Yes, time is moving quickly

I have to wonder if it's the time of year or the time of life.  Our little tree went up today.  It's just a little 3 footer, that I've often put up on the table just outside the kitchen door.  But that means that I can't sit in my regular seat to watch tv, as there is no longer any light there.  For some reason, this year, I seem to be "nesting' a bit more than usual, and have been spending a little more time in the evenings watching tv--not that there is anything really worth watching, although tonight I found a short biography of the Marquis de Sade. Perfect,  since this week I abandoned my usual murder mysteries at the library, just not wanting to deal with any more "blood and guts" for awhile. The other library book I found, this week,  was a biography of Mick Jagger.  We'll see how far I get into it.

Anyway, the tree went up on a tv table between the tv, and the clock.  I think it will be fine there.
Three of our lights have gone in the last week.  Two of them just needed new tri-light bulbs, ( and try to find those in the stores these days!), but one needed a whole new wall switch. With the weird, weird wiring in this house, David had a terrible time making the change, it took a few hours, but he got it done!  And then a few hours later we realized that he had thrown the breaker for the furnace while trying to sort out the breaker for the light, and it hadn't been turned back on again.  Got a little chilly around here for awhile, but I'm impressed at how long the house will hold the heat.

I would like to think my brain is starting to get back in gear, after 6 weeks of stupid days, but it's not happening quickly.  I've reached the point of having  insight, but not yet reached the point of having incentive/motivation to take action.  It isn't that bad, when you can just sit back and let life roll over and around you--very seductive!  Not good for you, though, and even worse for those around you, so I've started to make lists again of things I must do, as soon as I can find the energy, and actually tacked a couple of them. So there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I bought a new purse.  This one is bright blue,with dark blue polka dots, and lots of hardware.  A change from my usual  red or pink.  But today I found that the tail of my dragon key chain gets caught in the chain handle. The old red one gets put back in the cupboard, yet again.  I buy these things and use them until they break down in some way.  Then out comes that old red one, until the "right" new one gets found.  I've been using that red one for years--it will never wear out and have to be put in my coffin, when the time comes.

Some of my Christmas shopping is done, but I refuse to try to shop on weekends.  I also have started to refuse to try to go out on weekends. Regent and Lagimodiere is always busy, but in November and December it is just insane.  I actually got to go out driving today, despite the snow and sloppy weather. I survived, and am quite proud of myself.

For today, I am grateful for prune juice, and I'm grateful for a sale I found at the fabric store.  A fine day!

And it's Friday already?

So, where did the week go I ask myself and then think about the goings on and have no doubt. The snow has stayed and the cold has come so walking with the dog has been a challenge - scarf  on me, and sweater on the dog. And now the news says it should rain by Sunday with almost double digit temperatures, so I now worry about the snow on the roof. Tomorrow I shall get the ladder and scoop and clean it off about 3 to 4 feet up. Last year we had leaking water in the spring because dams of ice had built up and I promised myself that I would keep the snow from accumulating. Now I have to keep my promise if I don't want any surprises again in the spring. Baking done, and presents wrapped and my car now has snow tires on, so all in all a productive week. I don't have the tree up yet but perhaps this weekend will allow me to get that done? There is always time but as I walk the dog in the evening, I now enjoy seeing Christmas lights and also peek into windows - I see trees already up in a lot of houses and it looks so festive. Interesting that a lot of the trees have white lights only. I prefer the coloured lights on my tree - I love to get up in the morning, get my coffee and just sit and gaze at the lights and ornaments - relaxes me before the day begins in earnest. I haven't been reading much lately as my eyes aren't up to it at bed time. I listen a bit to the radio and then try to sleep. I hope you are sleeping better Patty - I am not lately and wonder why I just lay and lay staring at the clock on the radio - hour after hour and I still just lay there. I'm almost relieved when five o'clock finally arrives and I can get up - that's my usual get up time. Well, I seem to be rambling so better sign off and think about winning all that $$$ tonight. My lottery wish list is getting longer so hope something comes my way soon!  Have a good weekend everyone, and take care

keep hoping I can sign in, but not yet. I guess I will really have to get some time to contact my server. This last week was not the time to do it, but it is over. I had something every day last week Some were okay, but Friday we set up the Yellowhead for the sale. Anne, at the Yellowhead, remembered the trouble we had with the sheer curtains last year, and she had them all hung, and the tables all set up and in the area they needed to be We were out of there in only 2 hours! What a treat Saturday we were there at 7 am and I was on my feet until everything was packed up. We were done by about 6pm (Yippee) Keri, Kristy and I went to the Legion for a beer afterwards and we were so giddy we were laughing without the drink. We tried to stand up after sitting for a while and all of our feet were so sore we couldn't walk. (which led to more laughter) Sunday,Keri and I had the reading of Dickens' "A christmas Carol" only 32 people were there, but they were very appreciative. We were told by a couple of people that the local radio station had announced that the reading was cancelled I sure hope not, since it is a fundraiser for the Christmas Hampers We did a good job. All of the readers (none of the musicians... Meow) donated dainties and drinks for afterward All of the wassail that I made went. Good thing there weren't more people there. Margaret made ginger snaps and she let me take the 7 leftover cookies home (Yummie). today was work, and I was so tired that I actually told Elizabeth all my complaints. the result. A meeting that addressed some of the problems. I have to draft a list of jobs that I do, that someone else can handle, but if I can off load some of that my life will be so much easier. I also told her that I wanted a reclass based on all the extra work that I am responsible for and she said she will look into it. With all the government cutbacks I don`t expect much, but at least it has been noted. tonight I am making soup. Both Jim

