Woo-hoo! I finally got my Verizon broadband modem and it's a big improvement over the wireless I have been using for the past few years. Don't get me wrong...the wireless was just fine until recently. Or, at least, it was usually fine. It requires line-of-sight to the tower and maybe trees between us and the tower have grown during the past few years and are now obstructing the signal. Or maybe it's just all the damn wind, bending the trees into the signal. Whatever it is, I just got dang tired of it and decided to go broadband.
I ordered it Friday, I think, and it came this morning by Fedex. It took just a little while to get it set up and "ta-da", I'm back online. This morning I didn't have any bars, but it was still working like a champ. This evening I have 4 bars! I'm pretty pumped! Can't wait to take it with me to the river, Schlitterbahn, the bay...yippee!
Of course, this means I will have to drop my current preferred email address when I discontinue the wireless. So, that's a pain. Don't know whether I want to use the gmail address I've had (but never use) for several years or go to yahoo! or hotmail.
Now, if I could just boost my cell phone signal here at home. I get a much stronger signal at Port Alto than I do here. Crazy!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It's War!
For at least a couple of weeks I've been waging a battle of wills against a pair of sparrows. They are determined to construct one of their nasty nests in my garage. If left alone, the nest would sport long "dreadlocks" of grass. I really hate those nests and the noisy chittering (too kind a word to describe the sounds they make) of the sparrows. I really hate the sparrows, too, if you want the whole truth.
As if the building of the nests isn't irritating enough, their flight path takes them over the back of my car, which they seem to have chosen as their latrine. So, it's on, baby!
I've have done the following to discourage them being in the garage:
Me: Stuck my head out the door and yelled at them to leave.
Them: Totally ignored me.
Me: Rushed at them while also yelling for them to leave.
Them: Flew around in a panic and left the garage until I got back in the kitchen, at which point they returned.
Me: Grabbed a broom and rushed at them while yelling at them to get out.
Them: Flew around in a panic and left the garage until I got back in the kitchen, at which point they returned.
Me: Sprayed the area with a wasp spray.
Them: Returned after it dried, apparently commenting on how fresh the place smelled.
(I should mention that when I grabbed the broom, a mop and something else fell off the rack and bounced off the front of my car. When I was replacing everything that fell, I scraped my arm on the bottom of the nearby cabinet. It didn't really bleed and will probably be all healed up in another week.
After my breakfast this morning, I headed to the garage with a couple of cans to crush. When I opened the door, the sparrows watched warily, to see if I was going to attack. I didn't, actually. I crushed the cans and then headed to the stepladder that I have set up under the garage door opener. The garage door opener that hasn't worked in about 20 years. Of course, it's unplugged...so maybe it would work...but, that's beside the point because we almost never have need to open that door. I climbed the stepladder to see if another nest had been started on top of the motor...and it had been. I got down and got the screwdriver to scrape the nest away. I had cleverly placed a large trashcan under the area during my last demolition. That way the nest materials fall into it and I don't have to clean it up. I climbed back up and took care of the nest, all the while telling myself to be careful and not bonk my head on anything.
While I was doing all that, I was trying to figure out how I could keep the enemy from building there. An idea began to form. A redneck, "there, I fixed it!" idea. You might have received an email or two with photos of repairs made using duct tape, pliers and other unconventional items. So, that's what I did. First, I put aluminum foil around the area and then I covered that with plastic.
When done, I took a photo, naturally, so I could share my evil genius with the world. The first photo shows what the motor looked like before my "work". I took it of the motor over my car, because I didn't think of "before and after" until it was too late. I suspect they will now start building on the motor over my car. Sigh.
I'm too stubborn to give up...but, I do wonder how far I will go to defeat these sparrows. I can't help but think of all the "clever" plans Wile E. Coyote came up with to trap the guileless, but oblivious Roadrunner, with only failure (and injury) to show for it.
Just call me Wile E.
As if the building of the nests isn't irritating enough, their flight path takes them over the back of my car, which they seem to have chosen as their latrine. So, it's on, baby!
I've have done the following to discourage them being in the garage:
Me: Stuck my head out the door and yelled at them to leave.
Them: Totally ignored me.
Me: Rushed at them while also yelling for them to leave.
Them: Flew around in a panic and left the garage until I got back in the kitchen, at which point they returned.
Me: Grabbed a broom and rushed at them while yelling at them to get out.
Them: Flew around in a panic and left the garage until I got back in the kitchen, at which point they returned.
