We have decided to buy a desktop and a laptop (the desktop with gaming capabilities for Sport, and the laptop with music capabilities for Elle). We still haven't decided on which ones. There are some good prices out there, but when you add in a 3 year warranty, and a 3 year anti-virus type protection, suddenly the price becomes not quite so good...sigh:~(
On the kitty front, Elle and I took the kitties to the vet yesterday. Midnight doubled her weight in two weeks and went from 1 pound to 2 pounds=^..^=, and Twilight went from 1.6 pounds to 2 pounds in the same time period=^..^=. They both weighed enough to get their vaccinations...needless to say, I am the mean one who held them while they were injected...and Elle is the nice one who stood back and had nothing to do with it all...sigh. They both received another round of de-worming...yuck. Both of them were low energy last night and this morning, not eating much...but they've seemed to have perked up this evening:~) (Their pictures will be posted as soon as we get a computer)
Work is winding down. Sport and Elle have 16 more days of school until they each culminate, and I have 21 more days of school until summer vacation. woohoo! At this point in time, I am still slated to work summer school. Sport doesn't want me to work (even though it's only 4 weeks and even though he will be in camp)...I think that he likes the idea of me being at home. Elle doesn't mind if I work, as long as she can come to work with me. I'm hoping that I will get some elementary schools to work at so that she can volunteer in some classrooms.
Did I mention that Elle earned the Gold level Presidential Service Award? DH and I are both really proud of her. She wants to continue volunteering both with Girl Scouts, at our church, and hopefully at my work. Good for her.
Now it's back to the internet (thank goodness for my work laptop) so that I can continue to fill my brain with more computer stuff...sigh...breathe in...breathe out.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Lap vs Desk
Our desktop computer died. It wasn't a quick death, it wasn't a slow death. It took about a week. It started with the screen freezing, moved onto the fan sounding like a blow dryer, and ended with the light on the tower turning amber with nothing on the screen.
Now our family is without a computer..sob.
So we are faced with the burning question of whether to replace our dead desktop with a laptop...or a new desktop. And which brand...and what do we things to we need, and how much memory...and... oh wait that was more that just one question. sigh.
I am a true technotards. I have absolutely no idea where to even start to look to decide laptop or desktop. Elle wants an apple laptop...of course she wants it for herself. Um hello there...we need a new family computer. Didn't we just spend a boat-load of money on new kitties for her?????
Having just restored the desktop due to a virus...6 weeks ago, DH and I are not inclined to keep photos or anything important on the computer...we'll use flashdrives.
Does anybody have any suggestions for us? We basically need a computer for email, blogging (although I realize I haven't done much lately), playing games (Wor.ld of War.craft and Rune.scape. for Sport), and downloading music and burning CD's for Elle.
Make, model, amount of memory, video cards, etc...we're not even sure what it is we need. Anyone have any suggestions???
Now our family is without a computer..sob.
So we are faced with the burning question of whether to replace our dead desktop with a laptop...or a new desktop. And which brand...and what do we things to we need, and how much memory...and... oh wait that was more that just one question. sigh.
I am a true technotards. I have absolutely no idea where to even start to look to decide laptop or desktop. Elle wants an apple laptop...of course she wants it for herself. Um hello there...we need a new family computer. Didn't we just spend a boat-load of money on new kitties for her?????
Having just restored the desktop due to a virus...6 weeks ago, DH and I are not inclined to keep photos or anything important on the computer...we'll use flashdrives.
Does anybody have any suggestions for us? We basically need a computer for email, blogging (although I realize I haven't done much lately), playing games (Wor.ld of War.craft and Rune.scape. for Sport), and downloading music and burning CD's for Elle.
Make, model, amount of memory, video cards, etc...we're not even sure what it is we need. Anyone have any suggestions???
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Kitties Have Landed
This has been a really hectic week. Last Saturday, Elle and I drove an hour to pick up the kitties that Rescue Lady told us about.
As we were leaving to drive there, we received a call from the Rescue Lady who told us that one of the kitties had a cold, and that if we wanted to wait another week until we picked them up, we could.
Yeah, right, sure, no problem. Um excuuuuse me but these kitties are for a 13 year old girl. She wanted them like now...if you know what I mean. So I told the lady, no problem...we were on our way.
Arrived at the rescue place...met kitties...rescue lady assured me that the kitties were 6 weeks old that day (yeah, right, sure) rescued/adopted two kitties...bought 'stuff' for the kitties...drove home much poorer but with two cute kitties.
On Tuesday, Elle and I took the kitties to the vet. The all black kitty (Midnight) weighed all of 1 pound (vet thinks she's 1 month old...the tuxedo kitty (Twilight) weighed 1 pound 6 oz. and is probably about 5 weeks old (did I mention that Rescue lady said that they were from the same litter?) Along with the cold, Midnight had lots of ear mites...Twilight had less ear mites and tested positive for round worm (looking more and more like Rescue Lady was not telling the truth about them being littermates). Had the vet deworm both kitties, got ointment for Midnights eye which was 'goopy' from her cold, and had the vet reconstitute some antibiotic that Rescue Lady gave to us for Midnight.
