I had trouble going to sleep again last night. This time, it was because Hubbie was having a bit of sleep apnea. Lying on his back, hands across his chest, he seemed to hold his breath endlessly, and then suddenly gasp for breath, while at the same time raising his hands. It would have been comical, if it hadn't been so disturbing. Anyway, it was nearly 2 a.m. the last time I looked at the clock before drifting off.
We were up by about 7:30 a.m., and after breakfast, I hopped on the treadmill. Later, Mother came over, and we went down to the local community college to attend a Renaissance Fair. We toured the exhibits, watched a short comedy skit in the theater, and a battle between reenactor opponents in authentic costumes out on the campus grounds, and listened to a chorale concert in the library, and then came home for lunch. The college has hosted this event for several years, and we've attended most of them. It's interesting, and the costumes are very colorful.
Hubbie opted out of going in favor of doing some yard work. He had chicken noodle soup and sandwich makings ready when we got home about 12:30 p.m.
After lunch, we ran errands...to the pharmacy, and then to the WDCS. Mother needed several items, and we needed a few groceries, particularly bread. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing this and that household chores.
Supper was barbecue chicken sandwiches (shredded boiled chicken and barbecue sauce cooked in the slow cooker) served with baked sweet potatoes and corn-on-the-cob. After supper, Hubbie spent our quiet hour alternately reading, and watching the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament between Michighan State and the University of Connecticut. I spent my time continuing to back up my photo files on CDs.
Later, we watched a couple of one-hour shows on TV, while from time-to-time checking on the Final Four basketball tournament between Villanova and North Carolina, which, of course, NC won.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday, April 3
For some reason, the parking lots at the college were full this morning, and I had to park way up the hill near the student union and walk down to the gym, which was fine, because I can use all the exercise I can get. It was chilly outside, so I nipped right along.
The pool was chilly, too, for the 27 of us who showed up. Most of the time, I get used to the water after a few minutes, but I couldn't seem to adjust to it this morning. So I was glad when the session was over and I could get home to a hot shower.
Once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I traveled to a town a couple of hours east of us to take the camper to the RV repair shop. Mother opted not to go with us, and since we had to leave both the truck and the camper at the shop, we couldn't take Shih Tzu with us, either.
We arrived after noon, and within a few minutes, Hubbie's sister picked us up and took us to a buffet restaurant, where we met his other sister for lunch. I had steamed fish and veggies, plus a salad. Instead of fruit for dessert, though, I had a small helping of soft serve ice cream, and a tiny portion of chocolate cake.
After lunch, Hubbie's other sister dropped us off at the RV repair shop, and we pulled the camper to the parking lot of a clothing store, where I found a periwinkle sweater at 70% off, and an off-white turtleneck shirt at 90% off.
From there, we went to the warehouse discount store for several grocery items, as well as a stack of recordable CDs.
Then we stopped by Hubbie's daughter's house to pick up the chain saw her family borrowed during the February ice storm. We only stayed for a few minutes, though, since we were anxious to get back to Mother and Shih Tzu.
The day was sunny, with a temp in the mid-60s by the time we headed home. But evidence of yesterday's downpours was in mud-sodden, water-puddled, fields along the way. Horses, grazing in newly green pastures, didn't seem to mind the soggy ground, though.
We got back home around 6:30 p.m. We weren't hungry for supper until around 7:30, when we had PB&J sandwiches, and grapes for dessert. After that, we watched a few one-hour shows on TV.
The pool was chilly, too, for the 27 of us who showed up. Most of the time, I get used to the water after a few minutes, but I couldn't seem to adjust to it this morning. So I was glad when the session was over and I could get home to a hot shower.
Once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I traveled to a town a couple of hours east of us to take the camper to the RV repair shop. Mother opted not to go with us, and since we had to leave both the truck and the camper at the shop, we couldn't take Shih Tzu with us, either.
We arrived after noon, and within a few minutes, Hubbie's sister picked us up and took us to a buffet restaurant, where we met his other sister for lunch. I had steamed fish and veggies, plus a salad. Instead of fruit for dessert, though, I had a small helping of soft serve ice cream, and a tiny portion of chocolate cake.
After lunch, Hubbie's other sister dropped us off at the RV repair shop, and we pulled the camper to the parking lot of a clothing store, where I found a periwinkle sweater at 70% off, and an off-white turtleneck shirt at 90% off.
