Murphy Part Deux....and Other Assorted Thoughts (this may be very long!)

So this morning I'm up at 4:15am.  BH....not.   I turn on the coffee and the TV.  Pour a cup.  Go sit in the recliner. Take the vest out of the bag, start knitting.  One sip of coffee; knitting.  Second sip of coffee.....BAM.  I missed the coaster, hit the edge of it, the coffee cup tips over....coffee all over the arm of the chair, the end table, the pattern, the paper with the finished row markings, the floor, the wall.   Aaaarrggghhh!

Dash off to the kitchen, grabbing towels, wet cloth, run back in to blot and mop.  Chair is wet.  Very wet.  Don't see much coffee-color coming up on the towels.  This will have to be shampooed today.

We just purchased 2 matching recliners in July.  One of the old ones was 25 years old (a La-Z-Boy...plug); the other was same make but we bought it at an auction 10 years ago or so.  We needed new recliners.  Went to the local furniture store.  A make I've never heard of, but the salesman assured us it is quality furniture, made in Indiana.  And since they only have one of any style in any color, we had to order the color we wanted for 2 chairs.

Anywho, they arrived after 3 weeks and we were very happy! Wow! Look how high we sit in these!  Who knew you didn't need to be physically fit to pull yourself out of a recliner?  Or that you really needed another person to help pull you up from the chair? Or that we really don't need one of those recliners that the seat rises up at an angle and it kind of dumps you out of it?

Yeah.  So after some menial housework and food prep for supper, BH (yes, he's up and around now) brings the shampooer over from the storage house.  And the job gets done.  The real test will be after the fabric is dry....did it discolor?

So, I was thinking....what the hell.....might as well start shampooing some of the carpets while I'm at it. Hahahahaha!!! Yeah.  No.  It's 54 degrees today, not getting much warmer, and drizzling off and on.  Not conducive to damp carpeting.  Tuesday will be a much better day.  Well then, why not get started changing the furniture around in the bedrooms, away from the furnace vents....because......we will have furnace heat this winter!?  Again....Hahahahaha!    No.  Not today.  The carpeting has to be shampooed before the furniture is moved around.

I had a pan of brownies in the oven.  A 9x9.  Actually, it might be an 8x8. Who measures these things?  Well, 30 to 35 minutes it says on the box.  I don't like dry, cake-like brownies.  I always go for the least amount of time and then watch it very carefully.  These took nearly an hour.  I kid you not.  Now I'm wondering......is the thermostat going on the oven???  It is 12 years old.  Ei-yi-yi.  Time will tell.

Doing a load of wash.  I cannot leave the house while the washer is going.  It has a quirk...during the spin cycle, it sometimes likes to "dance" across the floor.  Doesn't matter how big the load is or isn't.  So, I need to stand by it as soon as the water starts to empty out; wait for the "spin" cycle to start.  If there's no banging or "dancing", it's good.  But the same needs to be done for the "rinse" cycle. Oh....this machine does not discriminate cycles.

I know what you're thinking.  "Well, it's not level."  Au Contraire!  The level has been put on it numerous times.  In every direction.  It's as level as an honest person.  It just has a quirk.  C'est le vie.

Perusing granddaughter's Army unit photos today.  The person in charge must have downloaded 1,000 pictures since yesterday.  Went through each and every one.  Each. and. every. one.  Found 8 more pictures of her - coming out of the gas chamber and during their physical training drills.  This is one happy, happy grandma!!!

So tomorrow is daughter's appointment with the surgeon.  I should have a pretty good idea if we're going to be able to make it to granddaughter's Basic Training graduation or not.  Keeping my fingers crossed and saying prayers like mad.  In the meantime, my sister is making her plans to be there in case we're absentia.

I think that's all.  I know there's more.  I just can't think of it right now.  It'll happen after the "publish" button is pressed.

I gotta go find something to do before BH comes in the house.  Something that looks like I'm really, really busy.  What to do.....what to do..........

Changing My Name to.......Murphy

What ever can go wrong.....will go wrong.  Murphy.

So Monday, I made the hotel reservations for South Carolina.  Done.  We're set.

Daughter had a doctor's appointment that afternoon.  For a protrusion on the right side of her stomach.  Very noticeable.....to me.  Apparently, the doctor did not spot it on Friday when she was in for what was thought to be a UTI.  Hmmmmm.

Well,.....Doc scheduled her for an ultrasound on Wednesday.  I left a message for the Doc to call me with the results.  She called yesterday.  It's gallstones.  She's going to notify the general surgeon; they will call me for the appointment.

Within 1/2 hour, the surgeon's office called.  Bring her in Monday, 2:30.

I made 2 searches on the internet for gallbladder disease, gallstones and the needed surgery.  This does not ring with a promising outcome.

Today I called my sister and told her what was going on.  Then I asked her how she felt about going to South Carolina.  For granddaughter's graduation from Army bootcamp.  She was thrilled!!  Yes!! Yes!! I'd LOVE to go!!!  was her response.  Thank God.  I told her there may be an outside chance we'll still be able to go, but otherwise, she's welcome to the room we booked and I'm so happy that our granddaughter will not be alone on one of the monumental stepping stones in her life. 

And if we do make it, my sister will be there too.  This will be great!!  She's booking her flight today!!

In other news....I've kind of hit the wall.  Every evening I make plans for things to do the next day.  The next day comes and...eh....maybe tomorrow.  Nothing gets done this way.  Some of it's not a "have to, have to"....but would be nice to get done now.  Funny.  This usually doesn't happen till winter.  I think it's all the anticipation and anxiety of what's coming in the next few weeks.  I hope so, because, seriously......things have to get done.

