Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The good and the bad

There are mostly good things about Halloween. I love the chocolate. I love seeing the kids dressed up. I love the chocolate. I love the jack o'lanterns. I love handing out the candy. I love the little girl dressed as a fairy princess who saw my cat and instead of saying trick or treat, she asked to pet the cat. I love the chocolate. I love the fun. I love when kids are polite. Did I mention I love the chocolate?

There are just a few things I don't like about Halloween. I don't like how it's almost always cold here for Halloween. (At least it's not raining or snowing this year!) I don't like when parents drive in a car along the street following their kid instead of walking with them. (Lazy wimps!) I don't like the older kids that don't even bother dressing up, but will still come to the door with a sack. (I'm fine with the older kids trick or treating, just make a little effort in the costume department!)

I think I'd like to start the trick or beer tradition in our neighborhood.

Any good or bad surprises for you for Halloween?

Happy Blogaversary to me!

I'm 3 yrs old in blog years today.

Have a fun and happy Halloween!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Something to do this weekend

If you don't have plans (or your plans aren't as cool as this) you could always enjoy some time with like-minded folks:

http://oct27.org/

Sunday, October 21, 2007

I tried....

I tried to fix the mower. I finally gave up. I ended up using the push mower on the extra-long grass with all the leaves. Basically, I would mow one "stripe" up the yard, stop, empty the bag, do another stripe, stop, empty the bag.... It got old very fast. After awhile, I ended up hollering for hubby to get out and help me. I would mow then make him dump the bag. It worked for me. (He definitely had the harder of the two jobs. Heh heh.)

Hubby and I were going to push the old mower back into the shed in the backyard, but decided it was too far to push it, so we put it by the curb. I had planned on making a sign: "free if you want it - it doesn't work" and see if someone wanted to take it. I didn't even get the sign made when someone stopped and asked me if I was getting rid of it. (Usually, if something is by the curb - in that section of grass between the sidewalk and street - it's there for the trash.) I told him all about it, and said if he wanted a fall/winter project, it would keep him busy. We agreed on a price (free) and off it went! I'm glad to have it gone. It was fun to practice and learn some small engine mechanics on that mower though. I got some good experience out of it.

Tomorrow's project? I'm going to replace a light switch in the bathroom. It seems it's haunted. It sometimes doesn't want to turn the lights on. And if you leave the switch in the *on* position, the lights will finally decide when they want to light up. I'm pretty sure it's just a bad switch, so tomorrow is a visit to the home improvement store! Yay! I'll probably come home with all sorts of stuff to put in that bathroom instead of just walking out with a 50 cent light switch....

Hubby didn't get home until 7am today. And it will be that late again tomorrow morning. Most gals would be ticked off to have their hubby come home at 7am. Mine is guarding a crime scene tonight. I'm so proud of him and the work he does. He usually enjoys it too. He has no desire to move up in rank. He's happy in the position he's in now. I joke that he'll retire right where he's at. He doesn't joke that it could be the truth.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Ladies Man

Waitress: "You impress me."

Frodo: "That's what they all say."

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Go figure!

Mom went home from the hospital today. They were doing the "advance diet as tolerated" bit, so every time they brought her something to eat, they increased the "complexity" of the item. For supper last night, she had mashed potatoes, apple crisp, and pork tenderloin! And she felt like going home. So the doc said all was looking well and we'll see ya later!

***************************************

We have a riding lawn mower that is stored in a shed and it only comes out in the fall when all the leaves start blanketing the yard. This year, I tried getting it out and running, like I do every fall. But this year, it wouldn't start. I'd turn the key and get nuthin'. Not even a *click* noise. So I proceeded to check everything I could think of - I checked the battery. (Charged and fine.) I checked the gas tank. (Small amount, just to get it going.) I checked the oil. (Looks good.) I made sure all the safety precautions were correct - someone sitting on the seat, depressing the clutch pedal, and the cutting deck is raised. So out came the owner's manual with the "troubleshooting" section. As soon as it started saying things such as "get two wires and cross them over the selenoid" I knew I was in too deep. So I called a service that actually comes to your home and does work on small engines.

