Tuesday, January 27, 2015
PS 1/27/15
I have to add about my problem tx videos to facebook. It seems that the facebook icon on windows 8 only allows prints to load. If you go in thru firefox or a search engine I suppose you get the facebook and it has the box that says videos or prints. So in my defense it wasn't all my fault. I wasn't totally stupid.
1.27/15 Tues
Well, its only two days this time. The sun is back and the cats and diesel sit and stare at you till you ope up the curtains so they can lay in the sun. Honestly. No mistaking their intent.
I spent about 3 days trying to figure out the new camera and how to get videos on the internet for my dogs getting their advanced trick titles. I sweat blood and tears trying to figure that one out Fought with Leroy because I was mad he couldn't figure it out either . Then I tried my tech support. Well I ended up calling twice in one day as the first call was good and productive but when I tried to do it later myself I completely forgot steps. So I called again, and this kid was good and so funny. He made me write down each step, he made me practice it over and over, with him prompting and with him keeping his mouth shut. He nicely told me to shut up a couple times too, not in those words but just like Jeff would or does when he is trying to teach me something. He said, don't get ahead of yourself here, you need to learn this first. He would tell me exactly what to write down, when to draw a line on the paper cause we would go on to the next step. He was so hilarious but just like having Jeff teach me. We practiced each step over and over. He left to do paperwork and gave me an assignment to do while he was gone. He was a stitch. I could have kissed him I was so relieved to learn it cause I get so wound up and tied up inside trying to do that stuff and learn something. So we said goodbye, then I stretched my arms and cried out, I got it, I got it I got, I am soo happy. (Mainly it was directed to Leroy and myself). Then I hear " Mam, you need to hang up your phone. I heard that. We all roared. I had to record this cause I don't want to forget it. It was so funny. The first guy was good but didn't make sure I understood it, tho he when he was helping me transfer a picture saw the picture of me getting my tat. He says "Is that you getting a tattoo? Cool. And what cute dogs you have and how long does it take to train them and etc" He was so sweet and helpful. This all reiterates the fact that we really do make differences in peoples lives even when we don't realize it. Those two kids made my day, made me feel empowered, got me out of a funk, and gave me a warm feeling towards people on the other end of the line, made me think of my dear son and those memories, and helped me walk away knowing what I was doing and happy.
The day ended well and I slept like a log, not trying to figure out a solution as prior nites. It helped me hang on to the fact I can learn new things I don't haw Alzheimers yet (my greatest fear in the world)
I spent about 3 days trying to figure out the new camera and how to get videos on the internet for my dogs getting their advanced trick titles. I sweat blood and tears trying to figure that one out Fought with Leroy because I was mad he couldn't figure it out either . Then I tried my tech support. Well I ended up calling twice in one day as the first call was good and productive but when I tried to do it later myself I completely forgot steps. So I called again, and this kid was good and so funny. He made me write down each step, he made me practice it over and over, with him prompting and with him keeping his mouth shut. He nicely told me to shut up a couple times too, not in those words but just like Jeff would or does when he is trying to teach me something. He said, don't get ahead of yourself here, you need to learn this first. He would tell me exactly what to write down, when to draw a line on the paper cause we would go on to the next step. He was so hilarious but just like having Jeff teach me. We practiced each step over and over. He left to do paperwork and gave me an assignment to do while he was gone. He was a stitch. I could have kissed him I was so relieved to learn it cause I get so wound up and tied up inside trying to do that stuff and learn something. So we said goodbye, then I stretched my arms and cried out, I got it, I got it I got, I am soo happy. (Mainly it was directed to Leroy and myself). Then I hear " Mam, you need to hang up your phone. I heard that. We all roared. I had to record this cause I don't want to forget it. It was so funny. The first guy was good but didn't make sure I understood it, tho he when he was helping me transfer a picture saw the picture of me getting my tat. He says "Is that you getting a tattoo? Cool. And what cute dogs you have and how long does it take to train them and etc" He was so sweet and helpful. This all reiterates the fact that we really do make differences in peoples lives even when we don't realize it. Those two kids made my day, made me feel empowered, got me out of a funk, and gave me a warm feeling towards people on the other end of the line, made me think of my dear son and those memories, and helped me walk away knowing what I was doing and happy.
