Photographing Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Gentle Readers: Yes, it is ANOTHER Snow Day! My goal for the day: figure out how to upload photos from the camera.

Snow is on the ground from yesterday. Rain is on the snow from today. Ice is being made, even as I type. A heavy mist hangs in the air - blocking out the blue sky (which appears only in the photos I took this morning.) The temperature is @ 35 degrees Fahrenheit... [that's how my spell checker spelt it, so that must be correct, right!?]

Have fun today in what ever room you find yourself.

Addendum to January 27

HAPPINESS: something to DO, something to LOVE, and something to HOPE FOR

I stole that and edited it for grammar. Do you recognize the source? Can you guess the edit?

I swept snow early. Bill came by with his snowblower in the late morning and cleared the driveway and the patio. And it snowed again, of course.

Brenda came. The roads were not terrible, but she was not confident in driving in this mess. And she will come back tomorrow, when the roads will be iffy again. Sandy called, just to "check in". And we swapped snow shovelling stories.

Pepperoni rolls were set to baking and then I went outside. I swept the car out around 2 pm and drove to the Boulevard, where I swept snow for a while. I went on to CVS for the RX and drove on over "hospital hill" a.k.a. Rt. 98 which was cindered and fairly clear.

Linda came. Brenda went home. I took a nap. Judy called and won't be here tonight. Linda will stay over. Stan is asleep right now. The Evening news is on TV. Mom is sitting in bed looking occasionally at the TV.

The big weather story is not snow but the flooding that will follow. I hope the digging done last year will save the labor of moving basement items out of flood's way...

I don't want to go back to school this week, but may have to on Thursday. We'll see.

Tuesday 6 AM SNOW DAY ha, ha, ha

That's Olivia looking out the back door of our house on Park - many years ago...

Gentle readers: It's a snow day. Time to RELAX. Huh? Did I say that? Snow to sweep off the patio and drive way. People to feed. Pepperoni rolls to bake ( I went to the store yesterday) RX to pick up. Papers to grade (scratch that) Photos to take...
Don't you wish you had a snow day?!

January 21, 2009 - SNOW DAY! again...

Gentle readers: (all four of you) Providence has given me another day of snow filled leisure* (Of course, in the past, this really would be leisure - but now, as grades are due today, and I am home unable to put them into the computer - for whatever asinine reasons - I must work on a fast way to up load the numbers so I can comply with our leaders' deadlines.) [Talk about your fabulous run-on-sentences and rambling thoughts...] I've been up since 4:30am looking for the Taylor County delay or cancellation notices. Finally, after my shower, I got the message from Judy who saw it on TV - delay. After 7, we saw closed on TV. Richard called later to make sure I saw it. Neither of us were called on the snow chain!

The nighttime temps dipped into the single digits, at least on the car thermometer. The snow is accumulating to the tune of 2 inches of sparkling powder. More to sweep. The sun is BRIGHT.

I have read the suggested Blog of the Day and it is very interesting: all tricked out with music, embedded videos- which are really kewl and funny, and a literate writer, who - it appears - is just like "your average educated Joe" somewhere between 'grown-up' and "waiting-for-God" mature -- although that's not exactly how I want to describe the writer (Rick) that's all I've got right now.


But it IS Wednesday; I must get to the work of the day. I hope you all will write so I can get some interesting stuff to tell Grandma and Dad.

If this is Paris, it must be Tuesday...1-20-09

Gentle readers: The two hour delay message came at 5 am while I was in the shower. Judy got the call and relayed it, but the ringing phone should have awakened the entire house. It didn't. Harrison called 2 hour delay last night at 6pm. I wasn't even aware that the cold was moving in. 5 degrees above on the car thermometer at 8 am today. The roads were basically clear, until I got to school, where the road was icy but too cold to slide on.

I'm tired.

Grandma has been sleeping since I got home. I will call the Dr. tomorrow with a litany of ailments to discuss.

Dad is watching tv - bored - but attentive. Tomorrow is John L's birthday. They were pledge brothers of TKE; Dad was the 'older brother'. How time does change the way we look at things.

I almost forgot that we watched the inauguration ceremonies on C-Span today - from 10 am on til @ 1:30. We heard the whole thing, including the woman poet, the old Reverend who gave the laugh in the end of the benediction... I wonder if my students had ever had the opportunity to hear prayers like they heard them today. At first in the House (opening ceremony), then at the beginning of the IC, and again at the end...

I gave an extra credit option for 10 facts about the inauguration (due tomorrow) to the 8th grade... 5 facts for the 7th grade. Grades end tomorow for the 9 weeks. And I still have to input them at school. But I am not staying at school in this weather. So sue me. Or give me some improvement plan... I told you I was tired.

