It's interesting that 'English' words/phrases mean different things, depending on whether you are in the U.S., Canada, or Great Britain.   Today I'm watching a repeat of Midsommer Murders; I don't have a streaming service that shows 'new' episodes, so the ones I see on PBS or BBC America are 'older'. Actually, I just realized this 'channel' is really Ovation. I hadn't paid attention; I just saw it in the tv guide and decided to watch it.

  I know there are many words/phrases I could mention. Example: 'boot' is what we call a 'car trunk', etc. But right now, the one  that caught my eye was a sign on a building: "Hotel, Free House". I had to look it up! Apparently a 'free house' means it is a 'pub' (bar/restaurant) that is independently owned, 'separate' from the brewery that supplies it. 

In the U.S., that wouldn't even be a question!  I don't remember ever seeing a 'bar' that is owned by a brewery. That's not to say there aren't any; but it would be somewhat unusual.

Anyway, that just caught my eye--and I just had to look it up! So...I learned something new today.

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Over the last eleven years, I've used so very many 'themes' when doing my pages, that it's often hard to come up with a 'new' idea.

For example, here are some themes that I've used:

Colors--my favorites: Mauve and Teal

Cats--photos of cute cats in general and 'my cats'

Science Fiction--my favorites in general, then Dr. Who, & Star Trek

Oceans/Ocean creatures

Unicorns 

Fairies

Seasons and Holidays  

Christmas: one year I had all Christmas trees on one page & something else on the other one

I always do screenshots of my pages, so that I'll remember what I've done! I now have a very big folder of those screenshots.

I'm still not sure what I'm doing this holiday season. For now, I have 'winter' on one page--but nothing yet on the other page. Right now, I just have a pretty DocShell layout on that page--mainly so others will remember that Shell, Barbara, Pamela, & Elizabeth, etc. have always been there for us--and are still making pretty layouts! 

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Last year, I totally 'skipped' Christmas.  One year ago, I was just out of the hospital. I'd spent a total of 9 days there (two visits to the E.R. and then admitted  both times).  And I was waiting to have a procedure to fix a heart problem.

I guess I was in pretty bad shape by the time I first went to the E.R.  It turned out to be a combination of problems. I'd lost a total of 34 pounds, mainly because not only did I not have an appetite, but I simply couldn't eat--or keep it down. I started out thinking it was 'good' to  be losing weight; but I got to the point where I was just too weak to even walk to the bathroom. And the 'pain' in my abdomen was bad. That's when I told my husband to call 911. 

I had heavy coughing, which I thought was just from heavy sinus drainage. I was dehydrated. They put me on an IV.  And an another IV for 'pain', since I also had 'gut pain'. Then, they  said my heart might have a problem.  I don't really remember all they said was wrong, to be honest.  They did all kinds of tests: CT scan of my head to check for the sinus problems, a CT scan of my entire digestive system, and an ECHO (?) of the heart.  And of course, they took blood samples every 6 hrs! Boy, were my arms bruised--both of them!  (Some of those were probably on the second visit--I am not sure now)

After 5 days, they let me go home; at that point, the med they gave me for the heavy coughing had worked, so I could eat a few bites.  

Well,  I was supposed to see my regular doctor about a week after I left the hospital for the normal 'after hospital check'.  It was a snowy day, the roads weren't great; so my brother--who has a 4 wheel drive vehicle--volunteered to take us to my doctor's office.   It's a good thing I didn't decide to put it off!  My doctor said my heart was 'racing'--dangerously so; he was so worried that he called an ambulance right then to take me back to the hospital! The odd thing is that I felt perfectly fine...I felt calm, didn't "feel" my heart pounding or anything.  

So, there I was, back in the hospital.  More IVs of course.   After tests,  the heart doctor said I had "A-fib". That meant a 'conversion' after I'd left the hospital. I had that on January 9th.  They put me on 3 meds for the heart problem.  Luckily, the conversion worked, so I no longer have A-fib; so now, I'm only on one heart med--that will 'control' the heart rate should the A-fib ever come back.  I do have some 'irregular' heartbeats, but nothing serious so far; that med also keeps that in order.

