A few photos from the farm

It was a gorgeous day today in Mid, Ohio! Just a tad too hot for my taste... but it cooled off rather nicely as the evening started to set in.

While driving back to Mom's house we saw a BUNCH of deer (at least a dozen!) running across the lane. Since Mom was in front of me in her Jeep, they pretty much scattered. I hung back in my truck & watched some of them go from one side to the other.... & others went up the hill.

As I got closer to where they were, one of them decided it wanted to go back with the other bunch... then a moment later it turns around & runs across the lane for a second time. It was being silly, but was such an awesome site to see!

I wasn't close enough when the all started to scatter to count or to even see if there were any bucks... However, the one silly one decided to stick around long enough for me to get it's photo. You have to click on the "view full size" to really see it... but you can see him behind the geese. I'm so glad it turned out, because I couldn't tell if you could even see the geese on my little screen on my phone.

The one up top is just the start of the beautiful season of Mom's flowers!!

Then I had to get pics of the creek... Oh how I loved to play in the creek when I was little... Then I developed an allergy to Poison Ivy... the creek area is loaded with it... & usually hidden among all the other weeds.

I have other photos from tonight, but they're just more of the flowers. If you all want, I can post more tomorrow. I just didn't want to overwhelm you.

G'd Night!! :o)

I did it again!

I swear, stairs and me just don't get along anymore.

Earlier today I was going UP the steps to get ready for Grammy's party when I slipped... Twisted my back. Oh no... OH YES!!! At least I didn't LAND on it! So, I called Mike & my sister... & made arrangements for her to get him. I didn't think I was going to make it.

Well, after talking to my mom, who basically said I needed to at least make an appearance. Even if I didn't stay long. Well, that was about 1:00p.m. ... & the party was over at 3... well... I made it by 2:50p!! (People were still there... & Grammy was too.)

I gave her, her gift from Dave & I... a pair of Christmas slippers. (they're cute!)

There were a TON of Red Roses in vases & they were giving them away. My mom made sure I took a few... I was only going to take one, but she hands me 4!

Oh... & sorry, no pictures... My battery died on my phone. I forgot all about it 'til I went to leave & then I saw it had died. Don't worry though... I'll try to get some outdoor shots of the place later... seeing how it's down the road from the farm & all.

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that, if you don't see me around tomorrow... I may just be sleeping & trying to ward off the back pain. (At least I'm sitting up right now! But not to last much longer.) Going to check my messages & I'm going back to a fetal position... well, ok, just laying down! LOL! :)

Toodles all!

90 years young... NEED EVERYONE'S HELP, please...

Well, tomorrow (Sunday) we will be celebrating Grammy (as I will now refer to her from now on... My sister Gina has started that... & I rather like it!) 90th birthday. (Her official one is a few days away.)

I wasn't looking forward to going... with all the people & all... but now that it's snowed quite a bit today (couple inches) it's looking very Christmasy out there... & the place the party is going to be at is up in the "woods" sort of.

All I know is that it's going to be a beautiful site.

One draw back. Got to pick up Mike on my way. UGH! He's been a bit of a pistol lately. I mean non stop... & I don't mean interesting chatter either. (GEESH Dad... I was NOT that bad when I was growing up... & I know I was NOT that bad when I was 19!!!!)

So, anyway... this is my official request for birthday greetings for my Grammy (on the far left in above photo, btw)... HOWEVER... please... no graphics, for I am going to have to read them to her. She will not be able to see the screen that well.

Also, would you please put what state (or country) you're from. She will get a kick out of it all... that she's getting greetings from all around the world.

You do NOT have to give an exact location. Just an approximate area. :o)

Thanks a bunch... & I hope you all are able to see this & comment without any problems. I know Multiply has been having a little problem the past 24 hours... I hope that someone has finally kicked that server.

Toodles & HUGS!!

Cinnamon rolls and Scrabble...

It maybe Black Friday in the stores... but to me it's Cinny Friday!! I just ate my cinnamon rolls & with the a good night sleep... I'm feeling good!!!!

Highly recommend you read my previous blog, because it will give a little insight into this blog... & that above statement will make a little more sense!!

Well... after doing a couple other things & waiting for Multiply to decide not to load... I'm finally back to finish talking about what happened last night!!

Let me start by saying that my B.I.L., Aloys, is one of the best Scrabble players I've ever seen... him & my sister Gina together are a force to be reckoned with... So, this year, Gina was out cleaning up while the rest of us were playing. (At her request.) But we did (more like I did) called her in on a couple words to just to verify.

