First Fire

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit of a weather geek.  This is why I was stressing so badly about the firewood, because every model I've see and every meteorologist and chaser I follow have said it's going to be a cold and snowy winter this year.   

I am so glad the firewood guy came through, because other than the wood I already had inside, 

this was all I had left.  

I didn't know what I'd do if the power went out during a cold spell. I guess I'd be scrounging for windfall out in the woods behind the house.  Now that I have firewood, it really is a load off of my mind.  My overthinking, worst-case-scenario thinking mind can now rest a bit easier. 

All my weather apps had been saying the lows were supposed to be in the low 40s last night, so I brought my outside plants inside, just to be on the safe side. 

Good thing I did, because my thermometer on my back porch said 34 when I got up.  They probably would have survived, but why take chances?  I think one of my projects for the week is to clean up the plant shelf I have outside and get my Whatever cacti settled in for the winter.  

Right now, they're sitting on the deep freeze in my utility room, and that's not a good spot for them.  I've read that moving them can cause them to drop their buds, so I want to get them in their winter home and not have to move them every time need to get into my deep freeze.  I've read that moving them can cause the to drop their buds, and I don't want that to happen.

All that to say, it was cold this morning when I got up, so I indulged myself with a little fire in the box -- the first one of the season.  By lunch time, it had warmed up enough I let the fire die down, but it was so cozy while it lasted.  

The cold weather and the warm fire put me in the mood to get started doing my Christmas cards. 

I'm doing something a little different this year, because I've been told the wax seals are getting ripped off the envelopes by our wonderful postal system.  To prevent that, I'm using stickers to decorate the envelopes instead.  They're still cute...and the wax seals are still there.  They're just on the inside this time around.  

I still have quite a few to go, but I hope to get the last of them into the mail by this weekend.  

In the midst of all that, I managed to cast on another hat.  

Now, I'm off to watch a cheesy Great American Family Christmas movie and knit some more, and maybe address a few more cards.  Oh, and the turkey is already in the fridge and Thanksgiving prep starts tomorrow!  

Oh, before I forget!  Thanksvember Nineteenth:  For the last few months, the radio in my car has been popping and crackling.  Not like regular static, but like something was interfering with the signal.  At first, I thought it was picking up a stray bluetooth signal or something, so I turned off the bluetooth.  It kept happening, so I just turned the whole sound system off completely and listened to silence for a few days....but it still kept happening.  Just not as much, but even with the radio turned off, I'd occasionally hear the pop and sizzle of...whatever it was.  I was on the verge of taking the car into the shop, because I thought my speakers were going out.  Maybe it was a loose wire, or so I thought.  

Then one day last week as I was driving home from work, it occurred to me I still had my Walkman MP3 player plugged in.  As soon as I got to a stopping place, I reached into the center console and unplugged it -- USB cable and all.  

It's been a week, and so far so good!  I'm thankful it wasn't the speakers after all, and I'm thankful I figured it out before calling the shop and making a fool out of myself.  

I'm thinking the USB cable might have come slightly loose from the car's vibrations, so it was like having a loose wire.  I haven't gotten brave enough to plug it back in yet, but I will.

Soon. 

I'll let you know how it goes. 

Firewood!

 He came! The firewood guy came!  Look at all this wood!  

And it's three rows deep, too!

And that brings us to Thanksvember Eighteenth:  I was going to put that I was thankful for the wood, but after thinking a moment, I changed my mind.  Today, I'm thankful for small business owners who show up when they say they are going to, and actually DO the job you've hired them to.  That's so rare around here... 

I apologize for the less than wonderful photos.  I got so excited that I went out and took them as soon as he left -- when it was already full dark.  I went back out this morning as soon as the sun was up and took another one.

Of course, I forgot about the morning mist, so I'm not sure if this one is really any better.  Look at this.  I didn't see it last night, but see how small he split the wood?  Hand included for scale. 

The other guy I used to buy from left the wood in huge chunks, so I'd have to split it myself just to fit it into my wood stove.  Now, there are some larger pieces in the stack, but most of it looks like this.  Just one thing, though.  I'm going to have to find a better place to hang this bird feeder. 

When I was 20, I wouldn't have had any problem climbing back there to get it and refill it.  Now that I'm 59...not as confident about my climbing skills.  This was only temporary anyway, until I can get the post reset.  A few more good rains like we had yesterday, and the ground just might get soft enough to dig it.  And yesterday's rain was just what we need here -- a long, slow drizzly rain all day long that gave it time to soak into the ground, and not just run off.  I'm not sure how much we got in inches, but like I said, at this point, we need every drop we can get. 

