durangoscots

Annie .... am glad that you have decided to work less. Take it slowly and rest when you feel the need. I am sorry that Chuck fell and hope he did not do any major damage. I have been trying to trip-proof my house and some throw rugs have been discarded. I warned my downstairs neighbor she may be able to hear me walking about more. I just have to watch out for the dogs. Rained some today, but not much. It is soup and salad for supper tonight. Off to walk dogs while it is still light enough for me to see where I am putting my feet. Susan Monty and Bandit (she served us supper late!!)

Good morning - or what is left of it. Chilly and cloudy this morning with rain predicted for this afternoon and evening and maybe rain/snow mix for tomorrow. Dog are not going to be happy. I went to the store early this morning and managed to secure everything that I need for the next week or so. It was not crowded. I got the making for a number of soups and stews which sound really good right now. The forecasts show our temperatures dropping. I did get my hair done yesterday so that is done until just before I leave for the cruise. The lawn people did make it in the afternoon although the trees are still stubbornly holding onto their leaves. They will probably all come down today and will just have to wait until Spring for a real cleanup. And, to add to our confusion, "they" are putting in fiber optic cable and there is orange and yellow paint all over the driveway and on the rocks in the decorative garden and even more annoying... large holes dug into the lawn. They carefully covered the holes with traffic cones but the deer are knocking those about. I hope nobody breaks an ankle - including the deer. It is hunting season and our yard seems to be one of the local refuge spots. And I am not in the mood to pooper scoop after deer. I will be glad to get away the end of December. Being taken care of on a BHB sounds wonderful. Susan

Good morning all. Sunny here but supposedly rain is on the way. @seagarsmokerBummer!!! Hope you get something even better lined up quickly. The lawn people were supposed to come on Monday but due to forecast of rain and possibly even some light snow, they will be here today. My hair cut gal is coming to take of the postponed appointment from Wednesday, so I had better get things cleared up. Looks like a busy morning. Back later. Take care all. Susan

Good morning. We did have a bit of rain this morning but it looks like it is clearing up now. Not surprising. Dogs will be pleased as I can take them for another walk shortly. Little new from here. I need to work on car insurance today as mine is coming due and I think I can lower premiums by switching. So that is first on my agenda. And continue sorting and tossing and putting aside things for packing (that cruise moves closer) and adding to my to do list. Not an exciting day but right now I do not crave excitement. Back later. Susan

Good afternoon. I am finally getting myself started. I was scheduled for a haircut this morning (much needed) but when I woke up I felt a bit achy and had a light temperature. So called it off and went back to bed. Feel a bit better now but will take it slow today. It is lovely day out but the forecast for tonight and tomorrow is a bit of rain.... or maybe not. If have been to today's destination and walked around town. Lovely spot. Glad I am not in Iceland right now. After all the sadness of the cat hoarding incident we have had two fairly good pieces of news. You may have heard one of them. A hiker from Pagosa Springs disappeared with his dog in around October 19. Searchers found nothing. The sad part is that he was found under a tree, deceased, day before yesterday. His dog was still with him and was alive and well although it had lost weight. A Jack Russell terrier who evidently survived on local rodents. No sign of his nibbling on master which is the first thing everyone asks. That area is full of bears and mountain lions and it is to the dog's credit that it evidently kept them away from his owner. Sad ending for the family but they are glad to have his very loyal dog back and know what happened to relative who was an experienced hiker. And.... for the last month we have been trying a catch a dog loose in the high country near Durango. It is wearing a red collar and dragging a leash. There has been snow up there. A couple days ago we were able to trap it and it is now at Humane Society. It is very sweet and seems to happy to be warm and fed. We do worry about the owner. Off to do some things to ready for my trip in January. "I have a little list" which keeps on growing and growing. Will try to take it easy the rest of the day. Susan

Good morning. Interesting day. I remember the Sadie Hawkins dances when I was in school (both High school and college). Sort of fun. I have been to Dublin on land trips and once on a cruise. Lots to see and do. And I will take the stew. On this cold day it sounds good and I like both coconut and curry. I had a bad weekend. I assisted with a cat hoarder situation and a large percentage of the cats had to be euthanized which is always distressing. We know the woman is holding out on us and has more hidden on her property which will have to be dealt with. The problem lies in the fact that the shelter needs her to surrender them to us. If we have to seize them with an animal cruelty charge we will then have to hold them until we get a court order to retain custody and that can take a while since a couple of our judges are not very good about animal cases- even when we are dealing with sick animals. And.... like every other shelter in the country, we are overcrowded. Fortunately I am now just a flunky helping out and the decisions on procedures are not mine to make. Supposedly my handyman is coming in an hour or so to remove my microwave above the oven. I may have to wait for a new one since our local hardware store seems unable to stock it but at least I can get this one disconnected. I have had a chat with all the other appliances and asked them to be cooperative and not die before I get back from my cruise. I am reaching the point where I find it hard to cope with everything. So .... off to the races. Take care all. Annie, I am sorry to hear that your were ill on the cruise. Hope you both can get rested and are feeling ok now. Susan

