Saturday, January 21, 2006
A hectic pace today...
Oh Yeah......it sure was!!! Up and going without the usual leisurely Fr. Roast coffee.....it was downed in a hurry this morning. Took longer than planned to get away.....can't quite put my finger on exactly why, but it was after 10 when we drove out of town and headed north to the city.
Only had an hour to look for some new furniture/appliances before we had to pick up Rachel and all of us then went on out to the Moser Estate for the BIG birthday bash for Meghan. Every child in her Kindergarten class was invited, however probably only about half actually came to the party. BUT......that was quite a few 5 and 6 year olds racing thru the house at the beginning of the two hour celebration.
Dr. Jeni had hired a professional magician to entertain the kids at the party......and what a fabulous job he did. He seems to be well known over the entire state, having entertained at the Governor's Mansion for the Gov. and guests, as well as over in Kansas City and throughout the state. And...quite frankly....he was really good and very enjoyable. He oftentimes does his tricks at adult parties......and I can well imagine some of the props he must use.....hahaha!!! The kids were really good during the 1.5 hours he worked with them, using some of them for his "assistants" on certain tricks. He even pulled out two live doves from a balloon....which of course the kids' mouths dropped open when they saw this! Then he let each kid pet the birds and Meghan got to let one of them sit on her hand/arm.
Soooo, by the time this bash was over, the large house was a mess of paper, ribbon, and paper plates and cups and napkins. A quick cleanup was in order and then we just spent the rest of the evening reviewing the pics I took and letting Rachel and Meghan play with all of the new toys and games.
Tomorrow, the 1st Lady and I will return to the city and some more looking and planning for the house. A trying time.......certainly it is FAR from relaxing and enjoying just shopping!!!!! But, we can do that this coming weekend when we go up to Chicago for two days.
Sooooo, with frost settling down on everything ( I just brought in the overnight bag from the car), I will close this little post, and as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also!!!
Only had an hour to look for some new furniture/appliances before we had to pick up Rachel and all of us then went on out to the Moser Estate for the BIG birthday bash for Meghan. Every child in her Kindergarten class was invited, however probably only about half actually came to the party. BUT......that was quite a few 5 and 6 year olds racing thru the house at the beginning of the two hour celebration.
Dr. Jeni had hired a professional magician to entertain the kids at the party......and what a fabulous job he did. He seems to be well known over the entire state, having entertained at the Governor's Mansion for the Gov. and guests, as well as over in Kansas City and throughout the state. And...quite frankly....he was really good and very enjoyable. He oftentimes does his tricks at adult parties......and I can well imagine some of the props he must use.....hahaha!!! The kids were really good during the 1.5 hours he worked with them, using some of them for his "assistants" on certain tricks. He even pulled out two live doves from a balloon....which of course the kids' mouths dropped open when they saw this! Then he let each kid pet the birds and Meghan got to let one of them sit on her hand/arm.
Soooo, by the time this bash was over, the large house was a mess of paper, ribbon, and paper plates and cups and napkins. A quick cleanup was in order and then we just spent the rest of the evening reviewing the pics I took and letting Rachel and Meghan play with all of the new toys and games.
Tomorrow, the 1st Lady and I will return to the city and some more looking and planning for the house. A trying time.......certainly it is FAR from relaxing and enjoying just shopping!!!!! But, we can do that this coming weekend when we go up to Chicago for two days.
Sooooo, with frost settling down on everything ( I just brought in the overnight bag from the car), I will close this little post, and as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also!!!
Friday, January 20, 2006
Confused....I am....after looking Lowes
OMG......I spent several hours today in two different stores looking at kitchen cabinets, lighting, bathroom showers and vanities, carpeting, etc., etc., etc., etc. And now I am even more confused about just EXACTLY what I/we want to use in our remodeling process. The 1st Lady and I went back this evening after visiting Michael.....and did we agree??? Hmmmm....what do you REALLY think??? This entire process could be the end of a 34 year marriage....hahaa. She said tonight that there is NO WAY we could ever build an entire new house.....that four rooms plus were going to be more than enough problems!
Due to some circumstances we do have a bit of a reprieve.....the entire project will not begin for 2-3 more weeks!!! Soooo.....what does that mean??? MORE TIME to disagree......hahaha. So, tomorrow we head to STL in the morning ....for what, you say?? Well, to look at more available choices......so we have more to choose from......hehehe. Then to Meghan's 6th year BD party out at Dr. Jeni's and Darrel's on the Moser Estate. How in the hell did they build a HUGE new house last year and survive????? We will probably overnight with them and then spend Sunday .......looking.
Returning to Fredericktown this evening......a horrendous rain with horrible winds. Couldn't see two feet in front of the headlights.....it was terrible. But, it only last about 10 minutes......halfway home and the rest of the way was dry as a bone. Colder weather is arriving...again. This was a longer ride UP on the weather roller coaster....almost two days of warm weather before the big plunge tonight.
Just watched the tivo'd recording of "The Book of Daniel". What a show.....what a story.....what writers to have soooooo much happening and going on with each character and the intertwining of the character's stories. It is sooooo much like a real family with friends........many problems that spill over into everyone else's lives.
Soooo, the bewitching hour is approaching, and my aging hulk is sagging rapidly. Not sure I could even become a pumpkin at midnight......unless it would be squashed pumpking! Sooooo.....as usual,
Life IS Great......and I hope for all of you, also!!
Due to some circumstances we do have a bit of a reprieve.....the entire project will not begin for 2-3 more weeks!!! Soooo.....what does that mean??? MORE TIME to disagree......hahaha. So, tomorrow we head to STL in the morning ....for what, you say?? Well, to look at more available choices......so we have more to choose from......hehehe. Then to Meghan's 6th year BD party out at Dr. Jeni's and Darrel's on the Moser Estate. How in the hell did they build a HUGE new house last year and survive????? We will probably overnight with them and then spend Sunday .......looking.
Returning to Fredericktown this evening......a horrendous rain with horrible winds. Couldn't see two feet in front of the headlights.....it was terrible. But, it only last about 10 minutes......halfway home and the rest of the way was dry as a bone. Colder weather is arriving...again. This was a longer ride UP on the weather roller coaster....almost two days of warm weather before the big plunge tonight.
Just watched the tivo'd recording of "The Book of Daniel". What a show.....what a story.....what writers to have soooooo much happening and going on with each character and the intertwining of the character's stories. It is sooooo much like a real family with friends........many problems that spill over into everyone else's lives.
Soooo, the bewitching hour is approaching, and my aging hulk is sagging rapidly. Not sure I could even become a pumpkin at midnight......unless it would be squashed pumpking! Sooooo.....as usual,
Life IS Great......and I hope for all of you, also!!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
"What's in there?"......
Yeah......and that is what I kept saying to myself all day today!!! I spent the greater portion of the day removing items from the two layer cabinet in our bedroom....in preparation for moving all of the furniture out of the room. There were ALL kinds of things in their....besides over 125 LP albums of all types of music. Paperwork from wherever.......files with all kinds of things in them....books.....tons of music......etc., etc., etc. And all of it had to be looked at so I could make a decision: keep it or throw it!!! I tried to "throw it" as much as I could. I still have the record albums in the floor.....can't decide what to do with them.......I don't even have a record turntable/player any more.....and in our walk-in there are probably 50 more albums!! They date back to the 50's/60's.....Beatles, Johnny Cash, Doris Day, Tony Bennett, etc., etc., etc.
Then I got into the walk-in closet....and began discarding tons of long sleeved dress shirts that I no longer need or want. And.....probably at least a dozen sweaters.....and there are still lots and lots of each item still in the "keepers" in the closet!!! I don't all of them.....but it is soooo hard to part with them....some of which I have purchased on trips to Europe and/or Asia!!! Downsizing is sooooo difficult.....!!!! (just like trying to downsize my body!!!!!)
That took most of the day!!!! And there is still sooooooooooooo much more to do. How....when.....where to keep it??????
The 1st Lady went to Farmington for dinner tonight with friends who are teachers who meet each month for dinner and drinks and conversation. They always have a great time......and I don't have to fix a meal!!! So, this evening I found a program online that I downloaded and began to study Spanish....once again. I have four semesters of Spanish from college......but the mind has gone limp in remembering a lot of it. I know more Italian, German, and French than I can remember Spanish.......and I never studied any of those three formally. Just learned them by being in Europe soooo many times.....twelve times to be honest!! Spanish and Italian are sooo similiar......I get confused as to which one I am practicing...hahaha. But....always enjoyed languages and with soooo many people now speaking different languages in the U.S......it is time to relearn some of these. Plus.....we intend to spend some time in Mexico in the next year or two......driving TheHowserHouse down there for a winter or two.
I could elaborate about my very postive feelings concerning others in our country speaking a foreign language......I see nothing wrong with it. Why should we be the ONLY country where only one language is spoken......even in England there are sooooo many from other countries living there....Africa countries, India, etc.,.....that you are always hearing other languages being spoken on the street, etc., etc. It is a global community today........and isolationism will do us NO GOOD!!! Besides.......learning of other cultures first hand right here can bring us nothing but the best of the entire world......it is a wonderful world with wonderful people and cultures and the more diverse we become the more we learn and the more open our minds become to all others!!!!!! OK.....I will get off of my internationalism soapbox!! ( I feel VERY strongly about this issue!!!!)
So, after a busy and tiring day......I will close and as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
(If you don't think BIG......nothing BIG will happen!)
Then I got into the walk-in closet....and began discarding tons of long sleeved dress shirts that I no longer need or want. And.....probably at least a dozen sweaters.....and there are still lots and lots of each item still in the "keepers" in the closet!!! I don't all of them.....but it is soooo hard to part with them....some of which I have purchased on trips to Europe and/or Asia!!! Downsizing is sooooo difficult.....!!!! (just like trying to downsize my body!!!!!)
That took most of the day!!!! And there is still sooooooooooooo much more to do. How....when.....where to keep it??????
The 1st Lady went to Farmington for dinner tonight with friends who are teachers who meet each month for dinner and drinks and conversation. They always have a great time......and I don't have to fix a meal!!! So, this evening I found a program online that I downloaded and began to study Spanish....once again. I have four semesters of Spanish from college......but the mind has gone limp in remembering a lot of it. I know more Italian, German, and French than I can remember Spanish.......and I never studied any of those three formally. Just learned them by being in Europe soooo many times.....twelve times to be honest!! Spanish and Italian are sooo similiar......I get confused as to which one I am practicing...hahaha. But....always enjoyed languages and with soooo many people now speaking different languages in the U.S......it is time to relearn some of these. Plus.....we intend to spend some time in Mexico in the next year or two......driving TheHowserHouse down there for a winter or two.
I could elaborate about my very postive feelings concerning others in our country speaking a foreign language......I see nothing wrong with it. Why should we be the ONLY country where only one language is spoken......even in England there are sooooo many from other countries living there....Africa countries, India, etc.,.....that you are always hearing other languages being spoken on the street, etc., etc. It is a global community today........and isolationism will do us NO GOOD!!! Besides.......learning of other cultures first hand right here can bring us nothing but the best of the entire world......it is a wonderful world with wonderful people and cultures and the more diverse we become the more we learn and the more open our minds become to all others!!!!!! OK.....I will get off of my internationalism soapbox!! ( I feel VERY strongly about this issue!!!!)
So, after a busy and tiring day......I will close and as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
(If you don't think BIG......nothing BIG will happen!)
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
More planning.......
A very busy morning......well, it was actually a busy day! After my morning infusion of Fr. Roast coffee, my dose of daily newspapers online, and a couple of phone calls, I took out a legal pad and began going through the rooms that will be remodeled or having a make-over. Using a page for each room....I listed the items that we need to get completed, purchased, decisions that need to be made over certain items, choices to be made, etc., etc. etc.etc. WOW......if they begin the stage I of the project on Monday......we have a great deal of work to get done before that day. Not sure how we can get it all decided and then get ALL of the furniture moved out of 3 rooms and one HUGE walk-in closet!!!!????? And.....where is it going to be put????? OMG!!!! ANOTHER decision to be made.......
This afternoon the Ford dealer called and said the repairs on the problems with the new windshield were fixed. Soooo I returned the "junk" car that they had loaned me, BUT.....there is STILL a problem with the rubber molding around the side of the window. Soooo, after more verbal confrontations, ending with my requesting to talk with the manager, he said they would be responsible for any problems, damages to the original molding......which had been sliced by a knife. Sooooo, after the part comes in, I'll have to take the truck back ....again. UGH.......think that will be the last time I have anything done out there!!
I gave my five students their lessons this afternoon. Amazing how quickly those 2.5 hours slip by.....guess I am enjoying it. It is always good to work the one young man who is studying the piano with me.......such talent and such a mind to got with all of that talent!
Made some brownies tonight........THAT sure doesn't help my reduction in intake of calories, does it???
Sooooo, after a good day, it is always soooooo easy to say:
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
This afternoon the Ford dealer called and said the repairs on the problems with the new windshield were fixed. Soooo I returned the "junk" car that they had loaned me, BUT.....there is STILL a problem with the rubber molding around the side of the window. Soooo, after more verbal confrontations, ending with my requesting to talk with the manager, he said they would be responsible for any problems, damages to the original molding......which had been sliced by a knife. Sooooo, after the part comes in, I'll have to take the truck back ....again. UGH.......think that will be the last time I have anything done out there!!
I gave my five students their lessons this afternoon. Amazing how quickly those 2.5 hours slip by.....guess I am enjoying it. It is always good to work the one young man who is studying the piano with me.......such talent and such a mind to got with all of that talent!
Made some brownies tonight........THAT sure doesn't help my reduction in intake of calories, does it???
Sooooo, after a good day, it is always soooooo easy to say:
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Another gloomy gray day...
The weather roller coaster went down the hill into the bottom gulley today......and tomorrow, well.....it is going up and back into the sunlight and warmer atmosphere. With this constant up and down.....it is quite a wonder that everyone is not suffering from colds and respiratory ailments. YUK!!!
