Friday Fill-Ins and Friday Five

This is a fun meme co-hosted by McGuffy's Reader and 15 and Meowing. Be sure to visit and join in the fun!

Week 37: January 20, 2017

1. Winter makes me feel old. The cold is getting me down...making everything, ache.

2. My grandsons make me feel young. When I am with them I usually get to play. I like to build with the legos, the boys are now old enough, they don't knock down my towers.

3. I have a hard time focusing this week, we have so much going on in the next few weeks, I haven't been able to concentrate on mundane things....my house is a mess, I am just taking down Christmas. 
    

                    

4. DD2 is visiting in CA, and as I took her to the airport, she kindly wished we were both going, that we would have fun. 

Can't think of any Fragments this Friday, so I will answer the Friday 5 this week.

1. Who’s been a ray of sunshine lately? DD2, is almost always our ray of sunshine, lately.  This has not always been the case....She is planning to move back to CA, which is ok with us. She is using this trip as a reconnoiter, toward that goal.  She is hoping to transfer with the company she is with now so she is looking.

2. When do you next expect to be stuffed to the gills? I don't know what happened to my stomach but, I get stuffed very easily. Which is disappointing when I have a chance to eat something I really love.  My eyes are truly bigger.

3. Among people you know, who can really tell a whale of a  tale? My dad use to love to tell stories....but he spoke so slowly sometimes, I use to want to finish his sentences.  I love to hear my brother speak, as he is so much like my father.

4. What’s something you’ve been heering good things about? It's awful that I can't think of anything specific.  Sadly not a lot of good things being said about anything. I will leave you with this.

5. Which of the S.S. Minnow‘s passengers or crew do you think you’d get along best with? Probably Mary Ann. She would be the most like me.
  

    

Friendly Friday and Friday Fragments

The Friendly Fill-Ins are four fun and easy statements to complete. Ellen of 15andmeowing provides the first two statements and the final two are offered by Ann at mcguffeysreader. They try to make sure it will be fun to both answer and share. If you are also a cat lover, or if like me you have only dogs, you should join in the fun!

Week 34: December 30, 2016
 
1. The highlight of my Christmas was really getting what I wanted and needed. I made an Amazon wish list of quite a few things, and Mr BC picked several to surprise me with. He doesn't get out and about to shop, but he was an adept learner, once I showed him how to order. Amazon let me share my Prime with him on his own account.

2. My New Year's resolution is to let the election go it is what it is and I am going to try to meditate again, so I can remain calm through the next four years. I would truly like to be surprised.


3. This year, 2016, especially the last quarter, has been truly sad and disappointing, we have lost of lot of luminaries.  Especially Carrie and her mom. Several generations have seen icons pass away too soon.

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Tumbler Mlkshk

4. Next year, 2017, please Oh please: Let's have the legislative and executive branch, work toward seeing to the needs of ALL Americans, not just Republicans, CEO's and other fundamentalists. That they work towards compromise and good sense on the economy, health care, human rights, immigration and terrorism. And if THEY don't, a judicial branch who will see the constitution as our benchmark and; as the living, breathing, and growing document, it should be. I don't ask for much, just that Washington, helps me keep my resolution to remain calm.

Did you see what I did there.....I sort of, made my own meme/button here. I wish I knew more about computers and making images.  I was able to make a meme out of a picture of Gwennie, that turned out well last week.

I just wish I knew more like how to make gifs. When I want one, I google who I want to put on my blog, like Debbie Reynolds gifs, then click images.(That information is for you. Valerie) I also need to get better at attribution, instead of being so lazy.

Giphy.com

 Carrie Fisher had been a shocker this week, but to wake up this morning to see that her mother had died overnight was so sad.  She was the star of my youth, I imagine I have seen all of her movies. There is truth to the adage that parents are not meant to  outlive their children. It was too much for her.


