Vorlon Whispers

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I went to Ted’s networking group today. There were a lot of new members there. I filled in for Erica. (She is the owner of the horse farm and kennel where I take Danny) She was unable to attend. There were a few people from before that I knew and one guest that I knew from the credit union. You never know when you will meet someone you know in this town.

I walked Danny a few times today. We both wore our red winter coats. I put the hood up on mine. This morning it was 26 degrees here at the house. The weather channel said it was 30 with a wind chill factor of 20. This afternoon, it was 30 degrees here with a wind chill factor of 24. I just heard a loud noise outside like a firecracker and Danny has run to me protection. I thought he would run under the bed but he ran in the computer room to me.

I was supposed to go to Toastmaster’s tonight but after I’ve been out once today, I didn’t feel like driving to Ocean City down that dark lonely road. I like when I get there but the drive is too much. Ted and I drove down that road for many years and it’s too lonesome without him.

I will take Danny out before bed time. His bed time is 8:00.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Tuedsay, November 18, 2008

I crossed a couple more things off my list today. I went to the Storage Bin to get my winter clothes. I had a plastic bin full of my turtlenecks and sweaters. I also brought home a box marked winter blankets. I had put them in the storage bin last summer thinking I’d be moving before now. It’s holiday time so I don’t think I’ll sell before spring.

I took some files to the building where we used to have our office. One of the companies there has a giant shredder. I brought some more files home and went through them. I sorted confidential material that I need to shred here at home from what I can take to the office and what can be put in the trash.

Danny and I had three nice long walks. When we went out at 4 pm, it was flurrying. It didn’t last long but it was windy and cold. We both had our red coats on for our evening walk. We went a little early tonight. I hope he doesn’t have to go out in the middle of the night.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Monday, November 17, 2008

I crossed a couple more jobs off my list. I cleaned the air cleaner and did my bills and a letter.

I had some fun, too. I met my friend, Pat for lunch. Pat is a friend from Toastmasters. She had a doctor appointment near Vineland so she invited me to meet her for lunch. We had a wonderful visit. We enjoyed a good meal and good conversation. We found that our grandfathers were both bricklayers in Philadelphia. They worked about the same time period, around 1940. Pat has a photo of the men on one of the jobs. She’s going to dig it out and show it to me to see if I can pick out my grandfather.

I had a great big burger and fries for lunch so I wasn’t hungry for dinner. I ate some peas. Danny likes peas so I tossed a few to him. I also had a slice of whole-wheat toast and vanilla pudding.

After his evening walk, he went to bed and then started barking. I called up to him and a few minutes later, I heard his nails clicking on the stairs. He stood there looking at me and didn’t hop up on my lap right away. He finally hopped up and rolled over for his belly rub. When I stopped petting him, he made a low growling noise. I wasn’t sure what he wanted. I got up to see if he would run for the door or his bowl but he didn’t. I sat back down and he went back upstairs to bed. I think he wanted me to come to bed but it was only a little after 8. He is happy now that I came upstairs. He is a funny little dog.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

I watched two back to back movies last night and fell asleep through part of the last one. At least I awoke to find out how it ended.

I didn’t get much done. It rained and was windy with tornado warnings. I walked Danny between showers, had some soup and watched the movies.

My friends from church didn’t go out to lunch today because we are going out this evening to the Millville church for a Gospel Concert. We share our pastor with the Millville church so this is the first get together with that group. They are having a covered dish but my friends didn’t want to go to the dinner and I didn’t want to go by myself.

There was some sun today but mixed with dark clouds and wind. I wore my winter coat to church and my red hooded coat to walk Danny. The wind blew the leaves out of my driveway so I don’t have that chore to do. I’ll probably have to do it later when the wind blows them back in.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Friday Flowerblogging

What blooms in November? A yellow Gerber Daisey.

I cleaned a narrow area of the celler today. Plaster flakes and falls of the walls in the cellar. This particular area is where the chimney comes down and it is where the ashes from the fireplace were swept. It was dark, dingy and dirty. I doned Ted's respirator mask and goggles and went to work. It was a nasty job but had to be done.

After that, I got cleaned up, took Danny for his walk, gobbled down a Dannan Yogurt Fusion, and June came. We went to the movies to see The Secret of the Bees. There was some violence but for the most part, we enjoyed the movie.

When I got home, I carried out the bags of dirt and debris from the basement and put out the rest of the trash. Danny was anxious for his walk so we went out. It has been foggy and misty all day so each time I take him out, I have to dry his feet and belly. His legs are short and his belly get wet in the grass.

