Sunday

It's Sunday morning and we have played our daily cribbage game. We take turns winning so we enjoy it. There is no "rub it in" bragging just pride in a game well played. Yesterday, we took an impromptu trip to CostCo and Sam's Club to compare prices on monitors. Yes, Richard's quit after we got the computer worked on. So, we find one at CostCo, but decide to check prices at Sam's. We get over there and he makes a decision to buy a 24" Samsung monitor. He wanted something big enough that he could see the whole page on after using my HP. So now he is playing pokerstars.net and having a very good time. If only he could win a few tourneys, he wants to win a trip to the World of Poker game.

Had to break up a fight this morning between Lucy and Emmy. Lucy is feeling more at home now and is working her way up the pecking order. The last on the list now is Emmy. No bites, just a lot of posturing and growling. Poor Emmy has breathing difficulties anyway, and after the fight, she had a hard time getting back to normal. I've been anticipating this for a while. Lucy has always given in when another dog came around. She probably won't be doing that much longer. Ah, the joys of "children."

Time to get the vacuum out and do the ceiling and computer room. Have to run Rich out of the house to get anything done. When he's is watching PowerBlock on tv, the vacuum is a no-no. It's a little chilly here, so he's waiting for the sun to get around the trees and warm up the garage. The plan for the day is to move Zoom-Zoom (Miata) around back and put the hard top back on. the top is taking space that the lawn mower needs and after I mow the grass this afternoon, we will pack up the mower in the shed. Then, take the Princess (Dart) out of the garage, clean up the sanding dust, and put Ruby (Kia) in and change the oil to Amsoil. First oil change. Looking to see if the mileage gets better. Running around 28 to 30 mpg now, so if the Amsoil helps, we should get really good mpg.

Hope you have a good day.

Cathy

Go Figure!!

Had Mom out for supper last night! That sounds weird don't it? Actually, we all had pizza. Was concerned about how Lucy would act around another stranger. So we put her in the computer room until Mom got sat, dinner was on the table, and then we turned her loose. She was more interested in food than Mom so that worked. Later, we all sat and watched a video and Lucy jumped into Mom's lap and settled in for the duration. I turned around and told Lucy to get down as I know Mom doesn't like dogs, and Mom says "oh she's alright." Could of knocked me over with a feather. Not only cuz Lucy is just not that friendly in the first place, but how Mom reacted. So Go Figure!!

Later
RB

speedy u bet

Got the computer back today. I B sufing or is that interneting, neather one makes a lot of sense. There's no water and you can't catch any fish. But I can now play poker on a screen I can see, and fast, wow !!!

Later RB

Sunday Drive - literally

Sunday morning we all took off from here about 10:30 and drove to Cambridge dropped the tops, and took in the scenic stuff from there to Gateway. Appropriate name for the little store/cafe just before Brownlie Dam. On the way to the dam, we stopped at a great RV park with boat dock and great parking sites. Talked about all the possibilities. Just before the dam, we straddled an over sized rock, and showered Gale and Rudy with chips. We couldn't stop when we hit it because there is no place between the vertical rock wall on the right, and generators gates for the dam on the left, for us to pull over. Had to wait til the bottom of the hill. Everything okay. The dams were quite full considering this is the end of irrigation season. Stopped every now and then for an information update, Richard style, and photo opts. Made it to Pine Creek Bar and Diner, and had the best hamburgers ever! So much food, that half my diner came home (I got to enjoy it again for lunch today). We discussed options for the drive back, including going to the cow camp, but as it was after 2:30, decided to make that trip another day. The drive back home was by way of Halfway and Baker, and a speedy quick run down the interstate. The drive from Pine Creek was windy and we traveled it like two sports cars should, low and fast. The valley into Halfway was beautiful. The outdoor john, not so much. Sure glad I declined it's use, Rich's description was vivid.
We got to lead down the interstate as we have a fuzz buster. The only thing faster than the two Miatas, was a white Chrysler mini van that passed us like we were going backwards. Shortly before Ontario, the fuzz buster went off and we barely got slowed down as a state trooper went by on the other side. He didn't get the van or us. Caught up with the van at the gas station, it was full of kids, and had Utah plates. We speculated he was late for church. We figured our mileage and it came to be about 38 mpg! 256 miles on 6.9 gallons! Just half a tank. Not too shabby for a heavy footed hot-rodder and the occupants. Never did see any of the fabled plants from yesteryear. All in all, we had a great time.

Eureka!!! Computer fixed!!!

Richard found a computer fixer just a couple of miles from us. His name is Brian Wilson (Beach Boys any one?) and he called this morning to tell us that the only problem with the computer was a virus. It works well now, has virus fixer and malware programs and we wait for more memory to come in before it comes home. A lot cheaper than buying new junk. When Rich looked at the tower, it was all pop riveted, so he couldn't get into it. Found out that, miracle of miracles, the side slides off, and access is there. Couldn't figure out what the little "L" shaped thing-a-floppy (Rich's words) was supposed to do. Low and behold, you hold it down for the side to slide off. Boy was it dirty inside. Looking forward to his new high speed computer experience. Just need the education to go with it. (I was just told off. Rich and I each have just enough computer savvy to be dangerous.) We have Team Work.