In other news, I have a bit of a crisis here in the Fine Martial Household.  I realized when I was unloading the last of my groceries that I'd accidentally bought whole berry cranberry sauce instead the jelly.  You know, the kind that comes out looking like the can.

That's what I'd intended to buy with my free Ibotta Thanksgiving deal, but I didn't check the can before I grabbed it.  I just scanned the bar code to see if it was the right deal.  

And ended up with this.  Oh, well.  I guess I don't need to make it now.  

But it's so much fun listening to the berries pop...I may still figure out a way to try to zhuzh it up a bit, but that's not quite the same as making it. 

And finally, I finished another hat this morning while I was avoiding cleaning up the kitchen.

Now that it's done, I guess I'd better start on that kitchen cleaning thing...

I Went A Bit Crazy

 I went a bit crazy in Walmart this morning.  I'd intended to go in there and just get what I'm going to need for Thanksgiving dinner.  What I did instead was buy three -- yes three!-- more boxes of Christmas cards, despite having three unopened boxes left over from last year.  No, I'm not going to show them to you, because you just might end up getting one of them.  

Good thing I made that one of my weekend projects:  getting my Christmas cards ready to mail.  

I also bought myself another pair of those women's lounge pants -- you know, the ones with the functional pockets and complimentary cat.

Except not the cat.  

What I didn't get is fresh cranberries, because Walmart didn't have any.  I'll have to go to one of the locally owned chains (Grocery Basket or Spain's) for those.  I'd debated on whether to even make it, because Cody and Brennan won't be here, and it's not one of my favorites.  But it's tradition, and it's fun to make, so I think I will anyway.  Maybe they'll stop by on their way back to Jackson and pick up some leftovers.  They can take it with them then.  Oh, and I bought some disposable foil baking pans to make the broccoli casserole in, so if they do stop by, they can just take the whole thing, because they never return my containers anyway. 

The last thing I got, other than normal groceries and all, was a new Christmas ornament.

Eh, for $2, it's not bad.  I was thinking I could hang it in the center of one of my wreaths, or, I don't know.  I'll find some place to put it.  

And finally, Thanksvember Seventeenth:  I know it may seem like a little thing, but I got an e-mail today from Hulu informing me that they've moved Great American Family channel from an add on package to my regular live TV line-up.  Now I can drop that add on and save myself $8 per month!  Eh, I was going to drop it after Christmas anyway, but still...I'm also thankful that sometime since last Christmas, they added two of the Hallmark channels to Hulu so I never had to re-subscribe to FrendlyTV.  

Like I said, it may seem like a little thing, but we need to be thankful for those, too. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to sit here and wait to see if the firewood guy comes.  Wish me luck!

Dobby Is Free!

Dobby being me, of course.  

The rest of the plant has to work tomorrow, but thanks to judicious scheduling of my vacation days, I have it off.  I don't have to go back until November 27th.  My plans for the week are first and foremost...sleep!  Yep, I had another one of those insomnia nights again, when I only slept for about 4 hours  -- which is actually an improvement over the previous insomnia night.   At this point, it would seem I'm only destined to sleep every other night.  

Of course, if I could sleep when my body wanted to instead of being dictated by my work schedule...

But anyway...

The plant is going to feed everyone Thanksgiving dinner and pass out the gift cards to a local grocery store tomorrow, and I'd seriously thought about getting myself a plate when I ran by to pick up my card, but if it's the same food they served last year, I think I'll pass.  The only things I liked were the ham and mashed potatoes.  The rest I could do without.  

But, it's all moot because they let me pick up my gift card today, so a trip to the plant won't be necessary after all.  I'm not sure why I even got it.  I still have the card from last year, because I hate that grocery store so much.  Oh, it's not a bad store, but it's so crowded and cluttered all the time, it makes me tense just going in there.  I'm going to try to go early one morning, hoping it will be a bit calmer in there then.  I'll let you know how that goes. 

