I have been flying this week
Wednesday....downtown
Thursday..... mentoring. car in for detailing, shopping spree
Friday....... Corki in for grooming, me in for grooming, belt fix, wax kitchen cabinets, attempt to fix Christmas lights, downtown Rochelle parade, movie.
We watched Meet Me in St. Louis, which I love. Yes, it is a Christmas movie, but I love it for the costuming and the setting. It takes place in the early 1900s and the details in the house are amazing.
Every time I watch it, I think that would be the ideal age in which to live. There had not been a world war yet, and there was an innocence about love, marriage and sex.
Of course, it was a movie. so the dark side of those times was not covered. Watching it, you would not think race was an issue, there was poverty in the world, epidemics were frequent and deadly, travel by horse was a long process and could result in sore butts. And I can't forget the lack of electricity and the modern conveniences of a refrigerator and freezer. Or cars. Now that I think about it, living back in those days would not be good for a whimp like me.
While it looks pretty in the movies, or on paper, those were not good times.
But I am having a good time this week.
Hopefully the weekend goes a little slower......only two things on Saturday and then a relaxing day and night watching the Bears maul the Rams.
I have to rest up now.....good night, and God bless.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Thursday, December 6, 2018
lookee here
I sometimes am hampered by technology
Yesterday I could not load pictures, for some reason. I posted three, but I could not do anymore.
Since I am a great photographer and all my pictures are super good and important, I am posting some today.
I restarted my computer....and whatever was not working, worked.
I don't understand the ways of machines.
Tonight was the annual Community Action Network (CAN) shopping spree. This has been going on for several years now. CAN works at raising money all through the year, then at Christmas youngsters from struggling families are treated to a shopping spree at Walmart.
Jackie went this year, and we had a very cute little kindergartner as our shopper. Her mom and older sister went along, because for some reason the five year old was afraid to go off with two people she has never before seen in her life.
I get a gift card to buy the items. When we totalled everything up, she was pretty close to the target of $75 and we had all clothes. So Jackie and I said, let's go to the toy aisle and you can pick out a toy.
She went straight to a thing called a Hatchable....and I gulped at the $49 price tag.
We told her we were sorry, but that was above our price range. She broke out in tears and was not even willing to look at the smaller versions of the toy, or other toys. Her mother told her Santa would probably bring it, so she had to wait. But she was inconsolable.
Eventually she settled on a drawing kit.... she loves to draw.
Honestly, I felt terrible. I am a sucker for tears, and I came pretty close to giving in. But we didn't.
And who knows, maybe Santa will be able to get her the gift. But it's a big order for what we thought was a single mom raising a couple of kids.
But $50? Yikes.
Anyway, here are some pictures that did not get posted yesterday.
Yesterday I could not load pictures, for some reason. I posted three, but I could not do anymore.
Since I am a great photographer and all my pictures are super good and important, I am posting some today.
I restarted my computer....and whatever was not working, worked.
I don't understand the ways of machines.
Tonight was the annual Community Action Network (CAN) shopping spree. This has been going on for several years now. CAN works at raising money all through the year, then at Christmas youngsters from struggling families are treated to a shopping spree at Walmart.
Jackie went this year, and we had a very cute little kindergartner as our shopper. Her mom and older sister went along, because for some reason the five year old was afraid to go off with two people she has never before seen in her life.
I get a gift card to buy the items. When we totalled everything up, she was pretty close to the target of $75 and we had all clothes. So Jackie and I said, let's go to the toy aisle and you can pick out a toy.
She went straight to a thing called a Hatchable....and I gulped at the $49 price tag.
We told her we were sorry, but that was above our price range. She broke out in tears and was not even willing to look at the smaller versions of the toy, or other toys. Her mother told her Santa would probably bring it, so she had to wait. But she was inconsolable.
Eventually she settled on a drawing kit.... she loves to draw.
Honestly, I felt terrible. I am a sucker for tears, and I came pretty close to giving in. But we didn't.
And who knows, maybe Santa will be able to get her the gift. But it's a big order for what we thought was a single mom raising a couple of kids.
But $50? Yikes.
Anyway, here are some pictures that did not get posted yesterday.
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| Not a large crowd....Picasso was happy! |
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| Muddy Waters |
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| Used to be Carson's now Target....love the ornate work |
 |
| One goal achieved |
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| The Walnut Room changes colors |
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
down town, when you get lonely
I made my annual trip to the Christmas Market
I love going to the market in downtown Chicago. Today was great, because there were not a lot of people. You didn't have to push and shove your way to the front of any of the lines, or be pushed and shoved out of the way.
I bought some presents, some mulled wine, a schnitzel, and some candied nuts.
