I just don't have a title because this is only going to be my random ramblings.  Yep, my Thursday night ramblings.  First up is a Piper update.  Today we had snow.  Not a lot of snow.  Just about an inch or so.  This, of course is her first time to experience snow.  Being the little short thing that she is, it was a hoot to watch her trying to make her way through the snow.  The funny thing is that she would kind of hop along and then all of a sudden she would raise her hind end in the air and walk on her FRONT PAWS ONLY with her hiney in the air.  I laughed till I about cried it was so freakin' funny.  And after the first time or two out there, she decided that she really really liked the snow.  She was hopping around in it and figured out really quickly that she could EAT it.  Needless to say she has been in and out and in and out all evening.  I was wondering this morning when they said we were going to have snow just how she was going to do.  Now I know. 

 

Next Friday night is the big fund raising gala for the non-profit I mentioned in my previous post.  Both of these women I wrote about are planning on being there.  I am just hoping that both of them act like grown women and remember WHERE they are and put their animosity aside for the evening.  I am not looking forward to that part of the evening.  I thought about going out and buying a new dress for this event, but I just don't have the energy to go shopping for anything.  I guess I will reprise a dress I wore a couple of years ago.  It is pretty glitzy.  A long black dress and a jacket with multi-colored sparkly threads.  I think it will suffice for the occasion.  The evening should be fun if everyone minds their "p's" and "q's".  There will be a really nice dinner and then dancing with a great local group that hubby and I absolutely LOVE.  I plan to shake a little tail feather whether I am TIRED or not.  I am anxious to see what they have to offer at the silent auction.  I have bid on and won a couple of pieces of nice jewelry in the past.  Perhaps they will have something nice again this year.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE jewelry.  I always have and always will!

 

We are keeping the grandchildren for part of the day and early evening Saturday.  The kids have some kind of "function" to go to.  I have a feeling that they will just enjoy playing with Piper and watching movies on the big TV.  As far as I know, we have friends coming over Sunday to watch the Super Bowl.  Since we don't have any teams here in Oklahoma, it should be a mixed bag as far as who will be cheering for whom.  I think I may make a big old pot of chili.  Or, if I have time, I might make a brisket or something.  We shall see.  There is only one couple I haven't heard from.  Everyone else is pretty much on board to come over.  Anyone out there have any suggestions for good super bowl food??  I am definitely open to suggestions.  Whatever we have HAS to be easy to prepare.  I am just not up for anything elaborate.  I know my friend NJaney is gonna be partying down while cheering on her beloved Pats.  Her man Brady is on the injury list not for his foot or ankle, but his SHOULDER for goodness sake.  Not a good thing.  Hopefully, he will be up for Sunday. 

 

Well, looking back over this post it is nice and B.O.R.I.N.G.  I have got to get some excitement in my life.  Oh well, if anyone is having trouble sleeping they can just come read here and go right on down to dreamland.  I hope all my blog buds have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.

 

Later, friends and neighbors!!

 

BBB

Well, I had a good workout.  I have learned so much from my wonderful personal trainer, so I worked out hard so she would be proud of me.  I was pretty proud of me also.  I only wanted to go home.  But I didn't.

 

Weimie asked about my sweet boy dog I had to put down.  It wasn't my weimie.  My sweet boy was just a mutt dog and really a good boy.  We have one more outside dog and bless her heart, she is going to be awfully lonely.  Her momma was gone first, now our sweet boy.  Who knows, maybe there will be another dog out there who needs to be rescued.  We shall see.  I would love to do that.  Save another dog.  I know that hubby thinks we have enough dogs, but if I had the opportunity to rescue one, I would definitely think about it.