OK, now for some good news -- I hope.  I found a new ad for firewood on Facebook Marketplace, and have contacted the guy.  He got back with me pretty quickly, so that's a good sign.  After a bit of negotiating, he's going to deliver a load of wood tomorrow evening -- I hope.  I hate to sound like that, but I've been disappointed so many times already I've almost given up.  But more good news -- he's actually a shade cheaper than the last guy I was going to buy from.  Not a whole lot, but hey, in this economic climate, $25 is nothing to sneeze at.  And that is my Thanksvember Sixteenth:  that I'll finally find some firewood, which will take a load off my mind.   I know it doesn't seem like much, but back when my power was out for four days, that firewood kept me warm.   

Speaking of sneezing, I'm still trying to figure out Substack, but it's such a confusing site.  I thought I posted the link to yesterday's blog over there, but now I can't find that post for anything.   I must not have published it correctly or something.  I'll keep working at it, but right now, I'm not very hopeful it will be a viable alternative to the social media sites I currently use.  

And finally, after hemming and hawing and going back and forth about it for a while, I've decided not to go to Brennan's family's house for Thanksgiving.  I went last year, but that was different.  I drove up Wednesday and spent the night at Cody's apartment, but that isn't an option any more since they've moved to Jackson.  Bren's family lives on the other side of Memphis, so it's about a 2 1/2 hour drive, so there and back, I'd be spending 5 ish hours on the road.  I'd miss the parade, the ball games, the Egg Bowl...all of it.  That's not how I want to spend my Holiday.  

I'm still going to cook myself a good dinner, though.  No reason not to.  

*Not my photo

And I'll have leftovers for days.  

Substack

My apologies for the lack of a post yesterday.  I'd woken up at 3:00 AM and couldn't for the life of me get back to sleep -- and it had nothing at all to do with a certain cat yowling outside my bedroom door.  In my sleep deprived state, I just didn't feel like posting, even though I had something I wanted to talk about.  I slept much better last night and woke up to the blessed sound of rain!  Yes, rain!   You know, I think I may have had rain as a previous Thanksvember thing, but we need it so badly, I'm making it my Thanksvember Fourteenth:  rain!  

We didn't get much, but every little bit helps, especially now, when 100% of the state is under severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions.  

Even the majority of my little county has moved into the exceptional drought state.  So, yes, every drop of rain is desperately needed at this point. 

Before I left for work, I put my little chrysanthemums out into the yard so they could get a good drink of natural water, and when I got home, each one had a bud starting to open!  The weird part is, I'd bought two yellow mums, but these new buds appear to be red.  We'll see once they're fully open.  

In the mean time, here is a photo of hat progress.  

Now I'll tell you what I was going to talk about yesterday, and it just so happens, today is a better day for it anyway.  Why?  I'm not going to tell you.  How about let's play a guessing game.  Does anyone know what today is?  Anyone?  

OK, I'll tell you.  It's my blogiversary! That's right.  On this day way back in 2005, your humble blogger first sat at the keyboard and typed her first blog post.  It's kind of hard to believe it's been 18 years I've been doing this.  

Thanksvember Fifteenth is all of you who've stuck with me through thick and thin.  

You know, I wish blogging would make a comeback.  There was so much more depth to a blog post, and a much better sense of connection in the blogging community.  At least, I felt there was.  

By the way, I created myself a Substack account, but I'm still figuring out how to use it.  I only started it because on of my friends is moving her blog over there, and I wanted to keep up with it.  She'd been with WordPress and said it's "improved beyond usability".  Her words, but I feel the same way about Blogger.  It was so much more user friendly back in the day.  If I didn't have 18 years worth of posts here, I'd move to a different platform myself. 

I'll try to figure out how to do it, but if you follow me over there -- on Substack, I mean -- you're supposed to be able to get links to what I post in your email.  I think.  I'm not completely sure.  I do recommend you do it though, because I know most of you won't come here to read my posts if the links don't show up in your Facebook feed.  I feel that due to Facebook's algorithms, some of you are missing out on posts.  

Facebook is a dying platform anyway, partly because the young people don't get on it.  Facebook is for old folks, they say.  Even more so, because the old folks who are still there are getting more and more frustrated with the site.  

Ten years ago, Facebook was the happenin' place to be.  We would meet in the evenings and chat about what TV shows we were watching, how our day went, and yes...what we were having for dinner.  That's what social media was meant to be, after all.  Social.  

Somewhere along the way, someone decided it needed to be a political debate forum, and those who wanted the front porch atmosphere to continue were mocked and derided.  We were told we weren't serious about what's going on around us, and "by all means, show us your dinner while the world burns."  Completely forgetting as they did so that in real life, we do talk about our dinners.  That's been the topic of conversation all week at work.   Are you cooking for Thanksgiving?  What are you fixing for dinner?  

