Thursday, November 29, 2012

Deleted pictures

I like to include pictures in my blog as I'm sure you've noticed.  Just when you get a little sick of my blah-blah-blah, I post some pictures to capture your attention again. hehehe

Well, recently I went to post some shots and got a notice that my Picasa Web Album was full.  huh?  Apparently Picasa is a Google child and all pictures going into my blog are stored in a Picasa Web Alum which apparently has a maximum storage capacity - unless you pay them some $$$ for more space.

Well, hell, I'm not going to pay a whole $2.49 a month for picture storage.  I'll beat them at their own game.  I'm sly like that.  I'll just go into that album and delete like a crazy deleting woman and make more room!

Looks like I'm not as crafty as I thought.  Picasa wasn't born yesterday; neither was Google, I guess.  When you broom pics from the web album they also disappear from you damn blog!!!  All you will see if you decide to scroll back in time here (I'm sure you love re-reading "Ellen Alive!) are a bunch of black frigging boxes.

When I settled down and stopped swearing I came to my senses.  I love blogging.  It is an outlet for me.  I guess I'll be sending Mr.Google some money, eh?  

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Where are my socks?

For those of you who have been around for a while reading my blog like good little doobies, you'll remember the bedroom move that happened in September.

We are happy, happy people with this change in our lives.  I am amazed, however, with the ripple affect that has taken place.

Moving the computer into the living room meant getting the cable dude in to do his thing.  Mr.Electric made an appearance with a pricey surprise attached and sleeping in a smaller (from a king to a queen) bed has prompted this response from Petey on more than occasion:  "wow, this is a small bed."  This from the guy that thought we could easily go into a regular double/standard bed!

Now for the moving of the clothes.  That's where a tiny bit of confusion has come in.  When we lived upstairs, Petey and I had totally separate dressers and makeshift closets and now we're sharing both of those spaces.

Are my exercise socks in the second from the bottom drawer or is that one for my undies?   Nope, that one's for Petey's boxers.

I wonder how long it will take me to remember where everything is?  I will freely admit that some of those same issues prevailed upstairs and we were up there for 34 years!  hmmmmm

Monday, November 26, 2012

Where are you on the "tech" spectrum?

If you had to place yourself somewhere on a scale from 1 to 10; 1 being "I can barely send an email" to 10 defining you as a "whiz-bang 'puter dude/dudette," where would you be?

We got our first computer more than 15 years ago.  We now also have a laptop, we're wireless and we just bought a Blu Ray.

Until Saturday night I really didn't know what the hell a Blu Ray was.  I'm hoping I'll know more after looking at the CD but I have a hunch that I'll need to call in my geek pal, Jeremy.

I'm running as fast as I can trying to keep up but I'm horribly behind.  

My "behindness" (I know, that's not a real word but it fits) is glaringly apparent when it comes to phones.  I've been using a Tracfone for many years but I hardly ever turn it on.  My sister keeps telling me to get on the iphone train but I just don't think my life needs that kind of high tech communication.

I remember being on a job probably two years ago and a Wii was mentioned.  I was absolutely clueless.  I know I fingerspelled w-e-e.  It was embarrassing.  I now know what a Wii is and even lost a game or two to my young grand niece.

The reason I'm blogging about this issue is we bought a new TV when we got that Blu Ray thingamajig.  We set it up that night and then had to get the cable box.  Naturally, hooking that system up took a while along with 4 phone calls to various geeky people but we did it.  It only took 2 days!  Yea, us!

So now I suppose you want to know where I'd place myself on that 1 - 10 scale, eh?  I'm being generous here - 5.5

Sunday, November 25, 2012

The lights that light the light that lights the light

I'm not quoting the lyrics to the new K-mart jingle.  It is a catchy one and I started singing along the first seven times I heard it.  It's starting to wear on me now but nothing close to the mad woman in last year's Target commercials.  The "screamer."  Yikes!

No, I'm talking about all the little lights inside my house.  In the bedroom alone:  red coming from the power strip next to the nightstand, the soooo bright light on my alarm clock (I had to cover it with dark tissue paper), two lights on the phone (I tried blacking out the one on the handset with a Sharpie - no go) and lastly (I think unless I've missed one or eight), the red dot on the TV or is it orange?  Who cares.

