Wow! So far so good . . .

Can’t believe I’ve almost got the  Christmas Tree up - it’s a southern thing, I think. Thanksgiving Day people on our street were putting up their outdoor displays! Our southern Granddaughter is coming Sunday with her two kiddos, maybe three! and I want to make sure it looks a little like Christmas. I have way too many decorations so I’ll let the kids take some home if they like them. I’ve got to pare down the stuff we’ve accumulated over the years. I also have younger daughter’s decorations which are really dolls from the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland so maybe they’ll find something they like.

P&D’s Pop decided we should go to lunch at The Francis in St. Francisville on this coldish wet not desirable Wednesday but when we got there it was packed so we went to The  Birdman Café for lunch. Well, horrors, my favorite breakfast place in the whole wide world doesn’t serve lunch! The cook leaves at 11am for the Magnolia to cook! Holy shitski. But it worked out okay because The Birdman is open until 2pm for coffee and homemade cookies! So we had a great sweet lunch and I now know how my favorite breakfast place works. When we got home I winter proofed my  Blue Sky Vine which P&D’s Pop had transplanted to the corner of the property near the little white shed. I hope it survives the winter weather which is in store for us the rest of this week. I also bagged my three ginger plants and put the rest of the pots on the back porch. If I lose them it’ll be okay just don’t want to lose the Thumbergia. Well it’s time to get back to the tree. Over and out.

Oy vey . . . just bought a new furnace . . .

We didn’t see that coming but it does make sense. The One Hour service tech came today to check out our furnace and make sure it is ready for Winter. He found a crack in the heat exchange, I think that’s it, and that means there is carbon monoxide circulating around. Not good. He called in a more senior tech to make sure he was right. Before he left he made sure the gas to the furnace was turned off. The second technician came at supper time and agreed that we had a problem. He tested for carbon monoxide and had all of the figures. They actually have a video of the flames not acting properly so of course he also made sure the gas is turned off to the furnace. The men will be coming tomorrow morning to install the new one. The furnace we have now is a 1994 model and was warranteed for 20 years! I guess this house, built in 1996, has gotten its money’s worth. I hope we don’t end up with too much of a mess. But we’ll be glad to get it done - was not expecting the expense but it is certainly something we must do. I find it scary to even think about it.

All things considered . . . a rather amazing day . . .

Went into Baton Rouge this morning without even using a GPS! I continue to amaze myself. I went to the audiologist to have my new ears tweaked and I’d say it was a worthwhile endeavor because she was able to tone down the background noises and also lower the normal setting just a bit. So far I like it better. I’m still within the 30 day period if I change my mind about getting them but I don’t see that happening. I’m getting pretty used to them and like them. It does take some getting used to but I’m making myself wear them every day, all day and I’m trying to not have to change them at all. I don’t like playing around with them; just set and go!

After getting the bionics tweaked I stopped at Batch 13 for a good strong cup of coffee and a freshly made blueberry bonut. Wow, that was good. I even decided to bring P&D’s Pop a little snack - two cinnamon bonuts. I was so proud of myself and when I gave them to him he immediately shook the cinnamon sugar off of them! No more goodies for him - he doesn’t know what’s good.

After taking my walk I decided to wash down the back porch and carport - they get pretty dirty from the wind blowing dirt around. That is a big job but P&D’s Pop came to the rescue and it looks really good. He also fixed a leak in the porch roof with some flashing material. Not quite sure why it leaked but it seems the caulking used to seal the carport roof with the added on porch roof dried up and left gaps for the rain to pour in. I think tomorrow I’ll attack the outside of the garage because there is some green moldy stuff especially on the back of it where it doesn’t get much sun. Not sure where all of this energy comes from but it’s good to get stuff done. Probably the fact that Fall is here and cooler weather helps!

On top of all that we finally are all straightened out with ADT! Cool beansies.

The latest and hopefully the last blurb about ADT . . .

The latest young man who came today had been here before; I don't recall when but he knew we were from up North and remembered us having a son down here. And . . . I think he really did figure out what was wrong with the system. It seems the men who put it in never removed a magnet from the old system that was here when we bought the house. The magnet was in a hole which had been drilled from the top of the back door down quite a ways. He got on a ladder and drilled down as P&D's Pop watched he brought out a magnet that was interfering with the proper alignment of the magnets the original men had installed back in February 2016. Yup - I think we're all set. I'm still mad at the original men who came here and didn't use the old system to set the alarm.  Instead they decided we needed the new system and it's pretty obvious they didn't know what they were dealing with. We shall see. I hope this is finally right. If it is I'll probably keep the system as the lady manager I spoke with yesterday has given us two free months and lowered the bill too! Phew. It's tough all over.

This morning we went to the park and the men were in the process of taking down my Red-headed Woodpecker's favorite tree. I told them I was heart broken but the man in charge explained there was no nest in the dead tree and with all the kids coming for Halloween treats this weekend they were afraid to let it stay up and wait for it to fall.  He also showed me the tree he says the Woodpecker is using to build a nest.  I told him I didn't trust him and I wouldn't let him know what dead trees and branches I photograph!

Just cooling off . . . blood pressure coming down . . .

Don't even know where to begin - we are still having problems with ADT the security company. It goes back to last year when I wanted the system that was already set up in the house to be activated. I never realized that the two men who came here were not really from ADT. They explained that they were going to put in a different system from what was already here as they couldn't use what was installed blah, blah, blah . . . Needless to say we've have difficulties and because I signed a contract on the technician's iPad where he was actually tapping the screen for me we are stuck. To shorten this diatribe suffice it to say that after two sets of letters explaining all of the problems have been sent to  corporate in Colorado,one last March and one last week, we're still having problems. I called a number I found on line for ADT that didn't look like their usual number where you rarely can get a person unless you want to buy a new system.For the second time in two weeks I explained I wanted out of the contract and she got me in touch with another lady. The second lady seemed nice but couldn't find our contract so I waited patiently as she fumbled around and when she came back she said she had it. So I asked her to make sure the certified letter some one from ADT  Corporate in Aurora, CO had signed for yesterday was in my records. She said she would look and proceeded to hang up on me. Just as I thought I was getting somewhere! So I called the same number I had found on line and this time a youngish sounding man spoke with me. I explained all that had happened and he said over and over again that I had signed the contract and no one would let me cancel it with out paying 70% of the balance. I also asked why my bill had gone up $3 and he said it was in the contract that after a year they can raise your rates. As I became more and more upset and he just kept repeating the same thing even stating that a manager would not allow me to break the contract without paying the 70% which would be about $450 he said, exasperated "What do you want me to do?" I told him to get me the CEO! He said he couldn't do that. So I told him okay then get me a manager. He did. And I'm pleased to say that Miss Betty was on top of everything - she took the extra $3 a month off of the bill; she took the $3.00 a month we were paying for the fob we were told not to use ( the men who put in the system said they had given it to me!) She knew that we had a technician coming out tomorrow between noon and five so she asked me to give them one more try and if I wanted to I could call her next week when she'll be back in the office and cancel the contract at no extra cost to me. Phew - she also explained that she was giving me two months credit so I could keep the system for another two months at no charge and then cancel it! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get anything done when you know that a company has not fulfilled their contract? It's a miracle when you can even get someone on the phone who has any clout what so ever in the company. So we'll see what happens next. There's still a part of me that wants the system working but I'm so pissed off that I may just call it quits. That's it for now.

À la recherche de mon enfance . . .