And, since it took a while for me to get my appetite back, I actually had to make myself eat two small meals a day! But I'm now totally back to normal. So normal, in fact, I really have to watch how much I eat, snacking, etc. 

I had never been in the hospital before that, other than when my 2 children were born; and I hope it's a long time before I do that again! 

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I have friends who just love the 'black friday' sales. I was never one of those!  In the first place, I'm just not a morning person, lol; I'd much rather sleep than get up at 4am to go shopping. Those friends just loved the 'freebies' that the major department stores gave out to the first customers: things like tiny water globes, etc.  They would be 'out' at 5am, looking for bargains.  Not me, lol.  Now, that was when they were 'younger'; they are now in their 50's and I don't think they do it any more. Well, I do know one neighbor still does.  I'm not sure if the 'big' department stores still give out 'freebies'; in fact, in our closest mall, I think there is only one of those stores left. 

This year, my daughter had talked me into looking at laptops at the Black Friday sales; luckily for me, I found an even better deal before that--so I didn't have to  bother with it.  Yes, I had 'looked' at the 'sneak peek' sale brochure & found exactly what I  wanted in a laptop; but looking at the regular site of that store, I found a different model with the exact same set up--with an 'instant savings'.  So I got that and didn't even think about the Black Friday sale after all. 

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(Graphic removed, since it's "gone" from my album)

I 'found' this today--you'll see 'how' in a moment.  

Well, if you read the Forums, you know I had to get a new laptop recently; I've been slowly adding in my favorite programs. 

Now, I've got 2 "Print Shop" programs but they are not compatible--what I did in the earlier version won't open up in the other one; so, in playing around with my new laptop, I decided to install my older version of Print Shop first--in order to actually get to and see so many recipes that I've collected over the years. 

My gosh: when I went to put these into my complete recipe folder...I was shocked at how many recipes I have! The odd thing is : I gave up cooking 'from scratch' years ago! (except for a few favorite family recipes)  So while I'm doing this, I'm also slowly deleting some I know I'll never use.  But, mainly, I decided to print out ones I want to put into the 'keep' folder--and I've done a few screenshots of some as well.  My other laptop's cd/dvd drive quit ages ago, so I couldn't add this Print Shop version to it.  Now that I've 'saved' what I want...I can delete those files--and move on to my newer Print Shop program. 

I'm an 'organizer'.  I've been...very,  very slowly...working on going through all my numerous file folders, where I've saved graphics over the years. I'm sure I've also got duplicates that can be deleted as well as some I'll never use. I had 20+ albums in TinyPic before switching over to Postimage; now, I'm just uploading graphics to new albums as I need them.  I'm trying to keep my Postimage albums 'organized'. 

But back to the recipes: I did find a couple that I'd like to try one of these days! So we'll see.  

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I enjoy Christmas movies. Always have. My 'old' favorites are: It's a Wonderful Life (Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed), & Miracle On 34th Street (original with Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, & Ed Gwen). I'll never get tired of those, of course. But now, I mainly watch the ones that are made for TV: Hallmark movies and those on Lifetime network.

I guess you could say I 'collect' holiday movies.  In years past, I've recorded many.  Some of my favorites are:

Snow Globe (Christina Milian): Angela loves Christmas more than anything. However, her family does not share her love for the holiday at all. When she is about to break down because of her family, she receives a snowglobe in the mail. When she winds up the snowglobe before going to sleep, she is transported into the world inside, where Christmas is the heart and soul for everyone who lives there. She discovers she can return to her world by going down a small path in the small forest at the edge of the village, and can return whenever she winds up the snowglobe.

Comfort & Joy (Nancy McKeon): The life of Jane Berry was all materialist, until one Christmas Eve, she is involved in a car accident that changes her life forever. She wakes up to discover she is the mother of two, a wife and that her only job is in the house, besides her frequent volunteer work.

