Adblock Plus Saves Lives

This is just a quick FYI for all my blogging buddies or anyone using Google Chrome browser. Are you sick and tired of flashing, annoying advertisements? I know I am. Some of the sites I visit where getting so maddening they where causing me to harbor violent thoughts towards advertisers ... *lol* FindAGrave in particular had become an exercise in mental torture. Last night I found a great FREE program for eliminating those annoying man-made pestilence.

Go to the Chrome Web Store, type in Adblock Plus, install the program, and you're done! No more wanting to cause bodily harm to any pencil necked geeks who perpetuate that irritating ill treatment for monetary gain.

Ahhhhh. Urge to kill fading ... fading ... gone.

That was as easy as falling off a blog.

Mischievous Country Wickedness

We suffered a mild vandalism last night. Our house sits 350' from the dirt road on almost 7 acres of tranquility. Many years ago, I had an electric gate, lights, etc. installed at the entrance to insure privacy. And because I try to always exhibit community pride, there are pretty decorations and flowers meant to please all who pass by.

It’s my little Corner of Zen and a friendly wave to all.

Last evening someone on a UTV (like a 4 wheeler but can seat 2 or more) tore my husband’s hand painted bird gourd down, flinging it with great force at the gate entrance. Then proceeded to leave 3 beer cans and container. Thank heavens the Carolina Wren's are done nesting or I would have went ballistic in every Irish sense of the word and sought the villains out to do unspeakable things to their body parts. I still was SO ANGRY at first but have pretty much calmed down since. I don't think we were singled out but still feel a little violated. 

I get asked sometimes as to why we're not friends with many of the neighbors. This is why. I dislike saying it, but my impression of the reason many that live in the country are here because they're losers. These fish eyed mental midgets can't cut it in a neighborhood where one must be civil or suffer the consequences. I pick up the leavings of their dull, zero purpose lives almost daily on our walks.

This event has helped me to finally decide to call Mr. B. to install security cameras that has been discussed in days past. I dislike going this route but it looks like this may be our only option. Catch the perp’ on camera. Call the police. Let them handle it. Well, I call them police, in the loosest sense of the word. Just between you, me and the fence post, the local law force is more like the Keystone Cops. Good luck with that, right?!

If we go that route, I'll be sure to share a post that guarantees to be imbued with snarky comments and all. Right now, I pray that the pen is mightier than the sword.

From Treehouse To Tiny House

Since the advent of Treehouse Masters (Fridays, 10 pm, Animal Planet) about two or three years ago, I have desired a house high above the ground. Hubby and I know how to construct things. We have put in plumbing, electrical, carpentry, telephones, etc. How hard could it be, right? Famous Last Words. But time has been unkind and taken a toll on the frail shells we walk around in. So, with a heavy heart, that idea was laid aside. Now, thanks to watching Tiny House Nation the plan is to take a different tack. As soon as we’re able, a local distributor will supply the tiny pre-constructed building (8' x 16') with a porch and convert it to an extra bedroom with 1/2 bath. The buildings are surprisingly affordable and the manufacturer will finish them nearly anyway one desires. The new 8,000 BTU unit from the Great Air Conditioner Debacle purchased during the 4th of July weekend will be more than ample for comfort. 

Being a nature girl, I might even order the building with two windows placed together to make a small picture window facing the woods. We also plan to complete all our own electrical, plumbing, flooring, walls. It will save money going this route. 

Ok, I admit it, I’m also a bit of a control freak. *grin*

[click to enlarge]

The concrete block and solids (left) have been purchased to build the footers. This morning we began clearing the area of low limbs (middle & right), and were going to complete it, but the heat and humidity prematurely ran us inside. It is so bad right now I almost succumbed to heat prostration. Good thing there is lots of time.

[click to enlarge]

The inside decorations will be mostly Mason Jars (light fixtures, toothbrush holder, liquid soap holder, etc.) or anything that looks “country”. This is the plan, anyway, but as many know, the best laid plans may go awry.