 

In other news.  I sit on a board of directors for a non-profit organization.  Our president recently fired one of the staff.  These women used to be the best of friends.  They did everything together.  They worked together and hung out together.  Needless to say that has all ended with the firing.  I just hate it because it has gotten very very personal between these two women.  I love them both dearly and hate that they are in such a horrible place.  The fired friend has filed for unemployment and they had a hearing this week.  She asked me to send her an e-mail about her final time sheet which I delivered as a go-between for these women.  I did as she asked.  Fast forward to yesterday, the other friend shows up in my office and is mad because I sent this as the fired person "turned it all around and made me look bad".  I told her that the only thing I wrote was the absolute truth.   I cannot help how these women are treating each other.  The hearing was the only one they will have and I think that they may rule in favor of the fired person.  The other friend said that she thought my loyalty should be to "the board".  I told her my loyalty was there and I didn't appreciate her questioning that.  I printed off what I had written for the fired friend and gave it to her.  After she left, I called our chair person and had a little talk with him.  I told him that if my "loyalty" was in question, that I would be most happy to step aside and let someone else handle my position.  I told him that these women have made this very personal.  They are both attacking each other in personal ways with words.  It just makes me ill.  I love both of these women dearly and I just hate how badly this has turned out.  Both are young, beautiful, and bright.  They are BETTER than this.  I just want to shake both of them till their teeth rattle.  I want them to wake up and realize that they need to move on and respect the friendship that they once had. 

 

I have worked many jobs in many different types of organizations.  I never cease to be amazed how people can turn on a dime against people who are supposed to be their friends.  Women can be especially vicious.  I mean, we don't have a corner on that market for sure.  I am not saying that, but it sure seems that you see more of this with women who work together.  Maybe men do this type of stuff but are not so overt about it.  I don't know.  Anywho, as tired as I am anyway, this all just wears me out even more.  It makes me weary, and sad, and just plain mad.  I hope that time will take care of this, as it does most things.

 

Well, again, I better slide on outta here.  I hope everyone has a lovely "hump day" tomorrow.  Half the week over!  Yaaayyyy!!

 

Take care all!!

 

BBB

Yeah.....I know.  I have been a slacker and haven't posted in a week.  I have just been dragging butt.  The medicine for my thyroid hasn't kicked in too well yet.  I guess I need to call and see when I am going to see a difference.  I did get a good night's sleep last night and today at least, I did not have to lay my head on my desk for a few moments.  So, I guess that is progress.

 

On the dog front....Miss Piper is just a joy and she is so smart and doing SO well.  She is already getting into our life routine.  I take her to work with me each morning and keep her here till noon, when I take her home and she then stays in her very own playpen.  While at the office, she just plays with her toys and I take her out to do her business every so often.  She is doing excellent on her house training.  She has only had a couple of accidents and they were due to US not paying attention.  When you take her out, she just gets to it.  Does her business quickly.  She slept the whole night without waking up whining at all for the last couple of nights.  Wooohooo!!  That is wonderful.  I took her to Petc*o last night to buy her fave treats.  We were out completely.  Everyone in the store wanted to pet her.  I asked one of the girls who works there to hold her so I could write my check and she about fell all over herself getting to me to take her.  :)  It makes a pet-mom proud!!  hehehe

 

On a sad doggy note....we had to put my only male dog down yesterday.  I rescued him about 15 years ago when he was going to be "gotten rid of".  He was sixteen years old, mostly blind and deaf.  He had been doing well up until this last month or so.  The cold was just really bad for him and he got a bad cough, and he also cut his shoulder on some downed limbs.  We have been bringing him in and crating him to keep him from the cold, but to no avail.  He was failing and I just could not stand to see him suffer.  So, he is now in doggy heaven with my beloved first weimie and our momma dog we had to put down in the fall.  That is the hardest part of owning a pet.  Being responsible for their very lives.  And at the end, deciding when they are not doing well and are NOT going to do well....to give them a peaceful end.  I bawled like a baby last night.  It just broke my heart because my boy was a good boy.  So sweet and so pretty.  I have never seen another dog like him.  I hope he's at peace now.

 

I have a workout tonight, but it will be on my own.  My personal trainer had surgery today and I am not sure when she will be back.  It is tempting to just go home and veg out.  But I just can't.  Even though I am dragging.  I will make myself go and do a decent workout. 

 

Other than that, there is nothing exciting going on at the BBB household.  I am trying to get a superbowl party together for Sunday with some friends.  I haven't done that in a long time.  I think this is going to be a good superbowl.  Two great teams.  I think it will be hard fought.  At least I hope it is a good game. 

 

Well, friends, till next time, you all take care.  I will be around to visit later!

