Spider Screen

This gentle spider would make a web in front of our door every evening and Pan would walk into it every morning. I really should have put something up next to it; for he/she is a fairly good size spider. Body about the size of a quarter. Do wish I knew what kind it was. On top of building webs, it also jumped. High! Almost a foot straight up. Haven't seen it in a while, so it has probably passed on, but I miss it.

The Chandler Inn

When we took mom's furniture up to daughter, the closest place we could find was the Chandler Inn at Highlands. What a delightful discovery. Wonderful room, comfy bed, and great view out the window. Indy stayed with us while we were there and he gave it a thumbs up as well. Clearly on our list of places to stay again.

A modern day Abbott & Costello

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on..

 

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:

 

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT:
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows.. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.............

 

Found the above on mom's computer when I was cleaning it up to give to daughter. Reminded me of the time my grandmother called and she happened to ask where I was:

 

Mom: To see the Guess Who.
Gram: I don't know, who?
Mom: She went to see the Guess Who.
Gram: I can't guess, who?
Mom: That's right, the Guess Who.
Gram: I give
Mom: She went to see a band that is named The Guess Who.

And so it went....

Arts & Crafts

One of the neat things about driving through some of these mountain villages is Arts & Crafts displays that adorn the front of the shops. A lot of people have told me I'm crafty, but I don't exactly feel that way. Oh sure, I can knit basic stuff; I can even crochet. But that is about the extent of my "crafty."

Mountain Towns

Dare I say that they all look pretty similar? All are beautiful and idyllic and I love visiting. I would not want to live there, especially in the winter months with the roads covered with snow. I'm not as into winding roads as I had once been.


Times have changed

I'm wider; ddpuppies is shorter, but the front porch hasn't changed all that much. Window frame is now a different color and a screen door has been added since the 1967 picture. Oh and looks like there is now a mat in front of the door, shoes and a table. Still not much.

Shhh! The Regulars are Coming

And Indy is getting prepared. Pan's mother made this outfit for Pan when he was just a year older than Indy. I'm so glad we found it before it was sold, given away or trashed.

12 Things about Paul Revere

1. Father was a French Huguenot
2. Silversmith by trade and amateur dentist
3. Produced some of the era's most sophisticated copper plate engravings
4. Founded the first patriot intelligence network known as the "mechanics"
5. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem filled with inaccurancies
6. Never shouted the legendary phrase "The British are coming"
7. Used a borrowed horse named "Brown Beauty"
8. Served as commander of land artillery in the Penobscot Expedition of 1779
9. After the American Revolution, became a successful businessman
10. Father 16 children
11. Related by marriage to Abraham Lincoln
12. Rumored that it is his picture that is featured on most bottles of Samuel Adams beer.

 

To read the full story on these 12 "unknown" facts, check out History in the Headlines

Red Sky at Night

Most of us have heard “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning”. But did you know that Shakespeare and Jesus also make reference to red skies?

 

(Matthew XVI: 2-3,) Jesus said, “When in evening, ye say, it will be fair weather: For the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.”

 

Shakespeare, in Venus and Adonis. “Like a red morn that ever yet betokened, Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field, Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds, Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.”

 

To learn more about red skies and weather check out Everyday Mysteries

Birthday Surprises...NOT

Mom was in the hospital and the Bug and her family came up to visit. It just so happened to correspond with her birthday. So a little party we had at mom's house. Did you notice her candles? I don't think she did initially. Nice to be able to celebrate her birthday with her once again.

Storm on the Horizon

I love taking pictures of clouds and these storm clouds over the summer illuminate the green in the trees. They didn't stick around long like most summer storms around this area. But they were persistent each day for several months. I was beginning to fell like we were living in Orlando.

Project Life entry 9

Thursday, January 09, 2014

Up at 5:30 and the temperature was a balmy 44 degrees.  As  I left for work it had dropped a degree.  What’s up with that? It is suppose to get in 50’s today. By mid-afternoon, it had only gotten up to 48 degrees. One degree higher than the predicted low for tonight.

Work was fast-paced and I got out fairly rapidly. Pulled a Pan today: went in late got out early, hahahahaha.

