A Week of Thanks

It's finally beginning to look a bit like Christmas around here. Between Thanksgiving falling so late in November and my bout with whatever nasty bug is making the rounds, I hadn't had time to do anything about decorating until today. Now, at the end of the day, at least the tree is up and partially decorated and some other decorations have found their way to places around the house. With such a short time until Christmas I'm scaling back a bit on the decorating, so I'll be able to finish tomorrow with ease.

My conscience is clear tonight as Oliver and I sit here snuggled in the recliner watching Christmas movies. We've watched Christmas Vacation and now we've moved on to an older Hallmark movie. Ollie likes those. It's supposed to get warmer tomorrow, but tonight it's cold and very windy. It's a night I'm happy to be at home.

It's been a good week and there is a lot I'm thankful for.

My inflammation stayed gone all week and is only now beginning to make a bit of a comeback. That made it so much more enjoyable to do, well...EVERYTHING.

They hired a new person at work. She is supposed to work in both departments. She seems very nice so I hope she works out.

I planned a Christmas team trivia activity for the consumers this past Friday. I was worried because you just never know how something like that is going to go over with them. Thankfully, they loved it and we had a lot of fun!

There was a wild and wicked thunder snow Wednesday night. It sounded as if a train were going to run through the house. There was some snow and ice, but not what they were calling for and I was able to drive to work with no problems on Thursday.

Christmas cards are beginning to arrive. I haven't done mine yet, but I do enjoy receiving these beautiful holiday greetings. (Deb from A Day in the Life, your card arrived today.)

Mike and I had a nice evening Thursday when I took him to his Lion's Club Christmas dinner meeting. The bad weather that was forecast never materialized so that's another thing to be thankful for.

They were able to recover the body of the poor woman who fell into a sink hole not too far from here while she was looking for her cat. The hole didn't exist before. It just collapsed under her. I know it made the national news so maybe you heard about it. There was hope the first day or two of digging out the hole, but Wednesday they declared it was a recovery and no longer a rescue. I'm glad they were able to give her family that much closure.

My Christmas shopping is done with the exception of getting a few gift cards that people have asked for. There are still a few things that haven't been delivered, but that's winding down. I'm sure I wasn't my mailman's favorite person this week as he had lots of packages to deliver every day.

I squeezed in a nail appointment today and now my nails are a pretty, sparkly, red for Christmas. That's always a pick-me-up.

It's a very freeing feeling to be at a point in life where I can accept that everything does not have to be perfect for Christmas. I used to stress myself something awful trying to get everything done. These days I'm good with whatever I can get done without killing myself to do it. I'm glad I finally learned this...though I admit I wish I'd learned it earlier in life.

With Tim not as strong as he used to be, I am more thankful than ever to have our daughter and her family next door to us. She is a huge help to both of us and the grandchildren brighten Tim up like not much else does these days.

And those are some of the things I am thankful for.

Coming up this week...

Tuesday & Thursday: Companion time with Mike.

Thursday: Meeting with the financial planning guy from work.

Friday: Colton's birthday. He will be 8!

Saturday: The Nutcracker ballet with my mom and Leah followed by a family party for Colton.

Saturday 9: Hurt So Bad

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

1) Do you have any aches or pains this morning?  I'm doing this Friday evening, but yeah, I do and I'm sure I will have a few in the morning. Aches and pains have become near constant companions thanks to arthritis.

2) In this song, Linda Ronstadt complains that her ex doesn't get what she's going through. Have you recently felt misunderstood?  Not that I can think of.

3) Now let's put a positive spin on it: Is there someone in your life who gets you completely?  Not really these days.

4) Linda recorded a best-selling album in Spanish, and has also performed in French, German and Italian. How many languages do you speak?  Just one. I had 4 years of French in school, which were useless. I wish I had studied Spanish.

5) Linda once dated George Lucas of Star Wars fame. Who is your favorite Star Wars character?  Han Solo or Chewie.

6) Steve Martin has spoken affectionately about Linda and their romance in the 1970s. Are you a Steve Martin fan?  I liked him back in the 70s, but haven't really been a fan of his later work. It's okay...just not my thing.

