This is not what I meant to be doing. I was going to do some bookwork on the computer, but needed to check emails and blogs first.
The first email was from Amazon.com regarding an order I first placed several days ago. A gift for Gage for his 8th birthday which is January 7. For some reason the Shopsafe credit card that I have used before with them is not going through. I ordered the gift late at night on the 29th. A couple of hours later I got an email about the credit card. I went back to the order and switched to another Shopsafe credit card that I have also used before with them and thought that everything was okay.
It took more than 24 hours to get the email about the 2nd credit card. Now I have switched to a 3rd Shopsafe card that hasn't been used. I hope this one is the charm. The Shopsafe cards are linked to my Mastercard. I pull up Shopsafe, request a new number to be generated and then I can use that card at only one vendor...Amazon.com, say. If a vendor changes the name that is used to collect...for instance recently I couldn't use the card I had used all along for ordering coffee from Keurig.com. I had to use a new card and I saw when it went through that the company that it went to was now Green Mountain instead of Keurig. I wish they would indicate on the website what name was going to show up on the receipt...it would save lots of time and aggravation.
Back to my morning...then, since I was in the browser I checked Cousin J's blog. Christmas cards was the topic. I started to reply and then decided I would post about it instead.
I quit sending Christmas cards decades ago. Happily, people still send cards to us...although I don't know why they haven't just crossed us off their list since they are getting nothing back. Earlier this year I scanned all the photo Christmas cards (I have never tossed a photo card) into the computer with plans to eventually make a photo book. I still might do that someday. But, for now what I decided to do is put the scanned photos, along with other Christmas family photos onto a flash drive or a photo memory card and display them on the digital frame that the kids gave me several years ago.
I intend to do the same with the photos from the Fall Foliage tour I took with friends a couple of months ago. Currently, the digital frame is displaying lots of old family photos that I scanned into the computer as well as more recent photos and photos from the tour. I love looking at them and remembering when they were taken.
Now if I can just find the time to do it. First the taxes...then I'll have the fun!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
A Very Busy Day!
I woke up raring to go this morning. Well, not really...but I knew I needed to get a check for taxes in the mail so it would get delivered by Friday...so that meant going to town. I didn't even turn the computer on although I thought it might recognize me since I looked so horrible.
Yesterday I asked Dee to come to lunch. We had all the makings from our Christmas taco dinner. The only thing I would have to do would be fry the tortillas. She came and we stuffed ourselves. I don't think I could ever get tired of them. Am I the only one who feels that way?
While she was here I remarked that I regretted that I hadn't looked for a swivel/rocker/recliner when I bought the two rocker/recliners three years ago. Dee has two recliners that both swivel and that would really be a bonus feature in our living room. Since I got the new couches, the recliner had to be moved and it is now just 6 feet or so from the television. If I'm sitting in the recliner the couches are to my right and behind me. Not very good for conversation. But a swiveling recliner would solve that problem. Dee said that Franklin Furniture (where I bought the chairs) could put a swivel on it. Wait, what? So, yesterday afternoon I called them and the guy I talked to needed the model or style of the chair. He told me it would be found either under the footrest or on the bottom of the chair. I turned it over and the first thing I found was a plastic packet stapled underneath which contained the headrest and armrest covers in addition to a booklet about the LazyBoy chair. At least I guess that's what the booklet is about...I haven't looked at it. But, what else would it be about? Philosophy? I doubt it. Anyhooo, I had assumed that it just didn't come with the covers, and the guy on the phone said they actually don't anymore. I guess the other chair has them, too.
I found the style number and he said, yes, they make a swivel thingy for the chair and they have it in inventory. I just needed to get the chair there first thing in the morning as the installer is the same guy who makes deliveries. I talked to Wayne about it and he didn't fuss at all about having to schlep the chair to Franklins. I called him this morning to tell him that since it was raining I thought we could put it in the reclined position and get it in the back of my car. He could drop it off, take the Calhoun County tax check to the post office, and go to the Wharton County tax office and pay those taxes and then go back to get the chair. They said it should only take about thirty minutes. He was agreeable to all of that. He came, we loaded, he left.
Two hours later he returned with the recliner now pimped out with a swivel. It's absolutely wonderful! Perfect!
