Ordered today: 1 wood stove, more or less similar to the one in the photo. It's not an especially pretty one, but it's a workhorse that will handle most of my winter heating needs. It should be installed in a couple of weeks, just in time for summer...

Fave Foto Friday - Name That Gnome!

There has been a considerable amount of conversation in my household related to the choice of a name for the birthday gnome pictured here. My choice was No-No, in honor of the character Jim on Vicar of Dibley, one of my favorite Britcoms (Jim's scene as the innkeeper in a Dibley Christmas pageant was classic).

My choice was Pooh-poohed, and I have refused to cave to pressure to name him Rosco or Norm. Please help out - I need suggestions!

Next

I've finally arrived at the next step in the process of warming up the downstairs - just in time for Spring! Tomorrow afternoon the wood stove guy is coming by to give me an estimate and discuss the options for placement of a stove.

Later in the day the fencing guy is coming by to give me an estimate on a nice, safe enclosure for my poor beguiled Princess Daisy. The sights and sounds of the season have proven to be too much for her. She wants to race off after every squirrel and track every scent.

I watched with woe on Saturday as she disappeared into the woods. For a few heartstopping moments I wasn't sure that I'd see her again. She easily leaps over the blueberry bushes and brambles in the woodlands hereabouts. I am more earthbound, and my progress through the undergrowth was sluggish at best. I am happy to report she is safe and sound. The fence has become a priority.

Fave Foto Friday

Who's got the life?

Still Kickin'

Whew! Can't believe it's been a month since my last post. I'm still here, I promise. I get great ideas for new posts, but I just don't seem to make it downstairs to the computer to get started.

You can blame the propane company for my lack of computer time. I just spent a undisclosed but obscene sum for one month of fuel for my home. I already had the thermostat down to 65, now it's set at 63. The downstairs being the natural cold spot of my home (what with the down location, the cement outside walls, and the tile floors), it can be just a little too brisk to spend much time here in the winter. It's pretty nice in the summer, though.

Not to worry, I have plans for the future! I'm looking at woodstoves, coal stoves and pellet stoves as alternatives for supplemental heat. Should make it nice and toasty down here next winter, and the heat should rise to help out upstairs,too! And then there's the plan (OK, it's more of a hope at this point in time) to buy a laptop and go wireless.

I know, moving the computer upstairs sounds like a bright idea, too. I'd still have to go wireless to do it because of phone jack locations (since I'm stuck with Verizon DSL and Verizon phone service, and with DirecTV). Since my PC gives me occasional warnings on bootup about the status of the hard drive, it hardly seems worthwhile to invest in serious upgrades to this system.

I'd give anything to have Comcast back (I never thought I'd say those words), but they are not available here. Comcast's customer service is FAR superior to Verizon's, and, frankly, so is their product. DirecTV is the incredible shrinking product, with an ever decreasing number of stations available on my plan.

Oh well. How about all of you? How are you weathering the economic and climate conditions in the US these days?

Voting, Small Town Style

I came home from work tonight, took the dog out, fed her, and took her out again. At about 5:55 pm, I backed the car out of the garage to go to My Town Hall to vote.

When I arrived at my destination, I parked and followed the herd into the building. I had to wait in line for approximately 30 seconds. I gave my name and confirmed my party. They gave me a pretty pink ticket, and I took it to the voting booth.

I had to wait approximately 5 seconds for the booth to empty. I used my 5 seconds to comment that mine wasn't the only pink ticket on the spike on the side of the machine. I had thought that it might be; my politics are atypical around here. Actually, there were quite a few pink tickets keeping company with mine! Maybe more pink-ticketed people were driven to vote in this year's primary.

I almost said pink-leaning people, but then I realized the historical implications of that! Wonder why they chose pink to represent my political party??? Someone's idea of a joke???

I cast my pink little vote, left the building, and drove back around the corner. I pulled my car back into the garage at 6:04 pm.

There you have it: Voting, Small Town Style!

Technicalities

Every now and then I get a message when I boot up my computer that a problem has been detected with my hard drive. I don't know too much about the technical end of computer stuff, but I suspect that this is The Beginning of The End for my PC. Time to start updating myself on the minimum requirements for a computer system these days.

So, my blog pals, what will I absolutely require in a new PC? I would actually love to go the laptop route this time around, though affordability is a major factor for me. I can live with a desktop, if necessary.