Besides she gets excited for anyone who has really neat words or a big play! And man... did I ever come up with one!!

Here's what happened... we all had our 1st turn... & I went to pull out my next few tiles... I had already had one G... and then I draw out 2 more G's... & I'm in my mind... "Oh great... now what am I going to do with THREE G's???"... but then... I pulled out a couple more tiles... and as I'm placing them down in my rack... a word just popped right out at me...

And so, I'm sitting there like... nah... it can't be... Ok... how am I going to pull this one off... I need someone to play something with an S at the end... I think can play ALL my letters...

Hubby is just looking at me shaking his head as if it's not a word... So, then as Aloys is laying his one word down (Hubby & I's turn was right after him.) ... I called out my sister... and I said... Is this a word... & I pointed & she was all excited "YES!"...

She turns to go back out to the kitchen, but then saw Aloys playing the word TOADS... & we both were like... THAT'S PERFECT!!! Gina's says, "I have to see this!"

So, I lay my word down and viola!! All SEVEN tiles used and on a perfectly acceptable word!! (See board below.)


Then after the tally we find out it was 89 total points (that's including 50 for using all 7 tiles in one turn!!) WOO HOO!!! So, you'd think we have a comfy lead... but nope... Aloys is a great player! He laid down a couple good words. (But no more 8 letter ones!)

Then my mom puts down COZI... and I'm like... no, I think that's a Y not an I... and hubby's, "No, it's 2 O's." I then ask, "What happens if I challenge & I'm wrong?"

Aloys: "If MamaRenee (his name for my mom... her 1st born, my other sister, is named Renee & in Africa, from where he's from... they add the 1st born's child to Mama & that's what you call the mom's... Don't know why he doesn't call me MamaMichael... but that's fine... I'd be confused anyway!! LOL) is challenged and she is right, you loose your turn. If she's wrong she looses her turn."

Hubby: "I'm going home if you challenge her."
I didn't want him to go (yeah, he probably would have gotten up & left)...
but Mom & our 4th player & friend of the family, (I'll call P. from here on out) are saying, "you're winning... it won't hurt to challenge."

Me: "What's the score?"

P: You & hubby 156; Aloys 114; Mom: 100; & P: 59.

Me: Thinking that's too close with a player like Aloys... "No, I won't challenge... but after you add up the points... I want to know for sure."

They give Mom her 13 or so points... and I look up, yep... not only is it a Y... but it's COSY!! But it's an older dictionary. So, I waited 'til I got home & checked it out here on the net... I even tried COZI in the Scrabble Dictionary. But it refers you to the COSY spelling.

Oh... yeah... we called Gina back in & she said that it was a word as a "teapot cozi" ... but she was not sure if that was the correct spelling. So, while looking it up on the net... I also looked up to see if I could find a picture of a teapot one... & sure enough I did... (but it is spelled: COSY... for your future reference!!)

Then we continue on... & we all have a couple great more plays &... & eh... some so so plays... but that's a given!

Here's the final board... I'm showing this... & then I'll finish the story... (not sure, but you maybe able to click on it to see a larger version.)

I got another high point word... ZOOS... it was 28 points!! :o) And at some point I played RAH... just to get the plays to start moving up to the top of the board... & glad I did!! :o)

So, we go along... & all the tiles are now taken... & Hubby & I have in our rack... O; T; E; H; O; B; & a blank...

P. plays VIE... & I'm like... perfect!!! & again Hubby is... "where are you going to play it"... so, I show him & he shrugs his shoulders. He didn't think that EH was a word... but Mom & P. say, Yep it's a word. (The complete word I played was BOOTH.) ... So that just leaves us an O; E; & a blank...

My B.I.L. plays the word EMIT... and it's our turn again... hubby & I go back & forth of what to play...

Hubby: "Play the blank & then I have a spot for the other 2 tiles next turn."

I say ... "If it comes back around... I'm looking for a spot to play all them." I knew there was a spot... but for the life of me I just couldn't see it. (at this point a headache was interfering!)

Finally I look at Hubby & ask... where did you want to play the blank. As I'm saying "don't play it, just show me." he grabs it & puts it up to make REMIT...

ME: "Oh, WAIT... I can play all of them!" ... & so, I put down the O & the E and made ORE and REMIT... for only 10 points... but then because we were the 1st ones done... we got the points that the other players still had in their racks.

Final tally gave Hubby & I: 232; Aloys: 145; Mom: 125; & P: 79!

