The Oscars

While I haven't seen but one of the movies that are nominated this year, I still have preferences of which ones I want to win.  I know that doesn't make a lot of sense but it makes perfect sense to me.  I'm pulling for Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Matthew McCon, Bruce Dern, among others.  Any of the movies could win, I suppose, but I sure hope Gravity isn't the one.

I ran four quick errands today.  Mailed a book, picked up a $5 Subway, picked up reprints, and found four pieces of cardboard that I think will work for the puzzles I may want to mount.  Only cost me $7 so Serenity House comes through again.  I think they have different people pricing stuff.  Most of the time, everything is super reasonable but I discovered the art room upstairs had prices that were kind of ridiculous.  I figure the person pricing thought of herself as an art critic.  $20 for a poster of some singer, for example.

I spent more time than I wanted to trying to figure out my computer settings this afternoon.  Everything I wanted to do required studying this help site and then another.  I never did understand half of what they were telling me.  I did manage to change my desktop theme, my font sizes, my color backgrounds, my sounds, etc. but I still need help with using Firefox or Chrome browser.  All in good time, I guess.

Started work on my genealogy a bit and came across this picture.

I had to email my cousin, Diane Westergaard, to get the IDs straight.  The woman on the right is Lilian Blanchard who married John Nisbet. They adopted my mother in the early 20's.

I took a pain pill this afternoon because my shoulders were up to their old tricks.  I had forgotten how they can make your drowsy.  I sat in my recliner at 2:15 and when I woke up, it was 4:30.  I knew I was tired but gees... sure hope that doesn't mean I can't drop off to sleep tonight at a reasonable hour.

I've noticed the neighborhood cats have been spending a lot of time in the scotch broom field across the street.  Must be a lot of good hunting in there.  They also spend more than enough time in my backyard looking for birds.  I noticed a whole bunch of pigeons attacking one of my feeders yesterday so I think I'll cease filling them for a while.  I enjoy goldfinches, robins, hummingbirds, quail, and even starlings sometimes but I've got better things to do than feed the crows, sea gulls, and pigeons.

I decided to fix up my "grandchild frame" this afternoon and added two of Jake. Kind of hard to see him in this picture of a picture but he's there behind the N and the S.

Tomorrow I'll get around to the three letters I didn't get written today, and work on my photo/genealogy project.  I'm kind of winging it as I go.  I'm still debating on whether or not to start another jigsaw or get back into a sewing project.  Sigh.... the decisions that you have to make when you're retired.  So hard.  Ha!

Here's the last puzzle I just finished.  I won't be mounting this one, however.

My jigsaw

I have a dozen or more jigsaw puzzles and am just about finished with the one I've  been working on this week.  I love doing them but I have a tendency to sit down and NEVER GET UP!  Hate it when that happens.  I let myself get lost in finding "one more damn piece" and next thing you know, the day has gone.

I didn't do exercises today.  I did get a lot of housework done, however.  My shoulder continues to cause me a lot of grief so that was my excuse to not get on the bike.  Tomorrow I'll climb on no matter what.

I really like the last puzzle I did of a red cardinal bird on a tree branch with pine cones. I stopped at the picture framing shop downtown to see how much a piece of foam board would cost so I can frame it. I hadn't planned on actually framing; I just wanted to hang it on the wall.  Her quote for a piece of foam board was just under $10.  I would have bought it at $5 but not $10.  She told me I have to use good backing for art.  I told her my puzzle wasn't art. It was just my puzzle.

I asked her about using cardboard and where I could get a piece but she said cardboard is no good and she didn't know where to get a piece anyhow.  Not sure what I'm going to do.  I did buy some Mod Podge glue which was $5 itself so I do plan to get this bird hung one way or the other.  I've got about
3 puzzles hung in the garage but the boards warped a bit as I just used whatever I could find.  Maybe I'll browse through Serenity House and see what they have. There has to be an economical way to do this.

Sold three books today so that was nice.  Tomorrow I'm getting back to work on my photos project. I may put off starting another puzzle since I've established the fact that I have no self control at working on them just a little every day.

Here's the latest picture Mary sent me of Jacob.  I just can't get over how absolutely adorable he is!
He's one lucky baby, that's for sure. Andy and Mary are so happy. That makes me happy.

Visiting Ruthie

Mary Norton and I met up with Linda P. and Joanne G. at the visitors center on Beaver Valley Road and drove into Silverdale to visit with Ruth for a little while. She's at Northwoods Nursing Home and Rehab Center working on getting her left side to move again.  We had to wait a bit to get in her room but we probably stayed over a half hour before heading out for lunch.  She was looking pretty good and seems to feel confident she'll get her left side stronger every day.  Made me remember the one night I spent at a nursing home and how much I hated it.  Course she has a much nicer room (by herself), and a nice big tv but still....there's nothing like going home.  She doesn't know how long that will be.

