Bird Watching

I'm sitting here in my chair watching the birds.

I have about 7 little finches sitting in the watermelon feeder and one loner in the sunflower feeder.

Hummingbirds are flitting around the latest hummingbird feeder trying to decide if they want to switch or stick to the tried and true feeder.

There is a squirrel scampering about picking up spilt seed.

Pretty much a perfect world right here in my chair.

Nice Sick Day

I am still feeling lousy with this bronchitis, and the meds make me all jittery and make everything taste like chalk, but my BFF made it a good day any way.

She came over mid morning and drove me to work so that I could make sure the a/c was set correctly and straighten out the children's library. Then she took me where I could get some nice warm soup for lunch.

We came back to the house and watched movies together, looked at quilt books, and she sorted through fabric while I offered my opinion. She made sure I took my meds, and that I gagged down some liquids. It was a very nice relaxing sick day, and it was nice to have some company.

Of course her running from the skunk when she left made me laugh so hard I coughed for about an hour after she left. I had no idea she could run that fast. Oh, dear, there I go again with the laughing/coughing thing. I wish I had a video of it.

Pouting

My youngest child has not called me since the first night he was at school. I have to force him to talk to me instant messenger. He doesn't need me any more, and doesn't seem to really even miss me.

I knew that would happen when he left, but he could at least pretend to miss me.

A Lot of "I" Statements

I have made it through an almost full week of being on my own and I am doing quite well, except that I am sick.

I started feeling bad on Tuesday and by Wednesday I was feeling lousy. Wednesday night I had a fever and I had to stay home from work on Thursday. The doctor could not see me until today and now I am on antibiotics, an inhaler, cough syrup, and more Mucinex. The problem is that every medication requires that I drink lots of liquids and nothing tastes good, especially water.

My king sized quilt is back from the quilter's and it is so pretty. I am going next week to learn how to square it up and finish it.

I have really been enjoying my birds, doves, finches, and hummingbirds.

Until this bronchitis knocked me back I was in the process of starting on a room at a time and cleaning out things and finally getting rid of things I should have let go of a long time ago.

The bad thing is that mail is piling up again. I have a lot of papers I need to read and sign and I just haven't had the concentration for that sort of work while I have been sick. Hopefully I will get to that soon.

I finished a quilt for Project Linus and I think it turned out pretty cute. I hope L can snatch up some more for me to work on. I work best on projects when I am in my own space and in my ratty robe. I don't really like going to "sewing" or "quilting" times even though I am invited to one almost every week. It seems unproductive to gather up all my stuff and then to have to set it up again so I can work, when all I have to do here is turn on the machine and get to work.

I am proud of myself lately for making positive changes in my life.

I miss the boys, but I don't miss the boys. I am happy that they are out making new friends, and trying new things.

I wish there was something new on television to watch. I want my shows to come back on.

I think I will take a nap now.

Fire Ants in More than my Pants

All week I have been finding fire ants in strange places. Last night 's experience was worse than the ones that were in my pants (under).

I keep my nightgowns in my linen closet in my bathroom since that is where I usually get dressed for bed. Last night I put my gown on and went to my room only to look down and see that my legs were covered in ants. By the time I reached down to start knocking them off I was feeling bites being taken out of me all over. I took my gown off and saw it was full of ants and I was covered in the red biters. It took me a while to get the ants off of me and by then I was quite miserable.

Where did those ants come from?

I took a flash light and looked in my linen closet and there were ants every where. I was too tired and in too much pain to deal with the ants at that time of night, so I went to bed and worked at getting to sleep.

This morning I told the youngest to stay away from the closet and once I got home from work tonight I started cleaning out and washing everything in the closet. I am taking quite a bit of delight from emptying dead ants from my lint tray in my dryer.

It will probably take me days to get everything out of the closet and to be rid of the ants, but at least I know where they are coming from now.

I hate fire ants. We did not have them in Kentucky. I am missing my old Kentucky home right now.

Random Thoughts

I am working way to many hours for what I get paid.

I need a man to talk to.

Where do you get a man?

I have way too much to do before next weekend.

I'm not working tomorrow. YEAH!

