Long time no see....

Last I wrote I believe we were in snow up to our knees. The only thing that's changed since then is that the snow is now up to our waist....thanks to last night's droppings. We must have gotten a good foot of new snow yesterday and thru the night. Fortunately, it turned out to be the light, fluffy stuff, not the wet, heavy stuff they predicted originally.

Sandy does such a good job running the snowblower and shoveling the areas that need to be shoveled. I helped out by sweeping the deck frequently yesterday as it was snowing, to keep it from piling up too high. I also was responsible for poking the awnings with a broom, to reduce the build-up of the white stuff.

We are going to have to get new awnings this year. We have decided to go with aluminum like we had at the old house. They hold up to snow better than the canvas ones. They cost about the same as the canvas ones too. We'll buy them and Sandy and Ryan will install them, under Frank's supervision. That's the plan.

Got my car in for service on Tuesday and ordered the new key, to replace the one I lost. It's going to cost about $400 to get it and program it. Fortunately, our Family Care plan should cover it....at least that's what it says on the brochure we got. They found our copy of the care plan info in the folder they have on us at the dealership...we never got it. Sandy has to call Friday to start the claim, since she put her name on my car and B comes before M...so her name is the name of record on the plan, not mine. I don't like this, her name being all over my car...even at the dealership they call "Brouwer" when the car is ready....so I am making her do the calling for the mistake I made (losing the key)...I figure it's only fair....

Talking to Charmine about Social Security the other day and I decided I will start collecting it when I hit 62, which is this year, goddammit. I figure the money I get will go a long way's towards a nice payment on a motor home. Now we can afford to get that Winnebago we fell in love with. Sandy is happily researching everything online, knowing that the money will be there soon. First time in awhile that I can't wait to be older!

Here's the link to the one we are looking at: http://www.winnebagoind.com/products/winnebago/2010/vista/

We like the way they are made...from the handles you grab onto as you enter the coach to the lay-out, the safety features (like side view cameras) and the self-leveling feature. I love the cabinet and color choices.

Can't wait!

I work tomorrow, snow is coming again tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday we have plans to spend time at Charmine and Pat's with Deanna and Lorraine. It seems like forever since we've all been together! Can't wait for that either.

Okay, I've done my little chores, now we all nap in the recliner, with the ambient music on the laptop....and then it's time to get to work again.

Later!

So remiss about writing here. And it's not because I've been engaged in so many honest pursuits. Not that I have been engaged in dishonest pursuits either...I've been "pacing" myself.

Monday was the holiday and I got to enjoy a great win by the Huskies, who blew North Carolina off their own court. The only tension in the game was around Chris Daley's outfit, which was bizarre to say the least. The Huskies, on the other hand, looked like high fashion out there...their best game of the year I think.

I'm tripping on this Gnome movie...the ad for it is on now. Did you know that there are a lot of people in the world who have a phobia about gnomes? I think it's a mistake to make a movie about them. Bad karma.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to take Bob to DMV to turn his license in, get a new ID card made and get an application for a handicapped parking sticker. Also, take him to lunch and then get his paperwork to the town assessor in Putnam, to get his car taken off the tax rolls.

I've canceled the tv show for tomorrow night. I don't think I can handle running all over Eastern CT all day and then worry about the show. I think Ellen will be all right about it. I have lined up Sue Ponder to join me for the first show in February. We are going to talk about the "Sunny Fund" which is a pool of money for the Norwich ACO to use to help get animals vet treatment or spaying/neutering and grooming to prep for adoption. It's a good cause and I want to do whatever I can to support it.

My strange addiction...I need one. I need to figure out something weird to get addicted to, so I can be on that show. I used to want to be on Survivor, but what with the hernia and the problems I have with the diet....that's a no go now...Sandy and I have talked about being on the Greatest Race or whatever the hell it's called, but I can't see her being willing to leave the dogs for that long. So...I guess what's left is Strange Addiction. I see them eating toilet paper, Comet, now there's a woman who eats couch cushions! AWESOME! I'll take suggestions from anywhere...so send them along.

I think I could provide compelling television moments. Oh wait...there's always WNTW...Stacy and Clinton...I could give them a run for their money...for awhile, until I succumb to their wisdom. I'd love to have the Ted and Carmindy treatment too!

Oh, Sandy walked around the handbag section of Kohl's for 45 minutes tonight, trying to choose a purse. She did all right in the end, picking a cranberry one...finally...something other than black! Look how far she has come....all thanks to WNTW....we are addicted to that show. THERE WE HAVE IT...I could combine both shows....I could be addicted to watching WNTW!!!

Today I took down the glass globes for the ceiling lights...to clean them. The living room one was full of bugs...weird things. I have no idea how they get in there....there is no opening for them to get in there. One of life's mysteries I guess. Maybe one of the seven mysteries....