While he was gone, I deconstructed Christmas here. Everything is put away except for the wreath on the fireplace. I didn't notice it until I thought I was done. So it will probably reside there for a while. Honestly it would only take a few minutes to remove it...but, I'll fight the temptation and just leave it.
I have decided to make tacos again for supper. Still have meat and everything else ready for them. Surely Wayne likes them as much as I do. We'll see!
Meanwhile I showered, washed my hair and am in the process of laundering my sheets. I will feel like I died and went to heaven when I get in bed tonight!
Tomorrow I have to go get groceries for the New Year's Day meal. We have it at Carolyn's house. I don't know if Robin and Chad will be there...they might have other plans. Busy, busy, busy!
Yesterday I asked Dee to come to lunch. We had all the makings from our Christmas taco dinner. The only thing I would have to do would be fry the tortillas. She came and we stuffed ourselves. I don't think I could ever get tired of them. Am I the only one who feels that way?
While she was here I remarked that I regretted that I hadn't looked for a swivel/rocker/recliner when I bought the two rocker/recliners three years ago. Dee has two recliners that both swivel and that would really be a bonus feature in our living room. Since I got the new couches, the recliner had to be moved and it is now just 6 feet or so from the television. If I'm sitting in the recliner the couches are to my right and behind me. Not very good for conversation. But a swiveling recliner would solve that problem. Dee said that Franklin Furniture (where I bought the chairs) could put a swivel on it. Wait, what? So, yesterday afternoon I called them and the guy I talked to needed the model or style of the chair. He told me it would be found either under the footrest or on the bottom of the chair. I turned it over and the first thing I found was a plastic packet stapled underneath which contained the headrest and armrest covers in addition to a booklet about the LazyBoy chair. At least I guess that's what the booklet is about...I haven't looked at it. But, what else would it be about? Philosophy? I doubt it. Anyhooo, I had assumed that it just didn't come with the covers, and the guy on the phone said they actually don't anymore. I guess the other chair has them, too.
I found the style number and he said, yes, they make a swivel thingy for the chair and they have it in inventory. I just needed to get the chair there first thing in the morning as the installer is the same guy who makes deliveries. I talked to Wayne about it and he didn't fuss at all about having to schlep the chair to Franklins. I called him this morning to tell him that since it was raining I thought we could put it in the reclined position and get it in the back of my car. He could drop it off, take the Calhoun County tax check to the post office, and go to the Wharton County tax office and pay those taxes and then go back to get the chair. They said it should only take about thirty minutes. He was agreeable to all of that. He came, we loaded, he left.
Two hours later he returned with the recliner now pimped out with a swivel. It's absolutely wonderful! Perfect!
While he was gone, I deconstructed Christmas here. Everything is put away except for the wreath on the fireplace. I didn't notice it until I thought I was done. So it will probably reside there for a while. Honestly it would only take a few minutes to remove it...but, I'll fight the temptation and just leave it.
I have decided to make tacos again for supper. Still have meat and everything else ready for them. Surely Wayne likes them as much as I do. We'll see!
Meanwhile I showered, washed my hair and am in the process of laundering my sheets. I will feel like I died and went to heaven when I get in bed tonight!
Tomorrow I have to go get groceries for the New Year's Day meal. We have it at Carolyn's house. I don't know if Robin and Chad will be there...they might have other plans. Busy, busy, busy!
Our Merry Christmas
I talked to my friend Judy earlier tonight. She mentioned that she was eagerly awaiting the posting of photos and stories from Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, inspired anew, I began the task of uploading photos. Of Christmas anyway.
My internet connection has been agonizingly slow for the past few days. Maybe the band width is crowded with all the electronic devices trying to upload, download and just communicate. I have tried several methods to upload the photos. The one that finally worked was to email the photos to the special address I have for mobile blogging. So, here they are...photo proof of the wonderful day we had on Sunday!
The first thing we did...after setting up the margarita machine, was pose for photos. With the camera on a tripod and using the timer, we actually got some really good shots.
It was good to take these photos early in the day...before the grandkids got all crazy. Below are Carolyn, Brent, Jax, Kate and Carlee.
Wendy, Gage, Kelly and Zane. Zane is missing two lower teeth. Speaking of that, Gage told me recently that he's saving his tooth fairy money for college. It's good to know that he wants to pitch in!
Robin and Chad, hamming it up.
