49 days and..

passing quickly on the countdown to Spring.  Yesterday was a glorious day, topping out at 60 degrees in the late afternoon.  It is 43 degrees this morning and supposed to reach upper 50s with rain this afternoon.

I was up early changing the bedding and starting the laundry.  Not fun like yesterday when I went shopping around town.

Comments to my post yesterday indicated that most of you had never heard the song I was referencing.  I know of several churches that have adapted that song for their own use.  Bobby Bare is a country singer who had many hits in the 60s and 70s.  Two of them being Detroit City and 500 Miles Away from Home.   Jim and I saw him in concert several times.  He has a toy store now in Nashville that sells teddy bears of all kinds and toys for children.  Using his name, the store is called the Bare Trap. 

Pushing ahead, I have another doctor appointment on Thursday.  I did get a good report from one doctor this week but I have heard nothing about the sleep study.

I need to go check on the laundry.  I hope you all are having a good week.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Drop Kick Me Jesus

In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl weekend and because I can’t think of anything to write this morning.

Drop Kick Me Jesus

~ Words and music by Paul Craft ~

 

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life

End over end neither left nor to right

Straight through the heart of them righteous up rights

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life.

 

Make me oh make me Lord more than I am

Make me a piece in Your master game plan

Free from the earthly tem pestion below

I've got the will Lord if You got the toe.

 

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life

End over end neither left nor to right

Straight through the heart of them righteous up rights

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life.

 

 

Bring on the brothers who've gone on before

And all of the sisters who've knocked on your door

All the departed dear loved ones of mine

Stick 'em up front in the offensive line.

 

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life

End over end neither left nor to right

Straight through the heart of them righteous up rights

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life.

 

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life

End over end neither left nor to right

Straight through the heart of them righteous up rights

Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life

Yeah dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life.

 

This is one of my favorite Bobby Bare songs,  I have seen him in concert quite a few times.  Once he even signed a white purse of mine.  I sure wish I had it now.  Turn on your speakers as I have it playing now.

Countdown to Spring is 50 days!  You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

51 days…

to go and counting down till Spring.  It is not really spring like here this morning.  It is cloudy  and 30 degrees right now.  It is supposed to get up to 50 degrees today.  I am not holding my breath though. 

Yesterday when I went out to clean my car off I got a nasty surprise.  What I thought was snow turned out to be a combination of ice and snow about 3 inches thick all over the car.  It took me over half an hour just to get the dang car cleaned off enough for me to drive it to the store.  Then the parking lot at the store was icy and I had on the wrong shoes for that.  Thankfully I didn’t fall.  Bring on the heating pad though!

I am fixing homemade potato soup for my daughter and SIL to have after church.  That is a lot of potato and onion peeling.  This was one of Jim’s favorite dishes.  We would fix it a lot when we knew the kids were coming home.  Then I would save a bowl for Jim for later and send the rest home with the kids.  I make one pan with hamburger and one pan with ham.  I am having green salad with that too.  And that is it,  I did make some cupcakes yesterday, not homemade just from a mix.

This winter, mild as it has been, has been wearing on me.  I saw so many doctors that I don’t know which one to turn to when I really need some help.  One doctor will not cross another in any way.  It is just like they have taken a  Hippocratic oath not to step on each others toes.  Never mind the patient, they are just a number that they make wait for them to be seen and then they graciously allow you  10 – 15 minutes of their time where you find out little or nothing.   Meet Doctor God! 

Whew, I am done ranting for today.  I get carried away when I start talking about Jim’s oncologist too.

Wow!!  Now the sun has come out and I am cheered up already.  If the sun stays out I think I will take a walk over to the cemetery and have a little talk with the Man upstairs as I think I need a push forward.  You all stay safe and be happy.

Beth

Yippee!!

Only 52 days left on the countdown to spring.  The sun is shining brightly this morning and it is 25 degrees,  Mother Nature wasn’t so nice last night as she dumped about an inch of snow.  Now that doesn’t sound like much but the wind was blowing at a good clip and my car is covered this morning.  I need to go to the store so that means cleaning the snow off.  YUCK,  Have I mentioned before, thousands of times, that I don’t like winter.  Especially snow and ice.

The movie (One for the Money)  was really great and was pretty close to the book.  I was disappointed in the casting of grandma Mazur and a couple of the other cast members.  Morelli was perfectly cast as was Stephanie Plum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Rqrts4jPM for the movie trailer.

Well, as much as I hate it, I have to clean my car off so that I can go to the store.  I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Attention Stephanie Plum/

Janet Evanovich fans.  One for the Money (the movie), the first Stephanie Plum book, starts today at the theater.  My daughter and I are going for the very first showing which is this morning.  I have read all 18 of the Stephanie Plum books.  I will give you all a review when I get home.  So stop by later for an addition to this post.

