Is It Really Necessary?

Every day at work, I tell myself, "When I got off work, I'm going to go to the store and get some more mulch and finish mulching my flower beds."  All day I tell myself that.  All day, I plan on going to the store when I get off.  Once I get off work, sitting in my car waiting for traffic to clear, I tell myself, "Eh, that mulch can wait until tomorrow."  Every day. 

Here lately, I've gone so low as to begin asking myself, "Is mulch really necessary?"   After all, the flower bed seems to be doing fine without it...at least until the weeds take over.

Speaking of weeds, it seems they have taken over my wildflower bed.

There are a few things growing in there, but most of it just looks like grass.  I'm going to just let that side go, and if something ends up blooming, good.  If not, no big loss.  I'll just claw it all up and get it ready for next year.  I think this is the last time I'm going to try to plant seeds.  They just don't work for me, and I could put so much more in that bed. 

On a more pleasant note, my moss roses are doing really well, despite the grass constantly trying to creep into bed with them.

So is my chupacabra. 

My brachiosaur has good days and bad days.  One one of its good days, I'll try to get a new picture for you. 

In other news, there has been actual knitting happening.  One of my friends has decided she wants to put together blessing bags for the homeless.  She wants to put a hat or scarf or mittens in each bag, and has asked for volunteers to help knit them.  You know I'm all over the hat knitting.  This is one I whipped out Sunday and Monday while watching my Memorial Day movies.

I got all the way to the crown decreases, then had to put this hat on hold.  Why?  My DPNs were still in this hat that I started for the Little Hats, Big Hearts program.  I guess I'd better stay off Facebook and spend more time knitting, huh?

Finally, if I had a hypothetical boyfriend and someone asked my hypothetical boyfriend, "Why Becky?" and my hypothetical boyfriend shrugged and said, "Why not Becky?", I wouldn't have a hypothetical boyfriend any more. 

Just sayin'...

Memorial Day

Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?" 

Then I said, "Here am I.  Send me."

Isaiah 6:8

As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation. -- 

Ronald Reagan 

More New Things

This'll be quick, because I found out PBS will be livestreaming the National Memorial Day concert on their YouTube channel, so Yay!  I didn't need that stupid antenna after all.  But I did want to show you the new things I got, since I was too lazy to post yesterday.

I debated all day at work whether to run up to Lowe's in Batesville when I got off.  They have their mulch on sale for $2 bag.  I kind of wanted to go, but I kind of wanted to come home and take a nap.  As soon as I got into my car, it started raining.  I took that as a sign and just came on home.

Where I found this waiting on me.

It's the world map I'd ordered for my bedroom, and get this, it's stretched canvas, not just a poster print!  I love it!  Now, to figure out where to hang it.  The choices are here between the door and the closet. 

or here on this wall. 

 My only hesitation in hanging it there is that the clock is a map, too, and I don't want two maps so close together.  The solution would be to hang the big map closer to that window (which will eventually have a curtain over it), and put a few other things closer to the corner.  A compass rose, or a lighthouse or something.

I still have these lighthouse posters my sister sent me for Christmas in '16.  I want to hang them in the space between the door and the closet, but I need to get them framed or mounted somehow. 

They are such an odd size that it'll have to be a custom job, and that can run into some money.  The plan is to hang them diagonally in that space, then put maybe a small compass rose -- like the one I bought last week -- in the corner, so to speak. 

Well, only 8 minutes until the concert.

Gotta go!

New Things

Well, I second guessed myself all day today.  I thought, "Maybe I just need to get a digital converter box, then my antenna will work."  But no, my new TV in the bedroom isn't supposed to need a box, so that wasn't it.  Still, I went back and forth -- should I or shouldn't I try a converter box?  In the end, I took my antenna back to the store, and despite Wal-Mart's so called hassle free return policy, the lady behind the counter sure acted like it was a hassle for me to return something.  I remained polite and calm, reminding myself that she had probably had a rough day and was just as tired and frustrated as I was, and we got the deal done.

I was going to pick up a couple of bags of mulch while I was there, but by the time I finally got through at the customer service desk, storms were starting to roll in, and I just wanted to come home.  I really do need to finish mulching my flower beds.  I also need to mow, but that ain't happening either.  At least, not today.  Storms, remember? 

