Category Archives: Misc
Where are these home improvement shows when you need them?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Once we finish clearing the clutter from the MIL’s house we’ll have our work cut out for us. I could certainly use both of those curb appeal and design to sell shows’ help then. Maybe I should start haunting the local Home Depots and Lowes in the hopes of having someone walk up to me with microphones, TV cameras, and then asking if I wanted them to come to my house.
“Yes! Yes! I have just the place for you to tackle.” I’d do cartwheels and at my age and the shape I’m in that’d be amazing in of itself.
Follow me here people and you’ll see why I would do those cartwheels.
My in laws moved into their “new” house 38 years ago. After my father in law retired several years later, the house suffered from neglect. Dad didn’t do anything to keep the house up; instead, they spent summers off camping and going to flea markets. (Yep, that’s where some of the clutter and junk came from.)
Since his father’s death in 1998, DH and friends did what they could to keep the house from falling apart. I suspect it was about that time that my mother in law became enamored of QVC, junk catalogues, and anything sold on TV. Her hoarding life began anew. (Oh, yeah more clutter and junk piled up only now it was new and shiny.) My mother in law refused to allow any of us to come in to clean and paint the interior for her. I would’ve gladly done so.
Now DH can’t do the work, I’m not getting any younger, I hate to climb ladders, and our friends aren’t as young, energetic, and healthy as they used to be.
Cartwheels? Hell, I’d do handsprings.
Posted in Favorite TV shows, Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Is that a light I see at the end of the tunnel?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Even though G was sick and couldn’t go over to work with me, five more bags of garbage and two loaded recycling bins, hit the curb over at the MIL’s house yesterday. I cleared out the linen closet and some more junk out of one of the bedrooms.
Chuck stopped by and picked up a few items we’d promised him. Then the TALL man pulled a plastic garden bench down for me that was on top of a high pile of stuff in the garage. (I can’t help being short, Chuck but I know many people shorter than I am.) The bench will work well on our front porch especially when DH needs to sit down out there.
Once home, I arranged with my neighbor’s son to have him go over tomorrow and give us an estimate on repairing/redoing the stucco on areas of the house where we need it done.
I’m beginning to feel as though we are getting our ducks in a row at last. Sure, there’s plenty more we need to do over there before DH can sell the house, but we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel albeit a teensy light, but a light none the less.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Best laid plans?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
G and I went to the farmers market, and at the most mouth-watering stand, I bought two lovely chicken potpies. All the way home, I thought about how wonderful they were going to taste. Arriving home a little before three, I told DH what we were having for dinner. I almost had to hand him a napkin to wipe the drool from his chin. I put the potpies in the refrigerator planning to reheat them around five o’clock.
That’s when the power went off. EEEKS! “Okay, okay I can handle this. The power will be back on in time to fix dinner.” Yeah, in my DREAMS!
I looked outside and most of the neighbors were out there discussing our little power outage. I hastened to join them. Yes, only our block had no power. DH called the power company. After jumping through their many hoops, he finally managed to speak to a human.
The human at the power company told DH, “Your power should be back on by five.”
He came outside with the news and we all felt happy to have a set time for the return of our power.
It didn’t happen.
Nope, one power company truck showed up at five, one man worked on the lines, and yet we still had no power. “I called it in and told them they need to upgrade the transformer.”
“Okay, but when we have the power back?”
“I don’t know,” He replied. “Maybe another two hours, but don’t quote me on that.”
“Great. I guess dinner will have to wait.” I kept thinking about those potpies as I lit four kerosene lamps to keep the darkness at bay.
Seven o’clock came and went with no power on the horizon. Dinner became cold cuts.
“What’s that I hear? Is it a truck? Do I see yellow lights? Yes!” A few minutes before nine, the neighborhood celebrated having power again.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Kerosene lamp, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Is this my house?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
DH got plenty of rest last night and was almost cheerful. The pups behaved themselves. It worried me.
Over the last two or three years, this was not normal for our house. I’m used to DH being cranky because he’s stressed out and overtired. I am used to the dogs pulling stunts that only a pair of Bull Terriers is capable of doing. I am no longer used to a tranquil household.
I wondered if perhaps, I had awakened in a parallel universe.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
It was not a good day yesterday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
DH and I went over to the nursing home for their “care conference” and, once again, they had the “conference” in her multi-patient room. At least this time they were ready for us because I made a rather loud remark at the check-in desk about how they screwed up last time. As we walked to the elevator, we heard the receptionist page them to the phone. It was amazing to find three staff members hovering over Mom when we came into the room as if they’d been waiting for us. I might have believed it if we weren’t early and if two of them weren’t a bit winded.
They hate it when I come in with DH. I pull out my notebook, “Before we start I want your names.” Then I make a point of checking my watch and putting the date and time in my notebook before they speak. All the while they are talking I take notes. It drives them crazy and keeps me happy and sane to do this to them.
It’s rough on DH and brings me to tears. Mom is not there mentally and these past few weeks she’s gone rapidly down hill physically. They finally have the DNR on her chart. We feel that as far-gone as she is, it isn’t fair to her to have them prolong her agony. (I swear I am going to have ‘DNR’ tattooed on my chest!)
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Healthcare, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Nursing home, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Make it quick for me
Posted by doggonedmysteries
This afternoon we are going to what we angrily call a ‘no care conference’ at the nursing home. They had us come to one of their “care conferences” last month and it was pure BS with a topping of crap. (Yes, those are air quotes, people.)
It seems to me that if they want to present a professional front that they’d actually hold these “care conferences” in an office. Oh, hell no. Last time, even after confirming the appointment with us TWICE, they “forgot” we were coming in. Then they had us stand in the middle of a four patient room and gave us a trough of horse crap about nothing to do with the MIL’s care. (OMG and this place has a US Government ranking of three and a half stars higher than the one my Mother was in!)