Wayne and I, looking all grown-up.
Wayne and I with all the grandkids...Kate, Zane, Gage, Jax and Carlee
After the photo session we got started on the gift frenzy. I wish I had taken a picture of the tree, which could barely be seen because of all the gifts around it. The tree looks so forlorn now that I almost took it down today. Maybe I'll tackle that tomorrow.
After opening the gifts, the kids played while the girls and I drank margaritas and "worked" on lunch. Tacos. That's all, just tacos. Well, and refried beans and dessert. No rice, no tamales, just tacos. It worked out great. As I fried the tortillas, they started making the tacos for the little ones. Once the little ones were fed and back in the playroom, the others started building their tacos. Everyone loved them, so I think we might continue with this meal. We had several desserts. Robin brought a yule log, a gift from Mennonite neighbors, and a pecan pie truffle dessert. Carolyn made a poppy seed cake and I had a pecan pie. I can't remember if we gave the kids any dessert. I don't really think we did. Oversight.
We continued drinking margaritas while we cleaned up. Then Brent took Jax and Carlee home for naps. Chad left a while later to go hunting. Kate stayed with the big girls. About 3:30 or 4, Kelly and the boys went home to work on their new basketball goal. At that point Wendy, Carolyn, Robin and I set up Rock Band on the Nintendo and ....I paused here because I remembered I wanted to have one of those pictures posted here. Pardon me while I try to upload another photo...be back in a bit. I guess I could finish the thought, however. We set up Rock Band...a drumset, a guitar, a keyboard and a microphone and spent a couple of hours jamming. Photo below...I hope.
Carolyn is checking the keyboard while Robin is looking like she's talking smack with the drumsticks. If I were not taking the photo, you would see me with the guitar.
My internet connection has been agonizingly slow for the past few days. Maybe the band width is crowded with all the electronic devices trying to upload, download and just communicate. I have tried several methods to upload the photos. The one that finally worked was to email the photos to the special address I have for mobile blogging. So, here they are...photo proof of the wonderful day we had on Sunday!
The first thing we did...after setting up the margarita machine, was pose for photos. With the camera on a tripod and using the timer, we actually got some really good shots.
It was good to take these photos early in the day...before the grandkids got all crazy. Below are Carolyn, Brent, Jax, Kate and Carlee.
Wendy, Gage, Kelly and Zane. Zane is missing two lower teeth. Speaking of that, Gage told me recently that he's saving his tooth fairy money for college. It's good to know that he wants to pitch in!
Robin and Chad, hamming it up.
Wayne and I, looking all grown-up.
Wayne and I with all the grandkids...Kate, Zane, Gage, Jax and Carlee
After the photo session we got started on the gift frenzy. I wish I had taken a picture of the tree, which could barely be seen because of all the gifts around it. The tree looks so forlorn now that I almost took it down today. Maybe I'll tackle that tomorrow.
After opening the gifts, the kids played while the girls and I drank margaritas and "worked" on lunch. Tacos. That's all, just tacos. Well, and refried beans and dessert. No rice, no tamales, just tacos. It worked out great. As I fried the tortillas, they started making the tacos for the little ones. Once the little ones were fed and back in the playroom, the others started building their tacos. Everyone loved them, so I think we might continue with this meal. We had several desserts. Robin brought a yule log, a gift from Mennonite neighbors, and a pecan pie truffle dessert. Carolyn made a poppy seed cake and I had a pecan pie. I can't remember if we gave the kids any dessert. I don't really think we did. Oversight.
We continued drinking margaritas while we cleaned up. Then Brent took Jax and Carlee home for naps. Chad left a while later to go hunting. Kate stayed with the big girls. About 3:30 or 4, Kelly and the boys went home to work on their new basketball goal. At that point Wendy, Carolyn, Robin and I set up Rock Band on the Nintendo and ....I paused here because I remembered I wanted to have one of those pictures posted here. Pardon me while I try to upload another photo...be back in a bit. I guess I could finish the thought, however. We set up Rock Band...a drumset, a guitar, a keyboard and a microphone and spent a couple of hours jamming. Photo below...I hope.
Carolyn is checking the keyboard while Robin is looking like she's talking smack with the drumsticks. If I were not taking the photo, you would see me with the guitar.
