December 31st - Not quite Caturday

But I LOVE this LOLcat and had to share.....

December 30th - Thursday Thirteen

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The video has nothing to do with anything really.  It just made me happy and I wanted to share.

Which is really what this last Thursday Thirteen is going to be about - things that made me happy recently.....

1.  My furnace is working properly at the moment.  It has an intermittent issue where it won't kick back on as it should....so I'll come home to a very cold house and need to flip the switch.  And its hard to fix a problem unless it happens while the repair guy is here...so I'm glad it decided to behave itself, at least for a while.

2.  I heart my new Droid phone.....yesterday when I had to wait at the inspection station and again at my hairdressers, I was entertained reading blogs/email and playing Mousehunt on Facebook.

3.  My car passed its biannual emissions inspection.  I know, why wouldn't it - I keep it in good repair, but I suffer from test anxiety.

4.  I have managed to track my food intake and exercise for three days...finally found a website that works well for me - and it even has a phone app that syncs - so there is no excuse for me not writing down what's going in my mouth.  I was fat this time last year  and I gained another 10 lbs since- so I really need to focus on this issue the same way I did on my quitting smoking (longterm, not quick fix)

5.  My furkids all are happy and reasonably healthy - even the lumpy Pumpkin remains status quo at the moment.

6. I gave my old hottub to my son - and it appears he's managed to fix the leak and is looking forward to some nice warm soaks under the stars as soon as it finishes heating up.

7. The stores aren't crowded anymore....I can actually buy things without getting pushed and shoved by other people.

8.  My hairdresser left for Vietnam today...I had thought she was leaving Saturday - but fortunately I went to see her and get my hair trimmed last night.

9.  Streaming Netflix is very cool.  There's even exercise videos available - I found a 10 minute dance aerobics one that I'm going to try to do every night when I get home just to make myself move a bit before I start with the couch potato thing.

10.  Another part of having Netflix is that I get to watch TV shows that were on premium channels I didn't have.....I am really enjoying Dexter.  It's not the crimesolving or the irony of him being a murderer, its the way that he doesn't really "get" normal people.  Sometimes I don't either ;).

11.  I'm excited about going to Arizona in just a couple of weeks.  I've only seen the Grand Canyon once on a day trip from Vegas, and then there's the meteor crater and some indian ruins (you know how I am about ruins)....not to mention I get to roadtrip with Amy.  I am happy travelling alone - but it does add a lot to have someone else around to share the experience.

12.  I've made a friend that actually lives in the area......and bless her heart, she wants me to meet some of her friends as well.  I'm thrilled by the positive reinforcement  that I'm interesting and fun enough to share with others (I might not show it online, but I truly am an insecure wreck - and I admire the hell out of the outgoing folks).

13.  Finally, I am thrilled that the big Northeast blizzard spared my part of the country.....I really do think we got more than our share of snow last year and am perfectly content to see bare ground for the next few months.

So, what's made you happy?

December 29th - Lesson learned......

Occasionally I have an "aha" moment that I like  to blog so that I remember the lessons learned.  Maybe you can relate to them - and if not, maybe you'll eventually find yourself in a similar situation and I can save you some of the angst associated with learning the hard way (smile).

Although we missed the storm we've had a lot of wind lately, so Monday morning I checked out back to make sure nothing had blown away.  I discovered that my hot tub cover was half off......and that disturbed me because how on earth could I have forgotten to put the cover back down the last time I got out of the tub - which happened to be Saturday rather than Sunday anyhow so who knows how much electricity I'd wasted.....and what was up with me not remembering something that important......and I hadn't been feeling quite right lately....could it be that there was something seriously wrong....was I losing my memory....ARGHHHHH.

Anyhow - last night I got home and decided to check and see if the tub had heated up enough to use.....and the cover was flipped again.

So I'd wasted all that worry thinking there was something wrong with my brain when the problem had nothing to do with me at all....it was just those high winds getting up under the edge of the cover.  (This time I weighted it down with some firewood).

Seems I have a tendency to jump to the conclusion that when bad things happen, it must be my own fault.

Now, its one thing to take responsibility for my mistakes, make things right when I can, and hopefully learn something from the experience.

But its entirely different to think that the world and everyone in it is particularly concerned with you. 

It isn't, and they aren't.