We pushed her out in the hall and at one point and I asked her to ham it up for the camera.  That was the Ruthie I know and remember.  Ha ha

We saw Tom Plut walking in the hall. He said he should get to go home this week after having his shoulder replaced.  I hope I don't have to go that route.  I was hoping the injection I got in my right shoulder bursa Friday would give me some relief but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick.  Joanne told me she hurt her shoulder once and it took a solid year to get it back to feeling better.  Sigh...

I had Ruth's physical therapist take our picture while there.  We stayed for over half a hour and then she had to go to lunch so we left to go find a restaurant ourselves.

I think I'm going to hit the sack early tonight.  I got involved in my jigsaw puzzle last night while listening to a  J.A. Jance book on tape. Next thing I knew it was midnight.  I fell in bed and then tossed and turned for two more hours.  Hate it when that happens.

Tomorrow I'm picking the twins up at their junior high and taking Maddie to the dentist after school. Not much else planned this week outside of a few household chores, my puzzle (almost done) and my pictures project.

My sister is taking half a dozen of my books down to a shop on Water Street so she can display them for sale.  Sure hope  they sell. I really need to work a little harder at marketing them. I brought home a couple boxes of the books that Linda had been holding for me.  She kept 20 copies, though, and said she'll deliver if anyone wants to buy.  You can buy a copy in PT at 913 Water Street - Maricees.

 Here's my latest picture that Mary sent of Jacob.  This little bathtub was sent to her as a gift and he seems to like it.

And here's another that Andy took. Mary put it on Facebook but I know not everyone visits that website and I don't want you to miss out.  Ha Ha

Well, off to my recliner. I taped Downton Abbey last night and I want to see what's going on.

Going to the next level

I've known for some time that if I want to make this blog more interesting and get more followers, I'm going to have to study up and learn new techniques. There's so much out there I hardly know where to start but I guess I'll do a little each day to walk in that direction.  Sometimes the language used requires me to read it over a second or a third time to figure out what it is they're talking about.

Course I'm going to have to change my topics too, I suppose.  You can only discuss what you watched on tv, are fixing for supper, what body part hurts, or the birds out your window so many times and then it gets boring. Not to me maybe but to others.  Ha!

Speaking of which.....I noticed two bruises on my body this morning. Both very colorful too.  One where the lab technician drew blood on Friday and the other where the doctor injected sterioids in my right shoulder bursa.  My skin took on several hues when I was in the hospital but I guess that's normal.

I dropped off to sleep thinking over in my mind how I wanted to get my photographs sorted and thinned down.  It's so hard for me to throw away a picture.  The easiest ones are those of me, and more often than not, I can't toss those in the trash soon enough!

I have more than one project in mind for these photos.  I want to do a write up on my family history and insert pictures as I go along.  I also want to write about all the places I've lived since I was born and show photos of the homes and neighborhoods and neighbors,etc.  Both before and after. Now that I think about it, I'd kind of like to do one on friends as well.  Hmmmm....so many possibilities here. If I want to get even more of my photos onto a disk, I could also make a separate one about animals, birds, cars, toys, etc.  Oh dear, more to think about.  It's starting to hurt my brain.

I'm sitting here watching a family of quail pitter patter along the curb.  They've stopped to rest under a bush I have and i think they're eyeing my lawn for possible worms.  Ought to be a dandy supply since it rained so hard yesterday.  Wind blew like crazy too.

Well, I'd better climb on that exercise bike early on this morning or I'll allow myself to find an excuse to ignore it again.  Have got to get my act together.  I think I'll wait until 10 a.m. so I can watch football at the same time.  I enjoyed the Seahawks game yesterday and got quite a bit done on my jigsaw puzzle.  Can't do that this afternoon/evening, though, as the Golden Globes are on and I have to keep notes on who looks the best and who looks pathetic.  I usually have definite opinions on award show outcomes.  Even though I have seen next to none of the movies nominated, I do know which ones I intend to rent at RedBox once they're available.

The one movie I did go  see was Gravity and what a huge disappointment that was!  If it gets best movie, I may have to throw things at the television set.  I am pulling for Meryl Streep in the comedy category and Judi Dench in the dramatic.  Actors for comedy and drama, I want Bruce Dern and Matthew McConaughey. TV actors is a tough one as I like Kevin Spacey (House of Cards), James Spader (The Black List) and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad).  Kerry Washington (Scandal) should win for actress.

Going to Silverdale tomorrow morning but I think that's all I have planned this week.  Looking forward to seeing Ruth.

