That IS my costume

Word of the Day

Similiar - Alternate spelling of similar. Having like characteristics. Also, being strangely similar.



Happy


Halloween


Everyone!

and....


Happy


Belated


Anniversary,


Sarge and


D Buddy!


I never got around to blogging yesterday because HTP and I spent most of the day with our niece who just moved here from Minnesota. What was she thinking?! I mean, the only family she'll have here is HTP and me. Poor kid. Oh well, we helped put together an IKEA dining room table and chairs but we escaped before the IKEA bedroom set and IKEA entertainment center were put together. As we exited the apartment our niece was just getting started on getting the drawers to her new nightstand put together and our niece's Mom was working on the entertainment system. The dresser was still in its IKEA box and the bed frame won't arrive until next week. I've never seen so many bits and pieces of stuff. Needless to say, HTP and I aren't exactly used to all that sort of activity...so...we were a bit tired last night by the time we limped home.

However, after a good night sleep, today, we plan to fix our Casablanca fan in the living room. This is a two person job with both of us standing on ladders...standing on tippy toes. When we got back to our Arizona home, we noted that the fan in the living room was non-functional. After a lot of checking, HTP figured out that the problem was in the intelli-touch computer board...inside the fan housing. And, of course, it isn't covered under our warranty. *sigh* The only thing covered under the warranty is the motor. *sigh* Anyway, two people (HTP and Me) on ladders and on tippy toes, dismantled the fan last week and removed the computer board/module thingie. The replacement HTP ordered online already arrived in the mail. Let's hope this fixes the problem. I'd hate to think we've gone through all this work just to discover that the problem actually was the motor.



It was Sarge and D Buddy's anniversary yesterday! Happy Belated Anniversary guys! It seems like yesterday that you guys were married in Paris.

Random Thought of the Day

42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.

- Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)

Word of the Day

Shwacked - Extremely drunk. Obliterated.

Global warming has hit Arizona. The outdoor temperature when I woke up this morning was 38 degrees. Now? 49 degrees. I'm back to wearing jeans and sweaters. I dug my fall themed sweater out of the closet this morning. I can wear it from now until Thanksgiving...at which point I'll switch over to my Christmas themed sweater. I don't have a spring or summer themed sweater...yet. But, if this global warming continues...I'd better keep my eyes open.

I was finally able to take care of getting a medallion signature guarantee yesterday. I'd never even heard of this thing before I was told that I'd need to get one this summer. Apparently, a notary is no longer good enough for some people. All I wanted to do was transfer control of #1 Son's mutual fund to #1 Son. I was a custodian on the account while #1 Son was a minor. #1 Son is no longer a minor. He actually hasn't been a minor for years but for some reason or another, we've never taken the time to do the paperwork required to take me off the account.

It soon became apparent that there was no way in heck that I'd be able to get a medallion signature guarantee at The Lake. The local bank near The Lake had heard of it but they no longer felt it was necessary to provide this service for the very few people in the area that have never needed one before. So...#1 Son and I decided that since we'd waited for years to take care of this little thing, we could wait until HTP and I got back to Arizona where I'd purchased the mutual fund in the first place and where I could get a medallion signature guarantee...because I called to check. took care of the whole thing yesterday. It took lots longer than I expected.

I called the fund people to ask them exactly what I needed to write in my letter that needed this medallion signature guarantee. I actually got to talk to a person! Woohoo! I love talking to real live people. She walked me through the whole process and I was able to compose a really official sounding letter, print it out, and call my local bank to see if they actually had someone on staff who could give me my medallion signature guarantee or if I'd have to visit one of the larger branches of the bank. Simple...right?

I had to find the telephone number for our local bank, the closest bank, here in Arizona. The phone number wasn't in the phone book but, there was a phone number for all the branch offices that weren't listed in the phone book which would be able to help me. I called that number and I go that bleep-bleep-bleep sound and was told that the phone number was no longer in service but I should write down the new number. I called the new number and finally, after jumping through a number of automated phone hoops, got to talk to a person who didn't sound too happy with her job. I asked her what the phone number was for our local branch of the bank. She transferred me to another person. However, I have my doubts as to whether this was a person or not. The entity that I ended up having to talk to sounded a lot like the same computer that they use at NOAA weather service. It was weird. Really weird! I felt like I had fallen through a rabbit hole.

The entity first asked me for my social security number. What?! No!!!!!! I told the entity that there was no way that I was giving it my social security number. Then, the entity asked me for my bank account number. What?! All I wanted was the phone number for the local branch of my bank. What the heck did this entity need with my account number?! The entity asked me which state I was calling from...OMG! I wasn't even talking to an entity that was located in the same country? Thank goodness I didn't give it my social security number or bank account number! I told the entity that I was calling from Arizona. The entity repeated AAAARRRREEEEZONEAWWW. *moan* It then asked me which city I was calling from. I can't even tell you how badly a computer can butcher Chandle er. Thankfully, HTP and I no longer live in Ahwatukee. I was told that there were several branches of the bank in Chandle er. I already knew this. Finally, after some wrangling (I was trying to reason with a disembodied entity), I was able to get a phone number for the local branch of the my bank. I could have driven over there faster....but...I was hoping to save a step in the process of obtaining a medallion signature guarantee.