For example, if I ask someone to do me a favor and they say no - it doesn't mean they don't like me or are angry with me.....it probably has nothing at all to do with me.  Perhaps they are too busy, perhaps they are uncomfortable with what I've asked, perhaps I just caught them at a bad time.

But because I take any "no" as a personal rejection, I'll qualify even my most important requests with phrases like "if you have a chance", or "It would be nice if you". 

How is someone supposed to know that I really NEED some help if I don't use that word in my request?

I'm getting better at the whole "fear of rejection" thing, but I've still got a long way to go.  Small steps, though. 

Mick Jagger said it best, I think:

You can't always get what you want - but if you try sometimes,  you get what you need.

Mick, Keith, and Charlie have been playing together since 1962 - that's incredible.....

December 27th - I am a material girl

To my credit - I do give as good as I get.  I know that for Christians the holiday is supposed to be about Jesus and for Jews its about the miracle of the oil. 

But then there is Festivus for the rest of us.

On a more serious note - the time around the Winter Solstice has been celebrated by man for many thousands of years so no one belief system has a monopoly.  I like to think of it as a time of giving and compassion shared by all mankind.

And at Chez Em, it's about the stuff.  I watched my son get excited over a miter saw (he is his mother's child for sure)...my daughterinlaw smile when she opened the camera case she'd asked for..and my dad eyes light up at the 14 cd set of The Universe.....I think he might have been happier about that then the laptop I also gave him.

Me - I was in electronics heaven..The kids gave me a Roku which will let me stream Netflix and other stuff to my underused big screen TV whenever I like.  I'd told my dad I wanted a Nook e-reader, and left it up to him which one he got....so he went big and I have the one with both Wifi and 3G access.

 Then there's the nice bakeware to replace the cheap stuff I've been struggling with, lots of interesting oriental foods to try, candle holders that hide the flame well enough to be cat friendly....and of all the wonderful but unexpected gifts - a cashmere sweater :).

It was truly a great Christmas morning.......and once the kids left and I took my Dad back to his house it was a marvelous rest of the weekend eating leftover bagels and playing with my new toys.

Now, I won't tell you that there weren't a few wistful moments on Christmas Eve when I felt like everyone else in the world was paired up and I was all alone.  But I was wise enough to turn off the Christmas tunes and turn on the TV where they happened to be having a marathon of "Who the #### did I marry?"

It quickly reminded me that there are worse things than being single - I could have found myself involved with a bank robber or a serial killer.
Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday weekend as well

December 23rd - and the days go by

Picture from http://www.etsy.com/listing/16546291/karma-clock-8x10
It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.

- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Yesterday was a thoughtful day for sure - one of those where I wanted to record was was going through my brain, but at the same time I wanted to be mindful of not spoiling anyone's happy holiday mood........and then of course there was the problem of trying to translate my internal pondering into some sort of legible post.

It started with the news that one of our retired coworkers had passed away last night.  Miz Betty.....Miz being short for Missus - not to be confused with Ms or Miss.......Betty was married (and proudly so) to the same man for more than fifty years until his death.

We'd seen her at a luncheon just a couple of months ago.....at 87 she looked a bit fragile and talking to her I caught a hint of frustration that her body was letting her down and something else that I can only describe as being worn out  She'd buried a husband, a daughter, and a daughter in law, become a great great grandmother a few times....and confessed to me that she was having trouble keeping everyone's names straight.  I told her with the size of the family she'd created, no one could be expected to manage without nametages (six kids, at least two dozen grandkids and it goes up exponentially from there).

She was truly an amazing woman with a capacity for acceptance of others beyond anything I'd ever known.  She didn't have it easy - from financial issues due to a misinvested retirement, to a daughter's marital and childrearing troubles, to a husband who suffered from Alzheimers for the last few years of his life.  But she dealt with whatever life tossed her way with grace, charm, and a sense of humor.  And she gave the same acceptance and caring to all of us that she worked with.  My life is better for having known Miz Betty.

Everyone dies at some point, and I think deep down all that any of us can wish for is that we are remembered......and I've no doubt that she will be.  I started to think about the legacy I'd be leaving behind, and I'm not sure that it's what I want it to be - or even if I know what I want it to be - so it's something I'm going to ponder a bit in the new year. 

So, then I head over to my Dad's for a quick visit before aerobics class.  I don't think I had been sitting there more than about ten minutes before he asks me "What would you do if I died tonight?"