Then I was racking my brain trying to come with a clever name for the shed. (I have to name everything.) A dear blogging friend came to the rescue! Cattales supplied an appropriate name for the new cabin: The Bird House. Clever, huh?! Why didn’t I think of that.

So that's been our week so far. What have y'all been up to?

The Byrds - I Wasn't Born To Follow

No Funny Friday today. There's no stomach for humour at this time since, thanks to our lack of law's in America, I realize we are living under a Marxist regime. As one can feel the air heavy with moisture before a rain storm, I can feel an armed insurrection is in the air.

As I stated at Simply Linda's blog a moment ago:

Banning the Confederate flag is a further assault on the South perpetrated by a man who was possibly born, and definitely raised, in Indonesia. He is not an American in his heart. I am a born and bred Southerner, who not only grew up with Confederate flags everywhere but owned some. There was no racism expressed by any of the people I knew that owned them. It's our culture. It pertains to a time in our history when we where all fighting for our sovereignty. I am deeply saddened in my heart about the killings in Charleston. What exacerbated the event was our alleged "President" on National News stated that the flag was racist and "it's in our DNA". He is truly evil and so are any of his followers / voters. I truly believe that The Left wants a race war. This is their desire so they can impose Martial Law with the goal to compensate guns. Then, all hell will break lose. As the Bible says, the earth is the Devil's domain. In our country, this all started when the government removed Christ from the Public Schools. We are empty clay vessels, created that way to hold God within us. When God is removed, the devil steps in. We've gone downhill from there. May God have mercy on us even though we (and that includes silent Christians) are undeserving."He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." [Rev. 22:20]

Here's a little blast from the past.



I think it's time for road trip.

Everybody Dance Now

Ripley's Believe It Or Not

I enjoy reading about medieval times, so, the little ditty in the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not cartoon the other day caught my attention. Imagine my delight that there is more ancient history new to me to investigate.

Brains much more disciplined than mine have researched the dancing mania of 1518 in Strasbourg, France. There are a number of articles on the internet if one is so inclined. I read one article that said it could have been a disease caused by a mold on their bread that caused hallucinations. Another stated it was the grinding poverty combined with a practice of worshipping “saints”, especially one that was a god of dance, then a mass hysteria ensued. There's probably a multitude of other theories floating around. But no one really seems to know for sure what happened except that hundreds died dancing.

It’s a fascinating read. Has anyone else ever heard of this strange event?

A Few Articles Of Note:

Dancing Plague of 1518 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Dancing Plague of 1518 - Historic Mysteries

Dancing death - BBC - Today

Monday Observations ~ What's On Your Desk Top

It’s June. I’m weary of hearing about politics and watching the stock market crash. Money is such a fleeting thing. Thanks to the government, it has no real value anymore. Thus the "I have a hankerin’ to post silly observations". June in Southeast Georgia is such a boring month. Besides, my hands ache more and more from arthritis. Some days it’s almost unbearable. My greatest fear is that one day it will curtail my riding a manual motorcycle. There are automatics available but, oh, please, that’s blasphemy! *lol* At the moment, the tingling pain and swelling can be temporarily abated with soaking the hands in warm water, Aleve and then wearing a wrist brace when typing or gardening.

I think I want my next big writing project to be rewriting the My Faith section here (I've evolved there and need to express it).

So, this is today’s observation.

Up until yesterday I had a nice summer photo of our heavily shaded dirt road viewed through the V-Strom’s windscreen. I bored with that and this weekend changed it to a brilliant orange canna lily my husband snapped on one of his solitary rides. This one was growing wild against a Stop sign.

By the way, on our rides, we carry the portable Samsung 45-22.5 mm 1:25-63 25 mm HD camera. It’s lightweight, inexpensive to replace, and takes sharp photos when needed.

What's on your Desk Top?

Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

Motorcycling could be classified as an anti-social hobby. Sure, there are others who ride, but when one is in the saddle with a helmet securely fastened, zooming down the road at 60+ miles per hour, negotiating turns and errant wildlife, that makes conversation impossible. So often times one is left alone with one’s thoughts for hours at a time.