They've traded places...Robin on keyboard, Carolyn on drums and Wendy on guitar. Kate isn't in the pictures here, but she was very helpful in explaining the drums to Wendy and Robin.
After the jam session, the girls and I played one game of Skip-Bo and then I drove them all home. It was after 7 before I got back to the house. A really long day...but a wonderful one! I hope everyone had as good a day as we did.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
My State of Mind
I look forward to doing the Sudoku and crossword puzzles in the paper every day. For one thing, I just like puzzles...but, I also take that opportunity to gauge how my mind is working that particular day. We older folks are always on the lookout for signs of Alzheimer's. So, I use my iphone's timer to see how quickly I can get through those puzzles.
Monday's puzzles are the easiest. The difficulty level builds as the week progresses. Because of that, I can't compare Friday's times to Tuesday's, but I can still evaluate how I've done.
I thought I was going to have a sharp day today after completing both puzzles in 20 minutes...those were from a Tuesday paper (I think) from about a month ago. I told you recently that I got behind on the paper while I was on the Fall Foliage trip and I still haven't caught up.
So, I was feeling pretty smart when I headed to Carolyn's to keep the kids occupied for an hour or so while she saw a few patients. I helped Kate read a Level One book. She kept saying, "This is a really good book!" She was judging it as good not because the content was fascinating, but because she was able to read every page. With a lot of help. And with constant reminders to think about what she was reading. She wasn't really getting that it was a story...she was just reading words. After she sounded out every word in a sentence, I asked her to read it again. And then again. And then again. She asked why she had to keep reading it over and over. I told her I wanted her to know it was a sentence and not just a bunch of words in a row.
Anyway, when I got back home I was disappointed that I had forgotten about the corned beef I bought yesterday. If I had put it in the oven before I left home, it would have been almost ready to eat. It needs about 3 hours. I love corned beef! So I turned on the oven, got the corned beef ready and stuck it in the oven. Then I made a sausage and tortilla roll-up and continued working on the "difficult Sudoku" in the Sunday paper. That one often needs to be put aside several times before I complete it. While I was working on that, I suddenly noticed that the oven was on so I got up and turned it off and went back to the puzzle. It took about 20 minutes before I realized that I had turned off the oven where the corned beef was supposed to be cooking. I turned it back on and mentally calculated the new "done" time.
I washed up dishes from breakfast and almost turned the oven off again when I was leaving the kitchen. I might have to put a post-it on the oven to keep myself from turning it off.
And now I'm heading downstairs where much loot is waiting to be wrapped and piled around the tree. Well, not everything will be wrapped. Some of the stocking things just get stuck straight into the stockings. I've gotten much less enthusiastic about wrapping over the past few years.
Did I mention that I had gone to Dollar Tree to shop for stocking items? Apparently, everything in the store is $1...unless it's less. Some candy that I picked up was 69 cents. I had been there earlier in the week and when I got to the check-out with my basket full of one dollar goodies I was disappointed to find that they take every credit card except MasterCard. Which is the only card I have. And I rarely have much cash and I don't carry a checkbook with me. So, I left them to put everything back. Luckily, I didn't get cranky and say something rude. My mind was saying that I would never go back there, but my cheap side was saying "everything is $1!", so yesterday I cashed a check and went back. I got a whole bunch of crap for under $50. Oops! My Christmas spirit sounds like it needs a Hallmark movie.
Monday's puzzles are the easiest. The difficulty level builds as the week progresses. Because of that, I can't compare Friday's times to Tuesday's, but I can still evaluate how I've done.
I thought I was going to have a sharp day today after completing both puzzles in 20 minutes...those were from a Tuesday paper (I think) from about a month ago. I told you recently that I got behind on the paper while I was on the Fall Foliage trip and I still haven't caught up.
So, I was feeling pretty smart when I headed to Carolyn's to keep the kids occupied for an hour or so while she saw a few patients. I helped Kate read a Level One book. She kept saying, "This is a really good book!" She was judging it as good not because the content was fascinating, but because she was able to read every page. With a lot of help. And with constant reminders to think about what she was reading. She wasn't really getting that it was a story...she was just reading words. After she sounded out every word in a sentence, I asked her to read it again. And then again. And then again. She asked why she had to keep reading it over and over. I told her I wanted her to know it was a sentence and not just a bunch of words in a row.