OMG.....I watched our tivo'd recording of Sunday night's "24"!!!! WOW.....what an intense and well edited show....really had me on the edge of my chair and speeding thru the commercials to get back to the story!! I can't wait until the next episode......whew!!
Oh yeah.....I AM getting hooked on some of these tv shows......and this comes as a BIG surprise to this old man!! I have never just felt like I HAD to watch certain shows......is this OLD age??? Huh??? Is this what growing old is all about????.........waiting for the next show to occupy your mind which is missing soooo many brain cells??? Have my "high" ideals and the love for intellectual literature slipped from my mind and body??? Or what????? HELP.....this frightens me!!!
After recovering from two hours of tivo'd "24".....I was so tense that I got on my running shoes and ran IN PLACE for about 10 minutes.....looking out the large windows of our garden room ....only to see gray and gloomy skys and vistas being assaulted by blustery winds. UGH!!!!!
The afternoon soon slipped into a very, very weak sunset as the gray clouds began to lift. And then it was time for a light supper of turkey breast and provolone cheese on Tuscan Boule bread with a glass of dark red medicine.
Our contractor then arrived and we discussed, measured, made a couple of phone calls to the plumber, and took down other numbers of custom cabinet makers. He was here about an hour and suddenly this seems really over-whelming. He is ready to begin next Monday.......WOW.....we have soooo much to do: two rooms of furniture to be placed somewhere else, and a HUGE walkin closet to be emptied. My body is already screaming in pain with just the thoughts of all of this........and WE HAVEN'T EVEN ORDERED OUR HARD HATS AS YET!!!!!
Soooooo, with all of this wallowing through my mind and with me about to go into overload, I will still say.....
Life is Great....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
OMG.....I watched our tivo'd recording of Sunday night's "24"!!!! WOW.....what an intense and well edited show....really had me on the edge of my chair and speeding thru the commercials to get back to the story!! I can't wait until the next episode......whew!!
Oh yeah.....I AM getting hooked on some of these tv shows......and this comes as a BIG surprise to this old man!! I have never just felt like I HAD to watch certain shows......is this OLD age??? Huh??? Is this what growing old is all about????.........waiting for the next show to occupy your mind which is missing soooo many brain cells??? Have my "high" ideals and the love for intellectual literature slipped from my mind and body??? Or what????? HELP.....this frightens me!!!
After recovering from two hours of tivo'd "24".....I was so tense that I got on my running shoes and ran IN PLACE for about 10 minutes.....looking out the large windows of our garden room ....only to see gray and gloomy skys and vistas being assaulted by blustery winds. UGH!!!!!
The afternoon soon slipped into a very, very weak sunset as the gray clouds began to lift. And then it was time for a light supper of turkey breast and provolone cheese on Tuscan Boule bread with a glass of dark red medicine.
Our contractor then arrived and we discussed, measured, made a couple of phone calls to the plumber, and took down other numbers of custom cabinet makers. He was here about an hour and suddenly this seems really over-whelming. He is ready to begin next Monday.......WOW.....we have soooo much to do: two rooms of furniture to be placed somewhere else, and a HUGE walkin closet to be emptied. My body is already screaming in pain with just the thoughts of all of this........and WE HAVEN'T EVEN ORDERED OUR HARD HATS AS YET!!!!!
Soooooo, with all of this wallowing through my mind and with me about to go into overload, I will still say.....
Life is Great....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Is Spring here???? I think not....
Wow....another 60 degree plus day!!! And what is in store for tomorrow.....a high of 35 degrees with rain and snow.....and on Thursday.....another very warm day. What a damn roller coaster ride this weather is becoming.....and, the ride is FREE for just living in Missouri!!! How lucky we must be...HA!
After finally settling on a hotel in Chicago for our quick weekend up there at the end of next week.....and the decision took a few hours of more research, I then went outside to take off the tape from the new windshield which I had installed last Friday. And guess what????!!!! There were large gaps in the rubber seal around it, and part of the rubber seal that runs across the passenger door and down the right front window post had been slit by a knife of ...obviously....the repairman last week. WELL.......with smoke coming out my posterior and my ears....I hauled my ass off to the Ford dealer, who had sub-contracted the job to be done by some company which drives through here a couple of times each week and repairs car windows.
I let go with my temper when I got there. I told them this ALL had to be repaired....correctly this time! Well, they can't come up here until Wednesday....and then I let go with my temper and told them that it was to begin raining and it would be pouring into my truck. Soooo, after consultations they said they would loan me a car (if that is what you want to call it) and keep my truck inside out of the rain. Sooooo, now it is the waiting game once again!!!
This afternoon went by quickly as I took care of some household chores.....UGH!!!!! But.....so be it.....things needed to be done anyway. Took a brief refresher nap for about 10 minutes......a Power Nap!
Then this evening was the monthly meeting of the school board which last a little over two hours. And now I am going thru the Tivo recording of the Golden Globes.....just watching certain parts of it. Anxious to see some of the movies that I haven't seen yet.
Soooo, with winter returning as the north winds are blowing out there, nevertheless nothing has changed and.......
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
After finally settling on a hotel in Chicago for our quick weekend up there at the end of next week.....and the decision took a few hours of more research, I then went outside to take off the tape from the new windshield which I had installed last Friday. And guess what????!!!! There were large gaps in the rubber seal around it, and part of the rubber seal that runs across the passenger door and down the right front window post had been slit by a knife of ...obviously....the repairman last week. WELL.......with smoke coming out my posterior and my ears....I hauled my ass off to the Ford dealer, who had sub-contracted the job to be done by some company which drives through here a couple of times each week and repairs car windows.
I let go with my temper when I got there. I told them this ALL had to be repaired....correctly this time! Well, they can't come up here until Wednesday....and then I let go with my temper and told them that it was to begin raining and it would be pouring into my truck. Soooo, after consultations they said they would loan me a car (if that is what you want to call it) and keep my truck inside out of the rain. Sooooo, now it is the waiting game once again!!!
This afternoon went by quickly as I took care of some household chores.....UGH!!!!! But.....so be it.....things needed to be done anyway. Took a brief refresher nap for about 10 minutes......a Power Nap!
Then this evening was the monthly meeting of the school board which last a little over two hours. And now I am going thru the Tivo recording of the Golden Globes.....just watching certain parts of it. Anxious to see some of the movies that I haven't seen yet.
Soooo, with winter returning as the north winds are blowing out there, nevertheless nothing has changed and.......
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Sunday, January 15, 2006
A day in STL....RV Show
Left the Moser Estate around 10 and drove into STL city center to the Convention Center which adjoins the "Rams Dome".....should I even mention the infertile Rams???? Anyway......we spent several hours at the RV Show looking over the various RVs from the Pop-up trailers to the toyhauler rvs to the new 5ers and then the elegant, luxury motor homes of which some of them were over a quarter of million dollars. It always fun to look at these models of any type of rvs.......could it be because we have had an rv since 1972??? Several of the dealers had rv items for sale so we purchased a patio lounge chair which folds up. It is really comfy and will probably buy another one in the near future....IF I can get the same good price. Normally sells for $149 and we got it today at the show for $109.
We were ready to leave and the 1st Lady was watching a demonstration of some cookware, so I told her I would meet her at the exit door. I was standing there when this graying haired man looked at me and spoke asking if he could ask me a question. Well.....what do you say, but "yes". Soooo, he asked if my name was "John"....smart man...hahaa! Anyway, then he said that I had been his teacher.....that he had been in band. I couldn't recognize him at all.....and then he said his name was Jay Duncan!!! Well........good God....he graduated in 1981 and I hadn't seen him since that time. He played trumpet, went with the band on their first out of state trip to the Black Hills where we performed in Rapid City. It was just GREAT seeing him again...and we talked for about 10 minutes. He lives in Washington, MO........so after explaining that my daughter lives just outside of Washington.....we decided to meet when I am there next and have a beer, or as he said, a few glasses of vino. I have had a difficult time getting him out of my over-active mind....thinking about him and the other students in his class of '81. Wow.........he is almost 43 years old........how does that make me feel??? OLD!!!!! I am really anxious to visit more with him and his wife.........it was a great surprise!!!
After that we went down to SouthCounty Mall and ate at a Mexican restaurant.....rather fast food type but one HELL of a lot better than a smelly Taco Bell!!!! We did a bit of shopping at Penny's and then I grabbed a cappuccino at Starbucks and we headed on south to Arnold and Kohl's Dept Store. The 1st Lady purchased a few things with a gift card she received for her BD.....and then it was homeward bound....another 65 minutes and we drove in the drive!
Now.....it is catch up time from being gone for the past two days......and prepare for a busy week. Lunch tomorrow with Goldie......School BD tomorrow night......meeting with our contractor Tuesday night...and the week goes on very quickly.
Soooo......after a GREAT weekend.....a warm and very fun visit with my cousin and his wife and daughter, great dark beer and supper with them in St. Charles, overnight with Dr. Jeni and family, the RV Show and running into a student from 25 years ago, etc., etc., etc. as usual....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope for all of you, also!!
We were ready to leave and the 1st Lady was watching a demonstration of some cookware, so I told her I would meet her at the exit door. I was standing there when this graying haired man looked at me and spoke asking if he could ask me a question. Well.....what do you say, but "yes". Soooo, he asked if my name was "John"....smart man...hahaa! Anyway, then he said that I had been his teacher.....that he had been in band. I couldn't recognize him at all.....and then he said his name was Jay Duncan!!! Well........good God....he graduated in 1981 and I hadn't seen him since that time. He played trumpet, went with the band on their first out of state trip to the Black Hills where we performed in Rapid City. It was just GREAT seeing him again...and we talked for about 10 minutes. He lives in Washington, MO........so after explaining that my daughter lives just outside of Washington.....we decided to meet when I am there next and have a beer, or as he said, a few glasses of vino. I have had a difficult time getting him out of my over-active mind....thinking about him and the other students in his class of '81. Wow.........he is almost 43 years old........how does that make me feel??? OLD!!!!! I am really anxious to visit more with him and his wife.........it was a great surprise!!!
After that we went down to SouthCounty Mall and ate at a Mexican restaurant.....rather fast food type but one HELL of a lot better than a smelly Taco Bell!!!! We did a bit of shopping at Penny's and then I grabbed a cappuccino at Starbucks and we headed on south to Arnold and Kohl's Dept Store. The 1st Lady purchased a few things with a gift card she received for her BD.....and then it was homeward bound....another 65 minutes and we drove in the drive!
Now.....it is catch up time from being gone for the past two days......and prepare for a busy week. Lunch tomorrow with Goldie......School BD tomorrow night......meeting with our contractor Tuesday night...and the week goes on very quickly.
Soooo......after a GREAT weekend.....a warm and very fun visit with my cousin and his wife and daughter, great dark beer and supper with them in St. Charles, overnight with Dr. Jeni and family, the RV Show and running into a student from 25 years ago, etc., etc., etc. as usual....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope for all of you, also!!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
A beautiful and very enjoyable day!!
This morning.....up and with Fr. Roast coffee in hand, I got things ready to leave for today and tomorrow. We left mid-morning and drove into STL.......stopped at a couple of furniture stores and then went on to St Charles and got to Lindenwood University by 1:45pm. Met my cousin, Gene and his wife Jolene, in the gym/arena/whatever name they call it, and enjoyed a really good girl's BB game between Lindenwood and Baker University, where my second cousin is captain of the BB team.
It was really great to have the time to visit in a pleasant situation!!! For the past few years every time we have been together has been at family funerals.....and that is not the best situation for having a few laughs. Soooo, for 4.5 hours, even during the game, we kept the tongues wagging trying to catch up on each other's lives, children, grandchildren, etc., etc.
Following the game we went down town in the "old" part of St Charles and visited a few of the quaint little shops, including a GREAT spice shop. We all purchased several different spices for use and experimenting in some of the different dishes we prepare. Then we found ourselves at the Trailhead Brewery......a micro brewery where we had some great beer and sandwiches......and of course, more conversation filled with laughter!
I have posted a couple of pics.....more for other relatives that we have around the world than for the daily readers of this little blog. There are a couple of stories I could relate about past events in our families' lives.....hmmmm, but to save red faces I will not say any more other than Gene has outgrown his little tantrums of his childhood age when he would roll on the floor, hold his breath and turn purple until we, or the "grownups" would throw water on him to get him to breathe!!! HAHAA.....can't imagine seeing him doing that at this age!!! HAHAHA!!! At least he was toooooo young to remember anything to tell about my years in childhood!!!
I'm going to close this very informative and educational writing for tonight.........and as always.....
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
It was really great to have the time to visit in a pleasant situation!!! For the past few years every time we have been together has been at family funerals.....and that is not the best situation for having a few laughs. Soooo, for 4.5 hours, even during the game, we kept the tongues wagging trying to catch up on each other's lives, children, grandchildren, etc., etc.
Following the game we went down town in the "old" part of St Charles and visited a few of the quaint little shops, including a GREAT spice shop. We all purchased several different spices for use and experimenting in some of the different dishes we prepare. Then we found ourselves at the Trailhead Brewery......a micro brewery where we had some great beer and sandwiches......and of course, more conversation filled with laughter!
I have posted a couple of pics.....more for other relatives that we have around the world than for the daily readers of this little blog. There are a couple of stories I could relate about past events in our families' lives.....hmmmm, but to save red faces I will not say any more other than Gene has outgrown his little tantrums of his childhood age when he would roll on the floor, hold his breath and turn purple until we, or the "grownups" would throw water on him to get him to breathe!!! HAHAA.....can't imagine seeing him doing that at this age!!! HAHAHA!!! At least he was toooooo young to remember anything to tell about my years in childhood!!!
I'm going to close this very informative and educational writing for tonight.........and as always.....
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Friday, January 13, 2006
Is this the North Pole???
BRRRRRRR, the cold winds of the northlands blew in here today, along with miserable cold drizzle and then snow flurries followed that. I tried to harness TheHowserHouse to the winds to get me south quickly, however....it didn't move!! Soooo, here I sit with the winds howling outside our stick and brick and I realize it is time to get my aging hulk to bed.
