Blogging on the Block 1-27-09 Tuesday!

It's only Tuesday, but its been quite a week already. I still can't upload my videos. I guess its because I have dial up, figures. I finally get a decent camera and can take decent video and I can't upload it. I even tried on gather. Oh well.

Monday I didn't really do much. I took the MIL to pick up her perscriptions, and took movies back to the video store for exchange. Then took my cell to the boy so he could call me after football practice. Then I came home and fixed dinner and waited on the boy to call.

Today, however, was a different story. I went with the hubby and the MIL to her therapist appointment and then to the diner for brunch. When we got home I called the secretary at the high school, we go to church together (when I get my lazy buns up on Sunday mornings). She's also the one who calls me in to work at the high school. Anyway, I called to see if she needed me to help work the door or concessions at the basketball game tonight. She said please, so I went. Wasn't so bad, we weren't all that busy, but I'm sure tired after spending all that time on my feet. I even get to go back and do it all again Friday night. Yeah for me, its not so bad. I actually enjoy it.

You'd be proud of me Jody, I only ate 1 hotdog and a coffee cup full of popcorn. I didn't go nuts and eat the candy, the nachos, or any of the other treats they had for sale. I behaved and thought of my caloric intack. I was proud of me for not munching on everything.

Well, looks like I get to work tomorrow, so I better get to reading email! Hope you've all had a wonderful day! I hate to mention it, but it was a rainy nasty day here. I did get a break, I spent time with adults who make sense, well for the most part, this evening. Blessings and hugs to all!

Betty Blogging on the Block 1-26-09

I put the book down. I got off my OCD high stool. I kicked the scales under the bar, and I went out side, after grabbing my camera. (Lesson Learned - I need a bigger SD Card.) So.....now I have what I did yesterday and today. Which one do you want to see first?????? How about yesterday and then today. Works for me.

So..................for some reason I can't post my video. Probably because I haved dang dail up. Ugh.

I'll keep working at it til I get it right.

Later! Hugs and blessings. Hope all is well with you and yours!

Blogging on the Block 1-24-09

Well, I missed a few days blogging. Most of it had to with the MIL being a pouty. I won't go into, living thru it was enough.

The other reason is I've had my nose in a book. Actually 2 books. Otherworld by Barbara Michaels and Lost Inocents by Patricia MacDonald.

Also, on Friday night I was on Facebook chatting with my best friend from high school. I haven't seen her but once in 20 years, so when I found her on Facebook I just had to get in touch with her. We chatted for a long time, and it was nice to catch up with her. I set her and her husband up our senior year of high school, and I was bridesmaid at her wedding. Then they moved away and we lost touch. So it was really cool to find her. She told me that she'd been looking for me, and so had another friend of ours. What would we do without the internet?

Anyway, we're all in the living room tonight watching movies. All except the MIL, she went to bed pouting, normal for around here, so its all good. Fred and George are watching the Max Pain movie, I'm listening while I do my thing online.

I really hate dial up. It has kicked me off all evening when I've signed on. I really wish the new world would reach into our little corner and bring high speed and cable TV. Down between these 2 ridges we feel kind of cut off from the world. The phone guy keeps telling me in a year or two we'll be able to get high speed, he's been telling me this for 3 years......yeah, I'm still waiting. We wanted to do direct TV, but doesn't look like it'll work here either. The things we do to live out in the country. I don't really mind for the most part, I like the wide open space and the privacy.

Ok, so I'm out of here for tonight, gotta go delete and read some of my 496 emails. (That's just on one account. I've already taken care of the other 4 accounts. I know, why do I need so many accounts. Work email, survey email, family & friends email, the MIL's email (that she doesn't use) and festival email.)

Hope you're having a great weekend! I'm trying! Blessings and hugs!

Blogging on the block 1-21-09

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:
Men Are Just Happier People--
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can never be pregnant.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks and engines.
A ten-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
Send this to the women who can handle it and to the men who will enjoy reading it

Ok, that's my copied and pasted email of the day.

Been a long one. Hope everyone had a wonderful day! Blessings to all!

Yes Jody! I know this means I'm cheating. I'll make up for it later, I promise!

Blogging on the Block 1-20-09

Oh what a day, oh what a week. Run, Run, Run, and not in a fun, fun, fun way.

I don't have much time, too much to do. Not enough hands, and my toes are so cold.

Dishes and laundry, floors and shoes.

I'm majorly OCD, the cold nasty day.

The MIL is hateful, I smiled instead of snapping,

Now pouty bottom is off to bed.

The girl keeps calling, knocking me offline. The boy is sound a sleep, and I hang him by his toes.

The old man is snoring, a book on his nose.


OK! I know it doesn't really rhyme, but I'm in a totally exhausted mood. When, on when will school start back, and can I send my MIL with him.

I did escape, I went to the ballgame, the boys won 40 to 38, very close.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a lovely day. I had a.......... a normal day around here. I think my body would go into shock if someone didn't lay in my floor pitching a fit at least 2 times a day. Man, I'm getting tired of doing it myself. I got little bruises everywhere, like somebody kicked me. But she didn't, just stepped on me a time or two. I think she wanted the floor and I wouldn't move. She told me I wasn't funny today. I told her she wasn't very happy either. Her therapist thinks she should sell her house and we should build a bigger one. Hell-0 did it freeze over? We're not even going to go there. That's half the freaking problem, they put ideas in her head and I have to live with them.

Anyway, I'm out of here for a while. Hope you've had a better day than I did. She caused me to start drinking again. I was doing so good too. I was down to one Diet DP a day, and I had 3 today. Stress and crazy MIL's drive me nuts. Hey........I wouldn't have either one if she went ....... no, no, if I went on vacation. OH, alright, but I can dream too! Darn it!

Hugs and Blessings!!!

Blogging on the Block 1-19-09

We got snow! I don't mind snow, as long as I don't have to drive in it. I think its a lot prettier to look at than rain. Rain just makes everything look nasty, snow makes it look clean and fresh. Kind of like spring when everything starts turning green.

