Almost forgot ..... M asked me thees
1. You quite evidently love living in the Rockies, but where else have you lived and how did the places suit you?
Lived in Ohio for years when I was younger. Um, the weather didn't suit at all and it's too crowded. I loved some of the parks though and fishing the small lakes. Lived in Midlothian, TX and also Dallas. Loved the people, pretty hot in summer though. And no mountains. Like west Texas though. South Dakota. There was this one mineral spring lake we went to that I really enjoyed but that's about it. It's pretty flat in the east, cold in winter, decent in summer though. Lived on a ranchette in the Sand Hill area of Nebraska. Surprisingly, I did enjoy living there. Weather pretty similar to here except for the sideways snow thing. I had a really nice garden most summers, we had goats and chickens and a peacock, geese, and the occasional calf. I miss my goats and the geese. Chickens I can do without but I loves my fresh eggs. I loved the solitude there and the quiet.

2. If you could go back in time with an implanted universal translator and talk to one person, who would you go talk to and why/about what?
Still pondering this one. I'm thinking ...... Maybe Sussex or somewhere in that area in the Migration Era. I'd like to know about their lives and how the bloody hel did they get those marvelous dyes.

3. Tell us about a TV show or book that was important to you in your childhood.
Didn't have many shows that we watched much. TV being in it's infancy ya' know. LOL Yes, I am that old. If I remember right, my favorite shows were cowboy shows and I loved books about cowboys .... and pilots. I think they fueled my desire to live on a ranch.

4. How do you feel at this point about ASH vs Asatru and General Heathenry?
I really need to delve more into ASH, I seem to find myself more distanced from Asatru and heathenry in general as time goes by but the old gods of England and the continent appeal more. I think we could all benefit from studying more of the customs and beliefs of Germanic heathenry because not all of us are Scandanavian, the culture is a bit foreign - if that makes any sense.

5. What would your ideal job be like?
Retired. Seriously. I'd love a job where I could teach older skills to young people, how to grow a decent garden, how to knit, crochet, weave, and work with wood and bone. If I could, I'd spend most of my time building stuff or making things. Unfortunately, you can't support yourself that way. I must have my internets. Punching a time clock just has no appeal for me anymore but I must.

How cold is it?
Colder than a well digger's behind in Anchorage.
So cold that the little light that tells me that there could be severe winter driving conditions didn't come on.
Really really cold.
In degrees, -5 F when I went to work this am. That's -25.5C. It did warm up to 30F (1C) by noon but the temp is dropping again, although not supposed to be sub zero tonight.
Did I tell you I _hate_ cold?

In totally unrelated news, I can eat cashews again!!! Yay!

Why I hadn't put the camping gear back in the shed now that there's a bit of room for it. Big bang last night, then the lights went out. Stumbled into the bedroom, felt around a bit and found one lantern, lit it, found the other two small ones, and voila! Lights again. The power company got out pretty quick and we were only down for about 45 minutes so I didn't have to drag out the camp stove and propane to cook dinner.

Finally began my holiday shopping, which will be pretty limited this year. Made up my Mom's yearly flower picture calendar last night and the little picture books I'd made for my baby girl's high school graduation. Had a heck of a time loading up pix to the Kodak website for some reason. It loaded up 4 of them 3 times and not the others so she has about 4 really good pictures and the others not so much. However, she'll be pleased. She's so funny, she won't ask me to make her one but she sure throws out some broad hints. LOL
Since I made all those pickles and jellies last fall, that is mostly what people are going to be getting. I have to rejell the prickly pear jelly. Couldn't find lids for the longest so ordered a few dozen on line, should be enough to finish the job and then some. They came in the mail the other day but I didn't get the jellies redone due to having the kitchen torn up for Thanksgiving cooking. Apparently Junior pays more attention to what is going on than we realized (of course if it has to do with food ........). When I took them out of the box, he picked them up and stuck them in the cupboard with the jelly jars and canning supplies. When my dd asked him what he was doing in the cupboard he pointed to the jars and said "jelly lids go here". Then he wanted to know when Nana was going to make more jelly. "Help cook?" He's so funny. I let him stand on a chair and watch me make the dressing. My son used to watch all the time and he was a seriously good cook. Seems to have forgot everything I've managed to teach him over the past few years though. Don't know what's up with that boy.
Work .... I'm still there. Put in an order to get our shade fixed yesterday. Hope they fix it. I sit next to a wall of floor to ceiling windows with a beautiful view of the ridges behind the building but the shade is broke. We've been pinning it up but they took our extra pins so now we can't. I want to sit in the sun (when it's out) and at least pretend I'm basking in it's glow. My boss thinks it's pretty funny 'cause I'm always saying I'm solar powered and my batteries are running low. He said he'd put in the order. They do have building maintenance and it's really not that big a deal, the chain that rolls up the shade needs to be replaced, no parts are broken (we hope). Anyway, it's been broke for months. He also said he'd look into the issue of gas cards we were promised back in Sept. for volunteering over time. I have $10 coming, a few others have more. Said I wasn't going to volunteer for more 'til I got what I'd already earned. Of course, it's kind of cutting off my own nose 'cause I'm not earning the OT pay but I want those gas cards. I have a long drive and gas ain't cheap. They can keep their pizza.
Still having to share desks and headsets. They ordered more and then ziptied everything together at the phone lines. I take my foamies home with me every night. Still waiting to get the new ones (foamies). Apparently they're in the office ....... somewhere. They did spring for alcohol wipes so we could clean them daily but they only put out a limited amount of them. Fortunately, since I beat most everyone there, I get first pick. LOL There _are_ a few advantages of getting up before 0 dark thirty.
Got enrolled in the health insurance program. I have dental insurance through my dentist which costs less and covers more so opted out of that and while I did sign up for the vision, I may drop that too. It's $4 a pay and I can get a pair of glasses for less. I think. Still vascillating on that one. It's total crap insurance but better than nada which is what I have now so whining but not much.
I'm not ignoring my fl, just not keeping up much. I'll try to get caught up on all your posts today.