Andrew Gipson, a former student of mine who is now the Asst Band Director at Edwardsville HS, Illinois, called me at the ungodly hour of 6AM this morning to inform me that his band was performing on one of the STL tv channels at 6:30AM!!!!!! Soooo, I hauled my ass out of bed and turned on the coffee maker and then tv....in that order(see where my preferences are???hehehe). But, I watched their performances in the their gym.....the tv station was focusing on their high school this morning.
Then at 8am I had to take my truck out to the Ford dealer to have a new windshield installed today. A year and a half ago it had cracked from HEAT one summer day when I didn't crack the windows.....so it cracked itself!! Then this past summer I was hit by a "boulder" from a dump truck which left a huge imprint on the windshield....and then it began to crack and spread. Sooooo, it was time to get a new one. It was two hours later when one of the mechanics brought me home......ugh.
From that time on I spent doing some more satellite tv/internet research online, along with working on getting some reservation info. We are running up to Chicago the last weekend of this month......for DINNER!!!
Yep....think I mentioned that one of my favorite German restaurants is closing after serving incredible German cuisine for 107 years, and it is shutting its doors the last day of Frebruary. Soooo, four of us are driving up there on the last Saturday of this month, do a bit of shopping on the Miracle Mile and then having dinner that evening at The Berghoff. We will stay overnight........go to the Art Museum or some other place on Sunday, and drive back down here late that afternoon. Soooo,I was trying to get a good price on some good hotels on the Miracle Mile for that night. We ALL love....really love Chicago....and especially the Miracle Mile right downtown. It is just FANTASTIC!!!!
Then we have about decided to go to San Diego for that long 4-5 day weekend in February. HAVE to use those free Northwest Airline vouchers to go somewhere and since we have only spent one hurried day in San Diego a few years ago, we thought we would fly out there and enjoy the city, what it has to offer, and then run over to Mexico for a day. Just searching for the best flight schedule each way......I don't want to fly all over the country having to stop and change planes more than once. Then working on getting a decent hotel with selling the house!!
Then this evening we ran up to Farmington to take advantage of our anniversary "gift" from The Pasta House......one free diner with one paid dinner. Sooooo, the 1st Lady and I had Shrimp Garazzini......try it sometime....it is really good. Shrimp in a butter/lemon sauce accompanied with small mushrooms......yummmmm!!!!
Tomorrow we are off to St Charles for the day, then to the Moser Estate to spend the night with Dr. Jeni and family, and then back into St Louis to attend the St Louis RV show on Sunday. A planned and busy weekend!!!
And then the week begins again.........
Soooo, until tomorrow evening ( I hope their wireless internet works).........
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also.
Andrew Gipson, a former student of mine who is now the Asst Band Director at Edwardsville HS, Illinois, called me at the ungodly hour of 6AM this morning to inform me that his band was performing on one of the STL tv channels at 6:30AM!!!!!! Soooo, I hauled my ass out of bed and turned on the coffee maker and then tv....in that order(see where my preferences are???hehehe). But, I watched their performances in the their gym.....the tv station was focusing on their high school this morning.
Then at 8am I had to take my truck out to the Ford dealer to have a new windshield installed today. A year and a half ago it had cracked from HEAT one summer day when I didn't crack the windows.....so it cracked itself!! Then this past summer I was hit by a "boulder" from a dump truck which left a huge imprint on the windshield....and then it began to crack and spread. Sooooo, it was time to get a new one. It was two hours later when one of the mechanics brought me home......ugh.
From that time on I spent doing some more satellite tv/internet research online, along with working on getting some reservation info. We are running up to Chicago the last weekend of this month......for DINNER!!!
Yep....think I mentioned that one of my favorite German restaurants is closing after serving incredible German cuisine for 107 years, and it is shutting its doors the last day of Frebruary. Soooo, four of us are driving up there on the last Saturday of this month, do a bit of shopping on the Miracle Mile and then having dinner that evening at The Berghoff. We will stay overnight........go to the Art Museum or some other place on Sunday, and drive back down here late that afternoon. Soooo,I was trying to get a good price on some good hotels on the Miracle Mile for that night. We ALL love....really love Chicago....and especially the Miracle Mile right downtown. It is just FANTASTIC!!!!
Then we have about decided to go to San Diego for that long 4-5 day weekend in February. HAVE to use those free Northwest Airline vouchers to go somewhere and since we have only spent one hurried day in San Diego a few years ago, we thought we would fly out there and enjoy the city, what it has to offer, and then run over to Mexico for a day. Just searching for the best flight schedule each way......I don't want to fly all over the country having to stop and change planes more than once. Then working on getting a decent hotel with selling the house!!
Then this evening we ran up to Farmington to take advantage of our anniversary "gift" from The Pasta House......one free diner with one paid dinner. Sooooo, the 1st Lady and I had Shrimp Garazzini......try it sometime....it is really good. Shrimp in a butter/lemon sauce accompanied with small mushrooms......yummmmm!!!!
Tomorrow we are off to St Charles for the day, then to the Moser Estate to spend the night with Dr. Jeni and family, and then back into St Louis to attend the St Louis RV show on Sunday. A planned and busy weekend!!!
And then the week begins again.........
Soooo, until tomorrow evening ( I hope their wireless internet works).........
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
GOOD MORNING!! and GOO NIGHT!
What ever happened to yesterday is beyond me......Went to Wally World for some necessaries, exercised...lifted weights, gave music lessons, and.....watched a bit of tellie. THEN....I just simply didn't write any posts, as you can tell by now. Took one of my deserved "lazy days" and didn't expose myself to the world!
This morning is a beautiful day...a bit of frost on the lawn, but that assists in hiding some of the mole tracks and volcanoes in the yard. Plans for the day........WHATEVER develops and comes my way. Soooo, I will let you know how the day goes...tonight!
SECOND POST TODAY...
Where my day went today.....I know not! The morning was gone before I realized it.....and this afternoon was spent attempting to find a good flight schedule on a good weekend within the next few weekends for any warm(er) place to visit. We have cash vouchers that must be used by March or we lose them.....UGH. And each one is for $335.00, sooooo it would be a damn shame to let them expire.
Looking at San Diego, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Key West or any other warm place. Soooo, that took up the afternoon with no luck.
This evening I watched the National Figure Skating competition on the tellie, even tho it was only 80 miles up the road from here. We should have bought tickets.......why we didn't I do not know! I always enjoy the skating competitions.....no matter where they are or who is competing.
Will spend more time tomorrow online seeing what "deals" I can get for flt schedules and hotel rates. Ha!! Hope I have better luck tomorrow......
But nevertheless,.........
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
This morning is a beautiful day...a bit of frost on the lawn, but that assists in hiding some of the mole tracks and volcanoes in the yard. Plans for the day........WHATEVER develops and comes my way. Soooo, I will let you know how the day goes...tonight!
SECOND POST TODAY...
Where my day went today.....I know not! The morning was gone before I realized it.....and this afternoon was spent attempting to find a good flight schedule on a good weekend within the next few weekends for any warm(er) place to visit. We have cash vouchers that must be used by March or we lose them.....UGH. And each one is for $335.00, sooooo it would be a damn shame to let them expire.
Looking at San Diego, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Key West or any other warm place. Soooo, that took up the afternoon with no luck.
This evening I watched the National Figure Skating competition on the tellie, even tho it was only 80 miles up the road from here. We should have bought tickets.......why we didn't I do not know! I always enjoy the skating competitions.....no matter where they are or who is competing.
Will spend more time tomorrow online seeing what "deals" I can get for flt schedules and hotel rates. Ha!! Hope I have better luck tomorrow......
But nevertheless,.........
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
What a Miserable Missouri day!!!
Brrrrr....the cold, cold rain began during the night.....waking me up with its loud beating on the roof.....and the rain continued off and on for the entire day. I had to have the house lights on the entire day even with all of the blinds open and up......yuk!!!! I really do hate these kinds of days......all gray, wet, and cold.
Anyway.....with flashlight in hand or, laying on the floor, I began to completely remove and re-attach ALL the cables/cords on the Tivo, DVD, VCR, Cable box, and the tellie!!! OMG.....what a task. I also had the lappie on the floor with me with a website on the monitor which showed me exactly how to attach all necessary cables. And......HURRAY!!!!! I now can qualify for what must be a Step 1 certificate for the technologically challenged......because I now can watch one program while recording a different program on the Tivo!! Now....on to other tech projects!
Sooo, after a quick little lunch, I decided to catch up on my unironed shirts......and after about 2 hours, all of my shirts have been ironed and are hanging quietly in their correct location in our large walk-in closet, sorted by dress shirts, casual shirts, and "knock-around" shirts (of which I didn't iron). WOW......this is the first time that I have all of my shirts ready to wear......Congrats John Howser!!!!
This evening I threw together a batch of brownies.....all gooey and full of walnuts. Ymmmm.....they are/were good!!! I shouldn't have had even one of them......but I cannot resist chocolate......my body screams out in anger and pain when I am denied my chocolate fix, so to appease all of this turmoil within this sagging hulk in which I reside, I relented and consumed two rather large pieces of those delicious squares of caloric chocolate sin. I will now have to repent for days........
Sooooo........even with the depressing day of gray gloom and all of my caloric sinning,.........
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also.
Anyway.....with flashlight in hand or, laying on the floor, I began to completely remove and re-attach ALL the cables/cords on the Tivo, DVD, VCR, Cable box, and the tellie!!! OMG.....what a task. I also had the lappie on the floor with me with a website on the monitor which showed me exactly how to attach all necessary cables. And......HURRAY!!!!! I now can qualify for what must be a Step 1 certificate for the technologically challenged......because I now can watch one program while recording a different program on the Tivo!! Now....on to other tech projects!
Sooo, after a quick little lunch, I decided to catch up on my unironed shirts......and after about 2 hours, all of my shirts have been ironed and are hanging quietly in their correct location in our large walk-in closet, sorted by dress shirts, casual shirts, and "knock-around" shirts (of which I didn't iron). WOW......this is the first time that I have all of my shirts ready to wear......Congrats John Howser!!!!
This evening I threw together a batch of brownies.....all gooey and full of walnuts. Ymmmm.....they are/were good!!! I shouldn't have had even one of them......but I cannot resist chocolate......my body screams out in anger and pain when I am denied my chocolate fix, so to appease all of this turmoil within this sagging hulk in which I reside, I relented and consumed two rather large pieces of those delicious squares of caloric chocolate sin. I will now have to repent for days........
Sooooo........even with the depressing day of gray gloom and all of my caloric sinning,.........
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Nothing unusual today.....
For some strange reason, my aging body was awake by 5:30 this morning.....UGH!!! Should have got online and visited with some of the Creeker members of the RV Club I belong to........a VERY few of them get up before the chickens .....UGH!!! I did that for years and years when I was teaching and holding early band rehearsals!!!
My Tivo didn't record a show last night after I went to bed. Sooooo, back to the manuals and to the support groups online this morning.....about two hours worth of research. But.......guess what?!!! I had been turning off my cable box along with my tellie......dumb ass me!!!! Damn old age brain......it just has more and more brain farts all the time! All I needed to do was to leave the cable box turned on.....I experimented mid-morning today and ....YEAH, it works!! HAHAHA.....this Christmas gift might make me a bit more literate with technology ( I HOPE!).
Now....I STILL can't get it to record and allow me to watch another channel at the same time. Any help from some of you readers????? I have a digital cable box.....not satellite/dish. Soooo, if some of you know the trick, let me know, please.
Late morning today I took off for Farmington to visit my "hairdresser".......I like to go to the same one because she has learned how to EXACTLY trim and position my 69 hairs on my head. I always call to see if she is working before I go up there. Then.....did a bit of shopping: I had to get a 2006 planner, plus a few groceries. I have been absolutely lost without my planner.....with all of the brain farts going on upstairs under my 69 hairs, I MUST have a planner book to keep everything going along smoothly (HAHA).
Returned mid-afternoon and spent the rest of the afternoon working on the Tivo record and watch problem. Then I thawed out three good sized breasts.....errrr, chicken breasts....and then I threw together a cassarole: chicken breasts which I had lightly browned in olive oil which I infused with some garlic, I also patted the breasts(gently) with some Middle Eastern paprika which I picked up at a Turkish market last spring......I then put rice, garlic, fresh mushrooms, fresh broccoli, cream of chicken soup, and chicken broth into the cassarole dish and laid the chicken on top. Baked this for almost an hour and then covered the chicken with some freshly grated cheese and put it back into the oven for a minute. I had earlier fixed some appetizers: toasted some small halves of the Tuscan Boule and rubbed a garlic glove on each slice, and after marinating some Roma tomatoes for about three hours in Sea Salt and EVO (extra virgin olive oil), I put two slices on each piece of bread and inserted a slim piece of mozzarella cheese between the slices of tomatoes. I had some Italian parsley STILL growing in my herb garden and so I chopped up some and sprinkled it over the toast and tomatoes and cheese. YUM......this entire little menu was wonderful tonight. Of course, I had to have my dark red medicine enhance the flavors of the meal!!
Tonight.....well, watched a bit of tellie as I surfed the RV forums to research tv satellite programs for TheHowserHouse (on wheels). I need to get something going on this......spring and summer and our extended travels which will be ALMOST full-timing will be here sooner than we think. We need to get signed up for a satellite dish program: Direc or Dish.....so that we can have television service while we travel. Also needing internet service rather than just use my cell phone, which isn't always a possibility in certain locations.
Did watch "The Bachelor" tonight.....hahaha. Such girls they pick for that show!!! There were two from Overland Park, KS.....ala western Kansas City. And the "Bachelor" is from St Louis.....graduated from Parkway West HS. It was a good show for some laughs!!!! (don't forget to watch "The Book of Daniel" Friday pm).
Sooo, another day passed by in my Life...a relaxing day. Appears that the weather is changing for a day or so.....possible snow flurries tomorrow here. I can handle "flurries".....just don't need any more of the white stuff than that.
And so....... as ususal......
