January 2013

SUNNY:
I am so glad you posted! I thought you had had a stroke. Thank goodness you didn't, although I am very sorry about the kidney stones. Big ouch! I am glad you and Kent both are doing better. That sounds like good advice about the WalMart meds. I hope he can get those.

BEECH:
You are amazing! While I will be happy to change your avatar to anything you want, I think it represents a strong, independent woman, which is what you are! Snowblowing, hauling wood, taking care of all the things during what sounds like a lot of snow to me shows how strong you are!
I do wish you'd post more often, though...... ....I heard you were a writer, sooooo write us! And stay warm. No snow here, thank goodness. So far our snowblower we got last year has kept the snow away. We've only had about an inch so far this winter.

CB:
I have been limping along for almost a year with a non-existent computer connection. Until our new internet service is installed, I don't think I can do much about the logging in problems. However, our tower will be going up soon and hopefully the internet problem here will be solved and I can work on it. My only solution right now would be to not change the thread each month, which I can do. While I like having the threads organized by month, there is no rule that says it has to be. I do think, however, that most of the logging in problems come from folks forgetting the letter case for their usernames and passwords, or forgetting that their username isn't what they registered it as originally, or using old passwords. JMO.

Donnie has been painting the tower for our new internet connection. It was grey. Now it is greyer. The guy with the bucket truck that Donnie was going to get to raise the tower has broken it, the truck that is. So Donnie is looking for someone else to put the tower up.

Today Ivan and I did a new thing! Donnie made me a jump out of PVC pipes like the one Craig Cameron had on his show. It is about a foot tall, 10 feet long, and very heavy-duty 3 inch pipe. Ivan and I spent most of an hour playing with the thing. Ivan likes to jump it! Earlier we let the horses in the arena to check it out and Ivan and Areion had lots of fun knocking it over and picking it up and moving it around. I am quite sure my 'form' wasn't good while we jumped it, but we did have a lot of fun.

RICK:
If you go see HT, be sure to tell him hi from us!

Access to this website is REALLY SLOW this morning. Must be because of the COLD! Sunny glad you're home and sorry to hear about the kidney stones. I've never experienced them but I've heard they are quite painful. Speaking of painful. I went to the dentist on Thursday to have a crown cemented on. I've had this done in the past without numbing and while not comfortable, it hasn't been painful in the past. Not this time. Evidently the nerve was extra sensative and at one point I darn near curled up in the fetal position from the pain. Of course by the time we discovered just how sensitive I was it was too late to numb it. OUCH!! (I am such a whimp when it comes to dental work.)

RICK, if you get to visit w/HT let him know I'm thinking of him. I think I offended his sister when she asked me for some advice which is the only reason I can think of that neither she nor Kelle are responding to me.

Have you ever gone shopping knowing exactly what you're going shopping for and then end up coming home with something entirely different? Well, that's what I did Saturday when I went shopping for a new TV. I did my preshopping homework by reading up on the differences between Plasma, LCD, and LED tvs from Consumer Reports. Had it narrowed down to a 39 or 40 LCD unless by chance an LED was on sale with and under standing of what the pixel numbers represented and the hertz numbers. I really didn't look at what Consumer Reports had to say about the Plasma tvs other than they're nicer than the LCD/LED but more expensive and most consumers find LCD good enough when on a budget. So made a circle of 4 different stores comparing options and prices etc, made my decision, got ready to pay for it and asked the clerk a couple of questions to clarify some of the options and he ended up recommending a Plasma Panasonic that was on sale and actually about $75 cheaper and bigger than the one I had decided on. So much for doing research prior to shopping. I got it home and hooked up and the only complaint I have with it is that night scenes are dark and hard to see. But then I'm not sure if it's because the examples I've watched are older movies and night scenes are bad in those old films anyway. Probably just need to fiddle with the contrast, and brightness controls. Compared to what I had this is fantastic.

ARK, I couldn't get in before the end of the month either, so I don't think not changing the threads will fix it...and then after the first I couldn't get in again!..soooo? we need an icon of a lil guy scratchin' his head! That's ME! I use the same user name and password...and it won't let me in...then a few days later using the same ones...walah...it lets e in! Just aggravating....and I'm happy when I can get here!

