Thursday, March 30th

[Colliemom]

Good Morning. Sun is up, temp is cold, 8°. But heading into 40’s. We had a couple of inches of wet snow yesterday, but it melted by afternoon. Supposed to have some tonight before changing to rain tomorrow morning.

Beth, glad you are settled in your new location. Sounds like a fascinating place. Looking forward to hearing about your time there. Barbie, why not just list your place with that realtor you want to use. You never know what might happen. With all of the damage, and everything else that being caused all over by the storms, there may be some people who may decide to relocate to a different part of the state and you will also be out there for people who may be coming down next fall that maybe looking ahead. It can’t hurt. If you are going to sit there, you may as well sit there being listed. You would also be out there when others are off the market, reducing the competition. Anne, what’s latest on your e d. More rain and snow keeps coming. What’s the dam situation?

Going to be a busy day here today. Dogs off to the groomer later this morning, errands and a run to store for me, bring them back home and somebody coming to install those new exterior lights later this afternoon.

So, need to get.my mornng moving here. Have a nice day everyone.

[Redetotry]

Today is beautiful and warm and Emma’s trainer sent DH home with warm ricotta cheese cake when he dropper her off. Yum! Sue I hope better weather comes your way soon.

Pippa goes to the vet today and my van is still at the shop so we will have to take the new car. I’m going to put down piddle pads on the floor and hold her on a towel in my lap in case she gets car sick.I’m going to space her shots and have them do a titer for the canine booster so she may just have to have the rabies shot. I see a diet in her future...

Now a rant alert! My new computer order caused a lot of frustrating phone calls last night. I received an email from our credit card company saying they had put a hold on our card because of a possible unauthorized purchase. The email was sent to a hotmail account that I seldom use. I did not reply but called the card company. I reached someone I could barely hear and they did not speak English well enough for me to make out the issue. So I apologized and said I’m sorry could I speak to someone else. Not sure what all she said except I’ll transfer you to the United States. Well I had the same issue, so again asked to speak to someone else. This time I could hear but their English wasn’t that great but I got most of what he said. At one point though I finally had to say could you please talk slower my ears are too old to hear that fast. I thought DH was going to fall off his chair laughing. I said yes I ordered a computer from Apple but that is not the amount on my invoice. I got him to release the hold so I could contact Apple to make a correction. He agreed thankfully! Apple explained that the taxes were less thus the difference in the total. What really aggravated me was the second person I talked to a man, insisted I put DH on the phone to approve me giving them information!! I of course asked why and he said I wasn’t the principal owner. I have never had that question except for medical or investment information. I think companies want everything done online and are trying to discourage phone calls so they make it difficult to hear or to understand the people they hire.

[Cudedog]

Barbie, why not just list your place with that realtor you want to use. You never know what might happen. With all of the damage, and everything else that being caused all over by the storms, there may be some people who may decide to relocate to a different part of the state and you will also be out there for people who may be coming down next fall that maybe looking ahead. It can’t hurt. If you are going to sit there, you may as well sit there being listed. You would also be out there when others are off the market, reducing the competition. Anne, what’s latest on your e d. More rain and snow keeps coming. What’s the dam situation?

Morning, Sue! Let me gather the latest stats, and I'll post them on my damn, make that
my dam thread.

Sue, excellent advice about keeping a place listed. I'll second that!!

You never know but what one of those snowbirds might go home and tell a friend how much they love SoCal, and that friend might immediately start looking for a SoCal place of their own. Or maybe a wannabe snowbird comes into some cash and starts looking. Lotta reasons people might start looking in the summer.

Barbie, I know what a pain it is to keep a place spiffy, in case someone comes to take a look.

What I did was that I let my realtor know that my place wasn't to be shown without advance notice - I made it a stipulation (requirement). Of course, the realtor can agree/disagree to any stipulation (LOL - if they didn't agree to this, they didn't get to be my realtor). Because I had dogs that needed to be put outside when people came, I needed advance notice. I requested advance notice of preferably a day, but at least of a couple of hours.

That gave me time to throw my stuff in the closet and the dirty dishes in the oven!!

If I was home, I would just go for a walk while my realtor did her thing. My place sold, too.

A seller can make most any requirement that they wish, a person doesn't need to let the realtor call the shots. As I said in a previous post, when I sold my place I "interviewed" several realtors. If one of them was too "pushy" on what they wanted me to do, I just checked that realtor off my list. I would also find out how many sales a prospective realtor had made in the recent past.

Now a rant alert! My new computer order caused a lot of frustrating phone calls last night.

BJ, I feel your pain.

Customer service. . . make that "Customer-no service" is getting worse and worse all of the time. I hate it when I am required to give some unknown person in India or Egypt personal information in order to get some simple question answered.

Small wonder that consumer fraud has become so prevalent!!

Years ago when we bought our first Apple computer (we had Apple computers then, don't anymore) we also bought a "service contract" (which turned out to be a "no-service" contract) that was supposed to give telephone advice as needed for a fast $400.00 (this was before everything was outsourced to India). When the new computer arrived, it wouldn't turn on. Decided to take advantage of my "no-service" contract and called the number listed.