I really wanted to put A la recherche du temps perdu because that is one of my favorite books but that would be stealing! I should reread Marcel Proust in French because that's the only way to appreciate the beauty of his evocative prose - it's more than poetry, more than art. It grabs you and won't let go. Even after all these years I still feel the sensations recalling at will his written images. Perhaps that is why all sorts of memories keep flooding my brain. One of P&D's Pop's friends and his wife stopped in last week and she always marvels at the little tatted bureau scarves ( don't know what else to call them) on the marble counter. I showed her the wonderful picture my Pépère made for me when I was about five years old and she was amazed. I explained to Cathy that I believe the reason I feel so comfortable and at home in Louisiana is because I brought all of my old stuff with me! ( even P&D's Pop!) I remember Pépé using a drawing from a coloring book to make the design on a piece of cloth and then he embroidered the outlines of the bears and used water colors from our kids' paint set to put in some color. I may have already spoken of this but he also made me a stuffed camel. He drew the camel that was on his cigarette pack onto some cardboard and then wrapped it in brown string and yarn. It even had eyes, a nose and a saddle! How I wish my older sister had also managed to find that too. I think I may have worn it out! She sent me the picture along with Pépé's clock when my older brother was visiting her and he brought it to Moosup for me. Well, I call it Pépé's clock but it may have been my mother's! All I know is that I do not like the sound of clocks ticking but we have the clock right here in the living room as I type and I can't hear it but it is working! I grew up with it for so many years that it doesn't bother me. I'm sure I'd miss it now that P&D's Pop has it working so well. It is the only clock in the whole wide world that ticks and I don't notice it. If I hear ticking clocks I want to silence them even if it means smashing them. That's how strong my dislike is for listening to time marching on!

Talking with my younger sister . . .

My younger sister and I visit with each other by phone almost every Tuesday and today was no exception. It was quite warm in Connecticut and it was very warm here in Louisiana. I started to reminisce about growing up in Moosup. I vividly remembered Mama sending us to the library to get books during the summertime. She loved books and we always got books for Christmas but I think  she used to get us 'out of her hair' by sending us to the library! We would walk up Highland St. Ext. to High St. all the way down to the library on Main. It was always a pleasant walk and Ma always knew if we behaved ourselves because Miss Main ran the upstairs and Miss Dolly Barber the downstairs so Ma could always check on us. It's odd that I can picture these two women - Dolly was short and a bit stout with dark hair and used to tell me stories about Ma teaching her how to set type at the Journal Office. I recall her saying, 'Dolores would tell you to pay attention because she was only going to tell you how to do something once. So you paid attention!' Not sure why this has stuck with me. Miss Main was a very sweet, grey haired lady and strict about the rules, a perfect librarian. I used to love going to the library. We would sometimes walk home by Main Street and up Church cutting across the parking lot at Paul's Package Store to get home. When I was little I used to make sure no one crossed our lot as a shortcut and would tell them to 'Get off my propity!' What a pain in the derrière I was! I think the big kids laughed at me.

I remember sleeping out in an army tent Pa would set up in the back yard. The girls in the neighborhood would sleep out together one night and the guys got a chance the next night. The worst thing that I remember about that is rolling over on the army cot, yes we had cots! and I felt something cold and clammy squish under my side. I jumped out and grabbed the flash light to see that I had squished a huge, monster green ugly tomato bug. I do believe I decided to sleep in my own bed after that. I remember all of us kids, neighborhood kids too, singing songs in our living room while my older sister played the piano and I still get teary eyed when I remember when it was my turn in the heat of a summer night to sleep on the porch swing and listen to Butch aka Tex Lévesque play his guitar upstairs at his house across the street. I think he used to sit out on their porch roof. Butch died while he was serving in the US Army in Italy - it seems he had drunk too much and left a bar feeling sick; he didn't want to ask anyone for help. He was found dead outside near the stairway. I still feel the loss and that was so long ago. I remember Ma wouldn't let me stay outside to play in the summer after 7 o'clock. It was so unfair! So I'd creep out of bed and sneak to the hall window and watch the older kids playing. I even saw Georgie break his arm as his brother Charlie was playing 'airplane' with him! Holy cow. I don't know why all of these memories are flooding in tonight. We had a heck of a good neighborhood and most of the time all the kids played in our yard because my mother loved to watch us play especially the pick up baseball games. To pick the players for a team two of the older boys would throw a bat and work their hands around the bat one after the other; who ever managed to get the last hand on the bat would be able to start calling the name of the best player he wanted to start on his team. Then the other boy would name his player and back and forth until everyone was taken except me because I was always the littlest. But usually Charlie would let me play on his team kinda like the bat girl! And I remember Ma would have to referee if the kids got out of hand. At the end of almost every summer the older kids would get together before school started and bring Ma a big bouquet of flowers with a fancy card thanking her for letting the whole neighborhood play in our yard. We even played football on Saturdays in the Fall and Charlie would still pick me for his team. He was a big guy and must have been about 15 to my 7 years old. His team would get the ball to me and before anyone could tackle me he'd protect me all the way to the goal and if he had to he'd make like a cave with his body and I would sneak under him for the touchdown! Tonight, I refuse to remember my little sister Louise getting a very high fever one evening and dying. I had to sleep at my Aunt and Uncle's across the street while all of the adults and Charlie and the doctor tried to save her. I remember eating hazelnuts and shagbarks, fishing and cowboys and Indians, swinging my life away on the numerous swings we had on the front porch and under the big maple, swimming at Moosup Pond, getting the eggs at the neighbor across the street. I remember Pa and Ma putting up a sheet on the wall in the living room and showing movies to all of the neighborhood kids and even adults. My mother would charge the adults a safety pin to get in. She was always short of safety pins for the baby's diapers! I remember picking raspberries with Pa while Ma and Pauline picked them over and made up gorgeous baskets of the best berries on earth and then Pa would put them in our wagon and we'd walk down Church Street and sell them. I think we sold them for .50 and even Dr. Barry bought some from us. I remember  Gert Panasuk's ice cream parlor, literally her parlor  which was just across the lot from us. Ma would send us to get some odds and ends and Gert would put the change in the bag with the bread or whatever we had bought. Ma didn't realize that the change was in the bag and used to throw the bags in the garbage which Pa would burn every Saturday. You know we found a lot of black change under the barrel when the bottom gave out! I remember my friend Sylvinia Pareno whose family spoke Spanish and whose Dad was involved in trying to overthrow Castro. My friend Karen and I have tried to find her but we haven't yet. The last Karen knew Sylvinia was in New York City and that must be at least 50 years ago. I remember stopping on the way home from school in Potvin Village to see Mon Oncle Sam and Ma Tante Bernadette. She would be making home made doughnuts and Mon Oncle would be cleaning up after her! Best honey dipped doughnuts ever as she would let me dip them in the honey for her. Well that's it for tonight.

Oh my goodness . . .

First rate glorious day . . . we've already had a good breakfast at James' Grill in old Denham Springs, gone to Livingston to vote early, found out where to go for concealed weapon permit and classes, picked up a box and packed it to send off to middle child with all things MaTante Rose and gotten P&D's Pop off to South Park as I head out to get a haircut, mail the package and pick up some more beautiful gourds for my front porch basket. Fall in Louisiana is pretty near perfection.

Took a break from writing to walk my four circles around the neighborhood and got a phone call from Kiddo that he needed us to help with a homework assignment. That was pretty neat. His Dad, P&D's Pop and I used FaceTime to explain to him some old slang expressions. His teacher said the kids had to talk to some older folks - 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's! Hell that makes me feel young. He's looking and sounding so fine - I think 13 years old agrees with him. He also seems more out going - perhaps the new school is a very good thing for him.

Just finished eating supper and it was pretty darned good - roast pork surrounded by little gold potatoes and onions with only salt and pepper for seasoning cooked together in the oven at 350 degrees - with tossed salad and applesauce as a side it was a mini feast. No special dessert but I do have Blue Bell Vanilla Cups topped with either chocolate, coffee or blackberry sauce. Fantastique.

I may return to my blog more often - uncertain about that. I like Facebook but get annoyed with it and myself at times. This seems like a more comfortable outlet for my daily love or dislike of life! I tend to be more hyper than beat down - as a matter of fact I have never felt beaten just aggravated. C'est la vie, n'est-ce pas? À toute à l'heure. Heck, my French is as rusty as the devil. Peut être je vais essayer d'écrire en français quelque fois. Ce sera bon pour la tête et le cœur. Bunny day!

Still watching Vietnam . . .

