Friday's Ramblings - originally posted 3/26/10

It is Friday! The end of the work week and supposedly the beginning of play time or relaxation time, right? Not really for me this weekend! But there will be some!

Tonight within an hour of getting off work, I am to be at Memorial Hall to help with pre-bout physicals for the Kansas/Oklahoma Golden Gloves Regionals. I have been helping with this for a few years now. And this is the 1st Winter season in several years that I haven't helped with several fights over the Winter months, because E had been the one putting them on & since he closed the gym, he didn't put on any fights. I don't know if he will get back to putting them on after he finishes his degree in about 2 years or not.

Then tomorrow morning I will be meeting J for the 1st time in nearly 33 years! We went to high school together and we have reconnected on Facebook. We have had several private chats as well as public ones and she has been very supportive of me in some of the things that have happen to me or in my life over the last few months and I hope I have been the same to her. So we had talked about meeting some time since it turns out we are only about an hour apart. Then my oldest daughter's family moved about 1/2 way between us. So then it became one of those times when you just can't say it isn't going to happen now - all we have to do it put a little more effort into it. So we got to talking about getting together for a coke or breakfast or something. So 2 weeks ago, I checked to see where we might meet this weekend for breakfast where each of us would drive about 30 minutes - we had a choice of Sonic, Dairy Queen or Wendy's, I think it was. Not a whole lot in the little town 1/2 way between us. So then we got to talking and I offered to drive the whole way, then we could maybe have breakfast together at a little restaurant in her town. That moved on to me being invited to just go to her house. Sooooo, I decided the nice thing to do there is to make something to take with me - either for us to have for breakfast or to leave with them to enjoy later. So last night I made cinnamon rolls! I hope they like them! I know I do!

About noon tomorrow, I will pick up my youngest natural granddaughter and my oldest soon to be step-granddaughter and take them out for lunch before dropping K back off & then coming on home with C. C's big event with me will be to go to the boxing tomorrow night for night 2 of Regionals. I had been asked to help, but didn't tell them yes until I had a chance to talk to C since this is her weekend to do something with me. And she was jumping up & down wanting to go. So we will have kind of a quiet afternoon tomorrow & then Sunday morning/early afternoon. She requested I get Barbie A Mermaid's Tale for her from Netflix, so I did along with a couple others. Normally we do a slumber party on Friday night, then do something on Saturday before taking the kid that I am with home, so this time we are changing it a bit. Maybe we will make some more cinnamon rolls for Sunday brunch!

We are still getting reports of people trying to pass my mom's checks. The niece that has caused me issues with it though did call 2 days ago & ask me to come get the ones that she had at that time. She seems to think there might be some more in their storage unit (I actually think instead of storage unit that she is really talking in her sister's basement, but since I haven't let her know that I know they put things there, I didn't correct her or anything). We know that according to what my mom had ordered, there was only a possible 125 checks available without them re-ordering (and yes, I think a check making company should have to check to make sure the account is at least open before making checks - but suspect that they don't & so know that just having all the available checks in my possession doesn't guarantee they won't get more - but am hoping they aren't that smart). So I knew #5975 had gone through. It seems after 12/3/09 that #5976 must also have gone through since there is an amount written in the register the niece gave me without a #, date or who to written in for just over $3. So I am assuming since #5976 is missing from these, that my mother actually did write that one. So I have in my possession to be destroyed 44 checks & have verified that all are there.

My oldest brother called me to tell me that he had spoken with a man that gave him the name that the police detective had told me they were looking for. And that this guy said the checks had been sold to whoever was writing them & that the extras were being destroyed. But 2 days ago, my sister's dh heard on the scanner that someone tried to pass another at a local convenience store & the description that he heard almost sounds like it matches my mom's bf at the time of her death. And my sister found out that this guy had been the bf of another woman my mother knew who died a while ago. Does make you wonder, right?

My daffodils have started blooming this week! After a snow last Friday & Saturday that I thought was going to potentially take them out for this year. I had already seen blooms starting on them, but they hadn't actually opened yet at that time. So I wonder - Has Spring finally arrived in Kansas?