This morning I bought a couple of scrapbook kits from Scrapbook-Bytes; one of which is called “Gypsy Magic.” I really need to start making pages again and I think I will use that one to make some with mom’s baby pictures. On top of that, Gotta Pixel has a challenge called Remembering Our Past and one of the Using the Prompts challenges for this month is reflections of the past year. Have to find a really appropriate kit with yellow for scrapping mom’s funeral. I even managed to get a post up on 2 Scrappy Sisters; then realized that I only have one more post for Tink’s Tribulations. Before I go head over to Phyllis’ house tomorrow I will have to see about getting some more posts done.

Pan really loves the connector. While it only knocks off about 15 minutes of time, that is still 30 minutes a day that he gets to spend at home. The Big Bang Theory was on tonight so we watched that during dinner and afterwards Pan finished downloading extra characters for his Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II game. He started playing so we could see the characters and ended up playing till nearly 11 o’clock. Off to bed we headed.

Bedtime movie: Dazzle (bad move, but good movie. We ended up watching the whole thing and didn’t get to sleep until after 1)

Project Life entry 8

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Actually slept until nearly 6:30 but did wake up before alarm went off. Cup of coffee (really can’t wait to get another brand), and some games on facebook before leaving for work. The temp when I went out the door was 19. At least there was no wind at the front of the house and by the car.

Work was more of the same. Timecards, input revenue for sales people, checks, talk with the Boss and deposit and tickets. After that (which was almost 1:30 anyway) time to leave so I could stop by WD to pick up a few things (few...RIGHT) to the tune of nearly $100. Guess I shouldn’t complain. Still the WD is really getting to annoy me. They haven't carried the milk I like for almost 2 months (and it is their brand) and when I stopped to pick up ground beef, that was exactly what they had...ground beef and ground chuck. No ground round or ground sirloin. Seems they are trying to drive people to start shopping at Publix when it opens. But I did get another type of coffee, one I know I like, for tomorrow.

Nothing on television tonight, so Pan is playing his game while I look things up for him and play through pokemon.

Bedtime movie: Godzilla vs. Destroyorah

Project Life entry 7

Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Pan has been really noisy in the mornings lately or at least bumping the bed around a lot so that it wakes me. I tried staying in bed and going back to sleep after he left, but didn’t work. A little after 5 a.m. I decided to get up and work on some clusters for the Bug.

Once I did that it was late enough for me to fix a cup of coffee and some toast to take my medicine with. Then it was back to the couch to play pokemon. Down to only having three that I need to infect with pokerus. Did a marathon of Godzilla movies that were on MoviePlex on-demand. By the time the last one finished I was really getting tired of pokemon so saved it, and went on to get the steak ready for Pan's dinner tonight. Wonder if I can get him to stop and pick up some of those little loaves of bread? Thought I had some, but notta.

He did. Pick up bread for dinner. Tons of it. Came in with the mini loaves, garlic bread and pretzel bread. Guess I won’t be buying any when I go shopping tomorrow. After dinner we watched the Agents of Shield show as it was a new one. Afterwards we turned it over to Intelligence, which is a new show altogether. Verdict is still out on that one. Kind of reminds me of the one guy on Alphas but not as young. We’ll see.

Bedtime movie: Lord of Illusion, although turned it off halfway through since I wasn’t going to sleep.

Project Life entry 6

Monday, January 06, 2014

High of 45; low of 17.

Eyes are watering even as I type this. I can’t believe how much I am missing them this time. Usually by this time I have gotten use to it. Not so this go around. I finally did remember to look up who played Bard in the new Hobbit movie, because there was some discussion about it being Orlando Bloom. Everyone seemed to think he had two roles in the movie. But it was Luke Evans who played Bard and he actually did have to parts; the other being Girion, the last lord of Dale.

I’m thinking I need to go take my medicine and get another cup of coffee and finish this later.

And that I did. Even made time to make some clusters for the wedding scrapbook the Bug is making for her niece. Then stopped to play some pokemon since my avenue is having a half off sale this week. Silly to think about it that way. But I did get a bunch of eggs hatched. Now all I have to do is work on making sure they all get Pokerus (a pokemon virus that ups their stats). Pan remembered to take the connector to and from work and seems to like it much better. Once he got home he was depressed to find they are upping our escrow to nearly $250 a month. What is wrong with the mortgage company. He tried taking over the escrow ourselves, but since it is a federal loan we can’t do that. Just put up with the increase. And although he denies it, I have a feeling that some of that escrow is going to pay for other people who are not making their mortgage payments.

Sometimes I feel that things are just getting out of hand. The government is starting to treat it’s people like the kings of old did, which is why we revolted in the first place. I hope that somehow it can get regulated so that my children and grandchildren can live out their lives in a country that is free and again the most powerful.

