The trouble with subscription television...

...it's not like the old days when you just had to have a tv and turn it on. Now-a-days, you need all kinds of fancy equipment and a subscription service to get anything worthwhile. I know this for a FACT!

 I have a tv upstairs that is not connected to a satellite or cable. I get exactly 4 channels---2-1; 2-2; 8-1; 8-2. So, that works for me because the "2's" are ABC. the "8's" are PBS. That works for me because it's in my scrapbook room.

But for all of our other tv's we have Direct TV for which we pay a subscription. We have not had ABC for a month now. When I called to get an adjustment to our bill, they wouldn't talk to me since Butch is the account holder. But, I did discover that Direct TV is also ATT. I don't know which owns who, but they are both the same---when it comes to what they are paying for us to have.

All this to say, that Butch was able to get them to take $15.00 off of this month's bill and $10.00 off every month for the next year. Supposedly, they are going back to the negotiating table on August 8 and the problem should be resolved. If not, we're leaving!!

Just wanted to put this out there for any of you having this same problem. You do have to jump through a lot of hoops to get the discount, but it's worth it in the long run. Why do we have to go through all this hassle? Seems to me that the best customer service they could have is to send an email to ALL customers telling them they are going to give everyone this discount! Now that would be somethin'! A company doing the right thing without us having to go through the hassle!

Friday Funnies

How we "unfriended" before Facebook!

What's Happening'!

It's been awhile since I've done one of these posts. It's always a good standby when there doesn't seem to be anything interesting going on.

Thinking: Whether I'm going to do my grocery shopping this afternoon or wait until the morning. I prefer to shop in the morning, but I really need to start cooking then. Sandy and family will be here tomorrow night for several days. We have a special event planned, so the whole family will be here.

Thankful for: Gel nails. I tried them once years ago. I decided I didn't like them because they ruined my nails. Well, fast forward about 10 years. My nails are still ruined (I guess from the Xolair), so why not? I had nothing to lose. I did the gel nails right before our London trip. Mainly, I wanted my polish to last. My nails were so weak that they started peeling within a couple days of my manicure. The gel nails have allowed me to have nice looking nails again. Shallow, I know, but, whatever....I'm not always deep (okay, rarely).

Cooking: For the family dinner, I'm doing Italian. I haven't made homemade meatballs in awhile. I'm trying to decide if we'll just have spaghetti or if I want to make gnocchis.

Taking: Notes on houses we want to drive buy. Still thinking of moving, but we're too picky and want the exact situation for us. The house can't be farther out than where we are now. It needs to be newer--we already have an old house with old house problems. The girls want another pool--I'm telling myself that a newer pool wouldn't have so many problems. It has to have a nice yard--not ready to have people on top of us. And--here's the big one--the rest of the houses around it have to be nice. With neighborhoods turning over, you might have a brand new house, but everything else around it looks awful! A lot of criteria that will pretty much keep us where we are! On the plus side, our house is worth quite a bit more than we thought!

Wearing: Still in my robe as it's early.

Hoping: That the latest pool problem turns out to be an easy fix and not too expensive. Pools are definitely a money pit!

Planning: To get my grade school friends together again when I'm in St. Louis in August. We'll see. I have a lot to work in during that trip.

Working: I'm on a roll with my stitching. I'm loving what I've been working on lately and can't wait to get back to it. I've been staying up way too late and getting up way too early. I'm obsessed.

Lots of beading, but that really adds to the beauty. Sandy has already called "dibs" but I'm giving her the option of the recent Santa that is currently at the framers.

Reading: Loving this book: Mrs. Everthing by Jennifer Weiner. I'm getting pretty aggravated with the library. It seems that I will just about never be able to get my book club books from there anymore. Both selections for this month have a 6 months waiting list. I guess I'll be back to buying my book club books again. Hate that. I've been spoiled.

Loving: My flowers. They are looking pretty awesome about now. I had no idea that the hibiscus planted at the mailbox last year were perennials.

They look great next to the mandevilla. I call the hibiscus daily flowers because the blooms only last one day. Luckily there are a lot of them!

Watching: Binging Empire and Deadwood. I'm getting a little bored with Deadwood. I tried to start The Romanoffs but couldn't really get in to it. Still watching The Bachelorette---my guilty pleasure. After that, Bachelor in Paradise starts up. Not much to watch during the summer.

Creating: Can't say much is happening in the creative department. I think I'm losing my zest for scrapbooking. I have so many albums. I keep thinking, the "kids" aren't going to want this many. Plus, I think I've told most of the stories I wanted to.

