Just finished reading "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides. Quite possible the best book ive read in years.
Did a scary cat rescue Sunday, which im still not over,but im glad to see the cat go to a loving home.
Looked in the "bulb box" and was shocked to see i have approx 1000 bulbs to plant before the snow flies. I have no idea who ordered all those bulbs but she sure needs her head examined. No self control thats for sure. Must be the same woman who bought all those apples and squash and pumpkins and gourds etc....siiiiiiigh.

Don't you just hate when you eat something really good, but the last bite is less than the rest was (bad peanut in your M&Ms). I just did that with potato salad someone else made... the last bite was a less than done potato :(

When did the Home Page change? I was in here, yesterday, and it wasn't like that--at least, I don't remember it being that way. Even though I like to think I'm still flexible and adaptable--and am always telling DH to be that way--guess I don't like change very much, after all. Oh well, I'll get used to it, I guess! :>(

I'm sitting here watching it rain.
I tried taking a nap and just when I managed to drop off
to sleep a telemarketer called, they hung up when I answered the phone.
I told y'all I was such a witch that even TMs would hang
up when they heard my voice.:0)

I'm stressing out because the big trade show that's most of my job starts tomorrow. Steve was supposed to be at a scientific meeting too, but his meeting was in San Diego and... well... seeing as how so many people are being evacuated from there, his company decided not to send its people. As stressed as I am, I'm glad I'm not in charge of all the exhibitors at a San Diego trade show this week. That would be waaaaay worse. By Sunday, my stress level will be at 1/50th its present rate.

Last week I was talking to our buildings' janitor and burst out laughing when he told me that in his free time he plays on a curling team. I told him it sounded like waaaaay too much sweeping for a single person. Turns out he's a skipper, but still...

I wonder if curling teams recruit janitors to be their "ringers."

I wonder why I have this perception that I'm taller and thinner than I actually am. It feels really good. I need to get a tall, thin, mirror in my bathroom.

I got a new propane stove installed today and the weather got warm and sunny. I wonder if I'm going to be okay with those little pretend logs. I'd better be, this was expensive.

Waiting for rain which never comes.
Gardening for an elderly fellow---$50 for 3 hours work, once a week---I could do that for the rest of my life and never regret it.
I want my own little on-the-side business, doing just that. Cash only.

Driving a Saab that will only go into reverse when on an upslope---great fun for me :o) ---poor Ed will have to give it away, instead of actually SELLING it to someone who'd EXPECT it to go into reverse on ANY angle. Anyone who's ever driven one, knows there's ALWAYS something wrong---still fun to drive! (He's aleady shelled out a ton of sheckles to fix it--Personally, I think it has something to do with a synchronizer bushing...the garage he sent it to was too high-tech to think of something so lowly.)
"The thing I miss the most about being young," I said to someone the other day, "Is feeling wonderfully giddy at times." I would like to feel that way when I see the lovely soft and dusty light of Fall as it pulls at the tips of coloring leaves. I feel, but it's quiet; not giddy.

Our town has too many cars in it these days---taking short-cuts no longer work. I've never minded going three blocks out of the way to get out of sitting at a zombie stoplight, but now, no matter the route I take, I have to wait and wait.
Pisser.

Am content to drink coffee, play Crazy Eights or Hearts with the DGD's,---and maintain the garden.

I think about how many days are left. I'm assuming most of us in the 60-and-over realm think that same thing quite a bit, not letting it get in the way of living or anything, just kind of quietly noticing the question hanging in the background of daily life.

The 'Police' are coming to Charlottesville in Nov.
Think it's time to check out Sting again.
Remember to take earplugs..

The demolition/reconstruction project continues on the basement (flooded at the end of August). My son and I make a great team and perhaps we'll be a "Flip That House" duo in the future. We work together quietly and well. If Mr. Suzanne was involved the air would hang heavy with blue language and flying tools. It's just not his thing.

My current task is to scrape pounds and pounds of carpet glue off a 1,100 square foot concrete floor - - - with a putty knife!! The man who built this house and finished the basement must have found a great deal on carpet glue because he used tons of it. I guess he never envisioned the carpet might same day need to be removed.

