Good By Old Year!

I sat down here intending to welcome the new year. It dawned on me that we seldom really say farewell to the old one.

I can write that this past year was filled with so much that was unexpected. I can say that some unfortunate things happened, unexplained, sad things. Generally I can talk about the good things that jumped out of nowhere and took my breath away. The joy that snuck in under the radar to suddenly dissipate the cloud of depression I was so totally engulfed in. But to do all of this only scratches the surface that 2005 was.

My personal person, my self, went through so many ups and downs in '05. To list any of them is only self serving and I shan't do it here. I will say that 2005 is ending on a moderately high note for me...no one is more surprised than I am. I do believe that a good bit of it is because I have made the decision to be happy. To find pleasure in the moment, to approve of myself and others. To create joy. To remember how fleeting life is and live true to myself. I've perfected none of this, but feel practice is often what gives me the most peace and pleasure.

I shall continue to practice the joy of life in 2006 and I pray everyone else will find the path they need to practice in order to end 2006 on a moderately high note for all.

Love, Jn

The day after Christmas

Yesterday was beautiful! Clear blue skys and rather manageable
temperatures. As in the days of yore, I was up at the crack of dawn, but there were no little children, no gifts. I was thankful for Shirley, Goodness and Mercy who seem to think that every day is Christmas if I get up!

It was a lazy day. Stayed in pj's until 2pm...read a book, made a sausage and onion quiche and drank a pot of coffee. Bud call early and we talked quite a while and later Mother called. Anna called in the afternoon and we talked for an hour. Did laundry and changed the bed (red sheets!).

At 5:30 I went out to Martha Jean's house to tend to her dog, Rosie. She's an old (14) border collie who's a little blind, a little deaf and a little lame. I stayed with her for a little over an hour and came home.

It was all in all a very nice Christmas. I felf a little weepy a few times (you know, things that might have been, etc.) but held it together until a dumb Folger's coffee commercial came on tv...then I just lost it...cried like a baby. Glad I got that out of the way.

We're working today...sorta wish we weren't...so I've gotta dash.

It's been an amazing week!

This week has almost been one of sensory overload! I really began my job in Ernest on Monday. It's as if it were custom made for me. Busy almost all of the time and that makes the time fly, really nice people and PLANTS! What more could I ask for...and the funny thing is I never even filled out an application. However, up front, I did tell them about having had three jobs this past year...they just shrugged, said they must not have been right for me. Wow! They gave me a total of 8lbs of shelled pecans...4 lbs on Friday and another 4 today.

For lunch today one of the boys grilled bacon wrapped quail, venison and smoked sausage. Talk about absolutely wonderful! And one of the boys brought in white chocolate covered cherrys that his mother made for us...I brought 4 home!

When I got home from work Tuesday my carport was piled high with fire wood! Split oak and a bucket of split lighter knot!

Martha Jean gave me two quarts of fresh cane syrup and a dozen satsumas. Mother and Bert came over Monday night and brought a dozen of the biggest, juiciest, tastiest pears I've ever had.

Tonight Caroline and George brought a smoked Boston butt (still hot!) over and said that they were planning on having fire wood brought over every week through winter (26 degrees this morning).

And, I got a gift certificate from Aunt Betty and Uncle Buddy for the Outback and a gift certificate from my sister for Winn Dixie today in the mail.

Do you see a theme here? Isn't it wonderful?

Plus, today was payday...and we are off tomorrow!

Merry Christmas! The only thing that could make it better would be if Bud could come.

It's been a week and a half this week!

Went in to the new job on Monday for training. I was to be trained 2 hrs. a day this week and next. Well, the husband of the girl I'm replacing opened a little sandwich shop here in town on Thursday and on Wednesday she quit. So, Thursday I started full time and still have the 2 part time jobs I've been working...went in to the part times on Mon, Tues and Wednesday...just couldn't Thurs and Fri. I'll have to sort that out and go in after work at least two afternoons. I know it'll work out, just gotta figure out how to do it.

One of the girls from bridge (83 yrs old) called on Friday and asked if I'd take her shopping Saturday morning...of course said yes. She's new to Monticello and doesn't drive much (tends to get lost on a straight road). So I picked her up at 10am in the pouring rain and off we went. We went to Milady's shop which is a super nice dress shop that been here longer than I can remember...I remember going in with Mother when I was a little girl and trying on the hats while she shopped! Then we went to Fred's which is sorta like a poor man's K-Mart, but it's wonderful! Everything from groceries to furniture to videos and potting soil! She got everything she needed and more! Then we went to a new little Mexican restaurant that opened here a couple of months ago. It was SOOOO good! Brought her here to meet Shirley, Goodness and Mercy and see where I live, though I'll bet she can't find it again and back to her house. All this time it was really raining! She gave me a really nice rug for my living room that she didn't have a place for. She's moved from a 4 bedroom 3 bath in Satellite Beach to a 2 bedroom 2 bath town house. Really had to down size lots! Got home around 3pm, tired, damp and cold!

Built a fire and sat with hot tea and the newspaper until around 6pm and Helen called. We talked a couple of hours...Bless her heart she was so down...her lower back's giving her fits, so bad that she took a pain pill which she seldom does. She really is a trooper, still crochets the lap robes for the nursing homes...over 250 this year!

Shirley and I went outside earlier (still raining). When we came in and I took her leash off she went nuts! Ran, full speed, round and round the dining room table while Goodness ran with her round and round on top of the table! I laughed until my tears ran down my cheeks! They probably made 15-20 laps! What a hoot!

Laughing out loud

Saturday, after working in the yard for a couple of hours, I decided to dash to Tallahassee to take Mother and Bert a little gift for Christmas. Now, as I said, I was working in the yard and it was just a whim to go to Tally. I didn't even look in the mirror before I left...no make up...twigs and trash in hair...was just planning to dash over and right back. (Mother did offer me her make up...I declined.)

Well, when I got there my sister was there doing the same thing, delivering Christmas. Mother insisted that I come in and visit and wait for Bert to get back...well, one thing led to another and the four of us ended up going out for a late lunch. We had such fun! Something triggered Mother, Nancy and me and we laughed until we were crying and couldn't stop. Poor Bert was just sitting there in silent amazement. Mother called last night and said Bert asked what was funny and she didn't know, nor did I...but what ever it was, it gave me the best laugh I've had in a very, very long time!

It was dark when I got home.

Played bridge yesterday. I'm really bad!

ETC and her husband have the baby! They are still in China, but are posting to their blog and have posted quite a few wonderful pictures. One they posted is with the hubby holding the baby in a front pouch thing (don't know what those are called) in front of a Chinese MacDonald's! My favorite is the one with ETC holding the baby while she drinks a bottle...the baby is looking up at ETC and she's looking at the baby with such love and joy on her face...beautiful! I printed it out to send to Mother. They are due home a week from today. Then the real pleasure starts when their son and the rest of the extended family start the living process that makes home and family.

We have a freeze this morning. Brrrr!

Chester, Tree Murder and other things...

Bud called last night. Yesterday he had taken a friend to Panama City and left Chester in the house. His landlord accidentally left the door unsecured and Chester got out. He was badly mauled by two Pit Bulls that roam the neighborhood. The end of his penis was bitten off and the muscles in his haunch are messed up pretty badly. Bud said he screams when he tries to move. Poor, poor baby! He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. I hate this happened and pray he'll be okay and soon!

I woke up later than usual this morning (7:30) to the sound of trees screaming. Bulldozers were killing all of the trees in the vacant lot across the street. I looked out the front window and they were just laying there with giant roots up in the air. Shortly after I moved into the house I heard that 3 houses were going in over there, then a few weeks ago the woman who sold the property told me that 6 houses were going in. My property stretches about half way across that land, I can't imagine how they'll squeeze 6 houses in there. Damn! Just hate it!

Last night it was cold and I was feeling sorta rotten (sinus) and almost didn't go to the Humane Society meeting. I'm glad I did, even being there I got handed more than I had bargained for...no telling what would have happened had I not been there. I'm now the treasurer and the membership chairman. They also asked me to be the recording secretary, thank goodness I had the gumption to say no to that, but it sure would have been the lesser of three evils!

Went to the bank today to make the HS deposit. The woman who is the office manager at the first job I had here came in while I was waiting. It was the first time I'd seen anyone since I left there. She came over and hugged me and apologized for everything that happened while I was there. That sorta made things better...I was given the short end of the stick.

The power bill came yesterday. I was thrilled! $64! Of course, I'm cold most of the time, but I can live with that. When LJ was here Saturday she told me that last year it cost her $400.00 each time she had her protane tank filled and she had it filled 4 times! No way I can do that.

Tomorrow is the day that ETC and hubby leave for China. I know they must be about to pop with excitement...I am and it's not even me!

We are suddenly having a flea problem again. Don't know what it is about this time of year. Have been using Frontline for all of the animals and the last dose didn't do a thing for them. Don't know what to do now, have tried flea powder, not working either.

I have a fire in the fireplace and a pot of chili cooking. Good smell combo!

Oh! The other night I made a cup of cocoa. Used Hersey's cocoa, half and half, a little sugar, a dash of salt and a good dash of cayenne pepper. Talk about absolutely WONDERFUL! I don't know where I got the idea for the salt and the pepper, I may have read it or heard it or even dreamed it, but it made all of the difference in the world! I think I'll try it again tonight.

It was a dark and stormy day...

Yesterday was very cold, rainy and dark. It started getting cold Friday and by dawn yesterday it was really quite raw. It spat rain and tumbled dark clouds all day.

Friday afternoon late I went to town for the Christmas "Uptown Get Down". The first Friday in every month two of the main streets in town are closed off and there is music and food and vendors set up booths and it's just a jolly good time. It goes on from 5-9. The Humane Society sets up an adoption booth and does some pretty good business. The HS needed some of the t-shirts we're using for fund raising so I bundled them up and took them to the booth at 4:30, not intending to stay. But I saw lots of people I knew and the music was good so I ended up staying until 6:00pm. By then I'd seen everything I wanted to see and had system over-load with folks and had a hot sausage w/onions and peppers in my bag and it was getting cold, so I came home.

