Busy Running Around.

Our Location today is Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

Last evening when Kathy and I went out for our Birthday Celebration I chose to have a beer with my meal. Maybe I should do that more often because I slept like a rock. Unfortunately Kathy picked up my sleepless tossing and turning causing her to have a restless night. 

Sleeping in until nearly 8:30 we simply had coffee with a bran muffin for breakfast before heading off to the computers. Again Kathy was not having any luck with her laptop because even though I have tried removing pop-up programs for the last few days they were relentless in blocking her from going online this morning.

I made a call to my surgeon’s office in response to a voice message they left yesterday afternoon. There was a conflict in my appointment time for next week and since we’ll be away the following week they rescheduled me for this Friday. The next call was to Sx Video to speak with Corey about bringing in Kathy’s laptop.

I then went online to purchase the Professional Super AntiSpyware. I was able to by two double packages for less than $15.00 apiece. One by one I loaded it onto all four of our computers and started them scanning. The professional version is much more aggressive than the free version and will do automatic updates as well as running automatic scans.

Shortly after having lunch I packed Kathy’s laptop and we headed across town. Yesterday Mark our financial advisor had to reschedule our meeting due to his breaking a tooth. This afternoon when we met him the dentist did such a great job fixing it that you couldn’t tell it had been broken. His advice to us was to keep traveling and doing what we like to do.

We drove across the street to the “Bicycle Shop” (that’s actually its commercial name) to look for a replacement handlebar stem for Kathy’s bicycle. Unfortunately with all the specialty made bikes being produced today I need to have another look at her bike to get the proper sized stem.

We didn’t arrive in Essex until nearly 3:00 and while I was explaining the problems Kathy was having with her laptop to the boys at SX Video she went next door to the Grocery store. They won’t get to look at it until Friday or Saturday and figure there is a hidden piece of Spyware that’s attached itself to another program.

After joining Kathy in the grocery store to get the items we couldn’t find last night at Metro we were just about to checkout when Roger stopped to say hello. Roger and I worked together for about fifteen years before the plant closed. He really was interested in our travels and is trying to downsize his own home in preparation for retirement. He appreciated the advice we gave him and hopes to run into us again soon.

Some people have it made.

It was now past 4:00 and we were looking forward to having supper. But by the time I loaded the groceries in the car and brought the cart back to the store I bumped into Clarence whom I also worked with for ten years in the same trade. I was lucky to only talk with him for another five minutes and he was also shocked to hear of Ernie’s passing when I told him. 

Now Kathy’s head was starting to spin from what we figure was her sugar dropping because we’ve been cutting back on our calorie intake. Before we were totally out of town I spotted a restaurant (sports bar) called “Crabby Joe’s” so I just pulled into the parking lot. There are numerous restaurants by that Franchise Name in Ontario but we have never eaten at them before. It was slightly higher priced food wise than most bars but the food was delicious and the servings were not over the top but very satisfying.

We just made it to the Credit Union in Windsor to do some quick banking before they closed at 5:00. Then we stopped at Staples to get tapes for Kathy’s label machine as well as buying a Verbatim external hard drive computer backup system. When we were visiting with Nancy and Doug in Sugar Loaf Key they showed us theirs which is perfect for travelling and protects their pictures. The best part is it has a seven year manufacturer’s warranty and holds an entire Terabyte of information and pictures and is small enough to fit in your pocket.

We finally got home just in time to see the 6 o’clock News. It’s a good thing that we’re both retired or we’d never get anything done and the next week is going to keep us hopping. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

The World's Great Proverbs

What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.

Wonderful Day Together.

Our Location today is Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

After having a good night’s sleep on Sunday night I could only hope that I’d get a replay and really feel rested. Unfortunately that didn’t happen so after I managed a couple hours of sleep I was up shortly after 8:30 this morning. 

Kathy soon joined me and we watched the Weather Channel to see all the destruction that was done by the Tornadoes in the southern states yesterday. We will definitely be thinking of them in our prayers. 

We are still having problems with pop-ups on Kathy’s laptop and I was busy running scans on it while Kathy used my computer to do her reading. 