 

BBB

Okay.  Hubby got the pictures downloaded so I shall try to get them on here.  We have had a hoot with Piper tonight.  She is having fun playing with her toys.  She is really having a good time chewing on them.  She does sneak over and try to chew on the computer cords.  However, with resounding "NO" in stereo from me and the hubby, she minds pretty well.

 

We did take one picture of our weimie, Jasmine, next to Piper so you can get an idea of the size difference.  Jazz just looks at her like...Puuuuhhhhleeeze get rid of that little piss-ant will ya??

 

So here we go, folks.

 

Enjoy!  Oh, and the little one in the tutu is my youngest grandchild who can easily pronounce Piper!!

 

BBB

 

 

 

Okay.  I know I haven't blogged in a few days but I have a good reason or two.  For one, I got the new puppy on Friday afternoon, deliverd to my office by the owner of the Momma dog.  And, yes.  Pictures will be posted as soon as I can get hubby to help me down load them.  To say that she is the cutest little ball of fur on four legs would be an understatement.  I know that I told you all we were going to name her Lillith.  Well, it seems that my youngest grandchild cannot even pronounce that name. AND, once I had her in my arms, she just didn't LOOK like a "Lillith" either.  It JUST didn't fit her.  And I wanted said youngest grandchild to not just have to call her "Doggy" or somesuch nonsense.  So, I have rechristened her.  The new name is Piper.  It TOTALLY fits her and her personality.  Hubby is calling her Piper Piss-ant!!  She is cute and cuddly and my grandchildren are in love with her and so am I.  For a puppy, she did really well for her first few days away from her Momma and her brothers.  She woke up about every two or three hours.  I would re-cover her up and give her a few pats and she'd go back to sleep.  Hubby is NOT thrilled with this phase of the puppy training.  So, we are going to have to discuss "options" since I would like to keep her in the bedroom with us.  We have a small play-pen and a small crate we can keep her in.  At night, it seems like the crate is the best option.  Dogs really do like the security they feel in one of those.  Our weimie sees us getting our keys to go somewhere and she immediately trots to her crate and gets in and waits patiently for the treat she knows she will receive.  I am hoping Piper will take to her crate as well.  A neighbor here at work gave me a good training idea I plan to try with her.   Anywho.  The weekend just FLEW as they usually do.  I will be able to bring the puppy to work with me some since I do work by myself most of the time.  I brought her this morning and she laid on my lap and slept all morning.  I took her home at lunch and left her in the playpen since it has room for her bed, water bowl and a training pad (which is what the owner of the Momma dog trained them to).  In that regard, she is also doing very well.  There has only been one "accident" and it was on the first day.  I learned very quickly, if you feed her, you IMMEDIATELY take her out to do her business.  You do NOT wait or pass Go, or she will....go that is.   hehehe  Other than that, we take her when she first wakes up from naps or the night time, we take her after she eats and we take her if we have been playing vigorously.  Thus, no accidents.  So far.  :)   The owner of the Momma dog called today to see how things were going.  I think if they didn't work out, HER hubby would take Piper back in a heartbeat.  It seems he fell for her very hard.  She said that he knew she was bringing the dog to me on Friday afternoon.  He told her that he was late to work Friday morning because he just sat in a chair and HELD HER for a while.  Poor guy!!  She does have the cutest little face, she LOVES to cuddle into your neck, and she's got a feisty personality.  We are watching her very closely with our weimie who just doesn't know what to make of this little ball of fluff.  That's why hubby calls Piper a Piss-ant.  He says that's what our weimie is thinking...he's just sure of it.

 

With regard to the thyroid business, I will be SO glad when this medicine starts to work.  It is ALL I can do somedays to get out of bed.  I am just SO tired all the time.  We didn't even make it to church on Sunday.  I was just beat and waking up with the puppy didn't help that at all.  Today, I have just been dragging and I haven't been able to get warm.  I have had the heat blasting all day (since I control the thermostat) and I still had to drape my coat around my shoulders.  I hope I am not getting a cold or something.  That would be JUST what I need!!  NOT!!

 

Well, I will see if I can get some pictures on here later of little miss Piper so you all can see JUST how cute she is.  Till then, ya'll take care now!!