The field out back.

I got shots of the dogs last night before it snowed. They were all fighting over who was going to sleep in front of the back door.

Bliss (black) and Lizzard (black and white)

Lizzard, Scooby, and Comet in the background. Lizzard is Scooby's dad, he got all his markings in the wrong color. Must have come from his mother's side.

This morning when I got up nobody was the back door, and the porch was all covered with snow.

I did have some good news today. I didn't kick and scream at the scales quite as loud as I usually do. I lost 2 more pounds. WoooWhoo!

Anyway, I'm gonna go check my email. I have 346 emails to read. Blessings and Hugs! Hope you had a great day!

Blogging on the Block 1-18-09

Today has been a crazy day. I had to run to town this morning and pick up a print cartridge so I could copy stuff on my all in one printer. Then it didn't want to work half way thru copying. And I still have 3 notebooks to do. Oh well, nothing like trying to do work at home and not having everything you need. I guess I end up scanning it in and printing it on the laser printer. Slower, but done at any rate.

So, I went to the booster meeting, only one book, the one I'll use with me. No letters. Still have to print those, but since I created them I can do it at home. Jody you'd like the preacher on the board for the boosters. He's a nut, seriously, if you didn't know he was a preacher you'd flip when he told you. He keeps things interesting. The group that comes to all the meetings are great. Really fun to work with.

I played with the camera some today. Caught the hubby trying to snooze this evening. I'll post one of his better ones where his mouth isn't hanging open. I'm sure he'll appreciate that.

The man of my dreams, the hubby! He's a keeper!

Well, I have tons of letters to print, stuff, and get ready to ship. So I'm out of here! How everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was pretty good. Blessings and Hugs!

Blogging on the Block 1-17-09

Here is a picture of a hawk we saw today while getting gas at the little country store near us. He flew up there and perched and I grabbed my camera and took a few shots. I saw him Friday on my way to town, he was flying over the field to the left of the pole. He must be claiming the area for himself.

Saturday has been a pretty good day. Cold, but good. Hubby and I got out of the house for a while. We went to the flea market. Didn't buy anything but books, but I didn't see anything I couldn't live with out. Unless you count my Daddy. We ran into him there. He was just getting out of the house for a while. Mom didn't go with him, she told him it was too DAMN cold for her old bones. I think that means she was in a bad mood too and he didn't want to hear it, so he left.

When we came out of the building, I noticed a big change in the weather, the sky had turned really gray. Like the 4 letter word - SNOW. Thankfully we haven't gotten any. I like to see it, just not have to get out in it.

I had to run back out to town and pick up meds for the MIL. We forgot her checkbook earlier, so while hubby headed north to the feed store, I headed south to the drug store. I also took movies back and picked up a few. I took back MIRRORS and Babylon AD. I like Vin Diesel, but to me this wasn't one of his better movies. It was good, but had some slow spots. MIRRORS was good freaky and scary movie. Not the greatest, but good. I picked up Bangkok Dangerous, we haven't watched it yet. I also got an older one, Ghost Boat. It was ok, about a sub that disappeared in the Triangle during Hitler era and retruned in 1980 and they took it out to test it. The crew became possed by the ghost crew. Ah...it was a movie.

Well, I've still got a box full of booster stuff to do. I better get to it! Good night! Hope you've had a lovely Saturday and stayed warm! Blessings and hugs!

Blog on the Block 1-16-09

Because the temps were so cold today the boy didn't have school. He did however have a basketball game to go to. I wasn't planning on letting him go, or leaving the house today. Just goes to show, plans can be broken. I agreed to let him go, and I took him to meet the coach at the mall. I figured since the coached called and asked him to ride to the game with him I'd be nice at let him. Boy was it cold out there.


On the way to take the boy to meet the coach we saw 17 wild turkeys. They were in the lower field heading towards the bluff. I was surprised our dogs hadn't gotten after them.

Snowball finally had her calf. Its brown, not sure if its a he or a she yet. Big Red keeps sneaking off from the other cows, I figure she's getting ready to hatch too. We're up to six calves so far.

Snowball and her calf, with Denny's calf.

I got lucky and about 10 pm the coach dropped the boy off at home. I asked him how he got so lucky, and he said the coach needed to go by the high school to pick up some work to grade. So since our house was between where they were, and where he was going, he just dropped him off on the way. Cool for me, I didn't have to get out in the cold.

I'm trying to empty one of my email inboxes, but it seems like for every 1 I do I get 5 in return. Very slow going. Ugh!

On the bright side, I'm drinking lots of water these days. Not too much, but enough. I put it in the freezer til it starts freezing, then it stays good and cold. I don't like hot water. I have my Diet DP in the mornings and then water the rest of the day. That and walking more should help, I hope. I haven't attempted to get on the scale lately, I don't like it when it tells me to get my fat aXX off. Hubby just rolls his eyes at me and says well you're all mine and I don't mind.

Anyway, I'm out of here for now! Hope you've had a wonderful Friday!!!!

Blogging on the Block 1-15-09

This morning when I headed out to my mothers I got a treat just past the old barn. Just as I was approaching 40 wild turkeys crossed the road in front of me. I stopped and counted each one in line at they crossed. There was one who kinda stood in the middle like a crossing guard and the others all went behind him. They are so funny to watch.

So still smiling from that I head on down the road, watching for the icy spots. After I got thru town and hit the other country road, 6 deer crossed infront of me. One of which was a 10 point buck. He's crossed in front of me before, almost becoming a hood ornament once.

I figured it must be animal crossing day.

I got to my mom's and fought off the boys so I could sit down while she finished getting ready. They decided they both had to sit in my lap, didn't work so well since they kept throwing each other off. I finally had to get the fly swat after them.

