Catching Up & The Last Song

Happy New Year's Eve to you all! The day just feels off all around here this year. It's 57 degrees outside, it's pouring down rain, and I'm on the sofa in my pj's, my blanket, and the Poodle because I've got another bug. Go me. Thankfully, it seems to be just a cold and nothing more serious this time.

This final week of 2022 has been fairly uneventful. Work went smoothly and nothing major is going on. I hope to be feeling better by tomorrow as we're supposed to go to my moml's for pork and sauerkraut and Monday we are supposed to have lasagna with them and go out to lunch with friends. 

I'm also hoping to get the Christmas tree down and pack up all the decorations between tomorrow and Monday. I like to have everything put away going into the new year, because I know if I wait till after I go back to work it will probably end up being a few weeks until they are put away.

For those who asked about Colton's finger, it is much better. Not completely back to normal, but definitely getting there.

And for those who asked about how Jasper is doing since he went to live at my daughter's house, I offer these photos.

He can't say he is bored now. Haha!

The laptop continues to limp along but it's so slow I rarely use it. That's why I haven't been posting much. There's just no such thing as a quick post these days. I hope to get a new one in the next couple of months.

Now on to the Saturday 9. Thanks as always to Sam for the music and questions.

Saturday 9: The Last Song (1972)

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

 

This is the last Saturday 9 song of 2022. 

Thanks for another great year.

1) In this song, the lead singer admits he leaves the light on when he goes to sleep. Do you leave any lights on in your bedroom? Or do you prefer it completely dark? I don't leave any lights on because there is light from the alarm clock, the power strips, the Wi-fi tower, and if the bedroom door is open there is also ambient light from the clocks on the stove and microwave, as well as light from the street light across from us. Mostly it doesn't bother me, but every now and then I wish it was at least a little darker. I have a mask for those times.

 

2) He sings that he can't stop wondering where his old girlfriend is. Do you know whatever happened to any of your exes?  I only know where a couple of them are and mostly I am relieved to have "dodged a bullet."

3) He says this is the last song he'll ever sing to his girl. What's the last song you sang? Where were you when you sang it?  I couldn't tell you what song it was, but it was yesterday at work. We had an 80's rock playlist on and I was singing along (quietly) to most of them.

 

4) Edward Bear was a Canadian group who took their name from Winnie the Pooh. As written by A. A. Milne, Edward Bear was Pooh's "proper" name. Pooh's favorite food was honey. Is there a food you can't get enough of?  Shrimp, chicken and noodles, and really good pizza.

 
5) In 1972, when this song was popular, Disney's Winnie the Pooh was quite a celebrity in his own right, appearing on the cover the 1972 Sears Christmas Wish Book. That year, kids asked Santa for plush Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. Did you have many plush toys as a child? If yes, do you still have any of them?  I had some, but I don't remember having a lot of them. I did have my Pooh Bear and Raggedy Ann and Andy until about 15 years ago when we got Elvis, the Beagle/Basset mix we used to have. As a puppy he chewed everything and he destroyed those three critters all in one day.

6) Enough about 1972! Let's look back on 2022. What's something you learned or rediscovered in 2022?  Maybe it's my cold-addled brain, but I can't think of anything right now.

7) Can you think of a moment in 2022 you'd like to do over?  Not really. It wasn't the worst year, but it was kind of a tough one.

8) What are you looking forward to most in 2023?  That fresh start mindset we all get with the new year's arrival. I really want to do a LOT better at living healthier, continue to get our finances back on track, and get out and do more.

9) Random question: Who received the last email you sent?  I have no idea. I rarely send email and those I receive are almost exclusively from retailers, spammers, and those who are phishing.

That's all for now so I'm off to check on the ham and bean soup that's simmering in the crockpot. 

Another One for the Books

Happy Boxing Day...or day after Christmas! Whew, what a busy time the last week or so has been. With my laptop on its last legs I've just never had the time to mess with it and post until now. I think I'm going to have to figure out how to log in to Blogger from my phone or there probably won't be any more posts until I get a new laptop or a tablet.

So, long story short, we had a great Christmas and I hope you did, too. It always goes by so quickly that it seems like a blur looking back.