There seems to be a recurring theme on these lonely rides of late. As I lean my two wheels into a tight turn, I think of how important it is to lean on God. Learning to lean on Him even when the degree of the angle seems a bit too steep for my level of expertise. He has a plan that I probably don't understand. I already trust that the unchangeable physics of momentum and gravity will always be what they are and keep me upright once the danger has passed. How much less then is it to trust the One who created these physics? I must also trust that He will keep my Spirit upright when I need it most. He is the One who set these wheels in motion. To not trust Him is to deny His power.

Perhaps these thoughts are products of the escalating frightening news: Baltimore riots, terrorist attacks, non-existent interest rates punishing those of us who actually saved for retirement, homelessness is worse than ever, taxes and inflation escalating to unbelievable heights, and so on. There seems to be so many now that are disenfranchised, perhaps for good reason, perhaps not. I don’t know their hearts or their experiences. I worry about them. I worry about US.

As I motor away into the twilight, with the ethereal specters chasing the spinning rubber, I pray that I never forget to lean on His everlasting arms and trust that “ … all things work together for the good of those who love God”. [Romans 8:28]

“My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

[Psalm 73:26]

PBS: Ancient Roads From Christ To Constantine

A few weeks ago, I happened upon a very interesting six hour mini-series on PBS titled “Ancient Roads From Christ To Constantine” by London based Jonathan Phillips. It’s a very well done. So far, I’m impressed by how thorough Mr. Phillips was in researching the history of the time. He couldn’t quite get it right about the Apostleship of Paul (Saul of Tarsus) and Paul’s importance to the Gentiles though. Perhaps Mr. Phillips has not been taught the Grace Message and why Paul was raised up after the stoning of Stephen but he did seem to get the history of all his journey’s and writings correct. With all the persecution going on at that time and then the twisting of the truth when merged with the still pagan Roman culture, it’s amazing that the message survived at all. The Grace Message given to Paul was kept safe in the Netherlands for many centuries during the time of the Roman conquests. God always keeps His Word safe so that all may hear and be saved.

But, back to the series, I admit, I’m very weak on this part of history because I don’t understand Middle Eastern customs or how they live. Quite frankly, never been overly interested. I’ve been so focused on learning what God wants for me in this life that sometimes I forget about the humans surrounding Him during the time that He walked the earth. This production has more-or-less fleshed out what that area was like back then. Until the series, I had never heard of Josephus (born Joseph ben Matityahu, lived 37 AD to 100 AD) and one of his writings titled "The Jewish War". I looked his writings up on Amazon, thinking that I would like to read it, but after reading the reviews, I think the book would too deep for me.

Sometimes I forget it was such violent, unstable time then. I do recommend the series. It's aiding me in learning about Christ during His time on earth. 

Here's a promo at Vimeo of "Ancient Roads". Enjoy!

(If it's visible on your end, please excuse the strange font changes and sometimes it goes "bold" without my asking it too. Blogger is messing up again.)

God Bless America, A Throwback From 1970

I received this in e-mail a few minutes ago and thought I'd share the inspiration. You'll probably never see this out of Hollyweird again:

Some familiar faces for the 4th!
In 1970, John Wayne hosted a variety show celebrating America's history. Included in the cast were the following (some were uncredited): Ann Margret , Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Dan Blocker, Roscoe Lee Browne, George Burns, Owen Bush, James Caldwell, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Bing Crosby, Phyllis Diller, Edward Faulkner, Lorne Greene, Harry Hickox, Celeste Holm, Bob Hope, Kay E. Kuter, Michael Landon, Forrest Lewis, Dean Martin, Dick Martin, Ross Martin, Greg Morris, Ricky & David Nelson, Hugh O'Brian, Dan Rowan, William Shatner, Orville Sherman, Red Skelton, Tom Smothers, Leslie Uggams, Jesse Vint, John Wayne, Patrick Wayne, Dennis Weaver, Dan White, Hal Williams, The Doodletown Pipers. The closing piece featured many of the show's guests. Enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10203900770857211

Wasn't that fun! I miss all the old time actors so much but I especially miss living in America.