So... YEP... it was a great Thanksgiving!! I still can't get over that Hubby & I beat Aloys... & at that point I had been up more than 24 hours with about maybe.... MAYBE 10 minutes sleep... and I also had a shooting pain type of a headache. (My neck had to be out of place... because I'm just fine now!!)

All is good... but I know we're going to have a re-match at Christmas... & I doubt I'll get even close to this!! Sure was fun though!! ... & GIGGLERS... ha ha ha!! That was just such a great word to play... coming from me!! "The LOL Queen!!"

Ok... that does it for this stop... I have at least 1 more blog to do... I have to answer my own challenge for the UFC. (If you're a new 'passenger' that's... the United Friends Challenge group that I belong to here on Multiply!!)

Talk to you soon!

A break from writing to REMIND YOU....

Before I get to the reminder... Let me say I am THANKFUL for SLEEP!! Yes... I actually got to sleep last night... Yep, you heard me... AT NIGHT!! WOO HOO!! So, I'm raring to go! I have lots to do today, mainly here on the computer!

Also, this is the 1st of a couple (if not several blogs today!!)... that's a FAIR WARNING!! LOL

Anyway, the reminder is... IF you'd like to send my Grammy a (snail mail) birthday card for her 90th birthday... please be sure to send me a PM (as soon as possible!!) so I can give you an address! (FYI - It will NOT be her address!)

Also, I am thinking of doing a blog for her the day before the OPEN HOUSE we are having... so if you do not want to send a Snail Mail card... you can leave her a message. (Just a heads up... we will have to be reading these messages to her... so no graphics will be needed.) And I'll be doing it on Saturday Dec. 6th! (The party is Sunday Dec. 7th!)

Speaking of writing (as I did in the title)... Did you all see my word count on my front page?? Well, in case you missed it... I'm up to...... (DRUM ROLL......)

34162 words!!! WOO HOO!! I am 68.3% of the way done with 2 & 1/2 days left!!! I CAN MAKE IT!!! I KNOW I CAN!!!! (I'm going to try to get it done today!!!!)

So, that's my goal!! To have my 50,000 words by Midnight tonight (or whenever I go to bed!!) The novel may not end with that... so, we'll see what my final word count is on Sunday!!

Let's see... Oh, yeah... another thing I'm going to be doing today is changing my theme to a winter one... So, if you see bits & pieces of it... & it's clashing with the current one... that's just a heads up about it... but that will be later on!

Also, one of the other blogs today (or maybe a "review") I'll be doing will be to post the address to the Secret Angels / Santa Group!! If you're a part of that page... you may have seen a post... that it's going to be moving to it's own group page... (mainly to make it easier on me... so I don't have to sign out and back in and then back out again & so forth!) And so I can receive updates via my own inbox! ... I didn't know when I started that page.. that's how groups worked. So... I left it go... but it's grown & it's time to have it as a group now!!

So, this is another HEADS UP... Secret Santa (Angels) sign up with be starting MONDAY DECEMBER 1ST!!! (See other review shortly for location!!!)

Let's see... I have one more thing to mention before moving onto another blog... and it's just a little "preview" of the next one!

As you know, yesterday was Thanksgiving here in America... well, as tradition, I spent it with my family yesterday... It started off awful for me, for the fact I could not sleep the night before!! All that sleeping during the day & awake at night caught up with me... & through me off... and I didn't take my Ambien soon enough... & then it got so late that I did not want to take it in fear I would not wake in time!

So... I fought sleep from about 4:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon... when I finally dozed off upstairs ... but then it was only for about 10 minutes!!

Don't worry, it was not just a toss and turn all that time... I did get up several times to do stuff to try to get tired again... but each time I did & laid down to go to sleep... I could get my body to lie perfectly still & practically it all went to sleep... but my mind... GEESH.... IT WOULD NOT "TURN OFF!!!" ... Hence the reason I take Ambien CR to sleep!

It's nights (times) like that remind me that I will probably be stuck taking Ambien (or something like it) for the rest of my life!! Or until my mind gets so old it doesn't want to be in OverDrive all the time!! LOL.

I mean... at one point yesterday morning it got so bad... I decided to write down what I was thinking... and it went from one subject to the next to the next. Including a list of stuff I wanted to do for yesterday. (Which included making Harvest Loaf muffins, which I never ended up doing... because of the no sleep thing.)

Well, anyway... I just counted that list... 28 different ideas! And to think... that's just at one point... my mind was reeling all night long! ... I should have just started the computer back up & just typed away!!! I probably could have finished my novel then!! LOL.... NOW I THINK OF THAT!! LOL!!!



