Butch's cold is a humdinger and after watching others suffer for two to three weeks with it he decided he was going to the doctor early and see if he could nip it in the bud. The doctor said she was glad he had decided to do that because it helps to catch it early. They checked to make sure it wasn't the flu. They did this with a nasal swab. It wasn't the flu. So they gave him an injection (anti-inflammatory) recommended some over-the-counter allergy meds. And gave him a script for antibiotics and cough syrup. He now has his arsenal to do battle with this thing so we have high hopes for a rapid recovery. We did have to sit in the doctors office for about two hours- thus the rough start. So my day never did pick up speed. We ate lunch/breakfast at the garage sale as we were too late for breakfast.
This evening we went to the El Dorado for supper. It was packed! Typical for January and February down here. It becomes super busy wherever you go. More traffic. Grocery stores are busier etc. To top it off there was a lady at the next table making an ass of herself complaining about everything. People like her make the rest of us look really bad. I would not be surprised if her waiter didn't spit in her food before serving it. HA! I should have told her that!!
Saturday, January 8
Friday, January 7
New neighbors and other stuff
Donn and Peggy have arrived from Nevada. It is a 2000 mile trip for them so they were glad to arrive. They have not had much time to put their feet up yet. It always takes about a week to settle in and that is true anytime so I am thinking it will take much longer when this is your first time coming down and settling into a new home. There are touches of settling in showing up- a hanging plant out front and some new yard art etc. As time goes on I am sure we will see many changes.
Butch has a head cold and I have little inklings of one so from the first little tickle I have been using Zicam swabs and the Nettie Pot. I warded off the last threat and I hope to do the same this time.
I read our weather forecast a few minutes ago and we are supposed to get severe thunderstorms Saturday night and Sunday morning. A VERY RARE occurrence down here. I have heard a rumble of thunder here before but only once in my memory have I heard a rip snorter of a thunderstorm and that was over ten years ago. We were visiting Marlene and Bernard in Harlingen at the time and our car was totaled with hail damage from that one. Very memorable. I hope this storm coming in isn't that memorable.
Butch has a head cold and I have little inklings of one so from the first little tickle I have been using Zicam swabs and the Nettie Pot. I warded off the last threat and I hope to do the same this time.
I read our weather forecast a few minutes ago and we are supposed to get severe thunderstorms Saturday night and Sunday morning. A VERY RARE occurrence down here. I have heard a rumble of thunder here before but only once in my memory have I heard a rip snorter of a thunderstorm and that was over ten years ago. We were visiting Marlene and Bernard in Harlingen at the time and our car was totaled with hail damage from that one. Very memorable. I hope this storm coming in isn't that memorable.
Wednesday, January 5
37
I have 37 signed up to learn how to make the sidewinder bracelet. In over my head? Maybe!! Monday is the day. I will try to get pictures.
Butch's last eye doctor appointment is this afternoon. He should be cut loose and we no longer have to do drops. That is what we want to hear.
Butch's last eye doctor appointment is this afternoon. He should be cut loose and we no longer have to do drops. That is what we want to hear.
Tuesday, January 4
And it goes on...and on
Woke up this morning and my daily routine goes such that I get on the computer fairly quick but this morning I can't...get...connected! Frustrating. I did all the usual resets but nothing worked So I called Time Warner. Now by this time you all know how my month has gone with these dreaded phone calls. This one did not go too bad. Roadrunner guy came out in a timely manner and diagnosed and fixed the problem for now. BUT Roadrunner guy 1 told me that Roadrunner Maintenance guy 2 would have to come and do his part too. He said it should be a fairly easy thing for him to do but if he gets lazy and does not do it properly you will again have problems. He says the lazy way would be for him to put a splitter on the line. IF he does that I am to call and complain. They will make him do it right. He showed me where to look and what to look for if he does not do it correctly. I am guessing he has had to clean up after Roadrunner Maintenance guy before. I was glad for the heads up.
I asked him if he thought weather had anything to do with it. He and I both agree that humid weather seems to influence connections. Neither of us know why but it always seems to be humid when the problems happen with computer connections.
So I am way behind on nearly everything. I am now taking the tack that I will get done as much as I can in any given day but come evening I put my feet up and leave the remainder for the next day. Except tonight because I knew you all would be wondering why in the world I didn't post anything!