The day ended well and I slept like a log, not trying to figure out a solution as prior nites. It helped me hang on to the fact I can learn new things I don't haw Alzheimers yet (my greatest fear in the world)
Sunday, January 25, 2015
1/25/15 SUN LEROYS BIRTHDAY
So here I sit, in the sun in a parking lot in a state park. Leroy wanted to come up here Robertson State Park, Johnson Park to fish. You can fish in these lakes in the parks without a license. The only decent, and not so sure how decent, fish in here are perch and bass. But it isn't the fish I have figured out, its the fishing. Kinda like quilting, its just the act of it that is relaxing, not so much the end product. I guess there are results people and the act of doing people. Both of us are the act of doing people. I guess that's why we both have so many unfinished projects, or have had.
Anyhow, I gave him the choice to do anything he wanted on his birthday, whatever would be the most enjoyable for him, including a day away from me if he wanted it. Well he wanted to go to church, (that's a )story, then out to eat at this restaurant (another story) and now fishing. I asked if he wanted us all along and he said yes as then we could take a hike. Nice trails up here. I said I would go along if I had my computer to use so I could catch up on this blog.
So that's how we all got here. The doors are open, the sun is shining, the dogs are in the back sleeping with the back window up, and Leroy is down at the shore of this very large lake.
I apologize for anyone who routinely reads this blog. If I don't keep it up people that do read it will stop visiting. I realize that but it is also a type of journal for me. So I intersperse my ideas and thoughts as well as dumb daily activities. I told you it was boring from the get go!!!!
The weather here has been interesting. Being its Leroy and I and we come from the Midwest and then Washington, I have to say we really take most of the weather in stride. I do admit tho that we have become warm weather aficionados and truly find that our favorite. We don't mind the rain actually and feel our bringing it south with us has been our job. We have had our fair amount of rain down here but it is such a blessing for this area. The other nite there was one hell of a rain storm. Here it is like the Midwest, no daily drizzle where you can run between the drops like Washington, but one hell of a rain storm where you gets lots in a shorter period of time. And Texas has a real deal with the wind, so some of the rain has been accompanied by some hellacious wind. But it is nice in the RV, to hear the rain on the roof and you hear a lot of noise from the wind but it doesn't rock and we are snug as bugs in rugs. I snuggle in my bed and watch TV or read, its very cozy. So that is the weather. It was cold for a while, 30's with some nites freezing, but it has warmed up and yest was probably close to 70 if not low 70's. Today is probably 60's. Some days the wind is cool and some days warm, depends on which direction it is coming from. Its never been my favorite element as I have told God but I learn to live with it and the reason for it. Texas has so much wind tho it amazes me that they don't harness it more. There are some wind generators but its not as common as you see in Minn. or Iowa. They love their oil energy better I guess.
Lets see, the restaurant story. (I think the older you get the worse your spelling gets, unless you were my mom. thank God for spell check). We were sent to a restaurant when we first got to Sanger. The Old West Cafe. Well, darn, those people knew what they were talking about. They have the best breakfasts around. I get a french toast with an almond batter of some sort with bananas that is out of this world. With out a doubt the best french toast I have ever tasted. The servings are huge and the prices are low, and the staff just sweet as all get out. We have now met so many people in this little town that we can say hi or wave at them in the restaurant. Sad huh? So being the hicks we are, its one of our favorite places. The other places we love are Fuzzy s (a taco place that makes it all fresh and has a sprinkle of feta cheese on top of their tacos. Yum. And Taco Bueno which is a chain and it is a fast food place that is totally fresh and done on site. The one guy complained about how sore his arms were from getting all the ingredients ready that morning. We are high class people let me telll you!!!! We want to try On The Border too, it looks good. That and The Railhouse we found in Aledo for barbeque, man. We have to make ourselves eat at home. I have to say they have good mexican food and good barbeque down here.
Oh yeah, we bought an induction hot plate last fall. Man we use it all the time, hardly ever use the stove. Look into them, what an energy saver. Tho since I love to bake we still use the oven a lot. Just made cookies the other day.
