Stay safe out there.....

Well, once again we are on the last day of a year. It seems like they've been coming mighty fast in the last few years.

After having a close call two years in a row, my family stays in and at home during this time. We celebrate quietly dong something that makes us feel comfortable and happy. I'm usually found reading a book. Even my grown kids stay in on this night where so many drunken fools get on the roadways.

I no longer make resolutions. I was just setting myself up for failure most of the time and no one likes that feeling. After all, regardless of what people want to think....the New Year is just another day....not a new beginning. You still have to deal with all you did last year and/or the years before. I don't mean to bring you down.....but its just the facts.

My family and I did manage a great Christmas dinner, even though it was a couple days late. Our family movie night went well. Actually it spanned to two nights. We watched Wall-E, which I wasn't sure I was going to like at first. After all, there is very little dialogue. After it finished, I can say that I did enjoy it, although the subject matter was quite depressing. I kept thinking to myself.....is this REALLY a kid's movie. I guess it was a not so subtle attempt to get kids to "clean up their act" since its failed on so many adults (I'm ashamed to say). The second movie was Kung Fu Panda, which was just plain fun. I liked it and there were some giggle out-loud parts in it. The third one was Prince Caspian. It was good but I can honestly say that I liked the first one better (The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe). Its amazing how your brain accepts the fact that animals are talking and making logical sense....or is that just me? The fourth movie we watched was Wanted. I did not finish the movie; it was entirely way too violent for me. I am actually surprised that Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie agreed to make such a film.....they are soooo far above anything like this! However I should be fair and note here that my teenaged grandson loved the movie. Lots of cars being driven ridiculously and wrecked, not to mention shoot 'em ups that are beyond your wildest imagination. So I guess you can say that 3 good movies out of four isn't bad.

Those five days I had off from work really did help me feel a lot better. Now I have Wednesday and Thursday off and don't plan on doing anything strenuous. As a matter of fact, I slept a lot today. I think this old body really needed it. So I am pretty much over what I had and I hope that it stays away. I'll be walking a wide circle around anyone who is sick.

I hope that all of you have a safe and happy night tonight....doing something that you really want and enjoy doing. I am also hoping that the state of our nation will get better soon, although I know it will take a while. The best to all of you and please remember to continue your random acts of kindness. It makes you feel so good. Bless you all!!

Merry Christmas to all.....

We had to post-pone Christmas because both my daughter and I are sick with bronchitis. We made sure that "Santa" made his visit, but the big dinner feast will have to wait. We are planning on having it Saturday.

This rates pretty close to the time I spent Christmas 1,000 miles from home (my first time away from my family) and all the phone lines were tied up and I couldn't even get a call through.

But the dinner will still be a good one, even though its not being eaten on the right day. Next person that comes around me coughing is risking their life.....honest. I'm so tired of people coming into work sick and passing it around.

Merry Christmas everyone. I love you all. Hugs!

I'm sure I've mentioned how I feel about this.....

This picture is of two deer walking in deep snow, but I post it here so you can see how my DOG looks walking in this stuff. She's a rat terrier, all white with a black and brown head. All I can see is her head when she goes outside. She leaps through the snow. I actually thinks she likes it.....in moderation.

This morning at 8 a.m. I get out of a nice warm bed and let her outside. The weather has changed somewhat. Now its very windy, making the wind chill plummet to only 8 BELOW zero. Brrrrrr.

I let her outside....her usual time out there is about 10 minutes. She doesn't have a big fur coat to keep her warm. I have to tether her out on a 50 foot nylon leash because she will chase the squirrels to the next county if necessary....fences are no obstacle either; she just leaps over them. Since it was so awfully cold, I cut her time outside in half. When I went to the door, she wasn't there, which is highly unusual. I called her and I didn't see her running anywhere. I grabbed the one end of the leash that's tied to the deck and started pulling on it. I only pulled a little bit, then it tightened up and I couldn't pull it any further. Its hidden underneath so many inches of snow that I can't even see which way the leash has gone or what it's tangled around.

I can't begin to tell you how scared I was. I know in this type of weather a little dog like that can freeze in minutes. I had to rush and get dressed, get boots on, my coat. Of course, I couldn't find my gloves. I only have 1900 pair of them around here but couldn't find a single one. So I had to go without them.