The first thing I did when I got home was build a nice little fire in the fireplace and brew a pot of de-caf. Then with Shirley, Goodness and Mercy in my lap I sat in front of the fire and wolfed down the sausage. Yummy!

When I got up yesterday I still had some decent embers in the fireplace so with a little lighter knot and newspaper I had blazes in no time. I stoked the fire and kept it going all day and late into the night last night. Lovely!

It was truly a laid back day. I didn't even dress until almost noon. Flannel jammys and hot coffee, a good book and the fire, I was all set. Then at 9am the phone rang...it was MJ. She and I talked for about an hour and a half. Then I decided it wasn't going to get much warmer, so I jumped in the shower and got dressed in warm sweats (almost as good as pj's). I'd no more dressed than the door bell rang and it was LJ and Max, her little dog. They came in and stayed for about an hour. Shirley and Max were a HOOT! They ran and played, jumping off the back of the sofa and skidding on the wood floors as the cats sat on the dining room table (among the ornaments I'd unpacked and done nothing with) and watched their antics with BIG eyes! What fun.

Well, when LJ and Max left I settled down with my book. Got a couple of hours of reading in and the phone rang. It was Helen. As she said, she just wanted to "yak"...and yak we did for almost 3 hours. And the day was done.

I stayed up and read until 11:30...just 20 pages short of finishing my book, just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, so I went to bed. Slept straight through till 6 this morning. That's a first for me in a while.

I'm meeting MJ this afternoon at the shelter office. We're going to sort t-shirts and work on making files for the new year. Our annual membership meeting is tomorrow night and I'll be installed on the board as membership chairman. Still have a lot of work to do to get ready for it.

All in all, it's been an interesting weekend and it ain't over yet!

A little taste of winter

It's cold today...33 degrees. Now, I know that doesn't sound too bad to some folks, but we've had the oddest weather this Fall and mostly the temperatures have been well above normal, so 33 is feeling cold! Last night I lit the fire I laid a few days ago and kept it going until I went to bed at 10pm. Sure felt good. Since I'm keeping the thermostat so low the fire made a big difference. However, I'm going to need some more firewood soon. I'm not sure which is the cheaper, the furnace or the fireplace, but I think it's the fireplace.

I spent most of the day Sunday cleaning out the hedges (mostly cutting out privet hedge) and I found several reasonable downed, dry limbs that I cut into fireplace-sized pieces. Most of them are azalea which seems to burn rather quickly and some oak. I've been told not to burn pecan because it pops and spits terribly and could be a fire hazard.

Sunday I put a rather large rectangular basket with a rug in it in front of the fireplace. I was hoping that Shirley would use it some and free up my lap or neck (she likes to drape around my neck at night). Well, Shirley didn't care for it too much, but Mercy had claimed it as her own! Last night while the fire was burning Mercy laid in her basket and purred loudly and watched the flames and sparks for hours! She's one happy kitty! Goodness uses the back of the sofa when he isn't in my lap.

Funny thing, Goodness has started getting on top of the refridgerator and calling me. I answer one or two times and he jumps down and gets in my lap. Funny cat!

Monday morning I called the fellow I talked to two weeks ago about a job. He said he was planning on calling me later that day. So I said, "Right! And what were you going to say?". He siad he was going to offer me a job, but he was swamped right then and could he call me back. I said sure. Well, he called back that afternoon and did offer me the job...at $8.50 an hour to start, and I accepted. Here's the kicker, the full time position doesn't start until the first working day of January, but starting the 12th of December I'll be going in from 10-12 to learn the system from the girl that's leaving. It's going to be tight...actually, already is, so I guess I should say it's going to be tighter. Good way to start a new year.

I just hate that once more there's no money for Christmas. Or anything else for that matter. Mother's sending a little check..should be enough to pay the electric.

Still no Bud...

I thought that maybe I'd made a mistake, but I went back to Bud's e-mail and read it again. He said he was going to come here Friday. He didn't and hasn't today either and I've not heard from him. Makes me worry. Makes me sad and upsets me a bit.

Funny how good thing happen just when you need them. I got a check in the mail today for $28.00 from Sprint. A refund on a deposit from the last place I lived here. Now, that's just a drop in the bucket, but it sure makes breathing a lot easier!

Pretty day. Gathered another bag of pecans, made a pot of turkey noodle soup and watched a rather funny movie, The Honeymooners. It was a spoof of sorts on the old TV series made in current times and with black actors. Was a hoot! There's a lady at the movie rental place that always recommends movies for me and she's not been wrong yet. (I didn't pay for the movie...have a pre-paid card...it has one more rental on it).

Had a nice fire in the fireplace last night that warmed the entire living room...and since it was quite chilly this morning I had another. I've laid another for tonight if I need it, trying to save on propane as much as possible.

Thank goodness gas prices are dropping some. Got gas on Friday and it was $2.23! Though it's much cheaper in both Tallahassee and in Thomasville I figure that unless I'm going to either place for another reason I might as well get it here.

I'm wearing a pair of jeans that I couldn't even zip a few years ago and they are BAGGY!!!!!

Just finished watching the Glamour Magazine Women of the Year awards. How very inspirational. And here I sit like a slug. Nothing very inspirational about that.

Life's just one adventure after another

Well, I've been locked out of the house since 10:30 this morning. Shirley and I went out to gather more pecans this morning and when I had a full grocery bag and a really tired back we decided it was time to come in. Imagine how my heart dropped when I couldn't turn the knob to enter. I put the bag down and tried the knob several times, wiggling it this way and that. Nothing.

Well, since I was looking for Bud I thought we'd just wait till he got here with his key. Waited until 12:15 and really needed to get inside. So I went to a neighbor's house and called Mother since she has a key, too. Turns out she couldn't find her key, but came over anyway with her cell phone and phone book. We couldn't find a listing in Monticello for a locksmith, so we went to a local hardware store and they had a name and phone number for us. Called him and he met us at the house.

Turns out that I hadn't locked the door, the lock was broken. He ended up having to drill it out and replace it and it was 10 minutes after three before I got in. I've never seen a bathroom look so good! Also, hadn't had breakfast or lunch, so I wolfed down a sandwich and here I sit.

Bless her heart, Shirley missed her nap. She's now curled up on the bed sleeping soundly.

Bud's still not here, so I'm glad I didn't wait, but the locksmith said it wouldn't have helped to have the key. I did feel a little better about that.

Nothing much more going on now, thank goodness! I think I'll take a nap, too.

Stuffed like a turkey!

I promised myself this morning that I'd not over eat today. One more promise broken! There was more food today than I've seen at a single gathering in a long time! So, I only took a little of each, a little ham, a little turkey, a little Boston Butt, some corn pudding, collard greens, butter peas, field peas with okra, rice and gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, squash casserole, fruit salad, tossed salad and stuffing and of course home made yeast rolls with butter and jelly...I know I've left something out, but I probably tried it! Then there was the dessert table, cakes and pies and cobblers, cookies and brownies and fudge. I only tried a brownie with thick chocolate frosting, but only because I couldn't hold another bite.

There were 50+ people there, from the age of 6 months to 90 years. Wow, what a get together! Wonderful fun, wonderful people and an absolutely beautiful place! Everybody, except for MJ and me, was related somehow. CCC's sister is married to CCC's husband's brother and everyone else was either a grandsomething, or niece or uncle or sister or something. They were all so gracious and welcoming and made both of us feel right at home.

And the weather, the weather was perfect! Not too cool and not too hot, just right!

The directions to get there were interesting, which is why MJ drove, she knew how to get there. The directions were: behind the New Leaf and behind the Moon! I'd never have made it alone.

A really good Thanksgiving!

A wonderful balmy morning

The weather couldn't be nicer than it is this morning! Clear, blue sky with a very light breeze and low 60's (to warm up to 80 later)! How nice!

The house smells fantastic, I baked the turkey last night and have an apple pie in the oven right now. Now, I sorta cheated with the pie, bought deep dish crusts. All went well until I tried to invert the second crust over the top of the pie...damn thing crumbled to bits. So with a little water I patched it over and crossed my fingers and stuck it in the oven. At least it'll look home made, no one would sell one that looks like this one!

Had an e-mail from Bud. He's coming here tomorrow! Wonderful!

Will go to MJ's house at 11:30 and she's driving us to Tallahassee for Thanksgiving with friends. We've been promised Bloody Marys and more food than can be consumed at one meal! I'm so glad the weather's nice, we'll be eating outside. I'm taking the dumb pie.

Will let you know how it goes.

A Thanksgiving invite

Yesterday the president of our Humane Society called and invited both me and MJ to join her and her family in Tallahassee for Thanksgiving. We both said yes (after discussing it). This should be great fun. I'm taking a green bean casserole and hope to shell and toast some pecans to take also.

I have a large bucket of pecans I've gathered from the tree out front. So far, every one I've shelled have been really good with big, plump meat. I've only shelled a few and Shirley and I have shared them...tasty!

It's very cold this morning...below freezing. I turned the thermostat up to 68 yesterday and am quite comfortable. However, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy all say that they are freezing. I can't sit down without a lapful of animals!

Spent a few hours yesterday decorating the little white Christmas tree. It turned out that the lights I got for it (a string of 100) has a green cord and it looked stupid on the white tree, so I found some green garland wrapped with silver stuff and circled that around the tree and over the cords. Looks pretty good...added 64 little red balls and an old angel on top and it's quite festive! Probably will do the big one on Friday.

Still haven't heard about the job...to call or not to call...that is the question.

It's hard to type with Shirley in my lap...so will close for now.

Getting ready

Thanksgiving is two days away! I can't believe how quickly this past year has gone...lots has happened and most of it feels like it's eons away, yet last Thanksgiving was only yesterday.

Sunday I took the little 8.22 lb. bird out of the freezer and put it in a cooler on the side porch (no lid). Yesterday I poked it with my finger many times throughout the day and nothing gave...not a dent. This morning the wings move, so I feel it's making progress thawing. If it still feels hard tomorrow I'll put it in a sink of water. Thank goodness it's not a 23 pounder!

My friend MJ from the Humane Society is coming for Thanksgiving dinner.

