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Icky Poo!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My gag reflex worked overtime yesterday as we threw out home canned goods left to rot in the MIL’s cellar since the mid 1970’s. I’m not kidding there were dates on the canning jar lids. Can you say EWWWWWWWW? Poor G’s gag reflex got a workout too. I owe my dear friend BIG TIME for all her help and I’ve told her that repeatedly.
There’s plenty more jars to empty and then there’s all that homemade wine we have to empty out of bottles and throw them away. ERG! I dread that job. Those wines were nasty way back in the 70’s when the FIL made them.
Chuck showed up and found a problem with what we thought would be a simple spray foam, insulation job. (SIGH) Nothing in this house ever seems to go easily. I can’t wait to get out from under it. Hmm, wasn’t that what the wicked witch said when Dorothy’s house landed on her?
Wednesday and another day of icky poo stuff will get here far too soon 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, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Wait, he is hurrying as fast as he can
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Someone rang our doorbell at eight in the morning yesterday. Since I’d only gone to bed two hours before that I didn’t hear it. Most importantly, it seems that people don’t understand that it takes DH some time to get to the door especially if he’s upstairs. He’s no Speedy Gonzalez, due to his MS the man moves at a turtle’s pace.
By the time DH got to the door, the bell ringer was long gone. How much sense does it take to realize that we are home when both our cars are in the driveway? Is patience in such short supply that the person had to rush off? Nothing ticks DH off more than to rush to the door only to find the person gone. Mind you, his rushing is similar to a snail on crack but that can’t be helped.
I hate to think I have to post a sign saying, ‘person answering the door is slow…please have patience.’
Posted in MS related
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
Mall kiosk psychos
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I amazed myself yesterday. I asked G to go clothes shopping with me. Coldwater Creek was having a half price sale. The jeans, capris, and slacks I bought there for the conference fit so well that I couldn’t resist the sale. I came home with two more pair of capris that are so comfortable I could live in them all summer. Gina bought one pair.
They are very helpful in the store but I really hate walking through the mall to get there. I have a question for everyone out there.
Do I have a sign on my forehead that says ‘come on drive me crazy’? What is it about me that attracts all those psycho mall demo-sales people? I do everything I can to NOT make eye contact with them and yet they literally grab me when I go anywhere near one of those little kiosks. No matter how many times I say, “No, I’m not interested” they still try to slather me with their crap. I tell them I’m allergic and they insist I can’t be allergic to their stuff. Hey, I lied but it did me no good. She grabbed my arm in a vise-like grip and slathered the whateveritistheyareselling on the inside of my wrist.
“Lady, for today only $39.99. See how nice it works on your skin?”
I looked at my right wrist then looked at my unmolested left wrist and I saw no difference. “Sorry Skippy too rich for my blood.” I hate using crap on my skin and for $39.99, for a teensy bottle it’d better be made of freaking gold.
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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
A short note today
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It is two in the morning. Somewhere, on the other side of the cemetery, there is a mocking-bird giving a lively concert. He has quite a repertoire and he is going at full volume. I’m betting there are a few people wishing they had a shotgun about now too.
I love mocking birds and since we haven’t had any around here the last year or two, I find him a delight. Then he’s not directly outside my window either.
You all have a good day.
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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
A few thoughts on flip-flops
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I am breaking in a new pair of flip-flops and it occurred to me that the manufacturers are not as concerned about women’s safety as they are men’s safety. How can I tell this you ask? The next time you are in a store pick up a pair of men’s flip-flops and a pair of women’s, turn them over and look at the soles. You’ll notice that most men’s flip-flops have traction built into them. Oh look, the women’s don’t! In fact, the women’s flip-flops seem designed for slippage.
Are women less apt to slip than men are? I think not. That’s the main reason I will buy a pair of men’s flip-flops rather than a pair of women’s. The flip-flops I’m breaking in now are women’s and they are slippery. I should’ve bought another pair of men’s.
I’ll have to get out the Dremel tool and cut some traction lines into the soles before I slip and break my neck. If anyone can do that, it will be me. Chuck knows all about how easy I can do things like that, he was here the day two years ago when I sprained BOTH of my ankles.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Flip-flop, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
They MADE me do it
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The expression heard often yesterday by my dear friends was, “Why did I let you drag me here?” G, her husband, and I went off on a money-spending spree (for me, not for them). They took me to a bulk goods store they love to go to and I went over board–there was so much there I wanted to bring home. The spices alone (cheap!) made me go hog-wild.
If that wasn’t bad enough we then stopped at our favorite garden shop where, once again, I managed to spend like a drunken sailor on shore leave. As I piled more flowers on my cart, I said once again, “Why did you drag me here?” As if, I went along with them kicking and screaming. Yeah, sure I did. They had to hog tie me to take me along. Now about that swampland in Florida you wanted….
Then we went to the pond shop. (No, no, don’t make me go in there!) Damn it, he had two black Koi…now he has one and so do I…. I found green frog tadpoles for the pond and yep, brought home a dozen of them.
Next time they invite me to go along on a jaunt, DH should handcuff me to the desk.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Home and Garden, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Water garden, Writer, Writing
PW Con Saturday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Up at six again, this time it was a bit tougher for me to crawl out of bed. This getting up in the morning is for the birds, not me. However, after Dave banged on our door I dragged myself downstairs to load up on FOOD. Getting up early in the morning makes me VERY hungry and I eat like a farmhand. I couldn’t fit more on my plate and believe me I tried.
