Letters From New England

Home from work...

Monday

January 26, 2006

Hi,

Sooooo... I went to the gym last Thursday and signed back up.  I have had no motivation to move a muscle since winter set it.  Of course, this has put a kink in my weight loss plan.  I'm losing and regaining the same 2 or 3 lbs every week and getting nowhere toward my goal.

Of course, since I made an effort to get moving, "something" had to come along to eff it all up.  That "something" is a recurrance of the costochondritis I was diagnosed with in November.  I had no idea that it could come back.  I thought it was taken care of with anti-inflammatories back then.  Guess what? 

I spent part of Saturday morning moving, lifting, pushing, pulling boxes around in the basement looking for a couple of things.  Around 10pm, I started to get that same pain in my chest/rib cage that sent me to the ER in November.  I took some Advil and went to bed.  Absolutely couldn't lay on my left side at all, so I spent the night on my right side or my back.  I felt better when I woke up, but the minute I started moving around, it flared right up.  I stayed in all day.  Tammy was down, so she got me a large bottle of Advil and I took double doses twice yesterday.  When this happened last year, I was given a prescription for 800mg motrin, so we figured 800mg of Advil would do the trick.  I woke up this morning and felt better.  No sharp pain when I took a deep breath, not too much pain with movement....I thought.  By the time I got my clothes out of the closet and got in and out of the shower, I was in agony again. :(  I ended up just putting a pair of scrub pants and a t-shirt on and getting back into bed with a cup of coffee and some crackers so I could take more Advil.  Right now, I'm on the sofa with a heating pad and a bunch of pillows.  I'm even MORE glad to have this laptop than before.

I can't hear the words, but I can certainly make out the tone of the phone conversation Dawn is having right now and she is whining and bitching at someone.  I feel bad for the recipient.  She is such a "victim".  Blah...  Time to grab my new iPod!

As I predicted, getting my music transferred turned into a nightmare.  I was on the phone with Apple support for 90 minutes, but we managed to get everything from my desktop to my laptop, then into my iPod.  It wasn't the fault of iTunes at all...it was that same thing I've been complaining about, (but not getting corrected) for many months now.  I needed to download the newest version of iTunes in order for the new iPod to work, but when I clicked on the download button, I got that little window with the big red X in it and I couldn't do it.  The girl at tech support was great (and she was at work with a bad cold).  And, the good thing is, I have my original library (500 songs) on my laptop now too.  We got it all moved and my iPod is fantastic. 

I had a few girls over Saturday night, as I mentioned.  We had a fantastic time.  Went through a few bottles of wine and some snacks, but laughed our asses off playing Apples to Apples.  One of my friends is my landlady's sister (it's actually how I found out about his apt).  As usual, the Loud Family was being their inconsiderate selves and it reached a point where Nora just said, "that's it.  I'm going up there".  Now, there is no love lost between Dawn and Nora, so Iwondered how all of that would play out.  After she came back down, there was not ONE peep from any of them.  I told her to pack her stuff...she's moving in with me!  :)  Course, that only lasted the rest of  Saturday night.  Yesterday, it was same old, same old.  I hate living here.

Anyway, I got this really cool URL from a friend today and wanted to share it.  Use the + and - keys to zoom in and out and the 4 arrows to move the photo around.  You can see the Gores and the Clintons, and Aretha in her funky hat.  Bushwhacker looks bored/perturbed that he has to listen to Obama's speech,  Darth Cheney looks like Dick Tracy in a wheelchair.  If you were there (lucky you), maybe you can find yourself.

http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b06233c

It's up to 6 degrees here now.  A couple more and we can officially call it a heat wave.  Oooo, Dawn is leaving.  Yea...

Peace,

Kay

Weekend Update

Saturday

January 24, 2009

I have a feeling that owning this laptop is going to make a big difference in how often I post here now. :)  What a treat to sit on the sofa with a cup of coffee and be able to communicate with the world.  I'm afraid my desktop will be covered in 3" of dust before I ever use it again. :)

I can't remember my last post and I don't feel like looking it up, so if I'm repeating myself, feel free to move on to something more exciting.

I ordered a new iPod from the Apple store online because I wanted a RED one and it appeared that those were exclusive to the online store.  I had it etched on the back with my name and address in the hopes that if I ever "lose" it again, someone who is honest will find and return it.  Etching and shipping were free.  I still miss my other one, but that's because it was my first.  You know how we all tend to love our "firsts" for longer than we should? 