Watched Almost Human after dinner (spaghetti for me and Italian marinated chicken with fries for Pan). After that nothing was on so Pan went back to playing Legos Lord of the Rings while I once again picked up the pokemon game.

Bedtime movie: Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla

Project Life entry 5

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Pan played Lego Lord of the Rings video game all day. I made eggs in Pokemon Black to transfer to Pokemon Black 2, which finally got done late tonight.

Decided I needed to put my medicine back into the weekly containers so that maybe I wouldn’t forget to take them. Need to do the same for the vitamins, fish oil and cinnamon. I have been very bad about not taking any of them over the past 6-7 months. And I still have doctor’s visits and tests that I need to schedule. Some may have to wait.

Dinner was lemon pepper chicken with fries for Pan and homemade soup with bread and butter for me. Toss in a glass of wine and a bowl of ice cream for dessert. Then back to watching Pan play LOTR video game.

I’m still missing them.

See, not much of a day. Although Pan did try to find various places to put his sunpass so that he wouldn’t forget to turn right out of the subdivision tomorrow. Finally ended up putting it in one of his boots.

 

Bedtime movie: The Last Stand

Project Life entry 4

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Up at 6:30 to call J1 and wake up the Princess (she needs to finish packing). Started an omelet for her when J1 showed up and was going to take her to breakfast. I made him coffee so he could sit with her. Afterwards she told me that we would have to stop by her dad’s to get her shoes. Instead they went to get them then. Bad move as they didn’t get back until 10 minutes before we were going to leave. At least J1 helped Pan load the truck.

It was an uneventful trip up there. At least Indy kept entertained singing and playing his psp. The Princess played some Pokemon silver, after Indy got upset with her playing his Emerald game, then fell asleep until we got to Opelika.

At the Olive Garden we met T1. He seems to be very nice and devoted to Daughter. She seems to really care about him. She opened her Christmas gifts and wondered about a theme as she had a lot of Grinch clothes (two really, a pair of pajamas and a shirt). She loved the pajama pants which has built in footies. During lunch we got to tell a lot of stories about how weird our family can be. He liked that Daughter's beaus had to leave their phone number and tag number when they took her out. He has two teenage girls and a son who looks a lot like Ron Weasley  (Rupert Grint) from Harry Potter. Uh Oh, think I started something there as Daughter said that was what she was going to start calling him. Although Pan had already told the waiter he would pay, T1 somehow managed to get the bill and pay it. Maybe Daughter should keep him around.

Going home was quiet. Too quiet. But I kept busy playing Pokemon.  I wonder when I will put it down for a while again? It got dark early. Well before we got home, but I did get some pictures of the landscape we passed as the sun was setting. Need to get it downloaded. The Connector  was finally open (by-pass actually, but they didn’t  want anyone to think it was a ‘by-pass’) and we took it home. Cut our time in half as the speed on it is 55 and no traffic lights. But it is only two lanes and no passing. I wonder who thought up that one. Then it ups to four lanes to go through the toll, then back down to two immediately after. No lights at the Range Road exit.  Some things really need to be thought out better.

Called Daughter when got home and she was already home. Guess they are staying at T1's tonight. I feel better. Neither Pan nor I really like the idea of her driving up the mountain after such a long trip, especially at night. I know she does it all the time, but I don’t have to like it. Didn’t talk long as I was getting ready to cry.

ddpuppies texted. A friend of her's mom died yesterday. Passed along my condolences. She died of the same thing as mom. I was really hoping this year would be better. Not off to a good start I would say.

Called the Bug and wailed for a while. I really missed calling mom after dropping off the kids. More than I have at any other time so far. It was like a tradition. Drop kids off, call mom, get it out of my system, move on. Wonder how long it is going to take this time?

Bedtime movie: Men in Black III

Project Life entry 3

Friday, January 3, 2014

Up, coffee made and uploading more files the Bug. While working on organizing scrapbooking kits, I realized that I had purchased some of them before. Will have to see if the Bug wants the duplicates. Today was spent washing clothes and packing bags for tomorrow we will be meeting Daughter in Opelika to transfer the kids to her. Good thing it was a busy day which kept me from thinking about it.

