That Great Light In The Sky

 What is that great light in the sky?

Oh, it's the sun!  It's been so long, I'd almost forgotten what it looked like.  It was so sunny, I was able to put Marty Mac outside for a while after work.  

He seemed to really like it, since they are a full sun plant.  Once it gets warm enough -- as in, it stays above 40-50' even at night -- I'll get out my old baker's rack that Beverly gave me when I moved into this house, and put him on that.  That is where he'll stay until he goes into his Fall dormant season.  

I think he's recovered from being re-potted, and is even growing some new traps.  I joined a group on FB for beginners, and have gotten some really good tips from them.  Maybe, just maybe, I won't kill this one. 

Unlike my poor bluebonnets.  Out of 72 peat pellets, this is all I got.  

Some of those aren't looking so good, either.  I took them out of the starter tray, so I can put them out into the sun during the day.  I'll probably be leaving them outside all the time, unless it's supposed to get below freezing.  

I'm going to leave the others out on the porch, too, because in the wild, bluebonnets sprout in late summer/early fall.  Maybe some of them will germinate later on the year.  

Don't worry about all the condensation, either.  It's there because I'd just put a little water into the tray.  They don't stay soggy all the time.

In other news, I finished the leg of my sock. 

I started working on the heel flap, too, and am taking pictures as I go, for my friend who wants to knit a pair for her husband.  I'm not going to post them here, though.  I'll wait until she's at that point, then do a whole post about knitting a heel flap and turning the heel. 

On a positive note, remember a few weeks ago when I posted that my sewer lines were backed up, but then they weren't?  Turns out they were.  They were draining, just very very slowly.  I got my trusty Drain King out, only it was too small.  

I tried to use it, but it wouldn't expand enough to seal the sewer line, and the water was backing up into my house.  Naturally, I did what any red-blooded American would do. I got online and ordered a larger size.  It arrived Thursday, but it was too cold and rainy for me to try it until Sunday.  When it was still cold, but at least not rainy. 

I ran the Drain King down my sewer line, and turned it on.  Aaaand, apparently, it was a big clog, because I could see water running through the other clean out (I have two in that sewer line), but it still wasn't draining correctly.  In desperation, I got the old sewer snake James gave me and ran it down there as far as I could.  A couple of spots I could feel resistance, but I pushed it through.  

Since it was still in the 40s out there, I went inside to warm up, and when I came back outside, the sewer line was clear!  I keep running outside to check it, and after two showers and multiple toilet flushes, it's still clear.  Maybe, just maybe, I solved the problem.  I'm paranoid, though, because I had to have all that whole sewer line replaced shortly after I moved in to this house.  The whole thing had collapsed.  Now, every time something happens, I worry that it has collapsed again, even though the plumber said he'd fixed things so that it wouldn't.  

I'll just have to keep an eye on things and see how it goes. 

And finally, your Texas history moment for day 6 of The Siege.  

Sunday Hymn and Texas History

 

I'm not in the habit of posting on Sunday, but this being the Thirteen Days Of Glory, I had to post my Texas history moment.  

I've also thought lately about bringing back the old Sunday Hymn posts.  I enjoy posting them, but they're not all that popular, so I get discouraged and stop after a while.  But today, I felt the need. 

So enjoy this one.  It might be a one-off, or it might be a weekly thing.  It all depends on your response. 

And the Texas history moment:

Rainy Saturday

 It has rained all day long.  

What am I talking about?  It has rained all week long.  But yeah, it's rained all day long.  

As if that weren't bad enough, I don't think it got out of the 30s.  I'm really glad I got that extra firewood last month.  It's come in handy.  Not that I needed it, but with it there, I don't feel I have to be so stingy with my wood.  And it's supposed to be cold again tomorrow, so it'll come in handier.  But at least it's not supposed to be raining.  

So, what did I do on my rainy Saturday off?  Well, not much to be perfectly honest.  I've watched TV, did dishes and laundry, and ....  nope, that's about it.  So, I'll just show you the cute little hand sanitizers I bought yesterday.  

They were on clearance.  And yes, I had to tell you that.  For .25 each.  And yes, I had to tell you that, too.   It's like a rule, or something.  

I felt it was kind of appropriate, since I spent the morning catching up watching The Book Of Boba Fett.  And knitting.  

Slowly but surely, it's coming along.  

I guess since nothing happened, I won't keep you, but I have to give you your Texas History moment for Day 4 of the Seige.    

Freaked Me Out!

I was so tired last night, and discouraged about my dentist appointment, I almost didn't practice my piano.  But, right before bed, I said to myself, "Let me sit down and play a little bit.  I always feel better after I play a bit."  

You know, in a way, I'm sort of like a toddler getting into the bath.  I don't want to get started -- mainly because I don't want to get out of my chair -- but once I do start, I don't want to stop.  