Beech, our snow is all gone! It's been in the 50's and it melted fast!

The kids came yesterday and we got some fencing up...now 6 of the horses have bigger pens....they ran and kicked up their heels and had a good time. Bit by bit....

Sunshine today, feeding is all done....and we are having a cuppa watching tv...just being slugs...later I"ll go clean the doggie yards..

Saturday the riding club is having a playday and we will work the concession stand while it is colder weather and we will ride when it is nicer!

Ark .. I love the photo at the top ... your critters or a picture that you found? Very cute.

Indy, I think I have ya beat as the cowardly dental patient! I have to take xxanax just to walk thru the front door...even for a cleaning! YOu were very brave!

Sunny, glad you got back on...hoping the doc gets you straightened out and no more pain! Good news on Kent. Hope he can get his insulin now.

Everyone have a good week ahead.

I may not be getting personal contact from Kelle or Margaret, but I'm still on their friends list. Here is the latest posting on HT.

update today for Dad. He was transferred to a rehab center today, he seemd to be in much better spirits here than the place he left. He sat up in a chair for about an hour and ate dinner, He was happy to actually use a real bathroom. He is moving all of his left arm now, but it is very weak and shakes a lot. his balance seems much better. Hopefully we can make some progress to his left leg. he is weight bearing well on his right leg though.

And where he is at:
Jefferson City Health and Rehab,283 West Broadway Boulevard Jefferson City, TN 37760 RM # 514

CAROL:
Nope, that pony looks like Zippy, but the photo isn't of him. Someone sent me that photo quite awhile back....don't remember who now. I save all sorts of cute pix for logo photos. I do love this one, too!
BTW: Did you name your dog after the Midge in the Archie comic books? I heard that name mentioned on a show today and wondered if that is where you got it. I hadn't thought about the Archie comics in years.

INDYAPP:
Ouch, big time! I would have bitten the dentist and then have had to be pulled off the ceiling. I am a dental chicken. Poor Donnie just broke a molar tooth last week and is in the process of getting it capped. Luckily, he didn't hit a nerve when the tooth broke. He hasn't had a new filling since college.

Thanks for sending HT's address. I will get a card out to him.

ELLEN:
How is your new machine working out? What have you made with it?


It was a bit chilly today, about 45 degrees, but so nice and sunny. No wind or mud either. It was a pleasure to clean up the barn and lots. It is supposed to be in the mid-50s tomorrow!

our weather has gotten hot, we are in the low 80's for all this week, we had a cold front come through and then it went back up north bringing warmer temps from the south like in summer, winter our weather comes from the north, that is why it stays cool so this is not normal weather for this time of year, I wish I could share the warmth with you all in the north

I finaly got a mobility scooter, this one is a loaner until the first of next month when I get mine, I will try to get pics and try to find somone here to help me to post them, I can now enjoy going places like Disney, and I realy want to see Harry Potter world at Universal studios, this scooter is going to allow me to get out of the house and travel my backand neck have made getting around difficult and unless I want to live on heavy pain killers and become a zombie,this works out for me for a better quality of life my grandkids are happy that I can keep up with them and I am a verry happy camper

Ark, I've been keeping the machine fairly busy making some neat casserole carriers. They are squares with a handle attached on two diagonal corners, with rings on the other two corners. The handle is pushed up through the two rings, neatly pulling up all the sides around the dish. I've done a few other designs too. My neighbor brought over a pair of slacks for me to shorten for him.
The machine is easy to learn how to use; the software is HUGE and is going to take some time.

Rick, let us know if you go see HT.

Looking like Monday will be only time to see HT...that's what I'm shooting for!!

Love to all...Rick

Hey RICK, I got a message from Kelle. John now has his phone and you should call it again to speak to HT. He told Kelle he would like to see/talk to you. She also programmed your phone number into the phone before she gave it to him so if you call and he doesn't answer, he will be able to call you back.