 

BBB

When I started this blog, I had in mind that I would give glimpses of what life is like on the other side of fifty.  Thus, the name of my blog.  My hope was, and is, to present a real picture of what people in their fifties deal with.  I know that there are many of you who read my blog who are nowhere near to being fifty.  For you, things might change by the time you get to where I set.  Then again, they might not.  Some of the things I have blogged about are issues with health insurance, dealing with aging parents, and health issues.  Above all, I want to be real.  I want to be honest about what is going on in my life, good or bad.  There has been a little of both since I started the blog.

 

Today's blog deals with one of those "after fifty" health issues that has come up and bit me in the behind.  I went on the 31st for my annual physical exam.  Two issues came up with which we, as women, (and for you guys who read, if there are any of you...your wives deal with) deal with.  First off, I had a lump in my breast.  I had noted it for a couple of months, but was "busy" dealing with my Momma's illness and passing.  I know.  I know.  You should NEVER put off getting a lump checked out.  But I had checked with BFF, who is very well read on this issue due to her Mom's being a survivor of TWO bouts of breast cancer.  I felt pretty certain that this was NOT a lump to worry about.  However, I did point it out to my doctor.  She also felt like it was not a problem lump but to be on the safe side, I had a mammo and an ultrasound, just to be sure.  Turns out that it was NOT a lump to be concerned about.  So, I am good to go.  We will keep an eye on the situation and if anything changes, I will be ON IT!!  Now the issue comes of HOW in the heck do I pay for the mammo and ultrasound.  I have one of those lovely high deductible, health savings accounts that our lovely rich congressmen came up with.  The problem is, you can only pay as the money goes into your account each month.  So that means the docs always have to be willing to work with me on payment.  I will broach that when the bill comes in.

 

The next issue reared its ugly head through my blood work which I had done on the 31st.  It seems that I have borderline cholesterol, which I will address, but the worse thing it showed was an underactive thyroid.  That alone could account for part of my cholesterol problem, of which I have never had a problem before.  At first, the nurse told me I had an OVER active thyroid.  And they called me in a prescription.  That treats UNDER active thyroid.  How did I know this??  Well, I am savy enough to G**gle that stuff!!  So, several phone calls later and I learn that I do, in fact have an underactive thyroid.  Which presents a host of problems.  It could have something to do with the joint pains I have been suffering, the hoarseness of my voice, which I passed off to allergies, and last but not least, my problems sleeping.  Oh, and joy of joys, the med they gave me has a really SWEET side effect.  HAIR LOSS!!  I already have thin, fine, hair.  I fear being a bald person over fifty!!  So.  The fun begins.  I have decided to be pro-active.  I G**gled hair loss due to treatement of under-active thyroid.  It seems there are some vitamins I can take and some other things I can do.  I already drink green tea, which is one suggested thing to do. 

 

I guess what I am saying by this blog is that my friend, Pat, is right.  Growing older is NOT for sissies or the faint of heart!!  You must be diligent and pro-active in your own health matters.  Some of the stuff you have to deal with is the absolute PITTS!!  I am NOT looking forward to this.  But, I will keep you posted on how it goes.  I will be honest and tell you the good and the bad. 

 

So there ya have a little glimpse of MY world, yet again.

 

Take care everyone!!  CYA soon!

 

BBB

It was a pretty good weekend.  I managed to get a lot done.  I worked in the yard Saturday for about 3 or 4 hours.  I kinda lost track of time.  Anyway, I got all the small branches all cut up and ready to move to the curb, with the exception of one limb in the front.  I even did the next door neighbor lady's limbs in her front yard.  Daddy came over and helped pick up the cut up limbs.  Bless his heart.   Thank goodness he didn't work for long.  I would have been worried.  After all, he is just getting over a cold.  But I think he enjoyed getting outdoors and moving around.  It was probably good for him.  Anywho, now all I have to do is cut up that one limb, and then move all the cut up stuff to the front curb and the city says they will pick it up.  Now WHEN they will do that is another question.  A short drive around town will show that there has been little or no effort anywhere here in town to get the debris hauled off.  We are going to save the larger pieces for our campfires when we go camping.  We LOVE a good campfire.  So we shall have LOTS of firewood at our disposal this year, and next year too probably.