For lunch we chose to eat lightly and have soup. Just as we were finishing eating the phone rang and it was Mark our Financial Advisor asking if we could reschedule our appointment from this afternoon to tomarrow. While he was having breakfast this morning a tooth broke and he was at the dentist getting it repaired. He didn’t think it would be proper trying to talk with us with a slur. 

Since we now had an open afternoon and the weather was overcast with showers we decided to go walking around the Devonshire Mall. We easily covered five miles walking from store to store and checking most of the aisles. What we did accomplish was getting ideas of things to buy as Christmas gifts. It’s not wise waiting to do this at the last minute since we are only 240 days away from that special day. 

We took the time to buy a couple of Egg Rolls and a soda around 2:00 in the food court. That little bit of nourishment help us to do even more walking. We even left the mall and looked around a few more retail outlets. 

Finally at 4:30 we arrived at a restaurant called “The Sandbar” a few miles from our home. For special occasions we tell the kids instead of buying us gifts that we might not ever use we tell them to just give us Gift Cards. The gift cards vary from places to eat to movies or can be used to purchase things we need for the apartment or trailer even groceries. We love these consumable gifts as they don’t take up any room and are used throughout the year. 

Since we had been given gift cards to “The Sandbar” we used them to celebrate our birthdays. Normally we celebrate the day between since Kathy’s birthday is April 29^th and mine is May 1^st. This year we celebrated on Kathy’s birthday and because this was Tuesday they also had a wonderful steak dinner special that was done to perfection. Kathy had hers with a salad while I had mine with mashed potatoes covered with mushrooms and fried onions. The atmosphere was very nice but the personal time together was fantastic. 

On our way home we stopped at Metro Grocery store for lots of things on our list that we needed to restock our pantry and refrigerator. We did try not to over do it because we’ll be leaving in another ten days for Indiana to attend the Escapade. 

Tomorrow morning I’ll try contacting Verizon again since they feel it’s not necessary to call back clients that have issues. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

You Might Be a Redneck If

You pay more fines than bills.

Verizon and Other Computer Issues.

Our Location today is Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

It felt so good to get a decent night of sleep because I actually felt refreshed when I woke up this morning. Watching the Weather Channel during breakfast didn’t hold much promise of seeing normal temperatures or clear skies for the next week. Once we were on the computers catching up on our morning reading things started to feel better but then I needed to start making phone calls. 

Those of you that have been following know that we have been having trouble with Verizon. Many of you have been using them for years without a single problem. Kathy and I don’t fall into that group. We were told how we’d make the payments for our account which we followed to the letter. The problem is now our payment is not showing up on our account and you have different departments pointing the finger at each other but nothing is getting resolved. When you finally get someone to listen and take down all the information with the promise to call you back. They Lie! They just say that to get rid of you. They have your money but they want more and it’s the Verizon Corporation that is benefiting not the individuals that you are talking to. 

By lunch time I was getting mentally drained so when Kathy served the last of the Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup it helped to ease the nerves. That was when Kathy told me that she was having difficulty doing anything with her new laptop. 

I started by running scans that only found four problems that could be a threat but I kept having strange programs popping up and blocking what I was trying to do. I asked if she had downloaded any of these programs to which she said she had only Xed them out to shut them off. 

While attending one of the last Gypsy Journal RV Rallies in Celine Ohio I sat in one of the seminars that was being put on jointly by Jim Guld and Greg White. Both these guys know their way around computers. What they said was don’t X out those pop ups because when you do it actually starts loading it on your computer. 

For the next three hours I spent chasing one unwanted program after another that had all uploaded today. In the end I removed twenty-five programs that had installed themselves just by someone hitting the X to shut them down. 

After our granddaughter Kylla got off of work at 8:00 pm this evening she and boyfriend Noah picked up her brother Tyler from his Lacrosse practice then stopped by for a short visit with us at our apartment. It was fun reconnecting with the kids. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

What is a flea's favorite book?

The itch-hiker's guide to the galaxy!

Sunny Sunday.

Our Location today is Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

After the shock of learning about the passing of my dear friend Ernie yesterday I had another restless night. While we were away Kathy and I had spoken of getting away for a short trip with Ernie and Sheryl this year. Now it will remain just that a conversation. 

