Once Again

Once again, I sit here trying desperately to remember what it was I was going to blog about.  I had it all planned out at work, but now I can't remember what it was...I haven't been sleeping well lately, so I blame sleep deprivation.  

I do remember I was going to talk about my frustration trying to find new blue jeans for work.  I've worn the same style of jeans for --oh, it's got to be 20 years now.  They're comfortable.  They fit well, and I like them.  Unfortunately, they stopped making them a few years back.  I've managed to find some from companies who still had some in stock, but they're getting harder and harder to find.  Since they're discontinued, the ones who do have them want beaucoup bucks for them.  The cheapest I've found is $50 - $60.  I can't afford to pay that.

I've tried other styles of jeans, but they just don't fit right.  I'm going to have to break down and get used to something else, though, as I'm down to only two pair that could still be considered decent.  The trouble is twofold.  1) It's hard to find 100% cotton jeans that don't cost an arm and a leg, and 2) So many of them don't have functional pockets.  

Why on earth do clothing designers think women don't need pockets????

I guess that's what I'm going to have to do with my next paycheck.  Wish me luck. 

I got a sympathy card from the vet today.

Inside was this sweet little hand written note.  

Rylea was my problem child, so she was a regular at the vet's office.   

This is going to be another short post, because it's already bedtime, and I haven't practiced my piano yet.  

Good night, all.  

Random Thoughts Of The Second To Last Day Of The Year

 1.  The last Christmas presents I ordered have finally arrived!  Cody's hat came yesterday, and Brennan's candle got here today.  I messaged Cody and he said he'd get up with Bren and see when they can come down.   He also said she really liked the tool kit I got her.  I'm glad she liked it.  Every woman needs her own set of household tools. 

2.  I finally hit the clearance sales today, but there wasn't much left.  Pretty much all the good stuff had already been picked over, and I didn't really see anything I absolutely had to have.  I did get another box of cards, and some more tissue paper, but that's it. 

3.  I also found a flannel shirt on clearance, and in the women's section, too!  

Between that one, and the one my sister sent me, I've got a good start.  It's nice to have some feminine clothes again.  Honestly, I don't really like wearing men's clothes, but they're usually a lot cheaper and sturdier than women's clothes, and more importantly, they have functional pockets. I don't know who in the world decided that women don't need pockets, but I wish they'd get over it and give us pockets.  

4.  While I was in Texas, I found out that two more people I know have died of the COVID, including one who was kin to me.  OK, he was a distant cousin, but he was still kin.  His mother was a Winfree.  The other was the piano player at the church I'd gone to before I went into the Navy.  Her kids are all around my age, and I know them pretty well. 

5.  Lookit!  I posted one of my full moon photos on a local (OK, he's in Jackson) meteorologist's Facebook page, and he shared it!  

And, as if that weren't enough, the local news station posted it on their page, too!

I feel like I've made the big time!  My dad would be so geeked out over this.  

6.  I've been watching piano lesson videos on YouTube, and have decided my practice time needs to be more organized.  Taking the advice of my favorite online piano teacher, I've divided my practice time up into the following segments:  

a) Warm ups and finger strengthening exercises (i.e. Hanons and scales) -- 10 minutes

b) Sight reading exercises -- 5 minutes

c) Something that teaches new skills or concepts (i.e. my Alfred's book) -- 10 minutes

d) Playing just for fun -- 10 minutes

So far, it's going pretty well.  I'm hoping to keep it up after I go back to work next week.  I still want to someday take real lessons from a real person.  

7.  I started watching Home Town on HGTV.  It's another one of those shows where they renovate old homes.  This one is set in Laurel, MS.  I'd love to buy some of the old houses here in Grenada and renovate them, but that just wouldn't work in this town.  We have absolutely the wrong political climate to rejuvenate this town.   Still, I love the architecture on these old homes around the square. 

8.  After I posted photos of our town's tree lighting, one of my friends asked if I lived in one of those towns where they film Hallmark movies.  I laughed and said they'd have to truck in too much fake snow.  But since they do most of the actual filming in the middle of summer, they'd have to do that anyway.  