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
My Tivo didn't record a show last night after I went to bed. Sooooo, back to the manuals and to the support groups online this morning.....about two hours worth of research. But.......guess what?!!! I had been turning off my cable box along with my tellie......dumb ass me!!!! Damn old age brain......it just has more and more brain farts all the time! All I needed to do was to leave the cable box turned on.....I experimented mid-morning today and ....YEAH, it works!! HAHAHA.....this Christmas gift might make me a bit more literate with technology ( I HOPE!).
Now....I STILL can't get it to record and allow me to watch another channel at the same time. Any help from some of you readers????? I have a digital cable box.....not satellite/dish. Soooo, if some of you know the trick, let me know, please.
Late morning today I took off for Farmington to visit my "hairdresser".......I like to go to the same one because she has learned how to EXACTLY trim and position my 69 hairs on my head. I always call to see if she is working before I go up there. Then.....did a bit of shopping: I had to get a 2006 planner, plus a few groceries. I have been absolutely lost without my planner.....with all of the brain farts going on upstairs under my 69 hairs, I MUST have a planner book to keep everything going along smoothly (HAHA).
Returned mid-afternoon and spent the rest of the afternoon working on the Tivo record and watch problem. Then I thawed out three good sized breasts.....errrr, chicken breasts....and then I threw together a cassarole: chicken breasts which I had lightly browned in olive oil which I infused with some garlic, I also patted the breasts(gently) with some Middle Eastern paprika which I picked up at a Turkish market last spring......I then put rice, garlic, fresh mushrooms, fresh broccoli, cream of chicken soup, and chicken broth into the cassarole dish and laid the chicken on top. Baked this for almost an hour and then covered the chicken with some freshly grated cheese and put it back into the oven for a minute. I had earlier fixed some appetizers: toasted some small halves of the Tuscan Boule and rubbed a garlic glove on each slice, and after marinating some Roma tomatoes for about three hours in Sea Salt and EVO (extra virgin olive oil), I put two slices on each piece of bread and inserted a slim piece of mozzarella cheese between the slices of tomatoes. I had some Italian parsley STILL growing in my herb garden and so I chopped up some and sprinkled it over the toast and tomatoes and cheese. YUM......this entire little menu was wonderful tonight. Of course, I had to have my dark red medicine enhance the flavors of the meal!!
Tonight.....well, watched a bit of tellie as I surfed the RV forums to research tv satellite programs for TheHowserHouse (on wheels). I need to get something going on this......spring and summer and our extended travels which will be ALMOST full-timing will be here sooner than we think. We need to get signed up for a satellite dish program: Direc or Dish.....so that we can have television service while we travel. Also needing internet service rather than just use my cell phone, which isn't always a possibility in certain locations.
Did watch "The Bachelor" tonight.....hahaha. Such girls they pick for that show!!! There were two from Overland Park, KS.....ala western Kansas City. And the "Bachelor" is from St Louis.....graduated from Parkway West HS. It was a good show for some laughs!!!! (don't forget to watch "The Book of Daniel" Friday pm).
Sooo, another day passed by in my Life...a relaxing day. Appears that the weather is changing for a day or so.....possible snow flurries tomorrow here. I can handle "flurries".....just don't need any more of the white stuff than that.
And so....... as ususal......
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Sunday, January 08, 2006
This day.....where did it go??
After an evening of riding the on The Mexican Train (game).....this morning came a bit earlier than I thought it would. The 1st Lady and I went to see Michael this morning and returned this afternoon after enjoying a good visit with him.
The 1st Lady was really tired and so she relaxed for a couple of hours while I attempted to re-program my TiVo......it did not record the morning talk/news shows that I wanted to watch this morning and didn't get to.....either this morning or this afternoon!!! It didn't work like it was supposed to.....hmmmmm....did I mention that I AM technologically challenged???? I think I did.... Anyway, I think I have it now.....after a bit more than two hours of changing some things......guess I'll find out tomorrow???
This evening was a relaxed one.......just a bit of the tellie and some surfing on the net. Then I received a phone call from the Washington D.C. area.......a former student (another one), an excellent trumpet player who is now married (to another former band student) and they have four daughters. I haven't talked with him since late summer and so we had lots to catch up on. He works with the U.S. Navy.......he was in the service, but now has a civilian job with them, and a VERY good job it is!!! He travels very frequently around the country as well as out to Japan and Hong Kong.........he is a very busy young man!!!! But....we had a great talk as he was on his way to Virginia Beach for a meeting in the morning so we visited as he drove down that way. For all of you former students from Eldon.....I am talking about Kelly Powers.
Sooooo, this brief summary of the day brings this little post to a close.....and as always....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
The 1st Lady was really tired and so she relaxed for a couple of hours while I attempted to re-program my TiVo......it did not record the morning talk/news shows that I wanted to watch this morning and didn't get to.....either this morning or this afternoon!!! It didn't work like it was supposed to.....hmmmmm....did I mention that I AM technologically challenged???? I think I did.... Anyway, I think I have it now.....after a bit more than two hours of changing some things......guess I'll find out tomorrow???
This evening was a relaxed one.......just a bit of the tellie and some surfing on the net. Then I received a phone call from the Washington D.C. area.......a former student (another one), an excellent trumpet player who is now married (to another former band student) and they have four daughters. I haven't talked with him since late summer and so we had lots to catch up on. He works with the U.S. Navy.......he was in the service, but now has a civilian job with them, and a VERY good job it is!!! He travels very frequently around the country as well as out to Japan and Hong Kong.........he is a very busy young man!!!! But....we had a great talk as he was on his way to Virginia Beach for a meeting in the morning so we visited as he drove down that way. For all of you former students from Eldon.....I am talking about Kelly Powers.
Sooooo, this brief summary of the day brings this little post to a close.....and as always....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
A bit toooo much dark red medicine.....
Hope this makes sense tonight......we spent the evening with friends and played/rode the Mexican Train Game all evening. I just had to keep taking my dark red medicine....several large doses.....and hence, I may have overdosed myself!! Things are a bit woozy with me......guess I just need to carry something to measure just how much I need and not depend on my eyes when pouring it out for me to take!!! Well....sure it will cure ALL my ailments by tomorrow morning......except a more than likely headache when I awaken....hahhaa
Today was a nice weather day....finally. This is supposed to be a pretty nice week that is coming up....hope so. I have several things to take of in the garage.....as well as checking battery water and running the gennie in TheHowserHouse for mechanical exercise. Makes me want to get it hooked up and pull out of here for parts unknown........guess it is my previous life of being an explorer that is pulling at me when the weather gets good!!
The 1st Lady left early this morning with her H.S. Academic Team for a tournament in Poplar Bluff....about 65 miles south of here. She returned around 4pm this afternoon.....they had placed 4th in the tournament, so she wasn't toooo disappointed. She will be making more Saturday trips during the next two months as the academic team competitions get going during the months of Jan-Feb-March.
This old man, who is technologically challenged, finally got the TiVo completely hooked up so that I can now record one station and watch another one at the same time. The last thing is to get an attachment so that I can be completely wireless with it......and can control the TiVo from this little lappie....and can show my pictures on the tellie screen that are stored in the lappie!! Should be great fun....and much easier to view them.
Well....the dark red medicine with the French name is keeping me from thinking clearly tonight so I will sign off for now......and as usual:
Life is GREAT (even when taking medicine).......and I hope it is for all of you, also.
(Jon and Jo.....enjoyed the evening tremendously....we must do it again soon!!!)
Today was a nice weather day....finally. This is supposed to be a pretty nice week that is coming up....hope so. I have several things to take of in the garage.....as well as checking battery water and running the gennie in TheHowserHouse for mechanical exercise. Makes me want to get it hooked up and pull out of here for parts unknown........guess it is my previous life of being an explorer that is pulling at me when the weather gets good!!
The 1st Lady left early this morning with her H.S. Academic Team for a tournament in Poplar Bluff....about 65 miles south of here. She returned around 4pm this afternoon.....they had placed 4th in the tournament, so she wasn't toooo disappointed. She will be making more Saturday trips during the next two months as the academic team competitions get going during the months of Jan-Feb-March.
This old man, who is technologically challenged, finally got the TiVo completely hooked up so that I can now record one station and watch another one at the same time. The last thing is to get an attachment so that I can be completely wireless with it......and can control the TiVo from this little lappie....and can show my pictures on the tellie screen that are stored in the lappie!! Should be great fun....and much easier to view them.
Well....the dark red medicine with the French name is keeping me from thinking clearly tonight so I will sign off for now......and as usual:
Life is GREAT (even when taking medicine).......and I hope it is for all of you, also.
(Jon and Jo.....enjoyed the evening tremendously....we must do it again soon!!!)
Friday, January 06, 2006
Waiting....and waiting.....and waiting....
Oh yeah....the above is soooo true for today. It all started when I attempted to get a meds prescription filled yesterday afternoon for the 1st Lady. The local pharmacy didn't have the meds needed.......migraine meds. So, I was told to return today. I did.....this morning...and nope, they hadn't arrived yet. Soooo, after drinking my Fr Roast coffee....three cups this morning while waiting.......I returned to the pharmacy and again was turned away as it had not arrived.
So shortly after lunch I went to the SuperCenter to pick up a chicken and some cables to make another connection to my Tivo/cable box. I also had to make a payment on a monthly WM credit card bill, but when I went to the Service desk.....the line was HUGE. I waited for 35 minutes before I reached the counter and then their computer locked up!!! Soooo, I went on over and checked out and paid for my purchases and left......rather heated from the long wait in the line to pay for my chicken, etc., etc. I had to wait there for almost 30 minutes!!!!!! Over an hour of waiting in line!!!!
Then I had to pay the utility bill at the City Hall......and upon driving down the street to the office and looking around...there were NO parking spaces to be seen!!!! Soooo, off I went to the pharmacy and this time I was successful......her meds were there. And then it was back to the City Hall, where I found a place to park my huge towing machine..and got that bill paid. Amount of time spent???? Over two hours just to go across town and back.......DAMN!!!!!
Better luck as the afternoon wore on: I prepared a great little healthy dinner this evening. Broasted a chicken (the one that took soooo long to pay for at SuperCenter), fixed some brown rice, and steamed some great veggies: broccoli, cauliflower florets, and carrots. The rice and veggies were then put together and to serve as a beautiful colored bed for the chicken which I had seasoned highly with lemon pepper. A fresh loaf of Tuscan Boule bread....a round loaf.....and glasses of red medicine to assist with the digestion of this flavorful and perfectly prepared meal. Sooooo beautiful....and sooooo very delicious!!!
Tonight.....well, if you didn't catch on NBC the new series, "The Book of Daniel"....well, you need to catch up if you can!!!! Soooo good with sooooo many twists and some great humor. It reminds me of Desparate Housewives.......sooo many little stories swirling around each character in the show. This is one to try if you didn't see it.
Soooo, as I chuckle again from a few of the humorous lines in "The Book of Daniel", I will truthfully say......
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
So shortly after lunch I went to the SuperCenter to pick up a chicken and some cables to make another connection to my Tivo/cable box. I also had to make a payment on a monthly WM credit card bill, but when I went to the Service desk.....the line was HUGE. I waited for 35 minutes before I reached the counter and then their computer locked up!!! Soooo, I went on over and checked out and paid for my purchases and left......rather heated from the long wait in the line to pay for my chicken, etc., etc. I had to wait there for almost 30 minutes!!!!!! Over an hour of waiting in line!!!!
Then I had to pay the utility bill at the City Hall......and upon driving down the street to the office and looking around...there were NO parking spaces to be seen!!!! Soooo, off I went to the pharmacy and this time I was successful......her meds were there. And then it was back to the City Hall, where I found a place to park my huge towing machine..and got that bill paid. Amount of time spent???? Over two hours just to go across town and back.......DAMN!!!!!
Better luck as the afternoon wore on: I prepared a great little healthy dinner this evening. Broasted a chicken (the one that took soooo long to pay for at SuperCenter), fixed some brown rice, and steamed some great veggies: broccoli, cauliflower florets, and carrots. The rice and veggies were then put together and to serve as a beautiful colored bed for the chicken which I had seasoned highly with lemon pepper. A fresh loaf of Tuscan Boule bread....a round loaf.....and glasses of red medicine to assist with the digestion of this flavorful and perfectly prepared meal. Sooooo beautiful....and sooooo very delicious!!!
Tonight.....well, if you didn't catch on NBC the new series, "The Book of Daniel"....well, you need to catch up if you can!!!! Soooo good with sooooo many twists and some great humor. It reminds me of Desparate Housewives.......sooo many little stories swirling around each character in the show. This is one to try if you didn't see it.
Soooo, as I chuckle again from a few of the humorous lines in "The Book of Daniel", I will truthfully say......
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Gray and COLD!!
Wow....this is the type of weather that Missouri seems to have ALL winter long......GRAY..GRAY...GRAY...COLD! I really do dislike the winters here.
Met a former student this morning for coffee down in Fredericktown's "city center". We had a great conversation which covered many topics.....she is returning to Truman State University to do her Master's in Education.....music education. She is extremely talented and a very intelligent young lady who has always had her head on straight........I am so proud to be able to say that I was her teacher. She will be highly successful in any endeavor which she pursues!!!
This afternoon I reprogramed my TiVo so that the cable movie channels, which are part of our Charter cable plan, can be picked up by TiVo. As usual, this entire procedure took way toooooo much time to get completed, but what else do have but .......time???
It was a light weight supper tonight.......fresh cut veggies and a piping hot baked sweet potato with a glass of my dark red medicine to wash it down. I've GOT to reduce my food/fat/calorie intake...along with more exercise. I have somehow.....SOMEHOW....added 10 pounds to my sagging body since summer!!! UGH.....10 more pounds to SAG and HANG on this aging body......UGH!!!! Do NOT try to visualize that.....!!!
This evening I had to write a recommendation for one of my private music students......he is applying for the summer Missouri Scholars Academy. This took quite a bit of time......but I wanted it perfect as this young man is highly qualified for this Academy and it would be a very positive experience for him.
