I think I've got it . . .

I did manage to make the print on our home page larger by going to the home page set up but I still have to figure out how to center my blog so it's not way to the left of the screen when I want to compose. Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid!

New monitor . . .

Well, well. The new monitor came in a day early. Puppy's Pop unpacked it and set it up. I'm having second thoughts about the size. Wow, 24 inches is a big screen and we haven't figured out how to make the print bigger! But I imagine we'll keep playing with it for a while and get used to it. I must admit that it is bright and crisp. And it is much better than either alternative; no monitor or the ancient one! Puppy's Pop is playing with it now and he'll probably have better luck than I had!

Not much else going on today. It is really cold and windy. We're lucky there's no snow on the ground except a few little piles from over a week ago. Younger brother and his wife are back from their stay in Arizona. I imagine they'll be missing the dry, heat and sunshine. I've got a couple of doctor's visits this week and then the Kiddo will be on the agenda.

Quote: The true way to gain much, is never to desire to gain too much. - He is not rich that possesses much, but he that covets no more; and he is not poor that enjoys little, but he that wants too much. __Beaumont

Spring in the air?

Was surprised going out this morning to be greeted by bird songs. It is a bright sunny day, a bit nippy, but that's it. Only a few piles of snow left from last Saturday. Have missed Mass for a few Sundays in a row but should make it today. UCONN men are playing Notre Dame at noon. We'll see if they can put a good game together. The women had some troubles in the first half yesterday against South Florida but they're still working hard. Hope they make it to the final four at least. Still trying to get this puzzle under control. Think I'll work on the sky today; did the mountains yesterday.

We'll go to early dinner later today at the Corner Bistro on Route 101 in Rhode Island. We're going to celebrate our 45 years of marriage! Incroyable! Doesn't seem possible that we've been married that long or that we've known each other for 48 years. Time does fly when you're having fun. Our anniversary is Friday but since we'll have Kiddo for the night we're going out today. We did get married on a Friday evening in 1967. That was just fantastic. We had both worked that day and never went on a honey moon. Just had the weekend to get adjusted to married life! And that was just perfect for us.

Quote: There is more of good nature than of good sense at the bottom of most marriages. __Thoreau
Quote: Marriages are best made of dissimilar material. __Theodore Parker

Death by Starkweather . . .

I knew yesterday that Starkweather was going to be the scene of an accident. The roads looked pretty good when I left for Big Y around 10:30 so I took my usual route to Plainfield. But the driving on Starkweather was very scary as the shoulder was packed ice and snow so it was difficult to stay in your lane. There was also some pretty heavy slush in the middle of the lane. The road was narrower than usual because it looked as if people were driving down the middle of the road in order to stay away from the shoulders. I was careful and never went over 30 although I noticed people coming from Plainfield still having fun seeing if they could maneuver the bumps and curves at a good rate of speed. I decided then that I would not come home by Starkweather and came home a little before noon by Route 12. Not sure where the fatal accident occurred but a man driving a Toyota SUV lost control on the way to Plainfield and the passenger side slammed into a school bus killing the man's wife. This happened just after noon. I knew that there was going to be a fatal accident on Starweather since they fixed the blind hill, bump, curve. People still drive it as if it were a challenge. I have gone through periods of vowing not to take that winding, narrow road but it is a beautiful ride and definitely a shortcut to the highway. Not sure if I will bypass Starkweather until I get over the sick feeling in my gut and then go on my merry way hoping that all and sundry decide to be careful on our country road.

Puppy's Pop is off to East Hartford to play horseshoes and I am debating whether I should walk out of doors since it is in the 40's and the snow is almost gone, melted right down into the river which is roaring by. Such big decisions I must make! Speaking of decisions I did make a good one yesterday. Youngest called over the weekend to ask if we knew of an FBAR guru.Foreign Bank Accounts can be a problem for Americans living overseas. I called a young attorney, former student from Danielson, and his secretary called back with the name of a lawyer/CPA who is a principal at a big firm in Providence. Lynn is from Danielson. I left her a message but when she hadn't returned my call immediately I found the address of her firm and emailed her. Wonderful lady, seeing that she had a worried mother to contend with, called me in the early evening and said to have youngest send her an email with all pertinent information. She said the minute she saw FBAR in my email subject line she knew she'd better call and help out. I sent a box of Munson's chocolates to my wonderful student to thank him for his help. He also sent us to a lawyer who specializes in elder law when we had our wills written some years ago. It's good to be able to trust a young friend.

