Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I can Really Relate to This, can You?
Alright all you Facebook addicts, does this apply to you, maybe it is time to re-evaluate how we spend our time.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Two Years Ago Today
Well it was two years ago today that we had to put our dog down because his kidneys had failed and the arthritis in his hips was so bad that it took him a long time to get up after he had been laying down for a while.
I have wanted to get another dog to replace him for a long time but Kathleen was not ready and then we started our remodel and the house has been torn up for the last year and a half and we are probably at the point where we have been without a dog long enough that we probably will not be getting another one.
If Kathleen were to have another dog she would want a small dog, I on the other hand would want a dog around the size of a Golden Retriever, Vizsla or Standard Poodle. Even a Goldendoodle or a Labradoodle would work for me as they like the Standard Poodle do not shed as they have hair instead of fur.
So since we probably will never agree on the size of dog we probably will not be getting one. In a way it makes it easier to just pick up and go some where with out having to worry about finding a place for the dog or even if we go someplace in town having to hurry back to let the dog out.
Well, this has been a hectic day, Alyssa had to take Hayden to the hospital as he had a sliver in one of his fingers. I just tried calling and there was no answer so they still must be at the hospital.
Then Chucky took Snickers to the vet to get his shots and he had an allergic reaction to the shot. So we took off to meet Chucky at the vets and before we got there Chucky called my cell and said that he was at our house.
When we left dinner had just finished cooking so I invited Chucky to wait for us to return and he could have dinner with us. So last night we had Alyssa and her children for dinner and tonight we had Chucky eating with us; almost like old times.
Kathleen and I have been working at doing Spring Cleaning and have just about gone through the living room, dining room and kitchen sorting things out and rearranging the furniture.
I made a trip to Goodwill yesterday and dropped off the SUV full of stuff and we already have started on another box to take next week. We have decided that rather than wait until we have a full load we will just make more trips so that we can get the stuff out of the house.
Well, Chucky is still here, so I will post this and go visit some more.
I have wanted to get another dog to replace him for a long time but Kathleen was not ready and then we started our remodel and the house has been torn up for the last year and a half and we are probably at the point where we have been without a dog long enough that we probably will not be getting another one.
If Kathleen were to have another dog she would want a small dog, I on the other hand would want a dog around the size of a Golden Retriever, Vizsla or Standard Poodle. Even a Goldendoodle or a Labradoodle would work for me as they like the Standard Poodle do not shed as they have hair instead of fur.
So since we probably will never agree on the size of dog we probably will not be getting one. In a way it makes it easier to just pick up and go some where with out having to worry about finding a place for the dog or even if we go someplace in town having to hurry back to let the dog out.
Well, this has been a hectic day, Alyssa had to take Hayden to the hospital as he had a sliver in one of his fingers. I just tried calling and there was no answer so they still must be at the hospital.
Then Chucky took Snickers to the vet to get his shots and he had an allergic reaction to the shot. So we took off to meet Chucky at the vets and before we got there Chucky called my cell and said that he was at our house.
When we left dinner had just finished cooking so I invited Chucky to wait for us to return and he could have dinner with us. So last night we had Alyssa and her children for dinner and tonight we had Chucky eating with us; almost like old times.
Kathleen and I have been working at doing Spring Cleaning and have just about gone through the living room, dining room and kitchen sorting things out and rearranging the furniture.
I made a trip to Goodwill yesterday and dropped off the SUV full of stuff and we already have started on another box to take next week. We have decided that rather than wait until we have a full load we will just make more trips so that we can get the stuff out of the house.
Well, Chucky is still here, so I will post this and go visit some more.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Happy St. Patrick's Day (Tomorrow)
I thought that I would post a couple "Irish" recipes for tomorrow if you are brave enough to try them.
For breakfast try Irish soda bread~
Ingredients:
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 2 tsp. baking soda
* 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
* 1 large egg
* 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
* 1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit of your choice
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Stir flours, sugar, baking soda and salt together in a mixing bowl.
3. Whisk egg and buttermilk together in a small bowl. Add to the flour mixture, stirring until just blended. Stir in the raisins.
4. Turn out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead several times, then form a loaf.
5. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cut an X on the top of the loaf. Bake 30-50 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. (Yes, the cooking time varies widely. Check it at 30 minutes and again every 5 minutes to avoid over baking it.)
corned beef hash~
Ingredients:
* 3 cups peeled and diced potatoes
* 1 Tbsp. canola oil
* 1 small onion, diced
* 2 cups shredded corned beef (either leftover cooked corned beef or deli corned beef)
* 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce (can be eliminated if desired)
* 1/2 cup half and half (can substitute evaporated or powered mild if desired)
* 1/2 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
Preparation:
1. Place potatoes in a heavy saucepan and cover with enough water so that there is 1 inch of water above the potatoes.
2. Bring to a boil, and cook, uncovered until fork-tender, about 6 minutes. Drain.
3. Heat oil in a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add potatoes. Let potatoes cook about 2 minutes until browned on the bottom.
5. Flip the potatoes and add the remaining ingredients. Cook until all the liquid evaporates.
Serve with Poached Eggs on top.
For lunch try Colcannon ~
Ingredients:
* 3 pounds russet potatoes
* 1 Tbsp. olive oil
* 1 small onion, diced
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 3 cups shredded cabbage (or kale)
* kosher salt and pepper to taste
* 1/4 cup butter, divided
* 1/3 cup half and half
* 2 slices pre-cooked bacon, warmed according to package directions and crumbled
Preparation:
1. Peel and dice potatoes. Place in a large pot and cover with water by one inch. Bring to a boil, covered, over high heat.
2. Remove cover, reduce heat to medium, and allow potatoes to cook 12-15 minutes, until tender when pierced with a fork.
3. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
4. Add cabbage, season with salt and pepper, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
5. Drain potatoes and return to pot. Season with salt and pepper. Add two tablespoons of the butter and the half and half. Mash.
6. Fold in the cabbage mixture and the bacon. Top with the remaining butter.
Green Smoothie ~
Ingredients:
* 2 cups firmly-packed fresh kale
* 1 cup frozen unsweetened pineapple chunks
* 1-1/2 cups pineapple-coconut juice or plain pineapple juice
* 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
Preparation:
1. Place kale in a Vita Mix Blender or regular blender.
2. Add remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth.
Makes 2 servings.
For Dinner try Corned Beef and Cabbage done in a Crock Pot ~
Ingredients:
* 1 2- to 3-pound corned beef brisket
* 1 medium onion, sliced
* zest of 1 orange
* 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
* 1/4 cup coarse-grain or Dijon mustard
* 1 cup apple juice
* 1 medium head cabbage, cut into 8 wedges
Preparation:
1. Trim corned beef of excess fat (or have the butcher at your supermarket do this for you).
2. Place sliced onions in the bottom of the Crock pot stoneware. Lay corned beef on top.
3. Sprinkle orange zest and brown sugar over corned beef. Spread mustard over top. Pour juice over corned beef.
4. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours.
5. Add cabbage and stir to coat with pan juices. Cook another 1-2 hours.
Serve over Roasted Potatoes ~
Ingredients:
* 2 pounds new potatoes
* 1 tsp. garlic powder (not garlic salt)
* 1 tsp. sea salt (or kosher salt)
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Wash potatoes and cut into 3/4-inch chunks. Remember, the more even the chunks, the more even the potatoes will cook. Also, the smaller the chunks the faster the potatoes will cook.
3. Place potatoes in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle garlic powder and salt evenly over potatoes. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss with your hands to make sure potatoes are evenly coated.
4. Bake 20 minutes. Stir. Bake another 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are golden brown.
For dessert try Watergate Salad ~
Ingredients:
* 1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple
* 1 3.5 oz. package pistachio pudding and pie filling
* 2 cups miniature marshmallows
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans
* 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
* 2 cups frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
Preparation:
1. Drain the pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup of the juice.
2. Place the pineapple and reserved juice in a large bowl. Add the pudding mixes, miniature marshmallows, pecans and coconut. Stir well.
3. Gently fold in the whipped topping until the mixture is well-combined, but not soupy. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Makes 8 servings.
Note: This recipe can be made up to a day in advance.
Or you might want to try:
Chocolate Brownies with Mint and Fudge Frosting ~
Ingredients:
* 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
* 1/2 cup butter
* 2 large eggs
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* For Filling:
* 3 Tbsp. butter, softened to room temperature
* 1 cup powdered sugar
* 2 Tbsp. milk
* 1 tsp. peppermint extract
* 2-3 drops green food coloring (optional)
* For Glaze:
* 1/4 cup butter
* 6 oz. semisweet chocolate
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and let cool a few minutes.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until creamy. Beat in the flour.
4. Stir in the chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 22-25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Let brownies cool completely, at least 1 hour.
6. Prepare filling: Beat butter and sugar together with an electric mixer.
7. Add milk and peppermint extract, beating until smooth. Add food coloring if using.
8. Spread filling over cooled brownies. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
9. For glaze: Heat butter and chocolate in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Pour over mint layer, spreading out evenly.
10. Refrigerate until firm.
Makes 9 brownies.
For breakfast try Irish soda bread~
Ingredients:
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 2 tsp. baking soda
* 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
* 1 large egg
* 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
* 1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit of your choice
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Stir flours, sugar, baking soda and salt together in a mixing bowl.
3. Whisk egg and buttermilk together in a small bowl. Add to the flour mixture, stirring until just blended. Stir in the raisins.
