Saturday, October 10, 2009

Saturday, October 10

Got up late on this cloudy, chilly day, but did a treadmill session and resistance exercises, anyway. Afterwards, I washed a couple of loads of clothes, and ironed others that will be needed for our upcoming trip.

While I was exercising, Hubbie peeled and then shredded potatoes in the food processor, so that Mother could make potato soup. The soup is intended for the trip, but it smelled so good cooking that we decided to sample it for lunch. It's a big batch of soup, so there's plenty left to take with us.

After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store for shredded Monterey Jack cheese, to the WDCS for other groceries we'll need on the trip, and to a restaurant for a pound of pork barbecue, also for the trip.

Back home, we loaded stuff into the camper, and then sat down to watch our favorite college football team play to a much-needed SEC win against an up-till-now undefeated team. It was pretty awesome watching this exciting game on the new big screen TV.

I had recorded the game on DVR, and it was still playing at suppertime. So we set up TV tables to enjoy our meal of loaded baked potatoes...spuds filled with leftover chili, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and coleslaw, topped with dollops of light sour cream. Two potato meals in a day is one too many, but they were good.

After Mother went home, I cut up fresh fruits for a snack later. Then Hubbie groomed and bathed Shih Tzu, a dreaded job, since our aging dog is arthritic and has tender skin.

We spent the evening watching TV, finishing a very mundane day.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday, October 9

Whew! What a day. We woke up late, and I skipped water aerobics. I didn't go this morning because there was a thunderstorm, and because I wanted to get ready to go with Hubbie to shop for a new TV.



Even though it was a miserable day for shopping, we hoped to be able to purchase a TV and get it installed today. And we did. We compared prices at our two favorite stores, and both had on-sale units. The local store, though, would not be able to install the TV until the week after next, after we are back from our trip, because they don't deliver on rainy days or Saturdays.



So we headed, in a downpour, to the town about 15 miles from us to the other store. They were willing to deliver and install today.



A problem we had was getting a stand to set the TV on, since it was to be placed in a corner of the den, rather than mounted on a wall. So, on the advice of the salesperson at the store where we didn't buy the TV, we went to a furniture outlet store to look for a stand, and found one that was exactly the right size for the space, in a dark color to match the TV. It is a glass-front cabinet style stand, with shelves for the cable box and DVD/video cassette player on one side, and shelves on the other side to store DVDs and videos. We didn't immediately buy the cabinet, since we weren't sure at that time what TV we'd buy.



Once we'd struck the deal for the TV...a 50" plasma (bigger than we anticipated getting, but several hundred dollars cheaper than a smaller one)...we were told that the techs could install it within an hour. So we rushed back to town and to the outlet furniture store to buy the cabinet. Hubbie asked if the cabinet could be marked down further. The salesperson agreed, and knocked $30 off of it.



We were back home with the cabinet only minutes before the techs arrived. They quickly installed the TV, gave me a quick course on how to operate it using a new remote, along with the two we already have, and then were on their way back to the store, taking our old TV with them. While they were installing the TV, though, we heard a vehicle siren that was so loud that it sounded like it was in the house. Startled, Hubbie and I rushed from the kitchen to the den, intending to check outside to see if a cop was in the driveway, or something. Turned out, it was one of the tech's cell phone ring tone.



Afterward, I went upstairs to my office and edited the story about the 100-year-old man, and then e-mailed it to the Caring Hands Hospice coordinator. While I was doing this, Hubbie was checking the sales receipt for the new TV. He discovered that the young woman at the store had added an amount that the manager said we would not charged. So he called the store and we were told to return and they would correct the error.



By this time, there was a hard, blowing rain. Fortunately, Hubbie took a telephone call just then that lasted several minutes...long enough for the rain to slacken. So off we went to the other town. Not far down the highway, we ran into policemen and emergency workers clearing the road of a huge oak tree that had apparently broken off in the high wind and fallen across the lanes. We were directed around the tree, which, if it had fallen on a car, might have killed someone.



While we were at the store, Hubbie decided to try his luck, for the first time, with a couple of lottery tickets. Two dollars worth of tickets netted him a three dollar prize, for a one dollar profit. After that, we headed back home. Stopped to pick up another bag of on-sale grapes at a grocery store, and then, since the van gave us a warning signal, we went to a gas station to fill up.