7) Linda worked consistently and successfully with record producer Peter Asher throughout the 70s and 80s. Tell us about someone you enjoyed working beside.  I enjoyed working with a friend of ours who was the youth pastor at the church we attended at the time. He was like a kid brother to me, but also he taught me so much and gave me a chance in youth ministry. I was very disappointed when he betrayed his family and church later on and left ministry.

8) In 1980, when this song was popular, People magazine namIed author Stephen King one of the year's most intriguing people. Have you read any of his books or short stories?  I've read a couple of his books and seen a couple of his movies, but I don't like horror and his stuff can be so dark.

9) Random question: Looking back on last week, would you describe it as exciting or boring?  It wasn't boring or exciting, just very busy.

Thanks, Sam, for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Currently

The weather... is a brisk 25 degrees with a light breeze. Tomorrow night will bring a wintry mix (Yay, my favorite. Not!) and Thursday is supposed to bring colder temps and wind.

On the bright side, we don't live in the lake effect snow zone. Our niece in Girard, PA reports the snow, that began Thanksgiving night and ended yesterday, brought a whopping 59.3 inches! Another storm is due to roll through up there on Thursday and the prediction is for another 12-20 inches. Holy moly!

Reading... I just finished reading the latest Stephanie Plum novel, Now or Never. I don't want to give anything away, but wow! If you've been a fan, you need to read this one.

Listening... to Christmas music most of the time since it's now officially the season.

Watching... mostly Christmas movies, but at the moment an old episode of Gunsmoke featuring Loretta Swit.

Loving... how good I feel since I was sick over the holiday weekend. I guess barely eating for four days broke the inflammation cycle and while I have some arthritis pain, the incredibly painful muscles and tendons are causing me ZERO grief. Hopefully, it will last for a while.

Thinking... about ordering Christmas cookies this year rather than killing myself with baking. I could still do a couple kinds that are simple and order the rest. Pricey, yes, but saving myself the stress...PRICELESS!

Feeling... proud of our grandson. He and his dad spent the last two weeks making their own chess board. They finished it today.

Celebrating... nothing this week, but Tim and our grandson have birthdays coming up this month.

Grateful... this latest bug I had wasn't too bad or long lasting. I was feeling better in time to go back to work on Monday.

Enjoying... the "lighter" feel the world seems to have since the election is finally over. Whether one likes the winner or not, there's a relief in not being constantly bombarded by the vitriol of both sides, I think. People seem happier. Stores are busy. I've noticed more Christmas lights than usual. There's an air of hope. Let's pray it continues.

Laughing at...

Sounds legit.

My imagination's not that good.

t...

Saturday 9: My Baby Just Cares for Me

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

1) Michael Buble sings that his lover doesn't care much about the theater or new clothes. Which have you done more recently -- attended a play or movie or added to your wardrobe?  I'm always adding something to my wardrobe so that would be the most recent. I am going to remedy my neglect of the theater soon, though. I've promised the grands a trip to see one of the holiday movies that are out now. Also, I'm taking my mom and my granddaughter to see the Nutcracker ballet in a few weeks.

2) This song was first performed in 1930, 45 years before Buble was born. What pop song do you love that is far older than you are?  I'm not sure this is what you're looking for, but I love a lot of songs from the big band era. Sentimental Journey by Les Brown and Doris Day is a particular favorite.

3) The video for this song features a spinning vinyl record. Do you still have a turntable?  No, I gave mine up close to 20 years ago.

4) Michael is currently appearing on The Voice. Are you watching this season?  No, I've never gotten into the show.

5) Of all his albums, Michael Buble's Christmas CD is his top seller. Now that we're in the month of November it's time for you to weigh in: When do you think it's appropriate to start playing holiday songs?  Whenever you want to. Life is hard. Do the things that bring you pleasure.

6) He unwinds by fishing, and he's very good at it. Fishing is a sport that requires lots of gear. Is there anyone in your life that has a hobby or passion that makes them easy to shop for?  Not any more.

7) Michael is a good cook and enjoys whipping up spaghetti bolognese. What's on the menu at your home this weekend?  Maybe soup or chili one day and pork chops another.

8) In 2016, when Michael Buble released this song, the United States Postal Service posthumously honored child star Shirley Temple with a postage stamp. Decades after leaving Hollywood, she served as US Ambassador to Ghana. Could you find Ghana on a map or globe?  Probably not its exact location. I think it's in Africa. Somewhere.

