just letting you know,I am around, but have been getting up VERY early for me, and just am not getting to all the forums... It's spring, have vets, blacksmiths, gardens, family issues....ect.ect.ect.

I may not post every day, but do try to come read and check in! :)

just checking in!

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002

Answers

Yeah, Sar, I know. Spring has come on hard and fast in Ohio. For those not watching the weather, we had several days of temps in the 80s and then snow last night in NE Ohio . . . take about confusing! Best wishes on the family stuff, Sar. I'm down to three more forms and an hour or so of messing with the bank, then the probate will be closed. This project has now taken a year + 6 days. Note to all: clean up your business affairs *before* you pass on. Don't leave a mess for your heirs. One or two hours of discomfort for you beats hours of discomfort for your heirs . . .

. . .unless you dislike them! (:

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Meemur, I think I'm settling my father's affairs in record time. It's helping me understand how I might simplify my own affairs.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

I'm trying to get spring garden chores done too, very far behind but trying. Chris went for annual this am, everything checks out. I had another blood work thingie done re new meds effect on liver, I check out too. Minou would have gone for an annual but couldn't be found when the time came to stuff her in a carrier. She knew. Vet gave me knock-out pills for her, hehe. Did I mention vet has already offered to make house calls if necessary, even from his home, 30-odd miles away? What a sweetheart!

Sweetie: the office returned his rented desk, work tables and chairs. All that was available to work on was something like a card table. So he's been home for a week, sent the head office a memo that he can't work on a small table and has come home to work where he has several desks and chairs to choose from. Aaaaargh! It's not too bad, he does stay pretty much in his office area and doesn't get under my feet too much. And we're saving a bit of money on gas. As usual, they told him today they've found about another week and a half's work for him to do. (He's the last one remaining of the R&D section.) A few more jobs seem to be opening up but no "pent-up demand" gushing forth yet. We've reworked his resume so you can't tell how old he is and I bought him some Grecian formula to cover up the beautiful premature silver wings he has. We hate to do it but have to be practical. Once he snags a job, he can let the Grecian crap fade out.

SAR, I sent the kittie pics to the vet and he's arranged them as wallpaper on his computer!

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

We've been continuing the unpacking and settling.

The computers have been uncooperative lately. My DSL card seems to be 'tango uniform" and so I have a slow dial up connection. My newest keyboard has also gone TU and I am reduced to the one with the annoying spacebar that doesn't always work. The ISP tech will be here next Tuesday to check out the DSL card. At least I can print using this faster machine with the USB ports for the printer.

My arm has been acting up lately, too. Doctor appt on Monday for that.

Our refinance plans have been delayed to next Monday, conflicting with the doctor appt. LOL No call back after leaving her a message to reschedule. No doubt the rates will be higher by the time we get it done.

Got our taxes done. Redid last years too. All told we expect a couple grand or so. Added to my back pay expected next month and we should be doing well if we last that long. back pay is due to contract in which our pay rates were raised, going back to the date the contract should have begun, I think it was 2000.

Weather has been on the warm side, upper 80's and hardly any rain. A front today is expected to keep it in the low to mid 80's with more of a breeze for the next few days. I have managed to get some of the plantings around the house taken care of, but the backyard is showing the neglect of six months still.

The car, well, the car is running. Last bill was 1400.00 for new front axles. It's front wheel drive, and a year or so ago it met a concrete barrier wall on the expressway. We didn't know until recently that these axles were affected by that. We had to replace a wheel rim back then and we lost a hub cap. [It was a rain/oil soaked road at the time of the incident and no one was hurt, just embarassed. I was at work.] We are juggling numbers to see if a replacement car is feasible. the truck is leased [never do THAT again!] and due next May. We have to figure if two car payments are possible. My car is going to be ten years old in December. Aside from the increase in maintenance costs it continues to work well and look okay enough. Currently the car is louder than usual, which began just after the axles were replaced. May be a crack in the manifold but I hope the problem is just the cataletic converter or something simpler. Those aren't cheap either.

dog and cat are fine. dog has begun an unusual habit of licking his back where he was injured from the mauling. Don't know if the two are connected. The cat is the cat.

The house continues to be okay. The contractor says that the tile guy split for New York and so he is short handed. the guy he said he would send over for the punch list [some minor tile work in the shower] has not arrived in the last three weeks.

Insurance has sent the renewal policy, so I guess we didn't get dropped. LOL Some changes, the biggest of which is that they no longer will cover the fence in case of hurricane. They didn't do it after Andrew so it is a minor difference.

More than you wanted to know? LOL

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

No, Barefoot. Not too much detail. Thanks for taking time to post. I was wondering how everything was going, especially with the pets and the refinancing.

My life is still in typical spring mode -- work and gardening -- for which I'm most thankful! Last year at this time, I was starting to haul out my father's house. This year, I'm doing several easy work- related projects and digging up the west flower bed for re-seeding with impatients. Much improved, believe me!

