Sat, Dec 31st - 10:44PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
159.2 miles
clear

176 recordings of 47 types. 8% clear.

Pretty easy.

I've been trying to get Roni to the Crocker Museum ever since I joined it last September.  The current exhibit is definitely kid friendly, so today seemed like a good time for the whole family to visit.  We met downtown (I finally figured out how to get there directly without all the wrong turns I've been making) and went in.  The kids first got to see the Bigfoot museum with the Bigfoot bones and cyclops skulls (made of ceramics) and then the mad scientist lab (which scared Teddy a bit) followed by the robots made of ordinary household stuff.

From there we went to the creation lab, where I watched the kids while Roni and RJ checked out the rest of the museum.  The kids made their own inventions from junk in the room, and will get them "patented."

After that, we went to La Rosa Blanca, then here to the house for a short time. My dustbuster came and doesn't fit in the old bracket. What to do, what to do?  I decided to get shelves!  It was hard making them by myself, but on the other hand, nobody was cussing. A nice day!

Fri, Dec 30th - 9:49PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
158.9 miles
cold, clear

177 recordings of 48 types.  7% clear.

Rasmussen: -18: 45/54

Easy peasy for a change.

Rich, these oranges are GOOD!

Yesterday I went to Walgreen's to pick up some big trash bags.  I was amazed at the selection of lights they had. I don't think Rich ever checked them out.

I went over to St. Philomene for morning Mass.  The retired priest in residence has a more elaborate daily Mass than Father E.  He processes in from the back of the chapel and does the long penitential prayer, for instance.  This morning, though, he was having trouble reading the opening prayer.  I began to wonder if he'd had a stroke.  When he started trying to read the Gospel, my friend Laurie said "Father, if you're feeling ill, you don't have to finish Mass, we'll understand."  He said he'd go on but when someone offered an aspirin he took it.  Then he started to do Mass and the congregation interrupted him and said they'd called 911, go sit down. He did, and to my surprise, when the paramedics said they wanted to take him to the hospital, he didn't argue.  The good thing about this is if it is a stroke or a heart attack, he was looked at quickly. Imagine if he'd been alone in the rectory!

We stuck around to say a Rosary for him. Then I came home to talk to Ford Credit and to U-verse, the former to get the car title in my name, the other one because they charged me for the upgrade which I didn't take. I think if I hadn't complained, they might not have refunded the difference. 

The heater company sent around the maintenance guy. This was another trigger point, because I not only had to show him the filters (which I found) but I had to help him organize the front hose and it has timers and switches. Spooky really lived up to his name... he got trapped in the office and when he made his escape he was screaming, about twice his actual size, and moving at warp speed. I've never seen him that scared. I don't know what it was about the heater guy.

I picked most of the oranges: they look a little green but I think they're ready.  There are about 10 more left on the tree.  I policed the back yard. I took my letter to the Brit friends to the Post Office and got another stamp for one other UK letter. Then I took in the recycling, because I don't like it sitting in the carport.  Less to interest thieves. I found out how the place worked, and got $16.34. 

In the Wyoming Alumnews, I found out a woman I know has died.  My

classmate's sister.  I emailed both alumni magazines with the news about Rich.

Always before when I did this, I knew Rich would be home in a week or a month or at least after a year. It's hard to wrap my brain around this "forever" thing.

Fri, Dec 30th - 11:38AM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
158.9 miles
crisp

172 recordings of 43 types. 9% clear.

Rasmussen: -12: 47/52

I replaced the batteries in the TV remote, and it works!

MikieP, the first local geocacher we met, was in a car accident last Wednesday and is in the hospital with broken bones. This is the time I really need Rich to talk to.

I made a card: drew an etrex

"In search of that special geocache...

Start at BANG! ...Through ambulance ...through IVs... through surgery ... Through more IVs (I just hate IV caches, don't you?) ... Through pain meds... Days and nights of nurses... through pain pills... Through poking and prodding ... sleep...

You're getting closer... Till it's time to log the find

GCHOORAY
Complete Recovery!

Log: FTF: Mikie likes it...

(He always starts his logs with that.) I signed it "Log this one soon!  Love from Jan of sailorscodgers."

I was working on this while the cleaners were here.  They broke one of the chimneys on the chandelier.  They say I can get a replacement paid for. This is so old, I don't think there's a replacement to be had. I glued the broken one together and put it on a sconce which doesn't get turned on too often, so hopefully that will work.

They were upset enough to leave water in the sink and various other chores not done, or not done well.  But it's OK.  And Pagan suggested I get a plexiglas box for the ship.  Duh. I never thought of that, and it'd be nice to keep the cat off it. 

 When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

My uncle Jim called. That was nice.

Reading: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (vol 1), Edward Gibbon, The Bible (1 Machabees), The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales, Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, One Imperfect Christmas, Myra Johnson, Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies, Marta Felber, and The Death of a Husband, Helen Reichert Lambin.

Thu, Dec 29th - 10:16PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
158.9 miles
Mild enough

168 recordings of 40 types. 10% clear.

Seriously, in 2008 we elected a community organizer, state senator, college instructor, first term senator over a guy who spent five years in a Vietnamese prison. And now he’s lecturing us about how America’s gone “soft”? Really? — Jonah Goldberg

The Obamas' 17-Day Vacation to Hawaii Costs Taxpayers $4,135,038

The Muslims are not happy!
They're not happy in Gaza .
They're not happy in Egypt .
They're not happy in Libya .
They're not happy in Morocco .
They're not happy in Iran .
They're not happy in Iraq .
They're not happy in Yemen .
They're not happy in Afghanistan .
They're not happy in Pakistan .
They're not happy in Syria .
They're not happy in Lebanon .
So, where are they happy?
They're happy in Australia .
They're happy in England .
They're happy in France .
They're happy in Italy .
They're happy in Germany .
They're happy in Sweden .
They're happy in the USA .
They're happy in Norway .
They're happy in every country that is not Muslim.
And who do they blame?
Not Islam.
Not their leadership.
Not themselves.
THEY BLAME THE COUNTRIES THEY ARE HAPPY IN!
AND THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEM TO BE LIKE THE COUNTRY
THEY CAME FROM WHERE THEY WERE UNHAPPY.

Dogs are codependent. Cats are sociopaths. Take your pick.

Oh, yes, also yesterday I ordered a lot of stuff over the Internet.  With the Barnes & Nobel's cards I am getting the last three Harry Potter movies.  I ordered a Dustbuster. I ordered dove wind chimes to replace the ones that broke.  And just for fun I got a jigsaw puzzle table.  Today I realized the other thing I was going to order was the display case for the flag. (I guess my Mom didn't have military honors when Granddaddy died: the flag was always just folded by us. At least, I don't remember Taps and the "grateful nation" speech.)
I chose a nice one with a pedestal that will have a plaque on it.

A friend planned to come over today to look at the tree, and it suddenly dawned on me that maybe she'd like to go to a movie with me.  Sure enough, so we went to see "The Descendents."  "It's sad," she warned me.  Well, yes, but it's a fictional story and besides, in comparison my family is so supportive I could actually feel superior.  Clooney was terrific, the scenery and music are great, and I really lost myself in the film.  Loved it, and now we're planning to see "War Horse" next week.

Thu, Dec 29th - 6:55PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
158.9 miles
Mild enough

168 recordings of 40 types. 11% free.

I got up and puttered around, put Baby Jesus into the manger, made some coffee and put it into the Christmas cup, then sat to say the Rosary. I was halfway through when I saw a stocking hanging on the mantel. (Where the Nativity set is! I'm really observant, I am.)  Santa visited! I puzzled over that for awhile.  At first I thought B. had snuck in while I was reading/dozing in the bedroom, but no, Santa's sneaky ninja elf came yesterday while we were gone, and I also puttered around last night without noticing. (I'm really truly observant!) There was a chocolate orange in the toe.

I slept in, read,  then found the cord to charge the iTouch.  I baked cinnamon rolls. I was
doing fine till, while recharging the iTouch, I saw his calendar for the week of Oct. 15. That's the week we went into hospice.  (He had no plans for the 4th of November, I looked.)

I took the dog geocaching. I replaced two caches, and found another, but then I went looking for a way to get to a bike trail that has a lot on it. All the approaches I thought would work were blocked off by fences or overpasses. Eventually I gave up and we came home. So then I went for a 2 mile walk with Pharaoh. 