9.  I guess that's all I have for today.  See you tomorrow. 

Rylea

She never once backed down from a fight.  But there is one opponent that will defeat even the stoutest heart.

Time.

It stalks us all, relentless and unyielding.  Eventually, it catches up to everyone.  Today, it caught up to her.  

Farewell, my problem child.  I will miss you. 

Rylea

May-ish 2007 - December 22, 2020

*She came from the pound, so I don't know her exact birth date.  It was late April to early May, 2007. 

Change Of Plans

After giving it a bit of thought, I went back and got that pink tool bag for Cody's girlfriend after all. 

The plan was to take all the tools out of the bag and put the ones I'd bough into it, but again, after thinking it over, I decided not to do that, either.  I'll just put them all into a big box and wrap it all up.  Now, I really am done shopping, because I'm not going back to the store before Christmas if I can possibly help it. 

One day last week, I forgot to tell you, I found out one of my coworkers had a stroke.  Someone found him unconscious in his house last Sunday, and they had to airlift him to Jackson.  My first thought was, "I hope they had a bed available for him."  I haven't heard how he's doing, but I'll be sure and let you know if I do.  For now, I'm still going with the no news is good news philosophy. 

That's one thing state health officer Dr. Dobbs has been emphasizing throughout this whole pandemic.  He says it's not just about COVID patients filling up the hospitals.   He says if you have a heart attack or a stroke, they want to be able to provide quality care to you, too.  I know over the last few months, they've had to send patients as far away as Georgia and Florida to find available ICU beds.  

I found out another friend -- this one a church friend-- who has tested positive.  I'm not sure of all the details, but they had to rush her to the ER sometime yesterday.  She's doing better now, though.  

Also, MEMA director Michel was admitted to the hospital with COVID pneumonia.  We've had a rough year, here in MS.  From devastating flooding, to killer tornadoes, to hurricane after hurricane after hurricane...and all in the midst of a global pandemic.  Through all this, Director Michel has held the line, and has become one of my real life heroes.  Please, if you feel led, to lift him up in prayer. 

More bad news, Rylea has started chugging water like it's going out of style -- which leads to her peeing like it's going out of style as well.  I first noticed it Friday, and it's only gotten worse since then.  I ran to the store today, and wasn't gone but maybe an hour and a half, and she had an accident in the house -- after I'd let her out right before I left.  I've decided a trip to the vet is in order.  Of course, the biggest concern is her age.  She's almost 14, and every little thing that happens, I think it might be her time.  I'm not quite ready -- but then are you ever ready to make that call?  We'll just wait and see what the vet says. 

In more pleasant news, tonight was the Great Conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter, and wonder of wonders, it was clear and I got to see it!  I took lots of photos, but this is probably the best one.

I took this one through my telescope, but with the naked eye, they did look like they were right on top of one another.  If you look closely, you can see three of  Jupiter's moons.  

While I was waiting for the planets to become visible, I took a few moon shots as well.

I'm really enjoying that telescope, but the tripod sure leaves a lot to be desired.  What I really want is one you can program in what you want to see, and the smart tripod will find it for you.  That would be so cool, but they are definitely high dollar. 

And finally, in knitting news, I've been working on this scarf off and on for a few weeks.  

It was at this point I realized, even as narrow as this scarf is, I wouldn't have enough to make it a decent length.  Naturally, I did what any red blooded American would do.  I got online and ordered three more balls.  They're supposed to arrive Wednesday, then I'll decide if I still want to make a scarf, or maybe a stole or throw.  

I guess that's about it for tonight.  There was something else I was going to tell you, but right now, I can't remember what it was.  Maybe I'll think of it and put it into tomorrow's blog.

But for now, I'll bid you adieu.  

Road Trip!

If you've been reading my blog -- or worse, know me in person -- you might remember I've been talking about getting a new Christmas tree for a while now.  If you haven't been reading my blog --or are lucky enough not to know me in person -- I've been talking about getting a new Christmas tree for a while now.

