I ordered my Nextbook on Sunday and chose free shipping to save a few bucks.  That usually takes awhile and they did give me a delivery date of April 5th.  I knew it would show up before then, but didn't expect it as soon as yesterday!  Needless to say, I stashed the box until Chuck went to bed and then spent 3 hours trying to make sense of it and downloading Apps.  The 1st App???  Why, Angry Birds, of course! I can see several things:

• Gonna take awhile to get used to it
• I haven't fallen totally in love with it yet (this isn't a good thing. meh)
• I need a screen protector
• I really need a case, but can only find black for this new model and I really want red! Or green, like my Nook
• Not sure about the Android OS, although it shouldn't matter
• I'm bummed that although I could install Firefox as my browser, I can't use my Yahoo  toolbar. which has all my bookmarks and I've used it for EONS.  I'm sure I can move them.

I'm not convinced that it's a keeper.  Maybe I jumped into it too soon without checking more models,  but it was hard to resist it when the Sug retail was $475 and HSN had it for $199.00.  I found it on eBay for both prices and everything in between, so I'm comfortable with the price.  I just need Poolie, or a handful of my grands to show me the wonders of it all.  If I didn't already have my beloved Nook, I would be much more enamored of it.  Geez......I sound like an old Geezer trying to make sense of modern technology!!  AGHHHH!!!  Just shoot me now!

Speaking of old geezers, this afternoon I get to go for a vascular screening of my feet.  How funny is that?  Because of my "toe issue" (which I'm not sure I ever blogged about, but wrote about on FB) the foot Dr wants to make sure that the circulation in my legs, feet and toes is okay before she confirms my problem to be from many years of frozen Alaska toes.  I sure hope that's all it is, but it could be directly related to all the damn cigarettes that I have, will and do smoke.  F*&%ing cigarettes, anyway!

I have to say that while I was in San Diego and my smoking was extremely limited, I felt a whole lot better.  But I'm not smart enough to cut back when I don't have to.  If I could just make myself go outside to smoke and not sit here at my computer puffing away, it would be such a big help.  And every night when I go to bed I say to myself, "Margaret!  Tomorrow is the day!  You will NOT smoke in the house anymore!!"  But that stupid Margaret won't listen.  I told my friend, D, the other day that I'll quit after my surgery and I get all healed up.  Then I won't have all the extra frustrations (the pain and limitations, blah blah, yada yada) to deal with.  Should be easier, right?  Yeah....right.  I doesn't matter what the circumstances are.  Smoking doesn't make it better at all, but it sure is comforting to reach for that pack of cigarettes and light one up.  Oh, well.  It won't be today cuz I just bought a carton yesterday.  Can't waste $48 now can I?????  Doh!

I must take my camera with me today and try to get some good shots of Spring Things in BFA.  There are pretty things blooming everywhere, and I need to take some pictures before it gets too damn hot for me to give a crap.

My beautiful girls are losing their winter hair and will soon be gorgeous and shiny equine beauties!  I wish I could be out there brushing them each day, but I can't.  Chuck does a little each night when he gets home, but I miss being able to do it.  Next year!  I'll be back at it next year! And the grass is growing nicely in their pasture, so that Susie is munching happily while Dixie looks longingly over the fence, watching her Mama eat fresh green yummies.  Dixie is on a diet again.  Poor horse is forever on a diet.  They need extra food in the winter to help keep up their body heat and Susie never gains, but Dixie blows up like a balloon.  She's on her annual spring time diet of hay and water....no grass, no grain, no treats......other than her morning carrots.   

There is a baby update, of sorts. Jin's contractions are too sporadic to amount to anything other than being annoying, so her Dr told her she could work if she wanted to.  That was her plan for today.  We'll see how long she lasts.  I'm making pretty good progress on the blanket.  I'm using a different pattern than I was originally and I like working on it much better.  That will make a difference!  Why?  Cuz that's how I roll!  LOL 

For now, I feel a wee cleaning spree coming on and shall knit a bit each time I need to sit down for a few.  Catch ya later!

Spring Cleanup & New Toys!

It was a beautiful sunny day here yesterday and Chuck got lots of yard work done.  Flower beds cleaned up, strawberry bed cleaned up and the garden tilled.  He also got a couple of leaf piles that had accumulated cleaned up so that I wouldn't have to worry about what may be lurking in them.  Copperheads tends to blend in very well with leaves on the ground.......Eeeep!

It IS my favorite time of year here in BF Arkansas.  I got back just in time to see the Dogwoods leaf out and they are starting to bloom.  The woods behind the house are just enchanting when all the Dogwoods are in bloom!

It would have been a perfect day for riding, and oh how I wish I could have hopped on my Susie and gone with him!!  He did have a 'victim' lined up to go riding with him, but he crapped out at the last minute.  It seems his wife had a honey do list that she insisted on being taken care of.  It's hard for Chuck to find 'victims' to go riding with him and that's a damn shame.  I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I'll never ride again, but some days it's a real downer.

I got all my San Diego photos transferred to Flickr yesterday and actually got them all labeled, too!  I'm not always very good about that, in fact I haven't been very good about uploading my photos to Flickr lately.  I need to stay on top of that!  I didn't take near as many pictures as I intended to whilst in SD because of all of my careful packing, and remembering to pack my chargers for 3 other devices, I forgot my camera charger and extra battery.  Doh!   I will get it packed in one of my bags for my Alaska trip today! 25 days!!  Woo Hoo!!

Poor Gus puppy is depressed this AM.  He had to stay home with me for a trip to the vet.  He hates not going to work with his dear ol' dad!  But his allergies are acting up.  His eyes are running and he's got an itchy bare spot by his tail, so I wanna nip it in the bud early.  He'll snap out of it once he realizes that he will be going with me in the 'Ho and can guard it while I make a couple stops :-)


I was a bad girl yesterday and gave in to my desire for a new toy.  I've been wanting an iPad (or tablet of some sort) for quite some time now, but just couldn't justify spending that much on something that I could live without.  After seeing and playing with Poolie's, the desire to possess one increased tremendously!  And what did I find in my email when I got home, but a notice of a great deal on one at HSN......so.......I ordered this

If I find I'm not totally enchanted with it, I can always send it back......somehow I doubt that will happen.  When Poolie made the comment that since she got that, she never takes her laptop on trips with her anymore, I was 'sold'.  Between the tablet and her iPhone, everything is covered.  And every time I travel, especially by air, I find I want less and less to drag around with me.  I used to carry on all that I could and I just have no desire to do that anymore.