I wasn't sure whether or not our little branch of the bank actually had someone on staff available to provide a medallion signature guarantee. I figured that there was no point bringing a letter transferring ownership of #1 Son's account to #1 Son to our local branch if I'd have to find a different branch of the same bank elsewhere. Saving gas and time here. Thankfully, I was told that there would be no problem.

Hah! Actually, there wasn't too much of a problem and there wouldn't have been a problem at all if the real person that I talked to on the phone at the local branch of the bank had told me that I would need to bring a statement from #1 Son's account with me. *sigh* Thankfully, I established the account at a branch of this same bank...or they wouldn't be able to help me...even though HTP and I have been banking with them for years. They don't give anyone a medallion signature guarantee...no matter how well they know you.

Oh well...,I eventually got my medallion signature guarantee which...well...it didn't look any more official than a notary guarantee. I was expecting to see a gold seal or something. All I got was green and red ink. But, in the end, I got my medallion signature guarantee and the letter with its medallion signature guarantee is on its way to #1 Son. The ball is now in #1 Son's side of the court. He actually has to fill out all the paperwork to open in a brand new account with these people so they can transfer all the funds to that account. Good luck #1 Son!

Random Thought of the Day

On the other hand, you have different fingers.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

We've always been here and we'll always be here. We are a specific arrangement of particles and this instant is infinite. Did we luck out, or didn't we? The odds against this sentence having ever being typed, much less the odds against you reading it were inconceivable. Smile, because the fact that you're able to is almost impossible to comprehend.

- Jeffrey Rowland

Word of the Day

Shup - A contraction of "shut up". To cease writing or speaking or to cause (a person) to stop talking.

You know that you're getting old when you're thinking about heading to bed but won't because...it's only 7 PM....and...you're still young enough to maintain an inch of denial. I'm still young enough so I can wait two more hours before heading to bed. Yes, well...9 PM is a bit more acceptable than 7 PM. At least...that's what I'm going with.

We had a dust storm yesterday. Normally, Gypsy and I walk the block and a half to get the mail from our mailbox. She looks forward to this daily walk...ever in hope of meeting someone who won't mind if she piddles on their shoes. However, there was no way that I was going to risk black lung or Valley Fever to get the mail yesterday. I was at the point where I was debating with myself whether or not getting the mail was worth the effort or not but...I finally decided to hop into the car to get the mail. Visibility was less than a block.

And the result of a dust storm? I spend most of this morning vacuuming my patio with a heavy duty shop vac. The dust kept clogging up the air-filter on the shop vac, not to mention the leaves and flower pedals, but I persisted. Of course, I also had to beat the dust out of my patio furniture cushions. The patio was semi-dust free by the time I'd finished...and after I'd cleaned the filter of the shop vac...four times. I used a broom to take care of the sand dunes that had accumulated by our front door. After lunch, HTP took over and completed the task of cleaning up after a dust storm by washing the patio off with our hose. I now have a nice clean patio...until the next dust storm rolls in.

I still need to remove sand dunes from my entry way (indoors) and our windowsills. Since I've already done this once since we've been back to Arizona, I'm not too keen to repeat myself. Maybe tomorrow.

Random Thought of the Day

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that one of them is doing the thinking.

- Lyndon B. Johnson (1908 - 1973)

Word of the Day

Shuggleftulation - The actions of two people approaching, trying to get around each other, and muttering "thanks for the dance."

Just when I've gotten used to wearing capris and sandals, it looks like things are going to cool off here. I'm told that tomorrow's high temperature will only be in the 60's. Time to dig out some warmer clothes. It was only in the 40's when I woke up this morning but I knew it was going to warm up to the upper 80's. However, I did have find a sweater when I took Gypsy outside this morning. Although we have a fenced backyard and no threat from wolves, bears, coyotes, or eagles, Gypsy prefers to have company when she's outside....guarding her back.

Having nothing better to do with my time while doing laundry today, I mopped the kitchen floor again. My new steam mop continues to work well. I've mopped my floors more often in the last week than I've mopped them in the last year. I'm glad I ordered those extra cleaning pads. However, you still won't find me smiling while I mop. Feel free to call those nice young men in their clean white coats to come and take me away if you ever catch me grinning while cleaning.

Random Thought of the Day

I find that as I get older, going out is a good thing; but, coming home is better!

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy.

- Jacques Maritain (1882 - 1973)

Word of the Day

Shriting - To form poor, unreadable symbols or letters on a surface such as paper. It often is described as writing to the one who wrote the symbols, but to others it is considered to be in poor taste. This form of writing is often so bad that others must ask the writer about each individual squiggle.

My first batch of pomegranate wine and my prickly pear cactus wine are all set with air-locks and won't need further attention until the end of November. The morning was spent working on my wine projects. I started a second and final batch of pomegranate wine...for this year. After I get this final batch of wine air-locked, I won't need to do anything more with the wine until the end of November. However, I'm going to have to start collecting bottles so I'll have something to put this new wine in come April.