(The cosmos seems to have a rather warped sense of timing these days).

I said that I'd probably call the kids and tell them we were putting off Christmas for a bit.....but that all his gifts were returnable, so he shouldn't worry about me being stuck.

And then I asked him if he knew something I didn't - and if it was within his control I'd appreciate it if he'd hold off on dying a bit as I wasn't ready to be orphaned quite yet.

Well, it turns out that he must have been watching the financial channel or some such because his concerns were based on my mother still being listed on his house and how would I handle all the things that I need to do as his executor and was there anything he should be looking into to make life easier when he died.

Whew...........

Actually my father for all his clutter collecting is quite the organized person when it comes to personal financial matters.  After we struggled together through the puzzle of my mother's records.......he did a great job of creating a "box" which holds all of his important papers, lists all of his accounts, etc.  He even put some money in a joint bank account so that I could access whatever funds were needed to keep his utilities and such paid in case he became incapable of doing so at some point in the future.

I did something similar - a folder with my will and a list of all of my accounts sitting in my desk.  Although I haven't reviewed it since I came back safely from Egypt in 2006 and I imagine it could use some updating.

Anyhow, my dad and I talked a bit about his finances, and I told him everything seemed to be in order just fine, and that I didn't think it was necessary for him to retitle or move any assets around at this point.

So for whatever reason, life (and death) seemed to be the topic of the day - but rather than leave me feeling sad and afraid, I woke up with some goals to work towards in the coming year and beyond.

Embrace every day fully

Keep my affairs organized

and most importantly

Decide on my legacy and start making it happen

Let me close with the song that's been running through my head today.....

And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful
wife
And you may ask yourself-Well...How did I get here?

December 21 - The greeting cards have not been sent...

the gifts remain unwrapped....And rather than correct these things, I crawled in bed and napped.

Seems I'm fighting a cold this week - and today it got the better of me, so I left work early and stayed home from bowling.  I started to feel a bit better so I thought I'd get a start on wrapping gifts (the cards will have to wait till next Christmas, I'm afraid).....but it turns out that my decision to quit overbuying things meant that I don't have enough wrapping paper to finish - so a shopping trip is in order tomorrow, sigh...I was hoping I could avoid the madness until the after Christmas sales.

As an aside - I know that politics is a sensitive topic so I generally avoid mentioning it......but in the midst of all the legislation being passed by Congress lately is a gift for all of us who pay into the US Social Security system....a 2% cut in payroll taxes which equates to 2% more takehome pay starting in January.

So congratulations to all of you who will be getting to keep a bit more of your wages next year...

Decemer 18th - Caturday and am I smarter than a 5th grader

I'm a bit concerned that the answer might turn out to be no :(.   If you know me much, you know I'm the frugal sort and  I use a prepaid cell phone - and I use it rarely because paying by the minute can add up quickly.  But I do spend a lot of time checking email and facebook and such - so when Virgin Mobile decided to offer a cheap monthly plan with unlimited internet - it seemed like a wise decision (do I really want my company reading the personal stuff that I check at work (on my lunch hour only, of course)?)

No, I don't.....but the phone I owned with it's cute little screen was impossible for these AARP aged eyes to read....so I decided to treat myself to a droid.

It's not the latest or greatest - but for 25 bucks a month, it means I'll have internet access without having to hunt down a free wireless connection....and I can  give out my phone number without worrying that people might actually call me just to say Hi and cost me a small fortune.  Those of you who have my number have probably heard my plea that you cut to the chase....rude but necessary.

That said - I have no idea what sort of "apps" I should have on this thing - heck I haven't even figured out how to make the virtual keyboard appear (so it's a good thing it has a slide out real one).

So its a good thing I'm going to be meeting up with Amy in a few weeks - hopefully she can show me what this thing can do.  In the meantime - if you have any recommendations for must have apps - let me know.

December 16th - Is that all there is?

I didn't get home till it was too dark to take pictures, so I grabbed this shot to show you the actual accumulation of white stuff that closed schools early - caused traffic to be more horrendous than usual - and caused half of my office to declare it necessary for them to cut their workday short.

It also meant that although there were few customers at Ross - there were also few cashiers - one to be exact as the rest had called off.  Poor guy.  His manager must have had some sort of hand disorder as she wasn't able to do anything but stand around bemoaning the lack of help.

