Sunday

It's Sunday...isn't it supposed to be sunny? Hope so 'cause I could use some more sun. K and J are coming up and J is going to work in the yard, sprucing things up a bit. He has a lot of work to do, but that's okay 'cause he likes to work outside. K and I will figure out something to do....like maybe organize all that fabric I have down in the basement. It could use some organizing. By color if nothing else.
Can't linger, too much to do. Y'all have a sunny day.

All my tax information is now in the hands of the CPA. Whew! There's more info to go there but I haven't received it yet. But I beat the deadline for getting what I had there. I hate having to put all the stuff together but last year, at least, I put everything in a folder so I'd have it at hand when the time came to fill out the form that is sent to me from the CPA's office. I've been working with these people for a long time and they are very patient with me (TG). I know for a fact that I could never fill out the Infernal Revenue forms myself. I am most wishful that some kind of tax reform goes through, either a Fair Tax or something similar, so that life is simpler this time of year. Talk about stress!
It's cold but sunny and clear today. Don't think I'll get outside since it really isn't warm enough for me. I do have some mundane stuff to do. I won't bore you with the details. At any rate, I guess I'll get to it.
Y'all have a smiling day. (That means SMILE, dammit.)

Revolt!

I get a newsletter from a talk show host in Atlanta by the name of Neal Boortz. I don't listen to him often 'cause I can't receive that station on my radio in the house. I DO listen to him when I'm in the Atlanta area. He's a libertarian and, although I don't always agree with what he says, he usually hits the nail on the head. Through his newsletter I learned of an online tax revolt. If you go to www.onlinetaxrevolt.com you'll see what it's about. In a nutshell, it's a virtual march on Washington to revolt against the present tax laws and taxes in general. I don't know about you but I'm tired of the government taking so much money and having nothing from it to show for the theft (I mean taking). Government is getting bigger and intruding more and more into our lives.
There's going to be a real march on April 15. If you are interested in that I'm sure you can find out more about it on the web. Since I don't like large crowds I'll stick to the virtual. Check it out.
Have a meaningful day.

Okay, so I went to the orthopedist yesterday about my left ankle. Can you say MRI coming up? Seems the Achilles tendon is definitely not a happy camper and may have gone rotten and there may be a cyst sitting on it a little higher up. Oh joy! Oh rapture! All I want is to be able to walk without hurting, damn it. Oh well, at least I'm alive and kicking (hmm, may want to rethink the kicking part).
We had snow last night! Woke up to a semi-white ground this morning. I heard the wind last night but didn't realize it had brought dry white stuff with it. Rather that than rain anytime. It's gonna be cold today. I don't mind, I'll be inside at the gallery all day. A good time with good friends.
So, time to get a move on.....y'all have an enjoyable day.

Another day, another doctor

I need to go on more cruises. Not only did I lose weight, my A1C is perfect! Of course it isn't just the cruise since the A1C is done every three months, but the weight coming off must be. Walking up and down the stairs instead of taking the elevator and doing a mile around the ship every other day or so.
Speaking of walking....I go see the orthopedist today regarding my left ankle. Tendonitis that prevents me from walking a lot, because it hurts. Quite often I walk distances despite the hurt which, of course, aggravates the heck out of it and I pay for it. How did it happen? A couple of jobs I had in the past meant walking on concrete floors all day. I used to have the tendonitis in both ankles. Some mornings so bad I could hardly walk. Somehow the right ankle got better. I thought the left was okay. Not! So it's off to see what can be done.
We're supposed to have rain/snow today and the sky shows it. When I get back home I think I'll get some sewing done and maybe play with hammering copper. Spring must be just around the corner. I saw a bunch of robins yesterday and the birds have started singing more. There's a wren that must be building a nest somewhere on the house 'cause she lands on the railing a lot. Either that or she's telling me to fill the bird feeder.
Found out something interesting at the doctor's yesterday. I always wondered why the month of February was the worst for me. I hate it and wish it didn't exist even though my daughter was born in this month and I love her dearly. It seems that our serotonin level is at its lowest in February. Why? Beats me, but it explains a lot. So if you are feeling blue, know that it isn't permanent. As soon as the sun shines more and it warms up it's supposed to cheer you up. And it does, at least for me. So....c'mon Spring!
Have an optimistic day.

Not much happenin' today. Dr.'s visit for 3 month usual check on A1c for diabetes. Hopefully the scales will show I've lost a couple of pounds even though I went on a cruise where the food is really good. But daughter and I took the stairs most of the time so that should count for something.
Laundry's done. Stuff is cut out for a challenge in the guild. My grandson's hat is finished. The sun is out and it's going to be a good day.
Have a bountiful day.