And as for the photos - they were mailed to me today. Wouldn't it be fun to watch those sting rays migrate in that big golden herd somewhere in the calm Pacific or warm water Atlantic or where ever they are from (I've already deleted the email and forgot to get the particulars - maybe some one will recognize this and fill me in...)

The Sunday Paper is the only way to tell...

Gentle Readers: My goal for the day was to sleep in til noon, grade papers and drink hot chocolate. After Dad got his breakfast, I started with the hot chocolate, got sleepy and never touched the paperwork Ha! Oh well, tomorrow is another day...

But, on the weather report side of the blog:
The Sunday Paper is the only way to tell what day it really is here in the wilds of West Virginia. The outside is covered with the remnants of snow from earlier in this week's arctic blast. Inside, all inhabitants are groggy from the lethargy of cabin fever and from other ailments that keep them confined. The temperature is warming (from the bitter cold of subzero temps) to around 34 degrees.

Our Marietta connection promised the snow was on its way after I talked to her this afternoon... and here it is: little round snowball pellets, wet and heavy. We swept a little at 4 o'clock and to no avail:the snow left on the ground turned immediately to slush and then to ice as the sun set behind yonder-western hill. The grass is still peeking out from under cover of earlier snowfalls, but the driveway will be icy by nightfall, no matter what happens to the yard.

I have frozen bread thawing - waiting to rise, for pepperoni rolls or whatever, for baking later on tonight. Grandma is feeling better this afternoon, since she complained of hurting (probably psychic pain from sitting all day with very little to do but eat - and sleep) and we gave her a Tylenol. Dad complained of leg pain and I gave him a Tylenol - not nearly strong enough - so I gave him another. I Will get the extra strength Tylenol for the next go round. My naproxan-something is working for my leg, mostly; but my eyes are puffy...a symptom of a true hypochondriac, I'm sure.

I'm not sure I will get to Marietta tomorrow - the weather does not look promising. But, I will wait til morning to make up my mind.

I went to the Doctor at Medbrook Wednesday 1-14-09

I love this Doctor. I wish this is what my Medbrook Dr. said:


Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.


Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.


Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.


Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!


Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?


Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.



Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!


Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.


Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!



Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'


AND.....

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Nunny, nawwwh - SNOW DAY January 15 (Thursday)

I got to sleep in! I saw the 2 hour delay and said: A HAW! I will sleep IN tomorrow! And I did. And then, The school was cancelled for the day and I said: A HAW! I will play in the snow! and I did. (For about 10 minutes. It's TOO cold. But I did brush down some of the driveway so the sun could melt the ice under the snow.
More later... maybe..

Shadowy, sunless Sunday - January 11, 2009

Overcast, spitting snow, no accumulation, cold, windy, and generally a good day to stay inside. (Where, by the way,the festivities continue! Balloons from the Millers; White chocolate from the Strothers; card from Linda, who also made the cake (delicious); and a joyous festive dinner in the main hall prepared by our own chef: Tra-cee! With selections from the refrigerator and garnishments selected from our local green-grocer by the MEN! And a call from Barbara to wish her brother-in-law a happy day!

Delia and Zoey seemed to have no problems enjoying the day. Art and Scrabble were some entertainment; otherwise mama's milk and blinking at the lights fascinated the other.

Happy Birthday, Stanley. January 10, 2009

It's Saturday. The weather is miserable: rainy, foggy, cloudy, cold:34-36-38 (no, those numbers are not my measurements.)
We got a happy birthday call from Florida: Norma wished her brother a Happy Day. He had already opened his card from Barb n Ed. I gave him my card, along with several DVD's and we are watching one (Sam Elliot stars as a cowboy lawman Bill Tilghman @ 1924) called "You Know My Name". Linda made his cake: white with butter cream icing - but will ice it tomorrow - since we are carrying out these festivities over many days. Brenda dropped by to say "Happy Birthday", and Kim is here tonight and gave him a card. Nothing says 'you are getting old' than someone remembering you were born.
I passed along the pictures I garnered from the Internet to Grandma and Stan and forwarded a copy to Tracy. Nice jewelry, Amanda! Nice view from the new digs, too! Lovely Christmas pictures of Tracy, Zoey, Keith, John and the Miller tree 2008.
I am following several blogs now and see the changes pop up on the "dashboard" of blogger? Or, at least, these changes are showing up on a page that begins my choice of blog to write to...

January 8, 2009 - SNOW DAY!