We lived so far away from the families when we got married that we always had Christmas on our own. In 1967 I was in Laramie and Rich in Viet Nam, that was one exception, and in 1972 he was in Arkansas and I was with his folks and my Mother in Pittsburgh, the only other exception.  So we wanted our kids to have the same, and therefore we met on "bowling day" the week after Christmas, and later on Christmas Eve at Monica's. I could have gone to Bernadette's, I'm sure, but I didn't want to spoil their fun.  (And from the pictures, it looks like they did have a lot of fun.) So I decided I wanted to eat at Denny's.  And I did. I had a roast turkey meal that was excellent, and a caramel apple crumble.  As I was sitting way in the back, though, the waitress didn't get back to me with the check, so when I tracked her down she let me have the dessert free. I gave her a nice tip.  I actually enjoyed this experience and may be going there for some of the other meals occasionally.

This is last year, and my writeup on it.

A lovely, adult, Christmas day. After Rich got up, we put on Christmas music, had cinnamon rolls, and opened our presents.  I got a little puzzle (and a certificate to join Pogo.com and buy the Bookworm game I've been holding onto), then a small terrabyte external drive that will go on trips with us... and THEN a videocam. Irony!  Movie cam and not seeing the kids for a month!

Rich is, no surprise, having a hard time making his "juice pack" (battery booster case for the iTouch) work.

The rest of the goodies are: A kit for Curried Lentil Soup, two packs of wine brittle (I don't taste wine in there at all), a ceramic bowl and wall hanging from Monica's girls, wine-chocolate sauce (I wonder if it wouldn't make good cocoa), and a bottle of Two Lab Cab wine, a pretty necklace, picture frames, M&Ms, and a good cinnamon bread loaf.

Then we took the dog geocaching with us.  We walked along Arcade Creek, on a trail we haven't done for years (the last time was with Sailor, before geocaching. He jumped off a cliff into the creek and we had quite a time getting him back.) They've improved the way over the creek, which used to involve walking atop a big pipe. Now, we didn't find two of the four caches along the way, but it was a nice walk.  We picked up one other, but we hadn't prepared properly for the others, and it began to rain anyway, so we came home.

A cosy fire in the fireplace.  Rich cut a piece of scrap carpet to protect the real carpet.  And I made a pork roast, potatoes, and my candied apple rings for dinner and we actually ate at the dining table. It was just a great day!

Today, of course, wasn't as good, but it was pleasant enough, considering.

Reading: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (vol 1), Edward Gibbon, The Bible (1 Machabees), The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales, Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, O Little Town, Don Reid, Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies, Marta Felber, and The Death of a Husband, Helen Reichert Lambin.

Tue, Dec 27th - 9:30PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
156.8 miles
Mild enough

163 recordings of 37 types. 12% clear.

I'm not brave enough for this.  I'd much rather be in Hawai'i! One of my prayers at "Comepraytherosary.org" was: "Dear Jesus and Mary, be with me today. I'm not brave enough to do the "happy Christmas eve" gathering alone."

Okay.  Drove down to Elk Grove and helped pack up Bernadette's car. I'd brought presents, and oranges, and pies, plus a bag-o-stuff for Monica. Then we were off. I cried some on the way down. We stopped in Lathrop for potty, looking at aliens, and in my case, coffee.  We got to Monica's about 11 and Roni's family arrived immediately after.  Chit-chat, and great appetizers, then lunch. I tried the cioppino, a shrimp, an oyster, and a spoonful of broth.  Then I ate ham and some great potatoes (which I took home later) and salad, and then went to watch Joanna and Gareth, who had been pretty wild sitting at a table. Once someone else came out to protect the living room, I went outside and sat on a step, talked to a hummingbird, and had a good weep for about 15 minutes.

Mark was watching out for me, and gave me a hug when I got back in. It was time for presents. I hadn't bought anything, but stuff had come my way: two Wedgewood candy dishes and a box from Loretto for the girls, books about the mothball fleet for the men, and a set of picture coasters for each family.  The kids already had their magazine subscriptions (I *still* haven't gotten my refund, by the way!). I got lots of interesting food from Monica, and also pictures and songs both from her family and the funeral collage. Then a coprolite ("Dinosaur poop!" I shouted which fascinated the kids) and sweater, a Barnes and Nobel gift card and some cookies from Roni, and she also gave me a check for Sharing God's Bounty, the money she would have spent on her dad.

Then it was time to walk downtown to go to Christmas in the Park. I skipped out on it and went to the Islamic science exhibit at the Tech. Very interesting.  "Hands-on learning, great for humans, tough on exhibits.  This exhibit is being repaired." Anyway, I noted that the last advance in engineering, medicine, chemistry, etc., was in the 12th century.  All they've done since is kill people. Such a shame.

I came out just as Roni's kids were on their last rides.  So they'd changed the usual route and already had their churros and chocolate, sulk. On the other hand, they did well with making Rudolph light up, which was always Rich's favorite part of the day.  On the walk back, I detoured them a block to look at some murals and also to look for a geocache.  Thank goodness, we found it. 

Then it was time for pie, Christmas crackers, and church.  This was the hardest part of the day. I broke down twice before Mass.  Then I was holding Joanna so was pretty well distracted for the rest of it.

Bernadette has a better route home than Rich and I had ever figured out. She changed the two kids and bundled them up and drove us home.  We were guarded by Rich, I'm sure.  There was a possum who crossed an exit ramp right in front of Bernadette and it, too, was protected, as she drove right over it, not touching it any where.  We got to her home about 9:30, so I was able to stop at St. Philomene's before Mass and drop off my Christmas envelope. Back home, I puttered around till midnight, and was able to get to sleep quickly.  Thank goodness this day is over.

Mon, Dec 26th - 12:30PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
156.8 miles
COLD

163 recordings of 36 types. 12% free.

Rasmussen: -13 (best since July 15.  Stupid Republicans!): 47/51.

Tougher and tougher.

I finally backed up my data, which I hadn't done since mid-August.

At Comepraytherosary:
Guest "Prayers for Jan that she may be comforted with love, peace and joy this Christmastime. I pray for the soul of her dear husband. Thank you, Jan, for your prayers for Guest and the healing of her husband who has cancer. Bless you."

Last year what happened?

And we played music. I really wanted to hear Wizards in Winter, which was on a CD we added to the rotation this year, so I went off shuffle and onto continuous play... but the disc wasn't coming up. Rich came into the family room to tinker with it, and couldn't get it, and suddenly he slammed his fist on the wall and shouted "DAMMIT!"  We've been trying to clean up our language for the babies, and I reacted "STOP YELLING!" Like that was helpful. "I'M PISSED!" "YOU'RE ALWAYS PISSED!"  By this time Gareth was crying.

I wish DoD would stop telling me they're going to pay me and actually pay me instead! Today I got two notifications from them. One was what I already knew, with the saying "this is not a change, but there's important information on the back." That information was that I would lose the annuity (that so far I'm not actually getting) if I remarried before I'm 55: the kids would lose it (they don't have one) if certain things happened, and they have to notify DoD when I'm dead. All stuff I already knew. The other one looked like a check, but was a notice that I would receive a check numbered such-and-such with $238 for Rich's back pay while he was still alive. Or I might have already received it. 

This was a particularly difficult day, I'm assuming because I'm tired. I was on the verge of tears all day, and slipped into them often enough.  Bernadette had her office party, so I babysat and the kids were fine. But I was depressed and antsy.

I found an April Fool's card from Rich (1964) and he said he'd given up cigarettes for Lent (instead of me). I so wish he'd continued not smoking.  27 more years nicotine free, he might not have died so soon and so miserably.

I also found letters from his previous girlfriend. I wonder what became of her.  There's a woman on Facebook who might be her.

I met the (gorgeous and intelligent) fiancee of the kid across the street, who at almost 47 we thought would never marry.  They're getting married on July 4. I picture his mother dancing jigs in Heaven.  I do believe she'd like Christina.

Our former neighbor kid was hit by a car in Utah and is having a slow recovery. He's still young enough not to have permanent brain damage, they hope.

Those are things I would love to share with Rich.  He'd have been interested. He'd have LOVED Christina!

Some places we were back in 1965 and '66, that still exist:  The National Cowboy Museum (I remember the barbed wire exhibit especially), The Panhandle Plains Museum, which was the kind of attic-everything-museum I love. They've probably simplified it now, worse luck. And Monical's pizza:
They moved... they used to be at 526 S. Sangamon.  And there were only two of them.  My favorite was sausage, green pepper and apple.  That would be $2.30 for a large. In 1966.

I have 267 books on the Nook, with 23% space left.

Sun, Dec 25th - 8:41PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
156.8 miles
brisk, breezy

175 recordings of 39 types. 7% (but I no longer get the other channels, this should get better.)

Rasmussen: -14: 49/50.

Dear Rich:
I filled the car at $3.319 per gallon. I'm getting 25 mpg! And today I finally figured out how to put it on automatic so I don't have to hold the pump.

