Dad 776: Toodle Pip!

(Dad writes today! After 15 years of this blog, we are both running out of steam to write regularly. But never fear! I will post when I feel like it, as will Dad. Thank you for checking in! ~ Tracy) 

Derf Here!

Enjoying another summer day here in the Northeast. But we need some rain! Please send us rain to eliminate our drought.

Well, Kim, Joe, and Kaelen made it back home to Illinois after two days of driving. They had some important appointments to make, and I hope they have done so by now. I am sure that they have a lot of friends out there that can help them out if necessary. Hope that the family enjoys being home.

Derf is retiring from writing a weekly blog post with this one. I have not much else to say. I will write a post when something big comes along. If I receive many words of encouragement to continue writing posts, then I might....

But so long for now. It's been fun!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Plans Do Change!

For fans of Derf, please check back next week for his next post. He and I both forgot about the blog until this evening. Actually, I've been forgetting about it for a long time! Oh, well. 😬

Kim, Joe, and Kaelen postponed their departure by a week. They will be leaving this Sunday morning, so the planned Ken's Place dinner will take place this Saturday evening.

College football has started... the non-official start of Fall.

🍂🍂🍂🏈🍂🍂🍂

Dad 775: Summer Winds Down

(Dad writes today! And "Happy Birthday" to Lew! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

This will be short. Another nice day in the Northeast. The weather is getting to feel like fall. We need rain. Please pour on us.

Josh is now off his ship and is home for his vacation days. Hope to see him soon.

This Saturday we will have a dinner from Ken’s Place since Joe, Kim, and Kaelen will be headed back to Illinois on Sunday. Our summer visits will soon be over. We'll wait for next year. Time sure flies when you're having fun!

Tune in next week for more!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

One More Puzzle

I started and finished this jigsaw puzzle yesterday. Actually I finished it in the wee hours of this morning, but it still was before I went to bed. (I'm not doing any more puzzles during my vacation since I need to get some sleep!)

"Cats Love Bubbles"
Artist: Rosiland Solomon
Manufacturer: Bits And Pieces
16" x 20"
500 pieces

Cats Rule!

Another 500-piece jigsaw puzzle completed! Art by Tom Wood. Manufacturer is SunsOut, Inc.

Sunflowers

So I misspoke ... posting on my blog despite my vacation.  But I couldn't wait to share a photo of this beautiful jigsaw puzzle that I completed!  Started it Friday afternoon and finished it yesterday morning. Only 500 pieces and they were a nice size, so easy to work with.

Name of puzzle is Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Puzzle artist is Frances Bloomfield. This "Artpiece Puzzle" is from the company Pomegranate.

Blog Vacation

Dad and I both spaced on a blog post for yesterday (Thursday).

But no wonder!  I am on vacation!

Tune in next Thursday for a brand new edition of Derf.

In the meantime, I will be singing The Vacation Song....  😎

Dad 774: Of Mice and Chipmunk

Tracy here! An unconventional presentation today.... I had entered Dad's post on a different device and tried to upload it, but it didn't work. Rather than type it all in again, I took a photo of what I had already typed. So, here you go.... 😎

Travelers Update

Kelsey, Zachariah, Bode, and Boston safely arrived home today. It was fun to have them in Maine, but I imagine being back in their Illinois home is nice for them — especially after such a long drive!

Of course, we've had two beautiful days here after their departure. They did have mostly good weather for their vacation, though.

Next time we'll "see" them will be when we stream Zach's basketball games. We always try to find them in the stands, as well as watch for them after the game is over. Bode and Boston love to run around on the court.

Is it too early to say it?... GO, ROCKETS!

Dad 773: Brisket or Brisquet?

(After missing last week, Dad writes for the blog today! I want to add that last night's post-dinner entertainment was Glen giving Joe a haircut.... ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here!

 

Another damp summer day in the Northeast. We have had some nice dry days this July, but also enough days that have had summer showers. Maybe August (starting tomorrow) will have some dry summer days. Please!

 

I've been watching the funeral for a New York City detective. He was killed a few days ago by a man who walked down the New York streets with a long rifle out for all to see. The man went in an office building, pushed the wrong elevator button, and got on the wrong floor where he shot the cop and three others dead. No one said a thing to this man as he walked down the street. What a world we live in.

 

There is also a case where a man murdered two parents in front of their small children. I would allow the defendant to live a few years until the children could handle a gun and shoot him in the town square! Again, what a world we live in.

 

On a happier note, we have enjoyed our Illinois visitors this month. Zachariah, Kelsey, Bode, and Boston (also known as Princess) will be heading back home on Monday. Joe, Kim, and Kaelen still will be here a while longer. I knew it wouldn't last. School starts for Illinois on Monday, August 11.

 

Zach and Kelsey brought a beef brisket from Illinois for us all to feast on. Glen slow-cooked it yesterday (he started at 7:00am!) and we enjoyed eating it for dinner last night. Delicious!

 

We want to shout out a "Happy 12th Birthday" to our bonus great-grandchild Adam this week. Enjoy your day, Adam.

 

That is it for today. The longest blog post ever! (Sorry, Tracy!)

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle pip!

 

Derf!

The Forgotten Blog....

Oh, my.

Dad was supposed to write on Thursday, but then we decided he would write on Friday.

I was supposed to post something on Thursday regarding his writing on Friday.

Neither of these things happened, ha ha!