The one I have is big, and gorgeous, full, and ... way too big for my little living room.  A few weeks ago, I'd gone up to Batesville to see what they had at Lowe's.  I found a tree I liked, but had decided to look around some more before committing to it.  I'd planned on going down to Jackson or up to Southaven to look around at places like Michael's or Joann's, but alas, the older I get, the less I seem to want to go anywhere, so I kept putting the trip off week after week.  

Along about Tuesday, Cody messaged me and asked if I was still wanting to get rid of my old tree.  He said they could use it in his office, and that's when it hit me.  Thanksgiving is next week.  Which means I'll be putting my tree up next weekend.  It was getting down to the wire, and I needed to make a decision.  After thinking about it considerably, I decided to go back up to Batesville and get the tree I'd liked at Lowe's.  You know what that means?  

Road trip!  

As much as a trip 30 miles up the road counts, that is...and hey, as curmudgeonly as I'm becoming in my dotage, that's a big deal.  

I'd thought whizzing into the Walmart up there and doing my weekly shopping, but I since I had some other errands to run in town here, I just got my tree and came on back home.  

It is now sitting in the snake/craft/obsolete computer room, awaiting its time to shine.  While putting it there, I turned around and noticed I had an observer. 

I think he approves.  This is Onyx, by the way.  He's a 16 year old California King snake, and the first one I got when I decided I wanted another pet snake.  

Back to my story...

I'm not sure which day Cody and Brennan will be coming down.  I'd suggested that if he wanted to spend Thanksgiving Day with Brennan's family, they could come down Friday or Saturday and help me put my Christmas tree up.  We'll just heat up leftovers whichever day they get to come down.  

Speaking of, you'll all be pleased to know I remembered to buy the fresh cranberries this time.  And they had fruit cake mix back in stock, so I got some of that, too.  I'm going to make my Dad's fruitcake recipe, and will put most of it into the freezer, since Cody doesn't really like it.  That will be tomorrow's project, though.  That, and finding a place in my refrigerator for my turkey.  By the way, the plant gave us a gift card instead of a certificate for a turkey this year.  From what I understand, we can spend it on whatever we want to -- at that particular store, I mean -- so that'll work out better for me.  I still have last year's turkey in my deep freeze, plus the free one I got with my ibotta rebate, so I'm set for turkeys.  

But I digress...again...

I messaged Cody from the Lowe's parking lot and let him know he could take the old tree, and that I'd have some lights and probably some ornaments I could donate as well.  He seemed pretty excited about that.  We'll have to dig through what I have and see what he can take with him.  

The rest of the day was filled with mundane things like grocery shopping and doing laundry, but you don't want to hear about those, do you?  Except that somehow, I managed to pull a muscle in my hip folding the laundry.  I have no idea how, but I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to move much tomorrow.  I'll be a football and knitting day, I guess.  

I do have a bit of exciting news.  I got the old telescope out and managed to focus in on Jupiter!  I was able to see four of its moons.  For some reason, my phone camera didn't want to focus right tonight.  I'm not sure if there was a fog on the lens or what, but this is the best picture I was able to get, though I could see them much more clearly than that. 

I'm really enjoying that telescope, but it does have one drawback.  The tripod isn't very tall, and even though I'm pretty short, to see anything above horizon level, I have to bend wayyyy over to look into the eyepiece.  When you get to be my age, you really shouldn't be bending wayyyy over anyway.  I finally found my old tripod that I'd bought to mount my camera, and put my telescope on it.  It's a bit taller, so I don't have to strain my back so badly. 

By the way, did you know there is a crater on the moon with a mountain inside it?  There is.  I could see it with my telescope.  One of these days, if I can pry myself out of my house, I'm going to go out away from city lights and see what I can see out there.  I need to find the closest dark sky preserve.  I think there is one in Tennessee, but I'm not sure.  

And finally, I caught Rylea and this doe having a stare down yesterday.  