Quote: Each departed friend is a magnet that attracts us to the next world. ___Richter

That's it . . .

Yep, photos are still in York, England. Roman column.

Okay, that's it. Go away winter. We've had enough. Puppy's Pop has just finished snow blowing the driveway and yard paths. He has been using tandem snow shovels to push the snow down the slope in front of the garage as every couple of inches falls and now that it has pretty much come to an end he used both snow blowers to clean up the 8 inches or so of that despicable white stuff. It is despicable if you have to drive or work in it. It is beautiful if you're playing on the hill with the little cousins from next door. Kiddo wasn't here today though. I stayed in Groton until nine last night when big brother came home early from his date to keep the Kiddo because we knew that the cold and snow was on it way. I just went out to sweep off the porch, steps and side steps to the mail and almost froze to death. It's a high of 23 today with some pretty good winds.

Hells bells, I just watched Tennessee men beat UCONN. We're having troubles this year. Hopefully they'll work out all of the kinks in time for season's end. The women are playing tonight. They should have a better outing than the boys!

Quote: And lo! in a flash of crimson splendor, with blazing, scarlet clouds running before his chariot and heralding his majestic approach, God's sun rises upon the world. __Thackeray

Younger sister did it again . . .

I was supposed to spend time cleaning today and before I started I thought I'd best call R. to see how her husband was doing. He was hospitalized last week. Before he can come home he needs therapy at a rehabilitation center for at least ten days so we decided today was a good time for me to go to East Granby and lunch at our usual spot. Her daughter will bring her to see hubby later today. The pepper and egg grinder was fantastic, as usual. But she had a trick up her sleeve for desert. We went to Simsbury to the Harvest Bakery and Cafe. What a scrumptious choice. We both had sweet potato tarts and coffee. Everything is made from scratch and I know that is true because you could taste it. It is rather expensive but worth every cent. I couldn't help myself and bought four cupcakes to take home. Since it is Grampa's birthday tomorrow and Kiddo will be home with us I thought the cupcakes, two peanut butter and jelly and two cookie dough would be excellent in place of a cake! Of course if Grampa reads my blog he won't be surprised but it is doubtful that he reads it and even if he did he would not admit to it! I won't have time tomorrow to stop with Kiddo to get a card and present so I stopped at the former Michael's Market in Canterbury and bought a card that will be from Kiddo and a big bag of M & M Peanuts. I think that will be a neat birthday present!

R. and I drove back to her home by way of the Simsbury airport, a dirt strip in the middle of big farming country. Hard to realize how beautiful Connecticut can be unless you go riding off the beaten paths. It is always such a pleasure to be with R. But since I don't like to drive in bad traffic I always leave by 2 o'clock. We never seem to have enough time. I did bring her two of my smaller puzzles but I'm not certain I have enticed her into working on a puzzle!

Well, time to warm up some left overs for supper.

Quote: Love is strongest in pursuit; friendship in possession. __Emerson

And I reap the benefits . . .

Some time between July 22, 2000 and November 8, 2006 it seems that Visa charged too much for certain transactions and I became a litigant in a class action lawsuit. It seems to coincide with our 2006 trip to Alaska by way of Vancouver, BC. Today I received a check for $18.04 and though I probably should have gotten billions I will quote the settlement administrator's note. "All refund amounts are reduced because the full amount of all the claims exceeds the amount in the settlement fund." I'm sure if those greedy lawyers hadn't taken their hyper-enormous share I would have had my billions restored. But "Que sera, sera." Since another part of the suit is on going perhaps in another six years I will get the check for the billions I lost in some international transactions made with my Visa card. All hail, class action lawyers!

Received a call from middle child late yesterday afternoon and went to keep the Kiddo for the evening. After homework, supper and spelling quiz we settled in for indoor soccer. He beat me 12-11. It was a very good game. Then we played Bakugan and I have no idea what the score was when we ended the game. Next on the agenda, my most favorite part of the evening, he set up his karaoke player and sang for me. He is amazingly not shy about singing for me. I pretty much close my eyes and just appreciate whatever he chooses to sing. It certainly isn't my idea of good music, Big Time Rush, but he has so much fun and takes it quite seriously. I just enjoy him. Growing up way too fast. Pretty soon they won't need me to help out so I'm taking advantage of as much Kiddo time as I can. After the music session it was shower time. As he showered and I sat on the closed john he was telling me about Saturday's retreat and right then and there, from the steamy shower he recited The Act of Contrition, Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be . . . I'm sure Ma, Pa, Pépère, Louise, MaTante, Gram and Angie enjoyed and approved this well enunciated recitation.