hope all my peeps had a good thursday.

From ayoub

1. What was your favourite topic in school?
2. What inspires you most?
3. Apart from family, who do you feel you can talk to about anything?
4. If you were arrested, what do you think would be your most likely crime?
5. What is a favourite memory of yours?

1) History. And the physical sciences but _not_ math until I got into the higher level math types. I still can not do simple algebra or mathematics. I loved art too but I have problems staying inside the lines. LOL

2) a beautiful sunrise. Friends. Some poetry. Being outside when it's not freezing and enjoying the mountains and/or desert.

3) Some of the people on my fl and my shield sister, Syona.

4) some traffic thing. I have issues with speed limits.

5) my babies being born. Not the process but holding them afterward. Their graduations and weddings. The arrival of my grandbabies.

did u know there is no traffic on the roads at 5:15? It's great! Best part of the day.

Wonderful

dd calls last night. Where's the starter in my car? Do i look like a walking chilton's? Guess so. Lol

Junior says "I want oceans." Me ???????? Ok show me. Junior "these Nana, oceans" holding up a bag of oranges. Oh ok, oranges. "yes Nana, onges". Nice little sweet clementines. No wonder he wants 'em, they're very good. Unfortunately, the acid content makes 'em not real good for his eczema so we have to limit him to one a day.

Not been posting so here's a few bullet points.

• Got the car fixed. Finally. Starts every time now. Cost the lower end of the estimate for once and not way over. How did that happen?
• Got some snow. I loves my car. Roads really weren't bad, as the snow wasn't too deep but they were a slushy mess. The worst part of my commute Sat. was trying to figure out where the lanes were on the road, and of course, as soon as you get off the interstate, things get worse. They did plow the lane going into work. I left about 4:30 anticipating an hour, if not more, drive into work. Took about 30 minutes. Not complaining though.
• got signed up for the insurance at work. Finally. Everything is harder than it needs to be but that's just the way things go there. Had to reset my password so I could log in and they just about want the impossible. Can't make it something you can remember, has to be something completely off the wall.
• Got the bad news at work that _everyone_ must work Dec 24,25, and 26. Mandatory 2 hours (possibly more) overtime. I was scheduled those days anyway so no surprise there. I'm not happy about the mandatory OT though. We _could_ get some big bonuses too but we could not get them either. They're pretty big on promises but not real good on the follow through.
• I volunteered a few hours ot this last pay period. They volunteered me for one hour a day for the rest of the month. No, I did not say every day. I said 4 days. I may volunteer for more but don't volunteer me. I have a life outside of this job ya' know.
• Have the babies for two days again. They were very good today. Mostly. Hey, they're 1 1/2 and almost 3. Can't be good all the time. LOL
• Star Trek came out today. You _know_ the dvd is sitting in my player right now. LOL
• Almost hit a coyote on the way to work the other day. Crazy thing ran out in front of my car.
• Went nuts at Jo-ann's the other day, spent about $40 on fabric to make baby night gowns. Now to find the time to sew them. Got the rest of the trim and stuff today so ready to go as soon as I can get the kiddos home tomorrow. Yay!

I'm sure I had something else to add but I can't remember what so I'll just go to bed now.

from my cell. Who knew?