And we talk about what TV shows we watch, and what's going on in our lives, and what our kids and grandkids did in school-- kind of like we used to do on Facebook.  Used to do... 

Add in the algorithms and the seemingly arbitrary ban hammer, and you get a site that just isn't fun any more.    Ohhh, the ban hammer...It's gotten so bad they don't even tell you what you did any more.  Take yesterday morning for example.  I was in the reading room tending to business, scrolling through Facebook as I did so.  I wasn't even posting, just scrolling.  

While scrolling, I saw that one of my friends had changed his cover photo, so I liked the post.  Almost immediately, the ban hammer dropped. 

No explanation.   No chance to appeal.  Nothing.  All I had done that entire morning was like my friend's new photo, and post my Wordle score.  What was so wrong with that?  How did his photo violate community standards?  It was just a lovely little Fall scene with pumpkins and leaves...Nothing at all controversial or offensive about it.  

Always before when I have been put into Facebook Jail, at least I knew why.  I mean, I didn't agree -- the potted meat filled Twinkies meme was a joke folks, but at least they'd told me why.   And I wasn't really threatening to kill anyone with my brain; that was a line from a TV show, but at least they'd told me why.  This time, nothing.  

All that to say, Facebook isn't what it used to be.  It's too restrictive, and no fun any more.  Thus, the site is dying.  I seldom post there any more, other than links to the blog, Wordle scores, and the occasional comment about the football game or that cat of mine.   

I guess that's all I have for today.  I'm off to figure out how to use that new site I signed up for...

Laters. 

Monkey Wrench

I had a post all planned out for you today about being thankful for the days when there doesn't seem to be anything to be thankful for.  It all started yesterday when James messaged me to wish me a happy birthday.  We chatted for a bit, and I asked him if he'd sold the house.  I knew he'd put it on the market a while back, but I was hoping he would change his mind and decide to keep it.  He didn't.  The house sold, and he's planning on moving to Tennessee in the spring to be closer to his granddaughters and some of the great grandkids.    

That just put me in a funk, because that house has been the gathering place since my aunt and uncle built it back in the 1980s.  Even though logically I knew I wouldn't be spending a whole heck of a lot of time there anymore anyway, I still hated to see it go.  I felt like I was losing a part of my youth.  So much of my childhood is gone...my grandparents' houses, my aunt's house in town, the schools I went to...

But there is always, always, always something to be thankful for, and your Thanksvember Twelfth was going to be a post about how the houses may be sold or even torn down, but the memories remain, and no one can take those away from me.   

Then, someone threw a monkey wrench into my plans.  I mean, Thanksvember Twelfth is still the same, but the post is going to be different because I got home this afternoon to find a card in my mailbox!  

It was a birthday card from my friend Kristine.  And accompanying the card was a package, and in that package was....

petit fours!  I have always wanted to try them ever since I was a kid and would see them in the Swiss Colony and Hickory Farms catalogues, but never have.  Several months ago, I mentioned it to Kristine in a casual conversation about how fascinated I'd been with them as a kid, and she remembered.  

Technically, I don't think these are actually petit fours, but I don't care.  They're close enough, and better yet, I HAVE BIRTHDAY CAKE!  

That brings us to Thanksvember Thirteenth:  Kristine told me that she'd intended to send them to me a while ago, but things went haywire with the sending.  Her words.  I don't think they went haywire at all.  I think God knew and arranged for them to arrive just when I would need them the most -- not the cakes, but the blessing of having a friend who not only remembered, but cared enough to send me a gift.  A friend like that is the best gift of all. 

In other, nonn -thanksvembery news -- my silver and blue wax beads arrived today, 

Now, I can finish making my wax seals and get my Christmas cards done.  But I'll talk more about that later. 

Two other things I ordered also arrived today.  My new Chosen calendar,

and my blended harmony of the Gospels book. 

The website description says:  Enter this new “harmony” of the gospel accounts: you’ll see the factual accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in one chronological story blended together. It will help you dig deeper to see how the different perspectives fit together into one amazing picture of Jesus.

And finally, for your bonus thanksvember, Cody had a tooth break this morning.  That's not something to be thankful for.  The thanksvember part is that he was able to find a dentist who could fit him in today.  He has now had his first root canal, and is sporting a temporary crown.  