The oldest daughter & her fiance have set a firm wedding date it appears - July 31, 2010. They have a community center reserved in Lyons for the wedding itself & a reception. I believe they are planning an outdoor wedding & then to have the reception indoors. The center doesn't require them to have a licensed caterer to make the cake, so I will be making it. The cake she is thinking of is this one, says she is thinking white background with maybe silver edging & the scrolls/vines in the purple color she has chosen. She is also looking at this dress for the bridesmaids in Sangria (5th from right on the colors). It doesn't really look the eggplant that she was originally talking about & in doing an online search (trying to make sure I can make the correct color for the icing), Sangria seems to be more of a red than purple. So I am thinking I should see if David's Bridal offers swatches of the colors & then an Avon customer suggested last night that I see if Decor Party Supply would be able to custom mix the color for me. The dress she is looking at for herself is this one. I know they are talking about including all 5 of their kids in it as well.

Original comments:

2 comments:

1. 
   Mamma has spokenMarch 26, 2010 6:22 PM

   WOW they are going to get all the planning and everything done in four months! I do like the bridal gown she picked out.

   
   
2. 
   Cindy/KSMarch 26, 2010 9:26 PM

   Actually that is 4-5 weeks longer than the original dates they tried for. But they are wanting to do it while she has a break from school. They'll have been engaged for a year July 3rd, so some of it has been in the planning stages already. Yes, I liked the dress. The only part I am not sure about is that it is an internet only purchase and being well endowed, that could be an issue for her.

Just a quickie! - originally posted 5/3/09

I am close, I think to having all my stuff off the Dell desktop computer that J & A gave me a few years ago. Once I have checked it over again, I intend to return it to factory settings (hoping the wireless card will also be reset since I can't get it to work for some reason. Then my intention is to take it to the gym to have at the counter. I plan to have 3 users on it - 1 for me as administrator, 1 for E and one that isn't password protected where instructors & such can use it, but not change anything. E's & mine will be password protected.

But first, I may have to use it as the server to run the internet from in the office. I have been having trouble connecting my new laptop to the network there. Nothing seems to work, but it connected here at home & at the office without any problems. I contacted Dell's online support & they say they can't help me unless I want to pay for help to call me. So I hit the reset button on the 2Wire Gateway modem/router combo that E got when he ordered the dsl for the gym. I didn't even think that it would totally reset the internet connection - don't know why I didn't think about it, but I didn't. So I tried reinstalling it Friday - no luck. I remember E having to call tech support when we originally got it set up & I guess I could do that, but it frustrates me that it is like this.

I had taken an old laptop down to the gym to use as a server while I brought home the HP desktop to set up as my server here at home & then to reformat the Dell Desktop for there after I moved things. But that project has taken a long time given my schedule. In the meantime, the hard drive appears to have failed on the old laptop, but the internet still continued to function as long as the old laptop was connected & turned on. But I can't install anything to it & the internet connection just isn't working right since my reset flub.

So I am thinking I will take a extra wireless router I have here, the dell desktop & an old dsl modem that E's roommate had brought down to the gym at the time we were originally battling to set it all up & will set up a new network. Since the modem is the same as what I have here at home & the router is one I have also used here at home without any issues other than wanting to try to make my network even faster, it should all work! That will probably be my project tomorrow night while I am down there.

E left for Salt Lake City yesterday with the National Golden Gloves boxing team. Evidently they were driving 2 vehicles - a 2009 rental that was arranged by the local GG people and someone's 1999 (?) Chevy minivan. It seems that early this morning the older minivan developed problems & D says the motor is toast. So have no idea what will happen there, but they did have a 15 passenger for the rental van - so maybe that is enough.

Because E is gone, I will be opening & closing the gym each night this week.

Other item of news is that A has let me know that my "foster granddog" is to be on America's Funniest Home Videos tonight. Her name is Koda & she is a chihuahua. This is the dog that A & J were dog sitting for in December & then they did it again recently when the owners had a new baby born early.

Well, better see if I can figure out when it will be on! Hope to catch up with everything soon! When I do, I plan to post a picture of my new laptop, my haircut & color and who knows what else!