Then I had two different phone calls from former students who are/were high school band directors. One is in his second year of teaching band....and the other has been in education for 17 years and is now an Assistant HS Principal. It is always great to hear from both of them.....and the discussions with each of them centered around the news that a restaurant in Chicago was closing after 107 of serving incredibly good German food to thousands of people. We all three LOVE to eat there and we are all very upset that it will be closing. Not only do they have such excellent food, but they make their own DARK beer and it is soooooooo good. All of us are discussing making a run up to Chicago for a weekend next month to eat there ONE MORE TIME!! For those of you who are close by......it is the Berghoff Restaurant which is located right downtown about 1/2 block from the Palmer House hotel where we always stay when in town.
Soooo, today and this evening was much busier than I had anticipated.....and nothing wrong with that. I have all the time in the world. For those of you who have not yet retired, let me clue you in.......it is NOT retirement, but it is REBIRTH!!!
Sooooo, on that last statement it is obvious that I will say.......
Life is Great......and I sure hope it is for all of you, also!!
Met a former student this morning for coffee down in Fredericktown's "city center". We had a great conversation which covered many topics.....she is returning to Truman State University to do her Master's in Education.....music education. She is extremely talented and a very intelligent young lady who has always had her head on straight........I am so proud to be able to say that I was her teacher. She will be highly successful in any endeavor which she pursues!!!
This afternoon I reprogramed my TiVo so that the cable movie channels, which are part of our Charter cable plan, can be picked up by TiVo. As usual, this entire procedure took way toooooo much time to get completed, but what else do have but .......time???
It was a light weight supper tonight.......fresh cut veggies and a piping hot baked sweet potato with a glass of my dark red medicine to wash it down. I've GOT to reduce my food/fat/calorie intake...along with more exercise. I have somehow.....SOMEHOW....added 10 pounds to my sagging body since summer!!! UGH.....10 more pounds to SAG and HANG on this aging body......UGH!!!! Do NOT try to visualize that.....!!!
This evening I had to write a recommendation for one of my private music students......he is applying for the summer Missouri Scholars Academy. This took quite a bit of time......but I wanted it perfect as this young man is highly qualified for this Academy and it would be a very positive experience for him.
Then I had two different phone calls from former students who are/were high school band directors. One is in his second year of teaching band....and the other has been in education for 17 years and is now an Assistant HS Principal. It is always great to hear from both of them.....and the discussions with each of them centered around the news that a restaurant in Chicago was closing after 107 of serving incredibly good German food to thousands of people. We all three LOVE to eat there and we are all very upset that it will be closing. Not only do they have such excellent food, but they make their own DARK beer and it is soooooooo good. All of us are discussing making a run up to Chicago for a weekend next month to eat there ONE MORE TIME!! For those of you who are close by......it is the Berghoff Restaurant which is located right downtown about 1/2 block from the Palmer House hotel where we always stay when in town.
Soooo, today and this evening was much busier than I had anticipated.....and nothing wrong with that. I have all the time in the world. For those of you who have not yet retired, let me clue you in.......it is NOT retirement, but it is REBIRTH!!!
Sooooo, on that last statement it is obvious that I will say.......
Life is Great......and I sure hope it is for all of you, also!!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Put away day....whew!!
Wow....wlll all of this Christmas decoration crap EVER be completely put away for the next 11 months???? It is always this week after the Holidays that I keep thinking that I don't ever want to decorate for the Holidays again!!!!!! I finally finished boxing everything up and carrying ALL the storage boxes to the garage. Then.....well, TheHowserHouse had to be swept, mopped, hardwood floors cleaned, and area rugs "suctioned", as well as find all of the wall pictures/artwork and table do-dads that had been temporarily stored for the Holidays and put them where they belonged. UGH!!!!! What a day!
I spent another couple of hours today completing my TiVo setup and revising a few things on it. Still have to figure out why I can't get my "extra" movie channels.....think I need to reset the unit as I'm not certain I input that I have a digital cable box. Will have to check tomorrow......
Right now, I am watching the remaining part of the Rose Bowl.......and getting upset that Texas seems to be losing with only 2 minutes left to play. Doesn't look good as of this minute......
Been suffering from a pounding headache all day.....and by the time I finished the "put aways", it was becoming really difficult to put up with, so I cancelled my music students' lessons for this afternoon. Laid down and slept for an hour or so......woke up and it was dark. The 1st Lady came in.....fixed some potato soup....EXCELLENT.....and then began watching the game. The little man inside my balding head has finally decided to give it up......he isn't going to win in this battle for my senses!!!
Less than a minute left in the game......getting tight...and exciting. Sooooo, will watch the rest of the game.....and as always....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also.
I spent another couple of hours today completing my TiVo setup and revising a few things on it. Still have to figure out why I can't get my "extra" movie channels.....think I need to reset the unit as I'm not certain I input that I have a digital cable box. Will have to check tomorrow......
Right now, I am watching the remaining part of the Rose Bowl.......and getting upset that Texas seems to be losing with only 2 minutes left to play. Doesn't look good as of this minute......
Been suffering from a pounding headache all day.....and by the time I finished the "put aways", it was becoming really difficult to put up with, so I cancelled my music students' lessons for this afternoon. Laid down and slept for an hour or so......woke up and it was dark. The 1st Lady came in.....fixed some potato soup....EXCELLENT.....and then began watching the game. The little man inside my balding head has finally decided to give it up......he isn't going to win in this battle for my senses!!!
Less than a minute left in the game......getting tight...and exciting. Sooooo, will watch the rest of the game.....and as always....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
NOT in retirement mode today.....
Yeah......today was a BUSY day here on the home front at TheHowserHouse. Jay had left 5 dress shirts hanging in the laundry room when he left here on Saturday.....so old Dad had to get them mailed to him ASAP. He had washed them, so I ironed them and then headed to the Post Office to purchase one of their shipping boxes. It took me 30 minutes of standing in line just to buy the box!!! And then....back to the house to put the shirts in it and tape it up for shipping......and back to the Post Office to mail it......and ANOTHER 30 minute wait in line to get to get it weighed and postage attached. Did someone say the Christmas rush was over???? I think NOT!!!
From there to the SuperCenter to purchase some veggies for a salad for tonight. Home AGAIN....and it was time to get the Christmas tree taken apart and put away for another year. The 1st Lady had removed all the tree decorations and packed them away, however most of the other decorations inside had to be put away. That took some of the afternoon......and then.....it was time to study the diagrams and instructions to get the new TiVo hooked up and activated. UGH........just to activate it took almost 45 minutes on the tellie.....I HAD to talk to a human being about the gift subscriptions Dr. Jeni had given to us. Then came the job of hooking it up to the cable box and tv. Well.......AFTER I finally got the tv cabinet moved with the 197 lb tv on top of hit....I had to spend an hour just going thru all the cables and cords from the tv, the dvd player, the vcr player and the cable box.....DAMN!!! Oh yeah....there were still old cables/cords from the old monsterous satellite that came with the house when we bought it.......and they were snaked up behind the cabinet.
FINALLY......I got it all straightened out and began the job of hooking it up. Well......I AM technologically challenged, but......after reading the instructions ONE WORD AT A TIME and thinking about what they said.....I DID IT!!! However......I had no color on the screen when the Tivo was turned on and all of the downloading from the phone was completed. Sooooo....I redid it all again.....and then started reading on the TIVO website online and did that for a couple of hours attempting to locate my problem.
Fixed a quick salad for dinner.....pretty damn good....been missing those salads after all of the eating of rich Holiday foods (politically correct, huh??). Then after more reading, I called the Tivo Service Center and held onto the phone for 27 minutes before I reached a human. But.....I got the color problem corrected with changing one cord/cable around....the S-video cable needed to be changed.
Now....the volume on the Tivo remote does not work.....oh well. I can do without that and just use the tv remote when need be. I have programed a show for tomorrow to be recorded.....we'll see if it works!!
So, I am exhausted from all of this house cleaning and tech crap that took up the ENTIRE day. Didn't even get to take my 2 miles walk to the Lake and back....and it turned out to be a wonderful warm day.
Until tomorrow...........
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
From there to the SuperCenter to purchase some veggies for a salad for tonight. Home AGAIN....and it was time to get the Christmas tree taken apart and put away for another year. The 1st Lady had removed all the tree decorations and packed them away, however most of the other decorations inside had to be put away. That took some of the afternoon......and then.....it was time to study the diagrams and instructions to get the new TiVo hooked up and activated. UGH........just to activate it took almost 45 minutes on the tellie.....I HAD to talk to a human being about the gift subscriptions Dr. Jeni had given to us. Then came the job of hooking it up to the cable box and tv. Well.......AFTER I finally got the tv cabinet moved with the 197 lb tv on top of hit....I had to spend an hour just going thru all the cables and cords from the tv, the dvd player, the vcr player and the cable box.....DAMN!!! Oh yeah....there were still old cables/cords from the old monsterous satellite that came with the house when we bought it.......and they were snaked up behind the cabinet.
FINALLY......I got it all straightened out and began the job of hooking it up. Well......I AM technologically challenged, but......after reading the instructions ONE WORD AT A TIME and thinking about what they said.....I DID IT!!! However......I had no color on the screen when the Tivo was turned on and all of the downloading from the phone was completed. Sooooo....I redid it all again.....and then started reading on the TIVO website online and did that for a couple of hours attempting to locate my problem.
Fixed a quick salad for dinner.....pretty damn good....been missing those salads after all of the eating of rich Holiday foods (politically correct, huh??). Then after more reading, I called the Tivo Service Center and held onto the phone for 27 minutes before I reached a human. But.....I got the color problem corrected with changing one cord/cable around....the S-video cable needed to be changed.
Now....the volume on the Tivo remote does not work.....oh well. I can do without that and just use the tv remote when need be. I have programed a show for tomorrow to be recorded.....we'll see if it works!!
So, I am exhausted from all of this house cleaning and tech crap that took up the ENTIRE day. Didn't even get to take my 2 miles walk to the Lake and back....and it turned out to be a wonderful warm day.
Until tomorrow...........
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Monday, January 02, 2006
I've returned from cyberspace ISOLATION!!!
Yes....I am here...FINALLY!!! Having left TheHowserHouse on this past Friday morning, by that afternoon I found myself completely isolated from cyberspace AND from cell phone service that would allow me to use my phone to access the internet. I did have phone service, but only on "Extended Service" which would not allow me to get online thru the phone. My mother-in-law does not have a computer, hence no online access, and the damn Library in town will not allow a "non-citizen" of the community access to their internet and computers!!!!
So.....I found myself having drastic withdrawal problems as over several days I began to remember what it was like without online access AND a computer. It was HELL!! I had not taken my Fr. Roast coffee and so I had withdrawal problems with that, even tho coffee was available, but just not in the strength and flavor that keeps me going. What did I do during these days?????.......well, I found myself consoling myself by EATING and EATING and EATING and EATING!!!!! OMG, I am deathly afraid to step on the scales in the morning......my heart may not be able to withstand the shock.....and for that matter, the scales might be able to withstand the weight!!
I am now sitting here snacking on carrots after having eaten a bowl of instant oatmeal with blueberries. I am having strong desires to go finish up the wonderful cookies I made a few days ago......I am fighting the urges with all of my strength tonight......I hope to win this Battle of the Urges!!! HELP.......
Not being a technology guru, I am reading and studying the materials that came with my TiVo Christmas gift. I have found a TiVo forum on the internet that has TONS of info.......but, I am so lacking in tech vocabulary that I can't interpret what the forum questions and discussions are all about.....HAHAH!! Oh well......I will begin the hookup and activation process in the morning when I have had PLENTY of Fr. Roast coffee and have finished my internet newspaper reading......oh how I missed this daily dose of news! ADDICTION IS HELL!!!!
The weekend was OK. The 1st Lady and I went with her sister and brother and their spouses to a WONDERFUL restaurant on New Year's Eve. We go there every few years and we decided it was time to experience the fabulous flavors of their cuisine for a small new year celebration. The Pear Tree......is located 5 miles west of Macon, MO, in Bevier....a VERY small town of just a few hundred people. Saturday night there were probably more people who ate there than live in the whole town!
I HIGHLY recommend all of you who are in this area to have dinner there.....VERY HIGHLY recommend!!!! It is undoubtedly the top restaurant north of the I-70 corridor that goes across the center of the state. Bevier is on Hwy 36 which runs across the top of MO from Hannibal to St. Joseph, MO. Don't go without ordering their incredible Onion Rings and their Crab Rangoon for appetizers.....WOW!!! The 1st Lady had her usual when we eat there: Batter Fried Lobster....the large order....and I had the large Filet Mignon, which we then shared with each other. OMG, but both items are just unbelieveable........my mouth is watering right now as I write this. Now.....as you probably expect, this is not an inexpensive place to eat. I think our total, which also included a drink for each of us and then we shared a dessert ice cream with hot fudge, came to $89.00 not counting tip. WELL WORTH EVERY CENT!!! Again.....have dinner there!
We found ourselves playing Mexican Train game (with dominoes) every night with other family members and having a great time doing so. That game is fun....and is never the same twice!!! The more I play, the more I want to play it.
Soooo, I am back.....and I will try to be sure you "get your money's worth" Doug and Juanita....hahha!! I am going to bring this little page of my verbal ramblings to a close......and go get some more carrots. And.....as always with me.....
Life is GREAT.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!! (Happy New Year to all of you!!!!)
So.....I found myself having drastic withdrawal problems as over several days I began to remember what it was like without online access AND a computer. It was HELL!! I had not taken my Fr. Roast coffee and so I had withdrawal problems with that, even tho coffee was available, but just not in the strength and flavor that keeps me going. What did I do during these days?????.......well, I found myself consoling myself by EATING and EATING and EATING and EATING!!!!! OMG, I am deathly afraid to step on the scales in the morning......my heart may not be able to withstand the shock.....and for that matter, the scales might be able to withstand the weight!!
I am now sitting here snacking on carrots after having eaten a bowl of instant oatmeal with blueberries. I am having strong desires to go finish up the wonderful cookies I made a few days ago......I am fighting the urges with all of my strength tonight......I hope to win this Battle of the Urges!!! HELP.......