I asked him if he thought weather had anything to do with it. He and I both agree that humid weather seems to influence connections. Neither of us know why but it always seems to be humid when the problems happen with computer connections.
So I am way behind on nearly everything. I am now taking the tack that I will get done as much as I can in any given day but come evening I put my feet up and leave the remainder for the next day. Except tonight because I knew you all would be wondering why in the world I didn't post anything!
Monday, January 3
From son Gary
I took some pictures of our dirty camper prior to taking it to Iowa for any people interested in buying. It is a 2000 Shasta Ultra-Flite and it is 24 foot long.
Sunday, January 2
Inadequacy
It seems I have had a months worth of dealing with getting mistakes rectified by various companies and organizations. Today was another one of those days...Direct TV Guy called me this morning to verify his appointment. He asked where we were located and I told him. He asked if we had a High definition receiver and I said yes. He asked if we have cement (I kid you not) and I said no we do not have any cement. We are supposed to be getting a tripod I told him. He said I do not have a tripod or cement. I said I do not want any cement. In retrospect I think he meant cement blocks and we do not have any of those either. But that is not what he said. So I said if you do not have a high definition satellite dish AND a tripod there is no point in keeping the appointment. He then told me the dish wasn't high def either! I have to call my boss he said. I said you do that and I will be calling Direct TV. And call them I did. This gets better...I get hold of a person rather quickly by stating my problem is with installation. So I relate the problem and she says hold on while I schedule a new appointment. The first time I can schedule an appointment for installation is February 15. I said that simply will not do and I want an earlier appointment. She says she will have to talk to her supervisor and that her supervisor will return a call to me within two hours- You have guessed it!! No call at all. So I called again this evening. I THINK I managed to get hold of someone knowledgeable. At least he sounded smart. He said Direct TV Installation guy did not know what he was talking about as all they install these days is high definition dishes and that the equipment he needed for the job should have been available to him. He said it was clear on the order what was required. But he resubmitted the installation for next Thursday. So it ain't over yet folks. Stand by for the next installment when Direct TV Installation guy 2 shows up. I hope he knows his butt from apple butter but I won't be surprised if he is yet another disappointment.
Tonight Butch and I watched Young@Heart a Netflix documentary about a senior singing group. It was really cool. I would recommend it to anyone. The average age of the group is 80 and what they do blows the mind.
This afternoon Mickey's sister Donna came to learn a bracelet. And learn she did and quite quickly. Mickey stopped over for a quick visit too.
Butch and his brother Bill went to play one of their last rounds of golf this season as the transaction on their house will be taking place on Thursday and Bill and Jo will be returning to Arkansas. We will miss them.
Must get off to bed now after a busy and challenging day.
Tonight Butch and I watched Young@Heart a Netflix documentary about a senior singing group. It was really cool. I would recommend it to anyone. The average age of the group is 80 and what they do blows the mind.
This afternoon Mickey's sister Donna came to learn a bracelet. And learn she did and quite quickly. Mickey stopped over for a quick visit too.
Butch and his brother Bill went to play one of their last rounds of golf this season as the transaction on their house will be taking place on Thursday and Bill and Jo will be returning to Arkansas. We will miss them.
Must get off to bed now after a busy and challenging day.
Saturday, January 1
Mexican Black-eyed Peas
This recipe sounded quick and easy. I haven't tried it yet but plan to do so. Also to obtain the recipe I used the snipping tool on my computer. Windows 7 and Vista have the snipping tool and it is a handy little feature to have. We looked at it in our last computer class. So the recipe you see here is not text. It is a picture of text. I wanted to see how much trouble this would give me snipping it instead of copy and paste. So you are part of an experiment. If it looks too small I am sure you can click on it to make it larger, just as you would on any other picture. Oh yes, Happy New Year!!!! I sometimes get fixated on a detail and forget the bigger picture. We attended the park party and dance last night. I did not make it to the turn over of the new year. Too much rich food and it turned me into a slumbering log. For pictures of people acting the fool go to www.magnolianews.blogspot.com. We had a really fun time and laughed a lot.
Friday, December 31
The Days are Full
And they fly by! But most everything that is keeping me occupied is what I consider fun. I know not all people do...like Butch. I don't consider golf all that much fun so I guess that makes us even.
Yesterday afternoon I had some women over to learn bracelets. To me that is fun.This morning is computer class and I consider that fun too. I think Saturday might be a free day. At least now it is.