Back home, Mother had cut up and sauteed veggies for Ziplock bag omelets. She also cut up baked potatoes and sauteed them with onions in a dab of olive oil. I used egg substitute with the veggies and Monterey Jack cheese for Mother's and my omelets, and regular eggs for Hubbie, heated the dinner plates, made a cup of hot tea for myself, and toasted bagels as my part of getting this favorite Friday night supper meal ready.



Naturally, after supper we settled in to enjoy our new TV. But we hope the old TV is the last major item to expire for a while...first it was the camper slide out, then it was the sliding glass door in the den, today it was the TV. All that and a new digital camera in the span of a couple of months is enough already!

October: scary spider month...on the sidewalk outside the store where we got the TV cabinet, there was an enormous spider, getting out of the rain, I suppose. The two guys carrying the cabinet to our van cringed and asked Hubbie to step on it, which he did. Poor spider. He wasn't threatening anyone.

At home, Mother discovered a spider in the kitchen, which Hubbie also killed. Now, I don't mind spiders outdoors, but woe unto those that come indoors.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Thursday, October 8

We were up around 7:30 this morning, so Hubbie could get ready to go to a Master Gardener meeting at 10 a.m.

I skipped my exercises in hopes of spending time at my computer writing the first draft of the story about the gentleman who celebrated his 100th birthday today. But it was not to be, thanks to Shih Tzu, who demanded attention. When she was upstairs, she wanted to be downstairs. When she was downstairs, she wanted to be upstairs. She just generally made a nuisance of herself. I typed one paragraph before I gave up and decided to tend to Shih Tzu until Hubbie came home at noon.

Mother came over around 9 a.m. and stowed our scrapbooking stuff, while I spruced the rest of the house in anticipation of a visit from the pest control guy. She went home before lunch, and after Hubbie and I had eaten, I left him to babysit Shih Tzu, while I adjourned to my office upstairs and spent a couple of hours getting a draft of the story completed.

I had planned to have leftover chili for supper, but Hubbie offered to take me out to eat. We went to a steak house, where we shared a combo meal of grilled chicken breast and ribs, with sides of baked sweet potato, and okra. I took the chicken, and Hubbie ate the ribs. We split the potato and okra. I asked that the butter and brown sugar for the sweet potato be served on the side, so I could control the amount I used.

Later, we began watching one-hour shows from the DVR, until suddenly everything quit working. Though there was sound, I couldn't get a picture on the TV screen, and the DVR stopped playing. So we decided to watch a movie on video cassette. I thought I had chosen a murder mystery (which is what is indicated on the label), but it turned out to be the first part of the six-part mini-series, "Into the West." I don't know if I have the remainder of the series or not. Oh well, we saw this one a long time ago, anyway.

Note: I got an e-mail from Daughter-in-Law today, saying that Grandson and his wife are expecting another boy in February.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Wednesday, October 7

Since it was water aerobics day, we were up early. Again, it was difficult to exit the driveway, thanks to that blind corner, sun glare, and today, the added obstruction of van exhaust that created a dense fog that curled around and obscured my view from the side window.

Hubbie decided to help me out by going across the road, where he could clearly see both ways and motion me when it was safe to leave the driveway. But then, about a half mile down the road, I ran into a long line of traffic that snailed another half mile to the four-way stoplight.

At the college, the parking lots were full, and the closest free space was way up on the hill. By the time I walked down to the gym, I was late getting in the pool and only had about fifteen minutes to swim in the deep end before aerobics started.

Back home, after I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for Mother, to a grocery store that has grapes on sale, and then to the public library to get new barcode library cards.

From there, we went to the new department store that is apparently going to be one that has a sale every week. Hubbie was hoping to find a pair of shoes. He didn't. I was interested in the on-sale three-quarter-length sleeve and long-sleeved knit shirts. I found two that I liked...one is a red and black paisley print, the other is chocolate brown.

After lunch, Mother came over, and we put together a pot of chili to simmer for the afternoon. Then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for groceries and incidentals.

Back home again, I went to my computer upstairs and transcribed the taped interview from yesterday. Tomorrow, I hope to get a first draft of the story done.