I nearly fell asleep watching Stargate Atlantis but managed to see most of it. They will repeat it next week at 8pm and then a new episode at 9pm.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

I fell asleep watching the television last night. It was too late to blog. My computer was in the process of backing up. I had wanted to tell you about the dogwood tree. The other day, it was filled with red berries. Yesterday, I heard the leaves rustling and thought a big wind had blown up. I looked out and saw a flock of birds descending on the tree. They gobbled up the berries and not a single one is left. I tried to get a photo of them but they looked like black leaves.

I got some more things crossed off my list. The fish tank has been cleaned and I have been sorting through some of the company files. I packed up some boxes and took them to the garage. Some will go to the storage bin and I believe my winter clothes are there. I will bring them home.

Sunday morning, I was walking Danny when I heard something in the direction of my neighbor Alex’s roof. I turned in time to see a squirrel fall off the roof onto the concrete sidewalk. He got up and scooted up the steps and off the other end of the porch. Alex came running out wondering what the noise was. After I told him, we both just shook our heads. I think the squirrel tried to jump from the tree to the roof and either misjudged or the roof may have been slippery from the rain and freezing overnight.

Tomorrow, I will be going to the movies with my friend June. She wants to see “The Secret of the Bees”. Our other friend, Barbara saw it last week and enjoyed it. June and I have found a movie partner in each other. I don’t know what just happened but the computer system just had beeps going off and the server is lit up. Must have been a cut in power or a surge. Beats me.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Backyard Photoblogging

I like the pattern and texture of the leaves newly fallen on the grass.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Today was my Dad's birthday. He would have been 99 if he were still living.

I am beat. I used the leaf blower to blow the leaves out of the yard. I did the patio and half of the back yard. It was easier than raking and dragging the tarp to the curb but my arm was tired from not having used those muscles. I’ll have to start doing my weight training. I could hardly use my fork to eat my lunch.

I just took Danny out after he pestered me for an hour. He is still on Daylight time and is ready for his walk an hour early. I got as far as the driveway at the garage when he stuck his neck way out sniffing. I thought he was going to mark his territory when he started rubbing his neck in the muck. I took him right into the laundry room and washed his face. He didn’t like it. He kept licking the muck before I could get it off. It was stuck in his mustache. What a mess. He knows I am not pleased with him but I guess he has no idea why.

The city came and cleaned up the leaves and branches from the curb. We just have to rake them out there and they come to get them. The only thing is it has been too wet to rake. I hoped they would dry out some. It was probably rotting leaf muck that Danny rubbed his neck in. He loves stinky stuff. He must hate smelling like coconut when I give him a bath. I managed to get the patio and driveway blown out for the city to take away. I have another pile waiting for them. I hope they return soon but it will probably be several weeks.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

My brother, my niece and her husband came today and we got a lot accomplished. Ed brought his truck and a trailer. We loaded on the picnic table and benches, the glider, and the plastic patio furniture. We also loaded some bags of garden soil and mulch. They took it to their house as it can be stored outside until I find a new home. They also took some lumber and a couple little trees, some bulbs and plants for the yard. They can plant them in their yard. The lumber was stored in a loft in the garage. Ed got up on the ladder and handed down the piece to the three of us. I gave him an old computer with monitor and printer. My neighbor gave it to me when he moved. Ed fixes them up and sells them. Cheryl and Ed wanted to get home before dark so they left at 3:30. Don helped me take the air conditioners out of the windows on the sun porch and put them in the basement. I will leave them with the house. They were the least efficient rating and expensive to run. We left the one in the computer room in the window. They computers make the room warm so it won’t hurt to leave it in. I am going to leave that one too. The one in my bedroom, we took out of the window and put it on the floor. That one will move with me. If I don’t need it, Don can use it.

Don made some DVD of his digital photos. One was of my nephew, Bob’s wedding and the other was of our trip to California. He made copies for me. They came out great.

I fell asleep during Master Piece Theatre but I really didn’t like the story. The Jews in the Nazi concentration camp were putting God on trail. Some was of historical interest but the holocaust was so gruesome. I should have gone to bed early and read my book.

Tomorrow, I have to make a new list of what I need to do and start crossing them off. I had a list of six items today and we crossed all of them off.