On the way to the Retreat House I drove past Dennis' to see if he was around. I wonder if he's all right and feel guilty that I haven't checked on him. Anyway, when I got off his street I almost turned the wrong way, because the street is divided there.  Oops. And, of course, I'd forgotten the check for the Retreat House. I'll take it next week.

I planted those mums that have been sitting in a pot in the garden the last two years. I guess the cold and the dryness got to them, they've turned red.  There are new green shoots, however, so they're apparently OK.

I got the last of the peppers. Utterly amazing. I cut out some more nut grass. I'll just turn the clover in. ("just", she says. I now know how hard you worked out there.) The compost bin is at the coffee-filter-and-orange-peel stage again. I suppose there are two more of these in this bin. I got some compost out the other day, though, and there was only one recognizable thing, a corn cob.

Pagan and I went caching in West Sacramento.  He took business 80 over there and the bridge was beautifully golden.  We went to Emma's Taco House for lunch. I got a burrito that would have fed you and me and maybe a couple of small children. Then when it was time to cache, I saw the battery hatch on the GPSr was gone. I checked all around Pagan's car (I'd used the GPSr earlier trying to find the street the restaurant was on) but couldn't find it. That rotten grandson of yours didn't take "leave it alone!" seriously yesterday, not even when I swatted his hand the second time. Argh.  Well, HAL's fits.

We found 8 caches and had 2 DNFs. I made the rookie mistake on one of saying "I found it!" loudly enough so that Pagan ... and the nearby teenagers ... could hear me.  That one we took with us for the half hour of looking for other caches before we came back and replaced it. Pagan had never seen a flat cache before, and this one was very well done. He found another that looked like a coconut... it was so beautifully hidden. At the last one, there was a wooden nickel from Russi. I had to think about it for awhile, because YOU were the one who collected wooden nickels. I finally decided to take it anyway.

Pharoah was out when we got back. My fault. When I was doing the gardening, I took some grass to the bin, but didn't close the gate properly when I came back through.

I decided to separate out our letters and cards to each other, so have re-sorted the paper box I'd finished. Sadly, I found one card I sent you:

"There must be about a million reasons a day to feel like lighting a cigarette and only one reason to quit.

"But that reason is the important one.... YOU."

I called cigarettes your "cancer-stick mistress." If only you'd listened. Woe.

While I was out our neighbor Joan called to see how things were going. I miss you awfully, but I'm doing all right.  Looking forward to our seeing each other again, whenever that will be. 

All my love,

Jan

Obama hails Congress for tax deal, cites self 4 times in 3 paragraphs.

Argh. These people make me sick.

Good.

Fri, Dec 23rd - 7:30PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
154.1 miles
clear, cool

173 recordings of 39 types. 9% free.

Rasmussen: -18: 47/51.

Gareth got a video from Santa.

After babysitting, which went pretty well, Pagan came by and drove me to the geocaching event in Yuba City.  When we got there, I had to be brave to go in. I gave out tokens and collected hugs.  Finally, Lightning McQueen came. Rich had made a cache of car things he'd picked up through the years, especially for him.  He didn't turn up at the last event we went to in August, and I wanted to be sure to get it to him.  That family hadn't heard that he died.

I'd given quite a few things to the raffle, and won a tin of cocoa and a geocache. (One of the things I gave was the geocache I got last week.)  Pagan got a hanging geocache but didn't know what it was... I thought he was giving it to me, so I traded with another guy and ended up with a nifty bolt geocache which, of course, was for an astounded Pagan. Oops.

He points out Rob could help me with the iTouch. How ironic. I warned Rich, two years ago, not to bug Rob about it. Currently, I don't even have a clue how to recharge it.

0bama will do it, too.

All the Occupy movement starts with the premise that we owe them everything. They take over a public park they didn’t pay for, to go nearby to use bathrooms they didn’t pay for, to beg for food from places they don’t want to pay for, to obstruct those who are going to work to pay the taxes to sustain the bathrooms and to sustain the park, so they can self-righteously explain they are the paragons of virtue to which we owe everything. That is a pretty good symptom of how much the left has collapsed as a moral system in this country, and why you need to reassert something by saying to them, ‘Go get a job right after you take a bath.’ — Newt Gingrich

5) With regard to the idea of whether you have a right to health care, you have realize what that implies. It’s not an abstraction. I’m a physician. That means you have a right to come to my house and conscript me. It means you believe in slavery. It means that you’re going to enslave not only me, but the janitor at my hospital, the person who cleans my office, the assistants who work in my office, the nurses. — Rand Paul

Just great, Canada's patience is wearing thin.

Reading: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (vol 1), Edward Gibbon, The Bible (1 Machabees), The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales, Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, A Victorian Christmas, Catherine Palmer, Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies, Marta Felber, and The Death of a Husband, Helen Reichert Lambin.

Comment (0)

Thu, Dec 22nd - 8:55PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
154.1 miles
clear, cool

173 recordings of 38 types. 8% clear.

Rasmussen: -18: 47/51

I went with the ferry fees.

I'm sorry, Rich, I just can't help it. I know he wouldn't want me to be so sad, to be crying so much.  Maybe next week.

I babysat today. It really went well. The kids were good, I caught Gareth before he pooped, and Joanna willingly went down for a nap.  So I took Gareth in to make the Christmas tree picture for his Mom, and darned if the same thing didn't happen as last year, he cried about me taking a picture of it. Hmmm. Maybe he thought I was going to TAKE the picture after he worked so hard on it.

Gareth is showing a bit of interest in reading music, so I showed him where "C" is on the piano. He doesn't understand yet, but he's definitely interested.

After Joanna's nap, they got to start in on the gingerbread house that Bernadette made. I'll be glad to get it off the counter because I've been worried about getting it wet.

The house is a disaster, but they're coming back tomorrow, so I'm not doing anything about it.

West to Holder: It's not about Your Color, it's about Your Competence.

How I love West. His credentials deny criminals like holder the abilty to utilize the race card.

Fast and Furious has killed hundreds of Mexicans and at least one American border guard. Eric Holder admits that more deaths will happen due to his program. This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with the incompetency of the current adminstration. Eric Holder should be frog marched out of his office. As should his jug-eared boss.
Happy Nomad on December 19, 2011 at 8:17 PM

Utah Museum of Natural History
I remember going to the old one with Rich. That was a LOOOONG time, maybe 10 years, ago.  I'm planning to go see it this summer.

I can't even get the iTouch to turn on. I'll have to figure out how to recharge the batteries.

A gallon of regular gasoline the day Obama was inaugurated was $1.79 on average in the U.S. Today that price is $3.59, a 100.6% increase. The number of food stamp recipients has risen since Obama took office from 31,983,716 to 43,200,878, a 35.1% jump. Long term unemployment soared 146.2% during the same 32 month period from 2,600,000 to 6,400,000. Staggering hope and change isn't it?
American citizens living in poverty have risen 9.5% from 39,800,000 to 43,600,000, and the number of unemployed has jumped almost 25% from 11,616,000 to 14,485,000 as of August 31, 2011. The number of unemployed blacks has risen from 12.6% at the end of George Bush's term to 15.8% today, a 25.4% increase, and finally, our national debt is up 34.4% from 10.627 trillion to 14,278 trillion.

Wed, Dec 21st - 7:44AM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
154.1 miles
FOG

170 recordings of 37 types. 17% clear.

Rasmussen: -16: 47/51.

High-Speed Rail Boondoggle.

Aw. I missed the news that the Duggars had miscarried. It's not surprising. I was worried both about the baby and about Michelle.

I noticed when I stopped the car at church this morning, that there was an indicator light blinking.  Panic!  Then I looked it up, and it's the "passive anti-theft device."  What I don't understand is how come I never noticed it before?

Another really bad day. I suppose once Christmas is over, things might improve.  I had been going to go caching with Pagan, but when I got back from the Commissary (ick. Another fraught trip, but the last for the year, anyway.) it was so foggy I called him to postpone... and then, of course, the fog lifted.

I decided I was tired of the (25-year-old, at least) tiles in the kitchen being loose and that I could do a quick patch until such time as I get the new refrigerator and stove and maybe paint before putting in new tiles. So off I went to HD Supply. I'm glad Rich found this place.  I got 6 more 17-cent tiles and put 5 of them in the kitchen. I'd already replaced one of them in the bathroom, apparently with the better tiles that we used in the closet. In any case, the toilet doesn't appear to be leaking at the moment, possibly because it's not getting flushed as often. This is the big January project, as soon as I find out how much money will actually be coming in.