After we had breakfast we did our morning reading on the computers before I loaded things into the truck. Those items will be put into the trailer while others will be taken out. 

For an early lunch Kathy wanted something different so she made us grilled cheese sandwiches using different types of cheeses. The end result was a very wonderfully unique taste that we’ll surely try again. 

By 11:30 we were out the door heading in the direction of the Devonshire Mall. The intention was to go see the movie “Noah” starring Russell Crowe in the lead. Being that we are “Scene” members we gather points each time we go to the movies or purchase anything at the concession stand so today’s movie was Free. 

Kathy and I seemed to have the same feelings about this movie. Because of the special effects it depicted an evil human race that had technology that was only a few hundred years older than from modern day. They also made it seem that it was Noah who decided the future of the human race not the almighty. We gave it one thumb up each.   

We stopped for a coffee at Tim Horton’s that doubled as a snack before heading over to the trailer. We managed to get what we needed from the trailer out and what we had brought put in. I’m hoping the weather clears up next week before we leave because there is just way too much Stuff in that basement. 

For supper the Weber did a great job of grilling Spare Ribs to go with the Pasta side dish and peas that Kathy had cooked up. 

Since it was Sunday evening we went over to visit with our daughter Karen. She is still struggling to get her life back together from her February accident. Greg had worked all day and was just relaxing after supper. Tyler had a friend over and they were busy playing video games. Kylla just got home from work just before we left and Sanford was happy that we brought him some treats. 

Poor Sanford! The things he does for love.

Tomorrow we’ll continue getting things ready for our trip to Goshen Indiana for the Escapade in May. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

You Might Be a Redneck If

You have ever spent the night in the bed of your truck

rather than paying for a motel room.

Shocked.

Our Location today is Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

Last night was my worst night of sleep since we’ve been home. This of course also affects Kathy’s quality of sleep. Then after sleeping in until 8:30 this morning we wandered in to have breakfast.

Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion even after we got to our morning reading on the computers. After some time I needed to move around a bit so I packed things that had to be brought out to the truck before taking out the recycle.

For lunch we enjoyed the Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup that Kathy had made the other day.

Since the weather was still on the cool side Kathy continued researching on her computer and I researched data on one computer while logging in on the other.

When it came time for supper I fired up the Weber Q and grilled a couple of nice Pork Chops to go with the Squash and Vegetables that Kathy had made. She even commented how grilling things on the Weber always tasted better than doing them in the kitchen.

Once the dishes were all washed we headed back to the office where I decided to call my friend Ernie. Ernie and I served our Apprenticeships in the same trade at the same time and even worked repairing Steamships when we were on layoff from Ford’s. We grew close but got separated by being assigned to different plants. We had reconnected after we both retired after several plant closures took place.

I had absent mindedly called on Sunday but Sheryl only said the family was about to sit down for their Easter dinner so I just said I’d call back this week.. I had intended on calling him from Florida but I had forgotten our Black Book with all the phone numbers of people we know.   

After I apologized for calling the other night Sheryl was apologizing to me because she couldn’t find our phone number. Back in December when Kathy and I were on our way to Florida Ernie was having problems that needed further medical attention. Things escalated and the cancer returned but not the same cancer. Ernie fought to survive but suffered a massive heart attack that weakened him further. Finally the cancer was too much and took Ernie away from his family and his friends on April 10^th.

I was in shock because I had been monitoring the Windsor Star but the day Ernie’s announcement was made Kathy and I had been in Gatlinburg and I had missed it.

Sheryl is keeping busy but it is hard without her best friend being by her side. Please pray for Ernie’s family at this time. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

The World's Great Proverbs

Life isn't all beer and skittles.

Modifications.

Our Location today is Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

As predicted in last night’s post I managed to have a fairly decent night’s sleep thanks in part to the over tiredness that had set in. By 7:30 this morning I was wide awake and well rested but not too happy when I started opening the drapes. The Weather Channel actually got the prediction of rain for our area correct. Kathy was soon to join me in the dining room so we were finished breakfast and sitting at the computers by 8:30. 