Drat, it's raining......again. And we may get snow in a couple of days. Spring, I want Spring! Oh well, maybe I'll get some paperwork done today.
A blogger friend got slammed for his comments yesterday. Don't know who wrote the comment since he/she didn't leave a name...just anonymous. My friend was only stating his opinion and copied the article he was commenting on from the paper in which it was written. Jeez....can we not express opinions any more? Who was the commenter? Was it another exec who is over paid? I know I get angry at some comments I see, but I recognize the writer's right to his/her opinion even if I don't agree. When I read the letters to the editor in my local paper I quite often mutter obsenities and non-complimentary nomenclatures to the writers. But I don't write the paper and call them names or blast their opinions. And I don't think my friend is a socialist/marxist. If it weren't for free enterprise this county would be in the gutter. If government keeps interfering we may get there yet.
Reading assignment: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Another beautiful day

The sun is shining, again! Yay! I did get to enjoy some yesterday afternoon after writing all the letters to landowners re: dues and other stuff, addressing the envelopes, doing the taxes. Today I have to get all my tax stuff together and maybe get the laundry done. How boring is that? I will, however, attempt to get outside for a while.
Watched a number of Deadliest Catch episodes yesterday evening while knitting (my grandson lost the hat I made him so I'm making him another). I reckon Capt. Harris' smoking finally got him. I liked him. So now, when my daughter and I have snow crab legs at Red Lobster, we'll salute the Cornelia Marie as we did Fierce Allegiance. What a dangerous job! I salute every one of the men (and women) who brave the Bering Sea so we can enjoy fruits of the sea. Other than Maine lobster, snow crab is my favorite sea food. Having been brought up in a fishing family I know how difficult it is.
I'd like to be, under the sea, in an Octopus' garden in the shade......

The sun shines

The sun shines again today! And it's supposed to get up to the high 50"s! And I have a lot of paper work to do. Taxes, letters to landowners........ugh. Looks like I won't be able to take advantage of this good weather. There's lots to do outside but the paperwork has to come first. I'm behind as it is. Maybe if I'm really quick about getting it all done there will be time to go out and enjoy the sunshine.

Spring has to be just around the corner. My sinuses are going crazy. Or maybe it's just a readjustment to this climate after being in the warm. Whatever it is I hope it doesn't last or I'll need to buy stock in Kimberly-Clark.

I leave you with this thought: Checks are always delayed in the mail; bills arrive on time.

Cheerio

On the mend

My back is getting better. I was able to get out and about yesterday to "run" a few errands. Then it was back to my chair and knitting. This morning I seem to be spasm free, thank goodness, but I'm not taking any chances with bending over to pick something up, etc. I have a lot of laundry to do and will figure out a way, I'm sure. I may wait another day for that. I'd really like to be basking in the sun right now. It has warmed up some, but I wouldn't be surprised to see snow again, or rain
I spoke with my friend who was diagnosed and is being treated for cancer. She sounded very good and in good spirits. It's an unusual type called Peritoneal cancer. Which means the cancer cells don't settle in one place but hop around the peritoneum (if you don't know what that is look it up, please). It can be controlled but not cured. Yikes. Apparently it is with her for the rest of whatever life span she has left. Not the best thought. However, she will do the treatments and take each day with its blessings. And will call me if her husband needs a break. Her daughter lives near so that help is available, too.
Okay, enough depressing thoughts. Y'all have a happy day.

Reality sometimes bites

Yesterday my back went into spasm. Oh joy. Why? Guess it's 'cause I had to come back to the real world with all its foibles and bills and other stuff. I'm sitting here trying to massage the knots out with one of those Homedics devices that runs up and down your back. I thought I had it licked this morning when I got up. Had a great night's sleep thanks to a couple of Excedrin PM and woke up with no knots or pain. Then I had to answer Mother Nature's call. I won't go into details but somehow I moved wrong and......
So I'll sit in my chair today with some pillows in the right spot and hope that by doing so I can alleviate the spasms. I'll be knitting most of the day. Perhaps the bright spot is that I might even get that baby blanket finished. Thankfully I don't have to go anywhere except this evening to get my hair cut. Maybe a short trip to the market to pick up some cereal. If the back doesn't behave I'll call my chiropractor and see if he can do something about it. But really, the only thing that seems to work is relaxing. Something I wish I was good at.
If I could sleep for the next week.......