9) Random question -- You neglected that soft drink and now it's gone flat. Do you drink it anyway or dump it down the drain?  Down the drain. My husband, however, actually prefers his soft drinks warm and flat. 

Thanks, as always, to Crazy Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Currently...

It's 9:00 on a Wednesday evening. The cat and I are snuggled in on the sofa as the wind howls outside, the mercury drops, and rain does its best to put an end to the drought we've been in. If not tonight, then sometime tomorrow we will see the first snowflakes of the winter. It's possible we will see 2-3 inches of white stuff by Saturday morning before it turns back to rain as the temperatures climb into the 40s.

Reading... My pre-ordered copy of Janet Evanovich's latest installment in the Stephanie Plum saga, Now or Never, has arrived. I'm holding off until Friday evening to begin reading it.

Listening... to whatever the consumers at work are in the mood for. Today it was Christmas music! I usually try to wait until after Thanksgiving to listen, but we were working on Christmas decorations so it kind of fit the mood.

Watching... an odd mix of Hallmark and GAC movies, Tim's violent guy movies, and things like Expedition Unknown and Ancient Aliens. So, basically the normal stuff for me.

Loving... helping the grandchildren make Christmas presents.

Thinking... about my upcoming appointment with my doctor on Friday. Last Tuesday I noticed the palm of my left hand looked yellow...sort of like it had been colored with a highlighter. It faded a bit as the day went on and I didn't think a lot of it. It was still yellow the next day and the next, though not as bright. 

At that point I was a bit concerned and Googled it. One of the top possible reasons that came up was too much NSAIDs in one's system. Given the pain in my legs these days that seemed a possibility so I stopped taking everything. No pills, no patches, no creams. At least none that had NSAIDs in them. The yellow went away. Saturday I decided to try taking 8-hr extended release Tylenol. It was better than nothing, but not the greatest. Sunday I decided to try Aleve after reading it was considered the safest NSAID since you only take 1 pill every 12 hours. Overlapping it and the Tylenol seemed to do the job a bit better. 

Then yesterday at work I noticed my left palm was yellow again. It faded as the day went on. Today it was also yellow, but less so. I called Monday for the appointment. I think I need to find out what is going on...and I'm trying not to think too much about some of the other causes in my Google search like liver disease or autoimmune diseases.

Feeling... not too bad, actually. I'm beginning to think some of my aches and pains were actually caused by the NSAIDS I was taking (it can happen).

Celebrating... nothing in particular and life in general.

Grateful... to my mom for putting together and pulling off a surprise party for our anniversary this past Saturday. On Saturday evening she and John were supposedly taking us out to dinner and when they pulled up in front of the place where we'd held our rehearsal dinner 40 years before...I just thought they'd chosen it for that reason. When we walked into the dining room we were blown away to find some family and friends gathered along with as much of the wedding party as was possible. It was a wonderful evening!

Enjoying... cozy evenings at home.

Laughing at...

Currently...

The weather... it's 36 degrees, clear and calm. 

Reading... I just finished a Christmas romance. I forget the name. I'll be starting another this weekend. Probably. I haven't had much time to read lately.

Listening... to a lot of political commentary and interviews. This is a fascinating time, politically speaking, and I am interested in hearing what both "sides" are thinking.

Watching... still a lot of Hallmark movies and lately, thanks to the grands, a lot of Christmas classics.

Loving... this sweet girl, who will be joining our daughter's family in 2 weeks. Her name is Presley and she is a Basset Hound. I've always wanted one, but being a Basset grandma will give me all the cuddles and none of the headaches.

Thinking... my job is going to get tougher in the near future. We were already a little short staffed due to a few people leaving. My department hasn't had a supervisor for about 2 months and there are no possibilities in sight. Friday one of the supervisors in the shredding department passed away. His daughter and ex-wife work there, too, so both of them have been out. Another person from my department is done after Thursday and another announced that she is retiring at the end of the month. They haven't been able to get anyone to sign on in months. We are going to be working incredibly short staffed.

Feeling... thankful.

Celebrating... this coming Sunday is our 40th anniversary. Whoa. How did that happen? It seems like it was just yesterday.

Grateful... for all the little, mundane blessings and miracles that make up each day. The ones I don't always pay attention to.

Enjoying... the early darkness and cooler weather.

Laughing at...