Bumming: That we have not had ABC for 3 weeks now. I'm missing George and Robin---and Kelly and Ryan for sure! It's where I get my news and is the only station we watch live. Everything else is recorded. I tried calling Direct TV. The guy wouldn't talk to me because I am not the account holder. I said to him, "So, let me ask you. Do you seriously think my husband would object to me trying to get an adjustment to our bill?" Still, I got nowhere. This is ridiculous. Pay the friggn' bill on your end and get ABC back!! Otherwise, we'll have to move on.

Hearing: The sound of Mitchell cooking. I'm torn between wanting to do it myself so as to avoid the mess. Don't get me wrong, he cleans up. But not to my---sometimes unreasonable---standards. 

Appreciating: Having that boy around. It's been fun---but then it hasn't even been a week yet. We'll see if he makes the list the next time!

Regretting dreading: That pool bill! On the other hand, if you recall the "dirty water" incident, then you know that we had quite a hefty water bill---a little over $600! I called the water company and they adjusted it down to $252! I was really happy about that---which gave me the oomph to call Direct TV. That knocked the wind out of my sails!

Looking Forward to: Playing bridge today. Once a month just doesn't cut it for me. I miss it. On the other hand, it's not really fun to play with a different partner every week. Still, if that's what I have to do. It's good for the brain.

Weekending: We have a busy one planned. Friday night, family dinner and party. Saturday is a pool day. Sunday a big breakfast and then the new Quentin Tarantino movie--Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. After that we don't have any definite plans. Sandy will be here until Thursday. I'm sure there will a lot of pool time.

That's what's happenin' around here. What's happenin' in your neck of the woods?

Tuesday Thoughts about...

...women.

In this day and age of the "me too" movement, it seems that you have to be really careful about how women are portrayed and talked about. Personally, I think perhaps we've gone a little overboard. Don't get me wrong, I believe in empowering women, equal rights and all that jazz, but I'm thinking women have gotten a little too sensitive. I'm not afraid to admit it--- I was flattered if I got whistled at. Heck, if I got whistled at today, I'd probably pay the guy!!! I get it, objectifying women and all, but really---isn't it more of a compliment?

So, mainly my post today is about music. Granted, the songs we enjoyed in the 60's are so politically incorrect these days, that I'm surprised they have not been banned from the radio. Still, I get a kick out of them. Here are a few of my favorites.

That's the way boys are...
Listen to those words. He treats her rough? That would never fly today.

Maybe I know...but what can I do?
There's no way a song today can portray a helpless woman!

I will follow him...
Okay, this is just me, but what's up with her hands? I think she might be wearing gloves, but why? Anyway, the days of following men seem to have come and gone. All I've got to say is that I'm so glad I followed mine!! I have no regrets.

I just want to lighten up, relax, enjoy the music and have a good time scoffing at the lyrics. What about you?

It's Been Awhile

Well, I thought I might get a blog post in on our vacation since it was to be more of a laidback, relaxing trip. But, no, we were on the go constantly. Plus the biggest problem is that the place we had was really too small for 7 adults--even though it was supposed to be for 8.

I normally blog early in the morning. Unfortunately, when I woke up early, there was no place to go. Two people were sleeping in the living area on the sofa sleeper. That meant, I just stayed in bed and read or caught up on my games via my iPad. Anyway, we had a great time. There were 29 of us. We were at the Stillwaters Resort near Branson in the heart of the Ozarks. The layout of the place was perfect! We were all within walking distance of each other.  My favorite thing of the week was the day we rented the pontoon boat. Besides the first and last dinners, that's the only day all 29 of us were together at the same time. We found a nice cove and spent the day floating in the water. I burned a little on my back as I forgot to put sunscreen there. And my lips got sunburned. That had to be from reflected sun as I always wear a hat. I had used sunscreen, but I'm sure it wears off the lips pretty fast. Nothing blistered and I wasn't miserable, so that was good. But, I've never had my lips peel before.

My second favorite day was when I took ALL the"littles"---8 total (two were not so little and one was too little so got left behind) for 4 hours. We had so much fun. I just love kids! We played "Beanboozled"---a really gross game with Jelly Bellies. You spin to get a color you have to eat. For example, if you get lime green, it could be lime or grass clippings. A speckled green might be pear or buggers! The browns were the worst. They were either chocolate pudding or dog food!! OMGosh! It was so gross! Little Harper (age 3)---eyes were watering. I told her to spit it out, but she didn't. Plus, she kept trying to get another turn before it was her turn again. I guess, to her, it was worth the risk to get candy!!

Later that night, Mindy decided that we needed to play. There was only one brown left. I told Nicky that I was pretty sure it had to be chocolate since the kids had gotten all dog food earlier. I was wrong! Poor Nicky!! He had to go brush his teeth. I would have barfed! Oh wait, barf was the light yellow one!!

Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed the kids---I don't get to see them often enough. I want them to grow up thinking that Aunt Barb is "fun"!