The putty knife will be cleaned up, framed and hung in a place of honor in the finished space.

Kathyjane ~ my neighbor, upon retiring from the police force, did become an hourly gardener for others. She began with one acquaintance who passed the word that here was someone who didn't mind staking tomatoes, planting seedlings, or pulling weeds by hand; and was helpful, cheerful, and reliable. By her 2nd summer she had enough customers to work a 60-hour week, so she found another retiree with the same outlook.

This morning, I woke up to the wonderful sound of rain. I've been told that rain pattering on the roof makes people sleepy, but I am contrarily energized by it. I didn't bounce out of bed -my bones no longer bounce for any reason-but I did find myself wide awake with a long mental list of to-dos, apparently written by my subconscious in a precipitive burst of optimism. So I get up and proceed with my morning; not until I was halfway through breakfast did I look at the clock. Oh well, if one wakes two hours early, it's good to be cheerful about having the extra time.

Getting ready for my book group to be here at my house this afternoon & waiting for the floor to dry so I can finish cleaning. This is a challenge as DH is out of town & non-cook me has to come up with the refreshments. Luckily, the stores are full of wonderful baked goods with a Halloween theme, so while ti was a tad expensive, no one will go hungry.

SUZANNE; fer God's sake, woman---git one of those long-handled heavy blades they use for edging, breaking ice and whatever else that comes to mind! Get some REALLY HOT water and pour a little on the area you're working on and start SCRAPING! The weight of the blade will carry your path a lot farther. If you use a putty knife, one day you'll be dead, you will have died a madwoman----and the floor will STILL need to be finished!
Take it from me----I'm still working on the stinking mess downstairs----the pad had become one with the glue probably long before I ever moved there---it is one soupy, STINKING mess....One half hour at a shot is the most I can handle, smell-wise. Good luck, my friend!

meldy, thanks for the words----if I ever want to be really happy, I'm going to have to do just what your friend did.
Life is too short and being inside too long, just kills my spirit.
Yes; it's rained in the Valley some, also. Thanks, God!

Kathy Jane, what a wonderful surprise to see you here.
I've missed you!

I can't believe that Suzanne doesn't have one of those
long handled flat hoe thingys. It has so many uses.

I'm staying in since Di and Jimmy left.
I need to go over to the new place and finish painting and
stuff but I'm in a funk right now. Rainy, dreary days
will do that to me. I'm a sunshine person, totally
energized by it. We need the rain and I'm thankful for
every drop but I need sun and light to tempt me out to
work.

O.K., maybe I just imagined that the home page had changed--but I swear, it was different, yesterday! We've had rain in WV, too, quite a bit during the night, just showers most of today. But it's wonderful, however it's coming. DH and I got our flu shots at church, after lunch today. It was nice, having an app't., so we didn't have to stand in line for an hour or so. Of course, this year, there seems to be plenty of vaccine, so maybe we wouldn't have had to wait even at the grocery store. We're just glad we've each gotten one.

Graded a batch of student papers, finished Sartre's No Exit, went to the gym, cooked a nice dinner, ate it, and that's about it. I havea necklace I'm working on and I think I'll fiddle with it tonight. I'm getting ready for three small local craft shows and hoping for Christmas sales.

Nice to have some Fall Break days off--spend two nights in Baltimore's Inner Harbor playing tourist, and am glad to report that the Aquarium is as awesome as ever. Two great dinners: one at Dalesio's in Little Italy, one at Ruth's Chris Steak House. The first was really good, the second awesome. Watched the Red Sox win the ALCS--GO SOX!!!!!

It's sort of nice to get those rambling, autumnal, busy, days. MWheel, the GW has been acting strange for me for a week. I'm lucky to even get to the forums lately. If I disappear it's because they have some new banner or pop-up my computer doesn't like and is trying to block.

I used to know the name of that tool you scrape with...a blade on a long wooden handle. That's what late middle age does to you. I use one in my chicken shed to scrape up poop, but I don't think the dirty word filters here would accept me calling it a S**t scraper and that's what I call it.