From there, we went to the warehouse discount store for several grocery items, as well as a stack of recordable CDs.
Then we stopped by Hubbie's daughter's house to pick up the chain saw her family borrowed during the February ice storm. We only stayed for a few minutes, though, since we were anxious to get back to Mother and Shih Tzu.
The day was sunny, with a temp in the mid-60s by the time we headed home. But evidence of yesterday's downpours was in mud-sodden, water-puddled, fields along the way. Horses, grazing in newly green pastures, didn't seem to mind the soggy ground, though.
We got back home around 6:30 p.m. We weren't hungry for supper until around 7:30, when we had PB&J sandwiches, and grapes for dessert. After that, we watched a few one-hour shows on TV.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Thursday, April 2
As anticipated, we weren't able to take the camper to the repair shop today, due to thunderstorms. Predictions are for a sunny day tomorrow, so Hubbie called the shop this morning and arranged for us to be over there at 1 p.m. This will allow me to go to water aerobics before we have to leave home.
I got a treadmill session in this morning after breakfast, though, and once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to get on-sale apples (one of the ladies at water aerobics recommended them, saying they were sweet and crisp), and then to the WDCS for a few items, including recordable CDs. I'm in the process of putting my photo files on CD in case the current nasty virus hits computers.
I ate only fruit and hot tea for lunch, since I planned to weigh in at Weight Watchers tonight. After lunch, I spent a couple of hours getting snapshot files on CDs. I used all the CDs I bought today and need more. So I'll see if the warehouse store we'll visit in another town tomorrow when we take the camper over there has some. I'm sure they do, though probably in bulk, which is fine since I need lots of them. Today, I managed to get most of the family photos backed up. But I'd like to get vacation and garden photos saved, too. I should have my hands slapped for not saving photos as I took them...I will from now on, though. I've learned my lesson.
At 3 p.m., my tummy was grumbling, but it had to wait until after 5 p.m.. Around 4 p.m., I put together chicken noodle soup, using the broth and some of the chicken boiled yesterday. At 4:30, Mother and I went to Weight Watchers, where the scale revealed that I lost one pound, and Mother gained one. Since we weighed this early in the month, we aren't obligated to step on the Weight Watchers scale again until the end of May.
We were plenty ready for supper when we got back, and on this cloudy-cool evening the steaming chicken noodle soup hit the spot, served with pimento cheese sandwiches.
During our quiet hour after supper, Hubbie read his novel, and I pressed clothes, some of which are for the Texas trip. In choosing what I'll take on the trip, I looked for a favorite brown shell to wear under long-sleeved blouses or jackets, but I couldn't find it. I went through everything in my closet...three times. Not there. Could it be in the the laundry hamper? I didn't think so, but it couldn't hurt to check. Nope, not there. Discouraged and puzzled, I finally gave up the search and vowed to look for it again tomorrow. Then as I was passing a mirror I noticed that, lo and behold, I was wearing it! I'd worn it over a pair of very lightweight cotton capris for weigh-in at Weight Watchers.
Later, we watched "Final Draft," as yet unrated, but should probably be an "R" for language and violence. The plot revolves around a guy, played by James Van Der Beek, who has an 18-day deadline to write a screenplay, and has a friend lock him in his room until he meets that deadline. But the line between fiction and reality blurs, with deadly consequences, as he becomes stir crazy and begins hearing and seeing people from his past (including a terrifying bat-wielding clown) who become characters in his script.
I got a treadmill session in this morning after breakfast, though, and once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to get on-sale apples (one of the ladies at water aerobics recommended them, saying they were sweet and crisp), and then to the WDCS for a few items, including recordable CDs. I'm in the process of putting my photo files on CD in case the current nasty virus hits computers.
I ate only fruit and hot tea for lunch, since I planned to weigh in at Weight Watchers tonight. After lunch, I spent a couple of hours getting snapshot files on CDs. I used all the CDs I bought today and need more. So I'll see if the warehouse store we'll visit in another town tomorrow when we take the camper over there has some. I'm sure they do, though probably in bulk, which is fine since I need lots of them. Today, I managed to get most of the family photos backed up. But I'd like to get vacation and garden photos saved, too. I should have my hands slapped for not saving photos as I took them...I will from now on, though. I've learned my lesson.
