I Don't Even Ask Now.....

Ask what?  About how many eggs the hens have laid.  We still have a couple that are laying *juvenile* eggs (so small!) but still good.  You just have to figure on using at least two of them in place of a *regular* egg.  Sometimes, three.  They CAN be that tiny looking....LOL.  If they lay anything more than three at a time, the Beast lets me know.  There's no need to ask.

Have you ever been sick, really sick, for an extended amount of time?  I mean that your whole life...schedule for taking pills, for example...gets so messed up that you don't know whether or not you can get it back?  That's my life at the moment.  

Since I wasn't able to eat without it returning to haunt my mouth, I was just taking my blood sugar count and not really taking any pills at all.  I can count on one hand the number of times I ended up taking any medication other than the one to stop the diarrhea and for nausea.  

Today, when I finally got to speak with my doctor's nurse, I got the doctor to fax over two new prescriptions to the pharmacy I use.  One is for the diarrhea, the other for nausea.   The doctor also set up an appointment with the new G.E. but it's not until July 7th.  When I learned where he was located, I laughed.  He has to be in practice along with the G.E. that did my original surgery on my colon.  Of course, the difference is that the NEW G.E. does the clinical side of the practice.  But, at least he will have instant access to all my records, including last year's colonoscopy.  He will probably end up doing that for me, too, unless they have some sort of agreement between them for that.  I don't really care.  I just want this misery to end, finally.  Once and for all time, I hope.

In reality, the worst problem I am having is with the nausea.  I still believe that I have a UTI that hasn't been diagnosed but I will call and try to just make a lab appointment for that tomorrow.  Today was just too hectic for me to take the nurse's time when the other things were more important.  I know the doctor will agree to letting me be tested for a UTI since that would require antibiotics but might be the real key to this whole problem....this time.  The IBS-D, however, still needs to be addressed.

Okay.  That's where things stand at the moment.  Cee, who talks with me daily, says my voice is stronger than it's been so she knows I really DO feel better.  Right now, the other problem is more an annoyance than anything else.  Thank goodness for washing machines and dryers.  As long as I have those handy, it's okay.  I'll manage.  I also have to remember to take the medication every 6-8 hours so I don't get a sudden awakening in the wee hours of the morning.  I'm getting an appetite back now, too, so that's another good thing.

I have to call Mustachio about setting up our reservation at the motel.  He's going to use his credit card to reserve the room for us (but we can actually pay once we get there).  No penalty for cancellation or changes...shock, surprise...as long as they get 24 hours notice.  No problem there.  So, other than starting to pack, I think I am set now.  The doctor said no problem if I require more medications since the July appointment was the earliest he could manage.  You'd think a doctor would have a bit more *pull* than that, wouldn't you?  Oh well.  I'll take what I can get.  

Right now, Cee's problem with her car seems to be managed.  Since she discovered that ALL the water was gone out of her radiator and fixed that problem plus added the antifreeze, she's been able to run to the store and back with no problem.  No overheating and she hasn't been able to find any sign of a leak.  I think that system is just clogged with rust or some such gunk.  She doesn't really travel far and now she knows how to get into the various things and what to check for.  The Beast explained how it all works to her and that was more helpful than he knows.  She really had no one that ever explained it the way he did.  He CAN be helpful.

Love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week.  I'm looking forward to just feeling *normal* again.  I was a bit surprised to find out the Beast is worried that I might have some cancer in my colon but, when I told him about the UTI, he said he hadn't thought about that possibility but felt it should have been picked up in my stool sample.  But that would take more than 24 hours IF they tested for that (which they didn't).  We shall see.  It will be whatever it is and we will just have to wait for that answer.

Be good.  Be kind.  Not because everyone deserves it but because of the character YOU show when you practice it towards everyone.  ***Hugs***

New Record For The Hens And I Am Recovering....

Today the girls produced six...SIX...eggs.  Four in one nesting box and two in the other.  The Beast was so proud, you would have thought he laid them himself.

Me?  I felt about 80% like myself today and just spent the day resting while I can.  Poor Cee had a major problem show up for her and it's not even summer yet.  She drove the short distance from her apartment to Walgreen's to pick up her prescription and the car overheated on her.  Michael should have made sure that her radiator was replaced before he ever moved away.  She has to have that done and quickly.  She can't keep pulling over and letting it cool down before she tries to get home.  The Beast is useless on something like this.  He may have the tools but he no longer can move like he did as a young man.  And too many places will try to overcharge a single (older) woman.  That's part of what having her son around was good for.

I'm tired tonight.  I didn't nap and I really need some good sleep.  I'll take a pill before I lay down so I don't wake up....suddenly...at 4am or so with no good result.  I'm really kind of tired of that.  I'm hoping that this will soon....like tomorrow...be over and done with for good.

Meantime, love you all.  Today is my darling, Chewlee's, birthday.  She is 9 years old.  Her mother took her out to lunch and then to the show to see *Jungle Book*.  Her birthday party will be on the 11th (combined with Gunner's).  I'll be there with bells on...LOL.

Be good.  Hope you had a great holiday weekend and took time to remember all those that never came home.  ***Hugs***

At Least There's An Upside To All This......

I was so worried about missing Chewlee's birthday party and, come to find out that they decided to celebrate the two kids (Gunner and Chewlee) birthdays together...sort of.  Gunner's birthday is June 9th.  Chewlee's is May 30th.  So, of course, the party is being held on June 11th.  LOL!  So I don't have to worry about missing it after all.  That makes me feel better.  I really DO love to see the kids having fun and I believe that Chewlee's paternal grandfather is buying her an above ground pool so there will be that to factor in to their fun.

There truly is nothing worse than not feeling 100% yourself.  I've had to continue to take the pills for the diarrhea, about one tab every 8-12 hours but it IS starting to seem like the whole vicious cycle might actually be ending.  First of all, I am able to eat and keep things down now and secondly, there is now a difference in the whole item that started all this.  It's beginning to take on more than a watery form, if you know what I mean.

I ended up having to take another nausea pill today when Cee dropped by and scared me awake.  LOL!  Thankfully, they worked great and got rid of the nausea damn near immediately.  I found out she had given Michael the last of her pain pills for his sciatica so I gave her a few of mine.  Her HMO doesn't provide much in that way for her (typical of so many doctors but especially an HMO) and it's a bitch to be in pain and have nothing to combat it.  Mine are relatively minor but still helpful.

Oh, I know....you aren't supposed to *share* medication but she gave me the nausea pills and turn about is only fair play.  It was the least I could do.  I'll call my doctor on Tuesday and ask for some pills for the morning (mostly) nausea and return them to her so she has them if she should need them again.

In the meantime, Cee told me the Beast gave her a few of the eggs from our chickens and that is what she used to make her French toast for breakfast today.  She was surprised, I think, at how much deeper the color of the yolks were but thought they turned out great.  I still intend to give at least a dozen to Diane and see what Dennis' reaction is.  He is so OCD at times and thinks everyone should live their lives according to HIS way of doing things.  He complains about things that never happened the way he tries to tell you it did.  Like his complaints about the *loud* Mexican music from a party held by neighbors (not true...we were sitting outside while it was going on and you never heard ANY loud music).  He complained about the kids and their *bounce house* the father had rented but they were never loud or rowdy.  He just is, at times, a miserable person.  Don't get me wrong.  He can be great but not when HE is not in control.

Time to head back to bed.  I want to get over all this and feel like myself again.  I love you all.  ***Hugs***

Let's Catch Up....

I did get a call on Friday with my lab test results.  Normal.  Normal?  Sheesh.  Hard to believe but that's what they all were.  No weird pathogens, no high sugar content, nothing unusual at all.  Okay.  So then what?

