Television is Back!!!

9/20/2015

Just got this week's TV guide, and it's so good to see our favorite shows are back.  I hate the summer television season, there is just not much to watch.  And, for somebody who watches a lot of crappy reality shows, that's saying a lot.

As I do every Sunday, I have circled the shows that I want to be sure get recorded this week.  NCIS and NCIS New Orleans are back, both of which are Jeff's favorites.  Amazing Race and Survivor are also returning, and they are favorites for both of us.  Oh and let's not forget Shark Tank with "Mr. Wonderful".

There is also a spattering of new shows, which I will record.  I like to watch new shows at least twice, before I pass judgment!  I'm fair after all.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have the most shows to watch on my list.  I have a season pass for all the favorites. I care, so I put all my crappy shows at the bottom of the list, so they don't preempt any of our more popular (i.e., that Jeff and I both like) shows.

Get your Tivo revved up, get ready and start recording.

P

Early Anniversary Gift

9/19/2015

Monday, the 21st is our 41st wedding anniversary.  That's saying a lot when you think about how many marriages crash and burn each year.  

We don't do anything over the top to celebrate, but I do feel that a steak dinner is definitely in order.  Who doesn't enjoy eating a good steak?

I have a Kindle DX which is no longer being sold by Amazon, unfortunately.  I did find on Amazon, however, that I can buy a used Kindle DX with a 9" screen.  A screen that large would definitely make reading much easier for me.  Amazon is definitely pushing other models, particularly one called Fire.  All of these other devices are designed to do more than allow you to read books.  I don't want to surf, post pictures or any other sort of thing - I only want to read books - a lot of books.

I found a used DX, which will be here next week.  Once it arrives, and I know that it works, I will have to move my books (of which there are many) from my current DX to the new DX.  After I have emptied out the old DX, then I can look into selling it.  It's in perfect condition.  I just want a bigger screen.

I have had terrible eyesight since my early 20's and my eyes are only getting worse. I find it very difficult to read books unless they have large print.  With the Kindle, I can make the font bigger, which makes reading a lot easier.  I tried talking books a few times, but the drone of the voice soon put me to sleep!

I'm more than pleased to be getting the new Kindle.  It's way more practical than diamonds and furs!  

Thanks Jeff.

P

Social Security and Wages

9/18/2015

Social Security sent me an email that my annual Social Security Statement was available.  The statement is relatively useless, but what it does do is show you how far you've come.

In 1966, while still in high school I earned $621.00.  I didn't earn a five digit salary until 1981.  And in 2014 I earned $27.00.

From the statement I can see my salary increase year by year and before I "retired", I was making pretty good money for a secretary.  Though the term secretary has been turned into administrative assistant, or some other title that only sounds impressive, it doesn't bring any more money to the table.

I remember how each year I would wait for my annual review and my raise.  The raise was never anything to write home about.  I'd get 2%, maybe even 3% on a very good year.  Most of a raise was eaten up by taxes, but it was always important to me to get an excellent review and a raise.

Though my career is now behind me, I know that for all the years I worked, I was a good secretary and always took very good care of my boss(es).

When I look at my wages from 1966 until 2014, I'm amazed at how little I actually made and how long it took before I made what I considered real money.  Jeff was/is the primary bread earner.  My salary allowed me to shop on Ebay, have someone do my housekeeping and have regular visits to get my nails done.

P

Key Batteries

9/17/2015

There was a time, and some of you may remember, when you actually had to use a key to unlock your car or trunk as well as start it.  I think those days are long gone now.  I keep my car key in my purse, and I can start the car and/or unlock it by just having my purse nearby.  

As we deal with more and more battery operated devices, there are times when something you're using, like a car key, just craps out.  I dropped Jeff off this week to pick up his car.  When he's been driving, I obviously have to readjust everything - seats, mirrors, etc.  

I know which buttons to press on the steering wheel in order to display my speed in the window in front of the steering wheel.  As I drove home, I went through the sequence of pushing buttons, but only the temperature would appear, where it should have displayed speed.

I was frustrated beyond reason.  When Jeff got home, I wrongly accused him of somehow monkeying with my settings (for which I apologized).  Jeff got into the car and noticed that I had a message, which I had ignored.  The message?  Your key battery needs replacing!  Once Jeff had replaced the battery, my settings were restored to their normal "upright" position.

I don't think we give enough thought to how many things are key-less, and run on batteries.  Do you happen to have in your kitchen drawer a battery to fit into a car key?  Luckily for me, Jeff did have one such battery.  Knowing that it was the last one, Jeff has ordered new batteries.  If you don't have replacement batteries, you may someday find yourself in the dark at home, or worse yet with a car that doesn't have it's "brains - the key" attached.

Jeff has always tried to make my life easier by taking care of life's irritants, whether big or small.  Thank you Jeff.

P


 

Phone for Old Eyes

9/16/2015

It occurs to me that I may be the last person on earth who doesn't just love their cellphone.  I have one, don't know it's number and almost never carry it with me.  The battery is always dead and I have trouble remembering where it is.  For me, a cellphone is useless.  

I don't call people.  Nothing against my friends, I just don't make many calls.  They know I don't particularly like talking on the phone.  And, when using a cellphone, I have some trouble hearing the other person.