ANYWHOO... The reason I said all that was BECAUSE.... after dinner last night... we played Scrabble. It was my mom; Aloys (pronounced Aloe-weese) (my B.I.L.); a friend of the family, I'll call her P... and my hubby and I!! My hubby and I were teamed up together because well, we usually do... and because I wasn't sure I'd make it!

Well, not only did I make it... but WE WON!! And we won big time too!! So, in the next blog I'll tell you more about that!! (Because I have PICTURES!!!) Hee Hee!!

(Oh... sorry... no family pictures because I was too tired to think of it... It just now crossed my mind! Sorry about that.)

Anyway... it was a fantastic evening... there only 9 of us there... (which is the smallest Thanksgiving that my sister, Gina, has hosted in years!) It was so wonderful just the 9 of us!! Well, it would have been even better if we would have had my other sister Renee and her family... so it would have been 14 then... but they couldn't make it from Michigan. (Oh.. I wonder if Steve (my other B.I.L.) went to WV to go deer hunting?? That's HIS family's tradition!!)

Either way it was a great day after all!! OH & I didn't even take $hiba with me! For me... that's an IMPROVEMENT... well, actually it was just because I was so stinking tired I didn't want to bother... and it worked out for the best anyway!!

Then after I got home, I checked a few messages and then crashed sometime before 10:00 p.m.... & I didn't wake up until around... well, it was a little light out... & it was for only a moment as Coleman was wanting up on the couch at my feet. Then I fell back fast asleep again until shortly after 8:00 a.m. WOO HOO!!!! I slept through the night!! And I AM AWAKE DURING THE DAY!!

Sorry... you may just not know how happy that makes me feel!! I feel a bit more normal!! (Not that there really is a normal sleeping habits now a days!!)

Well, hubby is up and out of his shower... so, I best be getting up off this couch to put the Cinnamon Rolls in the oven like I promised I would do today! (That's my tradition for him & I... usually it's Thanksgiving morning or the day after!!!!) :)

See you all soon.. (This ride is NOT over yet!!) More stops coming up soon!!! :o)

Toodles for now!! :)

for my contacts only2

My mom... one side only had a little blockage (nothing they were worried about)... but on other side, one artery was 80% collapsed... so they set up to put a stint in... but hit it with Nitro 1st & it opened up COMPLETELY!!! The doc said that it was just a spasm that acts just like if it was blockage. The doc said they went from prepping to do a stint (a very large one) to absolutely nothing! So... all is good. They're just going to add one more med to her regimen.

She looked terrific & was joking with the nurses & my sister & I, soon as she came back to her room. ... Oh... yeah... I lucked out that my sister, Gina, decided to take her home. (They both saw how I was about to fall asleep... only had about 10 minutes sleep. Now I'm up to about 2 hours since yesterday after 4p.m... going back to sleep shortly.)

Oh... yeah... I forgot to tell you all (actually... I didn't know this until Saturday!!) that Gina was to have a Biopsy of her uterus today... but after the doc looked at her... they said they need to schedule her for a DNC and / or a laparascopy... however, she did have an ovarian cyst that ruptured... but they didn't seem that worried about it that they said they won't do procedure until 1 week.

Ok... that wraps that up... I'm just ticked pink that all went well with Mom & Gina. (and that I didn't have to run Mom home. LOL) But frustrated that Mike didn't go to school AGAIN today. (That's now 12 days!! ... found out he can miss 18 all year.) Mom, Gina & I are basically counting the fact he's not going to make it. We're mad at my ex & his folks that they are doing nothing to help. (More on that later.)

Ike is now a TS & heading right for OHIO

The coverage via TWC last night was very interesting to watch. I was glued to the TV until I zonk out. (Shortly after landfall around 3:30a.m.) Good news is Galveston is now in the clear (for the most part)... The bad news, for me... is, now a tropical storm... IKE is heading right for Ohio... It's expected to be here tomorrow at this time. We will not feel NO WHERE near as the winds in which our Texas counterparts felt over the night. Still there is the threat of tornadoes. EEKS!!

Be sure to check out my Nature Photo Album. I have all kinds of screen shots of the satellites & radars. I'll add maybe a few more later on as the storm approaches Ohio. I will also try to find some photos of the waves & etc.

I still have yet to hear from my dear dear friend Amy... I am worried... however, I'm thinking they may not have cell phone service right now. I'm sure she will call or sign on to let us know soon as she can!