I got a nice surprise today. HT called me at work. I was so surprised. He wanted to let me know he is getting better. His sense of humor is still at work. He described his progress as "I can point my finger on my left hand, but I can't pick my nose." Said only as HT could say. He was waiting for a therapist to come get him while we chatted and she came in just a couple of minutes into our call so he had to go before I could ask him if he had heard from you. I got Kelle's message after I talked to him. It was good to hear from him.

INDY, that's all fabulous news re HT. Hope he doesn't get a cold. With his nose picking finger
out of commission, he will have to figure a new way. He & RICKSTER can busy themselves solving that dilemma to be prepared in case of a cold. If they can invent a nose picker they can get rich..........
and, of course, 5 easy payments of $19.95 delivered to your home in plain brown/green wrapping, including a 30 day free return policy. Simply call 1-800-BOOGERS. Please have your credit card info ready and SNOOP will take it from there. Shipping fee not negotiable, $45.00.

OH ME...what is RICK getting into? He says we are going to go on a 'road trip' on Monday, but it will be in the pickup instead of the big 18 wheeler.

Then he says something about going to 'surprise' somebody we haven't seen in a long time? No phone calls ahead...just walk in!!

For some reason, this just doesn't feel right??

I'll let you know more as I can figure it out.

Love to ALL you foop friends.

Snoop

SNOOP, just hang in there. RICKSTER has it all aimed out to go off well........................

AND, on this trip just stay cool until HT starts joking......he'll lead.

God bless.

Sunny, yay on the scooter! R u havin' fun with it zippin around the park?

Snoop, you and Rick have a fun and safe trip and a nice meeting with HT. p.S....don't chase the nurses, some of them are guys now! There are more and more males entering this field, which I think is good, so many older male patients like them....altho they still like the "nurse watching" too.

71 here today, and the wind is blowing, hoping this mud will go away quickly, but more rain is in our forecast for the weekend. I'm wondering if the arena will be too muddy to have a playday....but I have to make my chili today so it can simmmmmmmer awhile....chili needs to simmer. YUM!

Y'all have a great day. Silver Dancer, did you get snow?

Neighbor Carolyn had a birthday today, so Neighbor Pirkko had dinner for all of us. That lady is a REALLY REALLY good cook. We all ate all we could hold, and then we played a game called "Sequence", fun, easy game. It was a very nice evening all around.

ELLEN, I love that game, hubby and I play often. Your dinner sounds yummy with a good cook!

Playday is cancelled, the arena is too wet and all the rain shorted out something so there are no arena lights....BUT the chili is simmering and will be forzen for next Saturday if things are fixed and dry.

Hubby and I are going to a junk auction tomorrow...just for something to do, I don't really need more junk! But who knows...maybe I'll find a treasure!

It was in the 70's here today, very nice...and a breeze so the mud is drying up quickly.

Went to the laudromat and washed my throw rugs....after all that mud they sure needed a good cleaning...

That was my exciting day...woohoo!

Sweet Dreams y'all.

Looks like we had some pahty girls last night. I attended an educational seminar presented to our team regarding dissociative personality disorders in children and ways to guide them. It was great info for working with troubled kids. So, I'm tired today from kids kids kids in the day, school at night. Faith is out munching happily, Addy at my feet, TL snoozing. All here is perfect.

God does truly bless.

INDYAPP:
Really good news about HT! I am glad he called you. Good news about your uncle, too!

CB:
Have fun at the junk auction. I should hold one of those . It is going to be 70 degrees here today, too! Warmest day in weeks. Winter returns next week, though.

SUNNY:
So how is life with your new chair scooter? Going places? Hit anything? When Donnie had his broken leg, I returned one of those electric scooters to WalMart's parking area inside and nearly took out some shelves. My driving wasn't too good.

GRAYMARE:
That's great that you are helping those girls and taking classes for it! Have you seen Ima lately?


Well this was another week of wonderful health issues. Besides a nice cold, I have a new problem.

I had to go to an eye specialist doctor Thursday in Roanoke. My left eye has flashes...posterior vitreous detachment. My right eye did it a few years ago, it doesn't hurt, just flashes light. I just have to be careful not to jolt it too much for a few weeks until it is completely detached so as not to detach any retina. I did find out why my eyesight has gotten worse the past few months: I have a moderately sized cataract. Sheesh. It is always
something lately. I go back at the end of the month for a recheck and to get a new glasses prescription. I am not sure what will happen with the cataract yet. Anyone have cataract surgery? How'd it go?