It is partly sunny and 28 degrees right now.  The temp is to reach 40 degrees again today.  There are 53 days left in the countdown to Spring.

Catch you all later with the movie update.  If you are looking for books to read that will make you laugh out loud you should read this series.  I have noted before that I read One for the Money shortly after Jim died.  I would be sitting there crying and the next minute I would be laughing out loud.  Good therapy.

Beth

*********************************************************
UPDATE:

The movie was great and very well cast except for Ranger who was not as good looking as I imagined he would be. Joe Morelli was perfectly cast, what a hunk if I do say so myself. lol Grandma Mazur played by Debbie Reynolds was a disappointment I thought she was miscast. I know Roger Ebert would probably give it 1/2 star but I give it 5 *****s. Click on this link to read a synopsis and to see a movie trailer.http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/oneforthemoney/

54 days and counting …

down to Spring.  I am up and moving this morning.  I feel much better after several days with the heating pad and lazing around doing nothing.  I had my breakfast of raisin bran, banana and milk.  I don’t drink coffee anymore and stay away from caffeinated stuff if I can.

It is cloudy and 34 degrees  this morning to reach to 41 by afternoon. 

I was presented an award today from Mary.  This is a great honor Mary.  Thank you so much!

"Liebster" means favorite or beloved in German, and this award helps to draw attention to blogs that aren't too well known.

Here are the rules for this award:

Upon receipt of the award, one is to:

1) Link back to the blogger who gave it

2) Paste the award on the blog

3) Choose 5 blogs to pass this award to (they must have fewer than 200 followers)

4) Let the recipients know about their nomination by leaving a comment on their blogs.

This is a hard thing for me to choose 5 blogging friends.  I am going to pick the ones that have the fewest followers and I want the rest of my readers to know that I love you all.

1. http://4pawsandatale.blogspot.com/, Arlene, my dear friend in England who entertains us all with tails (yes pun intended) of the adventures she has with her dogs.
2. http://elegantblessings.blogspot.com/ Annie, one of my newer blogging friends who shares the the great state of Illinois (warts and all) with me.
3. http://jumpingoutthewindows.blogspot.com/, Boston boy, my adopted little brother who is a very nice guy with a very entertaining gutsy blog.
4. http://babblelots.blogspot.com/ Nancy, my Missouri friend, who lives with pain on a daily basis.
5. http://leaveittodavis.blogspot.com/, one of my newest blogging friends who has shown me what a kind compassionate person she is.

Please all of you pick up your award.

Off to the wars now (computer shopping I think as mine is acting mean) and to the grocery store.  You all stay safe and be happy.

Beth

Hooray!!!

55 days left on the countdown to Spring.  I am up (although not very early) and facing the day.  It is cloudy and 27 degrees today to warm up into the upper 30s.  I have one errand to run today and that is to the pharmacy.

I feel better today as the pain has shifted around to my shoulder and upper back area.   Another day of the heating pad I think.  Thank you  all for the kind thoughts after yesterday’s post.

Have any of you ever visited http://www.komando.com/columns/.  Kim has a column each week in the Peoria Journal Star.  She really has some helpful information in her column.  In fact the whole site is very interesting.  I was very interested in the column in last Sunday’s paper about timer programs.  I am always putting something in the oven or putting eggs on to boil, etc. and then sitting down at the computer and forgetting all about them.  I had a timer on my stove at home but there isn’t one on this one.  Kim suggested http://www.orzeszek.org/dev/timer/ and I will give it a try.

OK, I have used up my energy for the morning.  I am on my way to get the heating pad out.  I hope you all have a good day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

And the countdown...

continues at 56 days. I am moving way late today as I haven’t been feeling great. It is a beautiful day, bright sunshine and 36 degrees right now.

Not much left in the sales at Bergner’s this morning. Everything is pretty well picked over. I did buy a $60 blanket for $19.97 and a pair of workout shorts for my son at a good price. Other than that I have done nothing. I did fix the chicken and dumplings and ate 1 dumpling and a small piece of chicken. I haven’t had much appetite for a few days. I shoveled some snow from around my car over the weekend and I now have pains in various parts of my body. I hate to admit it but I think my body has gone completely over the hill.

All for now. Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

57 days…

and counting down.  It is 36 degrees out now, very windy and the temps are to be falling all day.  The temp has fallen 9 degrees since I got up early this morning.

I am back from the fasting lab and breakfast at Bob Evans.  The home fries were cold and not cooked so I sent them back.  The poor waitress was so flustered she kept apologizing.  I told her it wasn’t her fault and I left her a bigger tip.  I feel so sorry for the waitress/waiter as they have to depend on tips.  And probably what is wrong back in the kitchen is that the cooks are minimum wage that are just putting in their 8 hours, or maybe they aren’t even given a full week so they don’t have to be paid benefits.  My son waited on tables for a few years while he was going to Parkland and I know how they have to depend on tips for their salary. 