Anyway, when it shipped, I got an email from Apple with letting me know it was on the way.  It included a tracking # from FedEx, so for a couple of days, I logged in to see where it was.  Yesterday morning, I discovered that someone had attempted to deliver it, but it required a signaure so they didn't leave it.  I was really disappointed, but also concerned that I would never catch up with the driver because I will be out for a few hours today, and have to go back to work on Monday.  Then I had a little brainstorm.  FedEx delivers a few times a day at work.  I got up to go out to the storeroom to ask if they had come yet and there was Pete, one of our FedEx guys!

I asked him if he'd tried to make a delivery to my house yet and he said..."where do you live again?"  I gave him my address and he said, "an iPod"?  YES!  "Do you have it in your truck?"  He told me that Jane had it (how they know these things is beyond me).  I asked if she was coming to the hospital today (well, yesterday now) and he said "no, you aren't on her route".  I got a sad face and he said, "I'll call her and have her give it to Kathy".  Kathy comes every day between 3:30 and 3:45. I checked the website later and the notice had changed from "customer not home, unable to deliver" to "on FedEx truck for delivery.  Sure enough, Kathy had it when she got there at 3:30! 

I'ts quite beautious... and, as much as I still feel badly about losing my old one, the new Nanos have many more features.  This one can hold 8 videos and has games, a bigger screen, etc.  I will try to get my music transferred today (well, that will keep me on my desktop for a couple of hours).

But I can't do too much fooling around today because I need to clean from top to bottom, do laundry and go to the grocery store for snacks and wine.  I am having a Game Night here at 6:00.  I think there will be about 6 of us.  We are going to play Apples to Apples and Scattergories.  We had such a good time the last time Stitch 'n Bitch did this on our weekend at Cape Cod.  I had a need to something fun to break up this awful winter and it turns out, a lot of my friends feel the same way.

I am having such a time with Bella.  I was hoping for a sweet, cuddly kitty to keep me company and I ended up with Hell Cat.  It's worse than raising kids.  She's scratching furniture as she tries to scramble up into high places I don't want her to go in the first place.  An antique sewing machine in my living room has scratches on both sides and the front drawers now.  She's scratched my kitchen table trying to get up there and I DEFINITELY don't want her on that.  She's clawing my sofa even though I've covered some of it up and put scratching posts in front of each end.  She just reaches around them and claws the furniture.  She now has a habit of completely emptying her water and food dishes all over the floor.  Yesterday, I bought a new, double dish that's heavier.  She can't tip it over, so she paws at the dry food until half of it is on the floor, then bats it around.  She's better about the water because she doesn't like her paws wet, but she still sticks them in there and attempts to spill it.  Instead of coming to bed to sleep like she has been (there's a habit I wish I hadn't started), she gets in bed with a toy and chases it all around, using my body as the higher terrain.  For the last couple of nights, I've had to put her out because she wraps herself around my head, batting at my face with her front paws while her back paws use my head as a punching bag.  WTF?  It's amusing in the TELLING of the story, but not so funny when I am trying to sleep.  She's so stinkin' cute though...sigh. 

Well, I need to get started with this busy day.  It's cold again and I hear the wind HOWLING out there. Guess I'll get some music on my iPod (please, Godde, don't let this be another techno nightmare) and get my place cleaned up.

Peace,

Kay

And on the first day...

Wednesday

January 21, 2009

Yesterday was one of my happiest days in a long time.  I woke up singing.  I wanted to call my mgr and tell him I was staying home because I was too happy to go to work.  I managed to watch a bit of the inauguration ceremonies on a tv in one of the outpatient waiting rooms.  I saw Obama being sworn in and couldn't wipe the smile from my face.  And what does he do for his first act as President?

He froze the wages of all of his high profile staff!  How cool is that?  And, he took the train instead of a private jet.  Well, I have hope for the first time in many years.  I know it may get worse before it gets better, but I believe we've done the right thing in electing him.  Time will tell, but it can't POSSIBLY be worse that the last 8 years.

I missed the inaugural ball though.  I was bummed about that.  Completely forgot about it and watched Brothers & Sisters online, checked email, etc.  I hoped to catch pieces of it online today, but not much so far.

I broke down and ordered a new iPod today.  A red one to go with my red cell phone and red laptop.   I don't know what the red is all about.  I've never been much for the color red, but it seems to be a theme lately.  Good thing it's not time to trade my car in.  :)  I ordered it right from the Apple store, so it came with free shipping and free etching!  I had my name and addressed etched on the back of it in case I ever "lose" it again.  Maybe someone honest will find and return it.