Now let's leave the boudoir.  Thankfully, nothing blinds me in the dining room which I have to pass through in order to make a "pit stop" in the middle of the night.  

The kitchen has a microwave light and the stove clock is bright enough to guide me to my destination. No need for a night light in the potty.

The living room: a little red light on the TV, another power strip light and then the grandaddy of them all - the router adaptor!  That little thing has a blue light on it so bright we have to close the bedroom door.

Now for the outside.  We don't have any exterior lights that we feel need to stay on all frigging night like some people in our neighborhood.   I understand that for security purposes people might want lights but I'm thinking motion sensor.  

Or maybe I'll just have to get some "black out" curtains, eh? 

    

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

My "thankful" list

My blogger buddy, Julie Z, posted her thankful list the other day so I'm following suit.

I am thankful for:  Krunchers Sweet Onion potato chips
                              Hudsonville ice cream
                              warm slippers
                              my new mittens and gloves
                              Bridge Mix
                              Mug Shots (the new coffee shop downtown)
                              EG Kight (Blues singer extraordinaire)
                              my Nook

Now for the personal, sappy stuff:  my miracle marriage (44 yrs)
                                                        my family
                                                        hospice
                                                        Augie
                                                        my health
                                                        Michigan's smoking ban
                                                        Jazzercise  

I'm also thankful that I live in a town where I can walk my dog at 11p in my bathrobe and feel safe.  When I walk that doggie during the daylight hours people peep their horns and wave.  When I go downtown to run an errand I can easily spend an hour chatting with people on the sidewalk or inside stores and businesses.  

I am thankful for the life I'm living.  I'm a lucky, small-town gal.    

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I decided to look UP

When you have a dog that enjoys walking around town you see a lot.  I've been at this walking thing for 3 1/2 years now and the other day I decided to really look and notice.  

Mostly you will see building details but there are a few other photos thrown in for good measure.  I hope you enjoy.





































So, what did you think?  Cool stuff, eh?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Quiet Couple

Do you "people watch?"  When you do, do you make up scenarios about the people?

We were at Applebees in Kalamazoo last night and there were a few tables that caught our interest.

Peter thought the man at the table next to us looked mean.  He was older (probably our age) and was with a woman his age, more than likely his wife.  He kept his baseball cap on the whole time which we both thought a bit odd but then noticed he wasn't the only one there to do so.  Anyway, this couple was with a young Asian woman and they looked comfy with one another.  We decided she was their granddaughter who was a freshman at WMU and they had come to take her out to dinner.  

I watched the gentleman for a while and then saw him telling a funny story.  We changed our "mean" opinion.

Then there was a the table behind us.  I couldn't see them but I heard young male voices talking excitably about math.  Huh?  Math?  I asked Peter to take a peek and tell me if they looked like geeks.  He did the slow head turn thing like he was taking in the whole restaurant, not obviously gawking at the math boys, and said "yes" - they were the epitome of math geeks.  I love geeks.

Then there was a table for two with a couple of very handsome young fellows.  I decided they were on a date and was comforted by the fact that they were comfortable with themselves and their surroundings.

Lastly (and the reason I entitled this blog, "The Quiet Couple") was the couple in my direct line of sight.  I couldn't take my eyes off them.  They were younger than us (who isn't anymore?) and never spoke to one another.  I couldn't see his face but she looked miserable; a vacant look in her eyes and a permanent down-turn of her mouth.  Their silence was unsettling to me.

Petey and I can go for great lengths of time without chatter and we're perfectly fine.  This was different.  I knew when they went home they'd go into different rooms and wouldn't see each other again until it was time to go to bed - maybe.  How sad.

Ok, let's pull this blog out of the sad sack for a happy ending, eh?  I bought a new winter purse at Kohl's last night and saved a boatload of $$$.  Yea!  Happy, happy, smiley face.

Do you feel better?  You're welcome.  Go on about your business now.   

Friday, November 16, 2012

Did you wave at me?

For those of you new to my blog, here's a reminder.  Allegan is a small town and I've lived in it all but 10 years of my life.  Hence, I know a boatload of people.  Every time I walk Augie or am strolling around by myself, people drive by and wave.  I don't always see the actual wave because of the windshield glare so if I don't respond, please don't think I'm ignoring you.  I would never do that.