I am not pitching in to do anything earthshattering today as I just don’t have the energy for it.  Tomorrow I want to go out early to Bergner’s to check out the clearance sales.  Other than that, tomorrow I will be making the chicken and dumplings.  Plus there is always the dreaded bathroom to clean and laundry to do.  Someone asked me once why I called it the dreaded bathroom.  The reason is because I hate cleaning the bathroom the most of all of the cleaning. In my old house I had one huge bathroom and a small bathroom.  This bathroom is really tiny in comparison but I still hate to clean it.

In another few weeks I will ask my daughter to come over and give me a hand with spring cleaning.  My daughter is such a joy and I am so thankful to be living close by when I seem to be needing family more than ever.

I hope you all have a good week.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Am I awake yet???

Not sure as I had a sleep study done at the hospital last night for sleep apnea.  http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-studies  I had little wires connected to my head with paste and a band around my chest to do an ekg and another band to measure the respiratory readings.  Plus a lot of other things connected with leads.  All together an unpleasant night.   I couldn’t wait to get home to wash my hair and take a shower.

According to the World Health Organization approximately 100 million people worldwide have OSA (sleep apnea). In the
United States, OSA is estimated to affect 1 in 4 men and 1 in 9 women; and affects 23 million working adults.
Approximately 4% of men and 2% of women over the age of 35 years have symptomatic moderate or severe
OSA, affecting approximately 12 million people in the United States.  It is estimated that less than 25% of
OSA sufferers have been diagnosed,

One of my friends that I have had since I started blogging  along with her husband make many beautiful items out of wood.  Nancy is having a give away at her blog.  Please visit her, look at her beautiful items, leave a comment, follow her, and you will be entered in the drawing.

http://hollarwood.blogspot.com/2012/01/give-away-drawing.html

I am exhausted.  I just made a run to the store to get necessary items like bananas and Lean Cuisine.  Also some chicken as I am thinking chicken and dumplings on Tuesday.  Tomorrow after my lab I am going out for breakfast so I won’t be hungry.

My direct order (remember I worked for the military) for you all is to stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

I about forgot the countdown again,  it stands at 58 days!!

Greetings…

and good morning from the heart of Illinois.  It is the day after the storm that mostly passed us by (Thank you God!)  It is 19 degrees here right now and the new snow on the ground only amounts to about 1 inch.   My son in the Chicago area wasn’t as lucky though as they got several inches.

I do need to go out in a bit and start the car as it hasn’t been started for a couple of days.  I am not planning on going anywhere today though.

You know, I have been thinking after my post a few days ago about rules to live by, and how very important a smile is.  It can brighten someone’s day and it sure is a lot easier on your face than a frown.  I spent many years working with the public, my last years working with the military at an AFB.  In my last position at the AFB I dealt mostly with officers.  Most of them were very nice although I can remember two in particular that were real horse’s patooties.

patootie (plural patooties)

1. (chiefly US, slang) The buttocks.

These two were really difficult to work for although they each were responsible for me getting high commendation letters from HQTRS ATC in Texas.  So the best thing to do in respect to them was just to grin and bear it and get on with the job.  I was the only civilian in this particular office and the work I did was not shared with the others in the office because they were enlisted personnel.  But getting back to the smile; I dealt with quite a few satellites connected to our base.  There was one colonel I dealt with at an arsenal here in IL that often told me I sounded liked I had a smile in my voice.  I have never forgotten that, or that gentleman.  I suspect by this time that he is long gone, perhaps one of my guardian angels.    Heaven knows I need all of them I can get.

Enough nostalgia for today.  I hope you all have a peaceful weekend.  Do try to stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

OOPPS!!  I almost forgot to mention that Spring Countdown stands at 59 days.

I felt like I…

had to post today because I am on a roll here.  I have posted each day since December 1st so I have kind of got in the habit again.  I used to post every day when I was on WLS but got out of the habit.

I was out with my daughter this morning, paying bills and running errands.  We ate at Grumpy Pete’s aka Eighth Street Station.  This morning was a lull in the weather as we are to have a mixture of sleet and snow this afternoon.  When I got up this morning the wind chill was 8 below zero and the wind was out there right in my face as I walked to and from the car.  But the bills are all paid and the baby doesn’t need shoes and I am not busted.  Remember that old song Busted?  One of my favorite old songs which goes like this:

Busted written by Harlan Howard

The bills are all due and my baby needs shoes
But I'm busted.
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound
But I'm busted.
I got a cow that's gone dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills that get bigger each day
The county's gonna haul my belongings away
I'm busted.
I called brother Bill, thought I'd get me a loan
I was busted
Lord, I hate to beg like a dog for a bone
But I'm busted.
But Bill said that "There ain't a thing I can do,
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu,
And I was just thinkin' about callin' on you,
I'm busted."
Now Lord, I'm no thief, but a man can go wrong
When he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone
I'm busted.
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
Me and my family's gotta pack up and go
Where I'll make a living, the Lord only, knows
I'm busted.