We are continuing to watch the Ken Burns' Documentary and I am amazed that I have seen no comments, good, bad or indifferent on Facebook. Are people so caught up in the assininity going on with sports and Hollywood that they have no time to reflect on what transpired over 50 years ago? I don't think I ever realized how many lies were told during the Vietnam War. I am constantly shocked by the brutality of war. My brain knows what happens but the life is constantly squeezed out of my heart - there is real, honest to God pain in seeing the Hell that was Vietnam. We made so many grievous mistakes and our soldiers paid the price for the vain, inept leadership of our country and the military command. How is it that I can be thankful that P&D's Pop was drafted early and was in Vietnam at the beginning of the build up to the killing of thousands of young Americans. Even back in 1966 I was petrified when I saw the nightly news and realized that even the media back then was helping the enemy by expounding on what the next day's targets were going to be. We should never have gotten involved in another French catastrophe but since our presidents allowed us to be suckered into prosecuting the war Barry Goldwater would have been the right president. We never learn that there is no nice in war - it is hell on earth and if it must be fought we must fight to win. We must not be the good guys - we must go for all out destruction. That is a scary thought but it may be the only humane way to go to war. Odd words - humane and war - they don't go together - can't be done. Man has not improved since creation - maybe there is so little good and much too much evil in man. Who set us in motion? Can Higgs Bosun not choose to support goodness and love? Very hard to reconcile the thought that we are made in His Image with what man continues to do to man.

I didn't think it would affect me like this . . .

I watched the first two parts of Ken Burn's Vietnam Documentary and was pretty much okay but after tonight's two hour episode I lost it. Oh my God - all of the fears I had back in 1965 and 1966 came crashing down and I was never in Vietnam. I can't even begin to understand the quagmire of Vietnam and we sent our own young men to fight without proper training or some semblance of honest, strong, intelligent leadership. Hubris on the part of Lyndon Johnson and his advisors led them to destroy the lives of thousands of our young men and their families. Vietnam left a terrible burden on the generation who fought the lost cause - the scars will last forever. And mankind has learned nothing from the past - man is not perfectable. At times man is an abomination. I appreciate and respect the love of my life. Thank you, P&D's Pop. You are loved and loving. Forever yours, I am.

Heathens . . . missing Ma and Pa . . .

Two of the most important men in my life are heathens - it's true. P&D's Pop and my Kiddo did not take my invitation to sit on the front porch and watch the sunset seriously. Supposedly the big one watched through the window and the smaller one watched through the door! I'm supposed to be content with that knowledge. Yikes! I've been had. A sunset cannot be described; it cannot be videoed; it can not be photographed; it cannot be painted although that would be the best a human being could do - sunsets are not to be trifled with - they are the void we would enter now and in éternua - how peaceful, graceful, strong, passionate, fiery, brilliant, ephemeral, bold, startling, crisp, clear, vague, suave, clean, vaporous, transient and human. There is hope in humanity but when the sunsets end it is the end. PS The big one did come out as the sun faded away and the smaller one was busy speaking with his Mama - all is well.

Oh to have the descriptive powers of a Samuel Longhorne Clemens . . .

I wish I could do the gentleman justice. We've met him a few times in passing at James' Coffee Shop in Old Denham Springs. Today he was dressed in dark suit pants, light brown shirt, a brown tie with yellow paisley design, a medium brown suit jacket and the brightest yellow straw fedora with a brown band. As he was leaving the restaurant, having said his au revoirs to his friends who were dressed as most men in the shop, shorts and polos, he stopped by our table and offered me a choice of the flowers he clasped in his gnarled, warm hand. The stems were wrapped in tinfoil just as we used to wrap Mama's violets back in the day. I'm in love with south Louisiana.

Perry and The Peacock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJiD0301Zq8&feature=youtu.be

Fruit Delight . . .

Wanted something sweet for after dinner and had no idea what.  We don't keep sweets in the house but I was determined to have something sweet. Yesterday I also went through a sweet kick and ended up looking in the cupboard where I found raisins, bittersweet chocolate chips and pecans; put together these made a tasty snack but I didn't want that today. I remembered an easy dessert Wendel Davis, a friend and teacher at KHS back in the good old days,  made using a can of fruit cocktail. Sure enough I dug it out and we had ourselves a marvelous warm super sweet delicious dessert covered with whipped cream; didn't even have to go to the store. A la recherche du temps perdu is always fun. I had to smile when I remembered the special days at KHS where teachers and local businesses gave demonstrations of different types of jobs. Mr. Davis loved to cook and I, not loving to cook, ended up helping out in the motorcycle demonstration with D&S Cycles from Willimantic. Those were the days, my friend. Oh shitski, I'm getting nostalgic.

Maybe some day . . .

Little Blue Heron eating a Mud Bug

A lovely new young friend invited us to her home for this evening but it didn't pan out; I expect it will one of these days. She and her husband and two year old live in DS and what she'd like us to see is the sunset on the lake from her back porch and she thought P&D's Pop could fly in the field near their home. That was really thoughtful but I had to explain that P&D's Pop flies control line not radio controlled models. I'll have to give them a holler when we go to South Park in the Fall and the weather is a bit cooler than now.  I must admit that the heat and humidity have been oppressive and onerous lately but it still works out okay because I end up walking in the air conditioned house! 

Had a neat day at the Early Leaning Center yesterday when I ended up being assigned to a class with one teacher and 8 two year olds. Oh my, two years old isn't very old! After lunch I ended up sitting on the floor next to seven of the little tykes and helping them fall asleep by rubbing their backs - come to think of it maybe that's why my back is bothering me a bit today - it was easier to crawl over to each one than to get up and walk over to them - very small classroom! But it was so much fun as they seemed to enjoy holding my hand and walking with me in the shade out in the playground - I had to keep them from stealing my hands from which ever child had gotten hold of me.  It was a bit odd but kids are funny like that; I guess possessive is the word. Today I was back with the three and four year olds; they are pretty sophisticated in comparison. The only caveat I gave the director of the Center is that I don't change diapers and that worked out fine because most of the kids are potty trained. Besides the teacher said she always takes care of business so for that reason I have agreed to help out with the 2's whenever necessary. 

Not sure what's gotten into me today but I have hunger pangs!  I've already devoured a few handfuls of raisins, pecans and bitter sweet dark chocolate bits. Since I don't keep candy in the house I had to make do with what I could find in the pantry! Now I feel like Moosup popcorn. Hells' bells!

Quote:  Tact comes as much from goodness of heart as from fineness of taste.  __Endymion

Absolute first . . .

Natural Glitter

I bought a membership in PARDS (Parks and Recreation Denham Springs) and today I signed in and used the Olympic Pool. I've never been in a pool of that size before; it's amazing. The water was a bit too warm for my liking but for $30 a month I have access to the pool, the air conditioned gym, fitness classes and every exercise/weight machine imaginable.  I doubt I'll use anything but the pool but when Kiddo comes for a stay we'll definitely have some stuff to do inside since it'll be hotter than blue blazes (that's really hotter than hell.) I was surprised how tiring it was to try and swim laps. I've never been a good swimmer but I stayed in the water for 45 minutes although I was not extremely active. I'll have to try to go at least twice a week and perhaps get into a swimming class or two so I do swim properly. I was just dubbing around. My strongest stroke is the side stroke and I'm not sure if I do that correctly. I did find that walking in the pool is work! That surprised me. There seems to be tide!

Went to see the eye doctor for a check up on my dry eye and I'm doing great - so another medical AOK. Life is running along at full speed. Since I can't wear the Fitbit in the water I'll probably force myself to also get in some steps on pool days. I stopped and splurged at Waffle House for lunch since I was in Zachary.  As long as you are not in any rush whatsoever it's okay to go to Waffle House. You've got to laugh at how poorly managed a Waffle House is. I do believe that corporate should change the way they do things - it's positively nuts there.  Of course if everything were done in proper sequence it would probably work out okay.  There was a new kid on the block and he was horrible - they should have had him doing dishes and cleaning up! Oh well, I sat next to a nice lady and we commiserated with  an older gentleman who expected to get his food on the same day he ordered it! It really was funny. I saw people get their sides of bacon after they had finished their breakfasts! All's well that ends well; I did manage to have my pecan waffle and crisp bacon with out too much of a hassle. Now I won't have to eat dinner!