Anyway, when I was reattaching one of the ceiling lights in the hallway, I felt a little "pop" in my abdomen, followed by a pain there. I'm hoping it was just the mesh moving a bit. It was in the area of the original hernia, so I'm a bit nervous. I got my abdominal brace out and wrapped around me again and I skipped my plans to vacuum. Figured that would be too much for me.

Hopefully this will pass and I won't have any lingering effects. This mesh thing is so weird, it takes some getting used to.

Okay...enough. Time to get my ass upstairs and into bed. It's nice and cold up there, the windows open, the fan on. Sandy turns my mattress warmer on to 40% when she goes to bed...for Rocky's benefit. He loves it. I have to get him to move over when I get in bed. Most nights he will sidle over a bit...but some nights I have to slide him a bit and sometimes he isn't the nicest about it. He has become a Jack Russell...he now growls just like the rest of them.

It's nice and cozy up there and it is calling to me. Long day tomorrow.

Nighty night!

Bullet points:

• Damn, NY Times has article on "Top 10 places to visit in 2011" and ICELAND is one of them....now the rates are going to go up. I had hoped to sneak over there with Sandy sometime during the year.
• I went out x-country skiing in the back yard. Fell down immediately and struggled to get up...that, apparently, was all I needed to do to cause the low-grade bursitis in my left shoulder to REALLY flare-up. The pain woke me up...something that never happens...and I had to break down and take ibuprofen (bad for my stomach) to get it down to a dull roar. You never know how much you need your shoulder until....
• Both Husky teams won nail-biters on Saturday. I was supposed to have the whole gang here for the women's game. In the end, the only one who showed up was Leon, bearing garlic knots from Illiano's. He left half of them for me and went home to watch game.
• I am concerned about Tiffany Hayes, who plays for the Huskies. She seems to be out of control and unable to settle down. We need her in the worst way. I'll try not to worry too much, that's Geno's job and I have every faith in him.
• Busy day today. To Lazizah for lunch, to the studio for the Baton's show at 1pm and then up to join the gym. Later I have SNEAK Board of Director's meeting at the 99 in Groton. The club will be paying for our dinner.
• Garlic knots are addicting.
• I thought there was something wrong with my new skis. I couldn't get my left foot to lock-in to the ski for more than a few seconds. I even called LL Bean to see if I could exchange the ski at the store in South Windsor. While the woman had me on hold as she was making the arrangements with the store, I rinsed the snow out of the binding and tried the boot again. Of course, that was what the problem was. Turns out you can't get snow in the binding or it won't work. Who knew?
• The people at LL Bean's are wonderful. They are chatty, knowledgeable and very helpful. I love calling them!
• When the Pats make it into the Super Bowl I will announce, Super Bowl Party at our house! I'm sure Sandy will put the kibosh on that!
• I was so happy Green Bay won....I don't want to see Michael Vick in the Super Bowl. I'm sure there are millions of people out there that feel the same....
• So ecstatic that I now have Sirius-XM on my iPhone. I can listen to Howard wherever I am. I even get up early now to put the show on! YAY!

I'm done.

Later!

• 
  

While Waiting for Husky game

We were supposed to have "Camp Husky" in Connecticut this weekend, instead of in Maine. Somehow that just wasn't as much fun as going away to Maine...so for one reason or another, it all fizzled out.

It's fine. I'm enjoying sitting here in the recliner, not having to entertain anyone but the doggies and am now waiting for Sandy to get home from her ACLS test. Then we will watch the Huskies take on Notre Dame, which should be a good test for the young team.

More on my Dad today. I called Wini, which I am trying to do more frequently. He had a "spell" on Thursday when they got back from grocery shopping. He felt weak and had to sit down in the recliner. She took his blood pressure and it was up to 180...which is strange for him as he has ALWAYS had low blood pressure. She called the doctor who immediately took him off the meds he was taking to get his BP up. He is doing much better.

I'm going to go up to Putnam Wednesday to get Bob and bring him to Norwich to turn in his license and get a new ID card. Apparently they can't make the ID cards in the Putnam DMV! I don't understand why they can't do it there, they make licenses!

So, Bob and I will spend the day Wednesday and Wini can take a break. She needs to do that. It's in all of our best interest that she feels rested and relaxed. I told her to plan a "girl's day" to go shopping and I would come and stay with Bob or take him out. He doesn't like to be left home alone now. She promised she would make arrangements and let me know.

Oh...Leon just showed up to watch the game with me! HA HA!!! The one person we "knew" wouldn't show up! Wait until Jack hears this. He brought a box of garlic knots from Illiano's....I took six of them and he took the rest....home. He isn't staying to watch the game, he's going home to his dogs.

