No extra people in the basement according to the front door shoe count. All is quiet for now. I received the new Kingsolver book in the mail yesterday and am anxiously waiting to start it but have another to finish first. Cheers!
It is nice to hear about the celebrations. We managed to have a good one even though this is the busiest time of the year for my daughter. She is in her shop already preparing two dogs to be picked up early. One more puppy is leaving today so she will be home to talk to them. This is the third dog the people have bought from her so it won’t be hard. I don’t know how many young people are sleeping in the basement but according to the extra shoes by the door there are quite a few. My grandchildren had a reunion with friends and they must still be here.
I finished reading Racing In The Rain, a book narrated by a dog. His owner’s wife dies and the in-laws try to get custody of his daughter. He is accused of child molestation and there is a long court fight. It is really a good depiction of how a dog might think. Someone else has the book and I can’t remember who the author is.
Good thinking by your kids to give you a Kindle. I am beginning to take time to read some after getting mostly settled after the move. Finally have things at the point where I can sit down without seeing something I must do.
I enjoyed reading about all of your gatherings. For the first time since my son moved from Houston, last Monday I went to the annual Tuba Christmas concert on the steps of the Austin Capitol Building. He always plays in those wherever he lives. Christmas Eve, since I avoid driving after dark, he came over and picked me up for dinner and see their Christmas lighting then I went back for Christmas dinner. It was a thoroughly nice holiday time.
Candace
Prior to applying to take your first mortgage then it is reasonable earlier to use a home mortgage calculator. These simple tools offered online that might help a couple or a person establish whether they can really have enough money to purchase house. Trying a mortgage calculator can help the consumer with keeping realistic calculations. By inputting the down payment information into online calculator and typing different interest rates in the calculations it provide the consumer with good information and assist them when deciding for their mortgage. It will also offer the consumer good view of how much of a mortgage than can achieve.
Mortgage calculator is an excellent material during planning to shop for a mortgage or remortgage and should be used without restriction entering different variables to help making good choices for securing a mortgage. A lot of individuals have discover that through using mortgage calculator UK it is possible to reduce the period of time in which they repay their mortgage. So many have discover that they can reduce their mortgage from 40 year to 20 lending years. On the other hand it will require them to raise instalments but in most cases it is only 10-20 pounds monthly.
Simply mortgage calculator you can find at Simply Mortgage Advice website. Also you are able to inspect current rates.
After spend some time online calculator you should reconsider to take free proposal from independence mortgage broker. Advisers check whole financial market to find best rates.
Good to hear of many of you! And wish you all well. Sorry about your surgery, Jo, I had a finger joint replaced a couple of years ago, no more pain, but it doesn’t bend very much. I frostbit my fingers and thumbs when I was 7, and although they look short and stubby, I’m so thankful I still have them, the Dr told me when I was grown that I almost lost my thumbs during the 3 weeks I was in hospital.
And fun to hear of your travels, Darlyne, and the wheelchair. My sister and I took our mother to Norway in 84, and we made her sit in a chair, because we got to the head of the line with her.
And Jerry, that book sounds good, but I’m very behind with the pile of books by my bed, so I’ll wait. I like BK’s books too.
And Jan, glad to see you back, and I’ll surely greet Gloria Selnes, she is Darlyne and my dad’s first cousin, her mother was a Holter. None of our 3 daughters made it here for Christmas, but only son and family live near and we enjoyed their company.
We had 3 to 4 feet of snow in our driveway, our interstate is still closed, a $500.00 fine if you try it, but we are warm and dry and aren’t about to try it.
Tomorrow I lead worship in our 2 churches, and there will not be many in the pews, but I’m ready, its about Jesus in the Temple at the age of 12 and Passover. Good subjects.
Sorry for the length, we’ve been cooped up or in, the house all day. Good to have folks to talk with—or to. Jacky
Congratulations on your Kindle Jo. I know you’ll love it. There are a few small drawbacks to it but all in all it’s wonderful. I just finished a wonderful book on Kindle: “The Lacuna”, by Barbara Kingsolver and am now starting Steven King’s new tome, “Under the Dome” which I got on Kindle for $7 and change. It’s about a small town in Maine that is suddenly enclosed in a transparent bubble. Just think of all the consequences of such a thing!
