Friday Roundup

Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.

Black Elk

Miss Minga always has to be near me so I set up a little cushion for her to sit beside the computer. She preferred to sleep.

Oh my, what a quick week this was. Was it because I was back online? Or perhaps because I did manage to get out this week. Probably a combination of both. It has been a week of accomplishment and victory. My son's legal issue was resolved, and hubby has followed up with SSD and received the best news. His monies should be cleared in two weeks. Turns out that it was held up because someone KEYED in the wrong information, just as someone had done to my son. Hubby has been approved for his physical issues--emphysema and glaucoma, but someone made a mistake and  keyed in that he was approved for mental illness, and they had to interview him to see if he was mentally stable enough to handle his money or if he needed someone to manage his finances for him. Now that he has proved he is mentally stable, they will release his retroactive to him.
 

On the other hand, my pension still lies in limbo. No one gives me any information. Instead they pass a message, so they say, to a supervisor who never calls me. I just feel so flustered and know I need legal help, but just keep hoping that this, too, will be resolved. I really do have to stop giving them the benefit of a doubt and get off my fanny and get a lawyer on this.  I talk about it all the time, but don't take action. 
 

As far as accomplishments, I filled out an application for EPIC to help me with medical fees, sent my appeal for the late fee medicare is charging, and ordered tax forms from the IRS and the state. Amazing, after 50 years, this is probably the last time I will have to do this. The only reason I have to do it this year is because I worked half a year. I also chose a new doctor and set an appointment for early February. 

What a difference a week makes!  Last week I did nothing but mope around the house. SADD is losing its grip. Have to be sure not to let it regain control again.  I like this life much better.

Sunday is Imbolc.  Hooray.  It's been a brutal winter, and even though the cold days of Winter are far from over, Imbolc brings with a sense of hope.  It is a time of new beginnings and renewal, a festival of light that signals the return to the Sun.  This weekend I am hoping to come up with some new projects to begin.  I've been in this funk far too long.

See you all on Monday.  Have a wonderful, joy filled weekend. 

The dandelion lights its spark
Lest Brigid find the wayside dark.
And Brother Wind comes rollicking
For joy that she has brought the spring.
Young lambs and little furry folk
Seek shelter underneath her cloak.

W. M. Letts

Forgiveness

"Forgiveness doesn't excuse their behavior.
Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying your heart."

Beyond Ordinary

Hard to believe it is Thursday already.  Another week almost over.  Another weekend upon us. I was surprised yesterday when I awoke to find the ground covered with snow. "Not again,"I muttered disappointedly. That one I wasn't expecting, but I chose to take it slow and go to the Center anyway.  I've already stayed in far too much this winter. 

So, this morning I really had nothing on my mind for my post today when I read the above quote on Facebook, and it set me to thinking about the subject of forgiveness and  something that occurred this week, and it reminded me of how far I have come.  I was one that could hold grudges forever. I was so super sensitive that I would allow every single slight to eat away at me, but the evil way my hubby's sisters treated me was not some meager slight.  They set out to hurt me and caused me tremendous pain throughout the years, but not anymore.  But, now I am getting ahead of myself.

The other night my hubby got a call from one of his sisters.  It seems that she and his other sister are going out to dinner tomorrow night, and they were inviting him to come along.  Notice that I said 'he' and not 'us'.  The fact is, they NEVER invite me.  This all started way back when hubby and I first began dating.  His youngest sister and I hit it off well and became fast friends....much to their chagrin.  Seems they don't get along with her, (jealousy I suppose because she has a wonderful husband and lovely home) and because she and I got along, I became their enemy despite the fact that I had never done anything but try to be friendly with them.  Total ignorance if you ask me.

Since that time, actually for 21 years now, they have done so many hateful things to me.....leaving messages in Spanish for my hubby on MY answering machine, mailing invitations to family affairs to hubby only, etc. When hubby was in the hospital in the early days of our relationship, I would work all day and then run to the hospital to see him, but usually only had a few minutes with him.  They'd be sure to get there before me and refuse to leave so I could go up.  And their words were so hateful.  "She can wait.  We're family.  She's not." Hubby was in very bad shape with a lung infection at the time, and we didn't expect him to pull through.  He'd gone to school to work on air conditioning and refrigeration, and on his first job, he had to pull ceiling tiles away to get at the AC.  His boss hadn't provided masks, and the doctor said he evidently breathed in some mouse droppings. 