Anyway, I pried my behind out of the chair, sat down at the piano, and put on my piano glasses.  Whoa!  I couldn't see!  I took them off, blinked a few times, then put them back on.  |

I still couldn't see.   I was beginning to freak out just a bit, here...

Because apparently, I'm a slow learner, I put them back on one more time.  It was after this, yes this third time putting those glasses on that I realized, one of the lenses was missing.  As in, had fallen out of the frames completely. 

What?  I looked on the keyboard, and on the floor all around it, and no lens.  I even turned on the big light, and got the broom to sweep under the love seat, but still no lens.  I knew those glasses had had the lens in them the night before when I wore them to practice, so the lens had to be in the house somewhere. 

I decided to go to bed, reasoning that I would find the lens eventually.  I went into the bedroom, and there it was, in the bedroom floor.  My glasses lens.  How it got in there, I don't know, but I have my suspicions...It's a wonder it didn't get stepped on and broken. 

No matter.  The lens is back in my piano glasses, and I can practice my piano again.  Not like I don't have a bunch of other pairs of glasses, but still....

OK, moving right along...

Wonder of wonders, we have another weekend off.  What I heard is the plant is out of a Vitally Important Material, and we can't make anything without this Vitally Important Material.  Word is, Monday is iffy, if they don't get some in soon.  

I told my coworker I was going to sleep all weekend -- and I just might do that.  It was cold today, and is supposed to be cold again tomorrow.  Heh, I was freezing all morning.  I just couldn't get warm.  I was so cold, I seriously thought I was sick.  As in, running fever.  

It wasn't until after lunch when my coworker came back in from outside and said, "It's so cold out there!"  I checked my phone, and it was only 37'.  No wonder I couldn't get warm!  I came home and was tempted to start a fire, but I was too tired to fool with it. I brought some wood up, so I'll be able to start one in the morning, but for tonight, I'm just huddling under a blanket and drinking hot chocolate. 

  That being said, I'll leave you with your Texas History moment of Day Three of the Siege.  

Not Good

 

I had my dreaded dentist appointment this afternoon, and as I expected, the news was not good.  Who am I kidding?  It never is. 

I just get so frustrated, because I try to take such good care of my teeth, but it doesn't seem to matter.  I didn't even get the fluoride treatment this time, because why?  It's not helping.  

I wonder if all the medication I had to take when I was a sickly child affected my teeth.  I don't know, but something sure has, because they are so very soft. So, what are the damages this time?  I'm going to have to have three of them pulled.  

The cavities are just so deep that the dentist doesn't feel they can be saved.  One is broken off at the gumline, so I expected that one, but the other two were just heartbreaking.  I guess Monday, I'll call the oral surgeon and schedule a consultation, then see if Cody can get the day off to drive me.  Oh, and see if I can get the day off work as well.  And maybe the next day, too, just to have an extra day to recover, since it is three teeth.  

It makes me plumb sick, I tell you.  

But sick or not, history can't be changed, and today marks the second day of The Siege.  On this day, Colonel William Barret Travis wrote his famous letter to the people of Texas and all Americans in the world.  

I've included the text below:  

Commandancy of the Alamo Bexar, 

Feby. 24th, 1836 

 To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World-- Fellow Citizens and Compatriots-- 

I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna--I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man--The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken--I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls--I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all despatch--The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country--Victory or Death. 

 William Barret Travis Lt. Col. comdt. 

P.S. The Lord is on our side--When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn--We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels, and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves-- 

 Travis

Now, I have some letters of my own to write, so I'll leave you with this:

Random Thoughts Of A Wednesday Evening

 1.  There I was at work, just a working away, when out of the blue, one of my coworkers came up and asked me, "Don't you ever get tired?"  I said, "Girl, please!  I'm never not tired!"  And it's only February.  It'll be like this until at least September or October.  But hey, they're feeding us hotdogs next week.  

2.  I think I'd get a lot more out of my piano practice if I didn't have such a harsh critic:

3.  Some women wish they could eat without getting fat.  I wish I could be as sleepy after I get into bed as I am sitting in the recliner.  But nooooo.  As soon as I lay down in the bed, I'm wide awake.  

4.  Today, we commemorate the beginning of the Siege of the Alamo.  

5.  You're not going to believe this, but today I ate the last piece of Christmas candy.  Now, I can get back with my weight loss program.  I gained quite a bit over Christmas, but I'm still down 15 lbs from where I was when I started.  I'm hoping with all the temptations finally out of the house, I can get back on track.  

6.  I can't remember what else it was I was going to tell you, so I'll just tell you I have to go to the dentist tomorrow, and I don't want to.  He's going to fuss at me, because I still haven't gotten that broken tooth extracted.  I know, I know, but I feel like I've got a million things pulling at me all at once, and there's only one of me.  

7.  Oh, I've got some exciting news!  An episode of Restaurant Impossible is going to be filming right here in town next month!  One of my coworkers said she's going to sign up to be an extra.  I'm not, but I do want to watch it when it comes on.  I don't know yet when that will be, but I've already set my DVR to record the show, so I'll be sure to let you know. 