If the day comes, that I am mindless and dying a slow death, I hope that one of my friends will have the kindness to push me in front of a speeding bus or put a bullet through my brain. I want a quick death not a lingering one.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Elder, Family, Fiction, Healthcare, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Nursing home, Old age, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Things not to say when…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
If you are trying to sell, give away, or junk a huge chest freezer, you don’t tell people it will easily hold six bodies.
A cop pulls you over, you don’t ask him A. Where is the nearest bar? B. How fast was I going? C. What’s your favorite drink?
Yes, that’s all I can think of this early in the morning. I haven’t gone to bed yet and I am beat from another Wednesday of clearing the crap out of the MIL’s house. The brain isn’t functioning at 100%. Maybe if I have another cup of coffee…no, too wired as it is.
Y’all have a good day. I’m going to bed.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
EEKS I went and did it.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
For those of you that don’t already know, I finally took the plunge and joined Facebook. I have been very reluctant to do so for many reasons. However, with the possibility of books going to publishers in the future, I’m told that it was a wise thing to do.
Those of you who are wise in the ways of FB will have to excuse me for a while as I learn the ins and outs of it. (Shut up, Dave.) I spent most of the night last night exploring and testing things out. I’m sure I’ll make many mistakes, but what better way is there to learn?
I will now post simultaneously on WordPress and FB. If you are reading this on FB, come over to my WordPress site and look around. There you will find a few samples from my works in progress. I have pictures of our dogs and gardens in there too.
Today I am going over to the MIL’s house and work again. Wish me luck on dealing with the house of horrors. I truly dread going back into the garage (AJ and I were in there on Sunday); there are far too many spider webs in there.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
There was a surprise in the cans of china
Posted by doggonedmysteries
-
- All the dishes are for sale
-
- All the dishes are for sale
-
- All the dishes are for sale
-
- All the dishes are for sale
-
- All the dishes are for sale
-
- All the dishes are for sale
As promised, here are the pictures of the other set of china and a surprise. When I sorted through china in the lard cans, I found several pieces to a third set! See the top two pictures. It’s made by Ostrow China and is called Princess Anne Golden Dusk. It’s lovely. The last picture is of the Homer Laughlin Colonial Kitchen. (All of the china pictured above is for sale. Contact me here in a comment or by e-mail)
Today was G’s anniversary so she didn’t go over to the MIL’s house with me. AJ arrived around three, she was a big help and good company—I do hate to be there by myself. She helped me load the lard cans full of china into my van.
I managed to clear off and clean the kitchen counters before AJ arrived. It was quite a chore since the MIL had them completely covered with junk and I don’t think she’d cleaned it in years. By four o’clock AJ and I were ready to leave. We carried out three bags of garbage, a completely filled paper recycling bin, and an over filled can and bottle bin.
***Notice to all this was posted in 2011. Dishes are long gone.****
Posted in Misc
Tags: Antique and vintage china, Antique shop, Antiques and Collectibles, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
One shuffle down and more to go
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Friday afternoon I ordered a mattress and box spring from Sleepys. This was for the bed frame that belonged to DH’s Grandfather that I brought home from the MIL’s house on Wednesday. The mattress and box spring arrived Saturday at a little after noon. Wow, that was quick!
We hadn’t removed the futon or set the bed frame up yet when they came knocking on our door. Consequently, before one o’clock I’d notified the neighbor who wanted the futon for his daughter that he’d better come and get it NOW. We grabbed another neighbor to help him take the futon mattress and frame.
In the meantime, the new mattress and box frame were standing in the hallway upstairs waiting for the bed frame. ACK! DH couldn’t help. I lugged the bed frame from one room to the other and with a minor struggle—read this as many cusswords went flying when the frame wasn’t cooperating—I finally had it together.
The other neighbor (see the second paragraph) returned and put the box spring and mattress in place. Geez, I do love having brawny guys around that I can beg to help me with heavy things. Then I remembered I needed to wash sheets for the bed since all the full sized sheets are stored in a bag in the basement. We now have a lovely old bed with a new mattress and box spring that towers almost thirty inches above the floor.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Sleepys, Writer, Writing
Do the furniture shuffle
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I swear I need to add a few rooms onto my house. I don’t know where to go with everything! We’ve added a bedroom set and we are getting rid of a futon. I now need to shuffle a bookcase, a dresser with a mirror, and few other small items. Where I’ll shuffle them to—your guess is as good as mine.
The new mattress and box spring arrive today. I wish we had everything ready so the delivery guys can plop them in place but that ain’t gonna happen. They’ll go in the hallway to await our slow progress towards making room for the bed.
Then I need to find some big fellows (I wish my cousins were down here for a visit right about now) to haul the old sofa bed out of the house so I can bring the MIL’s newer sofa home. It’s not exactly the style I would choose but beggars can’t be choosers. We can’t afford to buy a new sofa right now. I hope the big fellows will carry the MIL’s sofa for me.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
A mixed bag of vintage and antiques
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today I called many antique shops and auctions in our area and not one of them is taking china. Just my luck.
The vintage scarves, dress gloves, and that adorable hat are now sitting in a consignment shop. The owner thinks they will sell quickly and she’s very interested in the beaded purses. I need to make up my mind as to which one I want to keep.
Sunday I’ll bring home a piece or two from the Mojen china and post a picture on Monday’s post.
Since we’re having a very windy and rainy day today, I am cleaning and putting together the antique desk for my room. Of course, this means having to move some furniture and rearrange a few things. That’s fine with me I’d rather keep busy than mope over not being able to get out of the house.
Y’all have a good one.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Antique, Antique shop, Antiques and Collectibles, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 