Love that song.  I am going to have to see if I can find it to put it here on my blog on Mixpod.

Other than all of the above nonsense, I am in for the day as it is too darn cold to be outside.  The weather is supposed to moderate and be in the 40s by Monday which is good as I have to go for a fasting lab early Monday morning.  I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

A blast from the past…

but first I will remind you that it is 61 days till Spring.  It kind of does my heart good to see the Northwest being hit with a lot of snow.  I feel a little bit bad saying that, but what the heck, I like to share the wealth and if I think it will make others happy, why they can have all of the snow that we usually get.  It is snowing here right now and the temp is 16 degrees.

I have laundry in the washer and dryer so my day is moving along at a pretty good pace.

One of my newer blogging friends, http://leaveittodavis.blogspot.com/, had a very good post this morning titled Jocko.  (about a stuffed toy her brother won at a carnival many years ago)  This brought back memories of carnivals and when I was young.  I had 4 sisters, the two older sisters being much older than the rest of us girls.  That left Ebby, Rae and me (or is it I?).  We grew up in a small town in Western Illinois.  Our family was poor as there were 8 of us kids, 5 girls and 3 brothers.  The carnival came to this small town 2 or 3 times each summer.  I think they knew a bunch of suckers when they saw them, that is why they kept coming back.  The carnival lot was about 3 or 4 blocks from where we lived.  Ebby, Rae and I would tell mom we were going for a walk and then we would go to the carnival and slip under the fence to get on the grounds without paying an admission fee which was charged at the gate.  This was nighttime and I shudder to think of kids our age being out alone at night in this day.  Rae and I did fine slipping under the fence but our sis Ebby who was 3 years older than I (or is it me?) hurt her knee and she had pain with it until the day she died. 

Anyway, once inside the carnival grounds we we would stand enthralled by the hawkers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_(trade) selling the bottles of stuff that was touted to cure everything.  I know now that it was probably 50% alcohol and that it why the customers kept coming back.  It sold for $1 a bottle which was a very steep price in those days.  My dad was not a customer as he was very much against alcohol use in any form.  I don’t recall seeing him ever go to the carnival.  If I am wrong I feel sure that Rae will correct me as she has a better memory than I do.  LOL  Remember that I told you all in a previous blog that I have a selective memory which comes in handy at times and at other times is just a pain in the wazoo.

Well, we three girls had lots of adventures when we were young and we lived to tell the tale.

If anyone reading this doesn’t have any snow, I wish you had mine.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Up and at ‘em…

early this morning.  I set the alarm for 6:45 AM so I would be up bright and early to let you all know that it is only 62 more days till Spring.

It is sunshine bright out this morning but the temperature is a very cold 9 degrees with a wind chill of 1 below zero.  I guess winter didn’t forget  us, it just took its time getting here.  The snow yesterday didn’t amount to anything although we have some more on the way.  The groundhog will soon be telling us that we have 6 more weeks of winter, well we all knew that anyway.

Now to brighten the day, some of the flowers from  my neighbor, Sandi, at home.

 

Gotta go now.  The vacuum is calling me.  You all stay safe and be happy.

Beth

63 more days..

till Spring, although it is nothing like spring outside this morning.  We are having a mixture of sleet, drizzle and snow this morning. The wind is whipping around and the temp is 30 degrees.  Supposed to change to all snow this afternoon with steadily falling temperatures. 

I have been out this morning to Wal*Mart and Food Depot.  I got a vey late start on the day as I didn’t wake up until almost 8AM.  I think I must be trying to get caught up on the sleep I missed Saturday night.  It is so dreary out that I came right back home.  I had thought about eating at 8th Street Station/aka Grumpy Pete’s but it is too nasty outside.

So I think I will make some Rice Krispy treats for my SIL as I have some marshmallows I need to use up.  Those don’t tempt me so it is safe to make them.

The following are thoughts to live by from Griffith University, AU.

“It is really quite simple. The 'secret' turns out to be nothing more than good sense. Here are some ways that you can improve the quality of your life if you apply them honestly in your life. You should of course ignore any that don't feel right to you.

If you are like me and have read and listened to self-improvement books and cassettes, you will probably recognize the major themes present in practically all such self-improvement products. In any event, have a read down the list. At the very least, it will raise a chuckle.”