8.  Good news, it looks like Marty Mac is going to survive being transplanted.  He's starting to perk up, and his traps are getting that good reddish color again.  Funny thing, there was a piece of perlite stuck on the edge of one of the traps, so I thought I'd be smart and blow it out.  Do you know you can trigger them to snap closed doing that?  I do now.   It was still pretty cool to watch. 

9.  The bad news is, the Christmas cactus that was stressed isn't looking any better.  I found an old picture from a few years ago, and it looked so much better then, but I could already see some of the leaves turning red.  If I'd known then what that meant, maybe I could have saved the plant.  As it is, I don't know.  I'm just going to leave it alone and hope for the best.

10.  I'd better go practice my piano while the cat is napping, before she comes and gives me the stink eye again.  

11.  Laters. 

Pleased To Know

 I'm sure you will all be pleased to know I made it to work this morning without almost hitting a deer, and no one caught her clothes on fire today.

All in all, it was a very dull day...

So, what shall I tell you about?  How about my somewhat pathetic attempts to repot my plants? I don't know.  I try so hard, and imagine myself getting my plants beautifully and gracefully arranged, but when I'm done, they look like I tossed them into the air and where they landed is where they got potted.

I'm sure you're anxious to see them, so here they are:

The one on the left is the salmon colored blooms, taken from cuttings of the original cactus Cody gave me when he was 7 or so.  It's long since died, but at least I have this little bit of it left.  The one on the right, and the one below is one I bought a few years ago at Walmart.  Well, the one below is.  The one above is cuttings taken from it -- accidentally, of course. 

The weird thing about these two is that when I took them out of their other pots, neither one had a single root on it.  Maybe that's why they look so bad.  I did a little research and the red leaves are a sign the plant is in distress.  I think I may have been overwatering it, leading to root rot.  I stuck them into the new soil anyway, and maybe they'll grow new roots and be OK.  If not, Walmart will have some more in stock next Fall.  

This one below is the only one I didn't repot, because it was the only one that looked healthy. 

It's one I got when I was plant sitting for James and Beverly when they moved back to Texas.  I accidentally broke a piece off, and felt guilty, so I rooted it.  The irony is, theirs has died (though when we were down there in December, I saw that it looks like it's trying to grow again), and this one is thriving.  I'm probably going to prune it a little bit later, to encourage it to be bushier.  Again, we shall see...

And last, but certainly not least, little Marty Mac.  Oh, I was going to be so careful, and delicate with him.  I joined a group on Facebook and read up all about proper care, and how to repot.  I found a pot just the right size, ripped the bottom tray off, and found a bowl to put him into.  I was going to delicately fill it with clear, clean distilled water.  What he ended up being potted into was a muddy mess.  I'm afraid I may have killed him.

I hope he survives, but we'll just have to see.  

In knitting news, I finally cast on my new sock.  I haven't gotten very far, but here you go:

I have a friend who is wanting to knit a pair of socks for her husband.  She asked me to send her my simplest pattern.  I told her that would be a plain vanilla sock, but I've knit them from memory for so long, I don't really have a go-to written pattern any more.  One of my other friends sent me a link, but that pattern is pretty complicated.  Not the actual sock pattern, but the way it is written out.  I read through it, and for an absolute sock knitting beginner, I can see how it would be confusing.  

I've thought about trying to write out how I knit socks, but I'd have to do it as I go to be able to put it into words.  All I can say right now is, cast on 72 stitches on size 2 or 3 double pointed needles using your stretchiest cast on.  For me, that is the Chinese Waitress cast on. Divide stitches evenly over 4 needles -- 18 stitches per needle-- using the 5th to knit with.  Join, being careful not to twist.  Knit  K2P2 rib for about 2 inches, then switch to plain stockinette --knit every stitch.  Continue until leg is about 8" long.  

Once you get there, let me know and I'll figure out how to tell you how to knit a heel flap.  

Or.... if anyone has a clear, simply written pattern, please let me know!  I'll be sure to pass it along. 

Burning Girl

There I was at work, just a working away, when I heard yelling.  I saw the brazing trainer running, yelling another brazer's name.  I looked over, and the other brazer had somehow managed to catch the sleeve of her hoodie on fire.  She dropped her brazing tip on the floor and was frantically slapping at the flames, trying to smother them out.  I ran over and began trying to pull her hoodie off of her.  I was soon joined by a third brazer, who had run over and picked up Burning Girl's still lit tip off of the floor and hung it up on the shut-off arm, and between the three of us, we got Burning Girl's hoodie off.  

Burning Girl pulled off her protective arm guard, and pushed up the sleeve of the shirt she'd been wearing under her hoodie, and began rubbing her arm where it had burned.  Someone else told her, "Don't rub it," and I said, "Put some cool water on it."  Burning Girl got her bottle of drinking water, and used it to cool down the burn on her arm. 

