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!

While I wait for the water for my angel hair pasta to boil, some things I've been thinking about lately:

There are two types of people, those who LOVE "Grandma Got Runned Over By a Reindeer," and those who HATE it. I love it.

How many members of "flash mobs" tip off their family and friends that they are going to be participating in said "mob" and the location of the event? Do they make participants swear to keep it secret? Judging from the number of observers who "just happen" to be there....someone's talking.

I rarely buy stuff for Christmas at an actual store. I have been buying online since online sales accounted for less than 10% of total sales. Am I ahead of the rest of the world in things or am I just lazy?

The Patriots are on some kind of mission and the rest of the football world should be afraid, very, very afraid.

Ginger has saved me from puking so many times I've lost count.

I love whoever invented fingertip bandaids. Sure beats using two regular bandaids to do the job.

Listening to Howard Stern means more to me than I thought it did....when he was on the verge of not getting a new contract I was becoming more and more anxious. I'm going to have to figure out how to cope when this contract is up in five years.

I do not feel guilty about "wasting my time" watching all the Real Housewives....

Can't believe that I'm actually wearing black framed glasses. Last time I had black framed glasses, the Army issued them to me.

Speed kills. We all knew that the kids who were killed in that accident on Rte 201 died because their friend was speeding and they couldn't tell him to slow down. Sure am glad I miraculously had that ability when I was a teen. I used to scream "slow down" and threaten to exit the car if they didn't.

Sometimes Kelly does a good job cutting our hair, sometimes she's distracted and we are left with problems....

Cityville may be replacing Mafia Wars as my game of choice.

There is little in the world better than the feeling you get when you hear that little dog heave the sigh as he settles down to sleep.

I have no idea how I'm going to get "Grandma Got Runned Over by a Reindeer" out of my head before I go to bed tonight.

Later!

Got to work as the director for the Baton's Show on Monday. Guy and Gary couldn't make it. Guy usually does the directing and Gary handles the sound board, while I do the camera that picks up the close-ups.

Since both of them were gone, I had to run the camera controls and manage the sound board. It was fun and I remembered a lot of it from before. Piece of cake and a lot of fun.

I got a call from Ellen tonight, asking me to direct a show on next Monday for some ladies who talk about books or something...guess I'll find out what they are all about. Maybe if I help them, they might be willing to help me sometime if I'm having trouble getting someone.

Jen Gamble called the other day and said she'd be very happy to come on the show every three months or so like she used to and answer people's vet questions. It made me feel good to hear that she was very enthused about being on the show again. She said she really loved being on the show and missed doing it. So do I....it will be fun to be back on the air again. I still don't have the word from Ellen as to when I can announce the day and time of the show...she still has to get in touch with the guy who has the slot now (and doesn't use it).

I got my new glasses yesterday. I think they be lookin' tight...as they would say in the hood.... I do like them and got a few compliments on them today at work. Of course, my good friend Charmine looks at them and offers, "they're different!" HA HA! Yes, they are different. I like them.

Worked today doing the smoking cessation gig. Reminds me of how happy I am that I quit so long ago. All that money I saved....and maybe I kept myself from getting some serious illness. Oh, wait, I DID get a serious illness. Well, maybe I'd be dead now if I had kept smoking.

Heard good news today quickly followed by horrible news. First I hear that the Sox signed Carl Crawford (who I've always liked) and then I hear that Aretha has pancreatic cancer. UGH.

Then I get in the car and learn that my buddy Howard signed a five year contract to stay on Sirius AND they now have an iPhone app that would let me listen to him when I'm out of the car! For some reason I can't listen to him on the computer ever since I switched to Apple. Haven't figured that out yet, but it would be nice to listen on the iPhone, I could listen in the yard, etc.

Today he made me laugh so hard on the way home from work. It was something that as usual, was so wrong, but so funny. It was over him imitating Dick Clark after his stroke, broadcasting on New Year's Eve. Have you heard Dick since his stroke? You can barely understand what the hell he's saying. Anyway, Howard starts imitating him and then says, "if I ever had a stroke, you'd never hear from me again, I won't have you bastards imitating me and making fun of me." Then he proceeded to talk like he had a stroke and was doing his show....I almost wet myself.

Anyway, the Huskies won tonight, paving the way for Sandy and I to see them tie the record at MSG on the 19th....as if we ever had a doubt.

I work three days next week, including a special gig that I picked up today, Carol and I made up a scenario, utilizing my own medical history. That was fun and interesting. Then we go to New York for the game on Sunday...should be a fast week!

Later...