under an afghan, knitting away. I like the yarn. Very soft, with a good "hand". I not sure I am crazy about the orange in combination with the pinks, but then, I am not a fan of orange. The pattern is easy to follow. Originally written in 1902--sort of fun to read about the history as I knit along.
Will be doing a Dutch heel-- will let you know how that goes! Anticipate that it will be turned by new years! One pair of socks into the first week of the new year! Who needs therapy when they have socks to knit! And now, I have more patterns to choose from! Haven't missed work one bit!

Comfort and Joy

The holiday has been fantastic, except for the dreaded virus that is hanging on and on and on. S. (who was also supposed to be off all this time) ended up having to work (long story) and fly to Tennessee, where he seems to have picked up a variation of the virus that I have been battling--so we are great fun here sniffling, coughing, and snoozing! S. is not working this week, but he is too sick to do anything worthwhile.

The gifts were wonderful, dinner good, and enjoyed the visits. Child 1 got me a new sock knitting book, and some yarn--appreciated by both Mr. Cat and myself. Dove right in Xmas day to start the "working socks" on two circular no. 1 needles. Will keep you up to date on our progress. Also got a new hair dryer (based on Child 3's last use of mine) and I must admit that it does dry things PDQ! S. came through with some bling--nice. S. got an I-pod from the kids. Haven't seen him since--he has been trying to figure it out! So far, he seems pleased with his progress.

Stay tuned. Plan fun knitting socks!

Disappointment at the mall

Today, in the holiday spirit, after visiting my specialist for my lingering viral illness--(two more weeks he says)--I met child 1 at the mega-mall. We wandered, lunched, chatted, mingled with the shoppers, and hit all the usual spots--and I saw nothing--ABSOLUTELY NOTHING--that I wanted, needed, or was remotely interested in buying for myself or anyone else.

I don't think it is related to the illness. The stores had lots of stock (except of course the one thing that child 1 was looking for) and there were lots of sales. It was just that I already have it, don't want it, have no need for it, or am not interested in it. Maybe it is the crass commercialism of the holiday--maybe it is that I have lived long enough to acquire anything that I need or really want---maybe I am not the "market" that is a target anymore. Regardless, it was a revelation.

We did an electronics store, then another mall--same result. Poked, looked, read, and browsed. Bought nothing. Desired nothing.

Don't depend on me to bolster your sagging sales oh merchants. You don't have anything that I want--at least not anything that I am willing to give up cash for. Maybe next season???????

Holiday "Cheer"

Auntie L lives in "assisted living"--a very good and necessary thing for her at 95. They had a Christmas Party to which each resident could invite 4 family members. Unfortunately for L. I am pretty much it, so I make the effort for her to be a family of "4". It is a Thursday night at 5:30, and it is pretty obvious to me that the people who run this place (with which I am extremely happy) figured out that fewer "family" will show to gobble up the goodies on a Thursday night, when most people in our geographic region are fighting rush hour traffic!(and are therefore not really available!)

There is a harpist (very nice touch) , so many decorated trees that I lost count, smiling staff in glitzy red, gold and/or silver holiday finery, a high school girls choir, appetizers, punch, a buffet, twinkling lights, yummy cookies, and to finish it all off, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The residents seemed to be enjoying all the commotion--as much as elderly residents enjoy anything.

We were seated near the harp--nice, with a "family of four"--another 95 year old lady who is amazing like my departed mother in law (both in look and attitude), her son, son's wife, and grandson who, at about 17, made it obvious that this is the last thing on earth that he wished to do. In assisted living, most people are hard of hearing, so in addition to the harp and the distant singing, there was a lot of conversational shouting. Except for the shouting, the entire event reminded me of the Christmas parties my dad always took me to at his Lodge when I was a kid...at least the punch wasn't bad.

Auntie L enjoyed the ham, and loved the fancy cookies. But the best part of the evening as our visit to Santa... We had to wait in line (just like we did when I was a little girl at the Hudson's downtown, holding her hand) and when it was her turn, she giggled,and really a got a kick out of Santa asking if she had been a good girl! She and Santa posed for a picture (again back to my youth at Hudson's) and we left with her candy cane, reindeer cup, and a tiny teddy bear---with me holding my Polaroid. It was a poignant reminder of the cycle of life. I will go again next year if I have the opportunity--because she enjoyed it, and there is so little joy left when you are 95!