Anyway, when I got back home I was disappointed that I had forgotten about the corned beef I bought yesterday. If I had put it in the oven before I left home, it would have been almost ready to eat. It needs about 3 hours. I love corned beef! So I turned on the oven, got the corned beef ready and stuck it in the oven. Then I made a sausage and tortilla roll-up and continued working on the "difficult Sudoku" in the Sunday paper. That one often needs to be put aside several times before I complete it. While I was working on that, I suddenly noticed that the oven was on so I got up and turned it off and went back to the puzzle. It took about 20 minutes before I realized that I had turned off the oven where the corned beef was supposed to be cooking. I turned it back on and mentally calculated the new "done" time.
I washed up dishes from breakfast and almost turned the oven off again when I was leaving the kitchen. I might have to put a post-it on the oven to keep myself from turning it off.
And now I'm heading downstairs where much loot is waiting to be wrapped and piled around the tree. Well, not everything will be wrapped. Some of the stocking things just get stuck straight into the stockings. I've gotten much less enthusiastic about wrapping over the past few years.
Did I mention that I had gone to Dollar Tree to shop for stocking items? Apparently, everything in the store is $1...unless it's less. Some candy that I picked up was 69 cents. I had been there earlier in the week and when I got to the check-out with my basket full of one dollar goodies I was disappointed to find that they take every credit card except MasterCard. Which is the only card I have. And I rarely have much cash and I don't carry a checkbook with me. So, I left them to put everything back. Luckily, I didn't get cranky and say something rude. My mind was saying that I would never go back there, but my cheap side was saying "everything is $1!", so yesterday I cashed a check and went back. I got a whole bunch of crap for under $50. Oops! My Christmas spirit sounds like it needs a Hallmark movie.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Overcoming Difficulties the Thrifty Way
No one could ever accuse Wayne and I of spending money unnecessarily. We (and especially Wayne) often go to some trouble to continue using objects, machines, pieces of lumber, etc. that others would toss away without any remorse whatsoever.
We are thrifty...to put it in the nicest way. Some would say we (especially Wayne) are cheap, but let's just say we're thrifty. A few examples:
1) When we were expecting our first child, Wendy, we went to a garage sale and bought a crib (slats too far apart by today's government standard), with a side that lowered (not available anymore. Can you imagine a vertically challenged little mom trying to lift a 25 lb. baby out of a crib with immovable sides? Or trying to put a sleeping 25 lb. baby into the same crib without breaking her own back?) Anyway, enough about being over-regulated, back to us. We bought the crib, a playpen and a highchair for $10. All four of the kids slept in the crib...well, not at the same time, of course. And it is currently residing among the other clutter in the attic...it could really be trashed, but, it takes up almost no space, so what's the point of making that effort? Talk about thrifty...it's over 41 years old, costs less that $10, and could still be used (if absolutely, positively necessary...but not by MY precious grandchildren!)
2) We reuse nails. Enough said...although I could tell a funny story about straightening nails while we were building the horse barn. Actually, I might have already told it...but since I never remember to label my posts, I'd never be able to find it to point you there.
3) We built and moved into this house in 1978. We replaced the original double ovens a few years ago when we did some remodeling...thank you, Wayne, for flooding the house. But, for several years before we replaced it (the oven), the upper oven door was held tightly closed by using a coathanger that I twisted into just the right configuration. FYI: it didn't bother me a bit that I needed to do that. I weighed the choices...new ovens--maybe $1000, coathanger--$0. Easy decision.
4) The clothes dryer still worked perfectly fine...except for the knob to select the drying time. Actually, we might have already replaced a part or two, but it was fine except for the knob. The part of the knob that actually connected to the metal gear thingy was plastic...so it was bound to wear off all its gear meshing properties after a period of time. We used many methods to overcome this little challenge (including electrical tape (can you say redneck?)and they all worked in the short haul. We finally had to resort to the vise grip (REDNECK) placed directly on the metal gear thingy. And it worked like a champ until the dryer finally had one thing too many go wrong and got itself replaced.
5) Of course, there were other things like the (very old) television that had to be whacked every once in a while or the Christmas lights that, once installed on the front of the house, were never taken down until we had the house repainted years later. But, that might be characterized more as indifference than thriftiness. Might be?