I put a Christmas wreath on the front door last night and am thinking about putting lights on the trees today. (Mother gave me her two trees, one's tall and slim and green and one's short, table-top type, and white). I haven't had a tree in years and now I have two. Sunday I pulled out all of the decorations I have and combined with what Mother gave me I have quite a few. I'm thinking the two trees and the wreath and some ornaments in a bowl on the dining room table should do it...but I do have a mantle...not sure how to approach that.

Still haven't heard from the fellow I talked with last week about a job. Sure wish he'd call...I don't want to call him. Figure if he hasn't called by tomorrow he won't call. I'll call him Monday.

It is COLD here! We actually had two days of rain, boy, we needed that and then the winds came. They actually blew the chairs from the patio and out into the yard and brought in the cold. Brrrr...

Helen called last night. She's very tired. She went to Senior's yesterday and had to have someone bring her home early. Said she went to bed and slept for 1 1/2 hrs. She says she still has no pain...God, I pray she never does. She's having Thanksgiving at her house. Family's bringing food, but she said she's still going to roast a turkey, wants the smell, and will send it home with her grandson and his wife.

Mother came over yesterday morning. Gave me $150.00. Spent some of it at the grocery store and put the rest in the bank. I'll pay the phone bill tomorrow and then there won't be much left. Need a job.

I've got a fire laid in the fireplace. Almost lit it this morning, but am trying to wait for tonight...'spose to get to 32 or lower tonight, so I'll probably need it. I've huddled all of the potted plants (all seven of them) at the back steps and this afternoon will tent a plastic drop sheet over them. Hope that will save them.

A fun day

By 8:15 this morning CCC had called me 3 times. She was a bit crazed as the big trail ride/family farm day was to be at her place today. I ran a couple of errands and made some more table-top tent cards for last minute donations for the raffles and was out there by 10:30. The trail ride was under way when I got there and the folks that were to be there to set up had not gotten there. So MJ and I along with a couple of recruited folks did the set up. We did get a couple of CCC's farm hands and her husband to set the tables up and lug out the chairs that were borrowed from the American Legion...but there was lots to be done. We finished as the first of the guest arrived. For some unknown reason not only did the set-up people not show, but the volunteers to work the various tables didn't either. So I worked one table and CCC's husband worked another one. We got it done and had fun doing it. The photographer from the paper didn't come, but I picked up CCC's camera from the office on my way out and I hope she got some shots, but I didn't see her do it.

We had horseshoes, pony rides, a hayride, horse games (egg & spoon, musical buckets and something else...damn this one brain cell) and FOOD! We had grilled chicken, pulled Boston butt, slaw, baked beans, sweet potato pies (which were potatoes yesterday) and kettle baked apple, blueberry and blackberry cobblers which were all cooked on the spot. It was soooo good! I brought home chicken, pork and slaw, but I'm still so full that I don't think I'll be having supper.

After lunch we had the raffle. We raffled off a 7-yr old quarter horse mare, sweet little thing and pretty, too, and a 7-mth old miniature horse filly. I was out there yesterday when the little horse had a halter put on her for the first time and she did beautifully. Smart little thing and very social. They both went to good homes. We had lots of other things that were raffled including 500 lbs. of sweet feed and lots of baskets of goodies. What fun!!! and, how tiring. Right as I was leaving CCC's husband was kicked in the knee by one of their horses and was sitting with a bag of ice on it...looked pretty bad, bruised up almost immediately and was very swollen. He said he thought it missed anything vital and was okay...hope so.

I don't know how much money we took in for the Humane Society, but lots of people just did donations of $50/$100. So I think we did pretty good.

I haven't heard from the fellow I talked with on Monday about the job. I'm broke and finished with the work I was doing. Hope I hear from him on Monday if not, I think I'll call him.

Was having very dark thoughts last night.

Not sure about Thanksgiving, Bud invited me to come there, but I'm not sure I really want to...and I know he'd have more fun there than here. Gotta think about it.

Chilly today

It's quite cool this morning, low 40's. Our first freeze warning has been posted for tonight. Finally, season appropriate weather! Yeah! It was down right hot yesterday, 80's, and then IT RAINED!!!!! First rain in over 5 weeks, you could almost hear everything outside sucking it up! It cooled off with the rain and I opened all of the windows in the dining room. Goodness and Mercy use the wide window sills in there as their personal perches and this was the first time since we moved in the house in July that the windows have been opened. Even Shirley got in a chair at the window to look out and smell the rain. It didn't last long, about an hour, but it sure did make a difference.

I've almost finished the job I've been working for the last three weeks and have nothing in store. I did talk to a fellow on Monday and he said he'd call later this week. Well, it's certainly later this week now...hope I hear from him. Gotta have something...the power bill is due on the 23rd and I don't have the money for it.

I dreamed about Daddy the other night. It's only the second time since he died 6 1/2 years ago that I have. The other time was a couple of weeks after he died. In this dream he told me he was going to write me a large check. Do you suppose it was wishful thinking?

I've talked with Helen almost every night this week. It's like I'm her touch-stone. If our talking can help ease her through this time in her life I'm glad. It's so little to do.

I'm going to go to the office later this morning even though I probably shouldn't go at all. Unless some bank statements turn up there's really nothing to do. But I'll figure up my hours and give CCC a call.

No bridge this weekend. LJ's going out of town on Saturday for the holiday. No word from Bud, I guess he's not coming.

A busy week looming...

Yesterday was nice. Played Bridge until 4:30 and did do a little better, came in 2nd high.

Helen called shortly after I got home (she'd left an earlier message on the machine)...she just needed to chat. I sat outside with Shirley and we talked for about an hour, in fact it was almost dark when we hung up.

My friend LJ asked if I'd tend her dog (a very old dachund/sp?) over Thanksgiving. She doesn't want me to bring him here, just tend him over at her house. Of course I said yes. She's the next street over and down a ways.

My #2 child, ETC, and her family are adopting a beautiful baby girl from China, she's 10 months old. She posted pictures of the baby on her blog, Red Thread. How very exciting! They are to go get her next month...what a Christmas gift for them!

Will call the fellow I talked with on Friday about a job. Cross your fingers for me. Actually, I don't even know yet if it's something that I'll want, or if I'm what they may want, but I must find something that will support me for a few years.

Oh, talked with Mother last night. She got the tax notice for this house in the mail on Saturday. She'd told me back in the summer that the taxes would be around $3,000.00, imagine my pleasure when she told me that she'd been wrong, it's $300.00! Big difference!

Have a Humane Society meeting tonight at 6:00. The Trail Ride/Family Farm Day is this coming Saturday and we'll start setting up on Friday. Still have a slue of work on the books.

Would you believe there is a tropical storm looming? If she strengthens just a bit her name will be Gamma. Hard to believe isn't it?

Gotta go try to do magic...an extreme makeover...for work.

Helen, Mother and other things

Helen called on Friday. She had gotten a lovely card from Mike and wanted to share it with me. She was so pleased. That was thoughtful.

After Helen and I got off the phone Shirley and I went outside. The air was so crisp and clear and the stars and the moon were spectacular, so we sat out for a while. Then, because it was a little cool and we wanted to stay out, I decided to light the little chimney thing. I knew that everything I'd put in it was quite dry, but it took several attempts to get it going, but once it took off it sounded like a jet engine! I had flames leaping 3-4 feet out of the top! It took some time, but I ended up with a really nice little fire that was actually quite hungry. I fed it wood until I had to declare "enough's enough!"...didn't realize how quickly one can go through firewood!

Last weekend I bought a trunk-load of split oak for $20.00. Now, I'm planning on using that for inside and haven't gotten into it for outside, but it's tempting!

I spent the day with Mother yesterday. It's amazing to me to see the change in her since last November. She's actually quite feeble, forgetful and down right puny. We shopped, had lunch and visited. She's still mean as a snake at times, but all in all it was a really nice day.

When I left I went by my sister's house. She was dozing in front of the TV. We visited for a little while, but it was obvious that she'd really rather just doze off a little more, so I didn't stay long, about 1/2 an hour. I did ask her if she had plans for Thanksgiving. She does. She's going off for a week, didn't say where. Mother and Bert are going to his family for Thanksgiving, so it looks like it's just Shirley, Goodness, Mercy and me for the celebration here. Won't be the first time and probably not the last that we've celebrated alone.

My friend LJ and I had planned to go to Church before lunch and bridge today, but she called yesterday and told me that the minister wasn't going to be there today and it was going to be a morning of prayer. So we decided not to go. We'll meet at her house around 11:30 this morning for lunch and bridge later.

I have on a cute new outfit. Winter white jean-cut pants with a periwinkle short-sleeve sweater and a PURPLE tiny-wale corduroy over shirt. Cute! I've dropped another pants size and that tickles Mother!

Time for the Sunday crossword puzzle.

The Fox

A couple of weeks ago the exboss' wife told me about very early one morning seeing a red fox run from my yard to the empty lot across the street. Well, I've been clearing out the dense beds along the side of the yard and yesterday I found a hole coming under the fence and a deep indention or hole or waller or something. Wonder if it belongs to the fox? Every morning Shirley goes nuts with her nose to the ground over in that area. You reckon? I hope they stay here and don't go out to one of the plantations...they have fox hunts!

While Shirley and I were in the yard late yesterday a neighbor from across the street, waaay across the street, drove over. She'd been out to see a friend of hers earlier in the day and he mentioned that he was looking for a receptionist. So she told him about me. Of course, as she said, she didn't know too much to tell him, but did tell him about the fellow I was working for (she knows him, too) and said that if I could work for him I could work for anyone! She's a hoot! Called him this morning and I'm going to go talk to him on Monday. Told the young woman I'm working for right now on a temporary basis and she said to please use her as a reference. How nice. But, she also said she sure hopes I can finish what I'm doing for her. I've finished one of her companies (there are 4 more) and I'm up to June '05 for the Humane Society. That's in 8 days which I think is pretty good. If my back were not giving me such fits I could have put in a few more hours. And I was worrying about finishing before I have something else. Now it's possible that I could have a fuller plate than I'm wanting. I know it'll all work out. Feast or famine.

I have a full weekend and am sorta dreading it. Tallahasse tomorrow and Church, luncheon and bridge on Sunday. Don't know when I'll get my weekend chores done...you know, I can't let chores cut into my computer time. Oh wow, just thought, I still haven't finished the membership roll for the HS. And we have a meeting at 6pm on Monday. The trail ride is coming up next Saturday and this will be our first actual planning meeting, though lots (food, games, raffles and pony rides have all been taken care of) of things have been done there's still a lot more to do.