Original comments:

3 comments:

1. 
   Mamma has spokenMay 3, 2009 6:41 PM

   Wow not sure what all you had to do to the computers but it made me glad that I have a nephew who is an IT specialist and will come and fix my problems whenever I call him. Think I'll hug him the next time I see him...
   Notice you have a countdown for the cruise, lucky dog you!!!!

   
   
2. 
   Cindy/KSMay 3, 2009 8:36 PM

   Not really all that complicated once I get everything I want off them. Right now I have 2 desktops & 2 laptops in my living room though. The final plan would be to have something inexpensive as the server at the gym, the Dell desktop at the counter connected wirelessly. The HP desktop here at home as my server and for the grandkids to play on. Then the 2 laptops totally synced within a few hours of each other so that I am never lost without one again. And I plan to get the house server out of the living room & into the corner of the kitchen that was my original plan for a desk, but that I didn't like using on a permanent basis because D offset it so that I couldn't see the door or the tv from it, so I hated being there. But it will also put my recipes back in the kitchen area for use.

   
   
3. 
   Cindy/KSMay 21, 2009 1:52 PM

   I did get the Dell desktop set up at the gym, the network is connected again - even found how to get into the settings for that router/modem & changed it to a more secure network & to a different channel - which was the issue with my little laptop connecting. So we have the desktop on the counter at the gym with a wireless keyboard, mouse & wireless connection. And I only have 1 desktop in my living room & 2 laptops now. But am thinking I will rearrange the living room this weekend & move the desktop into the corner of the kitchen.

Family, Birthday party & boxing - originally posted 3/22/09

Well, it has been an exhausting week around here.

Wednesday night Audrey & John arrived about 9 pm. We all met for dinner at the local Carlos O'Kelly's. Before heading there, I got a text from Diane asking if her boyfriend could join us - he usually works evenings with Friday & Saturday nights off, but he had taken a personal day from work. I feel like it is presuming too much to say that he did it so that he could meet her sister & bil, but it sure seems like that was the plan. And I think it went fairly well. Audrey was a bit frustrated that Diane hasn't even mentioned that she is dating Jeff to Audrey & then he was at a family gathering where she was tired the entire time. I am glad they met, but can see Audrey's point since this isn't the first time this has happened. Anyway, evidently Eddie & Erica were on the outs, so she didn't join us, but he finally did arrive just before 10 pm - he called, so we ordered for him & the entire meal was gone within 10 minutes of him arriving - not sure he tasted it at all!

Audrey had asked Erica to cut & color her hair while she was here, but Erica only had an appointment available at 3:30 on Thursday - so they decided that after our dinner, we would meet at the salon and she would cut Audrey hair & put in the highlights, then Audrey rinsed them out here at home. John decided to go with us so that he could see Erica and watch what happened. Audrey asked me to go - so I did. We finally settled down to sleep a bit about 2-3 am.

Up at 5:30 am, but fell back to sleep & didn't wake up until 7:30 am - so plans didn't work out for Audrey to get Don to go for coffee with her before he went to work so that she could spend some time with him. But John got up & headed out for his dentist appointment scheduled for 9 am - eveidently they put Audrey first, but he took the 9 am appointment time & then she was there to take the 10 am time slot. After John's, he headed to Wichita to shadow the head of the rotation department at the hospital there that he is looking at as one of his options for his rotation in 2010 (he really liked what he saw!). Audrey came back home after her appointment and we chatted a bit, then decided to go to lunch at Lone Star where we both had a salad (helped make up some for the mexican food the night before and all the chips & salsa we consumed while waiting for everyone to arrive - I had met Diane, the grandkids & Jeff there at 8 pm - so was there for over 2 hours total myself). Then we decided to head to Wichita where we were t meet the photographer from their wedding 4 years ago and pick up the pictures Audrey had finally managed to order on one of her visits home. Turns out the law office that she works in is in the same shopping center as the restaurant we were meeting John & their friend Omar at for dinner. After several drives back & forth while we tried to find the law office, we finally found it, John was finished & followed us, so they both were able to chat with her (she just loves them & talks all the time about how easy they were to work with and how beautiful their wedding was).