 

Last night, hubby and I attended what our church calls "Lifeline".  The church got so big that it was important to get people connected.  It is so easy in a big church to become "anonymous" and kinda fall through the cracks.  The way that our church gets people connected is through small groups.  This isn't a new concept by any means.  Many churches have been doing these kinds of groups for years.  We have been in the same lifeline since about 1995.  In fact, when we joined our lifeline, we were the youngest members of the group (we still are) and we were not even married yet.  We were just dating.  So we have quite a history with this group of people.  It has shrunk over the years from a high of 20 or so couples (ours was a POPULAR lifeline), to just five couples.  We get together on Sunday evenings and share a meal, share prayer concerns and then have some type of Bible study.  Due to all that has been going on in our lives, we have met rarely with the group for almost a year.  So we are told Sunday that they are starting a new study and would we like to get back to the group.  We decided that it would be a really good idea.  We love these other couples to pieces and they have been such a GREAT source of support for us in this past year that we were most happy to get back.   Oh, and we meet in the various couples' homes.  Last night we attended for the first time in a long time.  I never thought to ASK what the study was going to be about.  They just said it was a really good, new study they were starting.  I get there and the new study is about death and the after-life.  May I say that given what I have been through with the death of my Momma, this was a very difficult study for me to participate in.  I cried no less than four or five times.  I thilnk that it will be an interesting study, but I also think that it is going to continue to be difficult for me.  While it was an interesting discussion, it was just just hard to get through.  I think this is going to be a several week study, so if I want to attend, this is the study.  I guess I need to just suck it up.  And maybe each week will get a little easier.  At least I hope it will.

 

Well, I need to run over to see my Daddy so I guess I better hop off here for now.  I hope all my blog buddies have a great week!!

 

Cya soon.

 

BBB

I know.  I never post two times in one day.  But I just HAVE TO today.  Hubby and I went to the movies tonight and used one of our gift cards.  We went to see the new Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman movie, The Bucket List.  As we went in, hubby said that the reviews in our local paper only gave it two stars (out of a possible 4 or 5).    WRONG!!!!!  That was just WRONG!!!  If you get ANY opportunity....GO. SEE. THIS. MOVIE!!!!   It's a GOOD movie, well worth taking the time to see.

 

I'm just sayin'.....

 

BBB

I approached hubby on the subject of possibly having him show me how to use the chain saw so I can get more work done tomorrow on our downed limbs from the ice storm.  His reply:  "You'll cut your leg off!!"   I told ya!  I just knew he wouldn't want me to use that thing.  I have a hard time believing that it can be that hard, but I guess I won't press the issue.  I just hate it when I can't do something I want to do.  I am just like a petulant 5 year old.  But I wanna, I wanna, I wanna!!  I promise I will do it right!!  Ever heard those from your kids??  Anywho, I guess there will be no work with a chainsaw in my future.

 

In closing (I know....this is a short entry today...I gotta head home) I got to see little Miss Lillith today!!  My friend K brought her and one of her brothers by to see me.  If all goes well, she gets her first shots next week on Monday, and I can have her by the end of the week.  She is 8 weeks old and an absolute doll!!  I can't wait.  Her little brother was soooo cute too.   So I will keep you posted and let you know when we get her!!

 

Have a great weekend folks!!

 

BBB

Tonight has been a lovely, albeit cool evening.  I got ya'll the other night with my talk of the reporting on the hook echoes huh??  I had several people ask me what in the world is a hook echoe?  Well, the first time I heard one of our area's finest meteorologists use the term, I asked the same question.  This gentleman was reporting on a serious storm system going through our state.  (Note:  they don't track storms in our AREA here in Oklahoma....they track them from the minute they hit the state...until they exit the state...and sometimes even longer!!).  Anywho, said weather man (meteorologist) was pointing to the screen and making dire predictions of a possible tornado....saying...."see that hook echoe??"  And he points to the radar screen, and indeed, it looks like there is a little "hook" area on the radar.  So, to answer your question, I would say that a hook echoe is a formation in a storm that can be a predictor of a possible tornado forming.  That's the BBB explanation as best I can put it forth.  So now you are in the know.  If you ever hear that term in reference to YOUR area, you had best be headin' for the fraidy hole or as is common in our area if you are pretty well off or live in a newer home...the "safe room".   The TV stations here took a lot of static the following day after these storms because the pre-empted THE WHOLE FREAKING EVENING of network entertainment!!  So, now they are scrambling to figure out when to re-air that programming.  People take their programming seriously and it is major upheaval when you mess up a whole evening of it!!