Quote: Prefer loss before unjust gain: for that brings grief but once; this forever. ___Chilo

Phew . . .

Phew, this growing up as one gets older makes me a bit testy upon occasion. But . . . I did it all by myself. I've just set up my digital cordless surround headphone Pioneer SE-DIR800C and it's working. I've got it set up through the cable box as it didn't like the old Sony one iota. Very neat. I haven't got the patience to see how to set up the Bose because I'd have to move it or the Pioneer base and then I'd have to be connecting and disconnecting too often. When my patience returns and I start getting antsy again I may buy an extra cable for the Bose but I'd still have to move it and it would look really ugly near the TV. So I'll just let it be, let it be. There will be an answer. Let it be. (Apologies to The Beatles.)

Puppy's Pop and I both had dental appointments in Groton this snowy, slippery morning. He had an 8 o'clock and I had a two hour scheduled for 9. Because the weather was bad we went together and he had to wait for me. Luckily they were able to start my appointment a half hour early and so I did get out early. He had a chance to go to the Hobby Shop and get coffee and a muffin at the Shack. Perfect timing. We saw one accident as it was happening in the North bound lane of 395 in Norwich. The driver of a red pickup spun completely around and hit the median guardrail just as we were driving by. Good thing the guard rails are there or he would have slammed right into us. I'll bet he was able to drive away because he did a 360 and was headed back North in no time flat. P'sP did see him pull over and stop. I know he had damage because I heard and saw him hit the rail. Scary. My heart jumped up to my throat.

I'll be working on the 2000 piece Neuschwansten Castle, Bavaria after I complete my indoor walking and snack. I have the border made and a small part of the facade. Way too many pieces.

Quote: Keep a quiet heart. Sit like a tortoise. Walk sprightly like a pigeon. Sleep like a dog. ___Li Chung-Y'un

Reconciliation . . .

Youngest child was somewhat appalled that her seven year old godchild is preparing to make his first confession. And I rather agree. Not too sure what sins a seven year old can commit egregious enough that the church chooses to turn them into worry warts who fear making any mistakes. But since the Roman Catholic Church now calls confession the Sacrament of Reconciliation I suppose it makes all the difference in the world? In any case kids do have to learn right from wrong and as long as they're not brainwashed into thinking they are the most terrible sinners the earth has known a little, very, very little, guilt is okay. As Kiddo was sitting down to supper I reminded him we had to get up early Saturday morning because he had to go to a retreat from 9am to 11:45 am in preparation for Reconciliation next Saturday. He nonchalantly turned to me and announced in a strong, knowing voice and great understanding in his eyes, " Mémé, I just have one good sin - I fight with my brother." I really didn't know what to say and before I could muster up a few words of appreciation for his "good sin" he added. "It's okay, we don't fight anymore." Just like that, easypeasy, he's got it all figured out. No qualms, no problem. Such a wonderful Kiddo.

After dropping him off at Sacred Heart Grampa suggested we eat breakfast at The Shack in Groton. Excellent choice. We'd never been there but I would certainly go back if we were there early in the morning again. They were packed with a line out the door but we chose to sit at the counter so we went right in. The food was delicious, the service excellent and we were on our way home in no time. Well time to go watch UCONN men win one at 11:00am this sunny, cold, windy day.

Quote: A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser to-day than he was yesterday. ___Pope

Game of Shadows . . .

Just returned from Lisbon Landing. What a good time I had watching Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. Have no clue how I'm supposed to react to movies but this has wonderful laugh out loud lines, scenes that made me cringe with fear because of the pain, marvelous vistas, great characters. It's a winner in my meager catalogue of movies seen. At $7.50 a pop we have some neat entertainment not far from home. I'm surprised by how much I've enjoyed going to the movies because I never think that there's anything worth watching. But there is and that's fine by me.