Ride Safe,

Funny And Not So Funny Friday ~ Therapeutic Screen Saver

I have temporarily sprained, or I have arthritis in, both hands. Riding is out, for now. Typing is also painfully difficult so I will be off-line, hopefully only for a spell. I pray it doesn't take long to heal. Isn't growing old fun!? NOT!

Plus, next week we will face the agonizing decision (I think ... if I don't change my mind ... again) that we will have to send Lucy the boxer to Rainbow Bridge. I can't even say the word. It hurts too much. Anyway, she's just in too much pain to continue. If she can't get better it's cruel to drag this out. She's old and it's "time". *sigh* I'm trying not to think about what faces us. I'm gonna miss that big, sweet dog.

But, life goes on. Here's something to tickle the funny bone for Funny Friday. Might as well laugh. Beats the stew out of crying.

Enjoy! ~:)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is a relaxing and therapeutic screen saver.

 As you watch this screen saver, if the falling figure gets stuck, all you have to do is drag the figure to the side a bit to avoid the obstacle. You can also grab the figure with the mouse and bash it into things. I made sure to beat mine to a pulp a few times.

Or, you can place the figure between the obstacles and watch it flail helplessly, which may make you feel better.

Therapeutic Screen Saver

It's Been A Draining Day

Oil, that is ... Black gold ... Texas tea ...

*lol*

While we sit on the sidelines, awaiting to see which way Tropical Storm Arthur heads, we decided that this would be a good day to perform all the necessary oil changes here at the Red Bird Acres residence. Seems like, everything came due at the same time anyway. Might as well bite the bullet and get 'er dun!

The (almost) all house 16K generator is purring like a kitten again ...

My Suzuki V-Strom anxiously awaits me for another ride ...

... and, of course, Hubby's pretty new Honda after over 2,800 miles, finally needed an oil change.

So, thanks to my husband's perseverance, expert knowledge and my handing out lots of ice tea, we're good for another 3,000 or so miles. A well maintained bike is a happy bike. It's a good feeling having so many projects completed in such a short period of time.

Now, we can play!

Ride Safe,

Your Greatest Need #SavedByGrace #PrayForOurCountry

Did you ever hear the Word, or maybe something on TV or the radio or whatever, that you really, really needed to hear. Right then. Right now. Right at that moment? And you knew it was God speaking to your heart?

It's a, "Better listen, kid, I love you and want you to understand" moment.

This just happened to me.

I was feeling spiritually low, again. Discouraged, spit out, tired, weary, frustrated. So ANGRY I can't put together a complete sentence without wanting to throw something! All these wicked people. Prospering. While we struggle to make ends meet with no end in sight.

In today's Two Minutes With The Bible, the Lord sent us all who would listen the encouragement to continue on in prayer. And I pray that it may "edify" others as well. I hope this lifts your spirits as well.

Ride Safe,

---

Your Greatest Need 

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Berean Bible Society

Printer Friendly Version

Even in these challenging financial times, the greatest need of a Christian is not monetary. It is rather found in Colossians 1:11, where Paul prays that we might be

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all…”

Unto all what? Whatever it is, Paul is convinced we are going to have to be “strengthened” with “all might” according to “His glorious power” to obtain it. As we read on, Paul tells us the goal of all this empowerment:

“…unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”

Patience? The reason we need all this mighty empowering is so we can be patient? While this mayseem anticlimactic, we submit that patience is our greatest need. We need patience to put up with the world’s wickedness, the abortions, etc., patience in knowing the Second Coming of Christ will right the world’s wrongs. We need patience as televangelists continue to dominate the airwaves with their dilutions and pollutions of the gospel, and patience as Bible teachers muddle the minds of the saints by their failure to rightly divide the Word. And since no man today has the gift of healing, we need patience with our physical infirmities, and longsuffering as we wait for that wonderful change that will come to our bodies at the Rapture (Phil. 3:20,21).