Teddy realized his turtle (his lovey which he lost in Southern California) was really truly gone, and tears ensued.  Fortunately, Santa Claus, with a little help from Aunt Monica and Mommy, found it, fixed it up, and because Teddy was in distress, brought it by early. Santa left a nice note.  Roni said that apparently Teddy was distracted last week but the reality of his loss finally sank in. I'm pretty much in the same position. I was doing better last week than I am this week. But Santa isn't going to bring Rich back for me.

I remember the Monday Night FB game, Niners-Steelers, we went to. (November 27 1978) The Steelers won that one, 24-7. Rich would have been really depressed over this game.

I got the VIA, the AAA magazine. Sniff. I don't have to wait for Rich to finish it.

Cute decoration from last night!

Tue, Dec 20th - 9:17PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
154.1 miles
cold

163 recordings of 31 types. 13% free.

Rasmussen: -19: 47/52

The Last 0bamateurism of the Week for this year.

I was mentally composing a note to VITAS and remembering the big horse pills.  (Which came right after the nurse said he should have liquid medication.) They were always just a little off.  Rich had been so proud of his ability to swallow pills without water. Another thing taken from him.

I dreamed I went into someone's house to pick something up for one of the kids (probably their house, though it's not one I've actually seen) and discovered the cats had destroyed most of the eggs on the tree. It was a relief to come out and discover the tree was fine.

Church was particularly hard today. I was barely holding on through Communion, and was noticed. Lots of hugs.  Then I went to the pancake breakfast.  Before I went home I shuffled some money around. I think I've got a system that will work for me. I'll be getting my walking around money from a different source than Rich did, or than I used to do. Some of this setup has to wait till next week, but it should work well.

JR's BBQ has moved into the old IHOP building.  Rich would NOT be thrilled.  They're landscaping at the old Tower Books, which is going to be a grocery store.

This afternoon I went to visit Casey, the middle CASA kid I had. I suppose it's safe enough at this point to admit he's a boy, now a young man, taller than I am and with a goatee.  Still quiet and polite. It was nice to see him and his family.

Tonight Bernadette took me to the neighbor's party, the one I missed last year because I was sick.  A lot of support there, and a good time.  One woman insisted I should try the wonderful olive balls.  Preen. I *made* the wonderful olive balls!

Tue, Dec 20th - 6:52AM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
154.1 miles
frost then warmish

169 recordings of 33 types. 10% free.

Rasmussen: -17: 47/53

I'm 2.5 pounds up this week, with high blood pressure.

OWS Manages to Shut Down a Business.

I heard on the radio: "If you can't afford a tip for the gardener, maybe you shouldn't have a gardener." Oh, that's just great, not only does he not get a Christmas bonus, he loses income all year.

Rose Mountain Manor, the B&B we went to in Colfax, is closed. :( This is not a surprise, but it's sad.

I started off today by looking for a geocache and finding it. From there to the wrapping party for Sharing God's Bounty. I started on the 4-6 girl's area.  I had some really awful paper, but was determined to go through it before starting on the new stuff. I got up to take a pair of socks to the people stuffing stockings, and someone stole my paper! And welcome to it. And the new stuff was very pretty, but I couldn't make head or tail of the directions on how to use the cutter. I worked there for about an hour, at which time most of the gifts were done. I had some coffee and was going to go for 4-6 boys, but the teenagers took over.

A lady near me wanted to know how I'd heard of it. Lady, I helped start this program and wrapped presents the first few years till Loretto took over.  Jim tells me they're using about $1500 of "Rich's" money for toys. (Since he gave over that amount, it's kind of moot, but I approve.) One of the last checks Rich wrote was to Sharing God's Bounty.

I remembered to order the pies. Now to remember to pick them up. Then I went to Del Paso Manor school park and found another geocache.

This afternoon I took the dog for a 2 mile walk, and stopped to see someone who'd sent a nice card to give them a bookmark. Their daughter, who I knew when she was 10, is completing a Master's at some art school. Good for her.

Apparently the Department of Defense will give me something. No idea what just yet, they say there's a check on the way to the bank, and they'll send me an explanation.  No word yet from the Disabled American Veterans.  Rich will haunt them!

I've got to take care of myself and the house, Rich really worked hard so I'd be comfortable.

Mon, Dec 19th - 11:50AM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
152.1 miles
sunny, frost overnight

172 recordings of 34 types. 8% free.

Rasmussen: -18: 47/52

Wrong, wrong, wrong. 

Ed, you caption the golfing obama with the words “Don’t Know Much About History”. Let’s face it. He also flunked Economics, Math, Science and every lesson given by any great leader throughout history.
DuctTapeMyBrain on December 16, 2011 at 8:17 AM

He would not know this. He was educated by far left zealots. The myth that he is SO smart has been shattered into a million pieces. Unfortunately, our public schools do not teach accurate history or economics. And with the press in the tank for him, he can get away with blatant lies over and over again.
karenhasfreedom on December 16, 2011 at 8:20 AM

Once again it will be separate planes. Moochelle has taken off for Hawaii without Hussein again.
You gotta love how our “rulers” rub their royalty lifestyle in our faces whilst we struggle to find or KEEP jobs that have cut our benefits and not given raises for years.
wildcat72 on December 16, 2011 at 9:26 AM

6 weeks since Rich died. One month since the funeral. It seems a lot longer.

I have 262 books on the Nook.

I called one friend this morning, since I didn't see her in church, and asked her to come see the tree this next week. I also called my former CASA kid's foster mom and arranged to go see them Sunday. I walked to SAFE with the dog and deposited a check. And I went next door with oranges (they have an orange tree too, which I hadn't realized) and peppermint bark and stayed and chatted for about an hour.  They're salt of the earth people, and they had donated quite generously to Sharing God's Bounty.

I decided not to go to the Messiah concert tonight. 

Gabe: Mom, did you know that the guy that told that lady with the golden thing over her head about the Jesus coming was named Gabriel?
Me: Yes honey, that was the Angel Gabriel.
Gabe: Yeah, my name is Gabriel too, but I'm not an angel.

Blah, blah, blah.  You know, it’s like the boy who cried wolf.  After a while, some of us starting rooting for the wolf.

Light-bulb ban rescinded AFTER all the factories shut down, people lose their jobs, and those jobs go to China.
Brilliant.
cane_loader on December 16, 2011 at 9:54 AM

At the rate we’re going, I would LOVE to see the gov’t shut down (with the exclusion of our military, of course). Every minute they are on the job, I hear more and more of my future getting flushed down the toilet.
search4truth on December 16, 2011 at 9:57 AM

Here voting base. Stare at the shiny light bulb while we go ahead and pass a bill keeping in place spending levels that have given us $1.6 trillion deficits for ever and ever. And vote for Mitt!
MNHawk on December 16, 2011 at 9:58 AM

They're going to close the McClellan Air Museum Charter School.  Sulk.

Reading: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (vol 1), Edward Gibbon, The Bible (1 Machabees), The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales, Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, Hard Christmas, Barbara D'Amato, Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies, Marta Felber, and The Death of a Husband, Helen Reichert Lambin.

I didn't finish Hitler's War, but the book expired. I'll get it again after Christmas.

Sat, Dec 17th - 6:29PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.7 miles
rain, cloudy, then clearing

173 recordings of 34 types. 8% free.

Rasmussen: -15: 47/52.

I changed the sheets and discovered a Rich-sock in the flannel sheets. Sniff!

The onyx wind chimes that we got in Tijuana (carefully testing all the sets till we found the one that sounded perfect) fell today. They held on during the gales earlier in the month, and fall down when there's a light breeze.  Grumble. I did finally find the goldfinch bird feeder. (They still aren't visiting, though.)

Renfree field is closed because of copper thieves.

I went out to the Retreat House, but my coffee date didn't show up this time. Afterwards I went to the Catholic Bookstore and turned in the book I'd gotten used from them about living with cancer and the Catholic faith.  They were happy to see it, it's out of print and people want it.  I decided against the grief book by the same woman, but did get THE DEATH OF A HUSBAND by Helen Reichart Lambin.  It speaks to me in so many ways and I cried a lot over it. 

"Grief is a winding mountain road that circles and bends back upon itself, straightens out briefly, and then circles once again. There are very few road markers, and the destination is often completely hidden by the mountain itself. You can all too easily look back and see where you've come from. What's hard is to look ahead and see where you're going and know that you really have something waiting for you up the mountain."

I got a call from the heating company to schedule the pre-paid heating maintenance. It's paid through 2013. (Thank you, Richard!) I also called to cancel a credit card. He was a "charter member" whatever that means, but hardly ever used it.

Trash out, watered plants, went to Rich's computer and caught up with all the financial stuff, paid bills, reconciled accounts, etc. I see he did his breakdown of the utility bills and all the other detailed stuff that I'm not going to do, at the end of September. He must have felt terrible while he was doing it.  More tears. I do appear to be solvent, and I heard from Civil Service so I now know what I'll be getting from them.