Know what I was told was my problem? "If you would just read the owner's manual [which I had] you would know what to do". Great answer (not!) for my $400.00. Turns out that we had an older model of the same computer, took the backs off of both and had a look inside (those were the days when a person could look inside a computer!) by comparing one to the other, we could see that there was an internal plug that wasn't plugged in, but was just dangling inside there. Plugged it in, the computer (finally!) worked fine.

Never bought a "no-service" contract again after that, and a few years later I abandoned Apple computers altogether.

Have a great day, everyone!

Anne

[Acadianmom]

BJ, I feel your pain about the phone calls. If I ever have a heart attack it will be because I tried to call AT&T. You better have some credit cards in your name just in case. When Harold died they cancelled all the cards that he was primary on. I don't know what they check to find out that information but I didn't tell them.

I'll be sure to post a picture of Frosty in his bonnet. lol He is about 11 years old and just started having the problem with his ears in the last 6 months or so. I'm just afraid he might get skin cancer. I don't know if cats can get that. I don't know what he is hunting for but I see him in the pastures all around the house. I call him the Great White Hunter. My older son brought several cats home when he was going to college. People would take one in and then leave them to fend for themselves when they left college.

I finally made the cake mix cookies this morning. I used a Butter Pecan cake mix and put toffee pieces and chopped pecans in them. The dough is sticky so had to put it in the refrigerator for a while to be able to use the scoop to dip them. The recipe said to bake them 7 to 9 minutes. I baked them 15 minutes and they are still very soft. You can use any cake mix and what ever chip you like. I only baked 6 and put the rest in the freezer.

I don't know what I'll do this afternoon. I should have taken something out to cook when I was messing with the cookies. I am starting to see some room in the freezer. I'm trying to use all the older things and get ready for hurricane season. It kills me to have to throw food away. Karen, I looked at our Walmart for the ribs you like but this Walmart doesn't have any ribs with sauce on them. They only have raw ones. I don't remember the brand the local grocery store has but I didn't like them.

Martha

[Shirlv]

Good Afternoon All, a chilly morning but sunny. Frost warning for weekend, I can’t keep up. went to #2 daughters to pickup a lemon drop fern she bought me for Mother’s Day. Stopped at An Eastridge Garden just to look. Big mistake. I was the only customer there and a pleasant young woman with a nice southern accent walked around with me. She was very knowledgeable about houseplants and they had small versions of my wish list. We talked laugh and I spent too much money. I dropped the whole box of plants in the parking lot and said bad words but they survived.
I will have fun for the next few days. Be safe

[chalet05]

Martha, I couldn't get the link to work, but Amazon has sunscreen for dogs and cats. There was also an ear cover for cats that cracked me up. Barbie, I would check with the real estate agent you are wanting to use to get his advice. I realize summer doesn't seem like the best time, but I did a little research and houses do sell in Indio during the summer. Fun time plant shopping, Shirl! BJ, guess banks are being more careful? Beth, enjoying your photos and looking forward to more!

My ambition left me Saturday night and I have had a 2 hour nap most days. Plus some aches which I didn't think were from hauling a heavy box from one room to the next. Finally decided to take a Covid test which was negative - thank goodness! All seems right with the world today. I need to spend some time in the kitchen! I did start the Sling the other day, but front tires are very low. Of course, no where to plug tire inflator in. Safeway gas station across the street has air pump so will use it - last time I tried one of those it didn't work!

[JudyJB]

Actually, my son's cat went to Purdue. She was a March birthday gift from his then girlfriend. and she (the cat, not the girlfriend) spent the first two months locked up in a tiny fraternity room. Did not go to any classes, unfortunately. She was a Siamese, and my son broke up with the girlfriend and said that the cat paid him back for every irritating thing he had done with his girlfriend! Worst was meowing in the car from Michigan all the way to Dallas, TX, for his first job.

Warmer today, but very, very windy, so I am glad to be staying home. I want to go to the plaza area of Santa Fe, but I am going to wait until Saturday so I can park in the state building parking lot, as recommended by the visitor's bureau.

Up late last night posting three items on my blog. I am getting a bit tired of posting, and sightseeing less, so making fewer posts, at least.

[OregonLuvr]

Good afternoon. Was busy this morning with some mundane chores. I did put my raised bed together outside and it was chilly. I should have waited until this afternoon but I run out of gas after lunch. Now sitting relaxing and sipping a Hazelnut Mocha. Sugar free of course.

Having the rest of the red snapper filets from yesterday with some steamed cauliflower. So easy dinner.

