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Thursday, January 7, 2016

Random Thoughts



  1. We've been close to single digits each morning this week!  Brr. That's about -12 for you Celsius people!  But the sunshine is back and there is a dusting of snow in some areas, so it's been wonderful.  I'd rather have rosy cheeks than sweaty clothes, that is for sure! haha.
  2. 2015 was a hard year as far as pets here at our home.  We lost our beloved Nugget, rabbit of 9 years.  We also had our sweet Grey and Domino cats disappear.  I hate not knowing what happened to them.  And Peaches...who was almost mine....his disappearance is a mystery, too.  Star was the new, bright spot. :)  She continues to improve, although much more slowly now.  Hopefully 2016 will be the year she recovers to full health.
  3. I'm most thankful this past year for dental insurance.  We have never had it until 3 years ago and it was most appreciated this year when both Alex and Spencer had to undergo cleanings and cavity fillings at the hospital under general anesthesia.  Do you know what a bill for that kind of procedure is?  It's $14,000.  Each.  The boys had great checkups this past Monday, so that is another thing to be thankful for!
  4. What is it about a new year that makes me want to spring clean the house?  It happens every year without any prompting from my mind...my heart just jumps right into it.  I emptied and wiped out all the kitchen drawers this week...returning everything in an orderly way, and putting several things in a donation box. 
  5. Yesterday at the grocery, I noticed that the produce section was packed with people....while the cookie/chip aisle was empty. haha. Yes, those resolutions are still in force!  At least 5 days in! 

60 comments:

  1. Spring cleaning in January, doll? I know you don't procrastinate (like I do), but aren't you overdoing it? Ha.

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    1. I know! It's an illness, really. A wonderful, lovely illness. haha.

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  2. Wonderful and lovely? Sounds like somebody I know. :)

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  3. It was 19 degrees this morning at the lake....I will take rosie cheeks over sweaty clothes, too. My gracious, thank heavens for dental insurance. Glad the boys check-up went well, this time. I get into that spring cleaning mode, too, but not quite this early. However, I tackled the glass doors on my shower last week like spring had sprung! HaHa! I didn't make any resolutions, but I did have a fruit smoothie for dinner last night. Lol!

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    1. Oh, my shower doors are on my list! They need help in a big way. I'm in the boys' closet this afternoon. Goodness...that was long overdue! haha.

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  4. lol damn that is one big bill
    Not having insurance wouldn't thrill
    I'm all cleaned already
    So no cleaning needs to come steady
    Chuck when need be
    Easy at my sea haha

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    1. That bill is bad.
      To pay it would have made me sad!
      Especially when you double it, too.
      Since it really was for boys times two!

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    2. I went in the wrong line of work
      Being a dentist giving out those bills would be a perk

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    3. It's never too late
      to change your fate!
      But I can't see you all day with your head in someone's mouth.
      That would surely make your OCD go south!

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  5. I'm right with you on the spring cleaning thing......donated a couple garbage bags to Goodwill.

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    1. Well, look who it is! :) I'd recognize that cup of coffee anywhere. haha....

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  6. Hi Betsy - I always admire your cleaning habits - makes me think .. oh oh better get doing something this end. I will .. I promise! We might get some cold next week .. can't say I relish the thought ... I'm very glad I don't have dentist bills though - that was fortunate insurance on your parts.

    Cheers and have a good year - and to your Star - the shining light ... all the best - Hilary

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    1. I can't help but break out into song when I say Star's name...Twinkle, Twinkle....
      Oh holy night......When you wish upon a Star...Starry, starry night....and on and on. lol!

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  7. Oh thank you Betsy for the pep talk..I must get back to cleaning 'up and out'. I also do this in January because it is a blah month:) Now I need to tackle my kitchen cupboards. Donation box always handy nearby!
    Yikers that would have been quite the dental bill, happy you have insurance for that. We don't have a plan for our son, his medical/dental work is covered by the gov't.
    Aww sorry about your pets. Hope Star keeps on improving.
    Btw..-12C is not so bad. It's when it hits -30C (sometimes even colder) when we start cringing:)

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    1. No, the cold really wasn't so bad....I can deal with that alright, unless I'm working an auction outside...then after a few hours, I've had enough! haha...

      My neat and tidy kitchen drawers have made me smile all day. I'm in the boys' closet today...a much bigger project! haha...

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  8. #5. lol 5 days is good! Now lets try for the next 5... and the next... and the next. We WILL get there!!

    #3. Wowzers! PTL for that insurance! Glad the new checkups went well!

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    1. Exactly....I read somewhere that you must do a new thing 6 weeks before it really becomes a habit!