My new/used breadmaker isn't working out. Apparently, there is something wrong with the shaft that drives the paddle that kneads the dough. However, the parts are worth more than the whole. It looks like I can cannibalize the breadmaker...selling the various parts...and get more than what I paid for the thing. On the other hand, HTP is still looking into how to fix it. I'm not in a hurry. My other breadmaker is working just fine and I may employ my KitchenAid to stand in as a second bread-maker. Quite frankly, our home (my kitchen in particular) here in Arizona isn't all that big. I still hadn't found a place to store this new-used breadmaker for the times when it wasn't being used. Having said all that, I managed to bake two loaves of bread today...despite a malfunctioning new-used breadmaker.

When you own your own home, there always seems to be something that needs fixing. HTP and I discovered, shortly after we got here, that the fan in our living room was working. HTP did some research and he "thinks" he can fix it. Unfortunately, it looks like the problem is that the fan needs a new circuit board. *moan* Thankfully, HTP knows how to install the new one. The new circuit board isn't cheap but I shudder to think how much a repair person would charge to install it. HTP will be able to fix the fan himself...with my help...with "no tribble at all". Knock on wood.

Random Thought of the Day

A day without sunshine is like night.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.

- Joseph Addison (1672 - 1719)

Word of the Day

Shrinkcrap - The shrink wrap that becomes completely and utterly twisted such that it is useless.

With all the dusting, vacuuming, and mopping done...and the bathrooms clean...and the landscape clean up done...I figured that I'd take the day off. HTP and I are going out to dinner with friends tonight. Tomorrow? My wine-making projects will continue. I plan to rack the prickly pear wine into one or more of my large fermentation jugs and then start a double batch of pomegranate wine. Then...I'll probably have to mop my kitchen floor again.

Random Thought of the Day

As one gets older, yellow becomes the big color -- walls, hair, teeth.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

It is not advisable, James, to venture unsolicited opinions. You should spare yourself the embarrassing discovery of their exact value to your listener.

- Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Atlas Shrugged, 1957

Who actually smiles like that when they're mopping their floor?
And, in my humble opinion, if the pad looked that clean after I mopped my floors, my floors didn't really need mopping.

Word of the Day

Shoop - The singular form of sheep. Also applicable to fish as foosh. In the case singular moose, meese is the plural form.

I normally channel surf right on past infomercials when looking for something interesting to watch on TV. There's LOTS of infomercials on TV during the weekend. I avoid infomercials. The overly bright sales people and their overly bubbly sidekicks tend to drive me crazy, but a few of my friends mentioned that they loved their Shark steam mops. My first thought was, huh? Then, of course, I had to actually watch one of the infomercials to figure out what they were talking about. The thing cleans behind toilets? I've always had to get down on my hands and knees to clean the floor around the toilets. Still, I wasn't sure if I wanted to trade in my mop and bucket for one of these steam mops. However, my old mop has seen better days. Tile floors and grout tend to shred the poor things. My mop at The Lake was starting to disintegrate the last time I used it. My mop here, though pretty shredded, still works (kinda) but...I still had to get down on my hands and knees to scrub up the more stubborn spots with a 3M sponge.

Knowing that I needed to buy a new mop here anyway because they don't make replacement mop heads for my old mop anymore, I decided to actually bite the bait tossed out by my friends and the infomercial. As you can tell, even with the endorsement from my friends, I was feeling a bit like a fish nibbling on a hook. I've been caught/stung before. Some things just don't work as advertised. I've got a few of those things taking up space in my cupboards. The electric tortilla maker? That thing that was supposed to perfectly dice potatoes and onions? It slices, it dices...not. I really should get rid of those things. It's not like I have a lot of spare cupboard space.

My Shark steam mop came delivered to my door just before supper last night. It was too late to give it a try out last night...besides, I'd already spent the day dusting and vacuuming. I'm not Mrs. Clean. The try out would have to wait until after breakfast today.

Now, I have to tell you that my floors were incredibly dirty. I hadn't washed the floors before HTP and I left for The Lake last spring and I'd only done a half-baked slapdash mopping after I'd bottled the winter wines. Plus, I'd cleaned those 120 pomegranates this spring and spilled stuff which I didn't completely clean up after starting my winter wines for this winter season. And then...well...my floors were NASTY.... YUCKO NASTY. Needless to say, I'm not fond of mopping or mops. My new steam mop was in for quite the trial workout.

Having said all that, the steam mop did an amazingly good job (considering) and I expect it'll do a better job next time. Due to the nastiness of the floors, I did have to use both the pads that came with the mop and I still had to use a 3M sponge to clean up a particularly nasty area near my stove where I'd spilled some grease last Thanksgiving...but it was only that one spot. The steam mop got all the other spots that would have required the use of a 3M sponge in the past. If that one area hadn't been so sticky, I'm sure the steam mop would have cleaned it up great!

I didn't want to touch the pads after finishing with my mopping. Ewwwww!!!! The pads are supposed to wash up in the washing machine. Of course, skeptical me, I immediately threw them into the washing machine to wash...just to make sure. Besides, they were gross and I didn't want the evidence of how bad my floors were lying out where someone might see. They really did wash up in the washing machine! I couldn't believe it. They're still a bit stained but they're clean. Ready for my next mopping adventure. I did order two additional pads....delivery pending. They wouldn't sell additional pads if people hadn't discovered that they needed them. Actually, if I'd had additional pads, I would have used them this morning. Unfortunately, the additional pads that I ordered haven't arrived yet.