Our vet was able to get blood from Twilight to test for feline leu.kemia and feline a.ids. Because Midnight is so tiny...vet was unable to take a blood sample from her, so he will try again when we return in two weeks for another exam, and I believe another deworming.
Needless to say, we left the vets a lot poorer, but at least we left with two hopefully healthier kitties. We've taken some pictures...and I will post them as soon as I can charge the battery in my camera. Breathe in...breathe out.
As we were leaving to drive there, we received a call from the Rescue Lady who told us that one of the kitties had a cold, and that if we wanted to wait another week until we picked them up, we could.
Yeah, right, sure, no problem. Um excuuuuse me but these kitties are for a 13 year old girl. She wanted them like now...if you know what I mean. So I told the lady, no problem...we were on our way.
Arrived at the rescue place...met kitties...rescue lady assured me that the kitties were 6 weeks old that day (yeah, right, sure) rescued/adopted two kitties...bought 'stuff' for the kitties...drove home much poorer but with two cute kitties.
On Tuesday, Elle and I took the kitties to the vet. The all black kitty (Midnight) weighed all of 1 pound (vet thinks she's 1 month old...the tuxedo kitty (Twilight) weighed 1 pound 6 oz. and is probably about 5 weeks old (did I mention that Rescue lady said that they were from the same litter?) Along with the cold, Midnight had lots of ear mites...Twilight had less ear mites and tested positive for round worm (looking more and more like Rescue Lady was not telling the truth about them being littermates). Had the vet deworm both kitties, got ointment for Midnights eye which was 'goopy' from her cold, and had the vet reconstitute some antibiotic that Rescue Lady gave to us for Midnight.
Our vet was able to get blood from Twilight to test for feline leu.kemia and feline a.ids. Because Midnight is so tiny...vet was unable to take a blood sample from her, so he will try again when we return in two weeks for another exam, and I believe another deworming.
Needless to say, we left the vets a lot poorer, but at least we left with two hopefully healthier kitties. We've taken some pictures...and I will post them as soon as I can charge the battery in my camera. Breathe in...breathe out.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A Kitty Tale
DH and I promised Elle a kitty if she brought her grades up, and promised to be responsible for the kitty's care. Her grades are up and it looks like she will be getting a kitty this Saturday from a rescue group.
Rescue group woman told me that the kitty that Elle wants, has a sibling. Rescue group woman sent pictures of alleged kitty sibling. Rescue group woman said that if we take both kitties that she will only charge us for one of them. Rescue group woman does not play fairly.
I have a feeling that Elle will be bringing home two kitty's on Saturday...sigh.
Rescue group woman said to buy a scratching post that is made of rope. Elle wants something that also has a ledge for the kitty to sit on. Does anyone have any ideas as to where we could get something suitable for one (or two) kittys? I used to have four kittys, but they were indoor and outdoor kittys and didn't need any fancy scratching posts...they had the great outdoors. These kittys...oops did I just say these???...I meant this kitty will be an indoor kitty. Any other suggestions as far as litter boxes, food, toys...etc????
I am still tired from the camping trip this past weekend...Rescue group woman certainly caught me at a weak moment. Breathe in...breathe out.
Rescue group woman told me that the kitty that Elle wants, has a sibling. Rescue group woman sent pictures of alleged kitty sibling. Rescue group woman said that if we take both kitties that she will only charge us for one of them. Rescue group woman does not play fairly.
I have a feeling that Elle will be bringing home two kitty's on Saturday...sigh.
Rescue group woman said to buy a scratching post that is made of rope. Elle wants something that also has a ledge for the kitty to sit on. Does anyone have any ideas as to where we could get something suitable for one (or two) kittys? I used to have four kittys, but they were indoor and outdoor kittys and didn't need any fancy scratching posts...they had the great outdoors. These kittys...oops did I just say these???...I meant this kitty will be an indoor kitty. Any other suggestions as far as litter boxes, food, toys...etc????
I am still tired from the camping trip this past weekend...Rescue group woman certainly caught me at a weak moment. Breathe in...breathe out.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Let's Hear It For The Hormones
I'm going camping this weekend with 2,000 Girl Scouts (ages 12-17) and about 500 adult volunteers. Yikes...that's a lot of estrogen all in one place! Wish me luck!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Traaa ditioooon..bum bum bum (pause for 3 beats)....Tradition!
Saturday night I was making dinner when suddenly all of the power to the microwave went out. Mind you, no other power anywhere in the house went out...just the microwave. It's the kind of microwave that is installed about the stove and is expensive to replace.
After breathing in and out...I unpluged the microwave and plugged a night light into the outlet, checking to see if somehow we might have tripped a circuit breaker...no such luck. DH and I looked at each other, sighed a big sigh, and stated that we probably had to go and buy a new one. (Given that this one is only two and 1/2 years old, we were not too happy about it) Fortunately with DH having a new job to start, the freaking out about the cost of a new microwave was not in my consciousness:~) whew.