I told the nurse about the side effects that I was suffering from the prescription and she left to talk to the doctor.  He suggested that I stop taking them entirely and see if the *cycle* had been broken.  If not, I was to call and he would prescribe something else.  More than likely bentyl (sp) since my intestines had been in a turmoil and that would help stop any spasms.  However, no one thought about the fact that this is a holiday weekend so calling was really out of the question.

Friday night, the diarrhea returned with a vengeance but, instead of taking two pills, I only took one and crossed my fingers.  That seemed to do the trick AND I didn't get the bad stomach ache that taking two had given me.  But I still had the nausea and that wasn't fun.  When Cee called to check on me (she was doing that every day), I mentioned all this to her and she said she had that nausea medication she was given and she would bring some over for me on Sunday.  But, good hearted sister that she is, she didn't wait.  She just about jumped into her car (without checking to see if her hair was combed or bothering with makeup) and ran some over to me right away.  I was shocked but, oh, so grateful.

Within a few minutes of taking one, the nausea I had been suffering with all day faded away and I almost felt good again.  Bless her heart for sharing those with me.  She left me a few extra so that it would carry me through the holiday weekend.

In the meantime, I have actually, little-by-little, been eating some real food.  With my stomach upset, I was pretty much living on gingerale, water and watermelon (yes, watermelon).  When you are dehydrated, watermelon tastes wonderful.  

Today, I woke up early, went to the bathroom, took a pill and then went back to bed.  We had been without internet all evening and all night so I couldn't post anything.  I actually suspected the Beast needed to reboot the modem but you can't tell him anything.  He's got to come to that realization all by himself (which he finally did this morning).  So, we are all caught up to MY news, anyway.  

BTW, we set a new record yesterday.  Our hens laid five...FIVE...eggs in one day!  And they are all full size ones now.  Just sayin'.......

Got to go.  Love you all.  Need to take the pill for nausea now that the other one has kicked in.  Be good.  Have fun.  ***Hugs***

No Lab Results Yet.....

The doctor hasn't called me yet with the lab results from the tests he requested but I don't think they are all going to be available for another 24-48 hours.  *Sigh*

If you couldn't tell, I haven't felt good at all since seeing the doctor.  It finally dawned on me to dig the sheet about side effects of the medication I was taking to control the diarrhea and see if that was the reason I felt so crappy.   Possible side effects:  stomach pain (oh, really?),  nausea (no surprise there), dehydration (that's a given), constipation.....  That'll teach me to read those darn things before I take any or I would have only taken one pill to begin with, instead of the two suggested on the bottle.  

I had to let the pills I had taken get out of my system (drinking lots and lots of water to help) and see how I felt afterward.  I felt so much better that I knew that was what was causing me to feel so bad.  I ate some oatmeal (the first food in two days), actually moved my bowels and then took just ONE pill.  I'll see how this goes now.  I may go ahead and call my doctor and ask for something else until he gets all the other test results back.

He says there is a new gastric doctor in town that is seeing patients on a limited basis a couple days a week.  He was going to check into it and see what the wait time might be since he knows I am under the gun, so to speak.  

The two days I have been under the weather have seen the chickens get busy.  They've laid 8 eggs in those two days.  The goofy Beast had them sitting out on the counter instead of in the fridge.  He's not using his head since our eggs are more than likely fertilized and will start developing into chicks.  If that's what the Beast had in mind, he should just have left them in the nesting boxes.  But I really think he just wanted me to see them.  I put them into the fridge.  

Time to put this to bed.  Chewlee's birthday is coming up soon and I need to feel better for that.  I love to see the kids enjoy themselves.  She's planning on a neat kind of party so it should be lots of fun for them.

Love you all.  Cross your fingers for me that I feel better now.  Be good.  Be happy.  ***Hugs***

Now It's Just Waiting For Lab Results....

So yesterday was the day I visited my regular doctor and my vascular doctor.  The good news is that my arteries are running strong and well.  I actually figured that out once the swelling in my foot went down.  He now wants to address the other carotid artery that wasn't done a few years ago but says that can wait until after I get back from Chicago.  

My regular doctor was told the entire scenario that I went through with the gastric doctor he had referred me to a few months back and just how pissed I was.  I then told him about what I had been going through for the past week and how miserable I was.  I also told him that I could NOT wait and why so he agreed to give me something temporarily until some labs tests could be worked up.  He suspects that something more is going on than just IBS-D.  I think he believes it may be this other  bacteria that often proliferates in the intestines and can go out of control with no real reason.

Now it's just a waiting game.  I shall keep you posted.  ***Hugs***

No Telling What's On The Minds Of Chickens....

Today, another egg was laid out in the chicken yard!  WTH???  It has to be a hen that's taken by surprise by the need to lay it, I think.  Either that or we have a hippie in the bunch.  *Sigh*  But, one of the chickens flew out of the yard again.  This time, however, we think it might have been trying to reach one of the enticing (and tasty) branches of the overhanging trees on the opposite side that is NOT our yard.

The Beast, who doesn't count the chickens, only discovered this because of it's squawking and obvious distress.  It kept running back and forth, trying to find a way back into the yard.  When he went out to retrieve it (we have a gate over to that side at the back of the barn), he noticed that all the other chickens had suddenly disappeared.  The hen almost jumped into the Beast's arms when he got to it and he carried it back into the coop area.  It immediately ran up the ramp and into the barn so the Beast decided to look inside.  He came out, almost rolling over with laughter.  He said when he got into the barn, all of the chickens were crowded up on the roost, half of them with their heads tucked under their wing, ready for bed.  It was STILL light outside.  That NEVER happens.

We decided they were all terrified that they were going to be blamed for the one that was on the wrong side of the coop yard so they decided that they all had to look as innocent as possible.  It was just so *not* their normal behavior that it made him laugh...and I had to, also.  There's just no telling.....

I stopped over at Cee's today and we talked about our upcoming vacation trip.  It was fun since it's getting close.  I have two different doctor's appointments in the morning and then have to stop at the gastroenterologist's office to pick up the prescription for that awful stuff I have to drink before my colonoscopy.  Yes, Bratfink, it IS time for another one BUT....I didn't have the IBS-D problem that led to the discovery of the dead colon section.  I went to emergency because I was sure I had appendicitis (which I did) and he suspected something more was at work due to other symptoms (including the UTI, I had) and said he was going to *look around*.  I am just glad he did.

I read a lot more about IBS-D the other day and I have to ask about the possibility that a spastic colon may be part of the problem.  How they can check for that, I don't know.  I know they found out about my daughter's when the radiologist actually caught it during a spasm and came out so jazzed about that she could hardly contain herself.  But I will find out.

Got to get to bed.  It's late and I have to get up early.  Love you all.  Be good.  Be kind.  ***Hugs***

More Aftermath......

I'm sure you are sick of hearing about my IBS-D but I just have this one bit of info about the aftermath (other than the diaper rash, which is almost gone now, thankfully).  It's GAS.  Lots and lots of gas.  And there is still a bit of that stuff that has been making my life hell that accompanies it.  Oh, not a whole lot...but enough to tell me that I MUST get something to take that will stop this whole cycle of misery.  But, phew!  The gas is truly noxious.  I keep thinking my sister, Bratfink, would be having a ball and laughing her ass off at this if she was around.  She enjoys a good bout of gas and tortures Sheldon when she can.  I admit it.  When she talks about it, I laugh.  So go ahead, Sis...have a ball imagining it.  I can't sit, stand up or walk without emitting an aroma that would kill a camel.

Today the hens got busy and we got three eggs!  Actually, we HAD four but the Beast grabbed up some hay to refresh the nesting boxes and threw it in and busted an egg that had been laid in the hay he grabbed.  He wasn't useB to finding an egg anywhere else but the nesting boxes.  I told him he's going to have to watch out because we obviously have a rogue hen in the bunch....LOL.