A couple of days ago, I was looking for something on Amazon -- I can't even remember what -- and found a new Billy and Blaze book that I didn't know existed.   I was so excited, I didn't even hesitate.  I hit the one click button right away.

I loved the Billy and Blaze books when I was a kid, and have all of them -- except this one.  As soon as I'd ordered it, I thought, "Hmmm, I'll bet when I get it and read it, I'll remember it."  The book arrived today, and sure enough, once I started reading, I thought, "Oh, yeah, I do remember this one."  At least now my collection is complete, even though most of them are paperback versions.  And since that I'm no longer a struggling single mom trying to raise a child with no help from his father, I'll gradually be replacing them with hard back versions.  If you want dibs on the paperbacks, speak now or forever hold your peace.  OK, not necessarily forever.  Still, if you're interested, just let me know, and I'll be happy to pass them along to a fellow book and horse lover.

I also found this while in Wal-mart.

I've kind of changed my decorating theme for my bedroom.  Instead of lighthouses and sailboats, it's going to be lighthouses, compass roses, and old maps.  I've found an antique looking world map on Amazon that I want to buy.  A couple of them, actually.  I just need to decide which one to get.  Then figure out where to hang all this stuff. 

That's the fun part.

Just Checking In

No, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth, in case you were wondering.

I've just been working long hours, and there doesn't seem to be much to say. 

I went to the store, after debating whether to go today or tomorrow.  I knew I didn't want to go Friday -- before a holiday weekend.  It would be a madhouse.  I was thinking...then I decided to go ahead and get it over with, so I wouldn't have to worry about it later.  Halfway there, I realized today is Tuesday.  I'd been thinking it was Wednesday.  Sigh...One can only hope the ice cream holds out...

While I was there, I bought an antenna, hoping I would be able to pick up PBS.  Sunday is the National Memorial Day concert, and I've only missed it once -- the year they switched to all digital broadcasts.  After 15 years (more or less), my set top rabbit ears wouldn't pick up PBS any more.  Actually, they wouldn't pick up much of anything any more.  Even after I switched to a supposedly digital antenna, I couldn't get anything but FOX.  That fall, I got cable and haven't missed it since. 

Earlier this month, I had my cable cut off.  Today, it hit me.  The concert was this Sunday!  THIS Sunday!  I had to do something!  I did. 

I got an antenna, brought it home and eagerly hooked it up.  I did the channel scan and...nothing.  Thinking I'd messed it up somehow, I did another channel scan.  Again, nothing. 

Not one single channel. 

I took the antenna into the bedroom and hooked it to that TV, since it's newer, and ran a channel scan.  No dice.  Nothing.  Seriously.  Before the switch to digital I could pick up everything except CBS with set top rabbit ears.  Now I can't get anything.  Zilch.  Zippo.  Nada. 

One can only hope to find a live stream of it somewhere.  I sure would hate to miss it. 

And that there antenna is going right back to the store tomorrow. 


 

My DNA Results

I got my DNA results back!  The thing said 6 - 8 weeks, but I got mine back in only two.  I was anxious to see what those results were, and I must say, I was kind of surprised.

The 37% Great Britain is no surprise, as most of my ancestors can be traced back to England.  OK, I did think that one would be a bit higher -- like maybe 75% or so.  The 15% Ireland/Scotland/Wales is no surprise, either, since I've found both Irish and Scottish ancestors, but not as many as English ones.

What is surprising is I only have 5% Scandinavian DNA.  I figured I would have more than just 5%, since my Swedish ancestor is the closest, generationally, that is.

DNA can be a tricky thing, though.  What DNA I ended up with all depends on which bits of my parents' DNA got passed down to me.  Even though Grandpa Peter hailed from Sweden, I've got a lot more ancestors and a lot more bits of DNA mixed up in me. 

Take a look at this one:  35% Europe West.  According to the website, Europe West is

Europe West

Primarily located in: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein

I did find some French ancestry on my mother's side, but it was pretty far back.  That there DNA must have done some pretty serious generation hopping.  I'm going to have to do some more digging on her side, and try to find out where that came from.