We have been getting to church every Sunday possible. We found a great Methodist one in Aledo that we really loved. But when we came to Sanger it was to far to drive so we found one here. Well it looks just like the one I grew up in. It looks just like the Racine Methodist Church right down to the cross above the altar. The first time we went we thought, good grief this is an old small congregation, probably won't return. Well these old people are wonderful. EVERYONE went out of their way to say hello, or hug, the minister came and gave us a personal invitation, and they sent us home with homemade jam. They wanted to know all about us so they made sure to tell us they would see us next week. Well, next week came and we felt to guilty to go anywhere else, so we returned. So now we went a third week. They sang happy birthday to Leroy. It is so small they all know each other, the minister asked about a lady last week that wasn't there and asked some one to go check on her as she is always there. It is so small the alter staff (a piano player and one old guy who sings) get ready and wait for the minister, or tell him, "whenever you are ready". The one Sun he didn't get in there and was so slow coming that they just decided to start singing songs they liked to fill in the time. They are a hoot. We are the youngest people there. The minister is younger than the congregation (maybe our age), and they have no youngsters in the congregation,so they turned the nursery into an office for the minister. I can't think of warmer, friendlier, more loving individuals than these people. So I guess we will go there till we leave.
What have we done since the first of the year, my last post.
We have been to Springtown to my friends house (who owns Iris' brother) and she has been teaching us herding while Leroy does chores for her to pay for them. We are on a barter system. I guess she and I are going to Ponca City, Oklahoma the 4-8 for lessons with a big name in the collie herding circles. She is doing this as she wants Iris to be able to compete in the herding part of the Collie Nationals the first week in March in Oklahoma. We do have a fun time together. I am almost old enough to be her mom (she is 54) but we have lots in common and she raises her sheep for herding, has a donkey Hannah, and also has ducks now to herd. Springtown is a tiny town around here also.
This is the cowboy, horse and ranch country in this area, so we are right at home with all the rednecks. We went to the Ft Worth Stock Show one day and to the rodeo that pm. Had wonderful seats and got senior discounts. Walked all day and we were exhausted when we got home. Can you believe that I met a lady at a booth (a knife and scissors booth) that said oh, her sister had lived on Whidbey. I asked her name, Roxie she said. ROXIE I exclaimed. I loved Roxie. She had been my patient and I was so attached to her. She and I exchanged jackets one day as we each liked the other ones better. She was the funnest nicest person. So we had such a nice visit. Made me realize how much I still missed Roxie. While we were gone we had hired a lady at the court to let the dogs out and to feed them so they were well taken care of.
During the cold days and ishy days we just stayed close to home. I am close to finishing the baby or youth quilt I am making. I am trying to learn my camera. Leroy is busy working with his camera class.I find it important to keep up on the paperwork as otherwise it is easy to lose stuff in our environment so I work on that on those kind of days. We are getting reading done. Been able to keep up on my bible study even tho i have to do it independently and sharing it with others is an easier avenue to learn in. I have been doing an exercise program with Jessica Smith on the internet. She is so great, you never get bored as she has at least a million different programs from 5 min to 45 min doing standing or any kind of exercise including specially modified ones for people with knee problems or post natal workouts. Every health site I visited they referred to her and man it is a great adjunct therapy to my walking and boxing. So somehow I stay busy. I polished my jewelry the other day, I clean cupboards out, sort thru things, just putter away doing things I never had time to do. One day I ripped everything out from under the bed and redid my quilt supplies so its easier and we boxed up a tote of stuff to send home to storage.
We have found some things we decided to change on the RV since we can't afford to trade it in. We are ripping out the things above the windows (what are they called, the things the curtain stuff is on) and we are going to put small wooden pieces on instead. Stained lightly That gives Leroy some puttery things he can do. We are going to see how much it would cost to take out the washer, dryer, and dishwasher. He needs help with that, and then he can convert those to storage instead. They are useless things they add that you don't need. The laundromat is more convenient and cheaper. The dishwasher is not necessary and all those things need full hookups to use anyhow. When we can afford it we will see how much and if we can get the carpet ripped out and flooring put in. Then the whole thing will be more updated, look bigger and easier to keep clean. And will be worth more when we do trade it in., So Leroy has lots of things he can putter with.