Later on football day...

Well, that was certainly an interesting game.  And I am betting there are lots and lots of people in our state who are happy with the outcome.  Yes, that's an understatement.

I got some pictures sorted, my password and telephone list updated, my jigsaw puzzle worked on, and oh yeah, I baked a cake instead of exercising.  ha ha

Got this in an email from Linda Farina this morning.  I shortened it a bit but definitely can identify with the theme.....

Do you know why baby diapers have brand names such as "Luvs", "Huggies," and "Pampers', while undergarments for old people are called "Depends".

When babies crap in their pants, people are still gonna Luv'em, Hug'em and Pamper em.

When old people crap in their pants, it "Depends" on who's in the will!

 Just about done with a rooster cross stitch pattern so guess I'll get back to it.  Didn't see much of interest on tv tonight but I'm really into my Zane Gray book so that's my intended target.

Football Day

Guess I'll be doing a little counted cross stitch and knitting this afternoon as I sit to watch the game. I may work on my puzzle too.  I thought it was going to be an easy one but I was wrong.  Still fun, though.
I just finished a hot breakfast so now I'm stuffed.  Some mornings I don't want anything more than coffee and bagel or yogurt.  Other times, eggs and/or pancakes sounds awfully good.

I intend to get some pictures sorted this morning and have set up the card table in this room to make it easier.  Still playing around with ideas of what I want to do in regards to scanning and using in a project.  Ideally, I'd like to do a family tree story and insert pictures along the way.  Getting it in a printed book form would cost me money I don't really have so maybe I'll make up disks instead.  Most folks are online these days.  Then again, those interested in their family history is a limited number. Some eagerly accept any history offered, and others show only a passing interest.  Maybe it's an age thing.

Went to see my doctor yesterday and while I didn't get even an idea of what is causing some of my symptoms, she did decide to draw blood and to inject my bursa on the right shoulder.  If I get any relief, she'll do the left but wanted to wait and see what develops.  I think it's feeling better but I didn't  expect an overnight miracle, and I am wanting it to work so bad, I don't know if it's mind over matter.  We'll know in a few days.

I had yet another reminder yesterday that the brain cells are changing in this old noggin of mine. Maddie had called me about 4 pm asking if I'd take her to the high school so she could watch a basketball game. I hate driving in the dark and it was pouring down rain but you  work to conquer those fears when it's a grandchild request.  She called me again at 4:15 and asked if I would pick her  up at 4:55 instead of 5. (I had already forgot the first request so I was glad she called)  At 5:05 my phone rings again as she's wondering where I am.  Yep!  I forgot again!  Good Lord!  In my defense, I was involved in this computer project that was taking all my concentration but still......

Well, I guess I'll get started on my paperwork now.  Have one bill to pay this morning. My first medical bill of something not covered by insurance.  $75 for a pair of compression stockings the doctor ordered.  Talk about a ripoff!  It never ends.

Off to the doc

I had my first doctor appointment for the year.  She gave me a shot in my bursa of the right shoulder to see if that would help.  If it does, she'll inject the left next week.  If it doesn't help....well...I tried.  Also had blood drawn to check this and that and had her take a look at other body parts I questioned ... how my knee is healing, how my lip scar appears, etc.  Never did really get an answer on why I'm nauseated all the time.  Been an ongoing issue for almost six months so I'll guess I'll give it another three months and try again.

It was halfway nice outside when I went in for my appointment but the weather changed quickly and now it's rainy and wet.  Weatherman says we can expect more of the same all weekend.  I went to visit an old school friend for grade school who lives on the same street as my medical clinic. Here she is in 6th grade-- 2nd from the left in front...  Her name was Faye Radley then but now she goes by Katherine.

Here she is with her sig. other (Stan) and one he took of me and her.

Faye gave me a couple of dolls named Joyce and Mary. I'm giving the Mary doll to our mutual friend, Mary Gaboury, the next time I see her.  Faye's daughter (or maybe it's her daughter-in-law) lives just down the street from me.  I gave her one of my books.

I'm trying to build my friend base here in Port Angeles and I'm up to four people now.  Ha ha

Faye (or Katherine as I should try and get used to calling her) gave me a photo of two of her brothers. I went to school with them -- Ed and Harold Radley.  Ed lives in PT but Harold is in N.C.

I mostly loafed today working on my jigsaw puzzle. That's one of the drawbacks of that past time.  It can take over your day if you let it.  Looking forward to Doc Martin on PBS tonight and the Seahawk game tomorrow and the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Happy Birthday to my cousin, Jimmy, in Vancouver, and Happy Birthday tomorrow to my cousin, Ilene, in Bellingham.