The current example of thrift would be the remote control that Wayne uses on his television in the bedroom.
He can get it to work only if he takes the cover off. And I must say he's pretty pleased with himself for finding a solution. Now, don't mention this next thing to him because it's a Christmas present...I bought him a Logitech remote at Best Buy yesterday. It's on the low end of the remotes they offer..."only" about $80. They actually had several models that were way more expensive (and maybe one that was cheaper). The most expensive one looks like a small video game. It costs $400! It controls 15 different devices. Some of them are rechargeable. The one I got is not. The problem will be its durability as Wayne is 99% likely to go to sleep clutching it. Hitting the floor too many times was probably the cause of the current remote issue. I have to program the new remote by hooking it up to the computer via USB. Wayne wouldn't be able to program it himself, so it will be my job....just another way I make myself indispensable around here...heh, heh, heh...
DON'T TELL HIM!!! It's a surprise!
We are thrifty...to put it in the nicest way. Some would say we (especially Wayne) are cheap, but let's just say we're thrifty. A few examples:
1) When we were expecting our first child, Wendy, we went to a garage sale and bought a crib (slats too far apart by today's government standard), with a side that lowered (not available anymore. Can you imagine a vertically challenged little mom trying to lift a 25 lb. baby out of a crib with immovable sides? Or trying to put a sleeping 25 lb. baby into the same crib without breaking her own back?) Anyway, enough about being over-regulated, back to us. We bought the crib, a playpen and a highchair for $10. All four of the kids slept in the crib...well, not at the same time, of course. And it is currently residing among the other clutter in the attic...it could really be trashed, but, it takes up almost no space, so what's the point of making that effort? Talk about thrifty...it's over 41 years old, costs less that $10, and could still be used (if absolutely, positively necessary...but not by MY precious grandchildren!)
2) We reuse nails. Enough said...although I could tell a funny story about straightening nails while we were building the horse barn. Actually, I might have already told it...but since I never remember to label my posts, I'd never be able to find it to point you there.
3) We built and moved into this house in 1978. We replaced the original double ovens a few years ago when we did some remodeling...thank you, Wayne, for flooding the house. But, for several years before we replaced it (the oven), the upper oven door was held tightly closed by using a coathanger that I twisted into just the right configuration. FYI: it didn't bother me a bit that I needed to do that. I weighed the choices...new ovens--maybe $1000, coathanger--$0. Easy decision.
4) The clothes dryer still worked perfectly fine...except for the knob to select the drying time. Actually, we might have already replaced a part or two, but it was fine except for the knob. The part of the knob that actually connected to the metal gear thingy was plastic...so it was bound to wear off all its gear meshing properties after a period of time. We used many methods to overcome this little challenge (including electrical tape (can you say redneck?)and they all worked in the short haul. We finally had to resort to the vise grip (REDNECK) placed directly on the metal gear thingy. And it worked like a champ until the dryer finally had one thing too many go wrong and got itself replaced.
5) Of course, there were other things like the (very old) television that had to be whacked every once in a while or the Christmas lights that, once installed on the front of the house, were never taken down until we had the house repainted years later. But, that might be characterized more as indifference than thriftiness. Might be?
The current example of thrift would be the remote control that Wayne uses on his television in the bedroom.
He can get it to work only if he takes the cover off. And I must say he's pretty pleased with himself for finding a solution. Now, don't mention this next thing to him because it's a Christmas present...I bought him a Logitech remote at Best Buy yesterday. It's on the low end of the remotes they offer..."only" about $80. They actually had several models that were way more expensive (and maybe one that was cheaper). The most expensive one looks like a small video game. It costs $400! It controls 15 different devices. Some of them are rechargeable. The one I got is not. The problem will be its durability as Wayne is 99% likely to go to sleep clutching it. Hitting the floor too many times was probably the cause of the current remote issue. I have to program the new remote by hooking it up to the computer via USB. Wayne wouldn't be able to program it himself, so it will be my job....just another way I make myself indispensable around here...heh, heh, heh...
DON'T TELL HIM!!! It's a surprise!
Friday, December 17, 2010
T'was the week before Christmas!
And where has the time gone? I bought my first Christmas gifts in early February and here it is a week until Christmas and I'm not done!