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
   
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
   
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have, or loaf all you want.
   
4. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
   
5. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
   
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
   
7. Believe in love at first sight.
   
8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
   
9. Love deeply and passionately. You may get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely.
   
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
    
11. Don't judge people by their relatives, or by the life they were born into.
    
12. Teach yourself to speak slowly but think quickly.
    
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile, and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
    
14. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
    
15. Call your mother.
    
16. Say, "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
    
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
    
18. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions.
    
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
    
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
    
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
    
22. Marry a person you love to talk to. As you get older, his/her conversational skills will be even more important.
    
23. Spend some time alone.
    
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
    
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
    
26. Read more books. Television is no substitute.
    
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
    
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
    
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
    
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
    
31. Don't just listen to what someone is saying. Listen to why they are saying it.
    
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
    
33. Be gentle with the earth.
    
34. Pray or meditate. There's immeasurable power in it.
    
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
    
36. Mind your own business.
    
37. Don't trust anyone who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.
    
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
    
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. It is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
    
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
    
41. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
    
42. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
    
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
    
44. Live with the knowledge that your character is your destiny.
    
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

#27 is my favorite, what is yours?

Beth

And the countdown to spring …

is 64 days.  This morning it is partly sunny and the temperature is 36 degrees,  It is to get up in the 40s today with rain by afternoon, then more snow predicted for later in the week.

I am here waiting impatiently for a call back from the doctor’s office about the allergic reaction to the med I started last week.  I hate talking to the nurses and the doctors.  They somehow make you feel like you have done something wrong because you have a reaction to something.

My niece in WV just got out of the hospital yesterday after a 4 day stay.  My sis and I have a list of doctors that we call Dr. God.  These are doctors who care not one whit for you as a person and see you only as a number.  My list of Dr. Gods is growing longer each day.

Last month when I saw my primary care doctor I showed her a letter that I had written to myself outlining all of the doctors I had seen since my hospital stay the first part of October 2011 and all of the different meds I had been prescribed, I further described how I felt like I was being jerked around by these doctors like a yoyo.  She asked if she could keep the letter and I told her yes.  As I was leaving she came over and gave me a big hug and told me she was sorry.

Consider this my Wednesday rant.  Then you all stop and take the time to stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

How not to…

spend a Saturday night.

Yes, I could almost feel it coming.  I had an allergic reaction to the latest med from the doctor I saw last Wednesday.  I spent 4 hours in the hospital emergency room last night.  At least I didn’t have to spend the night there.  I was home in bed by 2AM although it was much later when I finally fell asleep.  Thanks to my daughter who sat so patiently waiting while I had blood tests done and a cat scan.  I am worn out this morning but I am up and dressed.  If I sleep the day away I won’t get any rest tonight.

My mind is muddled this morning but I think the countdown to Spring is 65 days.  Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

It is a beautiful sunshiny morning checking in at 21 degrees and I am thankful for that as more snow is predicted for later in the week.

I hope you are all having a peaceful day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Guess what…

it is snowing again and coming down at a pretty good clip.  Expected 1 –2 inches.  My daughter came over this morning and shoveled my car out and then she was gracious enough to take me to the store to pick up a few things.  I am not liking this turn for the worse that winter is taking, making a mockery of my countdown to spring which stands at 66 today.

I decided to cook today and I have a roast with potatoes and carrots in the oven.  It is really starting to smell good.  A very nice change from my regular TV dinner.  I think some of you reading this post would think that I don’t know how to cook.  Not true, I love to cook but it definitely is not fun to cook for one person.

I sent the brownies home this morning with my daughter so that temptation is gone.  Actually I don’t need to lose any weight.  My cardiologist told me that my weight now was perfect for my height.  It is just that when I eat something sweet then I don’t want to eat the stuff that is good for me.

This is just an update.  I am wishing a happy birthday to my Twin’s son Bruce and to my friend Terry’s daughter Danielle. 

You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

And the snow is over…

at least for now.  I am sending it all to Bill in North Carolina along with a wish that he would get a foot or more of the white stuff.  lol  Our total was about 4 inches.  Just enough to blow around good.  Maintenance has been over and used the snow blower on the front and back sidewalks and the driveway.  In so doing in the back they threw it all up against my car.

I will ask my daughter and SIL to come over in the morning and help me dig out as I am not supposed to be doing strenuous exercise.

The countdown to Spring stands at 67 days and I am longing for it.  Yesterday I tried to hunker down but I was just too antsy to do it.  So I made some brownies with peanut butter chips and ate a big piece of that.  Then being a smart lady I put them all in the freezer to give to my daughter when I see her.  I really hate being stuck in the house as it makes me claustrophobic.