4. Turn out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead several times, then form a loaf.
5. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cut an X on the top of the loaf. Bake 30-50 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. (Yes, the cooking time varies widely. Check it at 30 minutes and again every 5 minutes to avoid over baking it.)
corned beef hash~
Ingredients:
* 3 cups peeled and diced potatoes
* 1 Tbsp. canola oil
* 1 small onion, diced
* 2 cups shredded corned beef (either leftover cooked corned beef or deli corned beef)
* 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce (can be eliminated if desired)
* 1/2 cup half and half (can substitute evaporated or powered mild if desired)
* 1/2 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
Preparation:
1. Place potatoes in a heavy saucepan and cover with enough water so that there is 1 inch of water above the potatoes.
2. Bring to a boil, and cook, uncovered until fork-tender, about 6 minutes. Drain.
3. Heat oil in a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add potatoes. Let potatoes cook about 2 minutes until browned on the bottom.
5. Flip the potatoes and add the remaining ingredients. Cook until all the liquid evaporates.
Serve with Poached Eggs on top.
For lunch try Colcannon ~
Ingredients:
* 3 pounds russet potatoes
* 1 Tbsp. olive oil
* 1 small onion, diced
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 3 cups shredded cabbage (or kale)
* kosher salt and pepper to taste
* 1/4 cup butter, divided
* 1/3 cup half and half
* 2 slices pre-cooked bacon, warmed according to package directions and crumbled
Preparation:
1. Peel and dice potatoes. Place in a large pot and cover with water by one inch. Bring to a boil, covered, over high heat.
2. Remove cover, reduce heat to medium, and allow potatoes to cook 12-15 minutes, until tender when pierced with a fork.
3. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
4. Add cabbage, season with salt and pepper, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
5. Drain potatoes and return to pot. Season with salt and pepper. Add two tablespoons of the butter and the half and half. Mash.
6. Fold in the cabbage mixture and the bacon. Top with the remaining butter.
Green Smoothie ~
Ingredients:
* 2 cups firmly-packed fresh kale
* 1 cup frozen unsweetened pineapple chunks
* 1-1/2 cups pineapple-coconut juice or plain pineapple juice
* 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
Preparation:
1. Place kale in a Vita Mix Blender or regular blender.
2. Add remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth.
Makes 2 servings.
For Dinner try Corned Beef and Cabbage done in a Crock Pot ~
Ingredients:
* 1 2- to 3-pound corned beef brisket
* 1 medium onion, sliced
* zest of 1 orange
* 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
* 1/4 cup coarse-grain or Dijon mustard
* 1 cup apple juice
* 1 medium head cabbage, cut into 8 wedges
Preparation:
1. Trim corned beef of excess fat (or have the butcher at your supermarket do this for you).
2. Place sliced onions in the bottom of the Crock pot stoneware. Lay corned beef on top.
3. Sprinkle orange zest and brown sugar over corned beef. Spread mustard over top. Pour juice over corned beef.
4. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours.
5. Add cabbage and stir to coat with pan juices. Cook another 1-2 hours.
Serve over Roasted Potatoes ~
Ingredients:
* 2 pounds new potatoes
* 1 tsp. garlic powder (not garlic salt)
* 1 tsp. sea salt (or kosher salt)
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Wash potatoes and cut into 3/4-inch chunks. Remember, the more even the chunks, the more even the potatoes will cook. Also, the smaller the chunks the faster the potatoes will cook.
3. Place potatoes in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle garlic powder and salt evenly over potatoes. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss with your hands to make sure potatoes are evenly coated.
4. Bake 20 minutes. Stir. Bake another 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are golden brown.
For dessert try Watergate Salad ~
Ingredients:
* 1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple
* 1 3.5 oz. package pistachio pudding and pie filling
* 2 cups miniature marshmallows
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans
* 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
* 2 cups frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
Preparation:
1. Drain the pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup of the juice.
2. Place the pineapple and reserved juice in a large bowl. Add the pudding mixes, miniature marshmallows, pecans and coconut. Stir well.
3. Gently fold in the whipped topping until the mixture is well-combined, but not soupy. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Makes 8 servings.
Note: This recipe can be made up to a day in advance.
Or you might want to try:
Chocolate Brownies with Mint and Fudge Frosting ~
Ingredients:
* 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
* 1/2 cup butter
* 2 large eggs
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* For Filling:
* 3 Tbsp. butter, softened to room temperature
* 1 cup powdered sugar
* 2 Tbsp. milk
* 1 tsp. peppermint extract
* 2-3 drops green food coloring (optional)
* For Glaze:
* 1/4 cup butter
* 6 oz. semisweet chocolate
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and let cool a few minutes.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until creamy. Beat in the flour.
4. Stir in the chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 22-25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Let brownies cool completely, at least 1 hour.
6. Prepare filling: Beat butter and sugar together with an electric mixer.
7. Add milk and peppermint extract, beating until smooth. Add food coloring if using.
8. Spread filling over cooled brownies. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
9. For glaze: Heat butter and chocolate in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Pour over mint layer, spreading out evenly.
10. Refrigerate until firm.
Makes 9 brownies.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Fabulous Food Friday - Seafood Cioppino
Since this is Friday I thought that I would post a good seafood dish. With this recipe you can add or subtract just about anything per your particular taste.
Ingredients:
1 lb. of Linguini
3 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
5 cloves of crushed garlic (use a little less if you do not like garlic)
1 cup of fresh chopped basil
2 tablespoons of fresh chopped oregano
2 teaspoons of sugar
1/2 cup of a good dry red wine
4 cups of fresh diced tomatoes
1 pound of chopped clams
1 pound of chopped scallops
½ pound of chopped squid
1 pound of cubed fresh salmon
1 pound of cubed cod, or halibut (you could use both if you like and I do)
24 mussels out of the shell (pre-cooked although I have had them still in the shell)
8 crab legs (shelled would be nice or provide a shell cracker; or you could substitute a pound of crab meat)
24 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup of fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste (I do not like to use much salt)
Preparation:
1.Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil with a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of olive oil, add soy protein pasta and cook 8 -10 minutes.
2.Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat the olive oil for 3 minutes on medium-high, then add the onion and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat and add the garlic, basil, oregano and sugar and cook for 4 minutes. Add the red wine, diced tomato and salt and pepper. Stir until blended, cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3.Add clams, salmon and halibut or cod or both, crab, scallops and squid. Cover and cook on medium heat for 7 minutes, then add the shrimp and mussels and continue cooking, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Check and add water if needed; check the seasoning. Add salt or pepper to taste.
4.Drain the pasta, and place on plate. Top the pasta with seafood sauce and grated Parmesan.
This should serve about 8 people.
Cioppino is a fish stew derived from the various regional fish soups and stews of Italian cuisine. Cioppino is traditionally made from fish, clams, shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels and fresh tomatoes in a wine sauce, served over spaghetti and toasted buttered bread.
Ingredients:
1 lb. of Linguini
3 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
5 cloves of crushed garlic (use a little less if you do not like garlic)
1 cup of fresh chopped basil
2 tablespoons of fresh chopped oregano
2 teaspoons of sugar
1/2 cup of a good dry red wine
4 cups of fresh diced tomatoes
1 pound of chopped clams
1 pound of chopped scallops
½ pound of chopped squid
1 pound of cubed fresh salmon
1 pound of cubed cod, or halibut (you could use both if you like and I do)
24 mussels out of the shell (pre-cooked although I have had them still in the shell)
8 crab legs (shelled would be nice or provide a shell cracker; or you could substitute a pound of crab meat)
24 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup of fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste (I do not like to use much salt)
Preparation:
1.Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil with a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of olive oil, add soy protein pasta and cook 8 -10 minutes.
2.Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat the olive oil for 3 minutes on medium-high, then add the onion and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat and add the garlic, basil, oregano and sugar and cook for 4 minutes. Add the red wine, diced tomato and salt and pepper. Stir until blended, cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3.Add clams, salmon and halibut or cod or both, crab, scallops and squid. Cover and cook on medium heat for 7 minutes, then add the shrimp and mussels and continue cooking, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Check and add water if needed; check the seasoning. Add salt or pepper to taste.
4.Drain the pasta, and place on plate. Top the pasta with seafood sauce and grated Parmesan.
This should serve about 8 people.
Cioppino is a fish stew derived from the various regional fish soups and stews of Italian cuisine. Cioppino is traditionally made from fish, clams, shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels and fresh tomatoes in a wine sauce, served over spaghetti and toasted buttered bread.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Still Fighting a Cold
I have been feeling much better the last few days than I have in a long time so I thought that I would do a little blogging. Over all I feel pretty good except I cough almost from the time I get up until I go to bed. I have been using Zi-Cam and going through cough drops like they were going out of style, but when I am not coughing I am feeling pretty good.
Since I had my cortisone shot and doing physical therapy my back and hips have been giving me very few problems and I am able to do just about as much as I was able to before all the pain started.
This morning I picked up some of the fir branches and cones that have been blowing down from the wind and so far I have not had any problem with my back or hip and usually by now they both would be giving me a lot of pain.
I really did not get a lot accomplished today as I spent a fair amount of time getting my credit cards, stocks, bond, mutual funds real estate holding and other things into my Quicken so that I can do a better job of managing our finances.
