Sorry

I have been very lazy these past weeks………the holidays are over and the cold weather sort of lead me to “hibernate”. Read a lot of old novels that I had collected over the years. Now I have room in my library to go out and roam through the used bookstores for replacements. I also luxuriated in pampering myself with long hot showers with scented bath soaps and oils, impromptu naps, and a new short hairdo. Now I am physically rested, mentally refreshed and totally and selfishly spoiled.

Albert Einstein once said, “Two things are infinite. The universe and human stupidity….and I’m not so sure about the universe.” That is a lead in for my next observation.

I met a woman a while ago who was questioning a newspaper headline. The headline read, “Cat Burglar Strikes Again.” Candidly she wondered why anyone would break into any place to steal cats (I swear – her exact words). Upon hearing this, one friend nearly choked to death on her wine cooler, two others of our group fought VERY hard not to laugh and I just sat there in mind-dumb silence. I guess I should be grateful that she didn’t read anything about a “serial killer;” she probably would have been frightened to think someone could murder her box of Cheerios.

Ant then there was this doctor who wrote in a patient’s chart that her main complaint was that she woke up dead. Or, there was that other woman who asked my husband what he did for a living before he retired. Not wanting to elaborate on his law enforcement career and duties….he just said that he used to fly (he did – on a special squad). Wide-eyed with wonder, the woman questioned further, “In a plane?” I desperately wanted him to say that he sat on our roof and flapped his arms very fast. But he is a better person than I am at times and he just affirmed her query.

We’ve all met these special people in our lives……………but, I think they are gaining on us. So, in retaliation. I propose that the next time someone says to you that they are going to so-and-so’s funeral, just quietly remark………………………”OH, IS HE DEAD?”

God bless America!!

Excuse me, please

I tried to start a post “thing” somewhere else………………and the heavens let me know it was not to be. First, I fell and cut up my left arm fairly badly (I am left handed) so I was handicapped by that for a while. I am not a typist…………..I hunt and peck, and with only my right arm mobile, it was particularly inconvenient. So…….. I read mystery novels and watched documentaries on just about any subject…..and was miserable. I do not behave politely when I am a “patient” and it was unpleasant to be around me. My husband is now eligible for the Noble Peace Prize for his patience and the fact he did not murder me during the whole ordeal.

Then just as that was almost resolved, I caught whatever the latest strain of Covid is circulating and ended up being hospitalized. Being sick is depressing enough but being in isolation really is a horrible complication. Every person who ventured into my hospital realm was masked, gloved, gowned and shielded. It created a surreal world where everyone seemed to be from a different planet. Their stay was brief………meals in and out, IV’s replenished, meds administered, blood samples obtained, vital signs rechecked, and constant reminders to ring for any and all assistance. By my discharge, I had evolved into an Ebeneezer Scrooge personality. (second medal is awarded to my husband)

But, I did survive and did finally get discharged………………just in time for Christmas preparations.

Am I complaining about too much? Sorry!

Christmas, this year, was somewhat low key but really very merry. The family all gathered together for the holiday and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. I think I appreciated all the trappings – the music, the lights, the gifts, the meals, EVERYTHING….because of my past several months trials.

And now………………..it’s New Year’s (almost)! So, rev your engines, hug your loved ones, put on a happy face, make all your (breakable) resolutions and always remember you are loved.

Oooppps!

Somehow I have messed up. I wrote an entry for today, but somehow it got added to my old wordpress blog. Until I figure out how to reconcile the two, I’m on a self-imposed hold.

Happiness

Happiness is a fantastic description for today. I’m not too sore from my exercise regime from yesterday and the pollen count has dropped a little so I’m only sneezing occasionally, and my husband and I went to a lovely restaurant and enjoyed a delightful luncheon. My world is at peace today.

It is getting chilly here so sweaters and jackets have been resurrected, we checked that all the thermostats have been set at sixty-eight degrees and an additional blanket has been added on our bed. This morning all the roofs and grass had a healthy dose of frost so our autumn is creeping into winter. I should explain. We live in northern Idaho about thirty miles south of the Canadian border. Our weather sometimes likes to play pranks with us. The weather man will predict rain—and the sun will shine all day. On the other hand, it been known to snow any time after the October calendar has surfaced. The meteorologist has predicated a “snowier” winter for us this year so anything can happen. I love the snow, but my husband isn’t too jolly when it snows. I love to watch the lacy flakes dance in the air and accumulate into drifts; he, on the other hand, has to battle it with his snow shovel in hand. I’m trying to line up someone to shovel it for us but he just sort of growls when I mention it. He is a wonderful fellow, but he has two vigorous battles he wages each year. It’s dandelions in the spring and the snow each winter. He is relentless about each turning into a knight errant in his ardent war with each.

It is 3:45 p.m. here and the sun is already chasing the western horizon and now we have to face turning our clocks back one hour. I wish the powers that be would just leave us alone and keep daylight savings time. Up here, during the winter, we’re enduring 4:30 darkness. I always have this vague desire to go to sleep – it’s dark (and cold) and my mind figures it must be bedtime. We had this neighbor at one time who sincerely believed the government was saving the hour of sunlight we “lost” during the winter and storing it someplace in case it was needed for an emergency. Try and keep a straight face when you hear that pronouncement.