The interesting thing is the low confidence regions.  Finland/Russia?  Haven't found anyone from there.  On the other hand, Vikings did settle parts of Russia, so there is that.  Europe South is a possibility, since it encompasses Italy and Greece.  My great-great grandfather (my Mammaw's grandfather) had the last name Gardino or Gardano.  That's a common Italian last name.  I haven't found him in any family trees, or any records of him at all, other than what my dad told me, and what I read in my Great Uncle Oscar's Bible. 

Now, about that European Jewish...I read some very interesting articles about how the Cherokee people don't have DNA markers common to Native peoples.  As you know (unless you've been living under a rock), those who call themselves "Native" Americans immigrated here from Eastern Asia.  Cherokees have DNA markers more in common with those from the Middle East, North Africa, and Jews.  So, it is possible I do have come Cherokee DNA. 

That's more than Elizabeth Warren can say. 
 

Changing the subject, I'm getting the feeling I'm going to regret telling Tomato Man he can plant his garden beside my shed.  He stopped by my house yesterday and the following conversation ensued:

TM:  Do my tomato plants look a little dry to you?

Me:  I don't know.

TM:  You haven't been out to look at them?  (Looking surprised that I hadn't.)

Me:  Not since that first day you put them in, no.

TM:  Oh.  (Looking as if I'd suddenly sprouted a second head or something.)  Do you have water over there?  (Meaning a spigot.)

Me:  No, it's in the back yard. 

TM:  Would you mind putting some water on them a couple of times a week for me?

Me:  That wasn't part of the deal.  The deal was that you would take care of them. 

TM:  Well, maybe it'll rain soon. 

Really, if I'd wanted to take care of his tomato plants, I'd have planted my own garden.  Taking care of his tomatoes wasn't part of the deal, and we'd settled that -- or so I thought-- the first time he asked if he could put them there.  Then again, him pestering me about the dumb things all summer wasn't part of the deal, either.

I know one thing, he won't be planting any on my property next year.

My Weekend

I'd mentioned a few weeks ago that my dryer had begun making horrendous noises whenever I ran it.  I put up with it as long as I could, even waiting to start the dryer when I was on my way out to work.  The problem with that was I kept forgetting.  After leaving some towels in the dryer for a week without every turning said dryer on, I decided it was high time I got it fixed.

My first inclination was to pay someone to do it, but with the hours we are working, it's kind of hard to find time for that.  Then I said to myself, "Self, you don't need to pay anyone for that.  You can order the parts online and do it yourself."  And that's exactly what I did.

I got on Amazon and ordered a new felt seal, and upon the recommendation of a FB friend, I decided to change the bearing, too.  It's a good thing I took his advice, as this is what the old bearing looks like.

That whole left side is supposed to be solid plastic, so yeah, I'd say it was past time to replace it.

And this is all that was left of the felt seal.

With the help of a few YouTube videos, it only took about half an hour to change those parts out -- and that includes time watching said videos.  Once I'd gotten done, I washed and dried four loads of laundry, and squealed like a fangirl every time I started it and heard near silence.   Whee!  No more shrieking banshee!  No more clothes getting stuck between the drum and the front panel!  No more forgetting to start the dryer because I don't want to listen to the noise! 

Now, I just need to pry Jesse and the cat off the bed so I can wash their comforter.

Moving right along...(Man, I need to come up with a better segue)

I found a new plant to hang by my mailbox.  This is a geranium ivy, and it looks a lot better than that pathetic looking viola.

One of these days, used book stores are going to be the end of me.  I managed to find one of my favorite childhood books last week.

Of course, that title would never fly in today's hyper-offended PC world, but it is such a good book.  If you've ever read Sign Of The Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare, this one is very similar.  I'd originally thought Speare had simply copied this one, changing just enough details to avoid copyright infringement, but upon further research, I discovered that both books were taken from the same source material -- a paragraph in a history book about the state of Maine.  That's why the stories are so similar. 

It is available for Kindle, if you want to read it.  And I highly recommend you do.

Tonight!

This is it!  Tonight is the night!  The moment we've all been waiting 8 long years for!