At UT, I couldn't remember which floor her doctor was on. I checked the wall TOC, and it said C350, ok. There is no C floor, so we went to 3, it wasn't there either. I asked a lady in another office and she told me it was the 5th floor. The last time we were there I had to get an escort to bring mom up in wheel chair, because of her newly pinned hip. So I didn't pay much attention to which way we went. Anyway, we got there on time and they even did her blood work up there instead of us having to go back downstairs and do it in the lab.

Mom decided we were eating at Shoney's today, and it was ok. I got a large salad, and 1 spoonful of green beans, cabbage, and an ice cream scoop of meatloaf. I ate more salad and greenbeans and cabbage than the meatloaf.

I did my mom's to do list when we got home and she rested. She said she was wore out, she doesn't get out much because of her hip and new knee.

I headed home and the boy called just as I got into town, to be picked up from football practice. Which saved me a trip back out to town. He went on and on about what they did. He's got his first real girlfriend, and he wanted to know if he could use the phone when we got home. He ended up using his cellphone, which is ok too. They're not serious, yet, and hopefully won't. I know he's been crazy about another girl for 2 years, and went on one date with her. This one he just started talking to during Christmas break. They talk everyday, but I don't think its that big of a deal yet. I know, he's at that age. Everywhere we go the girls come up and hug him and talk to him. Even the ones he just meets hug him before we leave. Fred says he's a smooth talker, ok - Me thinks that's WTMI4M (way too much information for mom) to deal with.

Anyway, got dinner to cook, a kitchen to clean, and laundry to do. So, I'll catch you tomorrow.

Hope you had a wonderful day.

Jody, smoke break would not work with the MIL, if she can't sneak and smoke, she doesn't want to. She just wants to fuss with me, that's the only reason she does it. So....I'm ignoring it and she hasn't smoked any since Tuesday. Hopefully she get over it. I wouldn't care, but her COPD and dragging an oxygen tank around just doesn't sound like fun to me.

Hugs and blessings!

Blogging on the Block 1-14-09

Ok, I'm in a better mood tonight. I got a few of my do's list done tonight. Only because my MIL went to bed at 8:30. She's upset with me. She doesn't like it because I'm going to my mother's tomorrow. Oh well.

We went my MIL's appointments today. She got mad at her head quack (I really have issues with that office). For once she didn't give my MIL something new to try. Thank goodness. My MIL wanted something else, but since she is communicating with the family doctor (who I think is awesome) she didn't mess with anything. Physically my MIL is in good condition, its the other issues that cause problems. If you sneeze she's thinks she caught whatever you may have and is sick. If you say your throat hurts, hers does too and she just knows she has strepthroat. That's life on the funny farm. Her therapist, though an hour late, did get her to open up some.

Normally when we go to see the therapist, my MIL and I sit on the love seat. And we did today, but my MIL sat on the edge, turned towards the window, with her back to me. So, the therapist notices right off and ask her why she's so agitated today. She ignored her, would speak to her for a few minutes. And when she did all she would say is that her jaw hurt and she wanted to go home. So, she asked me what was up. Before I could say anything my MIL said we didn't come for you to talk to her, this is my session and if you're gonna talk then talk to me. So, she asked her what she was mad at me about. Anyway, what it came down to was that I caught her smoking. She kept trying to avoid the feelings questions and change the subject, but she did get her to talking.

So, this whole diet thing came crashing down today. We ate at that great little diner again. Instead of ordering the chef salad I order a fresh ground cheese burger with the works and onion rings. It was a special. I've been so stressed out and watching what I eat since Thanksgiving, I thought I deserved a day off. That was the only meal I cheated on. And I ended up eating fewer calories today than I have all week. How, I don't know. Spark says cheating is normal, as long as you admit it and don't make a habit of it. Everyone needs a break occassionally. Tomorrow its back to the grind stone. On the bright side, I am down to one soda a day. I've found if I put my bottle of water in the freezer and let it start to turn to ice, I can drink it better. Its nice and cold.

Speaking of cold, its horrible outside. I dread the drive in the morning. I'll have to watch for black ice. I was gonna ride with the hubby, but he's only working 5 hours tomorrow and I won't be back before he leaves. So, looks like I'm driving too.

My oldest son and daughter inlaw came by tonight. She started her new job today, just the training, so they came out to see us after work. She's upset that she hasn't started to show yet. She isn't even 3 months yet, and she wants to start showing. Oh my, that would be one way for her parents to find out. I can't believe they haven't told them yet. But after loosing the first one, I can understand.

I'm going to be now. Hope everyone had a lovely day. Especially you Jody! Goodnight! Blessings and hugs!

Blog 1-13-09

We went to the therapist today, and she never showed up. So I sent her a text, but still nothing. So, we went to eat, at that nice little diner we like. MIL informs us she has to go back to the therapist office tomorrow to see her head doctor. Ok, I look at my calendar and I have it down for the 21st. Long story short, it was the 14th, and she was also rescheduled to see the therapist after the other. This was all done in December when she went. Since my brother in law took her to her last appointment in Dec. I had no idea of the changes, and my MIL did't bother to tell me. This seems to be a trend lately. When she gets mad at me she doesn't tell about things. Maybe I should start pulling her hair out instead of my own.

Anyway, on to other things.

We had a booster club meeting for my son's football team. What a headache the next season is going to be. Because our club is chartered it will be in violation if we turn over funds to the school systems athletic fund. Which is what the new head of the athletic department wants us to do in accordance with the new laws that went into effect last year. So...we're pulling our hair out on that too. He wants the booster club for the football team to become an all sports booster club and to support all the teams. Because under the new laws if money is spent on one sport it should be spent on all sorta thing. But considering none of the other sports have a booster club, how are we supposed to get parents to join when we only have a handful now. I have a whole box of stuff to organize and file, and copy for the secretary position I am half of. Another woman and I share the seat, so it seems. I hadn't intended to, but...sometimes when you open your mouth and put your foot in it......oh well.

