Happy New Year!

Mainely Tracy will be on a "bloggy break" until Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

The Kaelen Surprise

Kaelen learned at the last minute that she needed to use some vacation time before the end of the year. So around noon on Monday (12/26), Kim and Kaelen were on the phone discussing the various flights coming into Portland, Maine later that day.

 

With her new brother-in-law (Zach) as chauffeur, Kaelen made it to the airport in time to begin a journey that would get her to Portland at 10:30pm.

 

We decided to keep her visit a secret in order to surprise her grandparents (a.k.a. my parents). Kim and Kaelen even synchronized their footsteps when they got to the house Monday night – just in case my parents might still be awake.... The surprise was intact.

 

On Tuesday morning, my dad was outside clearing some snow off of the deck. When he came inside, he saw a young lady sitting on his couch. He thought, "She looks a lot like my granddaughter Kaelen." He quickly realized that his eyes weren't fooling him.

 

Mom was still in bed, so Kaelen went in and surprised her, too.

 

This year's best gifts came in airplanes!

Dad 338: The Best Presents Come In Airplanes

(We are having some great family time. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Enjoying a pretty nice winter day today. Storm tomorrow. Only about three inches here. Over one foot inland. Good for the ski areas. That is where the snow should stay.

 

Lew drove me to the radio store to pick up my truck. Reason is that only one of four speakers was working. Now all four are new and work.

 

I played Scrooge in the fourth grade. It was great casting. I'm not a great fan of the materialistic aspect of Christmas. I can't say I like getting gifts. But I tolerate it.

 

As I am fairly old and sentimental now, presents aren't how I judge my Christmas. I did, however, get some great gifts this year. Very clever choices.

 

Spouse and I were glad to have all our daughters and sons-in-law together. Also our two grandsons. Still lacked our granddaughters from Illinois. So we were totally surprised when granddaughter Kaelen showed up on Tuesday morning. A perfect start to our last week of 2016!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

My Sisters :)

I thought Debbie needed a party hat for Christmas.

And the queen of every home should have her own crown.

Jerry says, "I'm bonding with Auntie Kim!"

And Kim says, "Jerry loves his Auntie!"

It Feels Like the Day After Christmas

Kim and Joe arrived as scheduled yesterday afternoon, and we all had a delightful meal at Debbie and Glen's house. It was a wonderful Christmas day. We were all pretty tired by early evening.

Today was a good day to sleep in and have a lazy morning. Lew made blueberry pancakes for Kim, Joe, and me. The Keurig got a workout.

I commented, "Ahhh... it feels like the day after Christmas."

Joe said, "That's because it is."  :)

I'm going to go eat chocolate now!

Joy to the World!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Cookies, Cocoa, and Cats

Tonight was our 5th Annual Christmas Cookie & Cocoa Night with Pastor Dave and his family. Pastor Dave's parents, sister, and niece are here from Indianapolis, so they came over, too — a bonus!

The secret to a successful Christmas Cookie & Cocoa Night is to keep it simple:

The other secret is to be sensitive to how your guests feel about your pets. If your guests enjoy watching your cat play with a plastic frog on the dining room table, then let your cat play with a plastic frog on the dining room table.

Jerry was the life of the party. (Marilyn got a lot of attention, too.)

The evening was a success!  I think we'll do it again next year.  :)

Pending E-mail

My e-mail program at work has a "Pending" folder.

I created this folder myself.

Sometimes I get or send e-mails which require a follow-up. For many of these e-mails, there is already a system in place that will ensure a follow-up. But if not, then I move the e-mail to my "Pending" folder.

Some of my colleagues use the "Task" e-mail feature. I tried that for about half a day, and I didn't like it. My "Pending" folder system works well for me.

I usually have several e-mails in my "Pending" folder. After some extra effort today, I was able to get that number down to one.

One pending e-mail.... And that should be taken care of tomorrow.  Hooray!

But, e-mail is like laundry.... It really never ends....

Smile!

Dad 337: Waiting for Christmas

(The guest room is ready! Enjoy Dad's post!  ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another beautiful day in the Northeast. Temperature in the forties today. A few days ago we arose to below zero temperatures and never reached freezing all day. Supposed to snow and rain tomorrow. Scheduled a haircut for Spouse tomorrow two weeks ago. Chose the worst day of the week. We'll make it. We're tough Mainiacs!

Finished all our Christmas presents today. All that was necessary was to fill envelopes. Still must write a couple notes to friends. No hurry, though.

I've been without a car radio that would light up for about a year now. Finally replaced it last Friday at a place Lew told me about. I now have a small stick-on clock to use elsewhere. Radio doesn't work any better but I can see what's going on now.

Must now take my pickup to the radio repair store to replace speakers. Only one rear speaker behind the driver works. I guess this is a common problem for Chevy pickups. Next Wednesday I get new speakers.

Waiting on Kim and Joe to arrive on Christmas day. Best present of all — family home for the holiday season!

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Why It's Good to Have an Empty Shelf

O Christmas Tree

The children did a little Christmas presentation in church yesterday. It was organized by none other than my sister Debbie.

Some of the kids had speaking lines; they all participated in decorating a tree up front.

Great job, Debbie and kids!

Lew's Logbook: Plow Practice

(Lew writes tonight from snow-covered Southern Maine. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

They say that practice makes perfect.

Have you ever heard the term “quick-release plow”? Well, they’re not so quick-release.

Fred and I put the plow on his truck near the end of November. It was a bit of a task but we got it done and thought we were all set…Not.

The truck had a problem with the starter so it had to go to the shop. We took the plow off…not that easy.

Truck repaired, put the plow back on (sigh). All set…Not.

Truck has an electrical problem with the heater fan. We had to take the plow off again but tried a new technique. Not too bad.

Truck repaired again and when Fred brings it home he is able to drive right into the connect slots on the plow. We didn’t try to finish the connection until the next morning because it was getting dark.

Next morning we go out to set the connecting pins. As I walk out the door Fred yells up the driveway, “You’re not gonna believe this.” He had the plow pins all set.

We definitely have learned something, but I hope that we don’t have any more practice this year.

Ye Olde Bold Cold

The topic at work today was how cold it is.

Lew gave me a ride to work, and the display in his car read 1-degree.  (We were clinging to that one little degree!)

It's so cold outside that it's also cold inside.

I thought about writing a poem about the cold weather, but instead I'll just share some words that rhyme with cold:

bold
bowled
cajoled
doled
foaled
fold
gold
hold
holed
mold
old
polled
rolled
sold
soled
told
tolled
ye olde

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......!

I'm Floored!

Our new living room floor was installed over the past couple days. I'm relieved it's finally done.

A little history....

We first had carpeting — very nice, expensive carpeting — but the cats went pee-pee on it. So we ripped it up.

We then had a floating floor in the form of vinyl tiles. Any expanding/contracting of the floor was to occur against the wall, underneath the quarter-round. Instead, the expanding/contracting took place between some of the tiles. After the flooring contractor came back twice to try to remedy the situation, we decided it was time to acknowledge defeat.