We have been doing Dave Ramey's "Financial Peace University" and so even though I pay off the credit cards every month he recommends that we do not use credit cards. This last week I canceled six different credit cards as well as my American Express Gold card which had an unlimited credit limit.
One time I bought one of our vehicles with it; I think that the sales person was shocked when I told him that I was going to charge it and even more shocked when American Express accepted it.
I realize that canceling so many of my cards at one time is libel to hurt my credit score, but it is into the excellent range that even if it drops quite a bit I still should be okay. Besides we are trying to pay off our mortgage and the no interest account that Kathleen bought her sewing machine with and then we will be debt free.
We worked out a budget last month and it looks like we should be able to start saving for major purchases when and if we need them; although that will take a while to save up enough for anything too major.
Sometime between tonight and tomorrow evening I need to work out a budget for March. The budgets are still a work in progress and so each month we keep tweaking them until we can come up with something that we can live with.
Well, I think that I have probably put everyone to sleep by now so I think that I will stop and post this for tonight!
Since I had my cortisone shot and doing physical therapy my back and hips have been giving me very few problems and I am able to do just about as much as I was able to before all the pain started.
This morning I picked up some of the fir branches and cones that have been blowing down from the wind and so far I have not had any problem with my back or hip and usually by now they both would be giving me a lot of pain.
I really did not get a lot accomplished today as I spent a fair amount of time getting my credit cards, stocks, bond, mutual funds real estate holding and other things into my Quicken so that I can do a better job of managing our finances.
We have been doing Dave Ramey's "Financial Peace University" and so even though I pay off the credit cards every month he recommends that we do not use credit cards. This last week I canceled six different credit cards as well as my American Express Gold card which had an unlimited credit limit.
One time I bought one of our vehicles with it; I think that the sales person was shocked when I told him that I was going to charge it and even more shocked when American Express accepted it.
I realize that canceling so many of my cards at one time is libel to hurt my credit score, but it is into the excellent range that even if it drops quite a bit I still should be okay. Besides we are trying to pay off our mortgage and the no interest account that Kathleen bought her sewing machine with and then we will be debt free.
We worked out a budget last month and it looks like we should be able to start saving for major purchases when and if we need them; although that will take a while to save up enough for anything too major.
Sometime between tonight and tomorrow evening I need to work out a budget for March. The budgets are still a work in progress and so each month we keep tweaking them until we can come up with something that we can live with.
Well, I think that I have probably put everyone to sleep by now so I think that I will stop and post this for tonight!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Physical Therapy
After last weeks cortisone shot I have felt so much better as far as pain goes, this weekend I was still suffering from whatever it was that I had and then Sunday I spent most of the day rushing to the bathroom. I am really appreciating having a bathroom on each floor!
Monday morning I had my first session with the physical therapist for my back and hips. He had me do a variety of things to find out where the pain was centered and then gave me a few stretching exercises to do three times a day.
After doing them the second time at home I got tired enough that I took a nap and slept until almost 1700. I seemed to feel better when I woke up and by the time I went to bed my sinuses were not bothering me like they had for the last three or four weeks.
Then this morning I had my physical therapy with the hand specialist, she pocked and squeezed my hands and thumbs to find out where my pain was and then fit me a splint for my right hand to see if it helps.
She also recommended a device that is put into the microwave and heated up, it has a place where I can put my hand inside to provide some warmth which is suppose to help with the pain. Kathleen has been using it more than I have, I think because she is always cold.
Then tomorrow morning at 0730 I meet with my hip and back physical therapist for some more stretching and trying to get my hip and back to relax more. He said yesterday that he cannot remember anyone who has been so tight, but that it was probably from masking or compensating for pain for so long.
I guess that is one of the problems for having such a high tolerance of pain, I was able to get by by blocking it out but now my muscles are really tight and joints are pretty locked or frozen and not allowing my much flexibility.
When I think of being in my twenties and I could put both legs behind my head and do all kind of twisting and bending without any problem. I took Yoga for several years for PE credits and so I was almost like a pretzel.
Well, I need to do my stretching exercises again so I think that I will just post this and call it a day.
Monday morning I had my first session with the physical therapist for my back and hips. He had me do a variety of things to find out where the pain was centered and then gave me a few stretching exercises to do three times a day.
After doing them the second time at home I got tired enough that I took a nap and slept until almost 1700. I seemed to feel better when I woke up and by the time I went to bed my sinuses were not bothering me like they had for the last three or four weeks.
Then this morning I had my physical therapy with the hand specialist, she pocked and squeezed my hands and thumbs to find out where my pain was and then fit me a splint for my right hand to see if it helps.
She also recommended a device that is put into the microwave and heated up, it has a place where I can put my hand inside to provide some warmth which is suppose to help with the pain. Kathleen has been using it more than I have, I think because she is always cold.
Then tomorrow morning at 0730 I meet with my hip and back physical therapist for some more stretching and trying to get my hip and back to relax more. He said yesterday that he cannot remember anyone who has been so tight, but that it was probably from masking or compensating for pain for so long.
I guess that is one of the problems for having such a high tolerance of pain, I was able to get by by blocking it out but now my muscles are really tight and joints are pretty locked or frozen and not allowing my much flexibility.
When I think of being in my twenties and I could put both legs behind my head and do all kind of twisting and bending without any problem. I took Yoga for several years for PE credits and so I was almost like a pretzel.
Well, I need to do my stretching exercises again so I think that I will just post this and call it a day.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Good Ending to the Week
This morning I was feeling pretty good so I did a load of dishes, picked up the rugs in the kitchen and downstairs bathroom, shook them out, swept the floors, mopped the floors, swept the stairs going upstairs and the basement, and then vacuumed the carpets downstairs.
I even managed to do four loads of laundry, I just finished putting the laundry away and I am starting to feel a little tired. It would have taken me several days to get all that done before I had that cortisone shot the other day.
My cold has gotten better, I am still not really healthy, but much better than I have been for the last two weeks. Well, I had a busy day so I think that I will call it good and post this.
I even managed to do four loads of laundry, I just finished putting the laundry away and I am starting to feel a little tired. It would have taken me several days to get all that done before I had that cortisone shot the other day.
My cold has gotten better, I am still not really healthy, but much better than I have been for the last two weeks. Well, I had a busy day so I think that I will call it good and post this.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Day Two After Cortisone Shot
This morning when I got up I was able to move without the pain that I have almost become accustom to for the last year and a half. I still have some pain but nothing like what I have been experiencing before the shot.
After breakfast I looked outside and it was much cloudier than it has been the last few days so I decided that I would put down some fertilizer on the lawn. This turned out to be a much larger task than I had originally planned.
After bringing the spreader and the fertilizer to the front yard I realized that there was still some winter debris over by the hedge on the east side of the lawn; so I got out my rake and raked the front lawn. After I finished raking I realized that I probably should mow the lawn, so I got out my mower and mowed the front lawn.
Now that I had the lawn raked and mowed I could put the fertilizer down which I did. After finishing the front lawn I moved everything to the back yard. First I mowed the lawn and then put down the fertilizer. I did not need to rake as I had picked up and raked it a couple days ago.
Then I went back out front with my rake and hoe so that I could clear out the drainage trench that I have from in front of the kitchen windows down along the hedge to get the water away from the sidewalk. Moles had dug up some of the soil last fall and I had not felt well enough to to do it before now.
While I was doing that a couple of guys stopped by and wanted to know if I had any metal that they could have, I let them take some of the pipes and the old tub from the downstairs bathroom a few months before and they seemed like they were okay so I let them take my old gutters that I replace a couple years ago.
I would have let them have it last time but I had forgotten it as it was in the back and the pipes and tub were in the side yard on the other side of the driveway. After they left I went into the house, cleaned up and then made myself some lunch.
Right now I have a load of towels in the washer and I had planned on doing a couple loads of clothes but Kathleen has not gone back upstairs to add her clothes to the laundry bags so I may wait until tomorrow to do them.
I am surprised at how little I hurt after all that I did today. It probably would have taken me three of four days to do what I did today before I had that cortisone shot, so maybe there is hope for me yet.
Well it is getting close to dinner time so I think that I will publish this and call it a day.
After breakfast I looked outside and it was much cloudier than it has been the last few days so I decided that I would put down some fertilizer on the lawn. This turned out to be a much larger task than I had originally planned.
After bringing the spreader and the fertilizer to the front yard I realized that there was still some winter debris over by the hedge on the east side of the lawn; so I got out my rake and raked the front lawn. After I finished raking I realized that I probably should mow the lawn, so I got out my mower and mowed the front lawn.
Now that I had the lawn raked and mowed I could put the fertilizer down which I did. After finishing the front lawn I moved everything to the back yard. First I mowed the lawn and then put down the fertilizer. I did not need to rake as I had picked up and raked it a couple days ago.
Then I went back out front with my rake and hoe so that I could clear out the drainage trench that I have from in front of the kitchen windows down along the hedge to get the water away from the sidewalk. Moles had dug up some of the soil last fall and I had not felt well enough to to do it before now.
While I was doing that a couple of guys stopped by and wanted to know if I had any metal that they could have, I let them take some of the pipes and the old tub from the downstairs bathroom a few months before and they seemed like they were okay so I let them take my old gutters that I replace a couple years ago.
I would have let them have it last time but I had forgotten it as it was in the back and the pipes and tub were in the side yard on the other side of the driveway. After they left I went into the house, cleaned up and then made myself some lunch.