Christmas was quiet and lowkey, DD2 was here and brought the wine to have with our lasagne. We had a nice afternoon and evening. I got an almost full face hat for winter walking. Next week is going to be cold. and while I might look like a green ninja, I will be protected. 

Yesterday I paid my property taxes, I don't know why they have to be due at the end of the year.  I liked paying them twice a year in CA.

We will ring in the New Year quietly, as usual. with the exception of the gun shots, from somewhere in town. I don't know why someone would do that either, so dangerous.

I got some pictures of the boys....they are in Rome in this week before New Years....what an experience.    I hope they will be safe from all harm and have a great time.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Friday Fragments

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1. One Thanksgiving tradition I have was to watch the Macy's parade, go to my folks for dinner and football all weekend (Mr BC). Now we are very quiet, have a much smaller dinner, with the usual trimmings, and Mr BC is not much of a football fan any more. 

2. Black Friday is left overs for me and a good book, I have never gone out shopping on a Black Friday and never will.

3. The best part about Thanksgiving Day is turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie.

4. One Thanksgiving, the first one after my father died, my cousin invited us to her house for the holiday. TG was always my dad's holiday, so I went over early to help, we were relative novices. She had the turkey sitting on the counter ready to stuff. She tried to move it, to her pan and she dropped it on the floor....she had a galley kitchen and it slid all the way down to the back screen door....where her dog was surprised with a potential bounty....but was disappointed when we snatched the turkey up, to give it another bath!  We giggled about it all afternoon.

The past week has been all about stray dogs.  One rainy day I found these guy wandering the streets and invited them into my yard to sit on my wrap around porch. A city worker recognized them and we got them home the next day......however, they came back again the next week, they are wanderers, they were back again today.  I have become friends with their mom and texted her that they were safe in my yard she picked them up not to long ago. They live in the country so they are not fenced.  They seem to like me and I think they are lovely. I just don't like them wandering the highway to get to town.

Last week, this guy followed us home from our walk, and he has been around on and off.  I bring him in at night and he has been here for 3 days, today we found out from the mail lady where he lives, so we are going to get him back home, if we can. Keeping him in the yard is harder than the other dogs as he is tiny and can get thru the space in the gate. Today with my dogs I had 5 in my yard.....a regular doggy daycare....Mr BC was in heaven.

More dog fun:

Friendly Fill-Ins and Friday Fragments

 

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Week 27: November 11, 2016

1. Cursive handwriting should be taught in schools. I know that many schools do not have this as part of curriculum any more. It will probably become a lost art.

 
2. The last item I donated: was a box of clothes and small household items to Goodwill. I always have a box or bag of items ready to go.  I am trying to divest this house of all the miscellaneous and duplicate items of my MIL and mine.  We inherited her house and contents and there are a lot of things that need to be  cleared out that we just put in boxes in storage.

3. My (personal) song is: Devil With a Blue Dress, because it is Mr BC's song for me when we were dating.

4. Three things I am thankful for this week are: Took the dogs to the vet this week and Gwennie's heart was strong and was taken off of Lasix, she is still on a diet, Totum got some allergy medicine for his intense scratching,  and the weather is beautiful, although we could use a freeze so the grass would stop growing.

Today is Veteran's day, where we remember and honor America's Veterans.  I want to specially honor my veteran.....Mr Bankerchick.

 

If you don't care for political conversations I suggest you don't read on. I usually don't talk politics but this election has been particularly problematic and maybe not so Friendly. 

My Friday Fragments pieces will be mainly about what every one is talking about....and not necessarily a fragment. It would be incorrect to say I was happy with the election results. Not because I was crazy for Hillary so much, but because I don't like Trump at all, and I am deeply disappointed and worried for the country.

DD1 and DD2 are of the same mind and were Hillary fans, acknowledging the same feelings I had with her opposition, and DD1 shared a lengthy text with all of us when DD2 asked about the boys. And the discussion she had with the 7 year old.  I have excerpted a bit of it since she had taken the oldest with her to vote on Tuesday, so he was aware of who his mom was voting for.  I think she had a great discussion with him, even though she was having a hard time Tuesday nite.