By this time, there wasn't much left of the afternoon. For the little while before supper, Mother and I searched for elements to add to the screen door birthday card for Hubbie's sister. I also typed a message for the card..."May You Open the Door to a World of Happys." Lame, but maybe she'll like it.

The chili was very good for supper, of course. For dessert, we had plain Jell-o. I made the Jell-o last night after supper. It was a dish that I thought wouldn't jell, because I put too much water in it. Actually, this was the first batch I made. I'd added fruit to it before I realized I'd used too much water. So I removed the fruit and transferred it to a new batch, this one with the correct amount of water. I wasn't sure the first batch would jell, but it did. Guess it's hard to completely ruin Jell-o, though I certainly tried.

After supper, we spent the evening as usual, watching TV.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tuesday, October 6

We got up a little later on this rainy day. I did a treadmill session and weights exercises, while Hubbie ran a few errands. Just as I was preparing to shower and get ready for the day, the sky darkened and it began thundering, so I hurried through my morning rituals.

Downstairs, I cut out the elements for making a screen door birthday greeting card for Hubbie's sister. Mother came over and glued the elements together while I did some other tasks, like answering e-mails.

Mother joined us for a PB&J sandwich lunch, and then she went home to continue digging out her winter clothes. Hubbie watched an old movie western on DVD this afternoon..."Abilene," a 1946 black and white film starring Randolph Scott and Lloyd Bridges.

While he was doing that, I went to meet my interview appointment with the gentleman who will celebrate his 100th birthday this month. I spent about an hour with him and his wife. He has been married to this wife (30 years his junior) for seven years. She is his third wife. He was married to his first wife for nearly 55 years before she died, and then to his second wife for 15 years before she died. He was a dedicated caretaker to both women.

I hope to get his story written in the next couple of days, because we need to get ready for our trip to Branson pretty soon, and I don't want the story on my mind while we're gone.

I also took several snapshots of the gentleman and e-mailed them to the Caring Hands Hospice coordinator. She wanted them as soon as possible so she can make a poster for his upcoming birthday party. I don't know if the newspaper will use the photos with the story or not. I'd think photos of him at his birthday party would be more interesting.

As I was leaving the interview, the gentleman's wife handed me a small bag of tomatoes from her garden. Our tomatoes are gone, so I appreciated this gesture.

I got back home around 3:30, but didn't accomplish much after that other than e-mailing the photos to Caring Hands, and reading the daily local newspaper.

Supper tonight was leftover lasagna, green beans, salad, and cottage cheese. Spent the evening afterwards, as usual, watching TV, including another episode of "Dancing With the Stars."

Monday, October 5, 2009

Monday, October 5

We were up early, of course, so I could go to water aerobics. Br-r-r, the water was chilly this morning, and continued to feel chilly throughout aerobics. The day itself has been chilly, too, so the main topic of conversation at the pool was the need for us ladies to store our summer clothes and dig out our winter ones.

The first lady to bring up the subject was one I met in the parking lot and walked with to the gym. Once I was in the pool, and swimming in the deep end, three more ladies, one by one, mentioned to me the need to exchange seasonal clothing. During the aerobics session, another one said the same thing.

Finally, in the dressing room, another lady, shivering while getting dressed, said, "I think it's time to store my summer clothes and get out my winter ones." I laughed, and by her expression, I could see she wondered what she'd said that was so funny. "I'm not laughing at you," I explained. "It's just that you're the sixth person to say you need to switch your summer clothes for your winter ones."

Funny: the other day, while we were doing our aerobics routine, the lady standing beside me got confused and out of step. "I'm like a fish out of water," she said. We laughed and pointed out to her that she was like a fish IN water...just an uncoordinated one.

Today, we talked about how young we feel inside, but how old we look on the outside. The fish-out-of-water lady, who is in her early 70s and a bit on the heavy side, said last Sunday she was satisfied with the way she looked in her dressy outfit until she saw herself in the glass door of her church. "We've got to get rid of that door," she said.

If only getting rid of a glass door could make us younger and thinner!

Hubbie was running errands when I got home from aerobics. Voice mail on our home phone included one from the school where we participated in the fall festival silent auction. Our items were ready to be picked up. So once I was ready for the day, and Hubbie got back, we went to the school.

