Friday, May 29, 2015

Mike has had a really good week this week in spite of the nasty weather.  There has been just enough break in the rain so he was able to get to his silver sneakers classes.  He got his free meal at "Whata Burger" and free cookies and a sandwich at Subway!  What more could a man want?  

Last week I made him spaghetti and pizza using the no tomato recipe I found.  Now he is requesting spaghetti about every other day.  I promised I'd make it again this weekend.  He's a hoot!

Well, more rain today but then sunshine for the next 8 days!  hooray - we need the water to soak into the ground before we get anymore rain.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Birds in the belfry

Well our neighbors on either side managed to mow their yards yesterday putting us to shame.  Our backyard is still a swamp and we don't like mowing mud.  Our front yard is still recovering from the great grub and mole cricket invasion.  The grass is coming back up but very splotchy.  The lawn man told us not to mow it until what little grass is left has seeded.  That may be awhile......

Meanwhile Ron and I went to Lowes last night and bought out their black mulch.  That had it on sale 5 bags for $10.00.  So we bought 20 bags of mulch!  We just need to top off the front flower bed but we are also going to use some in the back yard after it dries out.

Birds are building nests under the new carport.  Ron tries to move them before they lay eggs and so far so good.  The problem is they rebuild during the day.  If they weren't pooping all over the cars we would probably leave them alone but yo what a mess!!!  I've got to find something that will work as a deterrent.  Any suggestions?

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Still wet!

Well, this Memorial weekend was a wet one for sure.  We received another 4 inches of rain over the weekend.  We've only had a brief glimpse of the sun in the past 4 weeks.  The weatherman said we have another 5 days of rain and then we will dry out the week of June 1st.  Crazy weather!  Today we have a chance of tornadoes.

We've decided to join the crowd and play Oklahoma Weather Bingo...... 



I've heard that some people have made this a drinking game but I'm not sure that's a good idea.  I want to be sober enough to make it to the shelter when the sirens blow.

A town just south of us is almost completely under water due to the massive flooding.  Unfortunately the flooding has also cost several lives.  One firefighter drowned while rescuing some people from high water.  There are 13 people missing.....and a few other drowning victims.

So far we have only been inconvenienced by the storms.  Temporary power outages and a backyard that is looking like a swamp. (I don't know when we will ever be able to mow again)

Another byproduct of all this rain is mosquitoes....and they are swarming.  I got out of the car yesterday and a swarm of mosquitoes attacked.  They love me for some reason and I claim to be a human bug zapper!

But Oklahoma has been in a drought for some time and the panhandle probably still is so I'm going to be grateful for the rain.  I'm sorry so many people have been negatively impacted though.  We watched two homes fall into the river yesterday and that was heartbreaking. 

On a lighter note this is the latest story about my brother Mike.  It seems he has been calling the "Whata Burger" corporate office frequently.  We think he was asking for coupons for free hamburgers or trying to take surveys for free hamburgers.  Well, he evidently was driving them crazy so they notified their franchise here in Norman and told the manager to write up a contract and have Mike sign it stating that he will not call the corporate office in exchange for a free meal once a week.  It's signed by the manager and notarized and he has a copy of it in his wallet.  He has decided Tuesday will be his Whata Burger Day!  OMG.....the manager also asked to meet his sister and brother-in-law!  

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Building an Ark

Well, we have had so much rain this month that the ground just can't hold any more.  We are experiencing a lot of flooding throughout the state and here as well.  Yesterday we received almost 4 inches of rain in about an hours time.  Someone in town actually found a fish in their yard and the lake is probably 20 miles east.  One street is so flooded they were riding jet skis and getting stranded motorists out of their cars.

My daughter has a huge sink hole in their backyard.  It is about to take their shed and it's heading for the swimming pool.  It is probably 25 feet deep.

7/26/2013 Norman, OK Flooding






7/15/2013 Norman, OK Street Flooding

It is supposed to rain every day for the next 5 days.  There is no where for the water to go now.  We have been fortunate so far and no water has gotten in to the house but I'm not sure for how much longer.  Our back yard is a lake.  

Oklahoma, the state of extremes!  Drought and floods, tornadoes and earthquakes....extreme heat....ice storms...it is never dull here!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Befuddled

I feel like such a weenie.....fraidy cat........spineless......ok, I'm getting carried away with myself.  I'm just full of indecision. 

My daughter called to tell us that a duplex came up for sale right around the corner from her house.  She has wanted me to move closer to her for some time in anticipation of the future.  This would also allow us to have Mike live on one side where we could take care of him without him being in the same house.  All these reasons make perfect sense.