Danny was happy today. He made his rounds of our three guest and got belly rubs all afternoon.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Today was another gloomy, rainy day. This is the fourth day of this. I picked up some more branches and wanted to cut the grass since Tuesday. It’s been too wet. I was hoping it would dry off yesterday and today but it didn’t. The leave didn’t even reach their peak of color when the rain and wind knocked them down. I got a few photos out the window but other years were better as far as the foliage is concerned.

I swept the leaves off the steps and walk. I dug up some more of my flowers. I still have some more to dig. My niece is coming tomorrow to take my outdoor furniture and plants. Her husband and my brother will take the air conditioners to the basement and carry out the lumber and steel post to the curb. I put one steel post out and it took five days for someone to recycle it. I think the rest should go faster. I have some boxes packed up so we’ll take them to the storage bin.

I walk Danny past my neighbor’s house and he does not like their dog. Frosty is a friendly white husky. He is behind a fence and Danny tries to take off after him. He sniffs him and then barks and snaps at him. I have to keep him away. Frosty looks like he wants to play but Danny it not interested in playing. I don’t know why. He usually likes other dogs but there are a few that he doesn’t like.

The church had a covered dish last night. There were not that many attending. Perhaps because it was a Friday night. It is usually held on Saturday but I think the new minister wanted it on Friday. Still, it was nice to have the fellowship with a small group. It was cozier.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Friday Flowerblogging

Late Bloomers. The name escapes me but these flowers bloom in the fall. I find them hiding under the leaves and mixed in with the hosta. They bloom in deep shade.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I got in from the Women’s Service Meeting late last night and watched the election. I am fearful of Obama’s inexperience. I am also fearful of his extreme left wing politics. A tax increase could very well send us into a depression. At least the Congress was not a landslide for the Democrats. I can’t believe Pennsylvania reelected Murtha. I guess they don’t mind being called a bunch of red necks.

I have Toastmaster tonight and I don’t feel like driving to Ocean City especially now that it is dark at 5:00.

The task of getting my things packed up is overwhelming. I packed up my winter clothes last spring and now I can’t find them. I must have taken them to the storage bin. I look in the garage where I have some boxes packed up but they are not there. I have several boxes of things I brought home from the storage bin to sort out. That task is overwhelming. I guess I should just toss it all. I don’t see any need for it. It’s just that it’s like throwing out my life with Ted. I look at the stuff and then walk away from it. I had asked Sonia several times to help me with it but she never seems to be home when I call and she never returns my calls. I feel like I’m out here all alone except for the kind people who write comments on my blog. Thank you all so much. You don’t realize how encouraging you are to me.

I had lunch with my friend Phyllis. We went to Marciano’s and both got spare ribs with macaroni and collard greens. We also got the seafood chowder. It was excellent. We had a nice visit. Phyllis and her husband are getting ready to go RVing in there 5th Wheel. They had their house on the market and her daughter decided to buy it. They will be spending their winters in the south and summers in the north.

I did not go to Toastmasters. The weather turned nasty with heavy rain and wind. Phyllis and I saw two accidents on the road and Phyllis saw another before she picked me up. I’m tired from being up late last night so it’s off to bed with me.

Monday, November 3, 2008

The weather has warmed up. It makes it hard to know what to wear. I put on a jacket to walk Danny and I am too warm. I took his lab specimens to the vet today and then dropped some more clothes off at the Salvation Army. I took Danny with me for a ride in the car. He likes to look out the window and bark at everything and everyone.

It's amazing how quickly the color of the leaves has changed. A few days of freezing temperatures and it's like someone has waved a magic wand. Maybe I should take the Cape May Train ride and look at the fall foliage.

I was feeling rather down today and over the weekend. Memories of Ted seem to be everywhere. My friends husband passing away and then my other friend lost her brother. I went to his viewing tonight. They funeral home put together a DVD of the photos of his life. It was a very nice thing for them to do. Their loses remind me of my loss. Maybe its the time of year. It was this time two years ago that were the last good days with Ted before he went into the hospital and then it was downhill from there. The changing of the daylight hours always made me feel like hibernating until Spring. I hate it being dark so early. There is a bit of light in the morning now but that won't last. My niece and her husband weren't able to come last weekend. I hope they can come next weekend. I hate having to be dependent on them and my brothers. I just can't do it all myself and I have to wait for others to help me.