Indy and I played some Legos Lord of the Rings together before he got tired of it and went back to finding “What does the Fox Say?” YouTube videos. He would call me in to find the ones he found, his favorite being Tails (from Sonic Hedgehog) reaction to the video. Was quite amusing and when he told me how much MiLady hated the song, I posted it to her Facebook in his name, LOL.  (In a hundred years, which is how long I hope this diary lasts, I wonder if they will know that LOL means “Laughing Out Loud.”) I did get some Pokemon played (now that I have my avenue back and with a sale going on).

After much texting, I finally got ahold of the Princess to find out when she would be coming over as Pan wanted to take the kids to see the new movie; The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Indy and I had an argument all day about how to pronounce Smaug. According to the movie, I was right. So There. As long as you didn’t expect it to follow the book, it was a good movie. The Princess is totally in love with Kili. Can’t blame her, he’s such a hottie. Learned the hottie term from the Sprint commercial with James Earl Jones and Malcolm McDowell. So love that commercial. They have teenage girls pegged.

Afterwards, I had to take the Princess back to her father’s house to get her suitcase and bags. Pan and Indy ran up to Whataburger and got us a late, late night dinner of hamburgers and fries. After which Indy immediately got ready for bed and jumped in. Whoa, what a surprise.

Bedtime movie: Godzilla Final Wars

Project Life entry 2

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Off to work late. I was still trying to upload files for the Bug and lost track of time. Still I got there and managed to finish all of my work before 10 o’clock, including going over the see-me’s with the Boss. They were easily taken care of, thankfully and I asked the receptionist to make the one phone call for me if she had time. If not, I can do it next week since there won’t be any hurry to come into an empty house.

J1 sent his partner to pick Zoe up and after they left, Indy went back to watching YouTube while I tried to figure out what was going on with my Pokemon game. Even talked with the Bug about it. ddpuppies sent a picture of her new garden angel which is currently sitting on mom’s chopping block. Looks like it was made for it. I think she ought to keep it there. Maybe I’ll suggest it to her.

It was almost 1 o’clock before I remembered to put the roast in the crock pot. Fortunately that was still enough time for it to cook to fork tender deliciousness. Even Indy asked for seconds.

After getting frustrated with Pokemon, I picked up some sparkly yarn and crochet needles to see if I could make some stars for the tree (or gifts) next year. Indy adopted them. LOL.  I did managed to follow a chart for making crochet flowers that are really pretty. Made two and bound them together for an ornament. Also absolutely nothing on tv during the day so ended up watching the Godzilla movies on-demand. Wish they had them all, but some are better than none I guess.

Not much on television and Pan spent most of the evening trying to download content to the x-box for some of the games he plays. I don’t know why I can’t remember before holidays to get a gift card for the X-Box for him. Indy spent it watching YouTube. Tomorrow will have to try to find something else for him to do.

Bedtime move: Godzilla Final Wars

Project Life entry 1

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Now I remember why diaries are really for the young. There is so much more in life for them to see. As you age each day just seems to melt from one day to the next without much change.

Pan and I managed to make it into the new year wide awake. Although he was in the living room watching the Big Bang Theory, while I was keeping Indy company in the back watching, yet another, Godzilla movie. Seems Encore will be having a marathon of them today.

While Pan and Indy sleep the morning away, I sit here at the computer writing this, uploading files for the Bug and trying to organize the digital scrapbook kits I have bought in the last couple of months. Is this a precursor of things to come in the next months? I certainly hope not.

That afternoon, we headed over to GameStop to see about getting a charger and games for Indy's PSP. They had a charger (thank goodness), but no games. Then it was over to Santa Rosa mall so he could use his Toys R Us gift card. Wasn’t sure if there was one near them in the mountains. He chose some Mortal Kombat figures and while we were there, stopped at the mall GameStop. They had games, but none Indy wanted. Told us the GameStop across the street had a larger selection. Sure enough, they did and Indy walked away with Star Wars Unleashed and another Star Wars game that he had been wanting for a long time.

After all that excitement, Pan took us to lunch at Logan’s Roadhouse. It was a nice quiet lunch and Indy kept himself entertained playing his new games.

The Princess got home late. But that was to be expected with J1 dropping her off. So as soon as she came in off to bed we went. One last thing, my Pokemon Black 2 game seems to screwed up. Hope I don’t have to restart the game.

Bedtime movie: Final Fantasy

A step back to 1972

and Pan's third grade year. He's the one that looks like a young Anton Yelchin, so I am sure you will have no problem picking him out, LOL.