So, we went to look at the duplex.  We could only go in one side since the other side is rented at the moment.  It's not my dream house or anything but it has potential.  I'd have to gut the flooring and the main bathroom is a total gut job.  It has a blue sunken bathtub for goodness sake.  I'd replace interior doors and woodwork and paint the kitchen cabinets.  Replace counter tops, sinks, etc.  Pretty extensive changes but it would be really cute when finished.
Now, even though I know it all makes sense my concerns are....the $ (it is over priced) and what the repairs would cost, having to sell two homes, and just sentimentally......I've lived in my house 46 years and I've put so much of myself in it I hate to leave it.

I've got a lot of thinking to do.........but I don't have much time to think about it or it will be sold.   I'm considering making an offer (way below their asking price) and just seeing what the response would be.

I sure wish I could get a sign from the cosmos as to what I should do.

befuddled in Oklahoma.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Today I take Mike to see his psychiatrist.  He's a really nice fella who is a child psychiatrist in his private practice.  Guess that's why Mike relates to him so well.

A few weeks ago I had a list of things I wanted to discuss with the doctor but now I can't remember any of them.  It is usually when I'm at my wits end that I think of things.  Then we smooth things out and I just forget about it.

I am going to ask if he can write a referral for a neurological exam.  I requested it from Indian Health but they denied it.  So I'm willing to go to a private neurologist.  I just can't get an appointment without a referral.  I want more information concerning Mike's diagnosis and prognosis.  Mainly want to know if I'm dealing with a form of dementia along with the Schizophrenia.  

We are having a lull in the rain today.  Still cloudy and gloomy but the rain comes back tomorrow and possible tornadoes on Saturday.  It will be a bumpy ride.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Bon Appetit

Because my brother is allergic to everything known to man and because I feel so darn sorry for him, I'm always on the lookout for recipes he can eat.  He is allergic to tomatoes and all things dairy.  One thing he really craves is spaghetti....so I found a no tomato spaghetti sauce recipe.  Now I had my doubts but I was willing to give it a try.  It's very simple.

2 (15 oz) cans sliced carrots, drained
1 (15 oz) can sliced beets, drained
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion chopped
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1/4 cup red wine vinegar.

You place the carrots and beets one at a time into a blender and blend smooth.

Heat olive oil in a skillet over med. heat.  Cook & stir garlic and onions until onions are translucent.  Stir in pureed carrots & beets then add the bay leaf, Italian seasoning, and red wine vinegar.  Cover and cook until the sauce begins to boil.  Remove lid and reduce heat to low.  Simmer up to 4 hrs or at least 30 minutes.

Now, I found the sauce a little think so I thinned it with some vegetable broth.  Could use beef broth too I guess.   Then I added some browned hamburger crumbled to make a meat sauce.  

I served to my ginney pig, I mean Mike, and he loved it!  I can't tell you what I thought about it because I couldn't get past the idea that it was beets......I don't like beets.  But if Mike's happy, I'm happy!

I'm going to use the same recipe to try and make a pizza for him.  I learned of a non-dairy cheese, Daiya cheese.  There are a lot of options such as shredded, block, sliced in a lot of flavors as well.  They say it melts like real cheese so it might be worth trying.  I'm sure it is expensive though.  But I'll give it a try!



Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Maxine



Salty old Maxine is fond of zingers such as:

 “I have inner beauty and I have the video from my colonoscopy to prove it,” 

“I’m at the age where I can achieve ‘that layer look’ completely naked,” 

“I once caught a peeping tom watching me undress. I was going to call the cops, but I figured he’d suffered enough,” 

“I’d keep my cell phone tucked in my bra, but I can’t hear it ring from that far away,”

 “I just thought of a good way to spice up my funeral ... I’m hiring a ventriloquist,” 

“I garden in the nude, it’s a lot cheaper than a scarecrow,”

 ”I don’t want to say I’m old and worn out, but I make sure I’m nowhere near the curb on trash day.”



A Perfect Marriage?
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other, except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
 laughter is the best medicine
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day, the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.
     In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.
     She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.
     He asked her about the contents. "When we were to be married," she said, "my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll."
     The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.
     "Honey," he said, "that explains the dolls, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"
     "Oh," she said. "That's the money I made from selling the dolls."

Monday, May 11, 2015

Building an Ark

Our crazy weather continued through the weekend resulting in flooding.  This is after the tornado last Wednesday.  We have received over 13 inches of rain in the last 5 days.  Our backyard is a swamp.  It will be dry today and tomorrow and then rain again on Wednesday.

Oklahoma really needs the rain but just not all at once!  We will be begging for rain in August when the temperature is 110.  