Just found out today that P&D's Pop's older brother is having having heart issues which put him in the hospital for a couple of days - atrial fibrillation. It seems they now have his blood thinning medicines figured out. Oy vey - this heart stuff is all over the place!

Quote:  The heart never grows better by age; I fear rather worse; always harder. A young liar will be an old one; and a young knave will only be a greater knave as he grows older.   _____Chesterfield

I am so clever I scare myself . . .

The Crape Myrtles are not very healthy this year.

Since our Connecticut Kiddo will be coming for a visit with his folks and then staying with us for a few days when they leave to go back North I decided I should find a comfortable place for us to play basketball, swim etc in this very hot humid Louisiana Summer. I've decided to take out a membership at a fantastic facility here in DS with an Olympic Pool, first class exercise machines, air-conditioned basketball court and an outdoor walking pool so I've got to talk myself into going to the pool.  I'm not really a good pool person but I do have a bathing suit that actually fits me! The problem is that I only have one prosthesis and it's not a good idea to swim with it in chlorinated water (up North I had an extra prosthesis but I gave it away as I didn't think I'd ever need it again.) Well I've found out that if I use bubble wrap (P&D's Pop's suggestion) I can make a pretty good substitute boob. Now I'll have to see how it all works when I get up the courage to go swimming.  I'm planning to go to North Park Monday to buy a three month membership but one of the ladies told me it takes a few days for them to activate it. Hope I don't lose my nerve!

Spoke with our nephew who lives on Cebu in the Philippines; he's vising his family in Massachusetts. We have an open invitation to visit him on the island.  I'm certain it would be a great visit but I can't picture us ever flying that far.  We struggled with long flight times flying to England! Getting older and more difficult in our dotage!

 Had the best Fireworks display in the entire world yesterday at a three kid birthday party put on by our Big Kiddo and his wife. Wow, I love fireworks and when they go off right smack dab in front of you it's the cat's meow. Time to finish reading today's paper before Grampa grills us some Brats and we watch the NASCAR racing in New Hampshire!

Quote:  The contemplation of night should lead to elevating rather than to depressing ideas.  Who can fix his mind on transitory and earthly things, in presence of those glittering myriads of worlds; and who can dread death or solitude in the midst of this brilliant, animated universe, composed of countless suns and worlds, all full of light and life and motion?  ___Richter

Passed with flying colors . . .

Yesireebob, I did it again - went to Woman's for the last of the yearly checkups , this one with the gynecologist and he says all is well. Wow, I'm passing all the tests! Since P&D's Pop also went to the VA in Baton Rouge for his yearly checkup and was told to exercise more but that all is also well we went out to The Longhorn for dinner. I swear they have the best Margarita and 6oz Filet Mignon so that's what I had and P&D's Pop had a Burger and a couple of beers. That should last us for a while. I think we're just about out of Doctors' appointments!

It's been much too hot and muggy but we went to South Park this morning and I managed to almost make two laps but Grampa got a bit disgusted landing his planes in the rather longish grass so he picked me up before I completed my regular walk. That was probably a good thing because I was already pretty pooped - I hadn't even made it back to get my camera for my third lap! We were really bad because we stopped at Delicious Donuts on the way back home. They really are the best.

 Not much else going on. Finished my summertime puzzle last night and have already taken it apart and ordered a Springbok Puzzle from Hall Mark for when I decide I need to make another one. I saw some that reminded me of the summers we spent with Ma Tante Rose on the sun porch in Moosup making the hardest 1000 piece puzzles I could find for her July birthday presents. I particularly remember The Marbles. That was miserable but Ma Tante always managed to complete them and it was pleasant to go out with her and the kids and help out. I'm lucky if Grampa puts in 10 pieces! Not complaining, though, because he generally helps when I get ticked off because I can't find the pieces I want and then after he puts in a few I'm all over my pique.

Quote:   A man who gives his children habits of industry provides for them better than by giving them a fortune. _Whately

Living in the 50's . . .

How can I keep smiling as P&D's Pop and I sit on the back porch in 90 degree temperatures and push you down, burdensome humidity? Well it is so reminiscent of Moosup when we were kids - the music from the radio is exactly what we were listening to back in the 1950's and we went to Friday night dances at the Town Hall. It was at this time I learned to drag race on the streets of Putnam and beat those tough, handsome guys from the Trade School. The '56 Golden Hawk loved speeding down Route 52, which was only a two lane to Norwich, with the PCA girls hanging on for dear life as we were racing at over 100 mph. Holy cow, not sure why I ever worried about our kids growing up doing crazy stuff! I'm quite sure I could still win a few races if P&D's Pop and Big Kiddo were souping up the '56 Hawk.

Much too long between posts . . .

Not sure why I've been such a slacker but it may be because I'm on Facebook too often. I've got to cut back on FB because most of it really is a waste of time. I rarely see something that grabs my interest and I tend to like too many posts! But in defense of FB there really are some people that I enjoy keeping track of!

Got back from the Early Learning Center today and I was so hungry I talked P&D's Pop into going to the Longhorn to eat. They have an excellent Margarita and the best 6oz Filet Mignon with a sweet potato side. We didn't even order desert. I didn't get a chance to walk off all of the calories because it was in the 90's and super muggy. When we got up this morning the storm doors had condensation on the outside! That's a first for us. The door looked like the Zachary Waffle House early in the morning! We only keep the air on 78 and the outside temperature this morning was 78 with humidity in the 98 percent range and it wasn't raining - just heavy as heck.

Besides a great meal today I stopped at Stage, a clothing store in DS, because I finally remembered to use a 50% off coupon on the clearance racks and I snagged P&D's Pop five nice shirts for $51. I had to laugh because the slip said I had saved $193. Oh the games these stores play. But for $10 a shirt I couldn't go wrong. He wore one when we went out to the restaurant and looked super!

That's about it for now. It's late and I'm trying to catch up,on my reading.

Now that was a pretty good day. . .

Wild flowers at South Park

Started out yesterday by not going to South Park with P&D's Pop because it was just too hot and muggy and I had a Doctor's appointment at 11 am. The incredible thing was that I left home at 10 and was back home by noon! Dr. Deepak's office was running like clockwork. And to top it all off he came into the room and told me that I had the best numbers of any cardiology patient he's ever had. He said my numbers were better than his. So I was pretty happy with that. When I returned home we decided to celebrate Father's Day early and went to the Longhorn for dinner. P&D's Pop had salmon and I ate the best 6 oz filet mignon I've ever had. It was broiled with black pepper and outrageously tasty and tender. I ordered medium rare. Come to think of it it was the best steak I've had in a restaurant. So I guess I shall have to order steak when I go to a steak house!

We had some company today. It gave me a chance to go to our Delicious Donut place and pick up some super good sweets. Daughter-in- law, grand daughter and kids stopped in for a pleasant visit. I'm glad that I kept my pop up books! The five year old liked the Dinosaurs, Sharks and Marvel Comic's Heroes books. I was surprised at how carefully he opened and closed each page.

It was so humid and hot today that I set up my Beatspill and the iPad. As I walked in the shade of the carport I listened to a couple of podcasts about British History and was really surprised at how interesting it is. I'm in the year 878 or so and found myself enjoying the narration. P&D's Pop and I also completed Crimetown. It'll be interesting to see where they go from Buddy Cianci and Raymond Patriaca!

Also heard from our Kiddo today. It was his last day of  seventh grade. He made honor roll and was pretty happy to tell me about that. He sounded good. He'll be going to Parks and Rec in Groton for the summer. I'm glad he'll get a chance to spend some time with the kids with whom he was in school for seven years.

Quote:  The spirit of man, which God inspired, cannot together perish with this corporeal clod.  ___Milton (I wouldn't bet on that, Mr. Milton. A corporeal clod tried shooting up some Republicans. I feel that God must re-inspire the spirit of man. We are in dire straits.)