So now we have sheet vinyl, which (as it turns out) is also a floating floor. The size of our living room required two pieces. The seam is supposed to be invisible, which I'm sure it would be in a brand-spankin'-new house. But, according to Lew, the seam in our house can be seen from the Space Station.

We really do like our new floor... seam and all!

Dad 336: Projects and PATriotS

(So happy our "new" new floor is in. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Two beautiful winter days enjoyed by all after a taste of winter snow on Monday. Bitter cold predicted for the next few days. I hate winter and even pre-winter!!

 

Kind of a busy week. Did a little plowing on Monday and my truck heater blower didn't work. The engine light reappeared. The truck is back in the shop. It does start great now with a new starter and battery. Hope to get it back by tomorrow. The blower did work on the way to the shop.

 

GO PATS!

 

Last two days spent with Lew and Tracy getting a new solid living room floor as opposed to the floating floor that was new. What a difference.

 

GO PATS!

 

Deb's project of drilling through 100+ Christmas bulb bases is completed. She now can have her kids at church make simple little necklaces. Of course, there are now 100+ bulbs that no longer light up.

 

GO PATS!

 

Josh is home from Maine Maritime for about a month. Glen is nursing an operation on his knee. He is, however, in the Massachusetts dealership limping around.

 

The above ought to be enough for this week. Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Dinner Party, Anyone?

Lew rearranged the furniture in our dining room.  I'm not sure how I feel about it....

Ha ha! It's not permanent.

We're getting our living room floor replaced again.  Hopefully the third time's a charm.

The furniture should all be back in place tomorrow night.  :)

Rock, Don't Talk

We all have said things we wish we hadn't said. (Sorry, but I'm not sharing any examples!)

A week ago in church, our pastor mentioned a monk who kept a rock in his mouth for three years so that he would learn silence.

Pastor Dave invited us all to take a rock after the service was over. He had a whole box to choose from, and he did advise that we wash them first.

I selected a rock that is smaller than my foot, so it probably would fit in my mouth. (Ha ha!) But I think I'll just keep it as a symbol.... I can always use a reminder to keep my mouth shut.

Lew's Logbook: What a Year!

(Lew writes today. Enjoy!  ~ Tracy)

The year is drawing to a close and what a year it has been....

Tracy and I bought a winter home in the Bahamas. Please feel free to drop by any time.

I received a call from President-Elect Trump this week. He thanked me for my support and invited us to Trump Tower for a Christmas Party. (He really is a nice guy.) We want to hang out with the family so we politely declined.

And finally, Tracy has been tapped by the Maine Republican Party to run for Congress in 2018. Given her easy-going nature and political acumen, she should breeze to an easy victory.

Hope your year has been as equally exciting.

#fakenews

Obeying Orders

I made it back to work yesterday, but I think I overdid it.  I went to bed at 6:00 with a migraine.

I got up this morning — no headache — but definitely not feeling great.  I told myself, "Snap out of it!" and had Lew drive me to work.

When I walked into my supervisor's office, she said, "Tracy, you look like _______.  GO HOME." (The blank starts with "h" not "s" in case you were wondering.)

I proceeded to tell her how far behind I am on everything, and she said it can all wait.

So I called Lew to come back and get me. (I worked a whole 35 minutes!)

When we got home I went back to bed and didn't get up until it was time to try eating some lunch.

So far my lunch has stayed down, for which I am grateful.

I think a weekend of rest is just what the doctor would have ordered.  I know my supervisor did!

Dad 335: Truck Trouble

(Day two for me recuperating at home. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! In the middle of a few days of somewhat inclement weather. It is that time of the year. Nothing unusual.

 

Well I just returned from Christmas shopping. I was gone less than one hour. I know what I want – go in the two stores and I'm out very quickly. Now I just have to package all our gifts for the day.

 

Monday I had a six-week appointment with my podiatrist for what he calls an "oil change and check up." I started my truck and brought it up next to our house. (I like to run it now and then, just to run it a little.) However, when I started for the doctor's office, my truck wouldn't even turn over. So I went in the car.

 

When I arrived home I called AAA. Still didn't get it to turn over. Glen came up in the evening and Lew, Glen and I had no luck again. I made arrangements to get it to Glen's shop on Tuesday.

 

Didn't need a tow as for some strange reason it turned over and started on its own. Got it repaired – new starter and put a new battery in it. Truck is back – plow is back on – Thanks, Lew – and it's parked in the yard where it belongs.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Flu Bug

Left work early yesterday.

 

Didn't go at all today.

 

Tomorrow is looking iffy.

 

Not sure if it's the flu, but it's something like that.

 

'Tis the season! Sigh....

Eli versus Tia

Saturday morning I got a chance to hang out with Eli and Adam a bit.

While Adam prepared for our tea party, Eli and I played four games of Hangman.

First round:  I picked the word "CAT."  With only one leg to go before "Hangman!" I gave Eli some helpful hints.  Winner: Eli.

Second round: I got to pick the word again. I went with "MAN" this time. When Eli asked for hints, I just couldn't help myself.  Winner: Eli.

Third round: I thought "TOY" would be a good word. I still gave hints. Winner: Eli.

Fourth round:  Eli wanted to have a chance to pick a word. I asked him if he knew how to spell any (he's five) and he said, "Yes!"  We started with four blank letters, but he added another one when he realized he was going to have one letter left over.  I ended up hanging.  Eli's word:  ELMNY. (Definition: What Eli used to call Elmo.)

So Eli was the big winner, four rounds to zero.  But I think I may lodge a protest with the National Hangman Federation.

Lew's Logbook: Breakfast Hobby

(It's Saturday! Enjoy Lew's post! ~ Tracy)

Stupid stuff I do....

I love breakfast.
I don’t mean a bowl of cereal and a piece of toast.
I mean eggs, bacon, home fries, bagel or muffin and about 3 cups of coffee.

Every week I have two regular breakfast dates.
One on Saturday that Tracy and I have been doing for years, and one on Tuesday with three other retired guys.
Many weeks I have a third breakfast with my brother or another friend.

There are regular places that we go but occasionally we try a new place.

I have started taking pictures of my breakfasts.
Everyone needs a hobby.
Mine involves ingesting carbohydrates.
Example below:

It's Package Delivery Season!

For the most part, I hate shopping in stores. But I love online shopping....

There are no salespeople to avoid. You don't have to wait for other shoppers to get out of the way. You don't have to drive from place to place.

You just sit at your computer and search for what you want.

I started my Christmas shopping a couple weeks ago. I do a little at a time, so we'll be getting a delivery almost every day for a while.

I already told Lew he is not allowed to open any Amazon boxes when they arrive. What I didn't tell him: Some of the stuff is really for me.  (Is that wrong?)

Lew's Christmas Lights

It stopped raining, so I finally took a couple pictures of Lew's lights!