Finally, we need patience with one another, as we learn to not just put up with other believers, but to actually give them the same unconditional love and acceptance God extends to us. 

Moses was patient with unbelieving Pharaoh, but lost his patience with his brethren. How like us! But ask yourself, when did David show greater spiritual strength, when he slewGoliath, or when he refused to slay Saul?

Paul says we are to be strengthened to all patience “according to His glorious power,” but what is God’s glorious power? The destructive power He exhibited at the Red Sea is called “glorious” (Ex. 15:6), but we suggest that God’s glorious power today is seen inHis patience. The fact that God could put an end to the abortions and religious confusion, but doesn’t, is His most glorious power in the dispensation of grace.

The apostle concludes by praying that we might be patient “with joyfulness,” perhaps the hardest part of longsuffering. God doesn’t chafe under the vexations He receives from the world, religion, and the Body of Christ, and neither should we!

If this kind of power were not available to us, Paul would not be praying that we might have it. And so may his prayer also be the prayer of our hearts, as we enthusiastically study the only source of spiritual strength, God’s Word rightly divided.

---

To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

How Now Brown Towels

We just returned from a sojourn to the Jesup Walmart. After wading through the usual sea of tattooed Wal-Martians and cheaply made Chinese goods, I noticed that there's not as many people there as there used to be on a Saturday. The store looks ragged too, like it needs a good washing.  You know the economy is suffering when the poor can't afford to spend their welfare checks at a Walmart. After side stepping several Prozac laced urchins blocking the isles, I did manage to find a few good bargains. One item we needed was some type of throw to put on the brown living room furniture for the Jack Russell Terriorists to lay on. They're fairly clean for dogs considering they have such easy access to the outdoors. It's their tiny white fur on brown upholstery that's bothersome.

I decided on bath size chocolate colored towels for only $5.88 a piece. Good deal huh?

Now we're preparing to chow down on DiGiorno pizza (my favorite is the Supreme with thin crust, we add extra Pepperoni) and iced Samuel Adams Summer Ale.

I wish everyone was here to join us.

Ride Safe,

Thistle Cove Farm Is For Sale #SouthwesternVirginia #WorkingFarm

I would like to share with all my blogging buddy's that a fantastic working farm is For Sale in Southwestern Virginia. The 5500 sf almost completely renovated (80%) home is nestled on 27 acres of take your breathe away land. It's a working farm but can just as easily be a nice place to relax and enjoy the countryside. I know the person who has this farm, and I hope it can make a new owner as happy as it has made the current owner.

If interested, pop on over to her blog to read more about it.
http://thistlecovefarm.blogspot.com/2014/05/thistle-cove-farm-for-sale.html

These are the advertisements:
http://southwestva.blogspot.com/
http://realestate.wsj.com/item/5342901#

Thanks for stopping by!

The Invisible Woman Or Sometimes I Really Hate It When I'm Right

I once was a nervous talker but with age now try to listen more than talk. It's partly because I just don't feel like my life is all that interesting, but really I find it's more advantageous to not be verbose but and to actually hear what others think first. That's not to influence my own steadfast decisions but because I like to know what kind of person they are before attempting any kind of meaningful friendship. What few friends I have are "keepers" because they are kind souls that can be trusted to look to God for guidance and not be constantly watching which way the tide is shifting so they can have an opinion. Plus, for some reason, they actually like me. That's always a happy mystery [grin] for which I am very grateful.

How does one transcend from verbose to listener? Experience, yeah. In my case it was also from an outside source. It was many years ago, when we where still living in The Big City, I had the good fortune to have access to the Dr. Laura Show. Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a professional psychiatrist who hosted a daily talk show on the local AM station. Her broadcast featured troubled souls calling in asking for advice for how to get out of their usually self-made messes. Good advice is consistent on the talk show. I was working a 40 hour plus week but I would try to always find time during lunch break to listen to the pearls of wisdom from Dr. Laura. She'll never know how she saved my emotional bacon many times from making an otherwise detrimental decision. However, I know I'm not a professional at analyzing others. I've made many errors in that arena, but I feel that her advice has helped me gain a lot of insight into my fellow humans psyche which has greatly improved my life.