It sure was nice to pick out warm clothes to wear this morning, but "they" say it'll be hot again (upper 80's) by the first of the week. Still NO rain. It's been 4-5 weeks without rain of any sort. I've put the sprinkler on the herb garden twice, but everything is sure looking pitiful. I'll have to do my rain call, just wasn't ready to reveal that side of me to the neighbors yet.

Johnny Depp

I watched "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Johnny Depp this afternoon. It really is a dark chocolate kind of movie! Very, very good. Of course, I don't know of a movie that Johnny Depp has made that I haven't liked!

Shirley has chosen NOW as the time she needs to go out, so we will.

Good things

Sometimes it's important to really look at the good things in your life. It's a practice I've used for a while, but after a while I seem to be looking at the same things and forgetting others.

One of the things I really like about the job is being able to set my own hours. Now, I realize, that this isn't a permanent job, it's just until I get several messes fixed. It's hard to say how long it's going to take, but it is going faster right now than I'd anticipated. I'd guess another month, probably not two. We'll see.

Well, anyway, I woke up at 4 this morning and by 6:30 I'd fed the animals, cleaned the litter boxes, dressed, cooked and eaten breakfast, made the bed, read the newspaper and done a few other chores. So I went on line for a few minutes and decided I was wasting time. Got to work at 7am! Finished the last two months of 2004 for the Humane Society and got home at 1:30! How wonderful! Piddled on the computer and then Shirley and I went outside. I spent 3 hours cutting privet hedge out of the azaleas. I've got a pile out on the street that's probably 12 feet long and 4 feet high and wide! There's still tons more to get out, but that sure felt good!

Had a message on the phone from Mother when Shirley and I came in. She wants to take me clothes shopping on Saturday. So I'm going to meet her at 10 Saturday morning. That'll be good, I don't have much that fits me anymore. I wore a pair of black slacks that I got last Fall to Church Sunday and they were much too big. Yeah! Need some good jeans, that seems to be the uniform "de jour" (sp?) here.

It's nice to have known the folks that I'm working with for a while. It's also good to get in before they do. There's always so much talking when other people are there and I find it easier to concentrate when it's quiet. I did have the radio on today and I think the phone rang three times, but basically it was quiet the entire time, no one came in and I left before my friend MJ came in. She's not going to be in at all tomorrow and CCC left early this morning to pull a friend's two horses to Atlanta for the big show. She'll be back in town late tomorrow and may be in the office on Thursday. I'm the only one who likes the early hours. Good thing! Also, only 3 or 4 people have the number to the office (Mother wants it, told her I'd call her with it tomorrow, I've got it written down there somewhere) and that's also a good thing.

The weather is really odd. Very dry and very warm. In it's own strange way that too is a good thing for me (not the dry part). The longer I can go without needing the heat the better...and it's not so warm that I need the A/C! The power bill came Saturday and it had dropped almost $100! Just $108 and change. I sure would like to get it even lower!

Good things...they are everywhere!

We'll see what happens now...

That last little thing I tried to post did post. Don't know what is different. So here goes! (I've sorta had withdrawal not being able to say anything!)

Helen called yesterday. She was in high spirits. Her grandson and his wife had come over and spent the day putting all of her outside Christmas light up for her. She is rather an attraction in that area at the holidays. Her lights and outside decorations are always something to see! She said she'd gotten one new thing for the yard...a 4' tall hobby horse that lights up and rocks! She put it on the patio so she can see it from inside too.

My friend Leah Jane picked me up at 10 til 10 yesterday morning. We went to the Episcopal Church here in town. It was built in 1885 and has been in continuous use ever since. It's a small rather decorative structure with many stained glass windows and a wood-clad vaulted ceiling. Very pretty, cozy and comfortable (except for the pews). Yesterday was the celebration of All Saints Day. What a lovely idea. The celebration is to be not only for the big names that are recognized as Saints, but the day to day people in each person's life that make a difference for them. Now I know why the Episcopalians don't jog or walk before the Sunday service...they have to save themselves for all of the rising and sitting and kneeling that they do.

After the service they had punch (red and orange) and cookies in the fellowship hall. Saw a few people I knew from "way back then" and was introduced to many more. What fun!

Then it was back to LJ's house for lunch and bridge. It's been years since I've played, but I did take the first hand, it was downhill from there. I was the youngest (60) and our oldest topped out at 83. We did more talking and eating than playing bridge, in fact we didn't even finish a rubber and decided to carry it over til next Sunday and do Church, fellowship, lunch and finish the rubber.

I told Mother about that and she was horrified that we'd carry the game over...said that's not done. I don't remember that rule.

Okay this was a bit longer than that last blurb...let's see what happens.

I'm going to try again, may have to do MusingsII

Even my posting spot looks different...no subject line and a "recover post" thingy.

It was a nice Sunday!Church, bridge, food,friends & wine

Well, the last posting didn't post either, if anyone can help with this HELP!!!!

New Job

The new job is going well. I'm cleaning up a lot of bookkeeping messes with 5 different companies. Lots of work and the time zips by...and I'm setting my own hours, being called contract labor which is nice.

I'm thinking about going to the local high school foot ball game tonight. Of course once I get home from work it's mighty hard for me to go back out.

Sunday is looking like an interesting day. An old friend of mine from 40+ years ago called yesterday and invited me to go to church with her and then have lunch and play bridge. I told her I'd love to, just hope I don't make a fool of myself at bridge...it's been years since I've played. Maybe I'll play on line tomorrow and try to brush up.

Helen Update

I called Helen last night to see how her first radiation treatment went and was both shocked and saddened by her answer. It seems that when she got there she was told that because of the pacemaker that was installed while she was in the hospital they wouldn't be able to do radiation, but were opting for surgery instead. Her eldest son was with her and they talked it over and Helen decided that she would not have the surgery. As she said, she has no pain and what if she couldn't crochet after having brain surgery. She's a trooper.

An answer to my prayers!

Got a call from the president of the Humane Society this afternoon offering me two jobs...both for pay!...$1.50 an hour more than I was making! I start tomorrow. It'll be half a day on one job and half a day on the other. I'll enjoy it. So, I'll be able to pay the $50 water bill! Yeah!

Shirley's dancing around on first one leg and then the other. I think she needs to go outside.

Witches, Goulds and Goblins, oh my!

In a two hour period last night I had over a hundred Trick or Treaters! Cars were parked up and down the street disengourging giggling little monsters! At one time there were 3 cars parked in my driveway. That's more than I remember having any other time EVER! They were all costumed and cute, funny or rather creepy and everyone seemed to be having a ball! I dressed in black and sat on the front porch with a lit candle and a galvanized bucket of candy.

I think the funniest goblin was a little girl (looked to be 9 or 10 yrs old). She was dressed as a Sumo wrestler. The outfit was flesh colored and sooo big! She waddled as she walked. What a hoot! Then there was the little boy. He was 5ish and dressed in camos with a toy rifle on a strap slung over his shoulder. I asked him if he was a hunter (in this neck of the woods that quite probable). He said no, he was a soldier like his daddy...and added that his daddy was "at" the war and he hoped he didn't get shot or "blowed up". Then he spotted Shirley in the window (she had a ball!!) and told me all about his dogs and the one that got "runned" over. What a precious child! They were all cute and very polite, I don't remember any of them not saying thank you.

I slept better last night than I have in months. Guess there's something positive to be said for being unemployed. The only head ache (besides money) that I have is telling Mother. She's gonna freak!

I'll be going to the Humane Society office tomorrow afternoon to get them set up with Quick Books. That should help with the record keeping and today I plan to work on the membership records, I've sorta put that off as I was on the computer inputting data almost the entire time I was at work and just didn't want to do more of the same when I got home at night.

Here's to a fresh start on November first!

Well, here I sit

Don't know if I got fired or if I quit, but here I sit at 2:30 on a Monday afternoon with a check for $30.88 in my purse.

I was expecting things not to go too well today, but this wasn't the outcome I'd hoped for. Joe was quite distant and very cool when I got in this morning...barely spoke when spoken to, but no blow-up like I was expecting. I heard him call his wife and chew her out for a mistake she'd made and I did ask if I could help with anything when he got off of the phone. A very gruff "no" was all I got. He had me go to lunch early and was gone when I got back.

Two vans pulled in behind me when I got back from lunch. It was two coaches and some high school kids wanting to design a t-shirt for the cross-country state finals. (they will probably win!) Joe had shown one of the coaches some clip-art books and he even knew where they were and walked in and got them. They took over the front room (gave them a couple of forms and pencils and the coach told me that they didn't need any help and actually closed the office door when I went back in! I did get up and open the door. Well, Joe showed up before they were finished and worked with them until they came up with a design and placed an order. When they left he came in the office and bit my head off. He didn't know what was wrong with me, I'm not focused, it's his shop, not mine. Now, mind you, we've had a similar talk before, but this one was vicious. He was yelling and really being nasty...not cussing, just really being nasty. Then he brought up the t-shirt order from last week. Well, I had already looked at the order as I had it entered in the computer and finally (after asking him) found the actual packing slip hidden on his desk and I did not do what he was saying/yelling. In fact, I told him that I didn't and that I'd shown it to him and that just made him madder. I was so upset that I thought I was going to either cry or throw up and said I needed to go home...he said "make sure you take your stuff" and I said I wasn't planning on quitting, that I felt like I was going to throw up. He then began yelling again that it was his shop, he paid the bills and if I left I wasn't to come back. Of course, it didn't help matters that I had painted a very mild cat face (a black nose and whisker dots) on this morning and had on my Halloween shirt. The jackass even said that how dare I dress that way when he'd given me shirts to wear. Told him I'd bring the shirts back (and I will), he said no and I said I'd not wear them again, maybe someone else could. Then I asked him to pay me for the overtime Friday and for the four hours today and he said no. Said I could come back on Friday and get it as that was payday. Then he had second thoughts and wrote me the check. Oh, I did say that I sure didn't know what was wrong with him. That helped lots, too.