He came the following day. Nice guy. I watched what he was doing so I could learn a little bit. He started by doing the same steps I did. Then he did the "cross to wires across the selenoid" thing, except he used two screwdrivers. We got spark and appropriate noise. So that part is fine. He figured we had a bad ignition switch, and installed a new one. No change. He asks me for the owner's manual with the electrical diagram. (I already had it open to that page as I had perused it myself the previous day.) He says that he could load it up in his truck, take it back to his shop, test all the wires, and try to figure it out but that would probably run me a couple hundred bucks.

"Do you want to spend that kind of money on a 16 year old lawn tractor?" he asks.

"Uh, not really", I reply.

"Well, there's one other thing you can do. But I can't do it myself because of liability. But if you're interested, I can tell you exactly what to do. And it'll only run you about 10 bucks total" he says.

"Speak to me!" I say.

He proceeds to tell me he thinks maybe one of the safety switches is bad. Doesn't know which one, but they can easily be bypassed. All I need to do is go to the automotive section of the local *Farm and Barn* store and buy a switch. He describes the switch to me. And I'll need some wire if I don't already have some. After I get home with that shopping list of goodies, I am to drill an appropriate sized hole in the fender of the old lawn tractor - near this selenoid. Then I can attach a couple wires to the switch and a couple wires to the selenoid, and *voila!*, I can push the button to start the mower.

I tell ya, I learn something new every day.

So I went shopping. Came home with the bounty from the farm store. And I installed the switch all by myself. The retired neighbor across the street came over to ask what I was doing and he was impressed. I tell ya, I would MUCH rather do this kind of thing instead of the dreadful cleaning, laundry, and cooking crap.

It took me about an hour. I got it all hooked up. I just *had* to try and start it. I pressed the button. The engine was trying to turn over, but wouldn't catch, so I released the starter button and let it rest a moment. Then I pressed again. It tried again, and I did not get the desired result. Rest again little red lawn tractor....

One last try - I press the button. Once again, it's trying to start, but not quite making it. I release the button. Uh oh. It won't stop trying. Oh crap. I jiggle the button, I press and release it again. Nothing stopping. (But the engine not starting either.) I jump off the seat only to notice smoke/steam coming from underneath. I quick grab a screwdriver and unhook one of the wires and it finally stops. And something smells. It's now late and dark. But at least my garage is not on fire. So I go to bed somewhat satisfied that I was able to get the machine to at least *try*! I was electrocuted as a child after sticking a key into a light socket and I have had a very healthy respect for electricity ever since. So this was a big step for me to attempt this! (Any one else singing the schoolhouse rock "Electricity" song right now? Or is it just me?)

Today, I volunteered in the school libray then spent the afternoon trapped indoors at a stupid computer class for work. (System upgrade! Yee haw. Reread that with sarcasm if you missed it the first time.) I never got to check and see if I fried some wires. I'll tackle that again later. For now, the tall grass praire that is my yard will just have to wait for it's trim.

And I'm just a rambling fool tonight. I'm struggling a bit with my depression crapola. I've talked with others who are also struggling recently as well. I hate this part of this time of year. I wish the rain would stop so I could play outside more. Sigh. I did play hooky from work on Tuesday afternoon this week, and that was good. :)

Monday, October 15, 2007

How the *eff*???

How in the world do I reply to the folks that post to me? I've replied to posts on other blogs and bloggers have occasionally sent me a nice email reply. How does one do that? If I reply to the note from my email, I get a return email. So how do I do the friendly reply thing? I like to be friendly. I don't want to be rude.

That's all I wanted to know for now. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

By the way...

...my mom is doing well. Her surgery went well, recovery was a bit harsh with them trying to deal with pain management for her. (She eventually had an epidural placed and loved it!) Other than that, The staff at this small northwoods hospital is great. They are knowledgeable and very friendly. (Some of the small town hospitals around my area are known for being the kind you should drive right past, even if you are squirting blood from your neck....)

And FIL has been behaving for the most part. He's had just a few moments where we need to redirect his train of thought. I think just having someone there with him has helped him. When he's alone, I think his mind starts thinking all sorts of crazy things. But as long as someone else is there, he has something to focus on.

So thank you all for your thoughts during this time. Overall, things are going well. We just have to have time and patience as her body does it's healing now.

Thoughts on motherhood

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21292612/

I found this interesting article that talks about which jobs have the highest rates of depression. At the top of the list is "personal care workers" - those who care for children, elderly, and disabled. Second, are those who "prepare and serve food", such as waitresses and cooks. Tied for third are health care workers and social workers.