 

“Claustrophobia (from Latin claustrum "a shut in place" and Greek φόβος, phóbos, "fear") is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms (opposite: claustrophilia).”

And that about sums it up.  I now have to struggle a few yards to the laundry room and get my clothes out of the dryer.  You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

SNOW and the countdown is…

68!  We are under a winter advisory here for blizzard like conditions.  It is snowing like crazy and the wind is whipping around.  the storm is to last until 6 AM tomorrow.  Should I mention again that I do not like snow.  It wasn’t so bad until I had to handle it all on my own and now I dread it each winter.

The storm has just started and this is what my car looks like now.  This photo also shows the tree that I am taking a picture of each month for the year.  If you click on the pic you can also see the cemetery in the background.

So I am hunkered down and ready to face the day.  I have plenty of books and my Nook is filled with over 90 books so I guess I  will be OK.  Boston Boy, take note that I have bread, milk, eggs, and deli meat and cheese on hand.  Watch out for tomorrow ‘cause I think this is headed your way.

hunkeredpast participle, past tense of hunk·er (Verb)

Verb:

1. Squat or crouch down low: "he hunkered down beside her".
2. Take shelter in a defensive position: "hunker down and let it blow over".

Definition #2 is the one I am using today.

For my Twin, I hope your wall unit is delivered safe and sound today.  Don’t take any crap from anyone and make them all wipe their feet.

I am getting into my hunkered down position so you all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

And the countdown is…

69!  Today has been another lovely sunny mild day.  It is 54 degrees, however the p**p will start to hit the fan tonight as we have a cold front coming through bringing a few inches of snow along with it.  If it is bad I just won’t go out tomorrow.

I have been to the doctor appointment this afternoon.  I am now the recipient of another new med.  After reading the side effects of it I don’t want to take it.  I really do like this doctor though and I guess I have to put my trust in him to know what he is doing.  I will have lab done in 1 week to see how this med is affecting my blood.  One lab after another, oh boy, can’t wait.

This is a quick update as for some reason I am worn out by todays events and I am longing to sit down and relax.  You all stay safe and be happy.

Beth

Countdown at 70…

I have been doing a Spring countdown for the last several years.  It is right after Christmas that I begin to get cabin fever and long for Spring.  This winter has been nice though with moderate temperatures.  Right now the temp is at 46 degrees to go into the 50s. The sun is shining brightly too.  A beautiful day for sure.  The forecast is on for snow for tomorrow night and Thursday.  Hopefully it will only be a small amount.

I have been out his morning running errands and enjoying the weather.  It is so great to walk outdoors without a hat or gloves on.  Walmart was crowded as usual this morning.  I was looking at the remaining Christmas decorations.  There were some good sized tin ornaments left that opened up to a cookie inside.  Needing to know I checked the label to see where the cookie was made.  It was made in Turkey.  Put that thing back down in a hurry.  I have been noticing this more and more at Walmart.  The items they carry that read made in America are very few and far between. 

I go mostly to Walmart for the pharmacy items, and heaven only knows where they are made.  I was watching the CBS evening news last night and they were talking about this big drug recall.  http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/drug-recall-excedrin-nodoz-bufferin-gas-x-due-broken-tablets-stray-pills-article-1.1003261  What was even more frightening was the fact that this is not the first time this has happened for this plant.  Sometimes I think I just won’t watch the news anymore as there is rarely any good news anymore.

I am running way late today so I need to cut this off and get busy.  Do remember to stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

And the countdown continues…

Only 71 days till Spring.  I am eagerly awaiting the budding trees, the daffodils  pushing up through the ground and all of that good stuff.  Granted, there are no daffodils to poke their pretty heads up through the ground here, but we are scheduled to have all kinds of things planted around here since they pulled up the dying shrubs.

Some of my flowers from home.

It is still quite chilly here this morning at 23 degrees.  There is a heavy fog that is not burning off very quickly.  As soon as it is clear I am going to the store  as I am out of eggs.  I had my daughter and SIL over for lunch after church yesterday and I have a lot of mashed potatoes left over.  I am going to make Potato Cakes out of them, cool and freeze them.

Fried Potato Cakes:

2 cups leftover mashed potatoes

1 beaten egg

1/4 cup of flour

Stir the beaten egg and flour into the mashed potatoes.  Form into patties and dip each patty into flour again.  Brown in 2 tablespoons of oil.

These are so good.  My mom used to make them when I was a child.  Isn’t it amazing the memories we retain from our childhood?  I have what would be called a selective memory.  I remember the things I want to remember and the rest goes  in what I call the trash pile section of my brain.  lol

I have already done laundry.  After I get home from the store I will tackle a little bit of cleaning.  My first doctor appointment of the new year is on Wednesday.  Can’t wait (said in sarcastic tone).