He enjoys the lifestyle, maybe or probably, not as much as me, but he needs to be busy and he is siting way to much now. When we can find a job that gives him something to do he will be happier. He is a slow starter as he agrees but when he starts he enjoys it. That is why the farm was to much work, no time with a place like that to sit around and think about doing it.
I think I mentioned that Shirley's grandson and wife got their baby from China over Xmas. They are so happy and the pictures are so great. I think adjustment for them all has its difficult times but over all I think he is a fairly happy baby. He is 8 mo old I think or 9 by now.
Try to keep a closer tab on my friends and family but I am such a turd about that. Love and miss them all but LAZY!!!!!!!! I continue to say I will try to improve but I don't. I have taken an online course on setting goals that I got thru the dog world and it applys to personal goals too. So my Goal is to try to write at least two times a week. It should work if I would keep them up as they would be shorter and not take as long.
Those of you who read this know that you can respond to it. I love comments when i get them rarely.
The next thing on our agenda is Leroy is flying back to Washington on the 9th of Feb, Our friend Joyce is moving back to Texas and he is going to drive the moving truck back for her. I am getting so many friends down here now this place really does feel like home I have to say. So I would imagine with his drive and visit with friends and seeing Jeff and loading and unloading he will probably be gone about 2 weeks. I didn't get sick the last time he was gone so hopefully I can continue a new habit of staying healthy when he is gone. Man over the years it seems I always end up sick and ruin his time away. Maybe its subconscious. But this is a nice park to be stuck in. Nice people, convenient, and safe. Plus we are right next to the dog park which is great at nite.
My job, you may know I have a job selling photos for Air Photo. A company out of Everett that takes pictures of homes from the sky and has people like me sell them on the ground. Well my first bundle was terrible. They were high end upper upper class people and either they had gated entries or they didn't want to be bothered. I sold one picture and one DVD. Now the commission is great but the over all on this one didn't come out so good. It is a middle class rural product and I had an upper upper class less rural neighborhood. The next bundle he will send me will be more rural in this area so hopefully I will make more sales and meet nicer people. He felt awful as the average is 30% to 50% sales from a bundle. So that's the other thing I have been busy with. Trying to make money unsuccessfully. Leroy has been monitoring the workkamper web site and watching for other options, and of course spending lots of time watching football.
Well guess what I spent so much time on this that Leroy is back. No fish unfortunately but maybe he did catch and release, ha ha.
Anyhow, I gave him the choice to do anything he wanted on his birthday, whatever would be the most enjoyable for him, including a day away from me if he wanted it. Well he wanted to go to church, (that's a )story, then out to eat at this restaurant (another story) and now fishing. I asked if he wanted us all along and he said yes as then we could take a hike. Nice trails up here. I said I would go along if I had my computer to use so I could catch up on this blog.
So that's how we all got here. The doors are open, the sun is shining, the dogs are in the back sleeping with the back window up, and Leroy is down at the shore of this very large lake.
I apologize for anyone who routinely reads this blog. If I don't keep it up people that do read it will stop visiting. I realize that but it is also a type of journal for me. So I intersperse my ideas and thoughts as well as dumb daily activities. I told you it was boring from the get go!!!!
The weather here has been interesting. Being its Leroy and I and we come from the Midwest and then Washington, I have to say we really take most of the weather in stride. I do admit tho that we have become warm weather aficionados and truly find that our favorite. We don't mind the rain actually and feel our bringing it south with us has been our job. We have had our fair amount of rain down here but it is such a blessing for this area. The other nite there was one hell of a rain storm. Here it is like the Midwest, no daily drizzle where you can run between the drops like Washington, but one hell of a rain storm where you gets lots in a shorter period of time. And Texas has a real deal with the wind, so some of the rain has been accompanied by some hellacious wind. But it is nice in the RV, to hear the rain on the roof and you hear a lot of noise from the wind but it doesn't rock and we are snug as bugs in rugs. I snuggle in my bed and watch TV or read, its very cozy. So that is the weather. It was cold for a while, 30's with some nites freezing, but it has warmed up and yest was probably close to 70 if not low 70's. Today is probably 60's. Some days the wind is cool and some days warm, depends on which direction it is coming from. Its never been my favorite element as I have told God but I learn to live with it and the reason for it. Texas has so much wind tho it amazes me that they don't harness it more. There are some wind generators but its not as common as you see in Minn. or Iowa. They love their oil energy better I guess.