That's about all I have for today.  I think I'm going to go take a quick shower, then knit for a bit. 

Laters.

Quiet Birthday

I spent a quiet birthday at home, as I usually do.  I don't really mind, because being an old, cranky introvert, I'm not much into parties.  I was going to buy myself a cake from Walmart yesterday, but even the small ones -- like 6" x 8"-- were $17 something dollars.  Nope.  Not going to happen.  Plan B was to just bake one myself, but I scrapped that idea too, because I don't need all that sugar.  Eh, birthday cakes are for kids anyway.  I guess.

Moving right along...

As you know, I've been redeeming all these ibotta offers to get a free turkey.  Since one of the offers I redeemed was for Ro-Tel tomatoes, I'd intended to make myself some cheese dip to eat while watching football this weekend.  I bought the Ro-Tel and the Velveeta, then got almost all the way home before I realized I'd forgotten chips.   I briefly thought about going back into town to get some, but I have to go Monday to pay some bills.  I'll just get some then.

Instead, I made myself some bacon flavored Velveeta shells and cheese, where I discovered a nice little birthday surprise.  Someone messed up and put two packets of the bacon bits in my box!  Woo hoo!  

It's the little things...

After lunch, I decided to go ahead and make out my menu for Thanksgiving dinner so I can pick up anything else I might need this next payday.  It's just going to be me this year as Cody and Brennan will be going to Brennan's parents' house...again...They said I'm welcome to come, too, but I don't really want to go up there again.  I went last year, and though they were nice enough and all, I still felt awkward and out of place.  In other words, my normal self.  Plus, Thanksgiving is really the only full meal I cook any more, and I kind of enjoy doing it.  It kind of surprised me how much I missed cooking last year.   

I don't know...it looks like if I want to spend any holidays with my son, I'm going to have to go to Brennan's parents house to do it.  On the other hand, I don't really mind spending holidays alone.  I'm used to it by now.  

OK, enough of my whinging...

Since I'd already gotten myself into the holiday mood, I got my sealing wax and stamps out and began making the seals for my Christmas cards.  I got to use my new little spoon holder thingy that I bought last year with my Christmas money. 

 It made it so much nicer than having to hold the spoon the whole time.  The only issue with it is that the little tea lights burn down pretty quickly, but even so, it's pretty handy to have around. 

While I was looking for more tealights, I ran across this liquid candle I've had for probably 25 years.  

I'd bought it for power outages and have never used it.  Since I now have my Harvey lantern, it's highly unlikely I ever will, so I drug it out and lit it.  Between that and the other thing, I got quite a few seals made. 

I've got to order more silver wax beads, too.  I didn't realize how little I had, and those three seals you see are all I was able to do.  While I'm at it, I'll order more blue as well.   

As per my usual, if you want a card and aren't already on my list, message me your address and I'll be happy to add you.  Also, if you've changed your address lately, I'll need that updated.  

And finally, Thanksvember Eleventh:  I'm thankful God has charged me with another year to do his good works.  And I'm thankful he gave me an unquenchable passion for the task he has given me. 

It may seem like such a little thing to you, but every stitch I knit is my offering to him.  

Veteran's Day Observed

Thanksvember Tenth:  IT'S RAINING!!!!   It's been raining most of the night and almost all morning!  Rain we desperately need.  It won't be enough to relieve the drought conditions, but at this point, we'll take any raindrop we can get.  I almost wish I'd gotten another rain gauge to see how much we got here, but I didn't.  The last one I had cracked, and wouldn't hold water any more, and I never replaced it.   

This morning, I had a brief moment of panic when I got up and realized all the city offices would be closed today, and I hadn't yet paid my trash bill.  That was quickly relieved when I opened said bill and saw that they'd given us until Monday to pay before incurring late fees, because of the holiday.  Since I didn't feel the need to rush into town to pay a bill, I spent a leisurely morning savoring my coffee and watching Kitchen Nightmares reruns...and oh, yes, knitting a new hat. 

You knew I would be able to stay away from those needles very long.  Oh, and I checked the tracking number on the hats I mailed off Monday, and it shows they've been delivered.   That means it's time to start filling the next box!