To go along with the grand babies I already have and the two on the way, I also have a new grand dog.  This is Poe Pollock, a very handsome young dog rescued from the pound.  If my dd had not spoken for him, he would have been euthanized last Monday.  Instead, he has a new loving home.



I want a doggie too.  Nana deserves a puppy.

There be pink unicorns


And Monkeys!

Finally.  LOL  I broke down and got a cell phone.  Since we have no land lines into my  job, it's a must.  Also, I could be someplace and need to call someone in case of emergency.   I've been having fun texting everyone I know with a cell phone and taking horrible pictures.  Well, not all horrible, but I really need to work on focus.  I know there's a better way to focus but I have yet to figure it out.  Or maybe  not.  It's a cheapie $20 phone from Waldemart.  anyway, it's my new  toy.  I just don't use it to make phone calls 'cause I'm just cheap.  However, I have free texts so ....... if any one needs something, someone to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on, shoot me an e-mail and I'll give you my number.  I don't answer the phone but I'll text back as long as I'm not actually working 'cause we can't have them on the call center floor.

To batchfile


Go over to her page and wish her a happy one!

Winter weather advisory.  So far, very little snow.  Maybe 1-3 inches by midnight.  Maybe not.  The front was supposed to blow in Monday night and out sometime Tues.  Then it was supposed to blow in Tuesday and be out by this afternoon. Well, we got the wind Tuesday.  Lots of wind, and the humidity started going up but not much else.  Then the rain started.  Glad I do not live in the mountains 'cause I know that rain changed to snow and driving must have been fairly hair raising.  Apparently I won't have much to contend with tomorrow am for my commute.  But I could.  This is, after all, Colorado and it is that time of year. 

Intermittent starting problems still not fixed.  Took it to Penkhus (the dealership) today.  They wanted to know why I'd ordered the immobilizing ring.  I told 'em I got tired of taking my car there and them not fixing it so I took it to the independent Volvo repair shop.  They told me I needed that part.  The ring has a sensor that recognizes the chip in my key but it doesn't always recognize it which leads  the car not to start.  All of a sudden, "well, yes, we got a technical  bulletin from Volvo about this issue with your model of car."  Something about the '99 to '02 V70's having issues with the immobilizing ring and the connector rings.   Asked 'em why they 'd neglected to mention this the few times before when I brought the car in to get this fixed among other things.  "Oh, um, well, ......"  Yeah, I thought so.  A$$holes.  They told me I ought to upgrade to a new car and I told 'em they were not only a) not amusing but b) totally off their collective rockers if they thought I'd get another car from them when they couldn't fix the older car I have now.  Not everyone has that option and not everyone wants to get a new car just 'cause they're too lazy to fix the older ones.  Mine only has 102,000 miles.  Should get at least 300,000 out of the car.  It's mechanically sound, both engine and transmission, and they will make it run right or I'll be firing a nasty gram off to Volvo in Swedish.  Just to make sure they get the picture.  After all that, they were very  nice, did all the testing and agreed that I either needed the immobilizing ring or the connector rings, or both.  The part I'd ordered wasn't in yet so they also added the connector rings to the order and tentatively set me up for next week.  If I don't need the one ring but the other ones, I won't have to pay for that part, they'll just return it.  They said it more than likely was the immobilizing ring though, as the onboard computer reported several issues with the current one.  They also did not charge me for the 3 hours it sat in the shop today.  They'll sock me more next week.  Anyway, fingers crossed that this will finally fix this issue and I can get on to fixing the minor issues that the car has due to age.

Ok, not sheepish, and I don't think I've done anything like this is some time.   viked from ayoub

Chick sitting on the other side of the row from us.  Hack hack hack hack.  Cough, sputter, choke.  4 hours worth today.  She's steady coughing so I offered her some herb tea.  From the store.  Not something I make.  Oh heavens no, she doesn't take anything like _that_, it could be dangerous.  "I  have cough drops" she says.  Me ....... "well they're not working very well."  She laughs and says "yeah, I suppose I should go home."  Me ..... "You should.  If you get me sick, I'll beat you.  Srsly.   Not joking.  Can not afford to miss work 'cause you're sick and passing around your germs."  She went home at her lunch hour.  Whined to her super who told her that she shouldn't have come in at all, that she was infecting everyone and it was unfair to the rest of the office.  Would not have been so bad if she'd been covering her mouth when she was hacking but no, had to spread germs.  Stupid F#$ktard!  We have enough cases of flu at work as is.  I am _not_ getting it.

I'll admit I do like Dan Brown's (the DaVinci Code) books but ......... they are getting a bit formulaic.  Make with the clinkie and pick a city and group. www.slate.com/id/2228327/  and write your own synopsis of a Dan Brown book.  Personally I like my version with Ottawa as the city and the DAR as the clandestine group.