      And yes...so grateful for that insurance! Hopefully we're done with those kind of procedures!

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  9. 1. that is cold already! but all the same like you I prefer that than the sweat and feeling of being double sized due to the heat... haha
    2. So sorry for Nugget, it is always hard to say good bye to a pet and for those cats ... maybe even worse when you do not know what happened to them but there are things that are out of our control and just maybe they have got a lovely warm loving home ... and so happy for Star! She is blooming at your place!
    3. so lucky you have got the insurance!! those prices are unbelievable. it is the same here! and we are very grateful to have a good insurance too
    4. Omg and I thought I was the only one cleaning and emptying and getting rid off ... and organising and reorganising ... just bought some new shelfs at Ikea yesterday to keep things nice and tidy .... sometimes I wonder if I am ocd too ....
    5. It is good that at least for a while people make an effort to eat healthy ... I think I will have to switch to the health store for vegetables as I bought today red pepper bells and we all agreed that they stunk!!! Yikes I wonder what they spray it with and those veggies will not be a healthy option I am afraid
    Have a wonderful rest of the day, evening for us :-)

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    1. Your Ikea shelves sound perfect for organizing! I love that store...I'm always inspired when I walk though!

      OCD is a good thing, I think...well, at least just a little...enough to motivate you to be orderly, on time and clean. haha. I wouldn't want it to be any stronger to make me impossible to live. lol..

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  10. I don't what it is either...but I get the same feeling. In fact, when we took down the Christmas, my dearest helped me and we cleaned top to bottom one room at a time. It felt so good to have that finished. A bag to goodwill too.

    Of course, my little treehouse is a snap to clean when you have four hands working.
    I did a no no this morning....instead of putting the berries on my cereal, they jumped into a cobbler. Dang that extra pie crust that was left over...what was I to do. And my dearest requested it too. A very small portion....OK very small.

    Love your soap dish and soap.

    Thank the Lord for that Dental Ins. What a blessing.

    Enjoy your day Betsy. Love and Hugs

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    1. haha..oh, that cobbler would be calling my name! And how can you refuse a request from your honey. It just had to be done!

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    2. HaHa I need that affirmation, Betsy.

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    3. haha...reminds me of years ago when my sister and I were close and would go shopping together. We'd say to each other, "Do you want me to talk you into it or out of it?" lol....

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  11. I think when the tree comes down...you have to clean anyway...and it just keeps going!
    And...being stuck indoors, forces you to do something!!
    I got all my wee plants all cleaned up...what a mess that was!
    Miss V used the sweeper, and I had the central vac going...hahaha!
    I am into day 4...still going good!! Must lose some lumps before the trip!!
    Mainly cut out carbs...which I dearly love!
    Enjoy the sunshine...rain headed this way for the weekend...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. I fussed over my indoor plants last week...showers in the sink, pots wiped up, ..and few hair cuts, etc. Much better!
      Do you go to Florida in February or March? Can't remember. I hope the weather is much better there this year than last year for you!

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    2. We will leave Feb 7...we have the beach cottage from Feb9-March11...
      Yes I hope it is warmer...but I also hope it is not as cold here as last year...
      Our $ is pitiful...will cost us $1.40 for $1 US!! YIKES! No wonder Obama was crying yesterday!
      I know that wasn't why he was crying...just trying to be funny...ooops!

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    3. lol! Oh geesh....don't get me started with him...

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  12. It's been quite cold here too but quite sunny this afternoon . . . yet still 'yucky'
    Would love to see you with rosy cheeks . . . :)
    Yes . . . my sympathies for Nugget and Peaches ~ I know how hard you worked to give him a lovely home. Little Star was so lucky to have found you . . . does she still follow you around?
    Thank goodness for the dental insurance . . . had no idea it would be that expensive . . .
    Maria was the same about spring cleaning . . . . I miss her so much . . . :(
    Point #5 . . . I wonder for how long says he who has just eaten a pizza . . .

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    1. Pizza? Shame, shame! You should make Linda's soup!

      Yes, so sad about my pets...Grey and Domino were two of my favorites. I fear the worst has
      happened to them. We have a neighbor that hates cats and has been known to kill them...yes,
      they even admit it!

      yes, so thankful for the insurance! Amazing the cost...but it is considered out patient surgery
      with all the staff the hospital has to make it a safe procedure.

      Star still follows me around....and she talks now, too. haha...

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    2. How awful about your neighbour . . . . .
      Yes . . . I should try Linda's soup . . . :)

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    3. Betsy, I have a neighbour who hates cats too, so I have to be very watchful when Dinky is outside, because he throws large stones at her when he sees her. Dinky doesn't usually go out in the daytime now, only when it's dark outside.I think she realises it's dangerous when it's light!