Lets see, the restaurant story. (I think the older you get the worse your spelling gets, unless you were my mom. thank God for spell check). We were sent to a restaurant when we first got to Sanger. The Old West Cafe. Well, darn, those people knew what they were talking about. They have the best breakfasts around. I get a french toast with an almond batter of some sort with bananas that is out of this world. With out a doubt the best french toast I have ever tasted. The servings are huge and the prices are low, and the staff just sweet as all get out. We have now met so many people in this little town that we can say hi or wave at them in the restaurant. Sad huh? So being the hicks we are, its one of our favorite places. The other places we love are Fuzzy s (a taco place that makes it all fresh and has a sprinkle of feta cheese on top of their tacos. Yum. And Taco Bueno which is a chain and it is a fast food place that is totally fresh and done on site. The one guy complained about how sore his arms were from getting all the ingredients ready that morning. We are high class people let me telll you!!!! We want to try On The Border too, it looks good. That and The Railhouse we found in Aledo for barbeque, man. We have to make ourselves eat at home. I have to say they have good mexican food and good barbeque down here.
Oh yeah, we bought an induction hot plate last fall. Man we use it all the time, hardly ever use the stove. Look into them, what an energy saver. Tho since I love to bake we still use the oven a lot. Just made cookies the other day.
We have been getting to church every Sunday possible. We found a great Methodist one in Aledo that we really loved. But when we came to Sanger it was to far to drive so we found one here. Well it looks just like the one I grew up in. It looks just like the Racine Methodist Church right down to the cross above the altar. The first time we went we thought, good grief this is an old small congregation, probably won't return. Well these old people are wonderful. EVERYONE went out of their way to say hello, or hug, the minister came and gave us a personal invitation, and they sent us home with homemade jam. They wanted to know all about us so they made sure to tell us they would see us next week. Well, next week came and we felt to guilty to go anywhere else, so we returned. So now we went a third week. They sang happy birthday to Leroy. It is so small they all know each other, the minister asked about a lady last week that wasn't there and asked some one to go check on her as she is always there. It is so small the alter staff (a piano player and one old guy who sings) get ready and wait for the minister, or tell him, "whenever you are ready". The one Sun he didn't get in there and was so slow coming that they just decided to start singing songs they liked to fill in the time. They are a hoot. We are the youngest people there. The minister is younger than the congregation (maybe our age), and they have no youngsters in the congregation,so they turned the nursery into an office for the minister. I can't think of warmer, friendlier, more loving individuals than these people. So I guess we will go there till we leave.
What have we done since the first of the year, my last post.
We have been to Springtown to my friends house (who owns Iris' brother) and she has been teaching us herding while Leroy does chores for her to pay for them. We are on a barter system. I guess she and I are going to Ponca City, Oklahoma the 4-8 for lessons with a big name in the collie herding circles. She is doing this as she wants Iris to be able to compete in the herding part of the Collie Nationals the first week in March in Oklahoma. We do have a fun time together. I am almost old enough to be her mom (she is 54) but we have lots in common and she raises her sheep for herding, has a donkey Hannah, and also has ducks now to herd. Springtown is a tiny town around here also.
This is the cowboy, horse and ranch country in this area, so we are right at home with all the rednecks. We went to the Ft Worth Stock Show one day and to the rodeo that pm. Had wonderful seats and got senior discounts. Walked all day and we were exhausted when we got home. Can you believe that I met a lady at a booth (a knife and scissors booth) that said oh, her sister had lived on Whidbey. I asked her name, Roxie she said. ROXIE I exclaimed. I loved Roxie. She had been my patient and I was so attached to her. She and I exchanged jackets one day as we each liked the other ones better. She was the funnest nicest person. So we had such a nice visit. Made me realize how much I still missed Roxie. While we were gone we had hired a lady at the court to let the dogs out and to feed them so they were well taken care of.