Naturally, it's entirely my fault as I am the Great Procrastinator. I hate having to put on make-up and get gussied up for the trip to town. It's not the putting on of make-up that bothers me so much (I like the way I look when the cosmetics are in place), but the fact that I have to leave the house. No....I'm not agoraphobic. Just lazy and attached to doing as little as possible. Putting on make-up means that it will have to be removed later on...and I somehow manage to wait until midnight or later to do that. But, enough about my extreme laziness.
I have somehow managed to miss all the Christmas programs, pageants, etc. of all five of the grandkids this year. It wasn't my fault! I didn't know about Gage's program at all. I babysat with Jax so Brent & Carolyn didn't have to deal with him at the pageant that Kate & Carlee were in a couple of nights ago...so, I knew about that one, but didn't insist upon going. I didn't know about Zane's program until about an hour before it occurred. Since I was just getting out of bed...and looked hideous...I didn't feel like I could make the transition to presentable in the short time I had available. Wendy said he had a speaking part (a small one, she said...but, it sounded long enough when she repeated it to me) and I would have liked to suffer through it. "Suffer" being how parents and grandparents usually feel when the kiddos are performing...we're so nervous for them and pray they don't just stand there, forgetting everything and feeling like a doofus.
The childrens' letters to Santa were published in the local paper this week. Only Kate's and Gage's letters were in the El Campo paper. Zane goes to kindergarten in Wharton, so if he wrote a letter, maybe it is in the Wharton paper. Excuse me while I pull up that paper and see if I can find it........................
I didn't find it, but when I looked online for the Letters to Santa in the El Campo paper, I didn't find them either.
In Gage's letter, after a little chitchat with Santa, he says "I have been a good boy. I have followed most of the Ten Commandments." Most? I wonder which ones he didn't follow. He continued with a short list of things he wanted including "a Christmas set with you and the reendeer."
Kate said she wanted another doll house "so I can have two." She also mentioned that her flutes are both broken and she would like one for herself and one for her sister.
I still have a couple of gifts to buy (unless I can pawn that off on someone else) and stocking stuffers to buy...but that will have to wait until I'm in the mood to put on make-up...which is not today.
Naturally, it's entirely my fault as I am the Great Procrastinator. I hate having to put on make-up and get gussied up for the trip to town. It's not the putting on of make-up that bothers me so much (I like the way I look when the cosmetics are in place), but the fact that I have to leave the house. No....I'm not agoraphobic. Just lazy and attached to doing as little as possible. Putting on make-up means that it will have to be removed later on...and I somehow manage to wait until midnight or later to do that. But, enough about my extreme laziness.
I have somehow managed to miss all the Christmas programs, pageants, etc. of all five of the grandkids this year. It wasn't my fault! I didn't know about Gage's program at all. I babysat with Jax so Brent & Carolyn didn't have to deal with him at the pageant that Kate & Carlee were in a couple of nights ago...so, I knew about that one, but didn't insist upon going. I didn't know about Zane's program until about an hour before it occurred. Since I was just getting out of bed...and looked hideous...I didn't feel like I could make the transition to presentable in the short time I had available. Wendy said he had a speaking part (a small one, she said...but, it sounded long enough when she repeated it to me) and I would have liked to suffer through it. "Suffer" being how parents and grandparents usually feel when the kiddos are performing...we're so nervous for them and pray they don't just stand there, forgetting everything and feeling like a doofus.
The childrens' letters to Santa were published in the local paper this week. Only Kate's and Gage's letters were in the El Campo paper. Zane goes to kindergarten in Wharton, so if he wrote a letter, maybe it is in the Wharton paper. Excuse me while I pull up that paper and see if I can find it........................
I didn't find it, but when I looked online for the Letters to Santa in the El Campo paper, I didn't find them either.
In Gage's letter, after a little chitchat with Santa, he says "I have been a good boy. I have followed most of the Ten Commandments." Most? I wonder which ones he didn't follow. He continued with a short list of things he wanted including "a Christmas set with you and the reendeer."
Kate said she wanted another doll house "so I can have two." She also mentioned that her flutes are both broken and she would like one for herself and one for her sister.
I still have a couple of gifts to buy (unless I can pawn that off on someone else) and stocking stuffers to buy...but that will have to wait until I'm in the mood to put on make-up...which is not today.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Mouse in the House
We have had a couple of instances of mice in the house during the last month or two. I hadn't seen any for quite a long time, so I hadn't even thought about checking any of the traps that were set until the smell alerted me. That trap and its unfortunate occupant were disposed of together.