I found us a nice motel in Bolingbrook for while we are up in Chicago.  It offers two queen size beds, coffee maker in the room, free breakfast AND it has both a hot tub and a pool!  I like the location since it's not far from major highways and also the Brookfield Zoo,  which Cee and I both would love to take a day and see.  We haven't seen it in more years than I care to remember.  But we always enjoyed it and they've expanded it a whole lot since that time and added more exhibits.

 Poor Baron is having a tough time getting up the stairs lately.  I know it's one of his back legs...perhaps it's hip dysplasia showing up in him.  It's the bane of large dogs like him and he's larger than most doberman's.  The Beast might actually take him to the vet this time since Baron fell UP the stairs several times in the last couple of days.  I found that if you let him come up at his own pace and when he's ready, he can make it up.  But I know it causes him a lot of pain.  How the Beast can let that dog suffer is beyond me.  But then, I think he's afraid that Baron might have to be put to sleep or be close to dying.  That would really tear him up.

That's all for today.  Love you all.  Here's a thought for the day:  The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation.  Love much.  Laugh often.  Tell those that you love that you do...and do it often.

***Hugs***

As If The Past Few Days Weren't Bad Enough....!

When I finally reached the point that I could actually take a shower without worrying about massive cleanup after an attack of diarrhea, I discovered something horrifying.  I was left with the absolute worst case of *diaper rash* (without any diapers) that I have seen or, should I say, felt, since my kids were babies.  At least, for them, it was because they were allergic to the disposable diapers that were available then.  

In the case of adult diapers, they are like the first disposables for babies.  They don't fit and they only hold pee, nothing else so it drips down as you move.  Drips down all along the path you take trying to get to a bathroom.  Useless.  Once discovered,  it was just  the sheer volume that I was churning out that made me resort to using a folded towel and, when it happened while I was in an exhausted sleep, it was all that stood between my *cheeks*  and the towels I had resorted to using to prevent the worst of that.  But it led to my diaper rash since I WAS, truly, exhausted and didn't always wake up right away.

At first, I tried using some baby powder (didn't work), then some baby lotion (also didn't work..melted away too easily) so I ended up getting some good, old-fashioned diaper ointment and some stuff to put together a kind of padding to cushion the areas involved.  Until I started using the diaper ointment, I was pretty much unable to lay down or sit down for any length of time.  Heck, even walking was NOT fun.  At least for a while.

The diaper ointment I got has a kind of mild topical analgesic of some kind that really helped the pain as long as there wasn't a lot of pressure put on it.  I can understand why babies cry so much when they have diaper rash.  Trust  me, I felt like it a time or two myself.  If you have stopped laughing, the rash has begun to heal enough now that I can both sit and lay down with a minimum of pain.   Now if only my poor stomach muscles would stop aching.

At least I have my appetite back.  Oh, and another good thing happened today.  When the Beast went out to check on whether or not we had any new eggs, there were TWO!  AND, best of all, they were/are full size (large) ones!  I am so jazzed.

Well, it's after midnight and I am really and truly tired out.  I just had a nice cup of hot cinnamon tea and my tummy feels good so I am going to go lay down for a good night's rest.  Love you all.  Be good.  Have a wonderful Sunday.  ***Hugs***

Update On IBS-D

I will be sure tomorrow morning but, as of right now, the attack seems to be over.  I've actually gone 8 hours without suffering from any diarrhea.  Of course, it could be that there is nothing left in my intestines after what I have been through for the past four days but my stomach is not as tender as it has been and seems to be getting less and less tender as the night goes on.

Just a piece of news I am gladly sharing with anyone that cares.  I will be sure in the morning but I am prepared for any result.  If it IS actually over, I will just make an appointment with my regular doctor.  If not, I promised to go to the emergency room and I will.

Hope you all have a great day and an even better weekend.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

The Worst Four Days Of My Life...

I've avoided bringing up anything about this because it's so disgusting but really can't be helped.  It just pisses me off more at the gastroenterologist that basically told me to leave because they hadn't done my colonoscopy so my doctor wasn't entitled to a second opinion.  All I could think was *How in the hell is trying to get the new pills that were available for treating IBS-D a second opinion???*
  
Yes, I have really, really been suffering from a horrible bout of IBS-D.  I think I have only eaten twice in four days but I have been drinking a lot of water.  I'm not even sure if that is such a good idea but I worry about dehydration. My stomach muscles are so sore that I can't really touch them.  But I  promised that if I didn't feel better tomorrow, I would go to the emergency room.

That's all I have to say on the matter.  I will let you know how I feel tomorrow.

Love you all.  ***Hugs***

Time Flies....

I just realized that I have been blogging on this site now for almost three years.  Wow!  How time flies.  I blogged on a different site for four years but started having problems with it so my sister, Bratfink, turned me on to this one.  I've only had a few (weird) things happen to me on here but I really like it much better.  I just wish I would get a few more comments from people but, hey, some people just don't think of it or else don't understand how to get it published.  It can be confusing for some.

Poor Cee has an infection in her salivary glands.  How weird is that?  I've never heard of anyone having that before, have you?  I know hers haven't been working well and that's the reason she is always sipping on water.  She's had a problem with those glands since she has her radiation treatments for throat cancer.  Maybe it left some kind of scar tissue?  Who knows?  She has to try to change her appointment with the ENT that her doctor referred her to because it's set up for the day after we are leaving for Chicago.  Since her regular doctor already called in a prescription for antibiotics, she isn't going without treatment and if it were an emergency, they would find a way to see her sooner that over a month away.

If she can't get in sooner, I told her to try to change it to after July 1st since we will be back before that.  I told her I would go with her if she wanted and she seemed to like that idea.  It's down in Gadsden and she's not familiar with the area but it's a lot closer than going to Huntsville.

Got another egg this morning.  The Beast put out fresh bedding in the nesting boxes for the hens so they should like that much better.  We both noticed that they don't seem to defecate in the boxes but we are glad of that much.  They would be a real pain in the butt to clean up because they have a ledge on the outside to help keep in the bedding and eggs from rolling out.  I read in the chicken book we have that two yolks would not mean two chicks even if fertilized.  The eggs are not large enough to accommodate two chicks.  The extra yolk would just be used up by the one that formed.  Phew!  That worried me a bit since we've had two double yolk eggs from the hens already.

I felt really good today.  So glad of that since I couldn't be sure of getting rid of all the pollen that Chewlee brought into the house.  I spent most of my day here in my computer room, reading mostly since there really hasn't been much to do as far as housework goes.  I should have remade the bed Chewlee slept in but I actually forgot about it.  We keep that door closed most of the time except when the Beast gets ready for church.  That way we also keep Baron out of the room.  

I hate when he starts rubbing his nose on the bed sheets or the comforter on it.  It gets so damn dirty since he also likes rolling in the dirt whenever he can.  What is it with dogs that do that?  Even the cat likes to do that but she's able to clean herself up much better.  I guess her nose is shorter...LOL.  She cleans it with her paws but Baron doesn't wet his before he wipes it.

Well, time to get this posted before I shower and get ready for bed.  I took a long nap after dinner but it's wearing off now and I need to get some more sleep.  Love you all.  Be good and be kind.  ***Hugs***

 

Another Sick Day For Me.....

I mentioned that I was sick yesterday...malaise unrecognized.  It wasn't the flu but it seemed like a bad allergy attack somehow.  Except for one thing....I hadn't even been outside.  But, guess what I discovered?  My darling Chewlee was covered in the pollen from the trees.  She spread it on her face, hands, arms just for fun!  And she wondered why I was cranky.  She is so lucky that she isn't allergic to such things but to deliberately spread it on her face!!!  Silly kid.  But she didn't know how badly it made me feel.  I even barfed and she thought that was *gross*.  