[Bethers]

My first day of work and I'm exhausted tonight lol. I've been lazy all winter. And we had busloads of kids (a planned event). They were brought to the gift shop and only 5 or 6 allowed in at once. It's a small area. I was with the kids helping to find things they were interested in and in their price range. Some were keeping things at $5 or $10 and under. Others had bigger budgets. One young girl had $20 but wanted something for herself and her 2 sisters. That was so sweet. One boy was carrying a few higher priced items and asked me if I knew what taxes would come to. I ball parked it and wondered what he'd put back. Ha, he had a big budget and said he'd still would have about $20 left. (The biggest reason I was helping was to try to prevent to many hold ups at checkout when things rang up too high.) The afternoon was probably more of what I'll usually be doing. Greeting visitors and finding out if they want to hike or want to do the nature trails or both. Chatting with them and getting their entrance fees. That was slow this afternoon but enough people for me to get my feet wet on the register with entrance fees and anything any of them purchased.

Ty handled being home alone all day and we've enjoyed 2 walks since. I'm hoping to be in bed soon and that I can fall asleep quickly.

Anita, I'm really happy the Covid test was negative. Hang in there! You might just need some down time.

It's windy here but less than they predicted for today. But the warning is in effect through most of tomorrow. I'm trying to remembermy walking stick on all walks. I should start taking it when I walk down to work and back, too.

Sheila, I've used my frozen strawberries mainly in smoothies but took a handful out after your question. I ate then before they were totally thawed and they were good. I don't know how long they'd keep. But you could try just a handful as a test. Or give me time and I'll do it in the next couple days. I wouldn't thaw them all in any case.

[BarbaraRose]

Here is a link to an ear protector for cats! Good luck keeping it on them!! https://www.amazon.com/SXRC-Waterproof- ... JQ4B&psc=1

Here is a link to the sun screen for pets... https://www.amazon.com/STAY-FOREVER-SAF ... NrPXRydWU=


I need to get that outlet fixed before I can relist this place. I don't have the money to get an electrician here right now. I think most snow birds are busy heading back now. I will contact that real estate agent and see what he thinks.

I did a haircut earlier today. Now I have a headache again. Need to find some dinner soon. It got cloudy earlier and one dark cloud with a lot of rain coming from it was heading this way but just went south of here and we got missed. Now it has cleared up and the sun is out with no wind.

Tomorrow I have PT in the morning and then need to pick up some meds at WM and a little bit of food.

I find it so sad and depressing to see the flags at half staff once again for a school shooting. Seems like the flags are at half staff more than they are at the top anymore. So senseless!

Anyways, have a good night!

[JudyJB]

That cat ear protector is good for about three seconds, I suspect!

Has anyone heard from Carol and Bill? They have not posted on their blog for several days. Hope they are recovered from Covid and made it home.

[Shirlv]

I just checked Carols blog, they are home.

[Bethers]

That cat ear protector is good for about three seconds, I suspect!

Has anyone heard from Carol and Bill? They have not posted on their blog for several days. Hope they are recovered from Covid and made it home.

As Shirl said, they are home. Their son came down and they did one very long drive home. He wouldn't let them do anything and sent someone to unload the rig today, etc.

[Acadianmom]

Barbie, thanks for the link. I'm going to order the organic sunscreen. When I looked on Amazon all I could find was a spray for dogs, cats and horses but it said if they injest it to take them to a vet. The first thing Frosty does when I put something on his ears is lick his paw and start washing his ears. He would be real cute in the pink ear cover. He could get it off faster than I could put it on him.

Judy, I know your son enjoyed the cat serenade going to Texas. Siamese are very vocal. I have had to camp with a cat a few times because they were sick and on medication. They usually howl for the first day.

I almost forgot I had a Meetup meal tonight. We went to a restaurant and had boiled crawfish. I woke up with a headache this morning that kind of hung on all day. I took some aspirin and went anyway. It has been windy all day and it was really windy coming home.

Martha

[snowball]

so today I actually accomplished something.... floors vacuumed and plants watered... a big win for me... because of my long oxygen hose and the vacuum cord one has got to go... so the oxygen hose goes... and by the time I'm through vacuuming I know it... oh also cleaned the toilet... tomorrow will be back to doing nothing... oh other than making something for the funeral... decided on what to make but will have to run to the store for something... so I guess I will pick up some other stuff... after all I've yet to go into the store and get just the one or two items that I said I was going in for...
it's funny yesterday I was thinking the same thing that Sue mention about just putting the house on the market but yes the electrical issue would need to be addressed... I don't know if this would work perhaps you don't even have them in the area... but possibly contact a trade school and see if there are student's that are ready to graduate or just did and looking for experience possibly they wouldn't charge as much as a experienced electrician would... just a thought...
I wouldn't let a lot of strawberries thaw but I am actually not sure how mom would deal with them... she does well most of the time but like I told her the shrimp she could eat she still hasn't maybe I won't leave celery for her tonight although I popped pop corn so it will be there to piece on...
I only have 2.5 half rows on the one end on the Swedish Weave and that end will be done then to finish up the other side I think 16 rows depending upon where I stopped on the other end... guess we will see... and my grandson's afghan is almost finished... I put 7 sections on and am at 6.5 sections hmmm I lie I have 3 rows before getting to that measure... but it will be through some time mid April
Shirl you remind me of me I go to a nursery and I get really got up in plants and spend way more than I planned on... I'd love to see what that Lemon Fern looks like
you all have a great day
sheila