Oh, the things I volunteer myself into, I must be asking for punishment.

Well, the festival was over in September, and I still haven't gotten all the stuff I need to update it. I need pictures and additional sponsor ads to post, the names of all the princesses and the queen. Not to mention to other little details. And who has that info, and the pictures.....my brother inlaw who is staying with my other brother inlaw because.........I really don't want to go into it, so let's just skip it.

Since I'm pulling my hair out, I think I'll skip on out of here. Hope you've had a better day than I have. Blessings and hugs!

PS: You know, if I would hit the post button instead of the save now button it works a whole lot better.

Blog for 1-12-09

My mother inlaw (MIL) was born on Christmas Day in 1934. Her sister was born 2 years later, and her uncle travel to Detroit to get them and bring them back to Tennessee (TN) with their mother. She grew up in the home of her grandparents, her aunt, and a cousin. Her mother worked in a factory in Knoxville and stayed all week with her brother and only came home on weekends.

Her father was a hobo, he never held a job very long. He hopped a train from town to town. She heard rumors growing up that after her sister was born and still small, her father came home drunk one night and stabbed her mother several times. Her mother was in the hospital for some time, and when she was released her uncle brought them back to TN. She has no memories of this, and doesn’t remember much about her father except that he would come to town from time to time on the train.

When she was a teenager, she and her mother traveled to Indiana when her father sent them tickets for the bus. They stayed with his half sister and visited with him for a few days. After she was married she and her mother went to see him again, he was staying with a family on a farm. A young woman about her sisters age was there, and her father sent them to town with her and had her buy them new dresses. He was very ill at the time. She always wondered if the woman was a half sister, but no one ever told.

When her father died she and her mother went to his funeral, the woman and her mother were there, but it was never discussed. Her aunt told her that he had lived with them several times over the years and that they had taken care of him.

Her parents never divorced, and her mother never spoke ill of him. She loved him until her death and kept her vows.

My MIL worked in an elected position in the court house for 20 years. Papa worked with her the last 4 years she was in office. When he became ill she retired and they had almost 3 years together before he passed away.

My MIL has lived with us for the past 4 years. She had a condition called Hyponatremia, also known as water intoxication. Some side effects can cause brain damage and heart failure. We thought she was having a heart attack or a stroke when it started. She was in the hospital 30 days, and had to learn to walk, talk, and feed herself again. When she was released we brought her home with us. She was later diagnosed with dementia, alzheimers, chronic pain, and she also suffers from depression, anxiety, and is bipolar.

She and papa had 5 boys, and up until 2001 when he passed away, from cancer, she was a strongly independent woman. My brother in-laws all live here on the farm or very close by, although you can’t tell it.

The oldest lives next door, I can’t see his house from mine, but they live up on the hill out from us. He was given an acre to build his house on as a wedding present. They are our only neighbors between the bridges. They don’t come see her. They have 3 children living at home, all over 18, 2 boys and a girl. The girl is married and has a 4-year-old son. She does bring him out about once a month.

The #2 son is not married, and lives with the youngest son. He has a farm up the road that belonged to his grandparents, and is building a cabin. The old farmhouse is still there, but does not have heat or a bathroom. He comes and stays with my MIL from time to time so I can work or run errands. Not all the time, but sometimes. That helps.

The #3 son is married and he has his hands full, and I understand why he can’t help out. His wife had a brain tumor/cancer the size of a grapefruit 5 years ago. Now she has permanent short-term memory loss. They have 2 sons, one of which is autistic. He is the same age as my youngest son (16). She talks to him once a week and he comes by every other weekend. His farm is down the road from us.

I’m married to #4. She sees him everyday and complains that I don’t listen. He knows better, and I know she just needs something to complain about. What she’s really bothered by is being bored, and I can’t get her out of the house much.

Son #5 is the youngest. He and his wife live on the farm too, but farther away from us, near the old store. Sometimes she calls them, but they rarely call her. His MIL lives with them, and she has a brain tumor.

I’ve been by her side since papa passed away. I was with her when her mother passed, through her hospitalization, through the deaths of her aunt and uncle, and I’ve suffered her frustrations. When she has a good day, I have a good day. When she has a bad day, I have a bad day.

I won’t go into all the issues within my husband’s family. I chalk a lot of their distancing themselves to my MIL to the fact they don’t want to accept her conditions. I think in the long run it will hurt them more. She was always such a strong willed woman, and she always gave so much to others. She’s different now, and I’m sure that’s part of the reason they don’t come around.

Blogging on the Block 1-10-09 Found it!

We went to the doctor's office this morning. I didn't know hubby was going to go to the walk in clinic, but it was good that he did. He'd been having pains in his chest, had me worried, and I'm glad he took it serious. All turned out ok, no issues with him, and he's decided to take walking with me more serious. Hooray! The MIL got what she wanted too. Ear drops and mouthwash perscriptions. She complains with her ear and mouth all the time, but the doctor humored her and we'll see if it does any good.

We went out for brunch, cozy little diner we at on Tuesday when the MIL goes to the therapist. We order our usual, 2 eggs scramble, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 biscuts, and a small bowl of gravy. Since it was our brunch I didn't mind the calories so much. We don't have breakfast through the week at home, occassionally on Saturday mornings, so it was a treat. I cook almost every night, and sometimes at lunch for the MIL.

No new calves yet, the others will probably wait til a cold nasty day to hatch. That's how they usually do it.

While I was cooking dinner I got an inspiration and I have a whole pad full of notes for an article on another site. It's kind of a history of my MIL's life, kind of in poem form but not quite a poem.

I'm kind of in a moody mood. Not quite sad, not quite happy, just kind of here. So, I think I'll go snuggle with the hubby and see if I can cheer up.

Hope you everyone is doing well and having an awesome weekend. Hugs and blessings!

Blogging on My Birthday 1-11-09

For some reason my post for last night didn't post, and its not in my drafts either. Must have been holding my mouth wrong. I'll have to see if I can figure it out. I know today I worked on a post for another site and it wouldn't post. I sincerly hope it isn't my puter.