She had a ball gathering up the different weeds to feed to the chickens.  What we have noticed is that they aren't eating as much of their seed as they normally do.  They love the greens and the corn.  

Today one of the hens dug herself a pit.  Just to loosen the dirt so that she could take a dirt shower.  That's what finally motivated the Beast to go out and get some sand for them.  They do that to kill off mites and any ticks that might get under their feathers.  The sand, which is really glass, actually kills them by piercing their bodies.  The dirt wouldn't really do much for them except get them dirty....LOL.  Several of the hens were really curious about the sand but they finally got *into* it and were having themselves a real salon day.  Even the rooster made use of it.  There are times they remind me of a bunch of little kids.

There was another egg today.  How Chewlee missed it, I have no idea.  I am beginning to believe that they are laying them in the afternoon.  There are days we check and there's no new eggs.  But later in the day, when we go in to clean off the shelf, we will find one.  I really would have thought that they would lay the eggs during the night but I guess they prefer sleep to pooping out an egg....LOL.

Johnnycakes came to pick her up around 2:30pm or so and, within about two hours (after I vacuumed my computer room), I actually started feeling human again.  I even ate.  Okay, so it was only oatmeal but I feel so much better now.  I wish I had been more myself when Chewlee was here but she managed to have fun without being on the computer.  I told you I was cranky.  At least Chewlee cleaned off the pollen.  She even came in and asked me if her face was still yellow.  She can be truly funny at times.  

She dressed up in one of my silk robes and had my glitter wrap around her neck.  She was also wearing a pair of my high heels.  The Beast took a picture of her (she wanted one made up for her).  But she forgot it in her haste to leave.  She needed to shower and get into clean clothes.  She did enjoy watching the chickens go nuts after the greens she picked for them.

Well, time for me to shower and get ready for a (hopefully) normal night's sleep.  I'm a bit worried about Bratfink.  She hasn't posted anything on her blog or on FB for several days now.  I just hope she isn't ill.  If she is too ill to post, that's a bad sign.  We almost lost her to sepsis about two years ago.  She has a tendency to just *tough things out* to her detriment at times.  I worry about her a lot.  

Love you all.  Be good.  Be safe.  Be happy.  Spread your smile everywhere.  It might just brighten up the day for someone that needs it.  ***Hugs***

Upset And Heartbroken.......

This time, he's finally done it.  The unforgivable.  Worse, he tried to make it seem like *I* was either responsible or have lost my mind.  What did he do?  He threw out several of my picture albums with all the photos that I had saved over the years of my kids, grandkids and even the first great-grand.  

I wouldn't have realized this for a while except that Chewlee wanted to look through some of the pictures.  I sent her out to get one....just one, I told her....of the albums.  She came back in shortly after and asked me where the albums were.  I was going to just point to the shelf and tell her to pick an album when, to my shock, I saw that, not only were they ALL gone but also more of my books that the Beast hadn't thrown out the last time he *cleaned up* the bookcase.  When I asked him what he had done with them, he said, *I didn't do any thing to them.*  I said, *You obviously cleaned out the bookcase again...*.   He had the nerve to say, *I did that a long time ago!*  I just looked at him and said, *Liar!*  I didn't say it loud enough for Chewlee to hear me but he sputtered and yelled out loud, *I didn't do anything to the albums.  YOU must have moved them and forgotten it*.  I just stared at him and said to Chewlee, *Forget it, Chewlee, they're gone.*

I am still shaking and, isn't it funny but the Beast went to bed within five minutes after that was said.  He has probably locked the door afraid that I will come in during the night and kill him.  It's always the things that matter to ME that he just throws away.  Sure, he never loved his kids so it has never mattered to him.  And he wonders why I won't go to his church.  I want nothing to do with any church that has HIM as a member.   I told him a long time ago that he might be able to fool people, but he will never fool God.  

I woke up this morning with a stomach ache and it pretty much hung on all day long.  The Beast brought Chewlee home after her soccer game but, unfortunately, she had no clothes here for her to change into.  Not that SHE cared although she DID have what looked like a brand new t-shirt she brought along.   She told me that she will wear it in the morning with her soccer shorts.  

I'm just sick over the loss of all my albums.  I can't even say anything more about this so I am closing and just going to watch some TV before I see if I can sleep.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

At The Last Moment, The Princess Changes Her Mind....

Instead of getting Chewlee after school, I got a call from the Princess to tell me she was just too tired to drive her into town and drop her off at our house for the night.  So, instead, she will drop her off early in the morning on her way down to the State Park.  I didn't even ask if that meant we could have her for tomorrow night because I really was disappointed.  But I take what I can get these days.  One day Chewlee may be *too busy* or have other plans for her weekend and that will break my heart.

The Princess bought Chewlee the whole Harry Potter set of books and already Chewlee is having major meltdowns over what is in the books that was not in the movies.  Just wait.  It only gets worse as she goes through them.  I tried to warn her a long time ago but I don't think she believed me.  She couldn't see how there could be any more room for more things to have happened.  Now she is getting an inkling.

I'm just so glad that Chewlee is a reader.  She loves books and she enjoys reading.  I did as a kid and still enjoy them.  I was so angry at the Beast when he threw out so many of my books because he figured they were just dust catchers.  I read books over and over.  He never did that sort of thing.  He tossed out all my Clan of the Cave Bear series (all hard cover), my Tony Hillerman books (stories about the Navajo...mysteries), my Ann McCaffrey sci-fi books and all my Dragons of Pern series.  

He did this when I was in the hospital having my first arterial bypass in my legs (the first one was the toughest one to recover from).  I was pretty much only able to hobble with a walker from my recliner to the bathroom for almost six months and it took me damn near a year to fully recover.  I was so damn angry that I couldn't even talk to him for almost two weeks.  I have never forgiven him.  He's just lucky he didn't throw out my Harry Potter books. 

To the Beast, once you read a book, that's it.  He has never understood how anyone can read the same book over-and-over.  Because he has never done so, he hasn't discovered how you can learn something new each time.  Either you understand some things better or you read something that you missed or forgot about.  Each read is always new in it's own way.

No eggs today unless they laid any this afternoon.  If so, we will find them in the morning.  The Beast used up three of the eggs the other day when he made us pancakes and he dropped this little tidbit on my yesterday....two of the eggs were *twins*...double yokers.  That kind of shocked me.  It made me wonder...if they were fertilized, does that really mean that twin chicks would have fit in that small (medium size) egg?  Just wonderin'.  

I'm heading for bed now since we have to get up early for when the Princess drops off Chewlee.  Love you all.  Be good.  Be careful.  Starting on Monday, we will be having one thunderstorm-y day after another through Friday.  Yikes!  That won't be fun for me, that's for sure.  I love the sun but I really don't mind thunderstorms as long as there are no tornadoes associated with them.  Keep your fingers crossed.  ***Hugs***

Two More Eggs!

We got two more full size eggs from the girls today.  Looks like they are finally doing their job.  We just don't know why they are using the one nesting box for them.  Oh well.

Got a call from the Princess, who is going to participate in a run down at the state park.  She wanted to know if I had plans for Saturday morning since Chewlee needs to be at her soccer game.  She is going to drop her off after school tomorrow, along with her soccer clothes.  When I told the Beast, he wants to go with so he can take a few pictures of her playing.  The Princess is going to take Gunner on the run with her by putting him in a jogging stroller.  He'll enjoy that, I'm sure.

Later, on Saturday, Cee and I hope to go see Baby Brat in her apartment.  She should be moved in by then.  We want to make sure she has everything she will need to get along on her own.  I'm curious as to how she really feels about it.  She might just enjoy only having herself to worry about.  We'll see.