Wishing I was in warm sunshine

I've been back all of two days and already wish I was back in the land of warm sunshine. It's cold, darn it, and I don't like the cold very much even when the sun is shining. Ironically the sun is shining and there are snowflakes in the air right now. Just a few flying around, but it just makes it seem colder. To say I am ready for Spring would be putting it mildly.

Was going to try to catch up on the mail, but when I went to the post office yesterday to pick it all up, the place was closed. I didn't realize it was Presidents' Day. Silly me. Guess I need to pay more attention to the calendar. So, it's off to the P.O. this morning before guild meeting to pick up the accumulated stack of bills and junk. Oh, and I'll probably get a P.O. box since some of my mail was stolen a couple of weeks ago. I don't think it's the first time since there have been a couple of times when there was nothing in the box. I ALWAYS have something in there, even if it's just a junk mail flyer of some sort. Soooo, important stuff will now be going to the P.O. box.

Sometimes the only bad thing about going away is coming back. Catching up is no fun. I'll get into the swing of things in a few days. Meantime, I dream of heading back to warm sunshine and sandy beaches.

Y'all have a warm in your heart day.

I'm Baaaaaack

Wow, what a trip! Sunshine, warmth, good food, good folks and time well spent with my daughter. I almost wish it would have continued. Unfortunately we have to get back to everyday life and I have the feeling that being on board ship for too much longer may have brought on a bit of boredom. Besides, the water was not that smooth and we did do some rockin' and rollin'. The ports we stopped in were all great save, maybe, for Dominica, which was a disappointment. I'm sure things will get better there when they have more experience with tourism. At the moment it must be difficult, what with the median yearly income a grand total of $1,500 (yup, that's it) and a 44% unemployment rate. Not a place a well-to-do tourist should go wandering alone in. Drugs are a problem, too. However, that being said, it was nice to see someplace different even if the tour we took didn't match the description given. Our others were a success and I'm sure my daughter will be posting pictures, so if you want to see where we were you can probably see them shortly if you visit http://Kyddryn.blogspot.com.

I have to brag on my daughter. On a quilt cruise you are sent a piece of fabric well in advance and the challenge is to make a 12 1/2" block that best shows the theme given. Daughter made her square and thought it was the saddest of the lot. Hopefully she posts a picture of it finished. At any rate, her block took second place! Not bad for the first try. Mine didn't even come close, but she did choose it (the two winners share the blocks) so it will be in whatever quilt she makes.

Well, I have a lot of catching up to do, both online and off. Would have been online on board but the cost was too much. Between daughter and me we could have spent a lot of moolah just to keep up with email and blogs. Besides, why go online when there is so much else to do? Luckily I am not tied to my computer or other electronics.

If only the house would quit moving......

Night before embarking

I can't believe we embark tomorrow. Whoopeee! We are spending the night in Jupiter, FL which is north of West Palm Beach. It used to be a sleepy little Florida cracker town but is now bursting at the seams. Our hotel is very near I95 and the Florida Turnpike. Used to be that the Turnpike was wayyyyyy out in the boonies and I95 didn't come this far. Things sure have changed.
My brother is coming to have breakfast with us in the morning. He lives in Tequesta which is just north of here. We haven't seen him since my sister-in-law's memorial service so it will be great to spend some time with him before we venture south to Port Everglades. Unfortunately we won't get to see my nephew and his family....maybe some other time.
Dinner tonight was at C.R. Chicks. Oh man, if you ever get to this area you have to try it. I timed our trip down here so we would arrive in plenty of time to have dinner there. It's very informal and the servings are huge. Daughter had the smoked chicken with penne pasta and I had chicken with artichokes and linguine. Neither of us could finish the whole plate full. I'm still full.
Y'all have a delicious day.

Damn Cancer

I was informed this morning that a good friend of mine has ovarian cancer. She'll be operated on tomorrow and then chemo. Not that it will cure it. Just let her live a little longer. It sucks rocks. She is one of the nicest people I know and I've known her for 20 years. I have always enjoyed visiting her and her husband on the 4th of July every year. When I get back from my trip I'm going to see if I can go visit. Luckily her sister lives next door and her daughter is not far. Hopefully her husband will be able to handle the situation, which isn't going to be easy for him as his short term memory is slipping away. That sucks, too.
On a lighter note, I leave today for my daughter's and tomorrow we leave on the first leg of our trip. It will be good to get away. If the cruise line is being generous and letting the wi-fi be free I'll write. Else I won't and you'll hear from me when I get back.

ciao