So, as I was saying, the things they did really used to hurt me.  In time, that hurt turned to anger, and as the years passed, that anger continued to eat  away at me.  Whenever I came home from work and heard one of their voices on my answering machine, or found an invitation in the mail, I'd get a pain right in the pit of my stomach, and it would sit there like an open sore festering. My entire evening would be ruined.

Despite everything, I never tried to keep hubby away from his family and never tried to make him feel guilty for visiting them.  After all, they ARE family.  And, he was pretty much respectful.  He always turns down the invitations, but that doesn't stop them from trying.  He does visit them in their homes on occasion.  For years, this is the way it went until, about five years ago, I finally decided that I had to let go.  They weren't going to go away so I had a choice.  I could either continue to allow all this animosity to control my life, or I could forgive and let it go.

 I realized that I was ALLOWING them to rent space in my head because I had wanted them to LIKE me.  This all goes back to childhood when I was taunted by all the other kids.  I wanted everyone to like me. I still want to be liked.  We all do, but some of us take it to the extreme. Those who have followed me for awhile have seen how upsetting I find it to lose a follower.

I made the choice to learn how to let go and to no longer allow myself to be hurt by it. One doesn't have to forget to forgive.  And it doesn't mean that I condone or excuse their behavior. Forgiving allowed me to overcome my feelings of bitterness and revenge.  

Since that time, they continue to call and send invites, but it doesn't bother me anymore.  In fact, as the years have passed, I've actually begun to feel sorry for them.  Despite all their college degrees, and they both have several, they have NO people skills.  And I have to question if someone is filled with such hate, do  they ever feel true happiness? I wonder. 

Forgiveness is the healing of wounds caused by another. You choose to let go of a past wrong and no longer be hurt by it. Forgiveness is a strong move to make, like turning your shoulders sideways to walk quickly on a crowded sidewalk. It's your move. 

 Real Live Preacher

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An Angel Watches Over Me

We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.  

Luciano de Crescenzo 

I have always believed in Angels. I do. I always have. I believe they have always been with us, watching over us since the beginning of time. Each of us has our own Guardian Angel who is assigned to us at birth and watches over us throughout our lifetime. They bring us messages, but many of us either don't believe in them or are just don't pay attention. Sometimes they come to warn us of danger, other times they come to help us to deal with a particular situation, and still other times they come to protect us. And we must not forget those times they come to bring us a joyful announcement of some sort. 

I've told this story before, so if you have heard it already, please bear with me. It is the story of the night I not only met my Guardian Angel, but she actually saved my life. When I was in my 20's and 30's I suffered from sleep apnea. If you suffer from this, you know how frightening it can be. There are two types...obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form in which the airway collapses or becomes blocked causing shallow breathing or breathing pauses. The second type, the one I suffered from is not as common--central sleep apnea. The area of the brain that controls your breathing doesn't send the correct signals to your breathing muscles, causing you to stop breathing for brief periods. Many a night I would awaken gasping for breath.

Then, one night I had a particularly bad episode, and awoke thinking, "This is it. I am not coming out of this one." I struggled, but was unable to find my breath, and everything began growing dark. And then I saw her. She was standing in the bedroom doorway, just watching over me. She was beautiful, dressed in a white shimmery gown. In fact, she looked exactly like the little Angel below that I purchased for my tree this year.

As you know, hubby and I have recently fallen onto hard times. Money is material and cannot buy happiness, but when you run out of it and cannot pay your rent and buy food, it sure can lead to a lot of unhappiness. Fortunately we are not there yet, but for months now I have been paying out more than I have been bringing in, and most of my money is gone. I've cut out many of the foods we like, we no longer order in once a week, and forget shopping for fun stuff. I am frightened and angry. This didn't have to be. Granted our lifestyle was due to change when I retired, but I had worked it all out that even without hubby's SSD we'd survive. The SSD would just make it better. Who knew that paperwork would mess us up so badly. (That darn paperwork again.) 