I didn't have to go to Groton today because Kiddo's Dad is going to pick him up from school. Since it's a rainy, gray winter day I thought the movies was a good idea. Puppy's Pop concurred. That's also a good thing. Felt a twinge of guilt because I didn't do my lunch duty but I've already completed Kiddo's mandatory volunteer hours so I'm sure they can do without my presence occasionally. I do enjoy the people I've met at Sacred Heart. We're a good bunch.

Time to complete my reading and my indoor walking.

Quote: The less you can enjoy, the poorer and scantier yourself; the more you can enjoy, the richer and more vigorous. ___Lavater

A wrinkle in time . . .

Interesting glitch with the VA. Received a bill for $50 for outpatient service in September, 2011. The VA is notorious for not billing our Stirling & Stirling insurance so invariably I call to make sure we really owe what they claim we owe them. This time Denise, my regular contact for billing problems in Providence ( the actual billing office is in Georgia ) told me that they couldn't bill our insurance because Puppy's Pop had been seen by a "student," not an MD. Now, that is a surprise. Puppy's Pop had no idea he was with a "student." No one told him that he would be seeing a "student." Denise agreed that from now on Puppy's Pop has to make sure he sees an MD if we want the insurance to kick in. Not blaming Denise, but miffed just the same, I called Senator Blumenthal's office here in Connecticut and Madeline C. said she would look into it. She agreed that it doesn't seem kosher but did tell me that the VA rarely does anything right when it comes to insurance. I think that's because some veterans, like P'sP are on Medicare as primary insurer and since both the VA and Medicare are federal programs they are not allowed to bill each other. The real tricky part is that our insurance kicks in after Medicare pays its share therefore the insurance company has to figure out what Medicare would have paid if it were paying and then pick up the remainder. How's that for clarification? What a bureaucratic heaven for the paper pushers. Not telling you you're seeing a student and not telling you your insurance will not be billed is ridiculous.

Played cribbage at home yesterday so Grampa could use my car to go play horseshoes in East Hartford. I felt awful because I won four straight games. But I imagine the wins and losses will even out the more S. and I play. It was nice to be able to play on the kitchen table with the completed puzzle taking up less space. I shall leave it up until Friday so Kiddo can see it then perhaps he can help me squish it up and put it back in its little box. I'll be going to Groton shortly even though Wednesdays are no longer on my weekly list. I imagine Kiddo will want to play outside on the playground before we go to his house and open his box from Amazon books.

Quote: He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument. __Shakespeare

Double whammy . . .

My poor UCONNs just couldn't hack it away from home. The women let Notre Dame rough them up and the men allowed Rutgers to get away in Piscataway. Down right unbecoming for my ranked Huskies. The women rarely play good teams so I can forgive them this lapse. The men rarely play good teams as they prepare for the Big East season so they have a high opinion of themselves. I blame the coach for their terrible opening schedule. They should play the best teams so they can focus on what they have to do to win. Perhaps I can volunteer my time to help them out!

Kiddo helped put in a few puzzle pieces but it sits here still so I may have to steel myself and work all day to complete it. The problem is that all we have left are browns and blacks. Tough stuff. Richoni's sent home stuffed shrimp, fish and chips and a nice bowl of chicken soup for dinner yesterday. Nice being spoiled. Kiddo had his usual chicken tenders but no fries, grapes instead. He weighs in at 66 pounds and 51 inches tall. Getting too big to wrestle with me. Doesn't seem fair that kids grow up so fast. He and Grampa played Wii Skylanders for quite a while and had a good time.

Youngest and G. have had an offer they made on a house in the same estate where they are renting accepted. She sent pictures and it looks great. If all goes well they should be in their own place sometime in March. I just may have to visit at least one more time in the next few years so I can get a feel for their new home. Otherwise I believe they shall try to visit us once a year. I really need to see them once a year, just for hugs, smiles, laughter and homeyness. It doesn't have to be for a long time just some close time.

I forgot to mention some rumors. It seems that Bass Pro Shops is looking at the Dog Track property. Agway is preparing to move across from Better Value and Olive Garden is supposedly looking at moving to the Agway property. It sounds too good to be true but it would be a hoot to get the Pro Bass Shop in town. I guess it is feasible since both Killingly and Lisbon have the malls so we're a stop right between the two malls. That would be very cool.

Quote: Man often acquires just so much knowledge as to discover his ignorance, and attains so much experience as to see and regret his follies, and then dies. ___Clulow

Back to school . . .