Something told me to go outside the back breezeway door instead of out on the deck. When I went out that door and started calling her, I saw the problem right away. She was underneath the deck. She had come in from the other side, probably chasing a squirrel or maybe a rabbit and the leash only let her go so far and she was trying desperately to get out of the other side of the deck but, of course, could not. Most dogs can't seem to figure this kind of thing out for themselves, unfortunately. So I had to walk in snow that was knee deep to around to the other side of the deck and get her to come out the same way she went in. Once she came to me, then I had to carry her back around the deck and to the back door.....thank goodness she was ok. As for me, I was scared. I kept thinking that if I fell back there in my yard and couldn't get up for some reason, no one would know where I was. The snow would eventually cover me up. Wow...it sure gives you something to think about and a high respect for nature and its power.

So, I'm going to think of a different plan on letting her outside in this deep stuff. I don't want a repeat of this ever again!

Did I ever mention how much I dislike this white stuff? Our weather is so strange. We have all this snow, the wind chill is now about 15 below zero with winds gusting to 40 mph and they are predicting freezing rain on Wednesday. In the meantime, I hope you all are warm and comfy wherever you are and if I don't get back before Christmas......have a very merry one surrounded by your loved ones. Stay safe and don't forget the reason for the season!

I'm just plain disgusted.....

You know I guess I've never really thought about how many "lowlifes" there are out there.....and the really devious ones disguise themselves as good, decent people.

I hit on this subject briefly before but this time I'm really mad. I had NO idea just how big of a problem this was. I guess I try too hard to see the good in everyone, especially at this time of the year.

Our fire department is involved, along with other groups, making baskets for the families in need. I know they are in need all year 'round, but at Christmas it seems to touch more people in a more profound way. Collections are taken up and the food distributed in hundreds of baskets.

I complained about expired food being donated before but I had no idea just how prevalent this practice is. What is with these people? Do they think that just because some one needs some extra help, they are undeserving of food that is fresh? Well, you know, life can turn on a dime and I sincerely and truly hope that each and every person who has purposely given expired food to the needy will someday have to face that problem themselves and be in a position of having to ask for help.

I was informed by the maintenance crew that the dumpster behind the building that is being used to sort out the food for individual baskets was overflowing. Overflowing with what, you ask? Well, with expired food that was donated, that's what. I was appalled. If a huge dumpster can be filled to overflowing just out of ONE building being used to sort baskets, just think what the overall picture must be for say......the city.....how about the county?

Unbelievable! Why even bother to donate? Just throw it out....or are they hoping that the needy families will have to be subjected to such humiliation? It does make one wonder. Well, I can assure them that there are good people at work, sorting through things, just to make sure that only good food is given out and you low-life trash in sheep's clothing will have to think of some other evil to do to make your life worth living.....how can you even look at yourself in the mirror? Shame on them all.

Gimme a comfy chair, I'm plum tired.....

Well, the present shopping is done, now I have to wrap the effing things. The thought has crossed my mind to just hide stuff around my house, unwrapped, and play a game of "hot and cold" to let them search for them. But it wouldn't work out. You couldn't assure the right person would find the right gift. To say I don't like to gift wrap is an understatement. I don't know why either. Its really not that hard....its just something that I don't particularly enjoy. Maybe its the idea of all the work that goes into wrapping, and it gets torn up just a few days later. Gee....I don't know. I'm just plain weird, I guess.

I still have to get groceries and clean my house. This weekend will see me doing that, I guess. Then I have to work on Monday and Tuesday. I really do expect those days to be very quiet at work. A lot of people will be too busy to worry with doing business.

I'm getting ready to go up to the drugstore in just a few minutes. I have to stock up on Nyquil and Dayquil. Both me and my grandson are coming down with something....scratchy throats and a cough starting up. I sure hope we can ward it off with these products. They've always worked great before, so I do have confidence. I just plain don't have TIME to be sick.

Unlike last year, only ONE of the things I ordered didn't come in due to being out of stock. I did not shop at the same place as I did last year. Once burned, you know. They were horrible to buy from as far as online purchases. Packed horribly and even though I ordered WAY in advance, some of the things came in only a couple days before Christmas. So this year I used two other stores and have had very good luck. I think I'll stick with those from now on.

We have some nasty weather headed our way, predicting up to five inches of snow by tomorrow morning. I was supposed to make the dressing for our annual Christmas dinner at work that's being held tomorrow. Ordinarily, I would not have to work until Friday. I called and canceled coming in because I just don't want to take that chance just for the purpose of eating. One of the workers said if I'd still make the dressing, they would come pick it up in their 4-wheel drive. I have to laugh at that, but said I would make it so they could have it. Too bad they can't cart me back with the dish, but then I'd have to worry about getting home afterwards. If it doesn't look too threatening, I may still go in.....you know how it is....you never know with weather, its so unpredictable.