Not being a technology guru, I am reading and studying the materials that came with my TiVo Christmas gift. I have found a TiVo forum on the internet that has TONS of info.......but, I am so lacking in tech vocabulary that I can't interpret what the forum questions and discussions are all about.....HAHAH!! Oh well......I will begin the hookup and activation process in the morning when I have had PLENTY of Fr. Roast coffee and have finished my internet newspaper reading......oh how I missed this daily dose of news! ADDICTION IS HELL!!!!
The weekend was OK. The 1st Lady and I went with her sister and brother and their spouses to a WONDERFUL restaurant on New Year's Eve. We go there every few years and we decided it was time to experience the fabulous flavors of their cuisine for a small new year celebration. The Pear Tree......is located 5 miles west of Macon, MO, in Bevier....a VERY small town of just a few hundred people. Saturday night there were probably more people who ate there than live in the whole town!
I HIGHLY recommend all of you who are in this area to have dinner there.....VERY HIGHLY recommend!!!! It is undoubtedly the top restaurant north of the I-70 corridor that goes across the center of the state. Bevier is on Hwy 36 which runs across the top of MO from Hannibal to St. Joseph, MO. Don't go without ordering their incredible Onion Rings and their Crab Rangoon for appetizers.....WOW!!! The 1st Lady had her usual when we eat there: Batter Fried Lobster....the large order....and I had the large Filet Mignon, which we then shared with each other. OMG, but both items are just unbelieveable........my mouth is watering right now as I write this. Now.....as you probably expect, this is not an inexpensive place to eat. I think our total, which also included a drink for each of us and then we shared a dessert ice cream with hot fudge, came to $89.00 not counting tip. WELL WORTH EVERY CENT!!! Again.....have dinner there!
We found ourselves playing Mexican Train game (with dominoes) every night with other family members and having a great time doing so. That game is fun....and is never the same twice!!! The more I play, the more I want to play it.
Soooo, I am back.....and I will try to be sure you "get your money's worth" Doug and Juanita....hahha!! I am going to bring this little page of my verbal ramblings to a close......and go get some more carrots. And.....as always with me.....
Life is GREAT.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!! (Happy New Year to all of you!!!!)
Thursday, December 29, 2005
OMG....those "White Russians" really did me in!!
Hmmmm....let's see....how old am I???? At age 62+ you would think that I would KNOW not to take on sooooo many of those White Russians all at one time!!!!! They beat the hell out of me....it took me most of the day to recover from that onslaught of those Russians last night.....whew.....and my head is still pounding from them. Of course......those Russians were followed by a bottle of champagne for the 1st Lady and I to celebrate the downing of them, so the celebration just simply DID ME IN!!!! HAHAHA......live and learn John Howser!!! But......the 1st Lady fought the battle with them also.....all night long......but she didn't get "hit" as hard as I did, so she recovered quicker than I......could it be that she is 3.5 years younger than I am????? SURE......that IS it!
I stayed in a chair or on a sofa most of the day. Then this afternoon we watched the DVD..."Cinderella Man". WOW....what an intense ending to this movie. If you haven't seen it......it is worth renting. The "extras" that are on the DVD.....watch them, also......as there are some interesting details there as far as the history of the REAL man. I really, really enjoyed the full DVD of this movie!!
This evening we are preparing to head to NE Missouri, just west of Hannibal, to spend the weekend with the 1st Lady's mother. Her sister is coming over from Highland, KS, so we will have a couple of days together to visit and talk about our own respective Christmas Days.
When I am go up there I am in a cyberspace void......I cannot get cell phone service which means no blog posting unless I can piggyback onto someone's WiFi around town. It is just being isolated on some desert island or out in a Survivor jungle........it is hard to survive without my daily dose of international newspapers and writing this little cyber-diary.
I threw together some of my oh-sooo-good cookies that I baked prior to Christmas.....plan to take them with us for the weekend. Jeremy/Jay is still here with us.....he took the entire week off from the campaign he is running in SW Indiana.......it is a Congressional candidate's campaign that he is the manager of. He has some New Year's parties to attend in St Louis Saturday, so he is staying here at the house. He plans to return to Evansville Sunday afternoon from STL.
Well, for all of you that are daily readers of this journalistic journey......just in case I can't get online, I hope that everyone has a safe....a fun....and a very Happy New Year!!!! And, as always.......
Life is GREAT.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
I stayed in a chair or on a sofa most of the day. Then this afternoon we watched the DVD..."Cinderella Man". WOW....what an intense ending to this movie. If you haven't seen it......it is worth renting. The "extras" that are on the DVD.....watch them, also......as there are some interesting details there as far as the history of the REAL man. I really, really enjoyed the full DVD of this movie!!
This evening we are preparing to head to NE Missouri, just west of Hannibal, to spend the weekend with the 1st Lady's mother. Her sister is coming over from Highland, KS, so we will have a couple of days together to visit and talk about our own respective Christmas Days.
When I am go up there I am in a cyberspace void......I cannot get cell phone service which means no blog posting unless I can piggyback onto someone's WiFi around town. It is just being isolated on some desert island or out in a Survivor jungle........it is hard to survive without my daily dose of international newspapers and writing this little cyber-diary.
I threw together some of my oh-sooo-good cookies that I baked prior to Christmas.....plan to take them with us for the weekend. Jeremy/Jay is still here with us.....he took the entire week off from the campaign he is running in SW Indiana.......it is a Congressional candidate's campaign that he is the manager of. He has some New Year's parties to attend in St Louis Saturday, so he is staying here at the house. He plans to return to Evansville Sunday afternoon from STL.
Well, for all of you that are daily readers of this journalistic journey......just in case I can't get online, I hope that everyone has a safe....a fun....and a very Happy New Year!!!! And, as always.......
Life is GREAT.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Oh yeah....Our 34th Anniversary!!
Yep......34 years ago today we were married in Linn, Missouri. Today, after 34 years was just another day......nothing special except we are still together and with the culture being as it is.....that is something special!!
I ran Rachel up to STL this afternoon. Going to STL is a weekly event, if not more often than that, so those 80 miles are a piece of cake. Sometimes we have driven up there just for a nice dinner.......I think our average is twice each week. Should we move up there......???.....that is a thought that flows thru our heads more and more often these days.
When I returned, a friend of ours who lives across the street called and said to come on over......to celebrate the anniversary. Sooooooo, after several....well, MORE than several....White Russian drinks, some champaign and several hours of playing games with friends, we made our way across the street (NOT an easy task by this time), and here I am........blogging away. This will be short........I am not typing as accurately as usual.
Sooooo.......as usual ( and even after 34 years of being "hitched").....
Life is Great.......and I hope for all of you, also!!
I ran Rachel up to STL this afternoon. Going to STL is a weekly event, if not more often than that, so those 80 miles are a piece of cake. Sometimes we have driven up there just for a nice dinner.......I think our average is twice each week. Should we move up there......???.....that is a thought that flows thru our heads more and more often these days.
When I returned, a friend of ours who lives across the street called and said to come on over......to celebrate the anniversary. Sooooooo, after several....well, MORE than several....White Russian drinks, some champaign and several hours of playing games with friends, we made our way across the street (NOT an easy task by this time), and here I am........blogging away. This will be short........I am not typing as accurately as usual.
Sooooo.......as usual ( and even after 34 years of being "hitched").....
Life is Great.......and I hope for all of you, also!!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Survival of the fitest!!! (Is that me??)
Hey......the virus MAY have left the stick/brick HowserHouse!!!! Dr Jeni is the last one to become ill.......and she has recovered during this morning's hours......and she and her family have left for Hot Springs, AR for a brief vacation. HOPEFULLY, Meghan and little Ava will not catch it!!!!! They have not shown any signs.....and neither has Rachel, who is still with the 1st Lady and myself. And.....I am still going strong!! Wow......does age make one immune???? HAHAHA......I had better keep my damn mouth shut.....the little virus may jump inside while it is open and bite me yet!
Today has been a mess attempting to sort out the multitude of toys and gifts the granddaughters received Christmas morning.....they were EVERYWHERE. And, of course, if one little "person or animal" from some play set was missing, THEY knew it!! But....hopefully, they are all sorted and the toys belonging to Meghan left with her and Rachel's stayed with us.
I spent part of this afternoon installing my new XM radio into my truck. Of course, I also received the "boom box" that it fits into for use in thehowserhouse...either one!! Anyone who doesn't have this "pay radio" has no idea how MUCH they are missing!!!!!!!!!!! It is incredible....fantastic.....PERFECT!! WOW.....the sound is sooo great in the truck, running through its speakers!!! And, the "boom box" speakers aren't too bad either.....sounds pretty good. Jeremy gave me the XM radio for the truck, and the 1st Lady gave me the boom box......they did this together for Christmas.
Tomorrow.....well, hopefully I can get our new TiVo installed and set up and connected CORRECTLY!!! Looking forward to having it........it was a gift from Darrel and the good dentist, Jeni. We are becoming the owners of soooooooo much communications technology........hope I can keep it all straight...haha!! One more item left to get.......a new Plasma TV for the remodeled family room/entertainment corner. But...not until we get it completed....soon I hope.
We took Rachel to see "The Chronicles of Narnia" (sp??) this evening. It was pretty good........think Rachel really liked it, probably better than I did, but it was ok!! We will be taking Rachel home tomorrow......she has had a really good time...even today after Meghan left she enjoyed playing with her gifts/toy/books this afteroon.
Soooo, hopefully the virus departed......and with that......
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also.
Today has been a mess attempting to sort out the multitude of toys and gifts the granddaughters received Christmas morning.....they were EVERYWHERE. And, of course, if one little "person or animal" from some play set was missing, THEY knew it!! But....hopefully, they are all sorted and the toys belonging to Meghan left with her and Rachel's stayed with us.
I spent part of this afternoon installing my new XM radio into my truck. Of course, I also received the "boom box" that it fits into for use in thehowserhouse...either one!! Anyone who doesn't have this "pay radio" has no idea how MUCH they are missing!!!!!!!!!!! It is incredible....fantastic.....PERFECT!! WOW.....the sound is sooo great in the truck, running through its speakers!!! And, the "boom box" speakers aren't too bad either.....sounds pretty good. Jeremy gave me the XM radio for the truck, and the 1st Lady gave me the boom box......they did this together for Christmas.
Tomorrow.....well, hopefully I can get our new TiVo installed and set up and connected CORRECTLY!!! Looking forward to having it........it was a gift from Darrel and the good dentist, Jeni. We are becoming the owners of soooooooo much communications technology........hope I can keep it all straight...haha!! One more item left to get.......a new Plasma TV for the remodeled family room/entertainment corner. But...not until we get it completed....soon I hope.
We took Rachel to see "The Chronicles of Narnia" (sp??) this evening. It was pretty good........think Rachel really liked it, probably better than I did, but it was ok!! We will be taking Rachel home tomorrow......she has had a really good time...even today after Meghan left she enjoyed playing with her gifts/toy/books this afteroon.
Soooo, hopefully the virus departed......and with that......
Life is Great......and I hope for all of you, also.
Monday, December 26, 2005
TheHowserHospitalHouse!!!!!
Who's NEXT????? About 2AM this morning, Dr. Jeni started running to the necessary room FREQUENTLY.....all night and most of the morning. I had to call and cancel our early morning visit from Dr. Bentinganan (Vimille) and his wife and 2 month old daughter. Just didn't think it was advisable for them to be exposed to this damn virus that is attacking those who enter our house, even though I REALLY wanted to see and visit with them!!! I was first exposed to this last Thursday night, so I'm HOPING I have missed this, but just watch......it will probably hit me within the hour....hahaha! Hmmmm...why am I laughing????
Soooo, today has just been step over toys as you go through the house, make certain that you have reservations in the necessary rooms for an extended period of time if need be, and stay away from anyone that is ill. Other than that....???
I did take a two mile walk this afternoon.....needed the excercise and needed to get some FRESH air. It was a beautiful warm day and the walk to the city lake was quiet (except for a couple of barking dogs along the way). I kept looking for the bald eagles that return to the lake shore each year, but didn't see either one of the today.
I also began to read the instructions for hooking up the TiVo that we received for Christmas. Looks easier than learning how to operate the thing.......we'll see. I have to get a phone line run from the bedroom into the family room....not difficult....just need to purchase a longer cable/cord to use. Hope to get it "wired" up through our pc router, which is possible if I have the correct equipment.
Soooo, we will see who is next tonight........and even tho we have a violent virus in TheHowserHouse.....
Life is Good......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Soooo, today has just been step over toys as you go through the house, make certain that you have reservations in the necessary rooms for an extended period of time if need be, and stay away from anyone that is ill. Other than that....???
I did take a two mile walk this afternoon.....needed the excercise and needed to get some FRESH air. It was a beautiful warm day and the walk to the city lake was quiet (except for a couple of barking dogs along the way). I kept looking for the bald eagles that return to the lake shore each year, but didn't see either one of the today.
I also began to read the instructions for hooking up the TiVo that we received for Christmas. Looks easier than learning how to operate the thing.......we'll see. I have to get a phone line run from the bedroom into the family room....not difficult....just need to purchase a longer cable/cord to use. Hope to get it "wired" up through our pc router, which is possible if I have the correct equipment.
Soooo, we will see who is next tonight........and even tho we have a violent virus in TheHowserHouse.....
Life is Good......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
TheHowserHospitalHouse!!!!!
Who's NEXT????? About 2AM this morning, Dr. Jeni started running to the necessary room FREQUENTLY.....all night and most of the morning. I had to call and cancel our early morning visit from Dr. Bentinganan (Vimille) and his wife and 2 month old daughter. Just didn't think it was advisable for them to be exposed to this damn virus that is attacking those who enter our house, even though I REALLY wanted to see and visit with them!!! I was first exposed to this last Thursday night, so I'm HOPING I have missed this, but just watch......it will probably hit me within the hour....hahaha! Hmmmm...why am I laughing????
Soooo, today has just been step over toys as you go through the house, make certain that you have reservations in the necessary rooms for an extended period of time if need be, and stay away from anyone that is ill. Other than that....???