I am still getting my two walks a day in but if I didn't make them a priority they would get brushed aside. So the walks are number one on my to-do list.
Butch is busy too. Like yesterday he played shuffleboard in the morning, cribbage in the afternoon and then he nearly always goes to the pool hall at 6 PM.
It is no wonder that we rarely venture out beyond the front gate. Oddly enough the weekends are our least busy time but every now and then one must take a deep breath, put your feet up and chill.
Direct TV guy is coming Sunday and bringing us a new dish. The one built into our coach will not let us pick up high definition or local channels and since we have been paying for those things for over two years without getting them we are a bit miffed. This time it has to be labeled our mistake. One of those costly life lessons we all get now and then.
So now I must get on with my day...computer class starts in 40 minutes!
Yesterday afternoon I had some women over to learn bracelets. To me that is fun.This morning is computer class and I consider that fun too. I think Saturday might be a free day. At least now it is.
I am still getting my two walks a day in but if I didn't make them a priority they would get brushed aside. So the walks are number one on my to-do list.
Butch is busy too. Like yesterday he played shuffleboard in the morning, cribbage in the afternoon and then he nearly always goes to the pool hall at 6 PM.
It is no wonder that we rarely venture out beyond the front gate. Oddly enough the weekends are our least busy time but every now and then one must take a deep breath, put your feet up and chill.
Direct TV guy is coming Sunday and bringing us a new dish. The one built into our coach will not let us pick up high definition or local channels and since we have been paying for those things for over two years without getting them we are a bit miffed. This time it has to be labeled our mistake. One of those costly life lessons we all get now and then.
So now I must get on with my day...computer class starts in 40 minutes!
Thursday, December 30
Unprecedented
Yesterday was one of those days that you look on as unbelievable. Numerous phone calls and requests from all directions. I have not had a day like it since I was still working. But we got through it. None of it was earth shattering by any means. It was all ordinary stuff for the most part. It just landed all at once.
There are two things that took place that people should know about.
One is Chase Bank. I am sure all banks are now doing this but we all need to know and protest the practice. We had $3500+ in a Chase bank account. The first little trick they pulled is a $30 annual fee because we had less than $10,000 with them even though they are administering a very large annuity for us. We tried to get that $30 fee reversed without any luck. So we decided to do away with the $3500 we did have with them. They charged us $75 to close this account. As you can imagine Butch was livid and has let everyone he has come in contact know what Chase bank has done. We tried to get this reversed as well but had no luck with that either. So if you have small accounts here and there you are most likely being charged an annual fee for it and if you close it out they will sock it to you again. In our mind it isn't any different from the bandito's in Mexico stopping traffic and demanding a fee to keep from getting shot. Chase is most likely only one of many banks doing this practice.
Secondly, I must have registered as being diabetic online somewhere. At any rate my name is out there. There are many companies calling diabetics and telling them they have been authorized to receive a new test meter. The first time it happened to me I thought it was a an upgrade to my meter that I started with but it wasn't. It was a completely different company. They bill Medicare for it. Then I started getting calls from them-sometimes several days in a row-asking me if I needed supplies etc. So I put my number (cell phone) on the national do not call list. It takes 31 days for it to take affect but it seemed to be working...until yesterday. I received a call and it went like this. "Am I speaking to Barbara Brooker? Ms Brooker I am calling to tell you that we have contacted your doctor, Dr Panakos, and you have been approved to receive a new test meter. It will be arriving at your home in a few days." I said, "Wait a minute, You are planning to send me a new meter?" Yes, ma'am you have been approved." "I do not care if I have been approved. You are NOT sending me anything and you had best not call me again because I will report you. I am on the Do Not Call list." " Okay ma'am we will not send the meter then." This whole thing is very tricky because they make it sound as though your doctor has been notified and said you needed this new meter and that is not the case at all. It is fraud pure and simple. I can see how people get sucked into this very easily. And if it is happening to me it is happening to many others as well. So spread the word.
It was just one of those days....
There are two things that took place that people should know about.