However, I did manage to get the last gift I needed and some dead sea minerals body butter.  For those who are thinking "huh" - body butter is a thicker version of body lotion - think Crisco with a nicer scent. I get really, really dry skin in the winter - and it's the only thing that keeps me comfortable. I picked this particular brand because the label says 80% natural - and I liked that they were honest :).

The heating system managed to stay running properly for the entire day....and when I realized that I had forgotten to un-override the automatic thermostat this morning before I headed out to work - I tried the advertised "online thermostat control" to turn down the heat.....and it actually worked.

Speaking of work, its relatively slow this week which I'm finding boring...so I'm spending way too much time online shopping.  Tonight I had a "cart" full of polar fleece from Kohls because it was such a great sale - even though I'd just bought 50 bucks worth in store yesterday.  Fortunately, I came to my senses - how much stuff can one person wear - there are starving people in thirdworld countries - and in five months I'll be putting the fleece away for the summer  anyhow.

But I did splurge a bit.....I went ahead and ordered a droid smartphone that will run non-contract on Virgin Mobile, which is the carrier I use now. It can be a pain to lug my laptop when I travel and although I do check Facebook and my personal email at work, I think it would be wiser if I did it through my phone instead......so I'm looking forward to being able to take advantage of all these apps.

OK - so although my shopping is complete, nothing is wrapped and that's something I need to get started on - at least the for work gifts as some folks ae on vacation next week.

Happy almost Friday to most of you, keeping in mind that Europe, Asia, and Australia are there already.

December 15th - Ying and Yang - and

the Comma Sutra - whch has nothing to do with this blog - but I thought it was brilliant.

Anyhow - this week so far is a perfect example of the good/bad ying/yang of life.

I came home tonight and the temperature was 51 degrees - that intermittent "heat not coming on" thing had happened - so I flipped the switch and headed off to aerobics class.  Fortunately when I got home it had headed back up as it should.  Because its random, I really can't get it fixed - but I am tempted not to renew my home warranty and just invest whatever needs to be replaced to ensure this stops happening.

But aerobics class reminded me that me knee is a LOT better - I'm still not jumping around like I used to, but it doesn't swell up and it doesn't hurt and I almost have the flexibility back to match the other leg.

I had lots and lots of junk mail to go through including several reminders of my advancing age - the monthly invitation to join AARP - and this time it included an offer for a hoverround.

But there was also a 30% off coupon for Kohls where I found fleece tops and pants for 6.99 each so for now I am warm and comfy no matter what my heating system decides to do.

Of course the place was crowded, but as I stood in a very long line I watched the manager call for three more cashiers who actually showed up and opened registers (and the manager opened one as well) so they got us moved through very quickly.  I really think that most of the time when someone calls for additional cashiers - its a fake request to soothe the customers standing in line - no one ever really shows up to help out.

I decided to test my newly repaired oven with a pizza tonight which turned out perfectly cooked- even better than when I first moved in.  Then I opened a bottle of wine to go with it - and the cork broke off in the bottle :(.

The bad things remind me to appreciate the good...and the good ones feel like my reward for conquering the bad..

But best of all - I think I've finished my Christmas shopping (as long as the last few packages show up here).

Hope the good in your week far outweighs the bad.

December 12th - I'm too young for this......

Its not like I didn't know it was coming....I mean my son made it clear that he and his wife intended to have children.

I know about grandmas - they have grey hair and big bosoms.   They have patience and wisdom.  They bake cookies and drink hot tea and tell the same stories over and over cause they don't realize they are repeating themselves. They wear glasses and sensible shoes and they insist on writing checks at the store.

And now I'm going to join their ranks - ugh.

*Well, maybe the big bosom part isn't so bad



December 11th - Caturday and Christmas Past

Happy Caturday to all.  I've been meaning to blog this week but as sometimes happens, life got in the way.  I've been fighting a spell of tiredness - not sure whether it's a cold coming on or not eating right or the very cold weather something else entirely, but I am sitting here at 10 am on a Saturday still in my pajamas so something is up.

But the internet has been my friend - I have the important part of my Christmas shopping done and what isn't already here will arrive in plenty of time to be wrapped and put somewhere near the tree (there is no "underneath this particular one).