I bought the coolest new journal on Sunday.  I've been admiring it for a long time, but didn't get it because it's pricey, but I decided this must be gifts to myself month, so I grabbed it. 

I need to update my bookshelf on Typepad soon.  I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and like it so far.  I'd love to get some feedback from you on what you've read and enjoyed recently.  I need to build up my book list. :)

I thought of a new class to offer at the college and at the last minute, tossed it off to my cousin Cindi to see if she had any interest.  I have 5 classes going on there (not all at once and not all of the time).  I called her and she was very excited about it, so I gave her the email address of the person she needed to talk to and they said they were interested!  She's going to propose 2 classes in cross stitching.  The first will be a basic class on Aida fabric and the second will be a more advanced class on linen....kind of like a beginner and an intermediate class.  We're going to try to get her stuff together so she can make it into the summer catalog.  I need to call her in a minute to have her over for a cup of tea and some brainstorming.

Hey!  I found my slippers!  Bella must have knocked them way under the cedar chest in my bedroom because I couldn't see them until I layed down with a flashlight to get a good luck.  No iPod or box of checks though.

Speaking of Bella... she has developed a new habit that I'm not loving too much.  She's been knocking her water dish around and spilling it.  Tonight, after the third time, I put the bowl in the sink, so she tipped her food dish over and spilled half of it onto the floor!  Now she's playing with it.  Christ...  I guess I'd better get back online and see what might be causing this behavior.  Remember when you just got a cat from a box of freebies on the side of the road and didn't worry yourself about dumb shit?  I need a pet psychologist. Hahahaaa...

Off to call Cindi.

Peace (and hope),

Kay

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN...

INAUGURATION DAY!

JANUARY 20, 2009

THE SKIES ABOVE ARE CLEAR AGAIN.

LET US SING A SONG OF CHEER AGAIN...

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!!

Peace,

Kay

Among the missing...

Sunday

January 18, 2009

Hi,

I've been awake since before 6 and couldn't fall back to sleep, so made a cup of coffee and jumped back into bed with my laptop.  I am LOVIN' the laptop!

Just in case you missed the post where I talked about the recent development of missing items from my house, here's a quick catch-up.

A pair of sunglasses (Ray Bans that Tam gave me, no less)

A box of blank checks (I think)

My iPod (boohoo)

And now, my slippers.  MY SLIPPERS?  I looked high and low for them yesterday because I wanted to go to the basement to do some laundry.  NO where to be found.  I just don't understand what's happening.  The other 3 things have some value, but not my slippers!

I'm afraid I'll find my sunglasses in the medicine cabinet, my iPod in the freezer, my box of checks under the bathroom sink and my slippers in the oven.  :)  I honestly can't figure out what's going on.  Poltergeist?  Alzheimer's?  Neighborhood thief?  I just don't know, but I am starting to get a bit nervous about it.  I mean, seriously?  My slippers?

It's snowing AGAIN today.  It must have warmed up some though, otherwise no snow.  An icon on my desk tells me it's 51 degrees in San Francisco.  I should see if I can change that to something local.  I changed the clock yesterday.

Two more days of the Bushwacker!  Did anyone even watch his speech the other night?  I didn't.  I wish I didn't have to work on Tuesday.  I'd love to watch the inauguration live, but I'll record it to watch after work.  I hope I have the VCR reconfigured correctly.  I forgot to do that after my last cable upgrade and I taped 3 wks of "snow" instead of Brothers & Sisters.  I need to find someone who can get me up to speed on that.  I wonder if I can watch past episodes on my laptop?  I'll check that out.

I didn't do a thing yesterday.  Well, I did some housework, but not much.  I could use a trip to the grocery store, but it's snowing.  I think Tammy, the kids and I are going to lunch (she's visiting this weekend), but we'll have to see how the weather goes.

I currently have 3 books going.  The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, The Widows of Eastwick, and Food Matters.  I have another that I'd started, but am bringing it back to the library without finishing it.  It's well written, but I just can't get into the story.  I also can't remember the title. :)

Off to see if I can watch Brothers & Sisters online.

Peace,

Kay

My new toy...

Friday

January 16, 2009

Hi,

What a day!  I left work at 11:30 because Comcast was scheduled to come between noon and 4.  I had also been tracking the delivery of my laptop and wireless router, (sent separately by Dell), so was watching for those drivers as well.

I had just come up from the basement where I'd been doing laundry and noticed the FedEx guy outside on the porch.   Let him in and signed for the laptop.  About 45 minutes later, the UPS guy showed up with the wireless router and a half hour after that, Comcast arrived.