Going back to last Monday, they announced the winning team in the pillar decorating contest at work. MY TEAM WON!!! The votes were overwhelmingly in favor of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree design. So, sometime after the holidays we will get to go for lunch with the big boss. My team is excited. I'm so glad it worked out for them.

Wednesday and Thursday were really not productive days at work. The consumers were too excited to focus and the staff was not much better. (wink) Thursday ended up being nothing but a party for us in the ATF facility. Cookies, cookies, and more cookies. I was a tiny bit miffed that all my coworkers brought gifts in and included me, because I'd asked a couple of them about gifts and they made it sound like it wasn't a thing and they weren't doing it...so I didn't take gifts in. I've since bought gifts and will take them in this week, but that will be awkward, too. Sigh.

Tim and I were both off Friday and though the weather was frightful with snow, high winds, and temperatures hovering at zero (no idea what it was with the windchill) we had to go out and finish up our shopping by getting a few gift certificates and the scope our son-in-law wanted for the gun he'd bought this past summer.

Friday evening Megan and Leah took us to a neighborhood restaurant to celebrate Tim's birthday earlier that week. It was the first time we could all go. Colton was in a mood and would have made it unpleasant so Cody stayed home with him. The restaurant just reopened under a new name and it was our first time there. The food was excellent, but we nearly froze sitting there. We were the only people there and we think, though they assured us they were open until 9:00, that they were trying to hurry us out so they could close early. They sat us by a drafty old window that the cold just poured in through and they shut off the gas fireplace!

Saturday we did just a bit more running in the morning then relaxed all afternoon at home before getting takeout Chinese and going to my mom and stepdad's for dinner. When we got home we did the final set up for Christmas and called it a day. Megan, Cody, and the kids had Christmas with Cody's family.

Sunday morning found me in the kitchen bright and early getting started on the side dishes. Mom made the ham this year. Everyone was here by noon to help get dinner on the table (we've always been early eaters then pick the rest of the day). We enjoyed ham, funeral potatoes, pierogies, corn spoonbread, baked beans, pickled eggs and beets, and deviled eggs. For snacking we had shrimp, cookies, veggies and dip, chips and pretzels with dip, and all kinds of candy.

Megan decided we would eat before we opened gifts...just to torture the kids, I think. Ha! Everyone was pleased with their gifts and we were all so richly blessed. I gave Tim a big electric griddle for those Sunday morning pancake breakfasts with the grandkids and the Samsung tablet he's been wanting. He gave me the KitchenAid mixer I've been wanting and a 12-guage shotgun, which I've also been wanting for home protection (I don't figure it will matter if my aim is off with a shotgun).

Daisy in her Christmas sweater watching gifts get opened and
wondering where hers are.

Me and Colton. Sure do love this silly boy.

A view of the carnage. We'd actually cleaned up a lot of it.

This girl is my mini-me and partner in crime.

Colton bringing a smile to Pappy John's face.

You'll shoot your eye out! Colton got an official Red Ryder BB gun.

This girl had us laughing till we cried. She wore
that hat (tag and all) all afternoon. Her footwear
alternated between the unicorn slippers and
her new snow boots.

Just a boy and his great-grandma's dog.

Today we concentrated on cleaning up and putting away from yesterday's fun and Colton and Leah spent the morning with us. We braved Walmart to get a few things and check out the after Christmas markdowns...not much left to choose from, but I got those work gifts and a few little things. Then we had lunch at Eat 'n' Park before taking them back home.

That was our Christmas. It was good and it was blessed and happy in spite of the shadow of loved ones long gone, the problems in our daughter's family, and the absence of our son and his family. I thank God for all of it!

Tell me, how was your Christmas?

A Cold, Blustery, and Busy Weekend

I really have to back up to Friday to tell you about the weekend, because Friday was the Christmas party for the consumers at work. I don't have any pictures to share, Hippa privacy laws and all that, but it was a wonderful day and everyone had a great time. Those with intellectual disabilities are real party animals!

We enjoyed a meal of Italian roast beef sandwiches, chicken tenders, parsley potatoes, pasta salad, and cake. Many of our consumers entertained us with their singing talent...everything from an incredible doo-wop version of White Christmas to the longest rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas I've ever heard. They talked, laughed, passed cards and gifts to friends and staff and then...we had a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus who passed out gifts to each consumer. Then we did karaoke and a dance party until the vans came to take them home.