The biggest news is that Kelsey, Zachariah, Bode, and Boston arrived for a week and a half long visit! They are staying down at "the big camp", although I believe Bode is bunking with his grandparents at "the little camp".

Seriously, that's about it news-wise. The beat goes on.... 🌞

A Break

My supervisor is on vacation this week.

I completed the tasks he wanted done while he was away.

The books are closed for last quarter.

Since we were all caught up, my officemate and I decided it would be a good day to head home early. (Our supervisor was okay with that, by the way.)

The bookkeeping office will open again on Monday.

I am looking forward to an extra-long weekend!

The Annual Family Trifecta

Happy 87th Birthday to my father!

Happy 29th Wedding Anniversary to Debbie and Glen!

Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary to Lew and me!!!  Our silver anniversary!

The celebration:  Super beef sandwiches (with extra sauce) plus cake and ice cream.

Thank you to my sisters for providing the yummies!

🎂🩷🕺💗🍨

Dad 772: The Waiting Game

(Dad writes today. It's 4:00pm as I enter this. Visits this afternoon: PT=1; Nurse=0. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Formerly Wednesday blog posts turned to Thursday. But I missed Thursday, so this week it is Friday. I hope my editor can make sense out of this. She will clean it up.

Well, we have a wonderful sunny day which makes you think of summer. Oh, it is summer. 

Sure is a mixed-up message throughout the States regarding New York City's candidate for Mayor. Will he make it? That is the question.

I'm sitting here waiting for a nurse and physical therapist (PT) who are both late. So I sit and wait. They should be here shortly.

Joe just called about coming to watch the Red Sox game (2:00pm start), but he will come a little later due to the lateness of the nurse and PT.

So, I wait! Tell you about it next week.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Another Update

Dad came home last Friday. He's had home healthcare workers coming just about every day. Today he had a late afternoon doctor's office appointment, and he planned to write a blog post after arriving home. And he will write that post... tomorrow!

As for me, I had three long days at work. I got a lot done, so it was worth the effort. Hopefully next week will be a little more relaxing now that the quarter end tasks are completed.

Thank you for checking in!

P.S. It is very windy outside!

Update

Dad is still in the hospital but he will be coming home tomorrow afternoon! He made significant progress the past couple days. The doctors have been working on the correct medication balance, hence the several-day stay.

Lew and I visited him this afternoon. A doctor came in and talked with us about the discharge time. He said he could have Dad out of there by 9am, to which Dad replied he wanted to leave after he gets his lunch! Apparently he has been enjoying the food there and getting ice cream with every meal. He wants his ice cream!

🍦🍨🍦🍨🍦

A Plethora of Updates

Happy Independence Day, U.S.A.!  

Dad didn't write a post yesterday because he has been in the hospital since Wednesday.  Fluid in both lungs.  Drained the left one, and medication is taking care of the right one.  Not sure when he will be home, but it will probably be after the weekend.

Oh, deer!  I saw a deer crossing Route 1 on my way home from work Wednesday. Cars slowed down so she could cross safely.

Speaking of deer, we've seen a mama deer and her baby in our back yard a couple times over the past month.  They go running into the woods when they hear us open our door.  Not sure if they'll show up again.

I got a piece of mail on Monday that upset me greatly.  It was an invitation to a session about hearing aids!  I guess I've hit the magic age to get these mailings.  The invitation went in the trash.

Caitlin Clark has not played the last few games due to injury, but I've still watched the Indiana Fever basketball games.  Congratulations to them on winning the Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday!

Those of you who check out my reading lists know that I have read all of Agatha Christie's mystery novels.  Last night I subscribed to BritBox (via Amazon) so Lew and I can watch the made-for-TV series "Agatha Christie's Poirot."  There are 13 seasons and the shows were made for one-hour time slots.  Lots of fun ahead!

My workplace's fiscal year end was June 30th, and I've been asked to close the books by July 18th.  A busy couple weeks coming up!

I just started hearing fireworks outside.  Wish our town didn't allow them, but it's legal on a few days of the year.  Today is one of them, of course.  I sense we will have a couple frightened cats for several hours. Boom!

God Bless America!

Dad 771: It's Thursday!

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! First blog post on a Thursday. Thanks, followers!

Another pre-summer day with temps high enough to use the air. Used the air every day for the last week. Machine still works well. Reached 100 degrees the other day. Hope the temps go down in the near future.

Cooper Flagg got drafted "Number One" in the NBA draft last night. First and only "Number One" draft pick from Maine. He was the college basketball player of the year while at Duke University, winning all the individual awards. His twin brother, Ace, will play for University of Maine next year. We will watch Cooper and Ace play whenever possible.

Joe and Kim are happy staying at the camp and seem to be set up for the summer. Kaelen is staying in the "craft room" at Debbie's house.

We are awaiting more visitors from Illinois — granddaughter, grandson-in-law, and the great-grandkids — later in July.  Looking forward to seeing Kelsey, Zach, Bode, and Boston.

At summer's end we will go back to our normal life again. We can handle that. We are hoping for another good year for Zach's basketball team. We will be watching!

Done for the day!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Busy Week

We had a busy week in our household. So busy that my father didn't write his post on Thursday — and I forgot to put any update until today!

Dad's been dealing with swollen legs due to cardiovascular issues (resulting in fluid buildup). Lew and I took him to Urgent Care on Friday. He had a great doctor, who ended up doubling the dose of one of Dad's prescriptions. Dad's lower legs are wrapped, and we will take off the wraps either tomorrow or Tuesday. Then he should wear medium-strength compression stockings. That will be fun. (I call them "the evil stockings.")