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    4. I think Dinky is being very smart about it! Maybe she should use his garden as a litter box at night, too. haha...

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  13. Love your soap dish! Very pretty.

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  14. Well, who knew? It reminds me of a Crabtree and Evelyn soap dish I used to have. I was very upset when it got broken.

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    1. Well, guess what? This one is Crabtree & Evelyn! I've had it for years...love it!

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    2. Did you know that C&E is a US company from Cambridge Mass?

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    3. Actually make that was a US company. since been owned by Malaysians and now Hong Kong.

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    4. No, I didn't! The bottom of my soap dish says it was "specially made in England for Crabtree & Evelyn, London". My 'good' dishes are C&E, too, and they are marked the same way!

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    5. Well you know Victoria's Secret calls itself "of London" or something. It's alll a con.

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    6. VS is an American company...always has been. But over there, the branch probably is called 'of London'. haha. Well, anyway, I still love my C&E dishes...

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  15. So glad that the boys had good checkups this week. Even with insurance paying for it, I'm sure you want to avoid those procedures as much as you can.

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    1. Yes, you are right...even with the insurance, the whole ordeal is a little stressful!

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  16. It was 12 degrees here yesterday morning too. Brrr!
    I'm so glad you have insurance!

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    1. Oh, so are we! haha...so thankful!
      We warmed up a little today but it sure is getting chilly at night!

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  17. You're lucky the dental insurance covered the work on an outpatient basis. I assume that's because the boys wouldn't be cooperative in a regular dental chair?

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    1. It wasn't any different than having wisdom teeth extracted under general anesthesia...at least the coverage is the same. Fairly common, I think, for those who have to do it that way...very young or special needs. And yes, it's because they wouldn't hold still for a drill to be buzzing in their mouth....hopefully we won't have to do that again!

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  18. We were at -27c the other night and yet this weekend it's going to be +6C. Crazy. No wonder people are ill.
    I feel for you and the furry ones. So hard. And it doesn't matter how many one has, they all hold a place in our hearts.
    I get the urge to organize in the new year which makes perfect sense to me because it's a fresh start. Spring never did it for me! :-)
    Wow - that would have been one heck of a dental bill. Ouch.
    A neighbour that kills cats and admits it? WHAT??? Unbelievable how evil some people are. I hope they get a big, heaping dose of Karma.

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    1. Yes, it's unbelievable. A couple of years ago I had her son come and feed/care for our pets while we were out of town. When I got back she said she didn't like us feeding the strays in the neighborhood as it contributed to more of them coming in. I explained that I was actually doing the opposite....befriending them so I could get them spayed/neutered, getting their shots and making sure the population didn't explode and that the ones here were healthy. She didn't seem to get the difference. Then she said that a mother cat had kittens under their deck and that they 'did away with them'. I said that I was missing a pregnant cat (Marmy's, Tiger's and Whisker's mother who I hadn't been able to catch yet for spaying) and she got a little nervous and said "Oh, this was months ago." When I told her yes, it was a few months ago and she was ready to have the litter and then disappeared. I asked her to clarify 'do away with' and she said her husband killed the mom and litter. I made it clear that it was my cat and if she had just given her a few weeks, she would have brought the litter to our home and wouldn't have been a bother to her. She got really nervous and ended the conversation. Ugh. It still infuriates me.

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    2. Omg I had no idea that someone would be able to do that!! I understand now your worries about those that has disappeared... so sad! You don't go around killing living beings just because you don't like them!! What kind of people are these? ...

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    3. Yes, I told her you can't just kill animals that come through your yard...they could be someone's pet! Besides, who could do such a thing? Terrible!

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    4. Sickening. I would have found it hard not to react VERY strongly to her and her jackass husband. (And I have many other words that first came to mind other than jackass... but I am a guest here.) Grrrrr.

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  19. Replies
    1. Well, thanks, Blogo! :) Nice to see you stop by!

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  20. Some cats are more solitary than others. Perhaps yours went in search of a "quieter" home. Let's hope so. Mine have been to the vet, just yesterday, with the hope that this will not only keep them (and my house) smelling sweet, but that they will remain fast friends. However, I will be working many days to pay their vet bill. They didn't cut me any breaks this time. :(

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    1. That doesn't sound like Domino and Grey. Their siblings lived here. They were best buddies with some of the others and not loners.

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  21. OMG, -12...I'm a Celsius girl :-)
    And for me 0°C is cold... :-)
    Have a lovely weekend

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