The doe didn't seem to frightened of Rylea, I guess because she was laying down, and the doe knew she wasn't a threat.  I scared her off taking the picture.  Figures...

Oh, and I named the rat I caught in my live trap Templeton.  Don't ask.  I've long since given up trying to find an explanation for such things...

A Good Day

Today has been a good day -- and by good, I mean it's been quiet, peaceful, and relaxing.  I'll tell you more about that in a minute, but first, we had some excitement at work a couple of days ago.  

It would seem one of the temps had a bit of a disagreement with his group leader, and left.  On his way out the door, he had a few choice words -- including a particular racial slur -- for the aforementioned group leader,  none of which I will repeat here.   And he delivered those words ... over the loudspeaker. 

Later on, I overheard another group leader saying they knew who had done it, and if he showed up the next day, they'd turn him right around at the door.  But really, nobody expected him to come back, and as far as I know, he hasn't.  

Now, back to today...

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day.  Sunny, blue skies, and the temperature was just right.  I had some in-town errands to run, but the morning was so quiet and peaceful, it took me a while to get going.  You might say, I lingered over my morning coffee.  Buuut, I finally got my act in gear and got them done.  

By the way, the governor has let the state wide mask mandate expire, but we're still under a city ordinance until King Louis and the House of Lords -- as I like to refer to the city council -- decide to lift it.  One silver lining of having to wear masks is most of my face is covered, so I can skip the make up.  A down side is, I was hoping since most of my face would be covered, my stalker would stop staring so much.  Alas, it is not to be.  One of these days, he's going to stare so hard his eyeballs pop right out of his head, and I'm going to laugh my butt off. 

But I digress...

Where was I?  Oh yeah, running my errands, which mostly involved going to Wal-mart and picking up a few things.  I didn't really need anything, but last week, I was going to give my lawn some food before fall set in for good.  However, when I got out to my shed, I discovered what I thought was fertilizer was actually weed control.  Unfortunately, when I got to Walmart's garden center, they had like 6 pallets of charcoal up in front of all the fertilizer and stuff.  I decided not to fight it.  

If I can get my act together for two days in a row -- don't hold your breath on that one, though -- I might go up to Lowe's tomorrow and see what they have.  

While I was in the garden center, at Walmart, not Lowes, I picked up a couple of bags of cheap dirt to start filling in some of the chipmunk holes in my yard.  By the way, I caught and killed another one of the little buggers yesterday.  That makes 6 for the year.  I'm wondering how many of the stupid things there are.

I'm not sure if this hole is from a chipmunk nest or what.    

When I moved in, the top of that cleanout was level with the ground.  Over the years, the hole just keeps getting deeper and wider, and I don't really know why.  I'm kind of worried that the house will eventually fall in.  

Now, this hole is where the old septic tank used to be, from before they put this road on the municipal sewer system. 

When the plumber replaced all my sewer line, breaking up my back patio in the process,  he used some of the broken pieces of concrete to fill in the old tank, so it wouldn't collapse, but didn't fill in between the spaces with dirt or sand or anything.  I think this might be where the chipmunks have made their condo, as I keep finding fresh holes dug around the edges.  Anyway, the ground here keeps sinking down over time, and I keep adding dirt.  I'm hoping eventually it'll get full, and will stop cratering on me. 

Once I was done with that, I cut back my canna lilies.  

They were looking pretty bedraggled, and I hate cannas anyway.  One of these years, I'm going to dig them all up.  This, however, will not be that year.  

And the last thing I did -- besides giving the yard one final (I hope) mow for the year -- was to cut back my roses. 

I started by just cutting out all the dead stuff, but now I'm debating on cutting it all back and starting completely over.  Or cutting it all back and not starting completely over.  I eventually want to get a privacy fence around the back yard, and that would require cutting all the junk out from the fence anyway.  I'm going to leave the back open so I can still see the deer and the woods, but I want privacy along the front and down the sides.  I'd love to be able to enjoy my yard without having to feel I'm constantly looking over my shoulder.  

