Currently

I am

Enjoying... a snow day! My employer actually closed today, believe it or not. We did not get the amounts of snow we were told was coming. I'd guess, maybe, 10 inches fell yesterday. Not exactly snowmageddon stuff. Plus, it was light, fluffy stuff that blew around a lot. It's the drifting (for a while yesterday morning we had ridiculous winds) and the mix of sleet/freezing rain that fell from time to time. It's also still snowing today, though very lightly. I haven't been out. The main roads may be clear, but secondary roads are not.

How did you come through the storm?

Reading... Family & Other Calamities by Leslie Gray Streeter.

Watching... old mystery shows (Murder, She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder) on the Frndly streaming app.

Listening... to a neighbor's snowblower.

Thinking... I should get dressed and be productive. The grandchildren spent Saturday night with us and didn't go home until noon yesterday. At that point I just stayed in my jammies the rest of the day. It wasn't like I was going anywhere.

Feeling... unmotivated.

Celebrating... that my work is actually closed. Long-timers say it's only happened maybe once before. The fact that everything else is closed (even Walmart) probably influenced that decision.

Grateful... Tim made it to work safely. He has quite a long drive, but it's on a major interstate and the 45mph emergency speed limit is still in effect. Plus, only one lane was cleared. He had to travel slowly and he said everyone else did, too.

Enjoying... looking at the snow.

Weather... light snow and 14* (feels like -1*).

Giggling...

 

Saturday 9: Up the Ladder to the Roof

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 

1) Many people are uncomfortable with ladders. Some feel unsteady on the steps, others have a fear of heights. Then there's the superstition that warns against walking under ladders. Are you afraid of ladders?  Not specifically. I'm kind of weird about them, though. I'm not afraid of them. I'm not afraid of heights. I am afraid of falling off a ladder. Plus, these days I'm not too steady on one so the only thing I climb is my contractor's step-ladder with big, wide steps.

 

2) In this song, the Supremes advise us to go up the ladder to the roof to be closer to Heaven. While poetic, that's not really why most homeowners climb onto the roof. They're more likely replacing shingles or cleaning the gutters. Have you ever been on the roof of your building?  No. I've been on a few roofs in my life, but never the one on this house.

 

3) The record was the Supremes first and biggest hit without Diana Ross. When Jean Terrell replaced Diana as lead singer, the two ladies appeared together at a press event to launch this new iteration of the Supremes. Have you ever met your replacement at a job, or perhaps the person you replaced?  Not that I can recall.

 

4) Mary Wilson was a member of the group when it was formed in 1959 and stayed through 1977, when the Supremes officially disbanded. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American stays at a job 3.9 years. Looking over your job history, how long did you typically stick with an employer?  About 2-3 years, but I was a school bus driver for 16 years and I will likely retire from my current job which will have me there 7-9 years...depending on when I can retire.

 

5) The third Supreme performing on this record was Cindy Birdsong. After the group broke up for good, Cindy finished nursing school and practiced at UCLA Medical Center. When did you last interact with a nurse or nurse practitioner?  This past Monday and they were all wonderful.

 
6) In 1970, when this song was popular, TV shows about doctors like Marcus Welby, MD and Medical Center ranked high in the Nielsen ratings. Medical shows are still popular today, with Grey's Anatomy entering its 22nd season and The Pitt earning critical accolades. Do you have a favorite TV doctor?  No. I don't watch any medical shows.

 

7) Also in 1970, when this song was popular, audiences were lining up to see the movie Love Story. Without looking it up, complete the film's most famous line:  "Love means _______________."  Never having to say you're sorry. A total bunch of hooey. 

 

8) Slumberchums™ were all the rage among pre-teens in 1970. These sleeping bags had attached pillow "heads" that made it look like you slipping into sleep inside a plush bear. When did you most recently sleep in a sleeping bag?  I think it was on a mission trip in 2002. We don't even own sleeping bags these days. We gave them all to our son's family years ago when they went camping.

 

9) Random question: Did you take a multivitamin this morning? If yes, did you swallow it or chew it?  I swallowed that horse pill!

Thanks to Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Thankful Thursday

Let me begin with an update.

My doctor called on Tuesday. The sample tissue she sent off to the lab did not contain the correct tissue, so the biopsy was a failure. She still said to come in to the office in two weeks so we can talk about where to go from here. At this point she sees two paths. The first is to continue monitoring the situation with sonograms. The second is to have a hysterectomy. I am not a fan of option two unless there is nothing else we can do. If it is not urgent I'm not even a fan of it for this year. There are things I want to do this year. My doctor says we can both think about it until I come in. 

Anyway...

Things I am thankful for on this cold January evening:

1. I got to work with my work bestie today and we got to take our consumers out for the day. We're an unlikely pair but we always have fun.

2. Whatever this weekend's storm brings (forecasts vary widely), we're ready. I ordered a few things we might need or run out of and picked them up on my way home today and in the unlikely event our power goes out (it has never gone off for more than a couple of minutes here) Tim has a generator.

3. Mom has been sick with some intestinal bug this week, but seems to be on the upswing today.

4. The storm isn't going to hit during working hours so we probably won't have to brave bad roads.

5. The grands are planning to sleep over on Saturday night. It's been a while so we're excited.

6. I'm not sure why, but my joints haven't been hurting very much since Monday's trip to the hospital. The IV fluids? The IV doses of Motrin and Tylenol? I don't know, but when they start to ache again....can we do the IV thing again? Please?