 

I had hoped to work in the yard again this evening when I got home, but that was just a little unrealistic and too ambitious.  There just isn't enough sunlight to last to get anything done once you have had dinner.  And I even had dinner ready in the crockpot.  All I had to do was make a little rice and a vegetable and we were ready to go.  I love it when I can do that.  I made one of my "concoctions" as I call them.  I took four boneless chicken breasts, two cans of chopped tomatoes, two red bell peppers cut in pieces, an onion cut up in pretty large pieces, some lemonpepper and italian season.  That was it.  I put it on this morning before I left for work.  I let it cook all day.  When I got home, we made rice and served it over the rice.  The chicken just melted in your mouth.  Now the only question is whether the peppers and onions will agree with hubby and I.  I know that GREEN peppers and hubby do NOT agree.  However, he hasn't seemed to be bothered by the milder red peppers.  Hopefully, I haven't promoted a bad case of indigestion in either of us!!

 

I guess I am gonna need to give my Daddy some dance lessons.  In talking with him tonight, he advised me that they had a guy who came in to the "center" as he calls it, and played piano and sang.  Evidently, this man did music that the residents like to dance to.  Daddy said one of the little widow ladies asked him to dance and he told her no.  I asked him why and he said he had forgotten how and didn't want to look silly.  So he said no.  What do you think??  I think some dancing lessons are in order so the man can cut a rug next time!!  Daddy may be 85 years old, but to the little widow ladies, he is a hot babe.  I am gonna have to adjust my thinking to that.  I know.  I know.  Life goes on.  It is just hard to imagine my Daddy with anyone but my Momma.  Don't get me wrong.  I WANT him to be happy.  I just have a hard time getting my head around another woman possibly coming into his life.   I remember when my former next door neighbor talked to me about HER Dad when he had started dating.  She had a hard time with it.  She REALLY had a hard time when after a couple of years he remarried!!  She and her sister really took it in a difficult way.  It has been a couple of years and they still haven't really gotten used to this new woman, even though their Dad is seemingly very happy.  And money was NOT an issue for them.  The lady had MORE money than their Dad.  Anywho, I know that this is something I may have to deal with at some point.  My Daddy is a WONDERFUL, loving, sweet, good man.  And like I said, to the ladies there, he's HOT!!  They took note of how GOOD he was to my Momma during her illness.  They took BIG notes and have discussed it or so I have been advised by the activites director at the center.  I am glad he is getting out and enjoying life for a change.  Heaven only knows he deserves to have some enjoyment.  He is in excellent health for his age (except for the cold he is still fighting).  So, we shall  see if I need to give him a few lessons in hoofing!!

 

This weekend I am hoping to get the yard work finished, and I also want to go see the new Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman movie.  It looks like it will be a hoot!!  I got a couple of movie gift cards for Christmas, so perhaps we can use one of them.  We also got three different gift cards for restaurants we like.  One of them I know we will save and use on Valentine's Day.  That is the one from my boss to one of the most expensive and tasty steak restaurants in town.  WOOOHOOO!!  We LOVE getting that gift card each year.  And the boss knows we use it for Valentines and thinks that's cool that we enjoy it then.  One of the other gift cards is to a restaurant we absolutely love.  They have the most WONDERFUL bread pudding in the WORLD I tell ya!!  When we go there, we usually eat fish and a salad, and then PIG OUT BABY on that bread pudding.  Even if we eat light, we end up STUFFED once we have finished the bread pudding because it is so rich.  Talk about a sugar rush!!

 

Well, I guess I better go and do a little blog walking and visit all my wonderful friends!!  I can't watch the big TV because hubby has on Ultimate Fighting.  My hubby LOVES these fights and I hate them.  But, I am tolerant.  He has few vices.  I am NOT a football or sports widow by any means.  So, I just find something else to do OR go and watch one of the other MULTITUDE of TV's we own.  It is really obscene how many TV's we have.  I am sitting in my recliner and from here can see THREE.  I tell ya....it's crazy!!  Oh well.  Ya'll have a nice evening!