The alternative is to find a house where the neighbors aren't right on top of me.  That I can afford to buy...which is the tricky part...Oh, well, I can dream, can't I?

Kids, enjoy your childhood and don't be in a hurry to grow up.  You want to know why?  Because when you're grown, you get way too excited about buying a long handled duster. 

Then you open it up and get even more excited about dusting your ceilings and ceiling fan blades.  And you go all over your house, dusting things you couldn't reach before and squeeing at how clean your house now looks.  It's pretty sad, really...

And finally, Rylea is getting on up there.  She's 13 1/2, and has a stiff leg from when she got hit by a car as a puppy.  I've noticed lately she's have a harder and harder time getting up onto her love seat.  

Yes, my dog has her own love seat.  No, she's not spoiled at all.

So, I got her these pet steps.  

And the little brat won't use them.  

I'm not really worried about it.  I think she just needs to get used to them.  If she figures it out, it'll make it so much easier for her to get up and down.  Then, when she goes to that great kennel in the sky, I can put them by the bed for Jesse.  Who is also getting on up there...

This just in:  Tropical Storm Gamma has formed!

It's not expected to be a threat to the U.S. 

When they said it would be a busy season, they weren't kidding, were they?

Dropping Like Flies

They're dropping like flies out at work, I'm telling you.  Dropping like flies, they are.

This morning, my supervisor told us they put the second shift production manager into quarantine last night, so there aren't any of them left.  Then today, they one of the assembly line group leaders test results came back, so a whole bunch of other group leaders got quarantined. 

Like I said yesterday, it's going to be an interesting few weeks.  

Now for the bad news... Stalker was back at work yesterday.  I knew before I even got inside.  He sits out on some picnic tables in the outdoor break area and waits for me to get there.  When I drive into the parking lot, he's like...

I seriously feel the need to look up the guy I had the huge crush on when I was 13 and apologize to him.  Over and over and over again...

It got even worse, as well.  The brazer who works right beside me left at lunch, and Stalker fell all over himself to move down to her stand.  He didn't just walk casually over and set up there, he practically bounded over.  And just stared.  And stared.  And stared.  Sigh...

Every time I had to do something on my table...

If I had to check my schedule...

If I turned to pick up my pen...

Getting parts out of my bin...

All afternoon long...

That day didn't end soon enough for me!  I told the brazer who normally works on that stand what Stalker had done, and she said, "I'm joining you in your disgust for him.  He gets on my [unwholesome word] nerves!"

In other news, over the weekend, I discovered a couple of pretty large lumps on Rylea.  Fortunately, the vet's office is back open after their COVID outbreak, so after work today, we took a little trip.  She wasn't happy.  

But it turned out OK after all.  The lumps were fatty tumors, or lipomas, which are totally benign.  The vet said he would rather just monitor them at this point to make sure they aren't growing or anything.  Given her age -- she is 13, after all-- it would be very risky to put her under general anesthesia.  

And finally, who had zombie cicadas on their 2020 Bingo cards?  

Anyone?  

*That's not really Stalker.  It's just a meme I found online.  

Already??

And just like that, we're back on 9 hour shifts, starting tomorrow. 

I've got this one coworker.  We're sure she's got some kind of un-diagnosed learning disability, because she can't remember anything.  She can do something 50 days in a row, and on the 51st, she'll act like she has no idea what to do.  Then, on the 52nd, she's right back to doing whatever it was without missing a beat.    

Long time readers may be familiar with my Dear Coworker series.  Well, this girl is the dear coworker who started it all.  Ten years ago today, as a matter of fact, I posted on my Facebook the following:  

Dear Coworker, 

Normally I am able to restrain myself. However, that statement you just made was so extremely Duh worthy that my Duh escaped my lips quite before I could contain it. For that, I may I offer you my abject apologies.

That is all.

Thank you.

Back to today... Group Leader Shark came around and said, "6-3 starting tomorrow!  6-3 starting tomorrow!"