This has been interesting . . .

Light Pole Mockingbird

Had to have some fasting blood work done today for my six months regular check up with the cardiologist and after we ate breakfast at Waffle House in Zachary (it had been excellent once; went downhill last year and is starting to come back to pretty darned good) I felt the need for a ride to somewhere. The grey days are getting to be a pain in the derrière and I needed to get away to something different so P&D's Pop agreed to take me to Cabela's in Gonzales, about 32 miles south of DS. He generally finds something in the fishing department that is useful for making the 60 foot lines he uses to fly the control line planes. We did find what he wanted but they were too expensive so when we returned home he bought them from Cabela's on line for a much better price - go figure! In any case I got a chance to try on a couple of what nice t-shirts but they looked terrible on me so Grampa lucked out until after we renewed our fishing/ hunting licenses and we agreed to mosey up stairs. After looking around for a bit I spied the On Sale Room and it was pretty cool - at least for me! I actually found a few things that I liked - I now own a new pair of Teva's - not quite sandals but not thongs - very comfortable; I also own a laser pistol with two targets that works quite well. I'm not even close to comfortable around guns, especially pistols so I thought this might get me used to doing some target practice. I've always like to shoot a 22 rifle at a target but haven't done so in eons. I would love to be a good marksman and now I just may get a feel for it. The only drawback at this time is I'll have to use the hallway in the house for practice as it's too bright outside for the targets to show up! Oh well, nothing is perfect. The pistol is pretty hefty and is somewhat like a Glock 42/43, so the paperwork says! I am treating it like a real gun and so I'm still overly cautious but I hope I never get over that - I would like to be comfortable though! We'll see where this leads me. I haven't gotten too far with getting to a real practice range and maybe this will goad me on. I also bought a set of marbles and a floor target so I can beat up on the Kiddo when he comes to visit! Lastly I insisted that Grampa buy a new mesh hat. So for $160 we did okay.

I've already walked today because so far the rain has left us alone! That's a good thing. My plants are turning yellow from over watering! Time to think about supper tonight - pork chop casserole à la Moosup - browned chops, raisin and brown sugar gravy with apples on top and mashed potatoes on the side.

Quote:  No wickedness proceeds on any grounds of reason.

Most pokey, dull day . . .

Sky at South Park

P&D's Pop has gotten himself a formidable cold; it showed up yesterday with a sore throat and it is progressing. Not used to seeing him not feeling well. It's a good thing it's Sunday and he can watch the Dover Race on TV. Speaking of TV - Friday I had a cleaning company come in to see if they could clean up the living room carpet before I decided that I wanted new carpets all over hell and damnation. Well he tested it; it was cleanable and offered to do it right away instead of scheduling it for next week. That was cool but we ended up watching LSU trying to lose its home game on the TV in the bedroom! That worked out well once I remembered how to work the darned thing. We brought my rocker and a glider in the big bedroom and had very good seats for a terrible game even though they managed to win after committing only five errors!

We went to breakfast at IHOP this morning and  P&D's Pop didn't even go to the flying field afterwards while I went to Mass! That's odd. I walked In the neighborhood after Mass and it is muggier than hell; I imagine hell is pretty bad because I was drenched; only did about 5,000 steps before I quit, sat on the swing to get a breeze and recuperate. We'll watch LSU play again this evening if the weather holds. They won yesterday but it was too late for us because of the rain delay. At least they won again. Hope they can hold it together - I wouldn't mind a National Championship! That would be pretty cool.

Will start back at the Early Learning Center Summer Camp this week and will also help for a full week at the Bible School. I was accosted at Mass today and agreed to help with Bible School as long as I'm not teaching. I'll be watching over the high school kids who are getting ready for confirmation and have to perform so many works of charity etc. I had a really good kid last year - I expect I'll get the same type of kid again. Got a cornbread jalapeño stuffed chicken cooking for supper and we'll have a nice salad with our own cukes and a creole tomato thrown in. Should be just what the doctor ordered to clear up that fierce cold and keep it away from moi!

Quote:  Bashfulness is an ornament to youth, but a reproach to old age.   ___Aristotle

It's been so long my new iPad made me sign in . . .

Brown Thrasher Crossing

That's rather funny, don'tcha know! There has been lots of good stuff happening; walking daily, photos, trip to El Dorado, Arkansas, new plants but I get kinda down and don't feel like writing when I've got doctor stuff that needs to get done. But . . . as of this day I've been to the new doctor for the UTI's and things are looking pretty darned good. I even hate to mention it but I've got to say that the stomach problems I've been having lately seem to be gone at this time! I get so damned nervous now when I go to medical appointments that I work myself into a tizzy! Today Dr. Stephen Vick did a couple of tests and I'm good to go for another four months! Yay! He may even take me off  the latest daily medicine if the UTI's stay away. He's blaming my susceptibility on a surgery I had over 29 years ago! I also saw Dr. Hailey at Woman's and I'm all set for another year before I go for a mammogram again! Cool beansies plus he got me in touch with a super new gynecologist so I think we've finally covered all the bases. I guess when you come down to it a year to get the medical stuff  straightened out isn't too bad.

We'll be off to Houston, Texas Friday for a flying contest. I've never been to Houston so this should be fun. It's about a five hour drive, I think. I doubt I'll get any special photos because I'll just be along for the ride and launching the plane but that's fine too. I'll be seeing lots of new scenes as we travel and that is very enjoyable. I'm sitting on the front porch as I write - first time I write out here and I like it. I'm starting to sit out on the glider more often to watch the sunsets. It's been grey and rainy most of the day but it's still beautiful with shades of grey and green everywhere. Summer will be upon us soon.

Been Face Timing our Kiddo on Sundays. It's a good thing we'll see the Connecticut folks in August because he's growing up so fast he changes each week. They are happy in their older new home - even have a neat garden. I'm also looking forward to visiting Connecticut towards the end of Summer when I'll get a chance to drive our son-in-law's new flatbed! That will be extra special - haven't been on a Tow Truck Job in years!

Quote:  Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable than fidelity. ___Faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellences and endowments of the human mind.   ____Cicero

Lost the habit . . .

Ca sent bon!

No, not the nun's habit - silly! I've lost the habit of blogging on a somewhat regular basis - perhaps I'm spending too much time taking pictures, walking and reading. Not sure how you can spend too much time at those endeavors but I'll put the blame there.

For the second time since we've moved into our home CVS Pharmacy in DS has filled a prescription improperly. It hasn't had dire consequences for me but it makes me worry about the quality of the people who fill the prescriptions - probably not the druggists themselves but the helpers! I picked up a prescription 6 days ago and have taken one a day as directed by the new Doctor located behind Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Today I kept looking at the container because it is so full I almost spill it each night when I take my one pill. The container indicates that there are supposed to be 30 capsules and since I have already taken 5 there should be 25 left. I counted them - there are 79 left! Holy shitski! The pills are the right ones, I checked but the amount is crazy. I never really looked to see how many were supposed to be in the filled prescription but today as I looked and found the error I noticed that I had 11 refills! I called CVS and they had trouble understanding the problem - they were going to give me more since he thought that they hadn't given me enough! Well, I finally convinced him that the container that should have held 30 capsules had held 84. The light came on and he apologized and said not to worry - just use them up and when I needed more to call them. I explained that this was second mistake in less than a year and I thought they should look at who was filling the prescriptions to make sure these mistakes don't happen to anyone else or me again. He thanked me and said they would look into it. Cripes - suppose they put the wrong pills in the damn container? I think the pharmacist probably told a helper, "Fill this prescription." and the helper proceeded to fill the container with as many capsules as would fit! This is scary stuff! The last time the prescription was for a 30 day supply of medicine. That meant that I only needed 15 pills because I had to cut them in half to get the correct dosage - yup, you guessed it - I ended up with 30 pills which when cut in half gave me a 60 day supply. I'm not making this up. Well time to make some gumbo supper. Talk to you later.