Anyway, today is my birthday, and I decided not to get out of my pjs today. I wore sweat all day instead. I didn't do much, the boy cleaned up the kitchen and living room for me, and I read a book. It was pretty good, didn't like some parts of it, but otherwise it was good. I won't be adding it to my favorites, but a book read is one off my list. Robert Laymon is a very good writer, I just don't like some of the violence he inflicts on his characters, but he makes the good in scary in the scary parts. I think I'll read John Saul next. The book I finished on Thursday was pretty good too, it was about vampires and written by Dan Simmons. Way out there theroy, a twist on dracula, the assault on his characters wasn't as repulsive as The Cellar I just read by Laymon. Anyway....

Tomorrow I get back to normal, running around like a chicken with my head cutoff, but that's just how it is on funny farm.

I'm going to go hunt down my post from last night and work on the one I lost today. Hope you've had a great weekend out there! Hugs and blessings!

Blogging on the Block 1-9-09

Went to my mom's today. Wasn't so bad, she was in a pretty good mood. A lot better mood than my MIL was this morning. I cleaned house for her and played with the boys. Bubba thought that he should get a treat every time he came in from outside.

My brothers, Bubba and Brutus

My best friend called and left me a message on my cellphone today. Her mother was moved to a room, wish I knew which one. She called the house too and talked to my MIL. She told her which room, but she didn't write it down and doesn't remember what she said. That happens. I had to ask her if she talked to her when I checked the caller ID and saw the number. She had also forgotten my brother inlaw was here today and stayed with her until hubby got home. She remembered it when I mentioned it, but she'd forgotten it. She went to bed early tonight, and that was ok with me, since I have to get up and take her to the doctor in the morning. She remembered to tell me she called and got an appt today, but nothing else. I guess I know what was important to her.

We had 2 more cows give birth today. Brownie and Denny. Brownie is ours, but Denny belongs to another one of my brother inlaws, the one who lives closest to us and never calls. The MIL called him and told his wife he was a daddy again. I'm sure my sister inlaw thought she'd really gone over the deep end until she told her it was his cow.

Brownie and her calf.

Denny and her calf. It was getting dark outside and I couldn't get close enough to get a good shot. Mostly because Scooby and Comet went with me and she didn't like them getting close to her calf.

I ordered myself an early birthday present yesterday morning. I hadn't planned to, and I kind of dread it. I'm rather attached to my digital camera, but I dearly need to update with a newer/better model. My old one is a Olympus C-820L, and she does a decent job. But, yesterday I order a new one. I'm not really sure how I feel about it, dread - anticipation - excitement - fear I won't like it, you know the whole gambit. My Olympus has been with me for 6 years, we're used to each other. I know her quirks and she knows my limits. How on earth am I gonna break it to her she's being replaced, retired, handed down to the hubby. I just know she's gonna be heartbroken and hate me forever. Oh she was jealous enough of the other digital cameras I have, they just weren't up to her candid opinion.

(I have 2 Kodak cameras in my desk. One of which was my first digital camera, and I still use it sometimes. The other was a great camera until my son knocked it off the table, now all its shots are too bright. Almost the same model as my first, it just had a zoom lens and the first one didn't. Then there are 2 Casio digital cameras, both take awesome pictures but neither will work with Vista. And then there are 2 small digital cameras that I got for the boys to use, neither of which have any interest in it since they can't talk on it. If it isn't a phone or handheld game they loose interest fast.)

So, when the new Kodak Easyshare 8.2 megapixels with a zoom lens comes on Monday, I don't know how Oly will take it. I mean she goes almost everywhere with me, and I just hate to break her heart.

No, I'm not going to talk about my birthday. It'll happen and I'll live with it. The MIL did remember it was coming up and tried to give me some money to get myself something with this morning. I told her she'd already got me something, and she did on Monday when we were out. She doesn't remember, but my memory works great and I do.

Well, I've still got 101 things to do before I go to bed, so...I'll say goodnight. Hope you had a wonderful day.

Blogging on the Block 1-8-09

It's been a long day. I had planned to do several things, but only did one that was really on my list. I did get a long walk, but not the one I planned.

I was supposed to go to my mother's today. There are some things she just can't do anymore, and I try to go at least once a week and do them for her. Like run the vaccuum and change the bed, clean the bathroom. She keeps everything neat and clean, but since she broke her hip and had the last knee done she just can't handle the vaccuum. This time of the year her hands really hurt too, and since they are disfigured with arthritis she can pull and tug like she wants to with the sheets and stuff. So, looks like I will be going in the morning.

The walk I had was in no way fun. Trying to find someone in a huge hospital is not an easy task. My best friends mother had surgery today, and is ICU and doing well. Tam had called me and told me where she would be, but when I got there she was nowhere to be found. Neither was any of her family. So I went to all the waiting rooms on that floor, then the smoking areas outside the hospital, the cafeteria, the gift shop, and everywhere I could think of. Plus going back to the ICU waiting room to see if she was back. Since I didn't have the security code and I couldn't find out anything about her mother either. So I spent an hour wandering the halls looking for her. My cell would not work inside the hospital on that floor, but it didn't matter since she didn't have her's with her. Finally found her on accident when she came out of an elevator. She'd been at the ER door watching for me and we must have missed each other somewhere somehow.

I stayed for 5 hours, and I felt really bad leaving her there by herself all night. Her brothers got there after I did, they'd been there that morning and had gone into work and came back. Her dad and son had done gone home, and her soon to be X never came by. She didn't expect him to, since they've been estranged in the same house for 6 years, long story there, but since his mother had just passed away and she'd been there with him for moral support the least he could have done was do the same. I guess I expect to much from a man who flaunts his social life in her face. Thankfully he will soon be gone. I'm being nice here and not saying what is truly on my mind.