The guy from Comcast was here for about an hour, hooking up the phone and high speed internet.  Then I began the process of hooking up the wireless router.  Ugh!  Why is every techno thing I touch such a challenge?  It should have been a simple process.  Shane (Comcast) explained it all to me before he left.  I would have had him do it but for the $150 fee they charge.  No thanks.  I followed the instuctions on the installation disk to the letter.  No connection.  I called my cousin's husband and he came over to help.  An hour and a half later, and 2 phone calls to tech support, and we still weren't connected.  I had plans to go out to dinner with Linda, so told Lenny to forget it and I would have someone from our IT Dept at work help on Monday.  I offered Gary$50 to come and set me up and he said yes.  Linda and I left for dinner, but Len was still here...refusing to give up.

I got home at 6:30 and found a note from Lenny saying everything was all set.  Took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to get online (amazing what happens when you read the directions), but finally did it.  I am typing this from the comfort of my sofa on my new laptop!  It's very pretty.  Bright red...  I need to give it a name.

I've had a couple of problems with the phone this evening, but hopefully that's not going to be an issue. 

Friday Night Lights is back!!!  I'm so excited to see it again.  I was really bummed when FNL didn't show up on Sept.   Can't wait to watch it.  I'm still pissed at ABC for taking Men In Trees and October Road (and American Dreams!) off the air.

It's FRIGID here...no lie.  -17 at the moment.  A co-worker had -22 at his house this morning.  No relief in sight either.  It's supposed to snow again on Sunday.  The laptop battery is keeping me warm though.  Hahaaa.

Cindi and I were supposed to go to Maine tomorrow for an overnight at Tammy's.  We were going to hit a bead show in Marlboro, then g0 to Yankee Cross Stitch in North Hampton, NH, then head to Tam's.  She called tonight and said that something came up and she can't go tomorrow, so we are just going to go to go next Saturday instead.  Just a day trip to Yankee for some stitching projects.  I have to be back because I'm having a "game night" at my house on 1/24.  6 women, a few bottles of wine, some snacks and the board game, Apples to Apples, which I've heard is hilarious. 

I don't know what to do with myself now that we're not going to Maine.  Maybe I'll watch a movie.

Peace,

Kay

A LONG catch-up...

Saturday

January 10, 2009

Hi,

It's been almost a month since I've posted here.  What the hell?  One of my "goals" for 2009 was to be a bit better at getting here.  As is the usual case with New Year "Resolutions", I'm already 10 days behind.  :)

I've had a couple of minor snafu's since 1/1/09 that made me wonder if it is a snapshot of how 2009 is going to go.  I certainly hope not.  Here's a quick list:

Bella has been a terror.  She's broken things and knocked over plants and is big enough to now jump onto high places that I don't want her to be on...like the kitchen table and counters.  She knocked around a handful of  my snowman figurines and broke one that was a gift from a friend.  I woke up one morning to find a plant in the living room knocked over (for the 3rd time), across the rug.  This time, only one stalk of the plant survived.  She pulled the tablecloth off of the kitchen table and dropped a borrowed book onto the floor.  The way it landed tore the front cover from the binding.  She then proceeded to shred some of the pages.  Soooo, I had to order a replacement at Amazon.  She also got at a cross-stitch project I'd been working on and had left on the table, but no damage done, thank Godde.

A mop I just bought and used about 5 times broke last weekend when I was trying to get under the bed with it. 

After I wrote out my last check in my checkbook, I went to my desk to get a new pack of checks and the box was empty!  If I were the kind of bubble-head that consistently did things like not ordering more checks when I put the last pack in my checkbook, I'd shrug and let it go.  I'm not that kind of person though (unless, of course, I'm in the early stages of BECOMING that kind of person), so I was a bit tweaked about finding the box empty.  I began a search of my place thinking I might have a second box somewhere that I'd forgotten about or that I might have moved the packs of check to.  Nothing.  I got online to order more, since I now did not have the reorder form, then checked my account at the bank to make sure no checks beyond the last one I'd written had been applied to my account.  So far, I can only blame the oncoming dementia for this mishap.