One thing that did not happen was the announcement of which team won the contest for the best decorated column in the dining room. That will finally be announced on Monday. Keep your fingers crossed for my team.

I didn't sleep well at all Friday night. Lots of cramps in my feet, shins, and calves. So, when Tim got up at 3:30 I did, too. I may have finally dozed a bit on the sofa, but not for long and I was dressed (in many layers because it was COLD and windy) and out the door to finally do the bulk of the Christmas shopping by 7:00 that morning. It was a marathon day and my feet were killing me, but I got all but a couple of things I needed and made it home in time to carry everything inside and drive our daughter to work. No small feat as it was CRAZY out there! So many people and nearly all of them in miserable, grouchy, me-first moods. I was kind of over people by the time I got home.

Saturday evening Tim and I opted to get Chinese take-out for dinner and enjoyed it on the sofa watching television.

Today we woke up slowly and to the first real snow of the winter, but we were still out the door by 10:30 to go to a couple of local stores where I might need Tim's extra muscle. 

One of the things I was searching for was cushions for the dining chairs. At Thanksgiving my stepdad complained the chairs were low and hard. It's more that his butt is 80 years old and used to his huge overstuffed recliner, but I want him to be comfortable while he's here. I've been looking online for a couple of weeks and the cushions I've found have been so expensive and/or will take weeks to arrive. Oh, I could get cheap, thin ones quickly enough, but I wanted nice thick ones that will be soft and give you a little boost. Anyway, I finally found 6 at Walmart, but I had to settle for 3 each of two coordinating colors to get the six I wanted. Not perfect, but they will do. Who would have thought chair cushions would be so hard to get?

We wrapped all the gifts this afternoon and I can't even tell you how much that has improved my Christmas spirit. We both hate the job and tend to procrastinate to the point we find ourselves doing it on Christmas Eve, which totally stinks, and yet every year... Anyway, it is such a relief to have it done a week ahead of time.

We had planned to take Colton and Leah out for a drive to look at Christmas lights once it got dark but Colton ended up going to Med Express to have his finger checked out. Another kid stepped on it at school Friday (accidently or not is unknown) and it didn't look great right from the start, but today it was all swollen and red. It's infected and our guy is now on yet another round of antibiotics for that. It was kind of later in the day when he went and then Cody took him and Leah shopping for their mommy's gift so we will just take them out another evening. We might have them tomorrow for a little even though it's Tim's birthday and we will definitely have them Thursday evening.

Happy Christmas week!

Sunday Stealing: Deep, December Questions

Today's Sunday Stealing questions were stolen from the League of Extraordinary Penpals. Thanks, Bev!

1. My plans for December.  Nothing special. Just work, time at church reflecting on the season, getting ready for the big day, and then enjoying the time with my family. 

2. How energized I feel at this point in the year.  I'm doing pretty well this year. What the season means (Jesus came to save all who will accept him) fills me with joy no matter what else is going on, but this year I have the fun of the grandchildren to look forward to, hosting Christmas for the first time in 7 years, and my job is great and really helps me be "in" the season. 

3. The best things about the holiday season.  The love, the joy, and spending time with family and friends.

 

4. Something that changed my perspective on life.  So many things...getting married, having children, coming to know the Lord, grandchildren, age, and experience.

 

5. What I seem to get the most comments about.  Here on the blog? I guess it would be my grandchildren or my work.

6. The changes I’ve made to my style.  I've learned to have a more relaxed "go with it" style. I am all about comfort.

 

7. What gets in the way of my success.  That would be me, myself, and I. I doubt myself a lot.

 

8. News sources I trust the most.  I don't completely trust any of them. The bottom line for all of them is ratings and market shares. Those who might be good reporters are pushed to compromise. 

9. Fictional characters that would easily fit into my life.  Just about anyone who is down to earth and a decent sort. 

10. My relationship with spirituality.  I have a deep and abiding relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ.