I did take a two mile walk this afternoon.....needed the excercise and needed to get some FRESH air. It was a beautiful warm day and the walk to the city lake was quiet (except for a couple of barking dogs along the way). I kept looking for the bald eagles that return to the lake shore each year, but didn't see either one of the today.
I also began to read the instructions for hooking up the TiVo that we received for Christmas. Looks easier than learning how to operate the thing.......we'll see. I have to get a phone line run from the bedroom into the family room....not difficult....just need to purchase a longer cable/cord to use. Hope to get it "wired" up through our pc router, which is possible if I have the correct equipment.
Soooo, we will see who is next tonight........and even tho we have a violent virus in TheHowserHouse.....
Life is Good......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Soooo, today has just been step over toys as you go through the house, make certain that you have reservations in the necessary rooms for an extended period of time if need be, and stay away from anyone that is ill. Other than that....???
I did take a two mile walk this afternoon.....needed the excercise and needed to get some FRESH air. It was a beautiful warm day and the walk to the city lake was quiet (except for a couple of barking dogs along the way). I kept looking for the bald eagles that return to the lake shore each year, but didn't see either one of the today.
I also began to read the instructions for hooking up the TiVo that we received for Christmas. Looks easier than learning how to operate the thing.......we'll see. I have to get a phone line run from the bedroom into the family room....not difficult....just need to purchase a longer cable/cord to use. Hope to get it "wired" up through our pc router, which is possible if I have the correct equipment.
Soooo, we will see who is next tonight........and even tho we have a violent virus in TheHowserHouse.....
Life is Good......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Christmas Day.....
Merry Christmas Day and Happy Holidays to all!! I've posted a few pictures from this morning in TheHowserHouse (stick and brick) so those of you who know us will see our morning here. One depressing item.....Dr. Jeni's husband (Darrel) now has the intestinal virus.....just GREAT news!!!! The little Christmas virus is calling on our family and leaving not-so-nice little gifts for us.....hehehe. Oh well........on the positive side, it is a GREAT way to lose some of the Christmas Calories!!!!!
More later....
As is quite evident, for the three little ones, it was Christmas Chaos for about an hour this morning as the gift paper and ribbons were ripped and went flying as the excited trio of girls....well..only two of them.....tore into all of the packages. It was great fun for them....and the rest of us.....as this exciting riot continued until all of the gifts had been opened. And then the fun began as the toys began to be explored and played with.....which continued throughout the day until about 8:30pm this evening. Then......they fell into bed and were gone in a few brief moments.
Santa was good to the 1st Lady and I as I got an XM Radio for the truck/car and for the house also. Then we received a TIVO unit......something we had discussed purchasing for the last couple of months. I got the radio up and running here in the house......and tomorrow will begin on the TIVO. Beginning to feel like we are beginning to catch up on some of the technology toys......finally!!!! Now....if I can just keep it all going...and keep all of the "stuff" that comes with it organized and plugged in. It was a good Christmas Day!!
Medical update: Darrel seems to be reviving after spending 90% of the day in bed....or in the necessary room......and it WAS necessary.....hahaha!! He is now on the sofa watching some movies on the tellie with us......we have about given up trying to spray Lysol and wipe everything down each time someone breathes in this house. Everytime one of us feels a little twinge......the others move away from that person...hahaha!! Nothing like being isolated in your own house!!
We are having a "house call" at 8AM tomorrow from a medical doctor!!! Yep.....the doc called tonight and said he would be here in the morning for an hour's appointment.......Dr. Vimille Bentinganan. He is a former student of mine....an excellent trumpet player, piano player and singer, and I'm sure will be an excellent physician. He and his wife and daughter currently live in Chicago. Perhaps he can offer advice to whichever one of us is ill by tomorrow morning.....hahaa!! I haven't seen him for a couple of years.....so am anxious to have a chat with him and his family. A few short years ago, I took off from teaching and flew to the Philippine Islands where he was married and did the music for the ceremony........a wonderful time with his family and just being together in the Philippines!! Ahhhh....such great memories and experiences during that week in that beautiful country!!!!!!! Sure is great to have these former students wander and weave in and out of my Life.......amazes me how many keep, or get, in touch with me so often.......it is great fun and very rewarding!!!!
Well......I need to get a cup of hot tea and it is like running through an obstacle course to go through one room to another with all of the toys EVERYWHERE!!! But......that is part of Christmas. The house cleaning can come later.......it is not important at this point in time. The granddaughters come first.....always!
And sooooo..........
Life is GREAT on this Christmas Day......and I certainly hope it is for all of you, also!!
More later....
As is quite evident, for the three little ones, it was Christmas Chaos for about an hour this morning as the gift paper and ribbons were ripped and went flying as the excited trio of girls....well..only two of them.....tore into all of the packages. It was great fun for them....and the rest of us.....as this exciting riot continued until all of the gifts had been opened. And then the fun began as the toys began to be explored and played with.....which continued throughout the day until about 8:30pm this evening. Then......they fell into bed and were gone in a few brief moments.
Santa was good to the 1st Lady and I as I got an XM Radio for the truck/car and for the house also. Then we received a TIVO unit......something we had discussed purchasing for the last couple of months. I got the radio up and running here in the house......and tomorrow will begin on the TIVO. Beginning to feel like we are beginning to catch up on some of the technology toys......finally!!!! Now....if I can just keep it all going...and keep all of the "stuff" that comes with it organized and plugged in. It was a good Christmas Day!!
Medical update: Darrel seems to be reviving after spending 90% of the day in bed....or in the necessary room......and it WAS necessary.....hahaha!! He is now on the sofa watching some movies on the tellie with us......we have about given up trying to spray Lysol and wipe everything down each time someone breathes in this house. Everytime one of us feels a little twinge......the others move away from that person...hahaha!! Nothing like being isolated in your own house!!
We are having a "house call" at 8AM tomorrow from a medical doctor!!! Yep.....the doc called tonight and said he would be here in the morning for an hour's appointment.......Dr. Vimille Bentinganan. He is a former student of mine....an excellent trumpet player, piano player and singer, and I'm sure will be an excellent physician. He and his wife and daughter currently live in Chicago. Perhaps he can offer advice to whichever one of us is ill by tomorrow morning.....hahaa!! I haven't seen him for a couple of years.....so am anxious to have a chat with him and his family. A few short years ago, I took off from teaching and flew to the Philippine Islands where he was married and did the music for the ceremony........a wonderful time with his family and just being together in the Philippines!! Ahhhh....such great memories and experiences during that week in that beautiful country!!!!!!! Sure is great to have these former students wander and weave in and out of my Life.......amazes me how many keep, or get, in touch with me so often.......it is great fun and very rewarding!!!!
Well......I need to get a cup of hot tea and it is like running through an obstacle course to go through one room to another with all of the toys EVERYWHERE!!! But......that is part of Christmas. The house cleaning can come later.......it is not important at this point in time. The granddaughters come first.....always!
And sooooo..........
Life is GREAT on this Christmas Day......and I certainly hope it is for all of you, also!!
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Twas the night before Christmas.....finally!!
The 1st Lady has recovered....not 100%, but about 85%......time will take care of the other 15% ....probably by tomorrow!! After a couple of cups of hot Fr. Roast, I made an errand run. First I had to pick up a Bean Bag for one of Rachel's gifts......the one we ordered was way tooooooo little, so it will go back to Penny's. Yesterday I called the local furniture store, and yes....they did have one left, so I had them put my name on it, and told them I would pick it up today. Soooo, as man of my word, I did!!! Then it was off to SuperCenter for some last minute items for tomorrow's dinner. The place was PACKED!!!! The lines were long and so I was gone longer than I intended to be. But......I got everything that was needed.....I think.
Then just before I was to go see Mike and pick up Rachel in Bonne Terre, the 1st Lady decided to go instead. Therefore, the afternoon was spent just hanging out around the stick/brick and waiting for the day to end. Jeremy was here also so we watched a couple of movie DVD's.
Rachel and Grammy returned early evening and now the waiting begins for the Moser family to arrive. Knowing them as well as we do, it will probably be midnight before they make it down here. Oh well......nothing new as they are always late for everything.
The lights will have to go out soon as I am certain that Santa will be descending upon our roof before toooo much longer........the girls will be every excited all night......and as usual,
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!!!!
Then just before I was to go see Mike and pick up Rachel in Bonne Terre, the 1st Lady decided to go instead. Therefore, the afternoon was spent just hanging out around the stick/brick and waiting for the day to end. Jeremy was here also so we watched a couple of movie DVD's.
Rachel and Grammy returned early evening and now the waiting begins for the Moser family to arrive. Knowing them as well as we do, it will probably be midnight before they make it down here. Oh well......nothing new as they are always late for everything.
The lights will have to go out soon as I am certain that Santa will be descending upon our roof before toooo much longer........the girls will be every excited all night......and as usual,
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!!!!
Friday, December 23, 2005
Twas the night before the night before Christmas....
Yep....one more day, tomorrow, to get things done in preparation for the annual Christmas celebration and gift giving.......the BIG DAY for all of the little ones awaiting the arrival during the night of the large man in the red suit.
But....today the man in the red suit came a bit early in Eldon, MO. I left here about 6:15 AM, drove to St Louis and picked up our granddaughter Rachel, and then drove on out to Eldon to spend the day with the "ever ready battery"....my 92 year old mother. The 1st Lady was still tooo sick to make the trip, however, our son Jeremy, drove over from Evansville, IN, to join the family. My sister and her s.o.(significant other), my niece and her daughter,and plus her mother-in-law, and later a former student of mine all gathered at the little house where my sister and I grew up and where my mother as lived for over 50 years.
A HUGE order of pizzas and breadsticks were brought in for munching at our luncheon prior to the opening of gifts. But....the best part of the day was the visiting and laughing and telling of stories of recent and long ago times. Mom does soooooo well for 92......I actually believe her mind is sharper and more accurate than my mind is right now!!! While she loves to look at the thousands of pictures she has accumulated over the many years, she is also VERY, VERY up-to-date with the goings and comings of ALL of her family and their friends.......and all with a wonderful open mind to everyone's lives and problems.....nothing shocks her at this age because she has seen and experienced soooo much since 1913. She is a rare jewel that can never be replaced.......a real "one of a kind"!!!
By late afternoon, the small house had suddenly become a bit larger as little by little the many talkative occupants began to drift back to their own dwellings........many with things to get done before Dec. 25th. Jeremy left for Fredericktown prior to Rachel and I.....and he did get down here before I did. I came back through STL to drop off Rachel, and then grabbed a Starbucks grande cappuccino before turning south for our little town in the valley. By the time I got back down here I had driven over 450 miles, visited for about six hours, and ate toooo much pizza.
The 1st Lady's tummy flu urged on a LARGE migraine sometime today and so she was in bed STILL when I arrived back home about 8:30pm. Hope she gets better by morning......as there are some presents to be wrapped, and THAT is not my forte!!!! But.....it will just take her some time to recover from a severe bout of the intestinal flu AND a huge migraine.
Sooooo, my sagging old body is dragging as well as sagging, so I will close this little report, and as usual........
LIFE IS GREAT......and I hope for all of you, too!!! Don't forget: Success comes in Cans, Failure comes in Can'ts!!!
But....today the man in the red suit came a bit early in Eldon, MO. I left here about 6:15 AM, drove to St Louis and picked up our granddaughter Rachel, and then drove on out to Eldon to spend the day with the "ever ready battery"....my 92 year old mother. The 1st Lady was still tooo sick to make the trip, however, our son Jeremy, drove over from Evansville, IN, to join the family. My sister and her s.o.(significant other), my niece and her daughter,and plus her mother-in-law, and later a former student of mine all gathered at the little house where my sister and I grew up and where my mother as lived for over 50 years.
A HUGE order of pizzas and breadsticks were brought in for munching at our luncheon prior to the opening of gifts. But....the best part of the day was the visiting and laughing and telling of stories of recent and long ago times. Mom does soooooo well for 92......I actually believe her mind is sharper and more accurate than my mind is right now!!! While she loves to look at the thousands of pictures she has accumulated over the many years, she is also VERY, VERY up-to-date with the goings and comings of ALL of her family and their friends.......and all with a wonderful open mind to everyone's lives and problems.....nothing shocks her at this age because she has seen and experienced soooo much since 1913. She is a rare jewel that can never be replaced.......a real "one of a kind"!!!
By late afternoon, the small house had suddenly become a bit larger as little by little the many talkative occupants began to drift back to their own dwellings........many with things to get done before Dec. 25th. Jeremy left for Fredericktown prior to Rachel and I.....and he did get down here before I did. I came back through STL to drop off Rachel, and then grabbed a Starbucks grande cappuccino before turning south for our little town in the valley. By the time I got back down here I had driven over 450 miles, visited for about six hours, and ate toooo much pizza.
The 1st Lady's tummy flu urged on a LARGE migraine sometime today and so she was in bed STILL when I arrived back home about 8:30pm. Hope she gets better by morning......as there are some presents to be wrapped, and THAT is not my forte!!!! But.....it will just take her some time to recover from a severe bout of the intestinal flu AND a huge migraine.
Sooooo, my sagging old body is dragging as well as sagging, so I will close this little report, and as usual........
LIFE IS GREAT......and I hope for all of you, too!!! Don't forget: Success comes in Cans, Failure comes in Can'ts!!!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Twas 3 nights before Christmas.....
Yep.....the BIG day is fast approaching and the little ones are getting more and more excited!! Our granddaughters have put in a very special request: At Rachel's and at Meghan/Ava's houses, Santa will make an early arrival.....arriving sometime on Friday night at their respective houses. Soooo, tomorrow night is their "Christmas Eve".......and then on Saturday, they will all come to our house and spend Christmas Eve night here so we will all be together on Christmas morning/day.
Tomorrow, the 1st Lady and I plan to go to Eldon to spend the day with my mother. We will pick up Rachel in StL and take her with us, BUT.....she has to be back home early in the evening to get ready for Santa to come. Now......a few plans may change as the 1st Lady seems to have allowed a tiny bug into her system.....and she has a big of the tummy bug which is keeping her busy running to the "necessary" room. She is NOT feeling well......it seems to have started around 7pm with not-so-good feelings.....and then it progressed to nausea....MAJOR nausea!! Hope she gets better quickly, but I know doubt that she will make the trip tomorrow. Just hope it isn't "catching"!!!!