 

Till next time......

 

BBB

For those of us in Oklahoma, it was an absolutely LOVELY weekend and also today was beautiful.  Mild temps after the deep freeze we have been living in were welcomed by everyone.   If my neighborhood was any indicaiton, everyone took advantage of the mild weather to get out and work on the downed limbs and stuff in their yards.   Even though my shoulder is still bothering me, I really needed to work on our yard.  I did about 2 hours worth on saturday and about 2 and a half hours worth on Sunday.  I got A LOT done.  I only have a few limbs left of the complete tree we lost in the back yard.  Then I just have to deal with the limbs from our pecan trees and our cedars.  I am really pleased with how much I got done.  We will definitely have lots of fire wood for whenever we need it again.  I wish hubby would teach me how to use the chain saw.  There are some really big pieces I need to deal with and cut up.  I think he might be a little iffy about me using the saw, but I figure it can't be that hard to use.

 

Hubby and I also did some shopping for things needed for the kitchen project.  We bought a pocket-door assembly and a door for the entrance to the kitchen from my laundry room.  It will be really nice to have a door when we want or need one, but to be able to push the door into the "pocket" when we don't want one.  We are also still looking at materials for the countertops.  Man, there sure are a LOT of options besides formica!!  Granite, silestone, corian, you name it, we have looked at it.  No decisions have been made in that area yet though.  We have heard of a place near here where they have huge discounts on granite.  So we are going to check that out for sure before we make any decision.

 

I have to say that we are definitely enjoying the new plasma screen TV!!  We finally got D*sh out here to install the new HD upgrade.  It took them forever to get here, but it was worth the wait.  We got some new channels we didn't have before, one of them being a network that just shows HD concerts.  We have seen some great concerts.  The Dave Matthews Band and The Who are among some of the groups who have been featured.  We have watched several movies we have either rented or bought.  One we rented and really liked was the Bourne Ultimatum.  I love Matt Damon and the Bourne series.  I have bought Waitress, but haven't watched it as yet.  Oh, and we went to see the new National Treasure movie and it was excellent!!  I highly recommend it.  Anywho, back to the new TV.  I think it is going to make me an even worse TV junkie!!  With  all the D*sh channels perhaps I won't go into withdrawal because of the writers strike and lack of network TV shows.  I don't know who is holding up the works on getting that settled, but I hope they get off dead center and realize that without the writers, they have nothing.  Nada!!  They really need to get the strike settled.  Until then, I guess we will be watching a lot of the other options out there, which is okay with me.  Tonight, all the networks in our area are on a marathon of tornado tracking.  I know that this is important.  Don't get me wrong.  But in Oklahoma, instead of just interrupting from time to time, they just take over complete programming.  I get pretty tired of hearing about "hook echoes" and such after about two or three hours.  Give people warnings and then get OFF the TV and get back to programming.  I don't need to know every inch of every mile the storm travels.  Can you tell this is a big pet peeve of mine?  Oh, and it's not just me.  We have a local newspaper columnist that I can just BET will have something in his column tomorrow if they run these warnings ALL freaking evening.  It drives this guy NUTS!!  And I love reading his commentary on it.

 

Well, my friends, I guess I shall quit boring ya'll and cruise on outta here.  I need to check the network and see where that hook echo is.  Till next time, ya'll have a good one!

 

BBB

I got my letter from the firm referenced in my last entry.  The one about our health insurance.  I will just say that it wasn't lovely news to start my year.  I keep having to tell myself that at least I HAVE health insurance.  I know many people don't.  So, I will buck up and live with it.

 

I had my first personal training session of 2008 tonight.  I worked really hard and it felt pretty good.  I am having some issues with my right shoulder, which I have previously had surgery on.  It has been hurting since my last session and I have been using the ibuprofen pretty regularly.  I am hoping that if we continue to work on the muscles around my shoulder that the pain will stop.  We shall see.

