Re-establishing my habits

One thing I didn't get with the second data transfer for my computer, were the very many internet sites I had bookmarked.  It used to be my habit to sit with my tea, during and after breakfast, and deal with all of the computer junk, checking my e-mail, playing those games that require daily use, and cruising the Internet.  This was the most frequent time for my blogging, and I tried to make it a habit.  In the evening I do a more hasty check, and often, if I haven't blogged in the morning do it then.  Like Cathy, I'm having trouble establishing those habits again, after being without the computer for almost three weeks.  

I'm, also, slowly trying to re-connect with all of those web sites I used to spend hours searching out.  One thing I don't want to make a habit of is 2-3 hours in my nightie playing on the internet every morning.

After my busy Saturday, I still don't appear to have caught up with myself, or else, I'm fighting something off, such a s a cold or mild flu.  Just no energy, and wanting to sleep all the time.  another thought is that we haven't yet replaced the CO2 detector that fell apart.  Best we look after that in the morning.  This has meant just basically doing nothing other than the basic minimum- preparing food for myself, and bathing.  This is giving me lots of time to reading Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville series.  Really weird ( really weird!) but not something one ever wants to put down.  I'm finally on the last book of 5, but just getting started.  I also know there are one and maybe two  novellas, associated with the series.  I've read one of them, "Rough Justice", and have the other on order.

Thursday, we are going to a concert at Club Regent.  If you remember, last year we saw Randy Bachman, in November.  this year it's a free concert for Players Club members, a tribute show to Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers.  David had to get up early one morning, and get in line to pick up tickets at the Ticketmaster box office.  Each Club member was allowed only two.  Well before we found out about this, I had signed up for a casual meeting and workshop with Textile and Fibre Art Manitoba, an organization I belong to and exhibit with.  The meeting lasts from 10:30 to 1:30, so with the concert, we're looking at a very long day.  However, tomorrow is also "pay day" and that means grocery shopping.  Not looking to that, at all, given how exhausted I am right now, after doing nothing today, but having a nap.

Almost 7:00.  Best have my bath and get ready for bed.  Oy vey! My life has come to this!

p.s. Just before I signed off I remembered the blog "Pickled Gizzards" by Alison Schwabe  ( I needed to add her name when googling it)  I checked it out and found not 1, but 3 blog entries I had missed when the computers were down. All about cooking Lamb and "Fairy Bread".

My only excuse is laziness

I read the blog everyday but never seem to post. Things have been moving along slowly here. We went to Chloe’s birthday party on Friday. Both Jim and I have been fighting colds but we loaded up on drugs and headed out. Of course we brought Auntie Kik with us.  Chloe’s birthday supper of choice was French fries, spicy chips and cucumbers. The rest of us had pizza. She also wanted the bumps so the 3 grammas there obliged her. We also met her new kitten “Whiskers”. She had been asking for a kitten at thanksgiving and it seems this one wandered into their lives just before Halloween. They put up some found posters and left a message at the vet clinic but no one came forward. It is the friendliest little black kitten. Saturday was the Christmas Wish Sale at the yellowhead. This year I only worked 2 shifts. And left. No stress for me at all. I did buy Sandi her present. She asked for something specific and a vendor had it there. And of course I bought some fudge. The Parade of lights was Saturday evening. Other than one big break in the flow it was one of the best parades yet. Lots of floats, towed by lots of BIG farm equipment and everything covered in lights. Also every firetruck and RCMP car in town. The kids loved the sirens and horns. Sunday we did nothing but watch football. American and Canadian!  Yeah Bombers. I didn’t realize it had been 29 years since our last grey cup win. Today we are going to get together with Jim’s sister Jean for a visit. And so another week starts

Three down, and a zillion to go.

I culled my cookbook shelf as well, awhile ago.  I kept the ones I use most, and a couple with sentimental value, but now I see a few more have crept back on.  I very much value my "Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook", the one with the pink gingham cover, or was it red, and has just faded that much? I have to admit that the recipes I now use generally come from the Dr. Phil book.

Yesterday was spent at the gallery in Selkirk.  It was the annual event-- Holiday Alley, where the entire block of the main street is closed off and all the buildings are lit up with events happening all over.  We had asked for only small musical groups with no amplifiers.  That we got--group after group of one or two men with guitars singing---similar songs over and over again.  Finally there was a young lady with a guitar, but her voice was so low that no-one could hear her. But over all it made for a relaxed but sociable day in the gallery.

While out at the Gallery, I took a look around to see if I could spend the $60.00 gift certificate I had won in a draw a couple of months ago.  I found a very nice wreath, and a small daintie tray. Over the years, every time I have ladies over, I serve dainties on a dish from my Christmas china regardless of the time of year. I no longer have to do that.  Black wouldn't have been my first colour choice but it was really the only thing that caught my eye.  I tend to go for pottery when I shop like this, probably because I can't do it myself. As a bonus, it was made by one of the ladies who donated the gift certificate for the fund draw.

The wreath is now hanging on our front door.  Now both of us keep thinking there is someone at the door.