OG -- I understand what you mean about "doctoring" Sweetie and the @#$%^&* "Youth Culture." I'm so sick of brats (30-) running the offices that I could spit -- a majority seem to be rude, crude, and too short-sighted to know a decent business plan if it bit them. Unfortunately, it's become the norm in a number of corporations. It's no wonder to me why segments of some American businesses are in deep do-do.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

Well, this was nice, everyone telling a bit about what is going on in the real world!

I will be in and out, I just can not longer sit for hours, but I DO check in!

it is a good day today, but storms coming this evening, so I will be on later tonight!

Glad the vet enjoyed them, too!

I got the horses vetted, teeth floated, and hooves trimmed! whew..all down for awhile!

Still working on the anger of the A-hole next door...everytime I am outside, and Butchie is in the shed window, my heart still breaks. But Butchie himself, is coping just fine, what a trooper he is!

Dan is working DOWNTOWN in a highrise. I am having old friends from long ago look me up, too...so it feels like the 7 yr. cycle is kicking it!..I will be 49 this July...GAWD! I feel OLD!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

You're only six years older than I am, SAR? You don't look it. No way.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

What I mean is that SAR **does not** look a day over 29. Really! I haven't the foggest idea how this woman does it. I'd say it was clean living, but I know better. (: (: (:

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

Glad everyone is having fun. Spring is the time to be outdoors to breathe in the fresh air, to air out the house, and to generally have a good time.

As for me, I feel like I've been stuck underground for the past few weeks. Oh, I have been! My two data centers are both underground, and I hardly have been outside from the time I arrive at work until I leave for the day.

But, boy, when I get home I stay outside as much as I can! I've been a planting fool! :) So far, I have planted 10 rose bushes along with all the dahlia. So far, I think that all the roses are going to survive. I caught the neighbors dog digging one of them up. Grrrrr. Figures, the one I didn't load up with hot pepper. That is fixed now!

The daylilies that I planted, plus the ones that the MIL gave me are growing to beat the band! I can't believe how they've taken off.

Last week, I mowed the 'yard' for the first time. Took me over two hours on the riding tractor, but at least it was all done. I was so tired from the physical install of the computers that I almost fell asleep while driving it around. I have broadcast various flower seeds around where I wish to someday make established beds. So far, I've seen the little seeds starting to grow. Heck, maybe it will reseed itself so I won't have to worry about making the beds more formal.

I took a walk down to the pond either last Thursday or Friday. The wild iris that I had noticed were in fool bloom. They are such a dark purple that they almost appear black. Simply stunning. I would love to transplant some closer to the house, but don't know if I should cause I'm afraid that I may kill them.

I've been working to clear up some of the dead wood (God there are tons and tons of it there), so that hubby doesn't feel that he has to do everything. He wants me to wait until he returns home to have another fire as he likes to sit with me beside them. I told him I thought there would be enough for plenty of fires, but I'll wait. I've also been pulling chick-weed. This stuff is growing everywhere, even in the woods. Some of it is so tall that it comes to mid thigh. Hope I can compost the stuff! LOL I know it is supposed to be a low grower, but heck it can only grow on itself so much before it has to start making a huge layer. That is how much there is. I've pulled about 3 carts that attach to the tractor full, and I haven't even began to touch the stuff. I'm just trying to keep it away from the house. My tulips were beautiful and I still have a few ones left on the plants. I have cut tulips for home and even brought some into work for my co-workers to enjoy. I had dozens of tulips in each room of the house with the exception of my son's bedroom. (He didn't want any)

Top it all off, I got a call from hubby last night. He's having a (or going to have) a week from hell. He's stuck in Hawaii... poor baby. I told him I'd trade places with him for a while. ;) He hates Hawaii, so he said OKAY. Something must be wrong with that man!

gots to run,

apoc

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

The thing about SAR is, she says she's cutting back on her activities, and yet even with the cutbacks she makes me feel tired and old. LOL

meemur and I are about the same age. I'll be 43 at the end of the year. Physically, that is, mentally I am still 21.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2002

today I drained the other water garden and thought all the fish had died...but alas there we 2 live ones..and I had to "fish" them out while not falling into the "pit"..then a frog jumped and scared the begebbers out of me... there is thr green goo (algea blooms) so thinck one could weave it and make a blankie for these sold spring nights!...I transplanted some corra Bells, and worked in the yard till the cold wind (35 MPH out of the NWest) so I came in and ironed curtains, and a dust ruffle for the one bed. now I AM tired!!! but tring to finish up a few posts!

BF I am close to 50, but mentally, I have always been "an old lady!" heheheheheheh at least my mom used to tell every one, I was like a little old lady, always quiet, and planned things out, and the other kids were...kids! I would always put the toys away, or wipe a puppy's nose with Kleenex if I thought it had a cold!!

I think I will hit 50, then start to count backwards!! (well, one can wish, heh???)

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2002

Most women will not acknowledge hitting fifty, having started counting back some years ago. LOL

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2002

I simply have anniversaries of my 29th birthday. Of course, at my age it takes a while to figure it out.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Nonsense! Just celebrate when you feel the whim...so to speak.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002