In the meantime, I got my Mother's Day gifts today from Mustachio, Sheepie and Buttmunch.  I got a really nice bathrobe.  It's black with a faux leopard trim.  What I especially like about it is that the belt makes a bow in the back so Chewlee can't take it off and play with it.  She lost the one she played with from my old robe.  How it could get lost in this small house is beyond me but lost it is.  The other thing I got was a two wick candle in a can.  I have no idea what hyacinth smells like in a scented candle but I will find out.  

I called Mustachio and thanked him and told him to be sure to give Sheepie and Buttmunch my love and a hug.  I also had to give him the dates (again) that we will be traveling to Chicago and when we would arrive at his apartment.  Luckily, he was able to put in for the dates for his vacation while he was talking to me.  It seems he is on vacation as of today.  LOL.  

He only went back to work on Wednesday and today started his vacation.  He hasn't taken all the vacation he is entitled to after working there for over five years and has only used up about a week and a half of his sick days this year (he dislocated his shoulder falling off a chair when he changed a light bulb in his kitchen).  Damn kid did a Mel Gibson trick to put it back in place but did also go to the doctor's.  They x-ray'd the shoulder and it was properly in place, thankfully.  He said that  doing the *Mel Gibson* trick was PAINFUL!  Even more so than the movie indicated.  Dummy!  

It took  him 11 days to recover...almost.  He still has painful muscles but not as painful as it was at first.  He'll learn.  You always pay a price.

Well, time to hit the sack.  I'm beat.  My day was *normal*, whatever that is.  No drama so that's a good thing.  The Beast got kind of sick feeling and dizzy today but was better after a nap.  He DID spend most of the late afternoon and evening in his recliner so I'm not really sure what is wrong with him.  He stops telling me anything the minute I say *doctor*.  I'll find out more tomorrow, I'm sure.

Love you all.  Be good.  Be kind.  Watch the weather and be safe.  We had one hell of a thunderstorm tonight but it was all just sound and no fury.  ***Hugs***

The Meal That Almost Wasn't......

For months we've had a dearth of certain items in one of the pantries or out in the garage on the shelves or the one cabinet that we use to store excess canned goods and other food products.  You get to the point that you feel you will always have certain things without end.  I mean, we have more soups, vegetables, canned meats, sauces, pastas, etc. than you can believe.  Certainly more than the average family.  You would think the Beast thought we might starve to death if we didn't have all these things....just in case.

I mentioned last night that I thought I would make us some tuna ala king for dinner today but I knew we were short on eggs.  That was the one item I was certain we didn't have.  It never occurred to me to check and see if I had all the other ingredients.  Of course we did!  Then, while the Beast was at the eye doctor, I went to get the mushroom soup, peas, tuna and mushrooms (in the jar) together so that it would be handy this afternoon.  

I was in total shock to discover that we had NO mushroom soup and no cans of tuna anywhere.  Impossible.  I double checked.  Nope.  I even triple checked, thinking that the Beast might have moved them to different areas.  I scanned every shelf carefully.  The last  thing I wanted was for the Beast to come home and just walk over to an area and be able to say, *Here they are!* 

I knew he planned on stopping at Lowe's on his way home and that is just a couple blocks away from Walmart.  So I called him and he was still at Lowe's.  *Phew!*  When I told him that we didn't have the soup or the tuna, he was in disbelief.  He asked me if I was sure.  I told him I had triple checked everywhere but, although we had cans of salmon and all kinds of other soups, we didn't have the ones I needed.  I had already boiled and iced the eggs (icing them makes the shells easier to peel off) and had found some canned peas.  So he said, *Well, then it's mushroom soup and some tuna that we need.  I'll stop on my way home.*  I added some corn starch to the list that he needed to pick up and knew that three items wasn't going to be hard for him to remember.

Later, when he got home from the stores, he started bringing in bag after bag of things he had gotten when he went to Walmart.   (Of course.  He can't go in there without buying out the store!)  I knew I should have gone myself but, oh well!  So he buys six cans of the *Heart Healthy* mushroom soup and my heart fell.  If you've even had some of those, they just don't taste as good as the original.  I don't really know what they leave out except for salt but I have always found them to be on the bland side.  

He also bought about 16 cans of tuna (I kid you not!) plus a load of other items we really didn't need but he wanted to have plenty....in case.  Most of the meat items, however, were welcome and he put those out in the freezer for future use.  We will use them within the next week or so.  And he bought us more of those *Skillet dinners* that you just add ground beef or cut up chicken.  When I put those away, I made him go look and see how many we had before what he added today.  We have about 15 of those if you don't count the Hamburger Helper ones.  I just shook my head.  I can make most of those from scratch but he can't so he likes to have them handy.  He just really thought we were out of them.  I told him that HE had put them where they were and he should have remembered.  

Anyway, I finally had all my ingredients together and, by the time he got home, it was almost four o'clock so I started making it.  After getting it all together, I tasted it and discovered that it WAS a bit bland but I knew what it needed.  A bit of beef broth mix and it was perfect.  How does cheating on the beef base make it more *heart healthy*?  Honestly.

So we ate that for our dinner and it really hit the spot.  It's been months since I last made it and I even used two of the eggs from our hens in it.  I almost hated to boil them but I put on my big girl panties and added them to the pan when I had boiled the eggs.  I figured that was the reason we had the hens so.....

I saved the carton from the 18 count eggs that we last used and the shells from the eggs.  We can use the carton to store the eggs from the girls and we will crush up the shells and feed them to the girls to increase their calcium.  Everyone with experience keeps telling us to do it so what the heck!  It can't hurt.

So now we are set for a while as far as tuna goes.  I hate to mention to the Beast that I used the last of the peas and the last jar of mushrooms.  Who knows what he would end up buying us?

Time to hit the sack.  Love you all.  Signing off from the Bratfarm for the night.  Be good.  Be happy.  Be careful in all these storms.  ***Hugs***

PS:  We had a high of 86 today and it was gorgeous but two great days in a row are all we are going to get from the way the weatherman predicts.  The eastern storm front is heading our way and so are lower temperatures and rain.  Oh well!

Over The River And Thru The Woods.....

...to Sister Cee's house I went.  LOL.  Actually, Cee was supposed to come here today to let the Beast check out her laptop because it kept getting slower and slower.  She actually let it rest last night and, apparently, it seemed to fix itself this morning.  So she decided to touch up her hair instead.  What she forgot was to let me know.

In expectation of her coming, I had planned a couple things but, when she wasn't here by 12:30pm, I called her to find out where she was.  That's when she said her computer seemed to be okay today so that's when she decided it was time to do her hair.  Duh!  So, I told the Beast I was going over there to help her do her hair and I went there instead.  I also checked out her laptop to see the state of her defrag program and her clean disk.  I showed her what to do (it was supposedly set to be done weekly automatically but hadn't been done in almost two weeks).  It needed doing, too.  At least she knows how to do it without hesitation (she wasn't sure she was doing it right which may have been why her son set it to be done automatically).  However, I forgot to check what time he had it set for and she might have had it shut down when he had scheduled it.  Oh well.  

I came home to check and see whether or not my chicken had defrosted (it wasn't fully) and put it into some warm water to finish that part.  The chicken was in baggies so not to worry about that part.  Since the Beast was snacking on half a sandwich and some macaroni salad, I told him I would have it ready for him when he got home from church.  I have it ready to go now although I won't start that for another half hour or so.  I haven't even snacked on anything so I am really hungry.  Which means an early bedtime for me since I will be eating my dinner so late.  I haven't taken a nap today and I already took my shower and am in my jammies.