I have really been having a hard time of it lately, and spending so much time in the house with little contact with the outside world, in person and online, didn't help any.  I had a lot of time to think and found myself falling into a state of depression I'd not ever felt before. Worries set in about losing our apartment and not having enough to eat.  I always used to say when I was working, "I am only one paycheck away." I rarely got dressed, what for, did nothing but eat foods that were bad for me, tried hard to get into hobbies, but with no interest I didn't get very far. I did manage to do some reading, and that really helped me through the tough times. I began focusing on Miss Minga and the fact that she is up in years, and that I should prepare myself, and then I would sit and cry. And this was how I have been passing my days.

But, I did make sure I at least got out on Sundays to go to Church, and it was there that my Guardian Angel reminded me of her presence. Last week I was feeling rather badly when I went to Church. I hadn't wanted to go, but I knew I had to get out of the house. But, I had to pull myself out of this funk, and what better place to do so than in a spiritual place where I feel at peace with myself. The service began, and I was disappointed that the Priest I enjoy listening to had done the earlier service instead and bemoaning the fact that the singer was not there. To make matters worse, someone was sitting in MY seat. I always sit by the aisle in the last row. Little things had begun bothering me lately. Disgruntled, I sat in the second from the last row instead.

Just before communion everyone goes to their knees to pray. Most prayer in this church is done standing. Sort of took me by surprise when I first attended because whenever I had gone to church, and a minister said "Let us pray" we immediately got to our knees.  Well, I cannot go on my knees. They hurt too bad.  So I sit and lean like I am praying, and when I looked down I saw it. There at my feet was a white feather. White feathers are known to be the most notable sign that an Angel is nearby.  This past Sunday I went to Church again, and this time I was able to get my regular seat. When I looked down, surprisingly the white feather was again at my feet and a few inches away there sat a shiny new copper penny. This brought such a smile to my face because I know now that I have never been alone.

Have you been visited by an Angel?  I'd love to hear your story.  And you may have been visited without your knowing.  Angels will often leave signs to remind us that they are there to comfort and guide us. Look for the following signs:

White feathers...often referred to as 'calling cards'

Pennies

Butterflies

Rainbows

Dreams

Sparkles of Light

Beautiful Music  

An intriguing fragrance

These are just a few of my Angels...and some pictures of me and hubby.

This is my collection of Archangels.

Archangel Michael who was missing from the collection when I bought it.  So, I picked up this one instead, very appropriate as he reigns as the head of all of the Angels.  He should be distinctive.  

He's Free

 None who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free.

 

Pearl Buck

It's a wonderful Tuesday, indeed.  My son is free.  And, believe me, it wasn't easy.  I contacted the ICE office, something I should have done right from the start...but when things like this happens, you just don't think.  I trusted that an ICE officer would go to the jail to make arrangements for his release.  But, that never happened, it would NEVER have happened, because ICE had no record of my son.  There was no immigration warrant. The very nice worker who I spoke to said she would get in touch with a deportation officer and promised that we would get this straightened out.

Mid-afternoon I received a phone call from Homeland Security. The man called on my land line, and I had left my cell phone number for the callback.  Stupid me, I asked "How did you get this number?" He said, "Oh, you would be surprised." I guess I should have realized that they can get hold of anything they want. And furthermore, they probably knew everything to know about me and my sons.  I am sure they checked me out.

He assured me that there was no warrant and promised to take care of the matter right away.  I asked him how something like this could happen in this day and age, and the answer he gave me was very sobering...."They key in a wrong number quite often, and this happens more frequently than you might think.  Our issue is that while they are holding an innocent person. they are letting the ones that we want go free."  In this age of terrorism, that's pretty frightening, isn't it?  An officer keys in a wrong number, an innocent person is incarcerated, and a guilty party allowed to go free and commit more crimes. 

It's the stuff movies are made of. We cherish our freedom, but are completely unaware of how tenuous it really is. One careless mistake is all it takes to lose it.  Something as simple as a tying error can destroy someone's life. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and positive thoughts. 

When I heard that he was being released, I decided to go to the Center and have some fun for a change.  It has been a long time since I socialized with anyone aside from my hubby and a visit from my son.  It felt good to get out and mingle with people.   The weather was great, almost springlike. Too bad it didn't  last.  The arctic air has already moved back into the area.  Still debating whether or not I will go today. It's pretty brutal out there, but they are serving beef stew today...and I do love their stew. 

