KateP's musings

Most of yesterday became a blur after I had gotten an email from a fellow DTC member alerting me that my email may have been phished and so I had to go through a few hassles to change my password.   I had to delete from the memory and it finally worked but now has messed up my outlook for that particular email address. So now I have to go to the actual website for it.   The other two g-mail accounts seem fine.    I had to recover my pin number for the windows part of the computer too but that also seems to be working fine as well. I would like to tell who ever thought it was all right for you to invade my world like that should be ashamed of yourself.    It is just spitefulness that someone can do that. I did call my aunt for a post Mother’s Day call.   Now I remember why I don’t call her often.   The conversations or calls last no more than 10 minutes.   She also will remind the caller/me three times that she is 95 years old.  ...

Do you ever see those commercials on TV or online about people rushing around their world doing things to be organized or active?  Then the VO says you may have manic tendencies? Well I sometimes wonder if I am that way? I have had moments that I can get busy trying to clean up things and being organized. For example,  after posting my Thankful Thursday list I changed the emails linked to the blogs to my primary google email.  On the theory I wanted to leave the yahoo just for the Ladies guild stuff. Not sure if that’s working or not. I have put in the PTO requests for next week at work.  My hope is Supervisor will be in tomorrow and approve them before I leave next week.  The first one isn’t going under the FMLA (not sure they would think its included). Just learned that the Orange location of LL Bean (near Trader Joe’s) is closing because its so close to the New Haven location.  That means the twenty people in the Orange location will have ...

AS the processing of trying to understand the latest school shooting begins or continues.  I have read and heard “More needs to be done”.  They would be right.  I don’t believe AK47’s or military arsenal should be sold to civilians.  I do believe as Brian Van Brunt, the executive director of the National Behavioral Intervention Team Association stated Friday morning that is not just a legal or Mental Health that needs to help but the community . Samantha Haviland confirms the importance of Community help. Now I know that we as a community may not be qualified but we have to help those who are mentally ill or with substance abuse.  There needs to be programs within the town, and groups that can help.  Yes the states may have cut the funding for it but the local citizens need to help out too.  I know I will be Helping out Bridges here in town. The FBI is going to be under scrutiny now with the additional information that is coming out that they wer...

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you had a great weekend.  Despite the crazy weather we had (that was predicted) I did have a great weekend.   Saturday afternoon we had our car wash unfortunately it was called off after 2 due to unforeseen weather coming.  We really didn’t have that many cars come for the car wash but I don’t know how much we made all together (tickets were sold prior to event as well).  I stopped at mcdonald’s on the way home.  One of the Steak burgers and shake.   ONce I got home i watched TV and took a nap with the kitties.  The rest of the night did some laundry and watched TV. Sunday I woke up early to the sound of rain and thunder.  The thunder eventually ended but the rain continued until mid morning.  I eventually got up and fed the cats and then watched TV for a while with Tiger on my lap.  We stayed like that for awhile then she got up and I got up around 8:30 and started getting ready for bingo....

Oy Vey.  My sister called me on saturday to check in and to let me know a cousin sent an email that has upset her very much.  It was mainly directed at her but it also included DLH and myself because we didn’t include Jim in the family wide email about Nelson or the birthday party.  He also sent it to the entire list of cousins.  He basically told Liz whatever issues she has with our brother to “get over it”.  He called her some names too.  Later on that day I got a text from Jim about the dates for the scholarship and then he also led into me for not telling him about the party or about Nelson and I feel he got nasty with me.  I also most shot off the reply but decided to wait and talk it over with Debra. Liz and I discussed at great lengths (she talked I listened) about it later that day and she is very hurt and angry with cousin J for this and isn’t going to apologize for anything.  she feels if she has done something someone needs to step ...

February 14, 2014 Dear Friends:     Well Happy Valentine’s Day everyone I hope you get to share it with the one you love.  The atmosphere around the house is still fairly cool even though I did apologize once again.  Of course Mom isn’t going to take responsibility for her side of it and that still annoys me.   I should know that she never will but that shouldn’t be the legacy to leave behind for her family.     Today was a really warm day it got into the low 40’s by mid afternoon.  It melted a lot of the snow and made for better walking conditions.  IT was starting to melt when I left the house this morning.  It is supposed to drop to mid 20’s tonight and we are supposed to get more snow tomorrow .  If that’s the case then I have to cancel the hair appointment. Work went well I got a lot done by 3 and worked on some of the re-address mail as well.   Even though I worked on it the pile is starting t...

Dear Debra Good Morning and Happy Independence Day!    I hope this finds you well.  I am still fighting with the scratchy throat but am determined not to let it get in my way of finally getting to meet young Luca and Miss Olivia at my sisters family picnic in Wallingford.  Mom has decided she would go with me after all.  The only reason she wasn’t going was if Jim and Kristina were still here.  They left yesterday afternoon after an hour and half at the WH picnic. The picnic was great even though Liz bit my head off  regarding Jim’s behavior.  She didn’t like that I was defending why he hadn’t called her when he arrived and or yesterday morning or that he didn’t go down to the beach where she had been swimming with the children.  I was angry with her for a short time but I think she was a little pissed over all for the night.  One of Bob’s family friends witnessed  the little interaction and I asked him his view on it and he ag...