I left the picture of L. and Santa next the picture of L. and Uncle M.on a cruise. Maybe my offering to him that I am taking good care of her... maybe because the picture did not capture the depth of the moment. I prefer to keep my mental picture of the giggles and joy---it doesn't really show in the picture, or much in the person anymore, but it is the Auntie L. that I remember from my youth.

Auntie L of the slippery pants!

I inherited my Aunt L. As the story goes, my grandmother had a difficult pregnancy with the youngest of the sisters...and my mother, who was 5 at the time, and the responsible type, was assigned the task of "taking care of L." by her father. This pattern continued for the rest of their lives. Even when my Aunt L. Married Uncle M. who "took care of her" to the tenth degree, my mother was always there--still taking care of whatever what left over. When Uncle M. died, there was a rapid return to the 5 year old T. and the 2 1/2 year old L. pattern that lasted until T could no longer take care of herself, let alone L.

So, that is how I inherited L. She is a sweetie, but don't cross her. She is also related to my mother and her sisters, who all had a "stubborn streak". L. is a wheel chair user--but she still makes up her mind about something, and just won't let it go.....which brings us to the slippery pants.

Polyester double knit is the fabric of choice--it is durable, stretchable, somewhat warm, easy to care for, and can be obtained in elastic waist pull up versions (easier) with pockets (essential), in petite sizes. L. has a bunch of them.

L. also has a wheelchair upholstered with a durable, cleanable, and somewhat slippery fabric. She had a "grippy" mat in the seat, but like so many things, I have no idea where she has placed that. Without the mat, she slides right out if she leans forward--like to fiddle with the Christmas tree lights. The tree is on a timer, and I had specifically asked her what time it should go off, but apparently she did not really mean what she said. The times and place of the slipping out tells me that she was trying to unplug or plug in the tree.

I kept getting the calls about L. falling out of her chair. I want to suggest seat belts to the staff...she won't give up the slippery pants! (or the futzing with the tree lights) I do ask them to tell her she cannot continue to fall out of the chair--or she will have to go to the dreaded nursing home again if she hurts herself---mean, but gets her attention.

When I dropped by yesterday, obviously the staff was tired of picking her up and having to call me, and she was plopped atop the fluffy bath mat (which they insisted that she have for safety, but she refuses to use as a bathmat), with its grippy side gripping the chair---probably more comfy anyway!

They haven't called today.

"Central Office"

Had to get salt for the water softener today...and regardless of ones personal or political stand, Wal Mart is the cheapest place to buy it. I am all about cheap, so if you have some big philosophical opinion about the ruination of the country by the Wal-mart folks, keep it to yourself....I am trying to fund my retirement, so need to keep all the pennies I can.

The salt comes in heavy 40 lb. bags. They used to be stacked up by the exit door, and the nice little man would heft them into my cart, leaving only a short distance to move the incredibly heavy cart to my car.

Some genius (according to the check out girl who did not look terribly taken advantage of by the evil empire) came into the store from corporate, and deemed that the water softener salt should be as far away as possible from the exit. This proves to me that 1) this person is a guy, probably young and 2) this person has city water.

In the good old days, when the salt was by the door, I would gleefully wander the Wal-mart filling my cart with abandon. I had lots of room for essentials and impulse purchases! After I checked out, the little man would stack them on the top of the cart, making it somewhat easier to shift them into my car.

Today, I had to put the things in to the cart--trying not to do serious harm to my back or create a hernia. Once the four bags were in the cart, there was no room for anything else, severely limiting the amount that I could spend on this trip to the wonderful world of Wal-mart. I had to push the very heavy cart all the way through the store--not a pleasant experience for a "mature" female. Then I still had several football fields to go to get to the car...where I had to actually lift the blinkin bags, instead of slide then into my SUV hatch.

So, corporate genius boy...I will hence forth be buying the softener salt at the next door home improvement store. It may cost a few cents more, but it is near the door! So, you young, male, city water drinking idiot, you have reduced the revenue, not increased it by your goofy marketing degree logic. Ask your mother... She will tell you that in your Wal-mart you do not want to clutter my cart up with large and heavy essentials if you wish to entice me to shop till I drop. If I was looking for a work out, I would go to the Y!