This afternoon David ran a few errands while I sat and enjoyed my coffee at Starbucks.  He had to pick up three prescriptions.  Almost the end of the year, and Blue Cross has run out. $388.00.  "Nuff said about that. Then home where he looked after the wreath, recycling and garbage detail.  I spent time working on the presentation I have to give to the Quilters' Guild.  I had planned it all out and took pictures.  Then I had to insert a note about what pictures I wanted where within the presentation script, at the same time as editing the script itself.  One lady said she would help me with  the pictures, and I sent them all to her, via e-mail on Friday. I have heard nothing from her, even though I specifically asked her to let me know if she received them, even following up with an e-mail yesterday, asking again.

Then I had a thought.  Oh oh. Not usually a "Good Thing".  She had mentioned putting them in a PowerPoint format, and during my trials with the computer, someone had used the word "PowerPoint".  So I checked out the various programs on my computer and there is was.  I played with it, not having used it in 30-40 years, and wasn't I able to get all of the photos in, and in the right order.  I've saved it to a USB stick, but won't say anything to anyone, but rather take the USB stick with me on the day, just in case.

So now we both relax, until time for the football game.  I have offered to go for take-out food, so supper is taken care of.  Maybe I'll even find a minute to sew.

Good to be Back in business,,,,

That is how I was going to start this message but then just read your tale of woe about Shaw so hope at last that will be the end of it Pati. I was thinking all the time I read about your needing help etc that things were so much simpler before we got connected to technology and how it came that we are all required to comply with these necessary and involved steps in order to watch a TV show, or read a message from family or friends ( not a letter in the post that is!) Although, it does give some select few a job doesn't it? Those people with whom we talk and allow to take over our world, have to work, after all!
I had a run in with local road maintenance the other day resulting in a written formal complaint to the Town office. Yesterday afternoon I took the dog out just in time to see the Supervisor out the front taking a picture of my said issue. So we sparred. It took a while before the conversation turned pleasant and in the end we both came away I think, with a better understanding. These sort of confrontations take a tole on me and I never feel at peace because I think about it and play it over and over until I get upset again. 
We are in the cookie factory still and i hope perhaps today shall be the end of it as all the cookies are baked, but some need some decorations yet which should take place today. Then i need to store them until we make up trays to take to both Mike and Will, and also this week to Harry's sisters husband who we plan to visit on Tuesday while we are in Huntsville for shopping. His medical condition keeps him attached to the home on oxygen, and he is basically isolated and lonely. He sends us songs on the computer and emails all the time, and has taken to calling most evenings just after 6 pm because he has a cell phone that has a plan of unlimited calls after 6 pm. Donna still works and is most often not at home much. 
yesterday one of the shelves of the book shelf where i keep a million cookbooks collapsed so I knew it was time to organize it. Harry keeps bringing home cookbooks from the dump store, and it has become unmanageable. I have my favourites and usually do not venture into most of the others. I took three boxes of culled books down to the storage unit to store until we can drive them up to his sister in law in Kirkland Lake - she loves cookbooks and will sit all day looking at them.  I was surprised that Harry actually let me get away with this. Anyway, I was able to fix the shelf so that it will hold steady ( for now) and have most of the ones I want to keep nicely shelved - looks neat and tidy. However, i found some very interesting books including one that brought back some happy thoughts / nostalgic reading! And it involves you Pati. Remember Recipe Book compiled by The Ladies Auxiliary of the Winnipeg Citizens Radio Club?  Recipes from folks that I remember and names I remember from way back and names I remember you mentioning: Mac Findlay, Pat Findlay, Sheryl Chapnick, Chris Gunn, Sonya Gunn, Linda Lisecki, Shelley Chochinov, to name a few and I am sure you would recognize many of the others. To make a long story short, I spent far more time going through some of my keeper books than I should have, but I had a ball!
Well i better go and get ready for another day. Take care.

It never rains but-----

Today the "black box' that connects my tv to Shaw died.  This meant that David had to disconnect everything and take it to the Shaw store to get a replacement.  Then the replacement had to be connected, and programmed to match my tv.  Sounds simple?  No it isn't.  David brought home the new box, connected it, and said that the rest was up to me.  I had a booklet of written instructions that had so many names of parts and tasks that it read like Greek.  so, I called Shaw.  Spoke to a nice lady, who took over while we were on the phone.  Just sitting there with nothing to see, as we were only on the phone.  She asked me to get David on the line as the account is in his name and privacy matters--of course.  (snort) It took about 45 minutes but she got me up and running and we hung up after my thanking her.  I turned around and the damn system is doing up dates.  Meanwhile David headed out yet again, (we had been out earlier for coffee and groceries) because the yogurt he had bought was the wrong one.  Once he was home everything settled down, until he turned his tv on. No connection.  So he gets on the line to Shaw, and discovers that in connecting me, the lady had disconnected his black box instead of the broken one of mine.  this meant that he had to go back to the Shaw store for yet another box, which he brought home and then had to call Shaw yet again to get his connected.  That took awhile.  I had eaten supper ( this had been going on since about 1:00)  so he sat down to supper and discovered that his tv was now doing up dates.  In between all of this we were trying to get our huge , once-a-week laundry done.  