While all this was going on, a Supervisor who had been walking down the aisle came over to sub-brazing to see what all the hubbub was about, and I told him, "Burning Girl burned a hole in her shirt."  "She burned a hole in her shirt???" Supervisor said with incredulity.  I showed him the hoodie, with the gigantic hole in the sleeve where it had burned.  And it was a big hole...

I went to find Group Leader Shark, telling her, "We need you over here!  Burning Girl caught her shirt on fire."  But by the time Group Leader Shark got to Burning Girl's stand, Supervisor had already taken her up to the First Aid room.  

Later, when they'd gotten back from First Aid, Burning Girl came over to thank me for helping her out.  I asked her how she was, and she said, "It was just the heat."  She pulled up her sleeve and showed me her arm.  "If it weren't for those arm guards, it would have gotten me."  But that kevlar is good stuff, because she didn't have a mark on her. 

Sometime after that, our Supervisor came over and without saying a word, took the fire extinguisher off it's hook and put it onto Burning Girl's table, and announced to the department that her new nickname would be Smoky.  

Up until then, the most exciting thing I was going to tell you was that I almost hit a deer on the way to work this morning.  Luckily, my car has really good brakes, because by the time I got stopped, I could see every single hair on that deer's butt.  The funny thing about that was, my lunch box flew off the front seat and into my floorboard.  I was so relieved I hadn't hit the deer, I didn't even think about my lunch.  When I got to work, and was getting out, I reached over to get my cooler, and had a brief moment of panic, thinking I'd forgotten my lunch.  

It's happened before...

In Knitting Knews, I still haven't cast on a sock with the yarn I finally caked up.  Funny, I have all these sock pattern books...

plus the entire internet, and I can't find a pattern that appeals.  Well, I take that back.  I've found patterns that appeal, but they're better suited to a solid or tonal yarn, not variegated.  I think I've decided to just do a simple K2P2 rib, with the ribbing continuing down the top of the foot.  That ought to be OK for this yarn, and it's pretty mindless, so I can knit on it while watching TV.  

Today's big project was going to be repotting some of my Christmas Cacti, and putting Marty Mac into his pot.  I got my soils in Thursday, 

but we must have a new UPS guy, because he comes really late at night now.  And bear in mind, that when I say really late at night, I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who gets up at 2:30 AM.  He comes around 7:00 PM, but for me that is really late at night. 

Anyway, I was going to show you all the steps and stuff, but this morning's excitement at work precluded that.  Maybe it'll be tomorrow's post. 

And finally, I got my COVID tests in today.  

Good thing I didn't wait until I had symptoms to order, because as long as it took, I'd either be well or dead by the time they arrived. 

You know, I may never use them, but my tax dollars paid for them, and by golly, I want them!  

Now I just need to figure out how to get that N95 mask they're supposed to be giving out.  Sahara dust season is almost here and I'm going to need it.  

Kind Of Hard

 It's kind of hard to believe isn't it?  A year ago today, we were buried under ice and sleet, and it would be nearly a week before the temperature got above freezing again.  

Today, the weather was stunningly gorgeous.  Sunny and warm, with just enough breeze to make it pleasant.  It was so nice, I put Marty Mac out on the front step for some direct sunlight and fresh air. 

I only left it out for a couple of hours, because the wind kind of kicked up, and I was afraid it would blow over.  Once my sphagnum moss gets here and I can get it into a bigger pot, I won't sorry quite o much about that.  The care sheet I read said that if the traps are red, the plant is healthy.  This one looks pretty good to me. 

Once it warms up more, I'm going to leave it out on the front porch, where it'll get lots of sun.  I just have to remember to water it.  And look at this:  

My little bluebonnets are sprouting!  I am leaving that tray out all the time -- well, except I bring them in at night when it's supposed to get below freezing.  I know the plants are hardy, but I want to be extra cautious with these little seedlings until they get a bit bigger.  

Now, for a real treat.  Yes, I have been practicing my piano -- somewhat.  I know I've been threatening to live stream -- or at least record -- a practice session, but I can't imagine you'd be anything but bored if I did that.  So, instead, I thought I'd record one of the songs I've been working on. It's not perfect, but here it is.  It's called The Country Fiddler, and it's from the Schaum blue book, level 2. 

And yes, that is knitting you're looking at.  I'd just gotten out of the shower and was not presentable. I don't like being in front of the camera at the best of times, and I sure don't want to show you myself when I'm fresh out of the shower with my hair not even combed. 

 Also, I've got to remember not to set my phone on my keyboard when recording.  Maybe next time.  Anyway, here it is, and I hope you don't get seasick:

  

One of the things I struggle with is playing too fast, and you can hear me slow down significantly after a few measures.  I think that comes from not having very long to practice, so I feel I have to rush through my songs, just like I feel I have to rush through everything else in my life.  It's trying to get it all done while working 10 hours a day. 