 

"Caшa,is pretty blissfully oblivious at this age, but  Лука, has been talking about the election the past few months since the US political process is a classroom discussion item. I explained to Лука,  that a big reason I don't support Trump is that he represents the polar opposite of everything I'm trying so hard to teach them about being a decent and good-hearted human beings. Лука, was disappointed when I told him that it looked like the man I have described as a bully will probably win, but I pulled myself together and let him know that this country has enjoyed good presidents and survived bad ones, and we can be grateful that the sun will come up in the morning and we'll get through this like we do any other challenge."
 
I sincerely hope that she is right, and the boys, (and the rest of us) will not be impacted negatively, by his administration. The news indicates that all is not well out there already.

''Fragments" and Friday Five

This has been a sad week for Orlando, the LBGT Community, and all Americans.

Friday 5 for June 17: A Week of Good Behavior

1. What’s the dumbest thing you did this week? I almost posted something to someones FaceBook post, that I know I would have regretted...not for thinking, but because of all the grief I would have heard about, the post and it would not have changed their thought.  In this neck of the woods,Gun control, Trump, and religion are hot topics with some of Mr BC's friends It contained 2 of the 3 and it was a share, by someone who knows Mr BC.  A lot of folks friended me when Mr BC was sick, as I was giving updates, I have hidden some of them now, so I don't have to read their posts. I need to put them in a group. This person, I unfriended.

2. In what way did you save yourself time or energy this week? 
The week has been hot and humid, In the interest of energy savings; I did not go outside, unless it was absolutely necessary.

3. How were you wasteful of personal and natural resources this week?
Yes, I ran the air conditioner day and night, because of the humidity and Miss Gwennie's breathing. I set it higher to try and save some money at night.

4. When this week did you take advantage of the opportunity to keep your mouth shut?  
My 'new' lawn guy said he could not make it this week, as it was going to rain, this after he did not show up and did not call.  He 'understood' if I had to call someone else. He sounded as if he was drinking....so I just said, ok I would call someone else. It has not rained all week.

5. In what way this week were you blessed or fortunate?  
Well, last week, I had a stress test and yesterday, I went to the Heart Cath lab, and I seem to be OK. I am a little sore today and will take it easy.  I wasn't going to walk the dogs anyway, unless it was cooler. Now that Mr BC is better, I thought I should check myself out and I am glad I did.

http://f.riday5.com/

Friday Fragments

One of the consequences of taking Gwennie to California.....when I promised the last time I wouldn't subject her to another road trip.... she got sick.  I have issues with finding a kennel here in MO, so we decided to try it again.  Gwennie hates the RV so much, that she was reluctant to get into it, by the end of the trip.  The last 300 miles we decided to push on home, as she was sitting in the back panting and I wanted to get the trip over with and get her home.  When we got her home she was still panting with a hoarsness involved. When she was still panting at 11pm, I decided to take her to the night emergency vet.

He said it could be something involving her trachea or heart problems.  He gave her a couple of injections and some prescriptions.  By about 1am, she was breathing easier, she improved over the weekend, and we took her to our vet on Monday. She has early heart failure and afib.  She has improve so much, but she will have to take medicine the rest of her life and she is on a strict diet. I am seeing her hips, so the diet is working. I hadn't posted about her as we needed to get together with my youngest and I didn't want to tell her over the phone. I makes me sad. But she is better....no more road trips. 

Mr BC handled the trip well, with his dialysis.  It worked well in the RV and at DD1.  Both dogs enjoyed Sam's Doggy Dude Ranch, while we were in Santa Barbara.  Gwennie will be boarding with a vet from now on.  Bad news is that I am fighting fleas again.....this is promising to be a bad flea season I think.

