Friday, November 30, 2018

Flashback Friday

Nov 2008
This was the year of the 1st Turkey Fryer!  We had a 22 lb and a smaller 12 lb.  The large one went in the fryer, while 'Junior', as he was dubbed, was sent across the street to be cooked traditionally.  Everyone loved both, and our combined family's (ours and the neighbors across the street who were feuding with their relatives) had an enjoyable day.

K got contacts for the 1st time.

Blogger was acting up, and I was unable to comment on anyone's blogs for about a week.

For NaNo, I decided not to put any pressure on myself, to avoid the disaster of the previous year.  I don't think I even reached the 1000 word mark.

I shopped on Amazon.com for the 1st time on Black Friday.

My brand new jeans decided to hide from me behind the shop vac.

Hubby brought home our tree and ornaments from storage; we'd previously been using his mom's tree and ornaments, which we sent north to Jamie and the kids.

Love Finds A Way turned 1, and its sales outsold Love Is Sober, 62-34.  I set up at Zander's for the Santa Stroll, and it was so cold, the dance teams performed inside Zander's.  I had a captive audience....except everyone's BACKS were to me!  A common theme I heard that year was 'Money's Tight'.  Gas was $2 a gallon, and Barak Obama had been elected.

I had voted absentee, since my license still said I lived in Morgan Co.  To this day, I have no idea if I voted for John McCain, whom I thought had automatically lost when he picked Sarah Palin to be his VP, or Barak Obama, whom I thought needed another four years in the senate before running.  I closed my eyes, marked the ballot, then folded it up and stuffed it in the envelope without looking at it.

Next Month:  Christmas, and a Very Enjoyable Birthday!

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Present Day:
Our tree and decorations are up; my NaNo word count is over 8K, and both W and A are doing well in school.

My friend Kris C said goodbye to her father this week, and Erica and I went up for the funeral on Tuesday, in a damn snow storm.

The price of gas has dropped to $2.27, and not sure if I reported this or not, but in the last election earlier this month, the Dems took back the senate, while the Repubs held onto the house.  At press time, it looks as if Nancy Pelosi will get Speaker again (gag).  In Indiana, Mike Braun defeated Joe Donnelly.  I voted Libertarian, with the exception of our Sheriff race. D's friend Brian was running, but didn't win.

Monday, I start baking cookies, and should have the goals posted!

Friday, November 23, 2018

Flashback Friday: Catch Up 1988 and 1998

Nov 1988:
The election:  George Bush vs Michael Dukakis. 
At the time, I fully admit to hating politics.  Two of my professors were HUGE political junkies, and impressed upon us the need for a Democrat in the White House, since "Democrats understand the need for social programs and the Republicans do not.'  My sister had been following Gary Hart's run, but when the scandal broke about himself and Donna Rice, and he dropped out, we were both heartbroken.

On election night, Bush won, and both my professors the next day predicted doom and gloom.  I was just happy it was all over, and no more political ads on TV!

Thanksgiving
My boss at the country club needed me to work, so I spent the weekend at DB's house.  After the Thanksgiving buffet was over, Mr. G, Nancy, and Betty set up a long table for the wait staff, and poured us all (the ones over 21) a glass of red wine.  I horrified Nancy when I spooned a few ice cubes into my room-temperature wine, and a few others followed suit, causing her to roll her eyes at us.

The next day, I met Mom and my sister at Castleston Square for our annual Mother-Daughters shopping spree.  I had to work the evening shift, and again the next day, so it was a busy weekend.

Next Month:  Finals, My Birthday, and Christmas:)

1998:
I think we went to my parents' for Thanksgiving, then down to the in-law's for the weekend, as usual.  Decorated his mother's house, and drove around to see the Christmas lights.  I also think this might have been the year his mom retired, so we drove down for the party.

Next Month:  Getting Snowed In At Christmas

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Present Day:
Just received word that a friend's father passed away this morning.  Mr. C was a jovial man who enjoyed spending time with us on Father's Weekend at college and whenever we visited.  When my spouse was in the hospital in '03, Mr. C brought him communion every morning.  As soon as I know the details, I'll be heading either north to a service or to Louisville for the service (or even both...).

RIP Ken Corbett.  You will be missed.

Monday, November 5, 2018

November Reading Schedule

Is it just me, or did October go by in a blur?
It just seems like yesterday that the Teen and I packed up and headed to Louisville!