So I definitely needed to get out of here, and went to the school Christmas Pageant.  You can't stay sad when the kids are doing a pageant.  Especially with the Pre-K singing "We are little gifts." I laughed, who could help it?  And smiled. And meant it. Of course, then I had to come home, but it made a nice break.

A Little Miracle.

Geoff Brown says: In a nation where people are free, and choose their own plans for healthcare, this is a more likely outcome. In many nations — “free” healthcare nations as advanced as we are — this child would have been called a stillbirth. The cost of attempting to save 10 such babies, to bring one home to her family, is enormous but we’ve committed to it through our private-sector choices (mostly).

Lightsquared Flunks Again. I wish they'd investigate all this crony capitalism.

This all but guarantees them a government backed loan and a hefty grant!! ---Talon on December 15, 2011 at 8:47 AM

This company and it’s product are so defective they wouldn’t be anywhere CLOSE to being considered for approval had they not bribed their way to this point. ...wildcat72 on December 15, 2011 at 8:49 AM

Two different departments in the Executive Branch are about to get knee-capped by their Boss for violating Rule #1 of Chicago politics:
Never let the Boss look stoopid, and absolutely never make the Boss look stoopid.

To someone who grew up in Asia, saving face is the highest priority.

rwenger43 on December 15, 2011 at 8:55 AM

Yeah….but…but…..Haliburton!! Texican Ben on December 15, 2011 at 8:59 AM

Never ever ever admit you were WRONG.

Fri, Dec 16th - 7:33PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.7 miles
clear, a little warmer.

171 recordings of 36 types. 9% clear.

Rasmussen: -17: 46/52

Best President EVAH.

In my opinion, the President has repeatedly insulted the US’s best ally, Great Britain (& I don’t even consider him twice recently referring to “the English embassy” as an insult), as well as outrageously opposed their interests (i.e., the Faulklands). Obama has hurt our relations with other allies, too: he has betrayed Poland, Israel, Canada, Georgia, & Honduras. Those are the ones that come to mind; I’m sure there are others.
The best example of a true “Arab Spring” was in Iran, & Obama turned a deaf ear (except for a mild statement weeks too late) to the throngs of freedom seekers who were brutally repressed. But when US ally Mubarak was opposed in Egypt (& there was no govt oppression of the crowds there), Obama jumped on that bandwagon like a kid on a merry-go-round. Now Islamo-fascists have largely taken over there. In Libya, Obama took the US to war unconstitutionally–Congress had no say–but Obama was careful to get permission from the corrupt UN. And the Islamo-fascists have apparently largely taken over there.
Foreign policy accomplishments indeed.
itsnotaboutme on December 14, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president
“First two years” i.e. while Democrats held Congress.
Funny, it seems to me that among “legislative accomplishments” in their first two years, most presidents manage to shepherd two BUDGETS through Congress….
Obama couldn’t manage a single one….
notropis on December 14, 2011 at 8:22 AM

Obama has no sense of history. It’s all about him and his over-inflated ego. When Obama talks of history he only has a superficial knowledge of what he is talking about. He references Lincoln (Emancipation Proclamation) LBJ (Voting Rights Act) and FDR (as big a commie as Obama) without any critical detail about things like the suspension of Habeus Corpus, the escalation of Vietnam, or the damage caused by the “new deal” which is only eclipsed by the potential damage caused by our jug-eared idiot and his socialized medical scheme.

Happy Nomad on December 14, 2011 at 8:22 AM

This time, the babysitting didn't go quite so well... they really left a mess.  I caught Gareth halfway through a poop, and of course he hadn't noticed.  Joanna slept for about 15 minutes but couldn't get back to sleep after that.  During that time Gareth was allowed to color.  I kept saying things like "look it's Brobee, color him green!" and he'd pick the green and smear it in Brobee's general direction.  But the thing he's most interested in is taking the markers out of the box and putting them back into the box.  Yes, he definitely has some autistic moments. Getting him to color at all was a great victory.  Bernadette is looking forward to getting him into the spec. ed. preschool so they can help him catch up in these skills.  (Meanwhile, he's reading everything in sight.)

I had been going to go to the Posadas at the Retreat House tonight, but really couldn't face going on my own. If I'd talked to my neighbor Laurie, that might have worked, but I just couldn't do it today. Tough day #2. I was exhausted when the kids left, and I still haven't picked up the playroom. I went through a lot of catalogs and threw out most of them while they were here. And I'm close to done with all the thank-yous.

Bre McGloughlin: Matti talking to Boo about the Wise Men: "and, they brought Baby Jesus gifts like gold, Frankenstein and mirrors" .."I think I would have brought Him Legos"

How Does Shutting the Ports Help the 99 Percent?

"The whole world’s watching!”
Well, maybe not the whole world, but from the looks on the faces of passerby, those who are watching are becoming increasingly disgusted by what they see: hipster throwbacks desperately attempting to give meaning and significance to otherwise empty lives.
troyriser_gopftw on December 13, 2011 at 10:33 PM

Fri, Dec 16th - 7:26PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.7 miles
Frosty, clear

177 recordings of 39 types. 6% clear.

Rasmussen -19: 46/53. Short memory.

I discovered a package on the porch that I didn't see yesterday. It's from my nun-friend. It's a prayer shawl, made by someone who prayed for me while knitting it. Nelda said when I wear it, I should think of it as God hugging me.  Well, that did it, the tears flowed freely.

There was a hard frost last night.  Uh-oh, I hadn't protected the mandarin. Depressing.

I went to church, and my cellphone went off.  This never happens. I apparently didn't turn it off after I got to Novato. And then the screen said it was from Vince, so I spent the rest of the Mass worrying.  Turned out to be a telemarketer.

I babysat today.  The kids were good: no potty accidents and Joanna lay down (though taking a nap was harder... I sat with her and patted her back for 90 minutes before she actually slept.) I was really happy to see Bernadette finally turn up.

I found two pedometers in my waist pack. Apparently I picked Rich's up and stuck it in too.

I called USAA to ask what to do with the check to Rich. I used the "survivor" telephone line and got in right away.  I'm very impressed. (They'll reissue the check to me.)

It's two months since the last chemo and when he started oxygen. It's a tough day today.

Rich, they're going to stop making the President coins. Not enough demand.  Not for lack of you trying.  Well, that'll make the ones you got more valuable eventually.

I pulled out the Gateway and transferred all the addresses I had on it, at last. Now with the ones I have for thank-yous for the funeral, my address book is about up to date.

Thu, Dec 15th - 12:16PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.7 miles
Rain, cold

178 recordings of 42 types. 6% free.

Rasmussen: -19: 46/52.

Happy Hannukkah, what's-your-name....

Sooooo….
Terrorists no longer have to take out our cities, our transportation, or our military installations:
If they take out TOTUS, our government is paralyzed!
landlines on December 12, 2011 at 12:59 PM

Someone was walking around at 0230 and I woke up, then couldn't get back to sleep till 5. Of course, the knowledge that I *had* to go to sleep didn't help. I got online to check on the USAA account, since they did something odd by accepting my payment in the old, dead, credit card.  It was fixed. I just hope now they don't charge me interest, though they shouldn't.

I wanted to get home early today so I could finish picking up for the cleaners, so I was out the door at 8. First I stopped to look for a couple of caches. Missed on the first one but found the one we should have walked to last night. (The GPSr was pointing to the wrong place so we gave it up.)  Then on the road. When I was merging onto I-80 in Vallejo someone was eager to pass me and was at least a foot into my lane, scary, he had plenty of room and it was just lucky we didn't sideswipe.  Otherwise, an uneventful trip.  I got home by 10, took the note off the door (for the cleaners to go across the street for the key: I hope it wasn't out all night), found the dog fine, the cats had behaved. The tree was intact. It was a few minutes to get the final pick-up done, and then I waited and waited and waited for the cleaners. They finally came at 1:15.  They were here over an hour, though, and did a fantastic thorough job. I had Christmas tips ready for them. 

Once they were gone, I went to SAFE to get my debit card.  However, the machine at the branch was broken, so I deposited the check with the teller.  Then I went to the branch at McClellan and got my own card. (I used the defunct Richard card to get in, though. That worked.)  Across the street at the commissary I picked up some broccoli and milk.

I discovered the two books I gave Rich about the mothball fleet. He loved the area so. Woe!