Bummer. I am sorry to hear all of this. Susan

Taking a quick break from doing very little of my sorting and clearing. Did make a quick run to the thrift store. Things here seem to be wanting to break down now that I have a cruise scheduled. First the heating for the condo .... and now my over the stove microwave which is old is sounding funny. Will just avoid using it for a few days until my handyman can get in to deal with it. It is old... probably too old. More $$ just when I am trying to stash away money to do fun things in January. Oh well. @JazzyVSorry your relief did not last long. It sounds really painful. @bennybearLove that owl! Susan

Good morning all. Sunny here with a temperature in the mid-30's. High today will be in the mid to high 50's and lows at night into the 20's. And it looks like this will continue for the next week. I need to do some yard work this afternoon. Mainly clearing weeds and leaves out of the Iris bed. Our neighbors have some trees that have not even started to drop their leaves.... we need a good wind. Our yard person can not even start Fall cleanup. Will be anxious to see if the leaves drop before the snow falls. Have not been to the destination .... looks interesting. I think I would like the meal in small quantity. I used to be able to play piano....not well.... but my hands were too small and now they are also too stiff. I enjoy hearing others play. Otherwise little else from here. I am still sorting and tossing, but since it is just me, I am very slow since I use any excuse to stop. Got to get the steam up. Take care all. I wish to the world would behave. I just hate to look at the news these days. So many people suffering needlessly. Susan

@StLouisCruisersSo sorry to hear about Mark but glad that sad news could be tempered by the news about Scott. That shorter distance will be so beneficial to both of them Susan

I am being picketed by a couple of dogs who say they will waste away of hunger if I do not produce their now overdue supper. How do you explain standard time to a hungry pet (or child)? Susan Bandit and Monty (it is a plot to starve us!!!)

Good morning. Another sunny day. Temp was 36F when dogs and I walked at what is now 6:30 in the morning. The high today will be in the 60's. When we came back from our walk, the back lawn area of our units looked like a pajama party. Evidently all the neighborhood dogs got their families up early. It was pretty funny with dogs scampering everywhere and sleepy looking people standing around. I was only fully clothed individual there. Evidently everyone else intended to sleep in. Little else now. I just plod along. Yesterday's meetings really ate into the day and I got little done. Hopefully better working today. Take care all. Susan

Good morning from a sunny, chilly and boring Durango. There is certain sameness to the days.... but that probably is a good thing. It will be in the mid to high 60's today and this morning the dog walk felt positively balmy at 38. I am beginning to pull things together for my cruise.... will clear the back bedroom bed today so I can put somethings out where I can see. And I need to double and triple check my lists including all the things I have to do here in the next month or so. And, more stuff to be loaded for the thrift store. Jacquie... I am glad Ivan knows "home". When Bandit pulled that stunt a few weeks ago I nearly had a heart attack and he found his own way home while I was out searching. Susan

@JazzyVI sure hope they can figure out what the problem is and deal with it. That kind of pain sounds awful. Susan

Good morning. Sunny and chilly but the temperature will get up to low 60's. Not too bad. I slept sort of fitfully last night for some reason which is why I am running late this morning. Will pass on the spicy meal. Have been to Liverpool many times, mainly on land visits. Always fun. I love a good stout. Little going on here. @Cruzin Terri.... hope DH's knee is just banged and not broken. Glad he is getting it checked before you cruise. And my best wishes to everyone this morning. (My mind is still a bit groggy from sleep or lack thereof). Today is going to be a take care of odds and ends day before I start clearing again. Have two meetings tomorrow so it it gives a couple days to revive. Got the bill from the electrician and WOW!!! Off to meander through my day. The dogs are demanding a longer walk and it looks like a good day for it. Susan

Now I am going to have that song with me all day.

Good morning. Just a quick note as I dash by on the errand run and again with a cry of "why is nothing ever simple?" Glad to hear that Baby Murphy is improving. Cold and sunny here but we may get up into the low 60's and that should last for a week or so. Mornings are still cold. More later when I have time to settle. Susan

Good morning. A bit warmer this morning when the dogs and I ventured out.... 23F and high will get into the 50's. Fine with me. No trick or treaters last night so the candy will be taken out to the shelter for the staff (bet they have plenty). Since it is all wrapped they can put it out for the customers. It will disappear fast. @smitty34877hope the heating is fixed really quickly today. Not something you want to be without. It is going to take some time adjusting to my new timers on the ETS heaters, but they do work for which I am very grateful. Little new from hear. I am sorry so many are having health issues and wish you all the best and a quick resolution. What issues I have seem to be age related and just general slowing down. Just plodding along but I am going to have to pick up the pace if I want to be ready to cruise in January. Susan