They're purr-ty!

Dad 334: An Arm and a Prayer

(Praying! Enjoy Dad's post. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! In the midst of three lousy days. Lucky for us, we're getting rain on the southern coast. Snow up to one foot in the north country. Ski slopes are open and the weather is cold enough to make snow. Hope the snow stays away from the coast for the next three months. What are the chances?

 

Survived a great Thanksgiving day. Had a very good meal and visit with all extended family. (Also a nice visit with a grandson Josh as he was home from college. Looking forward to his month off in three weeks.) Thanks, Glen & Deb!

 

Spouse seems to be doing okay – with the exception of her useless arm, which will not open up and is locked to her chest. Every day I pray for healing; she has not received it yet. I will still keep that in my prayers as I know it's possible. I'm reminded of the song, "I Know a Man Who Can." Please pray for a miracle. We thank you for your concern and prayers. Keep them coming!

 

Ready for winter but not really looking forward to it.

 

Soooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Say What???

Tomorrow is the last day of November; I just don't know how that happened. When I was younger, I always got a kick out of how people would say the year "flew by"— and now I am one of those people!

Time is a funny thing... So much has happened since our trip to Kelsey's wedding in early August, and yet it seems like we were out in the Midwest only yesterday.

In fact, it was only yesterday that one of my credit card numbers was used at a gas station in Indiana — but I really was in Maine all day. Fortunately my credit card company declined the charge. (A replacement card is on its way to me.)

So today's lesson is to be aware of where you are — and when. Especially since time flies!

A Book a Week Is What I Seek

I try to read a book a week on average, so I am happy to report that I just added the 52nd book to my "2016 Reading List" page!

I'll probably add at least three more to the list before the year is over.  I usually have several going at once, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

I enjoy keeping track of the books I've read.  It gives me a sense of accomplishment. It also makes me feel more studious than I really am — ha ha!

My advice for y'all today:  Read a book!  :)

Lew's Logbook: Christmas Lights

(Lew asked me about taking a picture, but it's sort of drizzly out at the moment.... I am a "fair weather" photographer.... Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

Last year I put 300 Christmas lights on the front of the house plus a lighted wreath on the front door.

This year I did the same but added another 150 lights.

I’m already planning to buy more lights after Christmas when they have the big sales.

I don’t know if I’m going to do 150 or 300 more next year.

I haven’t reached the Clark Griswold level yet, but I’m working on it.

Farewell, Florence

Florence Henderson passed away yesterday.

"The Brady Bunch" was one of the first TV shows that I remember watching as a kid. (Is there another fictional family that my generation knows better? I think not.)

Carol Brady was the matriarch of that TV family. Thank you, Florence, for portraying her so beautifully.

And now I feel like watching a Brady Bunch marathon. It seems like the right thing to do.

Dad 333: Happy Thanksgiving!

(Dad's post will serve as tomorrow's post, too. Happy Thanksgiving to all!  ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another enjoyable pre-winter day. A little cool; about 40 degrees.

A short, to-the-point writing today. Appreciated by everyone....

Have a happy, thankful, joyous Thanksgiving Day!

Enjoy your friends and relatives!

Don't forget to say thanks to our God!!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Punctuational Lament

Not that I am the expert but did you ever notice how people ignore punctuation on Facebook and sometimes in their text messages I just don't understand how anyone can understand anyone else anymore I'm not sure I'm just not sure   do you agree

Coming Soon: Blog Reboot!

As another year comes to a close (okay, so I'm a little early with that statement), I want to rethink this blog.

When I started it, I wanted to write pithy posts every day....  I think I've done okay on the "every day" but not the "pithy."  Ha ha!

I tried the Monday Media, To-Do Tuesday, etc. idea, but I didn't really stick with it.

Scheduling that has worked (and will therefore stay): Dad writes on Wednesdays, Lew writes on Saturdays, and nobody writes on Sundays.

That leaves Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for me to come up with something worth posting about.  And I haven't been very inspired as of late.

But just thinking about a "blog reboot" is getting me a little bit excited. So, keep checking in on Mainely Tracy, dear readers.

Goal for tomorrow:  Write a pithy blog post.

Lew's Logbook: Good Decision

(Sometimes Lew listens to me. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

Answering the call....

This morning we slept in a little. After I got up I went through my morning routine which consists of taking care of the cats and a few other things. Then I sat down in my recliner in my “snuggies” to do my daily writing.

The phone rings. It’s my brother-in-law Glen asking me if I want to play golf with him and my two nephews.

I started thinking about how comfy I was and how I would need to hustle to get ready. Also, my clubs were kind of buried in the garage for the winter. I told Glen that I thought I would pass on the invitation.

Tracy asked about the phone call and I told her.

Her response was, “You should go.”

I thought about it for another 30 seconds and said, “You’re right, I should go.”

It was probably the best decision I’ll make all week. Had a great time with the boys. They help keep me young.

(Josh and I won.)

I Was #6

We had our annual all-staff meeting at work today.

During the lunch break, everyone who wanted to could participate in a contest. We had been asked to turn in a baby picture a couple weeks ago, and today we were to match up who was who.

There were about 30 pictures on the board. I did a horrible job.  I identified only six correctly: mine, one that I cheated on, one that was obvious to us all, and three that I really did get right all on my own.

The person who won the contest (who happens to be my 19-year-old office mate) identified 21 correctly. While we were looking at the pictures ahead of time, she looked at me and pointed right at my picture. As for me picking her photo out, I wasn't even close.

One of the three I got right: the owner of the company.  Phew!

Because It's Time for More Cat Pictures

Bath Time

HUGS!

Dad 332: Football, Of Course!

(While Glen and I were hard at work this afternoon, Dad, Mom, Lew, and Debbie ate cake with Zack. He is 16 today! Happy Birthday, Zack! My father fills you in on the rest of the day's news below. Enjoy! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another warm, cloudy, sprinkly day in the Northeast. Next few days look good, then some colder weather. Winter is next. Oh, joy!

 

Our football weekend was a washout:

~ Zack's team lost in the regional finals. Lost three games this year. Two to the regional champion and one to a team which Zack's team beat in the semis. A great year. Congratulations to Zack and team (8–3).

~ Josh's team finished the season with one win. Never blown out but just couldn't win. Wait until next year.

~ The Patriots lost to Seattle. Hope they meet again this year. That would be the Super Bowl. Winner: Patriots!

Very busy day today:

~ First thing this morning went to the beach and had two new windows put in sister Deb's cottage.

~ Bought a new gas cap for the truck in hopes that my engine light is off for good.

~ Picked up my car (Lew transported me to garage) after servicing for the winter. Home now for the evening.

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Follow the Logic

In light of the hoopla that has followed the recent election, I have considered starting a new blog.

This blog would be called "Postcards from Tracy" or something like that.  I would write simple, brief notes on a variety of things.

