What a difference a day makes

Yesterday I was telling you about looking out to see doves fly into a tree.
This morning I can't see a thing.
That's because there's no sunlight yet.

We're early because GS has to go out to get another "hemo" shot.
On the plus side, this morning we don't have to be there until 9:00am.

Tomorrow is... wait, do I really have to tell you what tomorrow is?
It's the day to which every everyone procrastinates doing those things they are least happy about doing,
Yeah, I know.
They'll tell you it's so the can remember when.
That's a bunch of crap.
I can tell you the day I stopped smoking and the day I stopped drinking.
They weren't the same day and they weren't on New Years Day.
Nope... if anyone really wants to start over with a clean slate make a change, if they're serious, they can pick any day in the year.

maybe more later

Gee it's quiet (a Monday update)

It's back to just three of us again.

...from a high of eleven.

Someone's going to have to go to the grocery store, too.
It looks like we polished off any leftovers last night...

...well, there is a slice or two of pie [some pumpkin and lemon meringue, but no apple].

Now it's time to try to remember what the routine is.
I kinda hope the new year moves a little slower.
Make that a lot slower.

Wow!
I just watched two doves fly into a big pine tree over in the neighbor's yard.

If you enlarge the photo, you still won't be able to see the doves, but they're really there.

so's that stupid mockingbird

Say what!

If this continues, we're gonna be about 25 inches behind "normal" for rainfall.
The golfers are lovin' it.

Any other year

I might sit here and write a looking back post.
I think perhaps I have better things to do.
It's all here anyway.

I will say, however, it was all about optimism at this point last year.
Optimism will carry you a long, long way.
It is still about optimism.
It works real well when you don't spoil it with conjecture and expectation.


BTW - it's kinda fun to look back at those old posts... like the series from two years ago that started on the day after Christmas [for your convenience they are numbered and nothing like the series over here].

Just a picture today

It's from early Wednesday morning, after the old buzzard made his drop off and before any were distributed.

It's what happens when there are 11 people in the house with upwards of seven more expected during the holidays.

looks like a bivouac at night

Yeah, yeah... I don't usually do cat Friday here

But I didn't want to bust the chain over at the other place.

slightly amended from the original

You really need to see this to understand.

There's rock

A little music for Boxing Day.

 

The official beginning of Christmas starts here.

First YIR*

This may not be the first.
It may not even be the first I've seen.



But it obviously got your attention somehow.

I may post some more later.
Depends on what's happening around here.

*year in review

Monday update ...and more

So... last weekm on Monday, the oncologist ordered a hemoglobin shot for GS.
Finally, Thursday sometime, the hospital called with her appointment... for this morning at 7:30.
The Sun doesn't get out that early this time of year.
Anyway, I got up and did my thing.
Then I booted GS out of bed at 6am so she could get ready to leave by 7am.

We arrived at the hospital with time to spare.
It's a good thing, too.
When they called to tell us when the appointment was, they failed to tell us that we were to go to a different area from where we'd gone in the past.
Fortunately, it was on the same floor and in the same general area.
We got all checked in... it's a complicated process for some reason and HIPAA rules don't allow them to save anything but basic information from one visit to the next.
(I've heard an anecdote about how the HIPAA rules came about.
I am not one bit surprised that they have nothing to do with medicine.
I have also heard other anecdotes that relate some of the horrors these rules have caused.)
Once checked in a nurse came and got us so she could gather more information before ordering the medicine from the pharmacy.
Long story, short, is we spent two hours total.
On the plus side, we don't have to go as early in the morning next week (if that visit is even necessary).
But we do have to have lab work done Friday, then call the Dr's office on Monday to find out the results so we can call the hospital to cancel if the hemoglobin level  is where it is supposed to be.

The Clan arrives sometime tomorrow.
The dog is staying home this time.
GS grandson and family arrive, too.
That's eight additional folks in the house.

should be fun

I wanna play, too.

A couple of USAF retirees* jumped on the blogosphere this AM with results from a quiz.
I have to admit I am a sucker for such quizzes... particularly when maps are involved.