Journey Back to Christmas (Candace Cameron Bure): When a World War II-era nurse is transported in time to 2016, she meets a man who helps her discover the bonds of family and that the true meaning of Christmas is timeless. This Hallmark Channel original movie stars Candace Cameron Bure

Some others (nowhere near my whole list, of course):

North Pole (both), but specially #2: Open for Christmas. Switched for Christmas (Hallmark, with Candace Cameron Bure),  Christmas at Holly Lodge (Alison Sweeney),  The Magic Stocking, Christmas Land, Becoming Santa (a man learns that his father-in-law to be is Santa--& he will have to 'become' Santa when he marries), Christmas in Evergreen (both), Three Wise Women, & Angels and Ornaments.   That's enough for now, but you get the idea. 

Today I watched one  from a couple of years ago about a man (spirit) who was 'flesh and blood' for only 12 days per year--just before Christmas.   And right now, I'm halfway watching one called Rocky Mountain Christmas; yes, I've seen it before.

I guess I started 'saving' by recording the Christmas episodes of my favorite tv shows: Highway to Heaven, Quantum Leap, Our House, etc. And even 'later' tv series like:  Warehouse 13, Scorpion, and Eureka.  I know there are more, but I can't think of them right now!   I started out 'recording' them on videotape; then, I copied my favorites to DVD when I got rid of all the videotapes we had here. 

I've been thinking of this blog idea all week; but today, I decided to take a look at my stack of dvds--and make a list of them (so that I don't 'repeat' recording them). 

My only 'problem' is: some days there are 3 or more holiday movies on tv that I want to watch! So...I've been dvr'ing some--either in prime time or finding 'other showings' so that I can record them overnight.  Right now I have 4 on the dvr that I haven't watched yet.  I have to admit...I'm not 'saving' as many as I did previously.   I'm watching, then deleting them now.

By the way: I'm also very fond of books on the Christmas theme!  So yes, I've been reading some of those as well.  One series I've been talking about in my book group is called "Christmas Year Round"--I just finished the 3rd book in that series.

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Good morning, all. I've now been a member here for 11.5 years!  Wow. Hard to believe. When NOTH first started, all I knew about Cloudeight was its Stationery and newsletter.  I learned about the Hill from the newsletter--and joined only 6 weeks after NOTH was formed.  The best thing I've ever done online!   I've learned so much from them. 

One of the  first things I do in the morning is open my NOTH account. Well, as 'staff', I often log in whenever I wake up at night--to check for possible spammers, etc.  Then I log off & go back to bed.  Hard to remember back to when I could actually sleep through the night! But since I do wake up frequently, I figure it's no big deal to 'check in' when I do. And, of course, I do log in frequently during the day as well. 

Since Admin is busy with a full time job & other Cloudeight duties, as Staff I'm the 'middle person'--I take complaints & either do something about them or pass it on to Admin, etc.  It's my 'job' to remind people of the Rules here.

What I have always liked about the Hill is that we can  be 'ourselves'. Yes, at some point, I did try a competitive site. Not only was it 'impersonal', but it was rather risque--definitely not for me.    NOTH is a 'family site'. We have members' grandchildren also 'visiting' and some even have accounts here.  And our median age is probably in the 60's. Or higher, lol. (I haven't done any 'checks') 

As I just posted in a Bulletin: with me, what you see is what you get.  I see no reason to hide who I am.

My name is Dianne...which all the 'old timers' know; and I usually put Altara/Dianne on my 'sigs' (signature tags).   Even though I don't "take" a very good photo, I almost always use my picture as my Profile Pic.  Of course, since I have a 2nd page, I sometimes use an 'avatar' there, just to be different, lol.   I guess I'm in the minority of a recent poll: who said they prefer a 'photo' of their  friends.  I like to know 'who' I'm friends with, who I'm talking to, etc.   It's fine if you prefer an Avatar; but I don't.  As I said, with me, what you see is what you get--and I want people to 'know' me. When I answer forum posts, it's nice to be able to use a 'real' first name--so that people realize I do "know" them.