My oldest son called today to let me know he was still breathing. We talked for almost half an hour, long conversation for us. I chalk it up to his waiting on Sandi to get out of her interview and his being bored. It was a nice call though. He caught me up on what was going on and I caught him up on what was going on at home.

I'll say goodnight here, I'm a little on the tired side. Knowing me, I'll probably be back on in an hour. I hate not being able to sleep, fighting the bed gets old. Sweet Dreams!

Blogging on the block - January 7th

Today started out rainy and cold, but ended up to be a pretty good day. Although school was 2 hours late.

I did go out after the bus ran, and it was so windy. The weather guy says we could have snow tonight, that'll probably be when Snowball has her calf. Although Little Red had her calf this morning. I missed the actual birth, but I got to see it all wet and wobbly. Yes Jody, I got pictures! Just for you!

I'm not sure what it is yet, but its dark brown with a white spot in the middle of its forehead. So cute. Of course she picked the muddiest spot she could find to have it, which wasn't hard to do with all the rain we've had. With all the flooding going on I guess we're just lucky it didn't drown. I got so tickled at it this afternoon, all the cows were standing around and she was going from udder to udder. They just kind of looked at it like not me.

Here is a picture of the calf born on Christmas eve. She's the funniest thing when she get to playing and running. She chases the dogs and they don't know what to think. Her mother is the tall white cow standing in front of her. She's a beautiful little brown/gray thing. So full of life.

This is the 2nd calf, not sure what it is yet either. The mother of it is the yellow and white one standing there with it and the new mother and calf.

Here are a few shots of the creek that runs through the farm, its up pretty high. It must have been up higher during the night, part of the lower field had water standing in it and all the tree pushed up against the others on the side where the creek shouldn't be.

And here is from the other side of the bridge.

Well, I'm off to check my email and clean up the kitchen. Hope you have a wonderful night!

Blogging on the Block Day 5 part 2

I am so tired, but I can't go to bed and I know that when I do sleep will not come. Seems these days I spend 95% of my time cleaning up after everyone else is gone to bed.

My son has been wonderful about cleaning up his messes, picking up after himself, and doing his own laundry. He does his chores too, and even helps with dinner and clean up. He's a great kid.

Hubby has been pretty good lately about picking up after himself too, and helping me with little messes. If he notices a mess in the kitchen or the living room he will pick it up or clean it up. Which has been really wonderful.

Lately my MIL has decided that part of getting even with me for not letting her have her way is to make little messes on purpose and walk off and leave them. Tonight was no exception. She waited til my son went to bed, and until Fred went to our bedroom to take his shower and read. Then she started her normal, normal for her, evening routine. She starts with a long breath, and then pretends to cry. Since I didn't respond she got louder. Tonight however I took hubby's advice and just ignored it. That just made it worse.

So, she turned on the water works, literally. So, I asked her if she was tired and she told me yes. I told her she should go get her pjs on and get ready for bed. She pulled the no meds in her box trick, so I told her to check her purse. That just made her mad and she stomped off to her room. My son took her purse to her and she got them out and came back to the living room claiming that at least someone cared about her. Again, normal around here.

I got up and went to put on my pjs and brush my teeth. While I was doing that she fixed herself a drink. I heard the ice maker and didn't think much about it. I hear her getting ice a thousand times a day it seems. But when I came back thru the kitchen I stepped in a nice sticky wet spot. She had opened a new drink (caf free pepsi) a 20oz and had spilled about half of it in the floor. She didn't even bother to clean it up, just left it. Not only that, the fridge was standing wide open and the box of ice cream was out on the counter.

I walked to the living room arch and asked her if she was done in the kitchen, very politely - honest. She responds with, "did I make a mess? Well just clean it up and leave me alone, you don't care about me no way."

I know I should be used to it, and I knew it was coming, but couldn't I just get a break. Yes, yes I can. Cause I got an email. Come spring break I get to go to the lake house all week. Yeah me! My dad sent me the dates that we're going down, and after the crazy holidays I'm so excited. Hubby's already said his brother can stay with her during the day while me and the boy are gone. So happy, so very happy! I get a break. Now if I can just make it til March.

Gotta run, I'm going to put the MIL to bed and mop the kitchen floor.

Blogging on the Block Day 5

Today was an awful rainy day. I really don't like to get out in rain, but I did anyway. The MIL had a therapist appointment and we had to go. Her therapist is usually half and hour late, but today she was only 5 minutes. We all felt like going into shock. These sessions are supposed to allow my MIL get all her pent up frustrations out, but that never happens. She tries to pretend nothing is ever wrong and that she's just as normal as a the rain coming down. She never wants to talk about what's really bothering her, what she's mad about, or her feelings on anything. She usually ends up pissed off at me because I tell on her for sneaking a smoke or throwing a fit. If I don't say anything the therapist always asks if we've been fighting. We really don't fight, sometimes we are both just so headstrong that we both want to be right. She doesn't like it when I clean, cook, do laundry, or anything. She says I'm too picky. My house is by no means spotless, but I wish.

Well, I didn't tell on her for smoking today, she hasn't as far as I know. She didn't even mention the fit I threw on the Monday before the 1st. Trust me, she remembers it because she hid her smokes so good she can't find them. I did throw one heck of a fit. Don't get me wrong, I don't smoke, I used to 17 years ago, my mother smokes and I don't like it. My oldest son smokes and my best friend, I don't like it either, but they are old enough to decide for themselves and I do tell them they should quit, but sometimes I'd love to have one myself.

The Sunday before we got word that the lady we held a festival for the year before passed away. A lovely woman who had severe COPD and has been on oxygen for a couple of years. Anyway, recently she and her husband both became very ill, they were both in the hospital and being moved to a nursing home. He took care of her, and he had to have a leg taken off, and they decided to go into a nursing home together. They went to the nursing home on Friday, and Saturday she had to be rushed back to the hospital, and passed away on Sunday. My MIL was very close with them, they ran a deli here locally for years, now their grandson runs it. She's known them for 65 years, and it hurt her terribly when she heard the lady passed away. I can understand that. So Sunday when we got the call she fell to pieces.