Anyway, I am heading off to a "ball" on SL (Second Life)... Yeah, I am still playing on SL... I have a family now... Well, you all know them!... MamaDi, is our mom; Caghs is my sister; Katha is my aunt... & Kartor is DaddyK.

I will try to post some video of the previous Queen's Ball we went to later on... & I'll post more on it then!

*Choo Choo* (that's my wave bye bye now!)

I am a worried granddaughter

It's one of them feelings you hate having confirmed... Today when I tried to reach my mom for something... I had a feeling she was down at the other house because of Grandma... So, I called there & the Hospice nurse answered... She was there giving Grandma antibiotics for pneumonia. She then put mom on the phone who in turned said she believes it's the beginning... yeah... of the end.

She's even contemplating if she should call ex-step dad (it's HIS mom!!)... so, if she's thinking that... I know it's not good. So... please pray... she's 89 years old & we all were hoping she would make it, at least, to her 90th birthday on December 12th... but if she is sick... I don't & I'm sure the rest of the family, want her to suffer. It's a hard thing when they are this old...

What's even harder for us girls is that she is our last living grandparent. To no longer be called "granddaughter" is going to be a hard pill to swallow.

Oh... the picture above is when all us girls were at Bob Evans for breakfast (some time last year)... Left to right... Grandma, Gina, Mom, & Renee. (I'm the one who took the picture, that's why I am not in it... never dawned on me to have a waitress take it until days later!)

On a different note... don't forget about "The Last Word" game group... it's open to all! Just be sure to check out the rules on the home page (linked above). It's fun & there are virtual prizes to the winners!!!

You all know how I love Tigger... well, I almost forgot... I love Tweety Bird just as much!! So, that's why I am sharing this...

She would have been 96 today...

Just a very quick ride this time... in dedication to my Grandma Gert, my dad's mom. (She was 21 in this picture above .) She would have been 96 today. She passed when I was in 8th grade. We miss her dearly!

And yes, that is her in the wedding photo (below) with Grandpa Sam from 1933... he died when I was 2 years old... so I don't remember him. (Side note... when I took the picture out of the frame to scan it into the computer, I found their Certificate of Marriage, in very pristine condition... I thought at first it was the original because it had an emboss seal... however there was another date that said something about 1970... If I find out the reason behind it, I will post it in a comment below.)


Dad said Grandma was known as Gravel Gertie... I remember her buying me the "Penny Press" puzzle books (like word searches & etc)... & she would send me the cutest cards on holidays & birthdays.

Good ol' Grandma Gert... Miss & Luv ya!!

Success at the Farm!!

Well the Celebration At The Farm (C.A.T.F.) was a huge success! :) We had a couple VERY minor glitches... but nothing we couldn't figure out a different way to handle it.

(P.S. No, we didn't have a fly over from the Blue Angels, though that would have been SWEET, ... the blog photo is from a link that my dad emailed me today... & this one picture just fit the patriotic theme! Side note... my dad & I enjoy the Blue Angels and The Thunderbirds! When I was little he would take me to air shows!)

Anyhoo, there was lots of family I hadn't seen in many many years! Many from out of state... I think Uncle Terry & his new wife Linda traveled the farthest from Florida... & then Aunt Sherrall came from Georgia... My cousin Mark (Uncle Terry's boy) came from Tennessee. And Uncle Art came from West Virgina (close to the Maryland border, I found out!) ... many relatives from the Cleveland (or surrounding areas.)

Oh, I forgot mention my hubby had family from out of state too... From South Dakota... They gathered together on Friday & I didn't get to see them because I was at the farm. But that's ok... It hadn't been that long ago that I was able to see his side of the family. (It was due to a death in the family, though.) It would have been nice to catch up with them... however, I was just too frazzled & thought it best I relaxed before the big party at the farm.

The C.A.T.F. started around 3:00p as planned... The pork from the pig roast was delicious & so was the rigatoni! Oh & can't forget... one of my cousin's brought Greek Pasta salad! SCRUMPTIOUS! (Oh, Ginna, if you're reading this... I need that recipe!!)  My sister Renee brought down from Michigan a huge Frosted Brownie sheet cake! Talk about YUMMO! (said in her best Rachel Ray impression!)

Oh, yeah... the fireworks did NOT arrive.  However... Mike, my son, had a huge bon fire set up... & neighbors down in the valley had fireworks going off... They lasted a LONG time! Very good show... (had to be to get past all them trees for us to be able to see too! LOL)... My understanding is that my mom is thinking of getting some fireworks of her own & setting them off next weekend. I don't know if I'll be there for that... It would mainly just be for Mike's benefit anyway.