My new toy, the Shark steam mop was easy to use. It was light. It dealt with my tile and my grout a lot better than my old mop. Woohoo! No more buckets of water. No more slippery floors. No yelling at HTP or the dog for tracking across a wet floor. No soap. No getting my hands nasty wringing out a mop. I just might feel like mopping the floor more often. Does this mean that I'll mop my floor on a daily basis? Positive reinforcement is a powerful thing....but let's not go crazy. However, if this steam mop works out well...I may just get one to use at The Lake. I wonder how well it deals with blood and fish scales? Actually, I'm surprised Sis hasn't bought one. She really does mop her floor on a daily basis.

Random Thought of the Day

Your kids are becoming you -- and you don't like them, but your grandchildren are perfect!

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.

- Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Last Winter's Arizona Wines
They resided in my guest room but I'm expecting a visit from #1 Son so my guest room can't become a wine cellar...at least...not right now.

Word of the Day

Shoegating - Walking behind someone at a distance too close for comfort, much like tailgating in a car.

I have absolutely no excuses for not blogging yesterday. None. It was a beautiful day and I didn't even think about blogging. Instead I worked on my FarmVille farm, my Fish World aquariums, and Farkle. Facebook is becoming way too time consuming...a distraction when I really should be focusing on other things. I should have done a lot of things yesterday. I didn't.

Today I figured that I'd better get off my duff and get something...anything...done. I did and I plan to do more but I figured I'd take a break and blog. I dusted. I removed the fine layer of desert brown grit that had settled over everything while HTP and I were at The Lake. You can't really call this stuff dust. I still need to vacuum. I still need to scrub all the floors. However, that's for later.

As you can see...there's really nothing to blog about. My wine is still making lots of noise in their initial fermentation buckets. It's making so much noise that HTP thought we'd developed a leak outside with our drip irrigation system. He actually went outside to check...twice...but both times he went outside, the sound stopped. HTP has good ears. Me? I can hardly hear the effervescing sound the wine is making. However, I can smell the stuff. Good thing we've been able to keep the windows open or we'd probably both be drunk from the fumes. This house isn't as big as our house at The Lake. I don't have a basement or wine cellar where I can keep my wine projects. As a matter of fact, right now, my wine projects are sitting in buckets behind the couch in my living room where they aren't readily visible and where they're out of anyone's way...except...when I need to vacuum.

Random Thought of the Day

Everything old is new again, but if you wore it before, you're too old to wear it the 2nd time around.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

There's something almost perfect in the ugly duckling syndrome. Because a sensitivity is tattooed on a part of you no one else can see but can somehow guess is there.

- Stephanie Klein

Neptune Aqua Club Picture of HTP and Old Grey Frog (and DD Daughter) - September 1978?

Word of the Day

Sho - Ghetto slang. Sure; Certainly.

My day started at 5:30 AM when my daughter, Sarge, called me from Texas. Nothing was wrong...she just forgot about the time difference between Texas and Arizona. Believe it or not, Texas shares the same time zone as Wisconsin. There's a two hour time difference between Texas and Arizona. I never did get back to sleep after that. Adrenaline. It takes a while to force your heart out of your throat and back down into your chest where it belongs. Sarge called me back at around 7:30 AM to apologise for waking me up. By that time, I was up and about. Actually, if she'd called me at 6 AM, I would have been up. I tend to get up pretty early...probably because I don't have to get up early.

By 7:30 AM, I already had the laundry sorted, on load in the dryer and another load washing. Gypsy had already been fed and my kitchen was in order. I'd just cued up my laptop and was about ready to start farming in FarmVille when she called. My farm was put on hold. Real live family trumps Facebook.

My wine-making continues. The yeast has been added to the brew...or "hooch"...as Sarge has called it. Apparently, Sarge has had to confiscate batches of "hooch" that the prisoners like to brew up if they can get away with it. Like that's going to happen under Sarge's nose. She tells me that the stuff smells incredibly bad. A couple of the inmates twitted her about it when she moved their confiscated "hooch" to her office so it could be disposed of by a higher authority. Did they actually think she planned to drink that stinky stuff? She told them that the "hooch" that her Mom makes is lots better than what they could ever come up with. "Your Mom makes hooch?" I'm developing quite the reputation out in Texas...and I've only just driven through the panhandle. However, if I do have to say so myself, I do make good "hooch".

Random Thought of the Day

As you get older, it's harder to tell navy from black.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.

- General Douglas MacArthur (1880 - 1964)

Ms. En at the Play Ground - October 2009

Word of the Day

Shmoof - "It can be anything you want it to be."

It's been a wonderful day! Wonderful days are when the planets are all aligned and everything happens just the way you want it to happen.

The landscaper that did such an disappointing job the other day and who HTP thought we'd never see again, sent his partner back today (after I called) and this guy completed our landscape clean-up to my relief and satisfaction.

Then, the yeast I ordered for my winter wine-making projects got here. I've got a quadruple recipe of Pomegranate Wine (with barley water)started...six gallons. And I started a double batch of Prickly Pear Cactus Wine, also six gallons. I'm trying a different recipe this year for the later. I wasn't happy with the recipe that I tried last year. I still need to start a batch of Pomegranate Wine (with white grape juice) but...I've got to wait until I can transfer the Prickly Pear Cactus Wine into a fermentation jug. I don't have all that many buckets here in Arizona. I'm not going to be making nearly as much wine here in Arizona this year but I think I'll still end up with nearly 18 gallons when it comes to bottling time. I'll need to start collecting bottles. Maybe I'll post a notice at our local clubhouse.