And I met a friend named Terry who lives in Oregon! He was right ahead of me in line at one of the shops. Small world, eh?
Dan and I walked down to Field's and looked at the Macy's windows. They were the same as last year, and pretty boring. Field's did a much better job.
We also went to see the big tree, but things have changed. You can't go to the eighth floor anymore...it has been sold.
So you have to view the tree from outside the Walnut Room. Not the same, but still pretty neat.
I took a lot of pictures but for some reason can't move them from photos to the desktop.
Which is funny, because I moved three pictures....then it stopped.
And speaking of stopped, two of my garlands are blacked out. Damn, that is going to be a pain to try to fix. One of them is new. I think.
I love going to the market in downtown Chicago. Today was great, because there were not a lot of people. You didn't have to push and shove your way to the front of any of the lines, or be pushed and shoved out of the way.
I bought some presents, some mulled wine, a schnitzel, and some candied nuts.
And I met a friend named Terry who lives in Oregon! He was right ahead of me in line at one of the shops. Small world, eh?
Dan and I walked down to Field's and looked at the Macy's windows. They were the same as last year, and pretty boring. Field's did a much better job.
We also went to see the big tree, but things have changed. You can't go to the eighth floor anymore...it has been sold.
So you have to view the tree from outside the Walnut Room. Not the same, but still pretty neat.
I took a lot of pictures but for some reason can't move them from photos to the desktop.
Which is funny, because I moved three pictures....then it stopped.
And speaking of stopped, two of my garlands are blacked out. Damn, that is going to be a pain to try to fix. One of them is new. I think.
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| Mulled wine takes the sting out of being cold. |
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| Megan, what can you tell me about these creatures?? |
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| Me and my schnitzel.......
Now to figure out how to load more pictures....this has never happened before!
|
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
one down....
I performed one fix today
My garage door now opens on the keypad (again) and on the car remote. (again)
I don't know how many times I put that damn battery in only to have the remote not work.
I finally flipped it over and noticed there was a paper shield on the bottom of the battery. It would not work because I did not remove the protective covering.
And following the directions worked like a charm.
But I am perplexed by the under cabinet lights.
They stopped working this weekend.
This happened a couple of times before. Once they were manually reset by my friend Steve, I think. The second time they were reset by Pete. The last time they seemed to reset themselves!
Seriously! The lights did not work but we had a storm and lightning hit near by and suddenly, they worked.
We had a lot of lightning Saturday night, which was when they stopped working.
I should have watched when the lights were reset. I will next time.
Had a great time tonight with my Exit 99 pals. We talked about doing a show. That is exciting to me, but it was great just talking and visiting with them, and laughing with them, and just being around them.
So thanks Carrie, Beth and Terry for a fun night.
The new me is going to start going to bed earlier.
So.....good night. Sweet dreams.
My garage door now opens on the keypad (again) and on the car remote. (again)
I don't know how many times I put that damn battery in only to have the remote not work.
I finally flipped it over and noticed there was a paper shield on the bottom of the battery. It would not work because I did not remove the protective covering.
And following the directions worked like a charm.
But I am perplexed by the under cabinet lights.
They stopped working this weekend.
This happened a couple of times before. Once they were manually reset by my friend Steve, I think. The second time they were reset by Pete. The last time they seemed to reset themselves!
Seriously! The lights did not work but we had a storm and lightning hit near by and suddenly, they worked.
We had a lot of lightning Saturday night, which was when they stopped working.
I should have watched when the lights were reset. I will next time.
Had a great time tonight with my Exit 99 pals. We talked about doing a show. That is exciting to me, but it was great just talking and visiting with them, and laughing with them, and just being around them.
So thanks Carrie, Beth and Terry for a fun night.
The new me is going to start going to bed earlier.
So.....good night. Sweet dreams.
Monday, December 3, 2018
son of a bee
Dag nab it! Foiled again by electronics
All this electronic stuff is supposed to make my life easier. Bull shit!
My garage door opener in the Honda was not always working. Sometimes it would open the door, sometimes it would not.
I figured the battery must be dead.
So I pry the sucker apart and put in a new battery.
Nothing.
I have to get out of my car and use the key pad. (I know, tough nougie. We had to do that in the old days. And hey, until I was 12 I thought my name was Remote. Dad was always yelling that at me.)
It was rainy and cold the other night. I back the car out, get out, punch the numbers in the key pad, close the door, run back to the car, slip on the ice, fall down the driveway, rolling like a concave bowling ball, knock down the mailbox, and bounce across the street where I eventually come to a stop.
OK, maybe I exaggerated. It's the Rum Chata in me talking.