I've never met anyone who needs to take anger management training like he does. And he thinks he's going to run for sheriff in a few years. Oh God, that's just what we need, a hot head with a gun!

I guess I'll go to Thomasville tomorrow and get a paper. Maybe even Valdosta, it's not all that far. If it weren't for the house I'd leave Monticello.

A very nice Sunday

Today has been one of those laid back Sundays that don't really happen that often. It's not that I've not done anything, I have, it's just the day felt soft. No issues that had to be dealt with today, nothing that absolutely had to get done. Did laundry, took the garbage to the street, cleaned my bathroom (and shower!), Shirley and I took the Sprint bill to the post office, did litter boxes and swept the kitchen and side porch, read the newspaper and just puttered. Feel-good day!

Mother called. She's obsessed with getting an address. Once she latches on to one of these needs she's ruthless! Told her that I'd let her know if I found the address. Then she went into a rather ugly bashing of her step-daughter and step-son-in-law. Said she didn't like them, so I said "they probably don't like you either.". Without skipping a beat she replied "Oh, of course they do, I'm charming. Everyone thinks I'm charming.". Oh, gag!

There was a quote by David Trueblood in Fridays newspaper: "It takes a noble man to plant the tree that will some day give shade to people he may never need."

I have a pot of small white beans on cooking. Gives the perfect smell throughout the house for this slightly chilly day. I'm torn between making a pot of rice or a pan of cornbread. The cornbread sure is winning out right now...with some bacon and cheese in it...and a little onion!

Long cord fever

Okay, I've been dippin' in the jug a bit, so what ever this turns out to be is the cyber equivalent of ages ago "long cord fever".

Shirley and I just came in. "They" said our best viewing of Mars wouldn't be until 9:24 tonight. "They also said he'd be quite yellow. Well, "they" are not totally correct. I could see Mars coming up a while ago right between the trees on the east side of the yard. He has a reddish cast and is quite large. He's storming through the trees like the warrior he is. It's very clear outside now and Mars is very clear and quite beautiful!

I found it hard to believe that there were still Orlando calls on the 'phone bill, but there were 3. Maybe 1010987 is delayed.

My angst about Helen is wanting to dominate my mind. Wish I could cry.

The stuff with the boss is really bugging me. What in the Sam Hill am I supposed to do? I can't be without a job, couldn't be afloat an entire month. The eggs and cat food won't last long (2 weeks max). I've lost a ton of weight lately...rice and eating the same burger for both lunch and supper...well, you know what that's like. Thank God I have a roof. I'll keep that even if I don't have water or electricity. These are supposed to be the start of my "Golden Years", wow!

The squirrels are eating/gnawing the antlers on the deer skull on the pecan tree in the back yard. I thought perhaps someone was sneaking into the yard and sawing them off for handles of things. But, Bud said it was squirrels and it is, I've seem them bunches lately. Don't know what to do, Mother said "run at them"...we can all see that happening!

Just how long does cooked fish keep? I never finished the mullet from the Am. Legion fish fry. That was Friday a week ago. Still have lots, haven't eaten it since the day I got it. Wonder if I refried it would it be okay. I'm a little hungry tonight but don't want to cook and there isn't anything to eat that doesn't need to be cooked.

Drat...

Because of Winn Dixie

Loved the movie!

This afternoon at Winn Dixie I remembered putting the packing slip from the controversal t-shirt order in a read-me position in my printer before I left last Friday (last week, not this Friday). I also remember showing it to him on Monday and he said not to worry about it, it was coming from another plant. I had a sticky note on it saying to remember to show it to the boss.

Got a retractable leash for Shirley at Dollar General for $5.00. She likes the additional roaming room, but the sound the leash makes as she returns to me scares her to death! What a woose! Also got some puppy training pads. I've put one over her favorite spot...she'll probable just find another favorite spot.

Paid the phone bill today (the last of the Orlando calls) and did just a little grocery shopping ($39.00). Got the water bill today and I don't have anything left. Gotta do something.

Oh, last night the chirper was still going strong when I got home from work. So I got the ladder out and the screwdriver and thought I'd just totally disconnect the alarm thingy. Well, I set up the ladder and was standing over the alarm and it chirped...but it wasn't the alarm. My hearing is so bad with high pitched sounds and I had a lot of trouble locating it. Above the alarm box (14"-16" above) is a box that looks like an old doorbell chime. So I stood on the ladder and focused on that box until the chirp happened again, and it wasn't that box. Now believe me, I'd looked and looked for something else and not found anything and was looking again while standing on the ladder and it chirped again. The sound came from the ceiling just inside the hall from the living room...it WAS a smoke alarm (didn't know I had one). I had to stand on the very top of the ladder to reach it (I'm 5'1") and couldn't unscrew it. So I had to get down, get glasses and go back up. There was a little plastic pin-type thing stopping it from unscrewing. Got it out and opened it and, yep, there was a, 9v battery which I immediately shatched out and the damn thing shut up!!!!! Thank goodness! Got a battery, actually a two pack for $1.99 at the Dollar General, and replace the thing today. The funny thing is, tonight is the night "they" recommend you replace your smoke alarm batteries! Is that a hoot or what?

I know Bud is busy (maybe on his way to Idaho) and doesn't have a phone, but I sure wish to hear from him. It's been so nice feeling he was close, but now not being able to "reach out and touch" makes him less close.

Bought a jug of wine today. Cheap, but not bad.

Odds 'n ends

Okay, I'm not sure just where to start.

Things at work have been pretty good the last two weeks at work. The boss was out of town two days last week and has been out of the shop for periods of time this week, so no conflicts have happened.

While he was out of town last week an order of shirts came in and I processed them. Counted (I always count more than once, you know, that little one brain cell I'm working with) and checked them off against the order and put the appropriate shirts in bins for specific jobs. Then entered the incoming order in the computer. Late yesterday the boss started a job that was due yesterday and I stayed late and helped. At a quarter to seven last night I got a call from him. He was spitting fire. He said, among other things, that I had incorrectly processed the order and the job was incomplete because of it. Well, if there was a shortage in the shirts, I feel sure I noted it on the packing sheet...I mean, that's what I do...I make notes and notes and notes, don't particularly trust the one brain cell. Any way, he ranted and raved for a few minutes and then said we'd take it up Monday. Well, I'm not too sure I care to take it up on Monday or any other time with him. I promised myself after the last blow-up that the next time would be the last time. Not sure what to do. Damn!

When I got off of the phone with him I paced with my cup of tea in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Had several thoughts, some of which are not fit for print. (1) At least this takes some of the pressure off of his wife, he got it out of his system with me (I've heard him talk AT her and I know how hard that is. She's talked with me about his fuse.). (2) I'm pretty sure I told him about the order and he said not to worry the remainder was coming from another plant. (3) How dare he talk to me or anyone else that way. (4) I think he'd like for me to quit as I'm pretty sure he's over extended with that new toy of his, the embroidery machine, and what pittance he pays me in a month would probably make up a large part of the loan payment. (5) Etc. Not sure what to do, but must do something.

Thinking of taking a drive up to Valdosta this afternoon.

Helen

Got a call a little after 9 o'clock last night from Helen. She's been in the hospital for the last 9 days. She sat on the side of her bed to put her red boots on and came to on the floor. Doesn't remember falling and had no idea how long she was out. She couldn't get up and said she ended up scooting on her bottom out of the bedroom, down the hall and through the livingroom to her big chair and was able to pull herself up on it. She sat in it until she felt okay and then went outside for a cigarette. Said she went back in and back to bed and slept for several hours. When her daughter came by later that evening she told her what had happened and they went to the hospital. She said they ran many test including x-rays and a MRI. They put in a pace maker and found brain cancer. She had a cancerous kidney removed this summer. She starts radiation on Tuesday. She is scheduled for 3 treatments now. I guess they'll check it out and see if it's working and if she needs more. Bless her heart, she's 82...and like she said, it sure would be easier to just go to sleep and not wake up. I'm going to try to make a one day trip down and back. I need to see her.

A productive day!

Another crisp day. Love it...wore one of my flannel shirts to work today and it felt like such an old, comfortable friend! I felt "good in my skin" today.

One day earlier I cut some magnetic material down to little 2ish"x4"pieces and the boss asked me to apply vinyl to them. Enjoyed it and did quite well except that I grabbed the wrong size for one of them, but it still looked good. He said it was okay. I've caught a few shirts and done a few other odds and ends and enjoy the change so much. Of course, I'm still doing the office, but the other is fun too! I'm checking out pad printing prices on pens, mugs and golf balls right now...you know how much I love catalogs!

Got home and the damn alarm thing is still chirping...every 20 seconds (I timed it). Of course it's almost friendly now, kinda like having a bird that doesn't poop! Anyway, everyone I talked to today about it (all male) seemed to think "Poor little woman, she's an idiot". The very first question from each was "did you hit the reset button?"...DUH! Then the consensus was it must be a battery back-up that needs replacing. So when I got home today the first thing I did was unscrew the face plate (whoever painted last used wood screws to put the plate back on!) and lo and behold! There ain't no battery! Just electronic circuits. So now what?

Shirley and I spent an hour and a half in the yard tonight. I used the wheelbarrow and cleaned up all of the debris the winds littered the yard with and got out to the street with it and guess what? they picked up my other pile today! So now I'm starting a new one. Boy, the ants are bad! The entire yard seems to be one giant ant bed! Got a few really good bites.

Saw a car stopped for speeding (I guess) right out front tonight. They really do speed on this section of the road. A little further down it's too bumpy, I'm a block out too far.

Gotta go feed the bird.

Well, now I've gone and done it

When I got home yesterday the house was cold, so I decided to turn on the heat just to get the chill off. Also there was the pee spot in the livingroom, so I made a bucket of soapy water and mopped the livingroom, hall, spare room and kitchen. Then I decided to use Bud's suggestion and sprinkle red pepper on Shirley's favorite areas to pee. Couldn't find my big thing of red pepper, so decided to sprinkle Cajun seasoning spice. Did. Well, one of her favorite spots is in the hall in front of the air intake register for the heat/air conditioner and of course, with the heat on, the Cajun spice was sucked right in! The house smelled wonderful, but it also caused the alarm system to go nuts. The damn thing had chirped every 20 seconds since 5pm yesterday and I can't make it stop. It's so loud that I can hear it in every room even with doors closed. Called Mother, but they were out partying, so I left a message. Didn't hear from her, so called at 7am today. She couldn't remember the code to stop it, but did make several suggestions, none of which worked. I think that when I get home from work today I'll get my screwdriver out and dismantle the damn thing...it's not connected to any place, just using electricity and chirping. House still smells good though.