Like now.  I feel like I just got home, and it's already time to get ready for bed.  

Guess I'd better get to it.

Good night. 

Valentine's Day

 Today, as I'm sure you know, is Valentine's Day.

Some of my coworkers -- OK, a lot of my coworkers-- had ordered matching shirts to celebrate the day.  Oh, they were lovely shirts, and my coworkers wore them so proudly.  There were red ones, and black ones, and they all had the same pithy saying on them.  That saying went:

I must of been hit by the wrong or the right Cupid. Who knows?

Do you see it?  Please tell me you see it, too!  Sigh...Society is doomed.  Doomed, I tell you!

Now, normally, I'd be writing a big long post about love, or lack of it, or some other such nonsense, but I thought I'd take today to remember this:

"What is that?"

I'm so glad you asked.  It's sleet.  

It's the first few fallings of sleet that would see most of the South buried in snow and ice for a solid week.  I used to dream of living where it snowed a lot.  I once -- when I was much younger -- much, much younger -- thought I wanted to live in Alaska.  

The older I get, the farther South I want to go.  But not all the way to Antarctica.  Not that far South.  

Just back to the Texas Gulf Coast.  

And finally, I'm still practicing my piano, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to say.  I'm still trying to get used to these longer hours -- and getting up at 2:45 AM, which seems to get harder every year.  Some days, it seems all I have the energy for is to give each song a cursory run-though and that's it.  

But I am still practicing the Christmas songs I'm working on for the next concert.  I only hope I don't get sick of playing them before it's time!  

Well, this is going to be a bit short, as I had to run an errand after work, so it's already nearly time for bed, and I still have a lot I need to be doing.  I keep hoping something exciting will happen and I'll have something worth talking about.

Bur for now, Toodles.  

 

A Bust

Wonder of wonders, we did get today off!  I just wish they would have told us one way or the other, so we wouldn't have spent the entire day wondering.  Finally, it was quitting time, and we were all asking, "Did they say anything about tomorrow?"  We pretty much unilaterally came to the conclusion that since they hadn't told us to come in, then we weren't going to.

I told my coworker, "The first thing I'm going to do tomorrow is sleep until I wake up!"  Now, I know some of y'all might not think of 5:30 on a Saturday morning as sleeping in, but trust me, when you've been getting up at 2:45, it felt absolutely wonderful! Even after I woke up, I laid there in bed, just enjoying being able to lay there in bed as long as I wanted to.  

What else did I do on my day off?  Well, after savoring a cup of coffee, I decided to make sourdough pancakes.  My sister had sent me a sourdough starter several years ago -- just the dry ingredients-- and I'd never mixed it up.  Last fall, I found it still in my cabinet, and decided I'd start it, with the intention of making sourdough bread.  I'd just never done it.  

Last night, I found the card that came with the mix still on my refrigerator where I'd put it, and was reading about how to refresh the starter, when I turned the card over, and lo and behold, there was a flapjack recipe on the back.

"Oh, I've got to make this!"  In retrospect, I probably should have refreshed the starter, then waited an extra day to make the pancakes, but you know me.  I can't wait on things like that.  The recipe said to mix up the starter, flour, and warm water and let it set over night.  I did that, then made the pancakes this morning.  

Just FYI, If you don't have a griddle, and you want to make more than one pancake at a time, get you a griddle. I'm telling you, I did an entire load of laundry -- including drying it -- in the time it took me to cook all those pancakes.  But I've got a ton of them in the freezer for later, and my sourdough starter has been refreshed.  I think I might make biscuits next. 

Once I'd finally finished making all those pancakes, the big project for the day was to go up to Lowe's and get some sphagnum moss and repot Marty Mac.  I checked the app  before I went, and they had some plain, unfertilized sphagnum in stock -- or so I thought.  I drove all the way up there, and nope...they didn't have any in stock.  The only plain sphagnum they had was in a huge bag.  I told the employee I had asked about it, "I don't need that much!"  

She said, "I thought that's what you had on your phone."  I replied, 'It is, I just didn't know it would be that big."  I briefly debated on getting it anyway, but decided against it. So that whole trip was a bust. 

On the way home, I had an idea.  Maybe I could look online and see if there was potting mix already made up for carnivorous plants.  When I got home, that's exactly what I did.  I found some, and not too expensive, either.  It'll be here Thursday.  

While I was at it, I ordered a mix formulated for succulents.  I'm going to repot my Christmas cactus into that, and see if they do better than in just regular potting soil.  Maybe if I pay more attention to these kinds of things, I might be able to keep some of these plants alive.  

By the time I got home, the temperature had dropped enough for me to start a little fire in the wood stove.  We got a few minutes of snow flurries mixed with sleet, but mostly it's just cold.  The only other thing I've done is to finally cake up that skein of yarn.  Since I still haven't decided what to do with it, I went ahead and put a new square into my blanket. 