By 10:30 I was busy doing modifications to some shelving in our office. Since all our older printers will not work on Kathy’s Windows 8.1 laptop while we were in Florida this winter we bought one that will. Because she needs a printer at home as well we simply take it from the trailer into the apartment and back when we travel. Changing the shelf was the easy part but moving the desk to run the wires was the hard part. 

Kathy's new printer.

Lunch time we finished the last of the homemade Ham and Vegetable Split Pea Soup. Not only is it tasty but it’s nutritional and filling as well. The only problem was Kathy couldn’t wait to dig in to it and burnt her tongue again. 

The old printer that Kathy had for her old desktop is identical to the one I use on my desktop. Since I am constantly changing the paper type and size my plan was to stack the printers under my desk. This was my first problem of the day! The shelf I bought was too narrow so I needed to return to Home Depot and exchange the shelf for the proper size. 

Two printers stacked.

By the time I had placed the printer on its new shelf I needed to wait to hook up the wires. Kathy was already busy researching things for us to do when we are again in Florida next winter. 

The rain finally stopped just before supper so I fired up the Weber again and grilled a couple of hamburgers. Kathy cooked some perogies and a Sweet Potato to round off the meal. 

Hamburger, two Perogies and half a Sweet Potato. 

Tomorrow with the lack of rain in the forecast things will definitely get busy for us. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

Office Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes

By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day.

Robert Frost

Busy Again.

Our Location today is Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

Again last night Kathy managed to sleep soundly like nearly every night since we’ve gotten back home. The last few nights I haven’t been as fortunate but I did manage to get a little more sleep last night probably from the exhaustion that I’m beginning to feel. 

After breakfast we immediately got busy straightening up the apartment as we were having a visitor. It actually wasn’t a visitor but a Registered Nurse that works for a company called Healthy Heels. Mary is also certified in advanced Footcare and came to our apartment to make certain that Kathy’s feet are staying healthy. 

Back in 2010 Kathy had helped our grandsons Tyler and Matthew make sandcastles at the beach on Lake Erie and stepped into the water. Days later she started with a severe pain in one of her toes that eventually developed into a Fungal Infection. Because Kathy is also diabetic it is much easier for her to have problems with her feet than most of us. She has had to have that toe nail totally removed twice but it has regrown both times. So other than swimming with the Manatees the last two years you will only see her swimming in a pool wearing her swim shoes. 

Fortunately with the health care coverage that we have Kathy can have her treatments done in the comfort of our apartment instead of having to go to a clinic. When Mary was finished today Kathy said her feet felt so much better and were pain free. It has been over four months since her last session before we left for Florida. 

While Kathy was having her feet tended to I was busy on the phone still trying to get the issue with our Verizon Straightened around. We had Chicken Salad Wraps for lunch continuing our quest for smaller waistlines. 

After lunch we left to run a number of errands. The first was to Princess Auto where I’d seen bump hats advertised on sale. Since we’ve had this trailer I have had several goose eggs due to the low design of the trailer and a couple of those instantly changed my hair color. Now if I can just remember to wear it I shouldn’t be reshaping the contour of my skull anymore. 

Next we stopped at the trailer to pick up some tools that I’ll need to do my project in the apartment office. While there I also grabbed my dumbbells that I won’t need in the trailer until next winter. 

The car was needing gas so we stopped to fill it up. This truly made me wish we were back in the US as the pricing here is by the liter. Years ago I made a spreadsheet that converted my fuel purchases from Metric to Standard and Standard to Metric. Today’s purchase of gasoline at $1.356 a liter works out to nearly $5.20 a US gallon and the cost of diesel is even higher. 

We then stopped at the dollar store at the Tecumseh Mall to pick up a few supplies. When we were finished there we just walked around the mall for some exercise. Kathy’s favorite Canadian clothing store Pennington’s was nearly empty as it will be closing at that location. What a shame. We continued walking until we reached the food court where we each enjoyed a coffee and did some people watching before we left for home.   

After a few minutes on the computer I went out to fire up the Weber and grilled a couple of Johnsonville Brats. They went wonderfully with the Salad and Sautéed Asparagus that Kathy made to go with them. That was our big meal of the day. 

Tomorrow is supposed to be slower but somehow I have my doubts about that. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

The World's Great Proverbs

What can you expect from a pig but a grunt?