Also, for weeks the clocks in the house have really been weird. They gain time, lose time and even stop and restart. This includes the clock on the computer monitor. Don't know what causing that, but it sure is annoying!

Works going well, this week has zooped by.

Gotta get ready to go in.

And I thought it was cold yesterday!

Today it's cold! Just south of here is reporting 32 degrees and I've not stayed outside long enough to look at my thermometer...but surfice to say, its cold!

Mother came to the shop yesterday to pick up the shirt we did for her. She had said that they'd come over this past weekend to get it so I took it home. Took it back to work yesterday and she came over after a day of bridge. She looked cute and sat and talked for about half an hour. She also met the boss.

After work I went to the Humane Society office. We'd discovered another box of records dating from 2002 back to 1987. What a mess! But, after an hour and a half we (MJ and I) got it into some sort of order and discarded all of the really old stuff we don't have to keep. Brought home the membership records...boy! is that ever a mess. Told them to give me 2 weeks and I should have them in order. Of course I set up the spread sheet for them last week so that'll speed it up.

Ran into the lady who is heading up the Democratic party here in Jefferson County. She was one of Daddy's first secretaries! Fun to see folks from back then. Of course, to see her, you'd never believe she's old enough to have worked for Daddy. Talk about timeless!

Gotta ready myself for work. 38 layers of clothes should do it.

Chilly today

Oh, I love it! it's down right cold this morning! My outside thermometer said 44 at 5:30 and 38 at 7:00. Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler. I did put a heavy comforter on the bed Sunday and last night turned the ceiling fan off in the living room. I left the ceiling fan on in the bedroom, 'cause I had my comforter! Sure slept well! Hard to imagine that last week we had highs in the 90s!

I'm holding off on turning the heat on. When Bud checked out the propane tank it was filled to either 60 or 70% capacity. I'm not sure how long that will last, but I plan to not use it as long as possible.

Maybe I'll turn the bedroom fan off while I'm at work...it sure does kick up a breeze.

I think I'm back

It has been so annoying not being able to post...as if whatever I have to say is earth shattering! Anyway, I think I'm back.

When I brought the garbage can in from the street after work today I saw bunches of pecans that the car had crushed in the driveway. All of the looked like good ones...both this last weekend and the one before I've brought pecans in and not ONE was any good. I started noticing little holes in some of them (many of them) and actually picked one up that had a little green worm coming out! So seeing good pecans spurred me into action. I did find however, that it seems only one of the trees is really up to snuff this year, the one in the front on the east side of the yard.

I know "they" said we'd get no effects from Wilma this far north, but the winds today have been astonishing! All of the streets are covered in leaves, debris, limbs and huge clumps of Spanish moss. Looks like a mini war zone.

When I got in from pecan gathering I had a call on the machine from a friend at the Humane Society. It seems we got a rather large donation ($25,000.00) and she wanted my input on the thank you letter. So, I've only been home for a little while. Oh, I'm now on the board of directors for the society. I'm the membership chairman. I think it's because I have a computer and know word and excel. As long as I don't have to go anywhere or talk I'll do just fine.

Oh! Our high tomorrow morning at 7AM is to be 38 degrees and warming up to a toasty 60 at noon! Love it!

having trouble getting things to post

My last 3 post haven't posted. Deleted a couple...lets see if this goes.

The tickle in the back of my mind...

...must be guilt from doing very little yesterday. Intended to sleep in, the tickle and I got up at 5:30. Intended to get on-line early yet the tickle had me outside moving bricks and we only got on line after cooking and eating lunch and cleaning up the kitchen, too! As long as the tickle doesn't want me to paint the house or something we'll get along just fine.

It's nice outside today. There's a constant light breeze and it's cool. I wore a sweater over my t-shirt during the entire brick moving episode.

Shirley and I were outside this morning several times before I was ready to go out for a stay. So, when we finally chained out to the far yard chain, we were ready for a stay. Well, since the weather's changed and the sunlight is shorter, there's not much to weed ...and that's one of my favorite chores! So, while Shirley milled around I looked around for something to do. You know, something little. Spotted the brick pile on the west side of the yard and thought I'd move a few to the eave drip off of the carport. Well, for three trips I carried 5 at a time by hand and didn't make a dent in the pile and I was beginning to feel a little pooped so I took a coffee break. Sat on the patio thinking about how little I'd accomplished. Then the light bulb (bub) went off ...THE WHEELBARROW. It took 5 heavy loads to get them all moved, and I laid them as I moved each load. Covered an area from the carport to the air conditioner, looks like an Esher! Put the grill on a level spot and it doesn't look half bad. At some point I intend to level the area and dig the bricks in but for now, I'm pleased.

Wilma has turned ENE is what I think the radio (NPR) said. She sure is taking her own sweet time. And would you believe it Alpha has formed. She's a step below hurricane, but expected to strengthen to hurricane force. Then when Wilma passes over Florida and out into the Atlantic Alpha is expected to join Wilma. Haven't heard what that marriage is supposed to produce. That'll be interesting.

Waiting to Exhale

According to all of the current weather forcast Wilma will not be looking our way. The storm has slowed considerably (she's still a catagory 4) and will be bouncing off of the Yucatan before heading East. That little bounce will theoretically reduce her fury even more and then sometime on Monday or early Tuesday she's expected to smash into South Florida. We are to have rain today and tomorrow, but it's not coming from Wilma, we have a cold front passing through and that will be dropping some much needed rain for us...and also dropping our much higher than normal temps.!

The American Legion is having a fish fry today. The fellow I made 300 tickets for a couple of weeks ago came by the shop on Wednesday and gave the boss and me each a ticket. I'm planning on going there at lunch and getting a meal to bring home to eat. LOVE mullet!

Chilly this morning

Went out to get the paper in and almost froze to death! Actually, it really was just quite crisp, but my face was cold to the touch when I got back in! Low 50's. Saw the weather forcast for next week and the highs are to be in the mid-70's! We still have several days of low 50's and high 80's and a hurricane before Fall hits, but it's coming! Yeah!

Don't know what to do about Shirley. She is peeing in the house. There's a place in the living room where the finish has been seriously breached on the hard wood floor. Bud suggested sprinkling red pepper on her favorite spots. Think I will before I go in to work this morning. Just don't want to do anything to hurt her.

No news to speak of except for the weather. Did see a window of opportunity for the path of Wilma. There is an outside possibility that she could impact us here in N. FL. I sure don't wish this storm on south or central Florida, but I really don't want her here!

The boss will be out of town today and tomorrow. Going to NC to pick up an embroidery machine for the shop.

Oh! I got a wish book!!!

The Office Depot catalog came yesterday! It's their "Big Book". I started on page one, of course and have finally reached items that are for sale. This may top my list of favorite catalogs. The 1957 Sears Christmas catalog has been on top of the list since '57! I was 12 and that was a good Christmas...in Ocala with Murr and Pappy and the entire family! Lots of cousins, lots of food, lots of gifts and last, but not least, lots of catalogs! We had a ball! The weather got a little nasty and we had to stay in and the catalogs were even more exciting than the gifts! So, YEAH!!! The Office Depot catalog came yesterday!

Everyone up here (N. FL) is pretty nervous about the coming storm. It's the topic of conversation everywhere, but sorta in a whisper...it's early yet to acurately predict a path for Wilma and you know that for sure if you were in Central Florida last season for Charley, Frances and Jean (was it Jean?)...there goes some more of that last brain cell.

Of course if we do get anything nasty, I don't expect it to be full force...and the current path is predicted to be quite south of here. But, IF we do get anything I've got the perfect bad weather book! My New Catalog! I can make and revise lists and customise them! Oh, what fun!

That's one way to look at it, I guess the other is to plan to hunker-in this weekend and to prepare accordingly.

Shirley is dancing on one leg and is trying to tell me that she needs to go out. So we will.

Oh, what a moon!

Mother called me at work today at 4:15. She wanted to know if it was okay to bring me a mess of fresh mustard greens (Bert's brother grew them). Of course I said YES!! Got home at 4:35 and they showed up at 4:55. Mother wanted to show Bert the new furniture and they didn't even sit down. We stood in the carport for a few minutes (they loved the fire-wood holder that Bud built) and chatted and they left. I did tell them about sitting out with the fire and Bud with his guitar. Mother said, "Next time I wish you'd ask us. We would love that!" Who woulda thunk it?

After they left I cleaned the greens and put them on to cook with some left-over baked ham I had in the freezer They were really beginning to smell good when I had to turn them off and leave for the 7 o'clock Humane Society meeting. Well, the meeting lasted until a little after 8 o'clock and when I walked out to the street the moon was absolutely breathtaking! It kept a spot light on me the entire ride home, in fact as I was driving down Pearl Street it was directly in front of me leading the way. I was so enraptured with the view that I missed my driveway and had to turn around and come back! I could smell the greens when I walked in the back door. Now that's a combination that doesn't come too often...a breathtaking moon and mouth watering greens!

I was so hungry that I stood over the pot and ate two big bites of the greens (which only served to magnify my hunger, so I headed to the fridge). There was a small foil package that I didn't recognize...two good back pieces and the neck from the lemon chicken! Stood over the sink and devoured the chicken, made a cup of tea and here I sit!

All in all it was a very good day. Was quite busy all day, the boss was in a good mood and there's quite a bit of work left for tomorrow. That feels better.

Well, now it's Wilma

Once more the Gulf states are being alerted that we have a potentially major storm on the way that we can expect for the coming weekend (wonder why they always arrive for the weekend). Wilma has already been named and is on her way into the very warm Gulf waters. Our local tv news said this morning that she's expected to be a "big one". What a way to start a Monday!

I astounded myself yesterday! That's always fun. I swept, Swiffered and vacuumed, clean bathrooms, did laundry, got my bedroom put back together, dusted and did a lot of general puttering. Sure looks better. I'm only sorry I'd not gotten it all done before Bud got here, 'course I wasn't expecting him.