I'll figure out which socks to knit later.  

Dear Place Of Employment

 If you would get as bent out of shape about 

incomplete orders, 

incorrect parts,

the raggedy equipment we're required to work with,

and the the unsafe working conditions we deal with every day

as you do about an employee snacking on a candy bar or heaven forbid, drinking a Coke,

then maybe your production numbers wouldn't be so low, and your turnover rate so high. 

It's called priorities.

Get them straight. 

Thank you.

That is all. 

So Tired

 I was so tired when I got home from work yesterday, I ate half a can of Spam and a string cheese, and called that supper.  Tonight, I did a bit better.  I fixed myself a fried Spam and cheese sandwich.  

See that up there?  Those words in italics?  Yeah, that was going to be your blog post yesterday.  I got that far and said, "I can't do this.  I'm going to bed."  And that's exactly what I did. 

I was going to tell you that the day I ate the Spam and string cheese for supper, I'd watched a town hall with a bunch of local doctors -- and by "local" I mean from the Jackson area.  Doctors from our state, not from California or New York or wherever.  It was very interesting, and informative.  Oh, those doctors had their talking points down pat, and they spoke almost as if they believed what they were saying.  They were so persuasive.

Good thing we have Facebook memes and comedians with podcasts to tell us the truth, so we don't get fooled by these doctors and their lies, like a bunch of mindless sheep, right?  

All sarcasm aside, cases are dropping like a rock here, so that's a good thing. 

The blue bars are daily cases, and the black line is the rolling seven day average.   I am a bit of a statistics geek, so I really get into keeping up with this kind of information.  I know that makes me a dork, but what can I say?  I am who I am.  

By the way, you too can be a statistics geek.  Just go to MSDH.MS.GOV and it's all right there.   Not just case counts, either, but also underlying conditions and all sorts of fun stuff.  

In the not so good news, my sphagnum moss arrived yesterday. 

I got all excited, thinking I could repot my Fly Trap this evening when I got home from work.  I'd already decided to sacrifice what was left of this Christmas cactus and use its pot.  

Unfortunately, I hadn't noticed when I ordered it that the sphagnum moss was enriched with plant food.  Venus Fly Traps do better in poor soil.  Sigh...

I'll keep the moss, as I'm sure I can use it for other plants, but it looks like I'm back to square one for my VFT, which I just now decided to name Marty Mac.  

Marty Mac Fly...get it?

Ok, never mind. 

The assembly lines are off this weekend, and I'm hoping we will be, too.  They've already told third shift brazers they don't have to come in, but that doesn't mean anything.  Each shift has its own set of rules, you know.  But I'm thinking if they do let us off, I'll run up to Lowe's in Batesville and pick up some sphagnum moss there, and I'll be sure to get it without plant food.  I might also get some perlite to mix in with it, since the Fly Trap sites recommend it as well. 

There is still no sign of life in my little peat pellets, but I'm hoping for some sprouts soon.  

I really must go put some time in practicing my piano, so I'll close for now.

Laters. 

Monday Miscellany

 We had six brazers out today.  Six.  That's half the department.  

They did send us one of the tap fitting brazers up to help, though.  But, we were still down five.  Well, five and a half, because she spent half the day walking around talking to people, but hey, we take what we can get.    Beggars/choosers and all.  

There's a rumor going around the plant that The Big Man Up Front is getting a bit concerned about his job.  Not losing it, I mean.  Our production numbers are way down, and he can't seem to figure out why.  That's why they brought The Boss Who Must Not Be Named back out onto the shop floor -- to get production back up.  

On a completely unrelated note, one of my coworkers was telling me about another coworker, who is diabetic.  Other Coworker comes in at 4:00, and has 11:00 lunch break.  Being diabetic, she was having trouble keeping her sugar levels regulated because she wasn't allowed to eat or drink for 7 hours.  So she went to her doctor and got a note saying she needs to eat regularly.  Because of her diabetes and all. 

However, when she went to HR to turn it in, they rejected her doctor's note.  She had to go and have a sit down meeting with the Head Karen in HR and plead her case with her.  The Head Karen then gave Coworker a form to take to her doctor to fill out.   She is to bring that form back, whereupon The Head Karen will forward it to the company doctor, who will then review that form that Coworker's Doctor filled out and decide based on the information given if she has a legitimate medical need to eat more often than every 7 hours. 

If the company doctor approves her need -- and that's a big if-- he will then forward the form to the company's attorney.  The company's attorney.  Seriously?  You have to get a fricken attorney involved?  Simply for a diabetic employee to be able to eat so she won't die?  That's absolutely ridiculous!

As for the rest of us who don't have medical reasons to eat frequently, who are just hungry...well, sucks to be you, I suppose. 

Hmm, on second thought, maybe that note quite wasn't so unrelated after all...  