On Monday, her niece and aunt came to visit. I thought it was very nice and was thrilled that they had come to see her. When they left I went to get ready to go to town. My MIL was going with me, and the boy. I heard the back door close and came out of my bedroom to see what was going on. My son told me she had to go out to the car to get something from her niece. So I go out, she was pulling out of the drive way and my MIL was putting something in her pocket trying to hide it from me. Well, I saw that it was a pack of smokes. My temper got the best of me, she knows the doctor told her she didn't need to smoke at all. She hasn't smoked in 8 months, and now she wants to start sneaking and smoking again. I was especially peeved that the doctor had just increased her inhaler the last time we were there because of her wheezing. So I flew off the handle and told her off good. I asked her if she was going to start sneaking and smoking again, and she told me it was none of my business. That was the wrong thing to say.

I pulled my suitcase out, put it in the dining room and I went to spouting off everything she'd done to drive me nuts since Thanksgiving, and I proceeded to tell her just how I felt about her childish pouting and this was the last straw. I was tired of running her to the doctors just so she could let it go in one ear and out the other, I was tired of cleaning poop and pee out of the bathroom floor, wiping down every surface of my house with bleach spray because she wouldn't wash her hands, and how tired I was of cleaning up her sticky messes that she leaves all over the house, and I proceeded to tell her how I'm over her pissy fits she has when she doesn't get her way. I told her I could tell when she was playing at not remembering and when she really couldn't remember, because I can after 5 years. And then I told her, after I packed my suitcase, which is still in the dining room, that if she so much as lit up I was out of there. I didn't have to stay there and watch her kill herself, and that if she thought she had it rough now to just wait til she had to drag that air tank around.

Then we went to town, and she tried to pet my feelings the rest of the day. She hid that pack of smokes, and now she can't find them and she won't name it. I told the hubby about my fit, and why. She doesn't know he knows she has them or that I told him about having a fit on her.

I know my MIL is sick, I know she has Alzheimer's, but for the most part she is sane. She has COPD, suffers from depression, bipolar, and manic depressive. I know these things all too well. Each day is a trial, each day is a battle of wits, but she fakes a lot of it for attention, she pulls tricks like a little kid and she can also be quite an actress.

Right now my MIL and hubby are talking about the newspaper articles, the layoffs at Goody's and Searay's, drug raids, and property taxes. They've been talking for 3 hours about people in the area, who owns what, who bought what, who is married to who and so on. But in an hour, she'll pull the "I don't know why I get so nervous, my jaw just hurts, and can I have a pain pill." Because she took her last one for the day at 7 pm. She's only allowed 3 a day, and she knows it, but she'll ask anyway.

Well, I didn't mean to turn this into a "What a fit I threw" day, but that's what came out when I sat down here to type. Sometimes you just have to go with what comes out.

Jody, I'll get some pictures of the calves tomorrow. Might even have a new one by then. Goodnight!

Blogging on the Block Day 4

Today was a very long day. Very draining on my mind. I did get a walk in this morning. I walked out in the fields and found the new calf beside the hay feeders. Cute little thing, not sure if its a he or a she, since it was laying down. Its a deep brown with a white face. The first calf born, Christmas eve, was a brown grey, he thinks he's a big cow and chases the dogs.

I hate sitting in doctor's offices, and that's what we did this afternoon. It was a scheduled visit, and it wasn't as long as some have been in the past.

Before we left I got to hear all morning the same things over and over again. I know she can't help it, but after she tells you for the 100th time that she doesn't know what makes her so nervous and could she have something to settle her nerves. Believe me she takes enough to put a horse down for a week. I can't trust her to fix her own pill box, so I have to do it. I double check it every morning because she hordes pills and then claims it wasn't in there. She's very good at palming the pills too, and she can be very tricky with it. Today was one of those days where she tried all her tricks. She also put on a good show at the doctor's office too. Thankfully they all know how she can be and they humored her very well.

She did pull a new one today, but the doctor wasn't at all fooled. He very calmly explained her meds to her one at a time. She got bored and changed the subject. It didn't even phase him, he just smiled at me and winked.

She also got pouty before dinner. While I was cooking she wanted to fix her coffee pot, and since I was washing dishes as I went she stomped off to her room in protest. She didn't come out until dinner was done and my son went back and told her to come eat. When she did come into the kitchen my bestfriend came in and she had to have her undivided attention. This is when she ignores me completely or tells me to shut up she isn't talking to me. When she first started this trick it would hurt my feeling terrible, now I just ignore it and carry on. Tonight was not exception, she ignored me and didn't like it when Tam spoke to me. She finally hurried up with her dinner and went back to her room to pout again.

She did get over it quickly and came out to visit with us, very politely, and was fine for about an hour after Tam left. Then when I sat down at the computer to check my email she suddenly had to use the phone. She called everyone she could think of to tell them how dumb her doctor is and how she was going to find another one. I'm used to that too, she's been saying that for 3 years, I have no fear. She doesn't want another doctor, she just wants something to complain about.

Anyway, all is quiet now, and I'm gonna check my email and go to bed. Goodnight out there, I hope you had a great day.

Sunday on the Blog Block 1/4/09

Today is my mother's 62nd birtday and my son's 16th. So we loaded up and went to spend some time with my folks. Mom was ready to go shopping when we go there. Which is rare these days, she doesn't feel like doing much with 2 artificial knees and 3 pins in her hip. But she wanted to go to KMart. So off we went. Mom shopped til she was tired and we went back home.

George, the boy, was still sitting at the computer playing a game, and my brothers were determined to get something out of one of the bags we brought in. They didn't get anything, and they weren't very happy about it either.