I had a wonderful Mother's Day.  I had lunch with twin #2 and we got pedicures.  Both the girls got me a Fitbit.  I'm still trying to figure out everything it does.   Twin #1 is sick and she was in bed all weekend.  She sounded awful when I talked to her Saturday.  It never fails.......she gets sick at the beginning of a new school year and at the end.  They have 10 days of school left.

Yesterday we took Mike out to lunch since he was worried he wasn't going to celebrate Mother's Day.  He's a mess!

Hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day. 

Friday, May 8, 2015

Ding Ding Round Three

Well here we go again!  Round three of the terrible awful weather.  Last night Ron and I did manage to go out to dinner for our anniversary just before the sky opened.  We had a wonderful dinner...Ron had steak and coconut shrimp and I had grilled tilapia with stuffed crab.  Mmmmmmmmmm and we had crab stuffed mushrooms.  It was soooo good.

Poor Ron, he got me pearl earrings and I put them on and the pearl immediately fell out of the setting.  Ron was so upset.  I was just glad it happened at home.  They are beautiful and I'm sure the jeweler will make it right.

We are expecting storms to move in again today about noon.  They are saying golf ball to baseball size hail!  Of course it would hail while I'm at work.  No shelter for the cars.  I'm seriously thinking about taking off this afternoon and going home to ride it out.  They say tomorrow is even going to be worse with possible tornadoes!  

I haven't paid attention to what is going on around us.  I don't know if Arkansas is getting pounded as well.  These storms usually move east but I guess they die out before they get that far.

Won't be long and the weather won't be as much of a headache when I'm retired and can choose whether to go out or not!  Can't wait!
 

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Lions and Tigers and Bears

Well, we were pounded by storms last night.  Tornado over my daughter's house but they were safe in their cellar.  We'd no more finish one round of storms than another cell would form and we'd start all over again.  

Tigers and bears escaped a wild life refuge and I thought we were going to see Dorothy and her house fly by at any minute. At one time the wind was 70 mph and then we got hail.  Some places had golf ball to baseball size hail.  Fortunately we had about quarter size but the wind was blowing it so hard.

Now, we are looking at storms again tonight through the weekend.   I'M TIRED!

I've lived in tornado alley all my life so I'm pretty accustomed to tornadoes but now that we are having earthquakes that's a whole new bag of marbles.  With tornadoes I know how to get out of the way.....those earthquakes are devious devils.  There is no place to run and they sneak up on you.

Which would you rather deal with......?

 

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Get to know the candidates.....There is quite a list of declared candidates for the Republican nomination and I'm sure the list isn't complete yet.  There are a lot more exploring the idea.

I was surprised at the number of Democrats seeking the nomination.  

Be informed.......read something about these people no matter which party you subscribe to.

Declared Republican Candidates

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Army child and business owner
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Skip Andrews
 
“Skip” Andrews is a diverse candidate who probably has at least one opinion to please anyone. Few politicians are able to satisfy both a pro-legalization marijuana advocate and a staunch pro-lifer. Of course, this also means most would object to a majority of his platform.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Veteran and volunteer spokesperson with Americans For Fair Taxation (AFFT)
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Kerry Bowers
 
A former military man with a long career in the United States Air Force, Kerry Bowers has experience not only in the armed forces but as a police dispatcher, businessman, and in many other fields.



Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Physician, Author and Citizen Politician
Declared Republican 2016 Candidate Dr. Ben Carson
 
Ben Carson is a highly accomplished physician who is seen as a breath of fresh air in the world of politics. He has left his position as director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and is in pursuit of the U.S. presidency in 2016.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
International entrepreneur and business professor
Declared Republican 2016 Candidate Dale Christensen
 
With experience in business management around the world, Dale Christensen is a self-described “first and foremost” family man who advocates a variety of conservative principles.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Senator from Texas
Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz
 
The Harvard and Princeton-educated attorney once served as the Domestic Policy Advisor to former president George W. Bush. Noted for his formidable oratory skill, Senator Cruz is viewed by some as one of the intellectual leaders of the tea party movement.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Constitutional Republican and strong conservative
Declared Republican 2016 Candidate John Dummett, Jr.
 
Hailing from the state of California, John Dummet, Jr is a Constitutional Republican who has become disenfranchised with both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Businessman and former IRS Commissioner
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Mark Everson
 
A strong conservative with an extremely dim view of large banks, Mark Everson calls the integrity of mainstream politicians into question and accuses them of catering to monied special interests. He strongly believes a President should serve only a single term.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Businesswoman and Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Carly Fiorina
 
The only well-known woman running for the Republican nomination in 2016, Carly Fiorina is a unique political figure. Her business experience and conservative principles make her attractive to the right, but past difficulties and failures could haunt her moving forward.





Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former combat pilot and current airline captain
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Chris Hill
 
Chris Hill is a combat veteran who served as a pilot during Desert Storm. Although he is running on the Republican ticket, some of his leanings are at odds with those of the GOP, including his “Living Wage” plan and his support for labor unions and recognition of gay marriages.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Arkansas, Man of Faith and TV Personality
Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee
 
Mike Huckabee is an Evangelical Christian who never shies away from his faith. In January, 2015, he bid farewell as host of his popular talk show on the Fox News Channel to pursue his 2016 presidential bid.





Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Conservative and Tea Party supporter
Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate Michael Kinlaw
 
Michael Kinlaw is a conservative Republican who has strong opinions on a number of issues. His views put him right in line with a number of other conservatives likely to run in 2016. Kinlaw has no political background and has launched his campaign in his hometown of Houston.











Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Senator from Kentucky
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Rand Paul
 
Sen. Paul finally emerged from the huge shadow of his larger than life father, maverick Republican Ron Paul, when he was selected to deliver the tea party response to President Obama’s SOTU address in 2013, and in the process, cementing his de facto leadership of the movement.

Exploratory 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Texas and 2012 presidential candidate
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry
 
After his ultimately underwhelming performance in 2012, Gov. Perry, the longest serving Texas governor in history, will surely be looking forward to 2016 and launch probably his final attempt at securing the Republican presidential nomination.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Businessman and veteran
Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate Michael Petyo
 
A “business first” fiscal conservative with a very optimistic view of the role played by corporations in generating wealth, Michael Petyo is himself a business owner who feels the United States has lost its way economically and that relaxed regulation on the private sector is the solution.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Senator from Florida
Declared Republican 2016 Candidate Marco Rubio
 
Marco Rubio is definitely on the short list of names for Republican frontrunner. Being himself of Cuban heritage, he enjoys strong support among the important Latino demographic, in addition to holding solid conservative principles that make him eminently likeable to the Republican constituency.

Declared 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate
Entrepreneur, innovator, limited government advocate
Declared Republican Presidential Candidate Brian Russell
 
Brian Russell is a successful entrepreneur who believes that implementing sound economic policy should be the government’s top priority. He also supports a strong military and foreign policy that presents the USA as the true leader in the free world.


















Get to know the declared candidates for the democratic nomination.

Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
BBC's World Historic Figure for Anti-GMO Activism
Declared Democratic Presidential Candidate Andy Caffrey
 
A strong environmentalist and advocate against genetically modified organisms, Andy Caffrey is the first Democratic candidate to run on a platform of truly green politics. He is an accomplished and passionate man with campaign experience, and has turned his focus to the White House.


Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Small-business owner, Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent
Declared Democratic 2016 Candidate Willie Carter
 
This retired USAF member and father of nine definitely brings something different to the table. Carter is in his eighth consecutive run for the Presidency, which he entered because he was “commanded of the Lord to enter the race to become President of the United States of America”.

Exploratory 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Former U.S. Senator and Governor from Rhode Island
Declared Democratic 2016 Candidate Lincoln Chafee
 
Lincoln Chafee has served various roles in politics as Republican, Independent, and Democrat. His policies defy strict labeling, which has made it hard for him to build a camp and may hamper a 2016 presidential campaign should he decide to run.

Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First Lady
Declared Democratic 2016 Candidate Hillary Clinton
 
Others' names have been spoken, but the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in 2016 is Hillary Rodham Clinton. And as she seems always to be grooming herself for the public spotlight, it appears that she knows her role, for her party and in history.


 Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Junior U.S. Senator from Vermont and Former Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders
 
Generally regarded as a Democrat, Sanders is in fact the longest-serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress. Having held office as both Vermont's at-large congressional representative and Mayor of the city of Burlington, he is currently the sitting junior Senator of Vermont.

Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
CIA and U.S. Envoy with G4 Classification
Declared Democratic Presidential Candidate Doug Shreffler
 
Doug Shreffler is not a career politician but a man of optimism with a goal of cross-party unification. His distinctive perspective was born from his lifelong service to our country in foreign affairs with the CIA and as a US envoy with G4 Classification.

Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Attorney, Community Leader, Advocate for the Elderly and Disabled
Declared Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Steinberg
 
Michael Steinberg has built a career advocating for those left behind. He has entered the race for President to bring attention to the issues that are not being addressed and to advocate for those forgotten in Washington, especially the elderly, the disabled and our Veterans.


Declared 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Former college football coach and 2012 presidential candidate
Declared Democratic Presidential Candidate Robby Wells
 
The former football coach turned public servant is a moderate libertarian seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination in 2016. Wells has made it clear that he isn’t afraid to call out politicians on both sides of the aisle. He finished third for the Constitution Party’s nomination in 2012.