At 3 p.m., my tummy was grumbling, but it had to wait until after 5 p.m.. Around 4 p.m., I put together chicken noodle soup, using the broth and some of the chicken boiled yesterday. At 4:30, Mother and I went to Weight Watchers, where the scale revealed that I lost one pound, and Mother gained one. Since we weighed this early in the month, we aren't obligated to step on the Weight Watchers scale again until the end of May.
We were plenty ready for supper when we got back, and on this cloudy-cool evening the steaming chicken noodle soup hit the spot, served with pimento cheese sandwiches.
During our quiet hour after supper, Hubbie read his novel, and I pressed clothes, some of which are for the Texas trip. In choosing what I'll take on the trip, I looked for a favorite brown shell to wear under long-sleeved blouses or jackets, but I couldn't find it. I went through everything in my closet...three times. Not there. Could it be in the the laundry hamper? I didn't think so, but it couldn't hurt to check. Nope, not there. Discouraged and puzzled, I finally gave up the search and vowed to look for it again tomorrow. Then as I was passing a mirror I noticed that, lo and behold, I was wearing it! I'd worn it over a pair of very lightweight cotton capris for weigh-in at Weight Watchers.
Later, we watched "Final Draft," as yet unrated, but should probably be an "R" for language and violence. The plot revolves around a guy, played by James Van Der Beek, who has an 18-day deadline to write a screenplay, and has a friend lock him in his room until he meets that deadline. But the line between fiction and reality blurs, with deadly consequences, as he becomes stir crazy and begins hearing and seeing people from his past (including a terrifying bat-wielding clown) who become characters in his script.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 1
April Fool's Day has come and almost gone, without incident so far. Around here, it's a notable day, because a granddaughter-in-law, and Shih Tzu, share a birthday. We celebrated Shih Tzu's birthday this evening with a boiled chicken dinner (Shih Tzu's favorite), and pineapple upside down cake (Hubbie's favorite). As usual, we put candles on the cake (the number 15), and we all donned party hats for snapshots. Shih Tzu patiently puts up with this foolishness, but is glad when it's over.
We were up at 6 a.m. this morning, so that we could be ready for me to drop Hubbie off at a Master Gardener's house at 7:30 to help with a plant dig, and I could get to the college pool for water aerobics before 8 a.m. Fortunately, I slept well last night, so I felt rested at that early hour.
After I got home and ready for the day, around 10:30 a.m., I called Hubbie, who said he was ready to be picked up. At home, there was a voice mail on the home phone from the photo editor of the regional newspaper I freelance for. I returned his call, leaving a voice mail for him. He never returned the call, so he must have engaged another photographer for the assignment.
Other than washing several winter sweaters, I didn't accomplish much before lunch. For lunch, Hubbie and I had chef's salads, and Mother had a grilled cheese sandwich. After lunch, Mother relaxed and dozed in the living room, while Hubbie read his novel, and I read the April issue of Smithsonian magazine. There were several interesting articles this month...about the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, the writer, Eudora Welty, and the explorers Cook vs. Peary, and the debate about which one (or if either one) reached the North Pole.
After supper and the "birthday party," Hubbie spent our quiet hour reading, while I backed up my photo files onto CDs. Later, we watched favorite one-hour shows.
Today started crisp...there was even frost on the windshield that Hubbie had to scrape off, but later it was gorgeous and sunny, with temps in the high 60s. Predictions are for rain tomorrow, though, so we don't know if we'll be taking the camper for repairs to the electric lift or not. If we can't take it tomorrow, we'll do it Friday, when it's supposed to be sunny again.
The reason we couldn't take it in foul weather is that the repair shop is full, with no room to pull the camper inside, and the repairman doesn't want to do the work outdoors in the rain.
We were up at 6 a.m. this morning, so that we could be ready for me to drop Hubbie off at a Master Gardener's house at 7:30 to help with a plant dig, and I could get to the college pool for water aerobics before 8 a.m. Fortunately, I slept well last night, so I felt rested at that early hour.
After I got home and ready for the day, around 10:30 a.m., I called Hubbie, who said he was ready to be picked up. At home, there was a voice mail on the home phone from the photo editor of the regional newspaper I freelance for. I returned his call, leaving a voice mail for him. He never returned the call, so he must have engaged another photographer for the assignment.
Other than washing several winter sweaters, I didn't accomplish much before lunch. For lunch, Hubbie and I had chef's salads, and Mother had a grilled cheese sandwich. After lunch, Mother relaxed and dozed in the living room, while Hubbie read his novel, and I read the April issue of Smithsonian magazine. There were several interesting articles this month...about the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, the writer, Eudora Welty, and the explorers Cook vs. Peary, and the debate about which one (or if either one) reached the North Pole.