I have 3 items on needles right now.  Besides the lace scarf and poncho, I remembered a couple of days ago....OMG!!  there's a vest that's been sitting in knitting basket for months...that needs front bands and armhole bands knitted.  Geezzz.  So I pulled that out yesterday, sewed the shoulder seams and started picking up stitches for the front bands, got half way done.  This morning......I ripped them all out.  Because I just know  there're not enough stitches and it will be all bunched up.  From past experience.  So now I'm in the process of picking up the stitches again.  Half way through....again.  We'll see how this goes.

My computer monitor has got a funky darkness to it since this morning.  Don't know what the hell is up with that.  Tried adjusting the brightness and contrast.  They're both at the limit.  It's just a smidgin better ....but still looks dark.  And the cursor has a funny "glow" to it, just about invisible. When you try to point it at something, you can barely see it.  Geezzz... I sure hope the monitor isn't getting ready to crap out.  It's only 2 1/2 years old!!!  I could spit nails.

So besides the expense for the hotel room, the cost of gas, meals and what have you, BH informs me this morning that his chainsaw is really on its last legs...and he should order a new one....like today.  Ehhh.....what the hell.....in for a penny, in for a pound....right?

Or as I like to tell him....."When it's all going down hill, you might as well jump on the toboggan and enjoy the ride!!"

Excuse me.  It's my turn.


  

I Am So Ready For Fall.......You?

So last week we had a reprieve.  The temps were in the low to mid 70's...no humidity.  Oh Yeah, Baby!  This is what I'm talking about!  Can it be?  Is Fall finally here?  My heart skips a beat.  I get excited about finishing up some work around here.  Visions of getting back to spinning are dancing in my head (haven't touched a wheel since April!  I know!) 

Ah....but the pessimist.....or realist as I describe myself to BH.....knows not to get too excited.  So last week he tells me "the plan".   "We'll put the air conditioners away next week", he announces.  "Not so fast, mister.  Air conditioners DO NOT get put away till the end of September, sometimes early October, depending on how the temps have been fluctuating", says I. 

We have this little discussion every year.  Every. Year.  Sometimes I have to ask him....."what planet are you from?"  or  "so when did you move to this country?"  He has such a bad memory.  Or maybe he just wants to keep my blood pumpin'.  Good job, Sparky.

Last week we got a phone call from granddaughter at Boot Camp.  What a surprise!!!  They weren't allowed to make calls till a week or two before graduation (in October).  But she said they were allowed 1 hour to make calls.  I don't know where they got the phones from; they weren't allowed to bring their cell phones.  Anywho, by the time she got a phone, she said she had just 2 minutes.  She's doing well; doesn't like all the verbal and physical fighting at night amongst some of the girls; she had rifle training, scored 36/40 and got her "Sharpshooter" medal!!

Then last Tuesday we got our first letter from her.  I've been writing her every week for the past 3 weeks.  All is good.  She's getting excited, albeit a bit nervous, for graduation.  And she would love us to take her to Virginia for Tech training (we offered).  Woohoo!!

So after scanning hotels in the area, I called and made reservations for that week of graduation.  Can't wait to see her!!!  See how much she's changed.

Labor Day weekend we had our second and last yard sale.  This one was nothing but craft supplies.  A LOT of craft supplies. I was selling most of it as "bulk".  Buy the whole schmear.....you get the tote for free!  It ran from Friday - Sunday.  Friday was pretty good....sold a lot.  Saturday, not so much.  Being that our town had the big end of the season whoop -d- do.  Which included a parade.  Which started at the top of our road.  Which closed off our road for about 3 hours in the early afternoon.  Yeah.

So just a few people stopped by.  Sunday was a washout.  It wasn't supposed to rain, but sure enough, by 10:30am, it started drizzling.  The sky got darker and darker.  I told BH "this doesn't look like it's going to clear up any time soon; let's call it a day".  And we proceeded to pack everything up, take down the tables, take down the signs around town.  And that was that.

So the plan is......to be a vendor at the schools's annual Craft Fair in November.  Hopefully to sell as much of the left over handmade crafts as possible and maybe more supplies!  This is something else I'll have to get organized and ready.  BH is not too happy with the idea.  It's a lot of packing, lugging, setting up, all day, tearing down, packing away and lugging back home.  He's getting very tired; his energy level is waning....big time......every day.  I understand.  If this doesn't materialize, then the option is "Craig's List".

I have been knitting.  Mostly in the morning because I get up anywhere from 4 am to 5:30am.  BH rolls out anywhere from 6 - 8am.  Gives me a couple hours of quiet time.  So, I'm doing a poncho and a scarf/shawl.  The scarf/shawl is being knitted in laceweight, cream colored BFL, which has iridescent "Firestar" spun into it.  Knitting it in the "Feather and Fan" pattern, and adding iridescent glass beads every 8 rows.  I can't wait till it's done.  It looks beautiful!!!  I imagine it as a winter wedding shawl.  It's got just enough glitz and the patterning looks elegant!

The poncho is coming along but I'm not sure I'm crazy about it.  It's probably 1/2 completed.  Not sure I like the pattern I chose; not sure there's enough yarn to finish it.  Aaawwkk.  "Just salley forth".

Oh, I forgot......so, anyway, after the very nice Fall-like weather last week, sure enough......Friday started with the high 80's/90's and 100% humidity.  Which has carried on since.  Tomorrow it's supposed to break.....again.....and we'll be back to comfortable days and nights.

But no air conditioners will be removed from the premises until further notice.