Just like old times I'm ready to go back to school after vacation. Lunch duty is always interesting because I never know which of the volunteers will show up to help out, none, one or a half dozen. Poor Kiddo will probably get upset with me today when I give him his after school choices. Of course he will ask if he can play in the playground for a while which will be fine by me but when we get home and he has changed into his play clothes I'll give him a choice of reading or subtraction. Oh the whining and gnashing of teeth that will occur. C'est la vie, n'est-ce pas? Then we will be able to settle down to some good wholesome indoor hall soccer.

Had a good time playing cribbage with S. at her home. She beat me two out of three and almost skunked me on the first game. Then we were pretty close for the last two. We've got a date to play next Tuesday at her house but I may ask her to come here so Puppy's Pop can use my little car to go play horseshoes in East Hartford. The Dodge Ram is a gas guzzler in comparison to the Élantra. Yesterday youngest sister-in-law and I ventured into Rhode Island to wander around Chariho Furniture. We must have wandered for about two hours, she looking at couches, I looking at kitchen tables. We didn't buy anything but it was fun and very interesting. What a beautiful showroom of American and Canadian made furniture. I found a table that I really liked but when I got home I realized that I don't mind my old maple, laminate topped table. At least I know what I like if I go bonkers and decide I can't survive my remaining stay on this great planet without a new table. That day may come. I get antsy for new "things" that are beautiful, delightful to touch, admire and enjoy. We'll see how long I can hold out before the table becomes a necessity. (Chairs too, bien sûr.) On our way back home from our wanderings in furniture heaven we were going to stop for lunch at the Wood River Inn in Hope Valley but they are still celebrating the new year and weren't open so we asked Sandy, our most capable furniture guide, where we should eat and she suggested two Chinese places and ernie t's, a new restaurant in the rather congested, ugly strip mall on Route 138. I'm glad we stopped. It's only five months old; a nice Irish Pub style bar and the food was very good. Puppy's Pop and I will be giving it a try for our combination birthday dinner soon. I think he's going to like it there, as little orphan Annie would say. Very clean, home made everything and willing to change the menu items to suit your taste.

Time to be off and leave Grampa to work on the puzzle!

Quote: When a man has not a good reason for doing a thing, he has one good reason for letting it alone. __Thomas Scott

Delinquency . . .

I've had a long chat with my friend S. who, I hope, will retire soon. Teaching is no longer exciting or interesting. Administration has turned teachers into robots and baby sitters. Enough said on that topic.

I had to go upstairs to get all the boxes for the Christmas decorations and I spied a Bush Light can on top of the TV near the chair Grampa was sitting in when he was aiding and abetting Kiddo with the rip roaring train. Thought the photo might explain another reason why they had such a good time without Mémère present. I guess the PC crowd would get him for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In any case the tree is down and somehow, without buying one new decoration I needed an extra box to put everything away. Not sure what I did but it was nice to get the house back to plain old home.

Puppy's Pop has figured out a way we can get the use of the kitchen table while I work away on out sized puzzles. He found a neat board somewhere that we'll set up on a card table near the porch window. We can close the kitchen table up for only two and we'll have plenty of room to get around and the puzzles won't be in the way. Cool beansies. Of course we can't try it out now because we could never move the one that's now complicating our dining pleasure. It's much too far along and the various piles of similarly colored pieces would get all messed up. Maybe in a few weeks we can give it a try with the 2000 pieces!

Dental appointment tomorrow and then maybe some cribbage with my Lake Street cousin. Looking forward to playing cards. I don't get too many chances anymore with Angie gone and everyone else living too far away for regular games.

Quote: It is very wonderful to see persons of the best sense passing hours together in shuffling and dividing a pack of cards with no conversation but what is made up of a few game-phrases, and no other ideas but those of black or red spots ranged together in different figures. Would not a man laugh to hear any one of his species complaining that life is short? __Addison

Happy, Irenic New Year . . .

Peaceful, sunny day. Puppy's Pop is off for his first flight of 2012 with youngest's home built radio control. Wondering if he'll be the first of the Yankee Flyers in this annual ritual. Made a pretty good dent in the 1500 piece puzzle last evening but it is a real stinker. Will definitely post a photo when it is completed and then may burn it! Off to Mass soon and may then take down The Tree although I shall miss it. I should probably leave it up until the twelfth day of Christmas.

Quote: Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of your young men, and I will tell you what is to be the character of the next generation. ____Burke