I found some plastic traps that you set by pinching the back...similar to the action of opening a clothespin. You just hold it together (easily) while you bait it with peanut butter or whatever. When the mouse is caught (this isn't a trap that intends to trap them humanely...sorry) you just pinch it together again and the mouse falls out into whatever final resting place you have chosen.
The night before last I was awakened out of a deep sleep by the sound of rustling about by a tiny visitor. I went back to sleep and then woke up again to hear the sound again. I turned on the lamp that time and thought that whatever it was (could have been a bug for all I knew) might be in the bag of books that was on the floor next to the bed. So, I got up and moved the bag out to the balcony over the living room. When I picked up the bag I noticed a candy wrapper on the floor, but I didn't pick it up at that time. I went back to sleep and was again waked up by the paper rustling noise. When I turned on the lamp and looked, the candy wrapper was gone. Obviously, a bug wasn't the responsible party. I went downstairs, got one of the plastic traps, baited it with peanut butter and took it back upstairs. I placed it at the wall near where I heard the noise...and actually went back to sleep. Unfortunately, for me, the mouse has not touched the trap and has apparently been laying low. I did find the candy wrapper and it had chewed a bit of it up. It looked like it was making confetti. Maybe it has plans for a New Years party. I did hear a noise last night, but it only lasted for a second and then I heard nothing else.
This morning while I was eating breakfast (rum cake...a gift from Pat when we met for our weekly dinner last night) I heard a noise in the pantry. I opened it and saw the hind end and tail of a mouse as it scurried to get out of sight. I stood there and called it bad names for a while...but that didn't solve anything, so I got another trap and baited it...this time with a gel mouse attractant that I bought yesterday. It looks kind of like the blue toothpaste gel. I've been in the kitchen most of the morning and have checked several times, but so far the mouse has remained quiet and is not interested in the gel. Most everything else in the pantry is protected by plastic containers, so there's slim pickings for rodents.
I choose to believe (because I want to) that there is only one mouse in the house...but it's smarter and sneakier than the average mouse. We shall see. I'm off to check traps.
I found some plastic traps that you set by pinching the back...similar to the action of opening a clothespin. You just hold it together (easily) while you bait it with peanut butter or whatever. When the mouse is caught (this isn't a trap that intends to trap them humanely...sorry) you just pinch it together again and the mouse falls out into whatever final resting place you have chosen.
The night before last I was awakened out of a deep sleep by the sound of rustling about by a tiny visitor. I went back to sleep and then woke up again to hear the sound again. I turned on the lamp that time and thought that whatever it was (could have been a bug for all I knew) might be in the bag of books that was on the floor next to the bed. So, I got up and moved the bag out to the balcony over the living room. When I picked up the bag I noticed a candy wrapper on the floor, but I didn't pick it up at that time. I went back to sleep and was again waked up by the paper rustling noise. When I turned on the lamp and looked, the candy wrapper was gone. Obviously, a bug wasn't the responsible party. I went downstairs, got one of the plastic traps, baited it with peanut butter and took it back upstairs. I placed it at the wall near where I heard the noise...and actually went back to sleep. Unfortunately, for me, the mouse has not touched the trap and has apparently been laying low. I did find the candy wrapper and it had chewed a bit of it up. It looked like it was making confetti. Maybe it has plans for a New Years party. I did hear a noise last night, but it only lasted for a second and then I heard nothing else.
This morning while I was eating breakfast (rum cake...a gift from Pat when we met for our weekly dinner last night) I heard a noise in the pantry. I opened it and saw the hind end and tail of a mouse as it scurried to get out of sight. I stood there and called it bad names for a while...but that didn't solve anything, so I got another trap and baited it...this time with a gel mouse attractant that I bought yesterday. It looks kind of like the blue toothpaste gel. I've been in the kitchen most of the morning and have checked several times, but so far the mouse has remained quiet and is not interested in the gel. Most everything else in the pantry is protected by plastic containers, so there's slim pickings for rodents.
I choose to believe (because I want to) that there is only one mouse in the house...but it's smarter and sneakier than the average mouse. We shall see. I'm off to check traps.
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