Then this evening, I had the tree lit, a candle burning, and was settled in with the TV when there was a knock on the door. It was the treasurer for Sharing God's Bounty. I was rather proud that I had it together so well, and was able to tell her about the tree and about Rich's trike without breaking down entirely.  But I was pleased that I was dressed neatly and the house looked great.  She had great news, over $3100 donated to Sharing God's Bounty for Rich!  $2500 of that was our judge friend who did the eulogy, and who would have given that money to SGB anyway, but just WOW. With the two blood donations I know about, that's really great, and makes me happy.  My classmate friend in Colorado gave $100, and our next-door neighbors gave $50!  Impressive.

I seem to be crying less -- at least not puke-up-my-guts crying -- and smiling more. I'm pretty sure that's what Rich would want. I don't think our spouses would have wanted us to grieve too hard forever (well, 5 weeks is not forever, and I'm sure I have tough days ahead, but there may be an end to it one day.)

In the mail, a promise of one check from the VA, and a note that they're so busy they won't be getting to me right away.  This is the reaction Rich expected, and then it was weeks, not months. I guess I get the months. There was also a dividend check from USAA written to Rich, so I'll have to call to find out what to do about it.

Some new horror every day.

Romney and 0bama Agree, it's going to take another President to fix the economy.

Wed, Dec 14th - 7:11PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.7 miles
Mild for December

172 recordings of 37 types. 9% clear.

Rasmussen: -20:45/53.

Too easy.

These are getting harder to vote on each week. He should be getting better and he isn’t. I went with the English Embassy because after all this time, he should know better and he doesn’t. It’s almost like he doesn’t care.
armygirl on December 11, 2011 at 9:07 AM

Today I went to Novato to go to a Marin geocaching event and pass out the wooden nickels.  After Mass (another hard one.  Someday 9 O'Clock Mass will be easier, but not yet, not yet. A friend who lost her husband last December came over: she'd been out of town in November.  She says she hasn't slept in her house since George died. I don't think Rich would like  that, or George either, for that matter.) After Mass, as I said, I filled the tank. I was quite worried to see gas dripping down.  So I checked again when I got home and a couple of times along the way, but there was no problem.

I finished getting as ready for the cleaners tomorrow as I could, and gave the dog too much food, and put down newspaper for Abby, blocked off the Christmas tree as well as I could, crossed my fingers, and left by 11. The first stop was Davis where I recycled metal, especially the two sets of snowshoes that Gerhard left. I'd said to Rich that they were metal and he insisted they were rubber, because he was thinking snow boots, not snowshoes. 

I was looking for the hawks in the brush that we always saw on highway 37 but there were bulldozers.  Are they expanding the highway?  No, it's a
marsh reconstruction!  Rich would love that. Looks great.

I snuck a quick picture of the Clo billboard, but next time I could get closer, maybe.

I got to Roni's about 1.  Shortly thereafter, Roni and R.J. went shopping.  The kids were good, playing fairly quietly. Later, Roni and I made a quick trip to Trader Joe's.  And then it was time to go to the event.

I saw some people I knew and some I didn't, but gave out wooden nickels to all, told them about Rich, and ate pizza. Roni talked to people, too, and the kids played until it was time to eat their pizza.  I got a couple of raffle prizes.  It turns out the last time we went to this (which was also the first time) was three years ago. Sigh.

From there we went to the Christmas House, as fantastic as usual.

And then back to Roni's, where we watched Amazing Race.  Afterwards, R.J. wanted to watch Breaking Bad.  Roni and I aren't interested in a story about a guy with lung cancer, for some reason, so we went into the kitchen.  And so to bed. Not a bad day. I just hope the dog doesn't freeze, and the cats behave.

Mon, Dec 12th - 2:40PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.6 miles
Mild for December

175 recordings of 38 types. 8% free.

Rasmussen: -21: 44/55.

I'm 1.8 pounds up with borderline blood pressure.

I HEARD the OWL!!!! I guess it was calling the moon back, but I was too lazy to get up and look at the eclipse.  Rich's really firm foam pillow had ended up at my back, and I knew it wasn't Rich but it was sooooo comfortable.

I haven't heard the owl since sometime last summer, maybe as recently as August but maybe earlier. It was a morning I went out early to see where it was, and confirmed the hooting came from the neighbor's oak tree.  I didn't hear it again, and thought I'd scared it off somehow. It's so nice the bird has come back.

I went to Mass, then came home and policed the yard, though I only found two piles.  Oh, well, the yard people will find them.  Then I went to get the egg ornaments for the tree and Spooky was actually locked in the back overnight. Oops. Of course, the first thing he did was dash back in there trying to get locked in again.

The tree was hard to decorate.  Every one of the 5 dozen eggs was blown and decorated by Rich. (Well, I may have done the glue-and-glitter ones, I don't remember.)  He did this up to about 10 years ago.  Once I got all the eggs on, however, and the lights on, it makes me smile to see it. I just hope Spooky doesn't destroy it. Oh, and I put the batteries into the  Christmas toys so they'll sing for the kids next week. AND I also put batteries in the Fisher-Price Nativity set and put it up, and put my own one up, too. (With the 4 kings: King Kamehameha is just the right size. We got this set in Oberammergau, but it was actually made in Italy. Except for King Kamehameha, that is.)

I decided the neighbors need a spare key. Bernadette has one, but she's far away if I had an immediate emergency. (Never mind that the neighbors are gone about half the time.) Also, since I'll be gone overnight on Sunday, if I didn't make it back here before the cleaners they could let the ladies in. So I undid Rich's off his bunch and went to look for a keychain to put it on.  There was the beaded one Becca made for me years ago. I noted it already had a key on it that looked like the front door key. I tested it, and sure enough.  Also, there's a huge keyring I used to carry, and it seems to have all three house keys on it. I tested the front one, and it opens the front door but not the kitchen door.  So, somehow, there were two other spare keys here, as well as mine, Rich's, and Bernadette's. I put Rich's back onto his set and took the neighbors the "Nana" one.

I had a 44 minute phone chat with my sister-in-law. She says they miss Rich too. I'd have thought, since we were so far away and rarely visited, that it wouldn't be as immediate a loss, but they always knew he was here.  Carol's also thinking that now it begins, and it's quite likely she'll be the last of the siblings.  That's a saddening thought.

I note that my payment to the credit card got put in the long-dead credit card, so it's up $3600 while the one I was paying still has all the money due. That's odd. I may have to deal with that on Monday, as well. Geeze.

Sun, Dec 11th - 9:34PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.5 miles
Slightly warmer

171 recordings of 31 types. 10% left.

Lies, lies...

Green sinkhole

Even with government subsidies in place for purchasing the vehicles, they are very expensive for subcompact vehicles at more than $32,000 (close to $40,000 without the tax credits).  Consumers could literally buy two traditional subcompacts for the price of one Volt or Leaf.  Even worse, the battery banks make the resale value of the car practically nil.  At some point — within six to eight years — the battery banks will have to be replaced at a cost of somewhere between $8,000 – $11,000 in order for the car to function, which makes the economics of owning a Volt completely unrealistic for mass marketing.  And that doesn’t even begin to address the problem of old battery disposal, nor the very un-green process of manufacturing the batteries in the first place.

Bernadette Durbin: Joanna, upon seeing the Christmas tree that was put up during her nap: "A twee! A twee! A twee!" (pause) "Aw wigh!"

I wanted to see if the bills had been paid today, and discovered SAFE had locked me out.  So I called, got a temporary online identity and then went to the local branch and got it all straightened out. All except for the debit card, that is.  Then late this afternoon I got a mystery check from Civil Service. I figure Uncle Sam was put on this earth to befuddle and confuse me.

Once I left there I went to Fry's and looked for batteries. I finally figured out that it would be simpler just to buy a new copy of "Dream Snow" than to continue to haunt every store looking for the hard-to-find right size batteries.  I did get the right battery for the remote control for the Christmas lights, and the right size for one of the Thomas Tank Engine books. 

Then it was down to Bernadette's. I'd been a little reluctant in the morning because I have so much to do, but decided she really needs a bit of a break, too.  We went down to see the
Stage House Hotel.  Rich and I did this a couple of years ago, and had looked forward to seeing it with Gareth.  Upstairs there are toys the children can play with.  Gareth was very good, after I told him that some of the things were only for looking at.  His favorite toy was the barbeque.  Such a guy!!

He sort of frosted a cookie but didn't want to eat it, just like last year.  We went to the jail and had cookies and cider, and then the littles ran around a bit.  Then we went back to B's house.  She ran some paperwork over to the school while I tried to get Joanna to take a nap.  I stayed in the bedroom with her rubbing her back, and she took so so so long to finally give in and close her eyes.

Back at home I set up the tree. It's going to be nice. I'll get the ornaments on tomorrow.
The remote works fine.

Sat, Dec 10th - 9:38PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.5 miles
Slightly warmer

171 recordings of 39 types. 10% clear.

Rasmussen: -19: 45/55

Of course.