Right now I have a load of towels in the washer and I had planned on doing a couple loads of clothes but Kathleen has not gone back upstairs to add her clothes to the laundry bags so I may wait until tomorrow to do them.
I am surprised at how little I hurt after all that I did today. It probably would have taken me three of four days to do what I did today before I had that cortisone shot, so maybe there is hope for me yet.
Well it is getting close to dinner time so I think that I will publish this and call it a day.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Day After Cortisone
I was able to sleep on my left side comfortably last night for the first time in over a year so that cortisone shot must have really done its job. I did get up earlier than I had planned as I started coughing and did not want to keep Kathleen up.
So after eating breakfast and reading the paper I loaded up the dishwasher and started it up. I was such a nice day that I decided to go for a walk and was able to walk the three quarter mile around the block with out my hip really hurting me. Toward the end I felt like it was going to start hurting any moment but it never did so that was a relief for me.
When I got back the mail had come so I got it but there was not much of anything there; as I was putting the junk mail into the box that I put the recycling in I though that it would be a good opportunity to see if I could clean up the laundry room.
I got rid of a lot of the bags of plastic bags and bags of rags and was able to move some of the other thing to under the clothes hooks. I also got rid of the box that our lap top came in and also the box that our battery back up for Kathleen's computer.
So now everything is cleared away for the new back door and we can even get into the cabinets next to the washer and dryer. My goal for the next few weeks is to try and go through one room at a time and sort and throw out so that we can reclaim our house back again.
I noticed that the used towels were starting to pile up so I loaded up the washer and did a load of towels. I finally made myself some lunch around 1530; I reheated up some split pea soup from the other night and had the other half of the burger from Burgerville from yesterdays lunch.
After eating I emptied the dishwasher and then put my lunch dishes into the dishwasher. The towels were finished in the washer so I loaded them into the dryer and turned it on.
After I while I heard the dryer go off so I took the towels out, folded and put them away. Then I decided that I would sit and rest for a while and watch the local news. It got to be around 1830 and I asked Kathleen if she was going to do anything for dinner or if she wanted me to do something, she said that she would like for me to do something.
Upon opening the refrigerator I discovered some left-over meatloaf, some left-over rice so I fixed the rice with some cheese on top for Kathleen and and heated up some meatloaf and split pea soup for myself.
I kind of feel like I have had more energy today and I can only think that since my hip was not hurting and sapping my energy that allowed me to get more done. Well, I am tired so I think that I will call it a night.
So after eating breakfast and reading the paper I loaded up the dishwasher and started it up. I was such a nice day that I decided to go for a walk and was able to walk the three quarter mile around the block with out my hip really hurting me. Toward the end I felt like it was going to start hurting any moment but it never did so that was a relief for me.
When I got back the mail had come so I got it but there was not much of anything there; as I was putting the junk mail into the box that I put the recycling in I though that it would be a good opportunity to see if I could clean up the laundry room.
I got rid of a lot of the bags of plastic bags and bags of rags and was able to move some of the other thing to under the clothes hooks. I also got rid of the box that our lap top came in and also the box that our battery back up for Kathleen's computer.
So now everything is cleared away for the new back door and we can even get into the cabinets next to the washer and dryer. My goal for the next few weeks is to try and go through one room at a time and sort and throw out so that we can reclaim our house back again.
I noticed that the used towels were starting to pile up so I loaded up the washer and did a load of towels. I finally made myself some lunch around 1530; I reheated up some split pea soup from the other night and had the other half of the burger from Burgerville from yesterdays lunch.
After eating I emptied the dishwasher and then put my lunch dishes into the dishwasher. The towels were finished in the washer so I loaded them into the dryer and turned it on.
After I while I heard the dryer go off so I took the towels out, folded and put them away. Then I decided that I would sit and rest for a while and watch the local news. It got to be around 1830 and I asked Kathleen if she was going to do anything for dinner or if she wanted me to do something, she said that she would like for me to do something.
Upon opening the refrigerator I discovered some left-over meatloaf, some left-over rice so I fixed the rice with some cheese on top for Kathleen and and heated up some meatloaf and split pea soup for myself.
I kind of feel like I have had more energy today and I can only think that since my hip was not hurting and sapping my energy that allowed me to get more done. Well, I am tired so I think that I will call it a night.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Today was Doctor Visit Day!
This morning I had my visit with the Arthritis and bone doctor at 1100 so I did not get much of anything done this morning. My head cold or whatever it is that I have was a little better this morning and I felt pretty good over all.
When I got to the doctor's office, I had to fill out the usual forms even though I had already filled out the ones that they had sent me. The receptionist was also the nurse so you can see that it was a pretty small office. The doctor has only had this practice for a year or so so I think that he is cutting out extra staff until he establishes the practice.
The doctor poke and prodded trying to find all the areas that hurt and finally said that a lot of my pain was from bursitis, which is more painful than just arthritis so he gave me a Cortisone shot in my hip.
He then wrote me out a couple referrals for physical therapy; one for my hands and the other for my back and hips. He also sent me for a series of x-rays.
They took about eight of my back and hips and six of my hands so it will be interesting to see what turns up in them. He also signed a temporary disable parking permit for my for six months to see how the physical therapy does and then reevaluate the situation.
I stopped by the physical therapy office but it was lunch time so we just left and I will call tomorrow for an appointment there. So after having my x-rays we went to the DMV office to get the tag for my car.
By the time we got out of the DMV it was 1330 and we were both getting hungry, Denny's was having free Grand Slam breakfasts until 1400 but when we got there there was a line of about fifty people so I decided that we would go to Burgerville.
They were having their Hazel nut shake as the shake of the month so we had that along with bacon/pepper jack cheese burger and Yukon fries; Yukon fries are the best!
By the time we got home it was almost 1500 and we both were really worn out, so I did not call the physical therapy offices as my voice was going out again. It seems like that has been happening around 1500 for the last few days.
Well, I am still pretty tired and I think that I am going to call it a day and go to bed.
When I got to the doctor's office, I had to fill out the usual forms even though I had already filled out the ones that they had sent me. The receptionist was also the nurse so you can see that it was a pretty small office. The doctor has only had this practice for a year or so so I think that he is cutting out extra staff until he establishes the practice.
The doctor poke and prodded trying to find all the areas that hurt and finally said that a lot of my pain was from bursitis, which is more painful than just arthritis so he gave me a Cortisone shot in my hip.
He then wrote me out a couple referrals for physical therapy; one for my hands and the other for my back and hips. He also sent me for a series of x-rays.
They took about eight of my back and hips and six of my hands so it will be interesting to see what turns up in them. He also signed a temporary disable parking permit for my for six months to see how the physical therapy does and then reevaluate the situation.
I stopped by the physical therapy office but it was lunch time so we just left and I will call tomorrow for an appointment there. So after having my x-rays we went to the DMV office to get the tag for my car.
By the time we got out of the DMV it was 1330 and we were both getting hungry, Denny's was having free Grand Slam breakfasts until 1400 but when we got there there was a line of about fifty people so I decided that we would go to Burgerville.
They were having their Hazel nut shake as the shake of the month so we had that along with bacon/pepper jack cheese burger and Yukon fries; Yukon fries are the best!
By the time we got home it was almost 1500 and we both were really worn out, so I did not call the physical therapy offices as my voice was going out again. It seems like that has been happening around 1500 for the last few days.
Well, I am still pretty tired and I think that I am going to call it a day and go to bed.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Home on a Monday Night
Well I still have my head cold or whatever it is that I have and Kathleen came down with the same thing a couple days ago. I have had mind for just about a week now and I am really ready to have it go away.
It is not that I am really sick, it is just that my nose and throat have a lot of mucus and at night my nose gets plugged up and then when I get up everything starts to drain and I cough to get it up and after a while my throat get sore. So for the last three or four days I have pretty much lost my voice.
I have been putting Vick's VaporRub on three or four time a day and before I go to bed; so I smell rather medicinal most of the time.
So since we were both not feeling well we did not go to our small group tonight. I thought that I might be able to make it tonight, but by 1530 I knew that I would not as my throat and ear were really hurting.
The temperature got up to the mid fifties today and so I went outside a little after 1000 and I finally made it back into the house around 1530. I felt pretty good while I was outside, or maybe I was just so glad to be outside that I did not notice I was feeling bad.
I got quite a lot done; I picked up all the left over lumber from putting the new back door in and also picked up the lumber under the fir trees from the bathroom remodel. I pulled all the nails out of the boards and then re-stacked the larger pieces and then put the small pieces into one of my old garbage cans. One of our neighbors has been picking it up so maybe this will allow him to take more at one time.
Tomorrow I see my arthritis and bone care doctor; this is my first visit so I am not sure what to expect. I am hoping that he will prescribe some water physical therapy for me so that I will be able to exercise and not hurt my joints. I would also like to be able to get some relief from the pain without the help of drugs.
Well, I am kind of tired, but it is a good tired from working outside for over five hours; so I think that I will call it a day and sit down and relax before going to bed.
It is not that I am really sick, it is just that my nose and throat have a lot of mucus and at night my nose gets plugged up and then when I get up everything starts to drain and I cough to get it up and after a while my throat get sore. So for the last three or four days I have pretty much lost my voice.
I have been putting Vick's VaporRub on three or four time a day and before I go to bed; so I smell rather medicinal most of the time.
So since we were both not feeling well we did not go to our small group tonight. I thought that I might be able to make it tonight, but by 1530 I knew that I would not as my throat and ear were really hurting.