Danny hasn't adjusted to the time change yet. He is ready to go out for his walks an hour early. He went to bed three hours ago. I hope he isn't ready to go out at 5 am. They past two mornings, I have awakened with him curled up next to me. He usually sleeps on the other side of the bed. I'm ready to join him.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

I walked Danny before 7am. I was up early due to the time change. It was light out at 6:30. I got a suitable box from the garage and put my summer shoes in it. I gave Danny his bath and got ready for church. After church, I went to lunch with the ladies and one gentlemen. Pastor Bill Vauhn and his wife were there. He was at the former church I attended. He had been pastor at the First Baptist at one time and knew most of the others in our group.

I have extended the walks for Danny and me. We both need the exercise after a month of recovery from my sprained ankle.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Yesterday, Danny’s appointment took longer than I thought. He was supposed to get his distemper shot but he also needed his 8 year check up with blood work and lab tests. When we go home, a girl from church called and said her mother was having a luncheon for my friend June who had just lost her brother. It was too late to go to Brady’s funeral in PA so I went to the luncheon. When I got home, I walked Danny and did a few chores. I read some of my book because it’s almost time to take it back to the library.

The Halloween kids started coming around 5:00 and keep coming until 7:00. I wasn’t able to get my dinner until then. I was full from the luncheon so that was OK. This is the first year that Halloween wasn’t held on Saturday afternoon. It was difficult for the parents to get home for their kids to go Trick or Treating. Most people work until 5:00. The parents had to take off early. Most parents go around with their kids. I would have been mortified if my parents went with me. We were invited into the neighbors’ homes and they tried to guess who we were. With parents, they would have known us. My older brother went with me when I was little. Then I took my younger brother. Some neighbors knew us by our size. I don’t know many kids here. I just stand out on the porch, put the candy in their bags and wish them a Happy Halloween. They all said thank you. Sometimes prompted by their parents. I had about 200 kids.

Today, I went to the super market and then I blew the leaves out of the driveways and walk. The new girl across the street introduced herself. Her name is Heather. She has a Rotweiller dog. I don’t see it out very much. She takes it to her mother’s while she works. Heather was shocked at how many kids came around for Trick or Treat.

It is time for Danny’s bath. I guess I’ll give it to him in the morning. I have set back some of the clocks. The computer will take care of itself. I want to get back to my book and find out “who done it.” It is an Adam Dalgliesh mystery by P D James. I’ve read some other and have seen some on the TV show “Mystery.”

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Friday Flowerblogging

Marigolds in the west front garden has the lovely colors of the fall season. These have seeded themselves from a previous year.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

I didn’t go to my friends viewing tonight. I didn’t feel up to it. My cold had me feeling exhausted. If I lived closer, it would have been different. I hate living so far from my family and friends. Driving back and forth is a real drag. I’m feeling better now. I’ll see how I am tomorrow. Also, a friend from church called and let me know that another friend, June’s brother had passed away. Calvin had been having health problems before Ted got sick. June has been a good friend to both Ted and I. I feel very sad for her. We have all been praying for Calvin’s recovery all this time. He has had ups and downs.

Danny has an appointment with the vet in the morning. I may be able to make it to the funeral if I’m feeling up to it. It’s easier driving in daylight than in the dark. Danny whines and cries while driving in the dark. I guess he can’t see anything out the window. I don’t know if he has to go, or if he’s going to be sick, or whether he just wants attention.

I found some more of Ted’s clothes and put them in the bag for the Salvation Army. I did some work online. I took Danny for some longer walks today. Maybe that’s why I felt so tired. I haven’t been walking him far since I sprained my ankle. It is feeling better now so I walked around the block with Danny this morning. He doesn’t like to turn around so if I walk around the block he doesn’t realize he’s headed back home.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I went out this morning in my long red winter coat with hood. Danny was also in his red plaid coat. It was in the thirties. I did some straightening up as my real estate lady was coming to take some photos or the house. After she left, I took Danny out in the car to do some errands. We stopped by the bank and the teller gave Danny two dog biscuits. He doesn’t like most dog treats. Sometimes he will eat them if I break them up for him.

I had a lot of branches to pick up today. I got most of them but there are still some more. There are a lot of leaves that came down with the storm. They haven’t even changed color yet. There was a branch with green leaves and red berries. At first, I thought it was a holly but when I picked it up, I saw it was a dogwood.

I have some errands to do tomorrow morning and then I’ll be going to my friend’s viewing. It all just so hard to comprehend. My friends and I all lost our husbands too soon. Our parents all got better than 50 years and we didn’t. One just never knows.