After supper and the "birthday party," Hubbie spent our quiet hour reading, while I backed up my photo files onto CDs. Later, we watched favorite one-hour shows.
Today started crisp...there was even frost on the windshield that Hubbie had to scrape off, but later it was gorgeous and sunny, with temps in the high 60s. Predictions are for rain tomorrow, though, so we don't know if we'll be taking the camper for repairs to the electric lift or not. If we can't take it tomorrow, we'll do it Friday, when it's supposed to be sunny again.
The reason we couldn't take it in foul weather is that the repair shop is full, with no room to pull the camper inside, and the repairman doesn't want to do the work outdoors in the rain.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 31
I had a restless night last night. I fell asleep soon after going to bed, but then woke up at 3 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep until 5 a.m. The bedroom seemed stuffy and hot, maybe because a thunderstorm was brewing. After it rained later, I managed to get back to sleep and stay asleep until around 8:30.
After breakfast, I got on the treadmill. Once I was ready for the day, Mother came over and we goofed off until lunch time. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to a grocery store, to the pharmacy, to the appliance store to pick up a blade for one of Hubbie's tools, to the health food store to get a couple of more bags of puffed cereal (Mother decided she wanted some), and then back home.
At home, I uploaded digital photos and sent them to the WDCS one-hour service, but I didn't accomplish much else during the afternoon.
Hubbie called the RV repair business and got an appointment to take the camper there on Thursday. We're to be at the shop around noon. It's not supposed to take long to fix the problem, so we should have time to shop at the warehouse store while we're there.
Supper tonight was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The meatloaf was big enough that we were able to put half of it in the freezer to take with us on our Texas trip.
After supper, Hubbie and I spent our quiet hour on the computers. Then I talked on the cell phone from 7 to 9 p.m. ... first to my great-niece, who is in rehearsals for two plays, and has recently been elected as a cheerleader at her school; and second to a friend, a widow in ill health, who I used to work with years ago. We talk only a couple of times a year, so our conversations are long.
We need to get up early in the morning...6 a.m. ... so that I can drop Hubbie off at a Master Gardener's house before I go to water aerobics. A group of MGs is getting together to dig and pot plants from the host's gardens to sell at the group's fundraising plant sale in May.
After breakfast, I got on the treadmill. Once I was ready for the day, Mother came over and we goofed off until lunch time. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to a grocery store, to the pharmacy, to the appliance store to pick up a blade for one of Hubbie's tools, to the health food store to get a couple of more bags of puffed cereal (Mother decided she wanted some), and then back home.
At home, I uploaded digital photos and sent them to the WDCS one-hour service, but I didn't accomplish much else during the afternoon.
Hubbie called the RV repair business and got an appointment to take the camper there on Thursday. We're to be at the shop around noon. It's not supposed to take long to fix the problem, so we should have time to shop at the warehouse store while we're there.
Supper tonight was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The meatloaf was big enough that we were able to put half of it in the freezer to take with us on our Texas trip.
After supper, Hubbie and I spent our quiet hour on the computers. Then I talked on the cell phone from 7 to 9 p.m. ... first to my great-niece, who is in rehearsals for two plays, and has recently been elected as a cheerleader at her school; and second to a friend, a widow in ill health, who I used to work with years ago. We talk only a couple of times a year, so our conversations are long.
We need to get up early in the morning...6 a.m. ... so that I can drop Hubbie off at a Master Gardener's house before I go to water aerobics. A group of MGs is getting together to dig and pot plants from the host's gardens to sell at the group's fundraising plant sale in May.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 30
We slept late this morning, of course. But after a hot cereal breakfast, I got on the treadmill. I needed a workout, since I hadn't exercised in several days.
Mother came over later in the morning, and we planned the week's menu. Then I called my cardiologist's office to get my prescriptions renewed, and Hubbie called the camper repair place in another town, but the lady who schedules work orders was out today, so he'll need to try again tomorrow. We didn't accomplish much else for the rest of the morning.
After lunch, Mother and I went for a walk at the college lake. But it was windy enough to make it uncomfortable for Mother, so we only strolled once around the lake before returning home.