Mother called late Saturday and wanted Bud and me to meet them for lunch. I ended up handing the phone to him so he could explain that he had to get back to Apalachicola, he has work today. She was really put out. How dare anyone mess up plans SHE makes. Thought about it later, I could have gone, but wasn't invited without Bud!

It's down right chilly this morning! Love it!

One of the things that Bud did that has really made a BIG difference was to move the tall (crappy) bookcase from the "work" room into my room. The back was floppy and he reattached it for me, too. Yesterday I got the majority of my books on the shelves. Feels good and looks good to have them in one place, off of the floor. I still need to go back and organize and categorize them, but what a difference this is!

Having the bookcase out of the "work" room frees up a lot of space, too. I had to shove and shuffle boxes to get the shelves out and now can open the closet doors! Yeah! First step in getting all of that straightened out.

Big article with questions and answers about the bird flu in this mornings paper. I read it with great interest and realized when I finished that it was just placating pap. No real answers, 'course there may not really be any answers. I was thinking after reading the nonsense that this anticipated pandemic could be the "Rapture" in another guise. Give that a thought.

Good Weekend!

When the boss came in from lunch on Friday he told me about an estate sale just a little ways down from me. It was someones house that I remember from childhood...I remember both the lady and the house...so, of course when I left work I stopped at the sale. It was being run by an old friend of my daddy and we had a good visit. The belongings being sold looked like I hope my stuff looks like in 30 more years. There were crafting things galore, fabrics, threads, everything, good stuff! Oh, the books! I needed all of them! Didn't by books, but went a little nuts on the crafting stuff. Took a walk through the yard (oh, someday perhaps this one will be like hers) It's the kind of yet that you meander through on lovely, wide, intricate paths. There's a fig that you walk under and a poticarpus that almost rivals some of the oaks in the yard.

Anyway, I was putting stuff in the car when a male arm reached in and picked something up as I was putting it in. I looked up and it was BUD!!!
Oh, what a surprise! What a good way to end a work week! He brought a chicken (really he has a kitchen in his car) said he thought we'd give the grill a try...I put it together in the Spring and haven't used it. Well, he grilled lemon and butter basted chicken, made consume' rice and I did burned beans. It was a glorious meal! We sat and talked and laughed 'til late.

Saturday was really a clear cool day. We spent the majority of it out back. Bud built a fire-wood rack for the carport with pressure treated lumber we found out behind the shed! It's a nice sturdy thing and looks good. He broke down to size and organized the wood I'd gathered over the last little while on it and it looks super! We ran a few errands rather late in the afternoon and that was fun! We "did" Fred's...he's fun to shop with!

Well, we ended up sitting on the patio until midnight drinking beer and watching the fire he built in the little chimney thing. He played his guitar, sang (some wonderful songs by John Prine plus lots of others). Most of them were really good toe-tappers, some of them were hum-alongs and I knew a couple! Loved it all, but especially the John Prine ones! When we went in we remembered we'd not had supper yet. Bud made some grilled chicken sandwiches that were to die for and we were up till close to 2am.

Slept in this morning, didn't get up till a little after 8. We had breakfast and took our coffee outside. Had to wear a sweater! Sat and talked a while and then he had to go. Left at 11am. He and his dog are such good company. Shirley loves Chester and Goodness and Mercy were warming up. Maybe the nuts will remember when Bud and Chester come back that they really aren't afraid and go on from there. Look forward to the next visit!

Now that I played all week, it's time to get to work and do a little cleaning around here and once more, laundry.

It's Friday!

Some weeks seem longer than others. This one has been no exception. The boss was gone the majority of the day yesterday (playing golf) and the phone didn't ring and no one came in and I had nothing to do. Did make-up sorta work. Printed out useless reports and looked through an interesting book on creating with type. 4:30 sure took its sweet time arriving! I'm not paid enough for this...$6.50 an hour...he pays the part-time help (a high school boy) $6.15! I know damn good and well that I'm worth more than 35 cents more.

Mother called at 7:30 this morning. My heart always drops when the phone rings at an odd hour. She and Bert need a t-shirt done for a surprise birthday party. The boss probably will hit the roof.

It's a shame to begin a day with this mind-set. I'll try to do a re-set before I go in.

Well, today the boss relenquished a job

Finally, he trusted me with a silly little job, trimming vinyl on license tags and cutting out the holes for attachment. I think I'm beter with an exacto knife than he is. Maybe he'll let me do other things. I go crazy sitting in the office making busy work and printing out dumb reports that he can actually see on the computer screen. I do get bored easily and thumb twittling isn't a favorite hobby of mine. I get to count out 10 shirts when I get back!

Wore a sweather to work today. Needed it. Like this weather...over-cast and not chilly, but cool. Still have the AC on, but it's not running so much, thank goodness! Quite humid, that should change soon, too.

Starting off to be a different sort of day

Being a Virgo I'm rather patterned. Every morning I make the coffee, feed the animals, put Shirley out and at 6am I walk out and get the paper. Well this morning everything went just fine until I went out for the paper and it wasn't there. So I fixed my spinach omelet, ate it and at 6:45 went out again for the paper. It wasn't there. Hum. So at 7 I called the fellow who delivers it. He said he expects other calls as I was the 3rd from Pearl Street who didn't get one. He said he delivered them all. He'll get another one over here at some point today. Sure messes up my routine!

First thing yesterday morning the boss wanted to talk. It's his way or the highway. Thought I was doing it his way. Don't know what to do.

Don't look forward to work. Long periods that I struggle to have something to do...makes a long day and a rather unpleasant one. Don't think it'd be good to take something in to read...not on line there.

On the deep ocean floor venting

Wow! I felt I was pushing my luck with the boss. I took in a very small job (2 names on 2 each t-shirts) while I was staying an hour late today...actually he'd said when he left it'd be 15 minutes, but it was over 50 minutes! Was almost 5:30 when I left. Anyway, when he got in I showed him the four shirts and showed him the order I'd written up (it was for two law enforcement types...he usually wants to do that sort of thing) and his fuse detonated! He said (and I know he thinks he said it calmly) "Do you know how to do this?", I thought he meant price it out and said no. Well, then he went on a rather quiet rampage, but his eyes and face were nasty. Started saying how it wasn't worth his while and it'd take two screens (well, I know damn good and well that it would only take one screen and he uses vellum for his positives and runs them off on the computer and that's no big deal) and that I should have said check with him later and I could call them in the morning and say he wouldn't do the job. I gathered my purse and said "See you in the morning." and left. It's almost 2 hours later and I'm still stupid and angry. Maybe not in that order. Stupid because I expected a different reaction from him, he is an adult, and angry because of how he was and the way I let it affect me.

I got stupid back cramps on my way to CVS to pick up my prescription, got home and had forgotten cat treats and we've been out for a few days (I've been substituting them for Brewer's Yeast...been out of that for weeks). So I went up to the corner quicky market thing and the don't carry any cat treats, so I went to the IGA and they don't carry any either! What do these poor cats in town do? But IGA did have one bottle of cat vitamins ($3.55), so I bought it. Got home opened the bottle of vitamins and shook it. Mercy and Shirley came running (in that order), no Goodness. So I called out "Goodness" quite loudly and that cat actually came skidding around the corner! I never knew he knew his name! They weren't crazy about them, but they ate them.

Gotta go heat planned-overs.

It was a lovely weekend

The weekend was so pleasant and now it's over. Drat! The weather was absolutely perfect...low 80s during the day with blue skys and mid 60s at night (dark skys). The Tallahassee visit was nice and I actually got some house work and some yard work done.

The garden spider is gone. Do they hibernate? Her elaborate web structure is just a long hanging mass with brown leaves weighing it down...she's no where to be found. I can't find any of her off spring either.

The beds along the perimeter of the yard have been ignored for years it seems. They are anywhere from 4 to 8 feet deep and so overgrown that it's impossible to see everything that's there. I got in the one on the East side of the house yesterday and spent several hours cleaning out and cutting back stuff. I even found a base ball bat (plastic) under stuff and saw some kind of ball that I never made it to and something hanging in one of the azaleas that's red and black, but never made it to that either and am not sure what it is.

Gotta ready myself for work (an Extreme Makeover!).

More at another time.

Fall

The weather is lovely today. Shirley and I sat out on the patio this morning and I needed a sweater! Clear blue sky, light breeze and quiet! Lovely! This is my very favorite season!

Nothing much going on as yet today. I've read the paper and done the animal thing (no pills yet) and almost finished a pot of coffee. Oh yes, I did fix a nice breakfast. Fried the last of the maple bacon, then sorta sauted some of the fries from last night and then fried the perfect over easy egg! Not only was it good, it was pretty.

Must finish laundry (the boss had 4 polo shirts embroidered for me with the company logo...red, black, dark green and white...and he'd like me to wear one every day.), swiffer, vacuum and mop. And I'd like to start on the spare/work room. I'm thinking of bring the tall book case from in there and swapping it with this short one in here. I really want my books in here.

I've piddled away half of the day. Must get off computer and get going on my chores!

Bison on a bun

One of the first things I thought about when I woke up this morning was Mother and deviled eggs. Maybe something in a dream jogged my memory, but she has mentioned deviled eggs almost every time we've talked for the past couple of weeks. So when I got up I thought I'd make some of the basil/tomato/garlic/cheese/walnut oil/lime juice salad thing I make and devil a few eggs and take them to her. Had to get to the vets before noon and needed to get some domestic chores taken care of. So I boiled eggs and set them aside to cool, picked and washed some basil and garlic chives, sorted laundry and dashed off to the vets. Had to wait a bit, but got six pills and a "pill popper" (for $26.00). Ran up to the BP and got $14.00 worth of gas ($3.20 a gal.) Got home and gave Shirley her "today pill" with no problem. After a few false starts and harsh words on both sides (and a few scratches) and with the help of the "pill popper" I got pill #1 in Goodness. Well, Mercy had been watching all of the goings on from under a chair in the dining room, her eyes were getting bigger and bigger and she looked like she was going to sink into the rug, so I thought I'd give it a rest for a while and let her calm down. So I deviled the eggs and made the salad and made a cup of tea. Sat down and read the paper and relaxed for a few minutes. Mercy came out. I had the "pill popper" loaded and waiting near at hand. I took her by the scruff (like they showed me at the vets this morning) got the tip of the "pill popper" through her lips and all hell broke loose! That little bowling ball of a cat turned me every which way but loose! I decided to let her slide. No pill today. But she's gonna get one tomorrow!