 

11. How I feel when I’m being retrospective.  Usually a bit melancholy. 

12. My thoughts on AI technology.  For one thing I think it's unavoidable and we are stuck with it. It's a bit exciting what it's capable of, but at the same time...it's kind of worrisome.

 

13. The odd/weird things I do when nobody else is around.  Other than make up goofy songs and sing them to the dog I can't think of anything.

 

14. What I do when I can’t sleep.  Toss and turn. Pray. Get up and read. 

15. The winter/holiday season tasks I enjoy.  Decorating, cooking, baking, finding the perfect gifts for everyone (not wrapping!), helping others, even shoveling snow (as long as it isn't too deep and heavy). 

Saturday 9: The Christmas Song

Hi everyone! I'm getting around late again this Saturday. It's been a long day of marathon Christmas shopping...it's the first real chance I've had. I was successful, though. I'm happy to say the kiddos are done and our daughter and son-in-law are if not done, then nearly so. Yay! Tomorrow Tim and I will start wrapping and maybe I'll even get some cookies made.

So, until then I'm going to relax and join in the Saturday 9 fun. Thanks Sam for providing the music and questions.

Saturday 9: The Christmas Song (1964)

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

 
1) While this song was published as "The Christmas Song," many people refer to it as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire." Have you ever roasted chestnuts (in an open fire or in the oven)?  I think I did them years ago in the oven. I don't like nuts at all so I must have made them for someone else. Our son-in-law's family loves them and roasts them every year.

2) Ricky Nelson sings that turkey helps make the season bright. Many of us just had turkey last month for Thanksgiving. Do you enjoy turkey all year around? Or do you consider it a seasonal dish?  I don't mind it. We might have a turkey breast a couple of times a year, but I only roast a whole bird on Thanksgiving and possibly Christmas.

3) He wishes "Merry Christmas" to kids from 1 to 92. Who is the youngest person you will celebrate the holidays with? Who is the oldest?  At 3, our granddaughter Leah is the youngest and at 80, my stepdad is the oldest.

 

4) "The Christmas Song" is a perennial favorite and gets lots of play this time of year. Is there a holiday song that you think is overplayed, and that you hope to not hear again (at least not until December 2023)?  It's a tie. I find both overplayed to begin with and thanks to the younger folks at work I am totally and thoroughly sick of them this year.

5) This version of the song is from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, the sitcom that ran from 1952 to 1966. There were 435 episodes in all. Is there a series whose every episode you've seen?  I'm sure there are several, but the most recent one is probably The Big Bang Theory. Love that show!

 

6) Life magazine coined the phrase "teen idol" to describe Ricky's popularity. In your younger days, did you have a crush on a teen idol?  I had quite a few. It started with Donnie Osmond and went on up through a lot of the teen idols of the 70's and 80's.

 

7) Do you have a funny/ugly holiday sweater?  No. I have a few t-shirts, though, featuring moments from Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story.

 

8) Have you received many holiday cards this year? Did you send many?  So far I'd say we've gotten about half as many cards. I know more and more people don't send them (I didn't myself for several years), but the drop this year seems to have more to do with the economy and people's financial situations.

9) If you were Santa, what cookie would you like kids to leave for you on Christmas Eve?  Oatmeal Scotchies!

In case I don't get the chance this week, I wish you and yours the very merriest of Christmases. May it be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, and all God's blessings!

Thankful Thursday

I am feeling very blessed and thankful on this Thankful Thursday the week before Christmas and my list is long...not that that's an unusual thing. Ha!

This week I am thankful...

🎄 I am recovering from strep throat and heading back to work today.

🎄 there are alternative antibiotics for those of us allergic to the most commonly used ones.

🎄 I got the okay to go back to work and not miss out on the big Christmas party tomorrow. I would have been so very sad if I had to miss it. The folks I work with have been looking forward to it for weeks. I can't wait to see their joy and excitement when Santa comes and gives them the gifts they wrote and asked him for.

🎄 for a super day of Christmas fun at the mall with Colton and Leah...even if it is probably where we picked up strep throat.

Another generation gets a chance to
be Toy 'R Us kids!

Leah didn't smile, but she was bouncing out of
her skin while waiting in line and she didn't cry.
She even managed to whisper to Santa what she
wants for Christmas...a unicorn.