I'm having one of those garlic knots...delish! I can't have too many of them though...I weighed myself this morning and YUCK!

Now I'm back to documenting every thing I eat and Monday I'm going to join World Gym in the Norwich Business Park. I met a guy at Lazizah the other day who is a member and he convinced me to join. I almost have to, after I spilled chili all over his shirt sleeve! They filled the bowl to the brim and beyond...that's my excuse.

Okay, Jersey Shore is on, and then the game.

GO HUSKIES!! GO SNOOKIE!!

heh heh

The New Year

It's the NEW YEAR! Ho-hum....jaded. I've seen so many of them in my lifetime.

We did have fun New Year's Eve, joining the "Js" at their house, along with Brandon. We played "Cranium" as usual and laughed a lot. Good eats too.

But before the New Year's Eve festivities, we did have to endure watching our beloved Huskies getting their asses handed to them by the Stanford Cardinal....just as I feared. Actually, I thought the game would be closer, but I did think the Huskies would lose.

The streak is broken at 90, a nice even number to remember. I don't think any team will beat that streak....at least not in my lifetime. Wait, maybe that's not saying much....HA HA!

Went to Putnam a few times last week, to settle some of Bob's affairs for him. I turned in his license plates so we don't have to worry about that any more. He signed the car over to Phil and I wrote up a letter for him to sign, authorizing Lindsay to get the LJ 78 vanity plate that has been on the family cars since...well...1978!!!

Now I just have to contact the Putnam Town Assessor to get the car off the tax rolls, although the car is 10 years old...how much can the taxes be on it? Wini was most interested in dropping the insurance on the car. I hope they had only been paying liability, not collision on it.

Bob asked me to be his conservator or whatever it is, some time ago, so I feel responsible for getting these things done, and I don't mind it. I don't think my siblings understand how much he is debilitated by his memory loss, he is so good at covering it up.

He and I had a talk over the kitchen table the other day and he told me that he isn't afraid to die. I told him I felt the same. We talked about how much he has accomplished in his life. I told him that what he is experiencing with his memory is normal and he should try to not get upset about it...go with the flow.

He said that he believes that people like him...that he likes people and has always felt that way. He has tried to do things in a "nice way" so that people would like him. This is very important to him. I reassured him that people loved him and that he had done the right thing. He got a little misty eyed.

He also told me that he will probably go to live at Westview later. This doesn't bother him, he thinks the people are nice and the management of the place knows how to run a good place. He sees the residents sitting out on the patio and "they are not fighting or yelling at each other, they are talking to each other."

He is preparing himself. Smart. He is a remarkable man.

I have tried to pattern myself after him, with limited success. I'm not as patient as he is; I have the sharp, acid tongue of my mother, but I have tried to be honest as both of my parents, hard-working like they and do good for the community like my father.

So today we watch the Pats play the Dolphins and we hope that none of them gets injured. I don't like it that the starters are playing. I think Brady should ride the pine today.

Oh, resolutions?? I don't do them. I do goals though....and my goal has first and foremost been to get back in the gym. I am cleared to do so now, so I'll go check out the two choices and make my decision.

I also have a goal of cooking more homemade meals, especially crockpot cooking. Tomorrow's grocery list will reflect chili and soup recipes, to start.

Later!

Oh, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The hectic scene is over, for a few hours anyway. Tonight it begins again, with a trip to North Grosvenordale to Phil and Renees for Christmas Eve, tomorrow we have Christmas with Frank and Jean at our house and then we go to their house Sunday AM, for Christmas with Taylor, Ryan and Andrew.

I got all my gifts wrapped yesterday and good thing, I didn't realize Sandy was off today! It would have been awkward wrapping her gifts while she was home.

That's good news...and more good news I got yesterday was a note from the Retirement Commission telling me that they finished the audit of my pay records and they owe me money! Not a whole lot, but I get a nice little lump sum payment. Most of it will go to taxes, but still....a nice gift anyway!

I didn't get cards sent off to the masses this year....I cheated and sent cards to those who had already sent cards to us....only to get more cards from folks AFTER I sent cards out....now it's too late for them to get cards before Christmas. Oh well, you know what? I'm not stressing over it.

Thanks to Lexapro.....heh heh...

I have been so tired lately...well, maybe I should say...still. I wake up at 5:30 when Sandy's alarm goes off, fall back to sleep, wake up when Sandy comes up to shower, fall back to sleep, wake up when Sandy goes off to work, fall back to sleep, wake up when Truman whines to go out, get him back in bed, fall back to sleep and then get up when the dogs get restless...usually around 9:30.

I putz around the house and on the computer, read the paper, eat my breakfast and putz around doing chores...have my lunch and then the pups want me to sit in the recliner so they can get on my lap and take a nap. I usually give in to them around 2:30 and then I end up napping myself for about an hour.