 

I love that a friend of his found and posted this on FB so that we can pass it on to later generations of our family. Will have to also mention to Pan that one kid in the class can pass for a young Howard Wolowitz. He'll know what I mean.

Dressed in Yellow

The Art of Storytelling ©Silvia Romeo; Always in My Heart ©Indigo Designs

Finally  made time to do at least one layout about mom. Her funeral; which while sad was also fun, just like her. She requested that we wear yellow and we all pretty much managed. For those family members who didn't have yellow clothes, ddpuppies had yellow rose boutonnières and some wore yellow ribbons. Even my boss came to the viewing wearing yellow, startling Bug into trying to figure out which family member he was.

 

She left us on 7 Sep 2013, but the funeral was held on (believe it or not) Friday, 13 Sep 2013. Bear, ddpuppies, Pan and I all agreed she must have had a hand in it. And we know that she was up there watching and laughing at and with us.

 

I still miss her greatly, but I do take a lot of comfort in knowing that her funeral was the type of affair she would have wanted. Lots of stories of days past, meeting up with family members not seen in years and lots of laughter among the tears.

Unknown U.S. Marine

While scanning in pictures from my mother's house, I ran across this picture. First name Paul, but is kind of hard to make out the last name...maybe Turner? Would be nice to know more about him and what his tie to my family is.

Flamingos or Flamingoes?

Flamingos or Flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the genus Phoenicopterus, the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae.
There are four flamingo species in the Americas and two species in the Old World. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Phoenicopterus
Rank: Genus
Wingspan: 90 – 105 cm (Lesser Flamingo, Adult)
Length: 90 – 105 cm (Lesser Flamingo, Adult)
Lower classifications: American Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, More
Height: 110 – 150 cm (Greater Flamingo, Adult), More
Mass: 1.2 – 2.7 kg (Lesser Flamingo, Adult), 2 – 4 kg (Greater Flamingo, Adult), 2 kg (James's Flamingo, Adult)

I don't remember the pink flamingos but I do recall the bird bath. It was a fixture in the yard for many a decade and may still be there for all I know. Next time we are over that way, I'll have to run by and check it out. And I wonder if this is where my dad's "hate" (more of a love/hate relation) of flamingos began?

All growed up

Who knew that when he grew up he would start out as a cub reporter? Certainly not me. While he did not remain in the field, it did seem to rub on on the family. My sister ended up working for the same paper as a secretary for a while and I have worked for a newspaper for over 20 years now. Not as a reporter but bookkeeper. And he still looks like that angelic little boy.

Memory Lane-Studio Print

This is my favorite picture of my uncle. Kind of reminds me of my second son with the mischievous gleam in his eye and the wicked smile on his face.

Memory Lane-School 1957

Off center and appears to be a crossing guard. Do they still have crossing guards? I mean school kids doing it. At the elementary school around the corner from my house, they have volunteer adults who do it. But then we have a lot of traffic to and from the DoD school down the street. And strangely, the hours for both seem to coincide. Which is why I try to leave for work and back home either before or after those times.

Memory Lane-School 1956

I wonder how he manages to get nearly center in all his class pictures. This time closer to the bottom of the picture, but still towards the center. Do you see him? By 4th grade looks like desks have replaced the tables. Interesting that desk part is actually attached to the back of the seat in front of it.

Memory Lane-School 1955

I told you where he was yesterday, but can you pick him out today? Hint: not quite dead center and still just as cute. :)

A look back at 1936

Left: Henry holding Gypsy. Right: Golda holding Gypsy

My mom had two baby albums full of pictures. My boss said I should keep the pictures in the albums for context. Unfortunately the pages were disintegrating so I purchased some archival sleeves and archival boxes to store them in. Fortunately the pictures did not seem to be put in with much rhyme or reason, so I don't feel to badly about taking them out. Now maybe they will last out another generation or two. And I am getting them scanned in so they will be available digitally and some will show up here from time to time as well.

A spread of 21 years

Left: Me. Right: Nuke

The things you find. While going through the pictures mom had stored away, I came across these two, side by side, in a small frame. Nuke appears to be just a tad chubbier, but not much. And while you can't tell from the black and white photo, my hair was the same color as his.

Mount Rushmore

Left to right: unknown, dad, mom

Since this is the town of my birth, I would really like to get back there and get a picture from the same spot someday. Maybe when it is a little warmer though, LOL.