Let's see... did anything else major happen in the world recently?  Operation Midnight Hammer!

We're embarking on an exceptionally warm week. Air conditioners are in the windows. Stay cool.

The Arrival of Summer

Kim, Joe, and Kaelen have arrived from Illinois! They left home Sunday morning and got here Monday evening, just in time for a meal from Ken's Place. Their arrival means summer has started!

Some sad news is that Cocoa didn't make the trip to Maine with them. He made his way to "doggie heaven" instead. Kim, Joe, and Kaelen had Cocoa for many years. He was loved very much, and I know they miss him.  Farewell to you, sweet Cocoa. You were a good dog.

Kelsey, Zach, Bode, and Boston will be coming later in July to complete the Illinois invasion. Looking forward to their arrival, too!

Happy start of Summer!

Dad 770: A Day Change

(Dad announces a change regarding his weekly blogging! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another great day.

After writing 770 blog posts — usually on Wednesdays — I am changing to Thursdays. This will allow me to keep you up-to-date on a more current basis after my appointments.

I will start my "new day" next week with blog post number 771. So continue to stay tuned on Thursdays to learn what is going on.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

The Second Seed

Lew and I enjoyed watching the French Open tennis final matches this past weekend. It was the top seed against the second seed in both the women's and the men's finals. And the second seed won both. Congratulations to Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz on their exciting wins!

We also watched the PBA Tour Finals. (If you don't watch professional bowling, you should start. It's fun!) Oddly enough, it was the top seed against the second seed in the final match, just like in the tennis. And the second seed won. Congratulations to Andrew Anderson on his win!

So what is it about #2's ability to beat #1? Maybe the second seed is under less pressure and is able to play more loosely. I wonder how often the two has defeated the one in all sporting events to date. Someone (not I) should do some research. I would be interested in the findings.

We're Number Two! 😀

Dad 769: If the Tooth Fits

(Dad writes today. The switch to Thursday for his weekly posts may be permanent! Will let you know. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another beautiful summer day in the Northeast. We have now had a string of five to six days of great weather.

Was able to get to my dentist for a final checkup on my fake tooth. The mold for the tooth fit well, so they will now make a permanent replacement. Sending it back to the lab for the final tooth. When it comes back to my dentist, the final phase will be to insert it into my mouth. Hopefully the tooth won't need much tweaking. Another project will be done. Great! Right now it is scheduled for completion on June 23rd. Listen in and I'll keep you posted.

All for now.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Derf Tomorrow!

Check back tomorrow for a special Thursday edition of Derf!

Dad will write an update after his dental appointment scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

😁 

Not a Luddite

I've had my new computer for several weeks now, and I think it is working great for what I do on it. But it is reminding me of my car.

My car has features that I don't wish to use, such as cruise control. And there are definitely features I don't use because I don't even know about them, ha ha!

The same goes for my computer. (And, NO, my computer doesn't have cruise control.) I am getting used to which settings I can change to make it "my own." I've turned off some notifications about gaming. I am not interested in gaming. I do like games, but not the kind of games that are referred to by the word "gaming."

I would like to be more creative in general, and I think my computer can be a good tool for that. I just need to take the time to explore and learn. I will get on that right away.... maybe....

Dad 768: Another Week

(Dad writes today. I can relate! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

I recall three beautiful days in a row. They have been our summer days.

A short blog post tonight. I've had all day to write this, but I've slept about the whole day. I must do something constructive pretty soon. Or will I just keep watching the TV tube and sleep???

Nothing else to say tonight. Another week over. Check in next week.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Noise, Noise, Go Away!

My work office is in the basement of our building.

There is a large meeting hall on the floor above me.

The floor of the meeting hall is being replaced.

Last week my officemate and I got to listen to the demolition work being done. We both jumped out of our seats several times. There were some big, big bangs.

As expected, the workers were still at it today. I believe they were putting down a subfloor, because there was lots of hammering all day. And by "all day" I mean ALL DAY.  I'm still hearing the hammering in my head.

My officemate is smart. She and her husband went to the Florida Keys for the week!

(P.S. Her trip was planned a few months ago. But pretending it was to avoid another week of noise works better for my blog post. 😄)

Dad 767: A New Tooth Coming Soon

(Dad writes today. Is he implying he will be spending time on the beach this summer? Ha ha! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another sunless day. The first 20 days of May had only three totally sunny days. Remember that Summer is on its way. Not kidding! Hope our weather improves and we have some good beach days. Let us all pray for summer days to return.

Everything seems to be moving in the right way here!

I now sit waiting to get to the dentist tomorrow and start getting a new front tooth. I don't know how long it will take. Probably will find out the plan tomorrow.

I'm done writing for today, but I'll keep you up-to-date on my progress. So....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

E is for Elastic

It's been over two years since I wrote an entry for An Alphabet Soup-er Idea. At this rate, I will do my entry for "Z" when I am over 100 years old. I better pick up the pace.

E is for Elastic.

This is actually an apt subject for today. I just received in the mail four pairs of lovely yoga pants that look quite dressy. (Nice fabric. Flared legs. Long enough for wearing with my Dansko clogs.) I already had a pair of these pants, so I know how comfortable they are to wear. I can wear them to work, church, or just to lounge around. (But I am not a yoga person, so I won't be wearing them for that!) One of the wonderful features of these yoga pants, of course, is the elastic waistline. I am growing to hate zippers as I age! And these particular pants have nice support for my aging (inelastic) belly.