Maybe I'm still catching up on all the sleep I missed this year while I was up at night, sitting on the potty. Thank goodness that shit has ceased, pardon the pun.

I filled Sandy's stocking yesterday and ironically it was Truman, who's vision is decreasing, who spotted the items bulging out the sides. He started whining about it last night. He's convinced that either the items are for him, or that his stocking has stuff in it too. That little crud...he is so smart. He remembers that the stockings have goodies in them. Sandy put their toys in the guest room and we have a gate at the door, to keep them from going in there. I'm surprised he hasn't figured that out and isn't up there whining and barking at the door!

Maybe I'm sorry we got this new tv with surround sound. I always wanted a surround sound system. I knew Sandy would love it for her movies. Well, right now I'm being deafened by the sounds coming out of "Prince of Persia," which she is watching while she has her tea and snuggles with her dogs. All except Bubbles, of course, who can't stand the sound, like me!

Oh well...time to go harvest some crops and build a school in my new addiction, Cityville!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry about that, been busy. Haven't gotten over here in awhile.

Sandy and I had that stomach stuff going for awhile. I missed the Ladies holiday party at Lynnes, but was able to go to work when I was supposed to. No work now until January and then I have a lot of days to do.

We went to NYC on Sunday with Charmine and Pat. We met at the train station in New Haven (accent on the New as my Army recruiter used to say) and headed to Grand Central Station. We ate downstairs there, at Two Boots, an Italian/Louisiana influenced restaurant. I had a calzone...actually we ALL had calzones.

Then we strolled along the streets, popping into here and there, en route to Madison Square Garden. We went through Macys, first time I've ever been there. It was a madhouse...and VERY HOT! We checked out handbags and jewelry. Of course the stuff I liked was very expensive. I saw some things Jill Zarin would buy.

We made it to the game when the first game was just wrapping up. Had time to potty, pay $5 for a lousy bottle of water (and they take the cap off the bottle) and check out our seatmates before the Huskies came out for warm-ups. Oh, the water bottle doesn't fit into the cup holder on the seat, so you have to hold it or put it on the floor, risking spilling it. I told Sandy everyone should spill water on the floor, just to make a point.

We had great seats.....for which I spent only $45 a ticket.....I heard that those seats were going for $240 last week. Good thing I bought them from the Garden and bought them early. We were in the second row, with only one small VIP section between us and the UConn bench. The seats were fantastic! I was able to get good shots of Geno and the team with my iPhone.

The game was fast paced, the Huskies basically swarmed all over OSU and ran them off the floor. Tiffany Hayes was spectacular and the freshman Stephanie Dolson had the game of her short career. We have a center now!

Afterwards we took a cab to the Cowgirl Restaurant in the Village. Oh, we also stood in line with Barb Smith, the head referee for the Husky game...she asked if she could get a cab ahead of us as she had a plane to catch. We said sure and chatted with her while we waited for the cab.

At the restaurant we waited for Charmine's son and daughter-in-law and grandson to join us. As we sat at a table at the front Charmine told us about seeing Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Carla Berube and others at the game. They were sitting near them. She said Sue swigged down three beers during the game, purchased by her pals. Well, who comes strolling into the restaurant? Sue Bird and her gal pals! Interesting that Sue shows up at the same lesbian restaurant that we are at...I'm just sayin'....

Charmine's son and daughter in law brought along a friend, Shalonda, who was traveling in the East and came to see them. We had a pleasant time chatting with her, Jarod and Anna and playing with Charmine's grandson. Such a cutie he is!

I got a little ill from the heat and the food (not that it was bad, but it was heavy) I couldn't eat much. When I got out in the fresh air I felt much better.

We took a cab to Rockefeller Center (note to self: next time plan to go up to "Top of the Rock" to see the view) and enjoyed seeing the Christmas tree and the skaters. It was sooooo crowded there though, we could barely move.

We walked back to Grand Central, got drinks and snacks and then caught the 9:00 train back.

We got home after midnight.

The next day I got all dressed up for the Baton's Special Christmas Singalong show, got the dogs in their kennels and went out to my car, only to realize my key was missing. It turns out I lost it somewhere in NYC. I'm not stressing about it...no sense in it. I'll use Sandy's copy of my key and hope the other once turns up. I think if the person who finds it drops it in a mailbox, Toyota will get it and will send it to me.

Then today I put my new contacts in for the first time. I go to the store to buy sun glasses....get them and get out to the car....I had dropped my reading glasses somewhere. So I had to go buy new reading glasses.

Oh well, there's always sumthin'

GO HUSKIES!!! Jo-Ann Moylan is coming tonight for supper and to watch the Huskies whup up on FSU. Got to go get the dogs fed so I can make supper.

LATER!