It's the wedding of the century!  Not Charles and Diana, or William and Kate, or even Harry and What'shername.  No, tonight is the night Sheldon and Amy officially become The Shamy.  Whee!  I can hardly wait!!!

Or, if you don't watch The Big Bang Theory, it's Thursday.

Needless to say, blogging will be light and the post will be short.  I just wanted to show you a few solutions I've come up with.  First one: I really wanted to hang both my hanging plants from the hooks I have on my porch.  In order to do that, I'd moved my hummingbird feeder to the other side of the car port, but they just weren't feeding from it.   I put it back on the porch hook, but then I had to set one of my baskets on the ground, which I didn't like. 

A couple of days ago, I remembered my neighbor had given me one of those plant poles shortly after I'd moved in.  It's been in my shed ever since, because I just didn't have any use for it.   I stuck it into the ground right beside the porch and hung the feeder on it. 

We'll see if the birds find it there.  I hope so.  At least it'll be easier to refill, because I'm short, you know. 

Unfortunately, the slugs have already found my marigolds.

I put some poison out, but I don't really like using it.  If the toads eat a poisoned slug, they might die, too, and I don't want that to happen.  As much as I love my marigolds, if I can't find a way to control the slugs without harming my toads, I may have to give them up.  BTW, I have gigantic slugs around here.  I'm talking 4 - 5 inches long.  Seriously.  Sometimes they get inside (I don't know how) and get into the dog food and slug all over my kitchen.  It's really fun stepping on them at 3 in the morning.

OK, now that you're all thoroughly squicked out, here is another solution I've come up with.  I'd had this other hanging basket with a viola in it on the East side of the car port, but I didn't think it was getting enough sun there.  After 2 1/2 years of living here, I suddenly realized, "Hey, I have that hook on the mailbox post." 

Oh, I knew the hook was there.  I've even contemplated putting a plant on it before.  I've just never done it.  Now, I have.  After the heat kills that viola back, I may try some of those ivy begonias.  Is that what they're called?  If I can find them, that is.  I looked the other week and didn't see any.  Oh well, I'll find something to put there.

I got home today to find that man finally got his tomatoes into the ground. 

Oh boy!  Tomato sandwiches!  It was all I could do not to walk barefoot through that freshly tilled soil.  Which reminds me, I need to get some more mulch and finish mulching my front flower beds. 

How tomatoes reminds me of mulching is beyond me, but they do.  I've long since given up trying to find an explanation for such things.

Well, that's about all I've got for today.  Now, if you will excuse me, I have a wedding to get ready for. 

Old Glory

I had a long, drawn out post all mentally composed for you, but as I'm a bit tuckered, you get the Reader's Digest Condensed version.

Why am I so tired?  I'll tell you.

I stayed up last night to watch the last Abby episode of NCIS.  Normally, I watch it the next day, but as I have FB friends who tend to post spoilers, I wanted to watch it in real time.   Now, I know some of you are thinking, "NCIS comes on at 7:00.  How is that 'staying up'?"  I will gladly answer that for you.  My alarm is set for an hour that begins with the numeral 2.  Does that answer your question?

Yeah...

To make matters worse, I stayed up the night before reading.  I'd only planned on reading one chapter, but ended up finishing the book. There is actually a term for what that resulted in the next day:  a book hangover.  I had one. 

So, just two things.  We're continuing to adjust to our new surroundings at work.  So far, it's been a change for the better.  I'm only hearing my coworkers (myself included) complain about two things.  The first one is that everyone is still uncomfortable with how crowded we are.  I mentioned yesterday that I was concerned about accidentally burning people.  I nearly got a few today.  Back when we were over there before, we had twice as much room, so it wasn't as much of an issue.  The way it is now, I don't feel safe. 

The other thing my coworkers (and not just me) are complaining about is these assembly line group leaders coming over there and hassling us.  They're not supposed to be over there at all.  We have our own group leader.  If they have a problem, or if they need something, they are supposed to go through her. 