Anyhow, I opened up our weekly local paper to find that one of my fondest memories of the season will be no more.  I've actually blogged Laurel's giant Christmas tree before.  Since I first moved here as a child, every year we would go to see it - and as an adult, most of my life I lived close enough that I'd gather up some friends and we would walk over to see it.

This isn't the best picture, but if you keep in mind that those "lines" running across the picture are the telephone/electric wires - that gives you an idea how impressive it was to see all lit up.

Sadly, the snowpocalypse changed everything.

And we were left with this

Unfortunately, not only can it no longer be decorated as a Christmas tree, it's become so topheavy that it needs to come down....so this piece of holiday tradition moves into the past.

While I was preparing to write this blog, I went through my own past posts to see if I had a picture of the tree in all its glory.  Somewhere in the transition between 360 and here and now, the pictures went away......but what I did find was post after post of how much I love this time of year and the memory making that goes with it.  I even talked a few times about how change happens - and that different is not necessarily bad.

So the tree might be gone, but I'm sure there will be plenty of other wonderful reminders of the holiday season -  I just need to go out and look.


Time for today's ornament

I told you that my grandmother would sometimes send ornaments as gifts.    For  reasons I won't go into right now , I didn't have much direct contact with my grandmother once I grew up - it was up to my mother to keep her posted on what was happening.  So   I was thrilled to receive this one because it meant she knew about my bowling and how important it was to me.

And 20 some years later I'm still bowling at the same lanes with one of the same team members - talk about tradition:).

Hope all of you are having a good weekend.....and I'd love to hear about any of your holiday traditions.

December 8th - Money Money Money

Money......

Sometimes I debate blogging good news because so many people are having a rough time of things and I wouldn't want it to seem like I was being insensitive....but in my world, I try to always focus on the positive, and so that's what you generally read.

And the positive this week was that I got a raise - and quite a nice one especially considering the overall economy.  I deserve it, I work hard and I'm good at what I do..but sometimes that doesn't translate into dollars since those decisions are made at the top and depend on a lot of things beyond my control.

I had talked about going to Peru and Easter Island this spring and I went so far as to get a quote and ask a couple of people I knew if they would like to come along.

But then Amy asked me if I wanted to see the Grand Canyon with her and I have an invitation to visit Carol in BC for Easter - and Montana with my friends Sharon and Susan this summer - and then my favorite Aussies are heading to New England and Canada and have said I am welcome to join them on any part of the trip that I like.

It is awesome beyond words that I have friends who are inviting me to go places with them and that I have the money and vacation time to say yes.

So that's my travel plan for 2011 - just go wherever I'm asked :)

Now, lets get back to that Christmas tree of mine - tonight, its all lit up.

Amy asked about the "green thing" that she could see front and center - so lets talk about that for a bit.

I made my first trip to New Orleans with my friend Judy back in 2005.  We decided to cruise out of the city.  Before we left we rented a car and went to the Myrtles (but didn't see any ghosts)  and when we returned we stayed in the French Quarter, ate beignets at Cafe Du Monde, and wandered Bourbon Street.  Somewhere along the line I picked up some Mardi Gras mask magnets as gifts and kept one for myself.   It sat on the refrigerator for a while until I realized it had a string on it and so it made a good Christmas ornament.

And every time I look at it I smile remembering an awesome vacation. 

December 7th - Oh Christmas Tree

So today I decorated the Christmas tree.  Yep, I said today - not tonight.  I was working from home waiting for the oven repair guy and decided to multitask.

If you've known me for a while then you know that a lot of the ornaments on my tree have history behind them while some are just there to fill up space.  And then there's the remnants of my past obsession with the Coca Cola polar bears scattered around here and there

I don't remember how many years ago I finally decided to go with a tabletop artificial tree, but it came after one too many painful incidents when I stepped on dry pine needles hidden in the carpet months after the holiday was over.

And of course a tree comes into the house pretty easily wrapped in twine - once the branches fall out  the thing doubles in diameter and is difficult to get back out the door.

But I have a bigger house now-  and there's actually a corner (where the fishtank is now) that would be perfect for a tree - so perhaps I'll consider some rearranging next year - I do love the scent of greenery and the furkids seem to be leaving the tree alone.

I'm digressing though - the point of this blog was to tell about my tree and share the story of some of the ornaments on it.  I was dismayed to not find one ornament in the box - it's the only glass one I have and it's quite hideous, but it's a relic of my childhood trees - so it is quite old.  I'm hoping that I put it somewhere amidst the house decorations that I haven't been through yet.