Want to recycle your empty wine bottles? Going green? Drop those bottles off over at Old Grey Frog's house. She'll take care of them for you.

I'm a bit afraid to do that at this point. I may end up with more bottles than I could use in a lifetime of wine-making.

HTP had a productive lunch with a friend of his. He came back home in a much improved mood. When HTP is in a good mood...the planets are aligned.

Oh...and my folks have made it safely home...to their Nevada home. They only plan to stay there for about a week but...they're home. However, apparently the planets weren't quite so favorably aligned in Nevada. They ended up being delayed for four to five hours while they were driving home (Nevada home) due to a dust storm. Then...when they got home (Nevada home) they discovered that their air-conditioning had pooped out and the repair people can't come to fix it until tomorrow, AND, their hot water heater (I think it's only a year old) had died, AND, their runabout car that they keep stored in their garage...well...it wouldn't start. So? Oh well...the ceiling fans are still working. I suppose if the house gets too hot for them tonight, they can always head to the nearest casino and spend the night there. Maybe their luck would improve?

Random Thought of the Day

Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The surest way to make a monkey of a man is to quote him.

- Robert Benchley (1889 - 1945)

Ms. En (AKA The Book Shredder)

Word of the Day

Shmeg - A unit defined as the amount of wood a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

I picked and juiced 10 pounds of prickly pear fruit and ended up with 3+ quarts of juice. Plenty to make a double recipe of Prickly Pear Wine. Heck! I might not like this new recipe. There's no point in brewing more a double recipe.

Today, my friend and I enjoyed at girl's day out. Can we really refer to ourselves as "girls" at this point in our lives? I digress. We had a light lunch at The Pita Jungle and then sallied forth to inspect the merchandise at our local Saver's Store...a thrift store run by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. We both noticed that the place was packed...lots of customers. We also noticed (we think "supply and demand") that the prices have gone up....LOTS...on everything. However, despite these higher prices, I did pick up a used bread-maker for $12.50 but...I was shocked to find that if it didn't work...I couldn't return it? What the heck?! Aside from the fact that $12.50 was twice the amount that I expected to pay for a used bread-maker, I couldn't return it if it didn't work?! *sigh* I gambled. Thankfully, it seems that my gamble paid off and the bread-maker works just fine and I now have two functioning bread-makers. This is twice as many bread-makers as most people own but...HTP and I love home-made bread and HATE the taste of store bought bread. Actually, I didn't put this new (used) bread-maker through all of its paces but I really only use bread-makers to knead and make bread dough and it seems to be working for that part of its repertoire. At that point, I prefer to form and bake the bread myself...in my own oven...and I have a loaf of made bread baking in my oven as I write this. The slices of my own bread fit better in my toaster.

While at Savers, I also picked up a Golden Book called The Monster at the End of the This Book. Ms. En seemed to love this book so much that she shredded it while HTP and I were baby-sitting...while DD Daughter and GI Joe were occupied bringing Mr. T into the world. She loved it to death. *shudder* Ms. En's Great-Grandma, the Librarian would be horrified. However, even though this new (used) book isn't a Big Golden Book...it's still a Golden Book and it's the same story. I'll have to mail it off to her....or maybe to DD Daughter. Hopefully, DD Daughter and GI Joe can do a better job than me and HTP when it comes keeping this book safe.

The weather here at our home in Arizona has been lots warmer than the average for this time of year. Thank goodness for air-conditioning! When HTP and I first arrived home, the temperatures were average for this time of year and we were able to open the windows at night to enjoy the cool night air. Unfortunately, both the average temperatures and that cool night air have disappeared. We've had to depend upon our air-conditioning. I'm told that temperatures will cool down again...next week...maybe. Global Warming is such a fickle thing!

Random Thought of the Day

I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The older I get, the greater power I seem to have to help the world; I am like a snowball - the further I am rolled, the more I gain.

- Susan B. Anthony (1820 - 1906)

Steam Juicing at The Lake
My steam juicer here in Arizona barely fits on my stove because of an under the counter microwave oven. I was afraid I'd have to do my steam juicing out on the back patio on the burner of my BBQ grill.

Word of the Day

Shiznit - Crap! Shoot! Darn! Oh man!

There are some days that just don't lend themselves to blogging. Yesterday was one of those days. I started cleaning the remainder of my pomegranates right after breakfast and didn't finish until just before supper at which point I started the juicing process. Three hours later, just before bedtime, I ended up with another 3 1/2 quarts of pomegranate juice and cleaned up my juicer.

In the meantime, the window cleaners came and made my windows and screens look wonderful. I already heard on bird hit one of the windows. I'm not sure which window but...I haven't looked. There were no dead birds on my patio this morning so it couldn't have hit the window all that hard.