The first postcard would be about the electoral college/popular vote controversy as it pertains to the 2016 election:

Do you think the candidates would have campaigned differently if the president was to be selected by popular vote instead of the electoral college? 

I think the answer to that is clearly, "Yes." 

Apples and oranges, my friend.... Apples and oranges.... 

Wish you were here!

Whining Poetic

When ideas are few and creativity has taken its leave,
My only words are,
"Oh, blinking cursor, how you mock me."

Lew's Logbook: It's Over

(Woohoo! Enjoy Lew's post. ~ Tracy)

As we were watching some shows from our DVR, I noted that there were campaign commercials because the shows were recorded before the election.

That’s when is struck me that it is over!!!!

I actually pay attention to politics and enjoy the back and forth, but toward the end of the campaign I was avoiding some news programs that I usually watch because of election fatigue.

Now we can pay attention to the important things in life like football, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and football (yes, I said football twice).

Not This Year

I just remembered I hadn't posted yet today, but I was a bit preoccupied this evening.... 

Zack's football game was streamed online; Lew was watching and keeping me updated while I read. I watched a few minutes over Lew's shoulder here and there.

The final outcome of the game was not what we had hoped for.

Zack's team had a great year and made it further in the playoffs than expected. If they had won tonight, they would have gone on to the state championship game.

Congratulations to Zack and the Red Storm on a super season.

And I have a feeling next year is going to be even better.  :)

Better Than Dust Bunnies

I am still recovering from staying up too late to watch the election results, so today's post will be short.

Here's a picture that Lew texted to me a couple weeks ago, complete with caption:

"Under the Love Seat"

There are probably three dozen of these toy mice in our house.

We love our kitties!

Dad 331: Two Late Nights

(Woohoo! Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Enjoying a real cloudy dark day. Why should I enjoy such a dismal day? The two-year campaign for electing officials and voting for other choices is over. To that I say, "HOORAY!!"

 

Well, Zack's football team beat the two-year defending state champions in the Western Maine semi-final game. Now they must play in the final against the only other team to beat them this year. The winner plays for the state championship. GO, RED STORM!!

 

I had two very late nights in the last week. Why, you ask?

 

[1] I watched the Cubs win the World Series last Wednesday. Happy for them. Didn't really care who won because I like Francona.

 

[2] My second long night was last night. I saw my clock say 2:20 AM before retiring. Reason for the late night was the much anticipated voting day. Now let's get the country together again! Please!! In my prayers!!

 

I'm falling asleep now. Sooozzzzz....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

So, What's New?

A ho-hum day if there ever was one . . . . Not much going on today, right?!

My two text messages to three of my work colleagues this morning:

"Time 8:31 -- heading in to vote!"
"8:48 -- in my car!"

It would have taken me even less time if the election worker had directed me to the correct line when I got there.

I wore my "I Voted Today!" sticker all day, and now I am in my jammies to wait this out.  I am using a vacation day tomorrow so I can stay up late to watch the returns.

Whatever the outcome, I pray that God will bless America.

Workplace Excitement

The fire department came through our workplace and did an inspection not long ago. My workstation didn't "pass" due to daisy-chained power strips. I already knew this would probably be a problem, but I couldn't plug my computer system in without using two power strips (too far from electrical outlet). Plus I needed another power strip for some peripheral items.

Today my supervisor presented me with a 25-foot long surge protector with eight sockets.  Would I be able to plug everything into it?  Let's see.... "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, . . . and that's everything."  

Hooray!

No more daisy-chain for this gal!

Lew's Logbook: Pictures

(Lew writes today. Enjoy! ~ Tracy)

When I’m walking or driving I often see things and say to myself, “That would make a nice picture.”

I can’t usually do anything about it when I’m driving, but when walking I always have my iPhone, so…. Click.

I wonder if this could be a hobby for me?

This is the latest picture that I took of something that caught my eye.

"Lobster Buoy"

The Day After the Day After

After staying up really late, one survives on adrenaline the next day.

But the day after....

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Have a restful weekend, everybody.  

And don't forget to "fall back" tomorrow night!  Farewell, Daylight Savings Time.

CUBS!

Yesterday I told my supervisor I would be late to work today because I was going to watch Game 7 of the World Series. She doesn't follow baseball so she had no idea that history was in the making!  (I texted her this morning to tell her the Cubs won. When I arrived at work, she asked me, "That's the team you wanted, right?")

Lew and I watched most of the game in our living room. I was nervously playing "Bumpling" on my iPhone to keep myself from going crazy.

When the Cubs closer came in during the 8th inning, I told Lew, "I don't have a good feeling about this." I hated being right.

When they started putting the tarp on the field after the bottom of the 9th, Lew and I decided to move our party upstairs. We were recording the game, so we contemplated going to sleep and watching the rest this morning. But then the rain delay ended.

So we watched.

My stomach was in knots. (Imagine if it had been the Red Sox! I would have been a mess.)

When the game finally ended and the Cubs had won, I threw my arms in the air and gave a big "Hooray!"  I also began breathing normally again.

We stayed up to see the trophy presentations. I was so happy when Ben Zobrist was named the MVP! After his interview was over, we turned the TV off.  The clock read 1:11.  That's 1:11 A.M.

Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs and all of their long-suffering fans.

Now let's all get some sleep!

Dad 330: Trick or Treat, Share or Eat

(I'm looking forward to watching the final game of the baseball season tonight. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Enjoying an almost-summer day today. Temps in the 60s. Very pleasant while mowing for the last time this season. Received a hard frost yesterday. The next good day I'll put mower, go-kart and other articles in the trailer for winter storage. My car will go back to the garage. Winter will be here shortly. Boo!

 

Zack's team won their first playoff game and will play in the semi-finals this weekend. Should be a very competitive game. Josh's team remains at one win as it added another loss.

 

We survived Halloween. Once again, no trick-or-treaters for our three bowls of candy. We were prepared. Now we must eat... or share!

 

Now hear this: In case you haven't noticed, Tom Brady is back and his team is doing well.

 

Well, there will be a game seven tonight in Cleveland. Go Cubs! Or Indians! My first choice is Cubs but, if they lose, congratulations to Francona. Must rest up now to stay awake for game.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Project Ring Retrieval

The first part of this story happened almost a full year ago. Click HERE to read it.

I had not worn my diamond ring nor my wedding ring since that day. (I was too afraid I wouldn't be able to get them off again.)

About two and a half weeks ago Lew and I took both of my rings to a local jewelry shop. I wanted to get the diamond reset as well as resize my wedding band. My friend Carole came along to be my personal consultant; I knew I wanted something "practical" and she was in charge of making sure it would be beautiful.  :)

I ended up combining my original diamond with my original wedding band. It's a bezel setting, not that I know what I'm talking about.

The ring was ready today.  Lew picked it up and delivered it to me at work.

I think it's beautiful... as well as practical.

You Can Call Me Sherlie

Learning the tools of the trade.

Eureka!

Where is Watson?