Me: Sprayed the area with a wasp spray.
Them: Returned after it dried, apparently commenting on how fresh the place smelled.
(I should mention that when I grabbed the broom, a mop and something else fell off the rack and bounced off the front of my car. When I was replacing everything that fell, I scraped my arm on the bottom of the nearby cabinet. It didn't really bleed and will probably be all healed up in another week.
After my breakfast this morning, I headed to the garage with a couple of cans to crush. When I opened the door, the sparrows watched warily, to see if I was going to attack. I didn't, actually. I crushed the cans and then headed to the stepladder that I have set up under the garage door opener. The garage door opener that hasn't worked in about 20 years. Of course, it's unplugged...so maybe it would work...but, that's beside the point because we almost never have need to open that door. I climbed the stepladder to see if another nest had been started on top of the motor...and it had been. I got down and got the screwdriver to scrape the nest away. I had cleverly placed a large trashcan under the area during my last demolition. That way the nest materials fall into it and I don't have to clean it up. I climbed back up and took care of the nest, all the while telling myself to be careful and not bonk my head on anything.
While I was doing all that, I was trying to figure out how I could keep the enemy from building there. An idea began to form. A redneck, "there, I fixed it!" idea. You might have received an email or two with photos of repairs made using duct tape, pliers and other unconventional items. So, that's what I did. First, I put aluminum foil around the area and then I covered that with plastic.
When done, I took a photo, naturally, so I could share my evil genius with the world. The first photo shows what the motor looked like before my "work". I took it of the motor over my car, because I didn't think of "before and after" until it was too late. I suspect they will now start building on the motor over my car. Sigh.
I'm too stubborn to give up...but, I do wonder how far I will go to defeat these sparrows. I can't help but think of all the "clever" plans Wile E. Coyote came up with to trap the guileless, but oblivious Roadrunner, with only failure (and injury) to show for it.
Just call me Wile E.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Chasing eyelids
Just spent an interesting few minutes chasing my eyelids to apply eyeliner. Picture trying to paint a line on sand. As you move the brush, the sand keeps piling up in front of it. That's what it was like...skin piling up ahead of the liner brush.
One of these days, when my eyelids are real hazard to my sight, I guess I'll think about getting a little plastic surgery. I remember an old joke about Ann Richards getting a facelift. After the operation, the surgeon told her, "Good news, the surgery went well and there's enough skin here to make a pair of boots!"
For the record, I'm not one who favors cosmetic surgery for myself. It seems too much like tempting fate. But, that's now...who knows what I might decide at a later time.
One of these days, when my eyelids are real hazard to my sight, I guess I'll think about getting a little plastic surgery. I remember an old joke about Ann Richards getting a facelift. After the operation, the surgeon told her, "Good news, the surgery went well and there's enough skin here to make a pair of boots!"
For the record, I'm not one who favors cosmetic surgery for myself. It seems too much like tempting fate. But, that's now...who knows what I might decide at a later time.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Odds and ends
Geez! I have so much I need to be doing in my office. The pile of crap next to the computer just keeps growing! Things get lost under there. Well, not lost...just buried until I dig them out.
I've told myself to go through the piles and sort it out. But "myself" isn't listening and is playing games instead. Or going to ball games, or getting facials, or tending to my diet...which does, require some time.
Speaking of my diet, I have now lost 23.6 pounds and am well on my way to "Normal", per my Wii Fit program. I am really happy with the way things are going. True, I've only actually gone down one size, but I was about to bust out of the other size, so you could almost say it is two sizes...almost. I hope to keep on eating this way...a healthy diet with a much reduced amount of food and no crazy snacking. But...I know how I am...this, too, shall pass and I will succumb to the call of the Cheetos. I just hope that when that happens, I can gather up my resolve and not let things get out of hand. The bad thing is that the three pairs of crop pants I bought last year no longer fit. I loved those pants. I suppose I could take them to be altered, but what if I need big pants again? No...I'll have to buy some replacements.
I still haven't added exercise to the weight loss regime. I hate exercise, even the small amount that I'm supposed to be doing along with my diet. Every once in a while I stretch...that should do it, don't you think?
I came in here to tackle the pile of papers, then decided to look at Coldwater Creek online to see if my crop pants were still available at their outlet store. Yes! If I needed a size 4. So, no. Plus, they all look hideous online.
So, instead of doing what I came in here for, I've checked email, looked at a couple of blogs...Oh, wait! You have to see the cutest baby shower cake I've ever seen.