One of the other brazers told me her old group leader tried to tell her that she needs to come in early and go back to her old work area and count everything that is already on the line.  Another one came over and started yelling at the brazers who used to work on his line (I don't know what it was about), and our new group leader and him got into a big old argument.  (Again, I don't know what it was about, but I heard a lot of yelling.)  Then there was the one who was constantly harassing a brazer about partials,  all...day...long.  Even the other brazers were starting to say, "She needs to stay away from over here." 

Once someone pounds it into their thick heads that we don't work for them any more, it'll be a whole lot better.  But for now, I'm not throwing away my Hyland's Homeopathic Nerve Tonic quite yet. 

On to happier news...

A few months ago, I noticed my flag was getting a bit tattered.  I took it down, because I think flying ragged, faded old flags is worse than not having a flag at all.  I'd meant to get another one, but a combination of forgetfulness and procrastination prevented that. 

May arrived, and I got to thinking.  Memorial day is coming up here soon.  I need to have a new flag by then.  After forgetting to get one in Walmart for the umpteenth time, I broke down and ordered a flag from Amazon.  I chose one that is sewn strips of fabric with embroidered stars, not just a printed on pattern. 

It arrived today, and once again Old Glory is proudly flying.

My house looks right again. 

I thought I'd save a little money by reusing the same pole, but it appears I might need a new one of those, too.  I'll look for one next time I go to the store.

If I don't forget... 

Changes For The Better

Today was the day.

I mentioned before that they were moving the sub-brazers off the lines and back into our own work area.  Today was the day that went live.

I just said something went live.  I must not be as much of a Luddite as I thought.

Luddite or no, today was the day.  It finally happened.  We sub brazers are back into our own little area, with our own group leader, and our own supervisor -- neither of whom were at work today.  Be that as it may, once the dust all settles and things get lined out, it's going to be so much better.  I'm one of the old school brazers who remembers when we were together before.  Ever since they broke us up and put us on the lines, we've been clamoring for them to un do that change.  Today, our dreams came true.  We are off the assembly lines!

via GIPHY

My biggest concern about the move was what would keep these assembly line group leaders from looking at us as an extra floater pool and coming and getting us any time they needed someone on the line.  That concern was settled first thing this morning.  One of the line group leaders came over and tried to pull a brazer to work on his line.  Boss man said, "They're over here, now, and they're going to stay over here."  Group leader hung his head and walked back to his line very much chagrined.

Nobody has come right out and said it, but I have a feeling that's why we got moved off the lines in the first place.  Boss man got tired of walking around and seeing his brazers doing everything but brazing.   A fully trained Level 2 brazer with 20+ years of experience is one of the highest paid employees on the shop floor -- and yet, I was spending more time doing temp level work than brazing. No more!  Hallelujer!  Praise da Lort!

Another change is that we are no longer assigned to a specific line.  We braze whatever is ready.  We still have to work out the particulars of that -- how to figure out what is needed next and not be brazing orders that are way down the schedule.  I'm sure we'll work out a system over time, but today was pretty hectic.  Still, as chaotic and unorganized as this first day was, I never once felt stressed out.  I got a little aggravated with one particular group leader who kept coming into our area and badgering us about orders, but I wasn't alone in that.  Boss man finally had a long discussion with her and her supervisor, and they stopped worrying us.  Once we start getting a little bit ahead, that ought not be a problem.

There is only one thing I don't like about our new work area.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love being off the lines and all together again, but I don't like the way the area is set up.  I don't know why they've got us so squshed up.  I mean, they've really got us jammed up in there like sardines.  We're so close together it's a safety hazard.  Where I work, I'm standing practically on top of my neighbor's striker.  When we were over there before, we were much more spread out.  I don't know why they didn't do it that way this time.   I'll bet the first time someone accidentally gets set on fire, they'll change things.

Now if we can only get them to go back to the good gas and the good rod...

But enough about work.  I've got lots going on in my wildflower bed.

My roses are starting to bloom.

As are the moss roses.

And my mystery plant turned out to be the viola that I'd long thought was dead.

I don't expect it to last much longer, though.  This Mississippi heat will get it for sure.

Star Wars Day

Since I had to work today, I'm going to start my Star Wars movie marathon tomorrow.  Good thing I finally got around to buying a universal remote, huh?