The temperature got up to the mid fifties today and so I went outside a little after 1000 and I finally made it back into the house around 1530. I felt pretty good while I was outside, or maybe I was just so glad to be outside that I did not notice I was feeling bad.
I got quite a lot done; I picked up all the left over lumber from putting the new back door in and also picked up the lumber under the fir trees from the bathroom remodel. I pulled all the nails out of the boards and then re-stacked the larger pieces and then put the small pieces into one of my old garbage cans. One of our neighbors has been picking it up so maybe this will allow him to take more at one time.
Tomorrow I see my arthritis and bone care doctor; this is my first visit so I am not sure what to expect. I am hoping that he will prescribe some water physical therapy for me so that I will be able to exercise and not hurt my joints. I would also like to be able to get some relief from the pain without the help of drugs.
Well, I am kind of tired, but it is a good tired from working outside for over five hours; so I think that I will call it a day and sit down and relax before going to bed.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Chuck Wagon Pizza
Chuck Wagon Pizza
Here is an easy pizza to make, and should be a hit with the whole family.
Ingredients:
1-3 pounds (4 medium) potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 package (10 ounces)prepared, refrigerated pizza dough or Boboli
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup of your favorite prepared barbecue sauce, (divided in 1/4 and 3/4 measuring cups)
1 small green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions:
Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Place potatoes in a shallow 1 1/2- to 2-quart microwave-safe dish.
Cover with plastic wrap, venting one corner.
Microwave on HIGH 8 to 10 minutes until just tender; set aside.
Coat 12-inch round pizza pan with vegetable cooking spray; press dough evenly into pan (If using Boboli follow directions on package.); prick all over with fork.
Bake for 10 minutes; set aside.
Meanwhile, in large nonstick skillet over medium heat saute beef until browned; drain fat.
Mix in 3/4 cup barbecue sauce.
To assemble pizza, spread beef mixture over crust; top evenly with potatoes and bell pepper.
Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 10 to 15 minutes until hot throughout and cheese is melted.
Cut into 8 wedges.
This should serve four people
Preparation time ten minutes
Cooking time thirty minutes
Here is an easy pizza to make, and should be a hit with the whole family.
Ingredients:
1-3 pounds (4 medium) potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 package (10 ounces)prepared, refrigerated pizza dough or Boboli
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup of your favorite prepared barbecue sauce, (divided in 1/4 and 3/4 measuring cups)
1 small green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions:
Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Place potatoes in a shallow 1 1/2- to 2-quart microwave-safe dish.
Cover with plastic wrap, venting one corner.
Microwave on HIGH 8 to 10 minutes until just tender; set aside.
Coat 12-inch round pizza pan with vegetable cooking spray; press dough evenly into pan (If using Boboli follow directions on package.); prick all over with fork.
Bake for 10 minutes; set aside.
Meanwhile, in large nonstick skillet over medium heat saute beef until browned; drain fat.
Mix in 3/4 cup barbecue sauce.
To assemble pizza, spread beef mixture over crust; top evenly with potatoes and bell pepper.
Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 10 to 15 minutes until hot throughout and cheese is melted.
Cut into 8 wedges.
This should serve four people
Preparation time ten minutes
Cooking time thirty minutes
Friday, January 30, 2009
End of the Week
I have been fighting a cough and sore throat for the last several day and yesterday it finally got the best of me. I felt bad all day and by 1600 I could not take it any longer so I went to bed and slept until Kathleen woke me up a little after 1900.
I felt a little better this morning when I woke up but my throat was still pretty thick feeling from all the mucus. I had to spend a lot of time outside today as we were replacing our back door and unfortunately it was foggy early and cool and damp feeling all day long.
I put on one of my old flannel shirts and my Jeep vest to help keep my chest and maybe even my throat a little warmer. I still had on my shorts because I was not cold I just did not want to take a chance on getting a chill.
We had a half window it there before and now we have a full length window with built in blinds that fit between the two sheets of glass. It really makes for a clean look and seems to work really well.
The door is so well insulated that we may not need a storm door, but we will see how warm it keeps the mud room over the next week or so. We may just get one of those retracting screens if we do not need the storm door.
I would have taken a picture except that by the time we finished everything it was dark out.
Well, I got interrupted of about twenty-five minutes, one of my friends wanted some technical advice on hooking up his new TV to the converter box that I gave him.
Well, that is about it for today, I am pretty worn out as I did not get a rest time today, maybe tomorrow will be better.
I felt a little better this morning when I woke up but my throat was still pretty thick feeling from all the mucus. I had to spend a lot of time outside today as we were replacing our back door and unfortunately it was foggy early and cool and damp feeling all day long.
I put on one of my old flannel shirts and my Jeep vest to help keep my chest and maybe even my throat a little warmer. I still had on my shorts because I was not cold I just did not want to take a chance on getting a chill.
We had a half window it there before and now we have a full length window with built in blinds that fit between the two sheets of glass. It really makes for a clean look and seems to work really well.
The door is so well insulated that we may not need a storm door, but we will see how warm it keeps the mud room over the next week or so. We may just get one of those retracting screens if we do not need the storm door.
I would have taken a picture except that by the time we finished everything it was dark out.
Well, I got interrupted of about twenty-five minutes, one of my friends wanted some technical advice on hooking up his new TV to the converter box that I gave him.
Well, that is about it for today, I am pretty worn out as I did not get a rest time today, maybe tomorrow will be better.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Snow Early
When I woke up this morning it was clear out and after an hour or so when the sun started to come up I could see that it had started to snow a little and by 0800 it really had started coming down.
Kathleen came downstairs about 0800 and she made herself a couple of egg yokes and she fixed me the egg whites from this morning and also a couple from last Saturday. She also made some hash brown and while we were eating the whole front lawn was covered as was the street.
Stan got here a little after 0900 and had to go home to pick up a tarp and poles so that he could set up his saws and keep them dry. So when he got back I helped him set up the tarp and then after he got started working Kathleen and I took a walk around the block.
This first one is of Kathleen and myself; of course I had to bend at the knees quite a bit so that we all could fit in the picture.
The second one is a close up of yours truly in my American Buffalo Collection Stetson.
The last one is of full shot of me; notice the nice compression socks that I have to wear. It took me a while before I would wear them outside without long pants or jeans on but I was always so hot that I decided that even if it was not a fashionable look I would go for the comfortable look.
Tomorrow Stan thinks that he will be able to put the new stairs in place; he has been making the staircase level and has added cleats to the old riser so that the new stairway will be level and hopefully much quieter.
Well I have been rather tired lately and that is one of the reasons I have not blogged much. We also have been away from home during the afternoons and evenings so by the time we got home I was out of energy.
Saturday the Oregon Roushes celebrated a belated Christmas and December adult birthdays; Sunday Kathleen and I attended Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at church and again by the time we got home I was worn out. Then last night we had our small group and did not get home until after 2130 and mentally I was spent!
Kathleen came downstairs about 0800 and she made herself a couple of egg yokes and she fixed me the egg whites from this morning and also a couple from last Saturday. She also made some hash brown and while we were eating the whole front lawn was covered as was the street.
Stan got here a little after 0900 and had to go home to pick up a tarp and poles so that he could set up his saws and keep them dry. So when he got back I helped him set up the tarp and then after he got started working Kathleen and I took a walk around the block.
This first one is of Kathleen and myself; of course I had to bend at the knees quite a bit so that we all could fit in the picture.
The second one is a close up of yours truly in my American Buffalo Collection Stetson.
The last one is of full shot of me; notice the nice compression socks that I have to wear. It took me a while before I would wear them outside without long pants or jeans on but I was always so hot that I decided that even if it was not a fashionable look I would go for the comfortable look.
Tomorrow Stan thinks that he will be able to put the new stairs in place; he has been making the staircase level and has added cleats to the old riser so that the new stairway will be level and hopefully much quieter.
Well I have been rather tired lately and that is one of the reasons I have not blogged much. We also have been away from home during the afternoons and evenings so by the time we got home I was out of energy.
Saturday the Oregon Roushes celebrated a belated Christmas and December adult birthdays; Sunday Kathleen and I attended Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at church and again by the time we got home I was worn out. Then last night we had our small group and did not get home until after 2130 and mentally I was spent!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
So Goes the Best Laid Plans!
Well, I had planned on doing a better job of blogging but stuff happens. We have been having strong winds for the last several days with gusts over seventy miles an hour and Sunday we lost our internet service. This meant that not only did we not have internet or cable TV service but also our telephone service was out. For that reason I was not able to blog on Sunday to do my weekend wrap up.
Then yesterday we had a lot of catching up to do and last night we had our small group and by the time we got home I was too tired to do it justice so I just went to bed.
To kind of catch-up a little, the downstairs bathroom is just about complete. We just need to seal the grout, put the light over the mirror, put the light switch and outlet covers on and hang the toilet paper holder on the vanity. Here are a few pictures of what it looks like today.
This is the vanity with the sink, faucets, and mirror above.
This is of the back of the tub with the double towel bar to the right; notice the two grab bars: one to get in and out with and the other oval one to help catch someone if they slip.
This is of the front of the tub with the faucet and the shower. The faucet allows one to keep the temperature the same and turn the water pressure from off to full force. The shower has a removable wand that showers and the water from the regular shower head continues to work along with the hand held wand for rinsing off.