(Sunday) Stealing Into November

Whew! I can't believe we're already into November, but at the same time I'm relieved October is behind us. Halloween is the very biggest of deals at my workplace and my department makes the "magic" happen so this past week was hectic, crazy, exhausting, and FUN! 

I have a few photos from the party to share, but not too many as I have to be careful of showing faces.

First up...this is my finished wall. I went with a zombie swamp theme. There was supposed to be a contest with voting, but there was just too much going on. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, anyway, and everyone loved it. It's hard to see all the detail but there are fairy lights in those (real) tree branches and a little lantern. I used green mesh for the moss. All those little light things in the picture are zombies and other assorted swamp creatures.

These are my coworkers' walls. They are really cute, but we obviously had different visions. Ha!

There were some really great costumes (wish I could share them, but if you are friends with me on Facebook you can see the official post from work that I shared).

And finally, there was me, the crazy cat lady.

Now on to Sunday Stealing...

1. Local events, parades, or festivals - either in your hometown or state.  There are so many holiday markets coming up this month I don't know where to start with those, several towns have Christmas parades and Indiana, PA (Jimmy Stewart's hometown) has the It's a Wonderful Life parade. Of course, every community has its light up night.

2. Life update - what's happened recently, moving house, family wedding, vacation, new pet, visited with a friend, and so on.  I already covered what's been happening at work. At home, I kept our daughter's dog for the past week while they were on vacation in Gatlinburg, TN. They just got home tonight. 

3. Do you have any family traditions this month?  We got married in November so celebrating that is a tradition, I suppose. We will be marking 40 years on the 17th. There is always the big family dinner on Thanksgiving and playing games and watching movies or the dog show afterward. (We are not big football fans.) Thanksgiving weekend is always for decorating for Christmas.

4. The holidays are about two months away, do you begin shopping or creating now, or wait for December?  There's no hard or fast rule on that for me, but I started in September this year. With the economy the way it is, then the whole thing with the dock workers' strike looming, it felt a little more pressing to get started. I've been picking things up here and there when I come across something I know will be loved.

5. What is your favorite November memory?  Our wedding, of course! It was big and fun...and it was the last time my whole extended family was together. Other than that, I'd have to say one of my fondest memories is of the Thanksgiving when my son was a year old. We were living with my grandmother and my parents had arrived the day before. We spent the evening in the kitchen, even Tim and my dad, making the stuffing and doing all the prep work for the next day. My dad NEVER did stuff like that and Tim rarely does so it was a very special time of talking and laughing.

6. Now that the weather is getting cooler do you prefer staying indoors or going outdoors? What do you do?  It hasn't really gotten all that much cooler yet. The nights do cool down but the days are still pretty warm for this time of year. I like the indoors and outdoors equally, but with all the trouble my legs give me these days I'm prone to be indoors more. I enjoy watching the fire, cooking heartier meals, watching movies, playing games, doing puzzles, and reading.

7. Describe your favorite local restaurant.  Keystone Kitchen is a little place in a nearby town (less than 10 miles) that serves great homemade foods. It's casual and very friendly. Megan's family likes to go there, too.

8. Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving?  Thanksgiving. Friends are always welcome at that.

9. If you could take any class, what would you select?  I've always thought it would be fun to take a couple's cooking class. I'm not sure Tim shares that thought so probably some kind of art or craft class.

10. To celebrate November would you rather enjoy pumpkin pie or sweet potato? Pumpkin! I am that girl who started eating and drinking everything pumpkin spice flavored back in September.

11. How do you handle setbacks or failures?  Admittedly, there may be some frustration and/or tears, but that is usually short-lived. I tend to pick myself up, dust myself off and see what I can do to fix the situation. If I can't fix it, I try to learn something from it. Then I move on.

12. If everything in your house had to be one color, which color would you choose?  I have no idea. I tend to hate monotone color schemes when I see them. I love color and like to use it (my living room walls are pumpkin spice orange). There is a lot of brown in the mix, though...so maybe all shades of brown. If you're forcing me.

13. Who or what would you haunt if you were a ghost?  I don't want to haunt anyone or anything.

14. Have you ever worn clothing with the labels still attached?  Not on purpose.

15. What's something weird you recommend everyone try at least once?  Taking a walk in a cemetery, looking at the artistry of the headstones, reading the stones, thinking about the people's lives.