Cellphones have tiny buttons to push and I have trouble navigating to where I want to be.  I don't use the calendar or the contacts.  The phone is basically an emergency only phone - and since I don't carry it - I hope I never have an emergency.

I've been looking at a Jupiter phone.  It's got big buttons and doesn't do much.  There are two Jupiter phones.  One is basically only to call people and the other one does more things.  I'm interested in giving up on my current cellphone and think I would like to try a Jupiter, with it's easy yes/no navigation, or an equivalent.

Samsung also has a "senior friendly" flip phone.  So it appears that some companies are actually interested in making phones for old eyes!

Unlike most of the people I know, who are always tuned into their phones, I have never found a cellphone to be necessary.  And, since nobody knows the number - guess what - nobody calls me!

When I make calls, I like using a phone, a real one.  You know the kind that is connected by wires.   I may in fact be the last person on the planet, who isn't tied to a cellphone 24/7.  And, truthfully, I'm okay with that.

P


 

Looking Out From The Inside

9/15/2015

Yesterday, Jeff took me to Frederick to visit the plane in our new hangar!  We waited six years to get our girl inside and out of the weather.  We have also, after six years, removed her from being part of the Flight School's planes available for rent.  No longer will we have people flying the plane, who don't care if they damage something - after all - it's not their plane.

There is just enough room to scoot around one wing to get to the back of the hangar.  Jeff has put in a table and chairs, a white board and a bucket of cleaning supplies.  While a hangar isn't anything really exciting to look at, it was wonderful knowing that we would no longer have to worry about snow or ice building up on the wings or being pelleted by hail.

After we left the hangar, we made our usual run to Costco and WalMart.  With my new "zappy" friend, I was able to shop in both stores without having to sit down and rest.  I will admit, though, that once home, I increased the number of zaps I receive, before finally sitting down.  While the stimulator isn't a cure all, it is making my life better, and for that I'm very thankful.

While Jeff cooked us hamburgers for dinner, he also blew the leaves into a pile so that I could pick them up today.  Our oak tree, which after 29 years is huge, is also haven for squirrels.  This is the time of the year where you don't dare walk out barefooted, because if you do you just might step on an acorn - ouch!

Today and perhaps tomorrow Jeff and I need to shuffle vehicles around.  Our truck is in for regular maintenance and needs to be picked up today.  Our convertible is in the shop for repairs to it's seat and also needs to be picked up today.  

Jeff needs the truck to get the trailer at Scott's house so that he can purchase and bring a golf cart to the airport, which will help with getting the plane in and out of the hangar.  Andy wants the truck so he can buy drywall and have someone start finishing his basement.

Unlike the guys in my life, I don't need to go anywhere.  My car is in the garage.  I know that I will likely be pressed into service today to take Jeff to pick up the convertible.  Oh and get the truck out of the shop too.

Many years ago, we went to a farmer to buy half a cow.  He also had a big four door truck for sale, which we bought.  It's called Blue Ox and between all three families is in heavy demand.  

We got home late yesterday, so my kitchen is a disaster zone.  If a food didn't need to be refrigerated, it stayed on the table or counter.  Today, I will put things away and return my kitchen to it's normal chaos.  

Jeff is still on vacation today.  It's so nice outside that he's on the front porch eating his breakfast, drinking coffee and reading the paper.  So peaceful.

P
 

Purses and Shoes Oh My

9/14/2015

There are two things that most, if not all, women love: purses and shoes (not necessarily in that order).  For years I carried a Coach purse, but even when empty the purses weighed a lot.  And, I carry a lot of "stuff" around in my purse.  While I love the Coach purses, especially the red one, I have started investing in cheaper, seasonal bags.

I was brought up in the era where you didn't wear white after Labor Day.  Okay, that concept was kicked to the curb a long time ago.  But some habits are easier to get rid of then others.  This year for the spring and summer months, I had an appropriate white and tan purse.  It had lots of pockets and I liked that.

But now it's after Labor Day, and last week I went in search of a new bag, in a more appropriate fall color.  I found a fake snakeskin bag in brown.  I checked the inside, of course, to make sure that it had the right amount of places to stash stuff.  It did and I bought it.

The way I transition from purse to purse, is to dump out the contents of purse A on the kitchen table.  Then I pick through the remnants, which this time gave me $1.20 in change; a few hard as nails gummy candy; and more tissues than any person needs to carry.  I also found out that I was dragging around not one but two lipsticks (same color), as well as two mirrors.  Heavens I don't much like looking in the mirror, so I can't figure out how two managed to find their way into my purse.  Once I tossed out all the unwanted items, my new purse was loaded, and is ready to go.

Women love shoes.  Even if we have lots of shoes, you can always use/need another pair.  When I was a teenager, I had shoes that matched many of my clothes.  The reason for this is: shoes were cheaper in the 60's, and my parents paid for my shoes.

I haven't owned a pair of heels in I can't remember when.  I'm now more into comfort over fashion.  Since my body doesn't readily adapt to bending over to tie shoes, I wear clogs or shoes with Velcro.  I still own all of my shoes that I wore when I was working, but they have been moved to a spare closet.  Unlike giving away most of my going to work clothes, I haven't yet parted with any shoes.  Why? Probably because I love my shoes and merely liked the clothes.

P