We both spent the evening playing poker.

Back in business

finally.  Not nearly as much stress this time.  I managed to do most things by myself.  I was amused by how much I had learned by watching The Geek Squad working on the computer.  I ended up needing help to set up my e-mail, and in connecting to the news channel.  In the end I realized that I had been connected to Microsoft news, which is just the Microsoft company newsletter--all feel good stories, and not the news I have been watching for years.  So today my chore will be to figure that one out.  Monday I had another meeting out in Selkirk, not getting home until the middle of the afternoon.  Then it was full out housework getting ready for my stitchery ladies coming on Tuesday afternoon.  In the end only three of them came, the others having weak excuses such as as long scheduled MRI.  Where are their priorities?  lol.  But it was a chance to use Mom's fancy saucer/plates.  Then, I always think of family and how we all have a part of that precious memory of life at home, and the frantic house cleaning that preceded a visit of the "Spinsters".  Having a group like this over leaves me exhausted but with a good feeling about having the whole house clean at the same time.  That sure doesn't happen often.

By the time the ladies left, I was absolutely wiped out.  David took me to a movie--"Terminator: Dark Fate".  The local theatre has seen better days.  They are in the process of a huge renovation at that mall, given the availability of the building that housed the Sears store.  That has been taken down to pilings and roof, and, I understand, that there will be a new theatre, restaurant, a grocery store, and some other retails stores. So there's no hope of any improvements in the old theatre.  We sat in the back row, that is mainly reserved for wheelchair attendants and "people with mobility issues".  These seats are only rarely used, and in much better shape than most of the others.  I figure we qualify, and we probably actually do.  Much more comfortable than other seats that are always quite a struggle to get out of.  Not that we didn't have a choice, as there were only 14 people in the theatre.  We've found that the early show, on "cheap" Tuesdays, is often less crowded than later.  Once we were the only people there!

After the show, we went out gambling, and came home ahead, so yesterday, did a bit of shopping.  Food certainly, but also some clothes.  We are finding that only doing laundry once a week,  (which our poor sore backs love), leaves us short of some things.  Luckily, David found the long sleeved winter t-shirts he loves on sale.  I had wanted a couple more pair of pants to fit my expanding body ( yes, expanding, making me very unhappy with myself).  They apparently weren't on sale,but I bought them anyway.  She rang them up and I immediately questioned how small the bill was.  "Oh" she says "They're 40% off for a surprise sale, Today and tomorrow,  everything in the store is 40%off".  So we bought a third pair.  I also picked up a pair of slippers when we bought David's shirts.  I wore them after my shower last night and they hurt.  This morning I couldn't put on any slippers, my feet were so sore.  I sure hope they will take them back, but I'm not optimistic.

Today, I'm looking at taking it easy, and tomorrow as well.  Saturday, I'm working in the Gallery in Selkirk.  It is the yearly event "Holiday Alley".  I've working the last two years for this event, and loved every minute of it, although it's very busy and I come home exhausted.  The latest Rockton book is waiting for me at the library.  I've been reading some of the Steve Berry books you recommend, Beth, and can't put them done, once I get started.  I'm also re-reading some of the "Wild Hunt" series by Kelley Armstrong.  related to her Cainsville series, but separate, I find them amusing, as well as interesting. A melding of current moral standards with ancient Celtic beliefs. Best read in order, as all of her series are.

David is up, and it seems we need to go to the wine store today.  Best get dressed before we leave.

Maybe Spring has come?

NO, not really but i could hope. It is milder last day or two and the snow is melting, and where i did the roof has melted to show shingles and snow melting and dripping off the eaves. Nice if it were true - but rain forecast for a day or two and then the temps will fall again and I expect more snow. How is that for your morning weather report? haha!
Shopping yesterday as usual and i bought a new pair of runners at The Thrift Store - never worn and tags still attached. I am wearing them in the house - just like you have a house pair of shoes for the house, Pati. I find them very comfortable and supportive so hoping they may help me with safety issues as well. I found the slippers I was wearing were not all that safe.
Harry also bought three huge green cabbage on sale at Freshco - and yes, we made another large batch of saurerkraut and have it sitting in the big crock now to ferment or whatever saurerkraut does. The first batch is already bottled in jars.
We were trying to price a prime Rib Roast for Christmas Dinner and not having any luck - so expensive. The Butcher Shop in Sprucedale came back in their message that we could have a 10 lb roast for $150.00. Guess what - we have decided to plan to go with another meal. Just trying to choose something other than another Turkey Dinner that we had for Thanksgiving, which would be fine if we had to.
Well I have to make myself something with eggs this morning - perhaps scrambled eggs on toast? Yesterday at the checkout Harry was trying to put an 18 eggs carton into the bag and the lid slipped and eggs fell out into the bag itself, - so we struggled to rectify the situation as good as we could as we were holding up the line. Needless to say when i got home i had to fix it and found myself with some eggs cracked so i shall use them now. The situation could have been much worse so we got away lucky.
Hope all is well...take care