Hey you all! This is the first Snow Day of the New Year! Hip hip hooray!

If the roads weren't so bad this could be a good day. Brenda is coming. The roads are treacherous. But we are fine. There is an inch of ice under the snow.

I haven't written for a while. Things have settled down here. Monday Stan gave us quite a scare. I got an antibiotic from Dr. Bragg for what I suspect is pneumonia and started it at 6pm. Stan hasn't been feeling well for a couple days. But after some 02 and a lot of rest (on Monday night) he is back, eating and drinking (a little) each day.That would be Tuesday, Wednesday and Today - Thursday.

Grandma is awake and patiently awaiting Brenda to get her up and get the day started.

I got Trisha's new address and can get some snail mail sent her way today. And maybe some banking also since tomorrow is pay day for the crew here.

I have decided to more fully participate in the blog experience, so I will be adding some things to this page when I get a chance. But for now I must close.

But.... I will be back.

Sunday, January 4, two-thousand-nine

Weather: Overcast - temperature from cold in the high 20's low thirties to warmer @ 60 in the 4 o'colck hour. No rain here until after dark @ 6pm.

Sunday paper. No big meal. No house guests. No excitement. I went looking for a heater for the back bedroom. No luck. So I went to the MALL.

Linda played Scrabble with Grandma before supper. They enjoyed it.
Oh, yes...
I got a hair cut: look! Meredith Viera (Veria), (the anchor woman on the Today show)... The girl who cut my hair had never heard of her.
No - this is not a picture of me or Meredith. I tried to find a still shot or a video and found her (Meredith) licking the Mac Airbook (last week) but I don't know how to embed the video.... much to learn.

Saturday night, January 3, 2009 -Oh, what a beautiful day!

Yes, the sun - it did shine today. And the air was brisk.

And the day was LONG - here in STALAG 6490. They say that the GULAG is isolated from the rest of the continent by a large inaccessible divide - fraught with sarks and other frightful creatures. Or perhaps the barrier is HDTV, or ENORMOUS gas prices, maybe the attraction of life's leisure time activities a.k.a.WWii, or perhaps the OVERWHELMING desire to do a life's work in a location far removed from communication devices. But I digress.

Intermittently, I saw the inside of the washer and dryer, the inside of two mailboxes, the inside of three outside garbage receptacles, the inside of the dishwasher, the inside of the Happy Garden - who, by the way, never serves square fish - because I assume that's just against NATURE. And Thunderheart. And WV won a basketball game. And I saw a sign in the window of a store on Milford. I remember thinking: That sign would be a good one to blog about. Just before I drove away to buy a power ball ticket and forgot about it...

Friday, January 2, 2009 nice weather report

Sunny. The snow is about gone. Colder, at Krogers on the hill; but shirt sleeves to take groceries out of the trunk of the car, in the valley at 2:30 this afternoon.

Gas prices are going up: I didn't buy at $1.66 - any nighttime trip to Krogers in the past week when it was windy and colder (teens and 20's), instead I waited til it was warmer (today) and the price was $1.79 with my discount and 87 octane, of course.

Trisha reports that she and John have survived the first round of "the up-chuck" flu and do not want pipelines of chicken soup sent their way.

Kim is going to work day shift on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays if nothing gets in the way and she will help Grandma while Brenda helps Dad. Brenda has courageously stated she will work alone the other two days while I go to work. Until we can employ someone else.

I am not a good caregiver. I do not do what the other ladies can do - stay positive and calm, cook, make Dad sit up using the hoyer. I called about another sling for the lift and got the run-around. So, Monday I may have to get another agency to provide the hoyer and sling. I'm not strong in my hands either; but I can do a lot of laundry, so that will be my job in retirement - laundry...

Speaking of retirement: the government sent me a paper with possible payouts if I retire now, at 62, 63,64,65 and then at 65 and 7 months. Paper didn't say how much the bills will be in '09, '10, '11, '12 and 2013... and I have one foot in the present and one foot in the future - slippery slope...

So far my New Years Resolution is holding up. Can you guess what it is?

January 1, 2009 --- blah, blah, blah

Cold. Sun burns off yesterday's snow. Leaving behind the brown mud of winter. Tonight the temperature is @ 17 degrees. Trisha called. She and John are sick, really sick. Tracy and Keith came by after picking up Delia at Grandma Virginia's where she had a sleepover with Rebecca and Aunt Donna. They showed us HD movies of New Year's Eve party @ a friend's home. Barbara called. Ed's got a cold. Linda made macroni and meatballs with sauce for supper tonight. We've had enough cabbage for a while.