One is Chase Bank. I am sure all banks are now doing this but we all need to know and protest the practice. We had $3500+ in a Chase bank account. The first little trick they pulled is a $30 annual fee because we had less than $10,000 with them even though they are administering a very large annuity for us. We tried to get that $30 fee reversed without any luck. So we decided to do away with the $3500 we did have with them. They charged us $75 to close this account. As you can imagine Butch was livid and has let everyone he has come in contact know what Chase bank has done. We tried to get this reversed as well but had no luck with that either. So if you have small accounts here and there you are most likely being charged an annual fee for it and if you close it out they will sock it to you again. In our mind it isn't any different from the bandito's in Mexico stopping traffic and demanding a fee to keep from getting shot. Chase is most likely only one of many banks doing this practice.
Secondly, I must have registered as being diabetic online somewhere. At any rate my name is out there. There are many companies calling diabetics and telling them they have been authorized to receive a new test meter. The first time it happened to me I thought it was a an upgrade to my meter that I started with but it wasn't. It was a completely different company. They bill Medicare for it. Then I started getting calls from them-sometimes several days in a row-asking me if I needed supplies etc. So I put my number (cell phone) on the national do not call list. It takes 31 days for it to take affect but it seemed to be working...until yesterday. I received a call and it went like this. "Am I speaking to Barbara Brooker? Ms Brooker I am calling to tell you that we have contacted your doctor, Dr Panakos, and you have been approved to receive a new test meter. It will be arriving at your home in a few days." I said, "Wait a minute, You are planning to send me a new meter?" Yes, ma'am you have been approved." "I do not care if I have been approved. You are NOT sending me anything and you had best not call me again because I will report you. I am on the Do Not Call list." " Okay ma'am we will not send the meter then." This whole thing is very tricky because they make it sound as though your doctor has been notified and said you needed this new meter and that is not the case at all. It is fraud pure and simple. I can see how people get sucked into this very easily. And if it is happening to me it is happening to many others as well. So spread the word.
It was just one of those days....
Wednesday, December 29
Our Boone Iowa Kids
Michael and Kira
Nicole and Terry
Jason and Laura
Laura's Men- Michael, Jason and EthanI see Jason is carrying on the tradition. Everyone in the family is a "present".
Tuesday, December 28
Baby Elise's First Christmas
From Grandpa Gary:
She's a little too young to understand but hey she's still cute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
She's a little too young to understand but hey she's still cute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Monday, December 27
A wee little grumble and more
It has turned cold! It shouldn't last long but when it drops from 80 to 38 in a few hours we suffer. No, I do not expect sympathy from my northern friends and family. It is reminder enough that coming south in the winter is an excellent idea.
Marlene and Bernard ventured over from Harlingen yesterday. It is about a 20 some mile trip. Marlene's intention was to stop at the Blue Barn in Mercedes where we can usually buy greeting cards at unheard of low prices like a quarter a piece. It was closed. BUT she brought with her one of her famous homemade Lemon Meringue Pies. It is capitalized on purpose. The pie deserves special recognition as anyone who has had the privilege will tell you. The pie was followed by more cribbage playing but to be honest I was not paying enough attention to give you a tally of the results.
Sunday, December 26
Good Intentions
Sometimes I have good intentions and then it slips past me. My friend Mickey sent me this picture of her with her sister Donna and I planned to share it with you awhile back. When I download pictures from email sometimes they go one place and sometimes another. This was in another place but I ran across it today. Some of the Magnolia readers are familiar with Donna because she keeps a blog for Rio Valley Estates and there is a link to it on the Magnolia news and of course you all know Mickey and I have been friends for nigh onto forever.Ode to Butch
Butch always had a tradition of putting the bows on his head. It seems Elise plans to carry on the tradition. Much cuter on her!
Saturday, December 25
Elise video's
I am enjoying watching this little great grand grow. Thanks Gary for sending them.
3 new videos of Elise
Elise Eating Apples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Elise Playing Dec 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
3 new videos of Elise
Elise Eating Apples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Elise Playing Dec 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Jason's Christmas Spirit
Our youngest son Jason doing what Jason does. Those of you who know him completely understand that statement. Thanks Laura for sending the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3dzvF7kFBE
Have the merriest of Christmas's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3dzvF7kFBE
Have the merriest of Christmas's
Friday, December 24
Last of the old videotapes
From Gary:
This is the last of the old VHS stuff. It is Amanda, Gary, and Susan at 6th grade basketball in Harrisonville
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
This is the last of the old VHS stuff. It is Amanda, Gary, and Susan at 6th grade basketball in Harrisonville
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
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