In this photo is the new toilet, it is a Toto just like the one upstairs only this one is even more water conservative and like the one upstairs the flush last as long as one holds the handle down, so we will need a little practice to find out how long to hold the handle down, but the one upstairs does not require much water to completely flush.
The seat is a slow closing one so that one can just let it go and it slowly closes...no more toilet seats crashing down!!!
Then yesterday we had a lot of catching up to do and last night we had our small group and by the time we got home I was too tired to do it justice so I just went to bed.
To kind of catch-up a little, the downstairs bathroom is just about complete. We just need to seal the grout, put the light over the mirror, put the light switch and outlet covers on and hang the toilet paper holder on the vanity. Here are a few pictures of what it looks like today.
This is the vanity with the sink, faucets, and mirror above.
This is of the back of the tub with the double towel bar to the right; notice the two grab bars: one to get in and out with and the other oval one to help catch someone if they slip.
This is of the front of the tub with the faucet and the shower. The faucet allows one to keep the temperature the same and turn the water pressure from off to full force. The shower has a removable wand that showers and the water from the regular shower head continues to work along with the hand held wand for rinsing off.
In this photo is the new toilet, it is a Toto just like the one upstairs only this one is even more water conservative and like the one upstairs the flush last as long as one holds the handle down, so we will need a little practice to find out how long to hold the handle down, but the one upstairs does not require much water to completely flush.
The seat is a slow closing one so that one can just let it go and it slowly closes...no more toilet seats crashing down!!!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Catching Up Again
Well, I thought that I would try and do my blog this morning rather than wait until I was too tired to think straight.
Yesterday morning I had an appointment with the Urologist who did my cancer surgery, I have been seeing him ever since my surgery every three months and so when I got there I had my blood drawn and left a sample in a cup then went back to the waiting room to wait to see the doctor.
While sitting there my arm did not feel quite right so I looked down and noticed that my shirt was turning red; I had a five inch long and two inch wide soaked area that was soaked and so I took my shirt off and Kathleen went to the receptionist window and told them about it.
After a while someone came out cleaned off my arm, which was also bloody and redressed the area where they had draw the blood earlier. This time she used a cloth tape, put it on tighter and told me to keep pressure on it, so I did.
Anyway, my PSA was about the same as it was three months ago, almost none existence, so I set up an appointment for three months from now and after that if the PSA stays down I should be able to have visits every six months.
That will be nice as I am having more doctor appointments for the arthritis than I had and it will be nice not to have to spend more time in a doctor's office than anywhere else.
After finishing up at the doctor's we stopped at the credit union so that I could deposit a refund check and take some money out and then we went next door to the AT&T store so that I could buy another one hundred dollars worth of minutes for my cell phone.
I still had time left from when I bought it two years ago, but I have to buy a hundred dollars worth every year to be able to roll over those minutes, so I have been trying to use my phone more and having Kathleen use it rather than hers so that I can work the minutes down.
Kathleen goes through hers in less than a year, so if she can use my phone once in a while especially if we are out together it will keep her minutes and use up mine.
After we finished there we went to the DMV as Kathleen needed to get a new handicapped parking permit and she wanted me to pick up an application so that I could get one as well.
I have been reluctant in getting one as I have not wanted to think of myself as handicapped, but my hip has been bothering me enough that I decided to go ahead and try to get one. I still would like to not have to use it unless I really need it, but if I need it it will be nice to have.
After that we went to Red Lobster for some lunch; Kathleen had two kind of shrimp, fried and scampy. I had some crab stuffed cod and we both had a bowl of clam chowder. It was late for the lunch crowd so service was quick and we did not feel like we had to rush to free up a table.
When we finished eating we went to the Troutdale Outlet Mall to pick up a couple items and then we went to Lowe's to pick up some items to finish off our downstairs bathroom.
I took my can inside and used it and my hip did not bother me nearly as much as it did last Saturday at Home Depot, so I may have to start using it more when I go out. We did not finish up at Lowe's until after 1900 and by the time we got home it was 1930.
We had the SUV just about full from all the shopping that we did and it took a while to unload it so when Kathleen asked what to do for dinner I suggested reheating the pasta that was left over from the night before.
After dinner and cleaning up I was too tired to think about blogging so I just sat around the kitchen table with Kathleen and we watched CSI and than I went to bed.
Yesterday morning I had an appointment with the Urologist who did my cancer surgery, I have been seeing him ever since my surgery every three months and so when I got there I had my blood drawn and left a sample in a cup then went back to the waiting room to wait to see the doctor.
While sitting there my arm did not feel quite right so I looked down and noticed that my shirt was turning red; I had a five inch long and two inch wide soaked area that was soaked and so I took my shirt off and Kathleen went to the receptionist window and told them about it.
After a while someone came out cleaned off my arm, which was also bloody and redressed the area where they had draw the blood earlier. This time she used a cloth tape, put it on tighter and told me to keep pressure on it, so I did.
Anyway, my PSA was about the same as it was three months ago, almost none existence, so I set up an appointment for three months from now and after that if the PSA stays down I should be able to have visits every six months.
That will be nice as I am having more doctor appointments for the arthritis than I had and it will be nice not to have to spend more time in a doctor's office than anywhere else.
After finishing up at the doctor's we stopped at the credit union so that I could deposit a refund check and take some money out and then we went next door to the AT&T store so that I could buy another one hundred dollars worth of minutes for my cell phone.
I still had time left from when I bought it two years ago, but I have to buy a hundred dollars worth every year to be able to roll over those minutes, so I have been trying to use my phone more and having Kathleen use it rather than hers so that I can work the minutes down.
Kathleen goes through hers in less than a year, so if she can use my phone once in a while especially if we are out together it will keep her minutes and use up mine.
After we finished there we went to the DMV as Kathleen needed to get a new handicapped parking permit and she wanted me to pick up an application so that I could get one as well.
I have been reluctant in getting one as I have not wanted to think of myself as handicapped, but my hip has been bothering me enough that I decided to go ahead and try to get one. I still would like to not have to use it unless I really need it, but if I need it it will be nice to have.
After that we went to Red Lobster for some lunch; Kathleen had two kind of shrimp, fried and scampy. I had some crab stuffed cod and we both had a bowl of clam chowder. It was late for the lunch crowd so service was quick and we did not feel like we had to rush to free up a table.
When we finished eating we went to the Troutdale Outlet Mall to pick up a couple items and then we went to Lowe's to pick up some items to finish off our downstairs bathroom.
I took my can inside and used it and my hip did not bother me nearly as much as it did last Saturday at Home Depot, so I may have to start using it more when I go out. We did not finish up at Lowe's until after 1900 and by the time we got home it was 1930.
We had the SUV just about full from all the shopping that we did and it took a while to unload it so when Kathleen asked what to do for dinner I suggested reheating the pasta that was left over from the night before.
After dinner and cleaning up I was too tired to think about blogging so I just sat around the kitchen table with Kathleen and we watched CSI and than I went to bed.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
He's Back
Well, after about five days of some kind of allergy I am starting to feel somewhat human again. I would wake up in the morning and my eyes were just about glued shut and my nose was plugged up with dried blood and I could hardly breathe. Then once I was up I would develop a really nasty headache and my eyes would start to itch and water; then my nose would start to run and that would irritate my nose again and it would start bleeding and on and on and round and round we would go.
Well so much for all the pleasantries, yesterday was really nice out so I went outside and pruned the roses that I had not pruned in November because they still had buds on them and if we had not had the freeze and snow for a couple weeks they would have bloomed.
Once I had the roses pruned I started on my lace leaf Japanese Maple taking out all the dead wood and then reshaping it a little as it has started to get wider than I wanted it to be. By the time I finished with that I was getting tired but even though I was tired I still felt better than I had in a week or so.
I got a pretty good nights sleep especially when one considers that Monday morning I awoke at 0200, I did the same thing yesterday morning except I was able to get back to sleep again yesterday and Monday I could not.
Stan has finished the tile, and all that needs to be done to it is seal it. So since I have another doctors appointment tomorrow, it will be my third this month, we are having Stan not come tomorrow so the Kathleen and I can do some running around.
Today I made and appointment with a Rheumatologist to see about my joint pain. I am tired of trying to take drugs just to be able to function. My biggest problem with the drugs is that they also make me so groggy that I can hardly function and unless I take a lot more than I am suppose to I still have a lot of pain.
Well this is all I have energy for tonight, I am hoping that I will be feeling better and able to sit at my computer and write something on a little more regular basis again.
Well so much for all the pleasantries, yesterday was really nice out so I went outside and pruned the roses that I had not pruned in November because they still had buds on them and if we had not had the freeze and snow for a couple weeks they would have bloomed.
Once I had the roses pruned I started on my lace leaf Japanese Maple taking out all the dead wood and then reshaping it a little as it has started to get wider than I wanted it to be. By the time I finished with that I was getting tired but even though I was tired I still felt better than I had in a week or so.
I got a pretty good nights sleep especially when one considers that Monday morning I awoke at 0200, I did the same thing yesterday morning except I was able to get back to sleep again yesterday and Monday I could not.
Stan has finished the tile, and all that needs to be done to it is seal it. So since I have another doctors appointment tomorrow, it will be my third this month, we are having Stan not come tomorrow so the Kathleen and I can do some running around.
Today I made and appointment with a Rheumatologist to see about my joint pain. I am tired of trying to take drugs just to be able to function. My biggest problem with the drugs is that they also make me so groggy that I can hardly function and unless I take a lot more than I am suppose to I still have a lot of pain.