I'm also waiting for my clothes to finish washing so I can dry them and get them folded before I go to bed.  It's mostly jammies and underwear so that goes fast.  I'll have to put away most of my warm jammies soon  (although I am keeping two pair out for when we are traveling in June).  I always get too chilled with A/C for my lightweight ones.  

Did I mention that our little furbaby, Sassy, was back?  She was so affection starved that she couldn't decide whether she was more interested in eating or being petted and hugged.  Chewlee missed her when she was here Saturday.  But, hopefully, she won't disappear on us again.  I just opened the back door to see if she wanted to come in (she never stays in long...at least, not yet) but she was laying on the bannister and was just watching the chickens.  The chickens were glad when she showed up yesterday.  She went over to their yard and a bunch of them ran over to touch beak to nose with her.  It was cute.

Well, I'm going to close for today.  Love you all.  Hope you are having some good weather and aren't affected by some of the severe weather going on.  You can't control the weather, however, so I hope only for the best for you all.  ***Hugs***

I Can Hardly Wait....

What I mean by that is that I can't wait until I am not able to remember what the count is on the number of eggs our chickens have laid.  Today, I found #6 in the egg box.  It's another *beginner* egg but an egg, nonetheless.  At least we are starting to see more of them.

Chewlee took home one of her pictures.  I don't know if her mother will let her put it up on her wall but she wanted to keep it.  When her mother came to pick her up today, she gave her the flowers she had, along with a few from the flower box out front.  The flowers there are some of the wildflower seeds that she had sowed in it that didn't come up last summer.  She also gave her some of the cards she had made that were cute.  That was a class project that I think all the kids made up.  

The Princess brought me six donuts for Mother's Day.  They were more the type that the Beast likes but she thought she was bringing us breakfast, I think.  

My son, Mustachio, ended up calling me again because he said his day wasn't as busy as he thought it would be.  Also, my daughter, Buttmunch, called me and we talked for quite a while.  I was surprised that my son, Marcus, didn't call me since he is usually the first one.  However, I knew he had a busy day planned for his wife and his son, Doc, was home for almost three weeks to recuperate from knee surgery.  He's been in the Marine Corps now for almost five years, I believe.  He'll be getting out soon but the whole family was excited about being together.  My granddaughter, Aimee, and her husband and son were going to be getting together to go to RenFair with them this weekend.  

I know from experience that it's a tiring time, albeit, fun.  Just seeing the costumes from the players is a real experience.  There's a lot to see and do and I am sorry I didn't realize it was going on in time to go with them.  Oh well.

Other than that, it was a nice, quiet day for us.  The Beast left the house early to meet up with some people from church before going to his regular church service.  So from 9:30am until 3pm, I had the house to myself and it was nice to just be alone for a while.  When he got home, he decided he was finally going to run to the store to pick up a few things that I had requested for whichever of us went first.  I had a short list made up since both our memories stink on that stuff.  We always forget something important.  Even with a list, he forgot to pick up whipped cream for the strawberry shortcakes that I had planned for dessert for us today.  It works for tomorrow, too.  

I'm going to make some fried chicken up for us tomorrow, I think.  We have the makings for it now.  He got some of the biggest thighs I have ever seen today.  I had said either legs or thighs since we both prefer dark meat fried up over light.  I'll make some mashed potatoes, too, and some broccoli for a change.  He said it would be nice to have some homemade fried chicken for a change and I agree.

Time for bed.  It's late but I did have a nice nap today so I am just slightly tired.  But I want to get to sleep.  If I stay up much longer, I will wake up fully and not get to sleep until 4-5am.  And that sucks.  

Love you all.  Be good.  Be happy.  Have a great week and I hope all  the mothers that read this had a great Mother's Day.  ***Hugs***

Just A Quick Blog....

We ended up getting Chewlee for a sleepover.  Chewlee told me she liked to come here because I let her do things she wants to do and that I was fun.  LOL!  She painted tonight...drawing pictures that were very surrealistic but kind of neat.  She has her own *style* and I encouraged her.  I even asked if I could have this one that she did.  I like it and I think I am going to frame it and hang it in my computer room.

The reason I got her was because the campground that the kids are members requires them to leave for a week after they have had their trailer there for two weeks.  Two weeks in, one out.  This is the week they had to leave but they will take their trailer back next week.  I guess this will be what they do all summer.  I will have to make a note on my calendar so I know when I might get Chewlee.   The Beast is talking about going to see the zoo in Chattanooga or Atlanta (the Atlanta one would have to be an overnighter, I think) and I would take Chewlee with us for either one or both.  We've seen the Birmingham one (and I won't go back until later this summer so the construction is over by then).

We are so spoiled after the San Diego Zoo.  That one is just an incredible experience.  It's amazing.  I do love Brookfield Zoo in Illinois (we lived close to it when we were younger) and Cee, Mustachio and I plan to make a trip there when we go up in June.

Mustachio called me today to wish me a Happy (early) Mother's Day and to inform me that he, Buttmunch and Sheepie had put together a Mother's Day gift that would be late getting to me.  It's ready for shipping out but they have to wait until Monday.  I told him that was all right and then asked him if I should be afraid to open it...LOL.  He said there wasn't anything alive in it...like a  spitting cobra or a scorpion.  I told him if there was, please let me know and I would let the Beast open it then.  J/K.

Chewlee is asleep on my floor in here but she made herself comfy with a bunch of pillows and two light blankets.  I guess I will just make myself comfy in my recliner and catch some more sleep.  All her pictures are dry so I can put the lids back on my paint containers (the storage ones).  I'm tired and need some more sleep now so I will say goodnight.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

Today I Get To Play With An iPAD.....

It was a fairly quiet day today, albeit cold.  To me it felt cold anyway.  I think our high was just 68 degrees.  Tomorrow's prediction is bright, sunny and warm.  80 degrees warm!  Now THAT is MY kind of weather....LOL.

Today I got more gifts from my bff, Carol, for Mother's Day.  I was totally shocked because it was two of my favorite things....Bailey's and Kahlua.  Yep, each bottle is 750ml or about a quart (or thereabout).  I would look it up but it's not that important.  They are for ME!!!  I broke out one of the sleek little glasses that came with the Bailey's that she sent me for Xmas and had myself some immediately.  The bottle was already chilled because of the cold overnight weather so it was PERFECT.  She has really come to know what puts a smile on my face.

I know I won't be getting anything more than a phone call from my kids.  Mustachio was just off work for a non-work related dislocated shoulder and he's taken on Sheepie (with all her large expenses like adding her to his insurance, an increase in his rent because of her dog, the food, etc.).  She is still only working part-time as a hostess at a local restaurant and hasn't started helping out with the increased expenses.  So he really hasn't got any money to send me anything, although a nice card would have been welcome.  

Marcus, of course, has a mortgage and all the expenses of a teenager that just got her driver's license a  few months ago.  She is still in school so she works only part-time at a local theatre in an upscale area of Nashville.  I think they are still paying for his wife, Raven's, college loans (at least she has now graduated...it was a real dream of her's that she succeeded at so she is to be congratulated highly).  Plus, SHE is the mother of his three wonderful kids and I know they will all be making a fuss over her on Sunday.

Buttmunch lives with a wonderful guy that treats her well and I am glad that she is finally happy.  I don't know if she is working or not at this time.  I haven't talked with her since she left her last job over scheduling problems that arose.  But I DO know that I will hear from them.

I saw the Princess today.  I was in my computer room, playing with the iPAD that the Beast gave me that will (sort-of) be mine for now.  He said that he might have to use it if he has problems with his.  His is a real tablet and has a nice large screen.  She came in to say hi (and she scared me since I wasn't expecting her but only recognizing her voice kept me from jumping out of my skin....LOL).  She came over after one of her classes that she is teaching at the gym to borrow a flash from the Beast (I think it was a flash but it was in a case so I am not sure.  It could have been a meter).  