Isn't that precious!!! It was made by Annette Prochaska, from El Campo, the grandmother-to-be of Baby P. Annette made Robin's wedding cake and groom's cake. The groom's cake, if you don't remember, featured, among other things, a pole dancer. I'll include one of the photos...what the heck!
Back to what I've done instead of paperwork...I've checked the movie schedule...I'm going to see The Lincoln Lawyer this afternoon. I started to put on makeup earlier, but then decided to wait until I knew for sure I was going to the movie. I hate having makeup on, but I like the way it makes me look...younger.
Enough! I'm going to get the makeup on and then start on the paperwork. Really.
I've told myself to go through the piles and sort it out. But "myself" isn't listening and is playing games instead. Or going to ball games, or getting facials, or tending to my diet...which does, require some time.
Speaking of my diet, I have now lost 23.6 pounds and am well on my way to "Normal", per my Wii Fit program. I am really happy with the way things are going. True, I've only actually gone down one size, but I was about to bust out of the other size, so you could almost say it is two sizes...almost. I hope to keep on eating this way...a healthy diet with a much reduced amount of food and no crazy snacking. But...I know how I am...this, too, shall pass and I will succumb to the call of the Cheetos. I just hope that when that happens, I can gather up my resolve and not let things get out of hand. The bad thing is that the three pairs of crop pants I bought last year no longer fit. I loved those pants. I suppose I could take them to be altered, but what if I need big pants again? No...I'll have to buy some replacements.
I still haven't added exercise to the weight loss regime. I hate exercise, even the small amount that I'm supposed to be doing along with my diet. Every once in a while I stretch...that should do it, don't you think?
I came in here to tackle the pile of papers, then decided to look at Coldwater Creek online to see if my crop pants were still available at their outlet store. Yes! If I needed a size 4. So, no. Plus, they all look hideous online.
So, instead of doing what I came in here for, I've checked email, looked at a couple of blogs...Oh, wait! You have to see the cutest baby shower cake I've ever seen.
Enough! I'm going to get the makeup on and then start on the paperwork. Really.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Our little hero!
It's sliding time again at the Bubela's. Yesterday they pulled out the big inflatable slide and set it up where it could be seen from the kitchen and living room windows. They got it going and Kate and Carlee got busy playing on it.
Meanwhile, Brent went to Jr.'s to buy ice and some other stuff for margaritas, and Carolyn went into the house to make a call. She said she heard a loud pop and then the slide was gone. Well, not gone, but it had flipped over in spite of all the anchors that hold it to the ground.
She said the girls were crying when they ran to her, scared, but not hurt. I didn't know any of this when I arrived there a little while later, but soon heard all about it from Kate and Carlee as they ran to the car to tell me about this event.
As they approached the car, Carlee was saying, "We went under the slide!" I replied, "You goofballs! What did you do that for?" And then Kate proceeded to tell me that the slide had flipped over on them. She told (and showed) me how she stood and held the plastic up for Carlee. She showed me how she helped Carlee up and then led her to the edge and "got Carlee out first." I'm so proud of her...my little hero! That really does describe her personality...she's a caregiver, always wanting to help. She's kind to others and when her feelings are hurt, it's almost a physical pain for her.
It was blowing a gale yesterday. They set it up in what seemed to be a protected spot, but I think the wind was coming around both sides of the garage so strongly that combined with the orientation of the slide, it was bound to go. When I drove up they were resetting it in a better place, at least for that day. If you are interested in some photos and a video of the sliding, you can click here to see that post on the Bubela blog.
Meanwhile, Brent went to Jr.'s to buy ice and some other stuff for margaritas, and Carolyn went into the house to make a call. She said she heard a loud pop and then the slide was gone. Well, not gone, but it had flipped over in spite of all the anchors that hold it to the ground.
She said the girls were crying when they ran to her, scared, but not hurt. I didn't know any of this when I arrived there a little while later, but soon heard all about it from Kate and Carlee as they ran to the car to tell me about this event.
As they approached the car, Carlee was saying, "We went under the slide!" I replied, "You goofballs! What did you do that for?" And then Kate proceeded to tell me that the slide had flipped over on them. She told (and showed) me how she stood and held the plastic up for Carlee. She showed me how she helped Carlee up and then led her to the edge and "got Carlee out first." I'm so proud of her...my little hero! That really does describe her personality...she's a caregiver, always wanting to help. She's kind to others and when her feelings are hurt, it's almost a physical pain for her.