Well the gumbo is now cooking and Mr. P&D's Pop is taking care of the salad so I'm back for a bit. Salad tonight will be lots of cucumbers - I'm pretty impressed with my cucumbers growing in a pot near the wood fence in the side yard. Mr. P put up some twine on the fence and the cukes are growing up the twine like mad.  So I've decided to grow some green beans too.  We've got another pot set up and hopefully when we return from our El Dorado flying contest they'll be sprouted enough to put up some more twine for climbing.  All of my flowers are looking good too and to top it all off our Sago Palm has come back from the brink of ugly to almost beautiful. I wish I could take credit for all of this but I can't - living in Louisiana is a boon to pot gardening!

We had a major problem Sunday when the toilets would not flush - called Slaughter son and in no time at all between son and father the problem was rectified.  It only took some digging and a snake and lots of hard work to get it all figured out and flowing smoothly.  Thank goodness our son lives fairly close by and knows how these septic systems work.  Eventually we'll get someone to come and empty the system and make sure all of the lines are cleaned out and working well but for now we have a reprieve.  Yay!  Thank Higgs Bosun for a son who always helps out.

Quote:  Ingratitude is monstrous; and for the multitude to be ungrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude.   ___Shakespeare

It's been a while . . .

Just a baby

We've been busy lately just trying to get in our flying and walking! Went to a neat birthday party for a newly minted four year old and they had a crawfishboil and barbecue. It was great and a lot of fun. We also had Slaughter friends stop in Monday; we went to Big Mike's for lunch. I'd been wanting to go there ever since I found out on TV that Bar Rescue had rescued Big Mike's after the August flooding. I liked the show and was impressed with the fact that they completed the work in just three days in October, only two months after the August 2016 Flood. It's the biggest rescue they have ever done and it was unusual too because they usually rescue bars that are failing; Big Mike's is a 1.9 million dollar a year business! But they would probably never have reopened without Bar Rescue because besides the Bar their home also flooded and they didn't have room in their FEMA trailer for all their kids! Typical mess à la Louisiane. The trip to Big Mike's was well worth it. We enjoyed the food, the company and the waitresses. Hope to go again soon. We both liked it there. Maybe I'll even spring for a Margarita!

It seems I've finally managed to get the Early Learning Center to send me to help someone else besides the three year olds' class. Tomorrow I shall graduate to the four year olds. I'm looking forward to branching out! I truly enjoy Miss C and her sweet kiddos but I've really always wanted to help with different teachers so hopefully this will all work out well. They've already got me for the summer camp program and the lady in charge of religious ed has also reminded me she'll be calling me to help out again in their short summer program. That's cool as long as it doesn't conflict with any flying contests or Kiddo visit!

We think the baby Bluebirds have flown the coop. P&D's Pop watched them keep popping their heads out of the box yesterday but they wouldn't leave. This evening there doesn't seem to be any activity around the box. We have one more box still holding babies so we'll have to keep an eye out for them too.

Made a Polish dinner this evening and it was pretty darned good: Haluski - Fried Cabbage, Ham & Noodles. It showed up on Facebook so I decided to give it a try; worth making it once in a while. Of course it made a heck of a lot but we're going to turn it into Poboys tomorrow with Dijon Mustard and chips! Sounds good to me and easy peasy, just the way I like things to be.

Tried to order a full cover for my new iPad because it only has a cover over the screen but they don't have a full one for it yet. I left them a piece of my mind. Man, the back of it is very slippery and needs to be covered. I hope they come out with one soon - disappointed in Apple.

Also fighting with Terminix as they have not fulfilled their contract in the fight against termites - we don't have any but we don't want them either! I've telephoned and emailed them every day since last Friday to no avail. No one answers the phone - they just put you on hold and advertise their products! Finally I got sneaky and said I was calling about opening a new contract - sure as hell someone called me back but couldn't help me contact anyone about our present contract although he said he'd call the local manager. That didn't help so today I called and pushed the button to cancel our contract - sure enough a nice young lady answered my call and when I told her the real reason I called she set up an appointment for Tuesday between 8 and 10 am. She said she'd look into the problem with contacting service! Seems that's been happening a lot! No kidding! We may look for another pest control service that is local.

Quote:  Live only for today, and you ruin tomorrow.   ___C. S
immons

Will I be the first volunteer fired???

Working hard feeding the babies

The three year olds were having lunch, only five of them, three were out sick and Miss C asked me to play a game with the Kiddos who had finished eating and cleaned up their places. I took out my Finders Keepers which has a game board made like a big puzzle covered with pictures. The kids helped me set up. I gave each of the kids a token to put on the item I showed them on a card. First one to put their token on the board got to keep the card. We were having a pretty good time when one of the kids who was still eating barfed all over the lunch table and himself so Miss C left me in charge! As they got used to playing one of the kids would yell "Nooooooo!" if someone else beat him to the picture. It cracked me up. And my laughing was contagious so all of the kids were laughing too. Finally we finished the game and Miss C returned after cleaning up the sicky and then she cleaned the floor etc. As I was leaving to come home she got a text message from the teacher next door who wanted to know if she was killing someone! Oh my gosh! Between the kid yelling "Noooooo!" and me laughing so hard the sound must have gotten through the cinder block walls. C was dying laughing as I left. In addition when it was time to bring the kids to choir one of them stated she hated choir so I spoke with her about how we all have to do some things even if we don't want to because it's our job  blah, blah, blah. After Choir the music teacher exclaimed what great singers all of the 3 year old were (3 classes of them.) I said to C she would have to praise them because they were so good and sang so well after my little tête à tête with the kiddo. She was pleased too. As we were returning to the room the music teacher was behind us and Miss C asked her how her own class had behaved - music teacher explained that they had been terrible until she split them up among the other kids then they sang their hearts out while our worst offender was in time out but singing sitting under the piano. Miss C looked at me and laughed saying it's a good thing she hadn't praised them - Miss Irène failed the test! Last one about school today. Yesterday one of the little blond girls whined about being on the hot playground and wanted to go back to class so Miss C asked the other kids if they were ready to go back inside - one sturdy blond boy said "No!" he wanted to play in the playground. The little blond girl walked up to him and punched him in the nose!  Yikes!

Okay. That's it for today. I'm writing on my brand spanking new iPad! Hip! Hip! I ordered it a week ago tomorrow and it came direct to me from China. They started selling them at 8:01 California time last Friday and I snagged one. But that's another funny story.

Quote:  Indolence and stupidity are first cousins.  ___Rivarol

Wow, need more pine straw . . .

Yes, an alligator!

P&D's Pop bought me three bales of pine straw yesterday and he brought them out to the front of the house this morning, unwrapped and unrolled them after cutting some shoots and roots of crazy bushes I don't want. But I still need at least one more bale so he's off and running around DS as I write.

No helping at the Early Learning Center today because they are having a Trike-a-thon in the parking lot to raise money for Saint Jude's Children's Hospital from 9 to 10:15 and then releasing the kiddos for the day. Since I only go from 10 to 1 that wouldn't work out. One of the best things that happened at school yesterday was that I got to hold baby K and he fell asleep on my shoulder. He had been fussy on his Mom who was a full time teacher at the ELC last year; baby K who is only about six months old had to have his left eye removed because of cancer and she needed to be with him in Tennessee for weeks at a time so my friend Camille, who had only wanted to sub this year, became a full time teacher and K's mom subs when medical appointments allow her to do so; she brings K to work with her! It is so nice - he has his fake eye in place and if I didn't know which eye had been removed I would not know that he had ever been operated on. Thank God for the wonderful innovations in medicine that have allowed baby K to be cancer free and thriving. Wow, Higgs boson at His best working with impossible to control humans!

I've been having so much trouble with my older iPad - even thought it had died because we couldn't get anything to come up on the screen - that I called Apple and spoke with Jeffrey who told me that if I could wait until today Apple was unveiling it's latest model and it would be less expensive than the iPad Pro. So this morning using the phone and email I have snagged the newest iPad on the block. I didn't want to pay $10 for expedited shipping so it should be here in early April. I'm so excited and hope that I can get it all set up on my own! As luck would have it P&D's Pop removed the SIM card from the old one and we finally got it to work again so I'm not left in the lurch. We really like the Waze app and without the iPad we can't use it! So until the newbie gets here we still have a backup. My first old iPad is now dead as a door nail!