For the last couple of days I have been rushing around.  I overslept on Thursday and was caught in traffic getting off the street and coming home for the last two days. Work has been busy but good got a lot done but as always still have lots to do.  The retirement party for Hyacinth was wonderful saw many people I haven’t seen in a long while.   The weather has been chilly and had more rain.  It rained a little while I was at the retirement party but I was trying to remember if it rained earlier in the day  For some reason I couldn’t. I have also been preoccupied with some stuff here at home.  Mom has been disappointed in my housekeeping skills lately.  I have been pretty angry with her attitude and I am really tired of the crap.  I told her I am doing the best that I can and if she wants me to do something she needs to ask. I am not a mind reader despite what anyone else might think. So while I have the house to myself for...

The weather today was absolutely fabulous.  A little on the windy side but beautiful.  While it was wonderful here my thoughts drifted to the midwest and the west coast where both are dealing with terrible conditions.  The midwest was hit but an unusual M ay snowstorm that effects from MN all the way down towards Oklahoma..  California is experiencing t he worst wildfire in many years..  Four THousand homes are being lost.  School and universities canceling classes because of the fires.  Connecticut has some wildfire alerts in the northern part of the state as well as southeast part of the state.  My heart goes out to everyone in this unfortunate time..   Work was good I got a lot done and even managed a birthday song or two.  There was an employee participation meeting that I had to miss.   Apparently there was a picture of me in the presentation taken a couple of years back.  Several people mentioned it t...

I left the office in plenty of time.   Traffic was not in the least bit cooperating (what a shock Phelan!).   I got to the Eye appointment on time but didn’t get in until 3:15.   I had to call IMM and cancel today’s INR reading until Monday.   I was finished by 4:30 and everything is normal and I can continue to take the plaquenil.   After the appointment I drove to Liz’s and spent time there.   They were getting ready to come here to give Mom flowers for thanksgiving.   They were here when I got home. Before coming home I had to run some errands (dinner rolls for tomorrow).   Mom couldn’t hear me tell her where I was and that my eyes were dilated.   I finally picked up rolls from Trader Joes (Costco had run out).   After that I went to Card smart to get holiday cards and my dinner.   I had Chinese.   After some story telling Nelson and Liz left.   Not before I gave a tap/hit to nelson because he can’t see...

In about eight 8 hours the 35th Annual Meet and Greet will have commenced. There is up to 30 people expected to be in this house. Mom is downstairs preparing to cook the “famous” corned beef she serves to the guests and candidates. There is probably still a lot to do before then. I have been awake since five but didn’t get up until maybe seven. I have a few things to do before leaving for the day. I am folding some clothes and will get the bed made. I have to still iron what I am wearing for the day as well. I have the kid’s birthday party to go to before the meet and greet and I am looking forward to that. My only concern is the weather. It is cloudy and windy and a little rain is predicted for the morning. I am hoping it doesn’t change and continue to rain all day. The weather forecast is calling for temperatures in the mid 60’s and cloudy. I will let you know if it changed. Fore warning you all my next entry will probably be a critique of the day’s events. Who came, who...

Two months ago tonight we got that horrible phone call that said Bob wasn’t breathing. We rushed to the hospital and was there before any one else was. That night the doctor said nothing could have been done by anyone. Now there is emptiness in our families’ heart. We continue each day to work through the grief. There are times when I get frustrated or angry with Mom or any situation and shout out (yes I talk to myself out loud) and think that Bob hears me and I have to apologize. Not only to him but my Father, aunts, uncles etc. It rained this morning and continued to rain until maybe lunch time. The sun came out late in the day and had warmed up a little bit. I think we are supposed ot get more rain before the weekend starts but I can’t be sure. Work was very busy. I arrived to the office late there had been a traffic delay and was backed up for about five exits (aka three miles). I didn’t see anything but it probably got cleared away by the time I went through. I wo...

It is almost 8:30 at night and I should be working on the minutes from last week’s 4th District meeting but I just don’t feel like it. It has been a long day for me and I am rather tired. I woke up at my regular 5:30 and did some writing. I finally write a long over due post in my NCIS blogs. Some of it was old stuff and some stuff that probably should have remained unsaid and unwritten but it was welling up in me because of recent activity on the forums. I finished it up this evening and posted it to all three of my NCIS blogs. It was nearly 7 when I left for the bus. It was certainly warm and was glad I didn’t bring a jacket. The ride into new Haven was uneventful. I noticed I had a different bus driver than the young girl (whom I was overly fond of anyway) I usually have. The bus was full of riders today. I have no idea why. Some of the riders were people whom I have ridden with since I started up again. Some new people I probably won’t see again (at least for a while). ...