Then, I had a landscaper over to do a one time yard clean up. *sigh* He got here at 5:30 PM and he was supposed to bring a friend. He came by himself. Unfortunately, it was dark by the time he finished so...I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt at this point. I called him this morning and left a message on his machine. I either paid way too much money for the job he did or he'll be honest and come back to complete the yard clean up. I'm holding out hope that he'll come back and finish the job. HTP doesn't think we'll hear from him again. *sigh*

Gypsy and I took a morning walk around the neighborhood. I bumped into the neighbor who owns the prickly pear cactus. She again assured me that I could pick her prickly pear fruit any time that I liked. I may go over and pick some today after I go to the grocery store to pick up more jar lids. I've been "canning" all the juice I've been making...or...not actual canning. More like how I can my jams and jellies. The juice is so hot when it comes out of the juicer that the jars seal. I figure the juice will stay OK, sealed, until my yeast arrives next week. At least, I hope it arrives next week.

Random Thought of the Day

How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The real power behind whatever success I have now was something I found within myself - something that's in all of us, I think, a little piece of God just waiting to be discovered.

- Tina Turner

Steam Juicing at The Lake

Word of the Day

Shim - 1. A masking term to point out someone of questionable gender. 2. A man dressed as a woman.

Starting right after breakfast yesterday, I cleaned pomegranates until 5 PM. I only cleaned a bit more than half of my laundry basket full of them but, as it was, the seed sacs filled my steam juice to the top. I'm not sure if I really needed to steam juice the fruit for three hours but...I did. I ended up with 4 1/2 quarts of pomegranate juice which I'll use for my Pomegranate Wine with barley. I can't start any wine yet until the wine-making supplies I ordered arrive in the mail so...the juice will have to wait for a bit. It's sealed in quart jars. I suppose I could spend the entire day cleaning the rest of the pomegranates and juicing them...but...

I've decided to take the day off. Well...off from toiling around the house. I made an appointment to get my hair cut...later this afternoon. And, I made an appointment to take Gypsy to the groomer. Plus, I need to pick up some supplies (barley and lemons)for Pomegranate Wine.

Random Thought of the Day

Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

You must learn to face the fact, always, that you choose to do what you do, and that everything you do affects not only you but others.

- Holly Lisle

My Fountain

Word of the Day

Shiffider - An old person who shuffles along the floor, without seeming to move his or her feet.

I picked a huge laundry basket full of pomegranates. Miracle of miracles, my steam juicer arrived yesterday. I only just ordered it on Monday. That's the fastest I've ever had something I ordered on the Internet come. One day? I'm not complaining but now I'm going to spend the day cleaning pomegranates.

My lemon tree has been uncovered. Since I picked all the pomegranates, I decided to whack back the tree. I now have more tree prunings than will fit in my large garbage can. Good thing garbage pick up will be here tomorrow morning.

Today? I called a couple of landscapers to get a price for a one time lawn clean up...well...maybe a two time yard clean up. Once right now to get rid of all the leaves and dust and maybe trim back a couple plants and once in the spring to clean up after winter kill. We'll see. I may even have them come while we're gone so my poor neighbor doesn't kill herself keeping my yard looking nice....even if she does like working outside.

I also called to get my windows and screens cleaned. The window cleaners are coming on Friday. The screens are brown with desert dust. It'll be nice to have the yard and house looking nice for the winter.

Next? I've got to get my hair cut and Gypsy really needs a trip to the groomers. My bangs are doing that flip up thing. As for Gypsy, she looks like she's wearing hairy mittens. I could trim them myself but PetSmart does a better job.

Random Thought of the Day

Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.


Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Most people would like to be delivered from temptation but would like it to keep in touch.

- Robert Orben

Somewhere under drooping pomegranate branches, there's a lemon tree.

Word of the Day

Shemale - A person whose gender is nearly impossible to work out based on their physical appearance. One must admit defeat and ask, or sit in viewing distance of both entrances to a public bathroom.

We're Home! We actually arrived home on Sunday but I haven't had any blogging energy remaining at the end of the day to do more than fall into bed. However, I finally have enough done that I can finally sit down for a few moments to blog.

We left Albuquerque at around 8:30 AM on Saturday. HTP took the first leg of the journey home and I drove the Holbrook to Heber to Phoenix route. We finally arrived back home at around 4:30 PM. After a flurry of unloading, the unpacking began. Batteries had to be put back in the remote controls. Computers needed to be connected. The cooler needed to be unpacked and cleaned. Cleaned?

I checked the cooler to see how the dry ice was doing on Saturday morning before we left Albuquerque. I'm glad I checked. What a mess! Word to the wise...dry ice and pop don't mix. The cans of pop that I had in my cooler had frozen. Liquid when it freezes expands. The pop in the cans expanded and lacking any the cans didn't like it. They exploded. I opened the cooler and found frozen pop all over the cooler. Actually, I'm glad I checked since the frozen pop was still frozen. I'm also glad that the pop was diet pop. At least I didn't find a sticky mess. I fished out the exploded cans and as much of the frozen pop as I could before we left Albuquerque. I cleaned up the rest when we got home.

By the time I finished unpacking my two suitcases, the cooler, and taking a quick inventory of my pantry and fridge, I barely had enough energy left to return to the car so I could make a quick trip to the grocery store to buy enough so we could have supper...a late supper...and food for breakfast on Monday.