Lew's Logbook: Movie Moment

(At least Lew didn't mistakenly enter the ladies' room after this movie. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

My friend Dick and I went to the movies this week. We went to see a movie called “The Accountant."

We can go during the day because we’re both retired and I didn’t think this would be a movie that our wives would enjoy.

Actually, after seeing the movie, I think Tracy would enjoy it. Yes, there was a lot of shoot-em- up but no excessive graphic scenes, not a lot of gratuitous bad language and no sex scenes. And the story was interesting.

I was standing in my kitchen about an hour after I got home and suddenly realized that I had missed a piece of the movie puzzle. I texted Dick and asked if he had figured out what I had missed. He had not.

I called him later and we seemed to have differing ideas about what was missed. The event in question happened near the end of the movie, and I blame our lack of focus on the fact that we both had to pee really bad.

I will see it again with Tracy. She will straighten me out as she usually does.

Brainstorming Costumes

The human resources director at work sent out an e-mail this week encouraging us to dress up for Halloween on Monday.  Of course, all costumes must be appropriate for the workplace, etc.

Because this is an opportunity to potentially wear jeans on a non-Friday (!), I am thinking about what I can "be" for Halloween. Here are some of my ideas so far:

Sherlock Holmes — I already have the magnifying glass and a hat that looks similar to his. 

A baby (or toddler) — This would allow me to wear warm, fuzzy P.J.s to work!  I could put my hair up into two ponytails on each side of my head. 

A debit or a credit — I am a bookkeeper, after all. But I would need my supervisor to dress up as whichever one I'm not. So it's probably too late to pull this one off. We're pretty good at coordinating our efforts, so maybe we can plan to do it next year. But it would definitely require some creativity! 

A college student — Here's where the jeans would definitely work!  :) 

A baseball player — I have a nice Red Sox jersey like the players wear. Add a ball cap, my glove, and I'm all set. (Oh, and jeans.)

A hippie — Lew could help me out with the authenticity. He is, after all, a former hippie. 

A graduate — I have a cap and gown somewhere up in the attic. Not sure I want to go up there, though!

A blanket — Our office is usually cold, so this would be a warm option.  :)

Will I dress up or not? We'll see. If I do, I will be sure to share a photo on Mainely Tracy. Stay tuned!

Holy Cow!

So the big news around here is that the Holy Donut is coming to Scarborough.

The Holy Donut is a Southern Maine business that is expanding; Scarborough will be its third location. (Once the shop opens in March, the waistlines of Scarborough residents will also start expanding. Ha ha!)

For my blog readers that are familiar with the area, the Holy Donut is moving into the building formerly occupied by Tim Hortons. Tim Hortons closed about a year ago now, so we've had a long time to wonder what would be moving in there.

Saying that people are excited about the Holy Donut would be an understatement. I don't think I can fully express how much joy this news has brought.

As for me? Well, I will be driving by the Holy Donut every day as I go to work. It's on the way. It's even a right-hand turn, which makes it all the more convenient.

Time to invest in more slacks with elastic waistbands!

Dad 329: Grillin'

(Lew cooked. We ate. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! The fall weather is upon us. Still waiting for a deep frost. Still have to mow once more before filling the trailer with the mower and various other items. Hope we are ready for winter within the next 10 days. Already have had a little snow up north. Predictors say more to come up north over the next few days.

 

Zack's team finished the year at 6-2. They start the playoffs Friday and should win. Then they will have a shot at one of the teams that defeated them.

 

Josh's team lost again by one point as they tried for a two-point conversion and failed. Their opponent scored and kicked the extra point (the winning point).

 

Spouse (Mary Lou) and I went for our six month check-up and teeth cleaning over the last two days. The results: NO CAVITIES! Yeah!

 

If all goes well today, Lew will cook one last time on the grill. What will he cook, you ask? Just four pieces of tenderloin (filet mignon). Can't wait to eat.

 

Done for now. So....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Arsenic and Old Legs

(Disclaimer:  I am not offering medical advice nor recommending any treatment.  I am just trying to write a silly blog post!)

Yesterday I mentioned drinking half a cup of tonic water before bed to help with my restless leg.

A co-worker told me about this idea.  She said that tonic water contains a minute amount of arsenic, which is used in the treatment of restless leg syndrome (RLS).

My extensive research (five minutes of googling) didn't help me answer some questions I now have: Does tonic water really contain arsenic? Is quinine the same thing as arsenic? (The tonic water I have contains quinine.) What is prescribed for RLS and how much arsenic does it contain, if any? Or does it really contain quinine? Does any of this matter to me if the tonic water works?

The tonic water does seem to help. My leg is less "anxious" and I sleep much better.

I thought Cary Grant might start showing up in my dreams, but — alas — no sign of him yet.

A Blue Monday

Stayed home from work today:

Didn't sleep well due to my restless leg. I had been trying Lew's apple cider vinegar cure-all, but it doesn't work for my leg as well as 1/2 cup of tonic water before bedtime. So back to the tonic water it is.

Also fighting the start of a cold. I drank two cups of Gypsy Cold Care Tea this morning, and most of the symptoms have gone away. More fluids and an early bedtime tonight may give me victory.

Feeling lousy physically often makes me feel "blah" mentally and emotionally. So after feeling sorry for myself this morning, I've picked up my game a bit for the afternoon. So hopefully my "Blue Monday" will not stretch into Tuesday....

I don't think it will, because I'm wearing my red pants tomorrow. Plus, there's this — especially this:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.   [Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV84]

Smile!

Lew's Logbook: Ladies' Room

(I'm still laughing! Enjoy Lew's post!  ~  Tracy)

Oops!

We went to the movies tonight with some friends.

After the movie was over I had to stop by the men’s room before we left the building. I looked to my right and saw the “men” sign and walked into the facility.

Upon entering I encountered an elderly woman wiping her hands. I looked up and saw another elderly woman by one of the sinks. Brain told me something wasn’t right with this picture; I stopped while brain informed me thoroughly that women are not supposed to be in the men’s room.

I exited immediately.

Looking up at the sign, I noticed that I had not seen the “wo” in front of the “men”. The sign was curved and from where I was standing you could only see “men”.

There were two men standing outside of the women’s room waiting for the two ladies I had encountered. They got a big kick out of my mistake. They saw me go in and never said a word....

I think I made their day.

A Ho-Hum Haiku

It is now Friday.

What a wild and crazy week.

It's time to rest now!

How Much Are Those Kitties in the Window?

These sweet kitties are NOT for sale!

Dad 328: Closed For the Season

(The burgers were delicious. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Summer has returned for this day only. The weather predictors let us know this was going to happen a week ago. They were correct. If they are correct for next week's weather, we will be 30° lower than today's temperatures. Winter is not too far away. Oh, joy!

 

Zack's team beat Cheverus and now is at five wins and two losses with only one game left before the playoffs. Josh's team lost again and their young team can't seem to add to the win column. They are not blown out in games, but a loss is a loss. Better luck this week.