Omar went to West Point with John and then lived across the hallway from them before they bought their house while still in Highland Falls, NY. So there was a lot of catching up for them all to do. I was enjoying just being with them & so was pretty quiet - which Audrey has commented on several times, but I told her I don't get a lot of adult conversation in my life where I can just sit & relax!

Headed back home about 9 pm, with a quick stop at Wal-mart in Wichita (after a search online, I found that Crest Pro Health toothpaste has a cinnamon flavored one that is also for sensitive teeth - so I was searching for it & found it!). A & J hit the road headed back to Kirksville, MO just 24 hours after arriving in Hutchinson. I was so tired already, but couldn't really sleep until I knew they were home, so dozed off & on while waiting for the text that arrived about 2:30 am - then slept until 6 am before getting up to get ready for the day at work. Had not worked Thursday since R was kind enough to give me the day off without me even really asking - I had asked to leave early to drive A to Wichita.

D had been talking about having a birthday party for A since A's 9th birthday on February 5th. But since A wanted to have a trip to the bigger zoo in Wichita for her party, it needed to be a day with a good weather forecast. So it had been postponed a few times. Thursday night, I texted her while driving back from Wichita, to see if she had firmed up the plans yet. Got the message Friday morning after arriving at work, that yes, she had & that yes, she wanted me to bake & decorate the cake, if I still could. Since the party supply store that I get all my colorings & such from would be closed by the time I got off work and wouldn't re-open until 10 am Saturday with an 11 am party time - it wasn't in the options to get anything that I didn't already have at home - so I thought about it off & on all day at work. Trying to figure out something I could do for her cake that wouldn't require anything other than a trip to the grocery store for eggs & such to bake the cake & that she still would like. Then about 1-2 pm it hit me - she likes to machine knit with me! She has a couple of knitting machines that are kept here at my house. One of which is a pink & purple Singer. So I realized that if I did a little cutting of cake pieces, I could duplicate it pretty good and make a knitting machine cake for her. I think it turned out well and even though while I was at the grocery store, she called and was asking me to do horses & dogs on the cake, I think she liked it (we explained that I couldn't get the necessary materials to do the horses & dogs before her party). I was so tired on Friday that I baked the various pieces I would be using, but set the alarm early & got up to do the actual decorating Saturday morning.

At 11 am Saturday, we all met at the South Hutchinson McDonald's (so D, who had to be at work at 4 pm, could be there for at least part of the party). D had decided that instead of arranging a birthday party at the zoo itself, she would take the kids out to eat first, have cake & then go to the zoo, while buying a 1 year family membership which would allow them all to go more times this year for just the cost of gas & maybe eats - which was cheaper than a party there would have been. So about 1 pm, we headed out to Wichita - T & C driving with me, A & her friend J driving with D & J (J's girls couldn't make it since they had plans with their mother - her birthday maybe). I had to be back here by 5:30 pm, so knew I would have to leave earlier than everyone else to be back on time. We made it most of the way through the zoo before I had to leave - left the barnyard area until last since it usually take a lot of time for some reason & then I think they were taking the kids out for dinner before heading back.

I made it back to the house about 5:15 pm, so could get the dogs out to do their business before heading down to help with pre-bout physicals before the boxing show started. Good thing too - the nurse who normally does them evidently couldn't be there & one of the Golden Gloves officials wife, who is retired, did them, but she wasn't feeling well - so she was counting on me being there - I organize the passbooks - getting them matched together according to the order the fights are to go in & pairing them with their opponent, etc. I also write in the readings she gives me & since I used to work as not only a CNA, but a CMA, I am familiar with the format that needs to be used and some who might volunteer just aren't - so it takes more time to bring them up to speed. Plus, I have been helping out this way for about 2-3 years now.

I did stay to see all the fights this time - even though I was tired! Got home about 10:30 last night and sat down to drink a glass of wine (which A & J had brought me - a red wine that is kind of sweet and it is formulated to allow it to be chilled - something I like) - didn't even finish the entire glass before I fell asleep on the couch. Woke up at 8 am & Don still wasn't home - he had worked a 16 hour shift.