Anyhow - I'm going to include one ornament and the memory that goes with it in each blog that I write for the rest of the year...

First up is Barbie

This is the ornament for Barbie's 40th birthday.  Its a treasured gift from my best bud that she sent for my own 40th - turned out Barbie and I are the same age.

Of course I'm a natural blonde and she isn't......but I wish I had her perky boobs.  Every time I put this on the tree I think of Patti and in a way its as if she's here with me instead of so many miles away.

So - do you have decorations with a special story?

December 5th

And so another weekend draws to a close.  Its cold and windy outside....been cold all day but it turns bitter when the sun goes down.  I got my tree out and put it up but probably won't decorate it until tomorrow so that the furkids get a chance to get used to it (and hopefully don't knock it over)....and so that I can relax and enjoy looking at the ornaments and remembering the experiences associated with them.  And it might even give me something to blog.

The tree will look a bit different this year because I passed on all of my son's ornaments to him as I packed the tree up in January - thinking that it was time for them to become part of his house and family.  I also gave them a lot of Christmas decorations that I didn't need telling them to keep what they wanted and donate the rest.  I did keep some things that are up now....but this house just seems to work best with a theme of less is more. 
I went over to the kids house today to drop off my old hot tub (they are going to try to fix that pesky leak) and I saw a familiar spray of greenery on their front door...it was cool to see that it had found a new place and it looked great.

Then I bribed my friend Rick (the guy with the truck that delivered the hot tub)with an offer of lunch at Ikea, and where I managed to score some inexpensive decorated gift bags and notecards that should make wrapping easier.  They were marked down - for whatever reason Ikea used themes of blue stars and red hearts - neither of which is very Christmasy in the US.....but there were silver bags with angels and that should do just fine.

Ikea was crowded, but then every place is crowded this time of year.  I love to shop - but I do NOT enjoy sharing that experience with lots of people.  So I think the balance of my gifting is going to be done online.  (Who am I kidding - I haven't bought a single present yet - the only ones I have are some that I bought on clearance last year to be office gifts this year).

Guess I'd best quit blogging and start buying.

12/4 - Caturday

In honor of all my friends with the white stuff.......please keep it to yourselves.

It is COLD here - cold as in 36 degrees out back - a far cry from just a week ago...and perhaps that's why I'm so chilly - because there was no gradual change in the weather it just jumped from ahhhhhhh to arghhhhhhhhh.

Last night I got to catch up with my friend Steph at the winetasting and I had a great time.  I could go on and on about how interesting she is and what a great attitude she has and how she has that way of making whoever she is talking to feel important...oops I guess I did.  And athough we've known each other casually online for years (and met once a long time ago) - it took a third friend from several states away to get us in the same place at the same time.  I guess I could consider it a present from Santa to bring me a friend that I can visit without having to cross times zones :).

But what I really wanted to blog today was my watch.  I wear a two tone Citizen water resistant watch that I bought from Montgomery Ward in 1999 to replace a Seiko that I had been given as a gift by an ex boyfriend back in 1984 that I lost :(.

I loved that Seiko - not just because it was given to me by someone I adored....but because it suited me so well.....and became like a part of my arm - I never went anywhere without it.  And when I finally had to buy a new watch - it looked as much like the old one as possible - in fact, the only reason it wasn't a Seiko is because this was a bit less expensive and I didn't have much extra money to spend back then.

Now I just looked back through my Multiply blogs and it seems that I had the watch in for a new battery in June.....that's when the jeweler discovered that the day/date option didn't work and it was something he couldn't fix.  Didn't really matter to me because its been a long time since I could read that tiny little print anyhow.

So it does seem like the poor things days are numbered  - but I think after all the time we've spent together  I'll stick with it until it gives up entirely. 

Which actually is what the watch guy in the mall is doing....there are few big stores left and the place is crumbling.  Literally crumbling - they've had to close a couple of parking areas because the elevated deck collapsed.  He stays because he doesn't know where else he would go.

And that makes me think of those old people who refuse to move no matter how their neighorhood and their homes deteriorate because it's their home and they just can't deal with the angst of change.

So what do you think:  Am I practical to keep this watch till it quits completely - or am I just afraid of change?