Well, I'm off to the drugstore.....battling traffic all the way. Its truly a jungle this time of year. HO HO HO. Stay safe out there.

I'm not too fond of the red nose though.....

You Are Rudolph

Sweet and shy, you tend to be happiest when you're making someone else happy. Why You're Naughty: You sometimes stick that nose where it doesn't belong Why You're Nice: Christmas would be a sad affair without you!

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

There are earth angels among us.....

We've heard that many times before and a lot of us sure have witnessed it. I work next to one. I envy this woman because she just has such a giving nature.....no second thoughts at all.

Recently, she went to the grocery store and bought the makings for a complete Thanksgiving meal, as well as added extras like bread, milk, eggs, hamburger and macaroni and cheese and spaghetti for the days before and after. She gave all of these groceries away to a struggling needy family she had heard about.

This isn't the first time she's done something like that and I don't expect it to be the last. She recently lost her husband of 40 years and has realized that her life had been very blessed and actually it still is. Although not rich, she is comfortable and though she can't have the one thing she wants the most (her husband back), she doesn't have to worry about being out in the street with no income. She wants to pass along some of her blessings and Thank God for people like her.

Her early life story is very poignant. She was taken away from unfit parents at a young age and went from foster home to foster home back when the agencies were less than adequate. Her childhood memories are more like nightmares. And yet she brought herself up from such a hard beginning to marry her true love and raise lovely children who are an asset to society. I look at her in awe.

I wish I could do something for her to show her just how special she is. I really don't think she's aware of it. But God surely knows and I'm sure she's been reserved a seat at His table. Do you know any earth angels? I hope so. I feel its a privilege to be in the same room with her but I can go further than that and actually call her a friend.

How many ways can you fix turkey.....

I had to work Wednesday, much to my dismay, but when I got home my daughter and family were here and we soon were well on our way to prepping and baking for the big day. It had been snowing most of the day....a wet, heavy snow...which is just perfect to make a snowman or snowoman. I guess you could call this a picture book Thanksgiving in just about every way, including the weather.

My family did not leave until Sunday and by then I was beginning to get a bit cranky. I'm so used to being alone that a house hopping with noise, laughter, a 6 yr. old running from room to room, games and TV going was a little much for me....not to mention my dog. She hid under the bed frequently but the fragrance of food kept luring her out so she had that "deer caught in the headlights" look on her face a lot. The kids did go outside and make a snowoman, complete with an old hat of my mom's on her head. They gave her blue bottle cap eyes and a red bottle cap smile. A piece of celery made a perfect nose. Its interesting to note that the birds would come down and "steal" the bottle caps, only to be disappointed. I suspect they were hoping for berries. They never touched the celery nose. Note the svelte figure of our snowoman....she apparently stayed away from the Thanksgiving table.

My granddaughter lost her front tooth while here and we had to put it under armed guard to make sure it didn't get lost before she could get home to leave it under HER pillow for the tooth fairy assigned to HER house to come get it and leave her a reward. Do you know that the going rate seems to be $5 a tooth now? She had gotten the official word from the kids at school who had already been through this. Heaven forbid HER fairy leave her something less!! We assured her that her fairy was a union member and up on the latest trends and not to worry. She must have checked on that tooth, securely wrapped in a plastic sandwich bag, 200 times while she was here.

By today our official snowfall topped off at somewhere between 8 and 9 inches. I don't remember getting so much snow this early in the winter season. It should make the ski resorts happy. Monday morning the roads were nearly impassable. I traded my working days so I wouldn't have to drive in it. I was so grateful to crawl back into bed early Monday morning and snuggle down under the comforter. Monday evening rush hour wasn't much better and I was, again, grateful to be home....warm and comfy with PLENTY of leftovers to eat. I'm just about fed up with turkey for a while at this point. I think I'm growing tail feathers.

I don't know how many of you ventured out for Black Friday to do some shopping. I know of several of my co-workers who look forward to this event every year. I am NOT one of those brave souls. This year I was informed of CYBER MONDAY, which is online shopping with wonderful deals at a lot of stores. I took advantage of that while sipping coffee in my jammies and I can tell you that my Christmas shopping is done except for the secret Santa gift that I will have to buy for work. Everything I bought was at a reduced price with free shipping. Some of the items were more than 50% off. I am, indeed, a happy shopper. We are not buying for the adults, only the kids....so my shopping list is not too long...but its nice to know that its done. I will have to work a lot of days this month so it works out nicely. Well, its getting late and I'm rambling. I simply MUST get around to all of your blogs so I'm leaving now. I hope your evening is wonderful and if you live in snow country....be careful out there!