I'm already thinking of ways to make next year (or when ever we do it again) even more organized. I think we should do it every year now... (because a lot of the "Tyson kids" are getting up there in years... making harder & harder to travel) ...but more like a pot luck... than to have Mom shell out the majority of the money for food.

We did have those who could, bring side dishes... however, my mom still bought a lot including the Pork (I think). Oh... don't worry, I won't have any pictures of a pig being roasted... it was roasted in a pit by one of the neighbors of the farm & carved back at the pit. THANKS RON!!!

So, how did I do? Well, during the heat of the day I kept escaping into the house to keep cool. Though it was only about 80° (thankfully not any hotter!), it didn't take long for me to get over heated. (How the older folks (like Grandma Fulton, who will be 90 years young in December!) dealt with it, I don't know!) All I know is that heat & I do not mix!!! I must had been standing or walking around to much because my back was sore most of the day. (Nothing a day or two on the couch won't cure! LOL) HOWEVER, I did not have a headache except at one point & I laid down on one of Mom's love seats for a few minutes whilst the pain & nausea subsided.

As I reflect back on the day... I did get around to talk to just about everyone. If I missed anyone, sorry... it wasn't intentional. Even though conversations were cut short most of the time... it was great to be able to chat with all!

One thing I didn't get completed in time was the guest book... however, I did create a make shift one... & it worked out fine. Though a couple people may have missed ... all & all I think the total number that showed up was 110. (Give or take a few! LOL) & Yes, majority of them was there at one time.

My hubby even commented when I got home... (he rode his Harley... & If I hadn't needed the truck & I didn't have a messed up back... I would have rode mine... It was a GORGEOUS day for a ride.... (Thank you Lord!!) ... "Were they all your family? Where did they all come from?" I'm like... "Yep! You have to remember my mom had 6 siblings growing up. (1 has passed away long ago.) Then add in their kids & their grand kids & friends of the kids & grand kids... & a some of my mom's friends & neighbors... Oh & can't forget... The Kenyans (as my mom & sister calls them)!! That would be my brother-in-laws family from Africa. They are just as sweet as Aloys (my brother-in-law) is!


This picture is of my mom & her sisters & brothers. (L to R: Aunt Sherrall; Aunt Billy; Uncle Terry; my mom (in front of him); Aunt Lynn; & Uncle Greg. (Now do you see why we had such a big turn out??!!!)

I'll have link to more photos later. I had them all ready with descriptions & all... but due to operator error... they didn't upload to Flickr as planned. I will either post another blog or a review with the photos link. (But don't expect it tonight! I plum worn out!!!)

So, yeah... it was a huge success!!

It was fun for the most part & enjoyable to see all the relatives... however, just like Mama Di is today from her family outing... I'm "paying for it"! But you know what... IT WAS WORTH IT!!!

Time to lay back & relax now!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

P.S. If you haven't seen my front / home page here... you best be taking a gander at it very soon... because it will be changing as early as tomorrow!! (Wouldn't want you to miss out seeing the other cute kitties!!)

Bath day...

Today my good friend from high school (Passion Wolf) came over to help me give the doggies a bath. We usually take them to the groomers... but we just haven't been able to afford that extra expense... however, I think they're going to have to go to the groomers the next time because they are both in need of a trim!! (When Passion Wolf arrived, Coleman wouldn't stop licking her... until she put him in the tub for his bath! LOL)

So, what's with the picture of the car?? Well, that's my hubby car... today when he got home from his "mini vacation" he received an email that he's now an official member of a Mustang Owners "club"... Anyway, I just wanted to share the picture of his "toy" with you.

FYI - Opal Frost is a little rare color... He said he was wanting to paint the majority of it scarlet (red) (so it would be Scarlet & Gray for the OSU Buckeyes)... however, he found out that the Opal Frost is an unusual color. So, now he's just is adding scarlet stripes & etc to it. He even has a OSU helmet head on the top of his antenna. LOL

Well, the email invites have been sent to a few & calls have been made for "The Celebration at the Farm" on the 5th. To do lists have been made... & I have the formal invite ready to print... If we can get them out tomorrow. If not, no sense in printing & making copies, because it probably arrive in time.

Ok, this train has been derailed (due to tiredness)... so talk to you tomorrow!

Busy bee...

Oh, I'm not trying to steal the concept of a new found friend... Stillybee... it's just today I've been a busy bee!!

As I mentioned in yesterday's quick blog, I had to go to the farm this morning to work on the plans for the big party on the 5th...