Well this is all I have energy for tonight, I am hoping that I will be feeling better and able to sit at my computer and write something on a little more regular basis again.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Almost Like a Day Off!
Well, I slept in until almost 0800 this morning; I did not need to get up early as Stan was not coming back until Monday so that the tile will have a chance to set up. I also did not have any other place that I needed to go, so I had a very relaxing morning.
Kathleen came downstairs before I had a chance to make myself breakfast and asked if I felt like French toast, and I said sure. So we had some French toast with some heavy bread that Kathleen picked up at Harvest Mill Breadmakers and was called "Mountain Jazz". It had Wheat, rye, rice bran,flax seed, honey, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, so it was pretty healthy.
Then after breakfast I put the dishes into the dishwasher and then went outside and raked the front lawn. It was rather windy the other day and a lot more fir branches and cones had fallen again.
I was going to sweep off the driveway but I realized that I was getting tired and probably should quit before I got too tired. So I went into the house and read the mail and the paper, since I had not read it earlier.
By the time I got finished it was time for my lunch so I made myself a turkey sandwich on dark rye with some mozzarella cheese on top and then toasted it in the toaster oven. I also finished the rest of the lentil soup from last night.
Then after waiting a while I decided that I would try and take a walk, I had thought about doing that earlier, but wound up raking the lawn instead. I also decided that I was going to try walk slower than I normally did to see if that might help me walk further without the hip pain.
I managed to walk around our long block and felt relatively good by the time I got back. My hip was a little sore, but that could be from not walking much lately.
Well that is about it for today, a rather uneventful day, but I think that I needed it. With that I think I will go ahead and publish this and say good day!
Kathleen came downstairs before I had a chance to make myself breakfast and asked if I felt like French toast, and I said sure. So we had some French toast with some heavy bread that Kathleen picked up at Harvest Mill Breadmakers and was called "Mountain Jazz". It had Wheat, rye, rice bran,flax seed, honey, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, so it was pretty healthy.
Then after breakfast I put the dishes into the dishwasher and then went outside and raked the front lawn. It was rather windy the other day and a lot more fir branches and cones had fallen again.
I was going to sweep off the driveway but I realized that I was getting tired and probably should quit before I got too tired. So I went into the house and read the mail and the paper, since I had not read it earlier.
By the time I got finished it was time for my lunch so I made myself a turkey sandwich on dark rye with some mozzarella cheese on top and then toasted it in the toaster oven. I also finished the rest of the lentil soup from last night.
Then after waiting a while I decided that I would try and take a walk, I had thought about doing that earlier, but wound up raking the lawn instead. I also decided that I was going to try walk slower than I normally did to see if that might help me walk further without the hip pain.
I managed to walk around our long block and felt relatively good by the time I got back. My hip was a little sore, but that could be from not walking much lately.
Well that is about it for today, a rather uneventful day, but I think that I needed it. With that I think I will go ahead and publish this and say good day!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Doctor Visits Day Two
This morning I needed to get up and have my breakfast early as I had an 0820 dentist appointment to have my chipped tooth repaired. So I got up a little earlier than I might have liked and by the time I got everything done it was time to leave for the dentist office.
I went there expecting to have a temporary crown put on and a cast made for the final crown but when the dentist examined the tooth she said that the tooth was in such good shape that she did not know if she wanted to grind off so much good tooth to put a crown on and than she gave me two other options. One was a tooth inlay which was as expensive as a crown and the second was to just rebuild the tooth for a couple hundred dollars.
She said that the rebuild would probably last ten years or so and that since it was about five times cheaper than the other two options I could have it replace several times and still be cheaper than the others.
So I wound up having my tooth rebuilt today, and I did not get out of the dentist office until after 1100. After two and a half hours in the chair I was ready to go home and rest as my jaw was starting to ache. So when I got home I took several pain pills and waited for my jaw to start feeling better.
Kathleen had her dentist appointment shortly after I got back so she took off and when she left I made myself some lunch and read the mail. She was gone for quite a while and when she did come back she said that she also needed to have a crown and a couple fillings.
So it looks like it is going to be an expensive month or so for the dentist visits. That is the one thing that I did not receive in my retirement package from Boeing, and while everything else is really good there was no dental coverage available as a retiree. While I was working there I had really good coverage, and I miss that.
After a while I got really sleepy so I went upstairs and took a nap; I woke up when Kathleen came in and I guess was trying to wake me up. I was still pretty groggy, but awake just enough that I could not get back to sleep, so I got up and by now the pain was a lot worse than when I had first taken the pain pills, so I took a few more and while it is now sore again is is not as bad as it was earlier.
I think it is from having to have my mouth open so wide and so long while the dentist worked on my molar although some of it I am sure is from the actual work done on the tooth itself.
Anyway, when I got up and went downstairs Stan had finished the tile and left; he will not be back until Monday to do the grouting of the floor and walls. So here is a picture of all the tile in place to give you an idea of what it will look like, minus the grout.
For dinner tonight Kathleen heated up some pre-cooked lentils fro Trader Joe's and added some ham, onion and potato and then made a soup out of it. It was really good and soft enough that it did not bother my jaw or tooth.
Well, I think that I need to publish this as I am starting to get really tired again and that would just allow me to ramble on endlessly.
I went there expecting to have a temporary crown put on and a cast made for the final crown but when the dentist examined the tooth she said that the tooth was in such good shape that she did not know if she wanted to grind off so much good tooth to put a crown on and than she gave me two other options. One was a tooth inlay which was as expensive as a crown and the second was to just rebuild the tooth for a couple hundred dollars.
She said that the rebuild would probably last ten years or so and that since it was about five times cheaper than the other two options I could have it replace several times and still be cheaper than the others.
So I wound up having my tooth rebuilt today, and I did not get out of the dentist office until after 1100. After two and a half hours in the chair I was ready to go home and rest as my jaw was starting to ache. So when I got home I took several pain pills and waited for my jaw to start feeling better.
Kathleen had her dentist appointment shortly after I got back so she took off and when she left I made myself some lunch and read the mail. She was gone for quite a while and when she did come back she said that she also needed to have a crown and a couple fillings.
So it looks like it is going to be an expensive month or so for the dentist visits. That is the one thing that I did not receive in my retirement package from Boeing, and while everything else is really good there was no dental coverage available as a retiree. While I was working there I had really good coverage, and I miss that.
After a while I got really sleepy so I went upstairs and took a nap; I woke up when Kathleen came in and I guess was trying to wake me up. I was still pretty groggy, but awake just enough that I could not get back to sleep, so I got up and by now the pain was a lot worse than when I had first taken the pain pills, so I took a few more and while it is now sore again is is not as bad as it was earlier.
I think it is from having to have my mouth open so wide and so long while the dentist worked on my molar although some of it I am sure is from the actual work done on the tooth itself.
Anyway, when I got up and went downstairs Stan had finished the tile and left; he will not be back until Monday to do the grouting of the floor and walls. So here is a picture of all the tile in place to give you an idea of what it will look like, minus the grout.
For dinner tonight Kathleen heated up some pre-cooked lentils fro Trader Joe's and added some ham, onion and potato and then made a soup out of it. It was really good and soft enough that it did not bother my jaw or tooth.
Well, I think that I need to publish this as I am starting to get really tired again and that would just allow me to ramble on endlessly.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
The Start of Doctor Visits
I had a pretty good night sleep last night, of course taking Night Quill before going to bed last night helped I am sure. This morning I felt pretty good when I awoke; yesterday my eyes felt like I had just come out of a sand storm and my eyes collected most of the sand.
I had an eye appointment this morning at 0950 but I left early so that I would have time to look at the frames before my eyes were dilated so much that I would not be able to see very well. By the time I had picked out my frames it was time for my appointment, so that worked out pretty well.
They not only checked my eyes for vision, which was pretty much the same as it had been but also for cataract and glaucoma. He said that my eyes show no sign of glaucoma and only a slight sign of cataract, less than normal for someone my age, so all that is good.
He did prescribe a little stronger reading lens for my bifocals, but he said that was just to make reading a little easier. We spent a good deal of time talking about the medical system here and how it is good in many aspects but very large and cumbersome in other aspects. He is a young Japanese and I chose him a couple of years after my old doctor retired because I thought that he was fresh out of school and probably more familiar with some of the new advancements and techniques.
Shortly after I got home I helped Kathleen make the bed as she had stripped it and washed the sheets. Then I went downstairs and tried this weeks sample chicken noodle soup that I am testing for one of the major soup makers.
Then Kathleen left to meat with the lady from church around 1330 and after I finished eating I read the mail. Stan just about finished the tiling, he put the glass tile on today and tomorrow he will put on the topper, then he will wait a day or so before he starts grouting.
He is going to grout the floor and the walls at the same time, as it is easier and they both can be drying at the same time. After that we will need to seal the grout and after that we will be able to put the toilet in. That should just about finish the downstairs remodel project.
I think that all we will have to do after putting in the toilet is find a mirror for over the sink, install the light for over the mirror and then buy and install the knobs for the draws and doors of the vanity and cabinet.
Stan left around 1700 tonight as he wanted to stop off at Joe's and look at a new pair of binoculars that they had on sale. So after he left I took a couple photos of the tile, so here they are:
Tomorrow I will try to take one that is a little closer up that will show the white tile, the green glass tile and the topper better. The tile on the long wall is two tiles high and it follows all around the room until it gets to the vertical section that outlines where the mirror will go.