The echo of her voice hadn't even died away, when this coworker came down the way and said, "What time do we work tomorrow?"  We all kind of look out for her, even though she can be a bit frustrating at times.  

Several years ago, this same coworker split up with her husband, or boyfriend, or whatever he was.  Good thing, too, because everyone in the plant thought he was beating the crap out of her.  I don't know how many times she'd come to work with a black eye, or split lip, and she claimed she'd fallen.  

So, she eventually split up with him.  Now, to be clear, I didn't see happen the incident I am about to relate to you, but one of my friends did.  She's described this to me so many times, I can see it in my imagination clear as day.  And what had happened is as follows.  Sue had split up with her husband, or boyfriend, or whatever, but he wasn't quite ready to give up on her.  He came to the plant to try to win her back.  She wasn't having any of it.  She got into her car and started driving away.  

The man jumped up onto the hood of her car, shouting, "I love you, Sue Ellen!" and she drove off down the road, with him on the hood.  Of her car.  Shouting, "I love you, Sue Ellen!"  And Sue Ellen just kept on driving...

Nobody quite knows when she stopped and let him off, or if she drove all the way home with him on the hood of her car.  They do know he was still there as she passed out of sight of those in the plant parking lot.  

That's one of those stories we still giggle over years later.

Well, I for one, am glad to be getting a little overtime.  I'm still pinching my pennies --  I even cut off my Hulu Live, my Britbox, and my Acorn.  Maybe I'll pick them back up after a bit.  Maybe not.  I've still got the cheap Hulu plan, and if I can find a cheaper way to watch football this fall, I may not pick it back up.  Or I may.  I don't know yet.  Most things can be found streaming, and a lot of it for free.  You just have to look around a bit.  

However, I did splurge and bought myself two new piano books.  

Oh, I can hear the outcry from here!  Christmas already????  It isn't even June yet!  Yes, Christmas already. It's going to take me a minute to learn them, and I don't want to wait too late.  I flipped through the pages and it looks really hard stuff.  It might take me this whole time to learn these songs.  By the way, I still owe you another recital.  I'm aiming for my one year anniversary, which is just less than a month from now.  

One last thing before I go, I've been remiss in marking Miss Rylea's 13th birthday.  It was May 5(ish), but what with all that's going on and stuff, it got overlooked.  

"I can't believe you forgot me again!", she says.  

I kept thinking I needed to bake a cake, but couldn't remember why.  I guess now I know. 

There was something else I was going to tell you, but now I can't remember what it was, so I guess I'll just go practice my piano, and bid you good night.  

Even though it's only 5:30.  

But good night, anyway.  

Catching Up

My brain is tired.  So tired it's plumb numb.  I've almost lost interest in blogging -- a fact which coincides with the shift to this idiotic alternate schedule at work. My place of employment simply has no idea how draining these long, long shifts are.  No, wait.  They do know.   They just don't care.

I don't really want to be blogging today, but I feel the need to catch up.

And what news do I need to catch up on?  Well, I'll tell you.  Rylea is getting old.  This is no secret.  She also likes to sleep in my closet at night.  This is also no secret.  So, Friday while I was at the store, I picked her up a dog bed.

I'd put it by the door, because she likes to lay beside me while I play the piano.   However, she wouldn't get on it, so I moved it to the love seat.

This is as close as she got.

Eh, it's a start.  Later that evening, I moved the bed into the closet, and she lay on it then.  This morning, when I woke up, she was actually wallering on it.  I think she likes it.

The big news is, Saturday, I went to the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival.  Amy, Christi, and Leann came, too, and Leann brought her older daughter.  We had a great time, but alas, didn't do group photos.  I thought about it while we were eating, but by the time we got up from the table, it had totally slipped my mind.

Here are a few random snaps I took of the vendor booths.
 

This was my first time going to this one, and it was small, but nice.  I was good, and only bought one mini skein for my sock yarn blanket.

That's about all my brain dead brain can come up with for tonight.  I think Rylea and I will head for our beds. 

Goodnight.