 

Lew played golf today and said it would be his last round of golf for the year. Only time will tell. Depends on the weather! He is about to turn on his grill for burgers. Is this the last grilling of the year? As for this – only time will tell.

 

Today I was able to turn off our outside water faucets. Also, Fred's fridge is closed for the season. It will reopen next spring with ice cream and soda.

 

Enough for today. Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

 

Two Presentations

Yesterday a co-worker presented me with a beautiful infinity scarf that she had crocheted.

Today I presented her with lunch — her favorite gourmet pizza from Romeos:

SPANAKOPITA 

Ricotta cheese as the base, topped with fresh spinach, fresh mushrooms, sausage, feta cheese and our special blend of cheeses. 

It happens to be my favorite pizza, too.  We were able to "scarf" it down in no time!

More Tidying News

It is with some trepidation that I say this, but the "crazy-lady" portion of my tidying adventure is complete:

• The house is no longer in chaos, and I believe (hope?) the remaining tasks will be better contained.
• I don't plan on spending any more entire weekends tidying. It makes me weary.

So don't call me the "Happy Homemaker."

I am the "Tired Tidier."

Lew's Logbook: End of Summer

(Lew writes today. There is at least one plus: the beautiful foliage. We admired it this morning.  ~ Tracy)

This is a hard time of year for warm weather people like me. 

Last week I played golf and it was a lovely day. But when I got home I had to decide if I was going to put my clubs away or leave them out for another chance to play. I didn’t put them away…yet. 

Also, I need to start thinking about putting my motorcycle away. (I don’t ride in the cold.) It looks like there might be a riding day this coming week but the door is closing fast. 

I put my beach chair upstairs in the garage and threw my beach pass in the trash. 

Shorts are out and sweatpants are in. 

This is a good time to stop writing. I’m depressing myself.

A Tidy Update

During the month of July I began to "tidy" our house. I brought Lew along on the journey. (He didn't have much of a choice, but he is a willing participant.)

I had read a book which I have since learned is quite popular:  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo. I like the practical advice she offers, but I don't really follow the more whimsical ideas. (For example: Thanking an article of clothing for its service before discarding it. Nope. Although I did make my mother do it when she was having trouble getting rid of some things she could no longer wear. It helped!)

Ms. Kondo said in her book the tidying process could take up to half a year; I believe we will prove that. Lew and I have made great progress and we love the results so far. We are almost done with the upstairs. We still have to conquer the kitchen and dining room downstairs. But I'm not really counting the attic.... Yikes.

Once the major tidying is complete, we will need to keep up only on a day-to-day basis. No backsliding for us!

Let's Go, Cubbies!

There's always next year . . . . 

My beloved Red Sox lost in the first round of the playoffs.

But there are two benefits from said loss:

1)  My stomach will be much more relaxed for the rest of the month.
2)  I now can root for the Cubs with reckless abandon!

Dad 327: Glen vs. The Pheasant

(It was great seeing nephew Josh when he was home this past weekend. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Enjoying some great fall days. The mornings are quite cool but the temperature really warms up for beautiful afternoons. Hoping for a coastal frost soon. Then I'll mow the lawn one last time and store summer equipment in the trailer for winter. Please, frost – come soon!

 

Josh's football team had a weekend off and Zack's team improved to 4-2 with a win. Josh has five games left and Zack has two regular-season games prior to the playoffs.

 

Glen, while taking Josh and four other students back to Maine Maritime on Monday, lost his vehicle's grill to a pheasant. The bird lost its life.

 

We are happy Tom Brady is back. We're a little sad the Red Sox were swept by Cleveland in the playoffs. The Sox left their bats in the clubhouse. Their top pitchers performed below expectation. Go, Cubs!

Tune in next week!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Fall-ing Ahead

Columbus Day — which was yesterday — is a major turning point here in Southern Maine. It is the last day we are open for business. The sidewalks get rolled up afterward.

For example, yesterday was the last day of the season for Pier Fries. Did I get to eat any last-day-of-the-season fries?

My husband sent me a text message yesterday at 12:18pm.  It read, "Come outside. I have a present."

When I met Lew outside of my workplace, he presented me with a warm box of Pier Fries.

He. Is. The. Man.

I shared the fries with all of my work colleagues, and I now have the most popular spouse in the land.

Thank You, Readers

I know — or at least feel like — my own blog posts have been sub-par lately.

As I was driving home from work, I considered cutting back and writing only when I had something fun to talk about.

But then I thought about what would probably happen in reality: I'd get out of the habit of posting altogether. And I do want to keep the blog going.

So, I'll keep writing on the non-Sunday and non-Derf and non-Lew days.

And every now and then I might have something interesting to say. It could happen, you know!

Thank you for reading Mainely Tracy!

Lew's Logbook: Em and the Boys

(I was right! Emily does look adorable in the Batgirl t-shirt. Enjoy Lew's post! ~ Tracy)

Sometimes nice things just happen.

I came home from getting a flu shot yesterday and my phone rang. Daughter-in-law Emily asked if I would like to go to lunch with her and my two grandsons and then go walking on the Eastern Trail.

I had plans to work on some projects around the house, but all-of-a-sudden they didn’t seem very important.

I took turns giving the boys shoulder rides and realized that I can barely lift Eli over my head. Growing up quick.

It was a beautiful day and a lovely time.

STINKY!

I hate baseball.

That is all.

Oh, Why Am I a Sports Fan?

The past hour of my life:

The Boston Red Sox scored a run in the top of the first inning.
I love baseball!
The Cleveland Indians tied the game in the bottom of the second inning.
I hate baseball.
The Red Sox went ahead, 2-1, in the top of the third inning!
I love baseball!
The Indians just scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, which isn't over yet.
I hate baseball....

No wonder why my stomach is in knots by the end of October.

Repeat often: "It's only a game."

Dad 326: No on Hurricane, Yes on Sports

(Let's go, Red Sox! Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Enjoying a nice summer-ish, fall-ish stretch of weather. It looks now that the hurricane will only touch the southeast section of the country and then turn out to sea. We hope so!

 

This past weekend was not kind to grandsons' football games. Josh's Maine Maritime game was a 36-30 loss. Zack's high school game was a two touchdown loss to the defending state champs, who are still ranked as number one in the state.

 

The Patriots lost their first game of the season and finished at 3-1 without Tom Brady. His four game suspension is over after serving it, even without a conviction.

 

We, in the Northeast, are all looking forward to the baseball playoffs and wish the Red Sox well. It has been a great season for the Sox and I'm sure they will receive some individual awards. Stay tuned!

 

Enough for today. So....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Play(off) Ball!

I haven't written too much this season about my beloved Red Sox,

Unless you don't follow baseball, you already know two important facts:

1. The Red Sox won their division.
2. David Ortiz ("Big Papi") is retiring.

I will be rooting for the Red Sox in the postseason, of course.

I will also be rooting for the Chicago Cubs. (Cubs fans, I feel your pain.)