Well, this was a day shot. The electrician arrived about 10:30 and games began. Both heaters are working and he cleaned them both. The older of the two, which has not been cleaned for a few years had a bit of dog hair but was not as bad as I feared. However...... the timing issues turned out to be somewhat complex. I have "time of use" electric which means that timing is important and my bills are generally lower than those of my neighbors.... but... and this was a big but.... The timers had not been set correctly (which is what I was seeing). And to complicate the picture.... one heater was on automatic timing but that timer was connected to a neighbor's box. The other heater was on manual. After some discussion I purchased a box all my very own, not subject to whims of my neighbors or their electricians and had both heaters put on automatic. This cost me labor and the cost of the box, but will over a year or so save me some money. What is nothing ever simple????? The electrician documented the previous work and subsequent issues and is hoping I can get a refund from the electric company. I am not holding my breath. So....little else got done today because either he was working and I would have been climbing over him or the lights were off. I will start again tomorrow. Now off to the trash with the one thing I have ready to discard.... an old rug I have had stashed away. Why I will never know or remember. Susan

Good afternoon. The dogs and I got off to a very chilly start this morning with a temp of 16F. It may get out of the low 40's this afternoon although I doubt it. However it will warm starting tomorrow. The electrician arrived around 9:30 and has been back and forth working on the heater situation which turned out to be far more complicated than I expected. This is going to cost me, but I will be warm (I hope) and the condo will stay consistently warm while I am gone. One less worry. I don't expect many if any trick or treating types tonight. The merchants downtown hold a costume contest and open houses (shops?) with treats and parents regard it as far safer then having kids roaming our rather dark streets. There are a couple small children in our immediate neighborhood and I have stocked a bit of candy just in case. If it does not get claimed tonight I will drop it off for the Humane society staff tomorrow when I run other errands. I have given myself some deadlines for completing a few clearing projects before I need to start worrying pulling myself together for the January cruise. I hope I can stick to my schedule. This week is "throw it out"week. Take care all. @Vict0riannI can identify with your walking issues. I am going to see how I do when I am actually faced with some of the shore excursions I have planned. I see some cancellations in my future. Susan

Both times I cruised this area with HAL I had an ocean view porthole cabin..... I was outside most of the time. I think it was the most active I have been in years. I am not a "dressy" person usually and I wore comfortable clothes and took dark slacks and a couple fancy tops for the dressy nights and was fine. Layers are the key during the days. You will love it. Susan

Have done Antarctica twice with HAL and it was a stunning experience both times. Hope to maybe do it again in the future ..... it is so different than anywhere else. Susan

It was a very brisk 16F when the dogs and I went out. I had to wrestle little Monty into his coat and even then he shivered. They were both glad to come in and so was I. It is supposed to get into the low 40's this afternoon. We have a couple more days before it starts to warm again, but the night temps will still be in the 20's. Guess I had better get used to it. The electrician comes tomorrow to service the heaters. Haven't been to Belfast and I avoid candy corn, and most candy, due to the sugar although I ate a lot of candy corn as a child. Little news from here as my clearing is going very, very slowly. I prefer to read. Thinking the best for all. I am off now to load up the car with a few more boxes and head to the thrift store where I am sure they are tired of seeing me coming. Susan

Terri... I am so glad Jim was not hurt by the fall. I have learned (the hard way) that I have to turn lights on if I get up at night. Fortunately I am so groggy I usually go back to sleep as soon as I crawl back in bed. If not, so be it.... if I go down I will have a terrible time getting up again from the floor. It is just part of getting older unfortunately. Take care. Susan

Good morning. Temperatures are dropping here. It was 28Fwhen the dogs and I marched out this morning (Monty was wearing the jacket I had wrestled him in to). High will be around 62 this afternoon. It will get colder throughout the rest of this week and early next week and snow will fall north of us (I hope). I remember a Halloween snow one year when my neighbor ( a single Mom) was sick and I took her kids treat or treating. They had fun but I was miserable. Have been to Oban.... it used to be a rest day when I had students touring. They loved it.... and they also loved the day tour we took to Iona either just before or just after. My only goal for today is to load up the car and take several boxes and bags out to the thrift store and also drop off some doggie bedding and towels with the shelter. Then I begin sorting on a dresser that was hidden at the back of a closet in my spare bedroom. I suspect most of what is in those drawers can be tossed. At least I hope so. Or maybe it will be more family treasures for the family to reject. Like all, I am appalled to hear of the shooting in Lewiston. And we actually have had two shootings in Durango in the last couple of days which is most unusual. One a domestic dispute of sorts at a local motel with a very bad reputation and the other a fight between two groups of young people at a park led by older men who should know a lot better. The main suspect says they were just planning a fist fight but then he brought 3 guns to they fight. Somehow we all doubt his story. Fortunately the police were able to nab all shooters almost at once. Best wishes and most positive thoughts to all. I am keeping a leery eye on the world in general these days. Life does not seem to get easier. Susan