It was blowing a gale yesterday. They set it up in what seemed to be a protected spot, but I think the wind was coming around both sides of the garage so strongly that combined with the orientation of the slide, it was bound to go. When I drove up they were resetting it in a better place, at least for that day. If you are interested in some photos and a video of the sliding, you can click here to see that post on the Bubela blog.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Gardening, my way!
The yard looks so nice, with all the trees in new bright green leaves, and the roses all busted out in bright pink blooms. And I mowed it a couple of days ago, so that really helps, too. My huge white azaleas were loaded, but they are in the back, next to the house and I would have to go outside and walk over there to enjoy them. I did it once, but didn't get enough of a thrill to do it again.
I decided I need to have more flowering areas in the yard, so I called Jeff, who had planned my landscaping for me last year and he came over yesterday to hear what I had in mind. I told him I wanted irrigation to any area that we landscaped. I cannot be depended upon to water anything. And I would like lots of color, so when I look out my kitchen windows, I see several beautiful, colorful areas. Can't wait to have that happen!
On a different note, but the same theme...Brent & Carolyn & the kids gave me a big, heavy hanging basket of begonias last year...Mother's Day, I think. He hung it for me, but the tree he put it on was about 6 feet short of the hose I wanted to use. I didn't want to have to carry a 100 ft. hose out there (and then have to coil it back up every time), so I used the shorter one and sprayed toward the plant when I needed to water it. Well, I didn't always water it when it needed to be watered. I did it when I remembered. Not very often, in other words. It did okay for awhile, but eventually it was dead. Quite a while after it died we must have gotten some rain, and the next thing I knew, the begonia had sprung back to life. When it was going to freeze, I put it in the garage with a box over it and left it there for quite a while...no water. A month or so later, I took off the box and it was okay. I might have given it a little water then, I'm not sure. Anyhoo, I left it in the garage, a)because it was heavy, and 2) I hadn't decided where I was going to put it...not in the tree that was too far away, for sure.
Finally, I decided to hang it in a tree close to the driveway. It was too heavy for me to hang high unless I got a ladder, so I hung it where I could. I knew it was too low and I would have to duck when I mowed around that tree. When I got on the mower a few days later and made the turn near the tree, I was watching the base of the tree because I was going to make a circle around it very close to the trunk. And then suddenly, WHAM! Of course I knew immediately what I had banged into, but I turned my head and looked at that basket which was swinging from the impact. All I can say is I'm glad it was high enough that I hit it with the top of my head and not with my face. I can easily imagine a broken nose. That sucker was heavy!
When the basket was in the garage, just before I took it out and hung it up, it looked great. After I hung it, I gave it some water and it now looks dead. I need to go check on it sometime. I think it was probably the sudden change from the garage to the outside...and the tree I put it on hadn't totally leafed out. My bad.
I decided I need to have more flowering areas in the yard, so I called Jeff, who had planned my landscaping for me last year and he came over yesterday to hear what I had in mind. I told him I wanted irrigation to any area that we landscaped. I cannot be depended upon to water anything. And I would like lots of color, so when I look out my kitchen windows, I see several beautiful, colorful areas. Can't wait to have that happen!
On a different note, but the same theme...Brent & Carolyn & the kids gave me a big, heavy hanging basket of begonias last year...Mother's Day, I think. He hung it for me, but the tree he put it on was about 6 feet short of the hose I wanted to use. I didn't want to have to carry a 100 ft. hose out there (and then have to coil it back up every time), so I used the shorter one and sprayed toward the plant when I needed to water it. Well, I didn't always water it when it needed to be watered. I did it when I remembered. Not very often, in other words. It did okay for awhile, but eventually it was dead. Quite a while after it died we must have gotten some rain, and the next thing I knew, the begonia had sprung back to life. When it was going to freeze, I put it in the garage with a box over it and left it there for quite a while...no water. A month or so later, I took off the box and it was okay. I might have given it a little water then, I'm not sure. Anyhoo, I left it in the garage, a)because it was heavy, and 2) I hadn't decided where I was going to put it...not in the tree that was too far away, for sure.
Finally, I decided to hang it in a tree close to the driveway. It was too heavy for me to hang high unless I got a ladder, so I hung it where I could. I knew it was too low and I would have to duck when I mowed around that tree. When I got on the mower a few days later and made the turn near the tree, I was watching the base of the tree because I was going to make a circle around it very close to the trunk. And then suddenly, WHAM! Of course I knew immediately what I had banged into, but I turned my head and looked at that basket which was swinging from the impact. All I can say is I'm glad it was high enough that I hit it with the top of my head and not with my face. I can easily imagine a broken nose. That sucker was heavy!