I don't need an extreme system. I want to blog with my computer, manage and edit digital photos with it, and maybe watch an occasional DVD on it (especially if I get a laptop). Gaming in my household is pretty much limited to puzzle, arcade and word games - some with cool graphics, but nothing excessive. I suppose Windows Vista is the likely OS, and I would like to go wireless if I get a laptop.

Any and all suggestions about necessary elements, brands, where to shop, etc. will be appreciated!

Odd Choice; Change of Subject

I just looked at my choice of photo for Fave Foto Friday yesterday. Seems an odd choice for this time of year.

I took the photo some time ago, and I chose it simply because I liked the image. Bread Line was particularly impressive in person. You can stand beside the life-sized figures. You can even stand in line with them. That would have been a better image, I suppose.

Changing the subject, I've decided that my New Year's Resolution will be to, well, change the subject more often. I've been so busy about the business of reinventing the wheel of my life that my blog has been sorely neglected. I plan to do some revamping in the New Year. I don't have much talent in blog artistry, so I take that on the redecorating aspect of the project with some anxiety. Reworking the content should be a bit less daunting.

The next few days should be pretty busy for me, so I might not get back here before Christmas Day. I wish everyone a beautiful, memorable holiday. If you don't celebrate Christmas, I wish you a day of rest, and joy in whatever traditions you observe.

Peace.

Depression Bread Line

"Depression Bread Line,"

Sculpture by George Segal

Grounds for Sculpture

For Virginia Gal

Here it is, Virginia Gal: Daisy in a Santa hat, just for you!

Fave Foto Friday - Early Christmas Present

What I Love About the Season

My dear friend Pax so aptly blogged about some of the recurring annoyance of the holiday season. I'm feeling less pressured this year - don't ask me why; I couldn't say. In any event, here is a list of the things I love about this time of year:

1. People working together to create a warm holiday celebration at the office.

As government employees we are not permitted to celebrate on the clock, so we put together a Holiday Event within the confines of the office. Everyone uses their official break time to come together to celebrate. People sign up in advance to bring a dish and help out in general. It turns into quite an extravaganza. It can be a feeding frenzy, too, but that's in keeping with the season.

2. Red and green.

These are colors that I would not stomach together most of the year, but at Christmas they are beautiful. Throw in a little gold and silver, some candles and light strands, et Voila! Seasonal bliss.

3. Fruitcake.

I like a good fruitcake. No, not the grocery store version with rum extract, but the real stuff. It's hard to find a good one locally anymore. Anyone know where to get one?

4. Christmas shopping.

I actually like shopping. I rarely have to buy something for anyone I don't really care about, and buying for those you love is a joy. I do try to avoid the crowds, for the most part.

5. Christmas songs.

I haven't been inundated with them this year, and it's refreshing not to have them overplayed. I love them when they aren't forced on me 24/7. It's nice to know all of the words, and most of the melodies are simple enough even for my feeble voice. OK, there are some exceptions, but I still sing them when no one else can hear me!

6. Decorated homes, from the simple to the sublime.

My exterior decorations are limited to a candle in each front window and a wreath on the front door. I really appreciate the folks who take the time to put up elaborate displays, and I'll ride around several evenings from now 'til Little Christmas to enjoy the view.

7. Christmas cookies.

No further explanation needed.

8. Christmas Eve.

It's still magical to me, pregnant with soon-to-be fulfilled wishes and dreams yet to come true.

9. The wonder of the winter world.

I love the woodlands in winter. I love feeding the birds and finding deer prints in my yard. I love crisp air and cozy fires, hot toddies and long, cold nights.

10. Layers of shared cultural history.

Remember the year in the 1960's when we had a huge snowfall on Christmas Eve? Remember finding a bike under the tree? Remember your quirky extended family, all in one room at one time? Remember getting Dancerina for Christmas, or Charmin' Chatty, or Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots? Remember the year in the 80's when it was 70 degrees on Christmas Day in the North, and everyone wore T-Shirts and played touch football? Remember waiting to watch Rudolph every year, and Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree?

Maybe I enjoy Christmas more these days because I've learned to eliminate a lot of the unnecessary stuff - overdone gifts, excessive outings and responsibilities. I only send a few cards these days, and I do a lot less work. I look forward to the serenity that you can find in the season.

I wish each and every one of you a beautiful holiday season, exciting or serene - whichever you prefer. No matter what you celebrate, or if Christmas is just an extra day off to you, may it be rich in all of your favorite things.