No visit to Santa is complete without a ride on the train.

🎄 for the safety of family living in the path of the storms and heavy rains down south. One of Tim's sisters lives less than a mile from the Mississippi and last night got pretty hairy as the water reached their front door.

🎄 all the sleep I've gotten while I've been off sick. I don't know when I last felt this rested. It's amazing! I am actually worried I won't be able to sleep at all tonight.

🎄 the Christmas program and dinner at church were amazing and went off without a hitch (my apologies to anyone I may have unknowingly shared strep germs with...I didn't yet have any symptoms). 

The animals I ordered online arrived in time and were absolutely
awesome and perfect. I donated them to the church for future use.
The backdrop of a stone wall behind the donkey and cow is 
actually a close up of the wailing wall in Jerusalem.

🎄 for God's incredible creativity displayed daily for all to see.

Taken by a friend of mine on her farm 
yesterday morning. Just WOW!

🎄 for my husband who has been patient and so very helpful while I've been sick.

🎄 for the Frndly streaming service which has all the channels showing Christmas movies in one place and gives me the ability to start them from the beginning if I miss the live start. It has been my lifeline the last couple of days.

🎄 for the love of my God that is so big and so forgiving and so complete that He sent His one and only Son to pay the price for not just my sins, but all of our sins...of all the sins ever committed from the beginning of time to the end of time. How awesome and humbling it is to know that He wants each of us to be His children that much. How can I fail to share that love with everyone??

🎄 and of course, my dear friends, I am beyond thankful for what each one of you adds to my life. 

Have a beautiful and blessed week and keep Christmas close in your heart!

Saturday 9.....and a Few Other Things

Yikes, a whole week has passed since I last posted. These December days continue to be crazy busy and free time is in short supply. I'm also amazed at how fast the days are flying by. 

Work continues to be enjoyable. I got the official word today that until at least after the holidays I will be working in the adult training facility (ATF) every day but Tuesday, because a few college students that work during breaks from school are back. After that I may have to work in the shredding department 2 days a week.  I'm hoping they hire someone new and thus avoid that need. The woman they had hired after me went through all the training and then quit.

So, in the ATF it is ALL about Christmas right now. Those we work with can think of little else. Adding fuel to the fire is the facility-wide Christmas party next Friday. There will be a huge meal, music, and I'm told Santa himself will pay a visit and give out presents. In anticipation, we in ATF have been divided into teams of one staff member and several consumers (what we call those we work with). There are six teams, one for each of the columns in the dining hall. Each team had to decorate one column for Christmas. The administration will be judging them and the winning team gets to go for lunch with the big boss (though we are kind of hoping they will decide to have a pizza party for everyone). My team was the first to finish. Here are some shots I took going around our column. I hope you can tell it's supposed to represent the tree lot full of shiny aluminum Christmas trees from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Other than work, it's, what else, my own Christmas preparations and family that are keeping me busy. There is all the usual decorating, shopping, wrapping, and baking to do and it's been decided that Christmas dinner will be here this year so there's that to plan, too. 

Adding to it all is that I am now keeping Colton and Leah several evenings a week while our daughter works. Her husband was supposed to keep them with me taking them now and then, but he is depressed and does nothing with them. Our daughter has been getting home from work at 9:30 to find the kids still up, fired up on all the junk food he's allowed them to eat, not bathed and the house trashed. Our s-i-l leaves for work as soon as she walks in the door. By the time she bathes them it's after 10:00 and it's probably 11:00 before they fall asleep. It's not working out with getting up in the mornings for school and our daughter was getting stressed beyond belief. His family is no help at all, either with the kids or with getting him to seek help. So, I have been taking the kids, giving them a real supper, spending some time with them, and getting them bathed before taking them home. At least that is done, but our daughter still comes home to find the kids not in bed. I am praying we can somehow get through to our s-i-l soon.

Tomorrow (Saturday as I'm doing this Friday evening) I will have the kids again so Mom and Dad can do some Christmas shopping. I'm planning to take them to the mall to see Santa and ride the train. 

Sunday is the Christmas program and dinner at church.

Now that you're caught up, here's the Saturday 9. Thanks Sam for the music and questions! Play along here.