When the basket was in the garage, just before I took it out and hung it up, it looked great. After I hung it, I gave it some water and it now looks dead. I need to go check on it sometime. I think it was probably the sudden change from the garage to the outside...and the tree I put it on hadn't totally leafed out. My bad.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Kelly's Gift to Wendy
I've been meaning to post about the very sweet and long-planned gift Kelly gave Wendy for their 10th anniversary. The anniversary and gift were in January. As you can see, I'm a bit behind in my posting.
Wendy, having gotten a double whammy of the thrifty gene from both Wayne and I, and Kelly, who is also a very conservative spender, rarely did anything more than exchange cards for their anniversary. Oh, sure...there might be a dinner out, but not much more than that. I have put an alert on my phone so that I can subtly remind Wendy of the approaching anniversary. I'm not saying she's the absent-minded professor...she knows the date when they married, she just doesn't always know what the current date is. One year she totally forgot until Kelly gave her his card. Another year she had selected a card for Kelly a number of weeks before the anniversary, then couldn't find it on the actual day.
This year, a few days before their anniversary, Kelly sent me a text asking if I could watch Zane for them. For about a week this summer. He explained that for Wendy's gift he wanted to take her on a trip...just the two of them. He said that he had been stashing money for almost 10 years with this gift in mind. Every money gift he has gotten for the last 10 years has gone into this stash which he kept in the safe deposit box. He had already talked to his mom who agreed to watch one of them, probably Gage.
I was blown away. Just think of it...he has planned this gift for nearly 10 years! And kept it secret until now. The only thing he had told Wendy was that he had an envelope in the safe deposit box that she wasn't to look into. She agreed not to, but insisted that he write some kind of note and place it inside the envelope so that if something happened to him, she would understand what it was. And so he wrote a brief note on a post-it and placed it inside the envelope.
Kelly presented the money to Wendy when they went out to dinner. I had warned him to take some tissues because I thought there would be tears. He texted me that not only were there no tears, she laughed! She texted me, "I'm rich!" The enormity of his commitment did not escape her. She's rich, indeed, in the way it matters most.
They have made their reservations for a trip summer. Wendy is working out to tone up and has purchased two new bikinis. Kelly, of course, would be hard-pressed to improve his physique...so, he might only have to buy a new swimsuit. I know they are going to enjoy themselves immensely.
Wendy, having gotten a double whammy of the thrifty gene from both Wayne and I, and Kelly, who is also a very conservative spender, rarely did anything more than exchange cards for their anniversary. Oh, sure...there might be a dinner out, but not much more than that. I have put an alert on my phone so that I can subtly remind Wendy of the approaching anniversary. I'm not saying she's the absent-minded professor...she knows the date when they married, she just doesn't always know what the current date is. One year she totally forgot until Kelly gave her his card. Another year she had selected a card for Kelly a number of weeks before the anniversary, then couldn't find it on the actual day.
This year, a few days before their anniversary, Kelly sent me a text asking if I could watch Zane for them. For about a week this summer. He explained that for Wendy's gift he wanted to take her on a trip...just the two of them. He said that he had been stashing money for almost 10 years with this gift in mind. Every money gift he has gotten for the last 10 years has gone into this stash which he kept in the safe deposit box. He had already talked to his mom who agreed to watch one of them, probably Gage.
I was blown away. Just think of it...he has planned this gift for nearly 10 years! And kept it secret until now. The only thing he had told Wendy was that he had an envelope in the safe deposit box that she wasn't to look into. She agreed not to, but insisted that he write some kind of note and place it inside the envelope so that if something happened to him, she would understand what it was. And so he wrote a brief note on a post-it and placed it inside the envelope.
Kelly presented the money to Wendy when they went out to dinner. I had warned him to take some tissues because I thought there would be tears. He texted me that not only were there no tears, she laughed! She texted me, "I'm rich!" The enormity of his commitment did not escape her. She's rich, indeed, in the way it matters most.
They have made their reservations for a trip summer. Wendy is working out to tone up and has purchased two new bikinis. Kelly, of course, would be hard-pressed to improve his physique...so, he might only have to buy a new swimsuit. I know they are going to enjoy themselves immensely.
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