I lived in Kansas for several years during the 1990s. When I asked a young officemate if we had any elastics, she looked at me funny. She didn't know what I meant!  The head football coach happened to be in the office and heard my question. He told me that elastics are called "rubber bands" in the Midwest. Wow... did I have a lot to learn!

Dad 766: Illinois in the News

(Dad writes today. Enjoy! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another nice pre-summer day with the northern part of the state having the higher temperatures. Then we'll have unsettled weather through Sunday. Cooler next Monday and Tuesday. Enjoy the day! Summer is on its way!

Glen and Deb have returned from Illinois. They enjoyed their week out there. They attended Joe's last concert as director of the Peoria Area Civic Chorale (PACC). Joe directed PACC for over 25 years. Glen spoke at a reception that was held for Joe this past weekend. Glen and Deb also saw Bode in a concert at his school. A busy week for them!

While this was going on, Zachariah received a Coach of the Year award for Class 2A boys high school basketball from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Congratulations, Zach!

I was able to get a haircut from Deb on Tuesday. Only 12 weeks between cuts. Thanks, Deb!

Not much more this week. I will have to make a schedule listing all of my upcoming appointments (doctors, etc.) so we will know what's going on.

That's it for today!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Grateful

On this Mother's Day, I am thankful. God blessed me with a wonderful mother! I sure do miss her.

Dad 765: Tooth Trouble, Part 2

(Dad writes today. I got the hint! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Not too bad a day. Still in a shower-y mode. Will the dampness ever stop? I think I heard that Mother's Day will be dry and nice. Good, because that is when all of the food places are busy.

Well, tomorrow I'm going to the oral surgeon. I chipped a tooth and have been playing with the hanging side for a couple weeks. It finally fell off, so now I have a good base (no pain). The oral surgeon will pull the tooth tomorrow. Hope all goes well.

After taking some time to heal, I will go to my regular dentist (Dr. Richardson) so she can build a new tooth for me. Isn't this exciting?  Not really!

Maybe my blog editor will put a picture of me showing what my tooth currently looks like. (Hint!)

ARRGH!

It's May

Happy May!

I meant to post on the 1st... my birthday... but didn't. It was a lovely day. Lew made breakfast, and then I pretty much was a bum for the rest of the day. Lots of reading and resting. Just what I needed.

I meant to post on the 4th... Star Wars day... but didn't. "May the Fourth be with you!" The best meme I saw for this was Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. They were joined by a Fourth, the Son of God....

Yes, may the Fourth be with us all!

Dad 764: Tooth Trouble

(Dad writes today. Fun times ahead for him at the dentist! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another pretty good pre-summer day. Sunny with temps in the 60s. Not quite as warm as we would like to have. Please warm up.

Well, my front left tooth cracked forward right at gum level. The tooth is like it's on a hinge. Finally saw my dentist yesterday and it looks like a three- to four-thousand dollar job. In one week, we will have an oral surgeon finish the job of removing the tooth. Then the dentist will make a tooth that will fit in the area and will be held in by a couple other teeth and "wired in". Then my tooth will look much better and feel better. Let's get it done. It will be the most important and expensive dentistry in my mouth. Hoping to eliminate an expensive dentist trip, but won't succeed! Must be done. My tooth wore out! I'll keep you posted.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

These Shoes Were Made for Walking

After a couple rainy days over the weekend, the weather was lovely today.

Of course, I was at work.

My officemate suggested a walk during our lunch break. We ate lunch while working at our desks, then we got ready to venture out.

I keep a pair of sneaker-type-shoes at the office for times such as this. The shoes don't have shoelaces nor are they velcro; they merely slip on — with a little help from a finger or two. I purchased these shoes a few years ago for my mother and they are still in good shape. So I think of my mother every time I put them on.  She would be happy to know I am using them....

Mom's shoes were made for walking!

😍

Dad 763: Chin Up

(Dad writes today's post. I am typing it on my new computer! I'm still enjoying the novelty. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

A short post today. I had planned to write a lot, but I won't.

I had to call to get our lawn mower into the shop for service. It will go in next Thursday, May 1st, which is also Tracy's birthday.

Then my cardiologist called. I have to go in to the office tomorrow at 3:00pm. I will be getting a heart monitor to wear for a day.

My one concern is I believe I have crushed a front tooth. It is sore and I can't chew on it, but my dentist is out of town. I will have it checked out next Tuesday and we'll take it from there. Always something. Keep the chin up! Always!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

An Upgrade

After many years, Microsoft is discontinuing its support of Windows 10 this fall. Of course, my Dell all-in-one computer cannot be updated to Windows 11. So I decided to get ahead of the game and get a replacement computer now.

Lew and I went to Best Buy this past Friday to look at the options. The biggest decision I had to make: laptop or another all-in-one? The only difference on my Pro/Con list:

Portability.  (Laptop: Pro.  All-in-one: Con.)

I asked Lew a simple question: "In the nine years (or so) that I've had my all-in-one, have you ever heard me say that I wished I had a laptop?"

His answer was equally simple: "No."

We came home with a beautiful HP All-In-One computer. The screen is bigger than my old one, and it is so very, very fast. It's all set up the way I want it — maybe a few tweaks still needed — and I already am using it to do all my computer work.