My first session was under the Genre Know-How track. Researching the police with Kathleen George, her techniques on interviewing police and other professionals for research were very interesting.
My next session was in the Improve Your Craft track; your life is poetry with Timons Esaias. I love Tim’s sessions and always try to go to one if I can. He makes me THINK and WORK. This is not something that has come easy to me lately. Thank you for jump-starting my brain Tim, I needed it.
The Keynote lunch came next. Jonathan Maberry gave a dynamic and inspiring speech. He managed to fire up even the most jaded Pennwriters. Kudos Jonathan!
Two more sessions followed, The Geography of a Novel with Kristin Bair O’Keeffe and Acting for Writers with Kathryn Miller Haines &Kathleen George. None of the sessions disappointed.
After those sessions came plenty of fun networking and socializing at the Book signing and tea followed by the cocktail party. I wore a dress and heels, which lasted about two hours for me, and then my feet began to scream in agony. I limped to the elevators with Dave’s help, waved bye-bye, and went to my room to change. A little while later, I reappeared in jeans, new T-shirt, and my happy feet were back in flip-flops. Party time!
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Jonathan Maberry, Kathleen George, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Conference preparations and odds and ends
Posted by doggonedmysteries
G dragged me (kicking and screaming) into Coldwater Creek and I bought some clothes. Yes, me, I did it. No, there wasn’t a single dress involved. I didn’t find any that I liked. However, that doesn’t mean that I won’t wear one sometime during the conference. There is that cocktail party….
Today I need to make a Target run and pick up the dog food our pet store was out of, soda for DH, ink for my printer, batteries for the camera, and chocolates! Then I need to do a couple loads of wash so DH doesn’t complain that he’s out of anything while I’m gone.
All I need to do on Wednesday is pack everything, take care of the dogs, and get my haircut at 5:30.
Thursday morning my roommate arrives we load her car and off we go!
While I was dragging my feet shopping, DH was fielding one phone call after another. First, there was the call from CBS on Your Side about the electric company—DH told Jim Donovan I’d call him when I got home. Then there was the call from the nursing home, now they are claiming they want even more money than the bill that came on Saturday had on it. It’ll be a cold day in hell. They don’t know it’s not good to make the Irish-Indian mad. DH says that there’s nothing scarier than having this redhead on the warpath.
I talked to Jim Donovan, a very nice man, and he’s looking into the electric company problem. While I had him on the phone I happened to mention the problem with the nursing home…he said once we take care of the electric company we’ll start on that too. I told you we weren’t going to roll over for all this nonsense now didn’t I?
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, CBS, Coldwater Creek, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Jim Donovan, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
This could be the last sale day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had a lovely day yesterday and today is supposed to be even nicer. I hope that means we’ll have many people stop at the MIL’s house for the yard sale. G and I plan to set things up early, get signs out, and even have balloons to attract attention. I’m hoping we sell a lot so this will be the end of it until we start working on the basement. Whatever we don’t sell, we will begin hauling to Goodwill.
Most of the living room furniture is supposed to go today. That will clear out a lot. Now if only I can find someone who wants the organ….
Wish us luck!
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Garage sale, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
I reserved my room at the laughing academy.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
They said they’d keep the light on for me and they mailed me the keys.
The conversation went like this:
“Hello, is this the Jolly Time Laughing Academy?”
“Yes. How may I help you Madame?”
“I’d like to reserve a room please. I’m on your regular customer list.”
“Would that be the usual or would you like one with deluxe padding this time?”
“How much more will that cost?”
“We’re running a special this week. It won’t cost any more than a regular cell…um…room.”
“Does it include the usual meds, meals, and fancy lace up the back jacket with funny sleeves?”
“Why, yes it does. And will Madam be staying her normal length of time?”
“Yes. Could I have one with a view of the gardens?”
“Why certainly. Would the south garden suit you?”
“I think that will do it.”
“We’ll leave the light on for you.”
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
Grabbing my fishing pole and off I go
Posted by doggonedmysteries
To keep hold of the thin threads of my sanity I am going fishing again today. I might take DH along with me. I’m sure his sanity could use a bit of peaceful time on a riverbank too.
There are several places we like to go fishing. One of them is impossible for him to navigate any more. There are far too many rocks to climb over and too long a walk to get to it. That one we’ll have to cross off the list.
The whole process of fishing for us has changed and will continue to change as his MS worsens. I am the explorer. I scout out locations I think he can get to more easily and hope they have fish in them so he can get a little sport in too. I am the pack mule I carry all but his fishing pole and cane. I am the go-fer if he needs something. Coo-coo ca choo. I am the walrus…. Maybe I’ll remember to take the camera along this time.
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
Crazy is not a drive
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After spending so many Sundays working over at the MIL’s house, it feels strange to know I won’t be going over there today. Wow, I might actually get something done at home. As I look around at the furniture, dusting comes to mind. Perhaps I should also vacuum.
If the dogs and DH leave me alone, maybe I can even get a little writing in this afternoon. (Oh yeah, like that’s going to happen.) Whenever they see me sit down at the computer, it seems to signal a ‘how crazy can we drive her?’ response.
Crazy is not a drive it’s a very short walk for me. Yeah, I know I left myself wide open there. Shut up Chuck and Dave.
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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
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