Rarely has an incumbent given the opposition party such an easy target.  Why did Obama bother to oppose this bill anyway?  He would have been better off if the fund quietly disappeared, rather than give Republicans a chance to talk about it again during the campaign.

Yesterday I got a packet from USAA that included a couple of grief books. They also had all the numbers I'd needed last month. Obviously, I should have called them a lot earlier.

Out to the Retreat House this morning, and then I went up to the chemo place looking for Rich's chemo buddy Judy.  She was there, and dozing, but was happy to see me. I gave her one of the bookmarks. I think she was pleased. I was glad to see her.

Today I finally gritted my teeth and went to Union Bank. When I went in, there was one person at a desk, talking on the phone, and three very odd people and a chihuahua waiting in line. It turned out they weren't actually waiting for her. So once she got on the phone, we did my business, closing out two accounts and putting the other one solely in my name.  I can avoid fees next year by making a direct deposit.

Then I took in cleaning, and dropped off books at the library, and took some containers to the church, talking to a friend, then a visit to the chapel, and so home.

I still needed the online system and had to go through the whole thing of making a new account. (I'm going to have lots of fun getting this sorted out on Quicken!) I was just finishing up with this when the house phone rang... it was someone confirming Rich's appointment with the eye doctor. I remember when they made that appointment I wondered if he'd be around to go to it.  Sad. I called back and cancelled.

I did find the remote, and it needs a new battery.  I got the Christman towels and toys out, and a couple of outdoor decorations, and the star, the special star that Rich made, but I didn't get to the eggs.  We'll see what happens here.  I also got out the Nativity set.

Loneliness is a cat on your lap and no one to fetch you a drink.

His Adolescency

jjs says: December 8, 2011 at 4:35 PM

Yes, the president that killed Osama, killed 23 top aq’s, killed the US economy, killed the retirement of millions of us citizens, killed the health care system, killed the financial system, killed the democratic party, killed the private sector….. yes our president is a kill’n machine…

Thu, Dec 8th - 8:06PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.5 miles
frosty cold, clear

165 recordings of 36 types. 12% free.

Rasmussen: -19: 45/54.

Those bad ATMs. That pernicious internet!

Theresa Heiser: The "Greatest Generation" worked hard to survive and hoped to achieve success. The newest generation seems to survive on the hope of sucking the success from those who work harder. Or something like that.

Jenn Oates: It's Pearl Harbor Day. In memory of my Uncle Laurence, who was there, NEVER FORGET that sometimes people want to kill you no matter what you do. I'm extremely glad that Japan is now a friend and ally, but it took big change in worldview on their part to get here. Just because most of us don't think that way does not shield us from those who do. Be vigilant, my friends.

What we owe the greatest generation.

When they pass into the great beyond they should be able to tell the 1,177 men who went down with the Arizona that fateful December 7, 1941 and all the others who never made it home that not only did they not die in vain but that America is in good hands.

Yes, I remembered to fly the flag.

Babysitting again. Joanna made it through the morning, but apparently took a dislike to the gingerbread girl I gave her, and threw another shrieking tantrum.  Time out.  Now, there were two times she had reason to cry, and she didn't shriek. One, I'd gotten out of the chair next to her and thought she'd fall inwards, instead she rolled over the arm and fell on the floor. Unhurt, but cried, of course. The other time, she pinched her own fingers in a book.

And she was playing with a little Duplo guy.  "Baby."  When it was time to leave, "byebye dog."

Gareth had no accidents. He's putting together great sentences, but he doesn't repeat if you don't hear him the first time.

Sigh.  I've been to this museum with Rich.

Heh.

Monica called and we had a nice chat.

Reading: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (vol 1), Edward Gibbon, The Bible (1 Machabees), The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales, Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, Hitler's War, Harry Turtledove, Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies, Marta Felber.

Thu, Dec 8th - 7:16PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.5 miles
frosty cold, clear

161 recordings of 38 types. 15% clear

Rasmussen: -19: 45/54.

English, British, who knows?  Who cares?

Ha!

Rich loved St. Nicholas day. He introduced me to the concept in 1963 by handing me a tiny wrapped package with strict instructions not to open it till the next day. (Yeah, right.) It was a St. Christopher charm for my charm bracelet, with a written explanation of the St. Nicholas tradition. Last year, he was worrying about the prostate cancer and didn't think of much... so I got Merlot and shortbread. But St. Nick brought him a treasure chest for his geocoins, and he was delighted.

Monica handed me a package at Thanksgiving not to be opened till today. It's a couple of holiday outlet infusers, some peppermint soap (!) and candy. I cried when I got it, and I cried when I opened it, but thank you, St. Nicholas and Monica!

I think it's nice that our children (4 of them, at least) have kept up the tradition and passed it on.

At Mass, where I took Father a half-dozen gingerbread men, one of my old lady friends had fallen Sunday and was badly bruised.  However, the Mass was for her husband, who would have been 84 today, so she was determined to go. It's hard to believe he's been dead 11 years.  Besides, I thought he was SO OLD but 73 doesn't seem all that old any more.

I babysat today. I started by telling the story of the Gingerbread Man then let the kids each have one.  Joanna tends to shriek if she's thwarted.  The easy way to thwart her is to stop her from taking toys away from Gareth.  She had a couple of time outs in the playroom, shrieking at the top of her lungs.  I would make her stop (or at least catch her breath) before I'd let her out.

I guess I have to be the one to stay alive to fulfill what we wanted for Rich. I wonder if I'll still be crying at Joanna's graduation from college.

Gareth recognizes Djadja's picture. I wonder if he remembers anything about him, how he'd share his breakfast or his Pepsi.

Gareth went on the potty every hour, then filled his pants about 5 minutes after one visit. I was NOT thrilled.

I was playing the Christmas CDs, and went back to see if I could figure out how to program in the 4 or 5 we added after Christmas last year. Apparently Rich did leave me a St. Nicholas present, because in his handwriting, the CDs had been added.  This has to have happened early in the year.  Thank you, Rich!

The VA says Rich may be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. I'm tempted to send the form back suggesting that he probably isn't interested.

My sister called. She's sending me "The Help."  She will help me set up the t-shirt quilt.  She informed me that, disappointingly enough, the new baby will not be Ricky (sulk!) And she suggested I write daily lists of activities in 15-minute increments. I'm holding off on that one... I rather enjoy not having a schedule a lot of the time. I suspect if I did the lists, I'd feel guilty for deviating from them.  We'll see.

I roasted a pork sirloin which I got last December, and also cooked up some of the corn I froze last August. I hadn't a clue when I bought the roast, but I was praying he'd get to eat the corn. Very sad, but it was generally a sad day.

The batteries I ordered for the book are not right, so, woe, I'll have to tackle Fry's after all. The jeweler's screwdriver kit I ordered, however, is great. I bet I find the ones we surely had, soon. But channeling Rich, I had to have a new tool for the task.

Wed, Dec 7th - 9:01AM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.5 miles
frosty cold, clear

160 recordings of 38 types. 15%

Rasmussen: -19: 46/53. Hard at work.

Well, he has had a tough schedule lately.  The last time Obama took some time in his native state was, um … two weeks ago.

I got a lot accomplished today. I vacuumed, did laundry, picked up the yard, covered the mandarin tree, changed the litter boxes, called Social Security (then got the explanatory letter... $20 more a month, whee.*), took stuff to St. Vincent de Paul, went to The Muppets. I liked it, not too sure Rich would have liked it as much, but there are a couple of movies coming up he'd have loved. (Brave and The Pirates.) And there was a Toy Story toon! I was the only person in the theater.  When I got home, I made gingerbread men, and packed a half-dozen for Father Eduino.
      
*Actually, that's mine, they have no idea what it will be when they figure out Rich's benefits.

Stephen Green:
This must-see time-lapse video of Tokyo is damn near haunting me. One of the brightest cities in the world, Tokyo's lights are now dimmed, indefinitely, since the Fukushima Reactor had to be taken offline.

Meanwhile, the Administration is banning oil drilling and making coal so expensive that we'll be taking power plants offline, too. How long before our lights go dim?

Brenda Cox Giguere We're meant to feel guilty about wanting comfort, health, safety, vibrant cities, beautiful stores and restaurants, nice homes, and modern civilization in general. Back to the caves we go.

Why the Tea Party and OWS don't compare.

Tue, Dec 6th - 8:59PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.5 miles
cold, clear

166 recordings of 40 types. 13% clear.

Rasmussen: -19 (who knows why he's coming back!):46/52

Rich, gas was 3.39!  I had the usual luck with caches, 2/4. Team Alamo is up to his old trick of putting in a cache if he can't find one. I couldn't find either puzzle cache. The batteries died and then the GPS acted odd at first. However, at least I got out of the house.