Now look at those above job duties and think of what moms do. They care for children and parents, and occasionally disabled children or parents. They prepare food. They are nurse and counselor for the family. And the more a person spends at home doing these things and nothing else, the more she runs the risk of falling into depression.

Granted, some moms thrive on being a mom. And I'm the first to admit that I'm jealous of those moms that can handle all those duties with happiness and grace. For me, I need a little bit more of a balance - I need some time at home and some time away from home. I can't have too much of one or the other, or I am out of balance. I *could* work more and have more money, but then I would be out of balance.

I fully respect every mom's choice of what works for her and her family. For some moms, that means working full-time. For other moms it means staying home full-time. For me, I need a bit of both. When Frodo was a baby, I stayed home almost full-time. (I worked very limited hours, and only when hubby was home with the child.) I spiraled into a severe depression quite rapidly. I finally got treatment for it and improved. Then, when my nephew was born and my sister and her hubby were very broke and she needed some daycare, I stepped up. I thought I could handle it "this time", especially since I knew it was just part of the day and I could sleep at night, and because I was being treated for my depression.

I did NOT do well again. I got the "fun" of post-partum depression without the fun of being pregnant again. I'm just not wired to be a stay-at-home mom exclusively. Just like I'm not wired to be a full-time working mom either.

And that's what all moms need to figure out - what is a good balance for you? Because if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Getting familiar with a long drive....

I was just up north this weekend to visit *the parents*. It was planned a short while ago and baby sister and her hubby were going to be there too. I was excited to visit with everyone and to see the beautiful fall leaves.

Then mom emails on Thursday that a surgery that was in the works for her had finally been set. For Wednesday. Not a problem. Except for her hubby....

Last time mom was in the hospital, he was a basketcase. Actually, that's an understatement. What's beyond basketcase? And you'd think that since this hospital visit is planned ahead, he'd deal with it better than a surprise hospital stay, but nooooo. He's just starting his beyond basketcase-edness ahead of time. But since this hospital stay is planned, much planning and plotting has conspired. And the first part of this plan involves me.

I'm driving back up there after work today so I can basically babysit a 72 year old man.

Let me back up a bit and explain her hubby. First off, he was my father-in-law before he was her hubby. I just did a blog search and I can't find where I've ever explained this. My hubby and I met almost 20 years ago. Both our sets of parents were still alive and married to each other. My parents divorced in 1991. My mother-in-law passed away from ovarian cancer in 1998. She used to do typing for my father-in-law's work on occasion. After his wife was gone, FIL needed some typing done. He knew my mom was a secretary, so he stopped by her work to ask if she would work for him occasionally as a typist. She asked what he needed typed and he handed her a few papers. She typed them up in no time flat and refused to accept payment since it was easy and took no time. He insisted on paying SOMETHING, so he offered to take her out for lunch. They had a nice time and realized they enjoyed each other's company quite a bit. They started dating. Then in August 2000, they eloped to Las Vegas. Family holidays have been so very easy ever since. ;)

Anyhow, fast forward to last winter when mom was hospitalized and FIL was misbehaving terribly. He was trying to sneak into the hospital after visiting hours after being kicked out for not leaving. He is like a toddler - always poking and asking questions and wanting to talk and wanting attention. It's exhausting. This is how he is on a routine day!! And the more stressed he is, the worse he is. The more tired he is, the worse he is. The more pain he has of his own, the worse he is. (He has a chronic back problem.) So him trying to sneak into the hospital after visiting hours so he can barely sleep in an uncomfortable chair and constantly bother mom and not eat and not remember to take his own medications or even take care of himself at all is setting him up for nothing but trouble. He's actually been known to try and CLIMB INTO THE HOSPITAL BED TO SNUGGLE. I am not kidding. (He has no abandonment issues from his childhood, does he?!?!??)

So when I get there, I will be hiding all sets of car keys. He will be instructed to not drive anywhere - I will be his chauffeur. I have a release of medical information so the medical staff can discuss mom's condition with me since FIL was such a poor reporter before. I will be speaking to the nurses to let them know that he has a past history of misbehaving. And the brief time he will be left alone when I leave to come back home but before sister-in-law gets up there, he may try to misbehave. They will have my phone number to reach me. (And I also happen to know the sheriff of that county - it's the dad of a good friend of mine. Heh heh.)

And I already informed FIL that I do NOT have bail money.