So How Did I Do Last Month?
-Mail HS to customers (check!) and TP to Harlie (Not yet)
-Enjoy Imaginarium!  Didn't sell any books last year, so no expectations other than to do well on my panels and enjoy catching up with friends!  Last year, our goal was to expose Brooke and Nancy to everyone....Nancy sold one book and Brooke was picked up by a publisher:) Sold 1, but had a great time seeing everyone!
-Take more things to auction from Brown House (Brian Thais came over and took several items to his dad's house!!!  Was too busy to get back to auction.
-Finish cleaning out Brown House front room and re-organizing front bedroom  Not yet
-Finish cleaning out Green House  Not yet
-Have successful launch of Whispers Had 8 others show up for our Open Mic/Launch Party, but books never arrived from Amazon.  Still, a good night was had by all:)
-Do well at Collections Carnivals Craft Fair on the 27th Sold 7:)
-Have enjoyable time with Ghost Hunters  Postponed til after the first of the year.
-Send Suzanne check for ICTAH show Check:)
-Buy Whispers inventory Buying on consignment until more $$ comes in!
-Buy WHH inventory It's in my shopping cart!
-Decide on cover art (check!) and pay for it (Catered Romance)  Still waiting on final; need to add 2 logos to back cover.
-Decide on costume for Halloween Going as Little Red Riding Hood :)

Neck Update:  Improving!  Still feel slightly weak in left bicep, but only at the start of my shower.

Achilles Tendon Update:  I'm now in an air heel cast for 6 weeks.  Was supposed to start therapy this week, but my insurance will only pay $50.  Since the initial consult is $500, I guess I'll just have to take my chances.  DID find out that if I pay $100, they can still treat me.  11/6:  Went yesterday and now have at least 6-8 exercises to do every day.  Therapist said bad shoes and walking on uneven pavement *probably* contributed to my issue.

Granddaugher's Gift....
She shared her cold with me on the 14th, and it morphed into an upper respitory infection.  Started on Azithromycin  and Prednisone on the 29th.  Already seeing results; I'm not trying to hack up a lung or needing two breathing treatments per day!  Did learn a valuable lesson this morning:  Do NOT take Predisone on an empty stomach!  11/5:  Took last meds this morning; cough is 90% gone!

Books Read:  5
            Print:  5
            DNF:  1

Karaoke Songs Added:  11
                            Thurs:  5
                                 Sat:  6


November Goals:
Buy promo for ICGAHS  Check:)
Mail TP to Harlie and WA to JDC
Do well at 1st Friday Art Walk  Sold 5:)
Make CD covers for Women's Retreat  Check:)
Do well at ICGAHS
          11/7:  Sold 3:)
          11/8:  Sold 3:)
          11/9:  Sold 4:)
        11/10:  Sold 6:)
         Total:  16:) 
Do well at Debut Author's Fair in Lafayette  Sold 2:)
Do well at Rivet Craft Fair  Unprecedented personal best:  15 sold:)
Write NaNoWriMo words on any wips  
     11/3:  185
     11/11:  532
     11/12:  332
     11/14:  1703
     11/26:  1731
     11/28:  2429
     11/29:  1230
     Total:  8142
Have an enjoyable Thanksgiving Check:)
Take final stuff to auction from Brown house (if weather permits)
Lose 5 pounds (assuming my starting weight is still 241....haven't been near a scale in 2 months!)

November Reading Schedule: Print:
Panda Girl-Jeri Lyn Ryan
A Feast of Crows-GRRM
A Dance With Dragons-GRRM


E-books:
Wheeler-Sara Butler
All Jacked Up-Mysti Parker
High On You-Mysti Parker
Sealed With A Kiss-Mysti Parker
Her Snow White Christmas-Cara Marsi
The Party Plan-Melanie Jayne
Skater's Waltz-Peggy Jaegger


Karaoke Songs:
Thurs:
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow-The Shirelles Thought this went well:)
No Surprise-Daughtry DNH
Blue Bayou-Linda Ronstadt Verses slightly low, but did well on the chorus:)  Gary even joined in!
Remember Me This Way-Jordan Hill Nailed it, all but one line.  Same one I blew last year...
Winds of Change-Jefferson Starship DNH
Nobody's Home-Avril Levign Did well:)
Winds of Change-Scorpions Nailed it:)
Bleeding Love-Leona Lewis Gary backed me up and it was a crowd-pleaser!