Then when Bernadette came we went looking for another cache, but no luck. However, I at least took her back past the Little Free Library.

Someone answered my question on where the puzzle cache was, so I went back before heading to church tonight. Sure enough.  So in reality I got 3 out of 5.  Then off to see the school Christmas show.

I saw Father before it and we walked to the gym together. He asked how I was doing and complimented the children. I did admit that it is lonely living alone.

They were completely disorganized, but finally got enough chairs out. I was the only English speaker there. (Apparently there *are* actually Anglo kids in the school.) It was a cute program and since I know the story, I was able to follow along pretty well. They messed up the "Posadas" song since Mary and Joseph sang every other verse but the innkeepers sang every verse.  I should be better prepared for the Posadas at the Retreat House now, however. I decided not to stick around for the food.  But one of the teachers gave me their mini-pinata, maybe because I was a good sport.

Nifty story.

Sun, Dec 4th - 9:40PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 33
149.5 miles
windy, cold

169 recordings of 40 types. 11% available.

Rasmussen: -22: 45/54

I found a ripe plum tomato. It's like Rich goes out and sticks them where I'll discover them.  And the lemonade he drank when he couldn't deal with Pepsi any more is still in the fridge. He couldn't drink it either after awhile. It's so sad.

It's a good thing I decided not to go to Lessons and Carols this year, I'd have missed it. It was yesterday. Oops. 

On the porch, some fresh young things asking if I'm registered to vote.  Yes. and against whatever you are for.

The gardeners came. It wasn't their best day. They left leaves (of course, the wind wasn't helping) and knocked off a couple of mandarins. I watered the mandarin to prepare for a freeze, and started trying to winterize.  What a mess.

Rich had saved all the high school pictures of his classmates. I sent a couple of them off to people who sent us cards, then put the rest back, I thought. Lord knows where they actually are, because I can't find them. Rats. I'm busy writing thank-yous and sending off bookmarks. I also don't seem to have the address of a long-time friend, so I wrote a longish letter and have to start my old computer to see if the addy is there.

It was a pretty bad day today. I missed Rich at every turn. Went shopping at the BX and the Commissary, ick. I did get some extra peanut butter to give to the St. Vincent barrel at church, since I was also giving them Miracle Whip and low-fat mayo. On that topic, I got a smaller bottle of mayo for my backup. I probably won't get to it for many months, anyway.

I went to Mass this evening as it was for Rich. As I passed the auto parts store, there on stage I saw Santa and the Grinch, and some carolers, and suddenly, the tree lit up!  Quite cheering.  After Mass I saw someone I know, and said "Sr. Judy, I need a hug." She gives good hugs.

And home to my lonely house.

Fri, Dec 2nd - 8:18PM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 26
149.5 miles
sunny, clear, 60s

175 recordings of 45 types. 9% clear.

Rasmussen: -22: 43/55.

255 Nook books

Rich, the mandarins look great! I pulled a cherry tomato, and a couple of different types of peppers.  This is SO HARD. When Rich lost interest in the garden, I knew it was a bad sign.
And the last few times he was up, I hoped to take him to the back so he could enjoy it. I've left a chair up out there so I can, anyway.

A friend from back in the BBS days, (hi, Andy!) took me to lunch. We went to Burgers and Brew which was just exactly what I wanted.  I thought before he came how I'd really like a burger today. I had a jalapeno bacon cheeseburger.  Messy. And delicious.  Also a Blue Moon beer (hey, I wasn't driving!) and garlic curly fries. Yum, filling, and then we finished up at Leatherby's. I may not eat again for a month.

Back at home, my neighbor hung the obituary plaque.  I got a bucket and put in compost, dug some dirt from the garden and found another bucket of older compost, and mixed it up, planted the pot of mums we got at the Retreat House in 2009, which have been blooming, and then went in front and repotted 7 agave. Every time I water these I think I need to break them up and repot them.  This was from a plant that long ago outgrew its pot and has been sidewise for months. I have another that's like it, but it'll be some time before I can do this again.

Rich, you know Matt's obsession with Xanth?  He got mentioned in the latest one!  He's really chuffed.

Turns out being a member of the Lawrence Hall of Science means we (I) can go free to the UC Botanical Garden this month.  Pity they aren't open on Christmas Day!

Rich and I thought this story (kid disappears the first time he travels alone) would be in Law and Order, and sure enough, there it is. It ends differently than the real one, but still.

Fri, Dec 2nd - 11:02AM

174 recordings of 45 types. 10% free.

Rasmussen: -24: 43/56

The wind was so strong overnight I thought I wouldn't be driving to Mass, but it calmed down enough I could do it. So I got the book FINDING YOUR WAY AFTER YOUR SPOUSE DIES. It gets all my triggers.

Then babysitting this afternoon.  Gareth: "I can't eat my macaroni when I have to go potty" and he did!  Joanna just doesn't like being caged up.  She cried and cried, I held her, then she cried for a solid hour, even after I gave up and released her.  She used to be fine with being put in the playpen with some toys, and then she'd go to sleep, but since she now has a real bed and can get in and out on her own, she won't put up with it. So when I babysit, she won't get a nap here. I just can't stand the long crying jags.  At least she doesn't appear to hold a grudge against me.

Headache.

Reading: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (vol 1), Edward Gibbon, The Bible (1 Machabees), The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales, Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, Hitler's War, Harry Turtledove, The Book Thief, Markus Zusak, Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies, Marta Felber.

Fri, Dec 2nd - 10:59AM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 25
149.5 miles
sunny, WINDY, 60s

172 recordings of 39 types. 11% clear.

Rasmussen: -24: 43/56.

Unintended Consequences.
Gunwalker coverup?

Some of my friends are having a hard time, too.  The college student came home for Thanksgiving and had all her birthday presents, her warm winter clothes, and her laptop with homework stolen from the car outside a restaurant near Oakland airport. A friend, one who was so supportive while Rich was dying, had a grave loss on Thanksgiving: her daughter fell in her apartment parking lot, hit her head, and died.  Shannon leaves two young teenagers.
And a Laramie friend, who lives in Sausalito, had her husband (also a Richard) die the day after Thanksgiving.  :(

I went to the Retreat House for a mini-retreat on Luke's Hymns of Advent.  When I got up to go, I had this terrible back spasm.  Fortunately, it passed. My last one was driving back from Yosemite.  Gotta keep an eye on this. I'd also forgotten to get the black bean soup going, but that was a quick stop between the bank and the Retreat House. Then out I went.

Rich, gas is 3.43 at Orbit!  And someone found Skiffy the other day. I remember the last time we drove out this way, with Roni (October 24)... you were alert enough to talk to Roni and answer some questions.  After the radiation treatment, though, you were quite befuddled.

I gave out the four bookmarks I'd brought, to Dorothy, who says we were quite the couple, to Phil (who just got back from seeing his granddaughter in Wyoming), to Brother Kurt, of course, and to Sonia.  Lots of tears, lots of hugs.  The Retreat itself was excellent, talking about the Magnificat, Zachariah's canticle, the angels ("Holy holy holy") and Simeon's "nunc dimittus."  We had a half-hour break and I walked the labyrinth, crying all the way.  There were turkeys dancing in the distance.

Then lunch was a great salad and a delicious spicy pumpkin soup. Loved it. I browsed the books and saw one I will buy tomorrow.

Mass, and then we had an opportunity for Confession, so I took it. The priest (retired Passionist staying here) had been in Wyoming 30-40 years ago and knew one priest who had been at our Laramie parish.

Then I had to come home. That part wasn't so great.

Reading: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (vol 1), Edward Gibbon, The Bible (1 Machabees), The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales, Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, Hitler's War, Harry Turtledove, The Book Thief, Markus Zusak.

Thu, Dec 1st - 11:18AM

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 25
149.5 miles
windy, sunny

November sucked, to be truthful.
 
For me, 17.3 miles in November, 4.1 pounds up, (I've gotta stop eating to fill up this hole in my heart) and 25 pages.

Last month I read 2 books, went to 1 movie, 1 plays, 18 Masses.

I found 2 caches last month, and we're at 7807.  We're (I'm.  Waaah!) 285th in the world, and 15th
locally. 

In proofing, I'm in 1059th (out of 37641 proofers) place in the first proofing round, with 873 pages proofed, 18th (out of 4506) in P2 with 23523 pages, 568th (of 947) in P3 with 469 pages and formatting 670th place (3546) with 1020 pages.

In Flickr I have 41378 pictures, with 91363 views, and 202 sets to work on.

All I watched with Netflix was Raising Arizona. I'm not getting my money's worth from them, too many TV shows and things to do, but that's going to stop.

Comment (0)