The items we won bids on included a couple of $50 savings bonds, four certificates for Roto-Rooter services, a padded travel case of games, a scented reed diffuser, a Branson entertainer DVD, a large can of hair spray, and a gallon of carpet cleaner. Hubbie got the travel case of games for $6. It includes chess, checkers, poker cards, dominoes, backgammon, and cribbage. I got the reed diffuser half price, and the DVD for a dollar. The hair spray and the carpet cleaner were a couple of bucks each, too.

Each year, school staff like to see us coming, since they know we'll buy stuff, and they thanked us profusely today. It's a fun way to help the school, while grabbing a few bargains. Since all of the items are donated, the money made is clear profit to the school.

While we were out, we went in search of the house where an elderly couple live. Tomorrow, I'm to interview the gentleman who lives there, on behalf of Caring Hands Hospice. The gentleman will celebrate his 100th birthday on Oct. 10. I wanted to know where the house is before I go there tomorrow, so I won't have to spend time searching for it.

Back home, after a lunch of cold chicken sandwiches and fresh fruit, I spent the afternoon doing this and that, including making sure my tape recorder and camera are ready for the interview tomorrow. Inspired by my conversations with the ladies at the pool, I also dug turtleneck shirts and a couple of sweaters out of winter storage.

Supper tonight was lasagna, served with salad and cottage cheese. We used a different kind of lasagna noodles this time, which were very good. They are a name brand no boil kind that came out tender after baked, rather than tough and chewy, like a house brand we'd been using in the past.

Later, we watched TV, of course, starting with a Masterpiece Theater mystery from the public channel, followed by this week's episode of "Dancing With the Stars."

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Sunday, October 4

We were up at our usual time this morning, though I skipped my exercises. It was a routine Sunday of reading the paper, programming the DVR, and having lunch. Lunch today was chicken breasts roasted in the slow cooker with onions, carrots, and celery, and served with boiled potatoes, and gravy made from chicken broth, plus baked butternut squash.

While lunch was cooking, though, we watched a movie..."Creature From the Black Lagoon." This is a 1955 black and white film that Mother and I first saw when I was a teenager. At that time, it was very scary...so much so, that during the creature-jumps-out-at-you scenes, Mother would reach over and anxiously pound my knee. Today, it seemed very mild compared to current horror movies, though it is a three-star film, and still fun to watch.

After lunch, Mother went home, and Hubbie and I watched another horror film. This one is called "In the Company of Wolves," starring Angela Lansbury. It is an R-rated 1985 revision of "Little Red Riding Hood." Granny (Angela Lansbury) warns her granddaughter of straying from the path, where wolves may lurk and lead her astray. Wolves, Granny warns, may appear as men whose eyebrows grow together. It is R-rated for violence and bloody transformations from man to wolf.

After supper, Hubbie and I continued watching movies I'd recorded on DVR. The DVR was getting full, so we needed to watch some of the movies or ditch them. There was nothing else we wanted to do on this rainy, October-boo day, so we sat down to a scary movie marathon. We saw two films..."Joshua," and "The Vagrant." Both are rated "R" for violence and some language. "The Vagrant" has brief nudity.

"Joshua," is a 2007 movie about an evil-doing nine-year-old boy who is jealous of his newborn baby sister, and sets about doing awful things on the sly. His mother finally realizes what he is doing, but the father doesn't believe it. The mother is committed to an asylum, and then the boy goes to work on his father. All the while, the viewer fears for the baby sister. I'd seen this movie before, but Hubbie hadn't.

"The Vagrant," is a 1992 movie about a guy who moves into a house and is plagued by a filthy, very scary looking bum, who invades his home and kills people. Of course, there is no proof that the bum is guilty of anything, so the police suspect the homeowner.

Since it's predicted to rain all week, we decided to disassmeble the outdoor fall arrangement, so the pumpkins and the bale of straw won't sit in water and rot. Hopefully, this crazy weather will settle down, and we can put the arrangement back in the yard soon.

We now have a helpful new feature as part of our cable/internet/phone service bundle...when the phone rings, the name and number of the caller appears on our television screen. So we can now not only ignore calls we don't want to take (like telemarketers), but we'll also know who the call is for so that person can answer it, or let voice mail take a message. Of course, the caller's number also appears on the telephone, but we don't always see that. Today, when the arts council director called, and I told her about this new feature, she said it was kind of scary.