Dear Debra: I had a great time yesterday being with my family watching my niece perform here at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts (JORG) at the Storrs Campus UCONN.   I never realized just how big the campus was!   It is a huge city within itself.   I guess it is not unlike Yale University.   The ride up was lovely.   The ride back was “ok”.   We got a little lost and tempers flared but it was resolved.   We had dinner at the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center right there.   I asked the waiter who served us if it gets crazy on game nights and his response was “Oh yeah”.    The food was good. Mom and I got home by 8 and we did our own things.   I answered emails from friends and the various email lists I belong to.   I also sent out emails to cousins who might want to know about our cousin that was killed last week.   I had one response from a cousin.   I was getting tired so I think I went to be...

Dear Debra: Friday was just not the best day for me. I over slept that morning; left my ID holder with my license, and work ID and a CC at home. I spilled not only my breakfast but my lunch on my shirt. I was a walking mess. I was exhausted by the time I left the office. I was spoiling for a fight with a driver in front of me. He just cut me off at the Union Avenue and Church Street South intersection. When I caught up with him at the bottom of Church Street South and Sargent Drive I took more pictures and he came to my car demanding to know what I was doing. I didn’t open the window I just looked at him and said having you arrested. What he did was reckless especially in the rain. I had no idea he was going to do that. He didn’t pursue it but I wasn’t going to back down. Despite my late start of the day (I did manage to get to work on time. I drove in to work and nearly clipped a co-workers car when she performed “right turn on red” with me nearly on top of her. I can onl...

Dear Debra: It is now several hours since our last face to face session. I already miss you. The afternoon went by without incident. I made a concerted effort to stay away from Diva. It was rather easy as she had the rest of the afternoon off but I get the feeling she knows that everyone and I do mean EVERYONE dislikes her. Well probably not everyone I can probably and safely say there are others who just shake their heads and ignore her. The work volume was pretty good. I was able to finish it before leaving the office. I do have the readdress mail. That seems to be never ending and grows a little each day. However, it will never grow to the point in which it makes me anxious, crazy again. I have made several promises to get help if it does. I have to admit when ever I come to our sessions my whole schedule goes south. Its not that I am blaming you it’s just something I recognize. It’s an observation more than anything. I know I probably told you that I had plans to keep ...

Hey everyone its nearly seven and I am pretty much wiped out. I got to the office by 8 and chatted with the girls. Of course we had diva listening into the conversations which pissed a few of us off. So we moved the conversation to DK’s cubicle. We finished the conversation and then I got started working. I had to deliver a massive box of reports to a co-worker. The lockbox was very low volume and the post office mail wasn’t bad either. I was done by 2 with it all. I spent the last two hours working on readdress mail and straightening up the office. JanetN gave me a ride home so I was home earlier than expected. I took an early morning walk to the bank today and noticed some women in hand made costumes. They were sending out flyers to promote a Vacation Bible Camp in West Haven for kids. I took the information to maybe pass on but thought better of it because not so sure the parents would appreciate it. May be another time would be better. I talked with Sis this morning. She had co...

Late winter early spring of this year Mom asked my nephew R if he would put new windows in the kitchen for her. He came and measured and explained it would take some time. He said when they came in he would call. Mom thought he originally said three weeks-he says he didn’t but longer. He also has his own business in Fairfield County (in construction). Mom is very angry with him and feels this length of time is disrespectful and rude. IF he didn’t want to do it then he should have said “No grams I don’t want to do it.” Any time Mom would bring it up to my sister (his mother) she would defend his actions and behavior. Mom called him today and instructed him to call her or cancel the job. She feels and again I agree with her it shouldn’t have taken this long. I am pretty certain if I go to Sis’s house tomorrow she will wale on her and tell me how rude and mean Mom is. Now I feel this puts me in an awkward spot considering I just told Sis last week she could share anything she wan...

It has been a few hours since I wrote and in that time I managed to clean out the car and go to church and have dinner and almost done with folding clothes. In a short while will go to bed. Cleaning out the car took about an hour or less. I thought it was too hot to haul out the behemoth vacuum cleaner and the little one was not enough power so I might do it tomorrow in between activities. There is a box of old parts from the engine (can someone please tell me why they would leave it there?) that I need to dump some where. I am thinking a dumpster. Mom and I went to the 4:00 mass at St John Vianney in West Haven. It is a really nice church and it has good feeling from it. The church is a modern type church and has been around a good long time. In 2002 it merged with Our Lady of Victory Church in effort to save it from closing completely. Many churches in the Connecticut Diocese are still in danger of closing. You can read the very interesting history of both churches in the link ab...

After releasing the second of two raccoons this week from the trap and having enough coffee to make LJ Gibbs proud I was bold enough to take on a fellow passenger who was being less then gentlemanly. H got on at Cedar Street near the Psychiatric Hospital and was trying to scam the bus driver by getting out of paying the fare. She wasn’t having any of it. She told him to get out of her personal space and sit down. He did but started swearing and talking and I finally told him to watch his mouth. He got mouthy with me but not too loudly. The guy sitting next to him got up and sat across from him (he wasn’t interested in hearing him either) and all the while the bus driver was listening and told him to stop or she would call the police. He was dropping a lot of F bombs and saying his father worked on the buses for the 37 years etc. When he told me he was having a bad day I looked at him and said I am sorry you are having a bad day but I don’t want to hear it. In one of the moment...