It rained here the whole time we were gone and my yard is threatening to take over.  I guess Missouri was all forest when settlers first came.  My yard looks as if the jungle is taking over. Got to get busy.

Chatting with the Grandkids on Skype

This is so true, they will show up at all angles when they first come on the screen or want to tell me something.  This Gif made me laugh. I need to call them this weekend.

Gwennie acts like she feels well enough to walk, but we have to go out early while it is still cool(I've got to watch her exercise).  Today I was running late so Totes and I were trying to sneak out, I had slipped on my shoes and picked up Totes....silently, I thought, and out she came.  The other day she heard me snap on Tote's harness and I had to leave her behind, I guess today she heard me put my shoes on??? I went ahead and took her out as we had a breeze, walked them in the shade for a short time. I have to get her out by 9am.

Saturday 9 Taking a Break

Saturday 9: Hawaii Five-O (1969)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This is the theme from the TV show that originally ran from 1968 to 1980 and is on now again with a new cast. 
Were you/are you a fan? I watched the 1968 incarnation.  I haven't been a fan of most re-do's of old shows, it usually is not the same.  I enjoyed the show when it was on but was a fan of James McArthur.

2) On both shows, Five-O is an elite police task force led by Det. Lt. Steve McGarrett. Who is your favorite TV cop? 
Barney Miller! Mr BC and I are currently watching Life on Netflix, It only made two seasons, but was a great show with Damien Lewis, I like cops with quirks.

3) On both shows, the part of Danny "Danno" Williams was played by a second generation performer. (James MacArthur was the son of Broadway legend Helen Hayes; Scott Caan is the son of movie actor James Caan.) If you followed one of your parents into their chosen profession, what would you be doing? 
I guess I would be a lawyer or a law secretary as that was what dad and mom were.  She ran his office.  It skipped a generation and DD1 is an attorney. 

4) Both shows are filmed in Hawaii, the boyhood home of President Obama. Have any of our 44 Presidents hailed from your state? 
Harry Truman was born in Lamar MO.  Not to far from where we live, we went to see his home a very small one room house if I remember correctly. We would like to visit his home in Kansas City one of these days. He vacationed in Key West when we were there in 1968 and we went out to the Naval Air Station to see him and Bess get off the plane.

5) Kona coffee is made from beans cultivated on the Big Island of Hawaii. Are you a big coffee drinker? 
I like coffee and have a cup every morning. I don't think I would be called a big coffee drinker.

6) This week's song was written by the late Morton Stevens. In addition to composing for TV shows, he was the musical director for a group of entertainers known in the 60s as "The Rat Pack." Can you name any "Rat Pack" members? YES.

7) This week's featured band, The Ventures, began when Don Wilson purchased a used car from Bob Bogle. During negotiations, they discovered a shared passion for playing guitar. Did you buy your current ride new or used? Did the negotiations go smoothly? 
We bought it new 10 years ago and it is still running smoothly.  The negotiations were smooth as Mr BC worked for GM at the time.  Our Toyota Truck is still running good too. Those are our two most recent purchases, both over 10 years ago.

8) The year this song was popular, 1969, is when Donald and Doris Fisher opened a San Francisco clothing store called The Gap. Today there are more than 3,200 Gap locations. 
Do you shop at The Gap or gap.com? I shop the Gap for things for the grandsons.  It is too young for me.


9)  Random question: What's on your Saturday to-do list? 
Mr BC is back from California. I had a root-canal Wednesday and it was too painful to shop until today.  I usually try to stay out of the grocery stores on the weekends but no excuses, I have to shop.

I have been away from the Blog as well as Saturday 9 and other memes for a while.  I guess I have become a little bored with answering questions so I am going to take a break for a while and just follow some of the other blogs I really like.  So I am on summer break, I won't post unless I have something interesting to say, maybe a few Friday Fragments . I will come back when I decide about what I want to do with this space.