I hope this is a good week for us all.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Retro Post, Nashville

Retro Post

5/31/2006

Looking at Music City USA for the first time...

I love Nashville. I love the whole country music scene. I will never forget the first time I saw Nashville.

One of the first things I did after I retired from the AF Base was to go on a bus tour with my daughter to Nashville. It was 1990 and I was so excited. I love classic country music. I must say today's country music is hardly worth listening too but in 1990 there were many great country singers.

Our first night in Nashville we were taken on a tour of Opryland Hotel. What a sight. It was Christmastime and the decorations and lights were so fabulous. I was awestruck. Sounds silly I know, but I had worked most of life since I was 16 years old. I had always wanted to visit Nashville and this was my first time to do so.

On the tour of the hotel we stopped to watch for a minute a wedding party's reception. A young man with a beautiful voice was singing "Nobody Answers When I Call Your Name." Vince Gill - he was one of my favorites. I just stood there and listened until he finished the song. The tour group went on without me and my daughter had to come back for me.

Many exciting things happened on that first trip to Nashville. I have visited Nashville quite a few times since then. My daughter and I went to Fan Fair one year and  Jim and I went to Nashville for our 40th anniversary and stayed at Opryland Hotel. It was Christmas time again and we could look out the window of our room at the beautiful lights.

 
Opryland Hotel has a different name now and the Opryland Theme Park is now a gigantic shopping mall.
Progress I guess.

 

*** "First we want. Then we get. Then we wonder why we wanted it. Then we get again."

Beth

Saturday and the countdown is on…

Only 73 days left till Spring.  Yesterday was so spring like that  I felt sure the calendar must be wrong.  The temp was in the upper 50s here and the sunshine was beautiful!  Not quite as warm today but still above average.

Yesterday I had to park in the street as maintenance yanked out all of the old shrubs behind our buildings.

Here you can see how large the shrubs are.  Really a  nuisance,

This is behind my building and you can see the shadows as it is getting to be mid afternoon.

There is a slab of concrete that the shrubs were growing around.  There will be room now for me to have a grill if I want to share the space with my next door neighbor.

I am out of bread so I need to make a store run here in a little while before the store gets crowded.  I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Friday and 74 days till Spring…

It is another gorgeous day here in central Illinois.  The sun is shining and it is 35 degrees.  Supposed to get to the mid 50s today.  So far this winter we have had only 6 tenths of an inch of snow.  Last winter we had almost 56 inches of snow.  I am so loving this.

I have been asked what kind of tree was in the photo I took.  Arlene thought it might be a lime tree.  I checked Google and found that in America they are called linden or basswood trees.  The shape appears to be the same but I don’t believe they are the same tree.  I will keep a close watch on it as Spring approaches.

     

American Basswood tree                                       My tree

My daughter and niece are coming to have lunch with me today.  It will be soup and sandwiches, something easy.  So I guess that means no housecleaning for me today. 

I hope you are all gearing up for a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Bright sunshiny Thursday…

and the countdown to spring is in place at 75 days. It is 45 degrees right now heading up to mid 50s.

I have been to the post office and Walmart and finished off the outing eating lunch at 8th Street Station aka Grumpy Pete’s. I felt very safe eating there today as two of the fuzz were eating there also. The walleye was delicious!!! The food there is always good in the buffet.

Have any of you noticed how fast the ink is used up in the HP Printers? I wish now I had bough an Epson. It costs a fortune too!

Not much news, just checking in with you all. I hope you are having a great day and you have the bright sunshine I am having today. Stay safe and be happy!

Beth

My photo of the month…

This tree is between my house and the cemetery.  It is very old and parts of it is dead.  I just hope the cemetery association doesn’t decide to cut it down before I get all 12 photos.

This photo was taken on 4 January 2012 at 10:00 AM.

It is a beautiful bright sunshiny day out.  The temp is up to 34 degrees already.  A welcome change after the bitter cold and wind of the last few days.  Tomorrow it is to be in the 50s.  C’mon Spring!!  The countdown to Spring has begun.  Only 76 more days!!

I made a quick run to the store this morning.  School is back in session so the traffic is lighter and the stores are not so crowded.  Hooray for school.  lol

Let’s see, on my agenda for today??  Maybe clean a little bit.  Definitely need to make some phone calls. 

Do stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Good morning Monday Tuesday…

and baby it is cold outside!  12 degrees, still windy and sunny.  I have been out and about already, to the pharmacy and to the grocery store.  Warm up due on Thursday to the 50s.  I am liking this winter so far, remembering last winter and the one snow after another thingy.  http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x545137894/Unseasonably-mild-winter-to-continue-National-Weather-Service-says

I have been keeping busy cleaning files and drawers and shredding papers.  Next on the agenda will be getting ready for the tax accountant.  I am always glad when I get that done.