I didn't think fast enough to capture the second map.
It spread all across the country (Baltimore, Modesto, and Salt Lake City) .
In essence it was close to the two shown, with a lot of blue in the middle and kinda orange on each end.

I really have issues with the questions.
Some had quite specific answers, none of which really suited me.
Then there were some fairly general answers that weren't well suited, either.

Anyhow... I went back and took it a fourth time because I'm a glutton for punishment.
This is the result.

It figures.

*The Exile in Portales and the Old AF Sarge

PHG has found so many ways to keep herself busy.
I'm pretty certain almost every decoration* we have is displayed.

Then she started out in the kitchen.

when done it'll be 'Cranberry Bliss' bars

Oreo balls

these started out as candy canes

That's in addition to the Chex mix, spritz cookies, snickerdoodles, and peanut butter cookies.

A good friend sent us this centerpiece.

But you should see the one on her table...
...with elk horns, pheasant tail feathers, and
the greenery.

Then I owe it to you to show what some of the outdoor decorations look like in daylight.

the finished product is in yesterday's post

It's amazing what some tomato cages, the pruned fir branches, a mum, and some imagination can create.

the dormant pomegranate bush

that bush's never had so much color

Update:

Finished product:

Cranberry Bliss

Oreo Balls

they're no-bake, but there's melting involved  

Let there be lights

When the PHG and I were finally satisfied with the disposition of the tree,..

...it was time to go apeshit with the lights.
It's amazing what can be done with some tomato cages, a mum*, and some leftover branches from a fir tree.
I may get a picture of this in daylight.

Then there's this...

The pomegranate bush had to start earning its keep.
Maybe I'll go out and buy some more lights tomorrow?

no way!

*chrysanthemum (just to prove I can spell it ...an no I didn't look it up)

His weekly visit to WHTPFIHC

The beverage station in the family room

When PHG starts decorating she goes all in.
We've decorations where they've never been before... and more lights than ever, too.
No... I mean we're using more lights.
We've always had them... just never used them all in the same year.

In past years we've had taller trees and managed to get by with three strings of lights.
This year the tree is at least a foot shorter, but has six strings of lights.

Then there are all of the other pieces of Christmas decor we've accumulated over the years.

It really does look a lot like Christmas here.

what's next

Progress

The other day I reported the tree was vertically challenged.
That situation has been remedied

This may be the first year we are able to place all gifts under the tree.

Yesterday I reported there was a minor glitch with a phone jack after the installation and that they were coming out to check it out.
It took the technician about a minute to determine the issue and about 5 minutes to repair it.
We're all good now.

The satellite folks haven't given up yet.
The called while I was at the dentist.
Then they called again while I was stringing the outside Christmas lights.
I won't be here this morning if they call, either.
Misty* needs to go back to the shop for completion of repairs.
Some bushings are tearing and the cruise control needed a part.

always somethin'

*the Honda

Today's Quote of the Day

Suits me.
So I will let someone else (my good friend BP) say it for me.

Actually there is more.
The technical changeover went without a hitch had only one minor glitch.
The phone jack in my office/den isn't working.
It worked when the tech made the switch.
He or a coworker will return this morning to fix it.

The original ISP had no issues.
They'll continue to host my email and web content [for what it's worth] for a fee of less than 10% of what it cost me before.
It took a minute or less to complete the transaction.
They might even be happy I no longer use up bandwidth on their servers.

The phone company took a little longer.
But they were quite accommodating and informed me I will be receiving a refund of a couple of bucks.

The satellite tv service provider (there was never much service) was a tad balky.
The first thing was they said they could reduce my bill by $40 a month for the next ten months if I'd reconsider.
Then they asked why I was changing.
I told them about how I wasn't happy with their version of service.
Did I mention the connection was terrible.
It sounded like they were underwater and there was all kinds of interference... kinda like my tv reception was sometimes.
They didn't seem to care.
It took close to twenty minutes for them to explain that it could cost me up to $1200 bucks if I didn't do exactly as I was instructed.
Really?