So I can't do any trotting with Ivan until the vitreous detachment is done. I may get Lori to give Ivan and Daisy lessons until I can bounce my eyeballs again. At least I can watch...in a fuzzy sort of way....

Ark ... I don't know how the other stuff with your eyes might effect the cataract surgery, but I had it several years ago. Thought it was a piece of cake and the MOST AMAZING results PDQ. I had the first one ..... early in the a.m. because no food/water, etc before with the plan of going for breakfast after. When I came out of that office in about an hour from when I went in, I thought there had been a miracle ..... WOW could I ever see like an eagle at a distance. Had to wait two weeks for the second one and I said if anyone gets in my way I will mow them down .... couldn't get there fast enough!!!!! Had to do some drops for a while but really no pain to speak of. Mine were done so I can see great at a distance, but need glasses to read ... that is OK by me. So, my thoughts are not to worry one bit about getting them fixed.

Hi gang,

ARK, I've had cataracts removed from both eyes and am sure glad I did. AND, like CAROL, felt nothing, took 5-8 minutes, and I was out in about 30 min. and off to breakfast. There;s nothing to it. At night I wore an pirate eye patch on the surgical eye for about a week, I think. It's sim[ply so you don't poke, scratch or hit your eye with your hand in the night. I had to do eye drops, also for a few days. That was it.

SUNNY, I keep hoping to read you are directing scooter races in your park. Anyhow, hope it is helping immensely and also, that Kent is getting his insulin.

SNOOP, tell RICKSTER as he prepares to drive to visit HT that I am sending safety hugs and prayers.
And to give HT a big hug from me. And, for you SNOOP, orders not to cause trouble.

Prayers for ALL.

Ark, I have been taking my dog Annie for walks every day she is doing well about not jumping in front of me while I am driving, when I take her home I go scooting around the park to say hi to those I pass that are walking or in there golf carts, I will be excited when I finaly get my scooter, the one I am using is a loaner and it is an antique, the one I am getting is a four wheeler and it comes apart to fit in a trunk of a car and is light weight but strong, well put together, the batteries are gel type so they last for quite a long time, I can go 25 miles on a charge (as long as I don't hot rod it) it can go fast if I want it has a speed controll from snail to rabbit,so from 2.5 mph to almost 20mph so i am in seventh heaven i will get pics when i get my new scooter,

SNOOP here....sssHHHHH!!...Rick said to NOT tell anybody, but this is gonna be GOOD!! You see...he's been wanting to go see that guy everybody calls HT...told me it used to mean HORSE TUTOR but last known to mean HORN TOOTER. Anyway....sshhhh!! ... HT does NOT know that Rick is going to see him tomorrow and Rick has already called ahead to check on him, etc. He's been moved to #517 from #514 everybody thinks. This is gonna be FUN!! I'll tell you more when we get home. We are taking computer in case there is wifi and we can get on while there with His Tootness!

Love to all...Snoop (ssshhhh...Rick doesn't know I'm on computer)

I won't breathe a word. Drive Safe. Give Hugs...er Handshakes.

Boy that was a long ride, but it was worth it to get to see that fierce and ornery guy everbody call HT. We found him sitting in his wheel chair smack in the middle of the hallway observing all that was going on around him. Immediately we took a small tour of some places and ended up back in his room. Also got to meet John's son John who came by for a visit. We could tell that HT's spirit and attitude were positive...he even joked about how much fun it would be to see him trying to learn about walking again It was tough to do so, but we had to leave after too short of a visit...nurses would NOT say what all kind of mischief the old coot has been into...they just grimaced/smirked and shook their heads.

Anyway..We were back home in the house at 6:00...Rained all day on us and Rick just WASHED the truck yesterday. At least the inside was clean!!

Snoop...Reporting here.

Rick, I'm really glad you got to see HT as a sort of representative for all of us. Really glad to hear that his attitude is good too.