I got wet.
When I came home, I reversed the process, again getting wet only it was colder later than earlier.
I thought maybe, just maybe, when the battery dies you have to re-sync your remote with the opener in the garage.
So I Googled it.
Seemed simple enough. Hold down the learn button until the yellow light starts blinking, then press remote button until yellow light comes on again.
I haul out my totally unstable two rung step ladder, see the learn button, and push it, holding it down until it starts blinking.
IT NEVER BLINKS!!
I do it again.
IT NEVER BLINKS!!
Being persistent, I try it again.
IT NEVER BLINKS!!
Somebody once told me if something didn't work, stop doing it. Continuing to do something that doesn't work is the true definition of insanity.
So I figured I would wait until morning, put another new battery in in case that one wasn't good, and try again.
I go over to the key pad to punch in my code and......... yeah, you saw this coming, didn't you.
IT DOESN'T WORK EITHER.
Evidently, hitting the learn button erases all the codes for that door. Duh!
Now I have to go to the door to the house, hit the opener button there, go out the little door, relock the little door, then get in the car, being careful not to slip on the ice and roll down the driveway like a convex bowling ball.
To get in the garage, I have to open the door, turn on the light, go up to the house door, hit the button, go back to the car ah hell, you know the drill by now, don't you.
I have to find the manual for the garage doors. Yes, I have it. I save everything, remember?
With luck, I will have it fixed by spring.
Until then, I expect to get cold and wet while opening the back door.
All this electronic stuff is supposed to make my life easier. Bull shit!
My garage door opener in the Honda was not always working. Sometimes it would open the door, sometimes it would not.
I figured the battery must be dead.
So I pry the sucker apart and put in a new battery.
Nothing.
I have to get out of my car and use the key pad. (I know, tough nougie. We had to do that in the old days. And hey, until I was 12 I thought my name was Remote. Dad was always yelling that at me.)
It was rainy and cold the other night. I back the car out, get out, punch the numbers in the key pad, close the door, run back to the car, slip on the ice, fall down the driveway, rolling like a concave bowling ball, knock down the mailbox, and bounce across the street where I eventually come to a stop.
OK, maybe I exaggerated. It's the Rum Chata in me talking.
I got wet.
When I came home, I reversed the process, again getting wet only it was colder later than earlier.
I thought maybe, just maybe, when the battery dies you have to re-sync your remote with the opener in the garage.
So I Googled it.
Seemed simple enough. Hold down the learn button until the yellow light starts blinking, then press remote button until yellow light comes on again.
I haul out my totally unstable two rung step ladder, see the learn button, and push it, holding it down until it starts blinking.
IT NEVER BLINKS!!
I do it again.
IT NEVER BLINKS!!
Being persistent, I try it again.
IT NEVER BLINKS!!
Somebody once told me if something didn't work, stop doing it. Continuing to do something that doesn't work is the true definition of insanity.
So I figured I would wait until morning, put another new battery in in case that one wasn't good, and try again.
I go over to the key pad to punch in my code and......... yeah, you saw this coming, didn't you.
IT DOESN'T WORK EITHER.
Evidently, hitting the learn button erases all the codes for that door. Duh!
Now I have to go to the door to the house, hit the opener button there, go out the little door, relock the little door, then get in the car, being careful not to slip on the ice and roll down the driveway like a convex bowling ball.
To get in the garage, I have to open the door, turn on the light, go up to the house door, hit the button, go back to the car ah hell, you know the drill by now, don't you.
I have to find the manual for the garage doors. Yes, I have it. I save everything, remember?
With luck, I will have it fixed by spring.
Until then, I expect to get cold and wet while opening the back door.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
odds and ends
Just a lot of stuff to mention
The doorbell rang at a little after 10 this morning. I was still in my World Series Champion Chicago Cubs pajamas. I have seen people wearing these out in public, so after checking the fly, I went to the door.
There was a really tall man standing there. I did not have my glasses on. My hair was sticking out in all sorts of crazy angles. I opened the door. I figured two people were either religious callers or thieves, but one person was pretty safe.
It was my friend Todd. He had a pie. His friend felt guilty for outbidding us for the pie package at the VCCT auction, so he decided to bring a pie to us.
I may have guilted them into it. I did say several times, in a very whiny voice, "Those were my pies. I was supposed to win them. Who are you, anyway?"
Turns out, you can have your pie and eat it too. Whatever that means.
I have a Yahoo e-mail account. A couple of days ago I had 224 e-mails. I deleted as many as I could. Two days ago I had 141. Today I have 187. I can tell it is Christmas as most of them are advertisements. And yes, I can unsubscribe but I have found some good deals!