This blog post is my first entry using my lovely new HP. 😊

(P.S. Lew and I celebrated my purchase by dining out at Johnny Rockets in the Mall's food court. He had a burger, I had a grilled cheese, we shared some fries, and we both got milkshakes. Yummy.)

Dad 762: Boys Are Boys

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here!

 

Not a bad day. Getting warmer (about 50°). Spring is on its way. It's just slow coming.

 

I've been watching the news closely today to see if I can find anything that will help show the world that my governor is perhaps the worst governor in the land. She said that Trump's withholding of federal funding (because of two "transgender females" – that is, BOYS – participating in Maine girls' sports) is taking a lot of meals and other benefits from a lot of students. If Mills would use any common sense and let boys do boys' sports only – like most other people are doing – then she will not lose all the money Maine could get. She is certainly not a very serious or smart governor. But we knew this before she was on the President's radar for a lawsuit. Hoping for a quick victory for POTUS. I don't think one can impeach a governor! TOO BAD!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

My Week

After writing that I probably wouldn't stay up for the end of the NCAA men's championship game this past Monday, I did anyway. It was quite the finish. Congrats to the Florida Gators!

Long days at work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I now have two entities to close for the quarter ended March 31st, so I'm busy, busy, busy. I think I'm on track to close both of them by the deadline. Otherwise I will grovel for a couple days extension. (I'm good at that!)

I thought I had finally returned to full health, but a cold set in yesterday. Lew told me I looked as bad as I claimed to feel (it's true love), and I feel even worse today. I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Hopefully the weather will get warmer soon, which should help.

I named my ukulele Georgia.

Dad 761: Spring Is Here... ?

(Dad writes today. We are in agreement that Spring has gotten off to a shaky start! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another great-looking day from inside. However, it is still cold outside. Please warm up for the spring.

This whole move to spring has been very annoying. It seems that every other day there is a snow storm in Maine. We are fortunate to not be getting the small snow storms in Southern Maine, but we still are getting rain. 

So we have another storm coming for the weekend. We hope the storms stay up in the ski areas. We want the skiing people to be happy, but we don't need more snow. They got more than five inches yesterday up north.

Let's get the warm days of spring here soon!! Please!

I'm through with my complaining!!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

One Out of Two

As most people know, we are in the final days of the NCAA basketball tournament. I was rooting for Duke on the men's side because of Maine native Cooper Flagg. I was rooting for University of Connecticut on the women's side because of Paige Bueckers (no Maine connection that I am aware of).

The UConn women did not let me down. Congratulations to the Huskies on their championship win today!

I don't really have much to say about Duke's semi-final game last night. A heavy sigh pretty much sums it up.

Tomorrow night's championship game between Houston and Florida doesn't start until 8:50 p.m. This is far too late. I don't think the scheduling folks care about those of us who live under the constraints of Eastern Standard Time. But since Duke isn't playing, I may just go to sleep early.

In other news, I bought a ukulele!

Dad 760: Spring Snow, Soon Mow

(Dad writes today. I worked late, so I'm posting it a few hours after he penned it! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Not a bad day. It's 3:04 P.M. and the temp is around 40 degrees. Spring is trying to emerge. Will it ever get here? I hope soon!

Supposed to rain and snow tomorrow. We have had annoying snow the last couple weeks. The good thing about it is that the snow is completely gone the next day. It looks like spring outside with no snow. The grass surely needs some coloring to show it has some life. We hope that tomorrow's snow is the last and doesn't stay on the ground. 

Mowing will be in order in about a month. Must get the front tire of the tractor repaired. Want it to work good for Lew. (I miss not plowing snow and not mowing. Old is not great!)

Done writing for today.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Under the Weather

Spring and I were both under the weather for a few days.

It snowed again on Saturday, and it wasn't all that nice out yesterday either. Today was a bit of a dreary day, but it was a little warmer. I think it's supposed to be even warmer by the end of the week.

As for me, I've been dealing with a couple different ailments. But, just like Spring, I am on the mend. Hooray, I say!

Ending my post with this note: Josh's destination in Thailand is over 400 miles south of last week's earthquake, which was a relief to hear. Please be praying for those affected.

Dad 759: Josh Here, There, and Everywhere

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Cloudy and temps in the 40s today. Just an average day. No storms in sight so we'll take it. Bring the end of March on!

News of the Week!

Josh is home after three months on his oil ship in the Gulf of America. We had a good visit with him when he came by a couple days ago. He will be home through June to be a member of his friend's wedding on the 29th.

Josh has been in Maryland the last couple of days to catch up on papers for the ship. Today he and Sam are leaving for a ten day trip to Thailand. He showed us some pictures of the beaches there, and it looked great. Bon Voyage! See you on your return!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Is Spring Here to Stay Yet?

We got food from Ken's Place on Sunday to celebrate the start of Spring.

When I left work yesterday, I snapped this photo of my windshield once I got in my car:

Yes, it was snowing! ❄❅❆

It was a bit slippery walking outside this morning, but Spring seemed to be back by the time I left work.

Here's hoping no more snow until next winter! (And even then I could do without it.)

🌞

Dad 758: Happy Spring!

(Dad writes today. Spring is on our minds! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! The day is fairly nice. Started off with some fog but cleared up over the day. The big story for today is Spring is now in the air and we are getting ready for the opening of the seasonal food places.

The Clambake is now open weekends on Thursdays and Fridays. Ken's Place is opening this Friday for the summer. Ready for some clams and other food from Ken's.