Plano Quilt Show here I come.

I am so blessed with my boys.

I have lots of wonderful friends.

I don't have to like everyone, but I do not need to let my dislike rule my life.

My youngest tried a new food tonight, on his own, by his own choice, and he liked it.

I wish I had enough money to do what I wanted with my property, like put in a small fishing tank.

I am tired, but it is a good tired.

I enjoy using my mind.

A Very Rude Awakening, Feel Free to Laugh

I had a very rude awakening this morning.

At night I always set out my “before the morning shower clothes.” These clothes go in a spot on the floor of the bathroom so that I can get up, sans glasses, get dressed and walk about the house doing piddling little things before breakfast and my shower.

This morning’s routine started out the same as every day. I put on my underclothes, put on my house dress and started towards the scale that I keep in the laundry room. As I started across the living room I felt a sharp sting at my waist. It made me take pause, but not much of one because I always have pain in the morning. As I continued across the living room I started feeling a stinging sensation in different parts of my nether region. As I entered the laundry room, the stinging was getting worse and so I took off my black and blue striped underwear and looked to see if there was any reason my underwear would be causing me such pain. I could see nothing, so I put them back on and continued about my morning. Only after about a minute the stinging was unbearable, so I went in to get my glasses. With my glasses on I was able to see that my underpants were covered in fire ants. A trip to the mirror confirmed that I too was covered in fire ants. OUCH! Thank goodness for the power spray on my shower head was able to dislodge and drown those stinging arthropods.

With my glasses on I was able to see that the clothes “spot” was covered in fire ants. Where they came from I have no clue. They were not in any other spot in the room or any of the other rooms. How special that they chose my underclothes.

This was not the best day for this to happen to me as it was a very busy day at work, but what could I do but what follow my dad’s advice of “just grin and bear it.” Only what I really wanted to do was “bare” it as wearing clothes hurt.

I was very careful about not drinking much today because I was afraid of how that would feel. When I got home I could no longer hold my luncheon tea and had no choice but to go to the bathroom. I am so glad I waited until I got home because I am sure that the women at the ladies’ luncheon would not have understood the screams that came from my bathroom this afternoon.

Now my youngest wants to know why I put the underwear back on when I thought there was a problem, even if I could not see a problem. My only explanation was that my brain just was not awake.

I did check the area tonight and there were no fire ants there, so I guess God just thought I needed to have a special wake up call this morning.

Old Friends

I reconnected with an old boy friend through Facebook. A lot of time has passed and other than emails our paths will probably never cross again, but it is nice to think back to those times we spent together.

I dated him long before I dated Raymond, and maybe even when I was dating Raymond because Raymond and I were not exclusive for a long time. G was 4 years younger than I was, but we had lots of fun. I'm glad to know he is well.

I can think of a few other old friends I would like to reconnect with, but I haven't found them on the internet. Some I would like to exchange emails with, others I would only want to know that they are alive and well.

I Want to go to Bed

I am so tired. It has been a very full day and I would love to climb into my bed but I can't because there are 6 - 15 year old boys running around my five acres playing midnight tag (even though it is really 1:19 a.m.), and until all of them are back in this house I need to stay awake.

I am allowing my youngest to have his friends over tonight and next Saturday night to say goodbye. Six of them are spending the night. The playroom smells like a locker room, and I don't think I bought enough food. Next week I will have more food and put some odor absorbing gel around the room.m

I can't even sleep late in the morning. I guess an afternoon nap will be scheduled.

Good Thing I Live Close to Work

I almost wet myself at work today.

If you have never seen my work space you understand when I say that my actual work space is very tight. My "desk" is a folding table that is 2 feet wide and just deep enough for my monitor and keyboard. My "desk" is sandwiched between a counter/cabinet combo and a very large deep file cabinet. A large copier is behind me. Most days you can hear me cry out at least a couple of times because my mouse has fallen off the side of the "desk."

Today I was standing up fiddling with the paper tray on my printer when I heard my boss let out a garbled shriek and saw something flying at me out of the corner of my eye. I let out quite a scream and fell towards the counter while shouting "What? What?"