I had a zoo day today. I went to take out a rabbit and read the note that said rabbit was digging and nipping, not a good sign. I took her out anyway and she was an absolute delight! Sat very quietly in my lap and did not dig or nip at all. She even closed her eyes for a few minutes.
I was going 65 in the 55 mile work zone on the tollway and people were passing me like I was standing still. I don't understand.
The melting snow solved the problems of snowmobilers going through the retention pond. I opened the back door and screamed at them that this was private property. Jackie said they could not hear me and I was wasting my time, but they left. Go figure.
I hate the sound and smell of snowmobiles and ATVs. And I hate that people who have them think it is ok to go on to private property and drive their toys. Shows a lack of respect for landowners.
I may be repeating myself.....but three nights ago I made some white chocolate hot chocolate. I then put in an ounce or so of Rum Chata. Instant heaven. I may become addicted.
I think I am becoming a grouch.
That's ok by me.
The doorbell rang at a little after 10 this morning. I was still in my World Series Champion Chicago Cubs pajamas. I have seen people wearing these out in public, so after checking the fly, I went to the door.
There was a really tall man standing there. I did not have my glasses on. My hair was sticking out in all sorts of crazy angles. I opened the door. I figured two people were either religious callers or thieves, but one person was pretty safe.
It was my friend Todd. He had a pie. His friend felt guilty for outbidding us for the pie package at the VCCT auction, so he decided to bring a pie to us.
I may have guilted them into it. I did say several times, in a very whiny voice, "Those were my pies. I was supposed to win them. Who are you, anyway?"
Turns out, you can have your pie and eat it too. Whatever that means.
I have a Yahoo e-mail account. A couple of days ago I had 224 e-mails. I deleted as many as I could. Two days ago I had 141. Today I have 187. I can tell it is Christmas as most of them are advertisements. And yes, I can unsubscribe but I have found some good deals!
I had a zoo day today. I went to take out a rabbit and read the note that said rabbit was digging and nipping, not a good sign. I took her out anyway and she was an absolute delight! Sat very quietly in my lap and did not dig or nip at all. She even closed her eyes for a few minutes.
I was going 65 in the 55 mile work zone on the tollway and people were passing me like I was standing still. I don't understand.
The melting snow solved the problems of snowmobilers going through the retention pond. I opened the back door and screamed at them that this was private property. Jackie said they could not hear me and I was wasting my time, but they left. Go figure.
I hate the sound and smell of snowmobiles and ATVs. And I hate that people who have them think it is ok to go on to private property and drive their toys. Shows a lack of respect for landowners.
I may be repeating myself.....but three nights ago I made some white chocolate hot chocolate. I then put in an ounce or so of Rum Chata. Instant heaven. I may become addicted.
I think I am becoming a grouch.
That's ok by me.
Saturday, December 1, 2018
it's a wrap
We did a radio play tonight
One night only, a VCCT fundraiser.
I may be repeating myself, but a radio play is a play presented on the radio, like in the 40s and 30s, before the age of TV.
I thought it went well; met several people I have not really known before. It was nice learning about them.
I have a sheltered life.
They talked about movies they have seen, and I know I should have seen them, but I have not. I now have a list of about 50 to watch. And about 20 to see in theaters.
And while it is not like a full play, with costumes and make up, it still takes a lot of work, and energy, to do a good job.
I guess that is why I am tired, but can't go to bed. Still have the rush you get from being in front of an audience coupled with the desire to sleep.
Could be a toss and turn night.
Funny, in the middle of the show there was lots of lightning and thunder. It's Dec. 1, we shouldn't be having thunderstorms.
Sure wish some smart people could figure this whole weather/climate thing out.
Any way, I am snarky...so better go before I say something that offends someone.
One night only, a VCCT fundraiser.
I may be repeating myself, but a radio play is a play presented on the radio, like in the 40s and 30s, before the age of TV.
I thought it went well; met several people I have not really known before. It was nice learning about them.
I have a sheltered life.
They talked about movies they have seen, and I know I should have seen them, but I have not. I now have a list of about 50 to watch. And about 20 to see in theaters.
And while it is not like a full play, with costumes and make up, it still takes a lot of work, and energy, to do a good job.
I guess that is why I am tired, but can't go to bed. Still have the rush you get from being in front of an audience coupled with the desire to sleep.
Could be a toss and turn night.
Funny, in the middle of the show there was lots of lightning and thunder. It's Dec. 1, we shouldn't be having thunderstorms.
Sure wish some smart people could figure this whole weather/climate thing out.
Any way, I am snarky...so better go before I say something that offends someone.
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