On a brighter note, I got my little bluebonnet seeds planted yesterday.

I have since run in and checked exactly 437 times to see if they're growing yet.  They're not.  But I was able to get two seeds planted in most of those pellets.  A few of them only got one, but hopefully, I'll have enough germinate and survive that I'll have a nice little bluebonnet patch.  If I can finish getting that old fire pit cleaned out, maybe I can plant a few back there, too. It would be so cool if bluebonnets took over that pit and made it into something beautiful.  

Well, I came home this afternoon and finished moving the firewood to where I wanted it to be to begin with.  I left a little pile by the door

but I put the rest of it out in the old chicken coop. 

Between that and what I have left from the first load he brought, 

I ought to be set for firewood for a while.  Some of the bigger chunks in this pile can be split down even more so it'll go farther. 

I guess that's all I have for today.  Except this one last thing.  I pulled this yarn out of the yarn closet yesterday.

I've got the hankering to knit some socks with it.  One of my readers, when I was complaining about my socks falling down, asked if I knit with negative ease.  I was like, "Ease?"  No, I'd never really even thought of ease, because I have these giant heels.  I've always had to cast on a lot of stitches on large needles to get the socks on over my giant heels,  so I've always just had to run with that.   Now that I know this super stretchy Chinese Waitress cast on, I might just give that whole ease thing a try.  

I only have to find a pattern that appeals. 

I'll be sure to keep you posted. 

The Crazy Kraken Lady

I was reminded at work yesterday that once upon a time, not so very long ago, I used to be a pretty good storyteller.  

That was before they put us on those 12 hour shifts.  That was when the creativity died.  I was just too exhausted all the time.  The stories didn't come, so the posts didn't get written.  I haven't completely recovered from that, by the way.  

But I got to thinking, I've got some new readers since then, so it's time to rerun a few of the old posts.  This is one such post.  I hope you enjoy it.  

Not So Fast

I had a dream once.  There was a time in my life when I thought I'd become a Crazy Cat Lady.  Lots of people are Crazy Cat Ladies, though.  There's nothing wrong with it.  But I wanted to be different.  I wanted to be unique.

I could become a Crazy Bunny Lady. 

More rare than the Crazy Cat Lady, but still, they're out there.

Then, I had an inspiration.  I would become the Crazy Kraken Lady.  The world's first Crazy Kraken Lady.  I would be unique.    I was so excited.  I started making my plans to dig up my back yard to make my Kraken pool.

Until last night, that is.  I watched a show on Animal Planet all about squid.   More specifically, about squid attacking people.

See, there was this fishing boat down in New Zealand, and they were fishing for marlin. Well, they hooked one, but some squid got ahold of it.  By the time the fishermen reeled it in, those squid had stripped that marlin to the bone.  Seriously.  There wasn't anything left but a head, a spine, and some ribs and just enough meat to hold them together. 

Then there was this diver, and he got attacked by a group of squid, and they were trying to eat him. 

To eat him!!

They were biting him through his wetsuit, and they grabbed hold of him and started dragging him down into deep water.  They dragged him down so fast, his eardrums ruptured from the sudden change in pressure.  The diver managed to get away, but in addition to the burst eardrums, he had a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist, along with about a gajillion bites.

And those were Humboldt squid.  They only get around 4 to 5 feet long.

There are also Giant Squid, which get to about 16 feet long, and the Collosal Squid-- which is most likely the one the Kraken myth is based on.  They have been known to reach in excess of 33 feet long, with estimates of up to 46 feet long.

That is Collosal.

On the show, they were talking about a yacht that was sailing around out on the ocean.  All of the sudden, the yacht stopped.  The people on board said it felt like they had run aground.  But when they ran to look into the water, what they saw was a squid. 

A squid.  It had stopped a boat.  It had grabbed the boat and brought it to a dead stop.  Dang. 

Suddenly, the idea of being the Crazy Kraken Lady didn't seem so appealing after all.  I'm going to have to re-think that dream.

Maybe I'll become the Crazy Platypus Lady instead.

Baby It's Cold

 I don't think it got above freezing today.  The good news is, we didn't get the ice buildup they were predicting.  The roads were clear, so I went on in to work, even though I'd have rather stayed in bed.  But, I didn't get the cat in last night, even though I called and called.  

I moved her little Styrofoam shelter into the car port, so it doesn't fill up with water every time it rains, and I moved her little cat bed into it.  At least she has the opportunity to get into it if she wants to.  

The not so good news is, they still didn't have any peat moss at Walmart, so naturally I did what any red blooded American would do.  I got onto Amazon and ordered some.  Right there in the garden center of Walmart.  

So there.  

Since a good deal of the country is gripped by cold, I thought I'd show you some photos I took when we were in Texas.  

 Cody, Brennan, and I had planned on going down to Sea Rim State park, mainly because I hadn't been to the beach since that last vacation with my dad in 1995.  