Huggz all,
Jerry
Darlyne, when I travel, I say I need a wheelchair because I lose my breath so quickly and it’s just easier on me to have someone else do the walking. Having a pacemaker is a darn good reason - no matter whether you walk every day or not.
But I’m glad folks got to where they were going without too much of a hassle.
My five went together and got me a Kindle. I’m in 7th heaven. Hope all of your Christmases were as lovely as mine. But I didn’t have ANY puppies to cuddle. 
Jo
I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season. It is very busy here and I am enjoying being with my daughter’s family and friends. Today we spend the afternoon at a friends and it will be a dinner party and get-to-gether with more friends. It is raining and they are expecting it to turn to snow this evening. I hope it waits until we get home. Only two puppies left in the basement and one of those will leave next week. I think my daughter is keeping the last one.
my granddaughter who lives in N.Y. city had to wait 2 days before she s could get a plane to fly here. But she is here now and we have a lot of fun. today we baked chocolate Biscotis. wednsday my two greatgrandchilden will be here and we will play MEXICAN TRAIN domino. the weather here in B`ham is great, sunny and warm. you all have a great christmas and a happy new year. love to all jenny C.
What great luck, Darlyne–special treatment all the way and puppies to cuddle. Sounds iike you’re going to have a great Christmas. Georgianna’s brood all on hand–what a great time. Hope everyone made it through the snow and ice without too much trouble. Haven’t heard of any widespread power outages, hope that’s true.
Merry Christmas.
Candace
I arrived here without problem. There was a very long line at the security check line and I expected to wait a nour at least when a wheel chair person pulled up, and got me out ot=f the line and encouraged me to get into the chair. She wheeled me to the front of the line after she checked my boarding pass, got me to where they X/ray you and because I have a pacemaker didn’t have to wait in line there either. It was the easiest time I have ever had at an airport. I did feel kind of silly since I walk almost two miles five days a week. The flights were on time, a granddaughter picked me up and all is well. It is snowing but I don’t have to go anywhere and there are three cute 8 week old puppies in the basement.
Prior to applying to take mortgage or remortgage then it is reasonable to run first a mortgage calculator. These simple tools available online that can help a couple or a person determine in case they can in fact have financial background to buy new home. Playing with a mortgage calculator can help borrowers deal with realistic expectations. Inputting the down payment information into the calculator and typing different interest rates in the calculations it provide borrowers with better information and help them when shopping for best mortgage deal. It will also offer the consumer good view of how much of a mortgage than can achieve.
Calculator is an excellent resource during planning to shop for a first mortgage and should be freely entering variant data to assist making good choices shield your mortgage. Many couples have discover that through using Mortgage Payment Calculator they can cut the period in which they repay their mortgage. By using this a lot of them have discover that they are able to cat their mortgage from 40 year to 20 years. So it might need them to increase monthly instalments but in most cases it is only few pounds weekly.
Easy and simply to use Loan Calculator you can find at FSAMortgageCalculator.co.uk financial portal. Also you are able to check current cheapest rates.
Once you use online mortgage calculator it is always suggested to receive advice from independent financial adviser. Financial advisers search whole financial marletplace to get cheap mortgage.
I hope you don’t have some horrendous wait and your flight is smooth, Darlyne.
Like Jerry, I want to wish all of you the merriest of Christmases, the best of all Hanukahs and Kwanzaas, too. This is a wonderful time of year with most folks thinking good positive thoughts. Would that it could continue all year.
Jo
I meant to say Barbara!
Merry Christmas to all of you lovely ladies and anyone else who might be listening in! I’ll bet most of you would love the above mentioned book written by one of my favorite authors, Barbary Kingsolver. I’m enjoying it more than any book I’ve read all year. It’s quite a tome but that’s what I like. Something to get one’s teeth into. Lots of great dialog in both English and Spanish. A great story with famous people and Spanish/American history. I love the characters.