I don't pay any attention to the type of vehicles people drive.  Petey, on the other hand, knows everyone's car.  The only cars/trucks I feel comfortable pre-waving at are the cops, fire dudes and the city fellows.

Sometimes, if the light is just right, and the car is traveling slowly and I'm pretty damn sure I know the driver, I'll wave.  About 80% of the time, however, the person behind the wheel is a complete stranger.  They have made some sort of action (probably picking their nose) that I took for a wave and reciprocated.  I've lost track of how many times that has happened.

So, if you're driving down the street and see me, please either beep your horn or roll the window down and yell so I'll know, for sure,  you're hailing me.  

Otherwise, don't expect me to do a thing but know that I love and respect you.   

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

My plan to solve our economic crisis

I don't know why I never thought of this before.  And, for that matter, why hasn't anyone else?

All communities, at least here in the states, have laws against littering, right?  Our highways and byways (what are those, anyway?) are much cleaner now than they were when I was a teenager driving around throwing crap out that little wing window in my mom's station wagon.  Remember those little windows?  Didn't we call them "wing" windows?  Anyway, I digress.

Ok, back to the law.  If the law is already in place, why don't we kick it up a notch and start busting the people that throw their cigarettes on the ground?  Lit or not they hit the ground or sidewalk and just lay there.  They're every- friggin'- where

I know I've written about this before but it's bugging me even more now than before.  I really hate seeing a lit butt come flying out of a car window.  I mean, how does that person know where that little fire bug is going to land?  

I think my frustration has been building because I see so much of this infraction on my walks with Augie.  It's LITTERING!

Can you imagine the amount of $$$$$$ our cities could garner with fines?  Then, what if each borough, village, town and city took a small slice from their coffers and passed it along to Washington?  Holy moly, baby, our national debt would sink like a bag of wet cement!

Brilliant, eh?  You're welcome.  

Monday, November 12, 2012

A Cat Rant

First of all, let me just say - I love cats.  We had one of the coolest cats of all time.  His name was Yogi and he lived for 17 years.  When he became ill and had to be euthanized, I thought Petey and I would have to be hospitalized.  Our grief was deep and lasted a long time.

Yogi was an indoor dude.  We loved him so much we couldn't imagine letting him roam the neighborhood with all the traffic around here.

Now we have a dog as most of you know.  Augie is either on a leash as we take our walks or in the fenced in back yard - safe.  Allegan, like most communities, towns and cities has a leash law.  For dogs not cats.  Why can cats traverse the town freely pooping anywhere they please and dogs must be accompanied by an owner at the end of the leash with poop bags in their pocket?

Don't get me wrong.  I like the leash law and I wish everyone had poop bags in their pockets (I've already addressed that in an earlier blog) but no one talks about the cats that come into their yards and poop to their heart's content.

I could probably live with cat shit in my yard because they pick the areas with loose soil which is along the perimeter - out of the way - but (and I'm sorry to paint this picture for you)  Augie considers the cat deposits as tasty morsels.  I know, gross eh?

The vet explained to me that cats do not digest their food so what goes in comes out in pretty much the same configuration.  Tasty.

So, who's with me on a leash law for cats?  Anyone?  Anyone?  

Saturday, November 10, 2012

This could be the last great weekend.

I'm talking weather.  At least here in southwest Michigan anyway.  I was just outside with Augie (twice but who's counting) and it's rather balmy out there.

I'm not sure it will get warm enough for me to make beads out on the back porch which is not insulated but it's certainly perfect for getting up the last of those pesky  leaves.  Hint, hint, neighbors.

Also, not that I'm encouraging it, but if you're so inclined to foo-foo up the outside of your home with green/red/green/red, etc. Christmas decorations, this just might be the perfect time to start stringing the lights along the outline of your house.  Not going to happen here, however.  Never has, never will.

Oh, and while you're out there, how about taking down the Halloween decorations.  They're starting to look funky and the pumpkins are molding.

