Oh the shame . . .

My poor UCONNs. We are in more than dire straits. We really stink. The only silver lining is that both teams are young and perhaps by next season they will be ready for the big time. I think that the work ethic or lack of it in some players is the problem. I don't need to win every game but I hate it when the kids seem to give up playing and just accept what the other team is doing to them. Of course I've never played any sport so I'm really talking through my hat. I hope my analysis is correct. If so we' ll be looking good for next year if Kevin Ollie, I hope, and Geno can get the kids really motivated and go all out in practice and games.

Had another learning experience. Discovered that I may have to curtail all alcoholic beverages. Bummer. Just one Margarita wired me for almost an entire 24 hour period! I felt like the Energizer Bunny! My blood must be coursing through my veins at lightning speed. Definitely a weird experience. Of course that's not a bad thing. I like the taste of a good Margarita but can certainly survive on water, decaf, and cranberry juice.

Went back to my regular walk and the only tiredness I felt was in my legs. That was wonderful. I'm looking forward to better weather and going to the flying fields with Puppy's Pop. Spent last evening with Kiddo and a new solving problems game from Scholastic for the computer. I Spy Fantasy is really good for reading, problem solving and down right fun. The best part is that Kiddo loves it. He plays it at school during computer class and asked me if I could get it for us. It's an old CD and was inexpensive. Having a little trouble with some of the graphics. I think that's because his Mom's lap top is very new and the program for I Spy is very old. But I'm going to try it out on my computer, our new one, and also on the very old one upstairs. We'll see what happens.

Quote: Of a great and wise statesman it is said, "that he can hold his tongue in ten different languages."
Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing; his reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff; you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them they are not worth the search. __Shakespeare

Good news . . . Good news . . .

Older brother called this morning and he passed his stress test with flying colors. The cardiologist told him he could go back to working out at the gym, his regular routine. It seems that the amount of tea he was drinking caused his heart to have irregular beats. So he's going to go from drinking about 10 or more cups of fresh, loose leaf tea a day to two. Sounds about right to me! Wow, that was a lot of tea drinking!

Felt so hyped up this morning with this bright sunshine that I washed some windows, scrubbed the bathroom immaculate and invited Puppy's Pop to walk to Baker's Dozen for a cup of Java. Not even a slight twinge in this old body. How great that is! Had to talk Puppy's Pop into putting up the ladder so I could get out my hammock swing. He doesn't come even close to liking sunny, windy weather if it is below 70 degrees! No clue how nice it feels to swing your life away! Got to tell you, it is shear wonderment! Pure, unadulterated pleasure for all senses. Yes, you can taste the clean, fresh, dry air. Feel the warmth of the sun as the wind bursts rock you. What a feast!

Spent yesterday afternoon in Groton because Richoni's had the riggers from EB for a party and the Daytona 500 was supposed to be run. We had a good time, Kiddo on his mighty scooter and I walking along. After lunch at the bar we also played indoor soccer and I won! Now that is an improvement. Big brother came home for 3 and I was on my way back to Moosup. It's so good to feel like I'm 35 years old again. Of course looking like it is another matter! I even made cookies Saturday !

Quote: Life is a series of surprises. We do not guess to-day the mood, the pleasure, the power of to-morrow, when we are building up our being. ___Emerson

Quote:

Good one . . .

What a dastardly deed. Oh, Mother Nature, you pulled a good one. Yesterday, I was so sick of that puzzle I packed it up to give away. It was almost done, just the green trees left to do but, as I explained to an unhappy Puppy's Pop, I can't stand having a puzzle out when the weather is 60 degrees and I want to be outside not in the house working on a puzzle! So, wake up this morning and the earth is covered with snow. That is just super. Puppy's Pop has already cleared the driveway but the roads will be a mess for a while so I'm going to make some pancakes for breakfast. The weather men were taken by surprise. Good on you, Mother Nature!

Quote: Nature hath nothing made so base, but can read some instruction to the wisest man. ___C. Aleyn

More + + +

Just returned from seeing Doctor Foley and things are looking good. I will go back to see him at the beginning of May and in the mean time he is sending me for Cardiac Rehabilitation. He says it is so the heart can be monitored as the rehab center builds the heart back up to where it should be. They let him know how it's going and then if he needs to change the Toprol XL from 25 to 50mg he will do so. I believe that it is a three day a week program for twelve weeks. I don't mind because I must admit I had a bit of a scare but as Dr. Foley said he likes to prevent heart attacks. Hear! Hear! To celebrate I decided to test if my stomach really is better and I stopped at Dairy Queen for my at one time traditional Reese's Peanutbuttercup Blizzard in chocolate. I did take a couple of Lactaid first. Still a bit of a chicken! It was delicious. So far so good!

Edith Piaf L'Hymne à l'amour

Quelle stupidité . . .

Est-ce possible? I mean really. A music teacher in Montréal cut the word "Dieu" from an Édith Piaf song. I believe the last line of L'hymne à l'amour ends with " Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment." "God reunites those who are in love." That's it, in the entire song. The world has gone mad. Okay. That's my rant for today.

Quote: He that is not aware of his ignorance will be only misled by his knowledge. __Whately

Greatest "Wow!" ever . . .

Received a call at 7:52 this morning from Suzan Chasse, the lady in charge of insurances for the Connecticut Teachers' Retirement Board. She said she couldn't change the policy for everyone but will arrange to get me the discounted rates at the CVS store in Plainfield. That is the same discount that I get using the mail. I will pick it up once a month but it will not depend on the freaky USPS so I shall be able to get it with no worries. She truly did understand the problem. She will call me back when she gets it set up. Then I will cancel the next order from Caremark by mail. I will still get my other scripts by mail. After speaking with Ms. Chasse I decided to check my email. I had an email from Caremark that the 90 day prescription was sent out yesterday! So the second phone call to the young man worked and he was able to override the existing mess. Yay! All my calls and emails worked even though getting irate made my heart do flips. It's quite by accident that I knew who to write to at the CTRB. Some years ago I was really ticked off when Puppy's Pop was not issued his Caremark cards after he went on Medicare and I wrote a rather scathing email to CTRB. Ms Chasse, equally angry, called me and we went head to head. She got it straightened out and told me to contact her personally if I ever had trouble with the insurance. Glad I kept her address in my email folder. She is curt and doesn't mince words but , wow, is she ever efficient. Good on this bureaucrat!

Puppy's Pop is off to play horseshoes in East Hartford and I'm going to try to get a haircut and do a little food shopping. Good start to this bright, sunny cold and crispy day.

Quote: Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete a character. ___Goethe