& Keri had big lunches today, so no one was hungry (except me!) No Supper today, but tomorrow is another story. I am so tired that I have lost all my filters (see above bitches to my boss) so I think I will be in bed very early tonight. Jim ordered a new bed on Saturday. It was a one day only sale at Sears. An $1100 bed for $299. We don`t know if our order went through, though. He ordered it on Friday, and she had 13 orders to call in first thing Saturday. Hopefully we get one. Time to crash

Prune Juice

The original idea was that the prunes would provide extra fibre, but it won't do that if I don't eat it.  Won't buy them again.  I've used the juice before, and will buy that next time.

Fast trip done and now back home

Glad to have that over - left home at 3:45 this morning and after a quick turnaround at his brother's and a stop at grocery store we were home by 12:30. The roads were in bad shape going up with snow slush and black ice but coming back it had cleaned off nicely and the drive wasn't as anxiety filled. I just cleaned the van ready to take to Glass place in North Bay tomorrow. It will take about 2 hours so the man said he would drive us to the Mall to hang out - sounds like a real fun time !! I used to drink prune juice and got quite used to the taste but maybe you need the extra bulk from the actual prunes? Just a thought..... Short note for now, but its the thought that counts right? Take care

Cooking Prunes

My surgeon has recommended that I eat prunes.  We bought some and two mornings in a row I ate a few of them--slowly, reluctantly and with great displeasure.  So today I tried to cook them. ( David had remembered his mother boiling them.)  I had to check several books before finding instructions for simmering them for about 1/2 hour, so that's what I did.  Of course, then I forgot them on the stove, and they almost boiled dry.  In any case I ate 6 of them.  It was marginally better than trying to eat them out of the package, but I think this is going to be an uphill battle. The colour, the texture and the taste-Y-u-u-c-k!!

I have seen Intarsia, and understand that it requires a tremendous amount of skill to do well, but when done well it is quite beautiful.  When I was working, one of the nurses had a husband who did i,t and she would sometimes donate his work for charity auctions.  Very attractive.

After my painting workshop yesterday, I had wanted to have a quiet putter-y day today.  I ended up doing a bit of hand sewing while watching tv. The only thing I could find that was the least bit interesting was an Extreme Couponing marathon.  What was interesting was the teenage boys who are into this, even to the point of taking control of the family grocery shopping and using the family as almost servants in getting the job done.  I really only mention this because it gives you an idea of how boring and desperate my life can  sometimes be.

This week, David will be seeing the opthamologist about having his second eye done. His vision has changed a fair bit over the past couple of years, and I think it is really time.  This means that I have to go along to drive him home.  I think we'll both feel better once it's done.

Football game is still on.  David has been watching all evening, so no big poker tournament tonight. I'm pretty well beat after two days without a nap, so a glass of wine and to bed.

Skating again

Just returned from another outing of skating at the arena. This time there were many others there so it made for a nicer skate for me to have people around and not to be the only person on the ice. If I try to go every Sunday and get into the habit, then it would be a true activity for me to enjoy. I was doing the dishes at 12:45 and looked at the clock to decide should I go, or should I not. It would be too easy to let it go, but I was determined so in spite of not really feeling like it, off I went and truly glad I did! There was a person there from Sundridge who used to play in the NHL and he was doing fabulous turns and ins and outs, and circles and then came beside me to say it was good I was getting some exercise. I often go past his house with the dog. His wife's father, also from Sundridge, played in the NHL and just last week was honoured in Toronto by having a street named in his honour Ron Attwell Drive. There was a big writeup and pictures of him with the Mayor Rob Ford.in the local newspaper about it. There is actually many ex NHLers from Sundridge and of course, the town plays that aspect up when advertising anything. Been a very hectic week - plumbing problems that I told you about, then HArry's windshield shattered, and yesterday I had to take the old cat to the Vet ( at emergency / weekend rates of course) as it was in severe pain and crying out trying to go to the bathroom. The Vet gave him a really good physical assessement and then an enema and told me to give it corn syrup for a few days. Have you ever tried to give a cat cornsyrup?? He also wants to see us back for an appt to take blood work because the cat has lost a lot of weight and his teeth are in bad condition which may be causing him not to eat properly.Tomorrow we are making a flying trip to Kirkland LAke to take Harry's brother some woodworking patterns that we made a special trip the other day to buy from a fellow in Powassa. This is the woodwork pictures you see with little pieces of shaped wood put together into a picture eg bird, or cat, or lighthouse etc. It is called Intarsia. The patterns were very expensive but his brother had heard about this man who was selling out and we looked up his whereabouts and visited his home workshop and we got a bit of a discount and bought 27 of them.Harry had some other boxes of stuff to take anyway so off we go in the morning. We have to take my little car (we don't get windshield fixed until Tuesday) so we cannot take the dog- therefore it will be a really quick trip -  3 &1/2 to 4 hour trip one way so the hours will add up! And that has been a bit of my week and hope you folks have had a better time of it??? We have snow here now and temps are really a lot colder than the double digits of last week. A bit of a shock actually haha Grey Cup is on today and since I won't get to see it, I can only visualize all of you glued to the TVs. The one channel we have does not broadcast many sports (CTV) Take care all.