Today flew by very quickly......finished cleaning the house and getting things ready for the weekend. The 1st Lady returned from the Moser Estate this afternoon, after a few shopping stops in STL. We went through many pictures that I have stored on my picture program........it is getting really, really full, so decided to transfer many pics to CDs for storage. That took some time!!!!
Then we just watched a bit of the tellie......prior to her getting sick. Guess I will close this for now......she needs to me to do a couple of things for her........and as usual.....
Life is Great(except for the 1st Lady this evening)......and I hope it is good for all of you, also.
Tomorrow, the 1st Lady and I plan to go to Eldon to spend the day with my mother. We will pick up Rachel in StL and take her with us, BUT.....she has to be back home early in the evening to get ready for Santa to come. Now......a few plans may change as the 1st Lady seems to have allowed a tiny bug into her system.....and she has a big of the tummy bug which is keeping her busy running to the "necessary" room. She is NOT feeling well......it seems to have started around 7pm with not-so-good feelings.....and then it progressed to nausea....MAJOR nausea!! Hope she gets better quickly, but I know doubt that she will make the trip tomorrow. Just hope it isn't "catching"!!!!
Today flew by very quickly......finished cleaning the house and getting things ready for the weekend. The 1st Lady returned from the Moser Estate this afternoon, after a few shopping stops in STL. We went through many pictures that I have stored on my picture program........it is getting really, really full, so decided to transfer many pics to CDs for storage. That took some time!!!!
Then we just watched a bit of the tellie......prior to her getting sick. Guess I will close this for now......she needs to me to do a couple of things for her........and as usual.....
Life is Great(except for the 1st Lady this evening)......and I hope it is good for all of you, also.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Hmmm.....warmer in SE Missouri!!!!
Yeah....it got up to around 45 degrees today!!!!! And the forecast is for more of the same for the next 2-3 days....and possibly warmer than today. Ok.....this is more like it, especially since today was the first day of winter!! NOT ME.....I will NOT complain.
Well, I stayed awake last night, or rather in the wee hours of this morning, reading.......not sure how I did it because usually the moment my head hits a pillow, I pass out. However, I did read quite a bit last night and then I didn't get up until a not so early time this morning. Sooo, my morning passed with a hot cup of Fr Roast in my hand, reading the newspapers and checking my email.
This afternoon.....well, I had watched the Paula Dean show on the Food Network the other day and she made some cookies that really looked and sounded great. Soooo, I went to the SuperCenter, picked up some "cookie supplies" and came back and within an hour, the counters were a mess.....and there were about 4 dozen cookies on platters.....tempting me. Yeah.....they are REALLY good. TOOOO good.....at least for my calorie intake.....hahaha. But, I had to taste them from time to time to see if they were holding up laying there on those Christmas cooke platters........wanted them to not crumble, not get wimpy, etc., etc. Soooo, they had to be tested at various times during the remainder of the day!!
The 1st Lady remained at the Moser Estate today and tonight. She, too, decided to do some baking for Dr. Jeni and family and thought she would just hang out there tonight. Called a couple of times for me to read a couple of recipes over the phone for her to write down.......
This evening I pan cooked a cube steak......not anything fancy by all means, but I haven't cooked on for a LONG, LONG time. Threw some garlic cloves into the pan, floured the meat, and then seasoned the glorified hamburger. I also cut up a large portabello mushroom and threw it into the pan along with the meat.....and, WOW....were they ever great. I sliced off a big slice of Tuscan bread......a rather crusty and course bread that is fantastic!!! Put a dollop of Dijon mustard on the bread, laid the garlic encrusted steak on the bread, poured a glass of the dark red medicine and had a great meal!!!! Of course........afterwards I fixed a cup of steaming tea and tested the cookies ........again.
Soooo, with nothing on the tellie tonight, I spent most of the evening in relative quiet.......reading a novel. And now......the midnight hour approachth....and my eyes are giving out from all of the strain of reading recipes, a novel, and a bit of the tellie. And as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope is for all of you, also!!!!
Well, I stayed awake last night, or rather in the wee hours of this morning, reading.......not sure how I did it because usually the moment my head hits a pillow, I pass out. However, I did read quite a bit last night and then I didn't get up until a not so early time this morning. Sooo, my morning passed with a hot cup of Fr Roast in my hand, reading the newspapers and checking my email.
This afternoon.....well, I had watched the Paula Dean show on the Food Network the other day and she made some cookies that really looked and sounded great. Soooo, I went to the SuperCenter, picked up some "cookie supplies" and came back and within an hour, the counters were a mess.....and there were about 4 dozen cookies on platters.....tempting me. Yeah.....they are REALLY good. TOOOO good.....at least for my calorie intake.....hahaha. But, I had to taste them from time to time to see if they were holding up laying there on those Christmas cooke platters........wanted them to not crumble, not get wimpy, etc., etc. Soooo, they had to be tested at various times during the remainder of the day!!
The 1st Lady remained at the Moser Estate today and tonight. She, too, decided to do some baking for Dr. Jeni and family and thought she would just hang out there tonight. Called a couple of times for me to read a couple of recipes over the phone for her to write down.......
This evening I pan cooked a cube steak......not anything fancy by all means, but I haven't cooked on for a LONG, LONG time. Threw some garlic cloves into the pan, floured the meat, and then seasoned the glorified hamburger. I also cut up a large portabello mushroom and threw it into the pan along with the meat.....and, WOW....were they ever great. I sliced off a big slice of Tuscan bread......a rather crusty and course bread that is fantastic!!! Put a dollop of Dijon mustard on the bread, laid the garlic encrusted steak on the bread, poured a glass of the dark red medicine and had a great meal!!!! Of course........afterwards I fixed a cup of steaming tea and tested the cookies ........again.
Soooo, with nothing on the tellie tonight, I spent most of the evening in relative quiet.......reading a novel. And now......the midnight hour approachth....and my eyes are giving out from all of the strain of reading recipes, a novel, and a bit of the tellie. And as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope is for all of you, also!!!!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Hmmmm.....what's new to discuss???
Yeah......the title says it all about today!!!!! It was a rather uninteresting day.....rather hard to believe, I know.....but today just slipped by without one exciting event. Let's see.....
Oh yeah.....I got out of bed successfully!!! Guess that is a good cause for happiness, isn't it??? Sometimes it is a bit difficult.....would rather lay there and drift in and out of conciousness than have to get up, but Life requires me to raise my aging body up from its horizontal postion and get on with the day to see what I can contribute to the human race. Hmmmm.....that sounds rather egotistical, doesn't it? HAHA.
I did spend some time this morning sucking up all of the dust balls, crushed leaves, slivers of Christmas wrapping papers that are scattered around the table where presents have been wrapped, and then I also mopped the kitchen floor. Yep......getting things in clean and spiffy shape for the Holidays.....being political correct here.
The 1st Lady arrived home around noon.....school is out now until Jan. 3rd. Soooo, she took care of some final school work and then packed a bag and headed to the Moser Estate to sit with Ava tonight and all day tomorrow. Dr. Jeni has office hours/appointments on Tuesday evenings, and Darrel had to run to Kansas City to pick up a new truck and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. Soooo, Grammy has to sit with the newest granddaughter!!
I did attend a meeting given by Mo Dept of Transportation concerning the new bypass of the highway that currently runs through the center of town.....and the actual city center/business area. BUT....BUT....God forbid, they are re-routing the highway/bypass to pass within ONE BLOCK to the north of our home!!!!!!!!!! CRAP....SHIT.....truck noise for the remaining years of my Life!!!!!!!!! Guess that might be reason enough to sell the house in a couple of years and move to a Loft apt. in STL?????? Pros and Cons on that idea, but it is toooo damn late tonight to think this through rationally and write about it at the same time.....hahhaa.
Soooo, came home with that horrific news.....and just decided to sit down and muddle throught the evening in front of the worthless tellie!!! NO AMAZING RACE tonight.........my God, I miss it already!!! It is SUCH a GREAT show for those of you who have not spent any time with the show. When it comes on again......tune it in.....give it 3-4 weeks/episodes and see if you don't get hooked!!!
Soooo, it is getting a wee bit late.......I turn into a flabby, sagging, dried up pumpkin here in 30 minutes.....god forbid that you try to visualize THAT sight!!!! Heehee.....
Sooooo, I look forward to tomorrow and perhaps something really exciting will happen in my Life, but nevertheless........
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Oh yeah.....I got out of bed successfully!!! Guess that is a good cause for happiness, isn't it??? Sometimes it is a bit difficult.....would rather lay there and drift in and out of conciousness than have to get up, but Life requires me to raise my aging body up from its horizontal postion and get on with the day to see what I can contribute to the human race. Hmmmm.....that sounds rather egotistical, doesn't it? HAHA.
I did spend some time this morning sucking up all of the dust balls, crushed leaves, slivers of Christmas wrapping papers that are scattered around the table where presents have been wrapped, and then I also mopped the kitchen floor. Yep......getting things in clean and spiffy shape for the Holidays.....being political correct here.
The 1st Lady arrived home around noon.....school is out now until Jan. 3rd. Soooo, she took care of some final school work and then packed a bag and headed to the Moser Estate to sit with Ava tonight and all day tomorrow. Dr. Jeni has office hours/appointments on Tuesday evenings, and Darrel had to run to Kansas City to pick up a new truck and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. Soooo, Grammy has to sit with the newest granddaughter!!
I did attend a meeting given by Mo Dept of Transportation concerning the new bypass of the highway that currently runs through the center of town.....and the actual city center/business area. BUT....BUT....God forbid, they are re-routing the highway/bypass to pass within ONE BLOCK to the north of our home!!!!!!!!!! CRAP....SHIT.....truck noise for the remaining years of my Life!!!!!!!!! Guess that might be reason enough to sell the house in a couple of years and move to a Loft apt. in STL?????? Pros and Cons on that idea, but it is toooo damn late tonight to think this through rationally and write about it at the same time.....hahhaa.
Soooo, came home with that horrific news.....and just decided to sit down and muddle throught the evening in front of the worthless tellie!!! NO AMAZING RACE tonight.........my God, I miss it already!!! It is SUCH a GREAT show for those of you who have not spent any time with the show. When it comes on again......tune it in.....give it 3-4 weeks/episodes and see if you don't get hooked!!!
Soooo, it is getting a wee bit late.......I turn into a flabby, sagging, dried up pumpkin here in 30 minutes.....god forbid that you try to visualize THAT sight!!!! Heehee.....
Sooooo, I look forward to tomorrow and perhaps something really exciting will happen in my Life, but nevertheless........
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Quickly....the day flew away....
WOW.....time is going soooo quickly.....my Life is going faster!! This morning was a day to finish up the Christmas/Holiday cards and get them mailed. OF COURSE, I didn't have nearly enough stamps so off to the Post Office I went. Parked the truck, and up the stairs until I saw that the people standing at the top were standing IN LINE to get to the one lonely postal employee who was working behind the counter......ONE employee!!!! 28 minutes later I had my stamps in hand and was paying for them.....and then stamped each envelope and was on my way. BUT, the line was still stretching to the cold, breezy outside........
Then.....back to the stick and brick and several hours of research on antivirus programs for computers. Mine went by the wayside......after only using four months of my renewal!!! NO tech support from Symantec Norton......no help at all. Soooo, last Friday I spent almost 7 hours uninstalling the Norton program from my lappie.....leaving it open to those virulent viruses all weekend. Back to today.......I finally decided on a new software program...one that seemed to be recommended by many reviews and rating systems, along with Consumer Reports. Sooo, made my payment and then downloaded it. NOW.....let's hope it does the job that it is meant to do!!!
This evening....6pm....was the monthly Board of Education meeting. Then at 7:30, the annual Christmas dinner for board members and spouses along with the school administrators at one of the local eateries. Food was pretty good.....better than normal that is usually served at this place!!! The Board members are received a gift from the school.......all of use received a laptop carrying case/shoulder bag!! A real nice gift!!
Soooo, after a quick stop at the local SuperCenter for the 1st Lady to pick up some last minute things for some of her students, we headed back up the hill to the stick/brick. Tomorrow the school is dismissed at 11:15 in the morning for the Holidays. She then has a Doctor's appointment and then she heads to the Moser Estate to sit with Ava on Wednesday. I have a meeting at 4pm tomorrow........a meeting designed to inform us of the proposed bypass around F'town by the highway. It may come a bit close to our stick/brick.....we'll see tomorrow!!!!!
But......no matter how busy the day is......
Life is GOOD.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Then.....back to the stick and brick and several hours of research on antivirus programs for computers. Mine went by the wayside......after only using four months of my renewal!!! NO tech support from Symantec Norton......no help at all. Soooo, last Friday I spent almost 7 hours uninstalling the Norton program from my lappie.....leaving it open to those virulent viruses all weekend. Back to today.......I finally decided on a new software program...one that seemed to be recommended by many reviews and rating systems, along with Consumer Reports. Sooo, made my payment and then downloaded it. NOW.....let's hope it does the job that it is meant to do!!!
This evening....6pm....was the monthly Board of Education meeting. Then at 7:30, the annual Christmas dinner for board members and spouses along with the school administrators at one of the local eateries. Food was pretty good.....better than normal that is usually served at this place!!! The Board members are received a gift from the school.......all of use received a laptop carrying case/shoulder bag!! A real nice gift!!
Soooo, after a quick stop at the local SuperCenter for the 1st Lady to pick up some last minute things for some of her students, we headed back up the hill to the stick/brick. Tomorrow the school is dismissed at 11:15 in the morning for the Holidays. She then has a Doctor's appointment and then she heads to the Moser Estate to sit with Ava on Wednesday. I have a meeting at 4pm tomorrow........a meeting designed to inform us of the proposed bypass around F'town by the highway. It may come a bit close to our stick/brick.....we'll see tomorrow!!!!!
But......no matter how busy the day is......
Life is GOOD.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
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