But if the Red Sox and the Cubs meet in the World Series, I must remain loyal to my team.

Go, Red Sox!!!!!

The Bear: The Rest of the Story

It's taken 43 years, but I have finally resolved the fate of Fred the Bear....

The bear named Fred was sound asleep.
The bear rug makers didn't hear a peep.
But when they opened up the crate,
they had no time to celebrate.
For they heard Fred make a loud snore.
He woke! He gave a mighty ROAR!
The rug makers turned around to run,
but Fred said, "Awww... I roared for fun."
A talking bear! His name is Fred.
He moved next-door to Mister Ed.

Lew's Logbook: Apple Pie

(The book Lew refers to is by Marjorie Standish. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

I made an apple pie today.

My mom’s apple pie was one of my most favorite things to eat on earth. I happened upon a recipe years ago that comes as close to her pie as anything that I’ve ever tried. It is from a cookbook titled “Cooking Down East” and is called “Best Apple Pie”.

Of course these days I can’t taste it. But I still derive some satisfaction from eating things, so I thought I would cook one up. This is the season after all.

I’ve always thought that fresh macs make the best pie. I confess, however, that I use ready made crust.

Fred, Mary Lou, and Tracy seemed to enjoy my effort.

You will note in the picture that I also managed to find my old L.L. Bean apple peeler. It does make the process a lot easier.

A Night Out; A Good Cause

Lew and I are on our way home from The Root Cellar's annual banquet.

What is The Root Cellar?

Click HERE to find out.

Good night!

BLT Dip (Minus the L)

We had a potluck lunch at work today. I ate way too much, of course....

But my main reason for writing this post is to share the recipe for my contribution to the feast.

I got this recipe from my sister Debbie a few years ago (after I ate practically the whole bowl of it), and it's easy enough for even me to make. Seriously, the hardest thing is chopping up the tomatoes!

Here it is. Make it sometime. Then thank my sister Debbie for sharing it with me.  :)

BLT Dip

8 oz sour cream

8 oz mayonnaise

3 plum tomatoes

1 glass jar of REAL bacon bits

serve with regular Wheat Thins

Dad 325: What About Fred?

(My father's question about his namesake bear is inspiring me to write a sequel. Ha ha! Enjoy his post!  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here! Week's weather is full of unstable days. We may even get some rain. Next Tuesday will be the definite start of bright sun. Perhaps we will have some sun before then. We hope!

I read for the first time last night on Mainely Tracy about poor Fred the Bear. This was written forty years ago, but I had not seen it before yesterday. Poor Fred the Bear! I hope they let him out of the cage after hibernation. Do I have an answer? (Or did he expire?)

Well, our Red Sox are down to a magic number of one. Could have clinched the division last night but lost in their bid for twelve straight wins. Maybe tonight. One other goal is to have the best record in the league for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Go, Red Sox!

Zack's high school team defeated Sanford last weekend. Sanford was my high school and I also taught there four years in the sixties.  Two weeks in a row Zack and his teammates defeated schools that I have previous connections with. I am thrilled with the results.

Josh's Maine Maritime team was not as fortunate as Zack's was. However, Josh, in his third college game, became a starter. Congratulations, Josh! We watched all of Josh's game via streaming.

That's it, folks!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Another Poem By My 10-Year-Old Self

My Cinquain Assignment

While tackling my "tidying" project on Saturday, I came across some homework I'd kept from my elementary school years. (I hadn't kept much, thank goodness.)

The following is dated October 24, 1973, so I was almost 10 1/2 years old when I wrote this.

I got a red "Ha! Ha!" from my teacher. And almost 43 years later, I had an "LOL" moment.... But I wonder what sister Kim will think!

Smile!

Lew's Logbook: MMA Trip

(Lew writes today. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

Went to Maine Maritime Academy today with brother-in- law Glen.

Nephew Josh was the starting right tackle for their football team today against MIT.

The game did not go as we would have liked, but the weather was perfect and we consumed some very tasty carbs on the trip.

It was a four star day.

I took a quick snap of Belfast.

Cleaning and Tidying

I am having a four-day weekend. I designed it myself: I arranged to take today and Monday off.

Because I didn't need to get up for work this morning, I watched the end of both games last night (see yesterday's post). A win and a win!

I didn't sleep in too late because I wanted to get a start on the day's activities.

In an ideal world, those activities would have been watching movies and reading.

In the real world, those activities consisted of laundering the bedding for the guest room and the day bed. But I didn't stop there....

I laundered some blankets and throws that needed it.

I reorganized the top shelf in the bathroom closet. This is the shelf that holds the spare sheets.

I reorganized the top shelf in the guest room closet. This is the shelf that holds spare blankets and throws. (The rest of the closet is now Lew's to use as he wishes.)

I neglected to mention that prior to laundering most of the bedding, I had to first use sticky-rolls to get off as much cat hair as I could. I had not kept a good handle on the bedding, so the cats had free reign for quite a while. This resulted in a ton of cat hair. Seriously, it was almost a ton... or at least it felt like it.

Tomorrow I plan on going through all my paperwork. I have one of those big long pillowcases that I'm going to put all of my shredding in. And instead of using my teensy shredder at home, I am going to take the pillowcase to Staples and pay someone else to do it.

And now I plan on taking a much-needed shower. I'm stinky and I ache all over. My aches even have aches.

Cleaning and tidying is hard work.

We Are Social

Our friends Bill and Stacey came over to our house after work tonight. We went out for a three-course meal: pizza, then french fries, then ice cream.

 

After returning to our house we watched the Red Sox and Patriots games at the same time (sort of). Both of our teams are currently ahead as I write this. Time will soon tell the final outcomes.

 

Bill and Stacey have headed home, Lew is upstairs doing cat-care chores, and I am sitting in Lew's recliner writing this post and watching the Sox.

 

One final thought regarding our evening: Good friends are a blessing!

Dad 324: Football, Football, Football

(Farewell to Summer of 2016; it went by much too fast. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Enjoying the last summer day of the year. And it is a great day. We welcome Fall tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, the next season change is "Winter." Oh, joy! But then "Spring" again! (That was a quick year.) Now for some current doings....

Last weekend was a great football weekend for us up here in Scarborough.... Our nearest professional team, the Patriots, won.... Josh's team, Maine Maritime Academy, won with a touchdown and two point conversion with 19 seconds left while they were behind 35-34. Winning score was 42-35.... Zack's high school team won their game 49-0. They showed no mercy on their opponent, a high school where I was employed as a principal many years ago.

Lew has been repairing and painting the exterior of the garage. He is very busy upgrading the property. Maybe there will be a picture on Mainely Tracy when the painting is complete.

Done for today.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

You Go, People!

Today's goal: Conquer the world. (See yesterday's post.)

It is good to set lofty goals. Although I can't say I conquered the world today — not with a straight face anyway — I can say that setting such a high goal pushed me to make great progress.