I was talking about it the morning we went, and James spoke up and offered to drive us down in his truck.  He said it would be easier to drive on the sand in it than in my little car, and less likely to get stuck.  However, when we got down there, the beach was closed to vehicular traffic anyway, so it didn't even matter.  

The only downside to the trip was the Portuguese Man-O-Wars were everywhere.  And I do mean everywhere.  

There are 6 of them, just in this one photo.  That's how thick they were.  Brennan almost tried to pick one up, until James said, "Don't touch it!!  That thing will sting you!"  

I'd taken off my shoes -- because you can't walk on a beach with shoes on -- but  after I quick dip in the water, I put them back on,  

wet, sandy feet and all.  As much as I love walking barefoot on the beach, I didn't want to risk getting stung.  On the other hand, it would have been hilarious to see Brennan's face if I did get stung and started hollering, "PEE ON IT!  Somebody pee on it!"  That might just have made a sting worth it. 

Apparently, the were washing up all over the Gulf Coast, because my friend who lives in Florida posted about them as well. 

Man-O-Wars notwithstanding, we had a lovely time just walking down the beach, collecting shells, and  enjoying the day.  

It was a great way to start the new year.

That's about all I have for today, so let me just leave you with this:  

Normal People

I think I'm going to give a daily report on how many brazers we're short in the department until they get us some people over there.  Today's number is 4.  

OK, moving right along.  

There I was at work, just a working away, when along about 8:30, they had to shut the power down to do some sort of maintenance.  I'm not sure what they were doing; someone said they had to repair a fuse.  I didn't know people still used fuses, but that's just what I heard.  Once they'd powered everything down and all the machines were off, it got quiet in there.  Eerily quiet.  I said, "Oooo, it's almost spooky how quiet it gets in there with everything shut down."  It was about 30 minutes before they got finished with whatever they were doing, and we could go back to work. 

Now, what do people do when they can't work?  Well, I don't know what normal people do.  We do this:

In weather news, they're still predicting freezing rain for tonight.  It rained most of today, and the temperature has steadily dropped.  We'll have to wait and see if there is any ice build up, but I told my coworker, if the roads are slick, I'm not coming in tomorrow.  

I'm getting too old to be taking the same chances I took when I was younger.  

The hard part is convincing the cat she really does need to stay inside tonight.  I'll let you know how that goes.     

Something's Got To Give

Something has got to give.  Out at work, I mean.  Today, we had four brazers out.  Yesterday, we had six, Monday we had three out, and another left at lunch.  Saturday, five brazers were out.  

Now, point of clarification, when I say five or six or whatever, I'm also counting those two open positions that for some reason, they just won't fill.  Rumor has it, it's because the brazing trainer has said she "just doesn't want to fool with them."  Training them, I mean.  Excuse me?  Isn't that your job???

Anyway, we start the day shorthanded as it is, and if anyone else is out, that really puts us in a bind. They still expect us to keep up with the lines, though.  While starving for 7 hours until lunch break.  

They've got to get us some help over there.  But I'm not going to hold my breath on that.  

I had a nice surprise when I got home, though.  Lookit!  My Venus Fly Trap has a trap closed!

Do you see it?  It's there on the left, right above the black label.  That's pretty cool!  OK, not that I have bugs in my house, but it's still cool!

OK, I have a confession to make. 

Sometimes I order things from Amazon just to have something show up in my mailbox.  It's usually small stuff, but at least it's something. 

Back when I was little, we always went to the South Texas State Fair in Beaumont.  Back then, they had it in the fall, but after Ike came through, they moved it to the spring.  One year, there was this man demonstrating these wire baskets.  The way they were constructed, you could change them from tall and skinny baskets, to short and wide -- almost platter like.  I was so fascinated with that thing, I bugged and bugged my mother until she gave in and bought me one. 

I'm not sure what happened to mine, but several years ago, Beverly was cleaning out some boxes and found hers.  I mentioned that I'd had one, so she gave me hers.

Ever since I moved into this house, I've had it setting on top of one of my shelves, alongside a pig and a chicken mug.

Every so often, I'd say to myself,  "Self, you ought to get some fake eggs and put into that basket.  It'd go real nice with the farmhouse theme you're trying to decorate this living room with."  

Being that it's been a while since I got any mail, that's exactly what I did.  I got on Amazon and ordered some.  They're cheap, plastic eggs, but from a distance, they look OK.   

Now, it looks just like a roadside farm stand.  If you use your imagination....a lot of imagination.  But I like it.  I still need to do something with the other side, though.   

I don't know where I want to put my TARDIS things, but I do want to move them somewhere else.    I'd originally thought I'd move them to my mantle, once I ever get my act together enough to get the guy out to build me one, but now I'm not so sure.  

We'll just have to see. 

And finally, they're predicting freezing rain for us tomorrow, with up to 1/4" of ice accumulation.  Looks like Big Al wasn't wrong.  

When is he ever?