My personal preference is an open page where everyone can leave a comment; however, I've had to monitor that because some people simply don't pay attention to what we've 'suggested' over the years.   Most of us 'old timers' prefer maybe 1 graphic per comment (yes, even those like me who really love graphics!)--and 'smaller' (not HUGE) graphics, which stretch out a person's page if they aren't using the 'limit code'.   While I appreciate all comments, I still prefer a 'limit'. Some of us even prefer a private message, rather than a bunch of graphics on our page.  And many of us now use Bulletins rather than leaving individual comments.  

I  believe our actual 'oldest' member is Billie, who is now  98 years old! That's amazing. Billie actually joined NOTH about 8 days before I did--so she's one of the Originals.  I treasure her as one of my Friends, for many years now.   Now, that doesn't include people who 'say' they are over 100, lol.  But I'm going by 'real age'.

Now, anyone who has looked at either of my pages will see that I 'limit' friends. 
I wish I had time/energy to visit each friend daily & leave a comment; but between health problems & all I do here, I just can't.  That's why it's extremely rare for me to add 'friends', on either page.  

I'm looking forward to actually doing a Christmas page this year--and visiting friends to leave greetings. Last year, I was in the hospital (twice!) during November--so I pretty much skipped Christmas! In real life as well as online. I'm really hoping this year is so much different!  Knock on wood: so far, so good.  I had a scare in September...but I'm much better now.  

PS--I do recommend not putting the names & ages of all your children/grandchildren on your page! Or going into detail about all of your life experiences. But otherwise, I see no problem in listing your 'likes, hobbies', etc.   I look at things like that, to decide who to invite to different groups. I made a 'graphic' that shows my basic info: 2 kids, 3 grandkids, and my main hobbies.    In order for anyone outside of NOTH to 'see' your info, they'd have to do a 'search' for your username. So it's not very likely to happen by 'chance'. 

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I ran across this photo recently while cleaning out Folders. It reminded me of when I would make CD's and then add Titles/Pictures with Lightscribe, which one of my older computers had. It was such fun!  As you can probably tell, this particular CD was used to 'store' my 'writing'--everything from short stories to my novella, Altara.  Well, that's probably the original, short version; I did many rewrites on that, until it was well over 200 pages. 

Later, I'd graduate to DVD's: I 'copied' many of my favorite tv shows and movies to DVD.  By that time, I had a different computer & just used 'paper' (Memorex sticky) labels. Again, I added the Title on top, some screenshots/photos to show what was on it, and then the 'titles' below that. Now, I'm not even sure I remember how to do that!

Anyway, back to the subject.  I can no longer 'make' DVDs or CDs--or even play them, on here.  My 3 yr old laptop no longer supports that function--not only doesn't it's 'drive' work; but I bought a small external to 'add' to it--and that doesn't work on here either! So...it's obviously something internal causing the problem. However, I've found it's not something I really need now.

My 'old' laptop--which is kept only for emergencies, because it is too slow & overheats quickly--does still do that; but it's not practical. Even if I made a cd on that, I couldn't play it on here.   Oh, yes: the exernal disk drive I bought does work on the old laptop!  So I know that drive is okay; it just won't work with my 'good' laptop. 

Actually, that's one of several problems with this laptop; so..I am considering eventually getting one more new computer.   But right now, I can't justify getting a new one, as long as this one 'works' for everyday things.   So I hope this one hangs in there for the near future.

And for now: I listen to CDs on my portable radio/CD/Tape player.  And I still have  2 dvd players for watching old tv shows/movies--which of course also play CDs.

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I keep seeing commercials on tv for things like 'bacon burgers' & 'waffles & chicken'. And I just had to wonder if I'm the only one who doesn't like this kind of thing!

I like bacon--and I like burgers; but I don't want bacon on my burger!  I like waffles...and I like chicken--but I don't want chicken with my waffles; now, bacon with my waffle is different, since that's another 'breakfast' item. 

I have a friend who, when she was still working, would have a Baconator sandwich at Wendy's every single day for lunch!  I just couldn't see it.  But a couple of months ago we had some coupons for Hardee's that included a 'bacon/burger'; since my husband loves it, I said ok--and I gave him the bacon from my sandwich! But it's not really my thing. 

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