Hubby went to the SSD office today to find out why he wasn't receiving his retroactive money, and you will never, EVER guess what they told him. It seems that, because of all his health problems, he needed to be interviewed to see if he was ABLE to handle his money before they released it to him.  Once done with the interview he will get his money within a week.  Nice of them to tell him about it.  I can't tell you how many people he has spoken to that never mentioned it.  Heck, he wouldn't even know now if he hadn't gone down there to file for an appeal. So that is two issues that have been solved.

Now, it only my pension would kick in.   I called again yesterday and was told there were no updates.  The woman told me she would pass it on to a supervisor.  Like that really works!  They've done that so many times before that it means nothing to me.  It's so hard to be dependent on others, especially when you feel, when you know, you are being lied to.  I know I keep saying this, but I really do have to find legal help in this.  I haven't acted because I keep 'believing', and I guess that is what they are hoping for.  

Before closing, I wanted to talk about some good feelings.  Yesterday when I got off the bus to go to the program, another woman was headed there as well.  I don't really know her; we have never talked, so she surprised me when she asked if I would walk with her.  She was so afraid of falling.  "It's not that I would grab you and pull you down with me,' she said. "It's just that having someone with me makes me feel safer."

I know what it is like to be afraid.  I've been afraid of walking outdoors myself. It's been so cold and icy, and not everyone bothers to shovel. I was really in a hurry to get there so I wouldn't lose my regular seat, but I slowed myself to escort her there and make sure she made it safely.  When we safely arrived, she turned to me and said, "Thank you.  You don't know how much this meant to me today You made my day."  And, those few words made my day as well.  Kindness produces a ripple effect as it radiates from one heart to another.

If you have not often felt the joy of doing a kind act,
you have neglected much, and most of all yourself.

A. Neilen

Monday Morning This and That

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.  

Bill Vaughan

Happy Monday morning everyone, a happy one indeed. I can't believe I am finally back. It seemed like forever, and I missed all of you so much.  Yes, I did have the tablet, but maybe it was me, but the darn thing was so hard to use. One little post would take me two days, and after writing it, I'd have to go to my smartphone to upload the photos. Every time I tried to write something, it froze, or crashed, or inverted words.  Frustrating.  Stressful. Not that it doesn't have its good points.  'Hay Day', for example.  I am totally addicted, so addicted that the Facebook games I used to love hold little interest for me now.

I was becoming like the pessimist above, beginning to wonder if I would ever be back.  I'd really believed I would have been back online before this, but none of our monies came through.  I saw no end in sight, and what made it all the worse was this weather.  I'm terrified of falling so for the past few weeks, aside from a day here and there, I've been housebound. I wasn't able to socialize with my peers at the Center, and I could barely socialize with you.  I was really becoming depressed.

So, when my son called and said his friend offered to loan him a used computer and asked if I wanted it, I jumped on it.  But, the day he was supposed to bring it was the day of the storm so again I had to wait, but at least now I had something to look forward to.  Finally, on Friday he brought it to me and hooked it up.  Guess what?  In accord with all my recent luck, it didn't work.  Oh, the computer itself went on smoothly, but the mouse, keyboard, and monitor wouldn't go on.  We tried everything.  I just burst into tears.  I couldn't help it. After all, I'd been so happy only to be let down again. What else could go wrong?  

My hubby and son felt so bad that they took it to the computer repair shop in the neighborhood.  I wasn't willing to pay much because it was a 'loner'. Turned out it had absolutely no memory.  Well, to make a long story short, I was ready to spend the $50 on more memory, with no guarantees as to how long it would hold up as it was an old computer, when we decided instead to buy a computer from the man. I don't understand computer lingo but it is not considered refurbished.  They build the computer themselves.  Everything in it is brand new.  Also included was Norton 360 for a year and a Logitech mouse and keyboard.  I also have a one year guarantee on all parts.  And all this for $350. It works wonderfully.

Now for my son, he is still behind bars. I have a few calls to make this morning and am hoping to get this mess straightened out.  We are blessed that his boss really likes him and is holding his job.  It's something that is beyond understanding.  I've asked myself over and over again how something like this could have happened.  We all make mistakes, but some mistakes are bigger than others and can destroy someone's life. We've all typed in wrong letters or numbers at times, but when we discover out mistakes, we correct them.  The problem in my son's case is, once a mistake is made in the system, one has to jump through hoops to correct it, even though the parties in question admit that a mistake has been made.