 

I can hardly wait for the weekend.  We are supposed to thaw out this deep freeze we have been living in since the great ice storm last month.  Wooohooo!!  It is gonna be in the 60's and I am so excited.  It has been so cold at my office.  The owners of the office building have not had the heat on in the common areas.  Needless to say a trip to the bathroom has been horrible.  Like sitting on an ice cube!!  I guess it goes without saying that I haven't been lingering in the bathroom  or the hallway either.  It has made it difficult to get the office warm, and that usually isn't a problem.  I guess several of my building mates called the owners and complained.  Late this afternoon, they actually had a little heat in the commons areas.  Just in time for the warm up this weekend.  How priceless!

 

I think this weekend we may get out in the yard and start cleaning up some  of the downed limbs.  I could use the workout and we need to get the stuff cut up and to the curb so the city will haul it off.  At least they SAY they are going to haul it off.  I sure hope they do.

 

As I have been visiting my fellow bloggers, I am starting to read of many who are starting to get the flu and colds of the season.  Several like my friend Tricia, have been terribly sick.  I talked to my Daddy today since I didn't get to yesterday because it was so busy.  HE has picked up my BIL's cold....doggone it.  I just HATE that.  While I was at my Sister's house over the weekend, hubby warned me about BIL having a cold.  I washed my hands at every turn.  Evidently, Daddy just was enough susceptible to pick it up.  I hope he is better soon.  I hope all my blog buddies are better soon as well.  Colds and flu just suck big time.  So, my friends out there in blog land, take care of yourselves.   Those of you who are under the weather, I hope you are on the mend soon!!

 

Sorry there's not much else interesting going on here in the BBB household.  You all have a good weekend!!

 

BBB

Over the holiday, one of the things that hubby and I did do (besides act like a couple of slugs) was we pretty much finalized the kitchen design.  We sat down with SIL yesterday and reviewed things.  It is pretty much set and ready to go to him to start the build of the new cabinetry.  WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!  I am definitely ready.  We still have to pick out some things.  We are looking at built in microwave/vent units.  We need to pick out the countertop materials and tile for the backsplash.  Stuff like that.  As we speak, hubby is putting together shelves so we can clean out the rest of the cabinets that remain in the kitchen.  Then I guess we tear out the rest of the kitchen and we do without till the build is done.  I wish you all could see my third bedroom.  NOT!!  Everything that previously called my kitchen cabinets home NOW resides in that "bedroom" if you can call it that now.  No room for so much as a COT in there!!  I just cannot tell you how excited I am about finally getting to the build stage.  This has been a real process.  But it is going to be SO wonderful when we get it done.  Oh!!  And we determined last night that our present dining set is not really what we want for the new dining area.  So, we will also be picking out a new dining room set.  I already know kind of what I want, and hubby agreed with my idea.  Yeeehaww!! 

 

I will have to see about posting some before and after pictures when we get it all done.  Hubby took some "before" shots when we first started the project.  I already love the openness of the floor plan since we got  the walls out.  Since we do all of our family get togethers here for the most part, it will really be nice to have more room and better planned space when we get done.

 

Other than that, my first day back at work was quite a start to the new year.  I got in to the office at my usual time.  I turned on my computer.  Looked at my monitor and NADA!!!  Nothing!!  My monitor bit the dust.  After conferences with the bosses, I went to S*ms Club and bought a new monitor for which they will reimburse me (hopefully sooner rather than later).   The rest of the day was a blur.  I can't even see the top of my desk.  Also, I got a call from one of the partners asking if I had gotten the letter on the health insurance for the year.  Ummmm.  NO!!  I can hardly wait.  NOT!!  Our coverage already sucks big time.  I can hardly wait to see what my deductible will be THIS year!!  I can hardly wait to see what other delights await my health care experience.

 

Oh, and I get to go to our other office Friday morning and have my picture taken for our new website.  Oh joy joy joy!!  I can hardly wait!!  The only nice bonus is that all of us "support staff" are having our belated Christmas luncheon and gift exchange.  I gotta get my dirty Santa gift wrapped pronto so I can take it.  I hope they are not still doing the cookie exchange.  I just don't have it in me to make cookies right now.  The luncheon will be potluck though and should be good.

 

Well, folks, I hope  everyone is enjoying the new year so far.  You all take care!

 

BBB