The Princess and family are going to be at the campground this weekend.  She said that Chewlee brought flowers home today and, when asked who the flowers were for, she told her mother, *They are for ME.*  The Princess said that obviously Chewlee intends to surprise her with them on Sunday so she just said, *Oh..!*  I think she told Chewlee that she needed to put the flowers in some water but that's something that I know Chewlee understands.  She uses my water glass from the bathroom when she picks flowers for me when she's here.  The glass is decorated and is about the right size for how short she picks them.  She also even picks *other* things that are green to help fill in and make the flowers more decorative.

The Princess said that Chewlee wanted to come and spend the night with us but she told her *no* because she originally thought she was going to stop in tomorrow, which meant Chewlee would be here for Saturday night and the next day is Mother's Day.  It's a long trip out to the campground so she said it would have to be for a different weekend.  She was really trying to spare us both from a long round-trip.

I made a joke about having Chewlee here to show us how to use the iPAD's.   The Princess said that she has a kind of limited knowledge since her's (Chewlee's) is allowed access only to a few sites.  Ahh!  Parental locks!  However, I think she underestimates how smart Chewlee is and there is nothing that gives a kid more incentive than parental locks.  Chewlee has a mind like a trap and intense curiosity.  I'm sure she could teach me things I don't know.  

I figured out a lot of things without having to go online and check the manual.  It has a lot of the properties of an android, a Mac and even Blue Tooth.  What *I* need is to remember (or else change) my passwords to my email accounts.  *Sigh*  Oh well.  I'll tackle that problem tomorrow.  

Good grief!  I'm so sorry this turned out so long and I'll close and post this now.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

 

Egg #5.....

It looks like the hens don't just lay eggs overnight.  The Beast had checked the barn this morning when he went to open the barn door (to air it out to eliminate methane buildup) and there were no eggs.  But, when he went in this afternoon to change the big water container, he found an egg in one of the nesting boxes.  It's another full size one, too.  

I spent the afternoon at Cee's and we were talking about things we would like to do when we go to Chicago.  I said I would love to go see Brookfield Zoo and she laughed and said she wanted to do that, too.  I used to take my brothers and sisters there on Free Wednesdays during the summer.  We always packed a lunch for us all and would have a picnic.  The little ones would spend some time chasing around the chipmunks (the zoo was full of them it seemed) and within a couple hours after that, everyone was ready to go home.  We always had a good time then and the zoo has done so much expansion over the years that we decided we would love to see the changes.  So there's one day that we will fill.

We are also hoping that we can put together a cousin gathering of some kind so that we can get to see some of the family that we used to get to see every year at the family reunions.  My Sunday is taken care of (that's the day I meet up with my girlfriends and it's also my ...shudder...70th birthday) but we will have five other...no, four other days.  But I imagine that Saturday would work for those cousins not retired yet.  But we still have a couple weeks to work that out.

My job is to check into various motels in different areas to see what their summer rates are for their rooms and find us a suitable place to stay.  Thank goodness we aren't going into a totally unfamiliar area so we know which areas are close to main highways for getting around.

We made hot turkey open face sandwiches with some cheesy mashed potatoes and asparagus for dinner.  It was a nice change of pace, especially since I made sure we had enough gravy for everything.  The Beast went a little nuts clearing off the cabinet tops but it was great from my point of view.  He got rid of (meaning he found other places to put the things he was keeping on the counters and the stove top) a lot of the clutter he insisted on keeping on there.  I would try to put them away and he would keep putting them out where he could easily find them.  I know his memory can be shot at times but, come on now!    It looks so much neater and cleaner now.  

Well, time to get this posted so I can put on warm jammies (it's cool out and inside here, too).  I have my little desktop heater going to warm up this room a bit so the arthritis in my hand doesn't flare up so that I have to keep it wrapped up in a heating pad again.

Love you all.  Please be careful and be happy.  It's much healthier.  Oh, and don't forget to laugh.  That's healthy, too.  ***Hugs***

The Beast And The iPad...

Today the Beast went out and bought what I believe is a small tablet (computer thingy).   He already has one but it has a volume problem and that creates a real problem for him because his hearing is so bad these days.  He had me work on it for a few minutes to see if I could access some of the sites that I would normally use.  It can switch to a keyboard and everything is *touch*.  Well, I managed to get to a couple sites but I forgot my passwords.  At least on my computer, it saves those for me....LOL.

But then, he went out and bought himself an iPad.  It came with no instructions at all and he went nuts trying to figure it out.  I told him that he probably should go see the Princess and have her show him since I know she has one.  Or get Chewlee to show him.  I laughed but he didn't.  But he did say...*That would be funny except it's probably true.*  Chewlee has one that she uses, mostly to watch movies on and to play games but she knows how to get around on one.  I think he is still at a loss.  

What's worse is that he has another one on it's way that he ordered the other day (it will probably come tomorrow).  I think he is hoping that IT has instructions.  He says every time he tries to get somewhere on this iPad, it keeps asking him for a password.  And the newest one cost $400.  To him, that was *reasonable* and he liked the reviews.  He also bought a special router that allows the tablet and iPad to access our internet via the ethernet built into them.  The router we had only allowed whatever was hardwired into the system to work he said.  

So today was interesting, needless-to-say.  The air was blue with all his swearing when he got frustrated.  I fed him to shut him up and make him take a break.  I almost never swear and the words I DO use are really very mild ones.  I never swear in frustration at inanimate objects because that's not useful or constructive.  I didn't know I married a sailor....LOL.

Time to go.  Love you all.  Remember to be kind.  It doesn't cost a thing and makes you a better person.  ***Hugs***

Finally! A Breakthrough.....

We got a normal size egg today!  Hurrah!  And the hens seem to know what the nesting box is for, too.  The Beast was so proud to show it to me after he had checked the barn.  Now if only the rest of the eggs we get are normal size I will be happy.

I've been told by several people now that we do NOT need a rooster for normal size eggs.  That's kind of an old wives tale for people who are not too smart about those things.  It was just *the way things were done* for ages and ages.  I was also asked if we were saving the shells of the eggs we use to add to the feed to help strengthen the shells of the eggs the hens lay.  It actually makes sense to me and I suppose I could put them into my little chopper so they are nice and finely chopped.  The Beast bought a special feed for them that contains calcium but I suppose it wouldn't hurt.  I'll have to try to remember to do that.

I also got my hair cut today...at a real salon!  I got a modified shag cute ala Judy Carne (if you remember her).  I really love it.  Not only does it feel good but it should be easy to take care of now.  I needed the hair on one side of my head to be thinned down a bit (why does hair grow that way?) and it turned out just great.  I was very pleased.  I'll go in before leaving for my trip to Chicago to have it trimmed up again so I don't have to fuss with it more than blow it dry.

I'm heading for bed early today.  I'm tired and I didn't get my usual nap.  The Beast should be home from church soon and I made a fresh pot of coffee for us.  I know he'll want to chat when he gets home unless there's a basketball game with teams he likes....LOL.

Love you all.  ***Hugs***

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions......

Cee and I were talking yesterday about the fact that my son, Mustachio, has said he is going to accompany us on our trip to Chicago at the end of June.  This leaves us with a bit of a problem.  It's one thing to intrude on a relative when there are two of you (and we can share a bed) but when there are three of you, that's kind of nervy.