I noticed today that the stores are ready for Valentine’s Day.  My favorite holiday since it is the date of my daughter’s birth.

I haven’t settled on the one object that I plan to photograph each month on the same day and at the same hour.  I think it will probably be the big tree close to the cemetery across from me. Maybe Thursday when it has warmed up to the 50s.

I forgot to mention as I do each time that I don’t like Monday holidays.  They mess the whole week up.  Everything is a day late in the week.  That said, You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Monday book review…

I have stated many times that I love to read.  Turn on the iPod with the Bose speakers and settle back with a good book.  Christmas before this last one my brother gave me a Nook as a gift.  I love it.  It is very expensive though for someone who reads 2 – 3 books a week.  So last summer I went on a garage sale marathon hunting books from my favorite authors.  I literally found dozens; enough to fill two bookcases and a box.  I haven’t had a Nook charge for several months now.  I even purchased Janet Evanovich’s Smoking Eighteen in hardback for just a couple of dollars more than it would have cost me for the copy for my Nook.

But, I did title this post Monday Book Review so I guess you are wondering if I am ever going to get around to it.  First of all, I love a good murder mystery most of all with a little bit of romance thrown in.  Mariah Stewart has written a trilogy  of books entitled Dead Wrong, Dead Even and Dead Certain.

Stewart leaves you begging for more!, August 3, 2004

By

Detra Fitch

This review is from: Dead Even (Mass Market Paperback)

Three prisoners met briefly one February morning. Archer Lowell was the youngest. To make himself look tougher, he suggested a game. Each of them thought up three people that they would love to kill once they were out of jail. Then they swapped victims. Archer never meant for any of it to really happen. When Archer finally got out of prison, he decided to stay on the straight and narrow. So the other two prisoners went after those on their swapped hit list. One of them, Curtis, was dead. The other, Vince, would never get out of prison again. Archer was not a killer and had no intention of going after his three targets. However, Archer did not expect Vince to hire someone to watch him. When it became obvious that Archer would not play the game, Burt stepped in to make him.
FBI Special Agent Miranda Cahill was partnered with Agent William "Will" Fletcher to watch Archer, just in case he went on a killing spree. No one expected him to actually do it, not even the Bureau's profiler, Anne Marie. When the first person died under their noses, the hunt was on for a fleeing Archer.
Also, Julianne, the daughter of Mara Douglas (from previous novel), had been located after seven long years. Mara's ex-husband, Jules, had hidden himself and his daughter with the Reverend Prescott. An agent had been inserted into the Reverend's Valley of the Angels and would soon escape, taking a reluctant young girl home to her mother. The agent first had to gather evidence that would shut down the child-prostitution rung that masqueraded as a shelter for run-away girls on the street. Everything was about to come to a climatic ending!
***** Romance takes a back seat in this, the third of the "Dead" series. Since Miranda and Will already have a history together, the author did not have to build on the love portion. The two main characters already had strong feelings for one another. This gives much more time to the story's plots. Plots, plural.
Hold onto your seats, because Mariah Stewart will plunge you into a heart pounding, roller coaster ride. You won't come up for air until the last page has been turned. Excellent! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I was lucky enough to find all of the trilogy at garage sales last summer, plus several of her other books.

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It is bitter cold and windy this morning at 21 degrees.  I have to go out at 9AM to run some errands.  Not sure what I will do with the rest of the day but I am sure I will think of something.  I hope you all have a peaceful week.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

It’s the next year already…

What do you say at the beginning of a new year?  Probably in my case I would just say “Thank you God for allowing me another day.”  That is it!  I try to live one day at a time the best way I know how.  Hopefully that involves showing kindness to my fellow man.  I do try to understand and sympathize thinking all the while that for the grace of God that might be me in some unfortunate situation.

It is a new year and I am filling my calendar with appointments.  Doctor, dentist, tests, etc.  Like I said before, one day at a time.

It is a beautiful bright sunshiny day today.  It is very windy though and the temps are to keep falling all through the day.  I can live with the wind.  Keep away the snow.

I did mention to a blogging friend in England that I would choose one subject to film at the same time each day in the month.  It is too windy out this morning to try and do that but before the month is over I will try to choose a day for this. 

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A New Year’s Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous

Dear Lord, please give me…
    A few friends who understand me and remain my friends;
    A work to do which has real value,
        without which the world would be the poorer;
    A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed;
    An understanding heart;
    A sense of humor;
    Time for quiet, silent meditation;
    A feeling of the presence of God;
    The patience to wait for the coming of these things,
    With the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Amen.

Beth