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