I had an eye appointment this morning at 0950 but I left early so that I would have time to look at the frames before my eyes were dilated so much that I would not be able to see very well. By the time I had picked out my frames it was time for my appointment, so that worked out pretty well.
They not only checked my eyes for vision, which was pretty much the same as it had been but also for cataract and glaucoma. He said that my eyes show no sign of glaucoma and only a slight sign of cataract, less than normal for someone my age, so all that is good.
He did prescribe a little stronger reading lens for my bifocals, but he said that was just to make reading a little easier. We spent a good deal of time talking about the medical system here and how it is good in many aspects but very large and cumbersome in other aspects. He is a young Japanese and I chose him a couple of years after my old doctor retired because I thought that he was fresh out of school and probably more familiar with some of the new advancements and techniques.
Shortly after I got home I helped Kathleen make the bed as she had stripped it and washed the sheets. Then I went downstairs and tried this weeks sample chicken noodle soup that I am testing for one of the major soup makers.
Then Kathleen left to meat with the lady from church around 1330 and after I finished eating I read the mail. Stan just about finished the tiling, he put the glass tile on today and tomorrow he will put on the topper, then he will wait a day or so before he starts grouting.
He is going to grout the floor and the walls at the same time, as it is easier and they both can be drying at the same time. After that we will need to seal the grout and after that we will be able to put the toilet in. That should just about finish the downstairs remodel project.
I think that all we will have to do after putting in the toilet is find a mirror for over the sink, install the light for over the mirror and then buy and install the knobs for the draws and doors of the vanity and cabinet.
Stan left around 1700 tonight as he wanted to stop off at Joe's and look at a new pair of binoculars that they had on sale. So after he left I took a couple photos of the tile, so here they are:
Tomorrow I will try to take one that is a little closer up that will show the white tile, the green glass tile and the topper better. The tile on the long wall is two tiles high and it follows all around the room until it gets to the vertical section that outlines where the mirror will go.
Monday, January 05, 2009
More Work on the Tile
This morning I woke up pretty refreshed, something that I have not felt lately. Kathleen got up before I had a chance to make myself breakfast and so she made egg yokes for herself and one egg yoke and her egg whites for me. She also made some hash brown potatoes.
After breakfast, I loaded up the dishwasher and Kathleen turned it on when she finished putting things in it.
Our plumber arrived about this time and hooked up the show/bath fixtures and also the sink fixtures. When Stan arrived he cemented the sink to the vanity top and then cemented the slab to the top and the sink. So now we have water to the bathtub and sink but we really should not use it until the tile is grouted and sealed.
Pat, our plumber finished around noon and after he left Stan started working on the tile again. Here are a couple pictures of the tile, the shower/bath fixtures and the sink fixture.
Well, tonight is our small group and so I need to eat and then head out so I am just going to publish this and call it good for tonight.
After breakfast, I loaded up the dishwasher and Kathleen turned it on when she finished putting things in it.
Our plumber arrived about this time and hooked up the show/bath fixtures and also the sink fixtures. When Stan arrived he cemented the sink to the vanity top and then cemented the slab to the top and the sink. So now we have water to the bathtub and sink but we really should not use it until the tile is grouted and sealed.
Pat, our plumber finished around noon and after he left Stan started working on the tile again. Here are a couple pictures of the tile, the shower/bath fixtures and the sink fixture.
Well, tonight is our small group and so I need to eat and then head out so I am just going to publish this and call it good for tonight.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
More Snow
Well, before all the snow had a chance to disappear it started snowing again tonight. I think we got about an inch already and it is suppose to continue until early this morning.
This morning I woke up as to Kathleen's alarm going off and I was still pretty groggy but I got up as I had slept for nine hours already. I felt like my brain was still in a fog so I decided that I would not try and make it to church this morning. It was also cold and my thumb joints were really bothering me.
I did gather up the towels and washed, dried, folded and then put them away. So after reheating yesterday's buckwheat pancakes I unloaded the dishwasher and then went into the living room and read the paper.
After that I gathered up the kitchen rugs and shook them out, swept the kitchen floor and then mopped it. While it was drying the rugs were being washed and I also vacuumed the rest of the downstairs.
This afternoon Kathleen took a white Cyclamen over to our neighbor. She bought a couple the other day and we have one on our kitchen table. Our old one is outside in the flower pot just off the front porch.
It had been blooming until the first snow storm three weeks ago and the snow is off it now and the blooms of gone but it is still green.
While she was there I changed out the upstairs bathroom door knob and put the one that was on the bathroom on our bedroom door. We still need to buy a few more doorknobs for the upstairs and another one for the downstairs bathroom.
The one I put on the upstairs bathroom was the lever kind as apposed to the knob kind and we are planning on putting the same kind on the downstairs bathroom when it is finished. That way we can tell people that the bathroom is the one with the lever as it will be different from all the rest.
Well that is about it for today, I am feeling better or at least somewhat awake. I have gotten over nine hours sleep the last two nights so I guess that is making up somewhat for the three or four hours sleep I was getting the previous five days.
This morning I woke up as to Kathleen's alarm going off and I was still pretty groggy but I got up as I had slept for nine hours already. I felt like my brain was still in a fog so I decided that I would not try and make it to church this morning. It was also cold and my thumb joints were really bothering me.
I did gather up the towels and washed, dried, folded and then put them away. So after reheating yesterday's buckwheat pancakes I unloaded the dishwasher and then went into the living room and read the paper.
After that I gathered up the kitchen rugs and shook them out, swept the kitchen floor and then mopped it. While it was drying the rugs were being washed and I also vacuumed the rest of the downstairs.
This afternoon Kathleen took a white Cyclamen over to our neighbor. She bought a couple the other day and we have one on our kitchen table. Our old one is outside in the flower pot just off the front porch.
It had been blooming until the first snow storm three weeks ago and the snow is off it now and the blooms of gone but it is still green.
While she was there I changed out the upstairs bathroom door knob and put the one that was on the bathroom on our bedroom door. We still need to buy a few more doorknobs for the upstairs and another one for the downstairs bathroom.
The one I put on the upstairs bathroom was the lever kind as apposed to the knob kind and we are planning on putting the same kind on the downstairs bathroom when it is finished. That way we can tell people that the bathroom is the one with the lever as it will be different from all the rest.
Well that is about it for today, I am feeling better or at least somewhat awake. I have gotten over nine hours sleep the last two nights so I guess that is making up somewhat for the three or four hours sleep I was getting the previous five days.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Welcome Another New Year.
Well, I still have not figured out how to get more than three or four hours sleep a night. I think for the last four nights I have only gotten fifteen or sixteen hours sleep total.
Yesterday morning I woke up and felt like I had brain fog, kind of a dull headache and no matter what I took for it I could not shake it. Needless to say I did not get much done yesterday.
Then I woke up around 0230 this morning and could not get back to sleep until around 0400 and then only for another hour; so I wound up getting up at 0530.
Then this morning as I was eating my oatmeal and I felt something hard in it so when I fished it out of my mouth I discovered what looked to be part of a tooth. I did not feel any pain and did not think anything of it, but I went into the bathroom and checked it out.
I did not see anything in my bottom teeth so I went downstairs and asked Kathleen to see if she could see anything and she said that she did. After a while I could feel it with my tongue, so I called my dentist, but they were not open today. They had an emergency number but since it was not hurting I decided to leave a message to try and get an appointment for Monday.
After a while it developed a very dull tooth ache feeling, nothing too bad just really annoying. So I kept taking Tylenol every few hours.
Early this morning Aaron and the girls came over after their dentist visits for cleanings and waited for Tami to finish with her cleaning appointment. Kathleen gave each of the girls a start from one of the house plants that she had up in her sewing room and the girls planted them in a couple little pots that I brought in from the potting bench in the garage.
Stan came while Aaron and the girls were here and started ding the tiling; he got here just before noon as he had a power outage and was trying to get his generator started.
Well, it is after 2100 and I am going to try and get some sleep tonight.
Yesterday morning I woke up and felt like I had brain fog, kind of a dull headache and no matter what I took for it I could not shake it. Needless to say I did not get much done yesterday.
Then I woke up around 0230 this morning and could not get back to sleep until around 0400 and then only for another hour; so I wound up getting up at 0530.
Then this morning as I was eating my oatmeal and I felt something hard in it so when I fished it out of my mouth I discovered what looked to be part of a tooth. I did not feel any pain and did not think anything of it, but I went into the bathroom and checked it out.
I did not see anything in my bottom teeth so I went downstairs and asked Kathleen to see if she could see anything and she said that she did. After a while I could feel it with my tongue, so I called my dentist, but they were not open today. They had an emergency number but since it was not hurting I decided to leave a message to try and get an appointment for Monday.
After a while it developed a very dull tooth ache feeling, nothing too bad just really annoying. So I kept taking Tylenol every few hours.
Early this morning Aaron and the girls came over after their dentist visits for cleanings and waited for Tami to finish with her cleaning appointment. Kathleen gave each of the girls a start from one of the house plants that she had up in her sewing room and the girls planted them in a couple little pots that I brought in from the potting bench in the garage.
Stan came while Aaron and the girls were here and started ding the tiling; he got here just before noon as he had a power outage and was trying to get his generator started.
Well, it is after 2100 and I am going to try and get some sleep tonight.
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