I want to read some more of my mystery before turning in.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I didn’t do too much today. It stormed most of the day and the wind was very bad, too. I have an inch and one half in the rain gage and there are a lot of branches for me to pick up. I put Danny’s coat on him to take him out. I tried his new sweater but it may be a bit too long for him. He kept scratching at it. I guess he wondered what it was. He looked real cute in it but he is an odd size for a poodle. He is larger than a toy but smaller than a miniature. He has short little legs. I put his red plaid coat on him. It’s a little small so I’ll have to put an extension on the strap so it will fit better. He looks real cute it that one too.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Monday, October 27, 2008

I packed up some more things today. I packed some of Ted’s things for the Salvation Army. I went to the office where Ted and I had our office and made a copy of a letter from the Social Security. They had some questions about Ted’s earnings in 2006. They seem to have things messed up. Between the government and the insurance company, they are driving me nuts. I also took some papers from our business to the big shredder at the office.

I learned that my friend, Brady, passed away. He had leukemia. His wife, Rose Mary, has been my friend since we were four years old. I was saddened. Rosie and three of her sisters all lost their husbands at an early age.

I think Danny has a sore foot. He limps sometimes. I don’t see anything obvious and he doesn’t limp all the time. He did get an acorn shell caught in one of his paws the other day. Maybe it cut or bruised it. He goes to the vet for his annual check up on Friday so I’ll keep an eye on his paw and have the vet check it out. He has had acorn shells in his paw before. It is strange. It fits right up between the pads of his foot and at first looks like part of his foot.

Danny’s birthday is tomorrow. That’s the day Ted and I adopted him. It will be two years ago that we brought him home. He is a sweet little dog. He brought joy to Ted and to me.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

I didn’t do much today. I went to church and mostly rested due to this miserable cold I have. I did bag up the leaves from the gladiolas I dug up. I still have lots more digging to do.

It seemed like it rained all day yesterday but only a half inch in the rain gauge.

I walked Danny a few times but his walks have been shortened since I sprained my ankle. It is feeling much better now but I still have to wear the brace a few more weeks.

I am still getting things ready for the house to be shown.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

I woke up with a head cold yesterday. I felt OK in the morning but as the day went on, I felt worse. I didn’t go to Nature Club. I just wasn’t feeling up to it. I woke up feeling awful again today. I had some hot coffee and felt better but still have the cold. I had soup for lunch and dinner. I didn’t do much but lay around. It rained mostly all day so Danny didn’t want to walk. He did his business and turned around to head for the house. I picked up some branches that fell down and that’s about it for today. I hope I feel better tomorrow.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Friday Flowerblogging

My porch planters do not flower well because there is too much shade. They do however have a little color. I used lavender impatiens this year.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Today, I paid some bills, cleaned out the fireplace, did some wash, dug up some more glads, packed up some more stuff, and gave Danny a trim. I put him up on the washing machine with treats ready to reward him after I make a few snips. His fur grows so fast I have to trim him every week.

No bites on the house yet. My niece and her husband and my brother will be coming next week to help with some things. Cheryl and Ed will take my plastic lawn furniture, some plants, and some computers. Ed fixes them up. My neighbor gave me a computer when he moved so I’ll give it to Ed. I also have a few computers from the business that he can take.

Last night, I remembered that Ted and I stored some lumber up on the loft in the garage. Maybe my brother and Ed can get it down and put it out on the curb to be recycled by the trash pickers. They can also take the air conditioners out of the windows and put them in the basement. I will leave 3 of them. Two are very energy inefficient so I do not want them. The other is making a noise so I don’t want that one either. I will keep the 4th one. If I can’t use it in my new home, I’ll give it to my brother. He could use it in his bedroom. He only has one downstairs.

Tomorrow, I will clean the fish tank, dig some more bulbs, and do some more cleaning in the basement.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Today, I packed up some things in the little bedroom, cleaned around the fireplace and started to clean the cellar. I walked Danny, showered and went to the Bible Study meeting. After the meeting, I went to the Acme for groceries and the new WaWa for gasoline. It was $2.499. The Park Ave WaWa may be cheaper but this one is closer.

Danny happily greeted me when I got home and it was time for his afternoon walk. I rested up a bit and got dinner for both of us. He got dog food and I had ham, potatoes and carrots. He got a little of mine. He likes potatoes and carrots. He barks and then he sits to wait for his reward. I fell asleep watching the television.

I’ll try reading for a while and probably fall asleep. I woke up at 3am last night and didn’t get back to sleep until around 5am. I got up at 7am and I am really tired now.

News from the Vorlon Wife.