Saturday 9: Just Because (1956)

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

1) In this week's song, Elvis complains that his girl has confused him with Santa Claus. This time of year, Santa is prominent. Did you more recently hear Santa referred to in a song, see him in a holiday decoration or ad, watch him in a film or TV show, or maybe even met him in person, ringing a bell or asking kids if they have been naughty or nice?  In a movie. We watch a movie at work every Friday afternoon and today I picked The Christmas Chronicles 2.

2) Finally Elvis just can't take it anymore and breaks up with her, just because. Is there anyone in your life who has a way of pressing your buttons and getting on your nerves?  I try not to allow it to get to me, but yes.

3) "Just Because" is one of the last songs Elvis recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis. TripAdvisor recommends a Sun Studio tour as one of the top things to do in Memphis. Have you ever been to Memphis? If yes, what did you do?  I've never been there.

4) Elvis left Sun for RCA, a much bigger record label. As part of the deal, RCA negotiated for the rights to all his unreleased Sun songs. "Just Because" is one of them, and it was included on Elvis' first RCA album. Have you gotten a good deal on anything lately?  My most recent "good deal" was the oak table and chairs and the sectional I bought at an auction.

5) In 1956, when "Just Because" was released, non-stick cookware was first introduced. Do you have any Teflon in your kitchen right now?  I don't know if it's officially Teflon, but I have a couple of non-stick frying pans.

6) Elvis thought peacocks were beautiful and commissioned stained glass peacock panels for his living room. Do you have any stained glass in your home?  Only if you count suncatchers.

7) He tried to keep peacocks at Graceland. One of the birds saw its reflection in Elvis' gold Cadillac and started pecking, ruining the car's expensive paint job. Elvis donated the peacocks to the Memphis Zoo. Have you ever had a bird as a pet?  Yes, we had several parakeets when the kids were growing up. I loved their chirping, but hated the mess they made.

8) Elvis decorated the long Graceland driveway for the holidays with blue lights. His father teased that with the airport nearby, pilots might confuse their driveway with a runway. What airport is nearest your home?  Palmer Regional Airport, named after Arnold Palmer, a native son of my town.

9) When Elvis was alive, he kept the holiday lights up until January 9, the day after his birthday. That tradition continues at Graceland today. Conventional etiquette tells us Christmas decorations should go up the day after Thanksgiving and come down before January 6 (the 12th day of Christmas). Do you think it's ever too early, or too late, for Christmas decorations?  I think everyone can do as they please. Personally mine go up sometime during the Thanksgiving break and come down over New Years. My mom always leaves hers up until Epiphany.

Saturday 9: Broken-Hearted Girl

Good morning! I'm joining in with Sam and the gang for the Saturday 9, but I'm answering on the fly and will do my visiting a bit later. It's going to be a busy day. I have props for the Christmas program to deliver to the church this morning, then it's back home to bake cookies, and this afternoon is the women's tea at church...which I am emceeing. (Yikes!)

I also want to apologize to everyone who visited and commented on Thursday. I have wanted to get around and visit all of you, but both Thursday and Friday evenings once I sat down with the laptop I drifted off to sleep and woke up in time to go to bed. It's just that busy time of year and this year I'm actually working full time so it's just go-go-go!

Anyway, on with the questions. 

Saturday 9: Broken-Hearted Girl (2009)

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

 

1) In this song, Beyonce admits her feelings for a man she doesn't want to love. Do you believe we can choose who we love? Or does the heart go its own way?  Well, I definitely think emotions and physical attraction can draw us to someone in the beginning, but it's my belief that real love is a decision that we make to join ourselves to someone and make it our mission to give our best to them and always want the best for them...and that the decision needs to be renewed every day. That so many people just go with their emotions and that physical attraction speaks to why so many find it easy to discard a marriage.

2) In the video for this song, Beyonce plays with a red rose. Florists report that the most popular colors of roses are: red, white or ivory, yellow, pink, peach or orange, and lavender or purple. Do you have a favorite?  When I was younger I loved pink roses, but these days I tend to favor the yellow and peach ones.