If you haven't attempted conquering the world, I encourage you to try it. You'll thank me later.

Baby, It's Wet Outside

"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down...."

It didn't help that my tummy had issues today either.

I really wanted to make it into work, but sometimes it's better to just stay home.

Especially if one is in a cranky mood from having tummy issues.

But tomorrow I conquer the world.  (It's good to have goals.)

Lew's Logbook: Painting

(What retirement? Enjoy Lew's post! ~ Tracy)

My last big project for the year is to paint the garage.

Climbing ladders and painting for hours at a time reminds me that age may be a state of mind, but the body doesn’t care what you think.

I’ve had all kinds of muscles saying bad things to me.

However, all of this outdoor work does makes for good sleep.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Call Me Four-Eyes

When I arrived home from work today (about an hour ago), my father told me to come and see a replay of the end of last night's Red Sox game.

I took him up on his offer, especially since I knew the Red Sox had beaten the Yankees in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 9th.

The TV looked a little blurry to me, so I adjusted my glasses.... And, uh-oh....  I still had my computer glasses on.

I usually switch my glasses when I leave work.  I put my computer glasses in a case and then in my purse. And I put my regular, everyday glasses — the pair I use for driving — on my face.

I didn't make the switch today.

Fortunately my everyday glasses were in my purse, so I was able to put them on and see the baseball replay.

But it's funny that I didn't notice anything amiss while I was operating a motor vehicle. I'm not sure if that's a reflection of my priorities (baseball over driving???) or if my drive home is so routine that seeing correctly is merely an option.

Anyway, I got home safely and the Red Sox won last night. And that's what matters.

How I Kicked Off the Day

Dad 323: Sports Roundup

(I have an ice cream treat waiting for me! Enjoy Dad's post!  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here! Another cloud-filled day that is supposed to have some rain before tomorrow. We'll see!

Well, the pro football season has started with a lot of close games and some upsets. We, who root for the Patriots, were quite pleased that they were able to win over a very strong Arizona squad. Three more home games and then Brady returns after a suspension, even though not found guilty of any activity.

Zack's team got beat by a very strong Bonny Eagle team. A few mistakes were made that, if not made, might have changed the results.

The Red Sox are doing well. They must continue to win as they are in a close race with three weeks to go. Our fingers are crossed. Go, Sox!

Sister Deb is safely back in her Florida home. Already been to the restaurant for ribs. They are good.

Tune in next week for more uninteresting news.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Time to Turn

Although Fall has not officially begun calendar-wise, I have already turned over a new leaf. (Get it? Fall...? Leaf...?)

My 19-year-old co-worker (with whom I share an office) is a heavy sleeper and has been sleeping through her alarm. When she got into the office last Friday and lamented about being late, I said, "Let's look for a new alarm clock for you."

I did a Google search on "best alarm clock for heavy sleepers" and found an article that reviewed ten different options. We looked at a couple of them on Amazon.com and ordered one for her right then and there. It was delivered to her home on Sunday, and she has made it to work bright and early both days so far this week. Success!

You may be thinking, "How wonderful, but how has Tracy turned over a new leaf?"

Well, I too have gone to work earlier than usual these past couple days. I wanted to encourage my co-worker by getting an earlier start myself. I even got up early enough to use the elliptical machine both days. And, boy, do I need to get some exercise.

And now I need to get some sleep. Turning over this new leaf has tuckered me out!

Tom Who?

Until last night, I did not have a favorite NFL player.

But now I do.

His name is Jimmy Garoppolo.

He is adorable.

I'm allowed to say that because I'm old enough to be his mother.

Go, Patriots!

Lew's Logbook: Garage Cleaning

(Lew and I are tidying machines. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

Tracy is going full out on her reorganization/de-clutter project in the house. That project is going great.

For some reason, I started puttering around in the garage this week. So far I have spent about four hours going through cabinets and cleaning out under benches.

In the process I found a skill saw that I did not know we had (Fred knew) to go along with the four other skill saws that I did know about.

I also found an electric chain saw that has been lost for a while.

My goal it to keep going through stuff and get it somewhat organized so I can find it when I want it. I’m also working with Fred in hopes that I can get rid of some bulky items and make more room.

In the meantime, if you need a screwdriver give me a call. I think it’s quite possible that we have over 100 of them. I’ll be glad to give you one or two.

Heaven on a Plate

Friday special at Pat's Pizza in Scarborough: The best Mac 'n Cheese around!

One Year

I started my job one year ago today!

Q: How many days did I dread going to work this past year?

A: Zero

I know that no job is perfect, but mine is close.  :)

Blessed!

Dad 322: Streaming Football

(Let's go, Scarborough! Let's go, Maine Maritime Academy! Enjoy Dad's post.  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here! Putting up with a foggy, drizzly day in the Northeast.  This morning the fog was very dense and some places had zero visible miles.

Well, got to see Zack's high school team as his game was streamed on the computer. The team beat Portland for the first time ever. They were 0-6 against Portland until the win. Zack was the only sophomore starter for Scarborough. Of course, he is about 6'5" and pushes the scale towards 300 pounds. He did not get pushed around much as he handled his position rather well.

Josh's Maine Maritime game was also streamed and we watched that. They were ahead 28-14 with six minutes left. The game was tied near the end when a field goal would have won. I guess they don't have a long kicker. Overtime was not kind to Josh's team, so they lost 35-28. Still enjoyed watching Josh play.

Had some good company on Labor Day. Matt, Emily, Eli, and Adam were over for lunch and some go-cart riding. The starter broke on the cart, but we believe it is now repaired. Wait 'til next time. More rides.

Done for now.

Until next time.

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Sign of the Times

When Lew and I were visiting with Matt and Emily at their home on Saturday, I had the need to visit their "water closet."

After completing the task at hand, I went to retrieve my phone to take a picture.

I love Emily's sense of humor – and I have great respect for her patience with her two little boys!

Labor Day "Recipe"

Sleep in a bit.

Breakfast out.

Some tidying at home.

A visit from sister Debbie and nephew Zack.

Host cookout for Matt, Emily, Eli, and Adam.

Lots of playing inside and outside.

"I love you, too"-s from Eli and Adam.

An evening of sports on TV and reading.

Beat that!  :)

Lew's Logbook: Apple Cider Vinegar, Part II

(I have heard all about Lew's satisfaction in the W.C. Enjoy his post!  ~  Tracy)

Last week I wrote about my experiment with drinking apple cider vinegar. Someone suggested it might help my acid reflux.

I have been drinking one ounce (in 6 oz. of water) twice a day for over a week.

At this point I have reduced my use of Tums by about 80%.

There has also been another noticeable benefit to this experiment: I’m not sure if is because I’m taking fewer Tums or if it’s the apple cider vinegar, but I’m spending less time in the water closet and realizing greater satisfaction. (Can’t be more specific because the editor wouldn’t approve.)

I’m going to stick with this process for the near future and may have further reports.

To this point, two thumbs up.