I have ten dozen irons in the fire now, and don't seem to be wrapping up on one before I stick another one in. None of it is by choice, or I wouldn't. I got over being depressed about all of it and just plug along trying to keep the head above water and find something pleasant to divert my attention. The insomnia is subsiding, at least.

I can't seem to get excited about halloween this year. This is the first time in my life I haven't been. I have always loved it and decorated for it. I hope this is just a passing thing and not a sign of decrepit old age. LOL.

Jan, I have to run to Staunton on Fri. to get another 4 boxes of Clavamox for sick cats---I'll run by the Farm Bureau and see if they have any of those do-lollies--- Suzy, I can't remember what it's called either!
Ed said it's an ice chipper, but it's 'way more that that! I'll ask for a s--t scraper----- (IVillage, that s--t stands for 'snot') ----Wonder how you wrap one for shipping? :o)
Jan; is your house finished?----I saw how long the House Thread was and knew I'd never get through it---Well, maybe I'm lazy, really......OK; OK! I'll go look. If I'm not back in 3 weeks, you'll know what happpened! (How's the Avalon doing?

This is the first fall in over 30 years that I wasn't either taking or teaching a tax class. Retirement sort of hit me twice today. 1) In the bank where I realized what I missed the most was having a desk of my very own with interesting stuff in the drawers. 2) I realized I had a choice of what to do this afternoon -- read the library book, read the new magazine or take a nap. This may be a long winter.

I found out yesterday that my little grandboys -- ages 3 and 4 -- will be here for Thanksgiving. Not that I'm looking forward to it or anything, but I'm already planning what to cook, games to play and stories to tell. After all, Thanksgiving is only 5 weeks away!

A moment of pure joy -- was standing in the kitchen with the door open and the smell of fall suddenly almost overwhelmed me. I can think of other scents I like as much but none I like more.

Kathyjane ~ print a picture of this scraper to show them. Notice that they have one name, and ice scraper is listed as one of its attributes. 12 pounds sounds heavy, but you leave the weight on the floor and push... it won't bend or flip, it's strong!

Here is a link that might be useful: scraper

Nora, If you're wondering how to pass the time during retirement, just volunteer for just one thing. Within the blink of an eye you'll find every waking hour of the day occupied. My morning exercises these days consist of standing in front of the bathroom mirror saying no over & over again.

It's a beautiful, if chilly morning here. The weather guy said that a low has gone stationary east of us causing day after day of sunny, cool, dry days. Perfect fall weather.

I just finished scraping the glue from linoleum from a cement floor. This tool was an absolute life saver...rugged also.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:194265}}

Dadaism, pure and simple. Was gonna link to Lou Reed's DaDa song. Cheeky lyrics and all that. Couldn't find it on youtube. Am I in a quasi sci-fi moment and could it not have been Lou Reed who did this song in this universe? Thought and memory, without both we be no longer. Could only find the song done by a group called Trio. Or, heavens forbid, it has been co-opted by the Pepsi Corporation as background music in an ad for their product.

Co-opted Dadaism This Spanish version was the best of any language version. I had a choice between German, French, English and Spanish. One of the German versions was sexist and violent. The other one was cute; Da da da with umpha umpha umpha.... But the Spanish version is better.

Dadaism co-opted for corporate greed.

Where's the Pepsi machine?

Da da da, da da da, da da da.....

Did you all notice the moon last night? It was so bright, I almost had to shield my eyes when it was shining through the windshield of my car. I was reminded of DH's favorite Mets player from their hapless days in the 1960's - Marvelous Marv Thornberry - who once explained not catching a fly ball by saying the moon got in his eyes. That was entirely possible last night.

kj, I saw the Police a couple of months ago in Philly--they are as good as ever. Hope you get to see them.

On a whole other level, I went to an Access Concert at the Kimmel last night, Philadelphia Orchestra doing Hadyn's Military Symphony, with a busload of Honors students, all freshmen. These concerts are great for young folks and for people like me who are not experts on classical music. The conductor explains each movement, the orchestra plays bits and pieces as he goes, and then they do the symphony all the way through. Helps me know what I'm hearing and makes for a nice evening.

Then I came home and watched the Sox win Game 2 of the Series. How good can life get?