Winter is over. Let the fun begin!

Spring is tomorrow!!!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Winter to Spring

Spring is in the air!

I have a bit of a cold, which I usually get with the change of seasons.

There has been activity over at Ken's Place. Lew tells me they are opening this Friday.

The March Madness brackets will be in place later today.

I am thinking about doing some cleaning and decluttering. My "thinking" about this is a sure sign of Spring. (Now I need to "do.")

Enjoy the last few days of Winter!

Dad 757: The Rockets!

(Dad writes today. We already are looking forward to basketball next winter! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! A brief report on the weather. Temps in the 40s. Sunny and the wind is not strong. A fine day!

One subject today....

We have finished our basketball season with Zach's team, the Rock Falls Rockets. They won their regional playoffs. The team was treated to a steak dinner before competing for the next step. They then won their sectional to become one of the final eight schools in their class in Illinois. The Elite Eight!

The team then played for a chance to make the Final Four. They played a team from the Chicago area. The Rockets played a good first half, but the second half didn't go as well. The opposition was tough, and the Rockets didn't get any help from the officials. They lost to a rough team which seemed to get all the calls in the second half. I think they were fortunate to end the season with no serious injury.

Nine seniors graduate this year, so next season will be a building year. We will be watching. Saw all the games this year. Go Rockets!!! A good way to spend our winter season.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Great Season

The Rock Falls Rockets basketball season ended tonight. They faced a much more physical team, so it was a tough matchup. But the Rockets should hold their heads high....

Last Friday night they won the Sectional Championship, which put them in the "Elite Eight" for their class in Illinois. Pretty good to be one of the last eight teams standing.

Congratulations to Zach and the Rockets on a great year! It was fun!

🏀🚀🏀🚀🏀🚀🏀🚀🏀🚀🏀

(P.S. Thanks to streaming technology, Dad and I watched every single one of their games.  We didn't have to leave Dad's living room.  😀)

Dad 756: Rockets Rising

(Dad writes today. Best wishes to the Rockets! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! A damp, dismal day is our only choice for today. Should be done with snow for the year. Along the coast we should see a lot of grass in the next couple of weeks. Set your clocks ahead this weekend.

 

I will talk about only two things today.

 

Lew's brother, Wayne, was taken to the hospital last Friday. The doctor sent him home yesterday, although he is still weak and will have difficulty caring for himself. Lew was surprised by this decision. He spent a long afternoon helping Wayne get home and then getting some materials that should help Wayne recover. Please keep both Lew and Wayne in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks!

 

A happy story follows....

 

A couple years ago grandson-in-law Zach's basketball team won its regional championship, but then lost the next game to end their season. After winning their region again this year, they played "the next game" last night. A steal and a pass to a breakaway team member led to the game-winning basket at the buzzer. A two-point win for the Rockets! Congratulations to Zach and his whole team from Rock Falls, Illinois. They play for the sectional championship Friday night. It will be tough to go too much further, but it has been a fine season.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Let's Go, Rockets!

The Rock Falls Rockets are Regional Champions!

They play again on Tuesday night in the semi-final of the Sectionals.

Best wishes for Zach and the team.

Let's Go, Rockets!

🏀🚀🏀🚀🏀

P.S.  Our mail was delivered every day this past week.

Dad 755: Two Basketball Stories

(Dad writes today. Let's go, Rockets! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another nice day during which the snow is melting (temp around 50° now). The sun is out and Spring is on its way. Bring it on.

 

A short post today. Everything seems to be going in the right direction around here. So I'm going to give you two short basketball stories.

 

I think I heard that the conference that Duke plays in, the ACC, has never had a freshman named "ACC Rookie of the Week" for more than 10 weeks. That just changed as an 18-year-old from Newport, Maine was named for the 11th week for the honor. Cooper Flagg is a 6'9" young man who has taken the college basketball season by storm. I remember watching Cooper win a Maine state championship a few years ago with his brothers. (His twin brother, Ace, will play for the University of Maine at Orono next year.) When Cooper was still just 17 years old, he was predicted to be the number one draft pick in the NBA draft later this year. Go for it, Cooper!

 

The second basketball story is that the high school varsity boys team from Rock Falls, Illinois is going into the post-season starting tonight. The team is coached by my grandson-in-law Zach, who is married to my granddaughter Kelsey. We have watched all his games this year on my TV (via online streaming). The team's record is 20+ wins and only about eight losses. If they win tonight, Zach's players will play for their regional championship on Friday. Go Rockets! Maine family will be watching!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

A Confession and Some Updates

Confession:  I am doing a post tonight so that I will have written something before my father's post tomorrow.  I couldn't let him have two posts in a row, ha ha!

Updates:

The State of Maine has accepted all of the tax filings I submitted, which makes me quite happy.

I've been questioning my decision to go back to a three-day work week. But then I saw what my net pay will be this week, and suddenly I'm okay with it again!

Our snail-mail has been more snail-mail-ish than normal.  After several weeks of sporadic mail delivery, we got a mail delivery on Sunday of over 50 pieces!  Forty of those were for my father. We got bills that should have been delivered two to three weeks ago.  Thanks, USPS.  (Our mail also was delivered yesterday and today.  It had been a while since we had received mail on three consecutive days.)

Thanks for checking in!