We had a fantastic trip to Avery Island Monday; at the end of the day before leaving for home I did buy some Tabasco Sauce  and some hot pepper jellies! We had already visited the Tabasco Plant a few years back with our son and his wife so this time we just went to their Jungle Gardens. It is impressive to be able to drive around the gardens and stop wherever and whenever you want and get out of the car to look around and snap all of the photos you'd like! Wow, my first time seeing alligators in the wild - it was wonderful. We will have to go back early next year because we missed the azaleas and the camellias. Seems we should have taken our trek at the end of February or early March. Of course the mild Winter made the plants bloom earlier than usual so I guess Higgs Boson can be blamed for us missing the flowers!

Well P&D's Pop is back with the pine straw so I'll go out and use my handy dandy new small potato digger like tool to spread it around!

Quote:  God heals, and the doctor takes the fee.  ___Benjamin Franklin

MOAR BURNOUTS!!! American versus Australian burnout Firebird Attempt #4 - Biggest Kiddo having fun

$32 lunch . . .

Another surprisingly good lunch at El Agave in Zachary today. We brought the pupster home as her folks will be home after work and before returning home we decided to have lunch. I think it's a pretty cheap yet very good lunch for the price: 2 Bud Lights, one Texas Margarita, one Philly Cheese Steak with fries, one Steak Fajitas and one fried ice cream to share. It was all fresh and good. I'm always surprised when P&D's Pop doesn't mind going to a Mexican restaurant because they're not usually something he likes but he did like the hamburgers the last times and the Philly Cheese Steak was also a hit. Yay for me - I don't have to cook dinner and I finally had a Margarita - I've been missing out lately!

Not much sunshine

We were at South Park this morning but it ended up too windy for more than one flight and there were only Robins flying around so it was a rather dull walk - but a walk none the less. I haven't been in the mood to wear the Fitbit lately. I find it annoying because I keep checking it and wanting to keep adding more steps which gets tiresome and boring after a while so . . . it's on the shelf until I'm in a better mood. I am keeping track of the calories, though because I've been starving lately and eating too much! It does help me to keep track of my over eating! Isn't that great? Especially since I don't feel like exercising more!

I did break down and try to buy some more comfortable jeans/pants at Walmart in Walker but that didn't workout so I went to Stage in DS and was surprised to find the Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and capris that I like. I think I'm tired of trying to be comfortable in size 10 and even though the 12's are not fitted they feel good! So that's that's - I need to be comfortable especially when sitting down and swinging. Stage also carries Easy Spirit shoes which I like. Can't find any good crew neck cotton t-shirts down here so I'll stick with LLBean. Also looking for a shirtwaist cotton dress and cotton skirts - hard to come by in the stores. Almost everything is some sort of polyester and I hate it! I'm getting too damn fussy in my dotage!

Time to do some stretches and read the paper.

Quote:  It is to be lamented that great characters are seldom without a blot.   ___Washington

Incredible . . .

There must be close to 40 cars parked on our street and around the circle. Our neighbor's opened their home to members of their extended  family whose mother was killed in an accident a few days ago. I'm not sure I can put in the link to the accident but it was caused by a construction vehicle on I-55. The lady I help out at the Early Learning Center had to leave early today to go to the funeral of her husband's hunting buddy's mother. As I was taking my walk this afternoon and cars were parking on the road someone called, "Miss Irène." And there was C with her daughter Lucy and her husband; they had just come from the funeral and were now at the reception at our neighbor's home because the lady who had been killed in the accident's home had been flooded as were the rest of her family's homes. This is awful I certainly never expected to feel that close to people who have experienced such tragedy as we have lived here for such a short time.http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/livingston_tangipahoa/article_5fca3196-fb84-11e6-83f0-234ad3dc2290.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Religion . . . opiate of the masses . . .

It's a Bluebird kinda day

Perhaps - for me Sunday Mass is rich, musical théâtre; I believe there is much theater in all religions. As long as common sense prevails that is fine. When religion becomes heavy with righteousness and preaching "Do as I say but not as I do" then there are problems. If religion gives people a sense of peace and a devotion to loving man and nature with their imperfections then religion is on the right track.  Sunday Mass gives me time to unwind from petty cares; I feel the comfort of music that transcends the building, benches and worshipers and warms my soul. Perhaps I'm just fortunate  that our choir is good! May hap - I enjoy the calm and repetition of prayers I've known since childhood. Even though the church has tried to modernize the language of the prayers I still recite them as I learned them kneeling by my bed at night with Mama. Don't need no modernization of prayers! Hell's bells, I listened to the children at the Early Learning Center say the Hail Mary without the thou's and thy's. It's horrible and hurts my ears! Not sure basic truths whether religious or secular need to be modernized. Man is still man - as imperfect as ever and that's never going to change. Have not figured out what the Divine Higgs Boson had in mind when creation erupted in his almost perfect mind. The universe was set in motion, nature began its ascendancy and the human race has been trying to trump all creation - ain't going to happen - not with the seemingly built in perverseness of man's brilliant yet feeble intelligence. The Divine Higgs Boson has work to do.

Okay - that's enough merdeski for today - still feeling fine on this glorious, bright, cold February day as I keep puppy while P&D's Pop has gone off to buy her the proper treats - seems her folks don't spoil her enough so we have to!

Quote:  It is motive alone that gives character to the actions of men. ___La Bruyere

Impressive . . .

The Hawk and the Crow - sounds like a fable!

I mailed out my passport renewal February 7 and I received my new one today! Only took about 21/2 weeks; now that's how government should work. I have been trying to stay away from the news lately because it's so anti "Just the facts, ma'am." It's impossible to get a factual story on anything - the papers shouldn't be called newspapers; rather we should call them opinion sheets and crappy ones at that! At least I have a factual report of the government doing something right so I know it is possible for government to work properly. Not sure it is newsworthy but I don't imagine it could be reported in an article without some numb nut mentioning how the president has come down hard on the people who process passports and if they don't get them back to you faster than fast they will be fired and replaced by rich, white men! Geaux Mr. President! Good job! Yay! Okay, that's enough facetiousness for today.

I went to my first Mardi Gras parade today. It was by far the best little parade around. There were around 90 shoe box sized floats and they were outstanding. Each kiddo in the Early Learning Program brought in a float. I wish I had photos but I don't bring my camera to school and even if I had photos they can not be put in a public forum. I may have one I can share if Miss C sends me the photo of her two year old with her float as she has given me permission to put it on Facebook. But little Lucy is sick today and on the way to the doctor's office so I don't think her mom will be thinking about sharing photos. There have been a lot of sick kids and adults lately - strep and colds. Yuck. Yesterday as I was reading to the class I noticed one of the little boys looked so pale and he was shivering with his eyes so dull that I asked if he felt okay - he said yes but immediately changed it to no. I went and felt his forehead and when his teacher got back to the room I told her I was quite sure he was sick. Off to the office they went;  his fever was 102 and rising. Mom had to come pick him up. Feel so awful when the little ones get sick - they really do suffer in silence as I don't think they realize they're quite sick.

Did some weed wacking yesterday and moved some bricks to the front of the back porch to make room for pots and plants. Getting itchy for flowers and maybe cucumbers - no tomatoes this year because the mockingbirds beat me to them last year. Not sure how my plants will fare but I've got to try. I miss putting around in the garden so I'll try putting around some pots and putting pine straw near the house to keep the weeds down. (Putting around and putting are spelled the same but pronounced differently!)

Quote:  Let your views in life be directed to a solid, however moderate, independence; without it no man can be happy, nor even honest.  ___Junius

Just a little craziness . . .