3) The video was filmed in Malibu. Southern California is a popular vacation destination. Have you ever visited there? Have you ever lived there?  No, I've never been to any part of California.

 

4) When Beyonce was just 12, she appeared on the show Star Search as part of a vocal group called Girls Tyme. The girls lost, but Beyonce said the experience taught her that she wanted to be a performer for the rest of her life. Share a memory from your own junior high years.  Ugh, that period of my life was pretty rough. My dad, who was always strict, was dealing with some major disappointments in his own life and I think that made him even more strict. I spent so much time being grounded for the smallest of infractions that I don't really have many good memories of those years.

 

5) As a girl, she helped her hairstylist mom by sweeping hair at the salon. Do you have a hair appointment coming up?  No, but I should call and get one. I'm looking pretty shaggy.

 

6) In 2009, when this song was popular, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg unsuccessfully tried to buy Twitter. Elon Musk acquired Twitter last month. What social media sites do you spend the most time on?  Just Facebook and Blogger. I have accounts on Twitter and Instagram but I never use them.

 

7) Also in 2009, Sony sold floppy disks at most retailers. But things change fast in the world of tech and by 2011, Sony quit producing floppy disks altogether. Floppies were replaced by flash drives, which have been replaced by cloud storage services ... Do you still have any floppy disks?  I don't think so, but it's possible one could be floating around. I know I have a few hard discs with photos on them still around.

8) In 2009, Michael Jackson died. Do you have a favorite Michael Jackson song?  Billy Jean

 
9) Random question -- We're having a Saturday 9 potluck lunch! What will you bring?  Cookies! I'm baking them already.

Thankful Thursday

Happy 1st day of December! Is it just me or has this year flown by? And now here we are at the start of the Christmas season so things will just keep right on speeding up and flying by. My hope for my family and yours is that we can all carve out some time to really be in the moment and enjoy the important things of the season. That's a big hope for me as life has been crazy busy lately. So busy that I haven't been spending much time online and I'm feeling a bit out of touch with everyone. I miss you guys!

Even though life is busy, there is always time to give thanks to God (and anyone else who has done something for us) for the abundant good things that fill our days.

This week finds me thankful for...

** the early arrival of the cardboard animals I ordered for the church's Christmas program. I was worried they'd be late and they came much earlier than promised. I'm so excited to see how the nearly life-sized camel, bull, and donkey look set up at church. I'm also thankful the donkey is intact after seeing the condition of the box it came it. It kind of looks like Bigfoot took a bite out of it!

** the ease with which the Christmas column decorating is coming together at work. Today we got the top half decorated with our "interpretation" of the tree lot from a Charlie Brown Christmas. Over the next day or two we'll get the bottom half done with Charlie, Snoopy, and the gang. Early opinions have been very favorable....I hope that means our team will win. Going out to lunch with the big boss is a much coveted activity for the consumers we work with. And I wouldn't complain about a two-hour lunch break!

** finally getting everything sorted out with Tim's insurances and benefits through work. I so hate doing all that and love the guy, but he's no help. He did actually go to the meeting this year, but I don't think he paid attention. He had to make several calls yesterday to get it done before today's deadline.

** seeing Christmas through Colton and Leah's eyes. Having children around sure helps you see all the joy and excitement.

** the connection I've made with one special young man at work. He is severely disabled. He can't really sort papers, though they sit him at a table. He doesn't do anything when he is in the adult training facility. He makes noises and bangs on tables, but can't speak words. In the few times I've been with him he has responded to me like he doesn't with anyone else. He responds to kindness and touch. He grabs me every chance he gets for a hug. If he can't get a hug he pulls my hand to his cheek and I pat him while he leans into my hand. I discovered yesterday that "skittering" my fingernails across the table toward him made him smile and laugh. It just swells my heart to be able to do something that brings him joy.

** rarely having to work in the shredding department at work so I'm not often on my feet all day on the concrete. My feet are REALLY happy about that!

** getting the outside Christmas lights up before the weather changed.

** my cozy home.

** Muk-Luk socks. Seriously. They aren't fuzzy, but they are so soft and toasty...the nicest socks I've ever had!

** my faith, my family, and my friends.

** my old girl, Daisy, who is my constant shadow.

** and, as always, each of you!

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