Well, that’s it for today………………it’s time for some tea and dessert, so I’ll say au revoir for now.

Shoppers

Have you ever encountered what I tenderly call the “zombie shoppers.” They usually appear in the middle of any aisle ed- effectively cutting off to or fro transit. They stand there, glassy eyed and under some mysterious spell rendering them decisionless……unable to even to discern what they’re staring at or whether they need any specific item or not. The choices, colors, shapes and shapes overwhelm their senses and they become mindless wanderers within the marketplace. They can found everywhere, even in the produce section. They pinch tomatoes, turn the lettuce heads over, and even smell the oranges all without reason or, usually, purchase. Look for them the next time you go shopping…..in any and all departments. They’ll be comparing bacon packages, squeezing the bread loaves or absently reading the cereals’ nutrition labels. But the clincher is always that their carts are in the middle of the aisles with a line of people trying to pass from either side. I pity them, if they are this mesmerized by shopping, I never want to see them deciding on which recipe they should use for whatever (if they can actually choose) they decide on cooking.

Sorry

Well, I complained about “no” snow….and, it happened. We received over 8 inches of the fluffy, white stuff. It is BEAUTIFUL! Unfortunately, my husband and neighbors are really not pleased with me. If that wasn’t enough for the day, in the morning paper was a too-close-to home cartoon. The wife is saying how wonderful and beautiful the snow was. The husband, shoveling his way out of the snow, retorts that it depends which side of the front door you’re on. Oopps. Remind me to keep my mouth shut from now on.

Today we had a whole 15 minutes of blue sky and sunshine….hope that makes up for the snowfall.

Have to go….I’m on hot chocolate patrol………

Snow…bah, humbug

The forecast for today was snow….and it did….for about 35 seconds. The driveway looks like someone dusted it with confectioner’s sugar. But it is colder and really gray out there so maybe the winter advisory will still reach us. It has been a really mild winter up here with above normal temperatures and below average snowfall……and Spring is only two months away. Boooooo……..I want it to snow!!

I’ve always liked winter better. I cannot abide hot weather. If the temperature hits 90 or above, I tend to turn green and throw up……not a real nice situation for a beach party. So, if I had my way, we would enjoy three months of spring, three months of autumn, and six months of SNOW. And I promise to only put up our Christmas lights and tree for two months (or two and a half).

Lunar Lunacy

Yes, I watched the eclipse last night – on the computer since it was snowing here. It was fairly spectacular and I can see why everyone calls it a ” blood moon.” But everyone up here has gone temporarily crazy over it. There are predictions of impending doom and gloom and some neighbors are really quite freaked out. I want to shout, “it was an eclipse….that’s all!” What causes people to expect the worst in every event?

However, there is a certain reaction to full moons……..our emergency room would overflow and the police reported all sort of looney incidents. Who knows? Maybe, there are some things that defy reason. The nuns who taught me would turn pea green if they heard me now….I’d probably have to write a 500 word composition on the evils of superstition. And I grew up in a big Irish family and neighborhood which believed some superstition was connected to almost anything…..or anyone. Oh well, maybe someday I’ll write them all down and we can laugh about them…..knock on wood.

Commercials

I HATE THEM! They are either talking about bladder incontinence, mother-daughter talks about fungus infections, lawyers who wish to sue every company in America, or hundreds of medications for any condition. What really fries me is that most of the these drugs have horrendous side effects up to and including death – I would rather have the original condition.

And…..the more popular the show or event being shown, the MORE commercials there are. That’s why I almost never watch television. So I ‘ll talk to all of you real soon……..I have a book waiting to be read,

Honest…It’s True

Some people might question the validity of yesterday’s blog, but I swear it is absolutely true. Auntie was my mother-in-law’s sister (there were fifteen children all together) and were raised on a farm. Hard work demands high energy and big meals to sustain you. The family apparently ate huge breakfasts, probably about daybreak, and enjoyed noon time dinners that were just as sumptuous.

After the work day, the evening supper was much lighter and usually were comprised of the earlier meals’ leftovers. There was lots of food and it was all home raised or grown by the family. The pantries in the old houses were humungous and filled to the ceiling with home canned “stuff” – everything else was raised, grown, cooked and baked by the family, usually the wife and daughters.

I remember one Thanksgiving when my in-laws had a sort of family reunion…..I have never seen so many people in one house for one meal. All the family members brought side dishes, fresh baked breads, stuffing, sauces, relishes, olives, pickles, gravies, cakes, pies and fruit….a lot of everything. As everyone took a place at the table, which extended across the dining room, living room, and into the hallway and T.V. room, Mama proudly presented “the FIRST turkey.” THERE WERE THREE TURKEYS, TWO HUGE ROASTS, AND AN ENORMOUS HAM. There was enough food to feed a small army……which we surely were!

Holidays now are much quieter now, the older folks have passed on, there are no more 15 children families, and we get most of our meal from the local supermarket We still bake our breads and pies, but there are no chickens in the backyard and our turkeys come from the local turkey farm butcher. We still usually have two turkeys (sometimes we sneak in a roast or ham to replace one turkey)…..there is also plenty of leftovers for everyone to take home. But we cherish the memories of our yesterdays with Mama, Pop, and many, many, many relatives.

Come to think of it, there’s still some leftovers in the freezer……..hum……maybe we’ll have some for dinner tomorrow.