Well, Mom & I compiled a list of names & how many we think that might come if they all were to show up... & at this moment we're at 164 guests!!! Told you it was going to be big!!! But of course... that's not a final count or anything like that... & not all that's family... however the majority of it is... over 50 of them!

So, anyway, here is MY list of to do... SO FAR... I have to make a formal invite (with a map) to email to all & to mail to those who are still in the stone age ... create a slide show of family pictures that my mom, my sister Gina & I have... organize & finish the spread sheet with everyone's email address' & other contact info... create some signs & banners... and create a newsletter / game sheet to be handed out... Oh & I have to find a true guest book... or if all else fails, I'll make one! (That may be the best bet, so I can be sure it has all the info I want for future use!!) :)

It's a good thing Mom does this only every other year... or so!! (Though it's been a few years since the last one. Not that it matters anyway.) Anyhoo... that's my list so far.

Oh... Mom & I also put together an outline of what is needed & who will be in charge of bringing and / or set up.

I already told Mom, don't be surprised if I run & hide at some point. But then again... maybe not... because I volunteered to be in charge of the "Texas Hold 'em Tournament".

Ok... with all that said... does anyone have any ideas you think we might incorporate... & maybe things for the kids to do... there will be quite a few of them! :) We've already planned on having a checkers table. It just would be great to have some back up plans... AND anything at no cost would be great... My mom is already starting to fret a little about how much all the rental stuff (like the 20'x20' tent) will be. All ideas welcomed.

How about a tip before I pull this train into the station... certain prescription containers make for a great way to carry Q-tips (cotton swabs)... at least the ones I get are just the right size!! :)

Well that does it for this trip... hope you all enjoyed your ride!!

D'oh!!! ($hiba update!!) & other happenings

ALL ABOARD!! Toot Toot!! ALL ABOARD!!! Time for another trip on "The Rambling Train"!! 

Well all, I am BACK IN BUSINESS! $hiba is mended... it was just a simple loose cable!  I had called a professional computer repairer yesterday & he offered to bring over an external keyboard to test if I did short out the motherboard, or if it was just the keyboard it's self...

So, he stopped by today... We sat out on the front porch (which was so neat... 1st time I sat out there with $hiba! ... before I go way off track... ) Anyway, we plugged in 2 different keyboards into the usb slots & they both worked. He said he didn't think it was the motherboard & thought it was just something was loose or ??

So, (hmm... I see I have a "crutch" of "so"... (that's a term in radio school about a "habit" when talking! LOL)  I said let me show you what I did... I proceeded by taking the little strip off & then unscrewed the tiny screws & lifted up the keyboard & he leaned over & tried to loosen up the clips & then that's when it dawned on me what I did! I said... if it's that's simple I would be tickled pink...

Well, as you can tell, by this blog, that's all it was!!!!! I took the cable / ribbon out of it's port & put it back in & then pushed the clips back in place... put everything back together, put the battery back in & turned on & VIOLA!!! I about cried... & I'll tell you this... had I known that guy... I might have given him a big ol' hug!! But since I just had met him, I asked for his business card for the future! He was so helpful & he didn't make me feel like the complete dork I felt like! (I'll explain in a moment why.) He was SO nice that he didn't even charge me anything... & with the gas prices I figured he might... but on the phone he said he would for just a simple little test & he was going to be in the area anyway! **WHEW** 

Needless to say I did a little happy dance after he left. & That reminded me that my back is still healing!! OUCH!... Good thing I do not have to go to a job or anything!! :) Well, I'm too happy to be in that much pain... also it helps that I am laying on the couch with my feet up as I type this! LOL! :)

Ok, on to why I felt like such a dork & why I said D'OH in the title... & Why you're probably asking why would I need to replace the keyboard on such a laptop that is only a few months old...

Well, this all started way back when I decided that I could clean under the keys by "snapping" them off... well, when I went to replace the "end" key... I some how broke the retainer clip... the thing that keeps the key in place. Instead of going to my hubby & admitting that I broke it & ask what I should do, I tried to fix it myself by super gluing the key to the clip...

Well, that didn't last long the key kept popping up & I still couldn't use the end key. So, I searched eBay & the net to see if I could find anyone selling parts & see if I could persuade them to let me buy that 1 key for a dollar or 2.... & was hopping they could just send it in a regular envelope.  The only one I could find that was selling the keys & clips wanted to charge $5 PLUS shipping FOR JUST ONE KEY!!! I'm like.. no... I can get a NEW full keyboard for about $25 total!