Dad 754: Barrels of Money

(Dad writes today. I'm posting late because I worked late. I'm back to three workdays per week.... What was I thinking? LOL! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another nice looking day from the inside looking out. Was 13 degrees a little earlier. Now it is 19 degrees at 11:00 AM. Only a little over one week left in February. Whoopie!

Still watching Trump barreling through his signings of new laws. Boy, are the Dems up in arms as he and Elon find a lot of lost funds. I want better use of spending our tax money. It seems we have a multi-trillion dollar habit of throwing money away. Maybe start paying down debt. Now that is a novel idea. Hope our distinguished senators and representatives will do the right thing. So far they have failed to do much right. Par for the course. Carry on, Donald and Elon. We are with you!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Eagles, Snow, and Taxes

The last time I wrote a post was before the Super Bowl. Because the outcome went the way I hoped, I now will share that I was rooting for the Eagles. Congratulations to them! Fly, Eagles, Fly!

Old Man Winter has reared his ugly head. It snowed/sleeted all day yesterday. (Church services canceled for the second week in a row.) And I am listening to strong winds as I type this. You can go away now, Old Man Winter!

Yesterday I prepared Matt & Emily's taxes, and today I did ours. All e-filed! Just waiting for the State of Maine to get its act together and "Accept" the state returns. But otherwise, I am done. So Tracy's Tax Preparation Service is closed for another year. Have you filed yet? $$$

Dad 753: More Snow, Less Spending

(Dad writes today. I'm officially back to my three-day workweek. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another nice day looking out from inside. However, if you walk outside, please wear a warm coat. The weather is still cold. We will have a snowstorm tonight that will bring a fair amount of snow. Where we are on the state's southeastern coast could get a lot of sleet or rain to keep our totals down. We should get around six inches all over the state. Bring it on. Yes, our winter weather is with us. Our pattern of snow every two or three days is catching us up on snow totals. We have a good base now to add some more!

Following the Democrats complaining about having an audit of government spending. They are complaining about a "constitutional crisis" and illegality of the audit. I say keep looking for the corrupt spending of our "honest" government officials. We may be able to somehow balance the budget and start paying down our debt. That's a novel idea. Don't see how an audit is against the law. Do you? The Dems need mouthwash!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Nachos and Taxes and Puzzles, Oh My!

The Super Bowl is going to be played later today. Lew is making cheese nachos, which he says will be ready by kickoff. I admit I am looking forward to the nachos more than the game. But I will be watching. I do have a preference on who wins, but it is not a strong preference. 

It's "tax season" once again. I prepare three sets of tax returns each year: Dad's, Matt & Emily's, and our own. I did Dad's a couple days ago, and I am happy to report that both of his returns (Federal and Maine) have been accepted! (I prepared/e-filed using TurboTax.) Next up: Matt & Emily's.

I've been working hard on a 2000-piece puzzle for several days. (I even worked deep into the night a couple times!) I finally finished it earlier this afternoon. A photo of the puzzle is below. It is titled "Country Delivery" by Buffalo Games. This is the last of the three puzzles that Debbie gave me for Christmas. It is beautiful!

Dad 752: Snow, Snow, Snow

(Dad writes today. At the bottom of his hand-written paper, he wrote "Short enough?" Yes, it is. Thank you, Dad! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! A great looking day from the inside but very cold outside. We are in a pattern where we have annoying storms every other day. However, tomorrow we are expecting a larger storm, predicted for about six inches. Then Sunday more snow of between seven and eight inches. Then another storm on Tuesday. At least we are getting through February.

Otherwise, everything else seems to be going along in an uneventful way. We'll take it.

I'm done writing for today.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

The Number Two

The last few days have been tough in America. Two plane tragedies with loss of life. Devastated families and communities. May they find peace in the Lord during these times.

Our church had one service on Sunday mornings until today. Needed to expand to two services because we were at capacity. Lew and I went to the second service, which was nicely attended. Apparently the first service had a nice turnout, too.

Groundhog Day today. The 2nd day of the 2nd month. I heard the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. Sounds about right.

Tomorrow I start my final two-day work week. I'll be going to three days the following week. I'm hoping to go back to two days at some point, but we'll see.

May you have a blessed February!

Dad 751: Filling the Cabinet

(A brief post by Dad today.... ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another beautiful day if you're looking from the inside out. It is cold and the snow has stopped at two or three inches. My doctor appointment is tomorrow, and the prediction is for very cold weather but no storms. 

I'm not too sure about my doctor visit. I'll be glad to get it over with. A lot of issues.

Been listening to our fabulous senators checking out Trump's choices for his cabinet. Most Republicans try to build up the cabinet choices. The Democrats have learned nothing and try to tear down all the choices. What else is new?

More next week....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

The Earth Did Not Stand Still

We had an earthquake in Southern Maine yesterday morning! It was pretty minor as far as earthquakes go, for which we are thankful.

Lew and Dad did not feel the earthquake, but I did. I was at work when it happened. My officemate looked over at me and said, "That feels like an earthquake!" We laughed because we really thought it was people moving some heavy things around upstairs in our building. But then text messages started coming in and the local news sites were reporting it. It was even on Facebook, so we knew it had to be for real.

Song cue:

I feel the earth move

under my feet....

The Second Chance Puzzle

Late last week I did a jigsaw puzzle with a New England theme. This first picture is of the "completed" puzzle.

Did you notice anything? Hint: A piece is missing! Can you find it?

The story continues....