My father-in-law paid us an uncharacteristic visit this weekend. As you know, I'm not close to my father-in-law. Even though we where once all living in the same City we've only met face-to-face a few times in the 35 years of marriage. Husband has regaled me with all the stories of his growing up. Of how both his parents have dealt with the three of them. Maybe it was not the right thing to do but I had F-I-L already categorized. Even without personal meetings, I had mentally pegged him as being self-serving, cold, untrustworthy with feelings, a braggart and distant. He's already deliberately hurt my feelings many times. To be fair, I know that I have a strong personality. And if someone acts uncaring or unkind, I walk away, never to return. I've no time for unfeeling cretins. This weekend, again, he has treated me like I'm invisible. For the last time. Without going into detail about this weekend's visit, I feel more right than ever about father-in-law. He's not a "keeper". Emotionally, I'm walking away. I see my only recourse now as to do what I hope would please God: continue to always be polite, don't gossip behind his back (gossip is mean and pointless) and welcome him in our home as long as he behaves. He's not shown any outward aggression but I can tell that I don't "rate" in his eyes. Sadly I'll probably not ever be friends with him. In my heart of hearts I did so want him to attempt to be more engaging. That he would want to know me as a daughter-in-law. My husband and his dear sister deserve so much better. Husband's brother can take of himself (long story). So, I'm rejoicing that he's back in his cave and we are secure and snug in ours. "And never the twain shall meet ..." [Rudyard Kipling]

So just call me The Invisible Woman.

You know, sometimes I really hate it when I'm right. I did so want to be wrong this time.

Taking Some Time Off

I'm doing much better today after the bout of cold sores. Thank you everyone for your prayers and kind thoughts. Still have one stubborn sore that doesn't want to leave but, for all intensive purposes, the spawn on my lip is just about gone. Also, the Lysine that was recommended as a healer seems effective. The sores are dropping off like flies (boy, does that hurt!). Sorry for that mental image. Since taking the Lysine I've also noticed that my skin tone is better (smoother, shiny, soft). Could be the prescribed medicine, so, the overall results are skewed. At the moment I believe that it's the Lysine. I noticed a change in my skin after one full day of taking the pills. That's when the lip peeling started and the true healing really began to be noticeable.

I will be off-line for a couple of days. My father-in-law is enroute to our adobe hacienda today. As I reflect on the past 36 years of our marriage, a lot has happened. I reflect how we once all lived in the same city. We moved north and he moved south. He is now about 3 1/2 hours away. He's only visited us once in all that time. Once. In all probability it's because of his marriage to the Wicked Witch (who just passed away) but I know it's also because he is a emotionally weak man. My loving, sweet husband knows this and it saddens him. I reassure him with the fact that it's not personal. I have experience in this because my father was the same way. You know the type: let the "bad" wife make all the decisions so he could play the Good Guy but saying "I can't visit". Yeah, right, I'm not buying it Dad. Weak men, especially when it comes to being attentive fathers, make me ill.

As my dear friend Simply Linda so rightly always states, "Just keeping it real."

So, I will be pretend smiling, hoping for the best, not mentioning the past and be the perfect hostess this weekend rather than chatting with the 'buds' on our blogs and riding. Our late Easter meal of potato salad is made. The spiral honey-baked ham ready to be warmed. And the Bush's brown sugar baked beans are on the shelf. Thank goodness for can openers and pre-cooked meals. They make me look good. *lol*

Therefore, unless something unforeseen happens and there's a change, see y'all next week. I hope everyone has a very happy and blessed weekend.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Press Any Key To Continue Putting Out Fires ...

What a day this has been! We've been trapped inside like hamsters in a cage due to a weather system dragging up copious amounts of rain from the Gulf of Mexico. It has literally poured all day. Not being in a cleaning mood, I figured it was a good day to get our new Windows 8 computers up-to-speed.