So, that's what I did! I bought a new keyboard... figuring once I replace the one key I could sell the rest of the keys separately, for about $2 or even less... well, when I received the keyboard the retainer clip was a little different than the one I have... so, I figured I would then just replace the whole keyboard & sell the keys separate from the old one. (Or the whole board without the "end key".)

That's when all the problems started... When I bought the keyboard I was a dork and did NOT check the part # on my current one & thought that the one I got for the particular model would work. Well, I was wrong & knew it soon as I saw that the keyboard cable was slightly different... well, it was same length & same width & all that... the one part that is different is the "wire traces" in the flat ribbon cable... Either way... I still didn't have it plugged in correctly... so maybe that's why it didn't work after I tried it... Then when I put my old one back in... I did the same thing & didn't have it completely "seated"... After calls to Best Buy's Geek Squad & a couple days of mopping around about it... I finally confessed to my hubby what I did. I told him not to chew me out because I had already been beating myself up about it.

When I said I was advised that I probably shorted out the motherboard, he's like "Duh!" & "Did you check the part #'s exactly?" So... I kept thinking well, maybe I could do this & that... Then yesterday I finally had the bright idea to call a PROFESSIONAL here in town to see if they could come by & test it... & so that's "The Rest of the Story"! (in my best Paul Harvey impression.)

At least for now it is! See, hubby is due home soon & I can't wait to tell him the wonderful news! (Yeah, yeah, I know... it's not THAT wonderful... only if you know how much this laptop means to me, you might understand!!) Anyway... when he gets home, I'm going to ask him if I should try that new keyboard again or if I should just send it back to get an exchange for the EXACT one of $hiba!! I'd hate to actually short out the motherboard by using the incorrect part AND having it installed properly!

(UPDATE: He said not to try it without checking with Toshiba if it will be a problem.)

Ok, moving on... I know some of you may not have known what was going on because you don't read everyone of my blogs or reviews... I wanted you all to know that I was still around so that's why I kept posting things like the "Blogthings" quizzes... See, I could still copy & paste with the mouse... & I really could have used the other computer to blog... but I really don't like the "JunkYard"... because it lives up to its name... I think hubby should just scrap it & start fresh! But I can't tell him that because we don't have the money to do something like that. (I cashed out my 401k from the job I was at... is how I got money for $hiba... that's for those who don't remember and / or are new to my blog!)

So, I am back in business... I do have to say this... I was "lost" without $hiba being up to her full potential!!

Now you're probably all jumping for joy that I'm back (ok, maybe not! LOL)... Weeelllll... Don't start the partying just yet... I may be doing short blogs for the next week or so... because yesterday my mom has "assigned" me a big project...

See, about every other year or so my mom would host a family reunion on the 4th of July... & Because it's on the farm... & out in the country we're able to shoot off some noise makers... So, one of my cousins puts on a fabulous & huge (for a personal show) fireworks extravaganza... & it's becoming "the talk of the town"... well, ok, maybe the valley... all the neighbors love it!

This year it's going to be on Saturday, the 5th & sounds like it's going to be bigger than usual! & it's no longer the "Tyson Family Reunion"... but rather a big ol' 4th of July celebration... not just for family... but also for friends... & friends of other parts of the family. Oh & the neighbors around the farm too! They might as well join in on the fun during the day too! So, it ought to be interesting... Mom said we're going to have a pig roast... card games (maybe even a Texas Hold 'Em tournament); croquet & much more!

Anyhoo, my mom is wanting to get an email out to all those who may not have heard about it & start getting a better head count... because I guess my older sister, Renee, is having a "conniption" since nothing is really set yet... like how many chairs & tables we'll need & etc. (Hmm... & I wonder where I get my procrastination from! LOL)... Plus I need to get a map for those who haven't been to the farm before, or were not old enough to remember how to get there!

I've even invited some friends of mine! Hey... I need someone to talk to, besides family! All I know is that with the last year or so that I have not been fond of big crowds anymore... I don't know what it is... so, I figure I'll need to do is get involved with it & I'll be excited. If all else fails I'll hide up in one of the rooms with $hiba & send you all an update! LOL!!

In between all the interruptions & distractions (of my own doing), I've been working on this blog all afternoon (talk about ADD! geez!!)... I am ready to pull the emergency break & hop off this train...

Hope you all enjoyed your ride!

(Tomorrow & future destinations: My Webkinz collection; Samantha Elizabeth; & more UFC stories! I figure if I put it here it will remind me of what I need to do! LOL)