Leftovers

In keeping with my personal tradition of doing things bass ackwards, I made a full turkey dinner today. Yes, I had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving Day with no need to cook. Then I turned around and did all of the work today, the day before returning to work. And I am pooped! Now I remember why I had foresworn cooking Thanksgiving dinner in the past. So now, of course, I have leftovers.

We made it to the mall oh, so very briefly on Black Friday. I was so proud of myself - I directed my companion through all of the back roads and we avoided the heavy traffic. My companion was going to the DMV (actually, in NJ it's the MVC - Motor Vehicle Commission) to renew a driver's license. It was my advice to include a birth certificate amongst the various pieces of documentation required to renew a license these days, but, alas, this went unheeded. I spent a total of about 10 seconds looking at the racks in the first (and only) shop I entered before my (irate) companion tracked me down complaining that the MVC would not renew the license without a birth certificate or passport. We left the mall.

I decided not to let the day end on this miserable note. I took off on my own for upper Cape May County and did some antiquing all by myself. I didn't buy any antiques, but I saw some potential future purchases. I also checked out a favorite garden center with all of its holiday displays, but I'm not ready to concede that the Christmas season is upon us, and I didn't buy any decorations.

So that's it, my backwards holiday weekend in a nutshell. The fridge is full and the kitchen is clean, so I have no reason to complain.

No Leftovers

There are no Thanksgiving leftovers in my household today: no turkey slices chilling in the fridge, no gravy congealing in a bowl. My family went out to eat for Thanksgiving dinner. Judging from the crowd at the restaurant, this is the trend for the future.

We had a lovely day. Everyone was well rested, no one had to sit in the up-and-down seat (where the hostess sits because she gets up and down throughout the meal), cocktails were served. We relaxed and enjoyed each other. I got a chance to catch up with a nephew I haven't seen in awhile. My brother is in town from Florida, and I got to talk to him for a bit. We went back to Mom's for dessert. Mom isn't well enough these days to go out for dinner, and she wasn't up to having us set the meal up at her house, as we've done in the past. We still got to spend time with her and with each other, which is really the important thing, when all is said and done.

In a quirk of fate, we must go to the mall today for something unrelated to shopping. I haven't been to the mall on Black Friday in years. I'm not big on driving in heavy traffic and shopping in crowds. However, since I'm going to be there anyway...

Free

Max is running free again now. No more pain from arthritis, no more trouble breathing, no more frantic trips outside in the middle of a cold, wet night. I'll miss you, Max. You were the best dog I've ever known.

Fave Foto Friday 'n' Stuff

I'm settling into the new house pretty well. An old retriever mix dog (Lab and Golden) has taken up residence here, too. He has been an outside dog all of his life. That doesn't sit well with me, but you know what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks.

Still, Max has arthritis, and he's near the end of his time on Earth, so I can't just leave him outside. His run takes up just about half of my roomy 2 car garage, so he has lots of space. I'm gradually introducing him to the inside of the house.

The garage stays tolerably warm right now, since it's attached to the house and it's insulated. The plan is to have him stay in the house overnight once the garage gets to be too cold. That will mean sleeping downstairs with him, since he can't climb the stairs and he'll need someone to be here to let him out on demand. I don't mind too much, since there's a fireplace (gas log) down here. The TV and computer are down here, too. Might be fun to camp out with Max!

I'm accustomed to small dogs, so a large dog is a big change for me. Everything is bigger, from the amount of food they eat to the amount of food they recycle. And the shedding! Oh, the shedding! But Max is just the sweetest animal. He helped me weed the garden last weekend, popping his head under my arm at odd intervals for a cuddle. I've never before had a dog that could be left off leash without a fence. Max is reliable that way. Besides, I can outrun him (poor beast).

Here's a picture of my buddy for Fave Foto Friday. This was taken in the midwest in September:

Fave Foto Friday

Here's an image from my recent vacation in the Midwest:

Double Back

It's been an odyssey, but I finally have internet access once again! Cable is NOT available at my new address, had to set up satellite service for TV and DSL for internet access. YIKES!!!

More later. I'm off to bed. I have house guests right now, and I have an early appointment tomorrow.

'Night all.

Back!

Made a not-so-quick trip up the road this past week. I'm home today, and desperately in need of sleep after the grueling 1200 mile ride. More to come.

I suspect that at least one fellow blogger will recognize the image above!

Question

Anybody know of a place to get good, affordable veterinary care in the Millville/Vineland/Mays Landing area? Suggestions appreciated!