Not quite the same, but if anyone here has ever had their identity stolen, you know how hard it is to get it straightened out.  Well, as it turns out, the officer filling out the initial paperwork inverted the last two numbers on the original summons, and when it went into the system, it was immediately stamped "Hold for immigration."  Evidently those inverted numbers belong to a summons that was issued to someone else, someone who is an immigrant who committed a crime. That's the best way I can explain it, because, to be honest, I don't understand it. Why hasn't this mistake been corrected?

I shake my head when I think of something like this happening to an Ame an American citizen in this day and age.   Anyone can look at my son, talk to my son, and realize that he is NOT an immigrant.  I'm flabbergasted.  There is definitely a lawsuit behind this, and I don't say that easily.  I'm not one for frivolous suits. I have fallen in front of someone's house, twisted my ankle on a city sidewalk, etc, but suing someone never came to my mind. But, this poor kid  has already spent about ten days behind bars and for everyday he is illegally detained, they have to pay him...and not chump change either.  

And then there is the emotional effects.  He's locked behind bars with hardened criminals and drug addicts.  He's afraid and on more than one occasion, broke down when talking to me.  He has lost his birth certificate so I sent for it again, but it seems they don't want to look at it or listen to reason.  He was brought before the judge on the 22nd, and we were so sure they were going to let him go that I planned a nice meal for him, but EVEN the judge won't listen.  On the bottom of his paperwork is stamped, "Detain for Immigration Warrant, F Status".  I looked it up and "F Status means that when released they will turn him over to ICE, the immigration services.

We have lawyers working on this, the ACLU has been notified, letters have been sent to various authorities.  Let's hope this is resolved soon. It has been so hard on us, and I feel so bad for this kid, but I don't know what else I can do. I mean, they really can't deport him, can they?  I tell myself that they can't do that, that he was born in New York Hospital, he's a citizen, I'm a citizen, but then, they think he is someone else.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Wow, this is long, but you'll have to forgive me.  It's been a long time, and I've much to say, but I promise to break it into bits.  So, I will leave you now with the following....

It's good to be back.

I'm Back

I'm back online.  Regular blogging to resume Monday.  I am so happy.

What Next?

 

Went out not once but twice yesterday. It felt good to get some air. The sky was clear and oh so clear.   Snow and ice still covers much of the walkway so I walked as far as I could and back again, then stood in front of the building and breathed in the crisp cool air. It is not the cold that bothers me. After all, I was born and raised in a cold countryside.  It is the ice that keeps me from venturing out.  It is different when I am indoors.  Then I can't stand to be cold, and let me tell you, it's been pretty darn cold inside, despite the fact that the heat is on day and night.  No storm windows, and you can just feel the cold air gushing in.

Well, financially we have had another setback. Hubby received his award letter yesterday, and according to what we read, they are not paying him retroactive or back pay, despite a judge granting him a fully favorable decision. Now there will be another appeal. More anguish and waiting, more pressure on me. He was pretty depressed so I did my best to keep his spirits up despite the fact that I am depressed myself. I have always been the strong one. He doesn't expect it. No, it is something I expect from myself.  I cry on the inside, but on the outside I am a pillar of strength.

And if that isn't enough on my plate, this one is for the record book. Talk about a system that is out of control, our criminal justice system. Do you remember the other day when I mentioned that my son was dating his childhood friend? Well, on their way home the police stopped him because one of his break lights were out. When they ran his identification they said they had to take him in because there was a warrant for a misdemeanor from years ago.  He had been out with friends, and when he got to the subway, he discovered that his wallet was missing.  The train was pulling in, it was late, and it was one of those stations without a token booth. So, he hopped the turnstile.

It turned out that a cop was there who wrote him out a ticket. The officer could have cared less about the lost wallet. My son did not comply with the summons. Stupid, yes, but he never realized the havoc that summons and a lost wallet would bring to his life.

He was locked up with $500 bail. My eldest tried to bail him out but was told he was being detained and they are still holding him. The officer who filled out the paperwork inverted some numbers, and he now turns up as an illegal Immigrant. His lawyer said they want to deport him.  Deport him where? He was born in  New York Hospital.  I have never left the country.  IIn the end, this will be a huge law suit, but who cares about the money.  I am so afraid that something will happen to him in that place.  I have already contacted he ACLU.