So anyway, they're sending me some boxes to mail their old equipment back to them.
I am pretty sure I will be glad when we're clear of this outfit.

update:
An "account supervisor" from the satellite outfit called this morning.
I was busy fix GS's breakfast so we couldn't talk.

So much for having nothing to say.

the event continues

...and we're back

Mr Cable Company showed up early and finished his task in the allotted time.
There was very little inconvenience to us.
So far we are pleased.
Yours truly will be even more pleased when he can close access to the network.

always something

Nothin' (a followup)

Well, not exactly nothing...
...just nothing bad...
...or nothing's changed...
No weight gain!!!
We'll see the oncologist again in a month.
There'll be more tests in two months.

I noticed there were more pageviews over here yesterday.
More than what?
More than there were here.
What's with that?

I don't know what will happen in the next couple of hours.
Today's the big switch.
New ISP, New phone company. New TV feed.
I have some stuff to do so will be offline for a bit ...or longer.

Oh, and it's supposed to be in the 70s again today.

wish me luck

Oh my!

Quite a change from last week.

What ya might call a Monday Update*

Today we go GS goes for a visit to the oncologist.
She goes bearing gifts.
These are gifts she prepared herself ...with a little assistance from PHG, NT, and the All-Star [yours truly helped by getting out of the house].

There's a bit of a chill in the air.
Maybe, by the time we're ready to leave the house, it will warm up some.

The predicted high Hi looks pretty good to me (Weather Underground says 71, so does the NWS).

Of course the main issue is what the doctor has to say.
You can't go online for that.

Oh, yeah, the gifts?
Remember how I mentioned that they were brewing pomegranate vinegar?
Well, it's been bottled into the cruets.
Labels have been prepared.
Now it is already for however the recipient is prepared to use it.
We like it on spinach salad, prepared with crumbled bleu cheese and pecans or walnuts.
It can be served as a stand alone dressing or with olive oil,.. preferably extra virgin.

If there's anything further to report, I will tell you later.

like tomorrow

*because today's Monday

Oops!

This year we were sure we found the perfect tree.

All three of us agreed.
Then when it was set up in the corner, we realized it came up just a little short.

We shall do our best to remedy that.

6 feet isn't what it used to be

The evening sky

It looks like I was taking a picture of the decorated tree in downtown Anderson.
But look past that at what the setting Sun has done to the clouds.

Here's a picture of the tree.

These were taken only a few moments apart.
The "official" tree is on the other side of town in a shopping center parking lot.

Normal Friday

Once again the Elf on a Shelf has moved over here from TBOT* to make room for a regular weekly feature.
Of course anything that happens here is what you might expect.
Which is anything.
There was some debate about what would be posted here today.
Some of you may have already seen an earlier effort.
Somewhere along the line I felt it was my duty to remind folks about Friday the thirteenth no matter what day of the week it falls on.
It goes back to the days when I followed the adventures of Pogo Possum as related by Walt Kelly.
There is no superstition involved

But this is about the Elf...

Then suddenly it isn't.

It has become about the picture.
My son and two daughters with their great grandmother about 35 years ago.
It's funny what can stir memories.

We had a power outage yesterday the totally screwed up the schedule.
Everywhere in Anderson was without power for about three and half hours yesterday afternoon.
A squirrel decided to commit suicide at one of the major substations in the area.
Something like 3800 homes and businesses were without electricity.  
I was at the grocery store and had to reschedule for today.
That will be interesting because the car is scheduled for service and some minor repairs at the dealer in Redding.
I have no idea how long that will take.
PHG will be taking GS to the lab.

life's funny

Hey kids ...what day is it?

one o' them days

yep!

It must be time for another Monday update

I can't remember when I actually posted the last one.
...or what I said.
I'm sure there is nothing new to report since that post.
It's still important that I keep everyone up to date and let you know not much has changed.
The daily routine is a little less hectic because we don't have to leave the house nearly as often.
Now that GS is on oral medications only, she doesn't have to visit the oncologist every week.
Even better, she doesn't have to have lab work every week.
That is the most noticeable change around here.