Pretty bird

Left to go out to breakfast this morning and there was a sheriff's car parked next to our fence; he was standing by the stop sign at the corner of our property with his radar gun aimed at the cars coming from Brown Road! We have never seen that before but I'm guessing a neighbor called the police because when traffic gets backed up on Brown because of school buses the cars cut through to Juban on our road and drive like maniacs on the 25 mph road! They're nuts. This is a small neighborhood with narrow roads - not a highway - so it doesn't make sense to scream through and run the stop sign too in order to get to the main drag.

Another bit of craziness is the doctor has changed the antibiotic after 5 days of taking it to a different and stronger one that I must take for 10 days. I'm not complaining because the other worked a little but not great. I think this one will cure me for a month or so! What the heck - I'll just keep manoeuvring the curves Mother Nature throws in my way. Be damned, Mother Nature!

We had one of the best short trips ever this past weekend when we drove to Garland, Texas for a Control Line Flying Contest. Not only did P&D's Pop win first place in Classic Stunt but also first in Profile Stunt; to add a bit of frosting on that cake I'm finally starting to feel comfortable holding the planes while he prepares for takeoff. That's a big deal for me - seems crazy to have worried about it but I'm getting less wary of the propeller - not less wary, really, just more comfortable holding the plane steady as it is ready to pull away if I don't hold tight. That's still a bit scary! We also met our nephew, Lucas and lovely friend Argelyn along with his two kiddos and our sister-in-law, Pam. It was  so nice to meet them in Texas!

Had a great Shrimp Scampi dinner last night; our tax preparer's wife made the best dinner and we enjoyed it immensely. Haven't been to visit them in a while as they get pretty busy - as a matter of fact we'll be keeping puppy for about a week as they have business to attend to and a puppy just doesn't fit into the plans easily. That's a boon for us as we enjoy having Daytona. Keeps us walking that's for sure!

Quote:  Willingness to be taught what we do not know, is the sure pledge of growth both in knowledge and wisdom.    ____Blair

Control Line Racing - Garland, Texas

On apprend le francais dans les toilettes . . . c'est vrai chez la Madeleine . . .

One of our neighbors gave me this petunia in the late Fall - Look at it now!

Even if you're pissed, Louisiana (Baton Rouge in particular) has a way to soothe your savage beast. Had to drop off a specimen to Dr. Smither which quite literally unhinged me as we are leaving for Garland, Texas (near Dallas) tomorrow morning and feeling like crapola is not supposed to be in the mix. But at least my good Doctor lets me keep a seven day supply of Bactrim on hand; so after taking the first last night along with a super Tylenol the fever subsided and I fell asleep around 2am. Got up feeling much better than I've felt in about a week and a half. I guess Lady Doc is correct - I may need a low dose antibiotic just as I did when I was in my twenties. It seems I'm not fashioned perfectly well and the imperfection leads to problems. Oh well, c'est la vie, n'est-ce pas! On fait ce qu'il faut faire pour bien vivre. Looking forward to our Control Line Contest trip and also seeing Pam, Lucas and the kiddos. Life is interesting.

The reason I've ended up writing and thinking in French is superbe. After the drop off I smoothly made my way to la Madeleine Country French Café at Perkins Rowe. After placing my order at the wrong place (pourquoi pas, après tout, c'est moi) the charming young woman showed me how the place works and I managed to snag myself a comfortable seat where I waited happily for my Crêpe Romanoff. It was an excellent choice; I think I may even be able to get P&D's Pop to eat there with me as they have regular breakfast items and pretty darned good coffee with mugs you can just keep on refilling. Bien sur I stopped at les toilettes before leaving the restaurant; as you open the bathroom door a voice greets you in French and proceeds to give a short, basic French lesson!Wow, I am so impressed with myself finding places on my own, although my friend Amy did tell me it was good.

 I also spent way too much money on Papyrus Cards at the Perkins Rowe CVS; I like Papyrus cards for special times and I suppose I should find a place closer to home that carries them or go online but that will always be an excuse to go to La Madeleine for Breakfast or Lunch. I even made my way to and from Baton Rouge without Waze; scary how good I'm getting when I'm off on my own.

Felt badly this morning because I had to let The Early Learning Center know that I wouldn't be there today; Miss Camille already knew I wouldn't be there tomorrow but I had a really good book for the kids. Damnation - I shall have to remember it next week.  Well, time to get to work with the wash, feeding the birds and exercising.

Quote:  Children generally hate to be idle, __All the care then should be, that their busy humor should be constantly employed in something that is of use to them.   ___Locke

Think I'll be giving up my self-imposed exile from Facebook . . .

Purple Finch

I have tried to find an easy place to post bird photos that is not related to Facebook but haven't come up with a good substitute for Birds of the eastern United States and . . . I seem to miss some rather important announcements! Shucks . . . so I'll be back dragging my tail behind me! Well, not really, I must force myself not to read everything posted. P&D's Pop keeps after me because instead of skimming the Advocate I read it from cover to cover and he's right - there's not too much worthwhile news and it's as biased as the TV news. I've got to find a, "Just The Facts" somewhere but I don't know where to look. Everything I come across seems to be either right or left leaning. I don't want leaning! I want facts, that's it. If I want explanations I want them delivered in a concise, historical context. I don't know where to turn. Maybe my friend Matt can help me out. I'll have to bug him when I return to FB.

Lucky I have P&D's Pop to fix everything that breaks or goes wrong. I've had trouble wearing my Birkenstocks because I have one toe on the right foot that always rubs against the outer shoe no matter what kind I wear. I think I'm oddly made. The third toe is my longest toe! In any case P&D's Pop has carved out a place for it and also drilled another hole in the buckle belt so it fits better. He can always manage to save any situation I manage to get into. Gotta love this man who has kept me well and balanced when I try to go off the deep end either physically or emotionally. We met about 53 years ago his summer and he's been doing a great job ever since helping to keep me stable! Happy Valentine's Day to all and sundry.

Quote:  Sole partner, and sole part of all my joys, dearer thyself than all.   ___Milton

Bonsoir, les amis . . . et tout le monde . . . bonsoir. . .

Gliding . . .

Slow down, you're going too fast . . . Little things mean a lot . . .

Never too many Eastern Bluebird photos

Thirsty American Goldfinches 

Never too many Eastern Bluebird photos

You know the routine.

Already a busy morning - after breakfast we were returning home when we finally saw Wally, walking not running as he used to do last year when we first moved here;  we stopped to ask how he and Muriel were doing and got the good news that they were finally back living in their formerly flooded home. They live across Brown Road which is only not even a city block from us but they were not  as lucky as we were. I now owed them a nice homemade bread because I couldn't bring it to them in August as they had to live with one of their sons while they got their property back in order. I put the Sally Lunn in the Zojirushi immediately before I went to Mass and P&D's Pop delivered it for lunchtime. I really am glad that they're finally home. They had been flooded out of their home in New Orleans in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina; they certainly didn't wish to go through that again.

While we were ordering breakfast at IHOP we were pleased that our new waitress had heated up the coffee cups - yes, it's a small thing but wow, the coffee is so much better hot and steaming even on a warm Sunday morning in February. We also stopped at Home Depot to get some wood for bluebird houses. P&D's Pop was adamant that we have good housing for our neighborhood feathered friends and the stores around here didn't have the good old fashioned sturdy houses we are used to - so we hit the bank first so we had money for housing! There are already two families installed on our half acre - one in the old residence and one in the fancy residence we ended up buying last Wednesday after we took the pupster out for a walk. We're just humming along in this warmer than usual winter weather. My flowers are taking off since I bothered to cover the ground with soil and pine straw. It's exciting. Even my Knock Out Rose is adding new shoots. I hope I get the hang of gardening in the tropics but with clay for a base. This is the most egregiously terrible soil in the USA. I do like to exaggerate upon occasion.

Must start getting ready for Sunday dinner courtesy of Mr. David. He was more than happy to see me Friday when I stopped by to get some stuffed, boneless chickens and soups. Yes, he sure turns me into a good cook. All I do is add vegetables, salad, bread and a pudding of some kind and we have a feast à la Madame Rose. Good on me! Good on P&D's Pop and whoever is visiting on a Sunday.

Quote:  My desolation begins to make a better life.   _____Shakespeare