Please keep him in your thoughts.  I  will keep you updated. And now a wee bit of good news. I should be back online by tonight. My son is going to do his best to bring me the computer today. I sure do hope it works. Be safe, dear friends.

Waiting for Spring

Pretty sloppy, isn't it?

Looks like it is going to be another brutally cold day.  And from what they say there is no real relief in the foreseeable future which means that the ice will also be hanging around for awhile.  Last night I sat and cried.  I  don't like being confined like this but I am so afraid of falling. And without a computer I feel so cut off from the world.   My hubby went out to clean off and start his car, and he said that it was very slippery, that many did not shovel.  IIn fact, he is the one who snapped the pictures for me. I have not been in my jammies for two days now and find myself falling into a rut that borders on depression.  Today I am going to make myself get dressed and go out, even if only to stand out front for a while and talk to neighbors as they come and go.

Stay safe dear friends.

The Day After

This is how it looks the day after. Doesn't look bad at all. Notice how not everyone takes care of their walk away. This is what makes me a prisoner in my own house. Forget  calling with a complaint. Everyone is too busy working elsewhere. So storm after storm, those of us who are elderly and have a disability are confined to their homes. It is that or take a chance on falling and breaking a bone. Hope you are all doing well.

My Spirits Have Been Lifted...Well, at Least Until I Heard the Wrsther Report

My son came for a visit on Saturday,  and he was quite surprised that I was still without a computer since I had not said anything about it.  He told me he has a friend who offered him a computer tower and asked if I would want it. He would ask her and let me know and, she said yes, I could have it.  He said that it was old, but if it has a keyboard and works, who cares? Even if it just tides me over until I can get a new one, it is a blessing.  My son has been filming and promised to bring it his first day off which will  be Wednesday. 

But now they are forecasting snow and brutally cold weather.  My son lives way up in the Bronx,  and even the frigid temperatures they are forecasting and even though he will be traveling by subway, I really don't want him to travel in that kind of weather.

Well, I am off now to go to the supermarket. With the frigid temperatures they are forecasting,  I am guessing that I will probably be housebound for the rest of the week.

Will keep you updated.

Another Cold Day

Another brutally cold morning. They say this cold spell is about to end, and I sure hope when it does, the weather will moderate for awhile. I am really getting depressed and need to get out of the house and be with people. It is so cold that even with all the heat I get, there is still a chill throughout the apartment.

 Miss Minga decided to help me put away the Christmas decorations. I felt bad when I had to put the box away.  She did put quite a scare in me.  Yesterday she had some difficulty getting to her feet in the morning and walked with a noticeable limp.  She has had a slight limp due to arthritis, but not as bad as yesterday.  Of course in my depressed state I began thinking the worse and spent most of the day in tears.  I am glad to say that today she is back to her usual self.  SShe hasn't been doing much jumping lately and even though it is only a short distance down, she may have sprained her leg a bit. 

Stay warm and take care of yourself in this brutal weather.

Colder Than Alaska

Brrr!!! It is really cold outside today.  I am staying in forever sure. It rained yesterday thawing out the snow, and I fear that has turned to ice.  I am beginning to feel as if the weather is making me a prisoner, but it is better to be safe than sorry. I did take advantage of the warm weather yesterday to do my food shopping. No telling what the rest of the week will bring so I figured it best to get it over with. 

On New Years day I made a pernil and froze what we didn't eat. Yesterday I used it to make a delicious pork stew for dinner tonight. Perfect for a cold evening. ..and delicious as well. 

Yesterday I spent the afternoon putting the Christmas decorations away.  It seems like the Christmas that never was.  It just went far too fast for me. When I was a little girl, Christmas took forever to arrive and lasted for a whole week when it arrived.

Before closing I would like to say that I am sorry that I have not been able to comment on your blogs as much as I would like to, but it is really difficult with this gadget. It is so slow and seems, at times, to do what it wants to do. It is just not what they advertise on television. The commercials make it appear to be just like a computer, but it is just not that way. Oh, it is good for certain things--Facebook, email, all games other than Bingo--but it seems that anything that has to do with the Internet moves slow, crashes, or freezes. Maybe I just got a dud, who knows.  At any rate, know that I am reading and commenting whenever I can.  

