Two days in a row - how about that? I had Dish TV troubles yesterday. Called tech support twice only to be told they can't help me and that I would have to pay for a service call, which also would result in at least 1/2 day off work. That did not make me happy. So today I called tech support for a 3rd time (is a charm, right?). Well, this tech support gal did help me and my big screen is back online. Unfortunately, the two smaller TVs are not working properly. Rather than deal with that tonight, I will save this for another tech call maybe tomorrow night. My computer is acting a bit crappy, too. I think I need to get the software that is supposed to clean it up and make it run smoother. My untechy-self doesn't know the appropriate terminology for that. Anyways, this topic is even boring me to death, so I will bring it to closure.

Bowling last night was OK. We won all three games, so that should vault us back up in the league standings. My team has won this league for 5 years, and while it's a casual league, we really do like to win even when we say we don't. We shall see how things shake out this year.

Well, my brother Brad says the London Invitational is rescheduled for this coming Saturday, which is not so good for me, as I am going on a long and much-awaited scrap retreat with 14 other gals. I will have to miss Shane's wrestling, but I will make the Alder Invitational and I'll just have to attend more events in February.

I picked up 3 books at the library today, including Twilight, which I saw at the movies during Thanksgiving week. The movie was OK, but don't think I'd see it twice. I understand the book is really a great read, so I hope I enjoy it more.

My bout with the flu last week has sifted to coughing and sneezing spells this weekend. I feel much better and have my energy back. I really don't want to miss any work this week, so let's hope I am on the upswing. Went over to my parents and helped with some bill-paying and sorting through mail. That can be a whole topic for another day. My parents are having some aging issues right now and my brothers and I are having to pay closer attention to them. It's very trying, but I have to remember they really can't help it. Getting old sucks!

My friend Pam is home from her birthday week trip to Anna Maria Island and she really loved it down there. The weather was great, and it she got to do some fun things with her friends from work who now live down in the area.

Well, enough blogging for today. Until later....................

Well, I won't make any promises, but I am going to try to blog a little here in 2009. Today we are having typical sucky Ohio weather. Lots of ice this morning. Now it's nothing doing anything but being gloomy and soggy outside. As long as it's nasty this weekend and nice next weekend, I will be OK with that. I want to have good travel weather to get to Hocking Hills next Friday for our scrapbooking retreat. It looks like we will have bowling league tonight. I don't get that big of a kick out of bowling anymore, so I am not all that excited about bowling tonight. Plus my knees hurt half of the time - scrapbooking is much kinder to the knees. LOL No wrestling for Shane today because of the weather. Today's invitational would have been good for him to get ready for the Jonathan Alder event in two weeks. Chad is over in Columbus, hopefully staying safe and warm in his apartment. I miss that guy! I like the idea of the 365 kit that they are selling on CK site - if they get more kits in, I may bite and order one. Well, I guess I better hit the shower and get cleaned up for my big evening at the bowling alley. Toodles.

Today is a lazy, rainy day here in Central Ohio. I am winding up a week's vacation, which I have really enjoyed. I always take this week off every year, with the intention of having no specific commitments so that I can just do what I want. It's been a good week, so far. I began my vacation by running some errands, having the oil changed in my car, visiting our local jewelry store, which closed it's business on June 30, after being open since 1961. That's the sad thing about small towns, you lose all the great little businesses that you had while growing up. I visited Hunt's Jewelry on Friday to have a new battery put in my watch, and to see what deals there were in the store. I bought a sterling silver bracelet, and also 2 beautiful sterling silver rope chains at a very good price. They will be nice mementos of Hunt's Jewelry - and great pieces to add to my jewelry box and items that I will wear a lot. I spent Friday afternoon in my bedroom - pulled out my sewing machine that I have not used in ages. I repaired my pillow shams and a pair of capri pants, then I pulled out my brother Rick's NIKE sweathshirt that he brought to me a LONG time ago - it needed a zipper replaced. I have not done a zipper since my 4-H days, about 35 freaking years ago. I am proud to say, I was able to get the zipper in and the sweatshirt is wearable once again. On Saturday, I took off for Dayton and went to the 14 hour flip flop crop at Cord Camera. I went solo to this, but figured that there would be friendly people around me to chat with, and there were. It was a great crop, got lots done, and they fed us well both for lunch and dinner. It was 1 am by the time I rolled in the garage and I was tired! On Sunday, I went over to the Madison House and spent time with Grandma - she's doing so much better since we moved her there. I hit the tanning bed and got some Chinese to bring home for a mid-afternoon late lunch. Had my annual doctor's check up on Monday - everything went well and I am lighter this year than last, which is a wonderful thing. Only thing that ticked me off - the nurse wanted to measure my height - I told her I was 5'8" - so she measures me and tells me I am 5'7.5". I surely am not shrinking yet. I am going to remeasure. Hell, I'd love to be 7' - that'd be one way to get slim! LOL On Tuesday, I took mom and went to Urbana to see Grandma Mary, who just turned 94 last week. We went up to West Liberty and had a nice lunch in a little tearoom called the Cream & Sugar Cafe, then checked out some of the cute local shops. I did buy a beautiful country picture, which I plan to hang in my bedroom. We went back to Mary's and visited, then headed home. I took off then to go see Shane's baseball game. This was their first district playoff game and they got beat. I forget the score already. This team he's on is 15-16 year olds. It's composed mostly of boys who were on the HS reserve team, plus Shane and a couple others who played varsity last spring. Nice group of kids. On Wednesday, I met with our family attorney to get some things clarified about how I handle Grandma's investments, etc., to pay for her stay in the Madison House. Then I spent the afternoon at the city pool. Took off then at 6 for Shane's baseball. He pitched and did pretty well. However, the kids lost the game by one run. It got very interesting in the end. My friend Sheila came out to see Shane, and then she and I went to Los Mariochies to celebrate her birthday - she hits the big 5-0 today, on the 4th of July! We split a pitcher of margaritas - which filled about 4 glasses each for us. I was feeling no pain when I walked out of the restaurant. Yesterday, I piddled around, then took off for Columbus and did a little shopping - had to use my 50% coupon at Mike's, of course, and then hit JC Penney's salon to get some hair products that were on sale, plus I had a $10 coupon to save more money with. I am well stocked for the coming months! Went to the airport and picked up Carol, who flew in from Orlando to check up on her family. Her mom is 81 now and ailing a bit. I went over to their house late in the evening to watch fireworks. London puts on good fireworks for a little town. However, the air was heavy and the clouds hung low and partially blocked our view, so it was a little disappointing. We've had a lot of rain lately and it's been unusally cool. Well, I think I will get some ironing done and maybe work on some picture-sorting later today for my scrapbooking.