A Heavy Heart

It is with a heavy heart I have to inform you I have decided to set aside the violin for the time being.

It wasn't easy, but I think it was necessary.  I enjoyed playing it, but I just don't have time to give three instruments their due.  Since I have more invested in the piano and guitar,  it was the violin which had to go.  I hope I can pick it up some time later, when I'm not so pressed for time.  In other words, when I'm not working so much...

Oh, look at what my next song in my guitar book is.

Because 'Murica.  That's why.

Speaking of work, I got there bright and early this morning -- some of us go in at 5:00 -- and Stalker was there.  He said he needed to come in early to watch us and make sure we were working.  I don't know about the rest of my fellow brazers, but that made me extremely angry.  I've been there 25 years (next month), and have been brazing for 21 of those 25 years.  I know how to do my job!  I don't need a [unwholesome word for which I had to repent] babysitter.  If I did, I sure wouldn't have lasted a quarter of a century out there.

I think he might have realized he'd crossed a line, because he stayed in the back most of the day.  Remember how I said they were rearranging the whole plant?  All the component areas are now in what used to be the plant, and the assembly lines are back in what used to be the warehouse.

It was a while before I ever needed to even go back there, but one day, a part stager gave me a partial to braze up.  She told me, "When you're done, put it directly into Line 3 Group Leader's hands."

I kind of felt like Bilbo, just a bit...

via GIPHY

I told my coworkers if I wasn't back in half an hour to send out a search party.  It's a long, long way.  I may need to start carrying my bug out bag with me...

Here's some excitement for you.  I woke up bright and early this morning, and as is my custom, I browsed Facebook while eating my breakfast of oatmeal.  There are only two sea chanty groups I follow on there -- one being my white headed chanty men -- and the other is Kimber's Men.  I've posted some of their songs before, including this where has this song been all my life number.



Anyway, I was eating my oatmeal when I saw that they had posted a birthday wish to one of the members. I was trying to think of something witty and clever and sophisticated to say to him, but alas, nothing is witty, clever, or sophisticated at 4:00 in the morning, so I just said happy birthday.    But look! 

LOOKIT! LOOKIT!  LOOKIT!!!!!

HE RESPONDED!!!!!

Whoa!  Squeeeee!!!!   Here's why that's such a big deal  -- and not just because a celeb replied to my comment. 

Back after That Awesome Hunk Of Pure Awesomeness Who Used To Be My Imaginary Boyfriend Before He Got Married To Someone Who Is Not Me Bill Whittle got married to someone who is ...um...not me, I needed to find a new imaginary boyfriend.  Gareth Scott was thisclose to becoming the aforementioned imaginary boyfriend, until he just got edged out by my little Punkin Head Pooh Bear Gator Bait. 

Finally, Rylea says, "Mama, will you please put these cushions back onto my love seat!"

To which I reply, "Will you stop kicking them off, then?"

Now, if you will excuse me, Jesse is telling me it's time for bed.  And I haven't even practiced my piano yet. 

Our Christmas

Another Christmas Day has come and gone -- and Cody along with it.

This is the trial and tribulation of being an introvert.  I'd looked forward for weeks to his coming, and now that he's gone, I miss him and wish he were still here...but the whole time he was here, I felt like I couldn't relax.  He has a very loud energy, and it can be overwhelming to someone who is used to a nearly silent house.

Even Rylea was saying, "Who is this, and why is he on my love seat?"

Yes, my dog has her own love seat.  No, she's not a bit spoiled.  Not at all.

Cody says he might come back for New Year's Eve.  I already pre-warned him that I haven't stayed up until midnight in years.  Hopefully, it'll be a bit cooler by then.  It got up to 75 yesterday, which had me singing, "I'm dreaming of an even slightly chilly Christmas" all day.

Nevertheless, we had a good Christmas in spite of the heat.  Cody noticed the new Spock ornament I bought, and I said, "That's why I wish you could help me decorate the tree.  Then I could tell you the stories behind some of these ornaments" -- like the ceramic stockings my aunt made for all of us years and years ago. 

