I did it - finally.

I bought a new computer yesterday. I don't have it yet because Best Buys is going to transfer data from my old computer (minus whatever viruses I may have on it) to the new one. It will be sometime next week before that is done and I actually get the CPU. I have the screen, one of those nice flat ones, at home now, but of course it is still in the box. My new computer has wireless built in, which will be great for next summer when Kate and family come for a month. I'm sure they will bring a laptop with them, as all 5 of them use the computer regularly.

I am again at the library, but may not come over here much next week. So don't expect much blogging to happen until the new machine is set up. I have to get here before the place is too busy. Weekday mornings and early afternoons are good - before the invasion of kids from school!

This morning when I woke up, I saw snow out the window. Luckily, it wasn't much - only a dusting. I think all of us here on the East Coast have had enough snow for this winter. I'm sure glad I don't live in Pennsylvania! They really got hit recently. This will be a winter to remember for all of us.

back on line

I've been unable to post on my blog or get to my facebook page since Sunday. I was trying to download AVG on Sunday (unsuccessfully) and I guess I did something to Internet Explorer. Anyway, it's good to know that the problem is on my computer and probably fixable, once I figure out what I did. I'm at the library just now.

I had the first part of a root canal done yesterday. It was a pretty simple process and there was no pain at all. I don't know why I was so worried about it. The place where the shot went in did ache yesterday, but it's fine today. The only real problem is that I will be on an antibiotic for another week and they always make me feel a bit queasy. I'm not enjoying that, but I can live with it. Seems to go away in the afternoon. Very strange.

Our snow melted like crazy yesterday. I can see the wood of my deck now, except that it is covered with the hulls from the bird seed I threw out there when it was snow covered. I'll have a mess to clean up in a few days.

No photos until I get my own computer back working properly.

not much to blog about

Nothing much noteworthy has happened in the last few days. I've had a problem with a tooth - infection around the root. Will have to have a root canal soon. Meanwhile, I've been on two different antibiotics. The first one caused a weird reaction - dizziness and a queasy feeling. I was afraid to drive the car, so was house-bound again! Luckily, on Friday, I got a different prescription, and so far, that one seems to be ok. At least the pills are working, as the tooth isn't sore now. I have an appointment with a specialist on Tuesday and hope to get the procedure done soon, as I am heading for Florida in March and don't want to have tooth trouble down there.

Snow here is melting at a pretty good clip. The huge package of snow hanging down from the roof next door fell yesterday. I heard a crash, but saw very little evidence of extra snow on my deck or below. Maybe most of it fell on my neighbor's deck, or maybe there wasn't all that much snow up there. (It looked like a lot when viewing it from below.) Anyway, no damage done, which is good. Today I plan to try using a hair dryer and/or boiling water to remove the patch of ice in front of the door to the deck. It's only a small patch, but is about 8 inches thick! It's fun to watch the birds skidding around on it, but I don't care to be one of the skidders, so I have not used that door recently. I need to fill the bird feeder, but am afraid to cross the icy patch to reach it. The problem with my deck is that in the winter, the sun never shines directly on it. Snow on it doesn't melt - it just sits there reminding me that we are still in the midst of WINTER!

The other thing I am planning to start today is my Income Tax paperwork. (Planning does not mean I will actually do this!) This is not something I enjoy doing, although my returns are not too complicated. It's just a hassle getting all the needed information together. I'll be fine with it, once I get up enough mental energy to start.

blooms at my house

It may be winter outside, with huge piles of snow and icicles falling on my deck, but inside I have flowers in bloom! The supermarket had Valentine bouquets at half price this week, so I bought myself a valentine. The flowers are on the kitchen island, where I see them as I eat my meals. In the living room, a scarlet amaryllis is blooming. It has two blossoms open now, with two more almost open. Gorgeous! So it may be cold and white outside, but in my house, it's spring!

another early morning

It's only just past 7AM and I've been up and dressed for about 2 hours. I can't seem to get my sleeping pattern back to what it should be. Last night I fell asleep in my chair around 8:30 and woke up to go to bed an hour later. Of course, I awoke around 5 this AM and couldn't get back to sleep. When I was gainfully employed I got up at 5 by necessity, but I would really like to NOT do it in retirement!

Yesterday, after my ceramics class, I stopped in at thrift store that is on my way home to drop off some clothing. Of course, I had to wander around the store a bit. It's not a well-organized store, so it's hard to find good stuff, but I got another cute bird house - never been used - and a couple of 'like new' picture frames, all for $5. I do love bargains!

cabin fever - cured!

I did say in the last blog that I was NOT going shopping on Saturday. Well, I was wrong. Patty and I delivered her chair to the local Goodwill store and wandered around the store for a little while. Not much there that we wanted. However, Patty wanted to go to Michael's, so we headed off to Columbia. We shopped at both Michael's and JoAnn's, looking for bargains. Lots of things on sale. I didn't buy much of anything. Got some more cheap ($1) unfinished birdhouses. Something to fuss around with during the next snow. LOL After that, it was lunch time, so we treated ourselves to lunch at Applebee's. My salad was so large that I brought half of it home for dinner.

After lunch, we came back to our neighborhood and visited our local antique mall. We don't really like this mall because the prices are too high, but it was a fun way to kill an afternoon. I bought a couple of little animal figures and one glass animal - a kangaroo! It was my big purchase for the day, but not a costly one. It was just so good to get out and about.

Today will be a normal Sunday, with church duties (coffee hour and choir). I'm not sure what tomorrow will be like, but I don't think we are expecting more snow. It's a federal holiday (Presidents' Day), but I think the rec center where I teach ceramics will be open. They don't close for most holidays. So the upcoming week will progress as usual, unlike the past week that has been anything but usual!

out and about

Yesterday, I drove down to Greenbelt (about 10 miles south) to meet a friend for lunch. Roads were fine, although lanes were a bit narrow in places. The Parkway was mostly dry, except where the sunshine was melting the snow. Parking lots at the shopping center had piles of snow, but enough parking places for customers. I imagine it will be much more crowded today. It's a bit amusing to see all these ads for sales this weekend. With it being both Valentine's and Presidents' Day weekend, it's usually a huge sale weekend. I suppose the stores will be crowded, since our roads are pretty good. However, having struggled with gridlocked streets on Tuesday, I am not planning to shop today.

Yesterday, we had TWO machines (front loaders, backhoes, whatever) scooping snow from our street and piling it up across the street. There is at least 10 feet of snow over there now, but our parking places are no longer blocked in. Probably there is ice this morning, where the snow melted in yesterday's sunshine. I haven't gone out to look. I think Patty and I are going out in a bit. She wants to drop a chair off at Goodwill, just up route 1, and I am going with her to help carry the chair. Of course, maybe the store isn't open. She's going to check this AM. I'm itching to get out again, but I hate shopping on Saturdays, so perhaps will not visit any other stores.