Monday...yesterday?...was Columbus Day. Even though there was no mail delivery and all the banks were closed, HTP was able to pick up our converter boxes for our televisions. He was also able to stop at the grocery store to pick up the things that I'd put on my growing shopping list. Me?

I spent yesterday unpacking the boxes. My canned goods are all stowed away and my wine has been unpacked and stored. I sure wish I had a couple of those wine racks that my Dad made me for Wisconsin but...I made do.

Having completed the unpacking, I turned my attention to getting our patio cleaned up and usable. We keep our outdoor furniture stored inside while we're gone for the summer. Dust storms and patio furniture don't mix. I dragged all the chairs and cushions out to the patio and got that set up. Then...I pruned the palm trees and the oleander tree by the fountain. The oleander tree continues to try to morph into a bush. The palm trees tend to droop into the fountain. Both had to be whacked back into form before I could get the fountain set up and started. I ended up with a whole garbage can full of palm fronds and oleander clippings before I was done. Then...I had to sweep out all the accumulated debris from the fountain before I could fill it with water and start up the pump. In the meantime, HTP REALLY doesn't like store bought bread. So, while I was doing everything else, I was also baking bread.

While all this was happening, HTP came home with the groceries and the converter boxes for our TV's. *sigh* You'd think hooking up two converter boxes would be a fairly simple process but... I came inside from pruning the oleanders and the palm trees, water running, filling a now clean fountain, to check up on the second loaf of bread that I had raising on the counter, to find that HTP in the process of pulling dresser drawers out of my dresser...the dresser that the TV in our bedroom sits on. He was having problems with getting the converter box hooked up to that TV so he wanted to pull the dresser out from the wall to check the cable connections behind said dresser. Said dresser is huge and HEAVY. So...working together, we muscled the dresser out of the carpet ruts and away from the wall. HTP tightened all the connections and...the blasted thing still wasn't working right. Then came a flurry of switching out the converter boxes. The converter box in the living room was working just great so HTP wanted to see if the problems we were having were caused by a faulty converter box. He was right. One of the two converter boxes he'd picked up from the cable company was no working. So...the TV in our bedroom still needs a converter box but we took the opportunity to vacuum the area behind the dresser before we muscled the dresser back into its furnident and got the drawers all put back.

Am I exhausting you yet? By this time, I was exhausted...but...I still needed to bake that last loaf of bread and make supper. Oh, and the I turned the water off for the fountain just in time so it wouldn't overfill and flood the fountain area.

After supper, I was more than happy to put my feet up and have Gypsy lick my toes while HTP and I watched our favorite Monday night TV shows.

Today? Laundry...of course. My fountain has already attracted a hummingbird. HTP and I watched it bathing as we ate breakfast. After breakfast, I finished my pruning project and dumped the clippings into the big garbage can in the garage. Garbage collection won't be until Thursday. I'm done with all my pruning until spring. Well...my neighbor offered to help me prune my lantana in the front but that won't be until next week. I want to trim it back to a manageable size so it'll be easier to cover it when the temperatures drop below freezing this winter. She offered to help because she knows how allergic I am to lantana. My neighbor is wonderful!

So...are you curious about my fruit trees? My pomegranate is LOADED with pomegranates! Loaded! That poor tree can't even hold its branches up. Some of the pomegranates have cracked but there's no doubt that I'll have plenty of fruit for wine-making. I may even can some of the juice for....juice. I can decide whether to drink the juice or make jelly with it...later. I ordered a steam juicer online and it should be coming later this week. As for my citrus trees...my tangelo tree has is loaded with tangelos. Plenty of fruit for juicing and making Arancello. My other citrus trees don't look like they've done so well. I think I only have two grapefruit. Limes? They're falling off the tree which looks like it got a bit scalded by the record hot temperatures this summer. As for my lemon tree...I can't see it. The pomegranate tree has it completely covered. It's there but I won't know how it's doing until after I pick the pomegranates and I don't plan to pick them until the steam juicer gets here.

Random Thought of the Day

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

- Don Marquis (1878 - 1937)

Snow at The Lake - October 10, 2009
Picture taken by Sis

Word of the Day

Shemail - The spam received promising larger breasts after one fills out an online form identifying oneself as female.

HTP and I have decided to return the inverter. No more laptop in the car. It kept over-heating and the LED red and yellow lights kept coming on. I'm not sure if why but...it just isn't worth risking my laptop.

We arrived in Denver at 4:30 PM on Friday night. You may note that I already have a blog entry for Saturday. That was the one that I meant to post last night but ended up watching Monk and Psych instead. I posted it this morning before starting on this entry. I just couldn't figure out how to post-date a blog entry...and...I guess, since it's so early in the morning here in Denver, I decided it wasn't worth the effort.

I called my friend and her husband when we reached town. We decided to get together for dessert and something to drink at one of the local Village Inns. In the meantime, HTP enjoyed a wonderful All-You-Can-Eat sushi meal at Samari Sushi which is located near our hotel here in Denver. Yummy!

Our friends met us back at our hotel at around 7:30 and we sallied forth for dessert. By this time, the sushi we'd over-stuffed ourselves with had a chance to settle, leaving room for pie and coffee...tea, in my case. We spent a wonderful couple of hours just sitting and chatting about grandchildren and lives. It was past 10 PM when we left the restaurant and said our goodbyes.