After that, Hubbie and I ran shopping errands...to the greeting card shop for an Easter card for Mother; to the candy store to pick up bags of Jelly Belly jelly beans for Mother for Easter; to the health store for a box of no-salt seasoning and a couple of bags of sodium-free puffed cereals (rice and corn) and then to the WDCS for groceries and incidentals. I tried to get butterscotch disks for Mother at the WDCS, but there weren't any. So we stopped by a couple of other discount stores and found bags of them at one of them. They aren't the name brand Mother prefers, but I hope they're a good substitute.
Supper tonight was pork chops braised in apple juice and onions, and served with baked potatoes and canned no-salt English peas. Afterward, Hubbie and I spent our quiet hour (much needed after the two days of noisy casinos) in individual pursuits of reading and blogging.
Mother came over later in the morning, and we planned the week's menu. Then I called my cardiologist's office to get my prescriptions renewed, and Hubbie called the camper repair place in another town, but the lady who schedules work orders was out today, so he'll need to try again tomorrow. We didn't accomplish much else for the rest of the morning.
After lunch, Mother and I went for a walk at the college lake. But it was windy enough to make it uncomfortable for Mother, so we only strolled once around the lake before returning home.
After that, Hubbie and I ran shopping errands...to the greeting card shop for an Easter card for Mother; to the candy store to pick up bags of Jelly Belly jelly beans for Mother for Easter; to the health store for a box of no-salt seasoning and a couple of bags of sodium-free puffed cereals (rice and corn) and then to the WDCS for groceries and incidentals. I tried to get butterscotch disks for Mother at the WDCS, but there weren't any. So we stopped by a couple of other discount stores and found bags of them at one of them. They aren't the name brand Mother prefers, but I hope they're a good substitute.
Supper tonight was pork chops braised in apple juice and onions, and served with baked potatoes and canned no-salt English peas. Afterward, Hubbie and I spent our quiet hour (much needed after the two days of noisy casinos) in individual pursuits of reading and blogging.
Camping Trip, part three
Sunday, March 29
We were ready to leave camp by 9:30 a.m. The wind was still blustery, but not as strong as Saturday. The trip home was uneventful. But when we arrived, Hubbie discovered that the electric jack on the camper had gone out, and he couldn't detach the camper from the truck. So we had to unload it with the slide in, which makes for a very narrow walking space.
First on my and Mother's agenda following lunch was showering to get the smell of the smoky casinos off of us. I had to shampoo my hair twice to get rid of the odor. Then we had to wash all our clothes to rid them of the stink. At the cost of cigarettes today, I'm surprised anyone can afford to both smoke and gamble at the casinos. But I guess they can, since we noticed several folks dropping as much as $100 into the slots and losing it all. $20 was my limit for two nights. If I couldn't win on that, so be it. I viewed it as an evening's entertainment and nothing more.
Later in the afternoon, Mother and I went down to the college to watch a film fest screening...this one a humorous "mockumentary" about the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker. We were home in time to have a supper of leftovers. And then Hubbie joined us for the final film fest screening...a documentary on the life of Johnny Cash.
By this time, we were pretty pooped and ready for bed. I decided that I needed rest more than I needed water aerobics, so we didn't set the clock to rise early Monday morning.
We were ready to leave camp by 9:30 a.m. The wind was still blustery, but not as strong as Saturday. The trip home was uneventful. But when we arrived, Hubbie discovered that the electric jack on the camper had gone out, and he couldn't detach the camper from the truck. So we had to unload it with the slide in, which makes for a very narrow walking space.
First on my and Mother's agenda following lunch was showering to get the smell of the smoky casinos off of us. I had to shampoo my hair twice to get rid of the odor. Then we had to wash all our clothes to rid them of the stink. At the cost of cigarettes today, I'm surprised anyone can afford to both smoke and gamble at the casinos. But I guess they can, since we noticed several folks dropping as much as $100 into the slots and losing it all. $20 was my limit for two nights. If I couldn't win on that, so be it. I viewed it as an evening's entertainment and nothing more.
Later in the afternoon, Mother and I went down to the college to watch a film fest screening...this one a humorous "mockumentary" about the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker. We were home in time to have a supper of leftovers. And then Hubbie joined us for the final film fest screening...a documentary on the life of Johnny Cash.
By this time, we were pretty pooped and ready for bed. I decided that I needed rest more than I needed water aerobics, so we didn't set the clock to rise early Monday morning.
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