7. Today warmed up enough to melt most of last night's ice. Tim salted the last of it when he got home tonight.

8. Oliver "making biscuits" on my lap.

Currently

I am

Reading... The King's Ransom by Janet Evanovich.

Watching... NCIS Hawaii, we're working our way through all the NCIS versions.

Thinking... I'm cold and we aren't even to the really cold weather that's coming this week.

Feeling... Pretty good, all things considered. I had my out-patient procedure today. Well, I had part of it. It seems my cervix is completely closed over with scar tissue from the cone biopsy I had 20 years ago. They "think" they got a biopsy, but they couldn't do the D&C. I see the doctor in 2 weeks to find out the biopsy results and what the plan is.

Celebrating... a friend and coworker retired. Friday was her last day and we partied a little at work in our department. The real celebration was Saturday night when a few of us that are close met up for dinner. Good times.

Grateful... for my cozy home, warm jammies, fuzzy socks, fleece blankets, and cuddles from Oliver on this cold night.

Enjoying... ibuprofen in my system after more than a week without it.

Weather... clear, 18 degrees/feels like 3 degrees, going down to 5 degrees tonight and feeling like -10 degrees in the morning.

Giggling...

Currently

I am

Reading... The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes

Listening to... Oliver meowing in my ear

Watching... nothing

Thinking... about next Monday. I'm having an outpatient procedure done.

Feeling... cozy

Celebrating...  a coworker/friend's last week at work with a pizza party on Friday and then 4 of us who are friends are going out Saturday night to send her off right

Grateful for... good jobs, good insurance, and employers who contribute generously to our retirement funds

Enjoying... the way I rearranged the furniture after the tree came down

Weather... cloudy and 45 degrees...rain is on the way

Giggling...

 

  

Saturday 9: Volare

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The word "volare" is Italian for "to fly." Say something else in Italian.  Ciao. Amore. Buongiorno. Arrivederci. Grazie. Prego. That's all I've got.

2) This week, Bobby Rydell invites us to take off with him up in the clouds and promises we'll find a rainbow. Countless lyricists have included rainbows in their songs. Can you name another song that mentions rainbows?  Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Rainbow Connection, Brown Eyed Girl.

3) His happy heart is singing. What is making you happy this morning?  I'm answering this Friday evening, but I'm anticipating being happy about feeling well enough to finally take down the Christmas tree and other decorations.

 

4) Bobby Rydell, like Frankie Avalon and Fabian, was a 1950s teen idol who hailed from Philadelphia. Home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, Philly is Pennsylvania's most populous city. Have you ever been there?  Yes, my grandfather's family had ties to the city, but I was so young I don't remember anything.

 

5) Bobby was such a perfect example of a clean-cut American boy that when Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey sat down to write the play Grease, they named their fictional high school Rydell High after him. Do you have a favorite song from Grease?  Oh boy....Grease is my all-time favorite musical and I love all the songs. We Go Together was the class song we chose when we ruled the school in 1982, but if I have to choose one I like just a bit more than all the rest I guess it would be Summer Lovin'.

 

6) In addition to singing, Bobby also acted. His most famous film role was opposite Ann-Margret in Bye, Bye, Birdie (1963). Have you seen it?  Several times, both the movie and the musical.

7) In 1960, when this record was popular, so were hand-loomed, 100% virgin wool sweaters from Italy. You could order one from the Sears catalog for $12.60 (approx. $135 in today's dollars). That sweater was labeled "dry clean only." Do you have any garments waiting to be picked up from the cleaners?  No. Dry cleaning has fallen so out of favor that I don't think there is even a cleaner in our town. It has been years since I've dropped anything at the cleaners.

 
8) Also in 1960, Princess Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. They met when he was commissioned to take her official portrait. Who took the most recent photo of you?  Probably someone at work.

 

9) Random question: Is your oldest friend also your best friend?  No.

Currently

It was back to work for me today. I'm not over whatever bug I have, but I am doing better than over the weekend. The horrible achiness has mostly passed and the constantly running nose has switched gears and gone to congestion. It was good that it was a fairly easy day at work.

... it's a "balmy" 37 degrees at 9:00. We have been well below freezing for a while now so today felt like spring even with the mountains of dirty snow piled here and there. We're warming up all week and predicted to hit the low 60s on Friday and Saturday. 

... getting ready to start reading the new Janet Evanovich novel, The King's Ransom.

... listened to a lot of classic country and Motown at work today. I love Christmas music, but after a month it's nice to listen to anything else.

... watching Antiques Roadshow. It's been ages since I've watched.

... thinking about the elderly, blind man I help care for. If you remember, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and has been in a nursing home through his chemo treatments. Those are done and he is coming home tomorrow and returning to work on Wednesday...but only until he goes to the hospital for surgery on the 19th. It will be a long and involved surgery and he will spend 2-3 days in the ICU followed by 4-5 days in a regular room. He was a "lot" before all of this and he is going to have a lot more needs after his surgery. I feel bad, but I have told my employer I don't want to take care of him any longer. It's just too much. The other caregiver has also quit. I did tell them I will help out a bit until he goes for his surgery to give them time to look for help. Pray they find people for him.

... feeling wide awake. All that sleep over the weekend sure has me rested up. I hope I can sleep tonight.

... celebrating the Steelers' win last night. They squeaked into the playoffs! We'll be having a pizza party at work next Monday before the game.

... grateful for grocery pick up and for my daughter who went to get mine yesterday since Tim worked. Also that this bug doesn't seem to be one that's going to linger.

... enjoying the towel warmer our daughter got us for Christmas. Talk about luxury!

... making me giggle