Huggz all,
Jerry
It is clear today and roads have been plowed but they are icy. My flight this morning is supposed to be on time but who knows. I am prepared for a wait at the airport before taking off for warm WI. I have a book, cross-word puzzle and knitting to keep me occupied—-and most important, snacks.
Darlyne, I’m with you…warm robe and fuzzy slippers, glass of wine and a book or ??? would be my take on the situation also. 
How nice for you and your hubby, Georgianna - the whole family. What a Christmas that will be and I am envious. I don’t know where I’d put mine even if they came, however! Enjoy and don’t work too hard preparing; don’t what to have you down and out when they get there.
Hope all you easterners and southern easterners will let the rest of us know how you are doing as soon as you can. We don’t NEED any more wrinkles or grey hair.
Jo
We have all four of our children coming for Christmas. - from MN, NC. VA and Ca. I have been busy but I am excited. Georgianna
We are stuck in that storm. I had been invited to attend my granddaughter’s choral concert in NY but opted out after they decided to take the train, walk or take the subway to the concert, have dinner and take train home. I drove them to the Dinky which is a two car and engine train that goes from Princeton to a train station six miles away that they catch to NY. The Dinky has been running for eons, bringing students from NY to the U. Anyway the fact that they are walking home from the Dinky in this storm with an expected foot more of snow discouraged me. I will be home in my fluffy bathrobe and slippers and having a glass or red while listening to Prairie Home Companion.
I just reread my post and I really should proofread a bit better; but I read what I thought I was thinking, not what actually was posted. A senior moment, friends.
So where is everyone - not stuck in that east coast weather mess I hope. We got 17 inches of snow thanks to that storm.
Judith told me a day or two ago that the boy to his right with all the rhythm and scene stealing is his own son. No one he (Ernie) was rolling his eyes at him. ROFLOL
This trigger finger is different-bad in that it is still tended (very) inside the palm of my hand up close to the fingers but still the palm. It is ’stiff’ which may be the result of the swelling and it feels as though it wants to ‘pop’ occasionally as I flex my hand. I had none of this with the other surgeries I had.
I had no stitches, bandage which I was to take off the day after surgery, told to wash my hands a lot, NO PAIN, NO STIFFNESS, no tightness when trying to make a fist.
So as you are aware I am withholding judgement on this … my next appt is Jan 12 and I shall decide then whether or not to have him do the other hand.
I may say, Darlyne, don’t put it off because it DOESN’T get better with time.
Jo
Jo, did you mean this time the operation was different-good or different-bad? Hope it’s better by now.
Candace
About nine years ago when I had my carpal tunnel fixed the Dr. asked if he wanted my trigger fingers fixed. At that time I could un-clench them myself by placing my hand in warm water. I thought at the time surgery on my wrists was enough. I still get along but that may change.
I am still reading Half Broke Horses. It is an easy read and I should have saved it for traveling but have to get it back to the library. It has short chapters which I like. I just don’t have a lot of time for reading right now. I mailed a package of my clothes to WI yesterday. It only cost $13.00 and that is a lot less than I would have to pay if I couldn’t carry on or was overweight if I checked my bags. Winter clothes take up a lot of room and I will be there for over two weeks. I have clothes there but have forgotten which ones. This year before coming home I had better make a list.
I hope none of you know about trigger fingers. I’ve just had my fourth hand surgery to correct the problem and this one is so different from the previous three that it’s almost indescribable. I won’t go into any details, but the surgery was done in the dr’s office on the 8th, the sts were taken out yesterday, the 15th, and boy, sore spots abound. I’m hoping the swelling goes down soon, that will also help with the soreness, I’m sure.
But - there’s a hockey game tonight; that’ll help get the mind onto something else.
Ciao for niao
Jo
I am, as usual, a day late and a dollar short - glad to see you back with us, Jan.