I spotted a squirrel on the feeder and said, "There's a squirrel for your gumbo."  He said, "OK, I got it," as he pulled out his .45.  I laughed and said, "There won't be any left to eat if you shoot it with that!"  Then I told him about the time James shot a squirrel with his .270 deer rifle.  There wasn't much left but a tail.

Cody said, "I was kinda meaning that as a joke."  I replied, "Yeah, I kind of got that, and I was kind of playing along."  However, in what is quickly becoming a new Christmas tradition, he made gumbo for dinner, just not with squirrel.  We used leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, sausage, and shrimp.  It was really good, if a bit mild, because I didn't have any cayenne.  I'll have to get some before next year. If we don't go to Texas, that is.

So, on to the gifts.  Cody was thrilled with his Mike The Tiger Funko POP. 

I mentioned that it's a good thing I ordered it when I did, because since LSU won the SEC and Joe Burreaux won the Heisman, the price of them has doubled.

I spent several weeks sending my sibs vibes that I really wanted new house shoes.  I think my vibes were too strong -- or my sibs are really tuned in -- because I got two pair!

The ones on the left are from my sister, and the ones on the right are from my younger brother.  And yes, I'm keeping both!  I put one pair back for when the other wears out.

My sister also sent me two new piano books.

They're a bit advanced for where I am right now, but I tried them anyway.  Cody encouraged me, saying, "Come on, Mom!  Shoot for the stars!"  Alas, that rocket crashed and burned.  But I'll have something to work towards.  Now that I've recorded my Christmas concert, I'll be concentrating on my regular piano course again.  I'm still playing some of my Christmas songs, just for fun, but after I've done my regular lessons.

My sister also sent Cody a new ulu.

He said she sent him one last year as well.  He will just start a collection of them, then.  I mentioned that he didn't need to pose with every single present.  "Just look casual", I said, and this is what he did.

That thing he's holding there is a wireless phone charger that he can use in the car.  He asked how I knew he even wanted one.  I said, "Hey, I know how to troll your Amazon wish list!"

This is his gift to me:

It's a sherpa lined blanket, and is so soft and warm.  I thought it was a throw, but no, it's a full sized blanket.  I can't wait until it gets cold again so I can use it.

My older brother and family sent me a Texas Homesick candle -- because I'm always homesick for Texas - and a Jason Witten Funko Pop.

When the Funko POP arrived, I saw the return address label, and thought, "Wouldn't it be funny if someone had sent me a Mike The Tiger POP, too."  But I'm glad to have gotten Jason Witten.  He's one of my all time favorite Cowboys.

This is what Beverly and James sent me, and I love that bag!

Orange being my hometown, and it's got the city's major landmarks on it.  The mug, just in case you can't see it, says Powered by coffee & yarn.

Cody was really tickled by the leg lamp cookie cutter I found.  (I was, too, because I'd forgotten I'd ordered it.)

And of course, the glass to match. But I think the gifts he liked best were his LSU hat and tie.

When he was loading up his car to head back to Memphis, he put the hat on his head and said, "That'll ride just fine right there" -- even though it was 75 outside by then.

Anyway, I continued the tradition my father started by laying out all our loot and taking a picture of it.  Here is Cody's.

I've already showed you everything I got, except the money Cody gave me to get myself a new Seal-A-Meal.  I'd mentioned that my old one has died -- it is 13 years old after all.  He pulled money out of his wallet and said, "Get yourself a new one, as part of your Christmas."  I've already ordered it, and I'll show you when it gets here.  My mother also sends me money every year.  I used part of it to order a windshield cleaner for my car, which I will also show you when it gets here.  I haven't decided what to spend the rest of it on, yet.

And just to top off a really nice Christmas, my Mama Doe and her twins made an appearance.  I haven't seen them in ages.  As far as I know, we're still under a feeding ban, but they come from time to time and clean up what the squirrels throw on the ground under their feeder.

That was our Christmas.  I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas as well.