Her attitude is, as it has been since even before the aneurysm surgery, most positive.
PHG and I tease her a lot, even dubbing her The Queen, because we pretty much wait upon her.
We really don't mind because few, if any demands are made.
GS does as much for herself as she is able.
We'd be delighted to see some weight gain.
But we will settle for the fact that she seems to have more stamina than before.

Next Monday GS will see the oncologist again.
So that means tomorrow is a trip to the lab.
GS and PHG will be busy bottling the pomegranate vinegar as gifts for those folks.
Not that PHG hasn't been busy anyway.
It turned out she's quite the baker, so the kitchen has wondrous aromas emanating on regular basis.
She's also producing many handmade gifts this year.

We got our tree just before the cold snap started.
It is still outside, standing is a tub of water so it won't dry out.
All of the decorations for the tree are in place, waiting to be placed upon it.
The indoor non-tree decor is already in place.
The outdoor decor is, so far, limited to a wreath on the front door.
As soon as I acquire a new ladder the rest of the outdoor stuff will go up.
That may be as soon as today.

All in all the spirit of the season has filled the house this year.
It is probably more apparent than ever before.
Then again maybe it's just me?

attitude adjustment

Christmas memories

I can go all the way back to last year.
But even that is a tad weak.
The Chubby Chatterbox says it well, "At the very lease this is one Chrismas you'll never forget."[I copied that verbatim from a comment he made a year ago] 

What stands out most from Christmas Day a year ago is the visit by the cardiac surgeon, Doc "C".
He was dressed casual, rather than in the usual scrubs, and he'd brought his son along.
The boy is, maybe, five years old now.
There the kid was standing next to his dad, shyly taking in everything around him, and holding a surgical glove filled with air on the end of a string.

Thanks to any number of other bloggers for the inspiration.
I went back and looked at a number of posts from last year.
The situation was serious, but not so serious we couldn't find some light moments.
Much as I like page views, I won't burden you with links to those posts from last December.
It's Christmastime and you all have better things to do.

read 'em in January

 

Odds 'n ends

First off I have to address the death life of Nelson Mandela.

stolen from the House of Lime

He was a man to had every right to be bitter and vindictive about the way he'd been treated.
But he came to understand that it would do nobody any good if he acted in such a manner.
He also came to understand that he would be much happier if he did so.
That's a lesson we all could learn.
[if the above seems a bit understated, that's my intention]

Last Friday's snow still remains in a number of places around the neighborhood.
That's because the snow was followed by, what for us, is extremely cold weather.
We've had Sunshine that has brought no warmth.

Tonight the Lions will be visited by the District Governor.
We have joined with another club and will hold a mini feast.
Maybe there will be pictures.
Then again, maybe we'll be too busy.

I started a series here on December 1.
It continues over here.
I was thinking, at the time, there would be a chance for some clever posts.
Instead, there are daily posts.

I haven't mentioned my consternation with certain entities who provide services to our home.
Let's just say they might be the phone company; or the satellite service; or it could even be my ISP.
Aw... let's cut the crap.
The local TV station owner and the Satellite provider have gotten into a pissing contest.
They've been making threats for a couple of weeks.
Last Saturday night the signal disappeared from three stations.
What that means is there was no broadcast of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers.
It matters not who, of the two parties involved, cut the signal.
They're both wrong Neither one of them is right.
The parties who suffer [if you can call it that] are the viewers, who could care less about anything but seeing the game [or whatever other programming they watch].

Yeah, you could I find my phone company wanting, as well.
The DSl line is slow and I found out that there are some things we've been paying for that we didn't have to purchase.
Their employees are all really nice and helpful.
It's the corporate end that's got me irked.

If you've been following this for any length of time, you know what issues we had recently with the ISP.

Anyhow, we're gonna try something a little different starting next week.
Know how things work [or don't in many instances] we may be offline for a day or so while kinks get worked out.

Today also marks an anniversary of sorts.
GS had her successful surgery for the aneurysm.
The post I wrote one year ago tomorrow is the one with the most page views on this blog.
What is so amazing about the whole thing is how, even when there are no expectations, life surprises us.

We are blessed to have so many friends and to have received so many good thoughts and prayers.

Thank you!

take nothing for granted