Sat:
Reach Out and I'll Be There-Four Tops Bleh....started off in wrong key
Ready To Run-Dixie Chicks  Slightly better; found right key by the chorus!
Real Love-Jodi Watley  Bleh.....didn't get a chance to brush up before I went on...only got the chorus right!
11/24:  No camera in batteries, so sang the following songs:
Edge of 17
Girl Crush
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Better Dig 2
Silver Springs
Real World-Matchbox 20 Ugh, too low on verses.
Reason To Believe-Rod Stewart Did well:) Had hoped for the Wilson Phillips version, but oh well.
Red High Heels-Kellie Pickler Didn't think it was too bad:)








Friday, November 2, 2018

Flashback Friday: Home Improvements Continue.....

Nov 1978:
The next phase of our home remodel plan was to replace the wood tile in the family room with carpeting.  The salesman arrived and showed Mom several samples....the one she decided on was a two-tone blue, and his pitch was, 'if you spill anything, say coffee for example, then you can just rub the nap the other way and it won't show!'  I liked the color; Mom liked the color, so it was ordered:)  I was also thrilled to learn we were also getting carpet in the kitchen.  No more mopping that floor!

I think Thanksgiving was spent at Great-Grandma Geis's house, with Uncle Ed, Aunt Cheryl, and my cousins Tammy, Richie, and Chad.

This might have also been the year (not the month...think I left this tidbit out??) that Tammy and I spent time at each other's houses.  T sleepwalked at ours; Mom found her in my closet, flipping the light switch on and off.  When I was her house, I went to cheerleading practice and learned some new cheers, plus we rode bikes in her neighborhood, and I got hopelessly lost.  Finally a neighbor recognized my plight and showed me the way to the right street.  I followed her car up a hill and down the next street; I thought that hill led to a dead end!  This experience led me to remember my landmarks better.

Next Month:  1st choir concert, my 13th birthday, and Christmas!

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Present Day:
I'm still trying to catch up with my NBC, CBS, and ABC shows online.  Discovered I'd only seen the 1st episode of Manifest, so have two more episodes to watch, plus 2 of New Amsterdam, and I'm caught up.  Today, we want to go early vote, then I plan to plop myself at the computer or Kindle, and watch last night's CBS comedies, plus SVU and maybe even catch up on The Connors (formally known as Roseanne).  When will I get the DVR'd 70's shows (Charlie's Angels, Different Strokes, The Facts of Life, and The Jeffersons)?  Hopefully this weekend!  I was all caught up two weeks ago, ugh.

I'm also getting ready to send my trifold pamphlet to Office Max for printing.  I plan to hand out the rest of my Sneak Peeks before handing out the pamphlet at the Indpls Christmas Gift and Hobby Show.  Last year I was given 10 tickets to hand out; this year, was only given 4.  Sent two to my cousin (next week's her birthday, plus she's been out of work for several months and finally got a job last month) and the other two to a friend I've not seen in over 18 years.  Going to irritate another pair who have come to *expect* tickets, but since they're both employed, they can pay their own way for a 2nd year.  I've provided the link to the discount offer, so no guilt there.

Voting Today:
I'm pretty sure who I'm voting for in all races except the Senate.  I'm not happy with Donally voting with the Dems against the new Supreme Court Justice, but I'm also no thrilled with reports of Braun wanting to raise health premiums on people over 65 and instituting pre-existing conditions on health care.  I have one of these pre-existing conditions, and only 12 years away from 65, so thinking I might just vote Libertarian and put the rest in God's hands.  I don't know.  Maybe I'll google him and see if the claims are false?  One one hand, I LIKE a senator who's not afraid to step across the aisle, but Donnally's been doing it on the wrong issues (imho).

Check back next Wednesday, when I'll hopefully remember to post election results.

Anyway, have a wonderful day and a safe weekend!  It rained all day yesterday, so really hoping we have clear weather for tonight's Art Walk.  I'll be in front of the Open Gallery with my books, and I THINK I've already sold 2 copies of Whispers!  Which knocks me down to twelve.  I may have to 'borrow' some from either Ben or Nancy to take next week, or hope someone will be willing to preorder, like last year???