I did it all by myself! :)
I finally found my way to Mozilla.
I now am fully operating with Firefox and Thunderbird. No sign of Internet Explorer or Outlook to be found. For you not so computer literate as the rest of us (stop that giggling boys!) It is a new internet browser and email server. It is absolutely free to download it - and is free and clear from hacker viruses with no back doors - which are the Microsoft server woes.
Now to figure out how to get the computer moved upstairs. (Nobody's laughing now are they.)

all done
Grandma Vi is completely retired as of 3:00pm this afternoon.
Now for all that special "Grandpa" time.

are they or aren't they?
Only Willie doesn't know for sure!

BooBoo
Thanksgiving Day Lilly finally greated her Grandma with a kick. (actually it felt like a knee.)

doctors still mostly suck
It seems it still sucks to be me as well.
I will probably always have my digestive problems (IBD). My thyroid shucked out years ago - about the same time I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Adhesions will be with me until I die.
As you may recall from my last posting, parts are starting to be a problem again. I have seen three docs in the last week. A podiatrist, a pain specialist and my family doc. My foot is fine.
My RSD is back.
Today's visit brings the prospect of maybe my RSD was triggered by Rhuematoid Arthritis pain.
So next will be a trip to a rhuematologist.
The real hard part is my doc today severely limited my work hours. I'm allowed to work 2 days a week - only 4 hours each day. He wanted me off completely. I wanted to do something at sometime. He says I'm not going to get over this flared-up stage unless I let my body heal. He also suggested I do some physical therapy, water therapy, etc. And he said if I wsn't working I might feel well enough to do these other things. This may be my schedule for at least the next couple of months.
Merry Christmas.

a few of my favorite things
The first official holiday shopping day. Friday morning at 6am they unlock the doors. I was working in electronics. People were literally running and racing to get to the back of the store.
Most people are usually way hyped to be shopping on that day.
Some people should pick another day to go.

Other people should read the store name on the ad to make sure they know where they are. One guy argued big time with us. We have never sold what he wanted. He bet each of us $20 it was pictured in our holiday sale ad. Then he went to his car to get his copy of our ad - he didn't think the ad we had contained all the pages that came with his. Yeah, we never saw him again. Then there was the old gal pointing out the item in the ad in her hand. I pointed out the Kmart on the front page and suggested she try there.

weather wise
Time to throw another log on the fire. Even though we have already had some snow, I predict a low snow year. Rand has the screen porch completely sealed against snow drifts and he owns a snowblower this year. Maybe this could explain the extra layer of white stuff in KC. It has to be diverted to somewhere!
Happy last day of November.

for the record.....
I did update a couple of weeks ago. The server failed just as I was posting and I lost everything. This was following my tenth overnight of setting Christmas. No days off and 10 - 12 hour days. After all that and making the effort to update, only to have it be lost, I decided screw it.
I did get a few days off to recover. Mostly spent it trying to get my house to recover what it had gone through in my absence.

it's all about the clean
or - I like shiney things
I bought the Bissell Little Green Machine. My Kirby is too heavy and awkward for me to easily handle any more. I figure this new toy will help me get the small spots. Stuff the dogs might do, things I drop and spill, Willie tracks, upcoming baby Lilly leaks.
My new Little Green Machine did an incredible job. Almost too good. I noticed I still have "spots" in the carpets - now - they're the clean spots! I'm thinking it is time to have the carpets professionally steamed cleaned.
For the money the Kirby is not everything I hoped for. It does do a great job, but it does have to be pampered. The belts seem to slip a lot. It clogs with hair, etc. When I'm in a big cleaning mode it feels like all your doing is swtiching out one component for another. Not an easy task. It is heavy. A real problem for those of us losing our grip.......so to speak. :)
I'm looking at Oreck for my next vacuum. People I have talked to all love them. Several have health issues and say it is as light, easy, and cleans as well as advertised.
I recently ordered the Steam Buggy Platinum off an infomercial. I haven't recieved it yet. People will say my house is steamin' clean!

speaking of cleaning things
The dishwasher will be leaving our home soon. It's official. So if anyone is in need of a decent portable dishwasher - it is free for the taking. Literally you take it. Rand's schedule is really bad for the next several months and delivery is not available.
We need the space in the kitchen - eventually for a highchair. And we bought a faucet mounted Pur water purifier. For Lilly's sake as well. Can't hook up a portable dishwasher with it attached. At first there was major complaints from the younger adults and one grumpy old man, but I need the space, Lilly needs pure, and as far as the younger ones complaining they didn't want to do dishes by hand.....
They can't even load their dirty dishes dishwasher on a daily basis and I don't think dishpan hands are going to be a problem for them anytime soon.
Maybe the pretty bubbles in the sink will entice them to help out more!

other things leaving
and also free for the getting*:
A small desk - was in Kara's room.
A large desk - Willie's, made by Rand.
A lamp - circa 1966
The old white hutch that Grandma Vi has always hated.
There is probably more, but that is a healthy start.
* free for the getting meaning you have to come get it*
If nobody speaks up, we will probably be hauling it all to Goodwill.

my aching feet
and note the use of the plural.
My right foot has been a thorn in my paw since the bone tumor of 1991. The added steel support plate is a lasting memory of the pain. And a current memory of pain. In fact it is hurting right now!
My new dilema - my left foot. It seems with all my left foot has done over the years to overcompensate for my right foot - it is giving out. I have an appointment with another podiatrist next week. In the meantime I went to the Good Feet store. I paid them a lot of money and it is helping. The difference was instant. Amazingly instant. I highly recommend this product for anyone who has even thought about it for a moment.
What my doc says and what this new doc will probably say it is time to give my feet and the rest of my body - a rest. The docs advised I should quit my job a couple of years ago (because of the adhesion damage) and more body parts keep failing just to try to prove them right.
Unfortunately, thi$ i$n't $omething I can ju$t decide to do. I would like to $tay home. Rand wi$he$ I could. The hou$e even mi$$e$ me. But in the real world, that i$n't enough. $ob!

hibernation
The trailer has been officially put away. Since Imperial still had more work to complete on it they get to keep it for the winter.

Lilly BooBoo
Not too much new to report. She is still growing and so is Sandra. Sandra is now 32 weeks along. Imagine only a month or so to go! Lilly is still riding high and growing so Sandra has currently lost the ability to eat, sleep, breathe, walk normal, etc..... She has mentioned something about bruised ribs from the kicking.
Sandra and I found a changing table at the Salvation Army that matches the cradle. Bec brought us her bassinet - it will go in Sandra and Ryan's room.
I found an excersaucer on clearance at work - Lilly's second Christmas present. Her first is a dollhouse/shelf/toybox I ordered. Very cute!

speaking of Christmas
If anyone were to update his very old list on ThinkGeek it could be in his best holiday interest.