Mission accomplished.

While we were away, the adult "grands" had a grand ol time here at our house. After 17 years of being empty nesters, we have a boarder! Our only grandson, Mitchell, has taken his first big boy job here in Nashville. He'll be living with us until he decides what he wants to do---either get an apartment, or relocate with the job. Until then, I'll be cooking again! I only promised him two home cooked meals a week. I'm not ready to jump back in to motherhood! Besides, he doesn't want or need that. At least if I decide I want him gone, I'll know what to do.

I'm doing a good job of not talking to him too much, or asking him too many questions. In fact, last night I made fried pork chops, fried potatoes, peas and applesauce for dinner. Butch and I don't usually eat bread or rolls with our meals. Don't get me wrong, I would just about rather have bread FOR my meal! Just trying to keep things under control as best I can. Anyway, so as not to disturb Mitchell, I texted him to see if he wanted rolls or garlic bread with his dinner. He did, so I don't think he was annoyed by that text. Boys are not chatty like the girls. I don't want to drive him off the first week. Maybe later, but not the first week!!

In the meantime, Morgan is glad to have him in town--as is the rest of the family. This will be a fun time for us. And, I'm pretty sure that will entice Sandy and the rest of her family to come more.

I sent her this picture this morning.

From first day of school pictures, to first day of work picture--he's come a long way--even thought the backpack is still the same! I'm so glad he humored me for this! I love this boy and am looking forward to having him around. At least for now!

Don't you just love it when....

...you pull in to an intersection where once you go through, it goes to one lane and the person on your left guns it because by damn, you are not going to get ahead of him? I have a friend who says this really pisses her off when someone thinks they are going to get ahead of her by settling in to the right lane. I've tried every which way to convince her that having two lanes going through the intersection is to help disperse the traffic. It's perfectly fine---and meant for both lanes to be used! Personally, I use that lane all the time. I always choose the least crowded lane.

Don't you just love it when...
...you get home from the grocery store and there is never anybody around to help you carry the groceries in? Of course with just the two of us, it's bound to happen, but every time! Darn it anyway!!

Don't you just love it when...
...you get somewhere at their opening time and they aren't open? Our Honey Baked Ham store is the worst. It's happened many times. In fact, Stephanie waited almost a half hour on Steeplechase Saturday. She ended up going to the grocery instead. I just wait and fume. Luckily it was just a few minutes today. I don't have time to vary my route and come back. Remember, I live on a timeline! You can click on that to refresh your memory.

Don't you just love it when...
...you are in the middle of a recipe and find that you are missing an ingredient? It happened to me twice while cooking for our family vacation. Remember my multiples problem? Well, that's why I don't usually run out of stuff. But since I'm trying to control that, apparently someone forgot to put things on the list. I started with making Chex Mix. I usually do a triple batch. Well, this time I was only able to do one batch as I ran out of worstershire sauce. I had no idea. If it weren't in a dark bottle, maybe I would have known. And then, when I started making the brownies, I did not have enough vegetable oil. I did have olive oil and olives are a vegetable (I think), so I did the only thing I could---I asked Alexa. She said that it's perfectly fine to use them interchangeably. I guess she would know! We'll see how the brownies turn out. I'll let you know.

Don't you just love it when...
...you're trying to get out-of-town and something throws a major glitch in the plans? You might remember that dirty water filling up the pool a couple weeks ago on the day we were to leave for London. Well, we have another weird thing happening today---we leave tomorrow. There seems to be something in the chimney. I am not opening the doors. All I can think of is when Connie came home to a disgusting odor about 25 years ago. They traced it to the fireplace. Jack jiggled the damper and 6 dead birds fell out!! I guess, we'll wait and see if our house smells when we get home next week. I don't really know what to do at this point anyway.

Don't you just love it when...
...you find something you really like and try to buy it only to discover that it's been discontinued? Just happened to me at Bath and Bodyworks. There was a hand soap that I just loved the smell of---Of course I couldn't get it! Surprisingly, it's on Ebay selling for 30 bucks--and you have to buy 5! I don't think so! I don't love it that much! Well, yes I do, but I can't pay that! Click on that link and see for yourself!

Don't you just love it when...
...you're eating and the servers keep trying to take your plate? We went to the club for dinner with the family. It was one server after another trying to take the plates away. Sometimes you want to keep the salad to go with the rest of your meal! Same with the appetizers. If the plates are empty, I get it. Take it away. But if it has food on it, leave it be.

So, what things are you not loving these days??

Off to Stillwater Resort in the heart of the Ozarks near Branson, MO for our family vacation. There will be 29 of us. It will be wild and crazy and oh, so much fun! I'm taking my computer this time, so just maybe I might squeeze in a post or two!

Friday Funnies