December 2nd - Thursday thoughts

It's been a very, very long week.  I posted a comment to someone's blog that I think most people weren't happy about having to go back to work after a long holiday weekend and so they did their best to share their misery with everyone in their immediate vicinity.

 I even found myself in less than Mary Sunshine mode, which is positively criminal because my life is pretty close to perfect these days and I have no excuse for being anything less than thrilled with how things are going.

Fortunately the rational side of Em managed to convince the overemotional hormonal side to breathe deeply and relax before reacting.  And that's a good thing because as I looked more closely at the situations that were getting me upset - it turns out that just about all of them were unintentional misunderstandings rather than intentional attempts to ruin my (insert your choice -  afternoon/day/career/life). 

The guy who cut me off had out of state tags and panicked when he thought he might miss his turn - the coworker who had let a vendor go unpaid which put my order on credit hold hadn't "let" anything happen - it turns out that no one had bothered to alert them that there was a problem. The friend who I was hoping would come over and help move the old hot tub out didn't show and didn't call, but that's because he was waiting for me to call him.....I did and we're all set for this weekend.

So my lesson to remember is that I should not take things personally - most less than pleasant experiences have nothing to do with me and everything to do with the other person.

All I can control is myself.....so I'm focusing on pleasant thoughts and actions....and let me share a few of them with you.

Isn't this star cool?  It's 42 inches high...I bought one on clearance last year at Target and it is in my front window.  The problem was that I actually have two windows side by side and there was no way to center this thing.  For the heck of it, I went back to Target tonight and they had more of them - so now I have two giant snowflakes in my front window and they look great (I'll have to take a picture sometime).

 I haven't done any Christmas shopping-the tree isn't up - no decorating done inside....I just wasn't feeling it - but I think that will come as soon as I start unpacking all of the holiday stuff....and I'm going to find time for that this weekend.



Kona coffee - real Kona, not that 10% blend stuff, is awesome.  I opened the freezer to grab something and found some beans that I'd been given by a friend a few months ago...so I ground some and brewed myself an awesome cup of coffee.  Of course caffeine after 8 pm I'l probably be up all night.



I posted a couple of days ago that I had finally finished painting my kitchen wainscoting .  This is NOT my kitchen, but this is going to be my kitchen floor - believe it or not it is vinyl planks - and the color and  size of the "fake oak" pieces are close enough to that of my real hardwood floors that it shouldn't be a noticable transition from the hall to the kitchen.  I LOVE the idea of a wood floor for a kitchen, particularly with white cabinets but I prefer the feel and easy to clean aspects of vinyl, so it's perfect. 


Recognize this place?  It's Machu Picchu in Peru - and its been on my to do list for a long time.  Since I'm not going to cruise Hawaii, I was considering taking a winter cruise....but then there was that surprise bonus award I got....and it looks like I can afford to make the trip this winter/spring.  I thought about waiting until I got myself in good enough shape to hike the Inca trail...but realistically I hate going without showers and sleeping in tents ..so I don't think the experience will be ruined if I choose to take the train.



And this is the kicker.......apparently direct flights from Lima to Easter Island start in January....and a couple of travel agencies offer tours that include both.  I've been wanting to go to Easter Island ever since I read Kon Tiki - the story of Thor Heyerdahl's attempt to prove that Polynesia was first inhabited by ancient mariners who made the crossing from South America in primative rafts

Next week I'll be making some phone calls to see if I can pull this adventure off.

 I was chatting with one of my friends tonight (she's been quite ill so I was glad to see her online).  Anyhow, without divulging anything too personal, her doctor feels that what she has isn't curable.   I told her, incurable means chronic -  she'll probably have this disease for the rest of her life.  But incurable doesn't mean that they have given up treating her symptoms or that they will stop trying to get her as healthy as they can.

Life doesn't come with guarantees....and athough I believe that we all need to be responsible and plan for the future.....I also would hate to be that ant that worked hard all its life and then got stepped on before he got the chance to enjoy what he'd accumulated...especially since the grasshoppers would probably have jumped out of the way (at least that's how it seems to work in my yard - those darn ants are too singleminded to notice the foot heading for them......but have you ever tried to step on a grasshopper).

I think the Romans had the right idea.

"Never let the future disturb you.  You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present." ~Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Wishing all of you a great weekend ahead....