HTP and I will be loading up the car and heading on to Albuquerque today. But first, we'll be stopping at a Walmart to return that inverter. We woke up to a light dusting of snow here in Denver.

Random Thought for the Day

Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way.

- John Tudor

Word of the Day

Shazwazzer - Australian slang for the modern American bull frog.

HTP enjoyed two nights at DD Daughter’s home. Thank you DD Daughter and GI Joe for the hospitality. We enjoyed the opportunity to spend quality time with our grandchildren. Getting to know Mr. T in his home environment. He’s so incredibly alert. Blue eyes open but…at this point his blue eyes may change. Mr. T is only one month old. He loves being held…or…maybe it’s just that Grandma loved the opportunity to cuddle. DD Daughter and I took the opportunity to visit a tea shop near her home. Wonderful! I bought myself a tea pot (just like DD Daughter’s) and some tea to take back to Arizona. We also stopped at a wine shop where I bought a couple of bottles of wine for DD Daughter. After that, we stopped at a place called Arctic Ice where I bought 10# of dry ice to put in my cooler. My Blue Ice was still frozen when I threw it away in DD Daughter’s garbage can. However, even frozen, it was leaving blue smears all over…which is why I threw it away. It was leaking. Yuck! The dry ice should keep everything frozen or at least cold until we get to Arizona…especially with our special cooler.

HTP and I said our goodbyes to DD Daughter, GI Joe, Ms. En and Mr. T and hit the road again at around 8:30 AM. We bought a power inverter so I can use my laptop in the car as we’re traveling. This is a cool thing. It took a while for me to figure out how this inverter thing works as I’m not mechanically or electrically inclined but HTP translated some of the more technical bits in the directions. Yes, I had to read the directions. I kept on getting this red LED light popping up. Not good. And, no, I didn’t need the directions or HTP’s guidance to figure out that the red wire connects to the red terminal and the black wire connects to the black terminal. I’m not totally hopeless. However, turns out that I couldn't’t plug this inverter into the accessory outlet in our car. I had to use the cigarette lighter outlet. Huh? Well…I have no idea why that is but I’m sure HTP and #1 Son know…or they’ll figure out for me. The important thing is that I can use my laptop for as long as I like without worrying about the battery dying on me.

One would say that I should be enjoying the scenery but there’s really not all that much to see in the flat plains of Nebraska. Besides, we travel this route on our way home to Arizona every year at this time. Scenery? We’ve got dueling trucks, road construction cones, fields of corn drying, waiting for harvest, grain elevators, and today…blue skies. Great driving weather.

Speaking of blue skies, we’d planned to visit the pumpkin patch with the grandkids yesterday but the weather turned from blue skies and relative warmth to grey skies and cold. It’s still cold today but….the sun is shining. *sigh* It seems like whenever we want to plan outdoor activities with the grandkids, it rains or it’s just too cold to do anything. Oh well…maybe next year.

We’re heading to Denver today. We’ll gain an hour once we get close to Ogallala. Time change. Gotta love it. We stopped for a quick bite to eat in Lincoln but it’s petal to the metal now with only short stops to walk the dog or gas.

Random Thought of the Day

Was learning cursive really necessary?

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside.

- Hugh Macleod

Old Grey Frog and Mr. T

Word of the Day

Shaln't - Shall not; shan't.

HTP and I packed everything on our Packing Lists and we checked off all the items on our To Do Lists...after I snapped the lock on the chain that secures our gate. We hit the open road at around 9 AM on Wednesday morning and arrived at DD Daughter and GI Joe's house at around 6 PM.

We enjoyed the opportunity to have our grandchildren to ourselves without parental interferance. Ms. En is a real cutie. She loves her Nick Jr. TV shows. Mr. T. loves the vibrating bouncy chair that his Great Aunt Joanne gave DD Daughter when Ms. En was born. Still works great.

I'm posting this a bit later than normal...heck...it's actually Thursday already!


Happy


Birthday


DD Daughter!


If today is Thursday, October 8th, it's DD Daughter's birthday today! We'd planned to take the kids out to the pumpkin patch later today...after I actually have a chance to get some sleep but, it sounds like it might rain. *sigh* It rained when we wanted to go to the zoo in April. I think it's all a conspiracy.

We'll be spending Thursday night here at DD Daughter's house but will be hitting the open road again on Friday morning. Friday night we'll be in Denver where we plan to connect with one of my best friends and her husband. Saturday night will find us in Albuquerque and then...knock on wood...we should be spending Sunday night sleeping once again in our own bed in Arizona.

I can't promise to blog until we actually get settled back at our Arizona home but...if I find the time and energy...at least I won't promise that I won't blog.

Random Thought of the Day

I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.

-Buddha (563 BC - 483 BC)

The Lake

Word of the Day

Shaffeine - Combination of caffeine and sugar as found in products like Coca-Cola.

Woodtick Count of the Day - 42

Packing continues. I've got everything packed that can be packed for right now. I sealed all my freezer items in food-saver bags until that stuff can be packed on Wednesday morning...just before we hit the road. Tomorrow I'll do laundry and pack everything else until nothing more can be packed.

Random Thought of the Day

I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves. The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

- Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)