So, what to do?  Can we find an inexpensive motel that's kind of central to the places we want to be able to get to while we are there and share the cost three ways?  IS there such a thing as an inexpensive motel (in the suburbs, of course) that wouldn't cost us an arm and a leg?  We will need it for six nights since we will arrive on the 21st and leave on the 27th.  Cee and I won't get home until the 28th since we will stay overnight with Mustachio on the 27th and then make the 5-6 hour drive home.  We might even stop over for a few hours in Nashville to visit with my son, Marcus.  His house is only a 2-1/2 hour drive from home.  We just want to be home before dark.  Old people do not like driving after dark.  Especially since *I* live out in the country.  

Actually, I am closer to civilization than the Princess and I am grateful for that but I still don't like traversing the roads I must to get home.  Neither does Cee, although she is just about two blocks off a major highway.  But she would have to drive from my house to that major highway to get to her house once we return.

So...what to do?  I guess I need to talk to Mustachio first of all.  I can't place the burden on the sister of my heart, Kay, to take us in....even though they are down to just one kid.  However, her daughter is pregnant with her third child and is due a few weeks prior to our arriving up there (but you know how due dates are). She will more than likely go down (Louisville area) to stay with her daughter for the first two weeks once the baby is born.  That's been her habit for the first two and I have no reason to believe this would be any different.

I can't blame her.  Grandkids are wonderful and babies are the sweetest, dearest things in the world.  So precious.   It wouldn't be the same without her there and I wouldn't wish three adults on someone who is barely used to having just the one son living at home.  Besides that, I get the impression that she and her hubby are rediscovering the romance in their relationship although I think her hubby has made that marriage a wonderful one with his thoughtfulness.  She is truly a great person and I love her to death.  You can't help but love her when you meet her.  She has a very loving heart.

I guess I should call a couple of my cousins and see what motels they might recommend for us that would work out for the people we hope to see while we are there.  But AFTER I talk with Mustachio.  I really don't want to put a financial burden on any of us, especially Cee.  She will have her rent and other bills once we get home and she's not getting much money from SS, I know.  Mustachio makes good money but it's also not fair to think HE should foot the bill since he's already supporting my niece, Sheepie.  If only there was a motel where we could stay for about $50-60 a night.  I think we might be able to manage that if we save for it.  Even that is a lot for Cee (sorry to mention that, Sis) but it's true.  If we only have my car to depend on, we can't really separate since we want to see the same people, I believe.  Oh well.  First things first.  Talk to Mustachio.  See if he has any ideas.

On to other things...  My bff, Carol, sent me the most unusual and sweetest gift for Mother's Day.  It's an assortment of bakery goods.  German chocolate brownies, two different kinds of a type of pound cake, several other things that escape my memory at the moment but isn't that sweet of her?  She told me she sent me two things from different places so I guess the other package will arrive in a day or two.  She can really surprise me at times with how thoughtful she can be.

We had a good ole' country boy tell us that we MUST have a rooster in with our hens or else they won't lay full sized eggs for us.  I don't know if that's true or not because Johnnycakes has no roosters in with his hens and he was raised on a chicken farm.   He has enough roosters in a separate coop area that he could easily let one of them in with his hens if he really thought that was needed but he's keeping them for eating, not breeding.

Right now, you couldn't prove that by me since our hens have only laid these itty bitty eggs (all three of them) and we haven't had any new eggs laid for several days now.  I did see Freddy taking advantage of one of the hens a couple days back so I am waiting to see what happens.  We refrigerate the eggs because we DO have Freddy in with them.  I'm not taking any chances.  We do NOT need any chicks.

Other than that, it was another wash day for us.  The Beast took care of cleaning his dress shirts and pants (he's very fussy about them) and I just mated his dress socks.  I took care of my jeans and tops and the pj's that I've worn along with my underwear.  I haven't packed up my warm jammies just yet since it's gotten cold at night and I like to be warm.  It's only a few more weeks now until we leave (we leave on the 20th of June for Mustachio's place and will spend the night there).  I'll give Cee the couch and I can make a bed on the living room floor.  *Grin*  We'll manage.

I still don't know when the Beast is going up to his brother's house but I know he wants to go before I leave on my trip so, hopefully, it will be soon.  He's been busy with his camera, figuring out some new settings for it so he can take some good pictures for the wedding he's doing in June.  He just hopes not to have to Photo Shop so much with the right settings that he's not tried before.  If you know anything about the newer digital cameras, I mean ASA settings so his focus isn't so critical and neither is his flash.

Now that you have fallen asleep in boredom, I'll close this and get it posted.  The Beast has been in bed since about 8:30pm and it's now almost 11:30pm.  He got some decent sleep yesterday using the Tamarind juice and then a cup of hot chocolate (his favorite thing before bedtime).  He'd actually gotten out of the habit of his hot chocolate and I wonder if that didn't have something to do with his inability to sleep?  They've always said that hot milk helps you sleep so perhaps even hot chocolate made with milk does the same?  IDK....!

Love you all.  Hope you all are getting some of the good spring weather that is hopping all over the place.  Even the more gentle rain (not the flooding kind) is still spring-like.  Be happy.  And remember, all acts of kindness cost you nothing but can mean the world to other people.  Besides, it's a good sign that you are made of the *right stuff*.  Wink....***Hugs***

What The Heck???

Baron went wading in the small stream across the way that feeds into the pond and he came home with his legs full of those little glider spiders.  The ones that walk on top of the water.  You may have seen them a time or two on a Discovery documentary or some science program.  Watching them is one thing, having your dog come home with them on his legs is quite another.

The worst part of it was that the Beast didn't notice them at first.  They were tiny, for one, and Baron's black coat really made them almost unnoticeable.  Except when they got on a towel the Beast laid on the bed when the Beast wiped Baron down.  Well, I never saw the Beast give Baron a bath so fast.......!  LOL.

I went and sprayed the rug he had laid on as well as his bedding with some Lysol spray.  Darn near anything will kill them since they ARE fragile.  I wasn't about to spray any kind of bug killer on an area where Baron spends his time.  I made the Beast throw Baron's comforter (yes, he has his own comforter) into the wash just in case.  Then I took some hair spray and inspected everything.  Hair spray kills them instantly and I was looking for any of those buggers that might have escaped the Lysol.  

What's really funny is that Baron wouldn't lay down on anything that had been sprayed.  Not for about an hour.  He lay down on the wood floor and did it with such a loud *sigh* that it made me laugh.  Once his nose told him his places were all dry, he finally made himself comfortable on the rug next to the Beast's recliner.  He actually had gone around to his bed, the rug areas where he usually reclines and sniffed them out thoroughly, one-by-one.

He spent some extra time sniffing his comforter once it had dried since the Beast had used the lavender fabric softener on it.  I think Baron likes that smell (who says it's only for people?).  He laid down on it and rolled in it, then put his nose under one edge and went to sleep like that.  Too cute.

It rained today (shock! surprise!  the weatherman was right!) and my hair (as usual) frizzed up.  I KNEW I should have used some mousse in it but I was too lazy to go get it.  The mousse actually helps prevent it from frizzing on me.  So I will have to set my hair again tonight since more rain and thunderstorms are predicted.  Oh well.

The Beast just brought in the basket with the sheets and coverlet for the guest bed so that means it's time to remake that bed.  We already changed the sheets on our bed (can't be too careful about those critters Baron dragged in).  I've got the cover for the love seat in the washer and I have a load of my clothes that need to go in after that is done.  For two people, there are times when it seems like we have a LOT of wash.  Or is it that we just want to have this house stay as clean as we can.  It was tough when our kids were young.  We were lucky that everyone had clean clothes and towels.  Getting the rugs vacuumed or the kids to clean their rooms?  Ha! Ha! Ha!

Time to close this missive.  Love you all.  I hope your weather hasn't interfered with enjoying your weekend.  Look at the upcoming week as a grand adventure.  You never know what awaits you.  May it be good things.  ***Hugs***