Not to brag, but I was quite proficient on the XP's. I had all that right clicking and such down pat. Now it feels like I'm having to start all over again with learning how to use the Windows 8.1. It took me a week to figure out how to have a word processing program again. These things aren't sold with MicroSoft Works anymore (cheap skates). My beloved Lotus 1-2-3 program that I've used 'forever', well, at least since I graced the business world, is no longer compatible. Lotus had the best SpreadSheets hands down. Oh well. So, I googled what to do about it. The Windows 8 had pre-installed a free WordPad program. It's not fancy but it gets the job done. That's what I'm pecking away at right now. I've even taught myself how to 'pin' programs that I use consistently to the bottom taskbar. [patting self on back] If you can recommend any other word processing programs, preferably free or cheap, I'm all ears.

My husband is enjoying his new 10" HP Laptop. He's only yelled at it a couple of times.

So far. [smile]

We're both having to resave all our favorite bookmarks. That's been fun. [not] At least I had the presence of mind to copy down all the bookmarks before shutting down the old XP's in an e-mail and send them to myself. Now I have permanent files of all my if I don't have them I'll get even weirder needed haunts.

And that's been our day. Busy work that doesn't amount to a hill of beans. My brain is now fried and I could use a good soak in the tub. Maybe with a glass of wine?

Maybe the bottle ... ?? [just kidding]

I may take out the metal steed for a nice spin tomorrow. I have an Orthodontist appointment in a neighboring town. It is suppose to be beautiful with highs in the mid-60's. That's a little chilly for April in southeast Georgia but I like it. I'll have to wear the thick Mercury jacket. Alas, I'm sure it will become more like the South again with steaming hot weather. Dreadful Summer is not too far distant. I do so dislike that time of year.

For My Blogging Friends Up North #Spring

This is what we're seeing right now in Southeast Georgia.

I'm not rubbing it in. Really. Just thought everyone might want a different view other than snow.

This is one our neighbor's field of mustard. 

I never knew that mustard on the hoof looks so pretty.

I hope your views improve soon.

Have a great weekend folks!

Press Any Key To Continue #XP #Windows8

I must be a true Luddite because I hate change! A couple of days ago, I learned that starting April 8, 2014, Windows XP will no longer be supported by Microsoft.

Panic mode!

As usual, I must be the last person in America to know this! Our home currently uses three computers. Now I learn they need upgrading and/or replacing?! [Oh, boy, another expense ... sigh] I did try to update the computers on-line and the Microsoft website said, "Nah, girl, that ain't happenin'. You have to spend major bucks on new equipment." [lol] In actuality, it showed the "Your computer is not compatible for an upgrade." 

Well, La De Da!

I think I have a cheaper solution that buying a whole new system. The Dell Desktop here in my office still has a good monitor, keyboard, speakers and mouse. I can reuse them on a new tower.

Right?! 

Hope so because I'm going with that. For now. I'll also need to buy a separate floppy disk access (is that the right term?). So, after perusing the Wal-Mart website last night I happened on a refurbished HP 110-023wb Desktop with Windows 8, 8 GB, 1 TB Hard Drive, etc. for under $300 with a limited warranty. I made sure to read the reviews. According to the previous purchasers who posted, I can still use my "old" software programs. If I have to upgrade all those too, that will become costly.

But I still eventually need two small Laptops and/or Notebooks. I checked into a Tablet, but Husband said they are too hard to use with arthritic hands. Any suggestions or recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Also, any suggestions on how to get rid of the old computers? I'd prefer them to be "scrubbed" for security and privacy reasons. And I don't like the thought of cluttering up the landfill with usable electronic equipment. 

I hope everyone has a happy (and cheaper) weekend.

~ Ride Safe ~

This Day Has Just Flu By

I'm down with a mild 24 hour something ...

or other.

Poor Hubby had it first, now me.

I keep dozing off in front of the computer.

What treatments do you recommend when you have the flu?

Opps, gotta run ... *lol*