So now it is Sunday & I am trying to decide if I just want to rest today or if I want to go for a long walk before going to my cardio kickboxing class this afternoon. I am leaning really hard towards the former!

Original comments:

2 comments:

1. 
   Mamma has spokenMarch 22, 2009 11:21 AM

   Wow that is a busy past few days!!!! After all that I would vote for resting on the couch the rest of the day, forget doing anything else!!!

   
   
2. 
   Cindy/KSMarch 22, 2009 11:58 AM

   So far that seems to be what I am doing. I have my jammies on, D is asleep & I am to wake him a bit after 3 so that he can head back to work. I put lotion on my feet & my aloe infused socks are on (it's a bit chilly, but don't want to close the window!) and I have been reading a bit on the computer - haven't even managed to watch the dvd that I put in.

This & That - originally posted 2/26/09

Well, we think we know what is going on with the insurance. Will see how it turns out. It appears that they cannot deduct for insurance from the sick leave pay. So why 1 week of sick pay & now 2 weeks of sick pay, mean that we owed for 3 months of premiums, I don't know. But the person D spoke with (of course, he forgot to write down her name) told him to send in 1/2 the billed amount & then see what happens in March. She told him that he wasn't technically being billed for January at all - hence split it in half for the other 2 months that were listed on the bill.

Tuesday is to be his 1st day back at work after 2 weeks off. I know it sounds horrible for a wife to be wishing her dh wasn't home at bedtime. But I am so exhausted after not being able to get to sleep at a fairly early time for most of the last month. So Thursday night of next week, I should be able to get to bed at a fairly decent hour, be asleep for a couple hours or so before he gets home from work.

D has postponed A's birthday party from this weekend until about 2 weeks from now. Says A didn't tell her the truth about why she wanted to go to a friend's house. I don't know what she told her or what she really went there for, but I do know it helps me out with juggling things this weekend! E has a boxing show for Saturday night & I usually help with pre-bout physicals for that. Then it was to be C's weekend with me - so wasn't sure how we could manage that along with the party. R is having a Scentsy party from 12-2 Saturday - come & go style and I knew I really needed to get the dogs in to have them groomed. Something I haven't done since I was getting ready to leave for my cruise last August. I get them cut short a couple times during the hotter months, then they have to have time to grow their coats back out over the winter before they really need it again. Well, I have let it go too long & Ginger's in particular is getting quite long on her behind. So she needs her bottom cleaned up in particular and Fred could use it as well.

My friend S that I started penpalling with back when D was in 1st grade (25 years ago!) has just become a grandmother for the 1st time. So I think I will try my hand at another blanket this weekend on the machine. R tells me that she has on occasion done a broomstick lace type join to 3 panels made on the machine & then crocheted around the edge - so I think I will try that. I should be able to pick up some yarn for it tonight after I leave the gym. Since they had a little girl, I can personalize it more for her.

Original comments:

2 comments:

1. 
   Mamma has spokenFebruary 26, 2009 7:06 PM

   Glad to see that things are working out insurance wise. Think I need to check in on getting one of those machines. I haven't been able to do many crafts since I had carpel tunnel syndrome. I use to crochete all the time when we were first married but haven't pick up a hook in at lease 20 years.

   
   
2. 
   Cindy/KSFebruary 27, 2009 10:30 AM

   I am either going to have to get different yarn than the one I chose or handknit this blanket - I got baby boucle and it keeps dropping stitches and breaking if I try to undo the stitches I have done.
   
   I actually have 4 machines - 1 Incredible Sweater machine that I bought new in the 90's, 1 Bond Fashion Knitter that I bought off a woman on one of my machine knitting groups and 2 Brother machines - KH930 w/ribber & a convertible one that I can't remember the # right now. The last 3 were bought used from eBay. You can buy machines new - the most common brand would be Silver Reed. Don't know what the pricing would be.
   
   Sometimes, I have heard that if you cushion the handles of a crochet hook you can make it easier to work. I have even heard of people taking the pink sponge off of sponge curlers to cushion the handle of their crochet hook and make it easier to work with.