Then on the way home I had to watch out for pigs crossing the road. NO, I'm not crazy, well I don't see things anyway. We took the back road and while passing this farm a pot belly pig crosses the road in front of us. I got the picture, it isn't very clear. But here it is. This was on my cellphone, so it doesn't come in very good. The dark spot it the pig, moving on.

Closer to home we had to watch out for deer crossing the road. I saw 4 does and a buck. They just watched us from the field so that was good. I don't need a new hood ornament right now.

Of course the cows were bawling when we got here. They wanted their sweet feed. The MIL was nervous cause she didn't know who to call to get to come feed them. Told her not to worry about it, that we'd get it done. She wanted some tylenol so I got that for her while George feed the cows.

After dinner and after Fred got home we feed hay bales and checked on the white round cow (Snowball) to see if she'd had her calf yet. She's hid pretty good so we won't be able to find her til tomorrow. Guess that will be on my list of things to do. I already have a long list, what's a few more.

Anyway, off to bed for me. Good night everyone!

Blogging on the Block Day 3

Not much to write about really today. It was cold and rainy and I didn't feel like doing jack spratt. I did get to see the sign Fred totalled when he wrecked yesterday. I should have take a picture. He's lucky he didn't need the jaws of life to cut him out of the truck. If he had hit the sign he would have been wedged between 2 trees. Thank goodness the man upstairs was watching over him.

I did get out of my PJ's and go to the feed mill with Fred. Then I came home an gather commented, checked email. checked book trades, and at a sandwich.

Then we took movies back, went to the grocery store, and came home. Boring day. Totally boring.

My MIL pouted that Fred and I spent most of the day together, but she had the boy here with her. Even if he was all caught up in the computer.

So, nothing exciting, nothing new here. Kinda glad we didn't have any real issues today. Besides, I'm sure tomorrow and Monday will be overfilled with them.

Tomorrow the boy turns 16 and my mom get to see her birthday present (the boy). By the time I get home to fix dinner the MIL will be having a fit. That's normal, and I'll have to clean up all her messes where she helped me while I was gone. That's normal too.

On Monday the MIL has a doctors appointment and the boy goes back to school, maybe I'll get called to work this week too. I can hope.

Anyway, gone for now, back tomorrow.

Another Day on the Blog Block

Ok, today is my 3rd post. How many days do you have to do something for it to becomes a habit? Hmmm, no idea.


Anyway, today started out with a bang. I had to get the hubby up at 4:30 am and I must have dozed right back to sleep. I didn't hear him leave, but at 6:15 the phone woke me up. It was his work, they were calling to check to see if he was coming in. I told him he should have been there by now and I was sure he would be there any minute. Not 5 minutes later he called me back. He got there, but he'd run over a street sign when he hit a patch of black ice. He said he missed the other 3 cars that hit it in front of him and he wasn't hurt. He told me not to go out until the temps came up a few degrees and to stay off of 2 of the roads near the house.


Then I asked him about his truck, cause he hasn't had it but a few months. I had to drive him to and from work for almost 3 months before he got this one. It isn't a new truck, its a 2002 F150, but it didn't have any dents or anything. It has a few dents now, but all he did to it today was bust the bumper on the front. His old truck, the one he wrecked before this one, took out a tree. He was going to work one morning and he went around the curve and the truck didn't turn, the axle broke and he hit a tree head on. Thankfully he wasn't hurt, but the truck was totalled.


The rest of the day was quiet. My MIL was rather quiet today, I think she was still pouting because I went to my mom's yesterday.



I did get outside and work in the yard today. I picked up all the news papers the dogs chewed up before we could get to them this week. Then I took a walk. I was out walking around the farm for an hour, that counts as excercise doesn't it. No, I'm not ready to tackle the bluff yet, but the hill out back took my breath away by the time I was to the top.


The bluff is a lot steeper than this.



Time to check my email and clean up the kitchen for the night. The MIL has gone to bed, hubby is snoring, and the boy is huffing and puffing on the couch. He wants the computer. I might let him check his game trades, then again, I might just ignore him and stay online awhile.

I'll be back tomorrow. Good night!

How I spent my New Year's Day

Well, I saw the New Year come in. I sat up until after 1 am. I was so sleepy, but at 4 am I was wide awake. It was really quite nice to sit at the computer and check email and stuff with no one wanting to use the phone or get online.



I woke the hubby up at 8 am. We fixed breakfast and sat at the table talking. The boy, as he so lovingly calls him, didn't get up until 11:30, about the same time my MIL got up. By 12:30 I decided I would go visit my parents, so the boy and I took off.



Sunday is my mother's birthday, and the boy will be 16. I tell her every year I don't have to get her anything because I gave her the boy on her birthday. She just laughs at me and ask where her present is. This year my dad and I went together and got her a digital picture frame. I've been putting pictures on a card for and today we took it to her.

My mother is a strong woman, she's suffers from crippling arthritis and has had 10 surgeries. In August she had her left knee replaced, she had her right one done 5 years ago. In September she fell and broke her hip and had 3 pins put in. So now she has 2 knees, one wrist fused, I thumb reconstructed, both feet redone, her apendix out, a stent put in, and a few other minor things done. She needs both hands reconstructed, but doesn't want to do it. The boys tell her someday she'll be the bionic woman, she just laughs. She pushes herself too hard and tries to do too much, and she pays for it in the end. I think I get my determination and fiery temper from her. Although I could get my temper from my dad, either way I come by it honest. I don't take crap from anyone lightly. Although I do have a lot of patience, but when I blow up..you better hope you're not in my line of sight.

Anyway, she's had some issues with the hip. The pins are working out and they will have to be removed at some point. She has a lot of pain, and today was one of her bad days. It did cheer her up to see us and she loved the picture frame.

Tonight I've been trying to get all my New Year's comments posted to my friends on gather. I've got 2 pages left to do, 2 pages of friends. I've done 4 1/2 pages, so...I'll get there.

Signing off for now, be back to blog tomorrow - well, later today.