During the cold days and ishy days we just stayed close to home. I am close to finishing the baby or youth quilt I am making. I am trying to learn my camera. Leroy is busy working with his camera class.I find it important to keep up on the paperwork as otherwise it is easy to lose stuff in our environment so I work on that on those kind of days. We are getting reading done. Been able to keep up on my bible study even tho i have to do it independently and sharing it with others is an easier avenue to learn in. I have been doing an exercise program with Jessica Smith on the internet. She is so great, you never get bored as she has at least a million different programs from 5 min to 45 min doing standing or any kind of exercise including specially modified ones for people with knee problems or post natal workouts. Every health site I visited they referred to her and man it is a great adjunct therapy to my walking and boxing. So somehow I stay busy. I polished my jewelry the other day, I clean cupboards out, sort thru things, just putter away doing things I never had time to do. One day I ripped everything out from under the bed and redid my quilt supplies so its easier and we boxed up a tote of stuff to send home to storage.
We have found some things we decided to change on the RV since we can't afford to trade it in. We are ripping out the things above the windows (what are they called, the things the curtain stuff is on) and we are going to put small wooden pieces on instead. Stained lightly That gives Leroy some puttery things he can do. We are going to see how much it would cost to take out the washer, dryer, and dishwasher. He needs help with that, and then he can convert those to storage instead. They are useless things they add that you don't need. The laundromat is more convenient and cheaper. The dishwasher is not necessary and all those things need full hookups to use anyhow. When we can afford it we will see how much and if we can get the carpet ripped out and flooring put in. Then the whole thing will be more updated, look bigger and easier to keep clean. And will be worth more when we do trade it in., So Leroy has lots of things he can putter with.
He enjoys the lifestyle, maybe or probably, not as much as me, but he needs to be busy and he is siting way to much now. When we can find a job that gives him something to do he will be happier. He is a slow starter as he agrees but when he starts he enjoys it. That is why the farm was to much work, no time with a place like that to sit around and think about doing it.
I think I mentioned that Shirley's grandson and wife got their baby from China over Xmas. They are so happy and the pictures are so great. I think adjustment for them all has its difficult times but over all I think he is a fairly happy baby. He is 8 mo old I think or 9 by now.
Try to keep a closer tab on my friends and family but I am such a turd about that. Love and miss them all but LAZY!!!!!!!! I continue to say I will try to improve but I don't. I have taken an online course on setting goals that I got thru the dog world and it applys to personal goals too. So my Goal is to try to write at least two times a week. It should work if I would keep them up as they would be shorter and not take as long.
Those of you who read this know that you can respond to it. I love comments when i get them rarely.
The next thing on our agenda is Leroy is flying back to Washington on the 9th of Feb, Our friend Joyce is moving back to Texas and he is going to drive the moving truck back for her. I am getting so many friends down here now this place really does feel like home I have to say. So I would imagine with his drive and visit with friends and seeing Jeff and loading and unloading he will probably be gone about 2 weeks. I didn't get sick the last time he was gone so hopefully I can continue a new habit of staying healthy when he is gone. Man over the years it seems I always end up sick and ruin his time away. Maybe its subconscious. But this is a nice park to be stuck in. Nice people, convenient, and safe. Plus we are right next to the dog park which is great at nite.
My job, you may know I have a job selling photos for Air Photo. A company out of Everett that takes pictures of homes from the sky and has people like me sell them on the ground. Well my first bundle was terrible. They were high end upper upper class people and either they had gated entries or they didn't want to be bothered. I sold one picture and one DVD. Now the commission is great but the over all on this one didn't come out so good. It is a middle class rural product and I had an upper upper class less rural neighborhood. The next bundle he will send me will be more rural in this area so hopefully I will make more sales and meet nicer people. He felt awful as the average is 30% to 50% sales from a bundle. So that's the other thing I have been busy with. Trying to make money unsuccessfully. Leroy has been monitoring the workkamper web site and watching for other options, and of course spending lots of time watching football.
Well guess what I spent so much time on this that Leroy is back. No fish unfortunately but maybe he did catch and release, ha ha.
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