The very worst of these issues has been that I can't find my iPod anywhere!  I am most upset about this than any of the others (since my checking acct seems to be okay).  I have a clear vision of it sitting in my new iPod dock (Christmas gift from Tam and the kids) Sunday, Dec 21...the day I had a little Open House for my jewelry (which flopped due to yet another storm).  The following week, I went to Maine again for the real Christmas holiday.  When I had been in Maine for our early Christmas when Den was home from AZ, I brought my iPod with me to buy music with my gift card from the iTunes store.  Since I have dial up at home (which will be changing this week), it takes a REALLY long time for a song to download.  When I plugged my iPod into Tam's computer, it detected it as a "new device" and opened a whole new page.  I bought 20 songs, but it wouldn't allow me to transfer them to my iPod.  I kept getting a message that my iPod wasn't authorized on that computer.  So, I just gave up for the time being and emailed iTunes when I got home.  They replied with a breakdown of steps to authorize my iPod on her computer so I could get my music.  I THOUGHT that I put my in my overnight bag to take back to Maine on Christmas Eve, but I don't have a clear memory of doing that.

Anyway, because it was all hectic on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, I completely forgot about the computer/iPod stuff.  I came back home Christmas Day because I had to work on Friday, but didn't completely unpack my overnight bag until the weekend.  No iPod.  I've searched my house from top to bottom...every room.  On top, underneath, inside of every piece of furniture, every drawer, every nook and cranny.  I can't find it anywhere.  Tammy checked the guest room at her house and her computer desk and then I did the same again when I was there last wkend for Emma's birthday party.  No iPod.  I'm very sad about losing it.  I can't imagine where it is.  I have only one concern, but can't voice it because I'm not sure.

Since I've had Bella, I've had a set of house keys tucked into a small, zippered pouch hanging on a hook at the top of the basement stairs.  My cousin Cindi, and her husband, have been so great about keeping an eye on Bella for me if I am away overnight anywhere.  They will come and feed her, check her water dish, play with her for a bit, etc.  They've been in and out many times in the last 2 months and I'm sure that The Loud Family has seen them come and go.  The Loud Daughter had a friend here for several days during the 3 wks they had off from school because of The Ice Storm and holiday vacation.  This girl is the same one that The Loud Daughter got caught stealing at the corner market with, as well as setting a fire in their bathroom about a year and a half ago.  Anyone who's been watching me would figure out my routine in about 3 days because it rarely varies.  I leave at the same time every day and I come home at the same time nearly every day.  The house is empty in between those times.  I can't make an accusation, but I also can't explain the disappearance of some of my checks and my iPod. 

So, I'm waiting for my check from the last jewelry sale at the hospital (Dec 18) and I'm going to buy a new one.  Of course, as soon as I do, my old one will miraculously show up and I'll feel like an ass for thinking The Loud Daughter and Her Naughty Friend stole it.

I've done a little research and I think I'm just going to get another Nano.  I don't need a lot of bells and whistles (that I will never figure out how to use).  I like the new "nano-chromatic" colored ones and think I'm going to order a cherry red one to go with MY NEW DELL LAPTOP!!! 

Yes, I finally did it.  Broke down and bought a laptop this week...and got it in Ruby Red .  My cell phone is also red...hmmm.  Anyway, it is due to ship on 12/16, according to my sales receipt.  This is why I have to upgrade from dialup next week.

Emma turned 12 on Wednesday.  She had a sleepover party last Saturday.  TEN girls...all 11 & 12 years old...all in the 6th grade...all yakking about boys!  Tammy sent me an photo of her taken at a restaurant where they went for dinner Wed evening.  I noticed Em was wearing a couple of necklaces, something she rarely does (although, in the last year, she has begun to shed her tomboy look and is more and more conscientious about her appearance).  I called her before bed time to wish her a happy birthday and ask if she had a good day at school...always fun to be in school on your birthday.  She said her teachers and friends all sang and decorated her locker and what not.  Then I asked about the necklaces in the photo.  She said one of them was a necklace I gave her ... her name spelled out in wire on a sterling chain, and the other was a rectangle with 3 crystal chips in it.  I asked her where she got that one and she said, "Cal gave it to me today".  Cal...as in Callahan, a boy in her class.  I had a feeling about that since that's all she and her sleepover buddies talked about.  I haven't had a chance to talk to Tammy about it yet.  I remember my first gift from a boy.  I still HAVE it (you see how it would be impossible for me to lose my iPod when I still have a gift from the 7th grade - 46 yrs ago!  I don't lose things...I have OCD like you read about in medical journals!).  Anyway, it is some UGLY keychain that probably came from a bubblegum machine, but I carried it around with me like it was the Hope Diamond.  And, I married the boy who gave it to me.  That didn't work out so well, but the memory is nice.

Peace,

Kay