* RECUPERATING FROM EYE SURGERY *

Have I mentioned anything about needing eye surgery?? I don't think I did...

I have had double-vision for SEVEN MONTHS. I was given every test imaginable, had 3 MRI's, and tons of blood tests. After seeing all kinds of specialists, and wearing my prescription glasses with special "prisms", it was determined that I needed eye surgery to correct the problem. 

This photo shows what the "prisms" look like on glasses. It amazed me that looking through these lines gave me correct vision, although it wasn't perfect. They are made out of soft plastic and just "stick" to the lens...only one lens. 

After going through 3 different kinds in a short period of time, that's when it was decided I needed surgery. I am healing well and haven't been in any pain, although I look awful! 

I'd never seen any other kind of "prism" other than the pyramid shaped ones we had in school...

~~~~~~

AND the ones in the movie "Pollyanna" 

with Hayley Mills!

I LOVE that movie and as a child I never could figure out why all the grown ups didn't like her cheerfulness! I'm also a Pollyanna and proud of it! 💗

"If you look for the bad in people you're sure to find it, so look for the good in them instead." - Pollyanna

* YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED, & NEITHER DO I *

I'd like to share a bizarre little story that still baffles me.

My Kodak printer/copier ran out of color ink about a week ago,

and I finally went to Walmart on Saturday to buy a new package.

It was properly sealed. 

The box had not been opened.

There weren't any cuts or tears in the cardboard.



I grabbed my scissors to cut open the silver bag.......

And saw that it had already been cut open!

 It wasn't a jagged tear. It was a cut. 

I immediately thought, This is bad. This is really bad.

They are not going to allow me to return or exchange this!

 

 

The orange, plastic cover was snapped onto it as it's supposed to be.

But that ink cartridge was EMPTY! When I removed my used one, and clicked the "new" one into place, I just knew it was either empty or close to it because it was very lightweight. I did try to use it to print something, but the copier just kept yelling at me to replace my empty cartridge! (Why can't it still go ahead and print black and white documents?? That's what I use the most.) My stomach just sank. I knew if I took it back to Walmart and told them the truth, they'd never believe me.

Heck, I wouldn't believe me.

 

 

Well, I figured out a way to not lose any money in this little predicament. The same day I bought the ink cartridge, I also bought a new watch ($10.88) and some makeup ($7.00?) Luckily, I hadn't opened either one yet, and so they are going back to the store for a refund of almost the price of the ink cartridge!

I don't have to have those two items, but I do have to have my ink!

 

~~~

 

Sheesh! I finally got all my laptop and e-mail issues straightened out, and then this happened! Oh well....it could be a lot worse! Just call me Pollyanna!

 

 

Margo is My Hostess, Critter Alley is The Mostess, & It's Dang Cold Here!

Well, it's another bitterly cold night here in the good ol' Midwest. I find it quite funny that this is the coldest and snowiest winter we've had in about THIRTY YEARS and it's the first winter The Ronald and I have had to go OUTSIDE with Vern when nature calls. Our previous house didn't have a fenced back yard, but we had a long chain that hooked up right next to our back patio door. All we had to do was slide open the door, hook up the chain to his collar, and off he went. But, this winter, we live in the two-story townhouse, and we have to walk Vern on the leash whenever he "has to go." I'm trying to stay Pollyanna-ish about it...but it's getting kind of hard. Hey, I'm not always happy!...But I was able to savor a glorious view the other morning. The sun was coming up in the East, and the moon was still high in the western sky. Such beauty! And I reminded myself right then and there how grateful I am for my life. I am healthy and I can go on walks with my beloved dog. I get exercise and fresh air. I can see and hear and smell. I just bundle up the best I can, and Vern wears his bright red coat, and off we go! We always warm up when we get back inside. 

  And now, some writerly news. Margo Dill is hosting me on her blog today! I wrote a short guest post and we're also having a give-away for a print copy of my memoir. Please stop by, say hello and enter to win, even if you've already read it. You can always give it to someone else as a gift.

  Also, I didn't know it, but Pat Wahler at Critter Alley also wrote a blog post about my memoir. You can read it HERE.

  I still have plenty of writerly things to share, but again, they will have to wait another day or so. 

~~~

* Welcome to my newest follower Rebecca Douglass. I hope you will stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you so much! *



"Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat." ~Author Unknown

* This 'n That on a Thursday Evening *

You know how thoughts just seem to pop in and out of your head? Sometimes remembered, but most likely forgotten, and some are truly important.

Yesterday I decided I need to order one of those waterproof thingys for the shower, so I can write down those awesome brainstorms before they're forgotten!

Another thing that popped into my head, and where this came from I have NO idea, was that if I had to describe my present-day personality combining three literary characters, they would be: Pollyanna, Little Orphan Annie, and Lucy Van Pelt.

Pollyanna: She always looked for, and found, the good in everything. There was always something to be glad about. As a young girl, every time I watched the movie on TV with Hayley Mills as Pollyanna, I'd get so upset with all the adults in it because they'd get angry at her for always being so cheerful. It just didn't make sense to me, and still doesn't!

Little Orphan Annie: She always looked forward to tomorrow, because things were going to be better then, or at least they could be. She had spunk, self-reliance, and hope. She never gave up.

Lucy Van Pelt: Oh my goodness...there's so many reasons! She's such a smart-alecky, know-it-all, and still says the funniest things.

~~~

Okay, now that I shared that bit of trivia, I must apologize for not getting back to my blog like I kept saying I would. I've been in such a whirlwind that continues to spin, so I'm just going to post the short version.

1) I didn't go shopping after all on Small Business Saturday, except at my local resale boutique and hit the mother lode on great clothes. They were actually in my size, fit perfectly, and of course were very inexpensive. What more could a gal ask for?!

2) Have I mentioned I was interviewed on a local radio station? It was last Wednesday, Nov 27th, the day before Thanksgiving. It was lots of fun and I wasn't a bit nervous. It can be heard here. Just click on Lets Talk Shop for 11/27/2013. Then move the cursor to about 0:55:20. That's where my part begins. 

3) For the very first time, I'm attending the Erma Bombeck Writing Workshop! It's in April of 2014. Yesterday at noon was the opening to sign up and it was sold out within hours! I would've been so disappointed if I hadn't gotten in. I'm still going to submit something to the humor contest though, hoping to maybe win a free workshop like my friend, Donna Volkenannt did last year!

That's it for tonight. Wishing you all a very warm and comfy home if you're in the frigid areas of the world. And to those of you who may be too hot.....as in Australia....I wish you coolness!


"Can I help it if I was born with crabby genes?!" -- Lucy Van Pelt

"Watching your graceful movements on the pitcher's mound lulled me to sleep." -- Lucy Van Pelt

"The sun'll come out Tomorrow, so you gotta hang on till tomorrow. Come what may. Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya Tomorrow. You're only a day away. -- Little Orphan Annie

"See here, little girl, we might just as well settle this thing right now, once and for all," he began testily. "I've got something besides the weather to think of. I don't know whether the sun shines or not."
Pollyanna beamed joyously, "No sir; I thought you didn't. That's why I told you."