It surprises me that if this had happened two days before, both DH and I would have been stressing about buying a new microwave, but because we now know that he will be starting work the end of this month, we reacted in a very different way to the situation.
But I digress...so there we were faced with a microwave that appeared deader than a doornail. (Fortunately we didn't need the microwave to finish preparing dinner.) Saturday we needed to light some candles, part of our tradition. We thought about 'blowing off' (no pun intended) lighting the candles, but instead, ultimately decided that lighting them was an important part of the evening. We all gathered in the kitchen to light the candles. Just as Elle was going to light the candles, DH glanced over at the microwave and the power came on.
I'm thinking that my dad and all of our relatives who have passed... were appeased.. Letting us know that they are still watching over us, and reminding us that traditions are important to maintain the chain that passes from one generation to the next.
After breathing in and out...I unpluged the microwave and plugged a night light into the outlet, checking to see if somehow we might have tripped a circuit breaker...no such luck. DH and I looked at each other, sighed a big sigh, and stated that we probably had to go and buy a new one. (Given that this one is only two and 1/2 years old, we were not too happy about it) Fortunately with DH having a new job to start, the freaking out about the cost of a new microwave was not in my consciousness:~) whew.
It surprises me that if this had happened two days before, both DH and I would have been stressing about buying a new microwave, but because we now know that he will be starting work the end of this month, we reacted in a very different way to the situation.
But I digress...so there we were faced with a microwave that appeared deader than a doornail. (Fortunately we didn't need the microwave to finish preparing dinner.) Saturday we needed to light some candles, part of our tradition. We thought about 'blowing off' (no pun intended) lighting the candles, but instead, ultimately decided that lighting them was an important part of the evening. We all gathered in the kitchen to light the candles. Just as Elle was going to light the candles, DH glanced over at the microwave and the power came on.
I'm thinking that my dad and all of our relatives who have passed... were appeased.. Letting us know that they are still watching over us, and reminding us that traditions are important to maintain the chain that passes from one generation to the next.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Yippee Skippy
Since DH has been unemployed, he has been picking Sport up from school every afternoon. Yesterday was a day just like the others...only different:~) Sport came running in the house and said "Guess what?...Daddy has a job!"
Now you must understand that Sport is quite the little joker (can't imagine who he takes after...lol). Before I was ready to get excited and start jumping up and down, I asked Sport why he was telling me this momentous news and not Daddy. Sport explained that Daddy was still in the car, and on the phone with "L".
I happen to know that "L" was one of the people, where is used to work (before his company split in two and he ended up at the awful place that laid-him-off) that was working hard to get him hired over in their department. So I started to feel some hope tenatively bubbling within my stomach. Still reluctant to get too excited I walked outside and waited for DH to get out of the car.
Sure enough...he has a job. He will start on April 28. He now officially has one week of unpaid vacation to get ready to go back to work. The great thing about this job is that he knows all of the people that he will be working with...and he likes them and they like him. In fact, the people that he will be working with all threw him a surprise party the evening of his last day of work ...(I sure hope that they don't want their gift back)...heeheehee
Anyway, that is my good news for now. Actually I would say that it's great news. There are still some particulars to work out, and some papers to sign. It's not a union job so in 14 months his health benefits will expire. Fortunately, he will be covered under my health plan, and he is already 'vested' in the union, so when it comes time for him to retire, he will still be eligible for his pension.
I can definitely say that I would much rather be dealing with these details, than stressing out about him not having a job. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and know that I have a lot to say about that subject. However, I'll leave that for another day.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend...I know that we will:~)
Now you must understand that Sport is quite the little joker (can't imagine who he takes after...lol). Before I was ready to get excited and start jumping up and down, I asked Sport why he was telling me this momentous news and not Daddy. Sport explained that Daddy was still in the car, and on the phone with "L".
I happen to know that "L" was one of the people, where is used to work (before his company split in two and he ended up at the awful place that laid-him-off) that was working hard to get him hired over in their department. So I started to feel some hope tenatively bubbling within my stomach. Still reluctant to get too excited I walked outside and waited for DH to get out of the car.
Sure enough...he has a job. He will start on April 28. He now officially has one week of unpaid vacation to get ready to go back to work. The great thing about this job is that he knows all of the people that he will be working with...and he likes them and they like him. In fact, the people that he will be working with all threw him a surprise party the evening of his last day of work ...(I sure hope that they don't want their gift back)...heeheehee
Anyway, that is my good news for now. Actually I would say that it's great news. There are still some particulars to work out, and some papers to sign. It's not a union job so in 14 months his health benefits will expire. Fortunately, he will be covered under my health plan, and he is already 'vested' in the union, so when it comes time for him to retire, he will still be eligible for his pension.
I can definitely say that I would much rather be dealing with these details, than stressing out about him not having a job. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and know that I have a lot to say about that subject. However, I'll leave that for another day.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend...I know that we will:~)
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