For some reason I got it in my head that there was a snake in the office. So for a split second I was freaked out and I really thought I would wet myself. Fortunately, I was standing with my legs crossed in order to reach the printer, so I was okay.

When I turned to see what had happened I realized that what was flying at me was a large arrangement of flowers. My boss was carrying it towards me and it was top heavy for the vase it was in and it had gone flying. It was quite a mess, and the green foam stuff was all over my chair and floor as well as the flowers. I told her that she almost made me wet myself and that I needed out of the corner so I could get to the bathroom. She started laughing and I told her to stop that until I got out of the bathroom. She just laughed harder and I had to go running.

We had quite a laugh while we cleaned up the flowers as did the other ladies working at the church this morning.

I'm just thrilled I live so close to the church, because any more incidents like this one and I might need a change of clothes, at least until I get used to the new bosses' different shrieks.

Favorite Robe

I am sure that some of my friends have not recovered from the sight of my favorite slippers. Well, unbeknownst to most, I have a favorite robe. Now I know that some of my friends will see these pictures and want to run out and buy me a robe. I want to assure those friends that I have a closet full of robes, but this one is my favorite. I think my mother gave it to me in 1994, although it might have been 1995.

Last year my aunt went out and bought me two new robes and asked me to throw my favorite robe away, but I could not make myself throw out my comfort robe.

Raymond hated this robe even when it was new. He asked me to get rid of it, but while he was hoping it would hit the rag bag I was out looking for one just like it in other colors. Raymond just did not get the idea of a favorite piece of clothing because he was not partial to any particular shirt or pair of pants, just a style.

My favorite robe is thin and texture free in the front due to years of rubbing against the counter when I do dishes. It is splitting out everywhere, not because it is tight but because the fabric is so thin on the sides where my arms have rubbed against it while I have cleaned.

One of the reasons I love this robe is it's shape and the fact that I can wear it over clothes when I am cold.

Tonight I went to put on the robe and there was a loud splitting sound. I panicked with the thought that it might be the end. I carefully removed the robe and checked it out. Whew, it wasn't as bad as it sounded.

I immediately went to my new sewing machine and zigzagged all the splits the best I could, and now I am sitting here in my repaired robe hoping that nothing else happens to it for another 20 years.

Front of Robe Texture Worn Away



Back splitting



Right Side

Left Side

Farkle

I love to play Farkle at home with the boys, and I have really enjoyed playing it online lately on Facebook because my boys have been so busy we haven't had a lot of play time.

Recently I earned enough points on Facebook to go "pro" which means I can play with other online Farkle players. I have enjoyed playing with others as it feeds into my competitive streak but I have not decided if I like the talkative players or not. Sometimes I just want to play a quick game to relax before I start a project, or before I go to bed, but some of the players "talk" so much it takes forever to finish the game.

It is interesting to play with people from all over the world, but sometimes I just want to roll, score, and leave. On the other hand, I have been invited to see the singing Santa at the Fashion Mall in Las Vegas in December and to bring the boys because they have showgirl elves. (OK, my friends can stop laughing now.)

Places I Have Been

visited 21 states (42%)

Create your own visited map of The United States or Like this? try: Visited Countries

I had trouble deciding about a couple of the States as I had been through them and had a meal there, but not really stayed in the State. When you traveled with my Dad you didn't get to stay in too many places.

I still remember how mad Raymond was the day Dad decided that we should all go see the grave of Sgt. Alvin York in Pall Mall, TN. Raymond and I were dating and thought it would be a good day trip with my parents. Both of us were looking forward to seeing a different part of Tennessee. The distance between our house and the cemetery was about 127 miles, and I forgot that Raymond had never traveled with Dad before and was not used to Dad's way of taking a trip.

We drove to the cemetery and got out to go see the site. Once we saw it, Dad said "Well there it is, let's go" and back in the car we went. Raymond was really ticked. All I could do was shrug my shoulders.

We did stop at a little diner for lunch, which I thought we should be thrilled about because usually we would have just driven straight back to the house, but Dad thought it was a special trip because Raymond was with us. Raymond was still mad while we were eating. In fact, Raymond never really got over that sightseeing trip. We laughed about it all the years we were married.