While we're talking holidays - how about Thanksgiving?  Don't you think it is overlooked?  It's never been a big favorite of mine but sometimes I feel sorry for it.  It's stuck in between the candy frenzy of Halloween and the fat man in the red suit that brings presents to us.  It's hard to hype up.  Particularly to women who get stuck in the kitchen all friggin' day.

We've had all different configurations of Thanksgiving.  In recent years I've had the meal here but last year we decided to dine at Friendship Village where mom lives and wondered out loud, "why haven't we done this before?"  The service was wonderful, everyone was very cheery and the food was very, very good.  So that's what we'll be doing again this year.

Winding up and getting back to the title for this blog.  November can be a terribly ugly month.  It's the month we turn back the clocks so now the damn evening starts at 5:30 which makes it way too long.  It can be wet and cold which is never a good combo.  So, if it's above 50 degrees wherever you are, get out there and do something!    

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

The Campaign

I know I said when I started this blog that I wouldn't talk about religion (just that one time) and politics

So here goes that "one time" about the campaign.

Holy cow I'm glad it's over!  Let me just say that I don't get into the whole frenzy thing.  I don't canvas, I don't make phone calls and I don't put signs in my yard.  I do vote, however.  I like physically going to the polls.  I have only voted absentee once (I can't remember why) but I missed actually walking into a building to vote.

I know I'm not alone in the "disgust" factor regarding the campaign.  The money spent, the robo calls and the negative television ads.  It got so bad Petey and I were thinking it might be better to have a queen instead of all the mud-slinging.

If the queen thing doesn't fly then I think there should be a hard and fast rule about phone calls and negative television ads.  Naturally if there was a rule with swift consequences the sneaky bastards that run the campaigns would find a way to get around them.

A few weeks ago I was on a job waiting for the client to show up.  I was minding my own business in the lobby reading a juicy murder mystery on my Nook.  An older gentleman asked if I wouldn't mind the interruption, he wanted to inquire about my ereading experience.  We chatted about Nook/Kindle versus the real thing and then, before I was aware of it, he switched to bashing our president.  There wasn't even a segue!   I don't get into those kinds of conversations because, honestly, I'm not well versed in the subject.  Thankfully the client showed up and I could excuse myself.

So, I'm glad the circus is over.  The clowns have removed their make-up and taken the tent down.  Now we have 3 years to make some kind of progress (if Congress plays nicely).  Yes, I said 3 years because we all know what happens during the last year of service by a president, don't we.

I can hardly wait.  NOT! 

Monday, November 5, 2012

Beaddazzled's Holiday Open House

We had another successful open house on Saturday.  For those of you who are new to my blog I open the door to my home twice a year and people come into it and buy pretty things and leave smiling.  Besides my beads this year I had 8 other people here hawking their wares.







 These are just a few of Alexa Birkam's outstanding pottery pieces.  Alexa is the one "constant" in my list of creative people who participate in these gigs.  People come from far and wide for her pottery.






My neighbor, Linda Jordan, brought over several darling items.  Sorry about the blurry pic of the mittens; I must have been shaking with excitement.





My long-time pal, Sue Buese, knitted these goodies.  I have a pair of those half-mittens and wear them all the time.  Very handy.






Sheila Shaw knitted up a storm for the open house.  Her hats are to-die-for and I saw several people leaving with those curly-swirly scarves around their necks.







Sue Richardson was new to the Beaddazzled experience and she brought the cutest darned goodies.  Perfect items for teacher gifts, mail carrier "thank you" gifts, etc.  I bought several things that will be shipped to a far-off land.






Joyce Earle creates the most amazing things from the gourds she grows.  Her attention to detail brought on a lot of "ooing and aahing."






Elizabeth Engelsman makes soap and other goodies from the milk her little goats willingly (?) give her.  Wonderful scents and look how beautifully she packages her things.





My sister, Lisa Brachman, is a distributor for a company called 
It Works.  Besides the supplements she sells to help you get and stay healthy there are also products available to aid in weight loss.  She had a mini-line at her table all day.  She was on the opposite side of the room from the cookies!







And here are my things.  Necklaces, disks for your hoop earrings, wire chokers with magnetic clasps for my loose beads and bookmarks.

If you missed this fantastico event this year, we'll do it again in May.  It's always a lot of fun and we'll have something for you to eat and drink while you're here.  What's not to like about that???