Eventually I got dressed and ran into Walmart to do my weekly shopping.  It was still raining, but I didn't even flinch.  I picked up my mostly free turkey, and redeemed enough offers to unlock the free sides (mashed potatoes, gravy mix, corn muffin mix, and cranberry sauce).  I say the turkey was mostly free because they have a $15 limit, and the one I picked was $19.  I was trying to get the smallest one I could find, but even it was 12 lbs.  And also, I splurged and got a Butterball, when I normally get Jenny-O or one of the other cheap brands.  I'm not completely sure why I went for the high dollar brand, but I wanted a Butterball, so I got me a Butterball, dadgumit!

Now, I'm back home and enjoying Christmas Cookie Challenge -- and another seasonal splurge.  

I was good.  I only bought one bag.   I can neither confirm nor deny that half the bag has now been consumed...

I need to find out what Cody and Brennan want to do for Thanksgiving, but all in all, it doesn't really matter.  I'm still going to cook my full Thanksgiving meal, even if I have to eat it all by myself.  Which reminds me, I probably ought to start working out my menu and making that shopping list.  Because I like to plan ahead.  

So, yesterday at work, they had a little luncheon for the veterans, and gave us these little plaques.  

 Normally, I eschew these kinds of things, but it was free food, so I went.  It makes me feel quite awkward and uncomfortable when people thank me for my service, because I feel like I don't really deserve it.  All I did was maintain satellite communications equipment and frankly, I wasn't really very good at that.  

On the other hand, if you ask  me if I would do it all over again the short answer is yes, in a heartbeat.  And that brings us to Thanksvember Ninth:  I'm thankful I was given the honor of serving such a great country as this.  And if I were given the opportunity to do it all over again, I'd do a better job this time.  

No, that's not a typo, and I didn't forget where I was in the count.  It's the one I would have posted yesterday had I blogged.  I'd intended to, but by the time I got home from the difficult day I had at work, I was completely out of social energy and just didn't feel like it.  So you get it today.  

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go find a production of The Taming Of the Shrew to watch while I knit some more on that hat.  

Laters. 

I Forgot

I had a whole, big, long post all mentally planned out for you while I was at work, but now that I'm home sitting in front of the computer I can't for the life of me remember what I was going to tell you.  I’m pretty sure last night’s bout with insomnia had a lot to do with that. 

Instead, I thought I'd show you my latest knitting project...only I haven't cast on anything new since I finished the last hat over the weekend.  I don't know what's wrong with me, but you know it's serious when I don't feel like knitting.  But here is something I found on Facebook that I'd love to try to make.  

It shouldn't be too hard, but somehow when I do this stuff, it never turns out right.  I might ask Cody if Brennan is crafty like this, and maybe we can make a project out of it. 

That's it for now.  I'm going to close and finish watching this cheesy Hallmark movie I DVRed over the weekend, but before I go...here is your thanksvember entry for today. 

Thanksvember Eighth:  I'm so thankful I live in a state that takes election integrity seriously.   It's so important, no matter which party you support, because fraud takes away your voice as a citizen.   

Oh, wait!  I remembered!  One of the things I wanted to talk about, at least -- what I'm reading.  I finished reading The Taming Of The Shrew, by The Bard.  I'm having difficulty reading his works -- not with the 16th century English, but with the play format.  I'm finding it hard` up with who the characters are, and who is talking and stuff like that.  I'm hoping the more I read, the more I'll get accustomed to it, and it will all make more sense. Seeing the play performed makes it a lot easier to understand what is going on, so I'll try to find a performance of this one on YouTube.  I also need to find a performance of Richard III, which I've already read. 

Before I move on to the next play, I decided to take a break from Shakespeare and re-read O Little Town, by Don Reid.  

I'd bought it way back in 2011, and the benefit of having a memory like mine is that I don't remember anything about the book, other than I really enjoyed it. I was reluctant to read it at first, figuring it would be cheesy and kitschy, but I finally gave in and much to my surprise, it was really good.  

So, that's what I'm reading. 

NOW, I'm going to end this and finish my cheesy Hallmark movie.  Then go to bed. 

Laters.

Dang It!

Dang it again!  I forgot to do Thanksvember yesterday.  I told you this would happen.  I guess the time change has gotten my mind messed up, so you get it today. 

Thanksvember Sixth:  I know it sounds weird to most of you, but I'm thankful to go back to standard time.  I like the early sunsets.  

I love being able to shut down and snuggle down with a movie and knitting, or a good book, without feeling obligated to be staying busy.  Sunsets are my off switch.   So to speak.

Now, on to today's post. 