I was going to get it the other day, after I'd turned my boxes in, but I didn't.  I started to veer into that left turn lane to go to Wal-mart, but I said, "Eh, I'm tired.  I'll just walk across the living room for the next three days." 

Since I had to go on my regular weekly shopping trip, I got one today.  I chose the one with the big buttons.  Because I'm clumsy like that.  When I got it home, I discovered I was able to program it to control my DVD/Blu-Ray player and my Roku stick, too.  Cool!  I can reduce some of the clutter on my end table! 

I have one more day of work before I can start my Star Wars marathon, so in the mean time, I'll just share this awesome video from that awesome hunk of pure awesomeness who used to be my imaginary boyfriend before he married someone who is not me. 



BTW, I will be watching the original unedited, un remastered, unruined 1977 theatrical release in which Han shot first.

Oh, and this one:



Happy Star Wars Day! 

May The Fourth Be With you.

Surprises In The Mail

Well, since they've officially announced it now, I supposed I can tell you, too.   We've got changes coming at work.  The biggest one is they've shut down C shift.  This will be their last weekend to work.  We had a meeting this afternoon where the plant manager told us they'd tried everything they could think of to get C shift up and running, but they realized it just wasn't going to happen.  More than that, they were wasting good production time on them, and the better course of action would be to just shut the shift down completely. 

It's not that the alternate schedule was such a bad idea, but the whole thing was predicated on finding an entire shift worth of people willing to work -- and work hard-- all weekend, every weekend, 12 hour shifts, for $8 per hour.  If they'd tried it 25 or 30 years ago, when people were still raised with a work ethic, it probably would have worked, but not in this entitlement minded, participation trophy generation. 

A and B shifts will still stay on the same schedule for the time being, but without C shift, we'll also be working Fridays and Saturdays -- they say through the end of August, depending on sales forecasts and production rates. So, yay for overtime. 

There are other changes coming, too, but nothing that would likely interest any of you.  Procedural stuff.  Like that they're moving the sub brazers off the assembly lines and back into our own little work area.  I'm excited about that.  Things were so much better back when we were all together before. 

I was talking with a coworker about shutting off my cable the other day.  She told me she needed to do something about hers, too.  Her bill is over $200 per month.  I was telling her about getting a Roku and how you can stream stuff and even watch live TV.  I said, "I feel so free!" and I do.  I feel so free not having that huge cable bill hanging over my head each month.  And you will all be pleased to know, I successfully DVRed NCIS and Survivor, so I went back and set it to record Criminal Minds and Young Sheldon, too. 

The best part of my day, I came home from work and found a package of blanket yarn waiting for me!

I'd put out a call on Facebook a few days ago for sock yarn scraps for the blanket, and one of my friends responded right away.  I ought to be able to add a lot of squares with all this yarn!

Thanks, Marci!

I will be so glad when this next storm system passes through!  My poor eyes are miserable.  Swollen, crusty, itchy and achy.  I think I'll go close them for a few hours.

Goodnight.

I Did It, Part 2

I went down to the cable office this afternoon, turned in my boxes, and had my TV service cut off.  The lady asked if I was moving, and I told her, "No.  I just don't watch TV enough to justify paying for it."  She didn't even argue.  She just asked if I wanted to keep my internet.  Of course, I said, "Yes, Ma'am."  She did try to sell me an upgraded internet plan, but I told her I wanted to hold off on that.  I said, "If I start going over, I'll call and upgrade." 

I don't see that happening, though.  I already stream a lot and have never even come close to going over my plan.  But I'll keep an eye on it anyway, just in case.

The best part was when she told me what my new monthly bill would be.  I'm saving over $100 per month by cutting off my cable.  Even with my Hulu upgrade, it's still a net savings of $60 per month.  I'm loving that!

Speaking of Hulu, I should have done this years ago.  Even streaming live TV, the picture is so much clearer than with cable, and guess what?  I have a DVR!!  I can record the shows I no longer watch -- since I have to get up at 3:00 AM I don't stay up that late-- and watch them on my big TV instead of peering at my laptop screen. 

I'm still poking around and finding what all I have on there, but I have a sneaking suspicion I won't miss my cable at all. 

And now for a bit of humor.  One of my friends posted this and I had to share it with you.