CB & RB

Early morning-again

Yesterday seemed like 3 days long, when reality, all the "stuff" happened in the morning. After the machine went home, we went to Home Depot for grass seed and weed killer, but lunch was had before that at the Chinese place in Caldwell. After Home Depot, Richard wanted to check out some tool places. That is how good Richard's back was feeling! Maybe something went right after all. We shall see when he gets out of bed.

After we got home, we were on the computers, and I get a very welcome phone call. Whitnee is looking to talk to me! (youngest granddaughter) We made plans for me to pick her up today about 6 and go to Wendy's for some bonding time. Am so looking forward to that.

The Bi-Mart opens today. We might go later and miss their crowd, but my loving husband is not a fan of shopping, unless it is tools, so may not go for several days. He goes the the store with one thing in mind, what it is he wants, and there is no discussion about going somewhere else. So I have to hijack him when we go to Boise.

The big guy is up and looking for coffee, so catch you all later.

Cathy

This should be a Monday

Definition: A lawn aerator creates holes or cavities in the surface of the lawn and allows the soil to move and shift more freely.

Actually, this all started Sunday afternoon, when I got frustrated with the lawn. I was mowing and got madder as I went as the "grass" I'd worked so hard to get looking good, just keeps getting weedier and browner. I came in the house, vented a lot and Richard talked me out of killing what was left of the lawn and filling it with gravel. He decided to take a pro-active stance, and that it was cheaper for him to rent an aerator for the lawn rather than pay Scott's Lawn service to do it. So Monday afternoon, he went to Emmett Rental and picked it up figuring to take it back by 6 and save a lot of money. The best laid plans -- you've heard that saying, right? Two trips around the back 1/3 of the yard and he was huffing. It was 90 degrees outside, no shade and the machine goes like a bat out of hell, is self propelled, so it drags you along as you hold the handles. I know my limitations, and declined to try to make a circuit. Richard got part done, but no way was the machine going back by 6. We got up early this morning, and he actually got finished rather quickly. All that was left was for him to load the contraption back into the bed of the pickup. I have a bad feeling about this, question the logistics of how, and get my nose clipped as I had just stepped into Mr. Macho's territory. He hasn't remembered a thing about "16 year old ideas and a 60 year old body". He talks a good story, but don't you believe it. Now, getting back to the story, there are two metal ramps each about 6 inches across that the machine is supposed to go up and into the pickup. Picture this--Richard climbing up these ramps behind a machine that has a whole lot of sharp "hole makers" going around in a circle as this thing moves. The machine gets to the edge of the tailgate, slips, Richard tries to lift it up, and they both come backwards down the ramps! Scared the living crap out of me. I watch him roll backwards down the ramp, and this sharp thing is trying to come down on top as he is holding on to it. They land in a heap at the bottom, machine still running. I lift it up a little to get him out from under it, and it tries to attack him again (self propelling is still working). Richard had to roll up and turn it off before we could move it off him. Thank God he is okay. I chewed him out for being so stubborn (translate "CHEAP) as to not pay for a trailer to haul this thing in. I am shaking so bad, he is in shock, and the machine is upside down next to the ramps that fell off too. When the initial panic subsides, Richard sits on the step and Emmett Rental gets a call to come get this thing, Richard has regained a little of his mind and goes in to take a shower. As he is in the shower, the guy that comes to pick up the machine, does almost the exact same thing that Rich did. Ramp slips, machine slips, Tony slips, but he caught it and finished loading. As Richard gets out of the shower, I hand him 2 Tylenol, and a bottle of water. Checking for holes, etc. I tell him he has a little rash and that is it. God watches out for stupidity and macho-ism. I am seriously worried about his back, but amazingly, it seems better than before. Must have been the the backward rollover on the ramp thingy. The only thing sore now is his elbow that clunked as he landed. So that is how our day went. How was yours?

Cathy

Pain Relief

This a picture of Richard's new shoes. They are called Z-Coils. We had gone to the shoe getting place to place an order for me and have my feet molded for the orthodics. As we were waiting, we noticed these odd looking shoes that promised to make life better by helping back and leg pain. We went home, discussed the alternatives for Richard's back situation, and he decided to try some new shoes. There were actually two types of shoes to help his back, but these were the best choice for him. They are adjustable with the soft spot on the spring being movable. The Shoe man put the soft spot toward the inside as Rich runs over the outside of his shoes, and therefore the support is more on the outside to prevent that. The first day, he wore them home and immediately felt the difference. The shoes made him stand up straighter, and used different muscles than normal for him. He was a little sore the next day, but has not worn anything else since. You have to watch for stuff on the ground like cords and catches, but he is enjoying being up and about now.

He is now feeling so good he is undressing the "Princess". That is our '65 Dart convertible. He is sanding and fixing and getting it ready for a repaint. This car was the first one he did, ever, and he is finding out how many "oops" there were and correcting those. The paint color will be the same, but the body work is going to look a lot better, and it gets him out of house! Too much togetherness is not good for anybody. We were starting to get on each others nerves, and with his back getting better, life is good.

We are going to take Little Man to the vet tomorrow. He is having some problems moving, can't lift his leg to pee, so pees on his front legs and all over everywhere else. If he is in pain and will cost a lot to fix, we will have to consider putting him down. As it is, we will have to take the laundry room down to bare studs and sub floor just get rid of the smell. We have used bleach, deodorant sprays, chemical stuff, enzymes, just about everything we could think of, nothing works for very long. Hate to put him down for that, but the health issues for us dictate.