Love and miss you all. Stay safe and warm.

Monday Morning This and That

The weekend has passed, and we survived the big snowstorm.  Actually, it wasn't as bad as the press made it out to be.  It was the cold that got to you. I stayed in both Friday and Saturday, finally venturing out to go to Church on Sunday. Sorry to say that I only made it to the corner before turning back.  It was so slippery.

I spent my days indoors reading, sipping hot chocolate, and doing my best to learn this tablet.  I am getting better at it, but there are still things I have not been able to master. ..centering quotes, italics, etc. I would also like to change this Christmas background, but have no idea how. Hopefully it won't be long now. Hubby called and found out that his checks will begin soon and he should get his back pay soon.  

I am so relieved. It will take a lot of pressure off me. My savings has dwindled down.  When I first retired I knew my income would be cut, and it would be a bit of a struggle until Hubby's social security went through, but I hadn't counted on the union giving me such a hard time with my pension.  Boy, they sure were quick to deduct my dues, though.  

On Saturday I watched 'The Quest for King Arthur on the history channel. I absolutely love reading about the Arthurian Tradition and the mysteries of Avalon. I adore Merlin, the Lady of the Lake, and stories about the Morrighan. 

I also made a rice dish that turned out absolutely delicious and was very simple to make.  I mixed together two tablespoons of my sofrito (garlic, onion, green, yellow, and orange pepper, and pitted olives. ..All mixed together in the blender),1 teaspoon tomato paste, salt, pepper, one can Campell's vegetable soup, a wee bit of oil, one can of water, and rice. Bring ingredients to a boil, add the rice and allow to boil down, cover, turn down burner, and allow to simmer until rice is done.  

Well guess that is it for now.  I am not going to the center today.  With more nasty weather on the way I am just going to get my food shopping done today rather than wait until Friday.  With all this crazy weather who knows what Friday will bring?
 
Hoping to get my new computer this week.   Keep your fingers crossed for me. May you all have a wonderful day... and be careful out there.

Friday Roundup

It's here,  our first snowstorm of the season. Personally, I think it is the first of several.  The early onset of snow this year, before Thanksgiving, has led me to believe we are in for a rough winter. It is okay with me, though. I don't have to worry about calling in sick anymore, and I am settled in a nice cozy apartment with plenty of heat. 

Yesterday I went to the center in the morning and picked up a few items to tide us over so we have plenty of food to eat. I am definitely ready to hunker down. I do feel bad, though for those older seniors who are alone and unable to get out. I have my tablet and a smartphone to keep up the outside world, but most of them don't own or no how to use a computer. 

I won at bingo yesterday, my first time since before the election. Only two dollars, but it is the feeling that comes from winning something. Speaking of good feelings, I started something new this year. A dear friend turned me onto it. I found a plain jar, and each day I write two good things that happened to me and put them in the jar. At the end of the year,it will be a reminder of all the good that happened all year long. 

I stepped out on my stoop and snapped the following pictures. I had wanted to get there before man destroyed all the beauty, but unfortunately  I overslept.

 

And the New Year Begins

Gosh, the New Year has begun and I have much to say, but no computer to say it on. Fortunately though, despite the difficulties I have using this tablet, it does allow me to remain in contact.  We had a very quiet New Year Eve. We ordered a dinner of rotisserie chicken and yucca cooked with vinegar and red onion.  That has been a tradition now for about 15 years.  Later we watched the ball drop  and shortly thereafter decided to call it a night. How different things are when one   becomes an elder. My partying days are long past.

The old man next door to me passed away  yesterday. He has lived in this building for most of the adult life. I only spoke with him a few times, but I found him to be a kindly and gentle little man. He is now reunited with his wife. May he rest in peace.

We have a snow storm coming tomorrow... or should I say tonight. Looks like I will be home bound for a couple days. Without my computer I am feeling lost, but I have been doing tons of reading. I do miss my computer games as well. I play a couple Garden games, and I know by the time I get back, they will be overrun with trees and rocks.

I do hope that the holidays went well for all of you. Personally, they pass so quickly it was like they weren't even there. Life sure does pick up speed the older you get.

Well, guess that's it for the day. It  took two devices for me to get this far,  and I am not even going to mention how much time.  I would love to hear about your holidays.