Then I called Mother. She was on her way out for lunch and I asked if I could come over at 2...bless her heart, she was excited! I told her I was in my "work around the house" outfit (jeans and a Marvin the Martian t-shirt) and that I wouldn't stay very long, but wanted to give her something.

So I got there at 2 and we sat on the back porch until the FSU game was over a little after 4 and then Bert joined us. Then he said he was hungry and lets go eat. Well, my hair and face didn't look any better than my outfit, but off we went to Ted Turners new restaurant Ted's. I drove and they were tickled to ride in my new car for the first time. (Bert gave me a $20.00 BP gas card for driving!) Anyhoo, Ted's serves bison that's range grown by/for Mr. Turner along with really good beef, chicken, fish, etc. Both Mother and Bert had a hamburger, I, of course, had a bison burger. All three burgers were quite large with very big sides of lettuce, tomatoes, onions and fries. We also shared a humongus order of onion rings. It was all so good! Bert ate half of his burger, I ate a quarter of mine and Mother ate the whole thing! I've got some good eatings in the fridge for tomorrow!

When I got home (at 7) a friend from the Humane Society called and she and I talked for about an hour. Then I sat down at the computer. Nothing worked! I got on line, but couldn't do anything, not open mail or a game or get on Blog Spot or anything. Now, I'd shut it down when I left, including the power strip, so I was stumped. Then I thought about it, I'd installed Goodle Earth this morning before I left. Decided to uninstall, couldn't. Shut it down and waited. Tried again. Nothing. Damn! I could get into start/programs and found a place called "system restoration". Went there. After a few fumbles I got the computer to reset itself back to Friday when everything was okay. Whew!

All that ballyhoo

Well, it seems that all of the hype regarding the storms in the Gulf may have just been a bunch of hooey. This area of the country is so jumpy because of all of the horrific storms that have come through lately that a few dark clouds and a gust or two of wind have us cringing in our dark corners. I think our day will be overcast, but okay. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it!

Hurricane Tammy

Well, hurricane Tammy went ashore just south of Jacksonville, FL and meandered a bit and now the remnents of the storm is out in the Gulf of Mexico and is showing circulation and signs of regrouping...headed this way. It has been raining steadly since midnight...no off and on this time. I haven't heard any more about the remnents of Stan...wonder if the two will unite?

IT"S FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a class on planting Fall herbs and vegetables at a nursery in Tallahassee tomorrow at 10am. It's free. I've been thinking about going, but the weather is supposed to be even worse tomorrow, so I probably won't go.

Two perfectly good days with the boss

Well, I don't want to push my luck, but there have been two good days at work. I've finished a project that I've been working on for a few days (I've been compiling what I've called a "Temporary price list" by going to jobs done this year to date and pulling items from past jobs and using their unit cost...oh, it's amazing how the prices fluctuate!) and it's all been quite pleasant.

At lunch I delivered a banner and 2 t-shirts (the boss gave me 15 extra minutes) to a new shop that's opened in town. The premise of the shop is good, rather trendy-nostalgic-garden sorta stuff, sorta sudo-country...it should be in a city mall (but it would have to compete with others of its kind). I've spent the last 40 years in either Atlanta or Orlando and this little shop has been around for a while. I don't give it a long run.

The small town living certainly has its benefits. When I left work at 4:30 I went straight to the IGA. Shopped (butter, bread, peanut butter, eggs, etc.), and I was home at 4:55!

Speaking of peanut butter, when I got in this morning the boss was looking at the clock, so I did too. It showed me 5 minutes late. I looked at my watch and it was 9 o'clock. I said "Oh, I didn't know I was late (God! I hate to be late for anything!), but by my watch, I'm not." the boss said "Which do we go by, your watch or the clock?" and I said, "Of course, the clock." and he said something else, I forget. And then I said, "I'm covered in dog hair and peanut butter." the boss said, which came first and I said the dog hair and he said good. My watch and the clock seemed to be back in sinc this evening.

I almost locked myself in the bathroom today. As soon as the boss left for lunch I hurried to the bathroom, and even though the office was locked up, I closed the bathroom door. When I was finished I couldn't open the door, it was locked, the handle would not turn and I had pulled it all the way shut. I had visions of being in there for an hour! Well, I jiggled and lifted and wiggled and banged, and it opened. Whew!!

Odd little night outside while Shirley and I were out there earlier. Its overcast, but bright. There are high grey clouds, but the sun peeks through in the low West and is reflecting from the bottoms of the high grey clouds and it's very still and very muggy. The grass was cut today so the mosquitoes were not so bad. I think I heard at lunch that the storm out in the gulf already had a name. Don't know what it'd be...this is an offshoot of Stan (Mexico), but it was a different name and Tammy is headed up to the mountains. We'll see.

This time I've got a funny feeling

Well, this storm thing is for the birds! Not only is tropical storm Tammy coming ashore almost due west (140 miles west of me) of Monticello, but as of now she's moving WNW. The news said a minute ago that best case senereo (spell check has absolutely no idea what I'm saying, so is no help with the spelling, hope you know what I'm saying) we can expect extreme

rain, high gusting winds and possible tornados. AND, there this really big system (they're calling it a large storm) in the Gulf that is also moving this way, it's moving NE. They are both due at the same time, but they say that Saturday could be quite nice, maybe even cool. Hum, wonder if they meant "hip" or chilly?

My spirits have been lifted considerably by an aside I heard the boss make to a customer today. They had asked me to duplicate some tickets for a fish fry that had been misprinted and to correct the mistake and make 300 of them. So with a quick call to the boss's wife because I was having trouble stacking them (the lines were centered) and she's really good with both Word and Excel. She told me a quick fix and I got the job done (including cutting the pages down into individual tickets) before the feller left. When I handed them to him, the man thanked me and as I walked away he said to the boss "If you ever let her go let me know I'd hire her on the spot." and the boss replied "Yeah, she's good.". I needed that.

Got hurricane supplies after work. A head of lettuce, three beautiful home-grown tomatoes and a red bell pepper all for $1.99! This was at the little farmers market down the street. Lately I've been eating the stock of supplies I have on hand, so my larder isn't that well stocked, but I could still get by for a while with what I've got. And I've got 5 1-gal. containers of water and some small ones too.All of the bags of ICE that I froze for the last storm are still in the freezer along with some single servings of a good coffee that I froze for the last one. Have candles, batteries and a small bag of charcoal and lighter fluid and matches. Somewhere in the dark recesses of the "spare room/work room" are a couple of tarps and I do have part of a box of good large garbage bags. Have an upholstery stapler and staples and Duck tape.

Shirley says she need to go out. Might be a good idea while there a lull in the on going showers.

A lovely little tea

A few week ago I ran into a wonderful deal at Ross. A tin of Bentley's Lemon Tea...Pure Ceylon Tea from the mountains along the Equator. There grows an evergreen shrub with 5 petal blossoms, which resemble wild white roses. Legend has it that as far back as 2737 B.C. Emperor Chen Nug of China used to boil the leaves of this remarkable shrub in water and drank the infusion - thus beginning the ceremonious art of drinking tea. It then quickly spread to Japan and eventually to England and all of Europe. That, of course, was straight from the tin! As I sit here at the computer I have a mug of this aromatic tea that is too hot yet to sip, but the frangrance is amazing! I rather forgot about the tea after I bought it and only rediscovered it last night...it took forever to get the tin opened but once I did I found two sealed foil packets of tea bags...25 to a packet. I really lucked into this, as I only paid $2.99 for the entire tin which breaks down to less than six cents a bag! I'll bet the house would smell wonderful if I sat hot bowls of this everywhere! Oh! that first sip is fantastic!

The weather today had been quite odd. Terribly overcast and dark interspersed with bright sunshine and then occasional 3 minute torrents of rain! It's blowing and dark right now.

Yet another storm

This morning it's rather cloudy and humid and warm. The weatherman, Casanova Nurse, said the tropical storm in the Gulf is now a category 1 hurricane...Stan. At this point Stan isn't expected to have any impact on the US at all, just a bit of Mexico. However, there is a system in the Atlantic sorta off the coast of Jacksonville, FL. This system is expected to come due west and will be here tomorrow. High winds and heavy rains are expected. I guess as long as it doesn't have a name we're okay. I need to pick up some bread, water and cat food.

Still employed

Well, for what it's worth, I'm still employed. The boss never even asked how I was feeling, however, I did hear him ask two other folks how they were. 'course one was a friend of his and one was a customer. Oh well...minimum wage is certainly better than no wage at all! I don't look too good, dark (almost black) circles under my eyes and my face lost weight and I'm a funny color, sorta greenish grey, not my most becoming color. I think the makeup only made it worse. Still running a fever, so when it broke the makeup ran. Lovely!

Got a Progress Energy bill today...I swear I just paid one. This one's $10 less than the last one, so I guess sitting on the computer with no lights on does make a difference. The animals and I have gotten pretty good at navigating at night with the light from the tv and the night light in the kitchen. Not sure just what I'll do this winter. I think the heat is propane and Mother said a piece is missing from the tank. Wonder if they'll charge me to check it out? There is a fireplace, need to get a screen...and wood.

All my horoscope talks about right now is money (going out).

Monday

Well, in less than an hour I'll be at work. It will be interesting if I still have a job and if in fact I do, if I can bare the boss and his attitude toward me. This will be interesting.

The day's still going okay

Interesting. I found out yesterday that two of the folks I've been working with at the Humane Society either have or had what I've been sick with these past few days. The president had it last week and the veep and I have it this week. It seems rather contagious. Wonder if the boss will get it? It'd serve him right!

I read the following on a blog called "All about my routine..." it's hosted by an 18 year old boy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

"Life is like a piano, the white keys represent happiness and the black represent sadness but as you go through life's journey remember that black keys do make music too."

Nice.

I've been burning white sage. Such a comforting smell.