Yesterday's post was short, because I didn't have a whole lot to talk about.  Today's post will make up for that.  It all started...well, it all started about a year ago when the plant announced that we'd be required to wear steel toed shoes.  Honestly, it's been Lennox policy for ages, but our plant has managed to stay under the radar all this time.  Somehow, Lennox found out and is now enforcing the policy.  Starting January 1, 2024, we will all be required to wear steel toed safety shoes. 

A couple of weeks ago, the plant posted that the shoe truck will be coming by, or we could buy our own approved shoes and they'd give us a $100 credit towards those shoes.  Since I'd already been wearing steel toed boots, I'd planned on re-ordering the ones I already had and just submitting the receipt.  However, when I got to work yesterday,  they'd posted that in order to get the credit, we'd have to buy our shoes off the truck.  Well, bummer. 

Today, when I got to work, there was nothing ready for me to braze, so I decided it would be a good time to go see what they had on the shoe truck.  Wanting to do the right thing, I went and told Supervisor I was going to go to the shoe truck.  He told me to go tell Group Leader Shark.  Which is what I did, and she told me to go tell Supervisor.

"He told me to come tell you," I replied. 

Now, I don't know what the background story with that was, but she went off.  "Oh no, he is not going to put this on me!" she exclaimed.  For a start.  In the midst of all her ranting and raving, I got the story that Cuz had been complaining about people going to the shoe truck too early in the day, and he wanted us to come in early instead.  I'd originally planned on going after work, but changed my mind when I saw I'd be standing around waiting for something to do. 

"I didn't know any of that," I told Group Leader Shark. "I just thought it'd be a good time to go because there's no work."  She said I should have just told her I needed to go to my car, then gone to the boot truck.  I turned around and walked back towards my stand, and after I'd taken about ten steps, I called back, "Group Leader Shark, I need to go to my car!"  I got my keys, and conspicuously twirled them around my finger as I walked down the aisle, and once I got outside, went straight to the shoe truck. 

Which brings me to Thanksvember Seventh.  The shoe truck had the exact same boots I've been wearing for the last two years, and in my size, too.   

Hey, the Bible says to be thankful in all things, not just the big things.  

I got my shoes, put them in my car, and went back to work.

Shortly after I got back to my brazing stand, Group Leader Shark came around and told us we had an insurance meeting.  I mean, it was no big deal.  We do this every year.  It was just a meeting to tell us what changes have been made and what's new, etc. etc.  At the end of the meeting, the guy leading it said, "We've got some free swag.  Come up and get you some."  

They had t-shirts, lunch bags, pop-its for your phone, tape measures, and....

insulated tumblers.  That's the one everyone wanted.  It was a mad stampede to get all the cups.  I had more than one big man push me out of the way to grab one, but I finally managed to stick my skinny arm through the crowd and get my cup.  I'm glad I was in the first meeting, because I don't think they had any left by the time we were done.   I didn't see anyone come out of the second meeting with cups.  They all had t-shirts and lunch bags. 

In other work news, yesterday the guy who picks up our scrap at the end of the day came around and said they'd told him not to pick up any scrap from the brazers, because we aren't supposed to have any in the first place.  

Um, what?  

Yeah, we're not supposed to have any, but we do because nobody will make tubing get their act together and everything gets passed down to the brazers.   This afternoon, I called Supervisor over and showed him an adapter tube that was messed up, and asked him what we're supposed to do with our scrap if Scrap Man doesn't come get it any more. 

Supervisor told me that we -- meaning the sub brazers -- are supposed to leave our brazing stands, take the part back to tubing, figure out who cut it, and have that person write a scrap ticket, which will probably involve standing there arguing with that person, because she won't want to do it.  I stood there looking at him like this:

and said, "Are you serious?  We already have to do so much non-brazing stuff as it is.  Don't put more on our shoulders!"  

He said not to worry about it.  He'd figure something out.  In the mean time, our scrap isn't getting picked up, and our scrap boxes are filling up.  I hope he comes up with a solution soon, but I can guarantee you one thing.  Whatever the solution is, it won't be making tubing do right.  

It never does. 

At long last, the work day finally ended, and I went and voted.  Alas, I'm afraid my vote might not count because I didn't post a photo of my sticker on social media.  

You have to do that, you know, if you want your vote to be valid.  

On Their Way

As of today, the latest crop of sailor hats are safely on their way to New Jersey and their intended recipients.  Well, as safe as they can be in the hands of the United States Postal Service, that is.  Now I can start on next year's batch.  