Somehow I had two of this same puzzle, both previously owned. I got one from a lady I know from work, and I'm guessing the other was Debbie's at some point.

I had the brilliant idea of looking for the missing piece in the "second" puzzle, but it turns out I wasn't so brilliant. The two puzzles were not cut exactly the same!  Who knew?! So I couldn't cheat by merely substituting the missing piece from the second puzzle.

I was going to let it go, but I couldn't stand not knowing if the second puzzle had all of its pieces. So yesterday I put it together while watching the NFL conference championship games. Because I was already familiar with the puzzle, it went together pretty quickly.

Below is a picture of the second puzzle. Success! All pieces accounted for!

Dad 750: Pardon, It's Cold!

(Dad writes today. Brrrr...! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Hello from a cold Maine, although there is not a lot of snow along the coast where we live. Did have a plowable storm a couple days ago. Only been plowed out twice this winter, but this time was the only one that really needed it. Was seven degrees below zero in Portland this morning. A little colder in Scarborough. My hometown of Sanford was 19 degrees below this morning and warmed up to 18 degrees around noon. No new storms over the next few days. Keep the snow in the ski areas.

Happy to have Kamala & Joe gone. Now to get the Democrats to allow Trump to have the people he wants for his cabinet and government, but a change in governing is not what the Dems want. Joe certainly did a job with the number of pardons he granted. He has pardoned anyone that could have helped put him in prison. But he is gone! That's what is important!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

The Eyes-Crossed Puzzle

Earlier this month I shared the first of three jigsaw puzzles that my sister Debbie gave me for Christmas. You may want to re-read this post for my initial comments regarding the next puzzle I planned to tackle.

I finished working on the puzzle today! Although I did feel like my eyes were crossing/glazing over, it took me much less time than I anticipated.  It helped that the makers of the puzzle divided it into six sections (A through F) and marked the back of each piece with the section it belonged to. For example:

And, TA DA!, the finished product:

I asked Debbie if she wanted to do the puzzle herself, and she said that she would "pass on this one!" LOL! 😁

Dad 749: The Tube

(Dad writes today. I watch the basketball games with him! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another fairly nice day here in the Northeast. Around 4 o'clock in the afternoon and temp is in the mid-20s. But we still have no real snow on the ground. Here we are halfway through January and we have not had a snowstorm, just a couple snow squalls of less than one inch. Hope the rest of the winter is the same!

 

Been watching TV a lot. Watched Coach Zach's basketball game from Illinois last night; his team (the Rockets) won in overtime. The team's record so far is around 13-6. We enjoy watching his games. We get to see my great grandson and the princess running around the gym when they attend the games. Go Rockets, and go Bode (7) and Boston (2)!

 

Also on the tube are hearings for Trump's cabinet picks. Republicans are quite friendly to the candidates. There are several Democrats that try to put the candidates down. So far the lying Dems aren't making too much headway. Interesting to see grown people asking questions and expressing negative opinions of the candidates' qualifications. Government officials who have lied in the past are judging these candidates. Thank you, Senators Blumenthal and Schiff... NOT! How do these people get elected? Doesn't say much about their constituents.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Another Day, Another Dollar

I really enjoy my two-days-a-week work schedule, but I have agreed to add a third day for the time being. There are some big changes ahead in software and work volume, so I need to help get everything situated. Maybe once things are going smoothly I'll be able to go back to only two days.

I hope I am not being too optimistic about things ever going smoothly, ha ha!

My officemate will still be two days, and I will miss her on the day she's not there. We work well together and we think a lot alike. In fact, we had to take a brief quiz on "phishing" and we both missed only one question — and it happened to be the same one, for the same reason!

On a completely different subject, I think I am rooting for the Buffalo Bills to win this post-season. I hope that I didn't just jinx them!

Dad 748: Only 12 Days to Go

(Dad writes today. Prayers for our fellow countrymen. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! The weather here in the Northeast isn't bad at all today. However, we have been getting the winter weather cold temperatures for a while now. Certainly we are a lot better off than the people of California with the winds and the fires. Some 37,000 have lost their homes according to reports. Certainly is good to be in Maine when other parts of the country are dealing with such weather problems. We are fortunate.

 

Well I, along with millions of others, find it difficult to wait for January 20th. It will be helpful to get some type of leadership in our capital. Hard to even think about what the departing president is trying to do on his way out. Selling wall-building steel for five cents on the dollar, then buyers trying to sell it back to the U.S. for two dollars after paying only five cents for it. Luckily a court has stopped this practice. The past four years have been a mistake for the U.S. Good riddance to Joe, Kamala, and all their friends. We have experienced the worst U.S. government ever. January 20th can't get here fast enough.

 

Rest in peace, President Carter. His official state funeral is tomorrow in Washington, D.C..

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

A Little Wooden Puzzle

It has been a while since I've completed a jigsaw puzzle, but I'm back into it!

My sister Debbie gave me three fun puzzles for Christmas, and I did the first one this afternoon. It is a small wooden puzzle featuring fabulous animals. 😺 (Photo below; ruler for size reference.)

I've already started on my next puzzle. It is one of those that will make your eyes cross while doing it!  It will take me a while, so don't hold your breath waiting for the blog post about that one. Ha ha!

Happy New Year to all!

Dad 747: Welcome to 2025

(A brief post by my father today! ~ Tracy)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Pray for January 20th!

(It's Tracy again. Dad didn't write this in his draft, but... "Until next time! Toodle Pip! Derf!")