Since I was already in town, I ran by Walmart and redeemed enough Ibotta offers to unlock my free turkey, which I will pick up Friday when I go in to do my regular shopping.  Then I have to redeem 9 offers to get the sides, which shouldn't be too much of a problem.  The good thing is, once this is done, I won't have to buy groceries for like...a year. 

So, the cat really got me this morning.  See, she likes to go do her potty business out in the woods behind the house, which is totally fine with me.  The less I have to scoop the litter box, the better.  After her breakfast, I let her outside to do her business, then continued getting ready for work. 

Just before I left, I opened the back door, stepped out onto the porch, and began calling her to come in.  I kept looking behind the fence, expecting to see her running up, as I stood there at 5:30 calling, "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!"  I never saw her come up, so I said, "I guess she'll have to just stay outside all day."  I turned around and stepped back into the house, where the kitty, kitty, kitty was standing there looking at me.  

And finally, 

Don't ask.  Even I don't know.  But since the Longhorns were the only one of my teams that won this weekend, Hooketh thine adversary!

Finished!

 And with this hat, I am done!

With this batch, that is.  I'm not done knitting hats -- not by a long shot.  But I have enough to get the shipment I've been working on all boxed up and ready to go.  The hats are currently in the washer, and the labels are printed and drying.  I'm going to try to get it into the mail tomorrow, even though I'll have to go to the post office after work.  For what it's worth, I looked up the address on Google Earth, and it appears to be a legitimate location. 

And that brings me to Thanksvember Fifth:  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve.  It may not seem like much to some, knitting hats, but it's my cup of cool water.  I won't go into all the whys and wherefores here, but if you want to know, do go back and read the post I linked above.  It may be an old post, but it's still just as relevant. 

I'd said I was going to take a break from knitting hats for a while and get some other stuff done, but last time I said that, it didn't last very long.  I mean, I've got lots of yarn, and lots of time...and nothing better to do with that time.  

In other news, something at the rest of the apple slices last night, so I went ahead and put some more out this afternoon.   The first two does that came up didn't eat them, but maybe the bucks will come later on and get them. 

In other other news, I noticed yesterday that my Whatever Cactus is loaded with buds.  

I'm stoked about that, because they (I have three of them) hardly bloomed at all last year.  I think I was overwatering them, so I seriously cut back after I repotted them all, and they're doing much better this time around.   I got lucky night before last, because my weather apps said it was only supposed to get down into the mid 40s, but when I got up, the thermometer I keep on my back porch said 35°.  But there was no frost on the grass, so I think all my outside plants will be OK.  

And finally, your history moment for today.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent

To blow up the King and the Parliament

Three score barrels of powder below

Poor old England to overthrow

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match

Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring

Holler boys, holler boys

God save the King!

Thanksvember

I'd intended to do Thanksvember again this year, but every day, about an hour after I'd posted, I'd sit there and think, "Dang it!  I forgot Thanksvember again!"   That being said, I am going to try to remember to post, but it may or may not get done every day.  I might have to do a catch up day from time to time. 

Today is the first of those days. 

Thanksvember First:  I'm thankful that I still have a job.  It's been rough out there at the plant this year, with over 200 people getting laid off -- even some who'd been out there 20 years.  I'm also thankful that despite the loss of overtime, I've been able to manage my money so that all my bills have been paid on time. Sure, I've had to nip and tuck here and there, but I haven't lost my home or had to go into debt to pay the bills like I did during the last recession.  

Thanksvember Second:  I'm thankful that I learned to live without internet, even if it was just temporary.  I'm even more thankful to have it back.  

Thanksvember Third:  I'm thankful for my friend Susie, who took an offhand comment I made in jest seriously, and sent me a surprise parcel to open for my YouTube Channel.  But it's not about the stuff.  It's that someone thought enough about me to do something like that to brighten my day.  

Thanksvember Fourth:  This.

Yep, I'm thankful for the difficult people.  For the obnoxious people.  For the condescending people.  For the unkind, selfish, hateful people.  I'm thankful for them, for showing me how it feels to be on the receiving end of such attitudes, and reminding me to me more Christlike in my own interactions with those around me.  

That's it for today.  From here on out, I'll try to remember to do my Thanksvember every day, or at least every couple of days.  It won't be a whole post again...I hope. 

But with my memory, you never know.